Safety first!

I just thought i would use this beautiful Friday morning to remind everyone to BE CAREFUL OUT THERE.  Running in the winter is the best, because only the BAMF's (bad ass mother f***ers) are out there doing it.  The path is empty, the neighborhoods are quiet, and it is generally peaceful.  The down side to this is that it is dark all time, are you are usually completely alone if you don't run in the group.  Unlike summer, there aren't dozens of people out meandering around in the warm sunlight.  While less people should equate to more safety, that isn't quite true.

The main reason for this rant is that someone was mugged at gunpoint right in front of my apartment last weekend.  At a totally reasonable hour, that i would potentially be out, running around the neighborhood, by myself.  I would like to point out that even though i live in the city, it is not a bad neighborhood.  I know most of my neighbors, and it's a lot of very nice families.  We specifically chose to live in this neighborhood because it was safe and quiet.  

Just because our neighborhood seemed safe, doesn't mean we shouldn't be careful.  Obviously in a perfect world, we would just run with a posse at all times.  Or at very least, a body guard.  But, some of us just can't swing that.  So here are a few reminders, because you never know.

1.  Always be super diligent of your surroundings.  Whether you are on a city street, suburban neighborhood, lakefront path, or a remote trail.  If something seems out of place - trust your instincts.

2.  Know how to defend yourself.  I will be carrying pepper-spray from now on - even to walk the dog.  We also had a mandatory "anti-rape" class in high school where we were taught to gouge an attackers eyes with our car keys.  Just be ready.

3.  Don't argue.  If they want money, just give it to them.  It's just money.

4.  If they try to force you into a car or building, run for your god damn life.  Even if they shoot you, it will most likely not be a fatal shot.  If they get you into their murder van though, you are not coming back out.   

5. Never just sneak out for a run.  Always make sure that someone knows when you are running, how long you are running, and where you run.  That way if anything does happen, people will know immediately if something isn't right.

So be safe and diligent out there, kiddos!  Even the safest neighborhoods have muggers and crazies.

Safe and stylish.  And so much more compact than the machete.

First Wednesdays Problems.

Awwww, its the first FWP of the new year.

BLERGHHH!

1. My first attempt at speed work was last night.  The schedule called for four 800m repeats.  Easy enough, right?  WRONG.  Do you know how difficult it is to run even moderately fast for four minutes?  It's really hard.  My splits were embarrassing, and the whole ordeal just made me sad and nauseous.  BOOOOOO, speed-training!

This smirk is actually meant to convey rage.  It's difficult to communicate through facial expressions.

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS.

2.  Last nights failure to generate speed was supposed to followed by 6 miles this morning.  It's Matts day to deal with the dog in the AM, so i was gonna get up early, and go knock those 6 miles out!  
What actually happened?  I punched the alarm clock and slept until 8.  The time i am supposed to leave for work.  AWESOME.

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS.

3.  My new years eve outfit was marred by my mutant toe...

Although i was highly impressed by instagram's ability to disguise ole blackey.  #runstyle

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS

4.  I don't have to worry about my toe in fancy shoes any more though, because waffles ATE THOSE SHOES...

So apparently this is what i get for owning expensive shoes.  R.I.P., Jeffery Campbell sparkle heels...

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS.

5.  I threw a coworker a surprise baby shower this week, and i made cake-pops for all my coworkers.  Being OCD, i wanted to bring exactly 24 cake-pops.  Knowing that Matt cannot contain himself around cake-pops, i made a few extra to be sacrificed to him to save the others.  But then i fell asleep.
And woke up to this:

I CAN NOT COMMUNICATE HOW ANGRY THIS MAKES ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS!!

6.  I know oatmeal is the staple of healthy living, but i can't get on board.  Whenever i eat it, i feel like the guy in alien.  I am fairly certain that one of these days, the oatmeal will rip through my stomach and start running around my office.  Oatmeal does not seem to agree with me.  It's heavy and dense, much like that cursed pizza dough.  I hate it when my surplus of healthy food just makes me feel too full. le sigh.

