High Five Friday – Runtastic

Happy, happy Friday! I am so ready for the weekend, although it’s supposed to be cold and maybe snowy up here, which should make my long run a little more interesting. I am linking up with the birthday girl Angela (well, yesterday was her birthday) for High Five Friday, to start the weekend with some good vibes, good photos and good reads.

Let’s do this.

Five from Instagram.

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I am embracing the beer culture of Vermont. And beer is definitely a big deal up here. Fran and I went out for dinner for our anniversary in October, at a pretty nice restaurant here in Burlington. We thought it perfectly epitomized Vermont when our server asked if we’d like to see the beer list. 🙂 

Quickie at-home workout this week with the BOSU. (Don’t forget to check out the first of the Monthly Round-Ups of workouts for runners, because it was all at-home workouts!)

A trail run featured on my list of favorite runs from last week (and month and year) – lots of mud and the feeling that I could run forever.

Speaking of running, here is the view that makes my long run that much more beautiful and soothing. This week’s High Five Friday is runtastic because everything has just been falling into place with my marathon training lately and the running has been wonderful this week.

And Baby T – Squoodge City, Population 1 – turned 11 months! I know once that first birthday rolls around they’re officially no longer babies, but toddlers instead, but sshhhh. Don’t remind me. He’s just going to keep being a baby for many months more.

Five Random Tidbits from the Week

Yesterday was my dad’s 70th birthday! He’s celebrating it in style in Fiji with my mum, my brother, sister-in-law and nephews. Here he is with me way back in 1978. 🙂

I finally, finally took my driving test and passed, so I’ve become mama-chauffeur extraordinaire. I take Fran to work, then drop Roman at daycare every morning, then I flip it and reverse it in the afternoon. 

Daycare – it’s official, I have a grown-up big boy. There were a few tears at nap time for Roman the first two days and then he settled in like a champ. It doesn’t hurt that they do cool stuff like swimming lessons, indoor rock climbing and Zumba. Yes, Zumba. So adorable.

Spandits is having a sale! All their in-stock women’s capris and three-quarter length tights are 25% off until Easter. Go shop!

I’ve started dipping my toes back into personal training – I’m training two clients online and putting together a half marathon training plan for a friend. Watch this space – this will probably be something I offer once I get more of a routine together.

Five Great Reads From the Week

Okay, this one is a tiny bit of shameless self promotion, but Brittany at My Own Balance has started a series of Professional Q&A, in which she interviews professionals in the health and wellness field. I was honored to be interviewed for insight into being a personal trainer.

I’m voraciously reading anything and everything marathon-related right now and I especially loved Laura at This Runner’s Recipes post on how to do an assessment of your race post-marathon. (Okay, this post is actually from last year, but that’s what happens when you fall into a Pinterest rabbit hole). I’m going to go back and look at my last two marathons to see what I can work on for this one in May.

Still on a running theme, this post from Margaret at Young and Rungry on 10 Traits That make Runners Successful in Life was a really good read. I found myself nodding along at each of the traits – see how many you agree with!

I admit I had never even heard of an Ugi ball (have you?) but after I found this workout by Janelle at Wholly Healthy, I kind of want to get one.

Fine, I’ll do a little more shameless self promotion and mention that Ellen at Tale of Two Runs also interviewed me this week. I’d love you to check it out – Ellen is a new blogger and I had no idea until I read her post that she’s been reading my blog since 2011!

What have you been reading this week that you loved?

Have you heard of, or used an Ugi ball? 

Do you assess races afterwards to see what you can improve upon or do better?