Eating, Fitness, Lifting, Running, Uncategorized

A Period of Pluck

I can’t believe we are still here. Alive and well.

2018 is a year I’ll never forget. Took some L’s but the good L, my Lord, is faithful! It was a long plucking period of learning lessons, about myself, my path, and my future.

Ecclesiastes 3 says there is a ‘time to plant and a time to pluck what has been planted’ and this was a plucking harvest. I was driving to work and in my thoughts when this motto for life made me smile…

Ever Onward.

Not just move on, but move.

“Maybe we can move to Arizona?!”

So, we did!

***

So, I have had a very full plate this year. Not only has my family relocated to AZ, I did not wait, and jumped right into working as an inclusion para educator here, but I’ve finally reached the finish line in getting my teaching certification. One SEI class left, and I can apply for an alternative certificate. I’ll be Elementary certified K-8 and I am very excited, curious about what my new career and life will look like. Dreaming of teaching science or social studies, but I’d teach basketweaving if it got me to my full certification! Not to mention, I now have 5 teenagers and a soon to be adult in my brood… parenting, adulting, all the expectations.

I have started back, committing to my body, and health, and mind after a year of putting myself dead damn last. I had been on oral contraceptives for a year to get rid of some period ‘irregularities’ and hadn’t really been successful. I purchased a great book that helped me make the decision to pluck the pill out of my life before things got too whacky.

I’m certainly still in the phase where my body is getting back to normal, and can already pinpoint some things that had changed. I feel like the suppression of testosterone affected my desire to workout, the water retention made it impossible to lose, and the depletion of nutrients definitely contributed to bad cravings for salt and sugar. Fixing it all now, data by day and I’m so grateful for the resiliency my heart and body have shown me… period!

Even with a membership at the local rec center (that I absolutely love for my whole family), I’m starting back with the most basic of workouts at home to get my weight back to a happy place.

Deets:

I’m 207 205.6 lbs as of this morning and have a GOAL of getting under 200 lbs. before the last day of school, May 29th.

I also began fasting 16 hours, 5 days a week. No food/drink after 8pm the night before, needless to say. Next day, I drink 32 oz or herbal tea, no honey of course, and I break my fast at my noon lunch break with a massive salad of kale greens mix, 4 oz. chicken breast, 1/2 medium avocado, nuts, and feta. Also eating 2 cuties, and 1/4 cup nuts on the drive home to keep cravings way down and get my mind. Dinner is usually veggies and meat, or maybe 1/2 avocado, tuna, and a few crackers if I feel the need to.

I am doing 45 minutes of SOMETHING ACTIVE 5 days a week. I’ve been walking, running, step aerobics, 30 Day Shred, and lifting…. whatever change up works for the day. With 5 kids and a husband who I need to show up for daily, including work, track meets, basketball games, recitals, date nights, cuddle time, etc., a check in the boa has brought me much content because I am making being active and healthy on top of it all!

Overall, I am trying to keep bonafide carbs lower, and carb cycling, so to speak, on weekends with more carbs, and less meat. It’s working as far as energy, digestion, and cravings. This is 2 whole months in of this lifestyle, so it’s safe to say these are habits…. just time to really incorporate consistency in my cardio and lifting workouts.

Now, off to 5th period!

We’ll chat soon, Hip Huggers!

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Eating, Fitness, Lifting, Running

Permission to be Paleo’ish

Hello, Hip Huggers!

This is Day 2 of me tracking my calories and I feel like I am finally in a mind frame of peace.  I admittedly have
gotten very relaxed with food portions and fat intake since transitioning from a Paleo to LCHF way of eating.

Now that I am revisiting daily low intensity fat burning cardio, I need to reduce my fat consumption by a bit.
In that, I’ve decided to cut back drastically on the cheese, and dairy. When I initially began
eating Paleo, I was at my most fit! I didn’t indulge in those to groups above and alongside a bit more
cardio, I was very positive about my weight and my physique.

 I would like to reduce my overall body fat percentage and lose about 10 lbs. over the next couple of months.
So, I have recalibrated my workouts 15 minutes of full body circuits and 30 minutes of low intensity, fat burning cardio daily. I know the true change comes in dietary changes, so I am back to eating Paleoish.

