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August Virtual Coffee Date

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 13 Comments

Hi friends! I can’t believe we’re in August, but here we are. I’m joining Coco and Deborah for their virtual coffee today, while also sharing a fitness update for a fitness linkup, so I’m excited to share what’s going on over here.  Here’s what I’d tell you if we were chatting in real life (most likely on a patio because it’s patio season in Cleveland!):

We Threw a 100-Year-Old House Party!
Our home turned 100 this year, and we celebrated with friends and family. We hosted an open house/backyard bash with about 75 people. It was a great mix of friends, neighbors, families from our kids’ school, B’s family and kids running around everywhere. We had a DIY taco bar from Cilantro (so good), bubbles, temporary tattoos, sidewalk chalk, lots of sporting equipment, drinks, and I baked a bunch of desserts. It was supposed to storm but we lucked out and the weather held out! It was one of those days that just felt so much fun from start to finish. I wish I had taken more photos, but I was too busy enjoying it all. Maybe I love hosting more than I realized?

Summer Is Flying By
If you know me, this will come as no surprise – I’m not ready for summer to end. I love the slower mornings, the warm weather, the way it’s lighter in the mornings. I’ve been running more on the trails and paths near me, something I can’t do in the winter when it’s too dark. There’s something about being surrounded by trees and nature that just feels good for the soul!

Birthday Season = Complete!
With my kids’ birthdays in May, June, and July, summer is basically one big celebration. We had Guardians games, outdoor movie nights, trips to the Zoo, SkyZone, and so many treats. It’s a whirlwind, but a fun one. I’m always a little sad when GM’s bday is over because it’s so much fun to celebrate everyone!

Some Music in the Mix
This was the first summer FW is taking piano lessons at Musicologie (he took last summer off), and it’s been going really well! He’s been learning some Beatles songs (which makes my heart so happy), and while it’s definitely a challenge to get in practice time when the weather is so nice, rainy days and no school have helped. It’s been such a sweet addition to our summer routine.

Summer Fitness Wins
Fitness-wise, this summer has been one of my best! A few weeks ago, I hit my highest mileage week (almost 50 miles!), and July ended up being a nearly 200-mile month. I’ve also been swimming laps while the kids are at their swim lessons and I’ve continued weightlifting a few times a week. I’ve alao got in a few strollwe walks and runs with GM! It’s been a great balance, and I’m feeling grateful for the time and energy to move.

Fall Sports Are Coming
After softball and baseball ended, we had a bit of a break from the usual sports/activities chaos (just swimming lessons in the evenings), but that’s about to change. My son starts flag football and soccer next week, and in a few weeks my daughter will resume ballet, cross country and soccer too. I’m not quite ready for the schedule shuffle, but I do love cheering them on from the sidelines.

Summer Reading
I’ve been reading a lot this summer, and it’s been so nice! One Golden Summer by Carley Golden was the perfect beachy, feel-good read. I’m definitely going to check out more from that author. Got any recommendations?

A Little Travel, A Lot of Cleveland Love
We didn’t travel much this summer, just Memorial Day weekend in Atlanta in May, a week in Boston in June, and a quick trip to Albany (now!) to see my brother who’s visiting from Germany. But honestly? I love summer in Cleveland. It’s my favorite time to be here.

So that’s me. What about you? What’s been bringing you joy this summer?

Linking up with My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher for the  Fit Five Friday linkup and the Ultimate Coffee Date hosted by Coco and Deborah
 

Questions for you:

  • Any summer reading recommendations?
  • Is summer lower key for you, too?

May Virtual Coffee Date

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 12 Comments

Happy first Friday in May! Join me in a virtual coffee date. It’s a fun way to share some randomness on my brain with you … here’s what I’d share if we were having a coffee date today.

Not my coffee, but my husband’s mocha at brunch at my new sister-in-law’s cafe!

