Monthly Archives: February 2012

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Happy Running

Wednesday: 3 mile run (26:31)

I’m currently on week 7 on Hal Higdon’s Marathon Novice I training plan.  I have been feeling GREAT the past few weeks and I’m so happy!!

(Week 7: Plan says to rest on Monday and Friday and cross-train on Sunday)

Since there was supposed to be rain all day today, I ran my 6 with Amy yesterday.  It was nice enough to go outside after school today and I did an unexpected quick 3.  I will run 3 slow, recovery miles on the treadmill tomorrow and take a BodyPump class.

Last weekend, Amy and I ran a back down 7 miler to get ready for this weekend’s 12.  Since we have been running together a lot, we end up talking the whole time.  I really think running and talking on a regular basis is making me stronger!  I’ve also been getting in our hot tub after most of my runs (so thankful for the previous house owners).  My legs feel great and only my calves feel a little sore after running.  Of course, then I just throw on my attractive Walmart compression socks…

 

I’m not so secretly in love with my Walmart compression socks.  I always put them on after long runs.  They are just so much tighter than my actual running compression sleeves.

This was my 6 miler with Amy on Tuesday.  Mile 4 and 5 were mostly uphill the entire time, so we were pretty happy with our splits.

This was my run from today and I didn’t expect to push myself so much.  I ran with Colby, but didn’t talk as much because I wanted to push the pace.  Of course, this is still super comfortable for him, so I knew he would help me hold the faster pace and talk to keep me company.  I was surprised to see how comfortable I felt at these paces.  Comfortable, as in I could talk a little bit but not as much as usual.

Do you think running with other people and talking helps you get stronger?  I am LOVING running with my friend Amy :)  I have no idea how I trained for my marathon last year by myself!

Also, I’m still on Pinterest non-stop this week.  Going crazy pinning wedding stuff…

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Blog Love

My week so far …

Feb. 20-26 (Week 6 of Training Plan)

Monday- yoga and 3 miles (28:10)

Tuesday- BodyPump

Wednesday-off

Thursday- 5 miles (49 min on TM) and BodyPump

Friday- 3 miles (27:45)

Saturday- off

Sunday- Will be a 7 mile run with Amy :)

Very happy with my runs this week outside.  I haven’t pushed myself too much on the treadmill when I go to bodypump on the same day.  I do feel like I pushed myself on my two shorter runs outside and it felt great! I really need to stretch/foam roll more and I am rocking my walmart/grandma compression socks tonight.

Blogs

My google reader has been blowing up with new blogs lately!  I blame it on Pinterest.  I’ve been on Pinterest since September when I got engaged.  I loved creating a wedding board to keep track of all the good ideas I find.  (My wedding dress is on there… can you guess which one?!)

Some newer blogs I’m loving…

The Beauty Department

This is Lauren Conrad’s beauty blog and it is unbelievable.  I have seen so many amazing hair and nail pictures on pinterest.  As soon as I added it to my google reader I spent HOURS looking at all the gorgeous braids.  Seriously, go on this site.

Maskcara

Another beauty blog with fantastic hair tutorials!

Sweet Tater – Food, Fitness, Etc.

I met this sweet girl at the Healthy Living Summit this past summer. I’ve been reading all of her old posts this past weekend instead of writing my grad class paper.

Running For Cupcakes

So glad Katie is blogging again :)

Thrifty and Chic

Really cute decorating blog.

What are some of your favorite blogs?? Do you venture out of “healthy living/running” blogs?

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Week 5

Week 5 of my marathon training looks like this so far…

Feb. 13 – 19 (Week 5 of Training Plan)

Monday- off

Tuesday- 3 miles on TM and BodyPump

Wednesday-off

Thursday- 5 miles on TM and BodyPump

Friday- 3 miles (26:58)

Saturday- 10 miles ( TBA )

Sunday- (yoga ?)

I keep track of my workouts on my Exercise Log tab at the top of my blog page.  Since I am running on the treadmill once or twice a week, I don’t really rely on my Garmin page to count mileage.  This has worked for me since I started my blog, but sometimes I forget to put it all in and have to write it at the end of the week.

The weather was BEAUTIFUL today (almost 50!!) and Amy and I went out for a quicker 3 mile run after school.  My legs have been feeling great lately, so maybe all those miles I missed from being sick the past two weeks were a good thing! I’ve been taking it a little easier on my lunge and squat tracks at BodyPump and focusing on adding weight to the upper body tracks.  I was starting to get obsessive trying to up my weights a few months ago and I was starting to feel it in my knees. Nooo nooo. So I immediately calmed it down and I have been feeling fantastic! Also, loving the crazy lunge track with the jumps right now.  If my mileage starts to get too high for me to run and do BodyPump twice a week in the next month or so, I’ll just drop one or both classes.  The marathon training is more important and I want to feel good!

