Tuesday, November 29, 2011

I'mmmmmmm Backkkkkk!

I didn't bring my computer with me for thanksgiving, and it was actually kind of awesome :)  I will spend today trying to catch up on all the amazing posts i have.  STARTING WITH:


The Annual Elmhurst Dan Gibbons Turkey Trot!


I left work early on Wednesday to beat the traffic, and pack for the holiday.  Before we left for my cousins, i made Buffalo Chicken dip:

and Rolo Turtles:


Then Matt and i packed up the car and headed to my cousins house in the suburbs.  I proceeded to drink an entire bottle of wine, and go to bed around 2:30am.  Then we all woke up for the annual turkey trot!  This year only Matt, myself, my cousin and his wife ran.  There was a brand new course this year, because we had 8,000 runners.  8,000 runners for an untimed turkey trot!  THATS INSANE!
Bananas.
True to our style, we were late to the race.  Like, really late.  We actually heard the race start from way down the street.  I started running to try to catch up with the runners, but got tangled in a sea of walkers, strollers, dogs, old people, fat people, girls in leggings and boots, etc.  It took me about two minutes to finally be able to start running with out trampling anyone.    This is such a fun race, and a lot of people dress up.  I am going to try to find a turkey hat for next year.  Along the way, i saw this pilgrim:


And these smurfs:
and i faked this smile despite running with a wine hangover:
The one downside about the new course is that i did not see bloody marys.  It could be that i missed them, who knows.  Apparently their was a mimosa station, but i missed that too.  To be safe, next year i am going to wear a race belt with flasks filled with my own personal bloody mary, and mimosa.  


The one thing i hate about racing in the cold, is that when you finish, you have to stand around in the freezing cold, trying to find everyone.  Of course they had a heated tent where my group was waiting for me, but i was much to stupid to find that giant yellow tent that was visible from space.  To keep warm until we met up with my cousins, Matt and i had to dance.
And dance we did.
5K - 27 minutes (ish) (the start was a little jumbled and i didn't know when to turn my garmin on)

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Marathon boy.

Has anybody seen this???





This looks amazing, even for the non running folk.  Its about a 3 year old boy from a slum in India with an amazing talent for running.  He ran 48 marathons by the time he was 4.  BY THE TIME HE WAS 4!  It looks really interesting, and there was a lot of controversy around letting a 4 year old run marathons obviously.  He was sold multiple times before being discovered by a man who was trying to condition him as an athlete.  The man was eventually killed, and to be honest, india sounds like a rough place.  I wonder what it would be like growing up in a different country under radically different circumstances?


It really makes you think.

Is everybody drunk?

I have honked my car horn so many times in the past 24 hours that i am surprised it still works!  FYI, if you are ever in Chicagoland, and there is a blue car behind you that keeps honking at you, its me.  And I'M JUDGING YOU.  Even this morning when the traffic had died down, a GMC truck almost ran me off the road.  I mean, who is drunk at 8:30 in the morning???


oh wait.......
So i ran 4.5 miles last night on my own personal treadmill.
you again...
I actually do not have a private treadmill, it's in the basement at my work.  But i am pretty sure no one else uses it, so I like to think that it belongs to me.  The nice thing about having a treadmill in the basement is that it's right there, and no one is around to look at you sucking at running.  The bad thing about having a treadmill in the basement is that its dark and scary and sometimes i hear things down there.  Probably the ghosts of other designers who have died here.  yikes!
I look like i am going to a funeral.  
I'd like to say that i bounced right back and running was super easy, but it wasn't.  I still don't feel 100%, and had a sinus headache and a runny nose.  I was definitely done after 45 minutes.  I am deeply concerned for Saturday.  

Speaking of Saturday, i just found out that the awards ceremony is 2 hours and 15 minutes after the start.  Seriously?  I might not even be done running yet!  AND, why don't they have other awards for races?  like most fabulously dressed, and miss congeniality?  Its just not enough that i get a medal any more....i want a prize!  or a ribbon!  or a little trophy!!  ME WANT MOREEEEEEEEE!!!

Also, happy thanksgiving in advance!  This is seriously my favorite holiday, and i CAN'T WAIT to see everyone and drink alot tonight, and sing karaoke, and then try to run a 5k tomorrow morning.  Yippee!!

