First off: thanks. If you read this blog, you know I have been trying to resolve some things from the past that have been troubling me. When I put up the post, my first thought was to take it right back down. But, I wanted to be real, and I needed advice.
It meant a lot to know that I'm not the only one who has these feelings. I also appreciate the advice and guidance you all offered. I'm happy to say that I am now one letter (stamped and in the mail!), one email, one face-to-face conversation, and one Facebook message lighter, and already I feel better. Each situation needed to be handled differently. I still have a few I'm not sure how to deal with, but I am getting there. Mentally, I am in a better place. Even though I can't change the mistakes I made, I feel more free from them now.
My friend forever, Nicki, sent me this video. I think it is perfect, and I want to share it with you.
I think the video was probably inspired by this talk. Read it, if you have time. (Thanks, Melissa.)
When I looked back at my past mistakes, it wasn't with longing, but regret. Despite that, it was still hindering my growth. As Elder Holland said of Lot's wife, "In short, her attachment to the past outweighed her confidence in the future." But in the words of Robert Browning,
Grow old along with me!
The
best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was made:
Our times are in His hand
Who saith,
“A whole I planned,
Youth shows but half; trust God: see all, nor be afraid!”
So, while I make amends and dust the closet shelves of my past, I can do so knowing that I am doing it in faith, which "builds on the past but never longs to
stay there." The truth is, I am going to make a lot more mistakes in my life and most like hurt feelings, too. Probably, I will be ignorant of it most of the time. But the best I can do is try to be better and, as Angie said, pray for people to be forgiving of me.
Thanks, Readers. :) You helped me make my whole life better.
5.27.2012
And now ... the nitty-gritty.
Disclaimer: This post is for me more than anyone, but it might also
be helpful for anyone (a beginner) thinking about running a marathon in the future.
It is terrifically long. Enjoy the nitty-gritty details. :)
Pre-Race Nutrition
What I Did: The week of the marathon, I was very tuned into my body. I studiously avoided foods that give me stomach issues: sweets, cheese, and fatty foods. I also avoided dairy (just in case). I concentrated on eating lots of whole grains and fruits.
What I Wish I Did: I feel like I ate too much. Coming off of the taper, I expected my appetite to decrease, but it didn't as much as I thought. I think it would be valuable to count calories and not overeat during the whole training cycle next time.
Day Before Race Nutrition
Breakfast: Oatmeal with soy milk, walnuts, and raisins
Lunch: 12-inch (yes, you read that right) Subway oven-roasted chicken breast on whole wheat. Lots of veggies, no cheese, no mayo.
Dinner: Cereal (Life and Rice Chex mixed ... one of my fav treats!), a small slice of pizza, and a light blackberry cobbler.
Race Day Nutrition
Before: I ate a Clif Bar with caffeine at 5:00 AM. I took ibuprofen and Imodium at 6:30 AM.
During: I hydrated with water and fueled with caffeinated Sport Beans.
After: Post race, I ate a piece of whole wheat bread with butter along with a bottle of chocolate milk. I didn't have much of an appetite the rest of the day, although I did eat cottage cheese and fruit for lunch and Red Robin for dinner. :) YUMMM!
What I Wore
Clothing: Bondi Band, Handful sports bra, Old Navy fitted top, Old Navy compression capris, Danskin socks (loose fit), cotton gloves, Nike Frees
Gear Bag: I wore sweats and a jacket up to the start (it was 35 degrees), along with a pair of old shoes (to keep mine fresh for running). I left everything in a gear bag, which I almost forgot when I was leaving!
Gear: iPod nano, iPod armband (which broke ... and was fixed with a twistie tie), Skullcandy chops earphones, Spibelt, Garmin 405, Peppers polarized sunglasses, Amphipod 12 oz. water bottle
Good Ideas
Not-So-Good Ideas
Split Times
Mile 1: 8:52
Mile 2: 9:08
Mile 3: 8:54 (Water Stop)
Mile 4: 9:02
Mile 5: 9:04 (Water Stop)
Mile 6: 8:59
Mile 7: 9:11 (Water Stop)
Mile 8: 9:01
Mile 9: 9:00 (Water Stop)
Mile 10: 9:08
Mile 11: 9:16 (Water Stop)
Mile 12: 9:04
Mile 13: 9:03 (Water Stop)
Mile 14: 9:11
Mile 15: 9:41 (Water Stop) (Hill)
Mile 16: 9:23 (Hill)
Mile 17: 9:10 (Water Stop)
Mile 18: 9:02
Mile 19: 9:09
Mile 20: 9:04 (Water Stop)
Mile 21: 9:04
Mile 22: 9:21
Mile 23: 9:16
Mile 24: 9:42
Mile 25: 9:45
Mile 26: 9:51
Mile .4: 9:52
Split Times via GOAL Website
7M: 1:03:31 (9:05)
Half: 1:59:23 (9:07)
18M: 2:50:16 (9:28)
23.1M: 3:31:12 (9:09)
The three minutes I lost were all in the last miles of the race. Boo! But it's interesting to note that the water stops made little difference on my time even though I walked through them. Overall, pretty consistent.
Race Results
Overall: 894 out of 2402 (Top 37%)
Women: 327 out of 1187 (Top 27%)
F 25-29: 46 out of 145 (Top 31%)
Final Thoughts
Next time I train, I hope to do a couple of things differently. First, I'd plug in a faster time to the McMillan Running Calculator for training paces (eg., a 3:58 instead of 4:00) to give me a little time cushion. (See this post by Dorothy Beal for more information.) Further on that point, I would work on moving to the lower end of the training times like she explains. (In other words, if suggested long run pace is 9:40-10:40, I would start at the 10:40 end and work toward the 9:40 end.) Also, I would run my long runs differently. I would work in race-pace miles in the middle and I wouldn't take walk breaks. Still, when all is said and done, I feel that I was really prepared. I followed the training plan in Four Months to a Four-Hour Marathon exactly (except I did not do a 23 miler--I did 20 instead). Finally, I think the cross-training I did made a huge difference. While I was running, I could really feel the benefits of kettlebell training and weight training. I'll definitely keep that as part of my routine.
Pre-Race Nutrition
What I Did: The week of the marathon, I was very tuned into my body. I studiously avoided foods that give me stomach issues: sweets, cheese, and fatty foods. I also avoided dairy (just in case). I concentrated on eating lots of whole grains and fruits.
What I Wish I Did: I feel like I ate too much. Coming off of the taper, I expected my appetite to decrease, but it didn't as much as I thought. I think it would be valuable to count calories and not overeat during the whole training cycle next time.
Day Before Race Nutrition
Breakfast: Oatmeal with soy milk, walnuts, and raisins
Lunch: 12-inch (yes, you read that right) Subway oven-roasted chicken breast on whole wheat. Lots of veggies, no cheese, no mayo.
Dinner: Cereal (Life and Rice Chex mixed ... one of my fav treats!), a small slice of pizza, and a light blackberry cobbler.
Race Day Nutrition
Before: I ate a Clif Bar with caffeine at 5:00 AM. I took ibuprofen and Imodium at 6:30 AM.
During: I hydrated with water and fueled with caffeinated Sport Beans.
After: Post race, I ate a piece of whole wheat bread with butter along with a bottle of chocolate milk. I didn't have much of an appetite the rest of the day, although I did eat cottage cheese and fruit for lunch and Red Robin for dinner. :) YUMMM!
What I Wore
Clothing: Bondi Band, Handful sports bra, Old Navy fitted top, Old Navy compression capris, Danskin socks (loose fit), cotton gloves, Nike Frees
Gear Bag: I wore sweats and a jacket up to the start (it was 35 degrees), along with a pair of old shoes (to keep mine fresh for running). I left everything in a gear bag, which I almost forgot when I was leaving!
Gear: iPod nano, iPod armband (which broke ... and was fixed with a twistie tie), Skullcandy chops earphones, Spibelt, Garmin 405, Peppers polarized sunglasses, Amphipod 12 oz. water bottle
Good Ideas
- The Imodium was a great idea! I had no stomach issues and I didn't have to stop along the route.
- I can't eat a big meal the night before a long run, so I eat a big lunch instead. That explains my enormous Subway sandwich. :)
- I didn't buy Body Glide but instead used petroleum jelly to rub between my toes (and anywhere else chafing might occur ...). It was cheap and worked great. I had no chafing issues.
- I tossed away my gloves around mile 10. I was glad I had them and glad I could toss them when I warmed up. A great idea for next time: I had considered buying some Zensah arm warmers but ultimately decided they were too expensive. A girl running by me had cut the ends off of tube socks and was wearing them as arm warmers. Then, when she warmed up, she peeled them off and tossed them by the side of the road.
- I was glad I had my own water. I drank water (not Powerade) at the stops and didn't need it until around mile 20, when I was getting tired and thirsty and didn't want to stop to walk anymore. I used it on all my long runs, so it didn't bother me at all.
- I'm glad I wore tight-fitting clothes. They were warm at the start and prevented chafing in the later miles.
Not-So-Good Ideas
- I wish I had taped my earphones in. Tony told me President Uchtdorf does this. Great idea for next time! I have really small ears, and I can never seem to keep my earphones in, even though I bought special "over-the-ear-sport-headphones").
- Even though I practiced with Sport Beans on my long runs and liked them okay, I had a hard time getting them down. I had to chew them on the go, and the consistency ended up being as gross as a GU and not as convenient. I am leaning toward a sports drink next time instead of food.