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS.

7.  They are remaking Evil Dead.  I do not approve.  Why do we have to constantly mess with perfection??  Bruce Campbell and Sam Raimi not only approve of this, but they are also producing it.  But this means nothing as I DO NOT APPROVE.  When did my opinion become so meaningless in hollywood?  What is going to happen when they make a B class horror movie with an A class budget??

I'm totally going to go see it anyway.  sigh....
(they have the preview trailer on youtube - i didn't post it because it's fairly gruesome, and might offend some people - but check it out if you dare!)

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS.

8.  I was running errands the other day with a friend, and she changed my radio station from NPR to one of the pop music stations in hopes that Ke$ha would come on.  (it did.  twice.) I guess i forgot to ever change it back, because i started jamming to pop music this morning.  This song came on, and i was totally loving it so i shazamed it.  It was Justin Beiber.

WTF IS GOING ON?????????  I feel so wrong.  And i just want to dance.....all i need is a beauty and a beat...OMG SERIOUSLY WHAT IS HAPPENING TO ME!

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS.

9.  Marathon training.  If anyone so much as grazes my shins or knees, i wince in pain.  Why does it hurt so bad?  WHY?!?!??!

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS.

10.  So i have a personal new years resolution that i didn't post on here as to not offend anyone, but involves me trying to avoid purchasing anything manufactured in China.  Every time i buy something made in China, i am only hurting US design jobs (like mine) and US manufacturing jobs (like my brothers, who is currently laid off again).  So, while i am fairly certain it's impossible, i am going to try to buy US made items as much as humanly possible.  Sadly, i am in need of a pair of running pants.  I own one pair, and that is sort of ridiculous.  I have been searching everywhere, but every freaking pair of running pants in made in China!!! WTF? Needless to say, there might soon be a pantless runner cruising the lakefront path.  (spoiler: it will be me.)  FOR AMERICA!!!!!

FIRST WORLD PROBLEMS

2013 - a year of much-anticipated problems!

When the going gets tough....

The tough buy hats.

So now i am very easy to spot!  If you see me on the lakefront this winter, say hi!  And tell me to move my ass!  I could use the encouragement/threatening demands.

Pizza fail, and week 1 (technically 2) of marathon training.

What a humbling week it's been.  It's never easy to admit your shortcomings, but this past week has been jam-packed with them.

This was my first official week of marathon training.  Luckily, the first few weeks are meant to set you up for a solid 12 weeks of training (in my opinion).  Because my race date doesn't correlate with the training schedule, i technically merged the first two weeks together.  I will also have to tack on extra mileage to my long runs all throughout the program.  I am not too concerned about this, because once i actually start running, it is pretty easy to continue.  But man, is it hard to wake up, get ready in the dark, and go run in the freezing cold.  I definitely lack motivation to do that.

I have a lot of friends running the F^3 and Polar dash half marathons in the upcoming weeks.  This makes me painfully aware of the fact that not only could i not come anywhere near a decent race time right now, i don't even know that i could finish a half marathon.  It's scary how quickly we can reach that point.  I ran a marathon two months ago and felt great!  Now 6 miles leaves me tired and wheezy.  I am in for a world of pain as i ramp back up.  

Speaking of that recent marathon, my toenail hasn't improved at all.  It's actually looking worse.  It's still black, and it now appears that base of the nail is separating from the skin.  I would post a picture, but it is straight up disgusting.  I am starting to lose hope for spring sandals.  

For Christmas, i got an amazing cookbook of complex vegetarian recipes.  This was pretty exciting, because most vegetarian recipes i have found are a little lack-luster.  I like salad and all, but i want to be challenged when i cook.  And challenged i was.

