AVENGERS ASSEMBLE !

written by: mrs. duhamel
happy blustery wednesday kittens!

okay… let me just start this post by saying this much first.
spring — where the eff are ya?
i realize i live in rhode island and new england is notorious for bi-polar weather — but this is just some nutty shit!
coldest march in history…
we have blustery snow and frigid temps out there today and the rest of the week is forecast to be in the low 50s.
i am just DONE with the cold.
rant over…

other than the weather — i’m golden.

VERY golden as a matter of fact…
because yesterday, this happened!!!!
AVENGERS ASSEMBLE!!!!!
i am OFFICIALLY registered for the DISNEY AVENGERS SUPER HERO HALF MARATHON !!!!
and for anyone interested who hasn’t registered — it is SOLD OUT!
registration opened at noon yesterday and by 12:40 when i went to register it was 90% sold out!
the 5k was totally sold out!
now even the kid’s races are sold out!
i knew this would be a race i needed to register for immediately but i truly did not expect it to be THIS much of a hot thing!
wowzers!

from what i understand and have read, you can still register but you would need to do it via a charitable group (link on the link i provided above) or travel providers.
how that all works — i just do not know?
but it is an option if ya missed registration yesterday.
and it’s just for the half marathon.

at any rate — i am just elated to have gotten mine in on time!
i was so crazy about it i accidentally registered twice!
yes twice!
errrr….
but one quick call to rundisney and that was taken care of!

now comes the travel plans.
thankfully i have a good connection (there again — anyone interested leave me a comment and i will get you her contact info) and i should have that underway ASAP!
it will just be dean and i making this trip — a long weekend trip across country no less — and i totally admit that i am already feeling IMMENSE guilt that we are going without the kids — especially the younger kids.
should my daughter find out we went to disneyland without her…
oh lordy!
i will be disowned…
FOREVER!

but it’s just not feasible to do this as a family…
and basically we will be there a mere two full days… so i am trying like hell to not let the guilt overshadow it all!
just pray skylar does not become privy to our plan!

in other news:
my new thought process of balancing my lifestyle with a healthy lifestyle is really coming along nicely…
i am not over-obsessing about it too much but it is a conscious process to some degree.
i am tracking on my fitness pal — when i think of it — and not mentally punishing myself when i don’t.
i know what i need to do and don’t necessarily feel like i need to obsess over an app to do it.
but it is nice to see stuff like this…

900 calories! w00ts! (add me as a friend on MFP!)

this is what motivates me!

yesterday i went to planet fitness, for the first time since rejoining, with my BFF lisa…
it was a GREAT workout overall!
i had the best feeling run i have had since the half marathon and it was on the DREADMILL no less.
i had no foot pain or shin pain or weird numbing sensation in my toes…
it was a nice clean run and i really felt unstoppable and actually worked my intervals as i should!
so a good day one for restarting my half marathon training!

after this past month of mediocre and painful runs i felt it best to just restart from day one…
because i would like to finish the avengers half in 2:30 or under!
with a run like yesterday — that’s totally doable!
and now that i have the treadmill option i have NO excuse to slack over the summer!

after the run, lisa and i did the circuit training (aka 30 minute express workout) and that was FABULOUS!
it has been SOOOOOO long since i have done ANY weight training and it made me realize how much i miss it.

lisa and i have made a pact to be workout buddies and hit the gym three times a week!
no set schedule — just a conscious choice to make the gym a priority in our week…
operation sexypants is in FULL effect!

it’s nice to have a gym buddy!
i haven’t had someone to workout with in way too long.
conflicting schedules, etc and it’s just hard to find someone who can workout the same times i do.
but lisa and i are committed to motivate and keep each other accountable.
so yay!!!

my plan was to get a short outdoor run in today (i still need the occasional outdoor runs in the hood with all the hills to keep me race ready) but with the wind gusts i decided it might be best to just not push it.
i could not be more ready for spring if i tried!!!!

my daughter — frozen/”elsa braid” obsessed!

even if i don’t get a run in today — i am not going to beat myself up about it.
i really feel myself pushing that pushy need deep down these past two weeks…
it’s about progress and i need to trust the process.
pushing myself to extreme measures to meet some ideal i have created in my own head has NEVER really served the purpose i intended it to.
so instead i am pushing myself to “let it go”.
(yes, i know how sick people are of hearing about that song and the movie overall… but i live with an almost five year old who is OBSESSED with frozen to the point of having me braid her hair EVERY day and who sings the songs and watches the movie excessively… deal with it, i have to! plus i secretly love the movie and songs as much as she does… heh!)
i feel more in control by letting go of control…
my decisions to choose the things that better my life feel more like just a given fact that some over-thought choice that i internally battle over.
my head, heart and body thank me… trust me!

