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.)

Finally, a PR!

Not a huge one, but one none the less!  :)

This Sunday was the inaugural Chicago Women's Half Marathon. As you may be aware, i have attempted to PR at the half marathon approximately 8,000 times already this year, and everytime, the race has been yellow flagged because of heat, and every time i have ended up struggling through it coming nowhere near a PR.  


Not that this was any different.  The race was yellow flagged with a 70+ degree start, and upped to red half way through (at the finish it was a sticky 81..) Although it didn't feel quite as hot as the 13.1 two weeks ago (but definitely more humid!)  Many moons back i had set this as my goal half to run a sub 2 either on, or by.  Obviously, it has not been a good year for me.  That or i suck - its still being widely debated.  I had the option to back off, run at a comfortable pace, and just give up until fall, or i could throw caution to the wind and still try to sub 2.  Even if it meant finishing with a 1:59:59. Or puking.


I decided to try my best, and not beat myself up if i didn't make it.  Luckily, two people that i run with through CARA had the same goal as i did, and Shawna, who is a pace leader, is able to comfortably run that time and "paced" us (allowed up to follow her like little puppies) up until the last few miles.

Carolyn, me, and Shawna - in the zone. 

Despite the fact that we are normally quite chatty, we were all pretty silent and trying to conserve our energy.  I felt hot and sweaty by mile two, which is never pretty.  I was able to keep up with Shawna until mile 8, and then i stopped at a water stop and walked through it to catch my breath and dump water on myself.  I was feeling pretty hot and gross, and knew i had to cut back my pace a little bit, which sucked.

The sun eventually hid for mile 10&11 which was wonderful, but i was already pretty fried, and unsuccessfully doing the math to see if i could still meet my goal.  I also saw Matt & Waffles with the greatest sign ever.

Since we are both obsessed with Game of Thrones, we decided to design our own house sigils mine is a ginger fox on a yellow flag (obviously) and my house words are "Martini's are coming"  We are giant nerds.  But at least i can spell - he wrote "Martin's are coming." <3


The last mile, i fell apart.  Like always.  I really need to work on this.  The sun came back, and i just started to feel really sick.  Then i started dry heaving.  Then i just lost it, and i think i took two walk breaks during this mile.  Finally there was a lady right before the 13 mile mark shouting (sub two, sub two!)  So i booked it with everything i had left, and cruised in with 21 seconds to spare.  1:59:39.


At the end they had cold towels, misters, and frozen yogurt.  I was so happy because i felt like my heart was going to explode from the heat.  All the ladies also got yoga mats! The only thing it was lacking was beer.  But thats just me.  After the race, i met up with my friends, who were both nice enough to help pace people (one officially, one unofficially)

me, Keren, Trisha

I'm glad was able to finally pull off this 3 minute PR, especially in unfavorable conditions.  I hope i could do even better on a cool shady day.  I am also now very aware that i consistently slow down in the last half of every race, and i really need to work on that.  I also need to stop flipping out at mile 12.  If anyone has advice on that one....

We had brunch plans with friends immediately after the race, and after that, we went home to deal with our bounty of vegetables for the week!

So much basil!  so much dill!

Seriously, like a pound of dill!  What does one do???

Homemade pickles!

I hope you had a fabulous weekend as well!

Fastinista

I remember like six months ago runners world did a post on "fastinista's"  You know, girls that run, but look fabulous doing it, wearing skirts and ruffles and bright colors, etc.  I am all for it - frilly skirts?  sign me up.  Hot pink?  Totally dig it.  Glitter head bands?  I'll take two.  But last night - i took it to a whole new level.


Any one running in Chicagoland has been aware that it is unseasonably warm as of late.  In fact, the last two days have been over 80 degrees!  Thats bananas!  Wednesday all i could do was whine about the heat the entire run.  I brought some short shorts and a tank to work with me on Thursday so that i could meet up with Eric after work for a run.  Once i get to work, i hear from fellow blogger Kelly that is is supposed to get down to 30-40 degrees by nightfall.  WHAT???  My life is becoming a demented retelling of the three little bears-  "this run is too hot!"  "this run is too cold!"  Can i never win??  ahhhh, but i can.