If we were having coffee today, I’d order some herbal tea, since I don’t drink a lot of caffeine. That said, I did have a Liquid IV with caffeine in today because I did a long run before work and needed all the caffeine I could get afterwards!  

But I digress. If we were having coffee today, I’d tell you…

I’m just a few weeks out from the Cleveland Half Marathon!

I can’t believe it’s already May, and race day is just around the corner. I’m officially almost done with training — I hit 12 miles today and it felt great (okay, it felt great after I was done).

As an ambassador for the event this year, I’ve loved being part of the community, going to the kick off run, etc. BUT I can’t wait until race weekend to volunteer at the Expo because that’s when it really feels real. The weekend is always so inspiring – the spectators, all the volunteers, the runners, etc. 

Remember, as a Cleveland Marathon Ambassador, which means I also have discounted race admission should you want to sign up – you can use SAVE20MELCARN for 20% off your race entry into ANY of the races (including 5K, 10K, kids run!).  I’m doing the challenge series which already sold out, and the other events are selling out FAST!

May is MAYhem.

Honestly, this month rivals the holidays when it comes to chaos. Work is nonstop, we’ve got spring and summer sports overlapping (this weekend alone, my son has FIVE games — soccer and baseball!), and we’re juggling a piano recital, dance recital, school events, and a few upcoming trips. It’s all fun and exciting, but also … a little overwhelming? Just trying to stay upright and caffeinated over here.

We got a piano!

One of the bright spots in our house lately is the addition of a piano. My son started taking lessons through Musicologie, and he’s been having so much fun learning. If you’re in Ohio or Indiana you should check them out — while we have one dedicated teacher, I can schedule and reschedule all the lessons online, which is helpful this time of year when baseball games, weddings (more on that in a minute), etc. get in the way of our regularly scheduled lessons. I just got him a Beatles piano book and he’s already picking out the notes to “Hey Jude.” Watching him sit down and play totally on his own has been one of those proud, heart-melty parenting moments.

I got a haircut!

I chopped my hair off last week!! It was time. It was getting so long and I needed something shorter and easier. I love how they will curl it afterwards so it’s a wavy bob — I wish I could do that myself. I’ve tried to no avail. It just stays straight for me!

Same day, different hair (also wearing makeup in the 2nd one …)

We celebrated our 14-year wedding anniversary this week.

14 years! It’s wild to think how much life we’ve packed into those years, and I’m feeling especially grateful for B this month — for being my favorite dance partner (more on that in a sec), and keeping me sane in all the chaos.

14 years ago … we had the best weather!

Speaking of weddings… my brother-in-law got married last week!

It was a beautiful weekend full of family, friends, and so much dancing. Thursday night’s welcome reception was a full-on party — the kids loved it, and I baked cookies for the dessert table. Friday was an adults-only evening, and after the ceremony (LM was a flower girl with some of her other girl cousins!), B and I danced until midnight before heading to an after-party. It felt like a throwback to pre-kid life, but of course, during half the reception, I kept saying to B, “Oh, LM likes this song… FW would love to dance to this song!” etc.

Scroll through the below photos for some videos too – including dancing and flower girls 🙂

And did I mention travel?

May is going to be the most I’ve traveled since the pandemic I think: three trips, four flights, a road trip, and lots of logistics, packing, unpacking, etc. I’m crossing my fingers that everything goes smoothly. It’s a lot, but I’m excited – it will be a lot of fun!

From the last time we all flew together as a family – Germany last year!

 

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Ultimate Coffee Date is hosted by Coco and Deborah
 

Questions for you:

  • Is your May MAYhem too?
  • What’s keeping you busy these days?

February Virtual Coffee Date

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 12 Comments

Happy first Friday in February! I’m joining several other bloggers today for a virtual coffee date, which is fun. If you know me, you know I don’t actually drink a lot of coffee in real life, or caffeine. But if you care to join me over a decaf latte, here’s what I’d share over coffee: 

Note – there are some affiliate links below, so if you decide to buy my exercise bike, thanks in advance 🙂 But I really do love all these!

