Category: Random

May Rewind

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I can’t believe how quickly May went by, and with it went a crazy month of running! The weather finally got onto somewhat of a normal schedule so I was really able to push my limits this month. Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Miles run: 83

Races run: 4 (Run.4.Fun 5k, Flap Jack & Jill 15k, Cleveland Half Marathon, Medina Half Marathon)

Miles biked: 0

Favorite Workout: 5/21 – Mastick Trails

Books read: Started The Runner’s High

Places traveled: 0

New recipes: 0

This month was by far my best month of running in a long time. Even though I had a few weeks of taper, I still managed to run more miles than I did in April. The last time I ran this many miles was last July, where I barely made it to 84 miles. This month also pushed me to 325 miles for the year, so just over halfway to my goal. Due to marathon training beginning in June, I should be on track to run at least 100 miles next month. I’ve never accomplished that, so I’m excited to cross into triple digits!

Not only did I get the miles in this month, but I raced a bunch. I ran a 5k, 15k, and two half marathons, and managed to PR in three of them! I finally broke my post college 5k PR after many attempts, and the next goal will be to get back under 25 minutes. But the real winner of the month was finally breaking 2 hours at Cleveland. It was a complete surprise and a long time in the making. It meant even more that I was able to break 2 at the place where I ran my first half marathon!

My favorite workout was through the Mastick trails with Elayna. Mastick has always been one of my favorite places to run, and I look forward to more summer miles there. I’m still reading The Runner’s High, but because it’s a combination of short stories, I don’t feel like I’m falling behind in it.

I finished the month with the end of my training cycle, and retirement of my favorite shoes. June will bring high mileage, marathon training and hopefully quick paces!

 

How was your May? What’s your favorite distance to PR in? What big plans do you have for June?

Friday Faves – May

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It seems like it’s been longer than a month since I did my Friday Faves, but it’s that time again! This month is definitely a mix, but that’s what keeps it interesting!

The Piano Guys – Now that I’m finally able to turn off the heater in my office, I needed something to listen to that wouldn’t distract others at work. I turned on Pandora and found these guys. It’s the perfect music to listen to while concentrating on work. Plus the mash ups they do are fantastic! My favorites are The Cello Song and Beethoven’s 5 Secrets.

Erica Sara Bracelet – Over the past year I’ve had my eye on a few pieces of jewelry, but could never decide which one I wanted. I finally decided on the Every Mile bracelet and I’m absolutely in love. The saying, ” Every mile becomes a part of me” has so much meaning to me. And the best part, it fits my tiny wrist! Now to figure out my next piece….

photo(1)

Oiselle’s Scantron Tank – I bought this tank as part of my race day outfit for Medina, but once I tried it out, I didn’t want to wait to race in it. It’s so light and freeing, it’s perfect for all weather. I love that its loose around the stomach so it doesn’t stick to you when the humidity is making everything else cling. I got the fresh green, but the brill blue is looking pretty good.

Cheez-It Grooves – I have an addiction, and I’m not about to fight it. I tried these crackers at a wine tasting a few months ago and I haven’t been able to put them down. As soon as I get home from work, the box is in my hands. I personally think they’re paired best with a port wine cheese dip. Yum….

Yum

GE Wine & Dine Events – We’re big fans of Buehler’s for our grocery shopping, but when a friend told us that Giant Eagle hosted a wine and dine night, we almost didn’t think twice. Once a month, they host a 6 course dinner that has a wine tasting for each part of the meal. For only $20 a person, or $35 for a couple, you get to try new foods and wines and meet some great people. This past event had a kale and yam salad, salmon, stuffed mushrooms, beef brisket, shrimp and Spanish chorizo, and turtle cheesecake.

Nuun of the Month: Strawberry Lemonade. This flavor is perfect for the summer. It’s light and refreshing, combining a few of my favorite flavors into one. Now until Tuesday, May 27th, Nuun is offering free shipping. Make sure to jump on their website and stock up now!

 

What are you currently raving about?

 

 

365 Project – April Photos

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Well, I’ve made it through the third month of the 365 project. I did fairly well this month, and only missed one picture. Not bad considering how many there will be in total. As always, here’s a look at my favorite pictures from this month. If you want to see all of them, you can check it out here.

