I haven’t felt much like writing lately, or cooking, or running, or, well anything else for that matter. Post marathon blues I am sure were settling in, but I decided to slap the blues in the face today and start my week out right. It’s my day off today, as I had weekend duty Saturday and Sunday and I wanted to spend time with my girls. We don’t get ‘time’ to really have quality time together very often, so we spent the afternoon in the sun enjoying the break Mother Nature decided to give us after a VERY wet summer here in Chicagoland.
Since turning 40 a couple years ago, I’ve struggled a bit with the changes my body is going through with the whole pre-menopause thing…but last week my sister reminded me gently that I need to embrace ME, and remember all the hard things this body has done. I’ve given birth twice, ran 3 full marathons, and have ran countless miles!!!! Somehow, she’s a lot like my Mom…nearly ALWAYS right. 😉
So today, as we sat outside on our deck, I looked over at my daughters and smiled. I excused myself, went upstairs to my bedroom and changed out of my unflattering one piece suit and donned a bikini I bought a couple years back. I came back outside and both my daughter’s faces lit up. “You look amazing, Mommy!!!” I just smiled. Sure, I have an extra few lbs. I’d like to lose, and my saggy tummy/pooch is more prevalent since turning 40…but so what. I decided leading by example was much more important than a few physical flaws, and that teaching my daughters to love themselves trumped my silly insecurities.
My youngest wanted to have a photo shoot, so here’s what she came up with:
HEHE
After our fun afternoon, I decided to start the week out right with some weights. I did 3 sets of bicep curls, triceps extensions, side bends with weights, 50 pushups, and 100 v-ups. I’ll finish my sit-ups tonight!
Quick, yet great work out!
Next, it’s time for dinner! On my days off, I like to make a bit fancier meals for my family not only for their pleasure, but to constantly practice and perfect my skills as a Chef wanna-be.
Pan seared scallops with roasted red pepper puree, turnip “chips” and baby bok choy salad that’s dressed with a lime/soy vinaigrette.
Scallops
1 lb of fresh scallops that have been patted dry with a paper towel, and seasoned with salt and pepper.
In a non-stick pan heat 1 tablespoon of coconut oil and a pat of unsalted butter to medium high heat. Sear the scallops on both sides, turning after 3-4 minutes. Be careful to NOT burn, yet NOT overcook. Drain the scallops on a paper towel.
Turnip Chips
2 turnips, sliced thinly at an angle
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 shallot, sliced
Kosher salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes
The leaves from 2-3 sprigs of fresh thyme
2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
Preheat oven to 325 degrees, and mix all ingredients in a bowel. Transfer veggies to a baking sheet that has been lined with aluminum foil and sprayed with cooking spray. Roast for about 40 minutes until the turnips are ‘crisp’ like a chip.
Red pepper puree
Char 2 red peppers on all sides on your burner (this can be done in the oven, too…this process just speeds things up a bit).
Transfer the peppers to a baking sheet, add 6 cloves of garlic, and season with kosher salt, pepper, and extra virgin olive oil. Roast in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Let peppers cool, and peel off the charred skins. Place the peppers and garlic into a food processor and add salt and pepper to taste. Also, add a teaspoon of smoked paprika. Puree on high until blended, and the strain out the mixture into a bowel. Set this aside for plating time.
Lime and soy vinaigrette
Juice of 2 limes
1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon of low sodium soy sauce or Tamarin (gluten free soy sauce)
Pinch of kosher salt and pepper
Drizzle in about 2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil, and mix well with a whisk. Taste for seasoning, and serve over baby bok choy and shallots that have been thinly sliced and seasoned with salt and pepper.
Enjoy!
Dinner is served!
Are you self-conscience about wearing a bathing suit? What’s your favorite ‘fancier’ meal?
Well, I didn’t meet my goal of blogging at least 2 times each week as of last week, having only posted once last week and not posting since…But sometimes life just gets too hectic for all of the fun things that we enjoy doing. And sometimes, we just need to step back and let things happen as they should. For the saying IS true…everything WILL fall in to place eventually.
