Oh, Pistachio

First, I am going to hang my head in shame for not running yesterday.

Being completely honest, I didn't feel good. I could have sucked it up, but I was just completely worn out.  

Now, moving on to more fun things...

I have recently discovered pistachios.

Via

Where have they been all of my life? I am totally obsessed.

I have really been trying to eat MUCH healthier and they have been a complete lifesaver. I wouldn't say I ate horribly before, but I definitely didn't always make the best choices.

These little guys have been finding their way into my snack time - both morning and afternoon. A half cup (with the shells) only has 160 calories and packs 6 grams of protein. Not too shabby!

If you go here there is even a coupon for the brand I have been buying!

What are your favorite healthy snacks to keep you going throughout the day?

Early Winter & New Tights!

Tuesday a.m workout: Insanity Cardio Power and Resistance

Due to my marathon being in LESS THAN 2 weeks we decided to extend month 1 of Insanity. We should be doing the recovery week this week, then start month 2 next week. I didn't like the idea of starting workouts that I have never done before the week of a marathon.

See, I am doing something smart in my training!

Last week I ordered a new pair of running tights. They arrived the next day. Seriously. I didn't even pay for shipping. Way to go Road Runner Sports!

These R-Gear High Speed Compression tights come in tall (short and regular too!) and were so nice and long for me. I won't have to worry about cold ankles! I got to test them out on Sunday afternoon since winter made an early appearance. They may not be quite warm enough for super cold runs in January and February (remember this run?) but they kept me warm and were very comfy.

I might have to order another pair!

I must run after work. I must run after work. I must run after work. I must run after work. I must run after work.

I left my gym bag in the locker room this morning. That way I have to go to the gym after work. Once I walk in I won't want to walk out without working out, right?

Oh, the tricks I try to play on myself!

**I was not paid for this review nor was I given the product. It was paid for with my own hard earned moolah. However, if you or someone you knows works for Road Runner Sports or another product/brand, I'd be happy to try out products**

Goal Setting 101

Weekend workout: 6.4 mile run way too short, but who's counting?

Monday a.m workout: Insanity Pure Cardio

It was much easier to get up this morning after a relaxing weekend.

We saw Argo over the weekend, has anyone else seen it? It was SOOOO good. Intense.

I am reading Gone Girl right now and I am completely hooked already. I haven't given myself much time to read lately, but I am trying to change that and this book is motivating me to as well!

I mentioned on Friday that I had started thinking about my goals for the Marshall University marathon that is in TWO weeks!

I always try to have at least two goals for my races. Goal A: my goal if the race goes picture perfect; Goal B: my goal that I can live with; and Goal C: my goal of last resort.

And if Goal C fails...there are 23 more letters in the alphabet! So here are my goals for Marshall:

A: Finish under 4:30
B: Finish faster than my slowest marathon time
C: Don't die/get hurt

I honestly might have to settle for Goal C. And that's OK. I want to have fun and give it all I have, but I have to keep reminding myself that this is my comeback race. I took a lot of time off and there is always 2013.

"The real purpose of running isn't to win a race; it's to test the limits of the human heart."

Bill Bowerman, Co-founder of Nike, Inc.
 

TGIF! Happy Weekend!

Friday's workout: Treadmill Intervals for 30 minutes. Total mileage: 2.5 miles.

My workout buddy/personal trainer met me at the gym on our normal day off from Insanity. Since we already had 2 days (Monday and Tuesday) off from Insanity, we decided we needed to work out this morning too. The group fitness room is used on Friday mornings for a spin class though, so we moved our workout to the treadmills.

My speed alternated between walking (3.6) all the way up to running (8.something). We side stepped (wow, that was scary at first the whole time) and ran backwards. I couldn't believe I didn't go flying off the tread while side stepping. I get a gold star!

Yesterday I started thinking about my goals for my upcoming marathon on November 11th. Check out the flat course!

Flat and fast is the saying, however my race will just be one and it's not fast.

 My training has been inconsistent at best and I am nowhere near the shape I was in at this time last year. However, I did feel great on my 20 miler. I am just choosing to ignore the fact that I only did one 20-miler.

Last year I was cruising along running the Columbus marathon as a training run. It was my 7th marathon and only 2 or 3 weeks before the race I was really training for.

So I've decided I need to set a couple of goals (a main goal and a couple backup goals) for the race. I've been giving them some thought and will share them soon!

Happy Friday! 

My Inner Olympian

Wednesday a.m. workout: Insanity Pure Cardio and Cardio Abs
Wednesday p.m. workout: Run 5 miles

Thursday a.m. workout: Insanity Cardio Power & Resistance

I got to try out my new BRIGHT shoes on a nice 5 mile run. Gorgeous weather. I can't believe it's the end of October and in the 70s again! This week has been amazing! (for weather at least!)