so that is how my week is progressing so far…
how is life out there in the blogosphere????

peace, love and margaritas,
cyn
xxoo

running, gyms, soup and tattoos…

written by: mrs.duhamel
happy monday monday kittens!

so yeah — almost another week in between posts.
SMH — no excuse… but here i am!
TA DAH!!!

so my new frame of mind in regards to fitness and diet are going decent… it’s a process to ween myself off of two months of just not giving a fuck but i am least giving half a fuck now.

i got two runs in last week and made an effort to eat clean MOST of the time.
i also did rejoin planet fitness and will be hitting the gym TOMORROW with my girl lisa!
so i’m on the right track and feeling better about making conscious decisions to better my ALL AROUND health.
its progress and not perfection and i am happy with that.
in the words of jillian michaels, “perfect sucks — perfect is boring.”
werd jillian, WERD!

i even broke out the crockpot and made my healthy version of ZUPPA TOSCANA — my most favorite soup in the world!
i would have made a whole post about it but i have done one on this recipe before and for some reason it is lost?
next time for sure…
i followed the recipe linked above but used turkey sausage, skipped the bacon, and used half and half in lieu of whipping cream.
in a word — DELISH!!!!!
just like olive garden’s but healthier and IMHO — better!

moving on…
so i did something SUPAH cool friday night…
i got my tattoo for my disney princess half marathon!!!!

i was VERY torn about what i wanted to get… i literally tossed around a million options — but ultimately went with what i wanted initially — ariel, the little mermaid!

outline getting done…

color being added…

FINISHED! as you can see my arm is raw and swollen by my wrist… for me, a very painful spot to get tattooed — as was the shading in her tail and hair. but worth it!

I LOVE IT! of course i had to incorporate the 13.1 and i love this design that dean helped me create!

taken today — healing nicely and i just love it! my first major tattoo and it’s amazing!

MAJOR thank you to anthony c. from RED’S TATTOO and BODY PIERCING in providence, RI for the amazing job!!!!

it’s funny — a month ago yesterday i ran the half marathon… although in some ways it seems a lifetime ago.
and tomorrow i will be signing up for my next one.
i keep pushing myself to race to keep me motivated to run… and with the ten miler in a little over a month & now this next half marathon, i think i will be golden!
especially with the treadmill option at planet fitness.
i prefer to run outdoors — but running on a treadmill versus not running at all works too!
plus the treadmill option motivates me to get to planet fitness to use the weight circuit.
there is a method to my madness as you can see…

oh and i also got my official race photos in the mail this past week…

woohoo look at me!

just waiting on the frame — then i will decide which one to use — and that bad boy will be hanging in my office!

dean ordered me the frame on the sly — i think he is more proud of me running that race than i am.
if that’s even possible?

so yes — i feel like i am getting back to being in a better place.
things feel more balanced and i don’t feel so utterly frustrated all the time.
as much as i am keeping my distance from uber structured discipline… it’s nice to feel more in control of what i am doing.
its by choice and not because i feel forced.
and that feels really good!

peace, love and margaritas,
cyn
xxoo

all or nothing…

written by: mrs. duhamel
happy day after st. paddy’s kittens!

so with all the disney hub bub & kitty introductions behind me now – i’m free to get back to random writing – and i like it!
i wish i, in good faith, could say SO much has been going on but the truth is life has been pretty normal these days…
NORMAL!
did you hear that?????

what a refreshing place to be after MONTHS of utter chaos!

i was asked the other day if i was suffering from downer moments with all of the major events being behind me/us now.
to answer that — a ginormous NO!
no doubt we’re in an adjustment period still – acclimating two different families is never easy and certainly not the brady bunch – but it’s nice to just be and reprogram ourselves to this new life!

i am finally getting over an almost three week battle with the voodoo death flu.
i truly thought i would escape this winter unscathed but the VDF had other plans for me.
i started with a dull headache/meh feeling for a week and then about a week ago it hit me like a ton of bricks.
the chills, the body aches, the stuffy head, the feeling of imminent death…
or at least wishing for death.
it was classic VDF!
even now i am not 100% — but on the mend.

and of course being sick has seriously affected my running…
as in i am NOT running at all.
i tried to run about a week ago during the major onset of VDF and was shown who was boss, and it wasn’t me!

