Accountability Monday: 7/9/2018

Good evening!

Today I'm writing you from beautiful Indianapolis, Indiana where I am spending the next week at a conference for work.

While I'm enjoying the conference, it has been so hard to stay on track while away from home! I have very little control over what I'm eating (the conference provides meals) and the schedule is demanding so there isn't much time to work out. But I'm trying to make it work as much as humanly possible. I'm really looking forward to being back and home and in my regular routine.

Training
Monday: 2.26 mile run, 13:17 pace
Wednesday: 3.1 mile run, 12:37 pace
Saturday: 2.37 mile run, 12:41 pace
Sunday: 2.35 mile run, 12:46 pace

Total: 10.08 miles

Man, this summer heat and humidity is killing my pace! I've had to slow down considerably because of the summer weather. Sunday's run was HORRIBLE- the heat was so bad I ended up walking much of the last .75 mile. I am really not built for summer running. 😓

Y'all. This 👏 heat 👏 is 👏 no 👏 joke. In Indianapolis all week for work so I brilliantly decide to run at 4 PM today when it's like 90 effing degrees out. Swipe left to see what it looks like when you have to sit down mid-run because you can't hang in this heat. And then a beautiful picture of what was a beautiful day... just not for running. Anyone else minding this sweltering weather?! 🙋‍♀️😥🔥

A post shared by Sarah (@sparklyrunner) on Jul 8, 2018 at 7:43pm PDT

Best Run

Running on fourth of July is always a good time- even if it's not part of an official holiday race! While it was hot and humid and not the greatest running conditions, I still got to sparkle in my patriotic Sparkle Skirt so that's got to count for something. 😍

Bravo Moment

This morning at the hotel gym, I conquered one of my fears- working out in public in front of a mirror!  I don't always know what I'm doing when working out (besides running) so the fact that I grabbed some weights and made up a little cross-training/strength workout AND did it in front of other people is a huge accomplishment for me! And my muscles are sore tonight so I must have done ok for myself, right?

Quote of the Week

In the immortal words of my friend Dory, "just keep swimming!" Applicable to so many situations in life.

That's all for this week! Look for a recap of the Pittsburgh half soon!

Accountability Monday: 7/2/18

Good morning, friends!

With the summer heat reaching record highs this week, I hope you are all staying cool and hydrated wherever you are.

If you are training through the hot temperatures, here are a few tips to running safely in the heat:

• SLOW DOWN! Seriously, any time the temps are above 70 degrees, you should be slowing down by at least 30 seconds per mile. 
• Run in the coolest parts of the day- typically early morning or late evening. I'm particularly fond of running around 8:45 pm as I usually get to see some spectacular sunsets while enjoying the cooler weather.
• Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water (and/or beer!) before, throughout, and after your workout. I've been using my OrangeMud hydration vest on pretty much every run this summer. 

Ok, so back to last week's recap:

Training

Tuesday: 3.36 mile group run with Appalachia Running Company (ARC) and the Chambersburg Beer Runners, 11:02 overall pace

Saturday: 2.53 mile run, 11:58 overall pace

Tuesday's run was part of an Altra Running Demo at ARC so of course, I wanted to go to my second-ever group run and talk Altra with other runners. Typically, I do not participate in group runs. As a back-of-the-packer and run/walker, I usually find that at the smaller group runs in my rural area, there isn't anyone else there to run my pace and method with me. 

View from the back of the pack. And a tractor, because Pennsylvania.

But about a half mile in, I started chatting with another SparkleSkirt runner, Chrissy, and we ended up running the whole route together. We talked about runDisney, beer (she's a member of the Chambersburg Beer Runners), half marathons, and running as a back-of-the-packer. It was awesome!

After the run, Evan (the PA Altra rep) brought us some Troegs beer and ARC provided yummy snacks. We stood around and talked about ultra marathons, the newest Altra shoes, and swapped race stories. All in all, a pretty solid Tuesday night. 

The only thing better than running, talking about running. While drinking a beer. ;-)

Best Run

Tuesday's run, for all the reasons mentioned above, and because I was very happy with the 11:02 overall pace on a hilly route in humid weather.

