Back from Spring Break Abroad

Wow, taking a week off from my usual weekly running update was strange! But I’m back now, and ready to share how the week went.

The reason I wasn’t able to share last week was because we were out for spring break! B and I took the whole family – the 5 of us – to Berlin to visit my brother and enjoy the kids’ first plane ride and European vacation.

It was great! If you haven’t read it yet, here’s my blog of a few trip highlights. But because I was out of the country, I didn’t get to write a full recap of workouts. So here’s the cliff’s notes (do young people even know what those are anymore?) and a quick Instagram post to see what we did.

And now, onto this week’s workouts. They weren’t great. FW was pretty sick a few days this week with a high fever and cough, which impeded not just my sleep but also my workouts in the mornings a few days. But I was able to get in my long run early in the week, so at least that was done! Here’s the full week:

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Is It Finally Spring?

Happy Easter to those who celebrate! And Happy Spring break to us!

In addition to my weekly update, this post serves as my (mostly) March in review post. I can’t believe that April 1 is TOMORROW. 

March was an okay month for me.

Total mileage: 112.58 miles – ish  (We’ll see if I get in a run today with everything going on)

The good – Overcoming/healing from my hip issues and getting back into running. I’m still not 100% – I feel sore if I run too many days in a row or too long, but it’s not pain or debilitating like before. And I successfully started cross-training, which includes some minor lifting, core workouts, rowing machine, walking and indoor cycling.

The bad – My running mileage was low (For me), as I’m trying to incorporate more xtraining and less running. Also, I’m still not feeling 100%, which is discouraging less than 2 months from my half marathon.  That said, with March ending, perhaps spring is finally here and I can stop running in snow, etc.? Who am I kidding – I just jinxed it!

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March is Definitely a Lion

As happy as I am to back running (yay!) we had more snow (boo!) this week! And we had more snow than no snow this week:

Sunday – snowed.

Monday – snowed.

Tuesday – snowed.

Wednesday – snowed.

Thursday – no snow, but high was in the 20s so it was COLD.

Friday – snow.

Saturday – snow, and this time it stuck to the ground.

Now, I am lucky that it only flurried most of those days so we got minor accumulation, but it still didn’t help my running and made everything just a little more slippery and less manageable. The only day I really woke up to snow accumulation was Saturday. BUT I’m also happy to be back and running PAIN FREE. My leg has been feeling good and I’ve been trying to be good about taking days off from running and focusing on other activities. I was pleased to get in an early morning 9 miler one morning this week for my long run, plus some runs and cross training. Overall, it was a good week of getting back into the swing of things. Next, hopefully I can start up some speed training again.

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How I’m Getting Back to Running

It’s week 3ish of my return to running from my hip adductor injury, and I’m pleased to share that I’m feeling pretty good. I still don’t feel 100%, but I’m feeling so grateful to be back at running!

We had some snow this week (ugh!) but on Sunday when it was snowy and a little slippery, I definitely had a change in attitude about running in the weather. I told myself, “I’m so lucky I can run in this!” Instead of “Ugh, I have to run in this” and immediately felt different. A few weeks ago, it would’ve been a different mentality for me.

So here’s how my runs went this week – and also some ways that I’m healing myself. Here’s what I’ve been doing to get back into running (hopefully) injury free:

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The Weather in the Land Goes Up and Down

Our weather this week was another wild ride – we had 70 DEGREES on Monday with sun, then it cooled down to 30s, then went up again, and we’re due for cold and snow today. And I clearly have 3 little ones, because all I thought of was, The weather in the (Cleve)land goes up and down, to the tune of Wheels on the Bus, one of my 2-year-old’s favorite song.

I’m not complaining – the 70+ degree weather on Monday was amazing. It was 55 degrees when I woke up so I got in an unplanned run. I got in 2 walks that day. Every little bit of sunshine helps and it’s amazing what some natural vitamin D can do for your spirits!

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Taking It Easy


Normally this post would include a monthly running recap with total milrs run, highlights of the previous month, etc. But I will be honest with you — February did not include many miles. I was nursing an injury and instead stuck it to the indoor bike. But … I ran this week! I ran!

I didn’t have a lot of miles, but I did go running outside a few times to see how my leg felt.

Disclosure – it didn’t feel 100%. There’s still a slight soreness. But I’ll take soreness over PAIN any day. I remember when I tried to run around the block about a month ago and couldn’t do it because of my leg pain. Hopefully the soreness will go away and if I take it easy the next few weeks while starting to build up my mileage, I’ll be better soon.

Am I being too optimistic? Maybe. But with spring half marathons less than 3 months away and the weather getting better, I need to be! Here’s how this week looked:

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Am I Running Again?


Are you still injured? Are you back at running? How are you feeling?

Those are all questions I get asked. And the answer, is that I don’t know!

I decided to give running a try this week, but slowly/short runs only. Meaning, 2 runs – a 1 mile and a 3 mile.

During each run, I felt a little tight, but nothing else.

After each run, I did stretching and felt a little tight, but nothing else.

Did I feel normal? No. Is the tightness actually tightness or is it the injury starting back up again?

I don’t know! So we’ll see how next week goes. In the meantime, here’s how this week looked:

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Cycling my way to sanity


For me, running has always been my key to my sanity. Crazy week at work? Start the day with a run. Feeling anxious? Go for a run. Too much going on at home? Get some me time with a run. The past two weeks, however, I’ve had to adapt. Be flexible. As my hip adductor still heals, I’m trying to keep active on the bike and minimal weight lifting (focusing on arms) plus core work. I am enjoying switching it up, but still miss the feeling I get when running.

I’m going to try running again soon and if it still hurts, likely make an appt with a sports medicine dr and then PT.

Here’s how the full week looked:

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First Zero Mileage Week In Years


Well, I did it. A full week with no running. Did I like it? No. Would I like to continue doing this? No! But I know that I need to take some time off now so that hopefully I can be back sooner than if I keep going through the pain.

That said, I stayed somewhat active this week – I didn’t run, but I stayed on the indoor bike most days and got in a few walks, as well as my core and arm work. But when looking at my running log, this is the longest I’ve gone without running since GM was born – that was the last time I took a full week (and more) off from running.

Here’s how the full week looked:

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Off the Treadmill and onto the Bike


I had another disappointing week in terms of running mileage. After running on Friday and Saturday last week, I knew it was a bad idea to keep it up. My adductor was still sore and I know I need to rest it before training for my half marathon in May begins. So this week included much more time on the bike than time on the treadmill. I’m so grateful to have gotten a bike so I can cycle in the mornings – it was a Prime Day purchase a few months ago, so luckily I have something to do to keep me occupied.

That said, I still did get in some miles — the Cleveland Marathon Kickoff Run was Saturday and I was dying to go and represent as a race ambassador, and knew if I went I would definitely join the 3 or 5 mile run.

Here’s how the full week looked:

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