If you’re a new-ish reader, HI! I started 30-something Therapy in 2011 when I retired (and happily deleted!) a ten-year old blog. I’m playing along with blogger Angelica from Gardening in High Heels in the Blogger, May I? month of blogging.
So if you are new here, I’m Mel from Pittsburgh. I moved here five years ago from Cleveland. Obviously, I’m a 30-something (hence the title, which I’ll get into in another post prompt this month). I blog about health and wellness mostly, with a new-found love of running. I played roller derby for four-point-five years and retired this past September because of a new job, finishing my last year in school and, frankly, burnout.
More about me (and what I blog about): I drink coffee every day. I’m gluten-free and nightshade-free. I have a serious crush on maple syrup (and a little trouble in the sweet tooth area). I hope to read 52 books this year. I read mostly non-fiction (and a lot of school textbooks). I run, I do CrossFit, I practice yoga… I’m learning how to meditate. I’d like to get back into spinning. I listen to podcasts. I walk to work. I work for a non-profit. I go to school full-time. Three rescue cats lovingly found their way into my home. My boyfriend and I have been together for six years. And we have a really old rowhouse. I love camping. I don’t mind winter! I really just like being outside and being active. And I’m a sucker for a good traveling adventure.
That’s me. Walking to work. Listening to podcast. Loving winter!
the week:
This week’s been a lot to take in. I’ve been hyper-anxious, overly excitable — with a severe case of NO FOCUS and HANGRY. I guess my focus is on the finish line, as they like to use in running metaphors and motivational posters. And also, what the hell I’m going to wear.
View from my desk: TWO MORE DAYS!
weekend:
Obviously, it’s Race Weekend — so I’ll be taking on the Steel Challenge of running a 5K on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday.
52 books in 52 weeks:
NOPE. Somehow, I’ve started four books and have nothing to show in the way of finishing anything reading-related. Oh, but I’ll be finishing a marathon AND a winter semester, so then I have some time to relax with my freshly-started books.
So, we enter the last two weeks of this training cycle, with the Pittsburgh Half Marathon happening already NEXT SUNDAY. Won’t be a lot of heavy training for Week 15 with race week and all, but I’ll get a few miles in, and a couple long yoga and foam-rolling sessions. PLUS because I signed up for the Steel Challenge (have you seen the medal?!), I’ll be running the 5K on Saturday too. Should be a really fun week, and getting a long run in today helped to alleviate some of my pre-race jitters and race-worthiness.
I’m running for the National Aviary! (Click to donate!)
With a week to race day, I want to talk about the organization for which I’m fundraising: The National Aviary!
Full disclosure: I’m a former employee, but with the bird zoo right in my neighborhood I am frequently walking and running past, and dropping in to visit my bird friends. It was an amazing place to work and is an amazing place in Pittsburgh for families and animal lovers of all ages. They promote a respect for nature through the appreciation of birds, and their conservation and education efforts are commendable. However you can support, it is immensely appreciated. DONATE NOW!
Monday: WOO, REST DAY!
Tuesday: I ran to my CrossFit gym to do a WOD that included some road sprints (yep, more running!) and deadlifts (ooh, more legs!). I haven’t done much of any sprinting in training for this race (save for finish line sprints), so it was fun to incorporate with four rounds of deadlifts. Mileage was 1.56 miles to the gym + 1.26 home (yes, I took a wrong turn and got lost on the way home which ended up being less miles, weird).
Wednesday: Run//yoga club at Urban Elements returned together on the same night and changed to Wednesday nights, which makes me so happy because I love mid-week workouts for some reason. We completed 3.6 miles on the North Shore Trail — sans headphones — and I got to test out my running-while-chatting skills meeting some of the other ladies in the group. The “club” ended with an AMAZING 75 minutes of hot yoga (which felt pretty terrible at times given my raised body temperature), but my body felt so good afterward.
Thursday: Rest Day! Necessary!
Friday: Welp, boyfriend talked me into hamburgers and cured meats for happy hour, so my additional short run for the week was canceled.
Saturday: Baby shower day, so another day of rest and awesomeness (and, um, some wine) with my friends. That’s OK because I plan to do a long run on Sunday.
