Month: August 2017

Goodbye, Downtown Running

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 4 Comments

This week marked a bittersweet week of running. Why is that? Because it was my last week of running as a downtown Clevelander.

We are moving to the BURBS! We’ll have a house and new running paths and trails and more areas to explore, but I’m going to miss a few things about my downtown running life:

  • Being so close to the running of the bridges – it’s so nice to “run the bridges” either by myself (it’s a 4-5 mi loop depending on what route I take) or with the organized group
  • Being able to run to the flats, the river, the lake, etc.
  • Having a gym in my apartment building for those days when I can’t/don’t wanna get outside – this means a treadmill AND elliptical for the non-running days
  • Being walking distance to SO MANY races (including the Cleveland Marathon!)

So, how did this week hold up? I got in 20+ miles finally – I’m still feeling slow and a little off, but my mileage was back up!

This week’s total: ~27 miles. 

Here’s a scene from my last run across the bridges on Saturday:

And my last picture with FW in the apartment after a run:

Some questions for you:

  • Do you have a gym in your building or a treadmill or elliptical you use?
  • Those of you who live in the suburbs – what do you like about running around your neighborhoods?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

Tuesdays on the Run: Getting my Mileage Up Again

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

I’m happy to report that my mileage is getting back up again. I ran 5 of 7 days this week and nearly got in 20 miles. I still haven’t run more than about 4.5 miles, but I’m hopeful I’ll be there soon.

This week included:

I even got in a few outdoor runs – Sunday and Friday. And, Friday, I ran after work – something I NEVER do. I somehow slept through my 5 a.m. alarm Friday morning and woke up to FW getting up at 6:15 ish. It was too late to get in a run (I’m done working out by 6:30), so I just assumed I would not be able to run. But, around 5 p.m. I decided to go for a run. It was hot and humid, but I was happy to get in some miles!

Thursday’s treadmill run

Friday’s mileage

My piriformis is still acting up a little bit, but I’ve been doing these stretches and rolling it out on the foam roller on occasion to keep it from hurting too much. I’m hoping to get in at least one 5-miler this week and work my way back up with mileage!

Some questions for you:

  • What time of day do you typically run?
  • What’s a “long” run for you?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

House Reno and LCBS Weekend

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

The time is coming for our stint in downtown living to come to an end. I’ll write more about the house and our move soon, but in the meantime, we are just trying to enjoy every last bit of our lives downtown, while getting everything ready for the big move.

So how do you try to enjoy downtown AND get ready to move the same time?

It’s hard, let me tell you. But here’s one way to do it.

Friday evening started off with a 3.5 mi run for me, followed by some playground time for FW. He isn’t so sure what to think of the slide, but he is trying to enjoy it!

We then walked to the Winking Lizard for a few patio beers.

Then, B went over to the house to do some work, while I put FW to bed and get some packing done. I packed up a box of our kitchen stuff .. there are still probably about a million more boxes to go, yikes!

Saturday morning started out with some time at the house. B, some family and friends had a painting party! He also worked on putting the ceiling up in the bathroom. 

We’re getting there – look at what a difference a day makes! No ceiling – almost ceiling!

FW enjoyed playing around on our gravel driveway … that too is going to be under construction soon!

He totally helped prime the walls, too. 

While over on that side of town, we also took a walk with my friend Lulu. On our walk we saw what she said was a falcon! We watched it eat a mouse. I’m going to have to get used to all the new wildlife that comes with moving outside of downtown, that’s for sure! (I have a picture of it eating the mouse, but I’ll spare you the gory details)

After stopping by the house, it was time to head to LCBS. This month’s LCBS brought us to Jocelyn’s house for felt flowers. I didn’t make the craft this time, but instead enjoyed some beer and watched FW play with the other babies. I’m so lucky to have a few friends with babies!

This month’s beer choice for me:

This is me laughing because Ruby is trying to hug FW. 

Sunday morning started out with a run. My long run for the week was 5 miles – nothing too long (for me), but I’m still getting back into the swing of running after some piriformis issues. It was hard from but I know that I’ll be back to where I was soon, hopefully!

While B was at the house, FW and I took a short walk around downtown and then made some sweet potatoes. He loves them fresh out of the oven. I sprinkle cinnamon on them and toss them with butter 🙂

Then, we headed over to the house to see how the work was going. The whole family was over painting again! 

And then FW and I took another walk, this time in the ‘burbs. He loved playing with the gravel on the driveway.

All in all it was a pretty good weekend and things are coming together at the house! I can take no credit, as I was on baby duty the entire weekend, but it’s amazing what one weekend can do. Will it be ready for us to move in soon? We shall see!

Some questions for you:

  • Are you a DIY-er? Have you bought a fixer upper?
  • Get in any good runs this weekend?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps.

