2016 in Running Recap

I didn't set any resolutions last year, so it is safe to say I didn't break any this year. Here is a brief look back at my year in running and some of my favorites

Injuries this year:

•  Seems like I had a lot of back/SI joint issues that sidelined me from running a half marathon in March as well as several smaller races throughout the year, most notably in October and November. 
• Shoulder thing.. that we never really figured out,it just sort of resolved, but I know that it sucked the life out of my marathon and I think I would have had a much better time if I wouldn't have been in so much pain. 

Races:  This may be the least amount of races I have done in years! 

• Run for Ryan 5k  22:50 1st in age group
• Heart and Sole 5k 22:08  good enough for 1st in age group!
• Bozeman Marathon 3:56:29 a PR barely! 3rd in age group
• Ragnar Hawaii  total of 25.7 miles in 3:57 

Favorite Race: Ragnar Hawaii.. so much fun and my running besties

Favorite Run: The run with my little sister when she came home in August.

Miles run:  I didn't keep track and I have to admit it was a liberating.  I suppose if I went back through my instagram I could figure it out, but I don't care that much. Some months I ran a lot of other months I did not.

Running shoes:  These are the main shoes I wore this year

• Asics Kayano 22
• Altra Torin 2.0 x2
• Altra Olympus x2
• Brooks Pure Cadence

Favorite running clothes:  Anything by INKnBURN especially their tanks, camis, shorts and skirts. The skirts were my go to for long runs. 

Fueling for the long runs:  I used Nuun, Honey Stingers, Tailwind and Cocogo mainly, although I did try some other things on and off.

Socks:  I love my ProCompression socks, SLS3 makes some great compression socks as well.

Favorite running partner: Cola

Cross training:  

• Yoga: I didn't do as well keeping up with the yoga this year, but still did it at least once a week
• Rowing: not much.. doesn't agree with back and shoulder issues
• Strength: I did quite a few HIIT workouts both bodyweight and with weights.
• Cycling: Practically zero
• Elliptical: Only when weather conditions were drastic. I would much rather run

Stay tuned for what will I have in store for 2017!  How was your year?

Weekly Wrap: In the polar vortex

I only ran twice this week.. which pretty much sucks, but somehow I had managed to make my lower back cranky pants again and so I bundled myself off to the chiropractor on Wednesday finally and got it cracked.

Sweet relief... I don't know why I didn't do that earlier.  My SI joint was out of wack again

I did run an easy 5k on Wednesday after the chiropractor. and, horrors, I not only did not have on my dead battery Garmin, I didn't document it on Instagram.  I am not even sure it really happened, except I did find this selfie from Wednesday.

It was already cold but late in the week it got serious about being wintery,  School was canceled Friday.. which nearly never happens in Montana.  You know its getting real out there when school is canceled.   I wasn't sure if I was going to make it home from work.  I did, but my car ended up parked not far off the interstate and we brought it home Saturday after the plow went through.  We had wind chills of -44 Saturday morning.


The kids loved their snow day Friday and despite the "howling blue northern son of a bitch" that is was outside (my aunt's words in a text to me Friday warning me about driving home from work) the kids went out and made snow forts which they faithfully worked on all weekend.

Sunday I did get out and go for a run. It was awesome.

Then we went sledding. After being cooped up all weekend no one really cared that it was -4 (at least) with the wind chill

We also made Christmas cookies this weekend and played a lot of cards.

Somehow I managed to find time to do yoga twice this week and strength workouts three times.  

Things Roader chewed up this week: my yoga mat, a string of Christmas lights, the eyes out of one of his stuffed animals and my lilac bushes.

once again linking up with Holly and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap

 feel free to check it out and join in! 
The purpose of this link is to connect with and support other active women.  You can summarize your whole week or just a small portion of it.  It's up to you!  Race recaps are also encouraged!   {See complete rules} 

Weekly Wrap: December Still

This sticker from my latest StrideBox pretty much sums up my week in running.

Sunday: 1 hour or yoga and 20 minute strength workout. I can't remember why I didn't run, but I didn't.

Monday I went for a long run and while I only planned to run 9 or 10 I ended up with 11.4.   Although I ran 9.4  and then stopped at my grandma's for coffee and fruitcake and then ran two more miles to get back to my car so there was a good 45 minute break in there.