- I ignored the photographers on the course and my pictures are lame. It doesn't really matter, but I should have at least smiled!
Split Times
Mile 1: 8:52
Mile 2: 9:08
Mile 3: 8:54 (Water Stop)
Mile 4: 9:02
Mile 5: 9:04 (Water Stop)
Mile 6: 8:59
Mile 7: 9:11 (Water Stop)
Mile 8: 9:01
Mile 9: 9:00 (Water Stop)
Mile 10: 9:08
Mile 11: 9:16 (Water Stop)
Mile 12: 9:04
Mile 13: 9:03 (Water Stop)
Mile 14: 9:11
Mile 15: 9:41 (Water Stop) (Hill)
Mile 16: 9:23 (Hill)
Mile 17: 9:10 (Water Stop)
Mile 18: 9:02
Mile 19: 9:09
Mile 20: 9:04 (Water Stop)
Mile 21: 9:04
Mile 22: 9:21
Mile 23: 9:16
Mile 24: 9:42
Mile 25: 9:45
Mile 26: 9:51
Mile .4: 9:52
Split Times via GOAL Website
7M: 1:03:31 (9:05)
Half: 1:59:23 (9:07)
18M: 2:50:16 (9:28)
23.1M: 3:31:12 (9:09)
The three minutes I lost were all in the last miles of the race. Boo! But it's interesting to note that the water stops made little difference on my time even though I walked through them. Overall, pretty consistent.
Race Results
Overall: 894 out of 2402 (Top 37%)
Women: 327 out of 1187 (Top 27%)
F 25-29: 46 out of 145 (Top 31%)
Final Thoughts
Next time I train, I hope to do a couple of things differently. First, I'd plug in a faster time to the McMillan Running Calculator for training paces (eg., a 3:58 instead of 4:00) to give me a little time cushion. (See this post by Dorothy Beal for more information.) Further on that point, I would work on moving to the lower end of the training times like she explains. (In other words, if suggested long run pace is 9:40-10:40, I would start at the 10:40 end and work toward the 9:40 end.) Also, I would run my long runs differently. I would work in race-pace miles in the middle and I wouldn't take walk breaks. Still, when all is said and done, I feel that I was really prepared. I followed the training plan in Four Months to a Four-Hour Marathon exactly (except I did not do a 23 miler--I did 20 instead). Finally, I think the cross-training I did made a huge difference. While I was running, I could really feel the benefits of kettlebell training and weight training. I'll definitely keep that as part of my routine.
Good-for-You Banana Walnut Muffins
These. Are. Delicious. I adapted the recipe from my go-to source: The All New Good Housekeeping Cookbook. I've swapped in things here and there, and they always seem to turn out great. Good luck adapting them to your family's tastes.
Good-for-You Banana Walnut Muffins
*from my kitchen*
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 c. milk (substitute soy milk, if you like)
2 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 c. low-fat vanilla yogurt (Greek-style will result in spongier muffins)
2 to 2 1/2 c. whole wheat flour (more or less, depending on the texture of yogurt)
1 T. baking powder
3/4 t. salt
1/2 c. applesauce, for sweetness (optional)
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
Preheat oven to 400. Grease a muffin pan with softened butter. (If you've never cooked with yogurt, just know that it replaces fats and can result in sticking. I never use muffin liners when cooking with yogurt. Butter seems to work best.) In a small bowl, combine dry ingredients and whisk. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine bananas, milk, eggs, vanilla, yogurt, and applesauce, if using. Stir to combine. Add dry ingredients and stir just until the batter comes together. (Uncooked bananas can sometimes taste a little bitter, so don't freak out if your batter tastes funny at this point. Resist the temptation to add sugar. Have faith! It will be yummy, I promise.) Fill muffin cups 3/4 of the way full and top them with a sprinkling of chopped walnuts. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes and then turn out onto a cooling rack. (I freeze them in individual bags. They thaw beautifully.) Enjoy!
Week In Review
May 20-26, 2012
The Mrs. made this for dinner ...
Sunday - Scrambled Eggs + Toast
Monday - Baked Chimichangas (the Mr. was so excited to eat these ... he said, "These are so delicious" before he had even taken a bite!)
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Cafe Rio + FTC Drinks + Dessert
Thursday - Carolina Chicken + Homemade Honey Mustard + Sweet Potato Quinoa Cakes (I loved the quinoa cakes ... the Mr. not so much.)
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - Leftovers
The Mrs. made these sweet treats and snacks ...
Black + White Cookies
Oven Roasted Broccoli (BLECK! We hated it, but the ever-broccoli-loving kiddo loved it so much he asked if broccoli could come with us on his walk. Go figure.)
Green Smoothies
Sweet Potato Hot Chocolate (Oh, my delicious! It's basically a vegetable in chocolate form. I will post a recipe soon.)
Food journaling ...
Sort of a slow week for me, cooking wise. Broccoli should be steamed, never roasted, and apparently I serve soggy burritos often enough for my husband to weep in gratitude at a crispy chimi. Dinner on Wednesday was courtesy of my sees who was kind enough to A) be born and B) want to eat sweet pork with us on her bday. :)
The Mrs. worked out this way ...
Sunday - Rest
Monday - 4M Walk w/ Jogging Stroller + Foam Roll (20 min.)
Tuesday - Cycle WU (5 min.) + 40 30/30 Climb Intervals + Cycle CD (5 min.) + Foam Roll (20 min.)
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - 3M w/ Jogging Stroller (9:01 pace-9:44 {uphill}, 8:36 {downhill}, 8:40 {flat}) + Bob Harper Inside Out Strength (30 min.) + Stretching (esp. piriformis!) (20 min.)
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 7.5M (9:17 pace) + Foam Roll (20 min.)
Workout journaling ...
Lots of rest this week. I figured I was coming off a marathon and not to stress too much, which was good since this was my last week of work before summer vacay and things were a bit nutty around here. Still, I managed to get a few decent workouts in. I think I'm ready to go hard-core back strength training next week and up my runs from two to three.
Post marathon soreness was intense Sunday-Monday. Tuesday I felt pretty good, and Wednesday I was about 100%. I took the kiddo out for a run on Thursday and I pushed the pace pretty good--I always like to see 8:00s with the stroller. Saturday's run was a comfortable pace--I didn't push too much, but I didn't take it easy, either. I'm happy with my average pace, which I know I could have maintained over several more miles. I plan to use my marathon fitness to translate into some faster speeds at shorter distances for a while, which I'll talk about in another post.
Best moments this week?
The little one has started stringing pronouns, adverbs, adjectives, and nouns together into real sentences. "It's a very fast car." (We spend most of our life talking about how fast cars are.) The Mr. took us swimming yesterday, and I have seeds sprouting all over my garden.
Worst moments this week?
I love Costco ... I hate Costco. One day, I will devote an entire post to it. And I have watched A Turtle's Tale about 6 times this week. Curse you, Netflix!
Date Night ...
Tower Heist with Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy.
5.23.2012
Help Wanted
Blog Readers, I need help. From all six of you.
Every few months, something triggers a memory or I hear about someone I used to know, and I get this g.u.i.l.t.y. feeling. It is the feeling I get remembering something not-so-very nice I once did.
Clarification: I'm not malicious. I don't set out to hurt feelings. But ... there have been times when I haven't handled myself with much ... grace. This includes dumb things like pushing my friend into a set of lockers once in junior high school, or how I broke up with a boyfriend one summer by just not talking to him ... ever again, or the time I told my mom I thought a vacuum cleaner was a really dumb thing to spend money on. (I regret those words.) Even though these people probably don't even remember these things, I feel awful every time I think about them.
And there are other things, like friendships that ended or relationships that fizzled ... or imploded. More serious things that are harder to laugh about.
I really, really want to stop feeling awful every time I remember one of these memories. There is just one problem: they involve other people. I sort of feel as though I can't get over it and move on if there is someone out there who was hurt by my immature words or decisions. Which leads me to the crux of this problem.
(Are you still reading? Because I really want advice.)
I sort of feel like ... I should write to the people about whom I have sad or guilty feelings. I don't want to drag up the past and relive drama--I just want to say, "I am sorry for being immature and thoughtless. And I hope you are really happy, because you deserve it."
Is that awkward? Yes, I know. IT TOTALLY IS.
Is this better left alone? Am I ever going to get over it unless I just do it? Would it make it worse the next time (or if ever) I run into that person again? Does it sound condescending? Will I feel better after I send those words of apology out into the universe, or will my anxiety increase wondering what people will think or say?
And then, of course, this doesn't even cover the many people I have unknowingly offended or outright annoyed by just breathing. If you are out there reading: SORRY. I am a work in progress, and even though I haven't always made perfect decisions, I'm trying to be better. I just want to be on GOOD TERMS. I sort of want to move forward by putting the things of the past in order and moving on.
Thoughts. Advice. Opinions. Confessions welcome.
Awkward Guilty Girl, signing off.
Every few months, something triggers a memory or I hear about someone I used to know, and I get this g.u.i.l.t.y. feeling. It is the feeling I get remembering something not-so-very nice I once did.
