Tag: kids

Training Week 7: Finding the Right Fuel

On By Bethany DattoloIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Happy Patriots’ Day/Marathon Monday! I have to admit, listening to all the local commercials for the Boston Marathon and hearing a variety of runners share their “why”–what they’re running for, what charity they are supporting, etc, has been inspiring. It’s also left me feeling a little inferior while training for a mere HALF marathon. But I am glad there is such a thing! It’s definitely more accessible to the average, busy mom who doesn’t have ample training time at her fingertips. (Me!)

During week 7, I logged about 22 miles of running for the week spread over 45-minute, 60-minute, 30-minute, and 75-minute runs. It was a great week weather-wise and I felt really good overall. Since ditching the weighted vest for my runs, the training has gone smoother. I’ve noticed more gains and just felt stronger overall. This could also be due to the training work finally “kicking in.” I do love the weighted vest for walking and increasing strength in other areas–it’s especially good for women as it helps mitigate bone density loss as we age. But for running? It just wasn’t working for me. You can read my previous posts if you want to know more about that.

Last week I mentioned wanting to figure out my plan for pre-run fuel. I have been an early morning workout person for years. I get up, workout, THEN get ready for my day and have a little post-workout-something. Lately it’s been a protein shake made with raw milk and chocolate protein powder. It’s worked for me; or so I thought. The truth is, I am often starving by the mid-morning which can either lead to over-snacking or undereating if I’m really busy and then my attitude plummets along with my blood sugar and it just isn’t good for anyone. I also wanted to have a plan to eat something before my longer runs that would sustain me, so that’s what I’ve been practicing. I’ve read that bagels are a popular choice for runners but as someone who bakes all her own bread products, bagels are not always at the ready around here. Instead, I’ve been making overnight muesli and loving it. I take a pint-sized mason jar and put in about 1/3 cup of oats, some flaxseed, chia seeds, coconut, a little brown sugar, and some diced apple. I top it off with milk and stick it in the fridge overnight. In the morning it’s ready for me to enjoy right when I get up. I noticed a big difference in my workouts this week. I ate the muesli before my 45 and 60 minute runs and then didn’t have anything before a bootcamp on the bike and my 30 minute run and I really noticed a lack of energy during those workouts. I also noticed it staved off mid-day hunger when I started the day with fuel before a workout. (I still have my protein shake after.) I think this is going to be my new routine for all my workouts. But I’m curious about what works for others as far as pre-run or pre-workout snacks? If I get bored of this, how should I mix it up? In the past before a long run, I’d have half a banana but I’m really not a huge fan of bananas in general so I would just choke it down. But maybe if I mix it with oatmeal? Let me know what you do!

As far as mid-run fuel goes, I’ve gotten pretty good at sipping water from a small bottle I bring with me, and sucking down an energy gel. I love these gu packets from Amazon and am especially partial to the raspberry lemonade flavor. If you’re a runner, I’d love to know what you prefer for in-run energy!

Week 8 is the big one. Essentially the climax of the training, week 8 ends with a 2-hour run and I’ll be targeting around 12 miles for that one. At the beginning of my training I said I hoped to complete the half-marathon in about two hours. That has become more like a dream than a hard goal. I’ve stated before that I’m not fast (obviously) and this is my first ever big race. I’ve never even seriously run a 5k or 10k race. And all of the coaching I’ve had through this process has stressed letting go of time goals if it’s your first race. “Just complete it and enjoy it.” So that has become the goal. I know the race course is much less hilly than my neighborhood where I train so I have some hope that I’ll achieve a faster time than I’m used to. But I also know that race-day jitters are real and that can also impact my time. So for now, I plan to just complete the race and enjoy it. My husband and kids have finished my playlist and they are so excited for me to hear it on race day. (I am too!) This week is going to be crazy as it’s my son’s birthday, I have a homeschool convention, and the 2-hour run to prepare for. If I survive this week, I know I can crush the actual race.