I’m over winter … but surviving! Okay, I hate to start with a grumble, but if we were actually meeting for coffee, I’m sure you’d say the same! We’ve had SO MUCH wintery weather this year, and many schools were closed near me yesterday for ice! Can’t it just be spring? Here is how I’m surviving this winter:

  • My treadmill – I’m LIVING on it. 
  • My Merach exercise bike. I admit it’s no Peloton, but as someone who mostly works out on a treadmill or outside, it’s been nice to have an affordable bike for me to use as cross training when it’s too cold, icy, or my legs are sore.
  • Yaktracks. I bought these new ones a few weeks ago for running, and they seem to work well! I don’t love running on snow often because it impacts my gait, but if there’s a little snow and not much ice, these have been lifesavers.

What I’m reading lately. I am still in the middle of Onyx Storm and just got to some serious action and can’t put it down! I don’t want to finish it because I’ve heard it just ends (ugh!) and it will be some time before the author writes the next in the series. So I’m taking my time. I did just finish two good reads that I’d recommend:

  • If you like historical fiction with a little spice: The Goddess of Warsaw by Lisa Barr was enjoyable. It was like Evelyn Hugo meets World War II Nazi drama.
  • If you like sci-fi that takes place in modern times on Earth: An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green was so good. I loved the way it was written and that it wasn’t too far out. We read it for book club and I’ve already read the second book because I couldn’t wait to hear what happened next! 

What I’m excited for this weekend. Our weekends have been crazy lately – we typically have 2 basketball games, a soccer game, 1-2 futsal games, piano lessons and ice skating … and all that’s for the kids! Well, this weekend I’m taking time for ME and going to the Cleveland Marathon Kickoff Run! It is thanks to arranging for childcare, having my husband carry the load, and having FW get rides from other parents … but I’m going to make it happen and go run with the group on Saturday morning. 


photo from last year’s kickoff run

As a reminder, I’m a Cleveland Marathon Ambassador, which means I also have discounted race admission should you want to sign up – you can use SAVE20MELCARN for 20% off your race entry into ANY of the races (including 5K, 10K, kids run!). 

Thanks for joining me for my Ultimate Coffee Date! 

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Ultimate-Coffee-Date-1.jpgUltimate Coffee Date is hosted by Coco and Deborah
 

Questions for you:

  • If you have crazy weekends, how do you fit in time for you?
  • Are you over winter yet, too?

My 2024 Running Recap

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 17 Comments

It’s that time of year again — for my annual running recap!

This year was an eventful year for running and working out. A lot is different than last year – fewer mileage (thanks a lot, TWO injuries!) but new cross-training habits. Here’s a look at the good, the bad and what’s coming up in 2025. 

Let’s start with the not-so-good:

Two injuries AND a low mileage year: I had 2 injuries this year, which hurt my running. I started off January 2024 feeling great – so great in fact that I ramped up my mileage, doing 7 miles a day for a few days in a row… and then my hip started acting up. I kept running on it for a few days when suddenly I could barely walk without pain. So, I took one month off. During that time, I was lucky enough to be able to ride my indoor bike and rowing machine and do some hip strengthening exercises (lots of clam shells!) and then came back in February feeling strong!

The second injury was the beginning of September – I ran into a door and broke my toe. I kept running on it (not realizing it was broken), but then once I realized it was, I was off it for 6 weeks. And at the same time, my daughter broke her arm on the monkey bars! We were both injured for the beginning of the school year.

So between those 6 weeks and the 4+ weeks off with those two injuries, my mileage this year was less than stellar. I had my lowest mileage year in several years. I barely beat how many miles I ran the year GM was born (1379.6) – even with the time off from running after giving birth plus my slowing down before he was born (I ran through 38ish weeks pregnant. My last run was the 13th and he was born the 22nd).