Bravo Moment

Despite my current struggle with the scale, I've attended a Weight Watchers meeting the last three out of four weeks. Weekly weigh-ins are one of the keys to holding myself accountable and it's been great to get back into that routine; even if the results aren't always what I want. 

Quote of the Week

Presented without comment because I think it's that powerful. 

Have a great week! 

And happy early birthday, America! 🎇🗽🎆

Accountability Tuesday: 6/19/18

Good morning, my beloved long-lost blog readers!

My apologies for the hiatus from blogging but I have an awesome reason...


WE 

BOUGHT 

A 

HOUSE!!!!

Matthew and I have been knee-deep in the house-searching and then home-buying process for the last two-ish months and it's been an absolute whirlwind of a summer so far!

Not only was finding a home stressful (homes sell in a matter of hours in our area), but once we found "our" home, the process of making an offer, getting approved by the bank, getting the home inspection, etc. was time-consuming and worrisome! There are a ton of moving parts to the process and it's probably the most expensive purchase we'll ever make so, yeah, kinda stressful! 😅

We absolutely love our new home and are excited to be homeowners! And I'm very excited to explore the area and find new running routes as my training picks up for fall races (so far, Harrisburg Half and probably WDW Marathon).

But, running/training has absolutely taken a back seat to the house stuff. All our time has been taken up with packing and cleaning and moving leaving little time or energy to run. I know I'll get back to my regular routine soon, but in the meantime, my weight has been creeping back up with the lack of regular physical activity.

Can you tell where I went on vacation?! ;-)

After a few weeks of travel in May, I gained about six pounds which was to be expected. Before vacation, I'd actually been doing quite well and my weight was on a downward trend, getting back to a number where I felt comfortable and fit.

But if you've been reading for a while you know that for me, "vacation + stress (from home buying) = weight gain." At this point in my weight loss/weight maintenance journey, I know this is normal. Life happens. My weight fluctuates from month to month, year to year, and it probably always will.

Still, I'm not super happy about my weight or my lack of training lately. But here's what I know for sure: I'll never stop trying. So, it's back to regular weekly weigh-ins, a training plan, and more consistent blogging here. Writing about running and weight loss is one of the ways I hold myself accountable and I'm usually much more consistent with both when I'm writing and posting regularly. Plus the blog turns FIVE YEARS OLD next month so I've got to plan something awesome to celebrate!

Ok, that's about it for this week's very unconventional Accountability Tuesday post! See y'all next week and as always, THANK YOU for reading!

Accountability Tuesday: 5/8/2018

Good morning, friends!

Hope your week is off to a great start! Here's short recap of what's been going on in my world over the last week:

Training
Wednesday: Jillian Michaels "Ripped in 30" week 2 workout
Saturday: Pittsburgh 5k, 33:47
Sunday: Pittsburgh Half Marathon, 2:30:01

I'll write a full recap later but- I ran my second fastest half marathon EVER! My last mile was a 9:47! :-)

The past few weeks I've been trying to incorporate at least two "other" workouts into my week. When I ran Pittsburgh in 2015, I felt the best I'd ever felt during a marathon and I attribute that to cross-training and strength-training. So while my training for Pittsburgh 2018 wasn't perfect, the fact that I was able to squeeze in some other workouts (mainly Jillian Michaels) I think contributed significantly to the fact that I was able to run my fastest half in 4+ years. I know I still have some speed left in these legs; now to just let it out and see how fast I can really go!

Steel Challenge #5 complete.

Best Run
The Pittsburgh 5k was PERFECT: beautiful weather, fun new course, high fives from a bunch of cute kids (and a dog!), gorgeous views of the city, and negative splits. All-around awesome if you ask me.

How could you not love a run with views like this?!

Bravo Moment
The scale is finally responding to the effort I feel like I'm making- and I couldn't be happier or prouder of myself. Weight loss and weight maintenance is one of those things that never gets easier- I will always struggle with my weight. But, I can have control over most of the things that affect my health/weight so I will continue to do what it takes to stay healthy.

