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?
See, I let self-doubt ALMOST win this week. And I feel I must confess…
It’s time for some Runfessions, as well as the good, bad, and scary from today’s 20 miler…
I’m linking up with Marcia from Marcia’s Healthy Slice (please head over to her blog if you don’t follow already, she rocks!) to confess my deep and dark confessions from recent times, and today’s long run. So sit back with your beverage of choice and enjoy…
Today’s run was not like any normal long run. Nope…see, it was my last longer run before I run the Grandma’s Marathon in 3 weeks time. And it wasn’t just any long run…it was the infamous 20 miler! Those that have run a marathon before know this distance is key to overcome, not just for the physical aspect, but for the mental strength it gives you when hitting this milestone. Yet although I have done this distance several times, and completed 2 full marathons I was letting self doubt steal my joy. Runfession #1.
I set my alarm for 5:30 am this morning, my only day off this week, and set my gear out for the run. First mistake…I should’ve set it for 4:30, but I digress. Deep down, I was doubting my ability. Runfession #2.
The first few miles hurt. My right LEG has been killing me, with random aches and pains that really started to freak me out. It hurt in places it never had before, and I wondered the entire first 5K if this was a good idea. Here I go…self doubting…So I stopped at my favorite place in Geneva to fill up my water bottle and hit the bathroom since it was a real bathroom not a porta-john. I popped 2 Motrin in hopes my LEG would knock it off, and kept running. I didn’t find my groove until around mile 6.5-7 when I came upon a couple bikers who were taking a rest that wished me well. I smiled, continued on, and crossed the bridge in North Aurora to get my last mile in before I hit the turn around mark.
And that’s when the hornet started chasing me…and I screamed like a girl…oh wait, I am a girl…Here I go, being silly and finally I smiled when I hit the turn around point. But just as the hornet left me alone, the NEED to use the restroom entered my body, and I started to panic. There was no bathroom for miles, and it was just me and the trails. Please don’t let me pants my poop…please don’t let me poop my pants…please…Runfession #3.
FINALLY the running God’s heard my cries, and there was the porta-john sitting out in a park at around mile 12.5 Emergency averted…thank goodness…after texting back my friends who were cheering me on, I continued…
A spot near and dear to my heart where my friend Andrea nearly had an asthma attack because we were laughing so hard…If I wasn’t going to go fast, I might as well take lots of breaks with pretty pics, right?6 miles in, and smiling, sorta…This bench always makes me smile. #memoriesI may or may not have been chased by these dudes…REALLY, I am NOT going to attack your chicks. I promise!The Geese…with just 2.5 miles to go, right before the sky opened up.
So while this run was TOUGH, both mentally and physically, I caught myself laughing the last 2 miles as rain poured down on me, and I ran as fast as I could. I ran with my heart, even when my legs wanted to quit. I laughed, I nearly cried, and I cussed at myself several times. I sang, I spread my arms open like wings and “wheeeeeee’d” down a few hills. I danced on the flats, pushed up the hills, and held my arms up when a gust of wind blew over me. I smiled and greeted every single biker, pedestrian, runner and motorist I saw. And when I wanted to quit, I physically smacked my right leg, and said, “KNOCK IT OFF, MICHELLE!!!”
I thought of each and every one of you who takes the time to support my average running abilities because you see the passion I have, even when I forget I have it myself. I thought of my amazing family and friends both near and far who’ve shared in my heartache as well as cheered on my success.
And I thought of those who can’t run…and I ran for them for a mile or two.
20.13 miles done. Another badass run in the elements Mother nature loves to provide.
Done!The hay is in the barn!!
My last Runfession, is that while I am my own worst enemy I too truly believe I can do this. Running, life, you name it. I won’t quit. And I have running in part, to thank for that. Thanks, Running…I think you are pretty cool. Oh….and I didn’t even pants my poop….
Have you ever had an “accident” a near miss while out on a long run? What is the longest distance you’ve run solo? Do you have any Runfessions you want to share?
‘Tis the Eve of my 20 miler, and all I can think of is, “Holy crap, can I REALLY run 20 miles by myself?”
Even though I ran my last 2 long runs and all of my short runs solo this training season, I am still terrified.
Photo cred: bolsingerblogs.com
Why?