The first part of my run was mentally challenging. I didn't wear my Garmin, which is sometimes helpful and sometimes not. I know the route so I know the distance, but I kept questioning my pace. This played with my confidence quite a bit for some reason.

So I decided to channel my inner Shalane Flanagan and just suck it up and attempt to go all out. I wish I'd had a finish line to break through. 

The back of my left knee felt really tight after Insanity Wednesday morning. It loosened up throughout the day, but starting feeling tight again at 4 miles. I had planned on going 6-8, but decided to call it a day at 5 because of my knee.
 
Although I need the mileage right now, I really DON'T need an injury.

I finally made a realish dinner Wednesday night. Turkey breast (not pictured because it was taking longer than expected in the oven and we were starving), green beans and mashed potatoes. 

I would like to point out this is The Boyfriend's 2nd helping of mashed potatoes. Someone is going to give my sister a run for her money on Thanksgiving!

GOTR Practice 5K

My Girls On the Run team is THE BEST. And I promise, I'm not biased. Tuesday evening we had our Practice 5K. We had gorgeous weather (in the 70s!) and a great time!

It takes a lot prep to get ready for your practice 5K!

You need the right amount of hair paint, sparkles, glitter and face paint! And don't forget the mustaches!

Then you can move to the starting line!

We had lots of family members running with and cheering for our girls!

Can I borrow her to come cheer at my marathon?!

And run with your friends!

And celebrate as a team at the end!

Our girls did an amazing job! We had goodie bags at the end and plenty of healthy snacks.

Even our healthy snacks were rooting for our girls!

It's always so fun to watch the practice 5K since it's much smaller than the real 5K. My girls always impress me too!

Only 25 days til the real Girls On The Run 5K! Have you registered?

A Belated Weekend Update

This weekend's run was uneventful and not long enough. And that's about all I want to say about that. I'm fairly disappointed in myself and trying to move on and not dwell not on it.

A little pre run concentration

Saturday was a little relaxation, some chores and a little shopping with a friend! It was a very nice day! I might have even squeezed a nap in!

Then came Sunday and another Bengals home game.

Which of course means a tailgate!

The tailgate was a ton of fun. The game was very disappointing!

It was an 8:20 game, so we took Monday off of work. It was after 1:00 a.m. before we got home, so I was very happy about that decision!

The Boyfriend and I had enjoyed our day off together at the Cincinnati Zoo! More on that later!

Negative Split Party

Wednesday p.m. workout: Ran 8 miles
Thursday a.m. workout: Insanity Plyo Cardio Circuit

Does anyone else carry this much stuff to work almost every day?  And this doesn't include the clothes that were on hangers in the morning that I had to carry in or my lunch bag! I think it's getting out of control.

I was very proud of myself for getting the 8 miles in after work yesterday. I did a 2 loop course from my office and boy was it hard to run past the office (and my car) and go for loop 2, but i did!

It was such a beautiful day too. Mid 70s, blue sky, white puffy clouds and gorgeous fall leaves on the trees. It can't get much better than that!
 
My second loops was 90 seconds faster than my first loop.  Woohoo! Negative splits are a beautiful thing. I'm still celebrating!

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I spent the remainder of the evening in my CEP compression socks. My calves SCREAMED at me for the first 1.5 miles. Then they were totally fine. Thankfully they felt pretty good during Insanity this morning.
 


And now for some randomness. 


I forgot I took this picture over the weekend. While I was out running errands shopping on Saturday afternoon I pulled into the Kohls parking lot and saw this scene. There were a lot of people standing around and some taking pictures, but I didn't want to be one of them. So I went inside and indiscreetly snapped this picture from inside the store.

 
The view from the other side would show you the large boulder that this person somehow got their car stuck on. I still haven't figured out how this person managed to do this. I really wish I had a pic from the other side to show you just how high up the car was. In a parking lot! 

At least no one was hurt.

I got to go to an amazing fundraising breakfast this morning, but more on that later!

And the best news ever...tomorrow is FINALLY Friday! Any big plans for the weekend?

The Slooooowest Week Ever

Wednesday a.m. workout: Insanity Cardio Power & Resistance
Wednesday p.m. workout plan: Run 8ish miles

This sums it up!

First, some randomness. I had a lunch and shopping date with my friend Sarah this past weekend. We used to run errands and shop on the weekends fairly often together, but it had been quite a while since our last adventure.

We checked out Trend in Oakley. I've been in there a few times, but it was the first time for Sarah. I found a few really cute things and I had a gift card!  Bonus!

I couldn't pass up this cute tee! I couldn't find pics of the other items, but definitely check it out, they have a lot of cute clothes!

This week is going sooo slow. Like practically backwards. Is anyone else's week moving at a snail's pace?

There are lots of fun things coming up the rest of the week that I am looking forward to though!