October (S)miles

How is it November already?!?

I love October. I know many do and yep, I one of ’em. The month is dear to me because like I mentioned in my previous post, it’s when I got married ❤ but I also love it because it holds my favorite holiday 😀

In high school, both when I attended and worked in it, I *lived* for spirt week. I absolutely love any occasion to dress up or use a costume. I think it’s largely due to my reading obsession where I really become attached to characters. It’s fun to become one every now and then! #nerdalert

When I had my first born, I was so excited to have a living breathing doll to dress. You better believe I took any opportunity to dress her up and when her first Halloween came, I was ready.

2012

I think I secretly hoped we’d continue a family theme, and when each year after that everyone was always on board with it I was the happiest mama on the block ❤

2013–Superheroes

My daughter wanted to be Minnie Mouse in 2014 so we worked around her 😀

2014–Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Daisy

The following year, my daughter wanted to be a witch, lol!

2015–Devils and Witches

It was our son’s turn in 2016 and he wanted to be a pumpkin ❤

2016–Classic Halloween (Ghost, Black Cat, Witch, Pumpkin)

Both kids are digging the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles so this year was easy peasy!

2017–TMNT Heroes in a Half Shell #turtlepower

Oh man, I never thought it’d be so fun!!! I love my family ❤

October Miles : 98 (nope, didn’t care to hit the hundred, lol!)

–Did your family do theme costumes growing up?

–Do you love dressing up? What has been your favorite/most memorable costume?

Hanson’s/NYC Marathon Training: Week 4

How many weeks is this thing again?

This was a tough week. My daughter started Pre-K this week and we all had to adjust to our new schedules (plus, tmi, I had my monthly lady visitor 😦 ). But, in true Helly fashion, I was able to make it work and get all my runs in. In fact, I didn’t miss a single training day the month of July!!

Monthly mileage PR

Monthly mileage PR

I have to admit, I’m pretty darn proud of myself and it motivates me to keep it going as long as I can. I know that life will happen, and I might have to miss a run, but to see me being as disciplined as I’ve been lets me know that I CAN DO HARD THINGS.

Marathon Goal– 3:50
Marathon Pace/Tempo Runs– 8:45
Easy Runs–9:40-10:20
Long Runs–9:29

Monday, July 25th 3 easy miles, 10:10 avg

This was my daughter’s first day of Pre-K and she handled it like a boss.

I cried, she didn't.

I cried, she didn’t.

Afterward, my son and I headed to the gym as I had 6 miles on the schedule. But little guy did not handle it like a boss; he missed his big sister 😦 When I dropped him off at the gym daycare, he was fine and went off to play. I got on the treadmill and started running but was. not. feeling. it. It felt like I was running through mud the entire way–and I usually don’t mind treadmill running at all. Something was not right. So at mile 3 I called it a day and went to pick up my son. When I got there, he looked up at me with tear-filled eyes; he had been crying on and off for sister. It’s funny how mother’s intuition works. ❤

Tuesday, July 26th–1 mile WU, 6×800 @3:50/7:38 pace (w/400R), 1 mile CD=6.5 miles; 3 easy afternoon miles, 9:18 avg

It was an early wake time for this run and I just didn’t wanna. But I did. In my mile warm up, my watched buzzed that I had received a message–it was from my sister. I was surprised because my sister doesn’t usually send me messages so I was compelled to stop and check it. This was what she sent:

With the message: "This made me think of you."

With the message: “This made me think of you.”

It was just what I needed to get going–sometimes even in training you need tell your body to shut up and get things done, lol.

My sister and I are not very close (a long post for another day, perhaps) so anytime I get a message from her, I’m overjoyed. Overjoyed that she thought of me to send me something.

I nailed the workout.

  1. 3:50/7:38
  2. 3:48/7:35
  3. 3:42/7:23
  4. 3:43/7:25
  5. 3:46/7:33
  6. 3:44/7:29

Then, in the evening, I made up my 3 miles from the day before with my husband and my running group. It was a hot run, but we survived.

Somehow managed a 9:18 avg. Too fast for an easy run.

Somehow managed a 9:18 avg. Too fast for an easy run.

Wednesday, July 27th–REST DAY

Oh, happy day.

Thursday, July 28th–1 mile WU, 6 Tempo miles, 1 mile CD

Despite what the average pace says, this was not a good run.

That "WU" mile should've been a warning sign

That “WU” mile should’ve been a warning sign

 

I ran with a super speedy friend and knew that I would have to stay disciplined and totally wasn’t. I was mad myself because I know better. I HATE positive splitting runs–I’m usually so good at pacing and making sure I negative split. There’s just NO room for a 7:50 mile in a tempo run. Not when my speed work is practically that pace. Ugh, Helly!!! I let my friend go at mile 5 and got it together…

Plus, it was effing ridiculous outside at 5 in the morning.

Screen Shot 2016-08-01 at 10.25.53 AM

Friday, July 29th–6 easy hill miles, 9:57 avg

Another Friday of hills and me waking up at 4 and driving 30 minutes to them, lol. It was 90 degrees at 5 in the morning. NINETY DEGREES!!

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But, it was not a boring run because……

#doggoals

#doggoals

Saturday, July 30th– 7.33 easy miles, 10:07 avg

I missed running with friends in the morning because I had a hair appointment (and I also have a husband who is marathon training–I forget about that sometimes, ja! ) so I did this run in the evening. When I looked at the temperature, it was under 100 so I figured it was *totally* okay for me to run…

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Sunday, July 31st–8 easy miles, 10:10 avg

I had plans to meet a friend in the morning for these miles but when my alarm went off at 4:20 it was accompanied by the sound of rain. I was getting out of bed when my husband said, “You have got to be crazy. No, you’re not going.” I sent my buddy a message that I was out and while I felt bad, I knew it was the right thing. That could’ve been one slip and fall away from getting injured (remember my little trip last week?)

So I did the 8 miles on the treadmill.

Woodway treadmills are amazing.

Woodway treadmills are amazing.

—-42.07 miles—-This was a tough week and a test to my commitment in training, but I got it done. I can feel myself getting stronger and there’s really no better motivation than seeing progress. Here’s to a new month of training!! 😀

I’m also still fundraising and am getting closer and closer to my goal. If you’re in the giving mood, please donate–ANY amount is extremely appreciated, really. ❤

–Have you seen a sunglasses wearing dog before?

–What’s your craziest #AsSeenOnMyRun?

–How was your running month? What’s your monthly mileage PR?