More than likely because last week I was sick, and this week I am just in a funk I can’t shake. I keep catching myself looking back on my past and revisiting old ways of thinking that were simply NO DAMN GOOD terrible. Yet I keep doing it…self doubting, self loathing, and self torturing to boot have all been beating my positive self talking mantra, BADLY.
What on earth am I doing? Back…back…BACK IT UP. GAH.
photo cred: mommyish.com
I am going to be my best to shake this funk…I am PRAYING tomorrow’s solo 20 miler will go off without any major hiccups so I can regain some sort of confidence. I have NO IDEA what the heck has come over me, but I DO NOT like it one bit. I have come too far to feel this way. Ever. AGAIN.
Yet I do…and it scares me a little. Because I hated that person that I was…and I don’t use the word hate, lightly.
So tonight I am going to lay out my running clothes and gear, beef up my play list, and run with all my being tomorrow. I am going to head to my favorite part of the Fox River Trails in the morning, and have a nice long 4 hour talk with myself. We are going to discuss believing in oneself, confidence, positive thinking, and moving forward.
From “Meet the Robinsons” movie
I’m sure all of this is part of the normal “pre-taper” and “taper” madness. But sheesh…I feel like I am mentally spent, and need a vacation ASAP. I even asked my sister if we could leave a day early for the race just to ‘get away’ for an extra day, LOL.
Ok, no time like the present to move forward. Thanks everyone for joining me on this crazy journey of training for my 3rd full marathon, LOL…I promise, I’ll be back to normal (what IS normal, anyhow?) in a few weeks!!!
Well, sad to say last week SUCKED. I came down with a rotten cold, which left my chest heavy and my heart even heavier. I managed to get in Tuesday’s 4 miler, and Yoga on Wednesday but the rest of the work week I was down for the count. So yesterday when I hit the road for my 12 miler, I knew it would more than likely be tough. See, solo long runs when you are feeling strong can be really awesome…but when you are already feeling low, the miles can really hurt when you are alone with your thoughts.
When I don’t run, I am not able to release all the life crap that piles up, which leads to a very unhappy Michelle. As the sunshine beamed down on my face, I could feel the energy draining from me rapidly. WHY did I pick a route that had NO shade when I set out for my run mid morning? DUMB DUMB DUMB. Realizing I would run out of water, and had picked a route with NO fountains and NO shade, I decided to turn around for home early. But 9 miles are better than no miles, right?
This week I work all but Friday, so while seeing everyone post on social media about the ‘holiday’ weekend filled with BBQ’s and vacations I am left feeling slightly bitter. And I don’t like this feeling. So today I am going to get out of the house for a couple hours and go consignment shopping with my neighbor in hopes to regain my smile. Gosh, where the heck did I put it, anyhow?
A Free People dress, for 25 dollars? Yes please!
Weight Loss:
None. Nope. Not a single lb. My nutrition was good minus a few bites of artichoke dip at Friday’s work pot luck, and I’ve cut back on my nightly date with wine but so far, no luck with losing anything. So glad I bought one size bigger capri pants and shorts…sheesh. LOL!
Weekly Goals:
My goals are to get through work and weekend duty with out any casualties, to include myself. I’ll be doing my 20 miler solo, on Friday which is my one day off, and to say I am nervous would be an understatement.
Recipe:
Despite being sick all week, I really wanted to get my recipe posted for this week. I’ve made a healthy and tasty dish!
Baked Trout stuffed with lemon and herbs
4 previously cleaned trout-ask your fish monger to make sure they are fresh
1 lemon, sliced
Fresh herbs-dill, thyme, parsley are great!
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Drizzle of extra virgin olive oil
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil. Spray with cooking spray. Season your fish both inside and out with the salt and pepper, and stuff with the lemon and herbs. Drizzle with EVOO, and cover with foil. Bake for 25 minutes. I removed the heads and tails to serve, because they wouldn’t fit on the plate, LOL!
Nest time I’ll add even more herbs, but this was so tender it literally fell off the bone!