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

If there was ever a sign...

THIS IS IT.
Holiday traffic apparently starts now.  I think this little two hour smack in the face is the universe telling me to go run on the treadmill for an hour.
UUUGGGHHHHHHHHHHH.

How rude.

How Rude!
Homeless people are OUT OF CONTROL IN THIS CITY.


I take the highway every day of my sad, sad life, and the panhandlers have gone from an annoyance to a full out threat.  There is a homeless man who repeatedly will stand uncomfortably close to my car staring at me when i refuse to give him anything.  He is trying to scare me into helping him.  I am not a bad person, but by "trying to scare"  you are just "pissing me off"  I'm NOT scared of you, because its the middle of the day, and their are other cars around me.  So, rather than stare back at him like i normally do, today i decided to take a picture of him.
Not only am i not afraid of you, i am so not afraid of you that i am taking your picture.  
I am about to go vigilante on the city of Chicago.

i'm aliveeee.....

but just barely.  And i am officially going to die at the half marathon this weekend.  I plan to run on my lunch today, but it has been 7 freaking days since i have run.  I am debating going full blown disaster mode for the half marathon.  Get drunk the night before, eat cold pizza for breakfast, wear the wrong shoes, etc, and just see what happens.  :)


Part of the reason i took a week off is that i have been feeling terrible!  Constant achey/gross feeling.  I have been slamming back emergen-C's, but to no avail.  I even stayed home from work yesterday and spent all day in bed whimpering.  yikes!  I really just want to feel better for thanksgiving, because it is one of my favorite holidays!


The other reason i have completely given up on my running schedule for a week is breakfast club!  I assure you, it is not the John Hughes version.  Right after work on Friday, i jumped in my car and drove straight down to Purdue University to visit my dearest friend Ashley.  The plan was to take it easy friday night, and then wake up balls early, dress up in a costume, and start binge drinking at 6:30am.  


I should clarify - Purdue University is the one college that celebrates BREAKFAST CLUB.  For every Purdue football home game, all the bars open up at 7am, and the students have to wear costumes to get in.    Our group decided to go as dinosaurs
Its 6am, and i'm not running, i'm a dinosaur drinking champagne.
The Dino costumes were cute, and nice and warm for the walk to the bars.  
I'm a dino with scoliosis because my spine is crooked.
Being away from college has kept me out of the booze circle, so i was introduced to a wonderful and amazing new product called CAKE VODKA.
These are tears of happiness, not drunkeness....
SO GOOD.  I had mine mixed with pineapple juice and it was PHENOM.  I liked it so much, i went home and bought a bottle.  That and it was on sale, and i can't resist a sale.  

After breakfast club, we got pizza and stumbled home to have a toddlers and tiara's marathon.  I was supposed to get a long run in on Sunday, but by the time i got back home to Chicago, i felt like i was dying.  Apparently, your ability to binge drink and bounce back slowly deteriorates with age, just like my mind.  That was the start of my descent into a bed-ridden old crippled lady.  Which brings me to today.  

I am going to die on Saturday.  

Friday, November 18, 2011

TGIF!

You make my dreams come true.
This has been a long, strange week.  its also been a week with very little running.  I am dealing with a little residual guilt of letting my job totally take over my life the past two weeks.  I have been a terrible girlfriend (all i want to do is sleep when i come home), a terrible friend (i have turned my friends down repeatedly the past two weeks....people are going to stop inviting me places!), a terrible runner (How does that gosh darn Skinny Runner find the time???), and even a terrible driver (sometimes i cry in my car after work)  


SO, because i have faith that things are slowly getting better (and that i am earning major brownie points by working my butt off)  Here is a list of good things, so that i don't sound like a total debbie downer.


1.  It's bagel day.  and he was delicious.
2.  I am going to visit some friends from college this weekend.  That means i get to binge drink at 7am and dress up like a dinosaur!
3.  I have one race left this year - next saturday a turket trot half marathon.  I want to run it under 2:00, but even if it takes me 2 days, at least i am doing it?
4.  I went to hot yoga last night, and rachel came too!!
5.  After yoga, we went to the bar across the street.  in our yoga gear.  to drink vodka.
6.  I semi-drunkenly made the mac and cheese again late last night for a potluck today....I hope everyone likes it!
7.  NEXT WEEK IS THANKSGIVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


My meeting ended up being pushed back until today, which blows, but gives me a second chance to dress to impress.  Today, i upped the ante with a BLAZER!!


