Tuesdays on the Run: 2017 Year in Running in Review

December 26, 2017December 26, 2017 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! I can’t believe the holidays are over; it’s my favorite time of year. But as we head into the New Year, it’s time to look back and reflect on 2017.

As I look back a the year in running, if I had to give myself a grade, I’d give myself a B+. It wasn’t my best year in terms of mileage quantity – I’ve run more miles in years past, but I still ran more this year than last year. Some of the highlights, number wise (NOTE that these numbers should go up still, as is does not include any mileage that I run between now and the end of the year):

Total mileage for 2017: 1,111+ miles
Average weekly mileage: 22 miles
Most popular day for a run: Tuesday (I ran 46 Tuesdays this year)
Least popular day for a run: Friday (I only ran 28 Fridays)
Average number of days run/week: 5

Some visual highlights from 2017:

I started the year out finding that I had been selected as a Skirt Sports Ambassador and even ran a race (The Chili 5K in Cleveland) with some of my fellow local ambassadors!

I also found out that I was selected as a Sparkly Soul Ambassador! I love their headbands – they are the only ones that don’t fall off my slippery head/hair.

I trained for and ran the Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon 10K/Half Marathon Series in May. I ran it with Mary and FW and B cheered me on! I was close to a PR, too – finishing at .

B and I have done some stroller runs with FW. B tends to use the stroller more when we run together or in races, but it has been great to be able to get outside and run with him, too! (and yes, he sometimes falls asleep, which is also a plus)

I JUST found out that I’m now also a 2018 Nuun Ambassador! I can’t wait to stock up on some of my favorites to keep me hydrated as I continue to run this winter.

And speaking of winter, I’ve already broken out the Yaktrax and run in the snow. This is a big deal for me – I hate winter and winter running as well, so I’m pretty proud that I was able to get out there a few times when we had some snow. I stayed inside most of last winter, so hopefully I’ll be able to keep up going outside sometimes this winter as well.

B and I moved. While this isn’t necessarily a running highlight, I now have many new running paths! I miss downtown living and running in downtown CLE, but there are so many beautiful places for me to explore.

Here’s to hoping that 2018 is another good year of running! Some questions for you:

How would you grade your 2017 year of running?
Any tips for getting through winter running?

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

It’s Almost Christmas!

December 18, 2017December 17, 2017 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 2 Comments

Happy Hanukkah and almost Merry Christmas! I can’t believe that we are just one week away from Christmas and can you tell I’m excited? We crammed in a few wintry/holiday things this weekend – here is a look at some stuff we did, one-sentence-per-photo style. We …

Took care of a little holiday baking with these graham cracker toffee bites (yes, again) and lemon cookies.

Shopped for, wrapped, and dropped off gifts and meals for our annual holiday adopt a family with some fellow BC alumni.

Went for a short, slow run in the snow.

Ordered takeout Thai food.

Played outside “in the snow” with FW and his friend Celia (full disclosure: FW actually was in a super clingy mood and didn’t want anything to do with said snow except when Celia pushed him on his bike).

Ate pancakes in our PJs.

Ate pizza (in two hands!) in similar clothing.

Sorta played in the snow.

Hung out with B’s family, including Great Grandma, for Sunday dinner.

And we helped them decorate their Christmas tree!

So let’s just say it was a pretty good weekend and we CANNOT wait for Christmas!

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps!

Tuesdays on the Run: Slow Week

December 12, 2017December 10, 2017 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 8 Comments

This post will be somewhat short because I’m TIRED. B was out of town for part of the week so I was a single parent (and unable to run in the mornings while FW was sleeping), then FW was sick (he slept for about 2 hours Wednesday night), which means that I’m recovering from a tiring week. Work is the busiest it has been for me in some time, so add that to the mix and well, I’m tired and unfortunately haven’t run as much as usual.

Total for this week: 3 runs, 13ish miles total

Tuesday: 4.56 miles
Wednesday: 4.56 miles
Friday: 4.68 miles

Some of the highlights:

I tried out a completely different route Wednesday morning – and funnily enough, it was exactly the same mileage as when I went out on a different route on Tuesday!

And then Friday, I was able to go for a run in the middle of the day and try out another new route. This time I went on a path near a nearby lake and it was GORGEOUS. I stopped a few times to take pictures, and felt really really lucky that I live close enough to be able to run on these paths.

