Workout Recap - Week 51

Sunday, December 13th – 4 mile run, Foam Rolled & Stretched

Monday, December 14th – Strength Training (abs, back, arms and legs), 4 mile treadmill run, Foam Rolled & Stretched

Tuesday, December 15th –  8 mile run Foam Rolled & Stretched

Wednesday, December 16th – 17 mile bike ride, Foam Rolled & Stretched

Thursday, December 17th –  8 pace mile treadmill run, Foam Rolled & Stretched

Friday, December 18th –  17 mile run, Foam Rolled & Stretched

Saturday, December 19th – Rest Day (Travel), Foam Rolled & Stretched

This post is a few days late, but when I go to "The Mitten" I am spending all the time with my family and barely pull out my computer! Although my runs didn't feel super strong, I am happy with the consistency. I am slightly worried about getting in all of my workouts while I am in Michigan, but I will try my best and celebrate the holidays as much as possible.

How were your workouts this past week? 

As Seen On My Run

I am BEYOND BLESSED to have some AMAZING views on my runs. I thought it might be fun to "bring you along" with me (don't worry this isn't a 3 hour GoPro video!) for today's run. Now, I was still trying to be pretty serious about my run so I don't have a TON of pictures, but I am a little more lenient on stopping to soak in my surroundings during my long runs than other workouts.

I woke up around 5:30am and looked at the weather.

I'm still confused how the temperature is COLDER
than the low for the day... 

I have to work at 2pm so knew I couldn't wait too long to let it warm up, so figured since I was already awake I would just hit the pavement. I got down to Carlsbad around 6:30am to start my 17-miler.

The sun rises over the mountains and slowly lights up the water

Like my weather app said, it was chilly. I ended up wearing three layers on top (a short sleeve, a long sleeve and a jacket), along with capris and a pair of PRO Compression socks. Thankfully this kept me plenty warm.

I stopped around mile 6 to take some of my PROBAR BOLT chews. Since I had long sleeves on I hadn't looked at my watch at all, but was happy to see I was around 9:30/mile average when I stopped the first time.

I take 5 chews (half the bag) ever hour or so

I love running along the coast, I mean, you can't ask for more amazing views (not to mention there are great bike lanes and you don't have to worry about cross traffic since the only thing on the other side of the road is an ocean full of surfers). For some of my long runs I will just run along the Pacific Coast Highway (aka PCH or the 101) for as long as I need to and then turn around and come back.

This morning's 17-miler got me into Encinitas for my turn-around point. I figured I was close enough to Moonlight Beach to run over there so I could grab a drink from the drinking fountain. (Since it was cold I didn't bring any hydration, mostly because I didn't want my hands to freeze holding my handheld - NOT recommended, but thankfully there are ample drinking fountains along my path.)

Yep, there are people in the background playing
beach volleyball at 8am in the COLD!

After hitting my halfway point and turning around, I stopped again at mile 12 for the rest of my PROBAR BOLT chews. Yes, I can eat them on the run, but I wanted to take a couple seconds and enjoy the views (and maybe give my legs a short rest too).

My views do NOT suck!

I grabbed another drink from a beach drinking fountain around mile 15.5 and kept on chugging. It was getting warmer out and I really didn't want to try and tie my jacket around my waist so I just wanted to finish as quickly as I could.

17 miles DONE!

It wasn't speedy (technically my long runs are supposed to be 60-90 seconds slower than my marathon goal pace, so I guess it was barely within that range), but it is DONE!

When your leggings are dirty, capris with long socks work GREAT!

And when I got home I saw that Santa came early and delivered the PRO Compression Grab Bags that I had ordered for Ryan and I. PS There are only XS sizes left, but I am telling you, especially with the END OF THE YEAR SALE (42% off plus free shipping), it's like they are GIVING these socks away!

Mine are on the left and his are on the right. With the HUGE
collection of PC socks I am always worried about getting a
bunch of duplicates in the grab bags, but this one was
AMAZING! And I think Ryan will LOVE his pairs too!

Now it's time to shower and start packing before I have to work (you see, we have to leave the house around 4:15am tomorrow morning to head to the airport, so I better get a move on!).

Do you stop to take pictures or enjoy the scenery on your runs?

Gingerbread Houses w/ my Ginger

Ryan and I were trying to decide what to do on Sunday. We went and grabbed brunch and then I had a brilliant idea...