but being “off” and post disney princess half marathon has given me a lot of time to reflect and think about where i wanna go fitness/running/goals wise from here.
where do i wanna go???

i will get to that — but first i have to confess…
here goes…
i have gained about 12 lbs since the wedding.
yes as in less than two months.
how does one do such a thing you ask?
well… when you are basically not on track the three months prior to your wedding to the point that you “crash diet” to lose about 10lbs. to get into a wedding gown by a certain time and then suddenly throw ALL caution to the wind starting the day after the wedding — you WILL regain that “crash dieted” weight back VERY quickly and it WILL bring two or three or MORE of it’s friends with it!
so yeah while i am not very proud that i “crash dieted” because it goes against everything i believe in regarding health and fitness — i also think lying is utter bullshit.
so i am owning my shit for all to see!

but i wanna be clear on one thing…
i know i have said this before, but i am SOOOOO over the scale.
until a week ago i hadn’t stepped foot on it since my wedding day.
and i only stepped on it a week ago because suddenly my clothes feel tight.
like i needed to see that number to know i’ve gained weight?
i knew i had!
i could feel it when i run…
i could feel it in ALL my clothes…
i could see it clearly…
hell, even just sitting down now i can feel and see the difference.
but sometimes i do need the scale to snap me outta whatever fitness/eating funk i am in.
and to show me that these past almost two months of not giving a shit is starting to take its toll and take me back to a place i just don’t want to be!
as in sedentary… eating unhealthy… exhausted all the time… various aches and pains… not feeling good in my own skin… and tons of self doubt and regret!
who in their right mind wants to be THERE?
especially when you have been THERE before and know how uncool it is!

but i am going forward with a resounding determination to NOT have a goal weight.
because i am truly done being defined (in my own head more than anywhere else) by a stupid three digit number!

i want to shift my focus to my health — to my ALL AROUND health — and there lies the difference from any past declarations of the same!
and not in some fanatic form where i am cutting out entire food groups…
or committing to exercising “x” amount of days/hours per week…
or giving up drinking…
or jumping on whatever the latest health trend may be!
because decisive deprivation is no better than crash dieting…
and i can confidently say that from experience!
i have put myself on just as many STRICT outlined regimens as i have thrown caution to the wind.
and i just cannot be that ALL or nothing person anymore — because that does NOT help my all around health.

i am not discrediting what i have achieved with my past weight loss and certainly not with my running — i am just saying that the yo-yo methods of either being ALL in or ALL out just are not cutting it for me anymore…

and most of all — i am tired of that guilt i tend to feel at just about any given moment.
guilt over food choices or consumption…
guilt over not working out…
guilt over not running… or not running long or far enough…
i mean it’s literally maddening at times and enough to really make any efforts at all seem pointless because they will never be enough to me when i am in one of my ALL in moments.

so once again i am at that crossroads of finding the balance and because of that — i am NOT setting specific weight loss/running/fitness goals.
but i will say this…
i have several races coming up that i WANT (not need) to be prepared for.
i WANT to feel comfy in my clothes again.
i WANT to eat healthier and cook healthier for my family again.
i WANT to add some variety to my workouts.

but i also WANT the freedom to not feel so scheduled and regimented!
so i am banning myself from the home workouts that require i participate daily and/or by a schedule.
(sorry shaun t and jillian — ya know i heart ya long time!)
instead i am thinking of rejoining planet fitness so i have the weight circuit and other methods of cardio to cross train with when i WANT to.
not to mention the treadmill at planet fitness.
it’s my least favorite method of running — but sometimes the weather dictates i find an alternative method.
it would be nice to have that option!

so yeah — that’s where my head is at.
so don’t expect a weekly weigh-in as they will not be happening.
i plan to weigh myself in a month or so…
and while this has predominantly been a blog about my weight loss/fitness journey — i do plan on trying to make it a bit more well rounded.
i hope to be able to write about how freeing this new mindset of mine is…
and that maybe letting go is the key i need to truly make this a lifestyle and not just a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants diet.

my methods may not be for everyone…
but i know my past methods were not for ME!
and i just wanna live life by my terms AND be healthy and fit!
so i am trying to find out the best way to do that…
because i am always a work in progress!

peace, love AND margaritas,
cyn
xxoo

life as a mrs.

written by: mrs. duhamel
happy saturday kittens!