I had a pretty amazing opportunity come my way. I will leave that part of this post fairly vague, but to say it’s an opportunity of life time is pretty accurate. But…I can’t take the opportunity, as I am needed here by my husband and kids. Part of being a military wife, is giving up your own wants and needs so your husband can serve the country. And while I know my husband and kids (and my country) are so much more important than any sort of career chance I may be afforded, I still am left feeling very sad, and ever so slightly resentful. Gah.
I hate that feeling. I hate the dreaded sadness that can sit in the pit of your stomach and just burn, reminding you of it’s presence constantly throughout the day like bad heartburn after you’ve eaten spicy Mexican food, far too late at night. I hate crying every time I am left alone with my thoughts. I hate the reminder of the depressed person I once was and the memory of crying every single day. Double GAH!
So last night I reminded my husband that I only had a few days left before this opportunity would be a thing of the past. I had to decide. They didn’t REALLLLLLY need me, did they? They all spend their evenings on computer games or in their rooms. They wouldn’t even notice I was gone, would they? #whoamikidding
He shook his head. “You can’t go,” he said sadly. “We need you,” he said quietly. And he’s right…and I knew that all along. But hearing him say it, made me feel needed and loved. More so than I have felt, in quite a long time.
So while I am sad, I know my family comes first, and that someday there will be ANOTHER opportunity, perhaps at the RIGHT time…until that time, I’ll hug my family, count my blessing, and keep…movin’…FORWARD. I’ve started running/walking again this week after a 2 week break, which has helped me digest this whole situation immensely.
Have you ever had to pass on a good opportunity? Did it take you a while to digest it all?
My planned come back to running tonight was postponed due to my left shin and right LEG still being a bit wonky. I have no races scheduled so figure it’s best to not hurt myself for no reason. Because we all know how stubborn runners can be when it comes to training, and we often run through the pain. Totally unnecessary at this point, since the next half marathon I have planned isn’t until late September.
So…I sorta needed today’s run. NEED you say? Yeah…after a bit of family drama last night that left my pillow a bit wet when going to bed, I longed for the trails and had hoped to leave my feelings out on my hood trails tonight. BUT…no such luck. So now what? I COOK of course!!! My next favorite thing, and quite possibly even my VERY favorite…shhhhhh don’t tell my running habit I am cheating on ’em. LOL.
I have truly fallen in love with sweet potatoes so I decided to swing by the store after work and pick up a few for dinner tonight. Unbeknownst to me, my family had already eaten their dinner by the time I came home, and I quietly passed on the sandwich being handed to me (most know I REALLY try to avoid bread) and started my dinner prep. Here’s what you’ll need:
Sweet Potato Hash
2 Tbsp of coconut oil
1 large sweet potato, peeled and diced
1 small white onion, diced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 fried egg (cooked separately)
2 links of spicy chicken sausage, halved, then sliced in to 1/2 moons (or your favorite kind/brand!)
1/4 cup of parmesan cheese
Seasonings: kosher salt, pepper, oregano, basil, hickory salt, crushed red pepper flakes to taste
Diced green onion for garnish
Heat a non-stick frying pan with the coconut oil to medium high heat. Add in your potato, onion, garlic, and sauté for 5-7 minutes until slightly tender. Next, add in your chicken sausage and seasonings and sauté for another 10 minutes. Just before serving add the parmesan cheese. While the hash is sautéing, fry one egg in a non-stick pan that has been sprayed with cooking spray and heated to medium-high heat. Scoop your hash on to a plate, top with the egg and garnish with green onion. YUM! This is enough to serve 2, so I saved the other half for my lunch tomorrow!!! Winning!
Dinner is served in less than 25 minutes!
Sweet Potato ‘Chips’
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Peel, and slice one sweet potato and place in a bowl. Add 2 teaspoons of coconut oil, 1 cup of parmesan cheese, a dash of kosher salt (not too much-the parmesan cheese is already salty!), black pepper, and garlic powder. Mix well, coating all of the ‘chips.’ Line a baking sheet with foil, and spray with cooking spray. Evenly place the chips on the sheet, being careful to not overlap the chips. Bake for 20 minutes, and turn the chips over. Return to the oven for an additional 15-20 minutes or until light golden brown. Garnish with parsley, and serve!
These were a huge hit in my house!