Sunday: Completed 10.26 miles in the late afternoon. My pace was all over the place again but I was happy with it. I was really hot even at just 60 degrees, shedding my long-sleeve outer layer by the end of three miles, but I accomplished a little more of the course — adding another two more bridges to my count! Smithfield and Birmingham, for those keeping score. Unfortunately, I did experience some knee pain again around Mile 5, but I continued to run through it. I needed to know if it eventually stops hurting the more I run (I know, it’s a little insane, but bear with my thought process). Well, it DID stop hurting, so… then I finished my 10 miles and then-some. At one point, I was so hungry that I thought about eating a smashed hot dog bun on the road; good thing I’ve figured out my fueling strategies. *eye roll*
Sport Beans helped me not to bonk, thankfully; the water fountains in Point State Park helped me stay hydrated when my water bottle went dry.
In any event, I’m proud of this week and wish for this kind of motivation again for my future training cycles.
Game on, Pittsburgh!
Total runs this week: 3
Weekly mileage: 16.68
Total training mileage: 104.15 miles
the week:
To-do notes EVERYWHERE have been saving my sanity this week. I’m finding myself being overwhelmed very easily right now and scheduling my days down to the hour. Taper madness, perhaps?
weekend:
MY BEST FRIEND IS COMING IN FOR HER BABY SHOWER! Imma be snuggling up to baby belly this weekend. And drinking some fine ass tea (and fake-eating crumpets) during her party.
If you’re in Pittsburgh, tonight is the quarterly Gallery Crawl and PDP Night Market downtown.
seven things, seven days:
1. La Bayadere was the most beautiful ballet that I’ve ever seen. I was moved to tears in Act III. Bravo, Pittsburgh Ballet.
2. I rearranged my attic because I need an office space and there is no better way to procrastinate on homework than moving furniture around by yourself!
3. Return of Run/Yoga Club together and on Wednesday evenings at Urban Elements!
4. Kind of freaking out about not getting an email confirmation from Pittsburgh Marathon peeps. While I can look my bib number up online and pick up with my ID, I feel… left out.
5. And my apologies that I can’t really spend the time that I want on this post today…
6. This seemed appropriate for the week: Self-affirmations may calm jitters and boost performance.
7. And what IS the right dose of exercise, btw? {via NYT blog}
Have you made your own motivational post for the Pittsburgh Half Marathon? Tell UPMC what keeps you going for a chance to win the Reasons to Run 2.0 sweepstakes. Contest ends on April 24!
This week proved to me a lot of what I am capable of — physically and especially mentally. Game On, Pittsburgh!
Monday: Much-needed day of rest (and cleaning my house). My foot really, really hurts from the Cherry Blossom race, but I’m also dealing with some knee soreness. No visible swelling, from what I can tell, but I’ve been icing both. Since both are on my left leg, I’m beginning to think something is up on that side — shoes? IT band? Tight glutes? Shut up and get a massage? (OK).
I foam rolled for about an hour with all three of my apparatuses (apperati?), really focusing on my hips, IT band, and quads.
Tuesday: Emergency massage appointment activated! What’s that? My calves and hamstrings are super tight. Oh. This session felt and hurt so good. And, err… guess I’ll spend some additional time stretching and rolling my calves and hamstrings.
Wednesday: Still a little sore, so I decided to take another day to really stretch everything and ice my knee and foot. I feel mighty bruised from that massage too. Woof.
Thursday: 2 mile run… and I feel good again. I followed up that “good” with a couple sets of body strength workouts found in Runner’s World, push-ups, and a killer ab workout.
2.0 miles outside, 10:00/pace
Friday: Took a rest day, and went to an amazing Pittsburgh Ballet performance of La Bayadere (and I cheated and ate some tomato sauce on my gluten-free pizza).
Saturday: What a beautiful day! Left the house without my water bottle, so I ran to 7-Eleven and thank the lord because it was a LOT warmer than I anticipated! I accomplished the West End Bridge (both directions) and ran around the Point to get a nice mist of fountain water. More importantly, I. Felt. Good. First time that I felt really confident about running this half in a couple weeks. So, I’ll make sure that I eat an egg sandwich on race day. š
First time running over the West End Bridge!
They were setting up for Pirates fireworks on the Sixth Street Bridge when I ran over, and that was terrifying. Holy moly, that’s a lot of explosives for one bridge. I ran back on the Seventh Street Bridge — and look what I saw:
Game on!
6.48 outside at 10:30 pace
Sunday: REST. A paper due, and group project assignment to compile (which I did outside on the patio and can all weekends in Pittsburgh be like this?!). I also played in my closet a bit — spring cleaning was necessary on this day of rest. And you know, since running is changing my former derby body, a clean-out was imminent.
