My Fastest Run In A While and I’m on a Podcast (Cleveland Half Marathon Training: Week Six)

April 7, 2019April 7, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

I don’t want to jinx it, but dare I say that spring is finally here and winter is gone? This week I got in ALL my runs (minus my speed training, which I like to do inside to keep me honest) OUTSIDE! And one of the runs was in shorts.

Here’s a look at week 6 of my Cleveland half marathon training:

Overall, here is how the week looked:

I had a lot of highlights this week. I got in my fastest post-baby mile!

Here were my splits:

And my longest post-baby run as well. I did it Friday before work.

I had planned on taking Saturday off, but it was nearly 60 degrees in the morning and FW asked me if we could go for a stroller run. I had to say yes and I’m glad I did!

Something else really cool happened, too- I was on a podcast! One of my fellow Cleveland Marathon Ambassadors has a running-related podcast, and I was interviewed this week. You can listen here.

All in all, it was a great week running wise. I hope this week is too!

Some questions for you:

Do you ever run on planned “off” days?
Do you listen to podcasts? Have you ever been on one?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway. Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

clé marathon discount

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

Cleveland Half Marathon Training: Week Five

March 31, 2019March 30, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

Happy almost April! April means it’s almost May which means it’s almost race month, amiright? Okay, I may be getting ahead of myself. But when I looked at my week’s training and saw that I was already at 8 miles (which is almost 9 which is almost 10…) I couldn’t believe I was already there. The Cleveland half marathon will be here before we all know it.

This week went pretty well in terms of training. I even got in a 3 mile stroller run on one of our warm days with FW. It was our first stroller run in FOREVER and it was hard! I am not used to pushing 30+ pounds.

Overall, here is how the week looked:

And a highlight? Besides the stroller run, my 8 miler on Friday morning (which I ran at 5:30 a.m. in the 40 degree rainy weather – ick!) was my longest run since LM was born! It wasn’t quite the pace I hope to be at for race day, but I’m slowly getting back into it.

Some questions for you:

For those of you that wear a Garmin or fitness watch – do you ever resist it so you can break / start new records? I reset mine after LM was born!
Do you do speed training outside or inside?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway. Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

clé marathon discount

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

Pancakes, Pizza and Running

March 25, 2019March 24, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

Some weekends are busy. Jam packed, with tons of fun activities, but barely any time to sit back and relax.

Other weekends are uneventful – not much planned, but plenty of time to hang out with family, friends, and get stuff done.

Last weekend was the former – but this weekend? This weekend was the latter. Not too much planned, so we filled it with good fun, running and some fun activities.

The good food started Friday night. We go meatless on Fridays during Lent, and this Friday B made jackfruit tacos al pastor. They were SO good and definitely brought me back to our days in Mexico City!

Saturday morning, after breakfast, I got in my long run for the week. I’m training for the Cleveland half marathon and had 7 miles on the schedule.

Afterwards, FW and I baked some muffins.

And we did our grocery shopping for the week:)

We continued the good food theme with homemade pizza for dinner.

And at night, B and I watched “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”

Sunday morning started with a new tradition we started last year- visiting the Burton, Ohio fire department for an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast with local maple syrup.

This year was fun, as both kids got to enjoy pancakes.

We finished the weekend at B’s parents’ house for dinner. LM started feeling unwell, so hopefully she is better again soon. She has been sick on and off since January, and I don’t know how much more I can take! Can we just build a bubble to keep our kids safe and healthy?

Questions for you

Have you been sick lately?
What kind of pancakes do you like?

Cleveland Half Marathon Training: Week Four

March 24, 2019March 23, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 9 Comments

I can’t believe it’s less than 60 days to the Cleveland half marathon … that means I’m 25% through with my training! It hardly feels like the race is so soon – perhaps because it still felt like winter this week?

For my long run this week, it was in the 20s when I started … and “feels like” was 17! I’m used to that in December, but at the end of March.

Here is how the week looked:

I felt pretty good during my long run Saturday, but can’t imagine going any faster or further yet. We will see how next week goes. Hopefully I won’t have to break out my winter running socks again.

Some questions for you:

Is it spring near you yet?
Do you wear special socks in the winter?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway. Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

clé marathon discount

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

Cleveland Half Marathon Training: Week Three

March 17, 2019March 17, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

I’ll start this post by confessing that while I didn’t follow this week’s training 100%, I did get in 5 runs, includimg a long run. So for week 3 of Cleveland half marathon training, it wasn’t bad.