So after a happy Paleo breakfast of kale, mushroom, and eggs along side some burnt bacon and black coffee, I was ready to get my sweat on for the day. We did a leg circuit as follows:

***4 Rounds with 5# weights***
15 Curtsy to Squats
15 Squat Pulses
15 Lateral Lunges (each side)
15 Lateral Walks (each way)

 After that burn, we went on a 3 mile stroll around the park. Me getting a good post workout stretch…

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Me getting in a gratuitous yoga pose stretch…

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Once we got back to the crib, my neighbor friend showed me a cool little set of intervals that boosted my heart rate thru the roof! We used the sloped curb and did these drills about 2 minutes. I’ll record it next time and share it with you all!

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78 Minute workout. 630 Calories burned. Poor lighting.

***

Home and looking for food. I desperately need to buy groceries, because eating wraps everyday is a wrap getting kinda boring.

So, I chopped up some peppers and boiled potatoes, threw in sausage and cracked an egg.

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Nothing fancy, but Paleo approved!
***
Stretching and off to the library to find a good yoga Paleo living book!
Catch you later!

Question: Are you Paleo? LCHF? Low GI? Let me know!

 

 

Eating, Fitness, Lifting, Running

Friday Food Fight

Hello Hip Huggers and Happy Friday!

Started my day sipping some coffee scrolling thru Facebook looking
for a laugh and was dinged today’s Timehop from 3 years ago..

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A lot of food?! Hahahaha!! I’m fighting back tears!
Y’all I had this eating thing down to a science!
Seems a bit high maintenance now but eating
healthy and really managing my portions, was a
recipe for weight loss success.
***
Speaking of unsuccess, I saw a peek of the sun so I got up for a 2 mile run.
I am glad there is no such thing as a bad run because this one
would have qualified for sure. I had to fight for and thru this run!
Wet and muddy everywhere, my jacket felt itchy, my new gloves were hard
to get used to, and my foot arches ached after just a quarter mile into my run.

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But it was too pretty of a sky to let my body talk me
into out of 2 miles. I have needed this mental run for some
days now and I was gonna knock it out!

IMG_6910TKO! 3 Mile Run, slow but steady.

***
Home and I need to lift something! I pulled out my
favorite arm blast and did my best sets.

Here’s the Arm Work; 3 Sets of 10:
**Used with 8 lb. weights**
10  Curl to Press
10 Side to Lateral Raise
10 Row to Fly
10 Single Tricep Extensions

 Followed up that routine with
shoulder burnouts. Burnouts are
pretty much another routine performed
after the primary workout to work muscles
to full exhaustion, so use a super light weight!

**Used with 3 lb. weights**
All one Set:
25 Side Lateral Raises

25 Front Raises
25 Shoulder Presses
25 Arm Circles
***
After that tapout burnout, I needed to recharge.
I also needed a carb, to refuel these glycogen stores.
I grabbed a lavash, cooked up a couple pieces of bacon
and egg w/ cheese, and used leftover pico de gallo, salsa, and
ranch from my birthday meal and voila… food at last!

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Now, I need to grab a few things from Aldi before my kiddos
get out of school and we’re all in here fighting for food.

Enjoy your weekend, Hipsters!

Question: Do you care about pace when running?

Fitness, Lifting, Running

Birthday Bounce Back…and Biceps

Good Morning, Hip Huggers!
No secret my bday was yesterday’s past,
and I was bestowed the perfect gift of a
beautifully peaceful day… if that is ok.

bday
To the future!

***
I am incredibly grateful to see another year before me,
but I am not a huge birthday celebrator.
I am pretty content with a new pair of shoes
and a lemon cake with lemon frosting.
Because I am easy to forget please…

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(source)

I thought I was hard remember until
I was getting ready to start my old faithful
daily 3 mile trot around the park when  got a tweet
that my story was finally featured on Yogaudacious!

This is an awesome little space for yogis to share their stories
about their, our first experiences with yoga.
Yoga is a beautiful practice to have a part of one’s daily life, and
I am grateful for the chance to share. Thank you, ladies.

Check out my feature here!

Let me share my workout! Got going on my balmy 3 miler.
Breezy, yet sunny, no one but the strays landscapers.
I was certainly gifted with a beautiful day!

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Returned to mi casa and tripped over onto the weights!
Here’s a bulletin for any new Hip Huggers:
I absolutely love lifting heavy. I see the most change
when I am challenging my muscles on that level.
However, there is a season for everything.
I am currently in one season of working full body and
keeping my heart rate high through the duration
of my workout to burn some unneeded fat.
I’m sorry, I can’t curl 15’s for 4 sets of 10
and still have juice to do exploding lunges.
I will die can’t.
So, I unapologetically grab these 8 lb. weights
and go to town on these guns after cardio:

15 Bicep Curls
15 Single Dumbbell Rows
15 Single Tricep Extensions
15 Alternating Shoulder Presses

4 sets of that and my arms were screaming!
Less can be more! I cant stress that enough.
Birthday Bounce, Biceps and Back Done!

