Sunday, March 11, 2018

Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows

Sometimes I struggle to start these Weekly Wrap posts--when my week is mostly smooth sailing, I don't have a whole lot to say. When you live with 2 grown boys, uneventful is always a good thing in my book. I wouldn't go as far as to say the week was all Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows (Lesley Gore's classic tune is a peppy song and might actually work well on some folks' running playlists if you like happy music). Uneventful is about as Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows as it gets around here!

To tell the truth, I'm not really a Sunshine, Lollipops, and Rainbows kind of gal. I'm more of a It's My Party and I'll Cry if I Want To...But I'll take an uneventful week and run with it. 

Let's do this.



Running
It was sunny but it was cold this week! Still, there's no complaining when you realize how much we in the Chicago area have dodged the bad weather. I was thinking about this on one of my runs this week. It has been really sunny this winter and that has done wonders for my mood.

I ran 4 times this week, but my favorite run was Saturday morning. I woke up sore AF from my CrossFit and Total Body Challenge work (more on that in a minute) and I didn't want to run. After a couple cups of coffee, I was fired up and ready to roll. The sun was shining, it was really cold (24F when I started) but there was NO WIND. Wind is the devil. No matter what Mother Nature throws at me, I can move it move it unless I'm running into the wind. So for this wind-free run, I felt like I was flying. I finished this run with an average 9:19m/m pace and that was using 4:1 run/walk intervals. Praying for conditions like this when I run my 8k in a couple of weeks.



CrossFit/Cross Training
I've been participating in Rachel's Total Body Challenge, which has been kicking my booty. Tuesday was fun doing burpees with Cocoa! She was all in. This made me laugh and set a great tone for the day.


On Wednesday, I did my supermans/planks/pushups in the middle of my run. On Thursday, with 40 burpees and 4 miles on the plan, I did run/burpee/walk intervals. I broke up the burpees into sets of 5, which I did at every 4 minute walk interval. The rest of the minute was for walking. Kind of like an EMOM, right? This was actually a really great way to do those burpees. It was also really hard. 

Pushups. How low can you go?
Thursday's CrossFit session was tough. I think it's because I'm doing the total body challenge and really working my upper body. Coach Sammy Jo had me work on my static press, but I wasn't able to do more than 50#. I was so disappointed. She also had me do an EMOM of toes to rings x 8 and handstand against the wall x 30 seconds. I carried a 50# ball around alternating with backward 15# ball throws. 


It's no wonder I was sore and exhausted on Friday! While I subscribe to the "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" philosophy, I've also learned I need to listen to my body. My upper body was crying for mercy. I could not complete the 40 pushups on the plan, and on Saturday, I postponed the 50 burpees off to Sunday. On Sunday, I did a 6 mile run, with burpees during 5 of those miles in the EMOM style of Thursday.  Oof!

Yoga
On Monday, I did Five Parks Yoga's Yoga for Stress and Anxiety. It was very necessary. It was mostly pranayama and stretching, but there were a few vinyasas and I threw in Monday's Total Body Challenge workout in one of them. Wednesday I did a FPY short post-workout stretch.

This week's INB ambassador pose was Bridge Pose.

Randoms
Does the change to daylight savings time affect you? While I'm happy to have longer daylight hours, this "spring ahead' time change always gives me jet lag. I'm going to Florida this week, which means I have to "spring ahead" yet another hour. The struggle is real....



I hate to sound like an old timer but this week one of Chicago's iconic radio stations went off the air. "The Loop" aka WLUP has been around for about 40 years. I grew up listening to it--my fondest memories were when I worked at the photo booth and I'd be rocking out to whatever they were playing. The DJs were local celebrities. The playlist didn't change much over the years, except for the addition of some grunge, but when I was in the mood for a trip down memory lane, I knew I could turn the dial to 97.9 and hear the music I grew up with. Now if I want to listen to music from the 1970s and 1980s,  I'll have to listen to the "oldies" station. I am officially old.

Don't ask me why I still have this shirt from high school!
The logo never changed. 
This past Wednesday was International Women's Day and I saw a lot of posts on social media celebrating all the strong women. I had dinner on Saturday with one of my favorite strong women and I'm not just saying that because she used to be a competitive bodybuilder. She's also one of my oldest friends, with a friendship going back over 40 years. When we get together, we always seem to just pick up where we left off. The older I get, the more I value these deep friendships. 


How was your week? Are you dying, I mean doing the Total Body Challenge? Running much? Daylight Savings Time-yay or nay? Did you celebrate International Women's Day? Who's your favorite strong woman?

It's the Weekly Wrap, the fun internet party where a bunch of women fitness bloggers get together to share and commiserate over their workout or race recaps! At this party, we comment on the hosts' blog posts as well as a bunch of other posts. It was International Women's Day this week--and this linkup proves how supportive women can be! Have a wonderful week!



