My fifth marathon.

Friday night, Matt, Waffles and I packed up the old versa an headed up to central Wisconsin.  I had wanted to write a blog post about my "taper week"  but you really don't taper when you don't train for a marathon.  I had the worst week ever last week, that reached its low point Thursday afternoon as i sat crying in the bathroom work.  Way to show you are the only girl in the office, right?  Anyway, by the time Friday evening came, i was so grateful for two days to get away from everything that i would have run any amount of miles just for the chance to escape.

So we made the 4 hour trek to Wautoma.  I ate in the car (totes the best way to prepare for a marathon) and as we got closer, the roads just got more and more rural.  I had booked us a room in the Super 8 motel which was both dog friendly and about a mile from the start/finish.  Matt kept teasing me, because apparently he thinks he is above staying at the super 8, but it was seriously the best decision ever.  There were SO nice.  We got in around 10:30, and the lady had even printed a little map for so we would know how to get to the race in the morning.  

Coach waffles with a last minute pep talk.

The other cool thing about Super 8 is they have continental breakfast every day starting at 5:30.  I had brought my own clif bar, because i eat one before every marathon, but it was nice to have coffee that wasn't instant.  When i was making my second coffee trip, a girl approached me to ask me which race i was running.  Apparently it was her first marathon, and she was trying to find someone to buddy up with to help her finish.  Her goal was around 5 hours.  I said that i had low expectations because i had skipped most of my training, but that i was pretty sure i could get her there! So, i told her i would meet her at the start line.  There were only 72 runners, so it was pretty easy to find her.

We got there early so i could get my race number (which took all of 90 seconds, so i don't know why i was worried) The t-shirt was long-sleeved (which i actually prefer!) and we got a cute water bottle, and the bag was one of those nice drawstring ones.  They had fruit and bagels for everyone, even the spectators, which was really nice!

pre-race dancing

While we were waiting for it to start, another girl approached me to ask me about my top.  She eventually said she was just making an excuse to find out how fast i run, because i looked like competition.  LOL!  I told her my seriously runner look was all a rouse, and she had nothing to worry about. But, i kind of consider this a BQ in looking awesome.  So yay, me.
Actually, a good chunk of my outfit was new, as in never worn before.  New shoes, bra, and shorts.  Hows that for living on the edge?

They said a prayer for Boston before the start of the race, and we were off!

I won't bore you with the mile by mile break down, but i will say this.  I was so focused on making sure Bethany had a good first marathon experience that i never had my normal "marathon breakdown"  There were no tears, no sitting down on a curb, no vowing to never run a marathon again.  I felt strong the entire time.  Thats not to say it was easy.  It was a hilly course - nonstop rolling hills.  Oh, and i didn't train to run a marathon.  My feet were killing me by mile 12 (it could have been that i was wearing new shoes too?  who knows)  But, despite the difficulty, worrying about someone else took my mind off everything.  I told stories, i made up little songs (like the "f*** you mile 22" song).  I know the last 6 miles were really hard for her.  They are hard for everyone, but i think they are especially hard during your first marathon.  We took frequent walk breaks, i did my best to keep us on pace.  It got a little warm (70!) and sunny.  The police were nice enough to drive along the course to bring us all bottles of water (aid stations were about 3 miles apart, so i was grateful for the extra water in the sun!) We finally hit the home stretch, and i just started yelling at her to run as fast as she could.  Then i started yelling at everyone else that this was her first marathon, and people seemed to get that, and just started cheering and yelling, and i was behind her just screaming "FIRST TIME MARATHONER RIGHT HERE"  in hindsight, the poor girl probably wanted to trip me.  But i will never forget the suck level of my first marathon finish, and everyone should have people cheering for them, even if its 10 people.  And those 10 people ROCKED.  I got her across the finish line in 5 hours and 1 minute.  I was a minute off, but hey - it was my first time pacing someone (and the course was long).  I think she was pleased anyway.  