Here are our stats from our run this afternoon.  I think the mix of good weather and running on a road motivated us and we were sooo happy to have negative splits! I was tired but in a good way.  :)   We are going to run our 10 miler on the rail trail tomorrow.  That is where the marathon will be in May! I’m really excited to run on the very flat trail to see how we do for a long run.  The weather is also supposed to be SO much nicer than last weekend when we ran on ice in the crazy wind.

Besides the treadmill, we have been running fairly hilly routes in neighborhoods and I am excited to see how it will feel running a long run on a very flat path.  Also very very happy to have such a good running partner … it is just so much more enjoyable having someone to talk with for those long runs! Amy also pushes me to not walk at all.   :)

I recently bought a Tofu Xpress off Amazon a few weeks ago and gave it a try for the first time this week.  Seriously, what a difference!!  No more pressing tofu between my grad class books and paper towels…

I love that after I pressed it overnight, I put some soy sauce and nutritional yeast in the container to marinade in the same container.  The bottom of the press can be taken off and used as a lid when you take the spring out to marinade.  It was so easy and the next day I cut it up, dipped it in egg and then corn starch mixed with seasoning.  Then I put it in a pan with some olive oil and got each side super crispy. SO GOOD. I could not get over how much better it was because all the water had been pressed out.  The texture was great and I ate the rest for leftovers the next day.

Have a good weekend! I’m excited to get my long run out of the way tomorrow and to have Monday off!

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Cold Weather Running

Sunday Run: 9 miles (1:30:40)

 

It was really cold this morning… and windy. It really did feel like it was 8 degrees because of how strong the wind was for our entire run… but Amy and I were SO PROUD that we finished our 9 miles :)

I am absolutely petrified of ice. I panic when I have to walk on it and I never run when the roads are icy.  Somehow I knew I just had to do it today and I figured, if I fell… at least Amy would be there to drag me to the side of the road and call for help! (I broke my tailbone in college falling on ice! Horrible experience!) Somehow I stayed calm and we definitely had to slow down a bit because of the conditions. This was really great for me because I’ve been sick all week and only “ran”  3 miles (there was a lot of walking on the treadmill) on Tuesday.

We went out 3 miles and turned around and got back to my house at mile 6.  We decided on a quick water break inside my house and then we would go back out for the final 3 miles.  I hit the lap button by accident near the end, but was happy to see that we were pretty much right around the 10 min/mile pace the whole time!  I was definitely breathing heavy at some points because I’m still so congested, but I feel great right now.  I got in the hot tub for a good 20 minutes after the run and shocked my cold body!

Here is most of my cold weather running gear:

Brooks Running Jacket.  I asked my parents for this for Christmas because it is so pricy, but it is amazing. So warm and really keeps the wind out.

My toe socks. I love that they are higher so I can pull them up over my ankles and they seem warmer.

I threw on my CEP compression sleeves under my tights today. I figured it couldn’t hurt and they kept my legs a little warmer.

The pink long sleeved top I had on under my jacket was from Target and similar to this one.

My tights are Under Armour and close to this pair.

Pink Nike Gloves and Headband I got a few years ago.

Obsessed with Carmex chapstick and I always bring it with me running.  I have them stashed everywhere.

Current obsession: Vicks tissues. My friends and I were in love with them in college when we were sick and I got a box this week. Ahh they are so nice :)

Not running related…

I’ve already watched it twice yesterday. I know, I’m sad. I can’t help it.  I actually left the house yesterday morning just to go to Target so I could buy it. Colby ran his 9 miles and went swimming. When he came home I was laying on the couch back in my sweatpants with my Vicks tissues and a bag of chocolate chips watching it.  I was supposed to write a grad paper…

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Blast!

I thought I got rid of my cold last week, but it was still going on and turning into a sinus infection.  I finally sucked it up and went to the doctor this afternoon for an antibiotic.  I am hoping it kicks in soon and I get back to normal!

It kinda freaks me out that I am on week 4 of my marathon training plan and I missed two runs this week. If I am feeling up to it, I might try to do a short mid-week tomorrow and still do my 9 mile long run on Sunday.

My Mom took Colby and I to my favorite restaurant for my birthday (it was Wednesday).

After eating salad and appetizers, we ordered a creme brulee and it was decorated pretty for me.  It had a cookie and a candle on top.

My Mom asked me what I wanted for my birthday, and I told her I wanted to go see one of my favorite shows.  Blast! is basically a broadway show made up of a drum corps.  I wrote a post last summer about what drum corps is and my experience with it as a musician.  Basically, it is insanely crazy marching band made up of brass and percussion instruments with guard members.  Read about it here and you will definitely think of me as more of a music nerd.

Here is a video of Blast…

 

I made a crockpot recipe of chicken/vegetable soup tonight.  Colby has been sick too, so we are going to rest up, eat our soup and hopefully be all better soon!

