Are you welcoming March with open arms like I am? Around here March is forecast to be warmer than normal. While our winter was nothing to complain about, I say bring it! Here’s how my workouts for the last week of February went:
Monday: Rest
Tuesday: Trail Run 3 miles
Wednesday: Strength, Balance, Mobility
Thursday: Run 2 miles (downtown all day)
Friday: Rest (downtown all day)
Saturday: Run 5 miles
Sunday: Heavy Strength + Stepmill Tabata + Volleyball w/Thing 2
Sunshine and snowy trails for the win.
Running continues to be a way to destress, as my main focus is managing my dad’s healthcare. His wife has been down with the flu, so spending 3 hours in the car most days has become the norm. My dad’s mind remains sharp, his body is another story. With his wife ill, they worry about each other. It’s a mess, to say the least, and I struggle with my own exhaustion and bad moods. Thank heavens for the endorphin boost and stress relief from what little running I actually do.
Loving
Fresh faces. While I’m sad that Desi, Molly Huddle and Sara Hall did not earn spots in the Olympic Marathon, it was kind of fun to see fresh, new faces in the women’s field.
Now Foods Collagen Peptides. Collagen has been a game changer for me since I started using Great Lakes Gelatin a couple of years ago. My skin and nails are stronger and grow faster. My skin texture is much improved and I definitely notice less joint aches and pains and faster recovery after workouts. For the past few months I’ve been using Now Foods Collagen and I enjoy the same great results, but ounce-for-ounce it is cheaper. Find it on Amazon (affiliate) here.
McMillions. Remember the Monopoly promotion at McDonald’s back in the late 90s? I never knew it was a huge scam and I mean huge. This HBO series details just what went down.
The Goop Lab. I know Gwyneth Paltrow is someone many love to hate, but I found the first couple episodes of this series about “adventures” in the name of health interesting.
Not Loving
Fatal Crash. For years I’ve frequented a certain T-intersection about a mile from here. It’s a quiet side street that ends at a 4-lane, 45 mph highway where everyone does at least 50. On a weekly basis, as I sit at the red light, I’ll see cars and semi trucks on the busy street barrel through the yellow light AND too often, the red light as well. I totally understand that it isn’t easy for trucks going 45+ to stop so I always warn the kids to never make a left turn in front of a truck or assume anyone will stop on yellow because we all know how people speed up and race through. Well the inevitable happened and someone in a mini van made a left on yellow in front of a semi (carrying a 44,000 lb load), that slammed into her before veering off the road and down an embankment, taking out the traffic signals in the process. The truck overturned and the driver was killed. I’m amazed the person in the mini van only has non-life threatening injuries but still. So tragic. If nothing else, a teachable moment for all of us.
Swimsuit Body. We all know by now that “bikini body” is taboo right? Nobody (media or otherwise) has a right to tell anyone when their body is “good enough” to wear one, or to insinuate that it does not conform to a certain standard of beauty. Each of us can put on a bikini any damn time we want to. I don’t remember what company it was but they basically swapped in “swimsuit” for bikini as in “start working on your swimsuit body” Aren’t they insinuating the same thing? That our bodies aren’t “good enough” as they are? Idiots. Which leads me to another thought: If bikini bodies are taboo, how is Beach Body okay??
How was your final week of February? What are you looking forward to in March?
I’m linking up with Kim and Deborah for the Weekly Run Down. Join us!
Hope your parents are the mend.
The trials were exciting.
Looking forward to warner temps. But not the right and the rain
NYC half in 2 weeks gulp.
Hope it’s a better week for your dad and step mom. Also hope that you don’t get it! We have been watching McMillions too but I admit, I dozed off a few times. I think it’s a little drawn out but interesting.Looking forward to a little milder month maybe with a little less wind. Thanks for linking up and have a great week
So sorry about what’s going on with your dad. I hope this week is better for you. I haven’t heard of McMillions but it looks liike we’ll need to check it out! I don’t think I can bring myself to watch The Goop Lab…
Oh, man…3 hours in the car each day. You are a good daughter. You will never regret the time you spend with your dad. I went through something similar with my mom. I can’t believe it was 12 years ago now!
I know theoretically, I could put on a bikini any damn time I want to but (gulp!) I just don’t have the guts anymore. I figure no one wants to see this old lady’s belly! 🙂 I know, I have a terrible attitude.
I’m sorry for all you’re managing with your Dad. I hope this week is a little easier for all of you.
I’m so glad you mentioned the NOW Collagen – I just ran out of collagen and will plan to check it out. I was sorry to not see Desi make it but was great to see such a strong women’s field.
Oh my goodness I’m so happy that March is here and no offense to my treadmill but I’m looking forward to being outside again. Sending hugs for you and your family as you work through things with your dad.
I have a shirt that I bought at the gym that says “this is a gym body”. There’s a difference between incentivizing health and being the body police. Need to go look up McMillions
Sorry to hear your dad’s wife has been ill too. *Gentle hugs* on managing all of this. Been thinking of you. Running is so so helpful. xx
Sorry about the stress with your dad and stepmom.Thanks for the lead on NOW collagen…I’ll check it out. Our week is looking dry and warm (after tomorrow, which is look winter-like, temps-wise).Hope this next week goes a little smoother for you ((hugs))
Sorry to hear about your Dad’s health. You are a saint to spend so much visiting him. Yikes on that intersection. Leaving my neighborhood I always count on a car or two to run their red light before I go on my green — especially during morning commuting time. March is my son’s birthday and a few conferences where Ill get to reconnect with people I only see a few times a year.
I’m hoping for warmer temps in March. Even though the winter has been mild it got cold and windy at the end of last week, just when spring should be starting to arrive! That’s terrible about the car accident. And I hope things get better with your dad and stepmom! Sounds like alot of work for you.
So sorry to hear about your dad. Running is such a powerful tool to help with challenging times. Hope he feels stronger soon.
This whole “bikini body” thing is ridiculous. I’ve just started running in shorts recently and I love it. But a big reason I didn’t before is because I didn’t feel I had the right “body”. Don’t think the media realises how much influence they actually have.
I hope that your dad and stepmom will feel better soon.
There is nothing ok to me about “Beach Body.” I’m especially irked that so many people try to “get me to join the community.” MLMs are the worst.
Hope this next week is a little better for you all. Thanks for collagen info, Sending hugs.
I hope that this week will be a better week for you. I’m continuing to send positive vibes to your dad and his wife for their continued healing.
I didn’t know that NOW Foods had collagen – thanks for the tip! I still use GLG collagen but I’m currently on my last canister so maybe it’s time to try something new 🙂
Oh man, I’m so sorry to hear about that fatal crash 🙁 We have a 4 way intersection in my town that is super busy and there’s always at least one accident there a year, and unfortunately a few pedestrians have been hit there as well 🙁
Oh dear, that must be hard with your dad and his wife. Isn’t it great to have the running endorphins that help us to get through rough patches like this?
That fatal crash sounds awful. But you are right, it’s a timely reminder to be careful at all times. I guess your kids are also more likely to heed your warning now.
Hugs, Marcia. I know it’s not just physically exhausting, it’s emotionally draining too. The fact that your dad is mentally ok is a big win — but sad that he needs to be someplace like that when he is ok mentally. Life is tough.
I had a really, really short interval in my life when I wore a bikini — never as a youngster, either! — but for me, that window has closed. Never say never though, right?
Sending good thoughts to you as you work to manage your dad’s health and well being. It’s so hard 🙁 Those drives have to be exhausting.
When I go to the beach, I am very rarely there to lounge, so I normally wear board shorts, a bikini top and a rashguard. I’m allergic to a lot of sunscreens, so I cover up for protection, and also, so I can be active without a wardrobe malfunction.
Sorry to hear it’s a bit rough going for your dad and his wife at the moment. Hang in there. Fingers crossed things will improve with both of them and that will mean less driving for you.
I was tempted to watch Goop but I just can’t. I just find Gwenyth Paltrow beyond ridiculous.
yes swimsuit body is just the same. when will these marketing campaigns leave well enough alone!? I have a body and I’ll be putting some sort of swimsuit / beach gear on it thank you very much!
Sending out hugs for your Dad and his wife. Do you mix the Collagen into a drink? I was expecting it to be pill format… What the heck? McMillions was a scam? I never heard that! I’ll have to investigate!
I can imagine things about tough with your dad. Hugs to you. Wow, that car crash!! That is terrible. When I am turning left and the light changes, I try to make sure that the car or cars have completely stopped before I move. I am happy for this mild weather and hopefully it will continue in March. Excited to run the Shamrock Shuffle in a few weeks.