And now, the good:

I actually started cross training! Every year I make it an informal goal to cross train. In 2023, we invested in an exercise bike and rower, and I would sometimes go on those for 15-30 minutes at a time in between runs or when I was injured. But this year, I started something completely new – weight training! When my foot was broken, I started a weight training program where each day I focused on a different body part. I used kettlebells to start, and on Prime Day, we invested in some free weights. I went back to running in October, but my weight training hasn’t stopped! I’m actually enjoying lifting weights most mornings and while it sometimes is hard to fit it in PLUS running, I know it’s good for my body and my bones to keep getting stronger. This is a big deal for me and I’m so proud that I’ve been able to keep it up!

How it started – with my boot and some kettlebells.

I ran a great Cleveland half marathon! I had no speed goals this year, but ended up running it faster than I have ran it the past few years. Was it sub-2 like I had been in the past? No, but it was 2:02 and 4 minutes faster than 2023 and 9 minutes faster than 2022! And I had a ton of fun! Race recap here >> https://icrashedtheweb.com/2024/05/19/cleveland-marathon-2024-challenge-series-recap/

I’m a Cleveland Marathon ambassador again! I’m once again an ambassador for the 2025 Cleveland marathon race events. If you’re thinking of running any of the events, I have a 20% off coupon code for you! Use SAVE20MELCARN on any of the events – 5k, 10k, full, half, or even the challenge series!

Also good for this year, I did several races with my kids! My 8 year old seems to enjoy doing 5Ks, and we’ve run a few together, including the recent Turkey Trot where he got a trophy for getting 2nd place in his age group! I’ve loved running with him and hope he continues to enjoy doing races. He never runs outside of the races (unless it’s at a sport like soccer or basketball), but maybe some day he will enjoy going for a run with me.

All smiles after a 5K in the pouring rain – but look at that trophy!

Total mileage in 2024: 1,385.7 miles run … plus countless miles on the indoor bike, a few on the rowing machine (I can’t seem to get into that), and lots of weight training (18 weeks so far!)

Questions for you:

  • How did your 2024 go? Did you start something new with your workout routine?
  • Any goals for 2025? My 2 goals are to 1) not get injured and 2) keep up my weight training!

I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Run Down.

Five Friday Fitness-Related Favorites

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

Happy Friday! I’m joining the Fit Friday Five linkup today to share Five Fitness-related Favorites. Say that five times fast amiright? 

Now that my leg is nearly recovered, I’m feeling like I am finally getting back in the groove of my fitness routine. I’m back to running (somewhat) regularly, doing cross training, planking daily (up to 2:30!) and fitting in push ups and other exercises. So here are five things that I’m loving lately, related to fitness:

Note – there are some affiliate links below, but I really do love all these!

A good pair of shoe inserts. These are my go-to orthotic inserts for my running shoes. They are (relatively) cheap (compared to prescription ones) and they last me a while. Each time I buy a new pair of running shoes, I remove the inserts that come with them and add these instead. They’re so easy to use and keep me feeling supported when running!

From their website (but I’ve also bought at Amazon and from Fleet Feet)

PowerStep Pinnacle Insoles | Plantar Fasciitis & Heel Pain Relief Orthotic

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My massage gun. I was gifted with the Bob and Brad C2 Pro Massage Gun and it has become part of my routine. I use it weekly on my legs and lower back to help loosen up sore areas or places that I’m tight at. It comes with different tips, and you’re able to use it as a hot OR cold massager, which I LOVE. I’m always cold in the winter and love the heat option. I haven’t used it in the summer, but I know the cold will be lovely in summertime. It also comes with a carrying case, which makes it easy for when I bring it from the basement (where I work out) to other areas of the house.   Note — if you want to try out this massage gun for yourself, here is a 10% off discount code: PRC2PRO10. I don’t personally benefit from this code, but you do get a good deal, thanks to the Bob and Brad team.  

carryingmg

A variety of core workouts. I have been trying to do a plank every day, and am doing 2-2:30 minutes ata time most days, which is great for me! I also like to switch it up and try different online core workouts. One of my favorite fitness influencers who has a variety of core workouts that I’m loving these days is Pamela Reif. She has a ton of pilates, yoga, aerobics and core/ab workouts, which I have been trying out. And best of all – they’re all free and online for anyone!  

