A Very Merry Weekend

December 23, 2018December 23, 2018 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 2 Comments

Hello from New York! We are currently celebrating the holidays in New York with my family, and I’m off the routine, which means that this week in running will be a little off. But we’re having tons of fun while we’re here. Some of the highlights or our week so far:

FW and LM met Santa! He stopped by school last week and FW asked for some gifts (he asked for “presents.” When Santa prodded, he asked for “books and dinosaurs.”

LM got in some quality Nonna time.

And FW bonded with Uncle Greg over trains and music.

FW even got close to my parents’ dog a few times.

LM got to meet a good college friend of mine, whose parents live nearby.

We had my favorite local pizza, Defazios.

We braved the line and caught the lights in the park. FW loved them!

I also got to run outdoors by myself during the day! Time off from work, plus mild (cold but not snowy) weather, plus grandparents to watch the kids meant I got to spend some time outdoors, running. In fact, last week’s running went really well. We had a warm front and I was able to run outside every day this week, including one stroller run to kick off the week! I got in a 6.3 miler in NY, which put me at my highest post-LM mileage week thus far!

Here’s how the week looked:

I can’t complain! The week was great in running and beyond. I just love this time of year!

Some questions for you:

Has the weather been mild around where you are?
Are you in the holiday spirit?

I’m linking up with the weekly wrap.

Looking Back At 2018 Running Goals

December 18, 2018December 20, 2018 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

Looking back at this year, I didn’t have many aggressive running goals. In the past, goals may have been to run 4 half marathons, do a sub-25 minute 5k, etc. But in 2018, my goals were:

To be able to run healthily throughout my pregnancy
To complete the Cleveland Marathon Challenge Series (5k/10k)
To be back at running after baby #2 and do 2 races in the fall

As I said, not very ambitious goals. Which is probably why I was able to meet them!

Here is how I did:

Run throughout my pregnancy as much as possible

Did I do it? Yes. In fact my last run was 4 days before LM was born (I ran/walked/hobbled a 10k). Was it easy? No. Were many of my runs primarily run/walks? Yes. This time around, running was much harder. When I was pregnant with FW, it was easier (not easy though) to continue running, and I thought for sure I wouldn’t be able to do it with LM. But thanks to my treadmill, my supportive husband, and the Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors, I met this goal more often than not.

this photo isn’t related directly, but I wanted to include it 🙂

Complete the Cleveland Marathon* Challenge Series (5k/10k)

I went into this race weekend, 39 weeks pregnant, with 2 goals. 1. To at least try to run 2. To not give birth or go into labor on the course. And I met those goals, giving birth 4 days later.

Very pregnant for the 5k/10k

To be back at running after baby #2 and do 2 races in the fall

Similar to goal #1, this has also been much harder with LM than FW. I’m definitely getting back into shape, but it is a longer and slower process. But, I have done 3 races since giving birth in May, including one fun stroller run with the whole family. They weren’t PRs, but I did run the Turkey Trot faster this year than my first year!

Sunset Run 5k – first post-LM race!

Questions for you:

Do you make running goals?
Did you meet your 2018 goals?

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

Disclaimer- I am a Cleveland Marathon race ambassador. That also means I have a 10% discount code off that you can use! You can sign up for any of the events – 5k, 8k, 10k, half, full, etc. – and you get 10% off with the code MC2019.

Sick Kids and Cold Weather

December 16, 2018December 16, 2018 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

As you can see below, I had pretty low mileage week tbis week. For a few reasons.

First, it got cold and snowy and icy and I opted to run inside on the treadmill. All the runs this week were on the treadmill and I’m still getting used to running on the treadmill sonI can’t seem to go more than 2 miles without stopping.

Second, the end of this week brought little sleep. One night, I literally didn’t sleep because I was worried about a sick toddler and felt the need to listen to him breathe. Earlier this week, FW landed at the doctor’s office, with a barking cough and trouble breathing – croup! So we knew that some of our plans for the weeken would be put on hold.

But there was still stuff we had to get done! Luckily, after his meds and some sleep, FW was feeling alright enough to help us with dropping off food, gifts and grocieries for our annual adopt a family program.

It’s a lot of work, but I’m always so glad we are able to be part of this annual tradition.

After drop off, since we were in the neighborhood, we decided to ger some coffee (for B), kombucha (for me), and chocolate milk (free for FW).

And then we popped into the West Side Market. It was a bittersweet visit- we were saying goodbye to some of our favorite stands. Two of them were closing – Rooted in Cle and Basketeria.

After the Market, we grabbed a quick lunch at Boaz. FW feastes on hummus and pita and LM tries her first hummus as well! I think she liked it.

It was a low key afternoon and evening, including some raking, nap time for the kids and dinner at home.

Sunday morning included some pancakes (made by B, but not pictured) and a stroller run with FW. We got in 4 miles and it was 40 degrees, which felt AMAZING. I don’t get in many stroller runs when it’s winter because of the cold and snow, so I really appreciated getting out there.

The afternoon went by quickly, and included attending my nephew’s Christmas pageant and then a baby shower. It was a pirate-themed shower with tons of cute decorations.

