Marathoner

Hi.

I'm Lauren. and as of a week ago I'm a marathoner.

Chicago was an absolutely freaking fantastic first marathon. It was so well spectated, so well organized, and it was so freaking great to be running in Chicago again.

As one can guess, July's running-destruction injury was indeed a running destruction injury. I didn't run for 6+ weeks. And even when I started running again, it was slow, in an old pair of highly cushioned shoes, and on the soft surfaces of Nichol's Arboretum. Each run included KT-tape and a compression sleeve and prayers to not further injure the possible stress fracture in my calf. 

And I didn't.

By the time it was t-minus one week to chicago, it hadn't really sunk in yet. I started consuming all the carbs, and around wednesday it hit me that holy shit I was about to run a marathon. 

The most I had ran post-injury was a run/walk 11 miler, and before the injury, I had only gotten up to a 12-miler. I was about to PD every mile after 13.1 during the marathon.

So much crazy.

Race morning I woke up early, drank coffee, drank a glass of nuun, ate an ALT larabar, half an ezekiel english muffin, and half a banana (will need to come back and evaluate this, because - SPOILER ALERT! -  my bitch stomach rebelled and I walked when my legs had more life in them). 

Allie and I waited in the porta-potty line, got into our start corral and were about to run 26.2 miles in the streets of chicago.

the race was seriously amazing. so much great crowd support, a really awesome route. I think I would definitely do it again. 

I was originally planning on walk/running it. it's how i'd done all of my post-injury running. but I just felt good the whole way through, so much so that I ran all the way to about 12 miles without stopping. 

And from there I did a few walk breaks here and there, but was still RUNNING. slow miles, the whole way, dont get me wrong. I was rocking the 9:30+ min miles.

And then things slowed down.

Around Mile 18 shit got real and my stomach was in all out rebellion. I'm not sure if it was the lemon lime gu I had for the first time, a failure in proper hydrating/fueling, or what. In all fairness, I had never really tried to take more than one gu during a run. Maybe my stomach just can't handle that. But by mile 20, I was steadily walking, without much running AT ALL. any time I started running, I felt like I was going to vomit. and Vomiting could mean not finishing thanks to, you know, vomiting up anything providing you with energy to keep moving. So I walked. and walked. and walked. For 6+ miles.

humbling splits, for shits and giggles

And then I got to the final mile. And I started to run again. Final mile had some walks in it as well, but it was mostly running, and I ran through that finish line and became a marathoner. and it was the best feeling in the world.

(also finding this photo reminded me of the damn banana from one of the aid stations that i seriously carried with me for the last six miles in case at some point I thought I was going to eat it. delusional. I swear)

So yes, I am a marathoner. and I love it.

And now, I can't wait to run another marathon, properly trained, uninjured, properly fueled. Probably the wisconsin marathon. and I can't wait. 

The Weekend without a Long Run

My right leg is currently fighting off a marathon-ruining injury. I could be exaggerating. But I have broken a bone training for a half marathon before. And twingy pain in a pretty localized area scares me. So I'm trying to shut down the running/spinning train for now, until the pain is 100% gone.

So it was the first weekend since the  beginning of june without a long run.

except that I ran a 5K on saturday. Without much pain, without a garmin, going pretty darn slow, and enjoying getting sprayed with food-dyed corn starch. which may or may not have been a good idea. time will tell.

On Saturday, I woke up incredibly early to run the Color Me Rad 5k at solider field. (entry fee won in a giveaway from Running in the Windy City. Thanks _____!) packet pick up was in the burbs, and I was not feeling a 1.5 hour commute on public transit out of the city to get my packet. So race-day pick up it was. Packet pickup was slow, but decently efficient. I had my bib within a half hour or so.

The race itself was a good loop, with water at the half way point, which I graciously stopped to drink, as I failed to drink water before the race. There were no volunteers at the water point, just pint sized water bottles from costco in kiddy pools. it was super effective for an untimed race.

After the race, my knack for finding all things free swag was in full force. I ended up with an apex water bottle at the race.