Clarification: I'm not malicious. I don't set out to hurt feelings. But ... there have been times when I haven't handled myself with much ... grace. This includes dumb things like pushing my friend into a set of lockers once in junior high school, or how I broke up with a boyfriend one summer by just not talking to him ... ever again, or the time I told my mom I thought a vacuum cleaner was a really dumb thing to spend money on. (I regret those words.) Even though these people probably don't even remember these things, I feel awful every time I think about them.
And there are other things, like friendships that ended or relationships that fizzled ... or imploded. More serious things that are harder to laugh about.
I really, really want to stop feeling awful every time I remember one of these memories. There is just one problem: they involve other people. I sort of feel as though I can't get over it and move on if there is someone out there who was hurt by my immature words or decisions. Which leads me to the crux of this problem.
(Are you still reading? Because I really want advice.)
I sort of feel like ... I should write to the people about whom I have sad or guilty feelings. I don't want to drag up the past and relive drama--I just want to say, "I am sorry for being immature and thoughtless. And I hope you are really happy, because you deserve it."
Is that awkward? Yes, I know. IT TOTALLY IS.
Is this better left alone? Am I ever going to get over it unless I just do it? Would it make it worse the next time (or if ever) I run into that person again? Does it sound condescending? Will I feel better after I send those words of apology out into the universe, or will my anxiety increase wondering what people will think or say?
And then, of course, this doesn't even cover the many people I have unknowingly offended or outright annoyed by just breathing. If you are out there reading: SORRY. I am a work in progress, and even though I haven't always made perfect decisions, I'm trying to be better. I just want to be on GOOD TERMS. I sort of want to move forward by putting the things of the past in order and moving on.
Thoughts. Advice. Opinions. Confessions welcome.
Awkward Guilty Girl, signing off.
5.21.2012
Week in Review
May 13-19, 2012
Sunday - Foam Roll (30 min.)
Monday - 3M with Jogging Stroller (9:51 pace) + Foam Roll (10 min.)
Tuesday - 4.6M on TM (8:51 pace) + Leg Massage (HEAVEN!!)
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - Easy Cycle (30 min.) + 2M with Jogging Stroller (10:04 pace)
Friday - Rest
Saturday - MARATHON DAY!
Workout Journaling ...
An easy taper week of low mileage, but I kept the intensity high on the runs during the early part of the week. The leg massage was probably the most important decision I made all week long. Thanks, Liz. :)
The Mrs. made this for dinner ...
Sunday - Chicken Pot Pie
Monday - Toad in the Hole + Sausage Rounds
Tuesday - Cornmeal Pancakes (I'm not really a pancake person, but these were Honestly. So. Good.)
Wednesday - Thai Peanut Chicken Quinoa Bowls (inspired by here) (The peanut sauce is AMAZING!)
Thursday - Creamy Tomato Basil Soup + Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
Friday - Cold Cereal + NYPD Pizza (I had one tiny slice but stuck with my tried-and-true pre-race dinner.)
Saturday - Dine Out :)
The Mrs. also made these sweet treats and snacks ...
Sugar/Oil Free Banana Walnut Yogurt Muffins (recipe to come!)
Healthy Strawberry Muffins
Blue Cheese Dip (The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier)
Food Journaling ...
I was so excited about the Healthy Strawberry Muffins, until my husband told me that cooked strawberries are the same texture as boogers. No one has touched them since. :( If I were to make them again, I'd def top them with dehydrated strawberries or nuts instead.
The Creamy Tomato Basil Soup I made on the stovetop instead of the slow cooker, and everyone was pleasantly thrilled with how unexpectedly delicious it was ... since it didn't look like much. It was a real hit!
5.20.2012
Ogden 2012: Race Recap
Here is what I learned about running marathons:
You train to run the last six miles.
It seems crazy to say that 20 miles was a drop in the bucket, but for me: the real race began at mile 20. But let's start at the very beginning.
Friday, I hopped on Frontrunner in Layton with my lovely BFF and her two sweeties. The weather was a *blissful* downpour, which set us up with great temps for Saturday morning. I didn't know what to expect with the Expo (I'd never been to one), but it was F.U.N. We sampled running foods, browsed gear, and I got my IT band taped for free by a professional. We loaded up at Subway and ran to catch the train back to Layton.
A little blurry, but I love her.
Saturday morning started like this.
Actually, I was awake by 3:15 and just laid there battling nerves. At 3:43, I got up and got put together. 4:20 rolled around and my girls showed up right on schedule.
I was so glad my one-and-only Mindy was well enough to run today. She deserved the finish line. We caught buses up to the start and huddled around fire barrels, joking and trying not to throw up. At 6:45, we dropped off our gear bags and I left my friends behind to line up with the 4:00 pacer.
15 minutes passed like 15 seconds, and the next thing I knew, Amylee had flung her arms around me. "You've done the work: today is the reward. Enjoy it!" and she was off to the front of the pack. I heard "On your mark, get set, GO!" and as soon as I crossed the start line, my nerves went away.
In the first mile, I made up my mind to do a few things:
1. Think positive thoughts. I told myself over and over, "Trust your training. Smile! You are running a marathon!"
2. Stay within 10-30 feet of the 4:00 pacer.
3. RUN. Except for a few steps walking through water stops, I ran Every. Single. Step.
(A pacer is a professional marathoner who holds a sign and balloons and paces the group to finish the marathon at their goal time. My goal time for the race was 4:00, which was a 9:09 average mile, or split.)
People told me that the first 10 miles would totally fly by. For me, that wasn't true. The time passed slowly, which wasn't awful. I focused on holding back, saving up a reserve for the end. I concentrated on form and eating and drinking. I listened to the people around me and chatted with a few runners. But for the most part, I was focused on running.
At about mile 13, I was feeling pretty strong, so I caught up to the pacer to ask her if she was running us to negative splits. She said she was going to stay consistent for the rest of the race. That would have been awesome ... if it were true ... but more on that later.
(Negative splits is a term that means you run the last half of the race faster than the first half of the race.)
After we passed the halfway mark, I felt the stirrings of fatigue, so I told myself to hold on and just wait for each aid station where I could get a drink and walk for a couple of seconds. We climbed a couple of hills coming out of Huntsville, but I still felt pretty strong.
About mile 17 (I think?), I saw two lovely ladies holding signs and cheering. It was Erin and Whitney! I yelled, "MY PEOPLE!" It was such a boost. (Thanks for coming, girls!)
At mile 19, I started to feel a lot of pain. I told myself I would hang on to the pace group until at least mile 20. A girl ran up to me after the aid station and asked if the pacer had sped up. I looked at my watch and said, "Yes, we are running an 8:33 split and she is pulling away from us!" She sped up to catch the group, but I didn't want to kick it too early. But the pace group was speeding up down the canyon (or--more likely--I was slowing down), and I lost sight of them between mile 20 and 21.
At that point, the race became a solo event. I won't lie--every step was so painful. It wasn't just my IT band injury that hurt--it was everything. I kept pushing, hoping that the downhill would help.
The downhill did help--sort of--until we ran into Ogden. The last three-ish miles we ran along a paved trail of rolling hills. They were tiny hills--no more than five feet long--but they felt like mountains. I started to get really discouraged between mile 23 and 24 because A. LOT. of people started passing me. But I also tried to encourage myself by noticing how many people were walking. Credit be given, I passed a lot of people on this section of the course, too. I would not let myself walk. But I won't lie. Going into mile 24 and knowing I still had 2.4 miles to run, I started crying.
And then I stopped, because I didn't have any energy to devote to it.
I don't know how I made it through the next mile and a half, but when we turned onto 25th Street, I knew I would make it to the finish line. Normally, I have a lot of kick left at the end of a long run, so I tried to increase my speed. Looking back at my splits later, I would realize I was actually not running any faster.
I crossed the finish line at 4:03:04!!
(The three minutes I gained were all in the last six miles. Overall, a 9:13 split, 4 seconds per mile off my goal pace. However: I can honestly say I. Had. Nothing. Left. at the finish, so I guess I ran the best race I could.)
I found my family right away and all I wanted to do was hug my baby. Seeing him was the best reward.
The Mr. had never been to a race finish line before, and I think he was impressed by the whole experience. He told me he was proud of me more than once. I was so glad I had commanded him to be at the finish line at 11:00. That time hung over my head in the last few miles when I wanted to quit. :)
Having my parents there to meet me meant so much. They have been there for all of the most important experiences of my life! I'll never forget the way my dad cheered, "Woohoo, Kalie!" when I got my Masters degree or when I told my mom told me how much she loved the name we chose for our baby that morning in the hospital. I was born of goodly parents, and I am so blessed.
A few days before the race, my sweet MIL highlighted a quote for me on Pinterest: "There will be days when I don't know if I can run a marathon. There will be a lifetime of knowing I have."
In 50/50, Dean Karnazes says that only 1% of people will ever run a marathon. I don't know if that's true, but it did make me feel like I was part of a pretty elite group. I ran a marathon. Nobody can ever take that accomplishment away from me.
Of that 1%, only .1 will qualify for Boston. But that is a goal for another day.
And then, of course, was Amy.
Our cheerleaders found us. These girls make me so happy. They make me better. In every way.
And I know this is the same picture, but you have to look at my face. Can you tell how I am all of a sudden feeling like I am going to pass out? I was standing there thinking, "Smile," but my body wasn't getting the message and I was afraid my smile looked like an enormous grimace. I sat down and realized that my chest, lungs, and back were so sore, I couldn't take any deep breaths. But after a minute, I felt okay again. :)
My brother, who is in a category of elite running I'll never reach, told me about a speed workout he did once that made his biceps sore. "What?" I asked. "How is that even possible?"
