Happy Friday! Since it’s the last Friday of the month, I’m linking up with Marcia from Marcia’s Healthy Slice for Runfessions.
I’m also linking up for Friday Five 2.0 with Rachel from Running on Happy and Lacey and Meranda from Fairytales and Fitness.
Can you believe that the last day of April is Sunday?! This month went by so quickly. Overall it was a good month in terms of half marathon training. I’m currently at the tail end of peak week with my long run (11 miles) coming up on Saturday. I’m definitely ready to enjoy the taper! Here are my runfessions for April.
ClassPass is the bomb!
I joined ClassPass a few weeks ago and I’m loving it! So far I’ve taken four classes at a few different studios and I have one more class scheduled for Monday.
The great thing about ClassPass is that you get to try out different studios in your area, without having to pay a hefty monthly membership fee. Without ClassPass I probably would not have tried Barre, which would be a shame because I really like it! If you want to try ClassPass for yourself, click here to save $30 off your first month!
Fundraising for Hope in Motion
As I mentioned in a previous weekly training recap, I am the captain for my job’s team for the Hope in Motion Run/Walk this year. I’ve been participating in this event for years and I’m really excited to ramp up my fundraising for the event this year. I’m going to be hosting a fundraising giveaway on the blog next week. I’m really excited to see how it goes and I hope I can raise at least another $100-$200 for the organization!
Gluten Intolerance?
I just got results back from a food allergy test and it looks like I might have a gluten a whole wheat intolerance..
I say maybe because this test seems a little bit off to me. For example, I have an allergy to carrots and cherries (my mouth and throat get itchy), but these didn’t show up at all on the allergy test. I’ve never really had any reactions to bread, so I find it weird that gluten and wheat popped up but not carrots and cherries. Anyways, I’ve been gluten free now for about 4 days and I don’t feel a difference yet. I’m going to go gluten free for at least 4 weeks and see if I feel any significant changes. If you have any favorite gluten free recipes, please share!
I need to drop some weight…
So…I had an awesome winter of hibernating and eating, and it shows 🙁 I’m up about 10 pounds which is making me crazy. I can feel the extra weight during my runs and it’s just not sexy. I finally started getting serious this week about dropping the pounds. I’m currently down 2 pounds (yay) but I have a looonng way to go. My hope is that I can drop at least half, or most of the weight before Chicago Marathon training starts in mid-June. I’d like to start marathon training in the best shape possible.
My IT Band hates me
I am convinced that my IT band hates me. It acts up whenever it feels like it and I’m over it.
Last Saturday I was in the middle of a 10 mile run when something felt off. I was hoping it would just go away but I should have known better. By the end of the run it was killing me. I’ve spent this week stretching and foam rolling like crazy. I’ve also been doing tons (more than usual) of glute and hip strenghtening exercises. I was able to get in my runs this week, and it’s feeling better, but I’m always afraid of it coming back.
Do you have anything you want to runfess for April?
Have a great weekend!
Lisa @ Mile by Mile says
Sorry about your IT band! I feel like certain issues just come back over and over with no rhyme or reason. Thats interesting about the food allergy/intolerance. Where did you have that testing done?
I did class pass a few years ago and it was nice to try different studios.
kookyrunner says
Thanks Lisa 🙂 My IT band is feeling better and I’m just hoping that tomorrow’s run goes well. I got the test for my food allergies/intolerance at my dermatologist’s office. They use a company that uses a blood sample to test for different intolerances. Classpass is such a genius idea, I’m glad I got the chance to try it out!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner says
I always thought the idea of class pass seemed cool. When I first looked at it there were not enough choices by me to do it. Take care of that IT band!
kookyrunner says
The larger cities (NYC, Philly) have tons of studios to choose from for Classpass. I only have a handful to select from in my city, but they have all been great so far!
Coco says
There’s always so much to runfess! Cranky ITBs are the worst. I was doing good with eating until this week’s business trip, cookies, steak and wine – oh, my!
kookyrunner says
I find it hard to eat well during business trips too, but sometimes you just have to spurlge a little bit!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home says
So foods that make your mouth itch don’t always show up on an allergy test–it’s called “oral allergy syndrome”. I get it with bananas and kiwis, but that’s as bad as it gets, so I still put them in my smoothies. I bet once you eliminate gluten from your diet, the weight will come off! I’m really interested in this. Keep up the good work!
kookyrunner says
Ahh okay, thanks Wendy! I never knew about “oral allergy syndrome” so it’s good ot know that I’m not going crazy, lol. I’m hoping that eliminating gluten will help with the weight loss!
Meranda@Fairytalesandfitness says
Sorry about your IT band. I suffered with ITBS for 18 months and I don’t wish that pin on anybody!!!!
kookyrunner says
Thanks Meranda – It’s so annoying!
Debbie says
I once was told to try giving up gluten for a month to see if it made a difference in my migraines, but it didn’t. While I found it a challenge to be a gluten free vegan, I would have loved to have found an answer to my headaches . Oh well. Good luck. Going gluten free might help with the weight loss though, so there is that.
kookyrunner says
I’m sorry that it didn’t work for you Debbie 🙁 I am hoping that it will help with the weight loss (fingers crossed)
Kimberly Hatting says
Thankfully, I have never had IT Band issues (you probably can’t hear it, but I’m knocking LOUDLY on my wooden desk). I hope things heal for you, or you’re able to keep things in check.
kookyrunner says
Thanks Kimberly! I’m so glad that you have never had to deal with ITB issues- its such a pain!!
Steff says
The medication I’ve been taking for my eye hasn’t helped me add on about seven pounds. I feel you! It’s a terrible feeling but we will get there. I wish Class Pass was a thing where I live!
kookyrunner says
Ugh, I’m sorry to hear that 🙁 I know that your eye has been giving you a lot of issues. I hope that the medicine is at least helping you now. Hopefully Classpass will come to your city soon!
Teresa says
Those dang cranky ITB’s! Sure hope it quiets down soon! I’m intrigued by this classpass thingy. There are a couple of studios in my area I’ve been curious about but didn’t want to have memberships all over town. I’m going to check this out!
kookyrunner says
Hope you’re able to find Classpass in your city!
Marcia says
ITBS sucks! It was my first running injury and I remember it feeling like somebody shot me in the side of the knee. Hope yours fades away. All the best with the GF lifestyle and the weightloss!
kookyrunner says
It’s such an uncomfortable feeling! It’s feeling much better today than it did last weekend so that’s a plus!
Michelle @ Running with Attitude says
Oh I’m sorry about the IT pain – I’ve been there and it’s can be miserable. Keeping my fingers crossed yours doesn’t flare up too much. Good luck with this weekend’s 11 miles!
kookyrunner says
Thanks Michelle. It’s just so annoying dealing with the IT band issues, but it feels good today so I’ll take it!
Mary Beth Jackson says
Good luck with the GF diet! The allergy test sounds interesting, I am curious how you feel after the 4 weeks. Class pass does look like the bomb- I wish we had that option!
kookyrunner says
Thanks so much Mary Beth. I hope that I feel better after the 4 weeks are over!
Nicole @ Fitful Focus says
That scratchy throat you get from carrots and cherries may not be from the actual carrots and cherries at all. It could be pesticides or cross-contamination from other fruits that you are allergic to. That could be why it didn’t show up on the test. Do you get the throat itching with organic carrots and cherries?
kookyrunner says
Really? I wonder if that it what happened. I tried organic carrots and still had the throat itching. I haven’t tried organic cherries yet so I will look for those this summer in the supermarket.
Rachel says
F the IT BAND!!!!! Holy (#*$&(*W#)*!!!!!!!
I just tried using your link for Class Pass but it’s not in my area yet! Whomp whomp. I hope it comes here quickly. 🙂
kookyrunner says
I hope ClassPass comes to your area soon! I know they are always expanding into different areas 🙂
And yes… F the IT BAND!!!
Elaine @myRUNexperiment says
I tried ClassPass for a month but due to my schedule, I had a hard time using all my sessions before the month expiration. In San Diego a similar platform started, Lymber which is based on dynamic pricing – they were recently bought by MindBody so I’m not quite sure what changes they’ll have.
Sorry to hear about the IT band – hope you’re healthy by the time you start training for Chicago! I will be running Chicago as well.
kookyrunner says
I agree, it can be hard to find time to fit the classes in our schedule. I had to do some juggling in order to get in 1-2 classes a week.
Ana says
Good luck in your gluten free journey! it sounds scary and challenging. I didn’t know having allergies to carrots was possible !
kookyrunner says
My allergy to carrots is really funny because I ate them so much as a kid. No clue what happened, but once I hit my late 20s, I couldn’t eat them anymore!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running says
I too have a couple of excess winter pounds to loose, and am also hoping to drop them by the time that marathon training starts at the beginning of June. We can do this!
kookyrunner says
I agree – we can do this!
Anna @ Pipers Run says
ClassPass sounds like a great idea! Sorry to hear about your IT band, injuries can be so frustrating.
kookyrunner says
Thanks Anna. I’m continuing to monitor it but it feels a lot better.
megan says
I’m in the same boat with some winter weight gain and am so ready to shake it off!
kookyrunner says
I hope we both have success with losing the weight soon!
Angela @marathonsandmotivation.com says
I love all of the memes, especially the one about dieting!! Haha!! Hope your IT band is on the mend.
kookyrunner says
Thanks! I love memes, lol 🙂 My IT band is feeling better!
Zenaida Arroyo says
That sucks about your IT band. I’ve been trying to foam roll after every run or whenever I can remember to do while watching TV. That is so weird about the test results. How about getting another done with a different doctor?
kookyrunner says
I’m thinking of getting another test done, a different type of test, just to be sure. Being gluten and wheat free is hard!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says
I’m sorry to hear about your IT band – ugh! My knees still seem to be grumpy about the Parkway Classic and were “talking” to me on my long run yesterday. ClassPass sounds great, I just wish it was a little cheaper – and since I don’t live near downtown it takes a bit of effort to get to a bunch of different studios. Congrats on being down 2 pounds so far!
kookyrunner says
I hope your knees are feeling better! Why can’t our bodies just cooperate?! LoL
Totally understand about ClassPass in Philly. I don’t live in a really big city so everyone here mainly drives. I’m lucky that I can drive to the studios here in Stamford!
Sandra Laflamme says
Allergies can be so frustrating! I am curious to hear how your 4 week gluten free trial goes!
kookyrunner says
My allergies are horrible today but I’m hanging in there! lol
Toni says
Allergies suck. Class
Pass looks awesome though, I have exercise ADD somto be able to do a bunch of different classes sounds great!
kookyrunner says
Me too! I get bored with doing the same classes all the time so Classpass is great!