I decided I would walk from solider field to the Green city market, as my weekends in chi are numbered. On my way, I stumbled upon a target giveaway at the beach. SOLD. I ended up with a meal pack, and a bag full of sunscreen, fruit snacks, and cheddar crackers.

Then was the farmers market, full of its fresh produce glory.

I got home later that afternoon, spent a few hours planted on my butt watching pretty little liars on netflix instant, and then headed to whole foods to pick up a few things (mainly ice cream. priorities people!).

Sunday morning I woke up early, of course, had no long run on the agenda. but i did have a to do list.

I decided I wanted an everything bagel with cream cheese and lox for breakfast, and was all dedicated to procuring the ingredients for that breakfast feast. except that the bagels i bought had something green on them. and i didnt discover this until i got home.

so back to the jewel it was. where i found out it was frosting from the cupcakes they bake (and frost?) on the same tray. so I was ready to eat my bagel anyway. and then there it was, a breakfast food truck right in front of me.

I was sold.

I got the scoundrel - an awesome breakfast sandwich filled with egg, turkey, bacon, cheese, and spinach. on a PRETZEL ROLL. it was to die for.

The rest of the day? Killing that to do list. cleaning, and watching more PLL's, and working on law school journal stuff.

Culminated in ice cream and pizza/cheese bread delivery to my door.

So yes, my weekend of finding substitutions for running went really well.

This week? not going as well. which sucks. but that's another post.

Marathon Training Weeks #6 and 7

we can blame the blog absence on the presence of my boyfriend for a week and a half. I can also blame my shoddy running schedule keeping on him.

but regardless, the running has been a little sporadic, and shoddy, but i have no more crazy trips planned for the next few weeks, and a bunch of races on the schedule. so i'm sticking to it, here on out.

so, Marathon Training Week #6

Monday - spin. 50 minutes. the usual, nothing spectacular here.
Tuesday - AM run. The problem with being two weeks behind on a training recap. you dont remember what your runs are like. so let's just throw down some garmin numbers and call it good. It apparently was fast though? 5 miles/8:08
Wednesday - yoga. 60 minutes
Thursday - travel day/off. traveled to see the boo! watched awesome fireworks! slept in a tent! good times all around.
Friday - 2 miles. lame, i know. cut short because i was having body issues. 2 miles/8:54
Saturday - the rest of friday's intended 4-5 miler. this short run was followed by a large smoothie and new running tops and gu because i intelligently forgot to pack running tops, and didnt feel like doing a long run in a cotton tee. 3.25 miles/8:34
Sunday - 8ish mile long run. no garmin. just me and michigan state's (ick) campus. in all honesty though, east lansing isn't bad. I have a way of finding paths along the water, and this was no different. ran along the cedar river, encountered ducks, swans, herons, and other runners. oh and this run-inspired graffiti.

are you saying its a good thing I didn't run with my garmin?

Total: 18 miles

Marathon Training Week #7

Monday - OFF
Tuesday - these were hot sticky high humidity miles. I didn't bring water, and stopped just about every mile for water. 6 miles/8:42
Wednesday - OFF
Thursday - double header. just shy of 3 miles run, and 60 minutes of yoga.  2.88 miles/8:37
Friday - evening speedwork. last week I really struggled with garmin functionality. I hit start/stop instead of lap, and then there was no first yasso recorded. oh well. 4.5 miles/8:21 
Saturday  - OFF
Sunday - Home miles. 12 on the Ann Arbor stomping grounds. Arb, to huron river trail, and back. these were good miles, except for that part around mile 5 when I stopped in a clearing and got ATTACKED by bugs. It was absurd, and I was freaking the eff out because I didn't know what kind of bugs they were or what they were going to do to me. Turns out they were going to bite me UNDER MY BRA. wtf bugs. you suck. 12 miles/9:00

Total: 24 miles

6 steps to successful morning running

6 steps to Successful Morning Running

1. go to bed early

I know, the 10PM bed hour makes you feel like you're 70. But it is so much easier to wake up in the morning when you've had a full night of sleep, and it makes your run better. so just do it.

