I ONLY WEAR DRESSES

Cooking with Chloe: Avocado Toast

Thu, 31 May 2012 15:53:00 -0500

I started a series called “Cooking with Chloe” as I cook through Chloe Coscarelli’s cookbook: I plan on cooking all 125 recipes and using some of them to enhance my meals.

Today’s recipe is Chloe’s Avocado Toast.

My goal is to cook her recipes while the ingredients are in season and since avocados are in season and plentiful right now, this delicious and simple combination hit the spot!

I used my favorite bread, Ezekiel Sesame, and dusted the top with a great olive oil, sea salt, lemon, freshly ground black pepper, and red pepper flakes.

This will be definitely be a new favorite meal in the rotation!

When I saw that Ms. Chloe Coscarelli herself had stumbled over to my blog, I was doing my excited dance!

But I am also quite intimidated because well, she and her cookbook are awesome and I need some knife skills. :D

The Opposite of Loneliness

Wed, 30 May 2012 22:43:00 -0500

Marina Keegan was a 22-year-old activist/writer who was killed in a car accident after her graduation from Yale. I am horrified to have to type the words “22-year-old” and “killed” in the same sentence and my heart goes out to her family.

She was on my mind a lot today because I had a happy day and it was inspired by her piece, “The Opposite of Loneliness.”

We don’t have a word for the opposite of loneliness, but if we did, I could say that’s what I want in life.

More than finding the right job or city or spouse – I’m scared of losing this web we’re in. This elusive, indefinable, opposite of loneliness. This feeling I feel right now.

I’ve never read a better descriptor of happiness: the opposite of loneliness.

I felt so grateful for the long list of people and experiences that make up my “opposite of loneliness” today.

{Source}

My legs felt so dead yesterday and today with falling temperatures, they felt much better.

I ran 3.1 miles in 29:14 today and although there is a part of me that wishes I were throwing out 5 and 10 milers like Speedy Gonzalez but heck, when I can’t run right, I’ll run left. :D

I decided to taste-test a new shot - the GU Jet Blackberry - because it seems that GU gels are at more races than Cliff shots.

It tastes like cough syrup and has a very thin consistency so it went down a bit easier than Cliff. No one needs a gel for a three mile run but I find that testing new gels during longer runs is just asking for trouble. :D

My day started with a yummy strawberry-basil smoothie and toast points with almond butter.

I made another round of homemade iced coffee - anytime I make my own iced coffee I want to weild it like a trophy.

Look at me: I’m being frugal and I’m saving the environment by not using a disposable cup - like a motherf*cking adult!

After my workout, my wisdom tooth extraction site started bleeding.

I called my oral surgeon and they said to place a moistened tea bag at the site because the tannins in tea can stop bleeding (the more you know!)

Luckily, it’s not a dry socket because that pain is hellacious. Lunch ended up being soft and quick - a Fage yogurt with a sprinkle of brown sugar blend.

Dinner was a tapas style take-out meal from Sultan’s Market - my favorite little Mediterranean joint: Lebanese spinach pie - different from Greek Spanikopita because it is always made vegan!

A cup of yellow lentil soup with one of my favorite hot sauce bottles from our New Orleans trip stirred in - Bayou Passion, Louisiana Pepper Sauce.

Alligators and crocodiles are awesome. :D

And since I was missing my greens, I also enjoyed a small tabouli salad - finely diced parsley with tomatoes, cucumbers, onion, and cracked wheat dressed in lemon juice and olive oil.

Off to do some hatha yoga then turn in early! Hope you had a great day.

Summer Strawberry and Basil Smoothie

Wed, 30 May 2012 19:36:00 -0500

Farmer’s markets are rolling in ripe, juicy strawberries and my basil plants suddenly blossomed overnight and I decided to make this classic combination into a delicious smoothie.

A cup of almond milk (Unsweetened is my preference)

A cup of water

Several handfuls of fresh basil

2 tsp. of honey or sweetener of choice

*Blend the above ingredients first.

Add two cups (or more!) of fresh, ripe strawberries and ice cubes blend to desired consistency.

Refreshing and Summer Sweet!

Did you have a summery breakfast this morning?

I enjoyed my smoothie with a slice of Ezekiel sesame toast points and my favorite new almond butter.

My mom gave us a new china set and the best part about these bowls and plates are the different butterflies in the center of each.

I love butterflies because of their association with change and transitions: can you imagine changing so much that at the end you are someone completely different or even unrecognizable from what you started as?

So beautiful and cool!

WOD: Back to Run, Back to Reality

Wed, 30 May 2012 00:36:00 -0500

A little Soul to Soul throwback for you!

I got a face full of bully tongue after workouts today.

I am back to running today with a hot 2.5 miler in 24 minutes.

I ran when it was 78-80 degrees and although I love this hot-as-heck, clothes sticking to your skin temperature, it’s still not something I’m used to when I run.

I was a hit at pacing too: 9:24 for the first mile and 9:47 for the second mile. Quite a disparity, no? ;D

Considering that after the Marine Corps Marathon, I was crying about my knee and couldn’t run for a month, I’m ELATED to be running any distance exactly one week and two days from the Fargo Marathon.

Even though I know it’s only been a week, I didn’t feel super strong during my run and I’m looking forward to that buzz.

My second workout was another Hot Power Fusion yoga class and it felt great because the room feels extra hot with the temperature outside.

I’m going to class every day this week - my greatest hope is that yoga keeps protecting me from being sidelined from an injury as I jump back into marathon training.

I’m experiencing some tension in my left hip and I’m trying to work on fixing this imbalance by holding poses for longer on that side - I feel like a total beginner in my classes again! :)

Happy Tuesday!

Tue, 29 May 2012 21:38:00 -0500

Hello Chickadees!

I am in love with this creamy almond butter from Archer Farms, Target’s house brand.

For breakfast, I had a slice of Ezekiel sesame toast with a spoonful of almond butter and it tastes heavenly.

There are only two brands I will buy: Maranatha and Archer Farms. Why?

Palm oil.

Apart from the fact that it’s an unhealthy oil, palm oil (click for a great article on the topic!) is an ingredient in both Justin’s Almond Butter and in some flavors of Peanut Butter Company’s offerings and the plantations which grow the trees have contributed to rain forest and wildlife destruction.

I don’t particularly love the taste of Justin’s Almond Butter and really disliked Peanut Butter Company’s Dark Chocolate Dreams Peanut Butter because palm oil has a very particular taste - and to think that it kills adorable animals?

NO FREAKING WAY will I be eating anything that hurts a 1-month old baby elephant.

I washed down my hurt baby-elephant anger with a tall glass of homemade iced coffee.

Lunch was a very simple and sexy green - avocado with baby spinach and balsamic vinaigrette!

Post-workouts, I enjoyed a strawberry smoothie made with strawberries, almond milk, and ice - perfectly refreshing today!

My dinner was delicious and exactly the same yesterday - garlicky greens (baby spinach), black beans with red onions, and quinoa and brown rice blend.

Dessert was a cup of unsweetened hot cocoa and a side of bully. :D

I hope you had a happy Tuesday!

******

{Wildlife officials attend to a pygmy elephant calf on Borneo island in Malaysia’s Sabah state. Malaysian wildlife authorities said they had rescued a pygmy elephant calf on Borneo island and expressed hope a planned sanctuary would provide protection for the endangered animals. The male calf, which is less than a month old, was pulled out of a deep moat surrounding a palm oil plantation.}

Picture Credit: MALAYSIA WILDLIFE AUTHORITIES, AFP and Getty Images.

WOD: Marathon Monday

Mon, 28 May 2012 23:52:36 -0500

My dental surgeon’s wife is a marathoner who has run the Boston Marathon fifteen times. So I’m obsessed with her. :D

She gave me three pieces of advice that I’m really paying attention to this time around for the Detroit Marathon:

1) Let other people pass you. “Don’t keep up with them because everyone going faster than me at the beginning, I was passing at the end.” She wasn’t referring to the elites in the photo above. :)

2) Learn to love hills. Hill Training will make all the difference. Find a hill and build up to running it 40 times.

3) Work your upper body, core, and back hard. Your upper body carries your lower body during a run.

In an effort to make # 3 on the list come true, I had an extra-long evening workout session which included a hot yoga class and lifting weights with John.

So first, I completed a Hot Power Fusion yoga class and it was refreshing getting back into my yoga routine!

John then had me do the following workout:

P90X Ab Ripper

Chest and Abs Routine

Standard Push-Ups

Wide Front Pull-Ups

Military Push-Ups

Reverse Grip Chin-Ups

******

Wide Fly Push-Ups

Closed Grip Overhand Pull-Ups

Decline Push-Ups

Back Rows

******

Diamond Push-Ups

Back Row Style 2

Dive Bomber Push-Ups

Back Flys

There’s a special place in Dante’s Inferno where they make you do this workout - and I was SORE SORE SORE.

I did most of the push-ups girl-style, used baby weights, and can’t do a real pull-up yet.

I consider myself a fit runner but there’s always a new challenge out there and this was it! John really encouraged me through this workout because I was a total baby doing it. :D

I asked John to take a picture of my post-workout exhausted face and this is what he shot.

He’s mature. ;D

Face Down, A** Up

Mon, 28 May 2012 17:37:00 -0500

Face Down, A** Up:

My first workout since the Fargo Marathon was a 30 minute session on our new spin bike.

Spin IS SOOOO FUN! You work up a sweat really fast and it challenges your balance.

Good Mother, it was tougher than I expected though.

I held position 2 (from the video) for most of the workout, returning to position 1 for a short breaks. I held a cadence of 50-60 RPM and I can’t wait to get stronger!

My goal will be to cross train 1-2X a week (depending on my running schedule) and build up to 90-120 minutes!

Why Spin? It might make you a faster runner and it’s a great way to increase fitness and endurance while pounding out miles!

This relationship between spinning and running lies on the hip rotation, specifically the relationship between cadence and the velocity of your hip rotation in degrees per second. For example, an individual pedaling at a cadence of 90 or 90 rpm’s, is rotation his/her hips at a velocity of 220 degrees per second. This is equivalent to a 6:45 per mile running pace. For those of us in the “average” running department, a cadence of 70 is equivalent to about an 8:00 minute per mile pace.

Cycling will also benefit muscle development in the legs. According to Niles, a pedal stroke rquires more muscle power than a running stride. Thus, if you ride regularly, you will increase the size of your leg muscles…for an average runner, the added strength may increase knee stability without compromising running speed.

The bottom line: replacing easy running days with cycling can increase your running intensity on your hard running days (such as your speedwork days). Therefore, you will improve your running speed on less mileage. Pretty cool huh?

Below is a cadence/running equivalency chart. Because everyone’s stride is different, the equivalencies will vary, but the chart is fairly accurate. If you are interested in measuring cadence, you will need to purchase a bike computer that offers this feature.

{Source: Niles, Rick, “Spin Cycle.” Runner’s World (June 1992), p. 33}

Any other spin girls out there? I found this master class video on Spinning really helpful!

Summer Sunday

Sun, 27 May 2012 17:09:00 -0500

Happy Memorial Day weekend!

When I raced the Marine Corps Marathon, everything came together - handsome Marines, English Bulldogs, and military history.

I transcribed a history of the English Bulldogs and their “soldier boys” and it puts a smile on my face every time I look at my own little “devil dog.”

If you are obsessed with bulldogs and Marines, have a look. If you are a Marine with a bulldog, call me. :D

Nigel hopes all dogs are snuggling with their soldiers tonight or will get to soon. And for those who made the ultimate sacrifice, our thoughts are with your loved ones today.

Chicago is gorgeous this weekend with temperatures ranging from the low 70’s to the high 90’s!

As you can see from the length of that bully tongue, we are shade seeking during every walk and Nigel is only out for a few minutes at a time - too hot for smoosh faces! :D

We had an exciting weekend and are now the proud owners of a GE-NU-INE spin bike! :D

John and I both wanted to incorporate cross-training into our routines (one to two days for me) but we dislike elliptical machines and recumbent bikes.

They always felt boring and lazy to me no matter how much I increased the resistance and speed.

Enter Le Spin bike!

We went with a model with a console to easily track our efforts and with a 40 lb fly wheel in the front to make sure we got the intense training we wanted.

You can read more about the importance of a weighted flywheel here.

It was hilarious watching John put this together because he is so methodical, doing the completed opposite of what I would do: he lays out all the tools and supplies and actually reads the directions once through.

I am so glad John had it delivered on Saturday and was home to put it together. The bike weighs 120 lbs and he had to help the delivery man carry it in - and Nigel was not volunteering. :D

John had to use his bitching tool set which he got as a groomsman gift a few years ago - BEST GROOMSMAN GIFT EVER!

John’s super excited - he’s placing it in front if his big screen and planning on getting through seasons of t.v. shows he never has time to watch.

We’re off to a neighbor’s BBQ in our courtyard and since I’ve been eating nothing but veggie broth and frozen yogurt because of my wisdom tooth, I’m excited to try some of the soft BBQ foods. ;D

Hope everyone is having a great hot weekend!

A New Smile

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:34:00 -0500

I took my lunchtime salad for yesterday for granted.

I can’t enjoy it’s beautiful deliciousness today because I got my fourth wisdom tooth pulled and as the surgeon described it - “this was a colossus!”

This smooth and cool frozen yogurt and an iced coffee (without a straw) was my first meal today and will probably be what I eat for the rest of the day.

I love having an excuse to eat frozen yogurt three times a day. :D

Hopefully, I will heal quickly and since I will be base-building next week for our next marathon, this was a perfect time to sneak in this procedure.

I came home early and got up to get a blanket and someone took my spot on the couch. I get no sympathy from this one. :)

A Running Sabbatical

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:24:00 -0500

Nigel “makes” his bed by pawing at sheets or blankets before he plops down - somehow this afternoon he managed to wrap himself up into a bully burrito.

Some dogs ride skateboards and surfboard and rocking horses - my baby winks at you. :)

This ridiculous sweet pup. I will be joining Nigel in supreme laziness for the rest of the week while I take a one week sabbatical from running.

Frankly, I’m itching to run again. After the Marine Corps Marathon, I had a lingering knee injury that didn’t go away and a lot of pain - this Monday, I was walking funny but I was shocked by how quickly my body was healing.

I wanted to go to hot yoga today. I wanted to start a new exercise regimen.

I wanted to start base-building for my next marathon - but I don’t fear rest even if it’s hard for me to take this week off.

Highlights from my training plan for the Fargo Marathon:

I ran a total of 370.68 miles starting right after the Goofy Challenge (including races).
I completed a total of 47 hours of hot yoga.
I completed two 20 mile long runs.
I did a ton of speed work which showed up during the training cycle: I completed a 5 mile race in a little over 45 minutes, finished the half portion of the Fargo Marathon in 2:06 and finished my fastest 18 miler ever - in 2 hours 58 seconds.

I am happy with an adaptive plan - it let me build my endurance and increase speed without being completely run down, burnt out, or injured.

I wanted to run four days a week the entire time but during long run weeks (especially over 15 miles), my plan let me ratchet down to three runs a week - which saved my legs for the race.

I’m excited about this one week sabbatical because of the concept of periodization of training cycles.

It’s easy for me to sign up for race after race because there are so many fun races out there but I don’t want to run a bunch of mediocre races and I have a hard time using races as training runs.

I see a lot written about the love for running and the love for racing - and I love both.

But I love racing fast and getting faster with each passing year - it makes me so happy.

So what’s our next adventure?

We are running the Detroit Free Press Marathon in October. It will be my third racing marathon and my fifth one completed!

For John it will be his fourth racing marathon and his sixth one completed.

My goal is simple: I will hit 26.2 miles in 4 hours.

I write that with so much nervousness - I went from a 4:32 at the Marine Corps Marathon to 4:14 at Fargo. Does my body have those 14 extra speedy minutes in my legs?

Well, I’d rather dream big than dream small. And I’d rather try and fail then not try at all.

You can track my training here. In the following weeks you will see:

More Mileage! I’ll be running 4X a week still with a plan that starts at 15 miles and peaks at 55 miles.
Two twenty milers again - but this time a 22 and a 23 miler!
A lot of hot yoga, as usual. :D
Kicking or screaming, John will have me lifting weights.
And cross-training with a new activity for me - Spinning!

Nigel Bear always approves of rest days.

Always.

Sunny Bunny

Wed, 23 May 2012 22:22:29 -0500

Today couldn’t have been any prettier. Everything feels like a treat when it’s bathed in golden sunlight. :D

I went a little crazy this morning at breakfast - I didn’t feel like eating the usual meals and packed these half-pints of berries I got.

Yeah, I worked through them speedily. :)

Lunch was just a quick iced coffee and Kind Bar eaten on the go but dinner made up for that.

Cold roasted asparagus alongside lentils and wild rice + hot roasted Campari tomatoes and Baby Bellas.