Tuesday: 24 minute HIIT workout before work

Wednesday: 45 minutes of yoga in the morning. Still cold cold cold, I think it was colder than Monday, but the sun was a least out and it was less windy so it felt warmer.

Thursday: 24 minute HIIT before work

Saturday: Snowy run!

Other random happenings of the week: Roader ate Cade's homework.

Small Cowgirl had a sleepover Friday night and I brought home all the wrong movies. I guess I will have to work on my movie picking skills!  They were too boyish and too babyish. Kung Fu Panda 3, Finding Dory, and Ice Age Collision Course.  I like them all anyway.

I have done more on line shopping this year than any other year.  I just don't feel like dealing with the crowds and traffic.

My back is feeling a bit grumpy again. UGH so I didn't run yesterday and will take it easy for the next couple days and hopefully that will help. 

once again linking up with Holly and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap

 feel free to check it out and join in! 
The purpose of this link is to connect with and support other active women.  You can summarize your whole week or just a small portion of it.  It's up to you!  Race recaps are also encouraged!   {See complete rules} 

Friday 5

1. I have officially pulled my cold weather winter running gear out from under my bed and put it to use. With windchills of -1 on Tuesday I didn't have much choice. I dreaded it a bit, but at the same time we have had an extremely mild fall overall so I can't complain much. I was quite toasty on my run except for the time I took off my gloves to retie my shoes. My fingers got cold fast.

2. Pulling out my cold weather gear inspired me to clean out my closet in general and I ended up taking a rather large pile of old clothes and shoes in to be donated yesterday. That felt great and my closet looks oh so much better. I also donated some bags of things we had in the basement. YAY for a mini purge.

3. One of the places my long run on Tuesday took me was through a pasture with the three year old cows.  They were quite curious about me and ran the length of the field with me along the creek.  and when I stopped to fix my shoe and I look up...

4. I know the theme of this was 5 products that get a thumbs down.. I hate bashing things but I will say I would never buy a Running Skirts skirt with the briefs in them again. The recommended size gave me a wedgie with the briefs and the skirt rode up... when I went with a size up it felt way too big and I didn't like it.  I feel a bit naked with just briefs under a running skirt anyway.  I like the shorts underneath.  

5. What I do love is INKnBURN running skirts.. the shorts underneath have the best pockets on them for storing things like my iphone, chapstick, fuel for the long run and they are pretty so that makes them fun to run in.  I did all my long runs for marathon training in them last year.

linking up

It's FRIDAY!

Link up with Running on Happy & Fairytales and Fitness for the Friday Five 2.0 linkup!

Weekly Wrap..and its Decembrr!

Sunday was my birthday. This will be my last year in the 30s! I took a nap, folded laundry and of course went for a run. I great run.  The first 5k felt a bit sluggish, but maybe that is because it was into the wind and more uphill. The way back of course then I flew. and it felt ama-zing.

Monday: Yoga 30 minutes and a 20 minute strength workout. Didn't run. My back was feeling a bit grumpy

Tuesday: Nothing but my back was feeling better again. I did do some light stretching after work

Wednesday.  Woke up feeling fantastic so I did a long run. I had to take advantage to the sunshine and warmerish weather before the cold front moves in that is creeping down from the north

Thursday: 15 minute strength workout in the morning

Friday: Nothing and I went to bed early. I was bushed from work.

Saturday: Procrastinated a bit, but finally got my butt out the door

I posted last week about one of the mystery packs I got out of the INKnBURN vault.. here is the other one I got. Pretty fabulous. I love the camis (I just already have this one) and the tank is a fav although I already have a different version of this design so I am trying to decide if I keep it or not.

We also went out over the weekend and found our Christmas tree. I picked it out, but the kids did all the work, sawing it down and hauling it to the truck.

We were sad there wasn't lots of snow on the ground to go sledding while we hunted for the perfect tree.

Roader loved the adventure of it all and was very disappointed we kept him on a leash, but I think he approves of the tree.

once again linking up with Holly and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap

 feel free to check it out and join in! 
The purpose of this link is to connect with and support other active women.  You can summarize your whole week or just a small portion of it.  It's up to you!  Race recaps are also encouraged!   {See complete rules} 

In a sunshine sandwich

Nothing makes you appreciate and enjoy the ease of moving about pain free like spending a month wincing around and hurting all the time.   The simple things like kneeling down and leaning over to pick something up off the floor, getting out of bed, sitting in chair or driving a car.  I would dread driving my car and mealtimes.  For the first time ever I gave in and took Flexoril.  I went to the chiropractor, I used my TENS unit, I massaged, I used menthol smelling rubs, kept lightly active, foam rolled and did a lot of standing. and finally.. finally Tuesday I could say I felt no more lingering back pain.

