Octooooooobbberrrrrrrrrrr!

By ellen on September 30, 2011

(Oprah voice, obvi).

September, the busiest month of my year is now over. (Yesssss). And now October, possibly the most exciting of 2011, is starting. And I’m in official countdown mode for the NYC Marathon.

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September, as expected, proved to be a difficult balance (errr imbalance) of work and training. Such is life. I totally dropped off with only 80 – EIGHTY! – miles this month (huge drop-off from August). Certainly a long shot from what I’d planned. Now that school is a bit more in check, I’ll finish my last month of marathon training strong. Starting with a 20-mile kick-off tomorrow morning.

Really, all I want to do in October is follow my plan and remain healthy. I’ve recently kicked up the yoga a notch and starting really cleaning up my eats. I plan to continue this through October.

Since September seemed to be a month of less (less mileage, less free time), October will be a month of more. Here’s what I’m looking for more of:

  • more beautiful fall weather runs (September was still too muggy)
  • more fall produce – I just may turn into a squash. I’m okay with this.
  • more awesome long runs (only a few left!). I had my two favorite long runs in September – I’m hoping that October long runs are even better
  • more excitement for NYCM (as if that’s possible…)
  • more pampering – I’ve FINALLY made a massage appointment – for Sunday!

What are your plans for October?

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The Great August/September Transition

By ellen on September 2, 2011

The transition from August to September is usually the unofficial transition from summer to fall. This is a bittersweet one for me in a few ways. I love fall — the weather, the clothes, the produce are my favorites. But fall also means that I end my summer of lazing about and head back to work. This year, it just so happens, that my busiest work month and my highest mileage month happen to coincide. Lovely. So this month will likely be less of a transition into fall and more of a thrown-into-the-deep-end into fall. Such is life.

Here’s how August went down:

  • Running:
    • Continue to be as consistent and positive about training. 80% rule applies. I’ll give myself a yes here — the only question mark would be the Hurricane Irene weekend, but I’ll consider that an extenuating circumstance. 
    • Ice bath, foam roll, Tiger Balm (repeat as needed) Yes, consistently, to all of the above. 
    • GET A MASSAGE! (Maybe even two to make up for July…) How did I fail on this again? I hardly even know me. 
  • Cross-Training:
    • Keep up with weekly yoga. Find an at-home yoga practice that is doable, to compliment studio classes Sorta… I did well until studio closed temporarily for renovations. 
    • Strength Training 1-2x/week Yes! And will continue to do so…
    • Swim weekly Fail. Will start up again in the fall, though. 
  • Eats:
    • Drink less than in July (this will be a challenge… as I have 3 weddings this month). Maybe choose 1-2 days in which to drink (a modest amount) I did better on this than expected. I’ll mark it a win. 
    • Choose more veggies. I think so…?

In other news, my mileage for the month climbed a bit higher, and will continue to do so in September. 

My goals for September are simple:

  1. Meet 90% of my goal mileage for the month.
  2. Work on my morning routine to improve ab/back strength (Oh, I may have injured my back. Details to follow. Good news is, two days into September and I’m 2 for 2 on this goal.
    • The routine: Each morning complete 1 minute of cat/cow, 1 minute of alternate arm/leg stretch (don’t know what this is actually called), 1 minute plank, 1 minute in child’s pose.
  3. Solidify my race goals: goal time, back up goal, etc…

Any big goals for September?

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Gettin’ Bendy

By ellen on September 1, 2010

The cold hard truth: I suck at yoga.

I know, that statement is not quite in keeping with the yoga work to your own ability, etc… but really. I’m terrible.

And that’s not discouraging to me. In fact, yoga plays hard to get, and it only makes me want it more. It’s like it’s this bendy club that I’m not a part of. But desperately want to be.

I’m pretty athletic and have always been able to pick up sports and be pretty decent at them from the get-go. Yoga is the thing that is a constant challenge. I mean, I can barely even touch my toes. A down-dog is even pushing it sometimes (I imagine I look more like I’m searching for a lost contact lens, than inner balance).

So that’s the September goal. One goal only. Do yoga.

Any style, studio or living room, ten minutes or two hours. I will do yoga. And of the 30 days of September, I’ll be yoga-fying more than half.

What about your September goals? Or, do you do yoga? Are you a yoga newbie or devotee?

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September Lovin

By ellen on September 1, 2009

If today is any indication, this is going to be a spectacular month. I’m completely certain of it.

I hung around school until about 12:30ish. While there, I had a little snack of a Pink Lady apple (my fave), a few almonds, and some Japanese white tea. I was so busy running around that I forgot to take a pic (lo siento!).

Then, I walked up to Target for some school/home shopping. Mind you, I love all things Target. It’s hard for me to leave with fewer than three shopping bags. As if the day couldn’t get any better, I stopped at Starby’s in Target and saw that today is the official first day back for the pumpkin spice latte! It was lip-smackin’ delishy. I know, this is like the day that dreams are made of.

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I walked back home with my bags (which included 30, yes 30, composition notebooks among other things). I don’t normally count a walk as part of my workout, but this walk was quite a workout, I must say.

I worked up an appetite on the way home, and had some pesto w/ whole wheat pasta while watching the US Open again.

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Yum! I was still kinda hungry after the pasta and had some of the granola that I made on Sunday.

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I should tell you that this granola deserves a disclaimer. A year or two ago I overcame a major addiction to Kashi GoLean Crunch cereal. I couldn’t keep the box in my house for more than a 24-36 hour period. I would inhale it as if I’d never seen food before. Small children and pets would need to keep their distances lest they be mistaken for the Kashi. I quit cold turkey and haven’t looked back. If you, like me, cannot keep sweet crunchy delicious health cereals in her house for fear of overdose, tread lightly around this granola. I think the next batch I’ll have to send with husby to his office.

The rest of my afternoon/evening includes a little school work, and then meeting some friends at the Boat Basin for dinner and drinks.

Enjoy the weather!

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September's New Beginnings!

By ellen on September 1, 2009

I LOVE September. For most people, January is marked with resolutions and new goals, etc. For me, I guess since my teaching year begins in Sept., I tend to set my big goals at this time of year. I also get myself back into routines after the summer.

I started off this morning doing some exercises while watching the news: 10 push-ups, 40 squats, 20 Romanian dead-lifts, and 40 sit-ups. Then I checked the Google Reader while enjoying a pre-run bite:

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Half slice of whole wheat bread and a shmear of natural peanut butter (and a glass of water, of course).

I went for a lovely 3 mile run, and again I’m in love with the weather today. Once back home, I had the other half slice with a teeny bit of pb and a teeny bit of low-sugar grape jelly with my chamomile mint tea.

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Now I’m heading back to school just to do a little decorating, then I’m running some errands this afternoon. Yay for September!

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