Since i started attempting recipes in this book, i have been reminded every day that i do not have the proper tools to have a functioning kitchen.  Exhibit A:

I don't own a rolling pin.  Therefore i was forced to use a wine bottle to roll out the pizza dough.  It didn't really matter anyway, because something had already gone terribly wrong in the dough-rising process.  I tried everything to make this dough rise, and it just sat there mocking me.  We carried on with the pizza anyway, and it ended up tasting ok, but crust was so dense it was like eating a brick.  Matt still put away 4 pieces though, you know, to make me feel better. 

This battle is far from over.

Despite spending me weekend failing as a runner, and failing as a pizza chef, i did succeed in cuddling.  After my 8 mile run on Saturday, i had a hard time warming up, so i curled up on the couch with a pile of blankets.  Within 20 minutes, i had been swarmed.

They all just came over and fell asleep on top of me.  It kind of sucked to be unable to move for two hours, but it was endearing at the same time.  

Here's hoping that in 16 weeks, i am running the best marathon of my life, and making a pizza that will knock you on your ass.  (and not just because it doubles as a battering ram.)

The Lord of the Brie.

I'd like to consider myself a somewhat healthy eater.  I avoid meat, I'm not big on fast food, and i love to cook.  But i do enjoy unhealthy eating - especially around the holidays.  I am a big fan of cookies and "party food".  You know, bread and cheese, olives, little bite-sized finger foods.  If you follow my blog, you know that i am not one to diet, but i am not constantly shoveling food in my mouth either (ok, busted.  I totally do that sometimes.  But not all the times.  Ok, most of the time.  You know what?  LAY OFF ME, I'M STARVING.)  

But seriously, if i want something, i'm going to just eat it rather than dwell on it.  

I have relied on this diet plan my entire life.  Eat whatever you want, just don't eat too much.  It works for the most part.  Sometimes i gain 5 lbs, sometimes i lose 5 pounds, ying and yang, harmony, ebb and flow, blah blah blah.  So this has been the natural order.  

That is, until the natural order was DISRUPTED!!!

Matt and I went to Costco last weekend, which is already problematic, as i have never been able to so much as enter that store without having a complete nervous breakdown where i ended up lying on the floor in the middle of the frozen foods aisle yelling "We're all going to die in here!!!"

During my usual Costco panic attack, i took shelter behind one of the free sample people, and inadvertently ended up buying a wheel of brie that was the size of waffles when she was 3 months old.  

Definitely NOT on the shopping list...

I assure you - two people should never have such a large wheel of brie in their fridge.  Ever.  

The past week has been a horrifying, never ending stream of brie into my mouth.   The worst part is, i can't bear to just get rid of it, because that would be wasteful.  But 5 lbs of brie is a destructive force.  It has taken over our lives, and we are powerless against it.  Even worse, Matt keeps bringing home baguettes.....I think the Brie is controlling him...

Basically, i have about 5 weeks to get my hunger in control and stop eating 5lb wheels of cheese before the marathon hunger kicks in again and i starting eating 5lb wheels of cheese.  again.  

The moral of this story?  Just don't buy a gigantic wheel of brie.  It's evil.  In fact, as a general rule, don't trust round things...

Or, if you want to embrace your dark side, this baby was only seven dollars at Costco.  Party on.

Are there any evil entities haunting your fridge right now?

Gearing up for winter marathon training.

As the temps continue to hover in the upper 20's, anyone running in Chicagoland is well aware of the need to put way more consideration into what we wear for a run.  Gone are the days of throwing on a tank and shorts.  The irony being, for the Dublin marathon, it was in the 40's, and i wore a tank and shorts, with arm warmers.  Now that it is 15 degrees cooler, i wont even look at my running shoes without wearing pants, a long sleeve shirt, a jacket, two pairs of socks, gloves, an ear warmer, a hat, and possibly a scarf.  How does 15 degrees make such a huge difference??

Last year, when i started marathon training about this same time, i showed up looking like this:

No.  Seriously.  All of this is cotton, by the way.  Just throwing that out there.  This is a laid out inventory of all that was worn.