Bad Mom Days

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

Let me let you in on a secret. There are some days that I feel like a bad mom.

Earlier in the week I had one of those days. I picked up FW from daycare and knew it was going to be a hard night. His teacher mentioned that he hadn’t napped, didn’t eat much of his lunch, didn’t want to drink anything during the day, and he was cranky. Oh, and he was crying when I got there – which he never is.

So, instead of taking him to the playground after daycare as I was originally thinking we’d do, I popped him in the carseat and we headed home. Bad mom move number one. Good moms take their children to the swings on sunny days!

What good moms do (not what we did)

As soon as I got him in the car, he started crying. And then of course the second we pulled into our apartment parking lot, he passed out. Because he hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before (we were up with him from midnight until 2 a.m.) and because he hadn’t slept much at daycare, I decided to let him nap. Bad mom move number two. Good moms don’t let their kids nap after 5 p.m.!

After we got back to the apartment, I thought I’d let him play for a bit while I prepared dinner. That wasn’t happening – the second I put him down on the floor he cried. And I’m not talking about the little baby whimpering that goes on for a few minutes but then goes away when you distract them – no, I’m talking about the sobbing, head down on the floor type of crying that is typically inconsolable. So, I picked him up in one arm and attempted to chop of veggies with my right hand. Bad mom move number three. Good moms NEVER use a knife while carrying their baby. AND good moms don’t multitask with their baby; they give their children their undivided attention. 

FW didn’t really stop crying and made the sign for hungry, so I attempted to put him in his high chair to feed him. He continued to cry, so I put on some music. Still cried, so I resorted to turning on Elmo’s Song video on YouTube. Bad mom move number four. Good moms don’t allow screen time, especially on children under two years old.

Bad mom’s savior

FW settled down for a little bit, so I attempted to continue to make dinner and feed him. I gave him some zucchini and sweet potato. He threw it on the floor immediately. I gave him some spinach muffin and cheese. That landed on the floor as well. Then, I tried some bread and peanut butter. He shook his head and pushed all the food on the floor, dramatically picking up the peanut butter bread and dropping it – of course it landed peanut butter side down. I tried and tired again, but eventually gave up and ended up giving him some jarred peaches and graham crackers. Bad mom move number five. Good moms feed their children balanced meals and give them whatever you’re eating. And of course you don’t give in – they’ll eat if they’re hungry!

You can guess where the night ended. After FW’s not-so-well-rounded meal, because B being out late buying paint for the house, I was in charge of putting FW to bed. Which of course ended up being late and past his bedtime (and meant he ultimately cried himself to sleep … because, well, bad mom, again). And then instead of spending the evening cleaning or making food for FW, I caught up on work emails and started packing up 1 box of kitchen stuff for the move.

I’m not a hoarder, but this is the embarrassing state of my apartment right now …

I know that he won’t remember days like this and that we’re doing the best we can, but sometimes it’s hard to be a good mom 100% of the time. Does anyone else feel this way?

Tuesdays on the Run: Slowly and Surely

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 4 Comments

You guys – I am getting my mileage back up again! For the first time in more than a month, I hit double digits on my weekly mileage. No, that’s not one long run of double digits (not quite there yet!) but my total mileage for the week was 16.49 miles.

I’m not going to lie – getting back into running has not been as easy as I would have liked. It has been HARD! I’ve been trying to be good about doing my piriformis stretching and take it somewhat easy, but I am longing for the day when I can  just go out and go for a pain-free run and feel strong enough to go longer than 3-4 miles.

This week’s running highlight:

I ran with my beautiful pregnant bestie when I was in California earlier last week. It was a slow run, but was so much fun! We ran to the store to get cragels – croissant/bagels! – and ran back.

I’m going to hopefully continue to heal and get back to longer runs. I have to remind myself that it should get easier as I get back into running shape and not get down on myself for being so much slower than I was a few months ago!

Some questions for you:

  • What music are you listening to you now while you run? I got new headphones!
  • What are you looking forward to most this week?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs!

A Weekend of Many Firsts

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

It was a weekend of many firsts for FW. First time in a pool, first family softball game, first time seeing (and petting and sitting on!) a horse, and probably a few more that I’m missing.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Here are some highlights from our weekend.

Friday night included some homemade pizza and an episode of Sneaky Pete before B went to work on the house. We haven’t had homemade pizza in FOREVER and it was so delicious. And it’s nice to have a homemade meal when I don’t have to cook (B’s the pizza chef).

Saturday was JAM PACKED. I started off the morning with my fastest run since my piriformis issue and got in 3.54 miles! With some stretching and foam rolling of course.