Bonus about this Spring weather: walked to-from work four times this week for a total of 8 miles! š
Total runs this week: 2
Weekly mileage: 8.48
Total training mileage: 87.47 miles!
the week:
My main goal this week was to get a massage. Of course, my usual therapist is on vacation, so I scheduled a late-Tuesday appointment with another lady in the office. I’ve been stretching and rolling and walking and generally still feel pretty crappy. Considering I don’t normally feel soreness after my runs, this is giving me major anxiety about the half marathon in a couple weeks.
More Cherry Blossom pictures!
weekend:
Boyfriend and I have ballet tickets for La Bayadere tonight; otherwise, Holy moly, I don’t have anywhere to go or be, and I’m going to keep it that way. (Naturally, there will be homework.)
52 books in 52 weeks:
#13: Finding Ultra by Rich Roll — if only for this passage, but for so much, much more:
“Surrender is a beautiful movement in which you gracefully, willfully, languidly fall, only to find midway that you have been gathered in some unimaginable embrace. Surrender is letting go, whether or not you believe the embrace will occur. It’s trust to the hundredth power — not sticking to your idea of the outcome, but letting go in the faith that even the absence of an outcome will be the perfect solution.”
The first Rich Roll podcast I listened to, I was immediately drawn to him (and his voice provokes some sort of meditative trance). Of course I had to read his book. I don’t think I’ve ever been more affected so soulfully by someone’s story to find my own meaning and what I am capable of — this book has transformed so much of my thinking. Some chapters I found myself unable to breathe; some weird empathetic response? No clue. But something in me has changed.
seven things, seven days:
1. THIS APP >>>>> Disposable Camera.
2. Decision Fatigue: The struggle is real, 30-somethings.
3. Thinking about (planning!) a 30-day challenge for after the half AND a 100 Day Project.
4. Made a MAJOR splurge for one of those special edition PopSugar MustHave boxes. Aaaaand I’m now on a spending freeze.
5. Last week of Social Sciences research! I really wish I had the time and opportunity in this class to do a content analysis. Another day, another course possibly.
6. A fascinating series The Ten Today, referencing the Ten Commandments of modern society, the “Thou Shalt Not Covet” article about money and its connection to happiness is mostly old news — but goes deeper about what DOES buy happiness. {via Deseret News National}
7. In the essence of savoring the moment, Stop Multitasking. {via Entrepreneur}
My first Cherry Blossom race — and my first time seeing the cherry blossoms at peak bloom season in DC! The last ten weeks of training have brought me to this 10-mile race. Which, if you’ve read any other recaps or followed along this weekend, was shortened because of an unfortunate accident on the course. I am wholly impressed by the race directors and what they were able to accomplish given the timing of the accident and the start of the race.
Doing a Sunday race was WAY better than last month’s Saturday race, where we had to rush into DC on a Friday after work, and someone else had to grab my packet/bib. That said, it was nice to stay an extra day last month and enjoy many mimosas after crossing that finish line. This time, however, it was more in-and-out then sticking around to enjoy the city, but the little we did enjoy was enhanced by some beautiful weather and spring-like surroundings.
Lining up, I was excited to run into some fellow SCRR peeps in my corral and to start the first part of the race with, given that my friends were running late because of the metro (they ended up finishing at a 9:30/pace, so I wouldn’t have run with them for long anyway).
Steel City Road Runners represent! (I’m on the right showing off my neck muscles again.)
Registration and Cost: Entry to this race was on a lottery system (spoiler alert: I got in!) and my registration was about $80; I upgraded to a tech shirt and purchased a medal.
Expo and Packet Pick-Up: Orderly, for sure, and a beautiful space in the National Buildings Museum, but nothing about the expo itself provoked me to stay around and hang out (or buy anything). I mean, how many times do I have to see the same lotion lady and stim machines? To be honest, I really was interested in new shoes, but the expo wasn’t screaming out any brands. Also, it was kind of annoying to pick up bibs and t-shirts in different places (and on different floors). Even the sign that read “Pick up all shirts here” wasn’t even where I picked up my upgraded shirt (it was at the end of the row of tables).
Oh, and because the swag bag was virtual, I didn’t have any safety pins. Nobody reminded me about the safety pins. This should be programmed in the volunteers heads when handing over those bibs. But I did find one of the coolest Walgreens I’ve ever seen (in a search for said safety pins).
Bag check: Didn’t use. My hotel was about a mile from the start line, so I walked with all the gear I needed. Speaking of which…
Weather: B.E.A-UTIFUL. All that spring and none of the allergies either! The start line was a little chilly, but I had a thin pair of gloves which were easily stuffed in my pants when I warmed up.