2. get together all your running things

this is something that has foiled runs for me. Take this morning for example. I knew I needed my handy ipod shuffle, Elle Woods, for my run.

So I pulled it out of its basket-full of electronics home. And then buried it in my bed, so I was searching for it for 10 minutes this morning. and then leaving one of the silicon earbud thingies in my bed so i had to go back for it. WASTE OF TIME LAUREN.

3. prep for the next day
breakfast, lunch, outfit.

When these things are figured out the night before, getting ready in the morning is infinitely easier. I'm not always so great at this, but it definitely helps.

4. go to bed in your running clothes

not only are most running clothes super comfy, but they also are nice to not have to figure out in the dark in the morning.

you're probably sensing a trend by this point. One of the keys to morning run success is allowing myself to sleep in as late as possible and be as efficient with time as possible.

5. snack before your run (or don't)

some mornings I don't need/want a snack and other times I do. Do what works best for you, and don't feel like there's and fast rule on this one. because there isn't.

6. run

And then get out there and run. Know that you are out there getting your heartrate up before the day even really begins. Enjoy the sun coming up, the cool breeze, and the joy of running!

tuesday morning run scenes

that gorgeous lake

Marathon Training Week #5

Monday - 55 min spin at gocycle studio. the usual monday evening grind. This time it was in the middle of a crazypants storm that you could hear OVER the music. oh, I also had my first spin mishap. While I was riding the seat of my bike just completely CAME OFF. it was like i had tightened the bolt enough, but I'm sure I did. this resulted in me switching bikes in the middle of class, and decreased calorie burn. but oh well. makes for excitement right?

Tuesday - unintentional off day. I woke up in the morning SUPER tired. proceeded to skip the 6 miler i had planned for the morning. went out to grab food with some co-workers after work, and didn't get home until 10-ish. Updated the ipod shuffle with new music, made sure my garmin was charged, went to bed at that time, planning on getting up at 5:30 to get the run in.

Wednesday - guess what i woke up to? Rain. Rain. More Rain. Hence PSA post here.
But I got the six miles in after work. They were good, highly motivated by new music miles by the lake. the usual. love. 6 miles/8:13

Thursday - the two a day to make up for the extra rest day. 3 miles on tired legs in the morning. 60 minutes of hot yoga in the evening. all good. 3 miles/8:47

Friday -  another off day, in prep for a saturday long run.

Saturday - 11 miles by the lake. It was a day where I was happy to be running. Whole thing felt good. Garmin was being a huge pain in the ass, and I found myself getting super frustrated with it because all I wanted to do was keep running, and it was refusing to track my miles. Gu at 5.5. Energy levels good, overall run was good. It was a cool foggy morning, with a bunch of wind by the lake. But a good long run, for sure. 11 miles/8:39

navy pier! 

so foggy!

typical shoes shot

Sunday - evening fast miles. the garmin decided to totally not function, so I said screw it and ran free. In the glances at the pace, I stayed below 8:15. A decent number of peeks at the garmin gave me a number starting with 7. It was an "I'm-super-grateful-for-these-legs-that-are-strong-and-that-propel-me-forward" kind of run. ~4 miles

So first week where I wasn't consistent. All my workouts got done except for a yasso run, but it was tough juggling everything (although the evening runs were a nice change). These next two weeks involve a lot of traveling and a visit from the boo, so we'll see how they go.

Total Mileage: 24 miles

Plan for the week:
Monday: Spin
Tuesday: Run 6
Wednesday: Yoga
Thursday: Run Yasso's
Friday: Run 3
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: Run 12

Running Playlist #1

Because I'm in love with pretty much every popular song right now, I thought I'd share my running playlist.



Also important things to note:

1. Don't skip runs. Even if sleep sounds much better and according to your phone its raining outside but when you look out the window you know its not, don't do it. because the world will conspire against you and even though you updated your ipod shuffle with awesome music, the next morning you will wake up at 5:30 ready to run, and it will just STORM until you have to go to work.

So yeah, just don't do it. Not that I'm speaking from experience or anything.