Chasing daylight on a run. 66/365

Chasing daylight on a run. 66/365

Definition of perfection. 68/365

Definition of perfection. 68/365

Easter Sunset. 78/365

Easter Sunset. 78/365

1 of 88. 81/365

1 of 88. 81/365

The canon in Galion, the final turn of my favorite hs xc course. 86/365

The canon in Galion, the final turn of my favorite hs xc course. 86/365

 

I’ve noticed than more often than not my pictures are of sunsets and country views, but really they’re too beautiful to ignore. I’ve really enjoyed taking pictures every day so far . I can’t wait to see what the next month will bring!

April Rewind

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My favorite month is over, but I have to say, it was a great one! This month was the best month of my training and was key not only for Medina, but mentally prepping me for the rest of the year. There are 152 days left until Wineglass Marathon, and I couldn’t be more excited! (Remind me of this when I get to mile 21 on race day). Let’s take a look at the numbers.

Miles run: 81

Races run: 2 (Hermes 10 Miler, Love a Stray 5k)

Miles biked: 0

Favorite Workout: 4/22 – Birthday Run

Books read: Started The Runner’s High

Places traveled: 0

New recipes: 0

I really stepped it up this month and ran the most miles since last August. Not only was running 80+ miles necessary for training, but it’s helping me to build base for a much more packed summer/fall. I can also say that luckily I’m still injury free, so let’s celebrate that. With the additional miles in April, I’m not up to 242 for the year, and will probably hit right around 300 by the end of May.

I ran two races this month, one was an old favorite, and the other one a new for me race/distance. I ran them back to back, left it all on the course, and managed to stay on a week long runner’s high!

My favorite workout was a birthday run I did. I didn’t have high expectations of the workout, just wanted to get some miles in. I ended up with negative splits from 9:35 to 8:18, finishing in a 7:44 pace. It was a good reminder to enjoy the moments of surprise in your workouts, and that you’re capable of more than you think some days.

April was full of mostly running, but I enjoyed just about every workout I had. This next month won’t be as intense since I’ll be tapering for the last two weeks, but it will be full of races. I’m also hoping to read a lot more now that the weather is nice enough to sit outside more often. And biking? Hopefully I’ll be friends with my bike again soon.

How was your month of April? What races do you have coming up this month?

 

Nuun Giveaway Winner!

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Thanks to everyone who entered to win my Nuun giveway last week. I’m glad I could share my favorite things, and hopefully you’ll try them out!

Congrats to the winner Aimee! Send me an email at masherruns@gmail.com and we’ll get you all set up!

 

Winner winner!

Winner winner!

Local Treasures

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Over the past couple days, I was fortunate enough to have some time to explore Medina and see some real gems around town. Melissa suggested a while back that I share more of my everyday life, because sometimes I do more than just run and drink wine.

Between Saturday and Tuesday, I was fortunate enough to visit some new places and some old favorites in Medina. Saturday night we headed to Cipriani’s, the new restaurant in town as part of my birthday celebration. As requested, I wanted someplace Italian, and when we saw that Cipriani’s had opened up, we couldn’t wait to try it.

We made a reservation, but luckily missed the crowd and were able to be seated right away. The restaurant had a cozy feel, with a mix of tables for dining and a bar for just hanging out. We started with shrimp cocktail, bread and salad, accompanied with some pretty good wine. The server was very friendly, and never rushed us through anything. I ordered the Angel Hair with Marinara and Darren got the Chicken Alfredo. Both were delicious and we had enough to take home for a meal the next day. We finished up dinner with some amazing Tiramisu, my absolute favorite.

The meal, the atmosphere and the whole experience were a lot better than we had expected. Pricing wasn’t too expensive either, which means Cipriani’s could definitely become a regular place for us. I’d definitely recommend checking it out.

Tuesday I continued my birthday celebrations by taking the day off work and treating myself to a massage and manicure. I tried out Bella Sorrellas and was very impressed. I opted for the full hour massage, and at a price of $45, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But it was hands down the best massage I’ve ever had. I followed it up with a shellac manicure, and at a price of $20, you really can’t complain. I’m certainly looking forward to treating myself more often with this place so close to home.

Massage room, ready to relax!

Massage room, ready to relax!

I finished up Tuesday with some of my favorite spots, Cool Beans Cafe and Buckeye Woods. Not only does Cool Beans have some pretty good coffee, but their lunch menu is getting better and better. I already know we’ll be biking down there quite a bit this summer.

