Thursday Rambles

1. I got the best gift yesterday from a student.  Panera and candy? Those are my kinds of eats.

2. On that note, there are only THREE DAYS left of school.  I have my summer to-do list ready, including painting the house, getting the carpets clean and actual fun things like running and a couple of vacations.

3. This 92 year old woman is running her 16th marathon this weekend. She ran her first marathon when she was 76!! She runs for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and has raised over $100.000!  She is incredible.

4. We're going to look at another dog tomorrow.  I don't want to get my hopes up, but fingers crossed that the meet and greet goes well!

5.I am STILL sore from Tuesday.

6. Watching playoff hockey gives me heart palpitations. Ok not really, but last night's game really had my heart racing.  I can't wait for game 7 Saturday!

7. This was Peyton's progression of excitement during last night's game:

8. I am officially employed for next school year.  I am currently a contract staff so my employment is never guaranteed.

What is happened on your Thursday?

Are you watching the Stanley Cup Playoffs?

Cross Training for Runners

Chris and I joined a gym this past weekend! We signed up for the recreation center in our town.  It’s a new facility that was built last year and it is fantastic! There’s an indoor walking and running track, a lap pool, classes, and tons of cardio and strength training equipment.

My goal for this year was to be more consistent with strength training and trying to throw in cross training when I could.  

And that hasn't really happened.

I’ve been able to take a long walk with Peyton 1-2 times a week and occasionally I will hop on the spin bike at home.  I’ve only been strength training 1 time a week. Oops.

I'm hoping this gym membership will rekindle my love for cross training, lifting weights, and, most of all, SPIN CLASS.

Yesterday I completed 30 minutes on the elliptical and then headed over to the weights to do a few back exercises.  My posture has been slacking lately after sitting in front of a computer completing all my end of the school year paperwork.  Yesterday I did lat pull downs, assisted pull-ups, and assisted tricep dips.  I finished up my workout with 13 minutes on the stair climber.  I climbed 157 flights of stairs!

What a horribly blurry picture.

Today my lats are super sore from yesterday's workout.

Today Peyton and I went outside to enjoy the nice weather and ended up walking 6 miles!

Seriously. It was beautiful outside!

I quickly ate dinner and then headed to spin. Holy crap was my butt kicked.  17.2 miles in 45 minutes.  Our resistance ranged from 11-16.  I think there was a puddle of sweat underneath my bike.

Did you know cycling is one of the best cross training for runners? It works the quadriceps which are not heavily worked during running.  It also targets the outer hips and the glutes to help keep your hips from going outwards as you run.

One the biggest ways to help avoid injuries is by working on muscle imbalances.  Cross training allows us to strength not worked (or over worked) by running.

Do you cross train? What do you do? How often?

Rock n Roll DC

So we stayed up a little too late last night watching the Blackhawks and the Ducks in game 5.  Nothing gets my heart racing like playoff hockey.  Toews with 2 goals in 1:12?!? The Hawks are down 3-2 in the series.  Wednesday night's game is here in Chicago so I'm hoping we go to game 7!

In running news...

I am officially signed up for my next marathon: Rock N Roll DC

This race is March 12, 2016 and it is on my birthday! I cannot wait to start off my 29th year by finishing another marathon.

I have not been to Washington DC before, and I looking forward to getting a grand tour on my own two feet.

I also have my eye on a fall marathon.  My two options are:

1. Fox Valley Marathon.  This is located in beautiful St. Charles, IL in September.  The course runs a long the Fox River.  The course brings you through Batavia, Aurora, and Geneva.  St. Charles has one of the best downtown areas and would have great options for a post race meal!

2. Naperville Marathon.  This race located in Naperville, IL is run in early November.  What I love about Naperville is that it offers a great downtown, beautiful homes in the neighborhood, and a great forest preserve, all of which you get to run through.

Or possibly both.  Most likely both.  Especially with this Fall Distance Challenge.  I am all about an extra medal.

I am hoping to find some fun half marathons to complete as well.  I am trying to talk some friends (cough, cough) into running a half (or two) with me!
 


Any locals ever run either the Fox Valley or Naperville marathons? What did you think?

Have you run a RNR race before?

Would you do anything for an extra medal? 

Don't forget to follow Get Off Your Butt and Run so you never miss another post!

Motivation Monday: 5/25

This post courtesy of Nike.

Happy Memorial Day! As you enjoy your day off and your BBQ, let's remember those who fought and gave their lives for this great country.

Races on My Bucket List

When I don’t run, all I think about is running.  It’s an illness.  After my first DNF, I am very motivated to race again and to achieve my goals.  I’ve always thought running a race was one of the best ways to see a new city. 

Tokyo Marathon.  Did I ever mention Chris and I meet in Hiroshima, Japan? We were both on a study abroad that traveled throughout East Asia.  We went to the same college, but had yet to run into each other until this trip.  Tokyo was one of my favorite cities while out there and I would love to go back.  The people of Japan are incredible (thought very quiet to us loud Americans) and I can only imagine what a fantastic world class race they would put on.

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Just look at the costumes.

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Great Wall. We also traveled to the Great Wall while on our study abroad.   

Piggy backs on the Great Wall.  This is actually also how I prefer to run the race.

The Great Wall is like nothing you’ve ever seen in your whole life.  It’s breathtaking.  We only had the opportunity to walk a short section of the wall at the time. The Great Wall Marathon has been on my bucket list since I started running marathons and traveling back to China would have the added bonus of bringing back incredible memories.

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Big Sur. The views.  Enough said.

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Boston.  Obviously.  This one needs no explanation.

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   NYC. I love me some big city races.  Having run Chicago, I can only imagine what the support of all the spectators feels like.  This race goes through all five boroughs and finishes after running through Central Park.

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   Honolulu. This race is run in mid December on the gorgeous island of Hawaii.  The whole course is along the coast of Hawaii's largest island and includes views of Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach. And who doesn't want to go to Hawaii in December?

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    Grandma's Marathon. Grandma's is held in Duluth, Minnesota in June.  Everything I have read about this race has been incredible. I don't think I saw one bad review.  People love everything from the organization of the race, to the spectators, to a scenic course.  It is a flat, fast course that is a great Boston qualifier!

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   Eugene Marathon.  Pre's race must be on every runner's bucket list.  To walk in the footsteps of the great while being in track town, USA.  This race starts and ends at Hayward field.  Finishers rave about the course and the beauty of the city.

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What races are on your bucket list?

Are you doing anything fun for Memorial Day Weekend?