What’s your favorite sweet potato dish? What do you do when you find yourself a bit blue?
It’s crazy to say that marathon training (and the race) is over. After 18 weeks of blood, sweat, and tears I managed to finish the Grandma’s Marathon with my sister and cross yet another thing off my bucket list. WINNING.
So now what?
First, there’s that on-going pipe dream of writing my own cook book that I always seem to gravitate back to…and that of course requires a LOT of work and time. Having busied myself with full and half marathon training the last several years, that dream has perpetually been put in the back seat. This in part mostly because I don’t cook with measuring…I cook with my palate, embracing the smells and flavors of food and never-ever measure out ingredients. So over the last few years I’ve paid closer attention to my cooking so I can catalog my recipes with approximate measurements so people can replicate my dishes. You can see the start of my collection HERE
And then, there is also that lingering sub-2 half marathon goal that although sometimes seems impossible, it also is something I REALLY want to achieve. Why? Not sure…but it’s a goal I want to smash one day-so last week I went to my first EVER speed work session at the track. WHAT you say? YOU did track work? I did…guilty as charged said the girl who’d never run on a track again after 6 years of junior high school/high school track and 20 years of military running, again, around a track. Although it was a bit soon coming off the full marathon on Saturday, I can honestly say I had FUN…shhhh, don’t tell anyone. Now that my legs are fully rested, I plan on going back on Thursday for some more speed work. YAY.
Lastly, it’s time to kick the last few remaining negative forces that have resided in my brain, out of my head and heart once and for all. I figure if I say it enough, I’ll eventually DO IT. People, friends, life MOVES ON…whether or not I do…so it’s time to quit hanging on to things that no longer exist. All it does, is drag me down…#notimeforthatanymore
What’s on your plate for the remainder of the year? What’s your favorite go-to recipe?
I set my alarm early Thursday morning so I could hit the road to my sister’s house. I was packed and ready to go and as the skies opened up and it began to pour down rain, I had a little talk with God. See, I don’t ever get a chance to get away and do things just for me. This was my weekend with my sister, and I wanted it to be perfect. So I looked up to the skies and said, “Please, God? Please? Can you just give me a little break?” And as I turned on the exit ramp for interstate 294, blue skies appeared, and I smiled. He DOES listen. 🙂
We hit the road to my parents house, and had such a fun time with them. We ate pizza, had a couple drinks, and spent the evening talking. It was SO nice just to catch up, the four of us.
Core Four, back in action!Beer counts as carb loading, right?
Friday:
The road trip to Duluth was so much fun. We laughed, sang 80’s music at the top of our lungs, and yelled at careless drivers who made the left lane their resting place vs. using it as a passing lane (as it should be used), LOL. “Don’t F#%! with the flow!” we would yell and I couldn’t help but smile continuously. The last time my sister and I had any sort of time together was in 2007 after the passing of my grandfather. This, was a much nicer trip.
Me in front of my old high school!The house I grew up in…seems so much smaller!Happy feet by Lake SuperiorDuluth’s famous Aerial lift bridgeCheesin’ in the beautiful sunlight!
As we drove over the sky line coming in to Duluth, Guns and Roses blasted and tears filled my eyes. HOME. This is where I lived growing up until graduating high school and leaving for the Air Force in 1991. This…this was home. And although I left without looking back 24 years ago almost to the date, I am now able to remember the good memories I had in Duluth. We visited my schools, elementary (now apartment buildings), junior high (no longer a school), and my high school. We drove past the home we grew up in, and visited some of my favorite places in the city. We also had an amazing lunch, overlooking Lake Superior and had fun eavesdropping on fellow runners that sat near us. We also coveted their fish and chips, so much so that Bobbi changed her mind and ordered it for lunch! YUM! I couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful day with my sister. I unfortunately didn’t get to meet up with any of my fellow bloggers that were running the race, but I felt my time with my sister/family was much needed and more important.
We hit up the expo, got all kinds of cool stuff, and headed back to our hotel to meet Bobbi’s friends, Carrie and Riyanti. We ended the day wrapped up with all kinds of runner love at my old track buddy from high school parent’s house for dinner. Loads of pasta and meatballs, and all gluten free! YUM!!!!