Sautéed Kale with Sopressata salami
6 pieces of sopressata salami sliced, and chopped
1 bunch of kale that has been rinsed and de-veined
Drizzle of EVOO
Kosher salt and pepper to taste
Drizzle the extra virgin olive oil in a pan, and heat to medium heat. Add in your salami, and sauté until golden brown. Drain any grease from the pan. Add in your kale, and toss gently in the salami and remaining oil. Season with kosher salt and pepper and cook for 5-7 minutes.
I prefer cooking my kale, and love how vibrant and green it is!
Sweet Potato hash
One sweet potato, peeled and cubed
Smoked paprika, kosher salt, pepper, dried oregano, fresh thyme and one clove of garlic, smashed but keep in tact so you can remove.
Pat of unsalted butter and a sprinkle of brown sugar (shhh, my secret to get the potatoes to crisp up)-save this step for last.
Heat coconut oil in a large sauté pan over medium high heat. Add your potatoes, seasonings, herbs and garlic clove and cook for 20 minutes. Five minutes before serving add the butter and brown sugar, cooking still at medium to high heat.
My family has transitioned from the good ole russet potato to sweet potatoes to my delight.
Dinner is served!
How do you deal with ‘off’ weeks? I’ve found my delving in to my ‘other’ passions it helps keep me centered somewhat still. Have you ever cooked a fish whole? What was the best part of your week?
Have a great week, y’all. Remember, to keep movin’ forward!!
Today’s recipe was inspired by a dream to…well…be something more. You see, I never wanted to work in a hospital, I never wanted a job in healthcare for that matter. But when I joined the Air Force 24+ years ago and signed on the dotted line, this was the job that was chosen FOR me. The rest is, as they say, history. (Note: I am very lucky to have an amazing job, and people to work with every day. It’s simply NOT my passion.)
But I am over having my career chosen for me. I work, because the bills won’t pay themselves. But I refuse to believe this is my permanent path in life. And it’s all I can think about lately. With that, I’ve taken up studying recipes again. I read cookbooks, magazines, blogs, and websites to get inspiration for new dishes. Because someday I hope that someone will read MY recipes and get inspired. I want someone to cook up one of my recipes, and have the food bring a smile to their face and joy in to their home.
So tonight, I have prepared braised chicken thighs in a tomato, Kalmata olive and caper sauce. Get out your Dutch oven, and a hefty appetite. You’ll need it for this dish!
Sicilian inspired braised chicken-low carb style
1 package of boneless skinless chicken thighs
1 jar of tomato sauce-(I use Mario Batali’s sauce-YUM!)
1 small white onion, finely diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup of Kalmata olives, roughly chopped
1 tbsp. capers, rinsed
The zest of one lemon
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup of water/chicken stock
1 zucchini-noodled
I LOVE my noodle maker.
Seasonings/Spices: kosher salt, pepper, crushed red pepper flakes, rosemary, basil, oregano (all to taste-about a tsp. each)
Pre-heat your Dutch oven on medium high heat. Season your chicken with salt and pepper, and brown on both sides. Remove, and set aside. Deglaze the bottom of the oven with water/chicken stock to get all the brown bits up. Add in your onions, garlic, capers and olives and cook for about 5 minutes. Next, add your chicken thighs back in to the oven and cover with the tomato sauce. Add the crushed red pepper flakes, rosemary, basil and oregano, and lemon zest – stir well and cover. Lower the heat to medium-low and let braise for 30 minutes.
Can you smell it? MMMM!
I served mine over zucchini noodles for a healthy touch!!
Healthy, AND delish!
This is a great weeknight meal, taking only about 40 minutes total to prepare and cook.
Questions! Did you chose your current profession, or was it chosen for you? What’s your dream job?
As most of you know, I had 19 miles on deck this weekend for my week 13 of marathon training. While I normally prefer to run my short runs by myself, the thought of running 19 miles solo was not giving me peace of mind. Add in the forecast of 50-60% chance of thunderstorms and you could say I was nearly dreading the miles. I didn’t sleep hardly a wink Friday night, but had my rain poncho and gear all set. I woke up at 4:30 a.m. and was out the door by 5:15. The first few miles were VERY wet, and I was thankful for my poncho despite it’s lack of comfort. If you read my mini recap on my FB page, you saw that I accidentally ‘dismissed’ my first 3 miles of running when I ‘paused’ to take off my poncho. Damn. Thankfully I knew were I was and had just looked down at my watch. Here we go with more runner’s brain math, ack, lol.