He explained, "When you are giving everything you have, your body pulls energy from every possible muscle to respond." As usual, he was right. After we left the corral, I tried to carry my baby to the car, but my arms were so fatigued they started shaking after only a few seconds. My body gave me everything it had. Thank you, body.
Yesterday, I posted a THANK YOU to everyone who helped me in this process. One of the biggest lessons I learned was that a person cannot run a marathon alone. Yesterday, my finish was for everyone.
And finally, the lessons. I sent prayers to the heavens every mile yesterday, thanking my Heavenly Father for the gift of a body healthy enough to run and strong enough to race. I felt very close to Him in those grueling last miles. I wondered why I was voluntarily putting myself through so much pain, more pain than I had ever felt, ever, in my life. Those moments brought me closer to my Savior, who put Himself through the Ultimate Pain, so that we could achieve an eternal destiny that would be impossible without Him. Running a marathon taught me that I am made of sterner stuff, and that I have nothing to fear. God be praised for His eternal, matchless wisdom.
And for real?
I can't wait to run another one.
You train to run the last six miles.
It seems crazy to say that 20 miles was a drop in the bucket, but for me: the real race began at mile 20. But let's start at the very beginning.
Friday, I hopped on Frontrunner in Layton with my lovely BFF and her two sweeties. The weather was a *blissful* downpour, which set us up with great temps for Saturday morning. I didn't know what to expect with the Expo (I'd never been to one), but it was F.U.N. We sampled running foods, browsed gear, and I got my IT band taped for free by a professional. We loaded up at Subway and ran to catch the train back to Layton.
A little blurry, but I love her.
Saturday morning started like this.
Actually, I was awake by 3:15 and just laid there battling nerves. At 3:43, I got up and got put together. 4:20 rolled around and my girls showed up right on schedule.
I was so glad my one-and-only Mindy was well enough to run today. She deserved the finish line. We caught buses up to the start and huddled around fire barrels, joking and trying not to throw up. At 6:45, we dropped off our gear bags and I left my friends behind to line up with the 4:00 pacer.
15 minutes passed like 15 seconds, and the next thing I knew, Amylee had flung her arms around me. "You've done the work: today is the reward. Enjoy it!" and she was off to the front of the pack. I heard "On your mark, get set, GO!" and as soon as I crossed the start line, my nerves went away.
In the first mile, I made up my mind to do a few things:
1. Think positive thoughts. I told myself over and over, "Trust your training. Smile! You are running a marathon!"
2. Stay within 10-30 feet of the 4:00 pacer.
3. RUN. Except for a few steps walking through water stops, I ran Every. Single. Step.
(A pacer is a professional marathoner who holds a sign and balloons and paces the group to finish the marathon at their goal time. My goal time for the race was 4:00, which was a 9:09 average mile, or split.)
People told me that the first 10 miles would totally fly by. For me, that wasn't true. The time passed slowly, which wasn't awful. I focused on holding back, saving up a reserve for the end. I concentrated on form and eating and drinking. I listened to the people around me and chatted with a few runners. But for the most part, I was focused on running.
At about mile 13, I was feeling pretty strong, so I caught up to the pacer to ask her if she was running us to negative splits. She said she was going to stay consistent for the rest of the race. That would have been awesome ... if it were true ... but more on that later.
(Negative splits is a term that means you run the last half of the race faster than the first half of the race.)
After we passed the halfway mark, I felt the stirrings of fatigue, so I told myself to hold on and just wait for each aid station where I could get a drink and walk for a couple of seconds. We climbed a couple of hills coming out of Huntsville, but I still felt pretty strong.
About mile 17 (I think?), I saw two lovely ladies holding signs and cheering. It was Erin and Whitney! I yelled, "MY PEOPLE!" It was such a boost. (Thanks for coming, girls!)
At mile 19, I started to feel a lot of pain. I told myself I would hang on to the pace group until at least mile 20. A girl ran up to me after the aid station and asked if the pacer had sped up. I looked at my watch and said, "Yes, we are running an 8:33 split and she is pulling away from us!" She sped up to catch the group, but I didn't want to kick it too early. But the pace group was speeding up down the canyon (or--more likely--I was slowing down), and I lost sight of them between mile 20 and 21.
At that point, the race became a solo event. I won't lie--every step was so painful. It wasn't just my IT band injury that hurt--it was everything. I kept pushing, hoping that the downhill would help.
The downhill did help--sort of--until we ran into Ogden. The last three-ish miles we ran along a paved trail of rolling hills. They were tiny hills--no more than five feet long--but they felt like mountains. I started to get really discouraged between mile 23 and 24 because A. LOT. of people started passing me. But I also tried to encourage myself by noticing how many people were walking. Credit be given, I passed a lot of people on this section of the course, too. I would not let myself walk. But I won't lie. Going into mile 24 and knowing I still had 2.4 miles to run, I started crying.
And then I stopped, because I didn't have any energy to devote to it.
I don't know how I made it through the next mile and a half, but when we turned onto 25th Street, I knew I would make it to the finish line. Normally, I have a lot of kick left at the end of a long run, so I tried to increase my speed. Looking back at my splits later, I would realize I was actually not running any faster.
I crossed the finish line at 4:03:04!!
(The three minutes I gained were all in the last six miles. Overall, a 9:13 split, 4 seconds per mile off my goal pace. However: I can honestly say I. Had. Nothing. Left. at the finish, so I guess I ran the best race I could.)
The Mr. had never been to a race finish line before, and I think he was impressed by the whole experience. He told me he was proud of me more than once. I was so glad I had commanded him to be at the finish line at 11:00. That time hung over my head in the last few miles when I wanted to quit. :)
Having my parents there to meet me meant so much. They have been there for all of the most important experiences of my life! I'll never forget the way my dad cheered, "Woohoo, Kalie!" when I got my Masters degree or when I told my mom told me how much she loved the name we chose for our baby that morning in the hospital. I was born of goodly parents, and I am so blessed.
A few days before the race, my sweet MIL highlighted a quote for me on Pinterest: "There will be days when I don't know if I can run a marathon. There will be a lifetime of knowing I have."
In 50/50, Dean Karnazes says that only 1% of people will ever run a marathon. I don't know if that's true, but it did make me feel like I was part of a pretty elite group. I ran a marathon. Nobody can ever take that accomplishment away from me.
Of that 1%, only .1 will qualify for Boston. But that is a goal for another day.
And then, of course, was Amy.
Our cheerleaders found us. These girls make me so happy. They make me better. In every way.
And I know this is the same picture, but you have to look at my face. Can you tell how I am all of a sudden feeling like I am going to pass out? I was standing there thinking, "Smile," but my body wasn't getting the message and I was afraid my smile looked like an enormous grimace. I sat down and realized that my chest, lungs, and back were so sore, I couldn't take any deep breaths. But after a minute, I felt okay again. :)
My brother, who is in a category of elite running I'll never reach, told me about a speed workout he did once that made his biceps sore. "What?" I asked. "How is that even possible?"
He explained, "When you are giving everything you have, your body pulls energy from every possible muscle to respond." As usual, he was right. After we left the corral, I tried to carry my baby to the car, but my arms were so fatigued they started shaking after only a few seconds. My body gave me everything it had. Thank you, body.
Yesterday, I posted a THANK YOU to everyone who helped me in this process. One of the biggest lessons I learned was that a person cannot run a marathon alone. Yesterday, my finish was for everyone.
And finally, the lessons. I sent prayers to the heavens every mile yesterday, thanking my Heavenly Father for the gift of a body healthy enough to run and strong enough to race. I felt very close to Him in those grueling last miles. I wondered why I was voluntarily putting myself through so much pain, more pain than I had ever felt, ever, in my life. Those moments brought me closer to my Savior, who put Himself through the Ultimate Pain, so that we could achieve an eternal destiny that would be impossible without Him. Running a marathon taught me that I am made of sterner stuff, and that I have nothing to fear. God be praised for His eternal, matchless wisdom.
And for real?
I can't wait to run another one.
5.19.2012
Thanks are in order.
I just ran a marathon.
It is an experience I will be talking about for some time. It was surreal, exciting, happy, and one of the hardest things I have ever done. The last hour on the course was the hardest hour of my life.
But I did it!
Here is who I have to thank.
The Mr. - Even though he fussed, he was more concerned with my well-being than anyone. You made this possible. You rock my world. (And you survived marathon training!)
The Little One - Half the credit is yours! You put in many miles and hours in the stroller and never once complained. In fact, you kept it interesting by pointing out "diggers" and "fas cars" every 100 feet. When the going got tough, it was your face I pictured at the finish line. I love you.
The Fam - From tending to positive talk, you were my cheerleaders 100% of this journey. I love you all, especially my brother, Brock. My soul swells with gratitude for your example.
The Fine Ladies - Amy, I did this because you made me believe it was possible. Er & Whit - I was so happy to see you on the course I peed a little! You are MY PEOPLE. I love you.
The Running Club - Without Minty (and Gunner and Hobbes), this never would have happened. You were my inspiration. Steph and Lori - You taught me what a long run really was.
Friends - To each and every one of you who sent words, texts, prayers, and thoughts my way, I thank you. I felt those prayers on the course today. It was humbling and sweet.
