Last week I took a little break from running. After running the Seacoast Half Marathon last Sunday, I thought I deserved a little rest. I was feeling great but I wanted to give my body the break. Thursday was a nice easy run. Joanne and I decided to do a 10 miler on Saturday. Neither one of us has any races coming up but we both want to keep our mileage up a little bit since we’ve worked so hard for it. Plus, 10 miles doesn’t really seem very far anymore. If you aren’t a runner you are probably thinking that statement is incredibly crazy.
We decided to sleep in a little bit and leave later in the morning than our usual completely dark run. It felt great to see the sun come up and feel it’s warmth. It was 25 degrees when I left my house. Cold weather running is here and I don’t think it’s going anywhere for the next 4 months. Woo. Hoo. Despite the cold I was feeling really good. I mean REALLY GOOD. My pace was effortless. I wasn’t paying attention to my Garmin. I actually thought I was in the mid 9′s since I was feeling so comfortable until I looked down and saw an 8:30. What? This was an epic run. A #brilliant run.
Unfortunately, Joanne was not feeling the same. Around mile 6, the wheels started to fall off for her. She was slowing down. She just wasn’t feeling it. I tried to slow down to her pace but eventually she told me to go on without her. I felt horrible leaving her but I knew if I stopped I’d be freezing and start to cramp up. We split up around mile 8 and I continued on for 10. Bad runs happen to all of us. It’s just unfortunate that we were on the complete opposite ends of the running spectrum that day.
I need to share a very important lesson I learned Sunday morning. Ron was at the gym and I was home with the kids. I wanted to do a little workout so I thought I’d try a Core Fusion workout On Demand. The workout required light dumbbells. I grabbed the weights and began to follow along as my kids were playing together in another part of the room. As I was doing low lunge with a weight over my head in both hands, A decided to tackle me. Not good. Everything happened in slow motion as I was falling over. I was trying to make sure the weight was far from her so as not to hit her. In the process I dropped it.
Right. On. My. Head.
Five pounds doesn’t seem like much but when it hits your head, it hurts. A LOT. I saw stars. Lots of stars. The first thought in my head was “Please don’t pass out!” My second thought “Am I paralyzed?”
Thankfully, I didn’t pass out. I do have a huge jass lump on the back of my head and a very sore neck. Other than that, it’s all good. I’ve learned my lesson – no dumbbells around the kids yet. Maybe I’ll try again in a year. Till then, only body weight exercises or wait until nap/bed time to pull out the weights.
Lesson learned.
Before the dumbbell incident, I was busy in the kitchen, restocking the freezer with portable on the go snacks. Brownie Date Balls and Spinach & Pear Muffins are healthy alternatives that freeze well and are good for big and little fingers. I posted a picture of the finished muffins on Instagram and had a few requests for the recipe. I said I’d share so here you go!
Spinach & Pear Muffins
adapted from Weelicious
1/2 C unsweetened organic applesauce
1 egg
2 tsp vanilla
2 large handfuls of fresh organic spinach
1/4 C Pure Maple Syrup
2 TBSP canola oil
1 C white whole wheat flour
1/2 C whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1-2 very ripe organic pears, cored and chopped
- Preheat oven to 350°. Line or spray mini muffin tin.
- Puree first 6 ingredients in food processor till combined.
- In a separate bowl, combine remaining ingredients.
- Mix the wet to the dry. Gently fold in pears.
- Fill each muffin tin 3/4 of the way full.
- Bake for 11-12 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool.
~Enjoy!
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OH MY GOODNESS.
SO glad youre ok.
with my tornado of a child I can 100% see that happening here, too.
Miz recently posted..My tattoo stories.
\I THINK YOU SHOULD USE A AND L AS WEIGHTS FOR THE TIME BEING!
\I THINK YOU SHOULD USE A AND L AS WEIGHTS FOR THE TIME BEING!
Oh my, Angela! Glad you are ok.
That is why I don not play with weights
AmyC recently posted..TrainingTruths: Mixing It Up
Your scene there with the weights goes through my mind every time I exercise at home w/ the kids around. Cautionary tale, to be sure! Glad you are ok.
Glad you had a great run, too. 10 miles is my off-season base long run, too. So easy to ramp up from there.
misszippy1 recently posted..What I’ve learned from glycogen depletion runs
ohmygosh!!! I’m glad that you are OK. I wouldn’t even think of that – I would totally work out with dumbbells with the kids. I have had thoughts of “I better not drop this on my head” at the gym before when I’m lifting and have a heavy weight over my head. Lesson definitely learned. And thanks for the recipe. Can’t wait to make these!
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..Training for the sport of life: 5 tips for improving your functional fitness {Guest Post}
Um ouch! So glad you’re ok. But ouch. And I hear you on the miles. I have consistently kept a 10-miler in each week since May. It made “training” for my half so much easier as that mileage is so familiar now. High fives on your awesome run! But that really sucks for your running partner. I just hate that falling apart feeling.
oh boy…that sounds painful! hope that bump goes down soon!
Lindsay @ The Lean Green Bean recently posted..Elf for Health Holiday Challenge
mmm those look great!
Natalie recently posted..2 Easy Weekday Dinners & FB
Yikes! So scary! I’m glad it didn’t hit the kids, but your head?! I would have had the same progression of thoughts… don’t pass out! Hope you’re feeling better… I cannot do weights with L around either, unless she’s watching a show, but I usually save that for dinner prep. Otherwise, she’s under my legs, sitting on me, etc.
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast recently posted..An Unconventional Marathon Training Plan
Mamas are the equivalent of jungle gyms to toddlers!
Ouch- I always worry about that happening around K, but more with me getting too tired to not drop the weight haha.
Those muffins sound SOOO good- love the spinach pear combo.
So glad you are okay!!! No matter the weight…a fallen dumbbell hurts!
Take good care!
Kierston recently posted..#CHARGE Your BODYtteries!
I love when ‘long’ runs become the norm for us runners! Great job on the 10 miler.
Bummer about the dumbbell! That’s NO fun! I’ve dropped a loaded barbell on my head in CrossFit and I saw stars… talk about a big ol’ goose egg!
Ashley recently posted..How to stay MOTIVATED during the Holidays
Ouch! You never think it’ll happen but when it does…hopefully we both learned a lesson.
Between my dog and my toddler, I’ve had to learn that lesson too. No weights, just weight. Just lots of body weight moves. Glad you’re ok.
Katie @momslrb recently posted..Giving Thanks for Perspective
Thankfully my dog stays away. He only gets in my face when I’m going yoga.
I’m so glad you’re ok! The muffins look like something I would enjoy
Jill Conyers @ Fitness, Health and Happiness recently posted..Transitioning to Natural Running Part 1
ouch!! I have realized even with the cats around I just need to pay a lot of attention because they dart in and out.
love the recipe I think I could easily make this egg and gluten free and love it!
I’ve made it egg free before. I little more dense but still very good!
These look different for muffing. I wish I could always get myself to eat healthy. It’s just easier to do what I’ve know all my life. I pinned this. I have to try it.
We may have met by chance…but we become friends by choice.
http://simpleesue.com/try-one-new-recipe-a-week-soup-kitchen-recipes-chicken-alfredo-soup
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