Course: Because of the earlier mentioned incident, the first four miles were re-routed, making the course run short. I really was looking forward to that path around the basin too. Oh well, next year Lottery Gods. Those back miles down-around Hains Point though… WOOF. If it weren’t pretty and bloomy, it would be incredibly boring. Also, it was crowded.
Fans and Experience: I laughed and smiled and high-fived throughout the course — these race fans were PROS. I chuckled at many of the signs; there were several about brunch, which TORTURE ARTISTS. My favorite though was one that read “You’ve done dumber things when you were drunk.” #truth
I found myself pausing or pulling out my earbuds at various points of the course to take everything in. The miles kind of blend in together, but I think it was Mile 3 where there was a DJ; there was also an amazing drum band near the end of the course. I always get a thrill when runners start screaming in tunnels and underpasses.
Random Bullshit: My Songza shit the bed before I even hit the 5K mark and I had to restart the app… which told me at the most convenient time that I wasn’t logged in. It was at that point I realized that I also hadn’t synced my songs from the cloud to my phone since upgrading my device. So I was that lady trying to remember my password and log into my account WHILE I WAS RUNNING. Nailed it.
Finish Line: WHERE IS THE WATER?! WHERE ARE THE BANANAS? OH GOD HELP ME.
This may sound hyperbolic but a horrifying reality after you’ve run for an hour-and-forty minutes. That finish line chute took forever. And why the hell do you put photo booths before the water stations?!
AND WHERE THE HELL ARE THE BANANAS?! (I never did find them.)
Medals and Swag: “I’m not winning any money, so you best believe I paid for the medal.” Truer words were never spoken. Fun fact, at the Cherry Blossom race, they don’t put medals on you at the finish line — you have to pick them up at another location. Which would have been helpful had I remembered THREE BLOCKS EARLIER. (Yes, I had to walk back when I saw someone else wearing one.) I am wholly incapable of any thought but food after running. Why was this so complicated?! Did I mention crowded?
Worth it.
Bonus: FUN RACE DAY PICTURES!
Notable 30-somethings: Heck yeah, 32-year-old Serena Burla placed 1st in the U.S. Women’s Division; there were several 30-something women in the top 25 in the Open Division. So inspiring! Fist bump.
Found my friends after the race — that one on the left just ran her 10th Cherry Blossom (along with her mom!) and now has legacy status.
After party: that would be a three pigs omelet at City Tap House, and then a four hour-drive back home to Pittsburgh.
Overall: I really loved this race, and I really hoped to run faster. But I felt SO GOOD while doing it and had some kind of peaceful journey over those miles.
I mean, that picture says it all, doesn’t it?
Immediately after I finished, however, my left knee felt like it locked up (yes, the same knee that was giving me trouble last month). And on the same side, my foot was SCREAMING. I was hobbling back to the hotel (and, ack! had to wear flip-flops to brunch because of my swollen feet). I have no idea what is happening on my left side, but an emergency massage was in order this week.
This post is in partnership with Dasani and Target.
What’s in my purse?
Short answer: everything. At least, it feels that way when I’m trekking a mile to work every day. I’m also traveling with a lunch bag. Or a bag of shoes to change into. And a bag of snacks (always snacks). And always an umbrella. But the best days are when I can squeeze everything into one large handbag. But because I’m conscious about the weight on my shoulders (literally), I leave a water pitcher, filter and bottle to refill at work. I drink A. LOT. of water, and refuse to drink sugary sodas, and that can get… well, tasteless. Something about Spring makes me crave infused waters, which are instantly refreshing — same after yoga sessions. I was excited to see a box on my doorstep with DASANI DROPSĀ® Infusions AND a couple cans of DASANIĀ® Sparkling Black Cherry (btw, everyone at work that I was drinking beer at our Pirates Opening Day Potluck… hilarious!).
DASANI DROPSĀ® Infusions are unsweetened and naturally flavored drops to add a “splash” of flavor to your water. No added calories to your DASANI water bottle! I instantly took a preference to strawberry basil (there is also lime), and I see myself using this frequently to be refreshed on warm days. The DASANI DROPSĀ® Infusions package is small enough to not weigh down my bag and contains up to 32 servings.
DASANIĀ® Sparkling Black Cherry: This newest flavor of sparkling water is added to an already-existing line-up of lime, berry, and lemon — which help you stay hydrated while also having that refreshing feeling. The beverage, found in 12 fl oz cans (and in 12-packs), is lightly carbonated, unsweetened, has no artificial flavors AND zero calories.True story, black cherry is my favorite flavor. I’m one of those people who orders sparkling water at the restaurant, if it’s available. Also, the cans are PERFECT for bringing with me to the hammock on the courtyard and to outdoor summer concerts (nope, still not a beer!).