Some new and some old, the smaller places in Medina have their charm. I’m excited to see what else we discover that will hopefully become our favorite places! If you want to keep up with our new discoveries, you can check out a new page that includes events and places around Medina.

 

Friday Faves and a Giveaway!

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April happens to be my favorite month, mostly because it’s my birthday month, so I wanted to do something a little different this time. This month, I wanted to share a list of my favorite things, and as a little bonus, a giveaway!

Favorite Shoes: Asics GT 2000 – These shoes, they are heavenly. I first tried them on at the Columbus Marathon expo in 2012, and I’ve never looked back. I’ve gone through a couple pairs, and I’ve never been more satisfied with a shoe. I’ve always been an Asics’ girl, but these are hands down my favorite. They recently released the GT 2000-2 which are currently sitting in my closet waiting for their first run!

Asics GT-2000, Heaven for your feet

Asics GT-2000, Heaven for your feet

Favorite Half Marathon: Sandy Ridge Half Marathon – No longer around, this half marathon will always have a place in my heart. This course ran on my street and surrounding roads I grew up running on, the roads where I fell in love with running. My favorite moment of this race was running by my parent’s house, hearing them cheer and seeing words of encouragement sprayed onto the road.

Run!

Run!

Favorite 5k: Love-A-Stray 5k – I’ve run this race every year it’s been around, and will be running it for the third straight year next weekend. I grew up volunteering at the Love-A-Stray shelter and adopted two cats from them as well, so this race has always held a special place in my heart. Registration is still open if you’re interested in running, pups can join too!

Mile 2-3

On course last year

Favorite Place to Run – I will always love running in the Cleveland Metro Parks. There are so many opportunities and trails to discover, it’s hard to have a bad day running there. I don’t get there as often as I used to, so my second favorite has become Buckeye Woods and slowly creeping up to my number one spot.

Welcome to my happy place.

Welcome to my happy place.

Favorite Band on my iPod – Anberlin has been a favorite for a long time. Whether it’s a long run, or a race, they pump me up and remind me of how far I’ve come. They’re finishing up their last year together, but listening to them will always be a good reminder of the many, many miles I’ve run.

Favorite Run Fuel – Sport Beans are without a doubt my favorite thing to snack on during long runs and races. With such a sweet tooth, I’m not sure how I keep these in stock at home. I did a review last year, and naturally my favorite was and still is Lemon Lime. Best packet for long runs? That definitely has to be the assorted pack. This year they’ve introduced Extreme Pomegranate and Extreme Assorted.

Sport Bean Flavors

Sport Bean Flavors

Favorite Nuun – It’s no surprise that my favorite Nuun is Lemon Lime. Lemon Lime has always been my thing, and Nuun does it perfectly. They recently came out with Nuun Energy, which keeps the refreshing taste of the lemon lime flavor, but adds caffeine to stay hydrated and awake all day. Can you say perfection?

How do you make Lemon Lime better? Add caffeine!

How do you make Lemon Lime better? Add caffeine!

So here’s my chance to share the love of one of my favorite things. The awesome folks at Nuun are joining in on my birthday month and letting one lucky winner pick their favorite Nuun 4 pack for themselves! Here are the rules:

  • The contest will run from Friday, April 18th to Thursday April 24th, ending at 9:00 EST.
  • A winner will be randomly picked and announced on the blog on Friday, April 25th.
  • You may enter one time per option, leave a comment telling me which options you choose.

Here’s how to enter!

Good luck and stay hydrated!

Spring Gear Up

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Even though there is a little bit of snow on the ground, it’s finally spring! Like many of you, as soon as the temperature hit 40 I was out running in shorts and long sleeves. Looking back, it probably wasn’t the best gear to wear, but after the brutal winter we’ve had, anything above 40 felt amazing! But just as quickly as the temperate rose to 70, then back down to 20, perfect running weather will be an every day occurrence. I wanted to share my go to outfits for spring/summer weather, with the hope that maybe we’re completely done with the snow for this year.

Tops

Long Sleeve

  • Nike’s Long Sleeve Miler Shirt – A great shirt for in between temps or pre race warm up. They’ve changed the design a little over the years, but this shirt is always in rotation for me.
  • OIselle’s Flyte Long Sleeve – Breathable, and stylish, the flight texture keeps your warm and cool. The material hugs you, but stretches for comfort. Added bonus, birds and a motivational “fly” on the back.

