To Twelve and Back

Holy twelve miles.  It was a tough run.  I've ran further with fewer problems.  The weather was pretty warm, considering it's December 2.  It was about 55 when I left at 9:30 this morning.  I wore a short sleeve shirt and some capris.  I had my water bottle, two gels, and two mini Luna bars.  I thought I would try the Luna bars for something different, but brought the gels just in case, since I am use to taking them.

The Lighthouse we ran by.

 We started out east toward the lake.  There was a nice breeze going, so it was pretty comfortable.  Even when we turned north onto Main St.  we still had a breeze.  The first 4 miles went pretty quick.  We were running 9 minutes and walking 1 minute.  I had a little bit of tummy issues, but they seemed to go away pretty quick.  It was pretty cool that Becky planned the route to run out and past the lighthouse.  I had only biked out that far before.  There were also tons of people out running, walking, biking.  I always find that seeing others out helps my motivation.

It was really pretty out. Too bad my camera phone sucks.

I was starting to feel tired around the hour mark, but hoped the gel I took would help.  I was also starting to get really thirsty.  Around mile 9 or 10 I took another gel.  Just a couple of minutes later, I started to feel really nauseous.  I had to ask Becky to walk a minute.  I felt better after about 30 seconds and we started running again.

We stopped at the upcoming street light to stretch and give me a minute to recover.  I was so hot and by that point we had the wind at out backs.  Just standing there, leaning on the cold street light really made me feel better.  We were almost to a gas station that we had planned to stop at to get a beverage.  Becky had the foresight to bring cash.  It had crossed my mind, but I thought I would be fine.

We made it to the gas station and I chugged down some Powerade.  It was pretty much the best thing I could imagine tasting at that point.  We only had 1.4 miles left.  I could do this.

We walked a few minutes and agreed to just take it a bit slower and run the last mile to get it done.  It was pretty much all downhill anyway.
I almost wanted to walk about a gazillion times, but I kept going.  I was a few steps behind Becky, so I just focused on the ground and keeping pace with her.

Walking after that was hard.  We were both pretty sore, and I even offered to drive Becky home since we walked past my house and she would still have a ginormous hill to walk up plus stairs.  She said no though.  She's a tough chick!

I got in the house and stretched my legs out for a few minutes.  I couldn't stand my griminess though.  I decided to just hop into the shower and finish stretching afterwards.

My delicious Powerade that saved me the last few miles.

I was trying to think of why I was having so many stomach issues today when I remembered what I made for supper last night.

I ate a delicious supper of sauer kraut and mashed potatoes with some of my fake hot dogs thrown in.  I have been craving mashed potatoes since I had some on Thanksgiving.  Sauer kraut and mashed potatoes have been a favorite of mine since I was a kid.  

Yes, those are pickles on my salad.

My mom made it with one peeled onion with about 5-6 whole cloves pushed in it.  She would just put the onion in a large pot, empty a can of sauer kraut and a can of water, bring to a boil, and reduce and cover to cook for about half an hour.

I made some home made mashed potatoes too.  I love mashed potatoes!  Yum, yum, yum.

Free For All Friday

Happy Friday!  I thought this day would never end! I wrapped up another 9 day work week and it couldn't have come soon enough!
I have actually stuck to my running plan this week! Shocking, right? I heard you gasp all the way from here.

Walked 3 Miles on Tuesday

6 miles on Wednesday

Thursday 3 miles

I am so physically exhausted.  Running those miles and working about ten hours every day really takes it's toll, especially when I am literally running around the whole time I am there.  I get home and just collapse into bed.

Today, after work Kevin and I got a Papa Murphy's pizza.  We had a coupon for an $8 large pizza.  I really liked it.  They must use fresh oregano or something, because it has a really great taste.  And I really like their crust. Yum!

After supper, we put up the Christmas tree.  This is going to be my only free day until Christmas, so I figured I better get it up.  Last year the tree didn't get up until about a week before, because I was so busy with work and school.  So, this year I get to enjoy the tree for almost a whole month!

Kevin and I watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation while putting the tree up.  It's both of our favorite movie.  I put in White Christmas after that and Kevin disappeared.  It's not really his cup of tea.