So many people offered up sage advice. I slurped up every word. These are the ones that made today great.
Amylee - "Run your long runs the way you want to race. Our bodies are creatures of habit." and "Be realistic about your goals."
Savannah - "Vaseline between the toes. Your feet are going to swell!"
Aubrey - "A 4:00 time goal is great. GO FOR IT."
Mama - "Be positive and you will have a great experience."
Dad - "Take an immodium."
I'll be back soon with a race report (and my list of DOs and DON'Ts), but for now:
Thank you. All of you. Today was yours as well as mine.
It is an experience I will be talking about for some time. It was surreal, exciting, happy, and one of the hardest things I have ever done. The last hour on the course was the hardest hour of my life.
But I did it!
Here is who I have to thank.
The Mr. - Even though he fussed, he was more concerned with my well-being than anyone. You made this possible. You rock my world. (And you survived marathon training!)
The Little One - Half the credit is yours! You put in many miles and hours in the stroller and never once complained. In fact, you kept it interesting by pointing out "diggers" and "fas cars" every 100 feet. When the going got tough, it was your face I pictured at the finish line. I love you.
The Fam - From tending to positive talk, you were my cheerleaders 100% of this journey. I love you all, especially my brother, Brock. My soul swells with gratitude for your example.
The Fine Ladies - Amy, I did this because you made me believe it was possible. Er & Whit - I was so happy to see you on the course I peed a little! You are MY PEOPLE. I love you.
The Running Club - Without Minty (and Gunner and Hobbes), this never would have happened. You were my inspiration. Steph and Lori - You taught me what a long run really was.
Friends - To each and every one of you who sent words, texts, prayers, and thoughts my way, I thank you. I felt those prayers on the course today. It was humbling and sweet.
So many people offered up sage advice. I slurped up every word. These are the ones that made today great.
Amylee - "Run your long runs the way you want to race. Our bodies are creatures of habit." and "Be realistic about your goals."
Savannah - "Vaseline between the toes. Your feet are going to swell!"
Aubrey - "A 4:00 time goal is great. GO FOR IT."
Mama - "Be positive and you will have a great experience."
Dad - "Take an immodium."
I'll be back soon with a race report (and my list of DOs and DON'Ts), but for now:
Thank you. All of you. Today was yours as well as mine.
5.13.2012
the mrs. is a mother
I know a lot of women don't particularly like Mother's Day. Pretty often, I hear someone say, "It just makes me feel guilty for all the things I don't do."
I don't get that. I l.o.v.e. Mother's Day. I love getting cards and flowers. I love calling my own mother and singing her our special Mother's Day song. I love special breakfasts, kisses and hugs, nursery cards, and coupons for sweet acts of kindness. I love church messages on motherhood, and I love wishing every woman I see a happy Mother's Day.
I didn't always feel this way, of course. When we lived in Arizona, I tried to slip out of Sacrament Meeting early so I could avoid that awkward moment where I received a gift I didn't feel entitled to. Besides that: I grew up a career-oriented woman (whatever that means). I had never been particularly fond of small children, and I just didn't see myself as a mother. And for reasons I won't get into here, I wasn't sure I would even be able to have children. But God works in mysterious ways, and on August 9. 2010, I became a mother.
It still surprises me how much I love being a mom ... and how natural it feels. After the little one was born, I remember telling my sister in law, "It is the measure of my creation." It has completed me and challenged me and fulfilled me in ways I never imagined. And even though I joke that I will be the source of all my children's need for therapy someday, I can rejoice in the fact that I am doing.my.best.
Partly because of tragedies like this one (read the whole series; you'll need a box of tissues) and this one, I feel very aware of my blessings: I have a happy, healthy, perfect child. It's not something I earned; it's a blessing I'm trying to be worthy of. I don't know why some of us have children and some don't. All I know is that I have to preserve joy in each moment.
Which is why I laugh quietly as my child throws a royal fit at Costco. Which is why I gently push his hands away and explain being "soft" for the one millionth time. Which is why I sing the "pa-pa song" 50 times in a row. Which is why I spend way too much on Buzz Lightyear bandaids. Which is why I buy hot dogs, macaroni and cheese, yogurt, and fruit snacks. Which is why I spend extra money on zoo memberships and water park passes instead of on clothes. Which is why I read my scriptures and pray. Which is why I push a heavy jogging stroller and shout out, "Look, a dog!" every 50 feet. Which is why I have Tangled memorized. Which is why I stay calm and kind. Which is why I make cookies. Which is why I crack the door during naptime. Which is why I patiently work out stains using Oxi-Clean. Which is why I kiss every square inch of his face.
Life is fragile. Life is fleeting. Before I know it, this stage will be past, and I will be wondering what happened and where the time went. When I get to that moment, I know I won't be looking back thinking, "I should have .... (fill in the blank)." Instead, I'll be thinking, "I remember when we ..."
I have found my mother-heart. It is who I am. This role is not arbitrary or temporary. It is the essential part of my nature. God be praised for his eternal kindness and wisdom.
Happy Mother's Day!
Two Weeks in Review
April 29-May 12, 2012
The Mrs. worked out this way ...
Sunday - Foam Roll (60 min.) + Back Adjustment (so nice to have a D.O. around the house!)
Monday - 30 Day Shred Level 2 (25 min.) + Cycle (10 min. climb intervals) (65 min.)
Tuesday - Bob Harper Inside Out Method Strength (65 min.)
Wednesday - Kettlebell (30 min.) + Foam Roll (30 min.)
Thursday - Cycle (2 min. climb intervals) (45 min.) + Yoga (20 min.) + Foam Roll (30 min.)
Friday - 4M with Jogging Stroller (9:50 pace) + Jackie Warner Crunch Free Abs (20 min.) + Foam Roll (30 min.)
Saturday - Cycle (30 sec. climb intervals) (45 min.)
Sunday - Rest
Monday - 4M with Jogging Stroller (10:16 pace) + Jackie Warner Crunch Free Abs (35 min.) + Foam Roll (30 min.)
Tuesday - 5M with Jogging Stroller (9:27 pace) + Bob Harper Inside Out Method Strength (20 min.) + Foam Roll (40 min.)
Wednesday - Cycle (30 min.) + Jari Love Get Ripped Slim 'n Lean (60 min.) + Foam Roll (40 min.)
Thursday - 4M with Jogging Stroller (9:57 pace) + Foam Roll (40 min.)
Friday - Rest
Saturday -10.5M (9:47 pace) + Foam Roll (30 min.)
The Mrs. made this for dinner ...
Sunday - ?
Monday - Spaghetti with Artichoke Hearts and Tomatoes (a PW fav)
Tuesday - Leftovers
Wednesday - Biggest Loser Protein Pancakes (love these! I thin them with a little extra milk)
Thursday - Chile Verde Pork Burritos (Rachel B.)
Friday - Quinoa Confetti Salad (adapted from here ... flavor with oregano oil instead of curry next time)
Saturday - Chicken Enchiladas a la Marciea
Sunday - Stuffed Artichokes with Lemon Butter (so, so unbelievably delicious! I cannot wait to buy a bag of artichokes at Costco so I can make these again. Seriously. And we did whole wheat breadcrumbs instead of panko--fabulous!!)
Monday - Chicken Fingers + Sweet Potato Wedges
Tuesday - French Dip Sandwiches + Raspberry Apple Salad with Parmesan (recipe to come!)
Wednesday - Spaghetti + Garlic Bread a la Marciea
Thursday - Leftovers
Friday - Pizza + Garlic Bread
Saturday - YOYO (You're On Your Own) Dinner
The Mrs. also made these sweet treats and snacks ...
Citrus Butter Cookies (so delicious I had to give them all away)
Sugar/Oil Free Banana Walnut Yogurt Muffins (recipe to come!)
Strawberry Lime Popsicles (inspired by this recipe)
Queso (the texture just wasn't quite right)
Black and Whites
French Bread
Sausage Egg Sandwiches
Strawberry-Vanilla Steel Cut Oats (if you haven't tried steel cut oats, I demand you go to Costco and buy some now!)
Blue Cheese Dip (The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from My Frontier)
Food Journaling ...
1. I continue to be in love with Parmesan wedges.
2. Steel cut oats are our new family fav.
3. My mom brought me Mexican vanilla from her vacation and it has something special in it. Liquor? I remain blissfully ignorant. :)
4. Fresh fruit! Welcome, Summer.
Workout Journaling ...
The last two weeks have been a little challenging. I'm fighting ITBS, which is why last week had so few runs. It was hard not to feel betrayed by the marathon training: I have done everything right (Except eat cookies. Come on. I love cookies.) and the injury was a real emotional low for me.
I did all my runs this week, though, and although I battled soreness on Tuesday and Saturday, I am optimistic that I can finish the race on Saturday. I bought a new foam roll that is rock hard and it seems to help tremendously, as do my Nike Frees. (I LOVE THESE SHOES SO MUCH.) I don't think it is wise to wear them on race day, though, since they are zero drop shoes. The longest I have run in them is 8 miles. Thoughts, runners?
Best moments ....
Some really wonderful things have happened to our family over the last couple of weeks. The Mr. graduated with his THIRD (3rd!!) graduate degree last week. He continues to amaze. We also got some good financial news. The little one has been chattering our ears off and amazes me with his ability to absorb new things. We built garden boxes and planted a garden. I read Heaven is Here. I've never really read NieNie's blog, although I was familiar with her story. The book really resonated with me. I loved it. It's only $10 for Kindle. Read it.
