My Running Break

After completing the Dopey Challenge in early January, I knew I needed to take a break from running. Although I love to run, I was getting severely burned out and just simply didn't have a desire to run any longer. In fact, after I hit the 20 mile training mark mid December (my highest long run before Dopey), I was over it all.

My plan was to take about 3 weeks off after Dopey from running to recover and rest. Several walks were take during that time period and then.....the flu hit.

Yuck. The flu. It totally zapped any and all of my energy and I couldn't even walk around the house for five minutes without getting incredibly short of breath and dizzy.

So, what happened the week after the flu? I had a wisdom tooth pulled...and was told I couldn't run for yet another week.

Let's be honest here - I was actually incredibly grateful for being "allowed" to continue my running break? Why? Because I just simply wasn't feeling it yet. I want to love and enjoy running, not feel as if it's a chore every time a planned run comes around.

Now, am I talking about lying around, watching TV on the couch all afternoon every afternoon? NO. That is definitely NOT in my DNA! These last five (ish) weeks have granted me so much time to spend with Brayden, helping him learn and grow and watching him explore new things! We've spent a lot of time at various parks and simply just enjoyed being together. These precious early years aren't here forever and I am definitely taking time to cherish them while I can.

Also, in the middle of all of this, I've started physical therapy for an issue I've been having (not running related) and my therapist thinks she can also help my IT Band in the mean time!! After a thorough exam from head to toe, she's discovered that my body is ALL out of whack with alignment and it's pretty much a hot mess. We shall see what the next eight or so weeks have to bring!
 

So, enter this past Saturday - my first run (period) since Dopey! Although it was foggy and overcast, the temps were perfect and reminded me that spring is definitely on the way! I have the Rock n Roll New Orleans half in two weeks and I knew I needed to do something.

I initially started out with the idea of running 5 miles and if all was going ok, I'd increase to 6 miles. Well (to my surprise) I felt great the entire way and decided to tack on that extra mile at the end. Throughout the run, I walked for about 2 minutes after hitting each new mile (just like I did with long run training for Dopey) and it worked great!

My plan was to finish the run around 1:10, so when I saw how close I was to actually reaching it, I kicked it up a notch to finish just under!

Saturday's run felt great, I felt good, and it was an overall enjoyable run...just what I needed to rejuvenate my heart and mind for this running thing I love so much!

If you've ever taken a break from 

Feelin' Like Fall

The weather this weekend was incredible and I loved every minute! When you can feel Fall in the air...yesss....that's absolutely the best! I sure hope it sticks around for a while (wishful thinking)!

Although the humidity was a little high on Saturday morning, the temperatures were in the mid 70's! 

Heather and I met up with the running group on Saturday morning. We did a run/walk combo for 6 miles around town and had a great time!

After the run, I took a nap then went to a family birthday party. It was nice to visit and catch up with the family!

We had McAlisters for dinner, then visited Cowboy Stadium for the first home game of the season! Everyone in my group was McNeese Alumni, so we had fun cheering on our boys! They won, too!! 

Kona Ice was on scene and I couldn't pass up my opportunity! Yum! 

The band!

After the game, the team knelt down for a prayer! I loved seeing this!! 

 

Linzi on my right, sister in law on my left! :)

Oh yes, and we also had a belated birthday/freedom/happy wedding party for a few friends on Friday night. The candle holder above was one of my gifts and I love it! Fall is just the best time of year!! 

Today, I have to have a hole fixed in a tooth. Whomp whomp. On Labor Day, I noticed that a chunk of filling fell out of my back molar and I don't remember when, where, or how. Strange, isn't it? I'm just glad it wasn't hurting or causing me excruciating pain, but I definitely don't want it to get infected. The worst part of it all is the lasting effects of the numbing medication. 

Ah well, it's yet another beautiful day in the south, so I'm going to enjoy it as much as possible! Have a fabulous Monday!  

How was your weekend? Any long runs/races?

Official Road Sharks!

On Saturday morning, my BRF and I embarked on a grand Road Shark adventure...Gone for a Run's Road Shark Virtual 5 Miler, that is! Shark bait...oooh ha ha.... (I had to, sorry...)

To our amazement, the weather for Saturday morning's run was PERFECT! Low humidity and temperatures in the 70's - I sure wish that would hang around Southwest Louisiana a bit longer!

Our route was a typical Saturday morning group run route and we had a great time laughing, talking, and catching up on recent travels!

Before we knew it, we were at the turnaround point and that's when I realized that we ran 3 miles instead of 2.5, turning this 5 miler into a 6 miler! Whoops! We were just having such a great time, we didn't even realize it! Miles fly when you're having fun! :)

After the run, we awarded medals to each other, then took a few pictures before saying our goodbyes!

I am in LOVE with the shirt from this race!  It's SO soft and comfortable! I didn't run in because I had plans to wear it the rest of the day!
 

I attempted to get a picture of my watch and this happened....and it stayed stuck like this forever. I finally gave up waiting on it to process!

 After returning home, I put my medal on the hanger and my magnet on the fridge! :)

It was such a gorgeous day, I even enjoyed a cup of coffee out on the deck in the back yard!

I'm so glad I had the chance to experience this race with a friend! Overall it was a fun one and the swag was great! Stop by Gone for a Run and see what's next on their list of races to come!

Hope you all had an amazing weekend!

*Disclaimer: As a Gone for a Run Ambassador, I received entry into this race free of charge. No compensation was given in return for this review. All opinions are my own.

Name one highlight of your weekend!

Running and Shopping and Organizing

Happy Monday! I hope you all had an amazing weekend! Mine was filled with running and girl time and de-cluttering. Perfect weekend for me! :)

On Saturday morning, I met up with my BRF and our running group for a 6 mile run. We are keeping our long runs to low mileage during the summer months because its just so dang humid and hot.

After the run, I enjoyed coffee from my Princess mug! Happy registration week, by the way!

On Saturday, Kenzie and I drove out of town to pick up our bridesmaids dresses for an upcoming wedding. We also ate at Shoney's for old time sake!

Other fun adventures included snow cones and dancing fairy wings in the Dollar Tree. Yes, that really happened and it was amazing.  Those poor shoppers, though....

The purpose of our fairy wings? The Tinkerbell Half Marathon! We are planning a girls trip to Tink in Disneyland in May and I am so excited!! More on that later. 

The remainder of my weekend was spent de-cluttering my house. So far, I've gotten through everything in the guest bathroom and the guest bedroom. It feels SO good to throw things away. It's incredibly therapeutic to me!

I managed to create two bags of trash from this room and I have a box of things to give away! YAY!

On Sunday after church, I ate lunch at Jason's Deli with my parents. I love their salad bar!

Last but not least, I gave my niece her first pair of Minnie ears this weekend! She saw them and said "MOUSE! EARS!" It was adorable! This is her "cheeeeseee" face...hehe!

Sunday evening ended with a gorgeous sunset!

Another weekend filled with many fun times has come and gone! I hope you had a great one, too!

How was your weekend? Do you like to de-clutter and throw/give things away?

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Don't forget about my KatieDid Productions Non-Slip Headbands giveaway happening right now! Contest ends Thursday at midnight so enter now for your chance to win TWO non-slip headbands of choice!