Why 8 slow miles are the best.

Running doesn't make my butt look any better. I know this because I had a horrifying experience at Lululemon today. After picking up a gift card, I meandered over to the clearance rack in hopes of finding a cute little item to purchase on some kind of crazy whim.  Instead, I walked out of the dressing room in shell shock. It wasn't a pretty sight. I simply bought a headband and called it a day.

(The scene of the crime.)

Fortunately, my experience in Lulu's helped motivate me to get my workout done. I had a goal of completing 8 easy and slow miles. I'm proud to say to you that I did just that.

I really, REALLY, wanted to make sure that these miles were in no way effortful.  I live in a hilly area, so it was necessary for me to make a conscious effort to stay slow and steady. I've been reading a lot of articles about the importance of making your "easy run days" very very easy.  It helps to reduce injury and it honestly made the run that much more enjoyable. I didn't feel tired, I wasn't out of breath, I just plodded along having only stopped at the halfway point to make sure I got in a good IT band stretch.  

For all of you who were wondering, I've decided to go with the BAA intermediate runner half marathon training plan, which is a condensed 9 week program. However, I'm finding it to be much more "advanced" than intermediate, given the range of plans out there. It starts off with 35 miles, with the highest weekly mileage toping out around 41 miles (as I modified the plan slightly). Even though I've trained for two marathons in the past, I've never hit that high of a mileage before...mostly because I've never trained for anything perfectly. BUT, if the goal is Boston or bust, then bust my butt it is. I have to admit I'm feeling a little scared though, because the speed work Tuesdays on the schedule are looking mighty intense. 

Today felt really good and I'm proud of myself for getting in 20 miles so far this week. I have a hatha flow yoga class and a swim in the books for tomorrow and am taking a rest day on Friday in order to spend some quality time after school with some coworkers.  Saturday, I have high hopes of getting in a solid 10 miles. Sunday I'm aiming for 5, making it a total of 35 miles for the week.  For the first time since I started long-distance running, I've been making an effort to ease into heavy mileage instead of jumping in head first.

Let's chat:

Have you ever successfully tackled an insane training plan? Any tips? If you're training for a race, what's your current goal pace?

Speedwork Tuesdays and a maybe you'll run a race with me?

Hello, friends! You all know what today is...right? That's right, it's Speedwork Tuesday! Tuesday is the day you should commit to doing a little fun running and pushing yourself a little bit more. In order to run faster, you need to make yourself run fast! Plain and simple. How can you improve to the pace you want without a challenge?

Speedwork Tuesdays are perfect for me because I always get myself to the gym (some people prefer the track) the same night that Chris has hockey. The same could also be said for saturday mornings, as I'm trying to get back into the long run routine when Chris has games. You need to make it work for you, so if you have chorus on Tuesdays, then Speedwork Wednesdays it is.

Believe me, I get it about making it all work and fitting it all in. I get up at 5:30, am on the road at 6:30, start work before 7:30, typically put in a 9 hour+ day, have an hour long commute back, and then force myself out the door for a run or to the gym. Some nights I come right back into the loving arms of my computer to do more school work. Its hard! Some of you even have a second job or kids to take care of! If you can only do a 3 mile speedwork run, then 3 miles is better than no miles. Heck, ONE mile is better than no miles. Make it work for you.

As for me, I got to the gym and decided I would put in a good 5 miles of running and about 30 minutes of strength training. Thankfully, the circuit training machines are about 1 step away from the treadmills, making the transition painless.

The workout?
     1 mile at a 7.0 mph pace (around 8:34 a mile)
     400 m at 7.7 mph, 400 m at 7.2 mph
     400 m at 7.8 mph, 400 m at 7.3 mph
     400 m at 7.9 mph, 400 m at 7.4 mph
     1/2 mile at 7.2 mph pace, then back to 1/2 mile at 7.0 mph

*Oh yea, for those of you who don't know... mph= Miles per hour, m=meter (400 m= 1 lap around track).

WILL YOU RUN A RACE WITH ME?

Race Website

After having moved out of Southie in August, I've officially decided to retire the whole Southie parade scene. I have been partaking in parade day for many years now, but after the shenanigans of last year, I think it might be time to dial it down a notch. This is especially true given that I've moved out of the area and finding your way onto and out of the parade route can be a bit of a nightmare. 

(Oh the parade of 2011. And my long hair.)

Instead, I'm going to sign up for this race that occurs on the same day. Its a wonderfully late start of 11 a.m. and you get a snazzy t-shirt that everyone recognizes in the Boston area. After finishing the race you get a medal to hang in your shiny medal case. Medals are probably the only reason I run races. 

