My May Assessment

I'm not a teacher, but (today) I'm playing one on the blog.

May was an interesting month, in many ways. Shall we assess some grades?

Back in the SPRING of things

I think Momma N likes me again.

I say that with the utmost sincerity and humbleness. We've had some very questionable weather this spring, especially in recent weeks. It finally feels like the spring temps are here to stay...well, until the summer temps make their (much anticipated!) arrival.

Shall we RUNFESS?

Anybody know what time it is?

As the month draws to a close, that can only mean one thing for a lot of us runners....time to runfess some stuff. After all, we're only human, right? Not every thing in running (or life) is all rainbows and lollipops.

Mileage AND Maintenance

Did you know I'm training for a marathon?

Can you say DOMS?

Yowza. Did my body take beating this week!

I know, I know. That which does not (actually) kill you will (actually) make you stronger. If that's indeed the case, I outta be sprouting some serious badass features soon.

Spring Fashion Essentials for Fitness

Fashionably late.

Those are the exact words to describe our spring this year. We had a taste of it in February, only to have winter return with an attitude in March. April was marginally nice, but May was when I finally felt safe putting my fleece-lined tights back in storage.

Alas, we now have extended daylight (which keeps increasing) and rising temps, as well as the onslaught of summer training for fall races. With all of these happening, it's time to consider a shift in wardrobe essentials.

Do you rotate your running gear by season? Spring is, after all, a time of renewal...why not apply that to your fitness wardrobe?

Here are my top must-haves for spring fitness!

Pretty arm warmers
I have said this before (though it bears repeating), but I wish I had the patent on these babies. Spring is the time of year (at least in Iowa) when a tank top (or even a short sleeve top) might not be quite warm enough when you start out for a run, but you don't want to commit to a long-sleeved top. Enter the arm warmers! Not only are these the perfect "transitional" on-the-go accessory, they also look like you mean business. They are quite practical too...you can roll them down to your wrists if they get too warm, or easily slide them off and tie them around your waist.

Funky headbands
My hair is always in my eyes (it's that chronic cut-the-bangs/grow-then-back-out plague I have). Seriously, the bangs don't bother me in day-to-day life (I'm a creature of constant change and evolution), but when it comes time for fitness, I want them outta the way. I wear visors a lot, but I really have grown to love funky & colorful headbands. And why not? They keep my hair off of my face and they add a fashion flair to any outfit. A bonus? They're not just for exercise...you can also wear them with street clothes.

Back in the tanks!
I can be a bit of a high-maintenance gal when it comes to running gear (especially from the waist-up). I like long-sleeved tops (hopefully with a V-neck or scoop neck), but I prefer tank tops. I'm not a fan of under-arm "bulk," so a tank is always my preference (even if I have to add a pair of arm warmers to keep my arms from turning blue).

My new Mizunos
We all love our running shoes, don't we? After a few seasons in Brooks Adrenalines GTS, I have gone back to Mizuno Wave Inspires. Don't get me wrong, I still love my Brooks kicks, but the recent model had been tweaked ever-so-slightly and I could feel a difference from the previous model. That's the reason I switched to them from Mizunos...but now the Mizunos have changed a tiny bit and they feel great again. My feet over-pronate with the best (worst?) of them, so I can really feel a difference when something gets "improved." Not a great situation, but that's my reality. Anyways, with my marathon looming on the horizon, it was time for some new shoes to finish out my training and get me to the start line.

A (very) light-weight windbreaker
I don't need my jacket very often, but it does come in handy on occasion. A year ago, I figured out a perfect combination for a cool and windy (and potentially rainy) half marathon...I layered a top with arm warmers under the jacket. The arm warmers were removable if I got too warm, and the jacket acted as a shield from the wind. The jacket is not lined, and does not offer much for warmth, but it does block the wind and rain (and it rolls up to a very thin "belt"if I choose to tie it around my waist). And, of course, it's a bright, pretty color!

Those are my basics (and coincidentally, my favorites) when it comes to Spring Fitness Fashion.

What are your spring necessities? Are any of yours the same as mine? Any new purchases this spring?

I'm linking this with Meranda and Lacey and Rachel for the Friday Five 2.0. Today, we're talking about spring fashion...join the conversation!

And also with Nicole for the Fit & Fashionable Friday link-up

Market to Market Relay:Teamwork on the Trail

Let's talk for a minute about #teamwork.

Sometimes it takes an entire team to make it happen, but all of the individual components have merit. Such was the case with the Market to Market Relay this past weekend.

Miles, miles, and more miles

The training continues.

May is already almost halfway over (how did that happen?) and my training is approaching its peak in regards to mileage. I received an email from Grandma's Marathon...saying that race day is five weeks away. YIKES!

Des Moines Women's 13.1:Balancing Racing with Training

What happens when a nation-wide event comes to a nearby city? And, let's just suppose, for a moment, this event happens right in the middle of your 26.2 training?

Well, if you're anything like me...you would go for it and register!

Why do a #5at5?

One of my favorite low-maintenance routine workouts is my #5at5 run.

Ever hear me mention it?

Spring Has Returned!

After several days (or was it weeks?) of almost constant rain or cold or wind (or all of the above), it feels like Spring has officially returned. Can I get an "Amen?"

This was a crazy week (I think it falls right in succession with several previous weeks), but that seems to be the norm. Such is my reality. All is good.

Can we talk about the Klompen 5K?

Can we talk about the Klompen?

First of all, what is it? The Klompen Classic 5K run/walk is an event in nearby Pella (IA) that has been happening for the past 24 years. It's the big kick-off for the annual Tulip Time Festival every spring. It's an evening race, benefiting the area families sponsored by the Crossroads nonprofit organization.

This was my first year taking part in the celebration. The hubby and I drove up with our friend, Barb, and met another friend, Chuck, there. At the risk of sounding like a racing snob, I do not do many 5K races anymore. It's not that they aren't plentiful, but I just prefer the longer distance events much more. It's only recently that I have a new respect for the 5K distance, though. Although the distance itself is pretty short in terms of running (especially for runners who are accustomed to running much farther), that short distance becomes a pretty tough challenge if you try to run it at a faster-than-usual pace.

Drake Road Races Half Marathon Recap

This was the 49th year of the Drake Road Races, which are held in conjunction with the annual Drake Relays. The Drake Relays are like a small scale version of the Olympics...athletes from all over (elites, collegiate, and high school divisions) gather in Des Moines, IA and take their turns competing on the famous blue oval or within the confines of the accompanying field on the Drake University campus.

This was my fourth time taking part in the festivities. I did the 10K in 2013 (recap HERE), and the half marathon both in 2014 and 2015 (recap HERE). This year, the half marathon course was completely different than it had been in recent years (at least for the two times I had run it)...which means an automatic course PR (am I right?).