Source

Well, skating on the beach in Coronado would have been over $50, so that was OUT! I figured we would probably be eating our weight in cookies when we are back in Michigan visiting family, so cookie dough was "out". Holding hands? Yuck... The hubby has cooties (KIDDING!). Which means we were left with MAKING GINGERBREAD HOUSES!

We went to the closest grocery store and grabbed two kits (I said in the car, if they are $8 or less we will buy two and have a competition, but if they are more than $8 we will just buy one. Well, come to find out they were $9.99 but we splurged and grabbed two so we could see how was the better builder/ decorator).

I think he was more excited to eat all of the sugar...

LET'S DO THIS THANG!

Once we laid the ground rules (you can ONLY use the products in the box, but, if you would like to swap candies both parties must agree to the trade {similar to sharing letters in Scrabble}), we were ready to build.

Told ya... Always snacking on his materials!

Building away

Ryan's work in progress

Okay, maybe I was doing a little snacking myself...

It appears as though the plans for the gingerbread homes did not necessarily match the foundation (the base was too big, so when we put up our walls around it they did a bit of leaning), but we made it work. 

The front of our houses (Carlee's on the left and Ryan's on the right)

The back of our houses (Carlee's on the left and Ryan's on the right)

We were both very proud with our final creations. I was super stoked on my front yard, including bushes and walkway, as well as my ode to a bubblegum wall for the back of my house. Ryan's house came complete with a Smarty solar paneled roof. (As you can tell, I am more into the symmetry, Ryan is more into throwing whatever is closest onto open frosting.)

I was pretty proud of my little gingerbread cottage!

So obviously I had to get a shot with it in front of our Christmas tree!

Surprisingly they are still standing and the candies all appear to be on the houses (I was sort of expecting Ryan's to be half gone by now). We called the contest a tie, but what do YOU think?

Do you enjoy decorating gingerbread houses?

Having a Positive Attitude

I don't know if you saw this over on Garmin's blog, but I did a guest post a few days back and thought I'd share it here as well (it was posted in the middle of my #12DaysOfCarleesChristmas and I didn't want it to get lost in the shuffle so thought I'd wait till now).

Having A Positive Outlook About Fitness

2 DECEMBER 2015 @ 10:55 AM 

Running makes me happy. I started running about three and a half years ago. At that time, my husband had hobbies that he enjoyed doing {i.e. art, motorcycles, surfing, etc}, but I didn't really have anything I could call my own. A friend challenged me to try running (by talking me into signing up for a half marathon at Disneyland - I mean, shoot, even if I hated running, at least I was doing it at the “happiest place on earth”) and I guess you can say it stuck :)

Since I never got into running because I was fast or had any type of natural ability, it has been easy for me to run just for the love of it. Don’t get me wrong, running is tough (although, I do have to say, it is much easier to STAY in shape than to GET in shape - so stick with it if you are still going through the tough, sucky part), but I always try to keep a smile on my face. With all the time we spend out on the road, pounding the pavement, it better be something I enjoy or else it’s not worth wasting my time.

Now, with that being said, just because I run to make my soul sing does NOT mean that I don’t want to get faster, stronger, better and #BeatYesterday, it just means that I know the time on my Forerunner 220 isn’t the end-all-be-all. I am currently training to catch that elusive Boston Qualifying marathon time, but even if I don’t hit it I will always be thankful for the finish lines (and, better yet, that I have had the courage to toe the starting line in the first place). 

  

I am often complimented on my positive outlook and happy attitude, which 95% of the time is completely real and honest. I mean, I found something that makes my heart smile and have had the ability to see some amazing places and meet some awesome folks because of it. But, when the tough gets going, it is great to have some encouragement in your back pocket. A few things that work for me are positive mantras, wearing encouragement, and the running community! 

Hear me out, just because running is my jam, doesn’t mean it is necessarily everyone else’s - I get that. You need to find what makes YOUR heart happy and do THAT! Maybe it’s cycling or kickboxing or swimming or CrossFit. Whatever it is, do it and do it with a smile on your face!  

“There will be a day when I can no longer run, but today is not that day.” And until that day comes, you better believe I will be out there making the best of every mile. 

  

I've gotta give a BIG THANKS to Garmin for not only letting me have a platform to spread some cheer on, but also for accepting me as one of their ambassadors in the first place! I am blown away DAILY that a company like that would want little ol' me on their team, but I will NOT look a gifted horse in the mouth... I will count my blessings, be forever grateful and squeal like a little girl on the inside ;)

What have you found that helps you keep a positive attitude?