Soggy, yet smiling!I was lucky enough to run into my friend Melissa around mile14! The miles ticked by, and something happened out there that even surprised ME. I was…HAVING FUN out there, running between raindrops, enjoying the trails, and listening to music. I COULD run solo, no matter the mileage, and this made me smile. It was liberating to be out there on my own, with claps of lightening in the distance to cheer me on. And even when it started to POUR cats and dogs, I smiled. I took cover briefly to fuel, but when I realized it wasn’t letting up I continued on for a good 3 miles in some pretty hard rain. And I do believe, I was smiling from what I’m told from friends who saw me out on the trails that morning. I felt/feel nearly renewed. My legs hurt, my knee ached, and my ITB yelled at me the last few miles, but nothing was going to bring me down. YAY for a good long run.
I was contacted by Lily Trotters a couple months ago to try out their compression socks. But I received the socks, on the very day of my daughter’s accident and honestly forgot about the review. Saturday seemed to be the perfect day to try the socks out after my long run to aid in my recovery. Here’s what I thought:
Loved em!!!1. They were very easy to put on, unlike some other compression wear that you have to tug and pull to get on.
2. The colors were really fun, and I loved the polka dot print.
3. They were SOOO comfy, and I actually slept in them last night and woke up with happy legs.
All in all, I loved them and will use them in the future. I am particular with my socks, but am hoping they will make sleeves too so I can run in them as well.
In my attempt to eat healthier and lose 10 lbs. I decided to make crock pot pork carnitas for dinner so I would have yummy left overs for lunches this week.
Pork Carnitas
Pork roast, boneless-pat dry and season with kosher salt and pepper
1 large red onion, roughly chopped
4 cloves of garlic, minced
3 small red chili peppers, chopped
The juice of 1 large orange, 3 small limes
Spice Rub
2 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tbsp. dried oregano
Drizzle the roast with extra virgin olive oil, and liberally apply the rub. Place in your crock pot with the fat cap up, and add your onions, garlic, and peppers. Drizzle over the juice of the oranges and limes, and cook on high for 4-6 hours, or low for 6-8 hours. Remove the pork, and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Pull apart with two forks, and place in a bowl.
Drain the liquid from the crock pot, and add the strained liquid back in to the pork to keep it nice and juicy!! I served it over a salad of mixed greens with black beans, corn, and avocado. No dressing needed, just drizzle a bit of the drained juice over the top!
Dinner is served!Weekly mileage-27 miles, a few miles short but my knee is happier
Core fitness-6 days=600 sit-ups
Lb.’s lost-NONE…but I blame it on girlie crap this week.
Did you run long or race this weekend? Have any good crock pot recipes you love?
Preface: This post is to hold me accountable. I am by no means a nutrition expert or health care provider. I am just trying something that I know has worked for me in the past. Discipline.
You’ve heard me discuss before about my disdain with the numbers that show up on the scale each week, and several times I decided this was it, those TEN lbs were going bye bye…
Yet just as quickly as I decided I was going to do about something about the “oh you’re 40 now, and can’t just eat whatever you want” weight, I found myself having late night snacks or splurging at the taco bar at work…I’m a distance runner, and am constantly hungry. Normal, right?
Sure…but if I am going to snack, I need to find healthier alternatives than handfuls of pita chips loaded with roasted red pepper hummus. A little hummus=good fat. An entire container of hummus=bad choice fat.
My clothes were all feeling tighter, and despite the fact I know that SOME of it is muscle (my legs), a lot of the weight well, ISN’T muscle…my every growing gut tells me so, daily.
But I didn’t truly realize it, until I saw the free race photos we could download from the half marathon I just ran. I was super excited to see the pictures after seeing several friends post their pictures online, until of course, I viewed my photo. Upon viewing said photo, I was appalled. And I may or may not have lowered my head in shame.
I haven’t weighed what I weigh right now since the following months after my second daughter was born. And I need to stop using my age as an excuse.
So this week, I’ve shut down my previous ways of thinking, and am restarting my system. I’ve been making my own lunches, snacks, and a protein shake to start my day. I’ve been tracking all of my food in My Fitness Pal, and exercising daily. I’ve limited snacks at night (Ok, last night I DID cheat with a piece of Italian salami, YUM), and making sure I am in bed by 11 pm which gives me 6-7 hours of sleep (still working on the sleep issues but its been better, at least). I’ve also been trading pasta and rice for veggie noodles instead.
