MAF test #2–wow!

MAF training

I’m four weeks into my MAF training, which means that yesterday it was time for another test to see how I am progressing. I knew last week that I was starting to see some pay off. I’m not setting land speed records or anything, but I can feel that I’m getting farther up hills before having to walk, and keeping a better pace when I’m [...]

Flat, hilly, or somewhere in between?

Traded in the computer for the shore.

I’ve been away at the Jersey shore, enjoying some unplugged time with family and friends. I didn’t really intend to unplug to the extent that I did, but once I got there, I had no desire to open my computer. So I followed that instinct and honestly, kind of dragged myself back to it. It was a fantastic long weekend of great weather, sand, surf, [...]

Cue the Alice Cooper

The traditional end to the school year in our neighborhood

Just a reminder that Google Reader is leaving us soon..you can find me on Bloglovin if you haven’t made the switch yet! Happy Friday, all! This Friday makes me smile because as Alice Cooper says, school’s out for summer (thank you hurricane and snow days for a long year). Sports, with the exception of summer swim team, are now behind us for less than two [...]

Pearl Izumi wants to outfit you head to toe

The prize package

If you are into cycling or triathlon, I’m betting you are already quite familiar with Pearl Izumi. If you’ve lived the life of a runner only, however, I’d guess maybe the name is new to you. Here’s the thing, though: they are making some pretty big inroads into running with both a clothing line, and now a new running shoe known as the E-Motion line. [...]

Training the running ego

Adrienne tearing up the pavement

It seems, from my post last week on the running ego, that most of us grapple with taming that ego at least some of the time. Because of that, I wanted to follow up with some advice on training the running ego. I’m not qualified for the job, though, so I am letting Adrienne Langelier pinch hit for me on this today. Adrienne is a [...]

Trail to clarity

trail run

It’s funny how sometimes you can find clarity out on a trail. I’ve been craving a trail run lately, and luckily I had a willing friend for that on Sunday. We did a beautiful seven-mile loop. While I did have to walk some hills to keep my heart rate low, for the most part, trail running works fairly well with low heart rate training because [...]

Summer must-haves

Get me to the shore!

After the last few weeks of soccer practices, soccer tryouts, soccer games, lacrosse games, swim practices (both year-round and summer teams), end-of-year parties, end-of-year gift purchasing, etc., etc., all topped off with a traveling husband, I am so ready for summer to begin. One more week for the kids and then life will slow down. I am a summer girl at heart, anyway. I love [...]

The running ego

Does your ego ever rule your legs?

This past week, it was HOT and humid here in the MidAtlantic–our first steady shot of it this year. Trying to keep my heart rate down on my long run meant some serious ego swallowing, especially the longer I went on. By the last mile, I was forced to walk quite a bit, even on the flats. And I had to let a woman pass [...]

Girls gone (not so) wild (and a great race)

Inching my way across!

Girls gone wild, the middle-aged version: Get a group of women together, sign them up for two hours on a ropes course, and follow it up with a beer-tasting dinner. That was my Saturday night and it was a great time. Let me say, I am a world-class chicken. Heights, in particular, are not my thing. Why I thought I’d be fine doing a ropes [...]

The nutrition piece of the MAF equation

good fats

I’m a bit over a week into my MAF training and so far, so good. I can’t say I am hating it like I thought. Really, the hardest part was letting go of my current level of speed work, which was pretty darn high. Once I mentally released that, I’ve done ok with going easy all the time. Last weekend even provided some nice, cool [...]