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Like a Birthday Boss!
***
I was on the phone talking to my sister yesterday,
and she asked when I was going to start posting workout
videos YouTube. I concluded never. the last thing folks
need is another know it all. Buuuuut, I must say
there aren’t a whole lot of workout videos for the
pear shaped beauties of the world such as myself.
I mean, you don’t need a plus size video to work out,
but it does help when you can see someone else who
looks like you getting a workout in or just showing
a ‘How-To! Albeit sweating and looking crazy, like me!

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“Mirror, mirror on the wall,
whose the Hippest Runner of them All?”

cold

That may be a stretch, but vlogging sure wouldn’t be!
A good project I can work on in
the coming months… stay tuned, Hipsters!

Question: Do you do exercise using online fitness videos?

Eating, Fitness, Lifting, Running

Fog, Food, and Free Weights

Hey Hey, Hip Huggers!

This morning, I had planned for a run.. but the fog was ridiculous!

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So, while I waited for the sun to come and do it’s thing,
I cooked up this complete breakfast and grabbed a book to
keep me busy. Just until the fog let up a bit.

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2 hours, a LOT of fog still lingered… and no sun.
Visibility had to be 10 yards or so. Just too dangerous
to run, even at the speed I planned on sloshing about at.
So finally,  I opted for a quick lifting sesh instead.

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For the first time in quite awhile,
I concentrated on just one muscle group
and keeping my heart rate between
70 – 80% by still having an active rest in between.
My workout consisted of:

Shoulders:
15 Dumbbell Presses
15 (ea.) Single Shoulder Presses
15 Pulse to Full Presses
***

Between each of these sets, I performed 15 squats
to keep my heart rate up and immediately jumped right
back into the shoulder work with little recovery.

3 sets of all that and I was toast.

I felt very alive after that burn, so
still wanted some cardio… any cardio!
Luckily, my neighbor text and asked if I wanted to stroll, yo.

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***
Showered, stretched, and satisfied.
Now I’m home snacking on a banana
with a few handfuls nuts and berries.

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***
I’m currently updating my blog page… hyper complicated.
So be patient if ‘ish looks weird on here. I’m a novice.

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Wish me luck, I need a fresh outlook for the New Year!

Question: What is your favorite social media site?

Eating, Fitness, Lifting

Strep in the Name of Love

Hello Hip Huggers!
Yesterday morning, I had a lovely appointment at my doctor’s office.
My throat had been feeling mighty sore and I wanted to rule out death strep….

Not 2 Legit 2 Quit lucky. Boo.

Good news, I just barely have it and felt better after just 2 doses yesterday.
Perfect, because I’d planned a workout with my neighbor this morning.
It has seriously been almost 2 months since we had a good, tough, workout together.
So, Pamela had to push past the pale prognosis for her pal.
For friendship fitness sakes.

Workout: Full Body Circuit with Weights

We absolutely slayed our poor, unassuming arms.
I put together an 8# weight circuit of lateral raises, combo curls, combo presses, and
dumbbell rows. Just enough to reacquaint ourselves with the arm muscles, and get a burn.
But, I love working full body so I had to add in some squats and lunges.

I had an unexpected errand earlier, so I hadn’t eaten anything pre workout. Novice.
So post workout, I was sure to get my 2 legit groups in;  greens and proteins. Love.

Now I’m sitting here baking spaghetti squash and contemplating the next quarter of my life!
Getting more and more excited about getting out of my own ass head and
finally pursuing my dream of becoming a legit certified personal trainer.
The true corner stone for a fitness based career, no matter how big or small (no pun intended).
Sharing fitness is something that I truly love and I feel its my call of duty to the world, before I expire.

Fitness and Family, 2 Legit Loves!
See you after tomorrow’s workout, Hip Huggers!

 Question: How often do you do Full Body workouts?

Eating, Fitness, Running, Yoga

Priorites & Poblano Poppers

Happy 2015, Hip Huggers!
2 days into the New Year and I’ve already made some scary important decisions.