Pic cred: Pinterest
I can feel the toll this extra weight is causing my running/knees and it’s time.
“It’s only 10 lbs.,” I hear so often…”You look great!” everyone says. But 10 lbs is A LOT on a smaller framed person and I don’t feel great about myself right now.
3 days in, and I’m down 1 lb…praying this is the road to a positive change.
Just because I am a distance runner and a Chef wanna-be, doesn’t mean I can EAT. ALL. THE. FOOD.
Put the fork down, Michelle.
How do you control cravings? Any good go-to healthy snacks?
Last week was a GREAT training week for me. I pushed myself, made a new running friend, AND did some new fueling for my long run that REALLY seemed to help me from fading out the last few miles. Sorry for some of the repetitive information, but I really wanted to log the breakdown of my week because I really am feeling strong because I’m old and don’t want to forget.
Mileage breakdown goes a little like this:
Total mileage: 30.34 miles which is my highest mileage for a week this year. Those of you that have been following me for a while, know that my training plan is modified to save my debilitated right knee. I have patella femoral syndrome, and very little cartilage left so I use the run less mantra. I do ONE long run on the weekend, and two modified shorter runs during the week. I also try and walk 1-2 times per week. So 30 miles is AWESOME for me. YAY.
Strength work outs: I did weights twice last week! Met my goal!!!
Yoga: Wednesday yoga sessions are becoming a regular in my house! Winning!
Long run: my last week’s 18 miles got flip flopped as I had the half marathon last weekend. I met up with my new friend, Teri as I previously mentioned, and managed a strong 19 miler. The last few miles were really tough, but I kept movin’…
Ya gotta be silly to survive 19 miles, right?
Fuel: For my shorter runs, no fuel. Just water or Nuun when temps got too hot to run without hydration. For my long run I had a granola bar for breakfast, and 2 bottles of water. It was going to be a very humid run, and I didn’t want to dehydrate. I carried a 16 ounce handheld filled with Nuun, and tried to fill up at all the water fountains. I had a Huma Chia gel at miles 6, 10, and 15 and salt tabs at mile 6 and 12. I found by fueling every 4 or so miles after the 6 miles mark kept me feeling strong, YAY!!!
Sunday for Mother’s Day my family took me downtown Chicago which is one of my favorite places. We ate, we shopped, and we walked just over 3 miles! It felt great to stretch my sore legs. AND, I got a new Garmin Vivofit, ate at my favorite restaurant, and shopped at my favorite clothes store-Free People. I did also breakdown and by a new pair of jeans, one size larger than I normally wear because my legs just won’t accommodate skinny jeans anymore. 😦 My weight is back at post pregnancy weight so I need to figure out my diet. I eat healthier than I ever have, but am guessing my love for wine is jacking with any sort of weight loss. I’m guessing the desert pictured below isn’t helping, either, LOL!!
All in all it was a GREAT training week, and GREAT weekend. I am beyond blessed with amazing friends and family and I am reminded of it, daily.
How was your week in regards to training last week? What did you do (if anything) for Mother’s Day? What are you big plans for this week?
This will be a picture filled post as I am in the car and won’t have time to sit down to write. Here goes!!!
Friday night was dress rehearsal for my youngest’s ballet recital. Gosh. She takes my breath away. Both my daughters are so pretty! Not that I’m biased.
Saturday was my long run and I was lucky enough to share the miles with my new friend, Teri. I did the first two miles solo and met her at 6 am to finish the final 16. As you can see, runners brain happened and I ended up doing 19 instead. Woops. lol Teri’s FB page is “Reinventitude” and I highly recommend you check it out.
Saturday afternoon we had the recital. My Mom surprised us by driving down from MN and my sister’s family came down, too! Made my day!!!
We had such a wonderful day. I am counting my blessings ten fold this weekend. My hubby even rubbed my aching feet last night.
We’re headed to the city for Mother’s Day lunch and shopping today. I hope you all have an amazing week coming up, and that you were able to spend time with family and friends this weekend!!