I can't remember precisely when it started.. Hawaii maybe, all that sitting on the airplane put a pinch in my back that just didn't seem to go away until one day I did some burpees and two days later was in SO MUCH AGONY.  Really I'm done whining and super happy to be moving about with so much ease again and enjoying it!

I haven't got off the gravel roads and run trails in what feels like forever, Trying to avoid hunters, bears, etc.  Yesterday I took to the trails and was so loving it.  So was Cola.

loving my new INKnBURN Soaring Kit!

My legs are feeling fast and refreshed after the break, I was worried. of course, about losing my conditioning, but I think I came out the other side of this episode of back pain just fine.

The weather man says we are in a sunshine sandwich (go ahead say that fast four times in a row) and bad weather is on the way again so I had to take advantage yesterday and get in a long run. I'd say my mood feels like it ate a sunshine sandwich too, it's much improved.

also congrats to my little sis, she found out she will be an INKnBURN ambassador too. YAY

INKnBURN opened the Vault and sold Mystery packs, I got one and this is what I got..

an extremely rare cami called Wisdom and denim shorty shorts! LOVE the cami so much.  The colors are so pretty!

Weekly Wrap that ends with my birthday.

SO I skipped a week of weekly wraps because my back went from a little grumpy to full blown temper tantrum and for nearly a week it was all I could do to hobble around. Running was completely out of the question. I got in a 7.4 mile run on the 14th and then that was pretty much it until the 24th.

I tried to run a couple times but the back said no. Roader went on some walks with me though

Not running makes a person do crazy things, like sort the sock drawer and count compression socks.

38 if you were wondering

 Another reason to be thankful on Thanksgiving!  I got to run! Even if it felt so slow (for me) and Cola kept looking back at me like what is taking you so long!?  My back was still a bit mad, but if I held my core in really tight it helped.

Thanksgiving was at my parents house and was full of lots of food and fun times.

Friday I decided to do another 5k and keep it easy again, but it felt better than it had the day before so I ran 5 miles a little less gingerly than the day before.

Saturday felt even better on my back, especially once I got warmed up so I threw in some fast miles at the end

and yesterday was my birthday... so I did a 10k and the first half my legs felt tired and I barely maintained a 9min/mile pace but after stopping to take a cowfie with these pretty girls

my legs were feeling ready to go so I did some faster miles to finish it 8:04, 810, and 7:34 with a 7:29 paced .2

Did I mention it was also my birthday?

YAY!  For now I am swearing off crazy burpees.  I think what made my back so cranky pants America was doing some side burpees a couple weeks ago.  Instead of the feet going straight back you jump back to the right or left alternately.

once again linking up with Holly and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap

 feel free to check it out and join in! 
The purpose of this link is to connect with and support other active women.  You can summarize your whole week or just a small portion of it.  It's up to you!  Race recaps are also encouraged!   {See complete rules} 

Weekly Wrap: No politics, just running and a cranky back

Sunday: P90X2 yoga in the morning. I enjoyed this one, as it was both tough and I felt very stretched out when I was done.  Later in the day I did a 7 mile progressive run that felt very divine. The weather has been holding in the high 50s low 60s lately and it's perfect for running. I also was feeling a bit like my lower back was thinking about getting cranky

Monday: Cranky back.. no running. which was sad considering the perfect fall running weather.  I did take a short walk and watched the Crown on Netflix

Tuesday: 15 minutes of easy yoga in the morning and a short run after work but still had cranky back

Wednesday: Back still cranky but I did get in a 5.5 mile  run that actually felt really good. I didn't get it Instagrammed,  Slacking off I guess!

Thursday and Friday:  nothing. Back getting better but really cranky still.