wow, has it really been almost THREE weeks since i posted last???
EEESH i suck at this blogging thang sometimes… often… okay A LOT!
but in my defense — i have been settling into the newlywed life (three weeks married today!) and really trying to prep for our disney (we leave in THREE DAYS!) trip and this half marathon i am running (one week from tomorrow — gulp!)

one of my chalkboard doodles…

married life is great!
we have settled right in — after some adjustments of course — but overall i have never been happier and i can honestly say i think all four kids (and dean) feel the same way!

half marathon training…
well, that could be better!
but we have been BOMBARDED with snow this winter and as an outdoor runner that is certainly not conducive to proper training…
i will run the race — that much i have no doubt — but i do not see myself finishing in my goal of under 2:30.
it is what it is and i am going to concentrate on the experience and that i will be running with friends from here in rhode island AND mississippi.
what other race will i ever be able to say that much about???
besides — it’s DISNEY!!!!

but other than that — life is trudging along nicely!

skylar has gotten LOTSA outdoors/snow fun this winter…

we had the FIRST EVER RHP DRUNKEN HI LO JACK DEATH MATCH — which was a blast!

we celebrated valentines day yesterday with the kids and a nice family dinner (tonight is dean and my night ♥)

we celebrated my mom’s 65th birthday!

the mickey bands arrived!!!

i’m still refurbishing curbside freebie finds! two pieces i have yet to finish even!

skylar ate pizza for the FIRST TIME EVER — she may not starve in disney afterall!

there’s been mid-afternoon dancing…

wine…

and lotsa love in the House of Du !

so yes… life is good as a mrs.
and only to get better!

i am hoping to make a post from disney — hopefully before even.
but if not i will DEF try to post on my facebook and DEFINITELY my instagram — so follow the disney antics and half marathon/5k updates there!

cannot wait to leave this snow behind and get in the sun and enjoy a REAL vacation with my family!

peace, love and margaritas!
cyn
xxoo

stuff other than moving and DIY home decor…

written by: cyn knight
happy friday kittens!

so i know i have been consumed (aka OCD) about the house these past three plus weeks, but yesterday i decided it was time to pop the “it’s all about the house” bubble and do something solely for myself!
so i ran…
my first run in TWENTY-SIX DAYS mind you.
i had it in my head that it was about three weeks — wrong! more like almost FOUR weeks!
so needless to say i was scared shitless to get out there because i just didn’t want to face the reality that i had regressed and needed to work my way back up to a decent pace again.
surprisingly that wasn’t the case.
i had a really good run. i felt no pain, my breathing felt regulated (even with my new hood being loaded with hills — seriously no matter which way i run i am running uphill at some point!), and i was pleasantly surprised at my pace. even back a month ago when i was hard core training that would be a good pace for me.
granted i only ran two miles (although i felt i could’ve run longer and would have if i didn’t have to be somewhere) — i am sure my endurance mileage wise has suffered with no running for a month.
but i have five weeks until the princess half and i am pretty confident that i can rebuild the endurance by then as long as i hard core train these next five weeks!

now that the major moving and decor/painting are done i can concentrate on running and working out again!
YAY!!!

oh but i do have to post this ONE thing house related…
we received our first housewarming gift yesterday…

it’s perfect and we love it!
(ps. the “house of du” is our foursquare check-in name for the new house and a tribute to our favorite chinese restaurant and scorpion bowl headquarters the house of wu! hehehe!)
thank you liisa and glenn xxoo!

oh and i got dean a little housewarming gift too…
YUP — his own scorpion bowl with volcano spout for the rum!
dean LOVES scorpion bowls — now i just need to find a good recipe that compares to the house of wu’s!
anyone know any????
post them in the comments please!

well — that’s all she wrote for friday.
tonight we have our first family movie night with the younger kids — we are starting pixar theory and will be watching “brave”!!!
if you are unfamiliar with what pixar theory actually is and have a few minutes to kill… watch this!

(i haven’t watched it in full so if it sucks or has spoilers i apologize!)

happy weekend!

peace, love and margaritas,
cyn
xxoo

monday mush

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written by: cyn knight
happy monday monday kittens!

another whirlwind weekend in the books.
holidays, two races, shopping, tree trimming and everything in between!
phew!

but weirdly i feel like i am at the peak of the madness and i can slowly start to descend to *normal* again shortly?
using the term normally lightly of course.
just so much at once — i really wonder what we were thinking at times.
*smirk*

right now i am currently obsessed with us getting the house.
i am immersed in mentally designing the interior and can happily say that i made some purchases this weekend to make my vision come to life…

all purchased at target — photos courtesy of target.com

i will not bore you with how utterly stoked i was to find that pinched fabric comforter pictured in the far top right.