The week called for off days on Thursday and Friday, and then a 5k race on Saturday. I didn’t have any races planned, so I opted to get in a long run Saturday instead (and still get out for a short run Thursday … it was 55 degrees when I came home from work — I had to!). So here’s what the week looked like:

I was so excited to have THREE outdoor runs, including 1 done in the evening! I somehow got home before B and the kids on Thursday, so I prepped some dinner and then got outside for a short run before we ate. I can’t imagine doing this on a regular basis, but it was fun!

I was also excited about my long run this weekend. I haven’t run this long since before LM was born and probably since I was last training for a half – so it’s been about 2 years!

Some questions for you:

What’s the longest run you’ve done recently?
Do you have favorite running socks?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway. Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

clé marathon discount

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

Cleveland Half Marathon Training: Week Two

March 12, 2019March 11, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 4 Comments

And now, week two of Cleveland half marathon training is done.

This week, I was only sick a few days, which helped a TON. My eye infection healed, but then LM came down with a fever and likely HFM (along with teething), which is making sleep fun. I also was away for the weekend, which made the schedule change a bit – I did my long run on Friday and then got in an impromptu run on Saturday.

Saturday’s run included some great views – look at the frozen lake! It was also the first run I’ve had outside in forever so any views would’ve been great.

This week’s Tuesday Topic is are you a morning runner or an evening runner?

I’m DEFINITELY a morning runner. I can’t imagine running at night – running is how I start my day nearly every day of the week. It’s the only way I function some days! Plus, my days/nights are pretty crazy that if I ran at night, it would have to be after the kids are in bed and wouldn’t be until after 9 p.m. some nights (which would be too late for me). Here is how I make it happen:

I sleep in my running clothes when I can. Maybe it’s gross, but it makes it so much easier to get out and run! And when I don’t, I make sure my clothes are set out and ready to go.
I figure out my running route and plan before I go to bed. I don’t want to have to think in the morning.
I set multiple alarms. I don’t always wake up with one alarm.

Some questions for you:

Are you a morning or evening runner?
Do you run on vacation?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway.

Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

clé marathon discount

Linking up with Tuesday Topics!

Cleveland Half Marathon Training: Week One

March 5, 2019March 5, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 5 Comments

Week one of Cleveland half marathon training is done!

I’ll be honest, while I pretty much was able to follow the plan, it wasn’t my best week ever. I was still feeling under the weather and then Fri/Sat came down with an eye infection (yay!) so overall haven’t been myself lately. But the week is done and here it is:

That brings my February total to 85 miles.

The next week includes pretty similar training, but with a 30 min tempo run instead of the intervals and a 6-mile run instead of 5 miles. I’m not going to be home Saturday, so I’ll probably try to run my 6 on Friday. We’ll see how that plays out!

This week’s Tuesday Topic is running wish list. What’s on my wish list for training?

A healthy, injury-free training season. I’m so tired of being sick and would love to stay healthy this season!
Sleep! I’m seriously lacking in the sleep department with 2 kids under the age of 3, including a 9 month old who still doesn’t sleep through the night every night. And I notice that on the nights I get 7-8 hours, I run much better than the nights I’m getting 4 and waking up lots.
New shoes. I’ve got 500+ miles on my grey Saucony Ride 10s, but can’t seem to find a similar pair I like right now. I will keep looking, but for now am running in some Ride 9s.

Some questions for you:

What kind of shoes do you run in?
Do you follow a specific training program?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway.

Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

clé marathon discount

Linking up with Tuesday Topics!

Cleveland Half Marathon Training Starts Now!

February 26, 2019February 24, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 6 Comments

Well, the time has come – Cleveland half marathon training is here!

At the beginning of the year, it seemed like I had so much time to kill and that it wouldn’t be training time any time soon. But suddenly, it’s here.

Of course I’m getting over a cold, so I’m not at peak running level, but I’d rather feel this way now as opposed to race day. What’s my training look like? I am a big fan of Hal Higdon’s plans, so I’ll be once again using his training program. Here’s a slightly modified version of what I’ll be doing:

Each week, I’ll share my training – how it went, what I actually ran, etc. My goals are to do the full training program and run my best. I’d love to do another sub-2 hour half marathon but I’m not sure how training will go this year. I’m not in as good shape as I was last time I ran a half marathon, my lack of sleep is real (see: 2 kids under 3) and I have been having a hard time finding enough time to run every morning (again, 2 young kids). But enough excuses – it’s training season! And here we go!

Some questions for you:

What are you training for?
What training program do you use?

