Attempting to psych myself up...

I am sitting at my mom's kitchen table right now attempting to psych myself up for my 12 mile run.  I had no problem getting out of bed at an early hour (6:15am), so what is the problem?  This lovely weather report:

At least it's warmer than last week, right?

The other issue is I still don't know a ton of routes to run here.  When I was growing up here, I didn't run.  I usually just run around the neighborhood, but it gets so boring.  It's like a 3 mile loop (or something).

So this morning I am going to be trying something new.  My mom told me there is a new trail (or she just noticed it, not 100% sure) not far from her house.  A little googling tells me it's just over 5 miles.  I figured I'd rather do 2 of those and then a little extra to get to my 12 then loops of the neighborhood.  Hopefully it's flat and not windy out!

In other news, I had a solid time in my 5K outing on Thursday - just over an 8 minute per mile pace.  Woohoo!  I'll have a full recap coming up.

Until then, happy Saturday!

Did anyone brave the Black Friday crowds?
I did not, I took my niece to see Frozen instead.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Just a quick note today.  I started my day by running a Turkey Trot 5K and am looking forward to lots of food this afternoon with the family!  Just how I like to spend today (or really, any day).

I hope whatever your plans are, you have a wonderful day and happy Thanksgiving!

Gobble, gobble!

Training recap week of 11/18 (Dopey Week 11)

Hey everyone!  Happy Thanksgiving Week!  Sorry for the little bit of a break, work has gotten crazy and I won't lie... I'm constantly exhausted from training and have definitely been going to bed earlier rather then staying up writing.  Hope you all had a great week!

This past week was definitely a rough one - longest run in a long time and longest back to backs ever.  It did not help that it was 18 degrees on Sunday with a "real feel" of 5, and 20+ MPH winds for my 18 mile run.  But I did it and I'm pleased with my pace.  Only 2 long run weekends to go!  Holy cow!

This upcoming week I am going to be changing my schedule a bit.  I have 2 races while I am home (a 5K Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning and a 5 miler on Sunday) so I am going to be breaking my 8 mile tempo run into those 2 races.  I know it's not the same as doing 1 8 mile run, but I know I won't be able to stop myself from racing both, so I might as well use them as a tempo.

Monday

Scheduled: Rest or Cross Training

Actual: 35 minutes on the elliptical + Core Work

I have really been slacking in the cross training department and it felt good to get out there.  I also have been trying to add more core work.  I know it will help in the long run!

Tuesday

Scheduled: 5 miles easy pace (10:09 - 11:09)

Actual: 5.00 miles, 51:25, 10:17 pace

Wednesday

Scheduled: 8 miles easy pace (10:09 - 11:09)

Actual: 8.00 miles, 1:24:52, 10:36 pace

Thursday

Scheduled: Rest

Actual: Rest 

Friday

Scheduled: 3 miles easy pace (10:09 - 11:09)

Actual: 3.00 miles, 30:24, 10:08 pace

It was so nice here on Friday, I was able to run in shorts and a t-shirt!  What a change to Sunday...

Saturday

Scheduled: 8 miles long run pace (9:54 - 10:29)

Actual: 8.00 miles, 1:18:57, 9:52 pace

Sunday

Scheduled: 18 miles long run pace (9:54 - 10:29)

Actual: 18.00 miles, 2:54:27, 9:41 pace

Brrrrrrr.... that's all I have to say about this run.

Total miles: 42.01

Total November miles: 117.61

2 on Tuesday

The cold weather is back in the city and I am already not a fan!  Tonights run was pretty brutal.  The worst part of winter running is those few minutes when you are waiting for your Garmin to sync.  Ugh, so annoying!

My addiction to Sweaty Bands continues.  I happened upon the booth this weekend at the Philly Half and picked up the above 3 - all fun winter themes for the coming months!  I need to learn to control myself.

I picked this up at the library last week in an effort to get cooking again.  Hoping they have some good recipes to try out.  I'm looking forward to getting back in the kitchen again!

Training recap week of 11/11 (Dopey Week 10)

I'm alive!  Back from all my travels and still exhausted.  Hoping to check up on sleep soon.

Well, 10 weeks down... it was about time my schedule went out the window.  With my last minute work travel, my schedule got a bit screwed up this week.  But in all honesty, this was probably the best week for me to travel to force me off my schedule.  Coming back from Disney, my left quad was really tight.  Like slightly painfully tight.  If I had been home, I probably would have run.  But traveling allowed me an excuse to skip my run and it was probably best for me to give my legs a little to recover.