okay i lied — i will bore you…
i had been eyeballin’ it on target.com but only found the duvet (ick) cover version.
so imagine my delight when i saw it saturday sitting on the shelf in comforter form, in my price range ($89.99 for the comforter and two shams) and in the size i need!
*squeal*

and then i found the curtain panels ($19.99 each) with my beloved trellis pattern in the perfect teal/peacock blue!

the horsehair throw pillow was clearanced to $7.48.

and the faux chinchilla throw was just a lucky score ($24.99) as i had recently seen this room on houzz.com that is part of my inspiration bedding for our master bedroom!  granted their chinchilla throw is real but mine was really affordable and no little creatures were harmed to keep us warm and stylish!

Rustic Bedroom by Eagle Architects & Designers Studio 80 Interior Design

if you’re a pinterest freak like myself and looking for home design ideas — indoors and out — http://www.houzz.com is the shit! my realtor actually turned me onto it and it’s just amazing. plus certain rooms have tags on them that link you to certain elements (furnishings, paint, decor, etc) in the room!
one of my fave sites to stalk at the moment!

of course all this designer home website searching has me asking dean if he can turn our outdoor fireplace from this…to this…

Mediterranean Pool by Fullerton Landscape Architects & Designers Rue Group, Inc. / Kathryn Rue, Landscape Architect

HA!
hey — he’s a crafty buggar — i think he can do anything!

in completely unrelated news…
i had written recently that my beachbody business has taken a very sad backseat the last few months and i have been feeling really down about that.
i won’t get into details but some recent events had me questioning if i was cut out for it.
i have been slacking with my shakeology and totally failed once i hit the second phase of T25.
and i am a firm believer in BEING the product i represent.
but then i received a random facebook message from one of the most successful coaches in the ENTIRE company that really changed my thinking process about my business and my part in it.
even if i am doubting myself — someone out there who is ridiculously successful thinks i have the potential and am perfect for what beachbody stands for.
and hearing that and knowing that someone has my back and is willing to help me with whatever i need to be successful is everything.
and that what being part of the beachbody TEAM is all about.
our success effects the success of others.
he wants me to be successful as much as i want my personal coaches to be successful.
so a thank you to that coach for reminding me that i AM in the right place and agreeing to help me push myself!

like i said, i believe in being the product and i LOVE the products — but i am also very human, hence flawed, much like the people it is my goal and drive to help.
so when i say — been there — i have SO been there!
and i am committed to getting back on track AGAIN– i was doing SO well there for awhile and i just need to find that happy medium to reach my goals.
i tend to be all or nothing and that has never served me any good.
with my half marathon training entering the last four weeks my runs are longer and more involved so my time to dedicate to other workouts (T25) is limited but i am recommitted to making this a priority!

i can do it all, right?

i mean i am the woman who is decorating an entire house, has several furniture projects planned, painting planned, designing my own centerpieces for my wedding, doing all the final details for the wedding which is less than two months away, training to run a half marathon in less than three months AND prepping six people to take a six day trip to disney world.
i CAN do it all!
heh.

speaking of disney and the half marathon…
i signed up for this yesterday.
what’s adding a 5k to the weekend when i have 13.1 miles to run?
plus i want the medallion you receive for finishing as the glass slipper challenge (run the 1/2 marathon and the 10K) was sold out so i got screwed outta TWO additional medals!
my girl diane is going to run it as well — so it will be a nice warm up to the REAL DEAL!!!
so ridiculously psyched for the whole experience.
talk about whirlwind!!!

oh and this happened yesterday…

skylar trimming the tree yesterday ♥

all done — TAH DAH!

like all kids — skylar is ga-ga crazy over christmas.
even the beginning of december is worth of a “happy december one” from her!
have a little one certainly keeps christmas magical.
and this is the last one we will spend in this house with the extended family.
we teetered with trying to move everyone and everything into the new house before santa comes — but it’s just too much with all the OTHER stuff going on.
plus we have the luxury of taking our time and doing everything just so — we are going to utilize it and try to make the moving process as smooth as possible!
try being the operative word of course.

regardless — i am feeling very blessed lately.
i have come to realize that all the silly drama that seemed SO important just a few short weeks ago was really silly stuff.
now we are onto stressing over way more important things like paint colors (true story as dean and i had a pretty nasty go around over one color) and which washer and dryer to buy.
*smirk*

life is so funny like that.

