This week on my Working (Out) Mama column I put together a quick living room workout using a medicine ball: 8 Awesome Exercises With Just One Medicine Ball. I love doing these at-home workout posts, because there are so many people who don’t have time or money to belong to a gym. If you’ve got room to put down a yoga mat in your living room, you’ve got room to work out! Check it out, especially if you’re looking for a few exercises to add to your routine.
My trusty photographer was Fran again. We didn’t get quite so snippy with each other for this shoot, but it’s definitely not his favorite thing to do. He got a little annoyed with me when I requested a certain shot like this, “I need you to make sure both my feet are in this one, so can you hold the camera horizontally…like across-ways?” He questioned whether I really needed to elaborate for him the meaning of horizontal. Hmm. Maybe not.
Runners – when it comes to races, do you plan out all your races in advance, or do you sign up for them as you go along?
I’ve seen running blogs where the blogger’s year of racing is all mapped out, with a different race every month, a destination race or two thrown in, sometimes even with their projected (or hoped-for) finish times. It’s so awesomely organized and efficient. It’s also perfect for setting goals and going after them. I can’t imagine ever being organized enough to look at my year ahead and map out all my racing like that, though.
It’s not that I don’t love races – I do and I end up running many over the course of a year – it’s just that I don’t really plan them out. But when you put your name in a big race lottery and it takes a few months before they even draw the names…well, maybe you start kind of assuming you’ll be running it. Especially if, like me, you don’t have a lot written down in pen. This is a highly convoluted way of saying I didn’t get selected in yesterday’s lottery drawing for the 2014 NYC Marathon. Boo. 🙁
I have a couple of friends who planned on running the Philadelphia Marathon if they didn’t get into NYC this year, but I’m not sure I want to do that one. I kind of feel like if I’m not doing the hometown big city race, maybe I’ll look for a tiny marathon, somewhere nice to visit. Anyone got any ideas for me?
Speaking of disorganized – Fit Mama Friday was a bit of an oops this week. I thought I had someone set up, a woman who was nominated by a FMF alumna, but when I went to email a reminder I realized I never had confirmation from the potential fit mama. So, tomorrow I’ll be doing something a little different for my Fit Mama Friday post. It’s fun, I think you’ll like it. 🙂
I do have some awesome mamas coming up in the next few weeks – I’m booked through the beginning of May, but I’m always looking for more fit mamas and dads to feature. Don’t forget, if there’s someone you know (in real life, or through a blog) who you’d love to see featured, nominate them so I can reach out.
Finally, go check out Coach Daddy’s 6 Words series this week – he asked me to be a part of it and I was so excited to be included. Eli, the writer behind Coach Daddy, started this series after being inspired by flash fiction. There’s a great story (I’m not 100% sure if it’s true) that Hemingway once argued with a group of writers that a novel could be written in 6 words. Money was put on the table, then he wrote down the following words on a napkin to collect the winnings: “For sale: Baby shoes. Never Worn.” This week’s 6 Words post is Make Your Own Holiday Day, in 6 Words.
What’s your favorite race you’ve ever run?
Are you super organized? Or do you like to just make it up as you go along?
What would be your 6 Word Holiday?
I love your NYC outfit, and kind of jealous that you get to hold that medal;)
There is a nice race in Nova Scotia called the Valley Harvest Marathon- it is definitely tiny, but it’s in my favourite little town in NS called Wolfville. The weather is usually fantastic that weekend and it’s our Thanksgiving weekend as well. I love it because there’s a turkey dinner afterwards at our house:) Their medals have been rocking the past few years too!
Heidi @ Idlehide recently posted…Thursday Thoughts: 03/27/14
One day, Heidi, you’ll run NYC and we’ll meet in person! 🙂 The Valley Harvest marathon sounds awesome – I love that you get to celebrate with Thanksgiving dinner afterwards.
Boooo! I’m sorry you didn’t get selected, but I am sure the one you do run will be spectacular (small or not!) Have you thought about the Brooklyn Marathon even though I think that’s coming up soon? I could never plan my races that far ahead, most times when I race I plan it 2 weeks prior 🙂
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I think I looked into the Brooklyn marathon a few years back – I don’t know if the course has changed, but then it was laps of Prospect Park. Given that it’s just over a 3 mile loop, I think I’d probably want to die about halfway through! 😉
Oh – sorry you didn’t get in to NYC marathon this year!
I like to be organized – lists and having everything planned out keeps me from having freak outs!!!
Love using the medicine ball – I did burpees with mine this morning – good times!
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Burpees with a medicine ball! So you did the push up with your hands on it? That sounds like a killer, I’ll have to check out your 44s round up this weekend. 🙂
I did Philadelphia last year for my debut marathon, and I thought it was very well run and a great marathon to do. I would definitely recommend it, even though my last 7 miles were a disaster! I am definitely super organized, but I have to be as an elite athlete, coach, and with my full time MBA. Your medicine ball workout looks great, I find they are really helpful for building strength!
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I have heard good things about the Philly marathon – I’ve heard it’s a fast course, too. And yes, for you as an elite athlete planning races is definitely necessary!! 🙂
I definitely pride myself on being an organized person. I’m a type A personality and thrive on routine, so when things get a little out of whack or hectic, I sometimes have a hard time adjusting. But, over the years (especially after having my son and now daughter!), I’ve definitely learned to just go with the flow and let things go.
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Definitely having kids forces us to be a little more flexible!! I can’t imagine how much more true that is with two kids!