When i walked out to my car wearing a tank top and shorts, i realized it was too cold for that.  I had nothing else with me, and no time to stop home.  Thank god i am a genius, because i decided to wear some of my work clothes over my running clothes.  Thats right ladies and gentleman - I ran 10 miles last night in an Ann Taylor blouse.  Now thats style.  (my only other option was a cardigan from anthropologie!)

It was a very strange run last night - so so foggy!  The condensation actually kept building up on my eyelashes from all the water in the air!  The temp was great for running-albeit a little windy, which slowed us down.  Running with Eric (who is a foot taller than me, and infinitely faster) encourages me to try and push myself harder than i normally would by myself.  My advice?  Try and find people faster than you to run with!  (although it sucks for them - poor eric stared longingly at every fast person that passed us, because he could totally run with them if i wasn't so slow!)


After my run, i was supposed to make "irish carbomb cupcakes" for work, but i was beat...i was too tired to even make dinner.  So instead, i woke up at 5 to bake all morning.  and now, its not even noon and i am high on buttercream frosting.  Like hallucinating from powdered sugar consumption.  My life is so glamourous!

Nutritional advice...

from someone who is in no way qualified to give nutritional advice.

good choices, all around

Whenever i start gearing up for a race and commit myself to training, etc, i always end up taking a super close look at my diet.  I thought i would list some of my quirks for everyone.  I have absolutely no advice on weightloss, because i am fortunate enough to have never been overweight.  (although i did pork up to about 135 lbs my last year of grad school, but it was mostly from lack of exercise, binge drinking, and only sleeping 2-3 hours a night.  It came off within a month or two of graduation)


I am not entirely sure why i am not overweight, because lord knows, I LOVE FOOD.  My dad's side of the family are all very thin, but my mom's side of the family are all very stocky/well-fed (the nicest way i could put it?)  My mom has always struggled with her weight, and i have always felt guilty that i go around eating whatever i want.  Here are some of my rules of eating:  (not that anyone cares/should follow them)


1.  Just cook.  seriously.  I get it, there is no time.  I tend to cook a lot on the weekends when i have extra free time, and freeze things.  I always have frozen soup on stand-by.  I have also realized that the food i make is almost always better than canned or pre-made stuff.  Cambells has NOTHING on my potato leek soup.  And mine has about 10% of the salt.


2.  Yeah, you should probably watch the salt.  This one is hard for me.  I love salt, and tend to put it on everything.  I try and have a "salt detox" a couple times a year to help reign myself back in.  Here's a quick test to see if you are a salt addict:  If you can eat a handful of tostito's without your mouth puckering from all the salt, you are probably becoming desensitized to salt.  (but damn are they tasty!)


3.  Eat something green everyday.  Nobody's perfect (except me.  HA!)  but you at least have to try.  Truth be told, the only green thing i had today was some sour apple tic tacs, but i did have some bell peppers, squash, and mushrooms, so i wasn't that far off.  (p.s. did you know they make sour apple tic tacs?  They're delicious.)

It's magnificent!!

4.  Know what's in season.  I think this is more about savings than anything.  Veggies that are in season are WAY cheaper than things that have to be flown in from Chile, or Brazil, or even southern California.  It kinda sucks right now, because nothing is in season in Chicago, except potatoes, onions, and squash leftover from fall.  But when spring hits, buy local!  Its amazing and delicious, and good for the community, the planet, and your tummy.

We grow some damn good corn in Illinois.

5.  If you really want something, just have it.  Diet versions of bad for you foods are usually just as bad for you, and more expensive.  I find that if i really want something, and try to satisfy the craving with something healthy, i will just eat 10x of the healthy thing, and then in the end eat what i wanted as well.  So, never deprive yourself, just don't go totally bananas.  Walk to the bakery people, don't drive!

There are seriously a lot of pictures of me with food....

6.  Be careful with food coming from animals.  I am not a vegetarian, but i never ever eat red meat or pork, and i rarely eat chicken (and only then, it has to be fresh organic expensive chicken.)  I eat fish fairly often, and we like to go to the fish market where we know the fish is super fresh and sustainably farmed, or even wild caught.  Same with eggs.  I feel better buying organic hormone-free eggs - i would rather go without something else to justify the cost.)  I avoid dairy too, but it's not like i never have it.  I think people will debate the benefits/risks of dairy for eternity, but i personally just don't like milk or yogurt.  Frozen yogurt  and cheese are really the only dairy products i like!  