I’m hoping that I get used to this cold weather we are having …. I’ve been having a really hard time getting out and running in the cold and staying warm this year for some reason.

How cold is too cold for you to run?
What’s keeping you busy this time of year?

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

Getting in the Holiday Spirit

December 10, 2017December 10, 2017 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 2 Comments

I can’t believe how fast December is flying by – and I don’t mind it one bit! I love the holidays and with each day that passes, we are one day closer to going home and seeing my family for the holidays.

This weekend I started feeling in the holiday spirit – mainly because it included some COLD weather, baking and gingerbread house making!

I started off the weekend and made this graham cracker toffee from Two Peas and their Pod and she’s right – it’a addicting!

Before the flurries hit us, I also got in a run this view. I feel lucky to live so close to a path that runs along some lakes.

Saturday included a LOT of errands. We went to Target to do some holiday shopping for our adopt a family, Old Navy for some more adopt a family (and FW) shopping, Home Depot and then out to lunch. It had been a while since I went to Boaz and I still love their bowls!

That afternoon, we made some sauce and then B made homemade pizza. We bought some all beef pepperoni at a local butcher shop and OMG it is so good. What a difference it makes.

That night, B and I also caught up on some Game of Thrones (we are lost done with the season!) after FW went to bed. I never would’ve thought I would like the show – but I really do enjoy it too much!

Sunday was our Ladies Craft Beer Society holiday brunch! Nicole hosted and we made gingerbread houses. FW got to hang out with some of his other baby friends and semi help make the gingerbread house … can that be my excuse as to why it doesn’t look so great? 😉

The rest of the day included a little walk and playing in the “snow” we had gotten (just a dusting from Winter Storm Benji) before dinner with B’s family.

We had brownie sundaes for dessert. I strongly believe that it is never too cold for ice cream.

Some questions for you:

Did you get any snow this weekend?
What’s your favorite dessert?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps!

Some Weeks You Don’t Run As Much

December 5, 2017December 2, 2017 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

It was a pretty ordinary week of running here. In fact, it was a little low – I only was able to get out 4 days this week, which is the fewest days I’ve been out in some time. Here’s how this week turned out:

Some of the highlights from this week:

The beginning of the week started with some warmer-than-usual weather. Meaning, it was in the 40s, and I got to wear capris 3 days in a row. I rocked my Cleveland Marathon capris AND Skirt Sports Redemption capris (I love the stargaze print!).

Work has been pretty busy lately, and unfortunately that has been interfering with my runs. Thursday I had a 6+ hour car trip, plus work, so a run didn’t happen. And the other days I was up late working, making getting up at 5 a.m. to run pretty hard. This week will also be another relatively low week – B was out of town over the weekend and Monday, and I wasn’t able to get out for a run with just FW. That being said, it’s almost time for my vacation, so I’m hoping to get some more runs in soon!

Some questions for you:

How do you balance life + work + running when one gets busy?
What is your favorite season for running?

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

Single Mom Weekends

December 3, 2017 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again – but I have so much respect for single moms. B was away this past weekend, and it was just FW and me. And wow, that was tiring. Between watching FW and catching up with some work, I feel like I need a weekend to recover from my weekend!

Some of the highlights:

We did a little coloring …

And went for a walk to the lakes. It was a grey day, but relatively warm.

We met up with our friends Nicole, Stephanie and Clara for a walk. FW decided he didn’t want to stay in the stroller. He also didn’t want to be in Clara’s wagon, so I ended up carrying him for half of the ride.

This was taken the hot minute he sat in the wagon. You can see he wasn’t too happy.

Sunday morning I got up early to shower before FW woke up at 7, and made some breakfast as well. Pancakes and eggs made for the perfect Sunday morning breakfast.

Then, we got in some outside time, since it was an absolutely gorgeous day. We went for a walk with our friends Joey and Lulu, picked up some groceries (I love that we can still walk to a grocery store!) and then enjoyed just walking and riding around the neighborhood.

FW decided he didn’t want to go down for a nap in the afternoon, so instead, we got in a few chores, including some sweeping, laundry, cleaning up toys and such, and dishes. After another walk (this time to pick up dinner), we just goofed around the house and got ready for the holidays.