The only thing i wasn't wearing is that flask in the corner.  That was for after.  

Obviously, i do NOT like being cold.  

I am pleased to say I am better prepared this year then i was last year.  Other than the amazing upgrade to actual running tights, rather than american eagle sweatpants with SEQUINS on them, I also now sporting proper hand protection technology.

Not because i'm prepared....haha, no.  Because Erin is prepared!

I recieved (stole) these sweet Saucony running gloves at a recent Chicago Running Bloggers holiday party, and now that i have taken them out for a few spins, especially this week now that the temps are actually below freezing, i though i would share my thoughts.  

First off, they're pink.  And they match my running shoes.  So thats exciting!

Secondly, the mitt part is actually a second layer.  If you get too warm, you can flip it off.  You'd be surprised how warm your hands will actually get - i ended up flipping the mitt off within 2 miles, and it was pretty darn cold.  

There are also mini hoods for your thumb and index finger, you know, in case you need to text someone while you're running.  I find this to be totally pointless, as i am not usually using my phone on a run, and if it was an emergency, i would just take the glove off rather than fiddle around with the tiny little finger hoods.

Probably the best feature is this little snap that keeps the gloves attached when you are not wearing them.  I can't tell you how many single gloves i have floating around.  

I lied.  The best part is this blinky light.  Granted, i am never alone running in the dark, it's always nice to have a blinky light.  Always.  

All in all, i am a big fan.  They kept my hands surprisingly warm, and the biggest improvement was that they kept my hands dry.  I tend to end up being a snotty mess when i run in the cold, and cotton gloves usually end up wet, gross, and cold.  

In summary, cotton gloves work.  Although, sometimes you need two pairs.  But running tech gloves are awesome.  And apparently you can find them at places like Marshalls and TJ Maxx for a very reasonable price.  

I have proven that you really don't need anything but shoes to train for a marathon.  But having some tech gear is definitely a bonus.  And sometimes more fashionable.  

I MEAN, SERIOUSLY????

***For the record, Saucony has no idea i even exist.  I stole these gloves from Cary during the yankee swap.  Winning.

I couldn't hide forever.

I'm back!  And *hopefully* with a well needed attitude adjustment.  The past few weeks i have been somewhat of a technology-phobe, ignoring my blog, my twitter, my dailymile, so on and so forth.  So obviously, moving forward, i intend to knock it off.  It was nice to have a break though.

I am now back in the horror-show that is marathon training, which i found myself questioning last night as i ran along the 19 degree lakefront path.  It's going to be a long couple of months...

So what can you expect from me in the upcoming year? 

•  Lots of martinis, thats for sure.  And a few marathons too.
•  More cooking/recipes!  And none of that healthy living shit.  Real food.  Margarine and stevia do not cross these lips. 
• More baking - particularly of the French variety.  I am on a mission to become the next Julia Child, only with more profanity and small kitchen fires.
• Speed training.  Seriously.  I am really going to do it.  And i mean it this time, unlike all the other times i said i would do it and then didn't.  
• Photos.  Guess who got an iphone for christmas!!
• Smaller races.  Thanks to Bobbi, i want to run more 5k's!  plus, more than a few half marathons is just too much. (mostly cost-wise!)
• Costumes.  I dropped the ball last year, and i admit it.  I will do better this year!!
• Improvement.  This past year was really my first year running.  Now that i have a year under my belt, i can really start to compare and look for trends.  Expect the best info graphic EVER at the end of this year.
• Hopefully, lots more adventures with running buddies :)
• And lastly, hanging with this monster.

So i am back, rested, and armed with pink aviators and a pink bottle of pepper spray (thanks bro!)  LETS DO THIS 2013!!!!!!!!!!!!

****For more specific running-related goals, please see the 2013 goals tab.  I am still refining it though, so don't hold me to any of it!*******