Note: I am a Cleveland marathon ambassador! That means I get free race entry for me, and a free race entry to giveaway.

Wanna run CLE with me? Don’t forget, I have a 10% discount for you!

clé marathon discount

Linking up for the first time with Tuesday Topics!

Running, Reading and Eating — What We’ve Been Up To Lately

February 24, 2019February 26, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 3 Comments

If I had to sum up my life lately, it’d be as follows: running, working, eating, (somewhat) sleeping. And then do it all over again.

Yup, that’s pretty much what we’ve been up to lately. But in case you want to see some pictures, here you go:

I recently finished A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. It was so good! I have never read it before but it was our book club book for this week and I really, really liked it.

A coworker and friend took me out for a belated birthday lunch. I LOVE Lebanese food and this cauliflower was amazing.

We’ve been trying to get outside as much as possible. It was chilly on and off this past week, but we did get outside a few times.

Smiles with this girl ❤ She’s fighting a double ear infection but doing alright.

And this guy of course, too.

I also got to go to an amazing blogger tea party. Crystal from Eat*Drink*Cleveland hosted several bloggers last weekend for an AMAZING meal.

She also had this gorgeous tea. Look at that flower!

And she made us cauliflower soup in her Vitamix. I need the recipe; it was SO good!

And of course, there were treats. In addition to tiny tea sandwiches and deviled eggs, there were macarons. Mine was so so good.

What else have we been up to? This weekend we walked to Luna and enjoyed breakfast. FW is loving croissants.

B also made us pizza.

We hung out with Celia and Maura.

And went to the rainforest!

Oh, and of course I’ve been running! The weather has been hit or miss lately- cold and icy in the beginning of the week and then finally it cleared up yesterday and I got outside for a few miles.

And in other running news – my half marathon training starts this week! Today was supposed to be cross-training (or rest) and I actually took it pretty easy. We were supposed to go for a hike with the kids, but it ended up being really windy and rainy so we didn’t get to go. But tomorrow is 3 miles – here’s to hoping that the kids sleep well so I can actually get up and run!

Some questions for you:

Have you read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn?
Are you in a book club?
What does your training look like right now?

I’m linking up with the weekly wrap.

Give the Gift of CLE

January 9, 2019January 12, 2019 / Melissa (I Crashed the Web) / 7 Comments

The holidays are sadly over and you may not be thinking about gifts right now, but I certainly am! Why? Because my birthday is just a few weeks away. And as is the curse of having a birthday around the holidays, people often don’t want to celebrate, don’t know what to get me, or even sometimes forget. Do you have a friend or family member who just got everything on their list for the holidays, but has a birthday coming up? Fear not – here’s a potential gift idea … CLE Pack!

CLE Pack is package featuring products from local Cleveland organizations. You can pick a package of 5, 7 or 9 items and they range from foodstuffs (sweet treats and savory snacks), local collateral (like tote bags or can holders or stickers) and other fun items like chapstick, keychains, etc. CLE Pack sent me a package of 7 items to try out for free (thanks, CLE Pack for the early birthday gift!) and I loved it.

Some fun facts about CLE Pack:

CLE Pack was just started in August 2018. Igor Oliyarnik is the founder and the idea was born over 4 years ago when he saw a similar business in Baltimore called “Baltimore in a Box”.
The most popular items in the package are the food. Bertman Mustard has been the #1 seller, followed by Campbell’s popcorn and Malley’s Chocolates.
The founder, Igor Oliyarnik, is not originally from Cleveland. He was born in Ukraine and moved to Cleveland with his parents when he was ten years old. He shared: “I’m now in my 30’s and proud to call Cleveland my home. I think the city has a very unique personality and a bright future because of the people that live here. It has been great watching the city improve in many different ways over the last two decades that I’ve been here.”

The items I chose for my package included:

Malley’s CLE Chocolate Bar
Fear’s Confections CLE Chocolate Bar
Ohio Pure Maple Syrup
Crazy Monkey Baking Dark Chocolate Chip Granola Cookie Crunch
Bertman Ball Park Horseradish Sauce
Sweet Moses Cleveland Chocolate Bar
Cleveland Landmarks Tote Bag

I LOVE that CLE Pack is all local Cleveland items. And while I was familiar with some of the companies they include (like Malley’s, Bertman and Campbell’s), CLE Pack also introduced me to some new local brands, like Crazy Monkey Baking.

CLE Pack would make a great gift for more than just a friend whose birthday is coming up. In fact, I was thinking that CLE Pack would also be a great unique gift for: