Sunny Bunny
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
“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!
Sunday Picnic Dinner
This was a very fun weekend. On Friday, John cooked date-night dinner and we watched Iron Lady, which was a great movie.
On Saturday night, we went out with another couple John and Andrea, to our fave spot Mirai Sushi! Since my John had his long run earlier that day and we were with a non-vegetarian couple, there was some serious fish-eating going on. (Too dark for pictures but you know I can put away veggie sushi like it’s a job!) :D
We provided dessert from our favorite neighborhood bakery, Bake, and ate way too many of my favorite chocolate-chip pretzel cookies. After a few glasses of wine, Andrea played a fierce game of tug with Nigel and his new toy!
The other John will be running the Big Sur marathon in one week and Andrea is hoping to train for the Princess series which would be awesome because I would love to do the Princess or Tinkerbell half. I love the Disney races!
We woke up today, one of us stuffed with vegetarian sushi, cookies, and red wine. :)
We were craving a picnic and enjoyed fresh, tapas-style dinner: pine nut hummus with seedless cucumbers and Wheat thins “pita chips,” mini-bell peppers, and a couple of small plates of black and green olives with feta and spiced artichokes!
My Second 20 Mile Long Run!
I completed my second 20 mile long run yesterday, finishing in 3:13:59!!
I ran it as fast as I could, doing intervals the entire time and finished it more than six minutes faster than my last 20 miler (3:21)!
Mile 1 in 8:37 + Mile 2 in 9:18
I started off way too fast and ran a two miler in 18:44. I’m happy to see the faster numbers but I definitely have to remember, “Marathon means 26.2 miles of running.” :)
{Source}
Mile 3 in 9:38 + Mile 4 in 9:39 + Mile 5 in 9:48 + Mile 6 in 9:37
“The uneventful miles” so I decided to shake things up! I run the lake-front path a lot and around mile 4 when I saw the same bird’s nest in a tree that I’ve seen for the last few weeks, I decided I wanted to see something new - so I went through a nature preserve area.
I got to see all the new plantings (wild grasses and flowers the city put down to help out the birds and bugs) and it is eerily quiet when you lose sight of the city and the water.
I love urban oases. One of the ways I’ve been able to prevent burnout has been constantly seeing something and doing something new - I haven’t missed a run since I started training and I hope the Angels of Injury can keep it that way.
Mile 7 in 9:53 + Mile 8 in 9:47
{Source - Miles 7 and 8 involved me freaking out about my moleskin slipping - I’ve had a cut I’ve been nursing and I didn’t want it to act up!}
Mile 9 in 10:42
My right hip stated acting up and I let the Garmin run while I assumed pigeon pose, stretching it out). My only mile over 10 minutes and most of it was holding pigeon. :D
{At mile 10 - I like to pretend the lake ends here and I’m at the end of the world.}
Mile 10 in 9:54
Back to business with my fastest training 10 miler in 1:37! I definitely had to slow down a few times but I can’t wait to see an even lower number during a race!
Mile 11 in 9:40
{Source}
I run because it makes me feel good. When I’m having a bad day or when I feel like someone has caused me unhappiness, a run makes me feel better. I run because I love it and can’t imagine a life without running. I run because my body thrives on it and I feel more alive when I run. I run because it makes me madly happy even if the run isn’t great.
{Source}
This run was definitely harder because I was running it faster and I had ten more miles to go at this point. I had my honey badger eyes of fury going - but I also had a smile on my face. :)
Mile 12 in 9:26 + Mile 13 in 9:49
I felt tight so I focused on my posture, my hips, my stride, but at a certain point, I think I was just going to have to get used to my body feeling some aches while I forced it to go faster.
{Source}
Mile 14 in 9:34
After the half-marathon mark, there’s always a moment of “Mother Mary, I still have more miles, don’t I?” An encouraging text from John provided a second wind!
{Source}
Mile 15 in 9:38
On my way down the lake-front, I decided to take a section that is closed off with gates and police signs because lots of other runners were jumping the fence.
A quarter mile in, I realized that I (we?) are trapped because the trail leads into the water where it collapsed. I navigated some rocks (imagining I was that dude in 27 Hours) and climbed a small stone wall.
Everyone jumped so I jumped - it wasn’t very high, maybe up to my tummy and I’m only 5’2 - but the pain in my left ankle when I hit the ground - never doing that again!