Quote of the Week
This week's quote is from the hilarious - and sometimes wise- Steve Martin:

How accurate is this, right?

Have an awesome week, friends!

Accountability Monday: 4/9/2018

Good morning and welcome to another Monday!

I've secretly always liked the start of a week- a fresh new beginning; another chance to do whatever it is you feel like you need to do. :-) Cheers to the start of a great week!

Training
Wednesday: 3.1 mile run, 10:54 pace
Saturday: 3 mile hike; 2 mile run, 11:49 pace

We spent the weekend in the Pocono Mountains and even though it was frigid- temps in the 30's- it was absolutely beautiful in the forest. Trail running is quickly becoming my favorite spring activity.

If you're in the market for an awesome trail shoe- check out the Altra Timp. Heavenly.

Best Run
Wednesday's run was incredibly windy- 40+ mph gusts! But I managed to have negative splits and felt pretty awesome: 11:11/11:09/10:25. I also took the new Altra Duos out for the second time and I really, really like this shoe. The sole is very stiff but feels super responsive and bouncy- these are definitely a short-distance, road-warrior shoe. Can't wait to see how these do in a race!

This wind was INTENSE.

Bravo Moment
I tracked, planned, and portioned all my food last week and it paid off- I lost 2.2 pounds!

Quote of the Week
Life, just like weight loss or running, is best experienced with a little patience. It was awesome to be out in the woods this past weekend, soaking up every moment of peace and calm I could from Mother Nature; being among the trees gives me much-needed perspective.

Have a calming, patience-filled week, friends!

Accountability Monday: 4/2/2018

Good morning and happy spring! It's finally April! 

It almost feels like warmer weather is near!

I don't know about you, but I am ready for spring and new beginnings in the worst way! These past few winter months have been a struggle- I don't know why, but I've been slacking on workouts, eating healthy, tracking my food, etc. My pants don't fit anymore and I'm not super happy with how I look or feel these days. I think I'm up about seven pounds from this time last year but it feels like 20. 

Mood.

BUT! Something super cool happened this weekend- I got a new PR for the 10 mile distance!!!

PRs make me smile :-)

I'll write a full recap of the race later, but wow, what a day! I can't believe I got a new PR by over 12 minutes! There's something about crushing goals that makes you feel unstoppable; suddenly those seven pounds don't feel as heavy :-)

Training

Tuesday: 4 rainy miles on the trail, 11:15 pace

Thursday: 3.1 miles in new Altra Duos, 10:35 pace

Saturday: Capital 10 Miler race, 1:53:56, 11:24 pace

Solid week of running, solid week of fast (for me) paces, not-so-solid week of strength or cross training. 

Did you know the Altra Duos have the power of levitation? ;-)

Best Run

The Capital 10 Miler was phenomenal- I felt so fast and strong, especially the last three miles. Check out those splits- I ran a 10:10 after nine miles!

Bravo Moment

Last week at work was unnecessarily stressful- I chose to run instead of eating my feelings on Thursday evening. That's a win in my book. 

Quote of the Week

This one popped up in my instagram feed from Runner's World; so appropriate given this weekend's race. I can't wait to shatter more mental blocks and grind out some more PRs!

Have a great week, friends!

Accountability Monday: 12/26/2017

Good morning! And Merry (belated) Christmas to all who celebrate!

We just wrapped up the holidays with one family and are currently en route to our second of three Christmas celebrations- we put a lot of miles on our cars (and our feet!) this time of year.

With eight days left until the start of Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend, my training for the unofficial Goofy Challenge and unofficial Castaway Cay is officially over! 😁

I finished my last long run, 20 miles, on Christmas Eve, so now I'm a legitimate resident of Taper Town. And it feels so damn good!

Training
Tuesday: 3.1 miles, 10:56 pace
Thursday: 3.1 miles on the treadmill, 12:06 pace
Saturday: 4 miles walked, 15:00 pace. 3.53 miles ran, 11:20 pace
Sunday: 20 miles, 13:41 pace

33.73 total miles

This week felt good. Strong. Fast. Look at those overall paces! This week felt super speedy for me, especially with the total mileage being as high as it was. The only downside to this week's training is the lack of strength workouts. Going into this short taper period (only 13 days until the start of the WDW Half), I'm going to focus on making sure to get in at least four quality strength workouts between now and the race start(s).

