Goodbye Rhode Island

We’ll be back.

I already miss being with my family, daily Dunkin Donuts iced coffee, and my best dog friend Jackson.

Something about traveling always makes me hungry so after landing in Arkansas, I had Kyle rush me over to the mall for one of my favorite Fayetteville meals.

Chicken Berry Salad with cashews, strawberries, and blueberry poppyseed dressing. So delicious.

  I did a few miles the morning after we got back without my compression sleeves. It is HOTT in Arkansas and the air is so thick! In order to get some serious miles in it will mean waking up much earlier. Or at least getting it done before The View comes on.

                               185.70 Miles

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What time do you run? 

How do you deal with the summer heat? 

What’s your favorite morning show? All of them. I’m not even sure if I like them or if I just like knowing I can watch them because I’m on vacation.

Zensah Compression Sleeves

My mom recently bought me a pair of pink Zensah Compression Socks. After reading up on their help with circulation and muscle soreness during and after running, I was anxious to try them out on my next run. I know plenty of people who run with compression sleeves and many who only where them after runs to help with recovery.

I planned on doing 5 miles until both of my calves starting cramping up after the first mile, BADLY. I haven’t had this issue for a long time so I’m not sure if it was because of the sleeves or not…? I’m going to play around with them a little more to see if they are right for me while running or only afterwards.

In the meantime Kyle and I have been eating as much seafood as possible before we leave for Fayetteville.

And fulfilling our tradition on visiting the place we got married almost two years ago.

183.50 Miles

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Do you use compression sleeves?

How do you use them and how do they help your running??

Running Rhode Island

180.43

Three point ten of those miles were for the Katie DeCubellis 5K held in Narragansett. 

This was the 13th year for this event and was my Mother’s first ever 5K!

I finished in 34:10, not my fastest, not my slowest.

My mom finished in 48 minutes which for her first 5K is fantastic.

My speedy little bro finished in 27:10. Amazing.

Other than running I’ve been completing all the Rhode Island Norms:

1. Block Island Day Trip for a sun burn and seafood. 

2. Eat as much Newport Creamery ice cream as possible.  

3. Sibling play time. 

5. A Paw Sox game in Pawtucket where you spend way too much cash on fried dough and powdered sugar. 

6.  Provide my younger, yet much more mature brother, with as much quality time with me as possible!!  

He’s really going to miss us. 

Let’s Go Streaking, Bring Your Green Hat

 I finally got past the 2 mile mental block on Friday when I did a total of 4.51 miles. I started with one mile in my neighborhood with my mom and then went down to Wickford Village to finish up. 

This is one of my favorite places to run in Rhode Island. It’s historical and a peaceful area yet filled with lots of activity.

  Changing up your route can often be a huge boost.

 I ran under this bridge which I call it the love bridge because Kyle and I used it for some of our engagement pictures over 2 years ago.

     {I’m right on top of any excuse to post a wedding or engagement picture}

 

When I got home from my run I was encouraged by other bloggers, like Nicole, who are planning on STREAKING for the month of June and running at least one mile a day for the month. 

I decided to jump on board…and then fell off the next day.

Since Friday it has rained every day. I could have used the treadmill but didn’t. It’s frustrating to set goals for yourself and then not live up to them. Since I can’t go back to the 2nd and 3rd and run at least a mile on them, I’m going to try to run more this month than I have in the others so far, that will be my version of the June Streak. In March I did 60.57 miles while working. Now that I am off  60.57 is the milage to beat for June!

11.19 Summer miles

163.91/1,000 Miles

The Birthing Chair

After a full day of delayed flights (my typical way of travel) I made it to Rhode Island. I did a hometown run this morning around my parent’s neighborhood and still couldn’t get myself past two miles. It’s a mental block I think.

School around here is still in session and on my run I went past multiple groups of kids waiting at the bus stop AT 8:45! We don’t waste anytime in Arkansas and get those hillbilly kids in their seats by 7:40. Teaching how to properly brush your teeth and smoke a corncob pipe is no joke. We need all day.

For the rest of the day I was my mom’s personal assistant.  I helped move her into her new medical office where I had the frightening experience of seeing an old school “birthing chair”. Doctors make me nervous and so do their offices. My mother is a doctor and she is no exception to the rule.

Every female I know is pregnant right now. I threatened to put my very pregnant Rhode Island friend in the birthing chair if she didn’t make me dinner. She delivered! Cloth napkins, fire pit, smores and all!

 Summer Miles: 6.68

 2012 Miles: 159.4/1,000 

Perfect Pink Pants and Summer Running

Yesterday I woke up early with this sign looming over me in my bathroom.

Now that I am OFICALLY ON SUMMER VACATION it’s time to bump up this milage.

If you are a teacher you know that the only thing better than molding young minds is knowing you have eleven weeks of vacation.

My first summer run consisted of an impressive 2.25 miles. It felt pathetic. My endurance is almost shot, legs are still sore from Crossfit and Arkansas is already one million degrees.

Some runs almost feel like you are starting all over. This was that kind of run.

I spent the rest of the day packing for a full month of traveling.

And then went on a mission to find the perfect pair of pink pants….

I’ve been looking for pink pants for months. I’m loving the bright colored denims sold everywhere but most feel cheap and look awful if you have any kind of curves. I finally found a comfortable and appropriately fitting pair today.

I bought these colored denims from Francesca’s. They are SO soft and actually made for bodies that are not a size 0. They don’t make me feel like I’m wearing newspaper (like the ones from Target) and they fit the way I like them, almost too tight but not painted on.

They were $48.00. If they had the mint in stock, I would have bought those too. Perfect pants for summer! Mission accomplished.

[157.22/1,000 Miles] 

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Have you found affordable colored denims anywhere that fit well? I’m pretty sure I’m going to need more.

Crossfit and Never Give Up

I saw this video today and it made me get out and run.

I am currently at 154.97 miles out of the 1,000 I plan to run this year. My running lately has come to an almost complete stop all because of my new friend Crossfit. I joined Crossfit at the beginning of May because I heard it is the best workout for long distance runners.

It is the best workout I’ve ever had in my life. I’ve never been in so much pain in all of my life. 

Last month I ran the Ozark Race for the Cure 10K and told a friend I choose the 10K because a 5K is just not a workout for me anymore. HAH! Cocky me can’t even run 2 miles anymore.

This is mile 5 where I stopped to do the robot really quick.

This workout is working my body in a whole new way. My legs have been in a constant state of pain for about 4 weeks, running has become almost impossible. I’ve been discouraged with my milage slowing done but I really believe it’s been worth it. I always read how important it is to change things up with your work outs. It feels good to be challenged.

I’m traveling a lot in the month of June so I’m taking the month off from Crossfit and getting the milage up!!

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Have you heard of or tried Crossfit?

How do you change up your workouts?