what’s beautiful

Summer is upon us.  In fact, I have 6 1/2 days until my summer officially starts.  Not that I’m counting or anything…

For me, summer means time.  Time to relax.  Time to spend with MacKenna.  Time to travel.  Time to work on our house so we can hopefully sell it in the next year or so.  And of course, time to exercise.  With all the extra time on my hands, it’s time for me to set some goals.  Some NEW goals.

Luckily for me, Under Armour recently launched their “What’s Beautiful” campaign 3.0.  What’s Beautiful is all about “redefining the female athlete by setting epic goals and pushing past where we’ve been and where we thought we could go.”

I’m ready to set those epic goals.  That sub-2o minute 5K?  I’m coming after you!  Train for and complete my first triathlon?  You betcha!  I’m ready more than ever and I want YOU to join me in my journey.  Did I mention you have the chance to win some truly awesome prizes, like Under Armour gear or even a trip to Costa Rica to surf and do yoga?

whatsbeautiful-iwill

Seriously, what a great way to start your summer!  Set some goals.  Make them epic.  Push yourself to be better than you’ve ever been before.  Join a team, create a team, follow along (#whatsbeautiful or #iwill), challenge yourself to do something EPIC!  And to quote my friend Heather

#IWill.  Will you?

**Disclosure:  I am participating in Under Armour’s What’s Beautiful campaign on behalf of FitFluential.**

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mama’s day

Happy belated Mother’s Day to all the mom’s and moms-to-be out there!  I hope you all had wonderful days with your families and were able to relax and appreciate the joys of being a mom.

I certainly had a wonderful day with Matt, MacKenna, and our families.  My day started early with an 8 mile run, my long run for the week.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t my best run.  My pace was fine, but I really felt slow and weak.  My right leg has really been bothering me this past week, and yesterday was no exception.  My hammy was tight, my knee was a little sore, and I just felt plain “off”.  But, I was happy to spend the start of my day alone in my thoughts in the chilly morning air.

We spent the rest of the day with our families.  I decided to unplug for the day to focus on the day’s festivities and I’m really happy that I did.  However, instead of checking my email constantly, I instead took a billion pictures of our day.  Well, mostly of MacKenna.

We met up with Matt’s parents at a local park for a picnic.  We ate great good, drank a little wine, and chased after MacKenna.  She had a blast playing on the swings and running around in the grass and basketball courts.  I’m so very thankful she loves the outdoors as much as I do!  I eventually had to stick her in the stroller to go for a walk so she’d take a nap – she was just exhausted!

Mothers Day-MacKenna eating

Mothers Day-food

Mothers Day-strawberries

Mothers Day-wine

Mothers Day-MacKenna highchair laughing

Mothers Day-MacKenna smile swing

Mothers Day-MacKenna swing smile

Mothers Day-MacKenna swinging smile

Mothers Day-MacKenna goofy grin

Mothers Day-MacKenna peeking

Mothers Day-MacKenna with dandelion

Mothers Day-MacKenna sitting dandelions

Mothers Day-MacKenna sitting in goal

Mothers Day-Matt and MacKenna pointing

Mothers Day-MacKenna squat-B&W

Mothers Day-MacKenna sleeping stroller

We then headed out to U City for dinner with my parents.  We had just gotten together last weekend for Cinco de Mayo, so we decided instead to go to Dewey’s for some pizza and conversation.  I was still pretty full from lunch, so I didn’t eat much pizza, but I definitely saved some room for frozen yogurt!  Tutti Frutti is one of my favorites for frozen yogurt (it also helps that it’s next door to Dewey’s), especially since they have some really awesome flavors.  I had a little bit of coconut , salted caramel, and chocolatella (Nutella flavored) froyo with chocolate covered raisins, mini Reese’s pieces, chocolate rocks, chocolate sprinkles, granola, a chocolate covered pretzel, and a chunk of cookie dough.  So. Freaking. Delicious!

Mothers Day-froyo

Mothers Day-PawPaw kissing MacKenna

Mothers Day-MacKenna laughing

It was such a great Mother’s Day!  I’m so thankful for my Mom (and mother-in-law)!  My mom is one of my best friends and has really taught me how to be a good mom to MacKenna.  And I must say, I absolutely love being MacKenna’s mom!  I am so blessed to have such a sweet, cute, funny, loving little girl in my life!  I couldn’t have asked for a better daughter – she makes me love my role as “mom”!

Mothers Day-Gigi and Kenna

Mothers Day-Mama with MacKenna

What did you do for Mother’s Day?  Did you spend time with your mom and/or kids?

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weekly workouts: squeezing it in

It’s been another busy week around here.  Why is it that the end of the school year means more and more stuff?!  Awards ceremonies, checking things out, preparing for next year, collecting things from this year, inventory, professional development logs, school dances, etc. etc. etc.  { sigh }  Only 8 1/2 more days…

Just like last week, workouts have been a struggle to fit in.  I’ve been really trying to plan things out to make sure I can fit everything in, but it’s still hard and I have to pick and choose what I am willing to fit in.  Running, of course, takes first priority and sometimes that means getting up at 4 AM to run on the treadmill.  With 4 AM wakeup calls and a busy schedule, I have been wiped out this week.  I’m sooooo ready for the weekend…

Friday

{ CrossFit }
Pull-ups/Inverted Row 50x

Saturday

Rest Day
(NSCA Missouri Clinic – I learned soooo much!  It was seriously awesome!)

Sunday

7 mile long run
(54:15)

Monday

1.6 mile run with the jogging stroller
(13:24)

{ CrossFit }
Front Squats 5×10
(55-65-75-75-75 pounds)

Tuesday

1/2 mile warm-up and cool down
Extra 400m run in addition to CrossFit workout

{ CrossFit }
Nancy”
5 rounds of:
Run 400m
Overhead Squats 15x, 15 lbs

I ended up doing a workout with my Exercise & Fitness class since it was gorgeous outside and I was in shorts and my running shoes.  It killed them!  I loved it!

Four-Peat Workout

Wednesday

3 mile easy run
(23:24)

{ CrossFit }
21-15-9 reps of:
Beginner Handstand Push-ups
Inverted Rows

Sit-ups 50x
Handstand holds 5×10 seconds

Thursday

35 minute tempo run
(4.6 miles)

OK, so not nearly as bad as I thought.  Planning on squeezing in a 5 miler before the 8th grade dance this evening.  Not going to lie, looking forward to my summer off just for the extra time I’ll have, even if it means taking MacKenna to the gym daycare to run on the treadmill.

Do you plan out when you are going to workout to make sure you can squeeze it in your busy schedule?

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