Best Run
I had been equally dreading and looking forward to Sunday's 20 miler. Dreading it because my last few long runs have been mentally tough and physically painful. Looking forward to it because I knew it was the last hurdle for this training cycle before heading into a relaxing two weeks of holidays and time with family.

But once I started running, I stopped dreading it. I relaxed. I settled into the run. The miles ticked by and before I knew it, my watch said 18 miles and I'd be done in less than 25 minutes.

And I felt GREAT! Sincerely, honestly, great. My legs were a bit sore and my feet were a little beat up but I could have definitely run 6.2 more miles and finished the marathon distance.

I don't know what changed or what was different, but it was such a solid long run and I feel 100% more confident going into WDW Marathon Weekend than I did just a few weeks ago.

All smiles after 20 miles.
And yes, I wore the Santa hat during the entire run :-)

Bravo Moment
See above. I ran 20 freaking miles. On Christmas Eve. 😁

Quote of the Week
Accurate. Especially when it comes to running.

And because this is the "Christmas edition" of Accountability Monday Tuesday, here's a holiday card from our family to yours! May you find joy, love, and peace this holiday season and in 2018!

PS- Need a little running motivation this week? Check out this weekend's guest post about using running to overcome life's obstacles.


Have a great week, friends!

Accountability Monday: 12/18/17

Good morning!

It's been a busy week in the McShupp household as we prepare for a few weeks of holiday celebrations and lots and lots of travel!

With our Disney trip just around the corner (less than three weeks until we are in the house of the mouse!), we are finishing up all our last-minute to-do's, including our last long run that we'll complete this Sunday.

Training
Tuesday: Treadmill 5k, 37:51
Thursday: 5k outside in 19ºF weather, 37:57
Sunday: 6.27 miles, 1:18:35

12.47 total miles

Missed all my strength workouts this week and each run was a bit of a struggle. Ugh. Sometimes this happens during training- I'm just going to ride it out and keep my fingers crossed that our last long runs of this training cycle this weekend go smoothly. We are going to try for 10 on Saturday and 18-20 on Sunday.

It was a bit weird seeing all my friends that are also Dopey or Goofy training completing their last long run this past weekend while we scheduled ours for this upcoming weekend. Even though I wrote this training plan based on our schedules, our running ability, and our plans for the races, it still gave me a bit of panic to see other folks out doing their long runs while we weren't.

Hopefully, all goes well this weekend and we can enjoy about two weeks of Taper Town before the WDW Marathon Weekend begins!

Best Run
Even though my headphones died at mile .75 and my watch died at mile 5.37, Sunday's long run was the run that I felt the least crappy. That qualifies as "best," right??

Proof that my feet do leave the ground when I run. 😏

Bravo Moment
This weekend, I made brownies with black beans. Black. Freaking. Beans. In brownies.

I have no picture because they are not pretty. But they tasted kinda ok and were zero Smart Points, so there's that.

Runner Gift Wishlist Items of the Week
First this week, I've got a gift for you that isn't even necessarily for runners, the Yaktrax Walk Traction Cleats. If you know someone who spends a lot of time outside in the winter, walking over snow or ice, this would be the perfect gift for them! You already know I'm a big fan of Yaktrax- get some of these for a great discount (50% off until 12/23!) and find out for yourself how awesome they are.


Please note that by purchasing through the link above, not only will you get a sweet discount but I may also earn a small commission through the Amazon Associates Program: Sparkly Runner is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. [If you aren't comfortable with that, you can always head over to amazon and search for "yaktrax run" instead. 😊]

The second gift this week is one of my all-time favorite products, especially because I tend to end up injured no matter how hard I try not to be- KT Tape! This stuff is amazing and affordable- I just bought a roll yesterday at Wal-Mart for $9.97. 