Old track buddies, reunited after 24 years!Expo fun!Expo finds!!! Skirt Sports skirt for 40 dollars? YES PLEASE!!
Race day:
The original agreement was, that my sister and I would run this race TOGETHER. That meant no matter what pace, we would stick together and have fun. Sadly, my sister had been dealing with a crabby calf the week prior, but I still told her I wanted to stick with her for the race. The only way I’d go on without her, is if she decided to not finish the race.
So…we awoke at O’dark 30, and boarded the first bus at 5:45. We had an amazing bus driver who stopped the bus to move barricades so that we wouldn’t be late. The excitement was building as we drove up the shore to Two Harbors where the race was set to start. Our forecast was 100% chance of rain, but we still were smiling. We arrived an hour before the race started which gave us plenty of time to use the porta-potties (twice) and get our gear bags checked. We got a sneak peak at the start line as the elites started to show up!
Starting line!!Us right before the rain hit!!!
And then, it started to rain…We decided the rain wasn’t going to damper our spirits so we danced and sang as the rain continued to pour down. We saw Eric who had already ran from the finish line in Duluth UP to Two Harbors, AMAZING. When Mother Nature decided to announce her presence and POUR down rain for a good 30 minutes, we found it harder to smile, and even harder to keep warm. But the runners squeezed into the corrals which helped due to the body heat a little…
The gun went off at 7:45 AM, and we crossed the start line around 3 minutes later. We settled in to around an 11:30/11:45 pace, and despite some GI issues on my part we were feeling good. Bobbi’s calf was bothering her, but she had hoped it would calm down. We stopped for selfies once the rain subsided just before the halfway point and by this point Bobbi knew it was going to be a struggle to finish. She could walk, but running was really bothering her. She kept trying to send me off to finish the last half of the race, and the deep down competitive person in me wanted to run and finish the race strong. But seeing her struggling like she was made me realize, I needed to stay with her. I needed to put my selfish wants aside, and finish this race with my sister. And I can honestly say it’s the best decision I’ve made in a long time.
The next 13 miles were filled with laughter, tears, cussing, beer drinking, parental hugs, high fives, pottie stops, selfies, gimpy shuffling, friends cheering, strangers motivating and digging deeper than I think I ever have in my life. The sun even came out for a few miles, and this helped brighten our spirits. Mile 20 we saw my parents, and were greeted by spectators with BEER! Carbs, right?!?! It was all about fun at this point!!!
Mile 20 cheesin!All. The. Beers!Return of the yeti, around mile 17!Very wet first half of the race!!!
When we hit mile 22, and the temps dropped and it started to rain again I questioned whether or not I could keep going. But when I turned to Bobbi and saw tears in her eyes I asked, “What can I do?” and she choked back more sobs and said, “You are already doing all the things.” And I cried.
See, I’ve been selfish a lot in my life. But in working towards being a better me, I’ve really tried to put the important people in my life first. And Saturday, I did just that. Because I love my sister more than words can describe.
Mile 23, my Garmin died, and it continued to rain…I was cold. So. Very. Cold. Bobbi gave me her rain poncho despite being cold herself (I stupidly ditched mine when the sun came out), and we trudged on. Her limping, me shuffling, us both COLD and hurting. More talks with God happened, and I simply prayed for strength for us to finish. Mile 25 we saw Carrie, Riyanti, and our folks just past them. Lots of hugs. And more tears. With just a mile to go, and lots of photographers we put on our brave faces and walked/shuffled on. We weren’t going to make it under 6 hours, but we were going to finish. As we entered the final leg into the finish line I had to choke back the sobs. We did it. We battled injury, elements, and mental demons that tried to keep us from finishing. We gathered our medals and tee-shirts from Carly, wrapped ourselves in our mylar blankets and picked up our gear. We were spent, and needed to get warm. After long hot showers we relaxed for a while, and went out for dinner at Pizza Luce. You can bet I ordered my traditional Bloody Mary, and received a side car as a bonus. Gotta love Duluth!!
We finished!!!!!Bloody Mary with a side car!All the food for the finishers!
My sister said this was our personal worst in regards to time, and she’s right. But I call it a personal best in regards to effort because while maybe not the smartest of running happened that day, you couldn’t have ordered up more effort and heart than those displayed in those last 5 miles.
See you in 2016, Duluth!!!!
Marathon number 3, complete. Lessons learned: Never give up even in the toughest conditions…Never leave your wingman…even if you have STRONG training, you never know what race day will hand to you…it’s amazing the power of a child’s high five, a cheer, your people on the side lines cheering you on, and the encouragement of a stranger. And at the end of the day, all you can do is your best with the conditions race day gives you, so try and enjoy even the smallest of moments.
Thanks so much for the amazing support during my training!!! The last 18 weeks, and this race, have proved to me that I can do anything I set my mind to in life!!! ❤
Last week I will admit I had started to get a little nervous about my upcoming marathon. Why? Well, the chance I might be running it solo had come to play, but it sounds like my nephew is doing MUCH better and that the original plan of my sister and I running this race together is back ON, knock on wood! Although I had trained primarily solo, I didn’t push myself in regards to pace because my ONE goal for this race is to have FUN with my sister…oh…and to finish. So I have TWO goals, LOL.
But, just to be safe and plan ahead, I decided to get my Jeep’s oil changed and a few other things to make sure I could make the trip to Minnesota by myself if needed. I also go my emission’s test for my upcoming annual tag renewal.
My mini and I having fun.
Saturday morning I set my alarm early because I had a massage scheduled at noon and I wasn’t going to miss that appointment. LOL!!! My run was AMAZING, and I couldn’t believe how good my legs felt. Maybe because I took Thursday off since I had weird aches and pains everywhere, and maybe because I just cleared my mind and ran…regardless, I left it all out there, and was speedier than I have been in quite some time.
Splits:10:21, 10:29, 10:13, 10:20, 9:55, 9:46, 9:37, 9:23 for my last long run of 8 miles. Average pace was 10:01. Yes please, and thanks! Here’s a couple photos I snapped during fuel breaks:
Next…My massage. I may or may not have asked my therapist to marry me come with me to Minnesota, LOL!!! She’s worked wonders for my wonky ITB and crazy knotted calf that has plagued me for a couple years. I love her. Thanks, Amy!!
And then, insert taper crazies here…I cleaned my husband’s closet, cleaned and purged a bunch of lotions and crap from the bathroom, and scrubbed the house from top to bottom. All with a smile on my face, and a feeling of light-heartedness that quite possibly came from my morning 8 miler. Anyone that has trained for a marathon while working full time, (and on single Mom duty more than half the year) knows that housework falls to the wayside, and quick. It feels great to have my life back in order, LOL.
I’ve spent the last few days talking with Charissa, Allison, and Hanna via FB chat. These amazing ladies all plan on running the marathon in around 3 hours or so, and I am in awe of their talent and speed. But more so, they’ve supported me and my blog for quite a while and I can’t WAIT to meet them in SIX days!!!! I’ve started packing, and am over the moon excited to finally be the one traveling vs. the one staying home!
Fuel is good to go, not pictured are my salt tabs and Motrin.
I am also excited to meet Eric Strand (I hope) and give him his #DoEpicShit bracelet from my friend Andrea who’s been one of my biggest supporters. He doesn’t only run Grandma’s Marathon, he runs it twice, started at 3 am running TOWARDS the start line from the finish line. Check out the video!!!
And that my friends…is a wrap. My training is complete minus a couple short runs this week, and I. AM. READY.
Thanks for those who’ve consistently supported my crazy dreams and goals. It means more to me than I could ever put in to words. Y’all will be with me, for 4-5 hours as I run my 3rd (and possibly final full) marathon!!!!
It’s time for my mid week check in…here are some random thoughts, in no particular order of relevance.
It’s the final countdown! This week it finally hit me after opening up my own site that the marathon is in 10 days. But this year my training has been a bit different. I LOVE that I have gone in to this training, and maintained WHILE training, the premise that this marathon is PURELY FOR FUN. WHAT, you say? I am not trying to go all out like a cheetah and break mad PR’s and qualify for Boston?
Nope…This run is all about getting away with my sister, running our race strong, yet having as much fun as possible. We never get a chance to spend time together, just US, so needless to say I am stoked.