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1st decision: I’m running the HC15k again!
Now, this is only big news because… I wasn’t gonna.
My traditional HC running buddy has a knee injury
and is out for the count in long distance running, boo.

But, I love this race!
And this year, that medal is super sweet.
The only thing holding me back, is my fear.
So, I’m pushing thru that and signing up!
Thnks fr th Mmrs Lisa, maybe next year! 🙂

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My 2nd decision is to pursue personal training.
I was hung up on the idea that I’d get stuck working at a gym, or fitness club.
That’s not what I want my PT to be solely about.
I want to teach fitness classes at the park, yoga in my home or yours,
and become a certified running coach.
And the foundation for all that IS personal training, in my opinion.
I am doing so with help of a dear friend of mine who has a lot of
expertise in start ups, personally and professionally.
This blog, Instagram, Facebook, Podcasts will all have a hand
in making Runs With Hips, LLC come true!
So, in Feb, I begin. Hangry fears and all!

***

After making up my fears mind to do all this.. I needed some fat.
So, cheesy eggs with sautéed ‘shrooms and peppers it was..
and some bacon I fed the dog didn’t eat.

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Then it was time for some sweat.
3 Mile Walk + some Arm work, a la yoga.. hot right?

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Speaking of heat,
I was craving jalapeño poppers baaaaaad last night while watching the Rose Bowl.
No way was I gonna dare put the junked up, fast food ones in this vessel, no.

I remembered I had some frozen poblanos I hadn’t used all up.
Of course cheddar cheese and cream cheese is always on hand,
and even had a few pieces of bacon to wrap it up!
That turkey bacon loner over there was for the hubs…
He doesn’t eat the oink..

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Threw these babies in the oven and boom! So delish!
I could only manage to eat one… that’s LCHF for ya!

***Poblano Poppers***
8 slices of bacon
2 Poblano peppers, seeds + membrane removed
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
1 clove garlic, minced
8 toothpicks

•Clean peppers, half, and set aside.
•With a mixer, blend cheeses and garlic.
•Fill pepper halves w/ cheeses. Wrap with bacon.
•Use toothpicks to hold together.
•Bake for 25 – 30 minutes. Eat just one!

Could also use traditional jalapeño peppers,
or as a friend from Instagram is experimenting with,
sweet paprika peppers of course! This was my first go at it
so I’d think maybe 8 of those would do!

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Yummy.
Well, I’m off to clean up and cook dinner early
so I can get my Friday night life back !

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Get It! Have a Happy Friday, Hip Huggers!

Eating, Fitness, Running, Yoga

Last Minute Call for Alcohol!

Hello, Hip Huggers! It’s  New Year’s Eve!!

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Absolutely and Always.
***
I actually just returned home from a last minute physical (for insurance purposes).
Lucky for me, my hubby went ahead and signed me in… the wait was 2 hours!
But I got the BEST news to end 2014: I have the BEST lab work I have had
since regularly going to the doctor for physicals 4 years ago… a la weight loss.
With the exception of my 35 inch waist and BMI of 30.3, I was very happy with my results.
The big kahuna, my total cholesterol is 189: 101 Ldl & 79 Hdl 
I am a low carb, high fat eater, so I always anticipate my Ldl to be elevated.
My Dr. said my Hdl is so good, she has no worries about the Ldl, and to continue my eating plan. Yuss!!
* Fasting glucose was 66;
* Triglycerides awesome at 45;
* Blood pressure 117/71 

Pleased to say after finding an eating plan I love this year, I am in great health!

***

Got home … and was starving! So I whipped up a few eggs, sautéed some mushrooms,
and shredded some Kerrygold  cheese. Sliced up some red peppers, brewed some peppermint tea,
and now I am sharing my hectic afternoon with you all on the low low blood sugar.

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Also awesome, if you follow me on Instagram or just watch the ticker over there,
you will see I didn’t wait until the New Year to get back to running a bit!
I ran 5 miles last Sunday after I blogged and I ran 3 Monday.. .yeiii!!!
If I can manage 10 miles a week, Lifting Wed/Fri., and yoga all up in the mix,
I think I will have found the solid ground of balance I have been seeking… at last!

While we’re grounded here, last night was my husbands last minute Christmas party for his job.
Late I know, tis the season to buy a planner.
I was tagged to Stop Drop and Yoga before we left so,
here’s my dressed up version of Ustrasana, or Camel Pose.

boots

I’ll be repeating this ensemble  sans the backbend as we head out for the night!
Visiting friends in Egypt an hour away and ringing in the New Year with old friends and new memories!
I was trying to figure out a festive gift to bring, then my neighbor brings by some of her hand crafted Coquito!