So there are my healthy eating guidelines.  There is absolutely no science or logic behind them, and are mostly derived from the fact that i am a paranoid cheapskate/picky eater with the mindset of someone who grew up in the depression.  (wasting food makes me cry.)


The way i see it, i am still alive and healthy, so i can't be alllll wrong :)  (these are also just guidelines that even i don't always follow.  I enjoy the occasional taco bell, french fries, and candy...ok, a lot of candy)


Also, i went and did my cross-training for the second week in a row.  SECOND GOLD STAR!

cookies and other drugs.

I am enjoying my break from running a littttttttle too much.  I am definitely starting to feel the repercussions, especially in the pants area.  I think my return to running next week is going to painful, but not as painful as the hangover i have today.  For someone who rarely drinks (more than one drink a night) And is usually in bed by 10:30, it was a pretty long weekend with many glasses of wine, and even more glasses of champagne; and not to mention going to bed at 2am every night.  I basically feel like hell, but it was 100% worth it.  I had my work party on friday, and managed to not drink too much and embarrass myself (always a good thing), finished my christmas shopping on saturday and wrapped all the presents, and then spent a solid 8 hours in the kitchen sunday baking and preparing food for a holiday friends get-together i hosted Sunday night.  


Because i am a crazy over-achiever, here are pictures of my party (which was obviously sponsored by pintrest)!  I say over-achiever only because i could have easily put out a basket of tater tots, and everyone would have been just as happy and festive.  I love my friends!!

The three types of cookies i made - pine nut cookies (bottom), Saltine toffee (middle) and cake batter truffles (top)

my beautiful, yet completely dying, tree in the background

Had to get a picture of my living room being clean, because i assure this never happens.

These are the hurricanes that were filled with cranberries that Matt kept eating.  I decided to fill them with something harder for him to eat, like glass ornaments.

I made tortellini and antipasto skewers, and spinach and artichoke dip, and i had bread and cheese.  It seemed to go over well, and i would like to think no one left hungry.

Cranberries in the champagne to be festive.  Yes, Matt ate them right out of my glass.

Happy Holidays, you crazy kids!

My posting will be sporadic until after new years because i will be traveling alot, but until then, i hope everyone has safe travels, good food, great times, and is able to squeak in a run so we don't all end up looking Santa.

Sorry mom, i ate all your kale.

The best part about coming home to see your mom is that you get free range on the fridge/cabinets.  Rarely do you go into someone's house and just start eating all their food, but with your parents, its A-OK.


My mom is the queen of fad diets.  She has been trying to lose weight since the day i was born.  Literally. I was most likely the cause of any excess weight.  I was an asshole fetus.  Atkins, the zone, southbeach, you name it, she has tried it.  Her latest fad diet is "juicing"  She saw the documentary "fat, sick, and nearly dead"  and bought right in.  

Dont get me wrong, it was a great movie, i enjoyed it.  There were even cartoons explaining basic nutrition, so right there, i gave it two thumbs up.  The magic trick was that people who were overweight, living on a diet of junk food and take out and not getting any exercise would go on a juice fast for 30-60 days, and start doing light cardio exercise.  Its endearing, and it's great to see people change their lives, but its a little drastic.  Two months without food?  a little extreme to me.  I don't think i would be able to go 2 days without food and still keep up with running.  (who are we kidding, i eat constantly and STILL blow at running.)  


I digress.  Its on netflix, and totally worth watching, but i am not about to go out and buy a $300 juicer.


I AM however having a heyday playing with my mom's fancy juicer!  As a designer, i am obsessed with experimenting with its tolerances.  (this is a fancy way of saying sticking shit in it i probably shouldnt)  And as a juice lover, i enjoy drinking its juice.  I have also been other the weather, so i figured why not cram as many fruits and veggies in my body as humanly possible.


This is the juicer:

The Beast.

This thing is a BEAST.  I could never own one because it's bigger than my kitchen!  It does however have a ton of parts which intrigues and amazes me.  And when you turn it on, it sounds like a quiet jet engine.  LOVE.


This was my first juice attempt:

Cram that health in!