And then we finished with dinner and festive fun at B’s parents’ house.

All in all, a good pre-holiday weekend and a pretty good week of runs!

Some questions for you:

How do you find time for running when life gets in the way?
Do you work out in the morning or evening?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps

Tuesdays on the Run – 2018 Race Bling

December 11, 2018December 9, 2018 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 10 Comments

Let me start by saying that when it came to racing, I was somewhat of a slacker in 2018. Looking back at my running log, I only count 6 races I ran this year:

Sabre Run 5k (done at 38 weeks pregnant)
Cleveland Marathon 5k (done at 39 weeks pregnant)
Cleveland Marathon 10k (done 4 days before LM was born)
Edgewater Sunset 5k
Nature Center 5k (done with a stroller)
Cleveland Turkey Trot

Do I have a reason? Well, yes, I suppose this little lady being born in May may have affected my running and racing:

So when I saw the topic for this week’s Tuesdays on the Run linkup was 2018 race bling, I realized I only had 4 medals to share.

And my favorite bling of the year? Definitely the medals from the Cleveland Marathon Challenge Series. Not just because of the fact that you get 3 medals for doing 2 races, but because I feel so proud of the fact that I was able to still run (err walk and hobble) the 2 races just 4 days before my due date. It was hard at the time, but I’ll always be proud of that accomplishment.

I’m not quite back in pre-baby running shape, so who knows what 2019 will hold for me.

Did you get any good race bling this year? Do you have any excuses for not racing as much?
Linking up with My No-Guilt Life, Marcia’s Healthy Slice, and MCM Mama Runs.

And don’t forget, I am a Cleveland Marathon race ambassador, which means I have a 10% discount code off that you can use! You can sign up for any of the events – 5k, 8k, 10k, half, full, etc. – and you get 10% off with the code MC2019.

Staying Indoors This Weekend

December 9, 2018December 9, 2018 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

It was a COLD weekend here in Cleveland. I’m usually pretty good about running in the winter, as long as it isn’t too icy, but when I saw the temps were “feels like 14” and even colder, I just couldn’t bring myself to get outside. So that meant some treadmill runs and a bunch of other indoor fun this weekend.

Here’s how the week in general looked:

Friday started with a 3.25 mile treadmill run before the house got up. LM was starting to get restless while I was running, so I ended up getting in 2-ish miles, stopping, walking a bit, and starting again after she went back to sleep.

Friday also included some indoor running – for FW, not me – at the history museum. He got to run around and play in the children’s room.

Saturday morning included some baking – we made some toffee to bring to my Ladies Craft Beer Society meeting.

Not your usual LCBS photo – instead of beer and crafts, I got a photo of some of the kids playing. Don’t worry, there was beer AND crafts, just not photographed.

Saturday also included some grocery shopping.

And B made dinner! Some pasta and shrimp. I love seafood, but we hardly ever eat it because B doesn’t love it, so it was a nice treat.

Sunday morning I opted inside again. It was sunny but FRIGID when I woke up. I did a 20 minute run, checked on the kids (who were hanging out with B) and then got in another mile.

Then, FW and I made muffins. He is becoming quite the kitchen helper and I love it!

The weekend also included a trip to Target for our annual adopt a family shopping trip. Every year, B and I organized a local adopt a family program and pair up local people with families to buy for for the holidays. We buy gifts and groceries for the families. It’s a fun tradition, and I can’t wait until the kids are old enough to understand what we do. And after shopping, it was time for dinner at B’s parents’ house.

We were decorating their tree, which FW enjoyed. He’s definitely getting in the holiday spirit!

Some questions for you:

Are you running outdoors or indoors these days?
Do you like decorating for the holidays?

I’m linking up with the weekly wraps.

Charleston Vacay – Fun, Food and Running

December 3, 2018December 4, 2018 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 5 Comments

Well, we are back from our little vacation to Charleston, South Carolina, and I’m already feeling the need for another trip and more time off. Traveling with two little ones is fun but tiring!

The week off didn’t include as many runs as I would’ve liked, but I did get in 3 runs (2 on our trip), plus we walked everywhere every day, which is such a treat.

Some trip highlights:

The food. I love some southern food (especially corn bread and BBQ) but also had some great seafood while we were there. Including local oysters, ceviche and more.

Walkimg everywhere, every day. I love vacations where we park the car and never really need to drive at all- and this was one of those! While I did not run every day, I did get in tons of walking, with the strollers and wearing LM.

Fort Sumter. We walked down to the water one day and took a ferry ride to Fort Sumter. Not only was it fun to have an up close look at history, but the sunny boat ride was so nice. We even saw a dolphin in the water!

The Aquarium. The Charleston aquarium was also great. FW loved being able to touch the fish and see some sharks and sea turtles.

Running. And, of course, the running. I got in only 2 runs on our trip (and one when we returned), making for a very low mileage week.

One run was in the hotel gym- I had 30 minutes to kill during nap time.

The other was outside. It was sunny and 50 and it felt amazing to be out there!

My overall mileage for the week was only about 7 miles. But I’m grateful to have gotten in any running at all. Especially outdoors when it was so nice!

Questions for you: