Ya gotta take the good with the bad

My Week:

Bad:
-Spilled coffee down shirt. My white shirt. First thing Monday morning. And my Tide pen was empty.

-Allergic reaction to sinus medicine- drunk, dizzy, nauseous, jittery all at the same time. sweet.

-Which caused my 6 mile up-hill run to be disastrous

-Got told "I'm gonna sue your ass" by a "disgruntled customer." Do it. I dare you.

-Waited for 10 minutes at the gym to show my card, only to be told that I must have a photo ID (which was 5 miles away in my car) to get in because she didn't believe it was really me (um, what?) causing me to miss yoga- which I was convinced I needed. (Did I mention I was waiting because the girl was gossiping with her friend.. Not proud to say I bawled like a baby when I left).

-One of my favorite running coaches has had to quit (I feel so lost! eeeek)

-Light fixture on our fan fell on me and Cory during the night...which feels awesome, btw

-Our fire alarm continues to go off..at all hours


Good:
-Scored free tickets to the USC/ECU game this weekend
-Just bought my first crock pot
-umm......

So this week's not off to the greatest start. It can only get better after we're over the hump, right?! Plus... I get to watch my Gamecocks win and see my college friends this weekend, so it's gotta go up... right?! Oh yeah... there's that 12 mile thing I gotta do, too. Pray for me.


Marathon Training Week 5
Monday: 6 miles + sprints
Tuesday: Unplanned rest day (ahem, see above) + walk with the hubs
Wednesday: AM Strength, 3.5mi easy run
Thursday: 3.5 mi run + Spin
Friday: AM Strength
Saturday: 12 mi run


A very special HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my best friend in the whole wide world Jenna Brown!!!! I don't know where I'd be without you, SM! :) Have a wonderful day, love!

Week from Hades

Heyyy guys! How has your week been? Mine has been stressful! I lovingly welcome this Day of Fri with big, wide, huge ass arms.

This has been the never-ending monster of a week that has left me with copious amounts of coffee in my system and serious lack of sleep (staying up past my bedtime to catch the fight between Ronnie and Sitch didn't do me any justice...priorities.)

I arrived in the office at the ripe hour of 6:30AM this morning for a meeting. So right now, my brain is feeling like it's at least 11:30am. Oh how I wish. Hello 10am, nice to see you- not.

Something about switching gyms this week has thrown me way out of schedule. Y'all. I'm such a schedule freak. Really... the teeniest things throw me off; get it together Kristin, get it together. I guess having the same workout schedule for 2 years will do that do a person?

Anywaysers,  I'm blaming the change on the fact that I had some serious work-out mishaps this week... I literally cussed my run out yesterday- ask the hubs, he saw. "Go to freaking hell 5 mile run, go to hell." I have issues.

So, my work out schedule for the week looked like:

Monday- 3 mile speed work run + 20 min of stair stepper + 25 mins cycle
Tuesday- 3 mile hot run on my lunch break
*Wednesday- AM Strength Training From Hell; PM Core Challenge Class, Cardio Challenge Class
Thursday- 5 Mile Run From Hell (the running gods were against me)
Friday- REST
Saturday- 10 miles

*Please note that this was on Wednesday. It is now Friday. I still cannot stand up without wincing, my butt muscles are still cramping up, and my hamstrings are screaming at me (lower body AM strength. Obviously.)
*PS- when you go to a "Core Challenge" class. What do you expect? Sit-ups? Planks? Core-related stuff? Yeah. me too. Not leg lifts, one-leg squats, hamstring curls, and donkey kicks. Thank you, mean teacher, for making my already sore ass, sorer.


I will spare you the deets on the 5-miler yesterday. Only my mom, sister, and unfortunately Cory know the whole story. It's a little TMI for the ole blog.

Dear Rock Hill,
It would be great if you could consider the needs of runners, bikers, walkers, and those alike, and provide accessible restrooms to those in need. Passing by dozens of closed churches and businesses, and unnoted amounts of run-down/out-of-business stores only confirms my belief that you are unprepared in the outdoor exercise department.
Rearranging my route so that I have to run all the way into downtown, while there is a legit (200+ person) gathering being held, so that I can find a bathroom, is a little rude. Please take after your big brother, Fort Mill, and place a port-a-potty on every corner. Thanks for understanding.
                                                                                                 Sincerely,
                                                                                                 Nowhereto Poppasquat

Now the other half of the run was totally my mom's fault. She passed down her sense of direction to her dear old daughter. Thanks Mom. I appreciate you giving me the ability to get lost in the only town I've ever lived in (besides college) in an area I've been well versed in for 24.2 years.

*Note to self- when lost, keep running. You'll eventually get somewhere. Even if it takes you an extra hour to get there. Points for added miles.


Have a fabulous weekend. Do something crazy. I'll be running and volunteer working (like, for free).


PS- Mom, you can make it up to me by taking me to see The Help Saturday night. I appreciate your apologies.

Happy Tuesday!

Mini-Vacay

Hey Friends! I hope you all had a great weekend! <3

I had a nice and relaxing mini-vacation in Raleigh this weekend- me and Jen left Friday afternoon to visit with family we hadn’t seen in awhile!

We arrived late Friday night and stayed with my grandparents in their new “retirement” home. Ya’ll. This place was no retirement home. It was more like a resort- seriously. They have a 5-star restaurant on site, gym, pools, and every amenity you could dream of.

Oh, retirement, where are you?! ;) kidding!

Saturday morning, I forced myself up around 6am to run a quick 6 miles; the group back home did a 10k around Fort Mill, so I tried to run at race pace. Ran a few laps around the community’s lake before venturing out to the road- this place was HILLY! Good practice for the monster race in November, I guess!

After my run, I came back to eat breakfast with my sister and grandparents. Luckily my g-rents are big fans of Chobani and had a fridge full- paired with fresh fruit and coffee and I was right at home!

After breakfast we made a quick stop at my uncle and aunt’s house a few minutes away- I’d never been to the new house and had the get the tour and visit for a few minutes. Then, we met my other uncle and aunt at their house to go out on the lake for the day. Jen and I laid out, went tubing, swimming, and caught up with the fam- had a great time!

That night, we ate dinner at the amazing restaurant on-site with my grandparents before heading out for some cousin bonding time at a cute little roof top bar.

Jen and I left Raleigh Sunday morning to head back to our lonely hubbies- I sure missed Cory and the babies! Have I mentioned how amazing my husband is? By 2pm on Sunday, he’d finished all the grocery shopping, laundry, and house-cleaning. How lucky am I?

Of course, I missed my baby Rea, so Sunday afternoon we headed out to visit with Cory’s family and eat an early dinner. Reagan is growing sooo fast I can’t hardly believe it! She’s started smiling all the time, which absolutely melts my heart! She’s also quickly learned how to fake cry to get her way- she’s got everyone wrapped around her teeny finger.

This week starts week numero quatro of Marathon Training! Almost one month in, and everything's running smoothly. This week, I'm really going to focus on getting in a protein and carb with every meal and snack to get my body ready for when it screams from "runger" (after 10+ mile runs, I'm literally starving the entire day, and sometimes even the next day. Protein helps keep me full, longer). The miles are quickly adding up!

Marathon Training Week 4

Sunday- Rest Day
Monday- 3 mi run + something else... (starting a new gym today, maybe a spin class?)
Tuesday- 5 mi run
Wednesday- AM Strength Training, PM Cardio Challenge class
Thursday- 3 mi run, + another new group ex class (haven't decided yet)
Friday- AM Strength Training
Saturday- 10 mi long run

Hope everyone has a great Monday!

MARATHON TRAINING WEEK 3

Hola! Yep, 2 posts, 1 day. Have I lost my mind? Kidding, kidding.

Marathon Training WEEK THREE and recap of Week 2!

Saturday- 8 mile run
Sunday- Rest/Stretch/SLEEP
Monday- 3 mile run, spin class (last week at current gym- kinda sad)
Tuesday- 4 mile run (low humidity today- woooopieeee)
Wednesday- AM Strength, PM Boot camp
Thursday-3 mile run
Friday-AM Strength

*So far, training is going great! I went to the sport chiropractor that came to our clinic the other week and he was amazing! He did several tests and running analyses with me before determining that I "must have been a gymnast" (he's also a mind reader I guess) and I was deemed a "toe-runner" which directly equals shin pain- BINGO! He showed me a few tweaks to my technique that should zap the pain and so, far, so good! :) This guy's a miracle worker, I tell ya.

Each run puts me one more run closer to the marathon, and even though I'm still about 3 months out, the excitement is definitely building! I'm trying very hard to be proactive to any and all pains to make sure I stay in the best condition to fight off any sneaky injuries- icing, stretching, warming up, cooling down, etc.

I'm so ready to be at the start line...but I've got many, many miles to go! :)

When hard work pays off...

Okay, so I've been a bad blogger. I know, it's been a week and I haven't posted anything! But, life over at the Hinton House has been quite exciting/chaotic lately.

Last week, Cory was called in for two interviews at two different YMCAs (not the one he currently works for). Both opportunities where for promotions and we were so so thrilled, nervous, excited, wanted-to-pee-our pants (ok, so just Cory on that one).

Somewhere in between my 2nd week of Marathon Training, working, keeping Cory fed, hydrated, relaxed, ironed and un-sleep-deprived, I somehow missed blogging! I hope you'll forgive me.

The interviews went great (and by great, I mean Cory is the shizzzzz) and by Friday, Cory had a job offer! Of course big celebrations were in order- meaning, I ran to the store to buy Cory a case of beer and a cake on my lunch break- while planning a bigger party for Saturday night (obviously I couldn't help polish off the case Friday night, with an 8-miler lingering on Sat morning!!)

So, Saturday after my glorious run- literally... it was one of those rare "amazing" runs that leaves you wanting nothing more but to run and run and run...either that or I was just hit with runner's high...either way, it was a great run. BACKONTOPIC- We planned a cook-out celebration at the in-laws for Saturday night that consisted of good food, more amazing cake, great wine, and lots of congratulations to my awesome husband!

Cory and I were already getting all these crazy ideas in our heads about moving closer to the 'new' Y and buying a house, and getting a(nother) puppy, and, and ... well, apparently we were a little ahead of ourselves.

Monday morning, Cory went in to work to tell his boss that he was planning to accept the position at the new Y, when he was offered a second (YES, THAT MEANS TWO) job offer at his current Y- meaning a huge promotion (even bigger than the position he had applied for at the other places), great benefits, and the most importantly- Cory was given the opportunity to have his "dream job."

After a little discussion with the Queen (me) Cory graciously accepted the Sport Director position! He is now one of the youngest Directors in the Carolinas!!!

I couldn't be more proud of my husband! He has literally worked his ASS off to get where he is now- many long hours and tough obstacles, but y'all? He is by far the most diligent human I've ever met. He's been through an awful lot but has not let anything stop him. He has this fight in him that nobody can falter and is a prime example that hard work really can PAY OFF! Watch out, America! We've got an ambitious one on our hands! :) I'm so glad I have the privilege to go through this huge step in his career with him, and know that only great things are ahead!

Congratulations Cory, I'm SO proud of you!!!! :) :)

Monday Pick-me-up

http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7985459/im-running-a-marathon

:) What have I gotten myself into?!

This part in particular had me laughin "Get up at 5 am, run, go to work, think about running, talk about running to anyone that will listen, go home, eat healthy, then lay out my running clothes..."

This, I can relate to! :) haha



Marathon Training Week Two

Saturday: 7 mile run
Sunday: Rest Day
Monday: 3 mile run; spin
Tuesday: 3 mile run
Wednesday: AM Strength Training; Boot camp
Thursday: 4 mile run
Friday: AM Strength Training



Hope you all had a happy Monday! :)

Running Around

Well the first week is just about complete! I have a 3-mile easy run today that will officially conclude Week Uno of Marathon Training! With 99 days left til the Big Day, I'm still feeling pretty nervous, but know that with that many days left, I have plenty of time to train hard to be prepared.

This week, my running group offered a Running Form Clinic that was extremely helpful! We had a Sport Chiropractor and a rep from TrySports come in to speak. They were both very insightful and made me realize how much I don't know about the bio mechanics of running!

I know I'll be referencing my notes throughout the next 99 days of training, so what better way to keep track than to add it to the ole blog? ...and I think some of you may find this helpful as well!

**Disclosure: I am not a doctor or a certified trainer. The comments below are simply my own knowledge, opinions and information I took and interpreted from the clinic.**

They first went over proper running form. Now, I know there is a plethora of form techniques out there, and this isn't meant to be the "end all and be all" of running form, but more of the natural, best-for-your-bod way:

1. Hips. Think of your hips or pelvic area as a bucket of water. If your hips (or the bucket) tilt forward, some water spills out (energy). If your hips tilt backward- same thing. Aim to keep your hips straight and even, so as to not let any of the water spill out. The more naturally-aligned your hips stay, the less energy you use...and who doesn't wanna make running easier?!

2. Chest. While keeping your hips in line, also think about pulling your chest up and your stomach down, as if your body is on a string- you want everything to be in alignment with your spine. While sprint athletes are taught to lead forward into their strides, endurance athletes should maintain a neutral spine while running- which, like the first point, reduces wasted energy.

3. Head to the horizon. When I run, a lot of times I notice that I'm looking down at the ground- especially in places where the ground may be uneven. While this is sometimes necessary- especially if trail running, try to maintain a gaze towards the horizon- up and out; as neutral as possible. Want to know why this is so important? (and this was a real shocker for me)... you lose 20% lung capacity by looking down. umm...what! No wonder I've been gasping for air like a dying chicken.

4. Arms. Next time you run, pay attention to the way you swing your arms. If you're crossing your arms across your body as you swing, you guessed it- wasted energy. Your arms should make a 90 degree angle and swing lightly back and forth. For hills or sprints, quickening your arm swings can help propel you up and forward.

5. Gait. This is a big one that has a lot of parts to it; so generally speaking: when you take off, you should be pushing directly off of your big toe. As your foot lifts off the ground, your leg should form a 90 degree angle behind you, and then as you bring your leg forward, land in the middle of your foot. (Again- this is for endurance athletes) You should absolutely not land on the heel or toe!! Landing on the heel causes lower back pain and landing on the toe hurts the knees. The reason for landing in the middle, is so that the arch of the foot absorbs the pressure of landing and "bounces" back giving you the lift you need for the next stride. Also, when your foot strikes, your hips should be directly over top of your foot- not in front of or behind.

Last night during my 5 mile run (I did Friday's workout since I had more time than I will today) I really tried to focus on each of these, which really made my run go by quickly! My overall run felt easier and more controlled and I kinda felt like a science experiment..which was cool! :)

The next thing the guys at the Form Clinic talked about was "i word" that I don't like to think about.

Injury.

Although this information was very helpful, I hope that with the preventative techniques they shared, I won't need much of these tips! Knock on wood!

**Generally speaking- when in doubt: ICE! Do not heat! Heat causes the muscle to expand and swell- making for an extended healing time. Also, if an area is inflamed (sore), roll with The Stick upwards, toward your heart. Your blood flow will help dissipate the swelling and help you heal quicker! **

The top 3 running injuries: Prevention and Treatment

1. Plantar Fasciitis:

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot. This tissue is called the plantar fascia. It connects the heel bone to the toes and creates the arch of the foot.

The most common complaint is pain and stiffness in the bottom of the heel. The heel pain may be dull or sharp. The bottom of the foot may also ache or burn.

The pain is usually worse:

• In the morning when you take your first steps
• After standing or sitting for a while
• When climbing stairs
• After intense activity
  link

The best methods for preventing this, is stretching your arches/foot after running.

This can be done by rolling your arches on The Stick, or by putting a resistance band around the ball of your foot and pulling back.

Treatment: First off, you probably need to see a podiatrist to confirm that you don't have a stress fracture in your foot. Then, implement RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevate)

2. Shin Splints

Refers to pain along or just behind the tibia (shinbone), the large bone in the front of the lower leg. Shin splints occur during physical activity and result from too much force on the shinbone and connective tissue attaching muscles to it.  Ten to fifteen percent of running injuries are shin splints.

 Link

Woooo...shin splints. I hate you. I've had my run-ins (ha) with shin splints and let me tell you.. they're not fun. Since the clinic, I've already been working on the prevention exercises so I don't get them this go-round!

The guys at the clinic said that the worst thing you can do for shin splints is to run through them. At the very first on sight of pain- TREAT IT. Ice ice baby! Also, stretch the calf, foot, and shin as much as you possibly can.

Prevention/treatment exercise: Get into a wall-sit with your lower back pressed again a wall, and in a seated position (take shoes off). Pull toes off the ground and hold them as high as you can for 30 seconds. Slowly lower your toes slowly to the ground, then right before they touch, pull them back up. Repeat this 3-4 times.

(Not a joke...my shins are hurting right now. Hello, my name is Kristin and I'm a hypochondriac)

3. ITBS Iliotibial band syndrome

ITBS is one of the leading causes of lateral knee pain in runners. The iliotibial band is a superficial thickening of tissue on the outside of the thigh, extending from the outside of the pelvis, over the hip and knee, and inserting just below the knee. The band is crucial to stabilizing the knee during running, moving from behind the femur to the front while walking. The continual rubbing of the band over the lateral femoral epicondyle,  combined with the repeated flexion and extension of the knee during running may cause the area to become inflamed

ITBS symptoms range from a stinging sensation just above the knee to swelling or thickening of the tissue at the point where the band moves over the femur. The pain may not occur immediately during activity, but may intensify over time, especially as the foot strikes the ground. Pain might persist after activity. Pain may also be present below the knee, where the ITB actually attaches to the tibia.

Link 

The best thing for ITBS is ice and stretching. I've not had experience with this injury before so I don't know too much about it, other than what I've heard and read. A great exercise for this is laying leg raises- laying on your side, keeping your leg in line with your hip as you raise and lower.

I really hope this helps some of you. If you have any questions at all, please ask and I would be happy to give my opinion. Happy Running and have a great weekend!!!

Marathon Training- Week Uno

Well... we're all moved in to our new place. The verdict? We absolutely love it so far! We have SO MUCH space and everything actually has a place, which is a totally new concept to us.

Our babies seem to have adjusted pretty well, too....



What? You think I couldn't handle the move? Please.





I'll just take a quick nap...



This weekend was basically spent moving. cleaning, painting, and unpacking- and man is that a workout! :) 



Lookin gooood





Finished pictures to come soon!

 Saturday started Day 1 of Marathon Training! Words do not describe how scared I am. I have confidence in myself, but seeing those scary miles on the schedule freak me out- I'm not gonna lie. This week has pretty low mileage, but I'm going to try hard to stick with the schedule exactly, even if I feel like I can do more. I believe the running plan is there for a reason, and if I push too hard now, I'll definitely regret it later (like when I'm running 40 mpw eek!!!)

You'll probably notice a bit of a change in my weekly workouts- obviously it will incorporate more running (4-5 days per week) and less weight lifting/cross training. I'm going to really put my focus on running, so any cross training will be light- focusing on low impact cardio, upper body weights, and lots and lots of core work. Not to mention that I'm switching gyms at the end of this month (yep, I'm gonna be a Y girl!) so I can add in some yoga and swimming- pretty exciting! Also, following the running plan, my weeks now start with Saturday long runs and go Saturdays to Fridays.

This week's workout schedule:

Saturday- 5 miles
Sunday- rest day/stretch
Monday- 3 mile tempo/hills; spin
Tuesday- 2.5 miles, kickboxing
Wednesday- AM strength, PM 5 mile interval run
Thursday- 3 miles
Friday- AM strength/stretch

Weekly Mileage: 18.5


This week's quote:

"Sweat is just fat crying." 

---Thought that was hilarious! Have a great week!!! :)