Mile 16 in 9:51 + Mile 17 in 9:45
At this point, my hands were shaking and unable to open my pocket for Swedish fish. I ran in my Lulu tank top and vest to test out my gear for race day but once the sun was gone, I was chilled.
{Source}
Mile 18 in 9:48 + Mile 19 in 9:52 + Mile 20 in 9:34
My favorite moment in a long distance race is the last two miles - I was extra motivated to finish strong because all I wanted was to go home, shower, and drink hot chocolate! I also started to use Kelly Clarkson’s running advice:
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn’t mean I’m lonely when I’m alone!
What doesn’t kill you makes a fighter,
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn’t mean I’m over cause you’re gone
Who knew? Kelly Clarkson, running coach. I didn’t want to think, I just wanted to run so the song was on permanent loop until the end. :)
{Source}
I came home, collapsed in the shower with Gatorade, and then collapsed into bed. :)
Take Me Out To The Ball Game
Since we got back from New Orleans, I’ve been surviving on one meal a day and hot chocolate. I made it to the grocery store and started my Monday with a tropical smoothie.
In the mix: almond milk, Fage Greek yogurt with mango and guanabana, small frozen banana, strawberries, and a teaspoon of sugar-free lemonade + a slice of whole wheat toast. Taste the islands peeps! :D
And here’s my first plant of summer - oregano! Oregano can be grown easily on a window sill (and can withstand mercurial temperatures) because it’s a hearty little guy.
Lunch was a large plate of mixed greens and wasabi-miso dressing, a slice of whole wheat toast, and a cheddar cheese stick.
I had a pretty great Monday - guess where I spent my evening?
John and I went to the Cubs - Brewers game at Wrigley, our first game of the season!
A partner was giving away tickets to the associates and John grabbed two last week for a fun date night!
They were giving away these awesome hats but we were too late to get one. :(
Sadly, it was a cold game and people were snuggling under blankets. I can’t wait till we got to a hot weather game!
I love this series of photographs because I never realized how specifically the pitcher turns his body when he throws the ball - it’s like a ballerina on one leg!
I love watching the Cubbies play and I love getting our dinner at the stadium - I shared this popcorn box and a pretzel with John - and came home and drank two liters of water!
(I hate the no water bottles in stadiums rule and buying the plastic bottles feels so wasteful!)
Nigel Bear was extra cuddly when we got home and was butt-wiggling all over the place.
Today’s Workout: 1 Hour, Yoga at Home (Hatha + Routines from Stiles’ book)
Hope you had a great Monday!
Easter Brunch at the Southern
Did you put on your best and celebrate Easter? Or adorable bunnies and chocolate egg day?
I decided on my “grande chapiteau” dress - always puts a smile on my face.
Saturday’s post-long run workout was a Core Restore yin yoga class and yesterday was a simple 4.5 mile walk around the city - I’m hoping all the active recovery will get me back to business today.
We are still in New Orleans mode so we were excited for our Easter brunch at The Southern.
The Southern has a cool open air bar and a great courtyard where we sat - with the sun shining down through the trees we pretended we were in NOLA.
The waiter convinced us to try these spiced doughnut holes with a coffee dipping sauce and fresh fruit. They were yummy and warm and would be perfect for fall - I loved it with the fresh fruit!
I can’t believe I eat eggs now. :) Dippy eggs and toast for me!
John went wild with the crawfish and grits and got me an order of the cheese grits to try but they were “eh” and I only had a bite. Commander’s Palace has ruined grits for me - there are no awesome grits like that in the Midwest!
The restaurant was good but not great; I think I would go back for drinks with girlfriends and the ambiance instead of the brunch food! I’m also hoping we go back for dinner and I get to try some of the Southern fare
Nigel got an Easter present from his hooman grandmother which roars when he shakes it. Nigel 1; Bear 0. :)
I Love Brunch
And there’s nothing better than a long run followed by brunch! John’s long run was on Saturday and I was more than willing to celebrate with a lovely brunch. :)
We loved our long run dinner at Francesca Forno and wanted to check out their brunch because it was even more packed!
I had been dreaming of the raspberry crespelle with riccotta, saffron honey, and toasted almonds but when I finally had a bite, it was disappointing. Ever since I started eating dippy eggs, I’ve been craving them for breakfast - instead of oatmeal-as-dessert bowls, pancakes, and other ‘sweet stuffs’ for brunch.
We left the crespelle and John got a delicious veggie omelette and smashed fingerling potatoes with green peppers (and he shared two with me!)