After that, we were on our way to B’s family’s bi-annual softball game. Every other year, the families get together for the Carney Games and play one another in softball.

I’m not the most athletic person, but I’m not awful at softball – I’m one of the worst players on the team, but I did make 2 hits and got a run in the 3 1/2 innings I played (I was only at bat twice).

Our team won! The score was something ridiculous like 20-7 …

After the game, we headed to B’s uncle’s house. He has a lot of land and a farm with cows, horses, and a pool.

FW loved being in the pool! It was his first time, and B and I got to hold him and glide him around in the water.

We enjoyed some good food and beverages, and then FW got to see some of the animals. He was less-than-thrilled with his first horse experience. He’s a city boy and uncomfortable around wildlife like his momma 🙂

FW also got to hang out with his cousin. They are only a few months apart, which is great!

I didn’t get a picture of the amazing food (they make their own sausage!), but I did get a pic of my drink of choice. Rose and cider? Count me in!

Sunday came and went waay too fast! The day started with some pancakes and a 4 mile run.

Followed by reading with this guy one of my brother’s old books.

And then, some time in the splash park downtown. He loves running around in the fountains and was soaked!

We ended the day with takeout sushi. Sunday night typically means dinner with B’s family, but B ended up working on the house until after 7, so we didn’t get a chance to make dinner. Takeout sushi is okay with me, though!

Some questions for you:

  • Do you play softball?
  • Do you have any family competitions?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps!

Slowly Getting Back To Running

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

For those of you that have been following along, I haven’t been running as much as I usually do. If you follow me on Instagram or Snapchat (@koskim), you’ve likely noticed fewer running posts and stories.

I’ve been having issues with my piriformis. It started the week after Fourth of July with a tightness in my lower back/glutes and I thought that maybe going for a run on it would help loosen it up. Instead, that day it hurt to walk. A lot. And since then, I’ve been hobbling around and limping, not quite sure how to get better.

Thanks to the Internet, a coworker and my brother-in-law who is a doctor, I self diagnosed myself with piriformis syndrome and took it upon myself to STRETCH, REST, massage, foam roll and take some NSAIDs.  Oh, and of course – not run.

This is how I feel stretching …. I’M SO inflexible!:

It has been a long few weeks. The first week I did nothing at all. I have to admit, I was grumpy and not in the best of moods.

The next week I started slowly doing other things – walking a little more and the elliptical.

The next week – I started running again! And by running, I mean no more than one mile and stretching before and after.

And then this week, I did a few more runs and they were longer! Sunday I did 2.54 miles and Thursday I did 3.25 miles! I admit it wasn’t 100% pain free. It wasn’t fast (even though I was out of breath!). But it felt amazing to be outside again and running.

I wouldn’t say I’m back. Not yet – it will be a longer road to recovery than I thought. BUT I’m getting there.

So, here’s to hoping that I’m on the road to recovery and will be back to my running self soon.

Some questions for you:

  • Has anyone else suffered piriformis issues? Any tips?
  • When you don’t run or exercise does it affect your mental state/mood?

Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs.

 

A Weekend Getaway with My Favorite Ladies

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

I’m writing this after finishing up from an amazing girls weekend with my best friends from high school. Me, Jane, Alisa and Melgar have been friends for 20 years and each year we try to do a girls weekend / getaway somewhere.

This year, we spent the weekend in California, visiting Melgar who lives in San Jose. We did some day trips and spent time catching up at her new house.

The weekend included:

Some hiking in Big Basin. Alisa was our fearless leader (we called her the trail maven).

An overnight in Monterey, which included some day trips and scenic driving around Bixby Bridge, 17 Mile Drive and visiting Carmel.

Relaxing by Melgar’s pool. Her new house is gorgeous AND she has a great walking/running path right next to it, along with a pool!

Going for a little run. Melgar is pregnant and still running!

Some amazing food. Including my first cragel – croissant + bagel – which is waaay better than a cronut in my opinion. And Melgar’s husband Jon cooked us an amazing meal of crispy prosciutto and risotto.

And some baking in Melgar’s gorgeous kitchen!

It wouldn’t be a trip with my favorite ladies without some sort of adventure. We ended up semi-getting lost along our drive (that’s what you get when I’m the co-pilot … thank goodness Jane woke up from her nap and showed us the map!).

But it didn’t matter, because we were all together. Singing the Spice Girls and acting like we were in junior high all over again.

These are the friends that I can just truly be myself with. Share my darkest secrets with. Say what’s on my mind. We can laugh together. Cry together. And we did both this weekend. While we only get together like this once a year, we always pick up right where we left off. I know I am so lucky to have friends like these!

Some questions for you:

  • Have you ever been hiking in the Redwoods?
  • What songs bring you back to high school/middle school?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps!