It’s Tuesday night and I made it home in time to do some light cleaning around the apartment, catch up with a good friend via phone, and make dinner. What a perfect end to a great day.

If you’ve never tried Alexia Sweet Potato fries I suggest you pick them up the next time you’re in the freezer section of your grocery store.

This morning was my first time returning to the weight room post marathon. Last week, my personal trainer spent our one session just stretching me and helping my body limber up again. Today however was back to the grind. We spent the time completing a measurement session and then a diagnostic session to see where the marathon left my muscles. The month leading up to the marathon we started to cut back the heavy weights so my muscles wouldn’t be sore for my runs. Instead of using heavy weights during our session Lauren focused on body weight movements and dynamic training.

Since our last measurement session back in September, I lost inches in my triceps and abdomen and had lost four pounds! I can share the specific measurement timeline tomorrow when I have all the data but I was excited to see that our work paid off, even without the heavy weights.

I learned the importance of easing back into weights during today’s session. After an amazing warm-up run on the treadmill I was feeling especially excited about pumping some iron. After our first set of squats I asked her to “pile on the weight” because I felt strong. Luckily Lauren knows how important it is to ease back into weights because our heaviest weight today, still 15 pounds lighter than what I was squatting back in early October, left my hamstrings screaming. In fact, if Lauren hadn’t been there, I could have easily torn or pulled something.  I’m going to spend time foam rolling and stretching this evening so I’m ready for my run tomorrow morning.

Last but not least, I’m starting to get excited about training for a few half marathons this Spring. While I’ve already signed up for the Rock and Roll Half in Washington, DC I’m still considering a few others such as the Manhattan Half, Nike Virtual Half, and Flying Pig Half Marathon in Cincinnati.

If you’re a runner, what is your favorite half marathon and why?

Also, check out these two great blog posts both of which are incredibly inspirational in their own way: Dori’s Surprise Marathon and 52.4 in 48 hours!