Worst moments ...
Foam rolling hurts!!!!!
Thoughts for the coming week ...
I am worried that an injury is going to prevent me from meeting my time goal on Saturday. I plan to rest religiously (and get a massage on Tuesday!!!!). Don't judge me if I don't cross the finish line in 4 hours. Mmkay?
5.12.2012
Raspberry-Apple Salad with Parmesan
I made this salad combining some of my favorite salad ingredients. It was the highlight of my week.
Raspberry-Apple Salad with Parmesan
*from my kitchen*
Salad
2 hearts of romaine, chopped
2 tart, crisp apples, cored and chopped (I used one Granny Smith and one Gala)
1/4 onion, thinly sliced
1/2 c. Parmesan shavings (the real stuff!!)
1 c. walnuts, chopped
1/4 c. sugar
Vinaigrette
homemade raspberry preserves
oil
white vinegar
To make the salad, layer romaine, apples, onions, and cheese. In a small pan over medium heat, melt sugar until clear and just turning golden. Remove sugar from heat and stir in walnuts using a greased spoon. Pour walnuts onto parchment paper to cool. To make the vinaigrette, combine equal parts raspberry preserves, oil, and vinegar in a mason jar with lid. Shake to combine and taste. Add extra jam, oil, or vinegar to taste. When walnuts are cool, roughly chop and sprinkle over salad. To serve, drizzle individual servings with raspberry vinaigrette.
Raspberry-Apple Salad with Parmesan
*from my kitchen*
Salad
2 hearts of romaine, chopped
2 tart, crisp apples, cored and chopped (I used one Granny Smith and one Gala)
1/4 onion, thinly sliced
1/2 c. Parmesan shavings (the real stuff!!)
1 c. walnuts, chopped
1/4 c. sugar
Vinaigrette
homemade raspberry preserves
oil
white vinegar
To make the salad, layer romaine, apples, onions, and cheese. In a small pan over medium heat, melt sugar until clear and just turning golden. Remove sugar from heat and stir in walnuts using a greased spoon. Pour walnuts onto parchment paper to cool. To make the vinaigrette, combine equal parts raspberry preserves, oil, and vinegar in a mason jar with lid. Shake to combine and taste. Add extra jam, oil, or vinegar to taste. When walnuts are cool, roughly chop and sprinkle over salad. To serve, drizzle individual servings with raspberry vinaigrette.
4.29.2012
RUDE.
Friday night, I was on the spin bike while the Mr. made phone calls. I wanted something to watch and was bored of Netflix, so I turned on the TV and flipped through the channels. I got to FOX and saw this.
YES! "I think 24 is back on!" I shouted to the Mr. "I just found Jack Bauer." (Obsessed. A little.)
But it turns out that it was not.
FOX, you got my hopes up. RUDE.
YES! "I think 24 is back on!" I shouted to the Mr. "I just found Jack Bauer." (Obsessed. A little.)
But it turns out that it was not.
FOX, you got my hopes up. RUDE.
Week in Review
April 22-28, 2012
The Mrs. made this for dinner ...
Sunday - Buffalo Chicken Enchiladas
Monday - Swiss Sliders + Crispy Baked Onion Rings
Tuesday -Creamy Chicken Quesadillas
Wednesday -Yellow Coconut Curry
Thursday - Steel Cut Oats + Hardboiled Eggs
Friday - Pizza
Saturday - French Toast
The Mrs. made these sweet treats and snacks ...
Homemade Rocky Road Ice Cream (so yum!) (Our Best Bites)
Whole Wheat Bread and Slider Buns
Flourless Chocolate Cookies (too sweet...tasted too much like powdered sugar, not surprisingly)
Paletas de Coco with Mint (adapted from here and here)
Strawberry Cream Scones
Food journaling ...
I bought a popsicle mold at Orson Gygi on Tuesday and used it to make the coconut popsicles, which were outside-my-mind delicious! I used fresh mint and unsweetened coconut for an (almost!) guilt-free treat. I have this popsicle recipe on the agenda for next week, as well as a series of pudding pops from Our Best Bites to get us through the hot summer days. The enchiladas were fun, but I wouldn't make them again. (Anyone want an almost-full jar of buffalo wing sauce?) And the baked onion rings were a yummy vegetable side.
The Mrs. worked out this way ...
Sunday - Foam Rolling (30 min.)
Monday - 4M w/ Jogging Stroller (9:48 pace) + 30 Day Jump Start (45 min.)
Tuesday - Cycle WU (5 min.) + 40 30/30 Climb Intervals + Cycle CD (5 min.)
Wednesday - 1M WU, 8M Tempo (starting at 9:15 pace and gradually increasing speed to 8:00 pace, 8:45 avg. pace) + Ice Bath (15 min.)
Thursday - Cycle WU (5 min.) + Climb (15 min.) + Cycle CD (10 min.) + 6 Week 6 Pack (35 min.)
Friday - 3M (8:40 pace) + Get Ripped and Chiseled (60 min.)
Saturday -20M (10:28 pace) + Ice Bath (20 min.) + Foam Rolling (40 min.)
Workout journaling ...
Overall, this was one of my most consistent weeks of training since we began. I felt strong all week, and both weight-lifting DVDs left me sore (a MUST ... otherwise I feel like I wasted my time). On Saturday, we ran 20. It was a hilly route, but I ran it just a bit faster than our last 20. We simulated race day by "walking through a water stop" every 2 miles or so. I think this really helped. Unfortunately: about mile 17, I injured my IT band (a for-real injury, not just an "ouch, that hurts" injury), and I am definitely out for the count next week. I am feeling discouraged and disillusioned.
Best moments this week?
Meeting up with my mama for lunch and Kneaders and scoring a lovely new bracelet, listening to my little chatterbox, working out in the yard (I love weeding!!), searching for "more vwormas" (more worms), planning a date night, finishing my long run with a raspberry-vanilla soy steamer, and holding my friend's brand-new baby girl.
Worst moments this week?
I am limping like an old person. I am so tired I can hardly keep my eyes open. And my floor desperately needs to be vacuumed ... like, every five minutes.
Date Night ...
A rousing game of Clue (the Mr. beat me ... WHAT?!) and microwave popcorn.
4.22.2012
Updates to the family blog. Want to see the little one spiffed out in his Easter duds? Just click here.
Week in Review
The Mrs. made this for dinner ...
Sunday - Avocado Pesto Pasta + Bacon-Spiked Bruschetta (Avocado makes a great substitute for heavy cream, and we would have been vegan tonight if I hadn't gone crazy with freshly grated parm. And the bacon. Obviously...)
Monday - Cauliflower Soup + Sourdough Bread + Rosemary Garlic Tossed Sweet Potatoes
Tuesday -Scrambled Eggs + Sausage
Wednesday - Baked Chicken Apple Salad with Gorgonzola + Roasted Red Pepper Dip + Chips and Crudites (Using the word crudites makes me feel so sophisticated! Too bad it just means carrot and celery sticks.)
Thursday - Raspberry Lemonade (the mint leaves are not optional) + Grilled Pork Chops + Pineapple Avocado Salsa (Finer Things Club!)
Friday - Sweet Vegetable-Packed Waffles (adapted from here. Chock full of veggies and no butter needed! The boys gobbled these up like candy.)
Saturday - German Pancakes + Sausage Rounds
The Mrs. made these sweet treats and snacks ...
Petite Vanilla Bean Scones (O my. Words CANNOT describe how delicious these were. They literally transported me to another planet. I think.)
Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwiches (adapted from here ... in honor of National Grilled Cheese Day, my new fav holiday!)
Food journaling ...
1. Fresh Parmesan. Okay, so I usually just buy the pre-grated stuff in the bag. But I decided to SPLURGE and buy an actual wedge. YOU GUYS. It is not even the same cheese. It is 1,000,000 times better.
2. Vanilla Beans. Apparently my brain was sort of melted and I paid $7 for a jar of vanilla beans. Guess how many vanilla beans were in the jar. TWO! Guess how many vanilla beans the scone recipe calls for. TWO! Those were very expensive scones. (Good thing my mom left me grocery money to spend while I watched her dog this week....)
The Mrs. worked out this way ...
Sunday - Ice + Rest
Monday - Elliptical (45 min.) + Ab Assault (20 min.) + Foam Rolling (20 min.)
Tuesday - 5.3M (8:40 pace) + Weights + Plyo Circuit (25 min.) + Foam Rolling (40 min.)
Wednesday - Elliptical (50 min.)
Thursday - Rest
Friday - 9.4M (9:28 pace)
Saturday - 5.6M Treadmill (9:40 pace)+ 9.5M Road (10:16 pace) + Ice bath (15 min.) + Foam Rolling (40 min.)
Workout journaling ...
This was a very challenging week. It was cardio heavy and very inconsistent with my normal training. I was away from home for the entire week, and in my rush to pack, I forgot my workout DVDs and (worst of all!!!) my jogging stroller. I thought it was in my trunk, but it wasn't. That (in addition to no treadmill) made it really hard to get any runs in this week because the Mr.'s schedule was crazy and I had no available babysitter after 7:00 AM or before 7:00 PM. That resulted in 3 runs at 8:00 PM, 4:30 AM, and 2:00 PM in 80 degree weather. Although I still managed to hit my required 30 miles this week, it was so tough. However, I did prove to myself that I will do whatever it takes to put the miles in.