KT Tape has helped me tremendously with my knee and my feet- for me, nothing works better on my tendinitis than this stuff. If you know a runner in your life that struggles with any type of common running injury, gift them a roll of KT Tape- they'll love it- and you!

Minnie Mouse inspired KT Tape keeping my knee together
 at the 2016 Princess Half Marathon.

Don't forget! There's still time to get a discount for last week's featured gift- StrideBox!

Use the code SPARKLYRUNNER10 for 10% off 3 or 6 month gift subscriptions. 
Use the code SPARKLYRUNNER5 for $5 off your first purchase. 
And congratulations to Maureen @PerpetuallyInjuredRunner, who won last week's contest! With an IG handle like that, she's a girl after my own heart. ❤ Happy running, Maureen!
Quote of the Week With projected 18ºF weather for our long run this weekend, I'll be repeating this all day. 

And because we're so close to Christmas (and because I'm a sucker for pug puppies), here's your Monday dose of cuteness!

Santa, I wouldn't mind one of these under the tree this year. ❤😏

Have a great week!

Accountability Monday: 12/11/2017 + StrideBox Giveaway!

Good morning, friends!

It's quite chilly here in the mid-Atlantic this week so grab a cup of coffee- or hot chocolate if that's more your style- settle in, and check out all that happened this past week, plus, the awesome folks at StrideBox are giving away a cool prize to one of my readers- how cool is that?!

Training
Tuesday: 3.1 treadmill run, 37:59 overall time
Wednesday: strength training (10 reps x 2)- push-ups, squats, clam shells, glute bridges, side-steps with resistance band, crunches, superman
Saturday: 5 miles, 11:58 overall pace
Sunday: 13.1 miles, 12:46 overall pace + strength training (10 reps x 2)- clam shells, glute bridges, crunches, superman, side steps with resistance band, hip extenders with resistance band

21.2 total miles

Positives of this week- completed two strength sessions and got in the mileage I wanted (20+ miles). Room for improvement from this week- fueling. My long run on Sunday was miserable from mile 4.5 on. I was hungry, cold, and tired. I thought I'd eaten enough before I started running but I clearly did not as the later miles were ugly. This will be something I work in the next few weeks before WDW Marathon Weekend.

It might look pretty, but it was an ugly training run.

Best Run
Saturday's 5 miler felt great, even though the temperature was in the 30's! Being able to maintain a sub-12 minute mile pace for anything over 3 miles is a reason to celebrate in my book. 😍

Bravo Moment
Ever since I attended Altra's Run Better Clinic as part of the Runner's World Half & Festival Weekend, I have been working on incorporating all the techniques I learned to improve my running form. Seeing some pictures from this weekend's run gave me some photographic evidence that my form is indeed getting better! I can definitely feel a difference when I'm running and using the techniques so it's cool to actually see a difference. I still have some room to grow but overall, I'm very happy with my progress.

Heel strike? What heel strike?!

Runner Gift Wishlist Items of the Week
Yaktrax has another great offer for you this week, this time on the Yaktrax Run (35% off until 12/16/17)- these feature actual cleats that attach to the bottom of your running shoes that assist with traction in ice and snow. I used these a ton last winter when we had significant amounts of snow and was able to get all my miles in without sacrificing any safety concerns.

Please note that by purchasing through the link above, not only will you get a sweet discount but I may also earn a small commission through the Amazon Associates Program: Sparkly Runner is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. [If you aren't comfortable with that, you can always head over to amazon and search for "yaktrax run" instead. 😊]
Looking to purchase a gift for the runner in your life that keeps giving all year long?

No, no, it's not the Jelly of the Month Club- it's a membership to StrideBox!  StrideBox is a "monthly subscription box to fuel your running adventures." Each box is filled with runner nutrition and accessories, curated for a wide variety of runners. The best part? Each month is a fun surprise! I love getting my box each month and discovering what's inside- it's usually super cool. 
Especially for blog readers, StrideBox has some awesome discount codes for you to use this holiday season!
Use the code SPARKLYRUNNER10 for 10% off 3 or 6 month gift subscriptions. 
Use the code SPARKLYRUNNER5 for $5 off your first purchase. 
Both discount codes are valid until 12/24/2017. 
And because StrideBox is especially awesome, they've partnered with me to give away a prize to a lucky blog reader! 