peace, love & margaritas bloggy peeps!
xxoo
cyn

*** can’t get enough of my ass?
you can find out ALL about & where to find me on about.me/cynknight

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friday IPhone dump

written by: cyn knight
happy friday kittens!

yeah, it’s that magical time where i take a bunch of random photos from the past week & make a blog post using them…

if you read my last post, SHARING THE JOY , then you know it has been a whirlwind week or so!
but life goes on — even mid buying a house!

we already had snow — not much, BUT snow nonetheless! SO NOT READY FOR THIS!!!!

skylar got her first ever school pictures this week! this was taken of the pic with my phone — but still cute as hell!

cameron ♥

skylar ♥

did i mention we bought a house?

skylar’ preschool class turkey — each kiddo got to decorate their own feather — sky’s is second from the far right!

got this email from rundisney this week — makes it all SO real and SO close!

my UBER picky eater ate SPAGHETTI this week!!!!

LOVING buying new goodies for our NEW HOUSE!!!

went to pick up skylar from school this week and found this cute pilgrim girl instead!

hey did ya know we bought a HOUSE!?!?!?!

running has kind of taken a backseat the past week or so — but i am still getting out there for longer runs and averaging about 12-15 miles a week!

out for a run♥

once the major hustle and bustle from the whole buying a house process simmers down (hopefully by this weekend) we can breathe for a bit until the closing and i can get back to making running a bigger priority!

wedding wise — the invites go out this weekend! i am going flower girl dress shopping this morning for skylar! i have all my flowers chosen and a centerpiece, bridesmaid bouquets, my bouquet and skylar’s flowers chosen as well! and we have one final cake tasting (GROAN!) hopefully this coming monday!
so minus some details — the wedding is coming together nicely!!!

i admit that i have been slacking with T25 as well as my running — T25 has basically come to standstill sadly! and i hate that i let that slide and have no valid reason for doing so other than i didn’t make it a priority and talked myself out of doing it during the times i could.
SUCKS!
and i am kicking myself for it!
my only option is to restart & i am thinking of doing just that!
i just need an extra hour in the day is all — with my half marathon training reaching it’s peak — most of my runs are at least an hour and only increasing!
(yeah, yeah, yeah — making those excuses again! busier people than me manage to do this!)

oh and i am up a few pounds — about 3 to be exact.
i am not stressing it.
far from it.
with my wedding gown fitting perfectly i am okay with maintaining my current weight within a five pound radius!
feels weird to say that — i feel like all i have done for the past two years is try to get smaller, NOT maintain.
and i thought i might feel *weird* about it — but quite the opposite.
it has me rethinking my overall goals.
life is pretty damn great at this weight — and i get to truly LIVE and what’s not to like about that?
and by *live* that doesn’t mean i have thrown caution to the wind totally — but i am allowing myself some freedom here and there!

thankfully i haven’t had any races last weekend or this upcoming one as well. too much going on! but next week i have TWO turkey trots (on thanksgiving morning and the following saturday!) so i am looking forward to that and plan on amping my runs this week!

my business has suffered the most through all of this. its still where it was months ago and that is ALL on me. i just haven’t had my MoJo in place and sadly it will most likely be like this for awhile. i just have too many other things going on…

BUT i am really happy as of late…
those stressers that seemed SO important just a few short weeks ago seem almost silly.
and oddly you would think buying a house would just put me over the edge — but i am elated and totally okay with what i know will be a HUGE transition for us all.

everything is coming together.
the house.
all of us living in one house.
the joy of making OUR HOME ours.
our wedding ♥♥♥
half marathon training.
our trip to disney.
and of course the princess half marathon itself!

i think once march 1st comes and ALL of this is basically behind us — i am going to take a very long nap!
i think i’ve earned it!

peace, love & margaritas bloggy peeps!
xxoo
cyn

*** can’t get enough of my ass?
you can find out ALL about & where to find me on about.me/cynknight

wanna know more about shakeology/beachbody??? check out my COACH PROFILE & feel free to contact with me with any and all questions!