I went a little crazy and decided to try everything.  I can't even remember, but i think it contains, and apple, a pear, a wedge of pineapple, two carrots, some blueberries, dandelion greens, romaine lettuce and kale.  It looked like this:

yikes.

Both my brother and tried it, and it tasted pretty good, but it looked terrible.  If it were a little darker, it could have actually passed for a guiness maybe.  Anyway, i drank a ton of it, (serving size?  whats that?)  and i felt pretty gross.  Maybe squeezing in 12 servings of fruits in veggies in one go wasn't the best idea...

I woke up in the morning at 6:00 and it was 42 degrees.  With a windchill in the 30's.  Wasn't it 80 degrees last weekend??  DAMN YOU ROCKFORD!  I had contacted a local yoga studio that had saturday morning classes, so i decided to run after yoga.  I got all gussied up, drove to downtown rockford, and no one was at the studio.  I called the number and no one answered.  I even waited around for 15 minutes in case people were running late.  Not cool.

Damn Straight.

You suck, pranayama yoga studio, thanks for wasting my time.

I went home and decided to run.  Only i couldn't get home.  An impromptu breast cancer walk had apparated and all the streets to my moms house were blocked off.  (i realize that it was most likely not impromptu and i just didn't get the memo, but annoying none the less.)  I parked light years away and walked to my moms.  Then i suited up for running, only to realize that the impromptu breast cancer walk headquarters were directly in between me, and the only path to the trail i run.  AWESOME.

I had to barrel through all the walkers.  It was the only way.  (sorry guys.)  I jest.  I didn't knock anyone over, but my first 3/4 of a mile were a logistical nightmare.  The rest of my run was peaceful and relaxing and wonderful.  I didn't even want to listen to music!  I ended up running 9.3 miles (random.)  my first mile was redonkulously slow, but the rest were all in the upper 9's.  Acceptable.  It was chilly, but the sun was out and kept me warm.  It was super windy though, and sometimes i swore that no matter how hard i ran, i was moving backwards.  

All in all, i am glad i got my run in, otherwise i would be a megabitch today.

***side note- running in Rockford, IL is AWESOME.  There is an amazing bike path system, everyone is super friendly, and for being the 9th most dangerous city in the U.S., i feel much safer running here than i ever do in Chicago.  If you live in Northern IL/Southern WI, then you should enjoy a long run in rockford, it's the bees knees.

This advertisement for Rockford, IL is funded by Gingerfoxxx

When i got home, i decided to have a rematch with the juicer.

Apple, pineapple, spinach and kale.  Trying not to go overboard this time.

Yes, i drink all my juice out of pint glasses

It looked and tasted like a green machine juice by Naked juice!  I figured you out boys!!!!

Now that i am all juiced up, i think i will snuggle up with a cat, try and catch up on some zombie movies, and maybe hit the the apple orchard!!

Whoa there, big girl, maybe you should try a juice fast.....

Zombie Marathon Day 5

I was cranky last night.  It was late when we started the movie.  I had yoga, so matt attempted to make dinner all by himself.  He decided to try and make celariac, a vegetable far beyond our comprehension, for reasons i still do not understand. 

                                                   I don't even think you know, celariac.

He ended up nearly setting our apartment on fire, and when i gently cautioned him the CLEARLY obvious.  "Hey Matt, i think the apartments on fire..."  He ended up flipping out, yelling and blaming me. Like i caused the great celariac fire of 2011 with my mind.  Who am i?  The firestarter??

Not. my. fault.

Since we were both so pissy, we chose Evil Dead, because its a sure to please flick, and matt had never seen it.  (i know right??  Cincinnati is like another world!)

I have seen Evil Dead so many times, and i still love it.  Bruce Campbell rocks my world.

PROS:

1.  Super cheesy 80's hair and attitudes.

2.  Still scares me when the hands come through the door and grab him.  STILL.

3.  Secluded cabin set up.  Why people would ever go to a cabin in the middle of nowhere, where the only way out is broken down bridge is BEYOND ME.

4. CLAYMATION!

CONS:

1. Are they zombies?  or are they possessed people.  It could be debated

2.  The sounds the zombies make are really, really annoying, and i am pretty sure my neighbors hate me now.

3.  There is no 3....how can i complain about Evil Dead?  I love this movie!

Needless to say, not the first time i have watched it, definitely won't be the last.