2. Running skirts are the cutest invention. yup, wearing the running skirt right now and i pretty much want to wear it everywhere. I'm sold.

3. this playlist makes me super happy because I'm a huge nerd: i heart guts playlist Yes, a playlist all about your organs. :)

4. bloglovin'. Do it. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Marathon Training Week #4

Monday – spin with the chi roomie! The same studio, same instructor, same jam. Forgot my HRM which I was bummed about. Because of that fact I don’t think I pushed as hard as I normally did. Plus my legs were sore from paddleboarding + a 6 miler. Still a great spin class overall. 50 min spin. 

Tuesday – Run 5. This was my first chi evening run and I LOVELOVELOVED it. The weather worked out in my favor to allow me a relatively cool evening run. I was speedy and pushed it hard. It was just a really fantastic, feel-good run. 5 miles/8:01 pace 

Wednesday – yoga with a different instructor and a different class format. I took Core Power 2 with Lindsey H and really enjoyed it. She had us do a flow sequence with a block between our thighs at the beginning to really focus on our legs. And it was so hard but so awesome. I also got to attempt crow, the one pose I’m most proud to accomplish. I’ve still got it. 60 min yoga.

Thursday – Thursday was a yasso morning. Did 3. The last one was quite a bit slower (unlike my consistent 3:40’s last week), but I’ll take it anyway. The first two were faster, so that is awesome. A good morning push-yourself run. 4.38 miles/3:35/3:33/3:49

Friday – afternoon run in ann arbor. I went back to Michigan for the weekend, and snuck in this run in between a conference call and evening plans with friends. It was hot and humid, so I told myself I could go as slow as I wanted, just run 3 miles. And I did. And it wasn't even that slow. 3 miles/8:15 pace

Saturday – OFF

Sunday – LR 10-miler at home. Went home Saturday evening, so the long run was in Dearborn. Took the Rouge River Trail to Hines Drive and then looped back. This was a weird, but totally satisfying run. It took me until mile 3 for my shins not to bother me. I was pretty much plodding along, which I think might have been part of the problem. I told myself I could go slow, because my long runs have been pretty fast, and I’m working off a cutback week. But I think I just went TOO slow. Around mile 3 I settled into the grove, and pulled off those negative splits. I managed to run without stopping (I think…) for the first 5.3, which was also a great thing.

Took my gu at that 5.3, and then headed back. No stomach troubles, all good.

The best part about this run was that every single person I passed said good morning, or smiled, or gave the nod. It was a morning of running camaraderie and I loved it. Too often in Ann Arbor and Chicago runners don’t acknowledge each other, and I don’t really get it. Maybe it’s the small neighborhood thing, maybe it’s the older runner crowd, I don’t really know. But it definitely made this long run a feel-good run. 10 miles/9:06 pace

Why I love running (lately)

There have been quite a few motivating factors for running lately.

1. Carbs

I lovelovelove carbs. I could never go to the carb-free diet route. If there is bread in front of me, I will eat it. I don't discriminate against carbs. Bread, Cupcakes, Cake, pasta - i love it all. And running gives me a reason to consume it all. and so I shall.

Examples:

bread and cupcake dessert from a recent wedding

One of my most recent carb-fests was making a raspberry-rhubarb tart.

kind of disastrous looking, but so delicious. (realizing i need to work on my food photog) recipe here

Today's carb fest was this bread from Little Goat Bread in the French Market (so much self control necessary to prevent myself from going here ALL THE TIME). It is bacon gouda. say it with me, oh my freaking lord.

2. Lake Michigan

lake at dusk

I'm realizing more and more each day how much I adore the great lakes. and When I have views like this when I'm running. How can you resist? I always get the biggest grin on my face when I run far enough that I can see the lake. It is awesome.

3. running clothes

lululemon pace setter in pizzazz

I finally caved and bought a running skirt. It's orange. It matches my shoes. It could not possibly arrive faster.


4. Speedwork

I've been doing yasso 800's and seeing 7-something pace for half a mile is like the most exciting thing in the world. I think it's going to make me a better and a stronger runner. and that makes me so excited.



what makes you love running? or what makes you love what you love?