Wanna win this? Read on below.

To enter: 1. Follow @StrideBox and @SparklyRunner on instagram. 2. Leave a comment on this instagram post with what running product keeps you running. 3. Winner will be drawn randomly. - This giveaway will run from 12/11/17 to 11:59 pm EST on 12/17/17.  - Winner will be direct messaged on instagram on 12/17/17. - Winner must live in continental US.  Winner will be announced here on next week's Accountability Monday post. Good luck! 
Quote of the Week Here's hoping the crappy training runs set up an awesome unofficial Goofy Challenge in a few weeks! 

Have a great week!

Accountability Monday: 11/27/2017

Good morning, friends!

I hope you are reading this feeling refreshed and ready to start another week- and month! Can you believe it'll be December by Friday?

It's my absolute favorite time of the year for so many reasons: time with family and friends, time away from work, gifts, colder weather, Christmas lights, peppermint mocha everything- I could keep listing things but that's another post entirely! Basically, I adore the month of December and am looking forward to another fun-filled holiday season.

Training
Tuesday- Treadmill 5k, 38:23, 12:23 overall pace
Thursday- 7.06 miles, 1:30:36, 12:50 overall pace
Friday- 16.01 miles, 3:32:01, 13:15 overall pace. Last four mile splits: 13:03/11:52/11:31/11:42
Sunday- 30 minutes on the stationary bike, light strength workout, foam-rolling, light yoga/stretching

26.17 total miles

Y'all, that 16 miler on Friday was no joke. Matthew and I ran the first 12 together and it felt like a struggle- I was over dressed, dehydrated, hungry, and just grumpy. I ran the last four by myself (after grabbing some Belvita breakfast biscuits and a bottle of water- which was incredibly helpful) and was shocked to see the paces I was able to keep. 11:31?! After running 13 miles?! Who am I?!

Some runs build physical stamina, some build mental stamina. Today's 16 miles were the latter. Now onto thanksgiving dinner number two. 🍁🍗🍷 #optoutside

A post shared by Sarah (@sparklyrunner) on Nov 24, 2017 at 10:33am PST

Best Run

Though the first part absolutely sucked, the 16 miles on Friday was my best run of the week. Each run teaches you something- this one reinforced for me the importance of staying hydrated and fueled properly. I'm grateful for the crappy runs; they help me appreciate the great ones. 

Bravo Moment

I hit every single workout I wanted to this week and I feel great! I have very little muscle soreness overall- even though foam-rolling yesterday was rough- and I feel like I'm getting stronger, mentally and physically, during this training cycle. 

Quote of the Week

In a season full of happy distractions, it can be hard to stay focused on what you really want. What I really want is to get to the start lines of the WDW Half Marathon and WDW Marathon healthy, happy, confident, and strong. So I have to keep myself on track, laser-focused, and taking steps each day towards my goal. 

Stay the course, friends.

What keeps you focused on your goals?

Have a fabulous week, folks! 

Accountability Monday: 10/30/17

Good morning and Happy (early) Halloween!

Since I shared some looooooong posts last week (Runner's World Festival Recaps Parts one, two, and three), today's will be short and sweet!

Training
Tuesday: 2.26 miles, 12:10 pace
Saturday: 3.1 miles, 12:36 pace, 250 feet of elevation
Sunday: Strength Circuit of my own creation including squats, planks, and back extensions

So, I know I'm late to the party on this, but I just discovered podcasts this weekend and holy crap, I'm hooked! I actually started listening to "Serial" (again, yes, I know I'm like a year late on this one, ha!) on Sunday while I was working out and it was such a different- and positive- experience from the music I usually listen to. I also checked out Rylee's podcast, ManBunRun, and listened to his interview with Bart Yasso. I am more in love than ever with Bart after hearing him share his thoughts on the running community on Rylee's podcast. He's such a great ambassador for our sport.

