Marathon Training Recap Continued (Week 7)

Hello, hello!!! It’s been a while–the holidays are always a crazy time and it’s been even more crazy because my family from Ohio came to visit me! 😀 It’s been so much fun having them here since I rarely get to see them.

But I’ve still been running.

In fact, this past week was my first full week of vacay from work and you better believe I took full advantage 🙂

On Monday I got in 6 miles on the treadmill. I actually don’t mind treadmill running but for some reason, this was a tough run. I think it was because it had been a loooong time since I done miles on the ‘mill.

On Tuesday I was back outside and ran 5 much better, easier miles. It was one of those feel good runs that leave you feeling happy. I love those runs ❤

Cuz I'm happy!!! (now you'll have that song in your head all day)

Cuz I’m happy!!! (now you’ll have that song in your head all day) 🙂

Christmas Eve I felt the need to run so while I should have maybe rested, I went out and met up with Santa

Santa is my homeboy

Santa is my homeboy

I took Christmas Day off and hung out with my kids. We grilled outside (LOVE my Arizona weather) and just had a very relaxing day.

The next day ,Friday, is my usual rest day so I chilled out with my family again. In the evening, I foam rolled and stretched in anticipation of the next day’s 14 miles scheduled long run. It was to be a veerrry cold morning according to the reports.

And it was…..

I met up with my run club in full layers at 5 in the morning. A half dozen brave souls wanted to start out early and then come back and meet up with the 6 o’clock crew. The plan was to do 6 miles the first hours, and then do 8 with the rest of the group.

The first six were great, uneventful, just how I like it. After we picked up the second team, Harry, a buddy of mine, kept me company as my other mates had shorter runs that morning. Harry came super prepared for the cold as evident by his fashion gear lol!

Me and Harry

Harry and me

It was just a little chilly (yeah.....)

It was just a little chilly (yeah…..)

I was very happy with my average pace and my splits were really consistent. It was, despite the cold, freezing temperature, a very, very good long run. The previous Saturday I had also run 14 miles and my times were almost identical. Love it!

14 miler Part I

14 miler: Part I

For a grand weekly total of: 29 miles! This has been one of my highest mileage weeks in a while–I’ve definitely been utilizing my vacation 🙂 I can’t believe I’m already at the halfway point of training! Less than 8 weeks til Phoenix Marathon!

How was your holiday running week?

Anyone doing a New Year’s run? (I am!)

Wishing all of you a Happy New Year! I’ll be back in 2015 ❤

Holiday Traditions–Cascarones (Confetti Eggs)

A non-running related post today friends

I was chatting with my friend Amy the other day and we were discussing holiday traditions we are trying to continue with our families. I mentioned how when I was little, my grandma would make “cascarones” for our Easter egg hunts. What are “cascarones”? They are hollow eggs filled with confetti. Amy was intrigued and suggested I blog about it and share how to make these confetti eggs with my readers.

As a child, I loved cracking and smashing the eggs when I found them and I always tried to find these eggs rather than the regular, boring, hard-boiled ones. I’m not the most creative person out there, but I knew I wanted to carry out this tradition with my own kids and knew that they’d love them as much as I do did 🙂

This is also a really inexpensive project–a great plus!

Step One:

Tap the top of an egg to create a penny-sized hole. Drain the egg and rinse the inside with water. Let dry.

20140423_090803

I typically start saving eggs about two weeks before I’ll need them. So every time I make pancakes, scrambled eggs, or any recipe that requires an egg I make sure to drain it this way so I can start collecting them. I then store them in an old egg carton until I have my desired amount.

Step Two

Once you have enough eggs and you’re ready to start turning them into confetti eggs, take out the necessary supplies.

1. Eggs
2. Confetti (I used a three-hole puncher and newspaper ads)
3. Glue
4. Tissue paper (I reused saved tissue paper from past gifts)
5. Scissors

20140423_090355

Step Three:

Decorate the eggs as you like. You can still dye them like you’d normally do to a hardboiled egg. For this post, I just wrote a little something on it 🙂

20140423_091329
Step Four:

Fill the egg with a small amount of confetti (or however much you want).

20140423_091439
Step Five:

Cut the tissue paper into squares large/small enough to cover the egg’s hole. Spread glue around the edge of the hole and place the square on top, pressing so that it sticks.

20140423_091527

PhotoGrid_1398276191576

Place finished confetti egg in carton to dry and voila! Repeat the steps with each egg until you’re done with all of them. Simple right? And trust me, “cascarones” are definitely kid approved 🙂

My daughter's first confetti egg experience

You can throw them, crack them on someone’s head, or stomp them. Guess which one my daughter chose?

You can throw them or stomp them. Guess which one my daughter chose?

She’s a stomper!

Hope you liked the project! If you don’t celebrate Easter, there are many other festive holidays where you can have fun with confetti eggs 🙂

–What are some holiday traditions you remember as a child?
–Do you carry on any traditions now as an adult?
–Have you heard of/seen “cascarones” before?

The 12 Days of Fitmas

images

I thought it’d be a fun to a little something leading up to the big day, Christmas. Starting today, when you come to my blog you’ll find your “task” for that day of fitness. Some of them will be easy, some will be hard, some will be silly, and some will make you think.

I hope everyone is enjoying this winter season and I look forward to hearing what you think about the 12 Days of Fitmas.

On the 12 th day of Fitmas…

ENJOY THE HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES

I know many have holiday parties to attend, family to visit, goodies being brought into the office—it’s okay to indulge every now and then. Really, it is.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m part of an online Healthy Moms group and every day it seems like a mom talks about how she feels guilty for eating a brownie or that they ate too many cookies. Hey, it’s not like you’re eating cookies every day of the week/month/year. It’s the holidays. Enjoy the cookie!

I never like to deprive myself of food. If something smells good, looks good, and tastes good, it’s going in. Part of staying fit is well, staying fit. I know that even though I might indulge, I’m going to still work out. Will I do something a little extra? Maybe, if I’m up for it. The point is, if you make fitness an integral part of your life, you’re able to have fun with food and not worry about having 2, 3, 10 cookies.

So on the 12th day of Christmas, eat the brownie : )

Do you ever feel guilty for indulging?

Or,

Do you have fun with food?