Getting Back on Track...

I need to get back on the training track!!  I have been totally slacking with my workouts... I'm not saying I haven't done anything, just not what I should be doing to feel myself again.  Some of the things I have done during this break were several fun runs, and two 1/2 marathons back to back. See pictures of the runs I have done...

Glow Run 3 mile 

Pre 1/2 shoe picture

Halloween Rock and Roll 1/2 

Superhero theme costumes 

Then my final 1/2 of the year was the Philadelphia 1/2 marathon.  Ran it untrained for the medal.  Don't you think it was worth it??

Since that day in November, I haven't really done or had a good run.   I know what I need to do. Just can't get myself to do it.  But... I had done some crazy fun holiday runs.  

South Philly Christmas Lights run with these amazing girls. 

Our favorite street was Miracle on 13th Street. 

 Then one last run before Christmas...which included a workout in the middle of City Hall and a dance party at Franklin Park! 

Per- run photo #NIGHTSHIFT Holiday Popup Run

So who is ready to help me get back on track???  I know it takes time to create a habit and get my old routines back... Which leaves me with 2 questions and 4 goals.

1. Who's up for helping me get my training back on track??
2. Anyone will to be my Morning workout buddy???

Goals: 

1. Strength Train more (Lifting, Piyo and Yoga)

2. Mix my workouts (swim, bike, run and other??) 

3. Have fun training again

4. Meet some amazing people along my journey

My HOPE is that by putting these goals into writing I will be more likely to achieve them.  Who else has been feeling a little off of their schedule and workouts and ready to get back in the game... 

Training troubles

After a long, snowy and depressing winter...Spring/Summer has finally arrived!  

My home projects have been moving along.

First, I got myself a new couch!  

Old couch

New Couch

I love my new couch!  It is comfortable and it matches my taste way better then my old couch.  

Once the snow melted and the weather started to warm up, I began to start my training... or so I thought. This school year has left me worn out and exhausted.  I am suffering from the same symptoms as over training, without the actual training.  UGH!  The good news is I will be able to get back on track in 7 days!  School will be out for the summer and I will be less stress!  YAY!!  The other day my friend posted that my big race is 100 days away!  I better get moving in the pool, on the bike and running!  

Thank goodness for friends... 

These weekend bike rides have made a world of a difference.  This is the only part of my training that I feel is on track a bit.  

I also have started running with a group on Thursdays!  We have had soo much fun on our Thursday night runs. 

As the school year comes to a close. I have learned a lot about myself and stress!  I am learning as I get older.  I need more sleep!  Also as my job gets crazier I have to give something up to be able to survive and get more sleep, and that thing is workouts. 😞 It doesn't make me happy but it's all about survival. 

Next year, I hope to have a few more things under control, so I will have less stress and be able to keep up with my workouts because it does make me happy.  

Now that summer break is in sight. I hope my next post will be full of training stories.  Not just home projects.  

This is My latest project I did was tile my backsplash in my kitchen. 

Before

After 

I love it! This is one of my last home projects. Now my focus can hopfully switch from home projects and school to training. With the end of school next week, my plan is to train more that two days during the week and during the weekend.  

I will keep you posted...

Princeton 70.3

Training with friends is the best part of racing.

Yoga with my friend Bill

The girls on a bike ride 

Random Sunday bike rides with my team mates 

And sometimes not so run. 

I'm just glad this was the only injury with friends training. Wish we didn't have any... 

As for the race day... I felt it overall was a good race and yes I would do it again. I loved the location and having my mom there for support. 

Before the race we had lots of time for picture taking since we were all in the last 3 waves. 

I was so glad to have these girls out there on the race course with me. 

The swim 42:30

My swim went pretty well slower than I expected but not bad overall.  I got out of the water feeling good. During the swim I thought I passed Heather. We confirmed it on the bike when she caught up to me. 

The bike 3:40:48

Not the fastest bike time but for me this was a personal best by a lot!  I have improved significantly on the bike since I first started to ride.  Time I spent with friends, especially the girls has paid off.  Love them for putting up with my slowness. 

The run 3:41:48

The run was awful for me!  Starting at mile 2 I knew I was in for a long run.  I started having show issues.  My shoes were too tight due to the heat and my feet swelling.  Ugh. By mile 3-4 I had to stop on the side take off my shoes and stretching my foot out.  This happened several more times on the run.  Ugh. I had to walk a lot during the 1/2 marathon portion. The sun coming out an hour into the run didn't help.  

I haven't been so happy to see a finish line.  As I was this time around.  I couldn't wait to take off my shoes.  But the support on the race course was awesome.

Race support with fellow racer Brian 

My friend and coach helping me get my stuff out of transition.  Notice no shoes. Ouch my feet hurt. 

Best training partner @missfancypants 

I feel like once I get some of my mechanical issues ironed out.  I would like to do another one.  Not sure which one it will be.  Either way Princeton I will be back to get my target time I know I can achieve.   

More projects...

Started this in November. Just getting time to post it ... It's been a busy school year. 

So as the summer came to an end...the busy school year has began!  Which means all the projects I started were put on the back burner and new ones were added.  Workouts barely happened once a week.   

Now that the year is in full swing my life is getting back on track.  I have completed two projects.  One being a new entertainment center.   

My new entertainment center (open) 

(Closed) 

This looked like this before

It had a broken door and was to light of a stain.  

After this project was finished I was able to continue working on my race shirt quilt. 

This is pre-ironed and backed squares. 

This is ironed and sown together squares.  

It's starting to come together. (Still a work in progress) 

While a being busy with these projects and school aka teaching.  I also was kinda training for a 1/2 marathon.  I say kinda training because I was barely training two days a week for this race.  Which turned out to be one of my best races so far.  

Pre-race outfit.  Had to stay warm while we waited two hours to race.  

Photo of my friends and I running through  Philly.  

My finisher photos.  

Felt great after the race even had time to get a massage, while I waited for my friends to finish the marathon. Benefits of running the 1/2.  😀

Overall, it has been a busy beginning of the year and now it's time to get ready for the holidays.  Looking forward to getting into the Christmas spirit by doing some holiday lights runs and other merry events with friends!  

New post to come with two new projects and the beginning stage of Tri training. 

Summer Projects

Summer is my time to do things I don't have time for during the school year.  This summer I have made curtains for my bedroom, my parents made a mirror for my bedroom and I hung decorative pieces in my bathrooms.  

I have to admit most of my project ideas came from Pinterest, but I put my own spin on them.  😀  

Here are some pictures: 

These are my new towel holders in my bathrooms.  I love them and it was easy to do.  

These are my new curtains. Just sewed ribbon along the bottom (thanks mom) my mom sewed the ribbon onto plain curtains.  

And the mirror my parents made me.  

I also found I like my new art work in my spare bedroom.  What do you think? 

My next project is to take my racing shirts and make them into a quilt for my spare bedroom. Hope it looks the way I want it too.  I will post the progress...

Blogging... Is it for me?

Blogging is new to me. I have written two blogs for one of my friends and my first marathon.  It was fun. 

So here I am starting my own blog.  Where I will be posting about my interests: exercise, racing, food, teacher Stuff (Like cute things that work in my classroom) and other fun stuff! 

We shall see if blogging is for me.