I’ve been eating the baby bell peppers raw with hummus but roasting these little guys are even sweeter than regular bell peppers.

We’re off to meet some friends for drinks and plan our fall marathon - hope everyone had a great day!

Marathon Monday

Tue, 22 May 2012 16:37:00 -0500

“Occupy” Monday was spent working at home, healing up from the Fargo Marathon, and getting some important errands completed.

First up, we got vaccinations for our trip to Africa. Because of the best nurse ever, it was the first time I didn’t feel pain from needles. Oh happy day!

Then we stopped off at my favorite running store, Running Away Multisport, and got new shoes.

John got the new New Balance Zeros but oddly, I didn’t like how they felt and went with the shoes I lost on the course, the New Balance Minimus Trails.

Monday continued on a fun and lucky note with a trip back to O’Hare airport.

When we were leaving for Fargo on Friday morning, I left my laptop charging in Terminal 2 of O’Hare report - something I didn’t realize until we got to Fargo.

This added stress and tears to our weekend and although we tried to put it out of our mind during the race, that’s easier said than done.

On Monday, an employee from O’Hare called me after getting one of my teary messages. Someone had found it charging and turned it in. I’m typing on it with a pear-shaped bully butt on my feet. :D

I’m a lucky girl and very grateful for good people.

We ended the night with two awesome things: dinner with a new friend and dinner at a new place, Smoke Daddy!

Smoke Daddy is one of those placed that reminds me how much I love our Wicker Park/Bucktown neighborhood, It’s an adorable BBQ joint and the service and food are top notch.

It was too cold to eat out but there’s a great area with twinkling lights perfect for a date night.

I’m always happy when we eat with other meat eaters because John gets to share his dish. John and our friend ended up getting ribs and sweet potato fries - he ate most of those. :D

I had sides. Glorious Sides - macaroni and cheese and peppery corn bread. So good, I didn’t want to share!

I don’t eat mayonnaise but Smoke Daddy’s cole slaw is made with more of a vinegar base and the cilantro gives it something special - I have to make this at home!

And then we shared a skillet cookie because no marathon is complete without a skillet cookie.

There’s live entertainment every night and she was great - singing country songs and reggae all night.

Whew! It was a exhausting Monday for some of us…but great start for the rest of us!

Going Far in Fargo

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:01:00 -0500

So I finished the Fargo Marathon…with a P.R.

Fargo is different than other marathons I’ve run in that the chip was not on my bib but tied to my shoes.

Oh, my poor shoes.

Yes, I lost my shoes on the course.

Or more precisely, I threw them away.

I got a rock in my shoe at mile 17, and it cut my foot so badly that keeping the shoe on was agony.

So I tried to throw away just one, but running on one shoe is even worse. So by mile 18 I had thrown both away (I carried the chip in my hand), and ran the last 8 miles barefoot

And this was the result.

Running barefoot was horribly painful and I ran the entire time with tears in my eyes. I kept looking for smooth parts of the street to run on and grass but there were pits and twigs everywhere.

And to add insult to injury, my (fully charged) Garmin died partway through the race.

I somehow still managed to reach my goal.

I may have cried those entire eight miles, but it didn’t matter when I crossed the finish line and found John.

My time of 4:13:53 at the Fargo Marathon was a 20 minute improvement from my Marine Corps Marathon time of 4:32 and my pace improved from 10:18 to 9:50 minutes/mile.

I also ran the half in 2:06:57, my fastest half on record. :)

John also had a tough race, but he finished in 4:10 - a p.r. for him by 17 minutes!

Fargo’s Marathon was one of our favorites - the course is beautiful and the people were lovely. Practically every quarter mile, people were handing out water and treats at unofficial aid stations.

Everyone called out “Honey Badger” because I had written it on my bib instead of my name.

Even with perfect conditions, the race was a tough one.

But as my favorite sign from the course said, “Ambition never looks back.”

Getting Ready for a Marathon

Thu, 17 May 2012 21:39:00 -0500

First, there’s the carbo-loading.

Getting my race prep pile ready and modelling my race day outfit.

Not being able to fall asleep from all the excitement and crashing…two hours before the race.

Waking up to marathon alarm - thank goodness, I cleverly placed it across the room.

Shocked as always that God created a 5am in the morning.

Getting my first shot of caffeine and sugary gel at 5:05…and hitting the starting line singing Eye of the Tiger.