Here's the tree all set up.  Eggy loves having it up.  He hides under it and shoots out when I walk by.  And there's ornaments he likes to hit off that we keep on the bottom for him to play with.  

Eggy is waiting for Santa

I'm surprised he let me put this garland around him.  He usually freaks out if I try to do that.  He was pretty exhausted though after playing for about two hours straight.  He is already in bed sleeping on his electric blanket.

Did you put up your tree already?

Have a great weekend!

Who Doesn't Love a Before and After?

Well, almost after.  I still have a bit to go...like 40 more pounds, but it's fun to see the progress that I've made.  Sometimes I get caught up in the here and now that I forget that this weight loss and healthy life style has been a slow and gradual process that I will continue to do forever, not just until I reach my goal weight.

I have been maintaining for the past year and really want to jump start my weight loss again.  I made a pretty aggressive weight loss goal of ten pounds by December 31.  Not to be a negative Nelly, but I probably won't make it.  I will however, have made progress.  And that is better then nothing.

The really cool thing is all of the muscles I've developed.  I have crazy muscular legs, especially my quads, calves, and butt (true story).  Even my upper body is getting stronger from holding myself up all of the time durning my long runs!  (I am adding weight lifting to my New Year's Resolution so I can be ripped!)

Left is from 2009. Right is from a few weeks ago.

It is so easy to get frustrated with lack of progress, but always remember where you started, where you are now, and where you are going. When in doubt, run it out!

Love this quote.

This is one of my favorite running quotes.  It really sums up everything.  Running is about the battle with yourself, your journey, your demons.  You are your own worst enemy.  No one will judge you or make fun of you for trying.  The important thing is to try!

Happy Running!

Make Me Something Good to Eat

I had a lot of baking and cooking to do today.  As soon as I woke up I started in on it.  I made some chocolate chip cookies and peanut butter cookies.

Eggy loves helping with dishes...minus the water.

Quick breakfast of green tea and banana toast.

I tried out this cookie recipe I found online.  I've had a can of pumpkin in my pantry for at least two years...amazingly not expired yet.  I've been trying to find an easy recipe to use it in.  I found this one somewhere.  All you need is yellow cake mix and the can of pumpkin.  It comes out really fluffy and light.  

After all the baking, Eggy was exhausted and had to go take a nap in his electric blanket.

I made an apple pie for Thanksgiving.  I've made it before, but for some reason I was having a really hard time with the crust, hence the raggedy look of it.  

While I was baking everything else, I was also boiling the black and white beans that I had soaked over night for my chili.  I cooked them for about an hour, then rinsed them off and let them sit while I started on the chili.

Looking for cumin, apparently I always think I'm out.

Chili with Rice

Chili Recipe

6 cups cooked beans, any kind you like.  This time I used black and white because that's what I had on hand.

2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1 onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, diced

2 carrots, slice thin

24 oz tomato sauce

6 oz tomato paste

5 c. water

1 Tbsp cumin

1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder

1/2 tsp salt

dash of pepper

3 c. rice, cooked

Heat a large pot on medium heat.  Add the EVOO.  Add the onion and cook until they are soft.  Add the garlic and cook about 2-3 minutes.  Stir in the carrots and cook them for about 5 minutes, just until they've turned a bright orange.  Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste, and water. Stir until combined.  Mix in the chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper.  Bring the chili up to a boil then lower to a simmer.  Add in the beans.  Cover and simmer for about 30 minutes.  Add the cooked rice at the very end.

Off to craft night.  Hopefully I can make some progress on my sweater that I started.

Pinterest

Like many people, I am mildly obsessed with Pinterest and may have a pinning problem.  I have managed to calm down on my pinning a bit.  Instead, I just search the categories and send pictures to Melissa.  She's the only one I know who is up in the middle of the night like me.  My favorite category to browse is the Humor.  I just laugh and laugh.  Here are some of the pics I sent Melissa over the past couple of days.  Some might be a bit weird looking, but that's because I took the picture of my computer and texted it to her.

I can read those for hours...in fact I have.

What's your favorite Pinterest category to search?

Take It As a Compliment

Oh, Monday!  How I did not miss you! Had to work bright and early.  Got up and had some coffee with Eggy.  He is just like me and can't do a thing until he's had his coffee!