An easy 5k - with some gorgeous fall colors- to start the weekend. Still loving these @mojo_socks I picked up at the #rwfestival expo. Wanna win a pair of your own? Check out the blog for your chance to win- link in profile. ✨✨✨

A post shared by Sarah (@sparklyrunner) on Oct 28, 2017 at 7:48am PDT

Best Run
Best run this week was the 5k on Saturday morning with my husband. Anytime we get to run together is a good run 😍

Bravo Moment
Race weekend + eating out every meal while traveling + lots of post-race beers = usually, a gain for me. BUT NOT THIS WEEK! I'm actually down .6 from last week! The numbers on the scale have been a constant struggle for me since our last cruise in March... but I'm feeling super encouraged with how things have gone the last few weeks.

I'm liking this downward trend.

Quote of the Week
I took the picture below while home at my parent's house this weekend- there's a tree in the backyard that is just gorgeous this time of year. There's something about fall that has always signaled new beginnings for me; like everything old is about to be let go and released to give space for new things to take root and grow. I found this May Sarton quote and thought it perfectly summed up where I am this week; ready to see what new things will unfold in the next season of my weight loss, training, and life.

WIN COOL STUFF! My Runner's World Giveaway is still going on- there are multiple ways to enter and you can tweet every day to gain more chances to win! Giveaway ends 11/3; see this post for details on how to enter.

Who wouldn't want to win this?! 

Do you listen to podcasts when you run/workout? If so, which ones do you like? Leave me suggestions on which ones to listen to in the comments!

Accountability Tuesday: 10/17/17

Hello there!

It's been quite a few weeks since I've posted here; work has been pretty hectic over the last few months so lots of stuff in my life has been neglected, including this space.

But! All the "big" stuff at work is done, Matthew and I just returned from a relaxing three-night vacation in Cape May, and the Runner's World Half and Festival is this weekend! Online registration closes on Wednesday- use the code "SPARKLYRUNNER" at checkout to save 10% on any race. I can't wait for 26.2 miles of trail and road races!

Training
Saturday: 3.04 ocean-front miles, 36:45, 12:06 pace per mile
Sunday: 3.55 mile walk with Matthew and my Mother-in-Law, 5 mile round-trip bike ride to Beach Plum Farm

Two things learned from this year's fall Cape May trip: 1. Running along the beach will never get old. 2. Beach Plum Farm is a must if you ever find yourself in the area. It's a 62-acre, 300-year-old working farm complete with self-guided tours of the kitchen gardens, a beautiful barn and market, and no shortage of instagram-worthy scenery. Matthew and I had such a good time there- we can't wait to go back next summer!

Fall at the farm is gorgeous- I can't imagine how beautiful it is in full, summer bloom!

There were a TON of monarchs on the remaining flowers in the gardens and fields. 

We also found some sunflowers- and bees!

Beach running is always better in a pair of Altras.

Best Run
Obviously, this week's best run is this week's only run, lol. It actually rained on Saturday morning but it was still pretty magical running by the beach and in the sand. And by magical, I mean really, freaking hard- have you ever tried running in sand?! It's insanely difficult! I only ran on the sand for a bit before returning to the promenade- way easier and less crap gets in your socks. 😜

Bravo Moment
I ate and drank what I wanted this weekend (including wings, beer, and pizza!), tracked it all, and stayed within my daily and weekly Smart Points- on vacation. This is a huge bravo for me. It's always been a challenge for me to stay on track during a weekend or week away from home. Less control over what I'm eating, the mindset of indulging and relaxing during time "off," and lots of meals out usually leads to me eating and drinking more than I should or more than I planned. However, I packed snacks for this trip, tracked my food diligently, and chose meals that fit within my daily points budget. I won't say that I'm excited to weigh-in this week, but I'm not totally dreading it. That's a win in my book.

Carefully reading about the beer choices I made for a flight at Cape May Brewing Co.

Breakfast at George's Place, highly recommend for breakfast in Cape May.

Margherita Pizza at Louie's Pizza, highly recommend for any meal in Cape May.

Quote of the Week
Because we just got back from the beach, this seemed appropriate:

Have a great week, friends!