 

I love salt when I am sick, so I ate tortilla chips with my soup tonight.  I also ate a million brownies because I’ve gotten so many for my birthday this week :)   I am not a cake/ice cream person. Give me brownies. Lots and lots of Ghiradelli brownies :)

 

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Football and Food

Sunday Long Run: 5 miles (48:42)

This weekend was a shorter long run for week 3 of my training plan.  Next weekend it will be back up with a 9 miler.  After missing two mid-week runs and BodyPump this week because of being sick, I was just happy to have gotten my 4 mile run in on Thursday and this 5 mile run today.  I did miss two 3 mile runs, but I think it was just more important to take the break.  Hopefully this will be the only time I get sick during my training plan!

Last night, my parents took Colby and I out for dinner for an early birthday sushi meal.  My new iPhone takes great pictures and I thought the sushi was so pretty :)   It was SO good!

 

I’m not really a huge football fan. I mean, I’m watching the Super Bowl right now (reading blogs and watching commercials) but baseball is my favorite sport to watch.  I usually pay attention to the half time show more than the game.  Not that excited to see Madonna.  I never really do much for the Super Bowl, and I was kinda surprised to see online that today is the second-largest day for food consumption, just after Thanksgiving.  I just never really thought about it much, since I never go to a Super Bowl party or anything. To impress Colby… (I’m becoming soooo domestic…) I decided to make pizza and football chocolate treats.

And when I say make pizza…

 

 

I mean my first attempt at making pizza dough and everything!!  I used the Barefoot Contessa recipe my Mom uses and it turned out great!

 

Colby and I made separate pizzas and had tons of leftovers.  I used half real half fake mozzarella (Daiya) on mine, along with peppers, onions and mushrooms.

 

Crazy good and very proud of myself :)

After pizza, I attempted to make Peas and Thank You’s chocolate covered chocolate chip peanut butter cookie dough footballs.  The chocolate that coats the footballs calls for coconut oil, and I had a free sample packet from HLS that I used.

Yes, they were cute… but way too much work.  They are almost too sweet for me because I wish I made them smaller.  I also made my own icing, but it was kinda runny and hard to use.  I was ready to lay down on the couch and was sick of working on these for what seemed like a long time, so I just went with the runny icing.  I’m not a huge baker, I’d much rather cook any day.  I usually get bored baking, and these were baked, then in and out of the fridge to set a few times.  Cute, but I probably wouldn’t make them again.

Enjoy the game… hoping to get all my runs in this week even though I will be busy!

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Garmin and Sickness Drama

So, I’ve been a little lazy with the blog lately.  I was really feeling good about my training plan and going to BodyPump two times a week.  I knew I was working out a lot, especially on Tues/Thurs when I would run and go to class after work… but I didn’t think much of it.  I felt great after going to a Saturday morning yoga class at Gold’s gym with Amy but I’ve been having headaches on and off for the past week. I woke up Sunday morning feeling horrible and all congested.  I had already planned on running 7 miles with Amy, so I made a trip to the drugstore and picked up some tylenol and sudafed.  I also picked up Claritin because I’ve been out of it for over a month.  I started taking Claritin back in October when a doctor told me it was probably the reason I got my sinus infection (the one I ran a half marathon with…) and got them in the past.

So… lesson learned. I’ll keep taking allergy medicine.  I was home sick Tuesday with a fever and had to skip my Tuesday run.  The weather in PA has been incredible and I’ve been missing out on it! It has been in the 60′s for the past two days.  I decided to take today off because I am still really congested and didn’t want to try running when I can barely breathe.  I guess my body needed the break and I am just thankful it is only during week 3 of my marathon plan.  I hope I can run tomorrow and maybe make up one of my missed runs on Saturday and run my long run on Sunday.

Workouts I didn’t blog about yet…

Saturday (Jan. 28): Yoga class!

This was my first yoga class since college.  I usually do yoga at home with videos and YogaDownload.com but I really enjoyed going to an actual class.  I didn’t think the class was too difficult, but I woke up with a really sore back the next day.  I really used back muscles I haven’t worked in a while by doing tons of back bend poses.  I didn’t realize that they were working so many muscles during the class! 

Sunday (Jan. 29): 7 miles (1:07:39)

 

I’m currently in a fight with my Garmin 405.  Two weeks ago I had to run without it when Amy came over for our weekend long run because it was frozen after charging over night. I didn’t have enough time to mess with it and I figured out that I had to plug it in and hold down both of the side buttons for 30 seconds to get it to reset after our run.  This past weekend, I had let it charge for at least an entire day. I unplugged it sometime Saturday and when I went to get it Sunday for our run, it was completely dead! 0% !! It took it hours to re-charge.  I know I should probably contact Garmin, but I don’t want to send it to them and be without it!! I’ll have to see how it works this week before I make a decision…

 

Anyways… I was really happy with our 7 miler because I wasn’t able to look at our pace and we were pretty consistent. And it was really windy too!

 

On a happier note… Colby got me an early birthday present……..

 

LOVE