Monday

Scheduled: Rest or Cross Training

Actual: Does lots of walking in Disney count?

Tuesday

Scheduled: 4 miles easy pace (10:09 - 11:09)

Actual: 4.00 miles, 41:52, 10:28 pace

Wednesday

Scheduled: 8 miles easy pace (9:09ish)

Actual: Off

Thursday

Scheduled: 4 miles easy pace (10:09 - 11:09)

Actual: Off 

Moved this run to Saturday

Friday

Scheduled: Rest

Actual: Rest

Saturday

Scheduled: Rest

Actual: 4.00 miles, 41:22, 10:21 pace

Sunday

Scheduled: Philadelphia Half Marathon

Actual: 13.25 miles, 2:03:55, 9:21 pace

This half was much easier than last week during the Wine and Dine.  Goes to show some runs are better then others!

Total miles: 21.24

Total November miles: 75.60

How did your training go last week?  Hit the comments and let me know!

Training recap week of 11/4 (Dopey Week 9)

I have been trying to take Dopey training week by week and not think about what is going to happen in January (months later I still have holy crap what have I gotten myself into!).  But as I started this post, I realized I was halfway through training.  How is it already halfway done?  Didn't training just start?  How can I be doing this in only 9 weeks?  Yikes!

This week included the Wine and Dine Half Marathon which was completed at long run pace, but definitely felt at a harder effort level.  But at least it's done!  This upcoming week includes the Philly Half Marathon (being used as a long run) and with my work travel, my runs are going to be harder to get in.  Going to be do my best to get them in.  Wish me luck!

Monday

Scheduled: Rest or Cross Training

Actual: Rest

Tuesday

Scheduled: 4 miles easy pace (10:09 - 11:09)

Actual: 4.00 miles, 40:17, 10:03 pace

Wednesday

Scheduled: 7 miles easy pace (9:09ish)

Actual: 7.00 miles, 1:04:42, 9:15 pace

Thursday

Scheduled: 4 miles easy pace (10:09 - 11:09)

Actual: 4.00 miles, 40:38, 10:09 pace

Friday

Scheduled: Rest

Actual: Rest

Saturday

Scheduled: Wine and Dine Half Marathon (13.1, 9:54 pace)

Actual: 13.3 miles, 2:10:10, 9:47 pace

Sunday

Scheduled: Rest

Actual: Rest

Total miles: 28.3

Total November miles: 54.30

2 on Tuesday

Happy Tuesday everyone!  I had a blast this weekend at the Wine and Dine half and am completely exhausted from it.  Is this part of getting older?  If so, I am not a fan!  Anyway, I had a great race and will have a full recap coming up.  Eventually - this upcoming week is going to be a bit hectic...

I am heading to Chicago early tomorrow morning for 2 days for work.  Nothing like coming back from Florida and heading to colder weather in Chicago!  I am also headed to Philly this weekend for the half marathon.  It's going to be a busy week so not sure when I will be able to get my recap of Wine and Dine up, but it'll be coming eventually!

S'mores Bites

I am still in Disney World eating and drinking my way around the Food and Wine Festival, I thought I would post a recent recipe I made that has been hanging out in my draft folder for a while.  Hope you are all having a nice Monday!

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I made these treats a ridiculously long time ago when I was in the mood for something easy and sweet.  Fortunately, my sweet tooth coincided with a birthday at work, so I brought most of them into the office so I wouldn't be tempted to eat them all!

I found this recipe through Pinterest and since it involved minimal ingredients and no gadgets, it was right up my alley.  I love cooking but once crazy ingredients or gadgets get involved, it usually falls off the 'To Cook" list.  I like simplicity (and I'm lazy, let's be real).  It was also a no-bake dessert which meant I did not have to turn on my oven on a sweltering day.

This recipe was from the blog Gimme Some Oven and was so easy to make my niece could do it (in fact, this would probably be a great recipe to make with her.  She'd love it.).  I saved some for myself, but took the rest to work and I can confirm they were a big hit.  Completely gone by the end of the day!

Steps (as simplified by me):
1. Melt butter
2. Add marshmallows and stir until melted
3. Remove from heat and add in Golden Grahams (remember them?)
4. Add chocolate chips
5. Place on parchment paper to cool

So easy right?  The full recipe is available at Gimme Some Over or click here to go directly to the recipe.

Enjoy!

Wine and Dine is here!

          

Happy Friday everyone! As I write this I am sitting on one of the lovely Disney transportation buses heading to Epcot!

We left NYC very early this morning and arrived with only minimal issues (we are staying at Port Orleans - French Quarter and there was an issue with there computer so we couldn't check in at first. Nothing major!). 

We've already done the expo (so low key - I'll have a full recap next week!!) and are now heading to Epcot to start our trip around the Food and Wine Featival! 

Hope you are having a good Friday!

Wine and Dine Merchandise!

Happy Wednesday!  In just two days I will be in sunny FL for the Wine and Dine Half Marathon!  And just in time, the Wine and Dine merch is up on the Disney Parks blog!  I have been waiting all week to see what they are going to have.  Here is a preview of what they will have this year:

All photo's via the Disney Parks Blog post

I like the race logo on the shirts in the first photo, but let's be real, I do not need any more running clothing so I will probably pass on those.  I don't love the front of the 'I Did It', the back is nice (photo on the Disney Parks Blog).  I have one from last year, so I'll probably pass on that one too (how many 'I Did It' shirts from the same event do I need?).  I do like the Sweaty Bands (see yesterdays post), particularly the blue one with the Spaceship Earth design on it.  Depending on what else there is or how things look in person, I might pick up another item or two.

What are your thoughts on the W&D merch?  Anything you can't live without?

2 on Tuesday

I have a Sweaty Bands problem.  My collection is rapidly growing and I can't (and probably won't!) stop.  Abby so nicely picked the above 3 up for me at the NYC marathon expo.  The top one says 'I Run NYC' and I could not pass it up.  The bottom two are Thanksgiving themed - one for my turkey trot (middle) and the bottom one just because it has turkeys on it.  I am going to be wearing it on every run in November since it's got a limited window of appropriate use.

It was a big weekend for me tech wise as well!  I finally made the jump and upgrade to the iPhone 5S.  My poor 4 (original 4 not even 4S) was rapidly losing steam.  It made it almost 3 years, so that is good!  I am loving the 5S already though.  I also purchased a new camera!  It's still a point and shoot, but has a much nicer zoom and lense.  Nothing was wrong with my current camera, other than it is 5 years old and I wanted something that would produce better quality photo's.

Training recap week of 10/28 (Dopey Week 8)

How is it November already?  Seriously, how?  I feel like September and October have just flown by!  And to make matters worse, it is like winter here already.  I was thisclose to breaking out my winter coat this AM, but I was strong.  Although, I did regret my decision on my walk to work this morning.  Brrr, it is cold!

Before I go any further, I want to give a shout out to the awesome Abby over Abby's Road to Amazingness who ran the ING NYC Marathon yesterday and kicked some butt!  So proud of you!  Also congrats to my other non-blogger writing friends who ran including (but not limited to) Megan, Lori, Rebecca, Sam, Brian, and Beth!

Ok, back to the training recap.  This weeks training went well - I got all my runs in, but I fear a little bit of a cold might be coming on.  I felt it late last week and since then have been making sure I am getting lots of rest, drinking lots of water, taking my vitamins and medicine.  It's nothing too bad (just a slight cough and a running nose) but with Wine and Dine this weekend I am not taking any chances!

This past weeks schedule included my first 3 days of running in a row (on this schedule) and my longest run since Montreal last year.  Every week it gets a little more real.  Eeek!

Monday

Scheduled: Rest or Cross Training

Actual: Rest

Tuesday

Scheduled: 4 miles easy pace (10:09 - 11:09)

Actual: 4.00 miles, 40:04, 10:01 pace

Wednesday

Scheduled: 7 miles easy pace (9:09ish)

Actual: 7.00 miles, 1:11:14, 10:11 pace

Thursday

Scheduled: Rest

Actual: Rest

Friday

Scheduled: 2 miles rasy pace

Actual: 2.00 miles, 21:48, 10:55 pace

Saturday

Scheduled: 7 miles long run pace (9:54)

Actual: 7.00 miles, 1:08:27, 9:47 pace

With the marathon on Sunday, the park had a special energy on Saturday.  Everything was set up at the finish area and there were activites related to the marathon taking place.  I even got to see the special yellow line.

Sunday

Scheduled: 17 miles long run pace (9:54)

Actual: 17.01, 2:48:05, 9:53 pace

I got up early to get my long run in before heading to the east side to cheer for all the marathoners.  I think this run was probably the last one in shorts for a while (at least in NYC).  It was cold and windy on the water (temps in the high 40s), but I survived.  

Total miles: 37.01

Total October miles: 129.15
Total November miles: 26.00