My running vest. In Cleveland, it’s the season of in between weather. And on those days where it’s not quite cold enough for a jacket, but it’s too cold for just a shirt (or when I just want some extra pockets), I THRIVE in my running vest. I had a Nike one for years, which I have loved, but as it got older and more worn, I was looking for a new option. I found this affordable one (more affordable than some major running brands) on Amazon which has been perfect for me! In the winter I was wearing it over my running layers for extra heat. This week, one morning it was in the 40s and I wore shorts, a long sleeve and this vest. It’s perfect if you’re looking for something with pockets, that’s affordable and less frills. 

(Yes, the brand name is “Little Donkey,” which is hilarious)

I’m wearing it in this photo – I brought it to Thanksgiving for their turkey trot!

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Local raw honey. What does honey have to do with fitness you ask? Plenty! Well for me, at least. I LOVE honey for my fuel for long runs. I have honey packets for carrying with me during long runs. And because I’ve been fighting a cold, I’ve been having a teaspoon (err..or a few teaspoons) of the raw honey that we bought at Pancake Town a few times a day – before my run, and later in the day as well. It not only gives me energy, but I truly believe in its healing powers. Oh and it tastes delicous!

fawhoney

Shoe inserts, a massage gun, online core workouts, my running vest and raw honey – those are what’s keeping me fitness-happy lately. What about you?

 
Fit Five Friday is hosted by My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher 

Questions for you:

  • Do you like honey? I admit I’m kind of a honey fanatic.
  • Do you wear a running vest often?

Friday Favorites and a Virtual Coffee Date

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 14 Comments

Happy first day of March! I’m joining several other bloggers today for a virtual coffee date, which is fun. I can’t remember the last time I did an actual real-life coffee date with someone (it’s been some time), so it’s fun to share with you instead some things I’ve been enjoying lately. 

Over coffee, I would tell you that these are five things I’ve been grateful for lately:

Note – there are some affiliate links below, so if you decide to buy my bike, thanks in advance 🙂 But I really do love all these!

This tea. Okay, I don’t actually drink caffeine regularly, so if we were having a coffee date, I’d probably be sipping on some delicious tea – Harney & Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice. And this tea has been giving me life lately. If I do need a little jolt of energy, this is what I’m brewing these days. If you like cinnamon, I highly recommend it!

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My exercise bike. I have been getting over a running injury (ugh!) and I’ve been so grateful to have my Merach exercise bike to get me through the past few weeks. It has kept me sane when I can’t run, and also given me a way to sweat and work some new muscles that I don’t focus on when running. It’s no Peloton, but I does it’s purpose and is a great bike for when cycling is your cross-training and not your primary workout. Oh, and it’s a great tool to have when your toddler is waking up at 6 am on weekends and wants to watch Daniel Tiger …

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This nail polish. I go through phases with my nails, but I have always loved a good painted nail. This Esse Gel Couture is a polish I use at home (thanks to my friend Emily for introducing me to it!) and it lasts longer than my traditional home “manicure.” I’ve done my nails on a Friday or Saturday and gone to work most of the following week with it still looking good, and that says something! Best of all – it’s regular nail polish. No need for any UV light or do anything special to take it off. I use regular polish remover with acetone and a cotton ball and it comes right off. I have this bright red color and the below pink, which is an amazing nude color.