Marathon Training Week #3

Monday - 50 min spin. pushed it hard. the spin studio has one of those "leaderboards" where you can compare your effort to other people in the class, and my competitive streak kicked in and I wanted to be the best. I ended up around 3rd or 4th. Pretty happy with that.

Tuesday - 5 miles, AM run. Felt a little dehydrated, but got her done. 8:20 miles.

post five miler breakfast

Wednesday - hot yoga. This almost didn't happen. I came home, was starving, subsequently ate too much, and it was storming like crazy. But I put on my rain boats and goretex jacket, and headed out into the rain. Walked the mile to yoga in the storm, ended up in a class with 4 other people, and it was awesome. I really loved the wednesday night instructor.

Thursday - 3.5 miles AM. Should have been 4 but I woke up tired thanks to late night yoga. (yes, 8:45-9:45 is late night). Fast to finish it off.

Friday - SPEEDWORK. OMG YASSO'S for the first time and they were AWESOME. check out these splits:

7:22?! gah! I was aiming for 8:00's!

I mean, I only did 2 (i'm pretty sure you're technically supposed to start with like 4...), but I think my spin intervals/sprints/hill climbs really helped with this one. Apparently I am really good at kicking it up for "bursts of intensity" (I've been listening to too many jillian michaels podcasts)

Saturday - off, much needed after a night out in river north.

Sunday - 6 miles long. This was good. I'm glad it was only a 6 because it was hot and humid and it was so nice to turn around at 3 miles. Followed by an early morning trip to whole foods, and it was a good morning. 8:30 average, which i'll call pretty good in the heat.

pre (yes the dirt on my mirror makes my head look like its *sparkly*)

check out that sheen

 I also went paddle-boarding for the first time on Sunday. Which was crazy fun, and crazy hard. I just dont have the balance for that type of stuff. I stayed upright for a very short period of time before I resorted to kneeling, but my quads were SO sore afterwards. thumbs up experience and thumbs up work out, for sure. 


Game Plan

Mon: Spin - 50 min
Tues: Run 5
Wed: Hot yoga - 1 hr
Thurs: Run easy 3
Friday: Run yasso's! at least 3 this time!
Saturday: off
Sunday: Runday. 10 miles.

Chicago Marathon Training Plan

So I think it's about time to share the training plan. While I've been pretty freaking fantastic at sticking to it (knock on wood), this will make me even more accountable.

I started off this training cycle coming off half marathon training. It surely wasn't the best half training (didn't really do a ton of miles, got in the long runs, but that was about it), but it was a solid running base. I wanted to capitalize on that, so I continued to run pretty consistently post half marathon to keep up the fitness.

Miles Per Week: I wanted to build up to 35ish miles. And I ended up doing that. I'm happy with the weekly mileage in general.

Training Plan based on: I used a combination of this cool running training plan and hal higdon's novice II.

I adjusted it based on some chi races I wanted to run (zooma half marathon, and the big ten 10K), and the cross training that I enjoy most (spinning and yoga).

I just got my hands on the july runner's world though and may check out the marathon plan in there and adjust mine accordingly.

Runs per Week: When I was training for my first half, I ran 4-5 times a week and broke my foot. Since then I've kept it to 3 runs a week, not on consecutively days. That is changing with this training plan. I'm running both thursday and friday, with one of them being (theoretically) easier, followed by a rest day, and long run on sunday.

What are Yasso's?: Yasso 800's are a training technique created by Bart Yasso. You run 800M at the time you want to complete your marathon (so 4 hour marathon, 800M in 4 minutes flat. 3:35 BQ marathon? 800M in 3:35), followed by 800M easy pace. I tried doing this on the track in ann arbor in crazy heat. it didn't work so well. I haven't really done them subsequently. BUT I WILL DAMMIT. because this is how you run fast marathons.

the plan

I snagged Page's idea to put a link to the google doc of the plan on your phone homepage, so I always have it handy (although for the most part, I know what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm a pretty non-complicated runner.)

