That Feaster Five Thing

Pre-race packet pick-up for the win

Ayyyy all our good plans for the Feaster Five Thanksgiving 5k went out the window when a cold steady rain decided to hit our drought riddled state on Thanksgiving morning. Chip had been beating back a cold earlier in the week, and driving an hour north to Andover to run in the rain was not appealing to him. So instead, we decided to pivot and run a Virtual Feaster the following day, Friday November 29th, instead.

Except that didn't go as planned, either. Chip, (who is training for a triathlon with his friends sometime in the undetermined future), chose to sleep in the next day... promising to run with me when he returns home in December for his Christmas break. Lol.

(Note: I haven't gone on a run since November 29th, so that's not happening either.)

My renamed Virtual Feaster Five was done alone -- a rail trail out and back, a bit short of the full 5k, but it felt good. Unfortunately, life has gotten hectic since the holiday and all good intentions have gone off the rails. Maybe 2025 will bring another running re-set.

Virtual Feaster 5K, rail trail edition

Cinco de NoNo

5K Cinco de Mayo QuaranTeam Virtual Run

Ohhhh dearie me, I made a big mistake. With gyms closed for the State's coronavirus shutdown, I joined B&S Fitness for online Zoom bootcamp the last week in April. Lila is doing it as well, and it's been great getting back into a regular workout routine with one of my favorite trainers, Betsy Caliri. (I've taken bootcamp with Betsy before and she's awesome.) I saw that other B&S athletes were participating in Ashley's QuarranTeam Challenge, (raising money for several local charities), and I signed up as well.

The virtual 5 mile/5K/5min plank Challenge (choice of, not all three combined) seemed doable to me. I suffered a sore knee a few weeks ago after my first run since taking a sheltering-break -- because I jumped the gun and took on too much at once -- so my plan was to run/walk the 5K in intervals. I figured that would be the best way to do it.

I was soooo freaking wrong.

I started feeling some pain around a mile in, so walked a little more than ran. At two miles, the pain was a little stronger, but I only had a mile to go, right?! So I continued on alternating run/walk intervals. I was sore a few hours later, but didn't think much of it.

Until my knee swelled up like a balloon. The pain was intense. Ice, Tylenol, rest, elevation... I've been doing it all for a week now and it's still bad. For several days after my run I could barely walk and the pain would wake me up at night. The swelling subsided a few days ago, and I'm moving a little better, but damn.

I really messed up.

Run, not walk

Running dates with Mike and Chip

Despite little snow on the ground, I've been cycling a lot less than previous winters to make room for running. Honestly, I don't know how my squad trains for triathlons season after season because doing a brick workout, (in this case, run and bike), on the same day exhausts me. I can't say I've been lazy this winter, but I have been tired. Mike and I have had weekend running dates since last Fall, and there are times when I want to skip the run before he motivates me to head to the track anyway -- as long as it's above 35 degrees. That's my threshold and I'm sticking to it! On a few occasions, Chip has joined me.

It was exactly a year ago that I stepped up my running game to train for Alaska, and it took me four months to be able to run beyond a 10K. I don't have any run or cycling events on my calendar this year, but will start filling that in soon. It's always helpful to have targets.

Run cool down at the beach. Cold.

Turkey Chase 5K

22 degrees is too cold for this

Post-run coffee and cool down-warm up

OMG it it took a lot of effort to head to Danvers at 7 a.m. for the Turkey Chase 5k in sub-freezing temps. It’s much too cold. While I should have been able to run the full 5K had I stuck to the original C25K training schedule I’m following,  I’m only now into week 5 (not 8) of my training plan. I’ve repeated a few weeks. It’s been a slow and steady rebuild since October.

The race went well — I followed my scheduled workout (8 min run, 5 min walk, repeat) for the first half+, and then ran with a friend of KHaff’s (Pam M.) for the second half. Pam was also doing run/walk intervals, 90/90, so that worked out well and I enjoyed her company.

Back at the finish, I met up with friends for some coffee and finish line festivities. Judy placed first in her age division and got a medal. Yay! Fun morning and I’m glad I got out of bed.

Irony is finding wild turkeys roaming near home after
 running the Turkey Chase 5K

Alaska on the horizon

Long run done

“Progress is rarely a straight line. There are always bumps in the road, but you can make the choice to keep looking ahead.” — Kara Goucher

Alaska Bound

February 20th, sunrise after the storm

I made a plane reservation last week for a summer adventure in Alaska. In October, I committed to joining my friend Julia’s support team for the Alaskaman Extreme Tri in Seward at the end of June. The race entails a 2.6 mile swim in frigid Resurrection Bay, a 112 mile bike leg along the Seward Highway to Girdwood, and a 27.5 mile run that includes climbing Mt. Alyeska twice. Kinda insane. Julia competed in Challenge Roth last year in Germany, while a mutual acquaintance, Christina, took on Alaskaman that same month, so it makes perfect sense (to me) that Alaskaman would come next on Julia’s bucket list. These girls go hard!

