Pain in the ... Back

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Yesterday's run was rough.  It was about 70, but also about 100% humidity (<-- not an exaggeration, actually reported by the weatherman)!  After these nice 50 degree days, it was a big change.  I was really struggling.  I was also really hot!  I am definitely a cooler weather kind of gal.  Give me a chilly day of 45-50 degree weather any day over the sweltering summer heat.

Today was still warm, but not as humid.  The run went better, until almost mile three.  I just had to stop a minute and walk.  We walked for about two minutes and still had a 12ish minute mile.  We must have really sped up!

I tried out my running skirt yesterday.  It was definitely shorter than I am use to wearing which made me a bit self conscious.  I was also worried about my thighs rubbing together.  While I didn't start a fire with all the thigh friction, I am definitely going to have to wear capris or longer shorts under these (I like how my legs are reflecting the sun light and glowing white).

Today, I didn't feel like I was going to puke until almost mile three instead of through the whole thing.  After the run I made sure to get a really good stretch in.  I pulled something in my lower back yesterday.  I think because I've been really lax with stretching the past couple of days, it was bound to happen, I guess. I felt fine while running.  After walking around and going to stores for a couple of hours, I'm getting a bit sore again.  I'll just have to keep heating, stretching, and taking some ibuprofen and hopefully by Saturday be good to go for my race.

What are your plans for Halloween?

Running Sucks

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Yesterday was my long run.  I was scheduled to do 10 miles.  I had my alarm set for 5:30.  I turned it off and went on the couch.  I was soooo tired.  I turned on the T.V. and fell asleep watching I Love Lucy.  I woke up and Golden Girls was on.

I woke up again and some Hallmark movie was on.  By now it was 10:00.  I only do this when I really have no plans all day.  If I were going with someone or I had to be somewhere, I would have gotten up and gotten it over with.  Instead, I procrastinate and procrastinate.  I mean, let's face it.  Running ten miles is not my idea of a good time.


Finally, by 1:00 I started getting ready.  I slammed a Coca Cola and ate a cheese, tomato, pickle sandwich on toast.  Got my water and Gu together and finally took off around 1:30.

When I left, I told Kevin that I may not do all 10.  Maybe I'd do 5.  I just really, really, really didn't want to run.  I'm not really sure why.  I guess I was just tired.
I never start running until after I walk up a hill that leads out of my little neighborhood.  Once I was at the top I seriously considered going home.  I told myself to just go and see how far I could get.

To make a long story short, every mile sucked.  At the end, I knew I hadn't gone out far enough to get to ten miles.  I went around a cemetery once and instead of going again like I should have to get to ten, I said forget it and headed home.  I ended with 9, which was good enough for me.

Yes, I had tater tots for supper.

It's runs like these that really count.  I knew that I would appreciate this after it was done and these are the runs that will make me better, blah, blah, blah.  I'm just glad it's over.
And, the good part is, when I have a bad long run the next week is really good.  I'm hoping that holds true next week since that is my half marathon!

Nice spread!

I'm glad I didn't have time to lay around after my run.  I would have been so sore.  Instead, I stretched, ate, and jumped in the shower to get ready to go to Laura's.

Adding butter, real butter

We were going to watch a bad, scary 80's movies.  We went to get the movie and when we got back her husband had made popcorn and set everything up downstairs.  What a sweetie-pie!

We watched Return to Camp Sleepover or something like that.  It was so bad, yet funny.  By the time it was over, I was so tired and so was Laura.  We called it a night and I headed home to go to bed since I had to work all day today.

Oh, and I finished another leg warmer...yup, just one so far.  I like these.  I knitted most of it and crocheted a little on each side.


Now, I'm going to watch Boardwalk Empire and Homeland.  I love these shows!