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Alcohol!! In a sassy bottle to boot! Perfect last minute timing!
And something us liquor enthusiasts can all enjoy!

***

And as this year comes to a close, Hip Huggers, its been a fantastic year blogging with you!
Here’s to an even more blogtastic year!! Thank you, ALL!!

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Happy 2015!!!
Safe travels all if you’re getting out…and stay warm! See ya next year!!

Running, Yoga

Labor Day Recline

Hello Hip Huggers! Happy Labor Day and the Unofficial End of Summer!

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My labor workout this morning consisted of an old faithful 5k run and stretch.

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Supta Virasana, or Reclined Hero Pose.

This asana is considered an intense stretch. I recline back from hero very sloooooow.

There are 3 reasons why I think this pose is ideal post run is:

First, it stretches my abs, quads, and hip flexors… all which are really tight after a hard run.

Also, reclined hero pose is a great stretch for the ankles, knees, and arches of the feet, if done gently and not forced.

Lastly, after all the work of our good ol’ spines holding us upright for that tough run,

this pose allows for lengthening of the vertebrae which get a compressed sometimes from poor form.

Just lying in this a minute or 2 helps me tremendously! I am careful to breath and let my body relax in it.

 But, if you become uncomfortable at anytime or this stretch is a bit too intense,

I’d suggest maybe using bolsters, blankets, or pillows underneath your head, shoulders and/or your knees for relief.

***

Disclaimer: Though I am a yoga enthusiast, I am not a yoga teacher.
Please exercise caution when attempting any yoga pose, and always honor your body.
The views on this blog are mine alone, based on my own practice.
Please consult a certified yoga teacher for deeper guidance and help with any yoga practice you begin.

***

Eat BBQ, Run Happy, Lift Heavy, Stretch Daily, Hip Huggers!!


Question: How long do you stretch after a workout?

Uncategorized

3 Scoops, 2 Scores, 1 Hell of a Drug

 

Hello Hip Huggers!

I haven’t checked in since our Tempo Run fail Tuesday so

here’s the Triple Decker Scoop.. so you don’t ask for mine..

mileyscoop


Single:

Wednesday: I had a 6 mile run.

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That is a long-ish run for the distance

I am focused on right now, so to conquer that run with

under 11 minute miles was fantastic!

I also spent a little time inverted to flush out my adrenals,

get some blood flow to the brain and eyes

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and just to be cool.

Also, this amazing thing happened:

My Instagram was reinstated!

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*sigh* it really is.

I had a lot to catch my followers up on

Anniversaries, medals, yoga, etc.

So, I snacked on some corned beef and provolone while I

was filling my faithfuls in on the last 9 weeks of life! Lchf, my pals:)

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***

Double:

Thursday was a very errand heavy day.

I didn’t know if it would turn out to be a rest day or a really-short-run day.

After paying some bills, I headed out to thrift!

I found a rice cooker

(brand spankin’ new) for $4.

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My kids have a new job and

I am officially retired from cooking rice 🙂

 Also found a fancy, schmancy Scentsy for 2 bucks..

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I’m smellin fresh and frugal!

Way later, after food and the world cooled down a bit,

I managed to get in a pretty Quick 3.1 Miles, for the likes of myself!

I was very motivated, thanks to a friend’s advice!

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***

Bonus: Triple:

I started today’s’ ‘check in’ blog early this morning.

As I was typing, I could hear dog tags jingling – my dogs got out.

Which they’ve managed to do a lot of lately.

New behavior, and its driving me crazy!

They are both fixed, so I have no idea why they are

determined to dig holes and escape! Either way,

Break the rules, you get grounded!

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So, that was a mini workout reeling them back in.

 I was ready to go back to bed run after that…

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Friday: 6.2 Miles Done + Sirsasana Love

Took some great advice from a runner friend  and

really challenged myself.

My mantra was ‘stay under 11 min/miles’

When I got to about 4.5, it was ‘stay under 10.

 I have running easy down to a science,

its time to kick things in higher gear..

Still must remain injury free! Much rather slow, than No!

***

Long run planned for Sunday at dawn… I’m keeping the mileage a secret!

We’ll see if its something to talk about…

So, there’s the triple scoop! Catch y’all later!

Question: What is your ‘mantra’ when pushing through a run?