Christina’s husband, Schreck, who Julia and I rode with during the EOD Undefeated Ride several years ago, also planned to race Alaskaman this year. With Julia’s husband Jim onboard, it was shaping up to be an EOD reunion! (Minus Tim Brown, but plus Christina, who was deployed at the time of our ride. Go, Navy.)

Together again? Me, Schreck, Julia and Jim, (with Tim Brown, front)
EOD Undefeated for the EOD Warrior Foundation

Despite the many Ironmans and triathlons my friends have competed in, I’ve never had an interest in doing the same. I’d much rather be on the sidelines giving aid and support where I can. Different from most triathlons, Alaskaman requires athletes to have a 1-3 person support team during the race. I planned to join Jim, and their son Elye, as part of Julia’s support team — assisting with transitions and driving the support vehicle along the route. (Much like I did during the Race Across America). Jim planned to run the final ten miles of the ultra marathon alongside Julia, as each participant must have a run partner on Mt Alyeska. Christina planned to be Schreck’s support runner for his final 10.

And then plans began to unravel. Jim and Elye will not be traveling to Alaska with Julia, after all, so I am now her only support. (Hopefully she’ll find a runner in Seward for the final ten miles. She is reaching out to triathlon and running groups based in Alaska. Meanwhile, I’m working on a training plan to be her backup runner.) Next, Schreck tore his ACL while skiing and is going to require surgery, so he and Christina are out as well. (Both will now race Alohaman in Hawaii, another X-Tri produced by the same company, at the end of the year.)

I’ve gone ahead and booked a one way flight to Anchorage. It’s possible that Julia will have to bail on the race, and I understand if she does, but I still want to move forward as if it’s a “go”. I had planned to spend the week before the race exploring the Kenai Peninsula with my mountain bike, doing some day hikes, and seeing the fjords and glaciers. The excitement of seeing Alaska is what’s getting me through the long gray days of winter.

February has always been a tough training month, but I do have a plan underway. There are four months to go before race day — I know it will go fast.

That time we ran a 5k together

Family run squad

The Winter Classic 5K
Mike, back in run action... 

Donna's first 5K walk/run... 

and Chip beating us all. 

Sisters!

Mike and Chip, ready to go

The Winter Classic, December 6th

End of Summer/Fall Arrives

Sunset behind the clouds at Coquina Beach, Florida

Beach walk, Coquina Beach, Florida

Wow. Is it really OCTOBER?? Hard to believe how quickly the last month has flown -- although so much has happened in the last 4 weeks, it's easy to see how I lost track of time. I headed down to Bradenton, Florida in mid-September to hang out with my father-in-law, Fred, recovering from heart surgery. We spent our days being active and walking, as he worked to rebuild his strength for the upcoming winter softball league. (Go, Fred!) I managed a few interval runs while I was there, although the heat and humidity killed me.

Rebecca Gross, Day One of KMC Cross Fest

Ben Gomez Villafane, Day Two KMC Cross Fest

Returning home for the first weekend in October, I discovered Fall had arrived while I was gone (!), and cyclocross season was upon us!! We were set to host former Vanderkitten CX racer Rebecca Gross for KMC Cross Fest, and made arrangements for Caro's younger brother, Ben Gomez Villafane (racing as a UCI Elite Junior) to stay with friends for the weekend. Plans shifted a bit when I returned from Florida -- with Rebecca opting to stay closer to the venue, and Ben needing transportation to Connecticut each day -- but it all worked out perfectly and I got to spend the weekend watching both of them race. Really fun! It was awesome to see Rebecca again, (she is returning to stay with us for GP Gloucester), as well as spend some time with Ben as we drove to/from the Thompson Motor Speedway each day. (Love him. Such a terrific young man.)

Fall has arrived!

Finally, this past weekend I was able to take advantage of my first free Saturday in a month to get out for a Cyclopath ride with the breakfast gang! There were only four of us for the ride on Saturday -- a consistent turnout this year. Our rides this season are coming to an end, the leaves are just starting to change and the air is crisp and cold -- my favorite time of year, although that sentiment is not shared on a chilly morning. Hopefully we'll squeeze in one or two more breakfast rides before wrapping up for the year.

Andddd.... Coffeeneuring started this weekend! If I get out there today, I'M IN for 5-7 more weeks. Better get on that.

Still Working on that Run

Run, walk... 10K steps

My poor sister Donna. I've been planning to ramp up my 5K training this month, while at the same time she's starting a fitness routine that includes walking. So I said, "Hey! Let's train together! I'll walk with you!!" Hahahaha... I'm not running yet, because we're walking and talking at the track, but I think it's going great.

Between my Garmin 510 and the Garmin Forerunner 15, I'm already gadget-girl, but I've been wanting to get a FitBit or Garmin activity tracker since January. So I said, "Hey! Let's get FitBits!" 

She thought it was a great idea, so we both had them delivered this week. Fun!

Of course, sure enough, I'm confused by how a few things work.

I'm not driving her crazy or anything, though. (LOL)

I still have 3,300 steps to go before I sleep.

But will it sync to Strava?

Global Running Day

Nikki and I got a track workout done on Global Running Day.

(Missing my bike.)

Running, Part 2

Just doing it.

Well, there really isn't a Part 1 -- It's just that I've tried to do this running thing before and couldn't get into a routine. (It was winter, the weather was cold, and I just didn't love it.) Part 2 means I'm making another GO at it.

Many of my dearest friends, (and of course my husband, Mike), are runners -- and all have encouraged me to join them at one time or another for various workouts and events. (Thanks Ingrid, Alison, Cate, Lila, Jennifer, Amy R., Nikki, Amy S, Kristen, Lisa...) I've always taken a pass, relegating myself to the sidelines, but recently have had a desire to give it another shot.

I started running May 1st as a week of rain settled in. I wasn't itching to get out on my bike anyway so it was a good time to start. Tomorrow wraps up Week 2, and I've been getting out consistently with encouragement from the fam. Chip has even joined me for a few runs, (of course). #partnerincrime

Rainy day. Chip slows down his pace to run with me.

A Week of Complete Awesomeness

We're Week Two into 2016, and it's been filled with so much awesomeness that I haven't had a chance to post on the blog. Starting out the new year on the bike, I had a fun, fun, fun trail ride with Chippy and, really, how fabulous is this kid?! Adventures with Chip 2016 is going to be a blast.

Pink sunglasses, BeardHead hat, no gloves, no problem

I've been riding and running and eating clean for 13 days straight, with a huuuuuuge boost from my dearest friend Ingrid, who just happens to be a pretty incredible athlete and health coach. Ingrid arrived on January 7th and spent a week here on the North Shore, getting me back into a running routine, joining me on trail rides, bike workouts (including P2 with Coach Shayne!), and walks around Boston and Cambridge. She gave me a fresh insight into issues that have been plaguing me for a while, and I feel completely renergized. 

Dropping her off at the airport this afternoon for her return flight to Houston left me in tears on the drive home. I miss her already!! Still, we had a fantastic time together and I have a good feeling about the year ahead for both of us. We had an amazing week and I'm excited for the new year!

A first for Ingrid -- riding MTBs in the snow!

Tri Inside the Y Update

It's been a busy week with little time to update the blog, so here's a quick rundown on where I stand with the Tri Inside the Y.

Bike: We've had amazing weather for riding -- both on the mountain bike and road bike -- so getting my miles done on the bike has been easy. On Saturday, I took advantage of the 60 degree temps (in December!) to join the Cyclopaths for breakfast at Brother's Taverna in Salem. (Of course I was the only Cyclopath who arrived by bike... but it was good to see everyone.) I'm averaging 45-50 miles a week and projected to finish next Wednesday.

Run: I'm averaging 4.5 miles a week in running, and need to step it up the last two weeks if I'm going to finish on time. Nikki is ahead of me on the run, but we're nearly tied on both the bike and swim/row.

Row: I met Nikki and our mutual friend, Judy Jackson, at the Y last Thursday and finally got started on my rowing! I'm able to knock out 7,000 meters with 45 minutes of rowing... so it's taking me a while to get this done. I haven't had any shoulder issues following the row, so that's been a nice surprise. I have 21,500 meters to go.

Getting it done.

Tri Inside the Y, Week One

Running... well, it's still not my favorite thing to do but I'm doing it. 4.5 miles done this week, (Thursday and Saturday) but I'm going to need to pick up an extra day of running if I'm going to complete this tri.

And OMG, I haven't even started rowing yet. That's going to be tough.

Week 2 will be better.

(Cycling, of course, is no problem.)

A Football-Free Sunday

The boys set the pace for our run on Sunday

It's been a while, (since late August), that football didn't dominate our weekends. (Chip's season ended last week; Will is on the DL, his last game on Thanksgiving day; and the Patriots didn't have a game on Sunday, playing Monday night instead.) It was a cool, wet afternoon and I tossed between getting out for a muddy trail ride, driving to the gym, or heading out for a run. I had to do something.

Just as I made the decision to go out for a run, Will came to me and asked, "I'm bored. Can you drive us to GameStop?"

Hahaha... ohhhh, Will.

"If you go for a run with me, yes. Otherwise, no."

Guess who had two running partners on Sunday? (Thanks to a GameStop bargaining chip.) Two miles done, (a one mile full run, and a one mile run/walk), and I'm back on track with my running plan after missing a few weeks.

Thanks for running with me, boys! xoxoxo