Baby, It’s Cold Outside
I went to brunch at Feast with two girlfriends today - these are the eggs royale, two poached eggs and smoked salmon over an English muffin with hollandaise sauce, caviar with Feast’s signature potatoes.
My meal was more simple but still yummy - black bean soup with a mixed greens salad!
I worked through lunch and quickly enjoyed a Luna Chocolate Raspberry bar and a black coffee - so delicious!
Today’s workout was a C1.5 hot yoga class with my favorite teacher. She ran the Shamrock Shuffle too and I think she knew half her class did as well - there were a lot of hip openers in the class!
I enjoyed a nice meal right after hot yoga - a sunny side up dippy egg and an Arnold’s Thin - my first dippy egg sandwich! I finally got my sunny side up technique down and dressed my egg with cumin, salt, and pepper.
A bowl of mixed greens on the side provided some Popeye power!
Today’s frigid temperatures left my teeth chattering and I needed a second cup of coffee and half a Luna Bar for a pick me up in the early evening!
John came home late for dinner and we demolished an entire tray of roasted and salty zucchini and he stole my Gardein “Chick’n” strips. He might be a carnivore but you can’t leave him alone with your veggie chicken strips. :D
Between our running and racing, midnight showings of the Hunger Games this weekend, and some late night drinking fun, we are exhausted and will be turning in early like old people. Hope you had an awesome Monday!
Running Bunny Weekly Report: Pushing Hard Enough
The week before NYC, I ran a solid 15 miler.
I trained hard but not smart.
I sandwiched the run with two hours of hard hot yoga the day before and two hours of hot yoga the day after. I followed these three days with a hard weights workout and I knew I had pushed my right knee beyond it’s limit and the pain was a terrifying echo of the days after the Marine Corps Marathon.
I talked to John and he said something that made a lot of sense to me. At the pace I’m training, my body is not recovering as fast as it is breaking down.
I decided to only run a 5K on Saturday in NYC (so lovely!) but the eight hours of walking in New York City on Saturday and Sunday was definitely too much for me.
Training intuitively stopped me from pushing - I completed the week at 18.1 miles with two runs and four hot yoga classes.
*******
I started last week with more intuitive running. I reduced my hot yoga classes to two and decided to run three times - I only practiced gentle hatha yoga routines at home every day.
I love the four day running week and they serve me best at 10K distances or above - but the only thing that matters for my marathon training are my long runs.
I did a mind-numbing 4 miles on the bike for cross-training on Monday.
I ran a 10K on Tuesday (1:02).
I ran an 8 miler on Thursday (1.21).
I ran a great Shamrock Shuffle on Sunday morning…(a little over 46 minutes).
and then an additional 10 miler in 1:30!
I needed the Shamrock Shuffle - I wasn’t looking for a P.R. (didn’t get one anyway!) but my mid-week runs were feeling dispiriting and I was only craving my long runs.
During the race, the miles flew by and I was so happy to be running - something I only feel deep into my weekend long runs.
I always try to remind myself, running is not something I have to do, it’s something I want to do and that I crave doing.
It took a lot out of my knee, and subsequently my right hip, to run ten more miles yesterday for a total of 15 miles. I decided that it would be smarter to repeat 15 miles as a long run before I move onto the higher mileage - my body needs some TLC.
My total mileage for the week was 29.2 miles.
I am not going to write an elaborate plan for next week other than to say, I have a longer long run planned and I’ll get to do it in New Orleans!
Every shorter run and hot yoga workout is just icing on the cake. :D
Everyday I’m {Shamrock} Shuffling
Along with 40,000 other runners (91% from Chicago), John and I ran the Shamrock Shuffle 8K this morning (4.97 miles!).
It’s the largest 8K road race in the world and the elite corral even featured Olympians Abdi Abdirahman and Olympian hopefuls!
I hit a personal record I’ve been chasing for some time - five miles in under 45 minutes - 44:18 to be exact!
My mile splits were: 8:57, 8:44, 9:31, 8:35, 8:29.
{Edit} I thought I had hit a P.R. but the race numbers ended up being 45:59 (5K, 29:19).
I know a lot of running bloggers love to claim their Garmin numbers over chip times but chip times are more accurate - and the practice of using your Garmin numbers for race stats feels dishonest.
Your Garmin can register longer distances because of personal failure to run course tangents or weaving around other runners.
This race kicks of spring racing season for Chicago - and we have 55 days until the Fargo Marathon!
I’m off to finish a long run for marathon training. Hope your Sunday is sunny and beautiful too!