Saturday: Felt quite a bit better so I got in a good run first thing in the morning and since I was in a hurry I didn't even get it Instagrammed! Did it even happen? This guy will vouch for me

Note my super late blooming mums that smell like heaven

Why was I in such a hurry Saturday?  We had to get up to Bozeman for the last home football game of the season.  Our team hasn't done so well this year in fact going into this game they had no conference wins. :(    The weather was amazing and the sunset sky gorgeous and yes we won!

and we made sure Cade got his picture taken with  badass senior Chad Newell. We will miss him. He had a great game.

It was a great way to spend our 11th anniversary.  I have to say I have a pretty awesome husband :)

And my yoga poses for the week.. all the rest involved lower back bends and my back wasn't up to it.

Miles for the week: about 20
Yoga: 2 times
Strength: NONE

once again linking up with Holly and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap

 feel free to check it out and join in! 
The purpose of this link is to connect with and support other active women.  You can summarize your whole week or just a small portion of it.  It's up to you!  Race recaps are also encouraged!   {See complete rules} 

Five For Friday

1. Side burpees and maybe just burpees in general and I have broken up.  I can't say for certain but I am 90% positive that more than once they have made my back really mad, even though I do them very carefully these days. I did them last week and have been sorry ever since.  I only ran twice this week so far.   and I haven't worked out at all.

2. Not running much this week is especially sad in light of this amazing weather.  60s all week. Still running in shorts and a third of the way into November. That is a win in my book!

3. Political post:  Nah, not worth it. I am just glad the election is over, there are no more angry commercials on TV and hopefully the tone of Facebook will lighten up.  Okay maybe I will just say I wish the commercials had concentrated way less on their opponents negative attributes which only made me hate them both and talked more about what they were hoping to accomplish. That is what I used when determining who I voted for.

Found this on Facebook

4. Seems like every four years the electoral college thing comes up. I found this the most interesting and helpful article for explaining pros and cons rather objectively.  Pros and Cons of the Electoral College system  I was trying to explain the electoral college to my kids and why we use it.  Thank goodness for Google!

5. Anyone else getting excited for Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales on running shoes?  I know I am!  Makes it really easy to justify getting new shoes and my birthday is that weekend as well.

Weekly Wrap

I feel like I kind of pop in and out of the habit of getting these weekly wraps done and Hawaii really threw me for a loop, but I am back and the running weather in Montana is on point lately.

Recovering from Hawaii took a bit.  I finally got the recaps done from the Ragnar I did there you can read Part one and Part two if you are interested. I pretty much came home from Hawaii and hit the ground running with a long day of preg testing and moving cows the next day. I felt jet lagged for a week maybe more.  This getting older is tough!

I lost my Garmin charger on the Hawaii trip so I have been running with my phone. I have a new charger thingy on the way as I really prefer having a watch.

Sunday: I ran 2ish miles with my daughter who was on her bike.  My stomach wasn't feeling so good so I didn't run the rest of my miles like I had planned.

Running is always funner with a captive audience

Monday: P90X3 Eccentric Upper  (this left my chest muscles so sore the next day!)
and a 5 mile run in the afternoon. For some reason I procrastinated too long and ran out of time to run any further and still get in a shower before trick or treating. I almost didn't run because I was tired etc etc (fill in any number of lame excuses) but so glad I did, I really needed to run. It was one of those much needed mood altering runs

Tuesday:  P90X3 yoga in the morning before work

Wednesday: Zuzka Light Power Yoga V2 which is a yoga inspired workout that leaves a person sweaty and makes you do enough chatarungas that your arms are left crying. I would give you a link to get your own, but I think it's sold out and they aren't making more
Run: 9.5 mile long run.  3 miles easy pace, 3 miles at 8:25 ish pace and 3 at 8:05 pace, and the last half mile was strides.

Thursday: Rest day?

Friday: 15 minute HIIT workout with Zuzka Light  and a four mile run after work

Saturday: 15 minutes of easy yoga in the morning. Butcher pigs and then a 5 mile run with 800s x 4 and one easy mile

and the poses from the November yoga challenge I have joined on Instagram so far

Running almost 29 miles
Yoga 3
Strength 3
Next race: Run to the Pub half marathon in March, maybe a Thanksgiving 5k

once again linking up with Holly and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap

 feel free to check it out and join in! 
The purpose of this link is to connect with and support other active women.  You can summarize your whole week or just a small portion of it.  It's up to you!  Race recaps are also encouraged!   {See complete rules}