94 comments :

  1. The Total Body Challenge is kicking my back...probably because I've been doing those supermans for far too long now (like since Feb. 1st). ha! And to think the burpees used to wreak havoc on me.

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    1. I do a lot of burpees at CrossFit, but never this many in a week. I'm pooped!

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  2. Uneventful is good! Nice work crushing the workouts- and isn't it funny how sometimes our best runs come on the days we struggle to get out the door?

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    1. That's why I always go! You never know what you're going to get.

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  3. You are inspiring as usual.

    Just trying to stay afloat and get some time runs done.

    Leaving Wed for FL. Can’t wait.

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    1. Me too! Altho I checked the weather and it's supposed to be in the 60s? Seriously?

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  4. Great job with your workouts this week! Daylight savings time doesn't affect me that much....maybe tomorrow though. I'm really looking forward to a little extra day light at the end of the day though! My training has been meh....I'm working on getting a new routine!

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    1. I'll tell you, throwing those burpees in with my walk intervals has certainly upped my workout effort! I keep thinking that this should help me with endurance and maybe even to the point of not needing the walk intervals. That is a goal.

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  5. I agree it's the wind that is a killer on the run. We had 2 really windy days this week-I felt like I had a kite attached to my back. This week looks better though.I am exhausted today and want my extra hour of sleep back :)

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    1. I'm pooped too, even though I got up at my "normal" time. I was stressed about losing that hour!

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  6. I enjoy your uneventful posts...like a coffee date (true, with someone you've never met...creepy?) :-) EMOM - New term for this non-crossfitter! Good for you listening to your body. Injured my shoulder this week just pushing by myself into a different position on my yoga mat. Ugh...aging!!

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    1. Boo to the shoulder! My wrist was talking to me after I got home--you are right, aging--ugh!

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  7. Enjoy Florida! A warm weather getaway sounds amazing right now.

    Uneventful is usually a good thing- looks like a strong week!

    Thanks for hosting the link-up.

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    1. I hope uneventful is the theme for a while. But knowing my oldest son, it's likely that won't be the case!

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  8. I like your impromptu EMOM workout! That's a really unique idea and a great way to fit everything in!

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    1. Breaking up the burpees works for me! Doing 50 all at once just seems kind of hard, plus with the fatigue I'd feel I'm sure my form would fall apart.

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  9. While we do have the odd sunny day, it's the exception -- and it just kills me (the grayness). I had much more energy when we lived in TX. Except in summer, of course, when it was hot as hades.

    And wind? Check. We get plenty of that, too. Today, as a matter of fact. Snow? Check. Yup, there's still plenty of that on the ground, too.

    But I did see that flock of robins . . .

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    1. We normally have a lot of gray, which makes this sunny winter really exceptional. I will not complain.

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  10. I fell off Rachel's Challenge wagon when I strained my hip flexor. I swear I need a compression bodysuit right now. I know those med ball carries/throws well! I too am sorry to see the Loop go. End of an era for sure. Sigh.

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    1. Interesting because my hip flexor was a little tender this morning. Yes, you need compression and bubble wrap. Fingers crossed for good news this week.

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  11. Losing an hour in the spring is always so hard! I hate that it will be dark in the morning again. Glad you had a mostly uneventful week- thats a good things!

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    1. It's so hard to get out of bed when it's dark out! I wish they'd just do away with DSL altogether. Damn that Ben Franklin....

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  12. LOL I love the title of this post :)

    I really hate daylight savings time and it's going to take me a good 2-3 days to adjust. I'm happy about having more daylight after work but I'm not happy about arriving at work when it's still dark outside - ugh!

    I love how you mix in the burpees during your run. IT's a really nice way to get creative with your workout!

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    1. I just couldn't do 40-50 burpees all at once. At CrossFit we do a lot of HIIT/EMOM type conditioning workouts and this just seemed to fit.

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  13. I am loving the variety of workouts/cross training you do. When I get back to training, I hope to incorporate some more variety. And I love the longer daylight hours but hateee this time change.

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    1. The conditioning workouts have really helped me with endurance on the road. I'm hoping this burpee EMOM thing does the same!

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  14. My body and my brain is confused today...I don't know if I should be tired or hungry or just what, LOL. I just wish they'd pick a time and stick with it all year.

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    1. *are* confused, not is. But therein lies my point!

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  15. Uneventful is always a good thing! I had to hit the pause button on the Total Body Challenge - my piriformis is just not having it with those burpees! The changing of the clocks always throws me for a couple of days. Have a good trip to Florida!

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    1. The pushups are getting to me! This challenge is no joke. Not sure I'm going to be able to keep it up, altho I have found a fun way (fun?) to get the burpees in.

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  16. Nice week with the mileage, CrossFit and Rachel's extra challenge. Your radio station takes me way back. Radio was THE source of music and WDAK (AM station no less) was the bomb. I love that you still have a T-shirt. I wish the time would not change. It is fine like it is now.

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    1. I'm a little exhausted right now, but I'm hoping this extra push will give me a little more endurance!

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  17. Daylight savings time messed with my whole day. The rain kept me from the trail run I had planned for today, so I ran 3.5 with my older dog and then 2.5 run/walk with my puppy (which was more like sprints with walk breaks). Throwing those burbees in sounds like a great future workout! Thanks for the inspiration!

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    1. Running with dogs--especially puppies--is always interesting! My dog is a better runner than a walker.

      Thanks for reading!

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  18. Since morning time is my time, I hate this clock change! It's going to be sooo dark when I leave the house this week. Glad you had an uneventful week on the home front. ;-)

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    1. It's kind of the calm before the storm. I'm a little nervous about things down the road.

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  19. I always sleep terribly on the night we push the clocks forward. It's like my body revolts and says, "fine. Take my sleep. I'll take the rest!" *Sigh*

    You kicked butt with your workouts and that challenge! At this point, I'm practically begging for uneventful weeks. Maybe this week? *Fingers crossed*

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  20. Ah, isn't uneventful wonderful? Especially as the mom of all boys. Believe it or not, I didn't listen to the Loop at all growing up, even though it's 'our generation's' music. It just wasn't my thing. I never like the spring ahead thing for the lost hour of sleep...and it didn't help that I had to work 12 hours today and missed an hour of ZZZs.

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    1. So tell me what did you listen to? Were you a disco queen?

      I don't know how you do those 12 hour shifts--I just don't think I could do it any more!

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    2. Not so much a disco queen...mostly Motown, and lots of country while in college (I actually grew up listening to it)! Yes, the 12-hour shifts stink, but I'd rather work less days per week.

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  21. Having a friend for over 40 years now that is special. I don't even talk to any high school nor college friends anymore. I couldn't believe I slept in so late today but then I remembered it was daylight savings time so after I realized that I didn't feel bad. I talked to my dad earlier and he said he was getting up to go to church when my mom asked him if he was going to the late service, he said he wasn't planning on it. My mom said well you missed the early service it's clocks ahead....haha.

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    1. I still have a handful of friends from high school and college with whom I stay in touch. I'm really grateful for all the good friends I've made along the way and that those friendships have endured!

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  22. Nice work on the Total Body Challenge...especially mixing it into your runs. You are my badass hero! ;)

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  23. It was in the 60s with crazy humidity in Austin for the ZOOMA race. It was one heck of a reminder of why I prefer winter running. I've never been to happy to be done after a 10K instead of having to run the half marathon.

    -MCM Mama

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    1. That's how it was when I ran in Birmingham last weekend. And then I went and signed up for a half marathon in Florida on Sunday. WTH was I thinking?

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  24. The older i've gotten, the more I'm affected with the time change. I was never a fan, after spending 5 years of my childhood in Arizona, where they don't observe the change. It's tough to adjust, and this week will be a bit of a struggle.

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    1. I'm good in the fall, when we get the extra hour but the spring one is a bit of a challenge!

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  25. The change definitely affects me - and this tie it's worse coming from California for the last 5 days!

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    1. Oh, that's a tough adjustment! That and coming back to the cold...

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  26. Sunshine always helps... and it finally made an appearance here during the week. The springing forward always affects me... I'm looking forward to the extra daylight.

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  27. Great week of workouts! Super job adding in the total body challenge with all those burpees! The sun definitely makes a difference and I'm glad we're finally getting more sun over here in Oregon.

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    1. I'm grateful we've had such a sunny winter. It's so unusual!

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  28. Deep friendships like that really are a treasure! It’s a bummer the Loop is going off the air. Random fact: 97.9 is our favorite Christian radio station here! Other random fact: we are in the middle of nowhere and it’s a good day if the radio comes in clear... ha. Keeps things interesting, I guess! 🤷🏻‍♀️

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    1. Even more random is that 97.9 is now a Christian station here! Oh, the irony...going from rock to religion....

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  29. I started doing the total body challenge earlier this week and those burpees are killer!

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  30. I love making new friends but there is also something so comforting and special with those friendships that go way back. There are some things only they really "get". Glad you two got to meet up! Well done on a solid and smooth-sailing week of training! Shathiso @thegaboronerunner.com

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    1. I feel so lucky to have picked up some really great friends throughout my life and that they are still part of it!

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  31. Phew, all that upper body work would have killed me! I have to live through all you who are doing Rachel's challenge...too much for me!

    I'm actually happy that Daylight Savings is back. I really hated when it went away and it took me over a month to adjust...ugh. I love the dark mornings and brighter evenings!

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    1. I'm struggling a bit with the challenge too--I'm going to continue but will modify it a bit. It's just too much for me.

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  32. I admit I’m struggling with the time change this morning. We are all dragging. It’s marathon week for me! I can’t wait! Great running and workouts Wendy! I always admire your cross fit posts. I hope you have a great week!

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    1. I'm so excited that you made it to the end of your training and are going to toe the line on the weekend! Now rest up!

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  33. Nice week of workouts! No wind is great - the lack of it makes any other weather more tolerable. I am dragging a bit from the time change and missing the morning light!

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    1. I am in need of a morning run tomorrow but I don't want to run in the dark! Wahhhh!

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  34. The older I get the more I appreciate uneventful! haha! Glad you had a good week... your rainbow and lollipop graphic is cracking me up.
    Great week of workouts too-- hope this week is uneventful for you too!

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  35. Uneventful is good! My week is off to a rough start, I won't lie...the 5 am "feels like 4 am" daylight savings Monday morning alarm clock hurt today!

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    1. I'm tired this morning too! Plus I'm wiped from yesterday's burpee extravaganza.

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  36. Sounds like a lot of good workouts this week! I can see why your upper body was sore. I struggle with the time change too. I don't really care which one but I wish they would just choose one to stick with. It's the changing that always gets me.

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  37. I train several hours a week in a 55 and over community gym and the TV is tuned in to 70's music. I've heard more Captain and Tennille songs recently than I did in the 70's! LOL

    I'm a big fan of daylight saving time because I enjoy being able to do stuff outside in daylight after dinner. Tomorrow morning when my alarm goes off at 4:20 AM (body remembers it being 3:20 AM), I won't be such a fan. Fortunately, it only takes a week or so to adjust.

    Thanks for the linkup!

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  38. Oh my gosh, this total body challenge is killing me!! I do believe that I hate the supermans even more than I do burpees! Actually, the burpees are kind of growing on me ...but I do have to break them all up into sets of 5 or 10 throughout the day.

    Daylight savings time is my favorite! I love the longer days but like you, the time change is taking me some time to get used to. I'm officially old! Lol

    Have fun in Florida and enjoy that sunshine!

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    1. Yeah, I am really struggling with the challenge. Today I threw in the towel. I'm just so sore and so tired. That doesn't mean I won't be back!

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  39. Sunshine, Lollipops and Rainbows is on my playlist! It's a great song to run along to. I have a lot of 60s girl groups and soul on my playlist.

    I'm looking to vary my workouts a bit more now it's getting lighter and I can do more outside. I can only do so much at home as I don't have the space!

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  40. You are a beast with your cross fit workouts! I really don't know how toy do it all. You are awesome!

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  41. Your pushup is so impressive! And I love when I read about other people listening to their bodies and taking a step back or a rest. I think I'm still trying to live like I'm in my 20s ;) but my body is like, NO. haha

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    1. That's pretty much what happened to me with this challenge. I needed that reminder not to push so hard. Sigh.

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  42. While I drag through DST, I was just thinking today that if the time DIDN'T change, the sun would be waking me up at 4am all summer - no thanks! So overall I guess I'm saving a lot more hours of sleep than I lost.

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  43. I'm sorry you've been struggling. That Total Body Challenge is rough and I think we are all feeling it. I'm sitting here catching up on posts, and delaying those 40 burpees like it's my job.

    DST is ok. It takes me a couple of days to get back on track, but the whole family usually adjust fairly quickly. Florida is apparently trying to opt out of the whole thing, so that should be interesting. I'm not invested one way or the other. We'll just roll with it when it comes.

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    1. I think the TBC is a little much. I'm going to scale back on it a bit. I do enjoy my EMOM aka run/burpee/walk, and I enjoy the results I'm seeing from that, so I think I'll continue that twice weekly on my 4 mile runs!

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  44. Luckily daylight savings didn't affect us too much here - I wasn't sure how it would go with a toddler so I'm happy that we're all still on a normal schedule. This week has been crazy in our neck of the woods as we're on our second snowstorm in a week, so the weather hasn't been ideal for exercising outside or driving to the gym.

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    1. I can't believe how much snow you've gotten out east! This winter has been crazy!

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  45. Tired or not I hope you’re havinf a great time in Florida. I am finally stopping by after a heck of a first half of the week, including dealing with my blog being down (again!) for most of Monday. Hopefully I have the problem figured out.

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    1. When I read about your blog host issues, I feel better about sticking with Blogger! I guess there are problems no matter hwat.

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  46. While I love the extra hour of sunshine at the end of the day, daylight savings has made my toddler extra cranky and extra rebellious. I can’t wait until his body clock finishes adjusting...

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  47. What is it with the wind when we don't need it? It's windy down here in Florida right now too!

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