My Saturday long run was probably the hardest run I have ever done. I started out on the treadmill, and when the Mr. got home from work, I headed outside, thinking it would be easier to do some road miles than to run 15 miles TOTAL on a treadmill. It would have been easier, had it not been so hot. It was around 80 degrees, and I wanted to quit. Every. Single. Mile. I was so discouraged because my pace was slow, I couldn't breathe because the air was so hot, and I was physically drained from my run 24 hours earlier. (It was poor planning, but this week was so unpredictable.) It's a good thing I didn't take my phone--I'm almost sure I would have called it quits. Somehow I survived and made it back home. I drank almost 50 ounces of water during that run (followed by another 36 once I walked in the door) and dumped just as much on my back to stay cool. I fueled the same way I always do and I never felt a kick. It gave me a very small taste of how horrible Boston must have been.
On a more positive note, I did cross train on the elliptical twice. This, in addition with roam rolling my quads until I wanted to cry (I wish I was joking), has helped me fight some lurking patellofemoral pain. My knee feels great today. Muscle soreness=good! Joint pain=bad. I want to go into this week of high mileage (35, my highest of our training) feeling strong.
Finally, even though I was awake at 4:15 on Friday morning to run, I knocked out 9.5 miles at a 9:28 pace. Because I was half asleep, it was an easy effort run. At no time did I feel like I was working hard/breathing hard. I know it isn't fast compared to most people. But compared to me? I looked back at my Garmin Connect to an 8 miler I did 10 months ago while training for my first half marathon. I ran 8 miles at a 12:06 pace. It was a hillier course, but I remember it being so tough. Personally, I'm able to see a lot of progression there, and that is exciting. Hopefully I'll soon be consistently in the 7s and 8s, as opposed to the 8s and 9s (and okay, 10s. Who do I think I am kidding here?).
Best moments this week?
Since I was house-sitting for my parents, I got to spend lots of time
Worst moments this week?
This week was really hard physically and emotionally. But I have a great support system. Thank you. You know who you are.
4.18.2012
Winner Winner!
So, the votes are in! The winner is ...
Chacos.
Hi Chacos! I hope you make me as happy as everyone says you will. And that there is room for my little toe. (One day I will treat you to a picture of my misshapen feet.) (Now I know you just added this blog to your Google Reader, thinking, "I can't wait!")
And because I know you were all really brokenhearted that I had to choose between Chacos and hair extensions ...
I decided to get hair extensions, too.
It went down sort of like this. Thinks to herself, I think I'll just wait until my birthday and get extensions then. Gets up the next morning. Looks in mirror. Thinks to herself, Oh, man. The grey hairs are getting out of control. I guess I'll just color my hair this morning. And then ... go buy extensions.
And so I did.
And here is a picture of the Nutella Cheesecakes I blogged about a few weeks back. I realized I never posted a picture and I felt bad that I missed the chance to make you drool.
You're welcome.
Hi Chacos! I hope you make me as happy as everyone says you will. And that there is room for my little toe. (One day I will treat you to a picture of my misshapen feet.) (Now I know you just added this blog to your Google Reader, thinking, "I can't wait!")
And because I know you were all really brokenhearted that I had to choose between Chacos and hair extensions ...
I decided to get hair extensions, too.
It went down sort of like this. Thinks to herself, I think I'll just wait until my birthday and get extensions then. Gets up the next morning. Looks in mirror. Thinks to herself, Oh, man. The grey hairs are getting out of control. I guess I'll just color my hair this morning. And then ... go buy extensions.
And so I did.
And here is a picture of the Nutella Cheesecakes I blogged about a few weeks back. I realized I never posted a picture and I felt bad that I missed the chance to make you drool.
You're welcome.
Updates to the Family Blog
I am almost embarrassed about the number of updates I am about to post. But whatever. I'm finally caught up.
Updates to the family blog! You'll have to keep click "Older Posts" at the bottom to keep reading. Yes... there are that many!
Or click here to read individual posts ...
{Words, Words, WORDS!} ... showcasing my genius child's vocabulary
{Adventures} ... a visit to the zoo and flying a helicopter
{Sister's Junior Prom} ... my gorgeous sees has her first prom and I get to play mom
{How We Spend Spring} ... some outdoor fun
{Dip, Scoop, Taste, Savor} ... in case you forgot how to eat cottage cheese, here is a tutorial
{Up to Stuff} ... a miniature mischief maker
{Happy, Happy Birthday, Dear!} ... a birthday party for the Mr.
{Waterlogged} ... obsessions and OCD confessions
{Easter Egg Hunt at Mandy's} ... my friend invites us for a holiday egg hunt
{Easters} ... how we celebrate
{Climber-in-Training} ... a climb-and-slide slide show
Updates to the family blog! You'll have to keep click "Older Posts" at the bottom to keep reading. Yes... there are that many!
Or click here to read individual posts ...
{Words, Words, WORDS!} ... showcasing my genius child's vocabulary
{Adventures} ... a visit to the zoo and flying a helicopter
{Sister's Junior Prom} ... my gorgeous sees has her first prom and I get to play mom
{How We Spend Spring} ... some outdoor fun
{Dip, Scoop, Taste, Savor} ... in case you forgot how to eat cottage cheese, here is a tutorial
{Up to Stuff} ... a miniature mischief maker
{Happy, Happy Birthday, Dear!} ... a birthday party for the Mr.
{Waterlogged} ... obsessions and OCD confessions
{Easter Egg Hunt at Mandy's} ... my friend invites us for a holiday egg hunt
{Easters} ... how we celebrate
{Climber-in-Training} ... a climb-and-slide slide show
4.15.2012
Week in Review
April 1-7, 2012
The Mrs. made this for dinner ...
Sunday - Sticky Chicken + Stir Fry Vegetables a la Marciea
Monday - Beef Stew (adapted ... I don't even know how to buy beer.)
Tuesday - Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Wednesday - Pan Fried Chicken + Pineapple Avocado Salsa (I added tomatoes) (Mindy) + Savory Sweet Potato Wedges (Erin)
Thursday - Pepperoni + Cheese Pizza
Friday - Fish Sticks (I use catfish and it is YUM.)
Saturday - Dinner a la Carte (in other words, whatever you can find!)
The Mrs. made these sweet treats and snacks ...
Breakfast Cookies (adapted ... darn good for a cookie made without oil, flour, or sugar!)
Food journaling ...
Everything I made this week was super yummy, but Wednesday's meal was the home run hit of the week. To quote Mindy: "Fresh pineapple is nature's candy." And it is on sale at Smith's right now. :) I really love the Cozy Kitchen blog. I have great success with her recipes, especially the two linked above. Another fav is Simply Scratch. Case in point? If I don't get to make this tomato tart soon, I might die.
The Mrs. worked out this way ...
Sunday - Rest
Monday - 4M w/ Jogging Stroller (9:53 pace) + Get Ripped and Chiseled (50 min.)
Tuesday - Easy Cycle WU (5 min.) + 15 Climb Intervals (2:00/1:00 Recovery) + Easy Cycle CD (5 min.) + 60 Situps (1 min.) + Jackie Warner Xtreme Abs (15 min.)
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - Pure Barre Flatirons 1 (35 min.) + 5K w/ Jogging Stroller (9:03 pace) + Jackie Warner Total Body Circuit Training (15 min.)
Friday - Easy Cycle (45 min.) + 51 Pushups (1 min.) + Foam Roll (15 min.)
Saturday - 20M (10:32 pace) + 1.5M Walk/Jog + Ice Bath (20 min.) + Foam Roll (20 min.)
Workout journaling ...
During mile 4 of our Monday run, my right knee started to hurt. After a series of squats and lunges, I knew something was wrong. The Mr. confirmed I was on my way to an injury, so I spent the next two days icing my knee and cross-training. I skipped my 7M Tempo scheduled for Wednesday, the first training run I have missed this entire cycle. :( But I felt good on Thursday and was able to do 20 on Saturday even though I felt quite achy. Saturday was my first 20 miler! I followed Amylee's advice and did not take long walk breaks: I kept jogging when my group stopped to fuel or wait at a turn for another group member. I hit my mileage early and then walked/jogged until the end of the route. Mindy and I stopped for steamers, which led to the best ice bath ever. After much experimenting: caffeine Sport Beans are my nutrition plan for the marathon, so I need to figure out a quick and dirty way to eat them on the go and decide whether I am going to carry water with me or just rely on water stops.
During my spin ride on Tuesday, I cheered on the First Lady working out on The Biggest Loser. How cool was that? I got online to join the Presidential fitness challenge and did the fitness test. Because I was taking time off, I decided to use a recent run as a score for the run test. It turns out I scored in the 65%ile for the run. ?! That is a D, people! This from the girl who will accept nothing less than an A? It is officially time for speed.
Best moments this week?
When I got to my mom's house on Saturday, I almost shrieked with glee to see she had saved five episodes of Food Network's The Pioneer Woman. I love that show. I also watched We Bought a Zoo at YW and ate copious (copious) handfuls of Ramona's dark chocolate dusted almonds. Those are legit. Why have I never heard of them before? If I don't get some soon, heads are gonna roll. Work is steady but manageable, and I am trying to decide: Chacos or hair extensions? (My life is really hard.)