With that, I haven’t been stressed this year in regards to pace, because I know I can complete the distance. I’ve done it twice before, along with several 19/20 mile training runs so I am not nervous in the least that I will finish. SOOOO…the next 10 days will be filled more with planning, because this is an out of town race, and the farthest I’ve traveled to run a race before.
How will I prepare?
Making lists of course! I’ve already started!!!
One thing I DO stress over, is forgetting something. Making lists are a GREAT way to alleviate this problem. I am a runner that is dedicated to routine. In making my list, I went through my morning routine for long runs/races in my head, and jotted down everything I’d need. This helps keep packing/race morning stress free!!! Which in turn leads to more FUN!!!!
Diet update!!!If you read Monday’s post, you saw that I started the Military diet. I am now on Day 3, and down 3 lbs. WINNING. Tomorrow I can to go back to regular eating, but I think I will keep my breakfast and lunch the same so I can eat a nice dinner with my family at night. I’ll continue this plan, 3 days each week though, in hopes to lose the final 5 lbs. This plan was tough, but well worth it. And I even cheated at lunch today with Egg Drop soup (which thankfully has less than 100 calories, but quite a bit of sodium), but have also been drinking a LOT of water which seems to counter any missteps I may have taken…Tips for those who want to try the plan: Drink A LOT of water. You WILL feel hungry. When it doubt, drink more water. I added cucumber and lemon to my water which seemed to help curb my appetite. Also, check out the site (see link to Monday’s post) for substitutions to foods you aren’t a fan of. For example, I am not a fan of hotdogs, so had a couple ounces of salmon instead that equated to the same amount of calories. Winning!!! I still have a way to go, but am happy to finally start seeing progress.
Photo Cred: Sparklepeople.com
Moving Forward!! If you read this post from a couple weeks ago, you’ll remember I was struggling with a few skeletons that decided to rear their ugly heads. I am happy to report that I’ve broken that cycle before I let it drag me down, and have continued to avoid all negativity and self loathing. My mantras: I”f it doesn’t bring me joy, I don’t participate.” Also…”Don’t confuse my contentment with complacency.” I am simply happy with ME and where I am going. I’m not sure why it took me so long, but I’m on my way regardless, lol!!!! One thing I have learned is that surrounding yourself with like minded people, helps. A lot. Like, a WHOLE lot. I have preached it in the past, but to truly cut out as much negativity as you can from your life isn’t always that easy. Cheers to moving forward!!
Photo Cred: Quotesempire.com
How is your week going? Have you had any success with new diets or work out programs that you’d like to share? What is YOUR mantra?
Happy Monday everyone!!!! I hope this post finds you well rested from an amazing weekend. My weekend was filled with movie watching (we rented McFarland on Friday night, and it was amazing!), long runs (12 miler on Saturday) and run club coffee with friends, grocery shopping for the week, Cougar’s baseball game on Saturday night, and my nephews graduation on Sunday.
These ladies helped me find my smile…I had misplaced it for a couple weeks…<3MMMMM, the only time I drink beer is at a ball game. I even had 2!!
As you can probably guess, there was very little rest for me this past weekend but I am NOT complaining at all. It was a much needed escape from the stressors of normal every day life.
With that, I’ve been thinking A LOT about my weight, and how since turning 40 I just can’t shed these dreaded 10 lbs. So starting today, I am biting the bullet and doing the military diet to see if I can jump start shock my metabolism so I can run Grandma’s marathon at least a couple lbs lighter. Thankfully I am still just shy of 2 weeks out for race day so I am not worried about my system getting upset. I think this is much needed reset, and have heard great success stories from others who have tried it. You can read about the 3 day ‘cleanse’ here. Disclaimer: I am not an advocate for quick diets, nor am I a certified nutritionist. I’m simply trying something new to jump start this 42 year old body that wants to hang on to weight I’d rather be rid of.
Last week wrap up: I managed to run 21.55 miles, 3 core work outs, and added in weighted side bends to help firm up my muffin top. LOL! I missed yoga due to National running day being the same day as my previously scheduled yoga work out, but still did a lot of stretching. I also took my own advice and took a nice long Epsom salt bath Friday night which really seemed to refresh my legs for my long run on Saturday.