8 miles…

written by: cyn knight
happy saturday-ness kittens!

the past two plus months of really getting back into running and starting my serious half marathon training have been intense, challenging and GREAT!

the run that took me two weeks to get through!

i don’t know what has changed for me?
but since taking the summer off and getting back into my running groove, i am in a totally different place both mentally and physically.
i am following my half-marathon training as i should – even taking at least one day off a week (took TWO off this week, woah!). and i am giving it my all.
yes – it took me almost two weeks to get past a certain run day…
but i didn’t give up and did not move forward on my training until i did it… and since crossing that barrier – things have really just fallen into place.
i no longer dread the long run days in the week – i actually look forward to them because i know it will be a challenge and i am beginning to love the challenge of my runs!

yesterday’s run!

last week’s 7 mile run

which brings me to the subject of today’s post…
yesterday was my long run day of the week…
a projected 8 miles!
yeah sure i kinda whizzed through last week’s seven mile run and even broke my 10k PR, which was totally unexpected. but this week has felt a little different. i started the week off by getting some sorta stomach bug over the weekend and because of that my eating has been off hence causing me to not be as fueled as i should for my runs.
needless to say – all of my runs this week have felt sluggish and like my legs were made of lead.
so this is where my hesitation for the long run spurred from.
but i was determined to get out there and at least TRY to get through it. and if not, i would try again early next week.

hmmm… didn’t realize this shirt has so much *cleavage* oops!

the run started off actually very good. i was feeling a twinge of pain in my left ankle; something that has sort of been plaguing me this week? the pain is minimal and usually tapers off within the first 15 minutes and i am attributing it to the colder weather – which typically causes me joint pain in the beginning of my runs.
(no, i do not stretch before a run either – i do a five minute warm-up walk before every run & use the foam roller after my longer runs or when i feel tightness.)

everything was going smoothly through the first two miles and then about mile 2.5 i started to feel that sluggish/legs like lead feeling.
*groan*

very leafy on the bike path thanks to crazy winds!

so i purposely slowed down my pace – even though physically (breathing, joints, etc) i felt great – i knew that if i didn’t take it down a notch i would putter out before i hit mile 4!
and honestly, i felt like i struggled something fierce for the next 2.5 miles. i felt like i was running slower than ever and the winds were just ridiculous — which always makes me feel like i am constantly running uphill! (i absolutely refused to look at my nikeplus app to see how fast i was actually going because i knew it would make me push myself harder than i should.)

but somewhere in mile 5 i started to feel okay.
the run intervals weren’t as strenuous and i was actually in my thoughts (things to do, wedding plans, weekend plans, etc) instead of wondering how much longer i had to run!
it was then that i actually began to believe i would get through this run and might actually do better than i thought?

views from the west warwick end…

i typically run the coventry, ri end of the bike path – but found out last week doing my seven mile run that the further down the path you go, the creepier it gets. once you get past a certain point you are literally out in the middle of nowhere and being a solitary runner – that’s no bueno!
last week during my seven mile run my oldest son hunter got a wild hair and ran with me (a week later and he is STILL sore from that run, silly kid, told him not to go!) so i wasn’t as creeped out, but this week i was on my own and decided i would run the west warwick end – which i don’t really like because the path is very uprooted in spots and you have to cross several intersections with traffic, which of course slows down my run, but at least i am still in the midst of civilization and less likely to be mauled by a bear or worse!

bike path

but in some ways i think changing up my route might have helped me. new scenery (even though i have ran this way many times) and not being as familiar with the distances – i know the coventry end like the back of my hand and can generally gauged mileage from several points of interest.
by mile 5 i was closer to home than i expected i would be and that was uplifting to say the least. so i decided to check out my time and do a little math and i realized i was running at a pretty decent pace for a longer run and if i kept it up i might actually PR my 10k again!
and well… i did!
and by almost two minutes (1:42 to be precise)! holy fuckballs!!!

i knew i had done better than the previous week, but had no clue how much better – but just knowing i was doing better than i thought fueled me through the next almost two miles.
and ultimately my run ended up looking like this…
to anyone else this may not be a big deal – but for me, it’s tremendous!
i ran a faster pace for a longer distance and as someone training to run 13.1 miles – that’s major progress!!
and i ended the run feeling better than i did at the beginning and that is ALWAYS how i want to end my runs.

so yes – yesterday’s run was one of those moments that really clarified a lot for me. i know i am doing this the right way and finishing the disney princess half marathon seems completely feasible and i may even do it better than i ever dreamed?

will i ever be an elite runner?
haha no – and i say that with the utmost of confidence.
but i am definitely a better runner than i was last year at this time, and even better than i was two months ago and progress in my OWN run is all i ever strive for.
and the best part is that while i am breaking PR’s left and right and getting better as a runner – i am still comfortable in my run. i am not sore today (was a little stiff last night) and i am not wiped out. i didn’t end my run yesterday wanting to die – i actually felt like i was living large!