With the Wind at Your Back

Yesterday was a rest day...a much needed rest day.  The plan was to get up this morning and run 5.  I didn't fall asleep last night until about 3am!  I was very over tired and could not fall asleep.  This led me to sleep in until 10 this morning!  I hate sleeping that late.
I made my coffee, did my sudoku, and got ready to go run.  I had two cups of coffee and an apple with peanut butter for breakfast.
I finally took off to run at almost noon.  I had to work at 3, so I was really pushing it.
It was pretty chilly out and quite windy.  The forecast also called for rain.  It was a little dark, but I figured I'd be fine.  A little rain never hurt anyone.
I started running and after about a minute I realized I was going too fast.  I tried to slow down, but it wasn't working.  The wind really blew against me on the way out.  With pushing my speed so much faster than I'm use to, I was worried I was going to burn out by the second mile.  As soon as I turned after mile 1, the wind somehow turned to my back.  It really pushed me along.  I had the fastest run that I have ever had!  I just could not seem to slow down and I figured if I was still going I must be capable of it.
It started drizzling around mile 2, but never turned into anything serious. As soon as I got home I stretched, ate and jumped in the shower for work.

Now, I have to watch Chelsea Lately, get my clothes and lunch ready for tomorrow and go to bed since I have to be there by 7am!  Here's hoping tomorrow goes fast! TGIF!!

Dancin' Like It's 1985

Started the day off at Zumba.  I Zumba at the beach for free all summer and love that there are no mirrors.  At the gym, not so much.  Here is an accurate picture of me.

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After the gym, Becky and I went to get coffee.  I got an iced Americano with pumpkin spice and a little soy milk.  It was very good.  I saw this coffee mug there which made me chuckle.

When I got home, I decided I better clean out my fridge since garbage day is tomorrow.  I threw away some old food and saw that I had some tomatoes, peppers, and mushrooms that I needed to use before they spoiled.  

I had a bunch of tomatoes that I decided to cook up into a sauce.  It came out pretty good, considering it was the first time I did it.

Homemade Tomato Sauce

5-6 Tomatoes, diced

1 Tbsp. EVOO

1 tsp. thyme

1 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. pepper

1 bay leaf

about 1-2c. water

Heat pan on medium, adding the EVOO.  Dump in all of the ingredients and raise heat to high.  Let them cook, stirring every 10 minutes until boiling.  Reduce heat to simmer.  The water in the tomatoes will cook out, but you will have to start adding water little by little to suit your preference of how thick you want it.  Cook for 45-60 minutes until desired thickness.

Finished Sauce

I also decided to try and make a stuffed pepper soup.  I looked through my cookbooks and online for a recipe, but couldn't find anything.  I figured that I've made enough soups to throw something together.  

Stuffed Pepper  and Mushroom Soup

1 Tbsp. EVOO

1 onion, diced

3 cloves garlic, diced

2-3 green peppers, diced

1/4 c. Homemade Tomato Sauce

2 c. cooked brown rice

3 c. vegetable broth

2 c. mushrooms, diced

1 c. water

Heat a soup pot over medium heat.  Add 1 Tbsp. EVOO.

Chop an onion and garlic, add them to the pot and brown them. Then, add the diced up green peppers, the homemade tomato sauce, cooked brown rice, 3 cups of vegetable broth and 1 cup water.  Cook it on medium for half an hour. Add the mushrooms and then cook it another half an hour or until the peppers are softened.  

And, the big accomplishment of the day was that I finished the first pair of legwarmers!

Don't judge the colors too much since they are for an 80's costume.  They actually match the pants very well.

What are you going to be for Halloween?

Andy Cohen's Inner Monologue

Happy Monday!  Well, it is for me anyway.  I had off today and again tomorrow! Yes!
This morning started off with a run with Becky.  The weather was beautiful!

After I got home and showered, I was SO tired.  I was sitting on the couch and could not even keep my eyes open.  I woke up an hour and a half later feeling refreshed!
I hadn't had any coffee before I went running or food.  I also didn't have either when I got home.  That would definitely be why I collapsed from fatigue.
After I got up and dressed, I ran some errands and hung out with Melissa for a while.
After I got home, I decided to start on some leg warmers that Melissa and I are wearing with our 80's costumes for a Halloween race.

First, I had to find my yarn.  It's been a while since I have made anything.  Eggroll was very excited about crocheting.

I had a pattern that I found here.
I didn't know what colors I was going to use.  I just made it up as I went.  The first one came out pretty well I think.

Here's the finished product.  It will actually be scrunchy on Melissa's leg since she's about 4 inches shorter than me.