The aftermath:  I don't want people to think that not training for a marathon is all sunshine and roses.  I am lucky to even finish the race.  My pinky toenail split right down the middle, and i have a sharp pain in my lower back that will not go away.  So, I am not sure if there is a market right now for the "Gingerfoxxx training plan: drink your way to a marathon finish"  But then again, maybe people would be on board with that....I also have the most brutal sunburn i have had in YEARS.  I put on sunblock, but i didn't expect it to be quite so warm and sunny, so i had just put it on around my arm warmers.  I took the arm-warmers off at mile 5 and my arms FRIED in the sun.  I can barely type this actually.  A rookie sauce mistake i will NOT make again.  But seriously, i CAN'T WAIT to run another marathon.  Only i will train this time!

The rest of the weekend:  Since i ran a conservative race, i didn't feel like i was dying the way i normally do.  Matt and i decided to go bar hopping in Wautoma!

THE MEGA-FRY!

When in Wisconsin, you have lots of cheese and beer.  It is known.
We also took Waffles out for a nice hike on some Wisconsin trails, since she was so well behaved at the race.

The next day, we took the long way home so that we could stop by the super remote cemetary my Dad is buried at.  I try and make it once a year, and i usually leave random things there - it's so fried green tomatoes.

Is it morbid to take photos at cemetary?  I always do...

Hopefully he like the race medal.  I thought it was cool!  We took our time on the way back, and hit up some farmers markets, and just cruised through country roads enjoying the scenery and fresh air.  I think the whole weekend did us ALL some good.

She likes the view on my shoulders....

So, in short Jailbreak was a great race.  The course is constant rolling hills, so its a little hard on the legs and feet.  There were 72 runners total for the full marathon, so it will be lonely.  If you need crowds, it might not be for you.  If you like trees, wild turkeys, and amish children waiving at you from a horse drawn cart, then this is totally for you.  I would like to run it again, especially because how fun Wautoma was.  I would run a marathon just as an excuse to visit!!

Countdown to next marathon - August!!

And her lunch grew three sizes that day...

Seriously.  I would photograph all 5 lbs of it, but 2 lbs were already eaten before 9am.  I have reached that horrible realization that I am running a marathon in 5 days, and there is nothing I can really do at this point to change the outcome.  The training cycle is over, and the whole darn thing was a shit show.  (actually, just the second half….the first half went pretty well!) There is nothing I can do, and no one I can blame for whatever happens on Saturday.

No, wait.  Scratch that.   I blame the dog.  She has been a major contributing factor to skipped runs and lost sleep.  And over-consumption of martinis.  Luckily, thanks to a new combination of meds and about a grand in vet visits, everything seems to be A-ok, and the little chunker feels like she might have even put on some weight – watch out 17lbs, here we come!  Either way, Waffles, this is all your fault. 

I jest (sort-of).  There are a lot of contributing factors to this shitty training cycle – some good, some bad.  And either way, it’s too late to dwell on them now.  Because I HAVE TO RUN AN F***ING MARATHON ON SATURDAY!!!

With the lack of physical training, I only have my brain to help get me through this one.  I actually think this might be the most “mentally fit” I have been going into a marathon.  Now I just have to keep it that way until Saturday…..Welcome to my “serenity now” rampage!

***Also, I would like to see anyone else use rampage and serenity in the same sentence. 

This is mostly towards Matt and Waffles, and I will let you guess which rules go to which, but seriously – serenity now.  Right-freaking-now.

1.        I am going to be in bed by 9:30.  10 at the latest.  If you need an egg sandwich at midnight, you WILL be making it yourself.

2.       Stop waking me up in the middle of the night to go outside.  Repeatedly.  You are just doing it now because I have gotten used to it, and you know there are rabbits outside at 4am. 

3.       NO JALEPENOS ON ANYTHING, GOD DAMMIT!  Stop sneaking them onto my food.  Seriously.

4.       Stop judging me when I try to eat an entire bowl of popcorn.  After dinner.  I’m carbo-loading, you jerks.

5.       I can’t do laundry or dishes this week.  My muscles are regenerating this week in preparation for the race.  Sorry guys.

6.       If I wake up even one night this week because I have been shoved into the crack between the bed and the wall and there is a dog on top of me, you are both sleeping on the couch.

7.       Apple-flavored vodka counts as a fruit, and anyone who tries to argue this point with me is in for a world of hurt.  (Also – apple flavored vodka is on sale at Trader Joes for $6.99 – get on that!!)

8.       And you, Mother Nature.  Don’t. Even. Start with me.  I mean it.

Marathon training week 14: Baby steps!

Miles: 35
Martinis: 2
Crosstraining:  Shut the front door - this girl cross-trained twice this week.  Once on an "arc trainer" at the gym (some super hard contraption made to make you suffer) and a 4 mile hike with my mom and my puppy-dog.
Strength training: GET OUT.  I did that too.  I took an Archery Class on Saturday!  (entire post to follow)

Overall outlook:  Every week is getting a little easier.  I am taking tiny steps towards a goal, rather than charging ahead only to fall flat on my ass (like i normally do).  I won't lie, the AMAZING weather has helped.  I had an 18 miler on Saturday, and i never even once felt like i would surely die.  I even dragged Matt out for an 8 mile run on Sunday!

Either way, i feel good that i am getting out and moving every day, even if I'm not hitting my weekly mileage.  My marathon is now 27 days away, and seeing as i just booked our hotel, shit is getting real.

My posts will be short and sweet this week (I find that amusing seeing as how i have been averaging 2 weekly posts since i started the new job) but later this week, i will be blogging from DC!  My trip to advocate for Huntington's Disease is THIS WEEK!  AHHHHHHHH!  Also, where did that nice weather go?  It's cold out today!

<3

Marathon training week ????: What the hell am i doing.

Miles: 28?  I am no longer keeping track.  I ran 5 days last week though!  I am attempting an intuitive approach to marathon training (Code:  this is all BS.  Things just aren't going to be ideal.  I am heading into a marathon next month undertrained, and there is nothing i can do about it at this point.)
Martinis: 3
Strength: Minimal
Stretching: Mostly foam rolling

Outlook:  I'm going to just do the marathon.  I will most likely die in this marathon, but whatever - i'm just going to do it.  My pace leader just ran the Lakefront 50k this weekend, and his story was so inspiring, that i feel like a total nerd being like "I'm undertrained and won't PR at this marathon"  So what if i won't PR?  It's kinda of nice to take the pressure off, and just run a marathon for fun.  And if i come in last?  Been there, done that.  After the first time, it doesn't seem like such a big deal.

I'm still struggling to find that whole "work-life balance" thing.  But i think I'm doing a lot better.  I even bought a file folder this weekend which i feel is very responsible and adult-like of me.  Sadly, its still sitting in the bag.  You win some, you lose some.  I am starting to get into a routine again, of when i can go to the gym, when i need to spend time with the dog, and so on.  I spent all of last week in a training seminar for an engineering CAD program, and let me tell you - exercising your mind is every bit as exhausting as exercising your body!

My brain is still sore.

Waffles has been getting her exercise on too!  We had our first agility class last week, and she's terrible.  Even though i have seen her jump clear over the coffee table on multiple occasions, she is terrified of the plastic pole siting 4 inches of the ground.  She would flip onto her back every time we got near it, and then proceed to be dragged through, knocking the entire thing over.  We are practicing at home with a swiffer and some yoga blocks.  

So i'm still here, and i am still running a marathon next month.  I am also still reading everyones blogs at lunch, but for some reason i can't comment on my work computer.  I am debating asking IT to resolve the issue, but it probably isn't the most professional way to spend my lunch break.  Either way, just know i'm creeping on all of you.  Vwa ha ha!

Marathon training week 12: (wo)man with a plan!

Miles: 23

Strength training: I went grocery shopping all by myself?  All that candy is heavy!

Cross-training: Bowling!

Martinis: 2

Outlook:  I am excited about exercise, but not so much about this marathon.  I can still always bump down to the half.  I feel like that makes me a loser though.  Luckily, as a planner (code: nice way of saying OCD) i have multiple contingency plans in place for every possible scenario.

The past week, i have been getting my life back into order.  It kind of blew my mind what a rut i had gotten in, and i had been letting things slide.  Aside from returning to my derby roots, i signed up for a membership at the ymca i pass on my way to work.  I had a membership to xsport that i finally cancelled because they suck so hard that just driving past it brought me rage.  Now i have a place to go when the weather is bad, or when i need to pretend to lift weights.  Winning!  And, not only am i making it easier to get in shape, i am dragging waffles down with me - she starts agility training on Tuesday!  (Not that waffles is out of shape, she just needs something constructive to do that doesn't involve eating her collar off of herself!)  

My long run on saturday (16 miles) went great, especially considering the windiness/ice falling from the sky.  I was tired at the end, but i didn't feel like dying this week.  Although i did have a brush with death when a few of us were almost hit by a car down at navy pier!  (Considering the fact that they had IU flags on their car, and i had a Purdue headband, i am convinced that this was a hate crime.)  

I also went bowling with about a dozen of my cousins this weekend.  My arm is still sore from carrying around that 8lb ball AND a bloody mary.  Irish strength-training!

Matt and Waffles were out of town for the weekend, so i finally got the chance to clean without someone stealing socks from the laundry basket, and licking all the clean dishes as i unload them from the washer (Matt.....) Of course i missed them, but it was really nice to have the Sara time!

And they had a fun weekend in Cincinnati, so good times were had by all.

Lastly, when they did come home last night, Matt was bearing this beautiful Easter basket from his parents!

I am SOOOO ready for spring, and these beautiful flowers did just the trick!!  I am definitely starting to feel like a new person (insert spring themed metaphor here).  Now time to go out in the freezing rain....(booo!  hissssss!)

Marathon training week 10. Ouch.

Miles run: 24
Martinis: 3
Strength: 0
Cross-training:  A lot of walking!

Outlook:  Well, it happened.  I would call it a full on injury, but my minor training aches and pains turned into shooting pains that have been making it difficult to walk, and are even keeping me from sleeping at night.  The main culprits are both knees, and my left foot.

It's my own damn fault too.  As i was having a total breakdown during my long run, and cutting it short due to pain, my training leader asked me if i was foam rolling enough.  To which i responded, "I haven't touched the foam roller since November."  Couple that with absolutely no post run stretching (It's too cold!) and attempting long runs in shoes that are probably not supportive enough, (especially for all the ice chunks!) and you've got one hot mess.  Needless to say, this week my focus in on learning proper recovery - I have been a bonehead for far too long.  This week is about stretching, foam-rolling, foot massaging, and eating of nutritious, protein filled post-run snacks.  It was arrogant of me to think that my body would run a marathon with me treating it like crap.  My mangled, tender foot and grapefruit knees have humbled me.

Seeing as how all my running this weekend was shut down, i got to spend the weekend at home, in a pain-killer induced haze doing my favorite activity besides running.  Cooking!  Matt bought a giant bag of arugula that is too much for two people to ever eat, so our mission was to have it for every single meal.  Some of my favorites:

Thats right, i learned to poach an egg.  and it was delicious.  And waffles ate like a queen on all the eggs i messed up.  She had herself a little doggy benedict!

Do you ever make training mistakes despite KNOWING it's a mistake?  I am a serial non-stretcher....it just really catches up to me in the cold winter days.  

Taper, week 9. I was cold, then i was drunk, then i looked at MCM furniture.

Miles: 30
Martinis: 2 (Plus quite a few beers at the Chicago bloggers beer run!)
Strength:  zero again this week.....wompp wompppp
Outlook:  I really don't care.  I might be watching a PR drift out the window, but i am having so much gosh darn fun doing it.  Either way, back to high mileage this week!

Stolen from Anne (don't judge me, i am already 11 miles deep at this point!)

Saturday morning was the long awaited Chicago running bloggers beer run.  Sadly, it was also the day of my long run.  Although luckily, it aligned with a cutback week.  I got up unbearably early, and i ran a few miles alone on the lakefront path, then met with my usual training group for a few miles, then drove down the street to meet up with Bobbi for a few pre-run miles, and ended this whirlwind with the fun run itself!  

Talking Ireland with Cary!

It was so nice to catch up with people i don't get to see nearly often enough!
All in all, i ended up running 14 miles, because my math skills are atrocious.  I had initially made the plan to do the fun run, change at our gracious host, Anne's, house and then get in line for the Half Acre brewery tour.  

Stolen from pete

Sadly, because the tour is in such high demand, we had to get in line right at 10 to make sure we would have a spot when it opened at 11.  As the temps hovered around 17, and i was in sweaty clothes having just run 14 miles, this was not my happy place.  even after we made it inside, i shivered for over an hour!  In the end, i am glad we did do this, as i was close enough to the back to watch them turn people away.  So - if you want to do this brewery tour - get there early, don't be wearing sweaty running clothes, and bring a thermos of piping hot coffee (the guy in front of us was obviously a pro)

Needless to say, i was cold and dehydrated by the time we got in, so drinking on an empty stomach was the greatest idea EVER!!!

Guilty, undergarment in hand 30 minutes into the brew-tour.

True story:  because i was shivering so uncontrollably, like 40 minutes after being inside that Erin insisted i remove the innermost layer so that i could heat up.  Sadly, it was a bra tank, so i was flying free on this brewery tour!

Needless to say, we were all a little drunk and boisterous, and having a great time.  So great a time, that we were shushed by the hipster guy in charge of the tour.    If you don't believe me, here is a picture of the guy yelling at us.

It's totally ok though, because he has an awesome shirt.  And seriously, they give you 3 full size beers.  He knew what he was doing the second he let me in those doors.  Either way, Half Acre can't be that mad at us, because they are getting nothing but amazing publicity, shushing and all.  Go check out the Half Acre Brewery tour.  It's a ridiculously good time.   Thanks so much to Anne and Katie organizing this!!

After some delicious lunch at Bad Apple, we went home so that i could take a nap, and Matt could keep drinking.  In my defense though, I woke up at 5:30 and he did not.  After a lazy Saturday night, we went to go look at a dresser we have been courting for a while.  I have a major addiction to mid-century modern furniture (a side-effect of majoring in design) and luckily, Matt not only tolerates it, but he's right there with me.  We have an MCM guy (no seriously, we have a guy) and he alerted us to this Kent Coffey hi-boy that would eliminate all the problems the great Ikea dresser explosion caused.  

COME TO YOUR MOTHER!!!!!!

Either way, we need to decide if we want to drop the dough on this baby, or continue living out of random scattered drawers on the floor of our bedroom.  It's so hard having good taste.  So, so hard....

Marathon training, week 8. BAMF.

Miles: 38
Martinis: 3
Strength training: 1 boxing class
Over all outlook:  I just might have a chance.  The miles were slow and tedious, but they got done.  I also felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders with all the job decisions being made.  I'm sleeping better, and even woke up of my own accord this morning.  I am slowly feeling healthier and more capable.  We'll see how long this lasts.

You shall be my half marathon shoes!

I have also decided to order another pair of Mizuno elixers.  I have been training in a pair of Brooks PureCadence's, and i love them, but i don't know if they are the right marathon shoe for me.  I tend to over pronate when i get really tired (usually the second half of a marathon) and i don't know if they have enough support for my wonky legs.  I know other people have run marathons in them, but i have to consider my less than stellar form.  I can already feel my legs pronating when i get tired.  I am also having some foot issues.  Of the seven toenails i have right now, one is black, and one cracked this weekend.  What. The. F***.  I never have foot problems, so i am going to try a couple options to solve the problem before i jump to my initial conclusion, which is that i must have leprosy.  

This weekend was really cold, and probably less than ideal running weather for someone like me.  Sadly, as much of a badass as i like to think i am, i was rocking my inhaler all weekend.  It is just way too hard to breathe in this cold!

As a means of escape from cold and bleak Chicago this weekend, Matt and I went to the conservatory. (It's free, BTW!)

It was so warm and green!  I feel like it's good for the soul to get a dose of nature every once in a while.
About a year and a half ago, the Chicago conservatory was decimated by a freak hailstorm.  (It also damaged me and Matt's cars!)  Since the roof was all glass, almost every pane was shattered.  It was nice to see it back up and running again, even if there are still repairs going on. 

We can't afford a tropical get away, but hanging out with these pineapples was almost as cool.

Sunday, i went on a tour of Suburbia to meet up with my friend Bobbi up north for some miles, and my future Ragnar team mates in the south for some more running!  (and planning)  It was nice to get out and run in new places.  Definitely a breath of fresh (albeit cold) air.  I know people who live in the suburbs complain about them, but when you live in the city, the suburbs is a fun adventure.  (Unless you're going to Ikea...)

Now, i am hanging out at work with my assistant, Waffles.  (Apparently its presidents day, so our dog walker had off, leaving us to fend for ourselves.  FWP!)

She gets things done.

A week of no training. Week 7.

Miles run: 5.  No, seriously.  5.  5 god damn miles.  Unfortunately, the stress of life just got to me this week, and i barely have the strength to nap.

Somehow pictures of this jerk sleeping are always appropriate.

Martinis:  0.  You know there is a HUGE problem when i am too tired to drink.  I am proposing a hypothesis that more martinis = more miles.  I am buying vodka TONIGHT.

Strength training: obviously also a zero.

Overall outlook:  Bleak.  Very bleak.  Basically, i have this week to get my shit together, or i might have to bump down to a half marathon come April.  

Plan of Action:  
1. Like all of my plans, this one is half baked.  First and foremost, I am calling it for the advanced training plan.  I tried.  I failed.  I will re-attempt this summer.  It's not in the stars for me right now, and the past seven weeks have shown me that it's going to kill me.  I never said i was good at this.  Hello, intermediate training, you old so-and-so!

2. Sadly, my personal drama has carried into this week.  I have to make a major decision about my job this week.  This is stressing me out to no end.  I actually have hives all over my body from the level of stress its bringing me.  I can't make decisions.  It takes me an hour every morning just to figure out what to wear, and i don't even have that many clothes.  I am hoping to have all major life plans finalized by Friday though.  So there is a dream of a return to normalcy.

3. Re-engage.  I have been completely isolating myself from everyone lately.  I seriously need to stop that shit.  I was venting to my mom a couple days ago about how i didn't know what to do.  Her advice was to check my horoscope.  Naturally.  Either way, it said that only my friends can guide me through separating the good and the bad.  So priority number one is acquire friends!

In other news, i have been working on a trends piece for work, and in doing so, i came across an article that really resonated.  It said the 34% of millenials (ages 22-34ish) can't deal with the pressure of day-to-day life.  That seems really high!  A third of us can't deal with life??  I mean, i totally am part of that 34%, as we have all witnessed over the past week, but geez, are there people out there as crazy and stressed as me?  If so, i pity you.

In short, I am about to go all Jillian Michael's on this week.  It's my last chance at a spring marathon!

Are you part of the 34%?  
Do you leave major life decisions up to horoscopes?  Especially really lame ones like Yahoo Horoscopes that instructed me to "throw a party to take my mind off things?"  (f*** you, yahoo horoscopes!  You're advice is total malarky!) 

Marathon training, week 6!

Miles: 22
Martinis: 2 (and quite a variety of cocktails on Saturday night.)
Strength training: 1 p90x session
Mental breakdowns: 2
Overall feeling:  I have a lot of knee pain right now.  I always have joint issues in the cold, so i know it will get better, but it definitely sucks right now.  I am terribly overwhelmed as of late, and really struggling to manage everything.  Fingers crossed that things are looking up soon.  ***On the plus side, compared to last January, i ran 20 additional miles.  So thats cool!  I also like to think i am running more quality miles.  Miles where i feel strong and work hard but efficiently, rather than puke on things and wheeze.  Every day, there is a little more daylight too, which is encouraging.  

Last week was rough.  I am sure you can tell by my lack of blogging, but i have some life challenges going on right now, and it is somewhat dominating my time.  The worst part is, the only thing that really makes me feel better is talking through everything.  Thats why i have a blog in the first place!  Sadly, all my problems right now surround my job, and it is never appropriate to discuss that in a public forum, no matter how few people read my blog. 

In summary, it's making for poor and exceptionally whiny blog content as of late.  I'm sorry.

I almost skipped my long run this week because i haven't been sleeping, or eating right (skittles is a fruit, right?), and i am just feeling drained.  I woke up and saw the snow on Saturday morning though, and decided to suck it up - i loveeeee snow!

It turned out to be the smartest decision of the week.  I ended up just venting about my tragedy of a life (seriously - i should have gone into drama!) but in the end, it felt really good just to purge all the worry and negative thoughts over the course of 12 snowy miles.  It also helps to have other people to give you feedback and perspective; i generally have considerably less common sense than everyone around me.  

In then end, its just therapeutic to know there are people on team Sara.

I plastered these stickers all over West Lafayette Saturday night, in accordance to the "fake it til you make it" principal.  Royal cat swag is the official logo for team Sara.  

I also went to my alma mater on Saturday night to celebrate Matt's "pre-birthday"  It was great to reunite with old design friends, and it turns out, a lot of people i went to school with don't even have jobs to complain about right now, so it really put things into perspective.  That, and it was determined in my last post that drinking solves everything.  All the time.  

Have you ever had a Baltimore Zoo? It's like a Long Island iced tea, with extra booze added for good measure.   Go Ravens!  :)

So, sorry the blog has been so lame lately.  Come run with me if you ever want the full deets on my drama-fueled life.  I have high hopes that good things are on the horizon, and i will soon have awesome things to talk about again, like how much i hate speed training, or how fast i can eat a baguette.  (Which sheds light on the overlooked "baguette speed training")

<3

Marathon Training, week 5.

Miles: 31
Martinis: 2.5
Strength Training: 3 p90x sessions
Overall outlook:  I feel good, but will most likely need to trim back on the strength training.  It's too much of an energy suck, and cuts into the precious time i have to run.  Also, my knee hurts like a bitch right now.

My long run Saturday morning really took a lot out of me.  It was supposed to be 14 miles, but it was cut a little short to avoid accidentally becoming a part of the F^3 half marathon.  The first half of the run was extra hard because of the cold. The "feels like" temp was hovering around 3 degrees, and my water bottle froze solid. Eventually the sun came out and it got a little warmer, but it was definitely draining.  I went home and spent a good chunk of time wrapped up in blankets on the couch watching the Biggest Loser.  And enjoying a martini.

I eventually worked up the balls to have another go at making pizza.  Matt had the fire extinguisher and a Chipotle coupon ready, but luckily, neither were needed!

Basil and balsamic reduction, yum!

Sunday morning, i met up with some friends for brunch at Karyns before the ice storm hit.  My friend Rachel and I spotted what appeared to be a banksy work, but we have no way to verify...

So much culture before noon....

When i got home, there was a terrifying amount of feathers on the sidewalk.  I assumed a dog or cat had gotten a hold of a bird.  I went upstairs, and was looking out the window, scouting for ice, and right outside was a hawk, eating a pigeon!! I don't know why i was so entranced, but i was.  It was like animal planet, only outside my window.  I eventually took the dog out, and talked to some of my neighbors who were also watching the hawk.  Why is there a hawk in logan square??

So much nature before two.....

Then the ice storm hit, and we stayed indoors for the rest of the day, and i made PRETZEL ROLLS! We used to get them at Marianos, but since i refuse to go there anymore because it's so crazy on weekends, Matt has been craving them.  Much like the tortillas, it's just easier to make them myself...

 
I'm not going to lie; we ate them all, and i had to make a second batch.  #fatfluential.

Marathon Training: week 4.

Shits about to get real.

Miles: 26
Martinis: 3 (plus a few caipirinhas, or brazilian martinis, as i called them.)
Overall outlook: This week was another fail, but i have high hopes from here on out.

Whats my deal?  A huge factor has been air quality. I had two runs end in asthma attacks last week, which is scary.  Even with the inhaler, you aren't going to finish a run once that happens.  I have also been waking up with bloody noses, whatever that means, other than that i am just too cool for words sometimes.  I'm not sure what i can do other than just carry on and deal with it.  I failed on a lot of levels last week in that i totally let stress interfere with training.  However, in the midst of that stress, i made some awesome plans to keep myself on track.  We'll see how they pan out this week.