Marathon Training Week #2

Monday - Spin. First spinning class in Chi at GoCycle in Lincoln Park. Enjoyed it in general, but didn't push myself super hard. And no jumps? I don't really know why - it seemed a little weird, haha. Also not a lot of cues. It's no vie, but I enjoyed it a lot, and will stick around for the summer.

Tuesday - 5 miles AM run.
This one felt hard and it was likely because I pushed it hard. average pace: 8:15.

Wednesday - Hot yoga. Also my first hot yoga class in Chi. Went to CorePower Yoga in Roscoe Village (Lakeview). went to hot power fusion, a hot yoga class set to music with a little bit of vinyasa flow, but not a whole lot. I really enjoyed it, sweat a lot, which is always a good indication of a good workout. They have a bunch of locations all around chicago, which is kind of nice.

Also! Forgot to mention that I celebrated national running day by running the mile to yoga. So yay!

Thursday - OFF. Hadn't done a rest day since the previous Monday so I figured a day off wasn't going to kill me.

Friday - 4 miles AM. felt comfortable, but not gonna lie, it was a HARD run. average pace = 8:10

SO SWEATY AFTERWARD. Told myself I was going to do core work afterward, but the open shower was just too appealing. the best thing only good thing about summer runs is the cold shower afterward. and chi roomie LOVES to take sauna showers. and the sauna bathroom post run is not fun.

Saturday - yoga with weights

This was the first yoga class I went to where the instructor just was not good. I feel bad writing a negative review on the blog, so I'm not going to try and ID this in any way, but let me just say that the instructor was not enthusiastic, very monotone (and not in the good peaceful yoga way. in the "i don't really want to be here instructing you and let me act like i'm reading off cards" type of way). she stumbled over words, said um a lot, and was generally distracting as an instructor, rather than instructive. It was a good work out - I had never done yoga with weights before, but it also just wasn't the best class. still, stretched it out, did a little strength training, call it good.

Sunday - 9 miles long along the lakeshore.

I tried to take these miles easy, but I just can't push myself down past like 8:45's now. Which I guess I shouldn't really be complaining about.

My new goal for long runs is to do them without stopping. Spin has gotten my cardiovascular system very used to intervals. Now it's time to keep that heart rate up and keep moving. This run wasn't so bad - stopped a few times. bathroom around 3 miles, turn around at 4.5 miles, and one more time before it was all through.

Also first run with the hydration belt. see more thorough review in the running things post.

even foam rolled afterwards, and I wasn't really sore, so we'll call that an accomplishment.

Plan for this week:
Monday: spin
Tuesday: run 5
Wednesday: hot yoga
Thursday: run (tempo? yassos? who knows)
Friday: run 3 easy
Saturday: OFF
Sunday: run 6! its a cutback week baby!

Running Things

Recently I've been acquiring new and exciting running things. Because this is a running blog, I'm going to write about them!

new kicks - Saucony Kinvara 4 in blue/orange/white (aka nemo stripes in the big blue)

For those who have been following my running since the beginning, you'll know that I trained for my first half marathon in vibram fivefingers. Every single training run was in those shoes. The minimalist thing was my jam.

And then the foot pain set in. Less than a week before the half. I ran the half, in pain. And then ended up with a broken 3rd metatarsal.

womp womp

Since that experience, I haven't ran in my fivefingers. But the minimalist shoe craze really appealed to me. I knew I ran fast and strong in shoes that complemented my actual feet - not ones with pounds of cushioning. But I did need some. Enter Nike Free's -- my go to running shoe for the next two years.

But when it was time to pack up this to head to chicago this summer, I was ready for a shoe change. About to embark on marathon training, heard awesome things about the kinvara. and I was sold.

Went to the local running store, tried them on, ran on the treadmill. done and done.

These shoes are serving me very well. fast miles. long miles. they do it all. and i'm in love.

hydration belt

used this sucker on sunday for the long run and other than some short chaffing due the belt pressing my tag against my back, all was wonderful.

I was reading the may april runner's world (yes the one with shalane/kara on the cover), and in an article on "bad habits to break" one was running with a water bottle in hand.

