Fitting it all in...

Miles today: 6.08 miles, 3x800s plus running with Larry
Mile in 2013: 414.0 miles

I slept in again. In my defense, I set the alarm for 5:35 PM. Unfortunately I still woke up at 6:15 and decided, nah, not happening. I knew it was ok though.

I got out of work a little early and high tailed it to the gym to get a couple of miles in before Larry finished work. I was feeling good so I decided to do a few 800's at 5K pace. This will be considered my speed work/5K training for the week. 

My amazing, talented mother-in-law was cutting Larry's hair tonight and offered to give my mess of hair a little trim, since I have not had time to go see my awesome hair stylist, Amy. So what did we do? You know it. We ran to get our hairs did and then ran home. Boom. Mileage back on track.

When we got home I decided to make miso tofu salad and then we lounged outside and watched the moon rise. 

Almost Friday! If you are in Naples, Naples Paddle Board is hosting a big event tomorrow to raise money for the victims of Oklahoma. Sunset paddleboarding at the Beach Club!  (They are even bringing their boards to go out on!) See you there!

Wingfoot Awards Night

Miles today: rest day 2
MIles in 2013: 407.02 miles

Yes I slept in two days in a row. It was glorious and my body needed it. (it wasn't too shabby getting an extra hour of snuggle time.. yeah, I'm also a sap) I will be getting miles in later this week and next week. 

Tonight was the Wingfoot Awards, which is an award given to one incredible high school student-athlete each year. My mom has been on the board of the Wingfoot Committee for the past 24(!!!) years.  It is an amazing night with an incredible group of kids, and usually with an amazing keynote speaker. Student, athlete, CEO, or whoever you are, the speakers and high school students are an inspiration. 

Brian Kelly from Notre Dame was the keynote speaker tonight. His speech was great. He focused on such good themes that are relevant in every aspect of our lives, which are important "in both the locker room and board room." Be thankful. Don't lie, steal, or cheat. Treat women with respect. The Golden Rule. 

Every year I listen to speeches directed at student athletes, but I always take away something that I need to apply more to my life (or running....both really)

The winner of the night was a track athlete from my alma mater. So proud and GO GOLDEN EAGLES!

Oh also, when I tried to get a glass of wine at dinner, our server said, "Nice try." He actually thought I was under 21. Bhahahahahaha. New eye cream success! (I have 3 witnesses. That really happened.)

May is for Sleeping In

Miles today: 5.01 miles, progressive run (9:36, 9:26, 9:07, 8:42, 8:22)
Miles in 2013: 407.02 miles

Ahhhh the taking it easy month. Yesterday I was lazy and decided to switch up days and skip my five miler. I made a deal with myself and decided I would wake up extra early to fit in a five miler before work (and then maybe lift after work...) Guess what didn't happen this morning. Yep. It was lovely. I am throughly enjoying these days before I will feel more pressure to get up and get at it. 

We still got in a sunset run after the rain came. The summer rains have started this week, so it makes waiting until after work for a run a game of chance. Lightning or treadmill.... it's a tough call. 

(Rocking the FitNation shirt tonight - go check out my newest article on 10 Foods to Avoid Before Running here!!!)

The storm clouds make for a good sunset run.

(I am actually pissed that we didn't run this morning because this afternoon would have been perfect for paddle boarding)

So I signed up for another race. I am SO freaking excited that some of our closest friends have started getting more into running. The only thing better than running a great race is running it with your bestest friends. Anyway, we all decided that the Tower of Terror 10 Miler would be a fun run and good goal for them. 

Then I looked at the date. October 4th. Does that make it the stupidest race ever since it is one week before the Chicago marathon and our 17th week of training? OR is it a phenomenal idea and celebration of some hard work??

I am going with the latter. Full disclosure: (and if you hate me for this I am sorry, convince me otherwise in the comments/email...oh and I am sorry Lisa and Nick....) I cannot stand Disney World.  Yes, I have a little cold, black heart, and I would rather go about 10,000 other places, and have yet to be convinced that a Disney race is worth the ridiculous price tag. BUT I am being optimistic. I am looking at the 10 miler as my last taper, easy long run with 3 of my closest friends. No pressure for time, just relaxed fun celebrating a summer of hard work, and being chased by zombies (I think). 

Anyone have good Disney race stories? Love them? Hate them? Just really like doing around the world at Epcot?

Staycations are Incredible

Miles today: rest
Miles in 2013: 402.01 miles

How is it really Monday?! I was hoping this weekend would last foreverrrrrr. Our good friends planned a staycation at one of the local resorts and invited us to come stay with them for the weekend. After our run Saturday we hopped in the car for 20 whole minutes and ended up here:

I am moving in!

We immediately got down to business, ordered cocktails, and commenced lounging.

We are so cute! Thanks to Katie for some of the cute pics!!

The hotel called us when our room was ready, but unfortunately they couldn't accommodate our reservation for 2 double beds...so they gave us the PRESIDENTIAL SUITE. Amazeballs. 

The views were amazing.

As were the cocktails...

We decided we are going to do this every weekend....

Vacations with friends are the best. And cheap vacations with friends are even better. (As long as you keep the bar bill in check...) Florida in the summer may be hot, but there are some pretty amazing (cheap) deals on hotel rooms and resorts. Definitely worth the 20 minute drive!

Sweating Out the Sillys

Miles today: 6.72 miles, 61 minutes
Miles in 2013: 402.01 miles

Thanks for the title, Mark! Great group run this morning! With all the races the past few weeks, I have really missed running with the GCR saturday morning group! It was immediately followed by a large iced coffee and the biggest bagel I could find. 