Like a {Boss} Boo!

Breakfast Bites: Chocolate Oatmeal & Blueberry Muffins

Wed, 16 May 2012 20:24:00 -0500

I love cupcake wrappers. I love oatmeal. I love blueberries. I love chocolate. And I love these breakfast muffins which brings it all together. :D

My breakfasts are smoothies, oatmeal, or dippy eggs - so I decided to shake things up with some Chocolate Oatmeal and Blueberry Muffins.

These muffins are super tasty and filling and a perfect post-run food!

I avoid muffins because they upset my tummy - so I made these muffins gluten free by making my very own oatmeal flour. And instead of buying it pre-made, I used my trusty blender and made my own flour!

The flour was perfectly soft and cooked up beautifully.**

I’ve provided both vegan and vegetarian options below the fold!

Chocolate Oatmeal & Blueberry Muffins

INGREDIENTS for 12 Muffins

2 Cups Oat Flour (Grind oatmeal in blender to make it fresh!)

2 Cups Rolled Oats

2 Cups Almond Milk or Coconut Milk (Preferably Unsweetened with Vanilla).

2 Teaspoons Baking Powder

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1/4 Tsp Nutmeg

2-4 Tbsp Dark Cocoa Powder (Can substitute regular Cocoa Powder)

1 Tsp Salt

1/4 to 1/2 Cup Olive Oil (Coconut Oil adds a lovely flavor)

2 Cups Blueberries

1/4 Tsp Cinnamon

Vegetarians: 1 Egg beaten (If left out the muffins still taste great but will be more fudgy).

Vegans: 1 Flax Egg, ground flax in warm water.

Sweetener: I used a two and a half tablespoons of brown sugar/artificial sweetener blend. I don’t love Stevia unless it’s the pure leaf and Agave is way too sweet for me.

You can pick whatever sweetener options works for you including sugar-free maple syrup and honey. They will change the flavor. I used very little sugar I felt the muffins tasted perfect.

DIRECTIONS

1. Roll the blueberries in some oat flour to dust them. This guarantees they won’t sink to the bottom of your cupcake liner and will be spread throughout the cake.

2. Heat oven to 400 degrees and line pan with cupcake liners.

3. Soak two cups of whole oatmeal in your milk of choice for about ten minutes.

4. In a large bowl, add all dry ingredients.

5. Add all wet ingredients including whole oatmeal and blueberries to dry ingredients and fold the batter carefully.

6. Spoon into cupcake wrappers and bake for 20-25 minutes!

**These muffins are labeled gluten-free because they are free of wheat gluten. Some celiacs and other people with certain tummy disorders cannot tolerate oatmeal or rye.

Just Keep Swimming, Swimming

Wed, 16 May 2012 01:15:00 -0500

This is one of my favorite pictures from the Marine Corps Marathon.

It looks like a moment from a Broadway play - they are all arranged in triangle formation behind me and will break into song at any moment:

Do you hear the people sing, Singing the songs of angry men?

It is the music of a people, Who will not be slaves again! (JAZZ HANDS!)

Yeah, I sing Broadway songs when I run so this could have totally happened!

*******

{Face Down all Your Fears!}

With only a few days left, my training was reduced but felt mentally intense.

I ran without music a lot and hours on the mat (at the studio and home) just made me focus on race weekend.

I tell myself nervousness is good and pressure is great - it makes you always want to be better than your previous reached goal. Here is my training breakdown:

Monday, 5/7: C2 Hot Yoga, 60 Minutes

Tuesday, 5/8: C2 Hot Yoga, 60 Minutes; 3.5 miles, 35 minutes.

Wednesday, 5/9: Hot Power Fusion Yoga, 60 Minutes

Thursday, 5/10: 5 Miles in 49:19.

Friday, 5/11 + Saturday, 5/12: REST DAY, PT + Foam Rolling

Sunday, 5/13: 3.1 Miles in 29:55 + Core Restore Yin Yoga.

11.6 running miles is over a 50% reduction from my highest mileage weeks and the four hot yoga classes kicked my tush.

Ramping down the running has left me sluggish, a normal thing according to the books I’ve read.

This week, the final few days before the marathon, I will run even fewer miles but I will sprint a lot to keep my legs bendy. I’m getting antsy and anxious and just can’t seem to relax or sleep.