How was your week, last week? What are your plans/goals for this week? Have you ever done a cleanse/restart diet?
Have a great week, y’all! Remember, keep movin’ forward!!!!!!
Here’s my Friday fives from the work week and mid year check in, in no particular order…
I contemplated briefly, running a fall marathon. Yet after my 4 mile run in the heat and humidity, I changed my mind, immediately quickly. I’ll focus on speed and getting my half marathon time under 2 hours, instead, like I initially planned.
LOL! Photo Cred: Princess and the Frog movie
I have continued to work on my moving forward mantra with lots of self-talk, doing things I love, and surrounding myself with positive people. I’ve also made more effort to reach out to people who I know too, are struggling. Yay for forward progress!
Or this…lol Photo cred: Myfitnesspal
I have been eating REALLY well for a few weeks now, (You can read about my shocking revelations here) and have lost maybe a lb. but that’s reaching. Argh. Someone pass me a cheeseburger and fries, PLEASE. I’m truly at a loss…and not the weight kind. Is it so much to ask to drop 5-10 lbs.?? LOL!!!
BAHAHAHAHA!
My legs/body is tired this week. I physically feel ok, but every time I run it’s like I am carrying two lead filled bricks vs. legs. I ran my last 4 miler in my long run pace of 10:30…seriously? Why does everything hurt? I am half contemplating skipping my 12 miler tomorrow…but am on the fence. Even if I’ve cut long runs a bit short, I’ve never skipped one that I can recall…
pretty much how I feel this week, and when my alarm goes off at O’Dark 30 for my long runs.
After no more than 1 day off consecutively in the last 2 weeks, I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy it’s Friday. I’ve got lots of plans filled with power washing my deck, staining said deck, and a baseball game with my family tomorrow night. Sunday is my nephew’s 8th grade graduation and I can’t wait to see my sister and her family. It always does my heart wonders to be near my peeps.
Photo cred: giphy.com
Have you ever had issues with coming to a stand still in regards to weight loss? Have you ever skipped a long run during marathon training? How are you coming along with your goals this year?
You realize almost suddenly even though it was always there, that you haven’t been walking the walk…the mantra you preach of “keep movin’ forward” is partially a front.
And that my friends, hurts…
I realized in the last few weeks that I really hated didn’t like the person I used to be. I’ve mentioned it in recent posts, you can read about it here, that I truly work hard at NOT being the girl I once was…I want to be the woman I have worked so hard to be…
Yet the past sometimes creeps in, and in recently I have visited the “On this day” app on Facebook and was blown away by what I read. Posts from 5-6 years ago haunted me, and I couldn’t believe what I was reading. No wonder I drove so many people away…I was down right DEPRESSING. Yuck. Delete…delete…and delete some more!
So this past week I’ve dug deep to redefine my goals of the future, who I want to be, and what I need to do to get there successfully.
First up…quit looking back. I am SURELY not headed in that direction.
Secondly, one of my yearly goals was to be more present. That being said, my husband travels and works A LOT with his job and the military, so my kids need me to step up for them, and away from time wasters. I need to be present for THEM, because I am essentially a single parent from here on out and I need to embrace that vs. hold anger and resentment.
So today, I started fresh by celebrating National Running Day by running just over a mile with my youngest, and making me and my daughters a yummy salad since my husband is going working late.
One of my favorite pics from 2013, my youngest daughter running me in to the finish!Love!Romaine lettuce, shredded broccoli, Kalamata olives, cherry tomatoes, feta cheese and shrimp!
Lastly, I need to quit doubting myself, and beating myself up over things I can’t control.
It’s time to move forward, y’all!!! I’m back in the saddle!!
How do you battle past demons? Did you run today? What are your favorite salad toppings?
Transfer the peppers to a baking sheet, add 6 cloves of garlic, and season with kosher salt, pepper, and extra virgin olive oil. Roast in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes. Let peppers cool, and peel off the charred skins. Place the peppers and garlic into a food processor and add salt and pepper to taste. Also, add a teaspoon of smoked paprika. Puree on high until blended, and the strain out the mixture into a bowel. Set this aside for plating time.
Movin' it with Michelle 