Short Sleeve

Tanks

  • Oiselle’s Winona Tank – New to me, but oh so comfortable. The feel of this shirt is heavenly. It’s perfect for layering or mixing with arms sleeves.
  • Nike’s G87 Tank – This tank, it’s just so light that I forget I’m wearing it. Long run tested and approved.
  • Nike’s Sport V-Neck Tank – Light and non form fitting, these are perfect for the most humid days when you don’t want anything sticking to you.
  • C9 by Champion Racer Back Tanks – No link, but over the years Target has had a great selection of racer back tanks. I have at least 5 I keep in constant rotation and are perfect for layering.

Bottoms

  • Oiselle’s Lesley Knicker – Being so short, I’ve struggled with capris turning into leggings, but these hit me just right. They hug me just right and are perfect for in between temps.
  • Nike’s Rival Shorts – Short, comfortable and breathable, these shorts entered rotation last year. They’re perfect for hiding sweat during humid, long runs.
  • Nike’s Tempo Short – My old faithful shorts. I have way too many pairs of these, but the colors and patterns are too fun to pass up on. They can seem a bit puffy and the length varies, but they’ve been with me for years, it’s hard to give them up.
  • Oiselle’s Rogas – These came into rotation last summer and are by far my favorite. Comfort and coverage, I can live in these for days.

Socks

Clearly I have enough clothes to keep me covered no matter what the weather, but you really need to have options. Or at least that’s what I tell myself. I buy a few new items each year, but mostly keep everything I own in rotation. More options, means less time doing laundry!

I also wanted to touch on a few important tips as the weather transitions from 40 and comfortable to 80 and miserable.

Stay hydrated – One of the hardest things during changing seasons is staying hydrated. As the temperature rises, along with humidity, you need to make sure you’re taking in the proper amount of fluids. Invest in a fuel belt or water bottle that you can carry. It may seem obnoxious at first, but you’ll definitely need it as the weather warms up.

Cover Up – The sun will showing up a lot more during your runs, so you need to stay covered if you can. Start applying sun screen before your run, invest in some shades and keep your head covered with a hat.

Check for Spots – I’m a sucker for wanting to get tan during the summer, but it can be hazardous as well. Skin cancer is unfortunately on the rise and can happen at any age. Do yourself a favor and get a skin cancer screening once a year. Your body will thank you.

 

What are your go to spring outfits? What’s your tip for spring training?

365 Project-March Photos

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Two months down in my 365 day project and I have to say, I was really satisfied with my pictures from March. Here’s a look back at my favorite pictures from March. If you’d like to see all of them, you can follow along here.

Perfect paw prints in the snow. 30/365

Perfect paw prints in the snow. 30/365

Caught the sun just on the edge of the road. 32/365

Caught the sun just on the edge of the road. 32/365

Gifts from India, such a unique arrangement. 38/365

Gifts from India, such a unique arrangement. 38/365

Layers of colors. 44/365

Layers of colors. 44/365

Sunrise over the back yard. 49/365

Sunrise over the back yard. 49/365

The red building, full of stories. 59/365

The red building, full of stories. 59/365

 What images are your favorites?

A Little Bit of Housekeeping

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You may have noticed a few changes over here on my blog. I finally took the plunge and bought my own URL, https://masherruns.com/. I wanted to make sure I put some heart into my blog, so I took a step back and tried to figure out just what I wanted to accomplish with it. Being a running blog, I wanted to make sure that I kept my passion within my limits. I’m not getting paid to blog, so it had to be manageable, but also still me.

Here’s what I added:

  • A new look and layout
  • Run It List-A list of all my running bucket list items
  • Product Reviews– Older link, but good to know
  • Contact– Ways to contact me, with some additional links
  • A Facebook Page – For photos, articles and whatever else I find interesting in between blog posts
  • A Pinterest Page – A place for all things running related: recaps, gear, motivation, and tips

It’s not much, but it’s an upgrade from what I have been doing. Who knows how long I’ll continue to blog, but for the next couple of years, I want to make sure it’s my best!

Also, don’t forget that there’s still time to make a donation to Team JDRF in the quest of sub 2:00 for the Medina Half Marathon. You can donate here!