Meanwhile, enjoy some pictures from our week and Easter weekend! The spring weather brought us outdoors for school to collect pond water and study it under the microscope. We delighted in seeing tiny micro-organisms look like monsters as they zoomed across the petri dish! My oldest likes to hold painting classes for her siblings in her bedroom and the boys and I had a fun game night one night when both girls were away for the night. If you’ve never seen the 2014 documentary “Fed Up”, I highly recommend it. I had my oldest two watch it and write a paper on it for school. We’d already been on a journey to limit added sugar and make more things from scratch but this film really solidified some of our ideas. So in that same vein, I made Easter candy at home–peanut butter protein “eggs” and homemade peppermint patties. Of course, they got some traditional favorites during their egg hunt. Easter weekend was a large order weekend for my cottage bakery and a successful one! I also have pictured one of my favorite methods of recovery: an epsom salt bubble bath.

Half-Marathon Training Week 6: The Shift

On By Bethany DattoloIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

How ironic that last week I said I was sticking to my run schedule this week no matter the weather–and I ended up running in the snow… twice. It is April, right?! When I started training at the beginning of March I honestly didn’t expect it would still be this cold (and snowy!) on week six in April. But here we are.

Good news is I got just under 9 miles in my 90-minute run in the snow! I was hoping for a little over 9 miles, but I’ll take it. It was a good week of training despite the weather. If you had asked me last week how I felt about the upcoming race, I would have said I couldn’t wait to be able to say it was over. But this week there has been a shift. I’m now more than halfway through the training and when I think about the race being over, it makes me a little sad. I think I’ll be sorry it’s over.

This week I have more than one long run, but nothing over 75 minutes. I’ll be focusing more on nutrition and pre-run meals. I have typically worked out on an empty stomach in the past. It’s just easier schedule-wise if exercising is the first thing I do in the morning. But that’s something I need to change for the rest of my training. My recent 90-minute run had me feeling pretty weak and hungry. So I’ll be experimenting with pre-run fuel in the upcoming weeks to see what works for me and if I notice endurance gains. Starting with overnight muesli for my next 45-minute intervals run.

More food pics from the week! It was Italy week in our homeschool and I probably had the most fun making food this week–from homemade pasta with the kids to tiramisu, Italian doughnuts, biscotti, and everything in between. I snapped a couple pictures on my long run in the snow last week. Still hoping for better weather this week! And the last photo of my oldest and youngest kids cracking up on family game night makes me smile. Have a great week, friends! 🙂

Half-Marathon Training Week 5: Rough Week

On By Bethany DattoloIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

This past week of training was tough. Last week, week four, I called the “no quit zone.” If I wasn’t so determined to NOT quit, week five might have been the week to do me in. It wasn’t so much the physical running as the mental game–mustering the motivation to run in less-than-ideal weather, and honestly just fitting the runs into an already crammed schedule. The mental load was a lot, and I don’t want to sugarcoat this process or give the false impression that it’s been easy.

The week started with an easy 30-minute run on a rainy Monday morning. I don’t mind running in the rain, generally, but I am hoping for an improvement in these cold, windy, and overall dreary weather patterns we’ve had lately. Next was a 45-minute intervals run, which I knew would be tough but I was pleased with how strong I felt. Then came the hard part. I couldn’t figure out where to fit in my next 30-minute run because my next two mornings were going be jam-packed with making and baking sourdough for my cottage bakery plus the early morning weather was set to be very cold and very windy. I had to get the run in before my long 75-minute run on Friday, though. Saturday I had to get my son to a karate tournament early so I wasn’t fitting a long run in that morning! After agonizing over when to tackle that 30-minute run, I finally decided to try to squeeze it in Wednesday afternoon after book club and hair appointments with my girls and before my son’s karate class; soliciting help from my oldest with dinner that night. It was supposed to be an easy run, but it was one of the harder ones I’ve had. I had worked out that morning–completing a 45-minute bike & strength bootcamp (one of my favorite forms of working out that I can also do indoors early and in the dark, unlike outdoor running) and had a busy day of sourdough prep, homeschooling, teen girl book club, and haircuts for my daughters. I thought the run would be a nice way to get fresh air and clear my head but it ended up feeling rushed and the weighted vest I’ve been wearing caused more severe chafing on this particular run. It was painful. I took Thursday off from running and only did some conditioning strength training and an easy cycling class. On Friday I had my long run and was aiming for 7-7.5 miles in a 75-minute window. But I didn’t plot my route ahead of time and didn’t count on a pretty steep hill I ran into on a road I had never been on before. I decided to give the vest another try and wear it differently but the chafing came back with a vengeance so the run only granted me 6.5 painful miles. By the end of the week I felt exhausted and defeated. Thoughts like “this isn’t working”, “this isn’t the right time of life for me to train for something like this”, “will it ever warm up or NOT be windy on a run?!”, and “I can’t do this” flooded my head.

But, I’ve already passed the “no quit zone” as I said, so here we are! I’m thankful that the vest issue is fixable. I’m ditching it while running for now. I still think it’s great for walking and increasing strength for push ups, etc, but it’s the bumping that occurs while running that is causing the problem. So, so long! I’m grateful that my bad ankle is holding up well. It talks to me sometimes after a speed run but on long runs it really does okay and doesn’t hurt after. I’m also thankful that my husband and kids are stepping up to help out where they can and are encouraging me. I’ve enlisted them to put together my playlist for the race and I can’t wait to listen to it and guess who added which song. I’ve been nervous about the mental aspect of the race and if I’ll be able to keep myself motivated without a coach encouraging me in my earbuds like during the training. I think having a playlist made by my favorite people will help!

This week, to alleviate some of the stresses of last week, I’ve written out my training schedule and am determined to stick to it, no matter the weather. If a run doesn’t go as planned because of the wind and rain, so be it. The mental strain of trying to save my runs for the best weather days of the week is just too much. I keep telling myself that the weather is bound to turn at some point! Running without the vest will be liberating and I hope to see an improvement on my pace. My long run this week will be 90 minutes and I plan to plot my route beforehand so I don’t get surprised by more unexpected steep hills. Some hills are fine, but I don’t want too many–I’d like to be able to keep a somewhat steady pace to really practice for the race. I already know that my training route is more hilly than the race route, so I am well-prepared in that area. My friend and I are celebrating her upcoming birthday by getting massages and lunch–so I will be primed and ready to get a good 9 miles in during the 90 minute run! I’m more confident that I’ll be able to achieve this goal without the vest and if my route is planned ahead of time.

Despite the busy week and the training discouragements, a lot of good things happened! Here are some pics!…1-4) It was “Spain” week in our homeschool and I had so much fun making food I remember eating when I studied there in college. I didn’t use a recipe for the Spanish tortilla, paella, or flan–just pulled from my memory. My host mom would shake her head at my miserable flipping of the tortillas (see first photo) but it was still fun to try to show my kids how it’s done like she showed me! The churros were the biggest hit, though. 5) I facilitate a book club with my oldest and three of her friends. I seriously love hanging with teens and hearing their thoughts on deep subjects. I take them to a local cafe and treat them to drinks and pastries and we discuss our book. It is truly a highlight for me. 6) The girls got haircuts and Emmalyn (age 9) went short! The style looks super cute on her. 7-8) Our youth group had a karaoke competition Saturday night and Abby and her friends did AMAZING! After the competition they opened the floor to anyone who wanted to sing and Emmalyn sang with a couple other young girls with their big sisters backing them. It was adorable and so fun to watch. I love watching teens have fun and be ridiculously creative when they are given the space to be. Randy and I had a truly fun night with them. 9) Eli (age 7) came in second place in kata during his tournament on Saturday! He’s a purple belt and already racking up more trophies than he has room for.

Wish me luck on getting those 9 miles in later this week!

Half-Marathon Training Week 3: Why Do You Run?

On By Bethany DattoloIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

One night recently when Randy and I were sitting at a bar on a date, I overheard a conversation happening next to us about running. A woman was talking about a race she had either recently ran or had coming up (NOT the Boston marathon) and a man was effectively questioning the point of running as competition. “With all the competitive sports out there, why go running? You can do that anywhere, any time! I guess there’s something about people running ALL TOGETHER?” I didn’t hear the woman’s reply but it got me thinking. Do people look down on running as a “sport”? Is it even considered a sport? I understand that a lot of people get bored while running and it’s certainly not exciting to watch like other sports. So does that make it pointless? Why do people run? Here are some reasons I do:

As I’ve said before, I’m not naturally athletic. I’ve worked hard over the last few years to build my strength, agility, and endurance. Running allows me to push myself to be better (measurably, with a pace watch like a Fitbit) without anyone watching and without worrying about letting a team down if I don’t perform well. The only person I can really disappoint is myself. But there is also self-discipline involved because while there’s no one for me to let down, there’s also no one else encouraging me to get out of bed and go when I don’t want to. I have to be my own “hype” person and encourager when things get tough. So in this way, running builds mental discipline and stamina without the fear of failing a team.

More personally, I have almost no hand-eye coordination! I was born cross-eyed and had surgery on my eyes as a baby. I now wear glasses to help but my depth perception still isn’t perfect. This makes sports that involve throwing and catching balls VERY hard for me. So really; running, cycling, and lifting weights are my best forms of physical activity and I just compete against myself. So “with all the other competitive sports out there,” that’s why I choose to run. Why do you? Or if you don’t, what’s your preferred method of competitive sport?

Some questions I’ve been asked about my training:

What are you using to train? I use the Peloton app! They have a half-marathon training program as well as a full marathon program. The half-marathon program consists of 10 weeks and four runs per week varying in length and difficulty.

What weighted vest are you using and are you liking it? Here’s the link to the vest! I have it set to the lowest weight, which is 11 lbs. The added weights were “bumping” against my ribs too much and after two runs, it was a little painful so I ditched those and left it at just the sand-filled vest. It still adds enough weight to slow me down–my pace is not nearly as quick as it’s been in the past without the vest. I love-hate using it! Love it because I know it’s making me stronger but hate it because of the obvious: it’s challenging and I know I’d be faster without it. I do find it relatively comfortable all things considered. I wear it while walking my dog and while doing my push-ups everyday. (THAT’S challenging!)

How far have you run so far? The farthest I’ve run in one session in this program so far is 4-4.5 miles in 45 minutes. I’ve done that about five times. Next week I have my first 60 minute session and hope to get in a solid 6 miles at least. I’ve run for an hour before but not recently! Again, these are slower times than I’m used to due to the vest and the cold–I’m still waiting to be able to run and breathe comfortably in over 30* temperatures!

Time for this week’s round up. Staying away from social media during lent has led to taking way less pictures, and I think that’s a good thing. We’re just enjoying our days and the GRADUALLY warming temperatures. Here are some pics from the week. 1-3) On Monday I took my three older kids to the Van Gogh Immersion Experience in Worcester, MA. It was fantastic! They are still open Thursday-Monday and if you’re local, you should check it out! I homeschool my five kids and love the freedom in learning it affords us. 4) We’ve made quite a few varieties of cookies this week! Emmalyn made some on her own and little bit of flour she got on her cheek was too adorable. 5-6) My gorgeous cousin is expecting her first baby and the girls and I went to her baby shower Saturday. It was a nice treat after my long run that morning.

This week started the official beginning of spring! In case you haven’t seen it yet, check out my spring activities BINGO sheet for families! How many of the screen-free activities can you check off as a family? Here’s the link, and the bingo card will come straight to your inbox. Happy spring! https://stan.store/raising_little_seekers/p/get-the-free-spring-bingo-card-now

24 Screen-Free Spring Activities for Kids

On By Bethany DattoloIn UncategorizedLeave a comment

Spring Into Action: 24 Screen-Free Ideas for a Fun and Refreshing Season

Spring is the perfect time to shake off the winter blues, breathe in the fresh air, and get outside. As much as we love our screens, it’s nice to take a break every now and then and embrace the simple joys of the season. If you’re looking for some creative, screen-free activities to enjoy with your kids this spring, why not try something a little different? To make it even more exciting, I’ve created a Spring Bingo Card packed with 24 fun, nature-filled activities to help you unplug and make the most of the season.

It may not feel like it right now where I live (today we had chilling 45mph winds and freezing temps) but spring IS around the corner so get ready now! Before we know it, the mild weather will be here and our kids will be clamoring to get outdoors. See how many of the squares you can check off! Can you get BINGO, 5-in-a-row? Or go try to cross off every square! The choice is yours.

Here’s your ultimate screen-free spring bingo card, with 24 fresh ideas that will leave you feeling refreshed and reconnected with nature:

DOWNLOAD NOW

10 Essentials to Keep in your Minivan this Summer!

On By Bethany DattoloIn Family FunLeave a comment

IMG_9829Summer is finally here and most schools are getting out this week if they haven’t already. And even though we’ve been done with school for a few weeks, now, I still feel underprepared when that first full week of real summer weather hits us. (Wait, I’m going to be in a swimsuit this week?! Am I ready for this?? Have I shaved?! Do I even have time to shave?!?!) Not to mention, I still don’t have swim diapers for the 18-month old. Time to stock up on our summer gear and load up the van so we’re always prepared. Last year, I had our tailgate stocked with a bunch of “just in case” items that proved to be super helpful in getting us out of the house quickly and whenever we were staying somewhere longer than expected.

So, what should you have in your minivan or car this summer so you’re always prepared? I load up a big Thirty-One utility tote and keep it in the back. Here’s my list:

  1. A ziplock bag with sunscreen and bug spray. I don’t think an explanation is necessary, here. Common sense summer items you never want to be caught without!
  2. A ziplock bag with baby powder. This is a miracle-worker at getting wet sand off sticky little bodies/feet! I keep it in a bag so I don’t get powder all over the van.
  3. A gallon of water. Helpful in cleaning off dirty hands and feet, and in case of other emergencies. 🙂
  4. A bag of swim diapers & regular diapers–obviously only necessary if you have a child in diapers. Keeping an extra bag in the car is helpful to ensure you won’t run out. 😉
  5. An extra container of wet wipes. It doesn’t matter if you have kids in diapers or not, I think we all know that wet wipes are great for a number of reasons! Cleaning sticky hands, faces, water bottles, or the inside of the car itself!
  6. A bag of sweatshirts–one for each family member. You know the drill–you go somewhere during the day and it’s hot so everyone is in shorts and a T-shirt. But then you stay into the late evening and it cools down and you’re outside and now you’re chilly. Run to the van and grab a sweatshirt for those cooler summer nights!
  7. Kids’ beach toys & beach towels. I just keep these in the car so that when we do go to the lake or beach, it’s one less thing I have to pack that morning. I keep my kids’ beach toys in a large mesh laundry bag. This way I can easily shake all the sand out of everything before it goes back in the van, and the toys dry quickly. And yes, wash the towels between beach visits! 😉
  8. Umbrella stroller. Again, only if you have a child young enough for one. During spring and fall, I keep our jogging stroller in the van for those long walks and hikes, but during beach season it no longer fits so the umbrella stroller is perfect to always have on hand!
  9. Extra empty plastic bags. They act as extra trash bags for the “carry in/carry out” state parks, and laundry bags for those wet swimsuits that come off before the kids hop in their car seats. You can store a bunch in an old cylinder wet wipe container, too!
  10. Picnic blanket. I pretty much have this in my van all year ’round, but it’s worth mentioning.

Now you’re ready for whatever this summer has in store for you!