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What I’m reading lately. After reading Killers of the Flower Moon, I wanted to find an easy, short book and this was everything I was looking for.  Sourdough was a light, fast read. It wasn’t my favorite book of the year but it was quick and easy. It also made me think about getting into the sourdough baking cult (yes, I know I’m 4 years too late). 

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Morning walks. As the weather starts to get warmer, I’m so glad to be able to get in a short morning walk with GM after the big kids go to school. The bus picks them up around 7:15, and if I’m working from home, I have a 45 minutes or so to kill before starting my day. While it was chilly some mornings this week, we had some beautiful 50-60 degree days with a gorgeous sunrise and I was able to get GM out for a few miles. These walks have also been key to my sanity while I’m not running – getting in any movement has been a blessing!

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Hope you liked my first Ultimate Coffee Date/Fit Five Friday linkup! 

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is Ultimate-Coffee-Date-1.jpgUltimate Coffee Date is hosted by Coco and Deborah
Fit Five Friday is hosted by My First 5K and More, Running With Attitude, Run Laugh Eat Pie, Runs with Pugs, and The Running Teacher 

Questions for you:

  • Do you drink coffee or tea regularly?
  • How often do you paint your nails or get them done?

2023 Summer Family Vacation — Part 2, A Few Days in Philly

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / Leave a comment

After our quick trip in NY, it was off to our hotel in Philly! We had plans to be there four nights and do a mix of some historic stuff, patriotic stuff, food stuff, and plenty of walking around. Here’s a little about what our week entailed:

HOT weather. I’m talking about hot. I went for a run one day and it was feels like 100+ degrees early in the morning! I can’t imagine how hot it really was later in the day.

The kids (and B) were troopers and we still got in plenty of walking each day. We visited The Liberty Bell, saw where the Declaration of Independence was signed and even saw what was left of George Washington’s early home.

We saw the city’s Fourth of July Parade.

We went to their Fourth of July festival! Philly did it big – they had a huge party downtown with tons of food vendors, a free concert and fireworks. The concert included Ludacris and Demi Lovato and we may have kept the kids up a little too late just so we could participate in some of the festivities.

We checked out Reading Terminal Market on more than one occasion. FW enjoyed a real Philly cheesesteak! I was partial to the cookies.

We (per usual) got in plenty of hotel pool time – each day we let the kids burn some energy in the water.

We also got in some good museum time. We checked out the Franklin Institute and the kids had a blast running around and interacting with all the exhibits.

Another day, we went to the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. They also had a lot of fun things for the kids to do, including several dino exhibits and a room with small animals and bugs for the kids to touch.

We visited Chinatown, and stopped for a sweet drink.

I also was able to get in two runs, which isn’t always easy when traveling with the family. Luckily, B was able to take the kiddos two different mornings while I got to go running. One of the days I ran up the famous Rocky steps at the Art Museum!

We even got in two side trips to see friends, including our friend Mitch from Boston College. He and his wife Becca have two kids, so we were able to join them for dinner one night and our kids loved playing with their kids and playing with their outdoor water equipment.

On the way back, we stopped in Lancaster to meet up with my friend and former coworker, Wendy. She showed us around the cute downtown, we enjoyed lunch at a crepe restaurant, some post-lunch candy shopping at the fun Swedish candy shop, and some book purchases at their kid bookstore.

As always, it was a bummer when the trip ended. We didn’t cross off nearly everything on our list, so I hope we can come back soon!

Thankful in 2022

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / Leave a comment

Happy belated Thanksgiving! I’m feeling extra thankful this year, because for the first time in five years, I was able to spend time with my extended family and celebrate Thanksgiving with them.  Thanks to the pandemic, it had been several years since we were able to go back to Connecticut and spend Thanksgiving with my family and I am so grateful for B and the kids for driving 20+ hours just so I could see my family and also get in a Turkey Trot.

