support from friends and family – Movin' it with Michelle

I missed out on the weekly wrap this week, and honestly hadn’t planned to post until my husband leaves next week. It’s now very real as he is home packing up all of his gear today. #allthesobs after seeing these pics…

Someone isn't pleased... — Someone isn’t pleased…

Time to pack...I'm not ready. — Time to pack…I’m not ready.

But I am trying to focus on the good, so here goes…

Our weekend was wonderful, having spent it with my parents as they flew in from Arizona. We visited the city, ate yummy good food, and just enjoyed each other’s company. We went to the city on Saturday and enjoyed the unseasonably warm Chicago weather we were given that day (it’s snowing today…really?!?). We took the train down, and hit up our favorite places to eat, Quartino and MK. We also did a bit of shopping, but more so just walked around and had fun together. My parent’s had NEVER been to The Bean, so we of course had to get an obligatory Bean selfie. I skipped my long run this weekend, and am 110% ok with that, especially since we walked over 5 miles on Saturday. I’ve pretty much decided I will only run the half in May, but that’s another post in itself.

When they brought this desert out to him, he lost it..."I'll see you in my dreams..." — When they brought this desert out to him, he lost it…”I’ll see you in my dreams…”

Sunday, we got home from having lunch with my sister’s family and wishing my parents safe travels home, and I was feeling pretty sad. Yet here’s what changed my mood: My neighbor AND girlfriend made this beautiful flier for me, passed it out to the neighborhood, and a neighbor that I hadn’t met had stopped by to offer her support. I was just in awe, and am still so touched there really are no words.

In less than a week, he will be gone and I still have trouble imagining this next year without him. I know, it’s probably tiring to read the same thing over and over, but I somehow have to get it off my chest because it literally feels like an elephant is sitting on my heart. BUT…the day he leaves, starts the countdown to his return and I found this super cool app for my phone.

Thanks for all of your amazing support and prayers. We truly appreciate it!

How’s the weather where you are at? Have you had to scale back on a race due to real life before?

Cheers!

Michelle

Boring, right? Today’s three things are all in one way or another running related.

So here are my three things, in no particular order for the week.

1. I CAN DO THIS. No wait…I AM DOING THIS…I have started out week 1 of marathon #3 training quite well if I do say so myself. I’ve worked out every day this week so far, and am feeling strong despite lack of sleep due to hubby travels again. Is my endurance where I want it to be? No way…but it’s week one, right? 3 shorter distance runs, 30 minutes of yoga, daily planks/pushups, with a 6 mile long run on deck for Saturday….I got this!!! Positive thinking is in full force. Step aside any negativity, please.

2. In regards to my last post about Treadmill tips, I enjoyed reading ALL of your ideas. So today I decided to try watching the show “Chopped” on my Kindle and make the show into an interval session of sorts. Yup…I can turn just about anything in to something that involves running, especially when I am in official training. So it went a little like this.

My Kindle perfectly covered the screen of my treadmill!

While the four Chefs were introduced by Ted Allen I started slow, at about a 5.4 mph pace (keep in mind I kept the read out covered WITH my Kindle so these are only approximate speeds-in fact I am not concerned with speed this year, but that’s my next ‘thing’). After he told the Chefs to open their baskets, I sped up just a little more-maybe to 5.8?…I held this pace while the Chefs cooked, until their two minute warning, where I sped up significantly running all out for those 2 minutes. Once time was up for that round, I scaled the time back to my 5.4 mph-ish pace again and held that until the next round. I repeated this sequence for all 3 courses and it worked GREAT. I also had my friend Maria helping me out virtually, which I really can’t say enough about. There’s just nothing better than supportive friends and family during training.

3. Speed snobs. There…I said it. I have always praised the running community and how welcomed I have felt since moving to this area almost 4 years ago. But every now and then I catch myself succumbing to the speed snobs snide remarks or lack there of when I post a run on FB (for example). I will never be a 7-8 minute miler, and am honestly happy with that fact. In fact, I run for peace of mind, release of stress, AND because it’s a healthy exercise. I have no need to go ‘balls to the walls’ for EVERY. SINGLE. RUN. That is not peaceful for me. There is no release in that type of running-for me. But in the same breath, I applaud those who CAN run that fast and enjoy it at the same time. I have never been one to judge another runner, or compare my pace or goals to anyone other than ME. We aren’t all like that tho, are we? So the slight sting I felt today was brushed off quickly and replaced with the other 99% of runners in my life, as well as family and friends.

Does positive talk come in to play during your training season? Have you ever made up your own “Interval training” program creatively with a TV show or music? How do you deal with the elitist type people who seem to put everyone else down?

Keep Movin’ forward, y’all!

❤ Michelle

Tag: support from friends and family

T-1 week

What would Thursday be with out Three Things? TTT

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