I’m Team Fizz all the way.
These new DASANI products can be purchased at your local Target store, using Targetās Cartwheel app. For a limited time, coupons will be available for both DASANI DROPS Infusions and DASANI Sparkling in Black Cherry (within the app). DASANI also confirmed that these two products are gluten-free.
Are you a Flavor 30-something or Fizz 30-something?
Disclaimer: DASANI provided me this product, in exchange for a review, social shares, and compensation. All thoughts and opinions herein are my own.
This marks the last week of the training cycle for the Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run. I’m writing this in anticipation of my drive out to DC with some goals, big ideas and a small dose of pride for getting here. Sure, lessons were learned along the way. And with this race out of the way, I’ll pick up where I left off for my Pittsburgh Half Marathon training.
Monday: Rest day.
Tuesday: Ran 4.06. What a beautiful day to be outside! I’m pretty proud of this negative splits action right here too:
9:54 average pace
Wednesday: Girls on the Run meeting (I really would have liked another run this week, and it was simply Pittsburgh gorgeous outside!).
Thursday: Rainy, stormy day for my short-but-slow last-of-the-training-cycle run today. Thankfully, while stormy, I got my three miles in before the sideways rain, tornado-like windstorm really hit Pittsburgh. And running in the rain felt good — like, really GOOD. Just me, my Garmin watch and my new North Face rain jacket (which, keeps me dry from the elements but makes me sweat profusely, so I don’t even know the point). I also re-started a combined workout of both the 30-day Core Challenge AND the 30-day Ab Challenge. Ironically, I finished those miles in my 5K time from 2013 (the one race a year I would run simply for apple crisp) — 32:30. A good reminder to think about the progress I’ve made.
Friday: REST! I’m going to drink some wine though, for certain. And roll my quads.
Saturday: Training plan told me to rest again, so I’ll do that (not that there’s anything wrong with it). Also, I got to go to the Expo! I brought my small double tennis ball roller to the hotel with me, so I could give myself a good foot warm-up and work out my glutes.
Sunday: RACE DAY! A bit shy of 10 miles (more about that in my upcoming Race Recap), it was a beautiful day to run 9.53 miles in DC.
Total runs this week: 3 (includes Race)
Weekly mileage: 16.59 miles (includes Race)
Total training mileage: 62.40 + 7.06 = 69.46 miles (does not include race miles)
Since I’m not switching over to my Pittsburgh Half Marathon training, the cycle continues with 78.99 total miles. Keep on, keeping on…
the week:
Hey guys? It’s BASEBALL SEASON! I walk past PNC Park every day on my way to work, and I couldn’t be more excited — watching as updates and clean-ups have occurred in and around the stadium. I’ve been able to see the flags hoisted, the lights and scoreboard checks, and yesterday they were testing PA announcements. While it’s not the homestand of my beloved Cleveland Indians (RIP, The Jake), I can get behind some gluten-free burritos at the ballpark this summer!
Now if you don’t mind me, I’m heading home to curl up with a glass of wine and some MLBTV.
weekend:
It’s Cherry Blossoms weekend in DC and my first long race of the season. Every time I think about it, I get nerves, so I’ll have to save those emotions for another post.
52 books in 52 weeks:
#12: Need To Know: Social Science Research Methods — another day, another textbook. I’ll just say this: this book helped little for preparing me for course assignments or quizzes. Ugh, the worst.
seven things, seven days:
1. Speaking of sports, did you guys see that Hostess twitter post this week? I thought it was brilliant and hilarious.
2. Attended an info session with the local Girls on the Run affiliate and looking forward to being involved with the organization. That is, if they can place me for a coaching position.
3. Rejected a previously-RSVP’d-yes blogger invite this week upon receiving an email that stated “dress to be photographed” in the “can’t wait to see you!” update prior to the event. NOPE. Although I’m sure the event was cool, that’s just not my scene.
4. I failed the “why did you unfriend me?” test when asked on FB. And now I feel even shittier for not being honest.
5. Speaking of which, I don’t know… if Facebook makes you feel depressed, why are you using it? The Psychology of Healthy Facebook Use: No Comparing to Other Lives {via The Atlantic}
6. I am VERY excited for extraVEGANza to open in Pittsburgh. {link is to their indiegogo campaign with some sweet perks!}
7. “Comfort in our failures allows us to act without fear, to engage without judgment, to love without conditions.” The Confidence Conundrum {via the ever-amazing Mark Manson}