As I'm watching the RHONY reunion show, I wish they had little pop bubbles that would show Andy Cohen's thoughts, because these ladies are cray-cray!

Goodnight!

What is your favorite gang of Real Housewives? 

 I would have to say mine is New Jersey.

Two More Weeks

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This morning was my 9 mile long run.  Next week is ten miles and then my half marathon!  It will be my second half in five weeks and my third half in five months.  That is definitely the most miles I have put on since I started running.

It hasn't been as hard as I thought.  No, it's not always easy or convenient to get up early after working late or fitting in my long runs, but it's something that I have really wanted to do.  I've really wanted to put more miles on my legs to build a good base to start marathon training.  I wanted to get use to running on tired legs and to keep going when all I wanted to do is quit.  I will have to think back to times like now and know that I will finish because I will know that I can.


This morning I had a running date with Becky.  Thank goodness I had someone to go with, because I would have been procrastinating all day!  I knew I would be exhausted after closing at work the night before, but I dragged myself out of bed and made some coffee.  It was SO cold this morning.  This isn't fall weather, it's winter weather.  I had no idea what to wear so that I would be comfortable.  I ended up in capris, a short sleeve tech shirt, and a heavier pullover tech hoodie.  Then I wore a Bondi Band over my ears to double as a sweat band and as a light ear warmer.  I thought this was ingenious!  I ended up being comfortable the whole time.

After I got home I hopped into the shower and Kevin and I ran some errands.  We went to K-Mart to look at a coffee maker that was on sale. Ours had died a couple of months ago and we have been using one his parents had.  It was just a simple on/off coffee maker.  I missed my options of setting a timer and having it turn off automatically after two hours.  And the one we were borrowing did not match our other appliances.  We ended up with the new one.  It has everything we need.


 After we paid for the coffee maker, we went to the Little Cesars that was inside K-Mart.  We were both hungry so ordered a large pizza.  It was only $5!  I couldn't believe it!  I ended up eating the whole half of the pizza.  I didn't realize how hungry I was until I started eating.

Kevin enjoying his pizza!

I forgot to mention that after I took a shower, I thought it would be a great idea to cut some bangs for myself.  No, I'm not a hair stylist, but sometimes I think I am.  I cut my hair while it was wet.  I thought I made it long enough, but as soon as I dried it, I couldn't believe how short they got.  Five minutes after this they were already driving me crazy!  They are right in my eyes.  In about two weeks they will be the right length, but for now I will have to suffer.  

Have you ever cut your hair yourself?  How did it turn out?

Twice as Nice

So did everybody realize that today was 10/11/12?  Some people I talked to had no idea!  How fun is that?  It could also be 1-2-3 if you add the numbers up.  Moving on...

 I had to get a run in today since I didn't go yesterday and tomorrow is my only day I can get in my long run.  I had 5 scheduled.  I decided to go through this small park that is in the middle of my neighborhood.  I have explored it one other time.  It's rather small and the trails really don't go anywhere, but I was really craving a change of scenery.  This added on only about a quarter of a mile, but it was something.  I did the rest of my miles around a cemetery.  The wind was crazy today.  Running against the wind, I could barely move and running with the wind I was going crazy fast and not even realizing it.  I ended up quitting at 4 miles and decided to save my legs a bit for tomorrow considering I still had to go to work and run around for eight hours.  I walked the mile and a half home so I did still get my five miles in.

You can see haw drastically the splits went down!








After my run, I hopped into the shower, changed and headed to the grocery store.  I had no fruit in my house and needed something to eat.  I headed to Aldi.  I get almost all of my produce there.  It is so much cheaper than the grocery story.  I got tons of food for $25!

By the time I got home I was so hungry I felt a little sick.  I heated up some of the refried black beans that I had made the other day and put them on corn tortillas with avocado, lettuce, and tomato.  I used half of the avocado on the tortillas and I mashed up the other half and ate it with some tortilla chips.

After that, I had to hurry and change for work and pack a lunch to take.  I'm trying not to spend money every day that I am there on silly things that I don't need.

Tomorrow I have off, but I have a lot to do!

What are your plans this weekend?