now tomorrow at the crack ass of dawn i tackle this…
last night we drove across it (decided to get my shirt and bib before the race — something i rarely do — to allow us some extra time in the morning) and it was enlightening to say the least. hard to judge the height being that it was pitch black out but i could definitely judge the incline. not as steep as i thought – going up – instead a slow gradual incline that peaks at a ridiculously high point.
i have been semi-hill training – gradual inclines are the devil’s work! so this run will definitely be a challenge to say the least!
but as i stated earlier – the challenge of the runs are what spur me!
and i am spurred like a MoFo after driving across it last night!

i can never pinpoint the one defining factor that made me at age 42, want to start running?
but i can definitely tell you what makes me continue to run...
my running makes me feel more alive than anything else!
and that, to me, is what running should be about!

peace, love & margaritas bloggy peeps!
xxoo
cyn

*** can’t get enough of my ass?
you can find out ALL about & where to find me on about.me/cynknight

wanna know more about shakeology/beachbody??? check out my COACH PROFILE & feel free to contact with me with any and all questions!

friday IPhone dump

written by: cyn knight
happy tee gee eye eff kittens!

so it’s been a couple of weeks since i did a photo dump…
seems about time!

me — the devil — at the last halloween party of 2013! three parties, three wigs, three sets of false lashes and halloween 2013 is in the books. (class act right there — lol)

dean, me & lisa — my peeps ♥

still having a non typically warm fall — so the beauty is lasting longer than normal…

heading out to dinner — kids LOVE the texas roadhouse!

this is happening just a few streets over from me — a bit early for santa IMHO!

ROSE VOX BOX from influenster — i get all these goodies for free for testing purposes! love influenster!

first wedding cake tasting at sin bakery last weekend — this seems like it would be a lot of fun, but not being a *sweets* person — this was really hard! but our choice was AMAZING!!!!

every girl should have a pink barbie jeep right?

i could eat sushi every damn day…

skylar rockin’ my minion wig and glasses lolol!

half-mary training is still in FULL effect – decent running week after having some hellacious stomach bug over the weekend!

and finally… this is ABOUT to happen!

OH MY that’s really high over the water there…

it’s been another hectic but great week. started off with a icky stomach bug but i am feeling 1000% better and aiming for a good run weekend with half-mary training and then of course the pell bridge run on sunday!

wedding planning is coming along nicely and i am no longer a homicidal maniac over the mere mention of it…
we accomplished SO much over the past couple of weeks so i am feeling a bit more on top of it all!

so yeah — things are peachy keen!
how’s everyone out there in the blogosphere???

peace, love & margaritas bloggy peeps!
xxoo
cyn

*** can’t get enough of my ass?
you can find out ALL about & where to find me on about.me/cynknight

wanna know more about shakeology/beachbody??? check out my COACH PROFILE & feel free to contact with me with any and all questions!

the fairy tale virtual run

written by: cyn knight
happy hump day kittens

so yesterday i did my very first virtual race!
if you are not in the know of what a virtual race is…

courtesy willrunforbling.com

easy peasy right?

this particular one i did — THE FAIRY TALE VIRTUAL RUN which was organized to raise money for the LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY —  by fellow runner friends from the great state of mississippi ( i am from there if you weren’t aware) – so it was the perfect choice for my first virtual run.

basically the rules were that we were to run at least two miles sometime between yesterday and tomorrow. i basically followed my half marathon trainer app and did the run that was scheduled for that day…

beautiful day to run!

this particular run was one that eluded me for TWO WEEKS until i completed the same run just last monday! so doing it again today for a good cause and improving my time and distance was just bonus!

the stats ♥

it was really a lovely run and one of those days that felt — dare i say it — easy!

happy runner girl ♥

AND we got some sweet bling! my second medal ever i might add — love that it’s purple and pink and girlie!!!

bib & bling ♥

we were encouraged to dress up in costume in the spirit of halloween — but it was pretty bitter cold when i did my run so i opted to wear something warm and breathable!
but all in all — a GREAT first virtual run and has definitely prompted me to do more in the future!

anyone out there ever done a virtual run?
thoughts?
and where did you find out about it?
WILLRUNFORBLING.COM is a site dedicated to raising money for charity and virtual runs — justa FYI!

peace, love & margaritas bloggy peeps!
xxoo
cyn

*** can’t get enough of my ass?
you can find out ALL about & where to find me on about.me/cynknight

wanna know more about shakeology/beachbody??? check out my COACH PROFILE & feel free to contact with me with any and all questions!