Getting Ready for a Marathon
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!
Seven Things Sunday
I am grateful for…
Promises made which surprise me still.
Our Valentine’s day dinner at Takashi, which features contemporary French-American fare with Japanese influences. I am particularly grateful for chefs who will and can make a great six-course meal for a vegetarian.
If you love restaurant reviews as much as I do, here you go!
My first ten miler for marathon training - the amazing part? I can’t believe I can run ten miles at a decent clip, and not be sore the next day. The two stupid knee ouchies however, need some attending to.
Chocolate from Vosges, forged by the angels themselves. I’m also grateful for a will-power which allowed me to save them until my weekend long run. :D
Longer and warmer days…so Nigel is loving his walks again.
{Source}
The Disney Land Half Marathon in September is the final race for Disney’s Coast-to-Coast marathon challenge. It sold out last night. I was heart broken when this happened last year too especially after the Goofy Challenge.
Guess which two crazy kids got into registration in the nick of time? California half marathon in September! ;D
Our post ten miler treat - Big Star Taco! After hearing from EVERYONE that we needed to eat here, we decided our long run day was perfect.
Two and a half page waiting list to get into the restaurant itself. Lines out the door. Is it that good? Oh. My. Goodness. If G-d ate food, he would want tacos from here. Vegetarians can enjoy the portabella mushrooms or potato tacos, and the latter was my fave!
Hope everyone has a great new week ahead of them!
Yes, I’m Counting Down the Hours Until Valentine’s Day
{Princess Jasmine Valentine!}
I celebrated my first Valentine’s day when I was a little girl and we moved to New York City and to this day, I take the holiday seriously.
My mom didn’t understand how the school celebrated and she bought an expensive gift for my secret boy, and when he opened it in class, everyone, including me, was quite surprised because it didn’t fit the $20 limit.
Later that night, the boy’s mother drove up to our house and made her son walk up and give me flowers and a bear. I still remember how red his face was. :D
I miss making the little mailboxes you hung on your desk or locker to collect Valentine’s cards - my favorite were the ones you stuck a little candy on!
I started Valentine’s Day early with a lunch date to meet my boy for lunch. Breakfast was on the go - a skinny vanilla latte in Starbuck’s Valentine’s Day cup.
And a Be Kind Fruit and Nut Delight bar. I love the Blueberry flavor but this was good too!
I met this handsome guy for lunch at Roti - one of my favorite chains downtown!
I had a lovely mixed greens salad topped with roasted veggies, Sumac Onions, Mixed Greens, Tomato & Cucumber Salad, Kalamata Olives, Red Cabbage Slaw, Cous Cous - I couldn’t finish it and John helped with that. ;)
I rarely find myself in the Loop (downtown Chicago) since we moved and John loves having lunch with me so one of my Valentine’s day gifts to him is to plan lunch with him once a month!
Here is one my favorite memories from my last Valentine Day - my baby puppy!
One Down, One To Go!
In 2011, when we completed the Donald Duck Half Marathon, I completed it in 2:50 and John in 2:54, because he was running back and forth for ten minutes looking for me because we got seperated.
In 2012, we came into the race telling ourselves to have fun - imagining there was no way we’ve be able to finish with a great time: we ran at a nice pace, took pictures, kissed in the Enchanted castle, I took time to wee on the Disney golf course (emergency!), and I high-fived everyone and every character.
And we finished in 2:21, only 40 seconds slower then my personal best half-marathon at the Chicago half-marathon - and almost 30 minutes faster than last year’s Donald Duck Half, with a lot less effort and a lot more fun! What a difference a year makes!
This half reminded me why I love running and why I love racing.
A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes
13.1 Donald Duck Half Marathon + 26.2 Mickey Mouse Marathon = 39.3 The Goofy Challenge!
{Mehnaz and her running bunny!}
We’ve arrived in Orlando and Disney World for our second Goofy Challenge.
Amazingly, one of my blog readers stopped me because he recognized John and me from my blog. It was pretty cool!
Getting to Disney has taken care of all pre-race jitters - I am so excited about this weekend and running my heart out.
Hope everyone is having a great Friday night!