I have a nathan quickdraw handheld water bottle, and I think its time for it an I to break up. When I carried it during my half in April there were times when i considered tossing it to the side of the road. It was heavy, I was tired, and I just didnt like it any more.

My first swig of water from one of the flasks resulted in lemon-lime nuun all over my face though. whoops. apparently you dont really need to squeeze them.

The runner's world article cited the imbalance it creates, and I can vouch for that too. So Nathan Trail Mix Hydration Belt, nice to meet you. Welcome to all my long runs.

Gu

Hello my name is Lauren, and I used to be a hardcore shot block/sports beans addict.

And again, half marathon #3 -- I didn't really feel like chewing.

So I'm resorting to gu. And I trusted my fellow future chicago marathon-er friend, in her vanilla gu/pudding recommendation.

And she was right.

I took my first gu during last weekend's 8-miler, and it definitely fueled some negative splits. Didn't taste bad, no stomach issues. I will take it.

Vanilla gu, also welcome to my long runs.

(also I bought like exorbitant amounts at REI's anniversary sale.)

Oakley Twentysix.2 Sunnies

I am in love with these sunglasses. I have taken to wearing these ALL THE TIME, even though I bought them for running, and I should thus only wear them for running.

But they are pretty awesome. I do wear them running, and they stay on my head, don't push into the side of my head in headache inducing ways, and are in general awesome and comfortable.

Success!


Believe I am Training Journal

After the epic fail of a 1 minute PR at half mary #3, I figured it was about time to get serious. And I'm running my first full. And everyone is BQ'ing. And while I know BQ is probably out of reach for Boston 2014, it's still something I'd like to do. Boston is still a race I'd love to run. So let's get real serious about running. Let's track runs not just for distance, pace, elevation, but also for how I feel overall. Let's find that mental game.

So I turned to the believe i am training journal. because lauren fleshman and ro mcgettigan seem to know what they're doing.

Why today was awesome

Saturday #2 in Chicago was equally as awesome as Saturday #1.

Why you ask? Well let me count the ways.

#1. Green City Market

Chi roomie and I may have completely mis-mapped this and thus misjudged the distance we had to go. BUT once we got there it was all worth it.

We biked, and I used one of her family's extra bikes. It was one of my first bike rides in a LONG time. A little scary, but I survived, and by the end of it definitely got it down. So go me on that accomplishment too!

I went to the farmer's market with the goal of getting rhubarb and peonies (since they're gorgeous and blooming right now!). I accomplished that and so much more.

Rhubarb, strawberries, and asparagus from one farm.

Michigan farms represent!

The most delicious cheese from another.

My highly sought after peonies.

Multigrain Bread

And as our early afternoon snack, a grilled cheese sandwich and a raspberry rhubarb well water drink.

#2. An afternoon green smoothie in a wine glass.

perfection.

#3. Followed by afternoon yoga

Okay this actually wasn't the most amazing. First of all, I was looking at the wrong schedule, so instead of doing the hot power yoga, I instead did yoga sculpt, which was yoga with weights. Which i guess is really great strength training. But it wasn't what I was expecting. And the instructor just wasn't great. She wasn't really encouraging, she stumbled over words and phrases, and she just seemed really inexperienced.

Regardless, it was a decent workout, and I'm glad I went. second yoga of the week done.

#4. The perfect happenstance

There's a lululemon 3 blocks from my apartment. I've been trying to avoid it like a fiend because I know once I go in, I will buy something.

So I did that today. It was a really successful marathon training week so I justified it. And it just so happend to be the 1 year since the store's opening, so they were celebrating.

With pizza.

And one of the employees told me I could take an entire pizza home. Because it was getting close to the end of the day. And so I did.

naked pizza

so amazing. the superbiotic pizza

Also it was from naked pizza, which is probably my new favorite pizza place. Fantastic priorities, awesome website, awesome pizza. What else could you ask for?

The superbiotic has the following on it:

Love love love.

And it was the perfect happenstance because I have a long run tomorrow and was dying for carbs.

So thanks lululemon southport for fueling my long run, you're the best.