I also excited to attempt speed work again.  Pete was finally able to break it down for me in an understandable way (i.e. drinking.)  I'm gonna be all fast.

Either way, my marathon is in 14 weeks, so it's business time.  

During this weekends long run, which was 13.1 miles, i realized how glad i am that i didn't sign up for any races in January or February.  I'm just not up for it right now.  And those 13.1 miles were painful.  So have fun out there, suckers.  (I'm just kidding, good luck to everyone running F^3 this weekend, i will be out there training, and running much slower than all of you.  It's how i like to roll.)

This weekend i also took waffles to the dog part before the deep freeze.  

She is the curly tailed one that is head butting all the other dogs trying to get them to chase her.  She ran around for 2 hours!  Thank goodness, because with a wind chill of negative 9 night now, its too cold for her to even go on walks.  She goes potty and then sprints back to the door.  

We also did a major cleaning on Sunday, but Matt took it way too far when he decided to scrub the grill in the sub freezing temps.  Obviously, all the water just froze to it instantly, so now we have a quarter inch of ice on the grill.  

I  got really excited this weekend because i found a Le Creuset ceramic pie pan marked down to $7 at home goods.  

I mean $7?  Thats a steal!  only upon further research, i found out that while not labeled or publicly communicated, Le Creuset started outsourcing in recent years to:  You guessed it, China.  Only their cast iron is still made in France.  I wanted to throw the damn thing off the balcony in protest, but Matt intervened due to his love of potato and gruyere gallete.  So, the stupid dish will stay with us, but i am writing an angry letter to Le Creuset just the same.  

Today is a little too cold for me to run outside until i get this asthma situation in check, so sadly, i will be vanquished to the treadmill.  I really don't mind though - i mean days these cold days are few and far between.  My only real complaint about the cold is spontaneously needing to pee.  The second the cold air hits you, it's like BOOM!  and very few bathrooms are available on the outdoor running paths.  
I foresee many humorous public urination incidents in the near future......

Are you weirdly affected by cold?  

Marathon training week 3

Miles: 26
Martinis: 4
Runs skipped: 2
Overall outlook:  Not so good.
Strength training:  None.  But i did have to make multiple trips up and down the stairs carrying heavy things at work one day.  Close enough, right?

Last week felt abnormally hard for me.  The runs not only left me fatigued, but sore.  Like really sore.  Post-marathon sore.  Seeing as i haven't run a marathon, or anything remotely close to one, it really only leaves two possibilities.  

a. My body has figured out what i am up to and has decided to quit.
b. Fighting the flu epidemic and cranking out immunity has taken its toll.

Either way, it was a rough, off week.  Everything i ate didn't sit right, and every time i went to sleep i was restless.  I ended up skipping two runs, and i feel like crap about it.  If i can't hack it now, i am in major trouble the next couple months.  Thus, the four martinis.  Balance.

Some other major weekend events?  I went to see my mom, who decided to adopt a dog.  This is a whole world of drama which i am happy to discuss offline with people.  Regardless, he is a husky-sheperd mix, and being introduced to a house with three cats, i figured he could use another canine to pal around with.  I was wrong.  He was not a fan of waffles at all.  The only time he didn't want to destroy her was when they were both on a walk.  So walk we did!  for like two hours.  

We drove back to the city so that Banner (the new dog) could calm down and have his space back.  When we got home, our friend Jordan was over, and Waffles happily slept in his lap while the boys played guitar hero.

I played with my iphone - i am still trying to figure out SIRI and instagram.  The only picture i could get Waffles to hold still for was when i stole her chew toy, and she gave me a ridiculously dramatic horrified look.

Chill, you'll get it back in 10 seconds.

So most of my weekend was spent resting and napping.  I was not sick, but i felt so tired and run down that i just needed to reboot.  I had almost forgotten what a life suck training for a marathon can be.

Almost.

And, did anyone watch the golden globes?  If i can be 1/100th as funny as Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, i will die a happy woman.