Nom nom nom

Don't freak out.  He just licks the cup and will lick the spoon that we stir the coffee with.  And no, I didn't use this cup afterwards...especially since he sneezed in it while he was licking it.

After work, I went to Melissa's.  She made some lasagnas yesterday for a birthday party and had part of a veggie one left over.  I've had her lasagna before and it was delish, so I was not going to turn down this dinner invite!  And it did not disappoint!  I may or may not have had three pieces.

Source  Accurate depiction of me eating.

I stopped at Aldi's afterwards to pick up a few things.  I want to make chili tomorrow and didn't have any rice.  Yes, rice.  I make the best chili according to everyone me.  Some people put in elbow macaroni, I use rice. It's something my mom use to do and I've always really liked.  I am soaking some black and white beans tonight so they will be ready to cook tomorrow.

Randomness
I really want to eat an orange, but my cat freaks out when I peel it.  He will not come by me whenever I eat an orange, grapefruit, or clementine.  I don't know what it is about citrus fruit, but Eggy is not a fan!  So, I will just keep thinking about that orange I want to eat.

More randomness with a little TMI
I find it weird and gross that my fiancé's friends always have to use my bathroom.  You know, "USE" it.  It doesn't bother me when my friends have to take a poo.  I guess I find boys completely dirty.

Do your animals have any irrational fears?  

Running is Fun!

Words I will not say while running.

Since I've already had a post titled, "Running Sucks" I thought this would be a nice change.

I had three alarms set for this morning: 6am, 6:30am, 7am.  I slept through my first two.  I woke up before the 7am one.  Kevin was in the kitchen blasting his music, drinking coffee, and looking for jobs on the computer.  Doesn't he know I have to check my Facebook and Twitter right away?  What if something important happened?!?!

I had my customary cup of coffee and even ate a breakfast of brown sugar oatmeal.  I read through the paper, skipping all of the sale papers.  My first reads are the weddings/engagements and the comics.  Yes, I am 10 years old with my choices.  

I texted Becky telling her I am bringing my ipod and headphones on our run so I don't have to talk to her to to get me through the tough run.  She said she was planning on doing the same.  Great minds think a like.

There was frost covering the ground this morning.  

I took off in my gear; skirt, capri tights, compression socks, light long sleeve shirt, and my water belt with a GU.  My compression socks are too big and I had to fold them over to keep them under my knees.  I think it made the pressure on my calves too intense, because they were pretty sore while running and they are still sore now.  I don't usually have this problem, even on long runs.  Next time I get some compression socks, I am going to get the calf sleeves.  I don't like how the sock part feels on my foot.  I feel like it makes my foot sweatier than normal, since my foot was squishing in my shoe towards the end.  

The last three miles were really tough for me.  I didn't want to complain about the pace, since Becky seemed to be going at a pretty good quip.  It was mostly downhill on the way back too.  So I was a couple of steps behind her, but kept my mouth shut.  My darn calves were just killing me and it just seemed to be really draining all of my energy. And of course we got all of the green lights on the way back so I didn't have a minute for a break.  The last half mile, I really fell behind her, which was fine.  We were almost done and Becky likes to sprint to the end.  Somehow her watch got off with the mileage, because my time was a few seconds faster then hers and she was a good tenth mile ahead of me at the end.  

Yup, it's sideways.

My goal was to finish right around two hours, which we did.  It was a nice change after the few tough long runs we've been having.  I think the different route helped the time go faster.

Garmin splits

After entering my workouts in all of my websites, I took a nice HOT shower.  I get so cold after runs.  I realized I hadn't eaten yet after my run.  I was pretty wiped.  I had some of my Potato Kale Dish that I made yesterday.  Find the recipe here.  

I talked to my mom for a bit and read some blogs, watched some Christmas movies on T.V.  I ended up dosing off until about 5:30pm.  I woke up starving!  I had 5 pieces of bread, each with a piece of cheese <---that is a true story.  Two of my favorite things, cheese and bread.  I also ate the last pickle from the jar my mom made.  Oh, and a bowl of Fruity Pebbles and almond milk.  I think I'm good now.

*Things I had to Google while writing this - the difference between colons and semi colons.

What is your favorite post run pig-out food?