Worst moments this week?
I was down in the dumps on Friday and almost considered canceling my 20 miler. But I didn't. Once I got on the road and started talking to my girls at mile 3, I could literally feel the tension leaving my body. It was such an amazing experience. Running is THERAPY.
The Mrs. made this for dinner ...
Sunday - Sticky Chicken + Stir Fry Vegetables a la Marciea
Monday - Beef Stew (adapted ... I don't even know how to buy beer.)
Tuesday - Cinnamon Roll Pancakes
Wednesday - Pan Fried Chicken + Pineapple Avocado Salsa (I added tomatoes) (Mindy) + Savory Sweet Potato Wedges (Erin)
Thursday - Pepperoni + Cheese Pizza
Friday - Fish Sticks (I use catfish and it is YUM.)
Saturday - Dinner a la Carte (in other words, whatever you can find!)
The Mrs. made these sweet treats and snacks ...
Breakfast Cookies (adapted ... darn good for a cookie made without oil, flour, or sugar!)
Food journaling ...
Everything I made this week was super yummy, but Wednesday's meal was the home run hit of the week. To quote Mindy: "Fresh pineapple is nature's candy." And it is on sale at Smith's right now. :) I really love the Cozy Kitchen blog. I have great success with her recipes, especially the two linked above. Another fav is Simply Scratch. Case in point? If I don't get to make this tomato tart soon, I might die.
The Mrs. worked out this way ...
Sunday - Rest
Monday - 4M w/ Jogging Stroller (9:53 pace) + Get Ripped and Chiseled (50 min.)
Tuesday - Easy Cycle WU (5 min.) + 15 Climb Intervals (2:00/1:00 Recovery) + Easy Cycle CD (5 min.) + 60 Situps (1 min.) + Jackie Warner Xtreme Abs (15 min.)
Wednesday - Rest
Thursday - Pure Barre Flatirons 1 (35 min.) + 5K w/ Jogging Stroller (9:03 pace) + Jackie Warner Total Body Circuit Training (15 min.)
Friday - Easy Cycle (45 min.) + 51 Pushups (1 min.) + Foam Roll (15 min.)
Saturday - 20M (10:32 pace) + 1.5M Walk/Jog + Ice Bath (20 min.) + Foam Roll (20 min.)
Workout journaling ...
During mile 4 of our Monday run, my right knee started to hurt. After a series of squats and lunges, I knew something was wrong. The Mr. confirmed I was on my way to an injury, so I spent the next two days icing my knee and cross-training. I skipped my 7M Tempo scheduled for Wednesday, the first training run I have missed this entire cycle. :( But I felt good on Thursday and was able to do 20 on Saturday even though I felt quite achy. Saturday was my first 20 miler! I followed Amylee's advice and did not take long walk breaks: I kept jogging when my group stopped to fuel or wait at a turn for another group member. I hit my mileage early and then walked/jogged until the end of the route. Mindy and I stopped for steamers, which led to the best ice bath ever. After much experimenting: caffeine Sport Beans are my nutrition plan for the marathon, so I need to figure out a quick and dirty way to eat them on the go and decide whether I am going to carry water with me or just rely on water stops.
During my spin ride on Tuesday, I cheered on the First Lady working out on The Biggest Loser. How cool was that? I got online to join the Presidential fitness challenge and did the fitness test. Because I was taking time off, I decided to use a recent run as a score for the run test. It turns out I scored in the 65%ile for the run. ?! That is a D, people! This from the girl who will accept nothing less than an A? It is officially time for speed.
Best moments this week?
When I got to my mom's house on Saturday, I almost shrieked with glee to see she had saved five episodes of Food Network's The Pioneer Woman. I love that show. I also watched We Bought a Zoo at YW and ate copious (copious) handfuls of Ramona's dark chocolate dusted almonds. Those are legit. Why have I never heard of them before? If I don't get some soon, heads are gonna roll. Work is steady but manageable, and I am trying to decide: Chacos or hair extensions? (My life is really hard.)
Worst moments this week?
I was down in the dumps on Friday and almost considered canceling my 20 miler. But I didn't. Once I got on the road and started talking to my girls at mile 3, I could literally feel the tension leaving my body. It was such an amazing experience. Running is THERAPY.
4.08.2012
Week in Review
April 1-7, 2012
The Mrs. made this for dinner ...
Sunday - Drip Beef Sandwiches + Dump It Salad a la Marciea
Monday - Hot Dogs + Baked Beans + Green Salad
Tuesday - Dijon Chicken
Wednesday - Spaghetti + Garlic Italian Bread
Thursday - Breakfast Burritos
Friday - Pepperoni + Cheese Pizzas
Saturday -Dine Out :)
The Mrs. made these sweet treats and snacks ...
Whole Wheat Flax Bread (hot dog buns, loaves. and a garlic-Italian round loaf)
Nutella No-Bake Cheesecake
The Mrs. worked out this way ...
Sunday - Rest
Monday - 4M w/ Jogging Stroller (10:15 pace) + 65 min. Jari Love Get Ripped Slim n' Lean
Tuesday - Tempo Run w/ Jogging Stroller .6M WU (10:27 pace) + 3M Tempo (8:53, 8:41, 8:22) + .5M CD (9:30 pace) + The Firm Yoga (30 min.)
Wednesday - Spin WU (5 min.) + 10 2 min. climbs + CD (5 min.) + Turbo Sculpt (40 min.)
Thursday - 5K (8:53 pace)
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 15M (10:18 pace) + Upper Body Weight Training (20 min.)
Workout journaling ...
The jogging stroller tempo run shredded me big time! I had a super tough time. Mindy says I was psyching myself out about pushing the stroller AND hitting my paces ... probably true. Must do Slim n' Lean twice a week to keep up with pushups. I was excited for Saturday's 15 miles (a taper), but the last four miles (esp. the last two) were very tough! Mindy led strong paces those last miles, and I just hung on. I was battling stomach issues and an unfamiliar route. Next week is 20, so I must prepare better.
Best moments this week?
I got an unexpected week off from paper scoring, which meant I loaded up my reading/writing plate. I finished A Dangerous Talent, Run to Overcome, and The Night Circus and wrote reviews of all three. (I scored two of the books for .99 cents via Amazon's Kindle Daily Deal ... Are you signed up?) All worth reading, especially Meb Kezflehighi's inspirational autobiography, but not any standout winners. The boy has been adding a litany of new words to his vocabulary daily: such fun. We've also spent the week working in our backyard, preparing to plant--vegetables in the garden, the parents on colorful Adirondack chairs, and the little one on a Little Tykes Climb and Slide. Life is so good.
Worst moments this week?
I wasn't in good shape after our Saturday run--but a couple of Advil and some delicious cream puffs filled with cookies and cream helped me end my week on a high note.
The Mrs. made this for dinner ...
Sunday - Drip Beef Sandwiches + Dump It Salad a la Marciea
Monday - Hot Dogs + Baked Beans + Green Salad
Tuesday - Dijon Chicken
Wednesday - Spaghetti + Garlic Italian Bread
Thursday - Breakfast Burritos
Friday - Pepperoni + Cheese Pizzas
Saturday -Dine Out :)
The Mrs. made these sweet treats and snacks ...
Whole Wheat Flax Bread (hot dog buns, loaves. and a garlic-Italian round loaf)
Nutella No-Bake Cheesecake
The Mrs. worked out this way ...
Sunday - Rest
Monday - 4M w/ Jogging Stroller (10:15 pace) + 65 min. Jari Love Get Ripped Slim n' Lean
Tuesday - Tempo Run w/ Jogging Stroller .6M WU (10:27 pace) + 3M Tempo (8:53, 8:41, 8:22) + .5M CD (9:30 pace) + The Firm Yoga (30 min.)
Wednesday - Spin WU (5 min.) + 10 2 min. climbs + CD (5 min.) + Turbo Sculpt (40 min.)
Thursday - 5K (8:53 pace)
Friday - Rest
Saturday - 15M (10:18 pace) + Upper Body Weight Training (20 min.)
Workout journaling ...
The jogging stroller tempo run shredded me big time! I had a super tough time. Mindy says I was psyching myself out about pushing the stroller AND hitting my paces ... probably true. Must do Slim n' Lean twice a week to keep up with pushups. I was excited for Saturday's 15 miles (a taper), but the last four miles (esp. the last two) were very tough! Mindy led strong paces those last miles, and I just hung on. I was battling stomach issues and an unfamiliar route. Next week is 20, so I must prepare better.
Best moments this week?
I got an unexpected week off from paper scoring, which meant I loaded up my reading/writing plate. I finished A Dangerous Talent, Run to Overcome, and The Night Circus and wrote reviews of all three. (I scored two of the books for .99 cents via Amazon's Kindle Daily Deal ... Are you signed up?) All worth reading, especially Meb Kezflehighi's inspirational autobiography, but not any standout winners. The boy has been adding a litany of new words to his vocabulary daily: such fun. We've also spent the week working in our backyard, preparing to plant--vegetables in the garden, the parents on colorful Adirondack chairs, and the little one on a Little Tykes Climb and Slide. Life is so good.
Worst moments this week?
I wasn't in good shape after our Saturday run--but a couple of Advil and some delicious cream puffs filled with cookies and cream helped me end my week on a high note.
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