Will write more later, but I got places to go and lazy rivers to float on....

Bailey says Happy Saturday y'all!

Frustration Friday

Miles today: 4.01 miles, gentle, easy, coddling miles
Miles in 2013: 395.29 miles

Warning: vent sesh ahead. But first, our run this morning. I woke up at 5:35 AM to a text saying one of our friends wasn't going to make it to our morning run. As I laid there, so ridiculously sore from lifting and my speed work out yesterday, I could barely move. My hamstrings, quads, and glutes are still angry at me I think. Anyway, I really debated getting up for my run and just wanted to sleep. In the end, (after I hit the snooze button for the 5th time and successfully woke up Larry every 5 minutes) I figured a little, gentle run would probably help me more than anything, so I got up and out the door.  

Good thing I did because the sunrise this morning was pretty spectacular. It wasn't too humid or hot. I was sore, but the comfortable pace felt good on my legs. Is it weird that I noticed how many and loud the birds were, more than anything? Especially because I hate birds. Amazing what you notice sans headphones. 

(Coming home to this sweet face is the best)

There is one thing I could not put out of my head though. Yesterday at work, I was talking to someone (who shall remain nameless) about training workouts and how happy and excited I am to start the training cycle for Chicago. 

Her response? "What are you going to do when your knees and ankles give out?"

WHAT THE WHAT?? Are you kidding me? Why would you say that?? And why is it that non-runners feel the need to say things like that? 

Oh you love knitting because it is relaxing and makes you happy? Weird. What happens when you get terrible arthritis in your hands and can't knit anymore?... What happens when....nevermind, you get the picture. 

I should have politely just said that I need to run in order to deal with people like yourself. Instead I smiled and said I am going to be just like my mother, who is still running strong well into her 60's. #Goodgenes 

My point is, statements like these serve absolutely no purpose whatsoever. They are counterproductive and hurtful. Runners should be supportive of each other and their interests and passions, instead of negative and condescending. One of the biggest (and best) things to come out of blogging has been seeing firsthand the amazing camaraderie among other bloggers and women staying healthy and supporting each others' goals.

As any runner knows, people (non-runners, shall we say) tend to say asinine things such as this on occasion, but it can be difficult to look past. (Obviously otherwise I wouldn't bore you with this post....) We try to be the bigger person or just avoid conversations with people who say such things. All I can hope for is to be a part of a community celebrating all the accomplishments and fun and happiness that comes along with running, racing, and good health. 

And so we finished our day at an amazing wine tasting with a few co-workers.

Happy Friday!

Mandy's Quinoa Lasagna

Miles today: 4.06 miles, 6x 400s
MIles in 2013: 391.28 miles

I am so full, I can't even move off the couch. I don't know if I have the strength to actually move from my perch on the couch to the bed to go to sleep... Thank you Mandy!

Before our awesome dinner, I did manage to get in a few miles at the gym. Originally we were going to wake up and run before work and before it got to be 1000 degrees with 110% humidity. Didn't work out. Neither Larry nor I could get out of bed. We are terrible influences on each other. So I ended up doing 400s looking at this:

I like palm trees, so it wasn't too terrible. Actually the treadmill wasn't bad at all today. I haven't run with music in a while and it was nice to just run hard and zone out. 

Love it when the gym isn't crowded.

So dinner. We were invited to our good friends' house for dinner, which I was pumped about because we talked about this delish sounding lasagna. It was so good and I ate so much that  I almost had to take off my belt. (Literally...) 

Luckily she gave me the recipe. I cannot wait to make this ... as soon as I actually make it to the grocery store.

Quinoa Veggie Lasagna

2 large zucchini, cut into 12 thin, 1/4 in. thick slices
salt
1 c. quinoa, rinsed
2 c. vegetable broth
1/2 c. tomato sauce
1/4 c. minced onion
1 t. dried oregano
1/4 c. fresh basil, chopped
1/4 c. fresh parsley, chopped
2 T. organic or non-dairy cream cheese, i.e. Tofutti Better Than Cream Cheese (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
1 jar organic marinara sauce
1/2 c. organic or non-dairy cheese, i.e. Daiya (optional)

• Preheat oven to 400.
• To prepare zucchini, thinly slice zucchini into “noodles.” You’ll want 12 noodles in total.
• Place noodles in a colander and sprinkle with salt, layering between paper towels. Let this sit and absorb moisture while preparing the quinoa. 

• Combine quinoa, vegetable broth, tomato sauce, onion and oregano in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Cover and lower heat, simmering for 20 minutes. 

• When quinoa has absorbed all the liquid, fold in cream cheese and herbs. Add salt and pepper to taste, and try not to eat the whole pot.   

• Pour enough of marinara in the bottom of an 8×8 baking dish to cover the bottom. Using a clean dry towel, blot remaining moisture and salt from zucchini and layer 4 noodles across the sauce.

• Put a layer of quinoa across the zucchini, and cover with another 1/3 c. of marinara sauce.  Repeat with another layer of quinoa, sauce and zucchini. Top the final layer of zucchini with remaining sauce and 1/2 c. of cheese, if using. 

• Bake lasagna for 30 minutes, until heated through and zucchini is tender. 

• Top the final layer of zucchini with remaining sauce and 1/2 c. of cheese, if using. Bake lasagna for 30 minutes, until heated through and zucchini is tender.

In case you were wondering, despite the large quantity of lasagna, Larry still insisted on getting ice cream on the way home. It's amazing I can even type in this food coma.