A FLIPPIN BLAZER!
Looking like boss TAKE TWO!

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Good deed for the day!

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Like a BOSS

I have been blessed with a youthful face.  Even as i approach the big 3-0, i look half my age.  Part of it's genetics....my mom and dad were very petite people, so i am somewhat small framed, and my mom has always looked much younger than she actually is.  Maybe it's our adorably oversized chipmunk cheeks.  WHO KNOWS.  Aside from aggressive ID checking at alcohol serving establishments, it has never really bothered me, and i like to think that while i was doing that whole "teaching college" thing it made me approachable and relatable to my students. 


THINGS HAVE CHANGED.


Having a multi-billion dollar client seemed like an awesome opportunity, and my impressive credentials seemed to represent me well on paper, but the second they saw my face, we had problems.  My client, that i have been busting my ass for, working late, coming in early, skipping runs, skipping LUNCH!, has filed a complaint that they want someone older in charge of their project.  SCREW YOU CLIENT.  I get to have a last chance meeting today to try and convince them that i am capable of meeting their expectations (which i am.  with, or without a babyface.)  SO, based on the advice of my coworkers, here are some options:


1.  PANTSUITS.
It did work for Hillary...
Dude, no way.  I would rather lose the client.  I even stop at a T.J. Maxx to look at the pant suits, and just the feel of the fabric made me cringe.  Not going to happen.


2. HAIRCUT.
Seriously?  My hair is my livelyhood.  With out my ginger locks i would be weak and useless, like Samson.  or Britney Spears.


3.  GLASSES.
Apparently, they make you look smarter.  So despite my 20/20 eagle eye vision, i dug out some cheap glasses leftover from a costume, which i can only assume was slutty librarian.  Or slutty lawyer.  or something of that nature.  


Exhibit A:
gingerfoxxx 2.0
My new and improved self.  The new improvement?  $5 reading glasses.  SUCK IT CLIENT.  I look so smart i don't ever recognize myself.  Its like a whole Clark Kent/Superman thing.  The only downside is that new and improved me is not used to wearing glasses, and they make me a little dizzy, and even nauseous.  It's so worth it though....I mean, look at how smart i am now.  

Also, my Butternut squash Mac n Cheese was a huge success!  I am going to make it again for a work potluck tomorrow.  

Check this baby out
GET IN MAH BELLYYYY!
Its surprisingly low fat compared to most mac n cheese, but still sufficiently yummy, even if i am tricking myself into eating veggies.  Here is the recipe that martha stuart was kind enough to invent to make me look good:

Macaroni and Cheese with Butternut Squash

Ricotta and pureed squash give this familiar dish its creaminess.
Martha Stewart Living
  • YieldServes 6
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Ingredients

  • 1 small butternut squash (about 1 pound), peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes (about 3 cups)
  • 1 cup homemade or low-sodium canned chicken stock, skimmed of fat
  • 1 1/2 cups nonfat milk
  • Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
  • Pinch of cayenne pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 4 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, finely grated (about 1 cup)
  • 4 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, finely grated (1 ounce)
  • 2 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon olive oil
  • Olive-oil, cooking spray
  • 1/2 cup part-skim ricotta cheese

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine squash, stock, and milk in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium; simmer until squash is tender when pierced with a fork, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Mash contents of saucepan; stir in nutmeg, cayenne, and salt, and season with black pepper. Stir to combine.
  2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add noodles; cook until al dente according to package instructions, about 8 minutes. Drain, and transfer to a large bowl; stir in squash mixture, cheddar, ricotta, and 2 tablespoons Parmesan.
  3. Lightly coat a 9-inch square baking dish (4 inches deep) with cooking spray. Transfer noodle mixture to dish. In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, remaining 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and oil; sprinkle evenly over noodle mixture.
  4. Cover with foil, and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil, and continue baking until lightly browned and crisp on top, 30 to 40 minutes more. Serve immediately.
Courtesy of ms. martha stuart.