At these times I have to ask - what would Dory do? She’d just keep swimming. :)

Twigs and Sticks

Tue, 15 May 2012 15:04:00 -0500

Today’s “Have a Good Day Morning” Breakfast Bento confirms what you knew: vegetarians eat sticks and twigs. :D

In the mini-box went 3/4 cups of Trader Joe’s Twigs, Sticks, and Clusters cereal - in the future I would add a sprinkle of cinnamon!

I used a preserve jar for the milk: half-nonfat and half unsweetened almond milk and shook it around to make sure it wouldn’t spill. :)

I also added a tablespoon of blueberries to the cereal and stuffed the rest of the bento with delicious strawberries.

And yes, I have an awesome collection of glass and stainless steel bentos and tiffins. :)

"Have a Good Day" Breakfast Box

Mon, 14 May 2012 16:25:00 -0500

Today is such a bright and sunny day that everyone seems to be in a bright and sunny mood. Walking down the street, everyone kept telling me to “have a good day!”

One of my favorite blogs is Vegan Lunch Box and I love how Jennifer McCann used bento boxes and tiffins to make creative, to-go meals - it inspired me to make a “Have a Good Day” Breakfast Box for John to take to work!

The box is stainless steel and has such cute little containers and covers! I also like that stainless steel looks a bit more masculine and adult versus the traditional and more playful bentos!

In the box went two hard boiled eggs from Organic Valley Farms, half a whole wheat thin, blueberries, and Fage Greek Yogurt.

Happy Mother's Day!

Sun, 13 May 2012 21:55:00 -0500

This morning, I was treated to a surprise breakfast-in-bed for Mother’s Day for being an awesome dog mom. :)

I had dippy eggs and an Ezekiel muffin with berry preserves that I shared with John and sweet blueberries and raspberries…

…that I shared with my dog child.

******

According to John, Nigel was very helpful with the cooking. :)

We decided instead of sending our own mother a bouquet, I would send one to John’s mom and John would send one to my mom.

This is my mom’s bouquet - isn’t it beautiful? John and I picked the same colors without realizing it - this was the bouquet I went with!

We also got a ton of camping stuff for our international adventure, climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and going on an African safari!!

John’s mom carefully packed up a ton of John’s old camping/hiking/mountaineering gear and it was fun to go through it and hear about John’s past adventures.

It’s also helping us save money which I always appreciate!

Nigel was very excited about the large box! :)

The white fleece in the pictures above is my first Northface fleece and it’s as cozy as it looks. We have walking poles, tents, and our sleeping bags too!

As new as every part of this adventure will be and as nervous as I am about breaking in my boots, I can’t believe it - we’re going to Africa!

{Nigel Bear, helping me make the bed and do the laundry on Mother’s Day!}

Mother’s Day is all about having a grateful heart and I’m grateful for all the good happenings and good mothers in my life.

Everyday I'm Tapering

Thu, 10 May 2012 21:38:00 -0500

We are still a month away from the Farmer’s Markets opening and I’m getting impatient. We go through a few of these boxes everyday so I’m counting down the days.

My lunch this afternoon was something new - Nancy’s Cottage Cheese with fresh blueberries!

One of the best foods we ate on our trip to Russia last year, was tvarog - it has the texture of Greek yogurt (even thicker than Fage) with the bite of fresh cottage cheese.

I still can’t find cottage cheese as good in the States - everything is so salty and the consistency is off!

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{It might look like I’m resting, but this is what I call active sleeping.}

Today’s Workouts

Tapering before a marathon is always stressful for me - I need to run enough to maintain fitness but not do too much so that my legs are actually fresh come the Fargo Marathon. :D

On Monday, I went to a 60 minute C2 hot yoga class.

On Tuesday, I went to a 60 minute C2 hot yoga class and ran 3.5 miles in 35 minutes.

On Wednesday, I completed a 60 minute Hot Power Fusion Yoga class.

And today, I ran 5 miles in 49:19 and completed Rodney Yee’s Yoga for Strength routine - about 40 minutes in total!

I’m using my compression gear a lot more and trying to make sure I use the foam roller like it’s a job. Only one more week till the marathon!

I’m also cutting back on the C2 yoga classes moving forward and am running the miles a bit slower - I have to keep reminding myself I’ve done as much as I can and my body needs to rest to absorb the training.

Off to go take a hot bubble bath! Hope everyone is having a relaxing night! )