In honor of our trip, here’s a non-running blogpost about what our adventure included:

We left Ohio Tuesday evening, and drove about 5 hours to Pennsylvania. We stopped for dinner along the way, and after that, most of the kids were able to sleep during the ride thankfully.

Wednesday morning, we got in hotel breakfast (yay for waffle makers, cottage cheese, and hard boiled eggs!), and then a nice trip to the hotel pool. The kids all had a blast splashing around. After we checked out, we walked around the downtown of the city we had stayed in, stopping in a coffee shop and book store, which was apparently one of the oldest independent book stores in the U.S. We of course left with new books to keep us entertained in the car for a little.

Bookstore

Wednesday’s 4+ hour car trip was a little more eventful. We hit traffic, so I found us a local road, which ended up being windy and left FW and GM feeling sick. GM ended up getting car sick, so we had to stop along the way to clean him up, and then a few more stops to help FW feel better. Eventually, we made it to Connecticut, and I was able to pick up my race packet just before they closed down. Then, it was time for dinner! We were able to meet up with my extended family for dinner at a local Asian restaurant.

Thursday morning we got up early for the Stratford Turkey Trot! I’m so grateful for B and the kids for putting up with my crazy running needs. The race had a free kids run that I ended up signing FW and LM up for at the last minute, which I’m so glad I did! They had a clown and a turkey warming the kids up at their starting line, and then giant turkey-themed medals at the finish!

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Then it was time for my race! The course was around the neighborhoods of Stratford, and while it started out crowded, it ended up spacing out during the course and was an enjoyable race. It wasn’t my fastest 5K by far, but I finished and felt good.

After that, we headed back to the hotel to get in some pool time before Thanksgiving dinner at my aunt and uncle’s house. Dinner was great – my parents had gotten into town and again, it was so great to see my family.

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Friday morning, the kids got in one more trip to the pool while I got in a short treadmill run before getting on the road again. This time, we were driving to New Jersey to visit my aunt, my cousin, and her two kids. I hadn’t seen her since 2019 and was excited to introduce her to our newest baby as well as meet hers (again, thanks pandemic!).

cousins

After spending the afternoon with my cousin in New Jersey, we got back in the car to make the drive to upstate NY to spend the night at my parents’ house.

Saturday morning, I got up for a run near my parents’ house, and then we all headed to a nearby playground to let the kids burn some energy before we got in the road just in time for naptime.

The ride back was long, and we decided at the last minute to push through and get home Saturday night late. We didn’t get to bed until after midnight, but it was great sleeping in (and waking up in) my own bed Sunday morning!

We did it. We survived 20+ hours in the car with three kids, including a 16-month-old. I don’t recommend it, but it was worth it.

And now…. let the holiday season truly begin!

One week to go …

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 5 Comments

Oh my goodness. It is ONE WEEK until race day! That’s right, the countdown is here – next weekend, I’ll be spending my Saturday and Sunday running the Cleveland Marathon Challenge Series.

I can’t believe how fast the training cycle went – it seems like only yesterday I was starting out with my long runs of 6-7 miles. But here we are, last week I ran 11 miles and I’m hopefully ready to pound out 13 miles on the pavement.

This week was a little different with training. I was out of my routine, because I was traveling for work. This was my first work trip in three years and it meant a few early mornings, long days, and some uncomfortable shoes. But. I was still able to get in some runs most days. I didn’t follow my typical training plan, but I wasn’t beating myself up too much – at this point, I’m not sure how much of a difference it makes in my performance next week.

Here’s how the week looked:

Continue reading →

Introducing GM (and his birth story)

/ Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 4 Comments

Reader Advisory:

The following may be TMI  for the average reader who comes here to hear about my race training and workouts. It is a post about our newest arrival – GM! Before having kids, the thought of reading a birth story was strange to me. I didn’t understand why people shared them and what the point of documenting them was. But I’m so glad I captured LM’s (here), and I’m happy to share GM’s too. So, if you aren’t interested, please feel free to stop reading now 🙂 

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