And then, then there is the best part. You can still indulge in a bit of St. Patrick's fun, as there is a great post-race party sponsored by the bars in the Davis Square area (aka, free beer until the kegs get tapped). 

Who's with me? I'm just sticking a toe in the puddle of adulthood and I'd love to have some friends to run hand in hand with. Maybe it'll be your first 5k or your 50th, let's just try it out together!  Register HERE!  Don't wait. Its sold out every year for the last 8 years!!

Let's chat:

What's your favorite spring event to get the racing season started? 

Shakira - Can't Remember To Forget You ft. Rihanna

7 Deadly Sins- Gluttony

Traveling to Vermont this weekend. Hectic week at work. Crazy weather. New nephews. What do all these statements equal?  No running.  No running for four days straight.  To be honest, I hadn't done anything remotely active from Wednesday of last week until today.  Woof. In order to pay for these sins, I did what every good little girl should do: I repented by going out on a 7 mile run today.

#proof

Getting back to the weekend, Chris and I stayed with friends in one of the most amazing places I had ever seen. It was an entire home left the way it was intended to be, an artifact of 1972. Each nook and cranny was filled with antiques and unique items. Chris couldn't help but comment that you could visit this place every weekend for a year and still discover something new each time you visited. Some of our favorite finds included a gentleman's cookbook from 1962, offering about 16 different recipes to cook eggs; even ones that included "meat jelly". Please someone explain to me what meat jelly is? Maybe I don't want to know....

Throughout the weekend, I wasn't very good at being healthy but I WAS very good at sleeping, being a bum, and being way too indulgent. Seriously...I ate an entire bag of cheddar Ruffles potato chips in the land of healthy, organic, green food.

Regardless, Chris's and my favorite destination to eat at was the Green Goddess Cafe in Stowe, Vermont. The food was so fresh, the gluten-free bread tasted gluten- filled, and we were stuffed like sausages after we each consumed a single sandwich and a cup of coffee.

Coming back to Boston meant treating our bodies with a little more respect. In doing so, I ate one of the most fulfilling meals that I've had in months, all thanks to a little article I read in Real Simple magazine. The recipe consisted of four items: 1 egg, 1/4 cup cooked quinoa, 1/4 cup chopped avocado, and 2 slices of smoked salmon. With the exception of the salmon, the remaining items were heated up on the stove top, along with cayenne pepper and a dash of salt. The fat and protein kept me filled until lunch!! That my friends, is entirely unheard of. Well, I mean, I had a banana as my morning snack too, but usually breakfast and snack time never keep me satisfied until lunch!

The rest of the day consisted of a veggie-laden salad with panko-crusted chicken, a granny smith apple, and half of an avocado.  I may or may not had two squares of chocolate as well, but knowing me, I did a pretty darn good job of eating today.

Food and Fitness News:
Want to know what 200 calories looks like among different items of food? The photo evidence is pretty scary. Check out WiseGEEK's article here.

Let's chat, shall we?: 

How do you make yourself feel better after a Fitness Fail?

Did you do anything fun this weekend?  What do you think I should have for dinner?

Fitz And The Tantrums - Out Of My League

Adventures in Thursday

I took a picture for you all, right before I got out of my car to go into work. I thought since all the other bloggers take pictures of themselves, I figured I should as well. Now I fit in? Wait I'm not exercising in this picture, just making a duck face. Fail.

Speaking of fails, today I am most certainly not getting to the gym. I'm even being crazy right now by writing this blog post. Its 6:45 and I'm still at work. Crazy day.

For all those interested, my exercise update so far this week includes:
7 miles on Sunday, 5 on Monday, None Tuesday, 7 miles+weights Wednesday, None Thursday....and the weekend is yet to be determined.  I'm heading out to Vermont but am holding out hope that I will be able to hit up the gym once we get there (please let me run 5 miles). I also want to try to sneak in a long run of 10 on Saturday. Again, not so sure how feasible this plan may be but at least my intentions are pure.

Also, I've been super hungry lately and have been eating the heaviest and densest meals in order to fill my belly. I have literally eaten an entire avocado every day. Also on the menu? A super eggy quiche with broccoli, spinach, and ricotta cheese. You might see cheddar on top, but that is just a lie.

My final thoughts on this random Thursday in January? Mr. Winkle is still cuter than Boo. I don't care what any of you say. I've been getting Winkle calendars every year since I left for college in 2001. That has been 12 years of calendars. I don't know what I would do if he dies, which will be never because he is a mythical creature.

Talk to me:

Were any of you able to fit in your fitness today? Run happy or strong? What's your favorite song on the radio right now?

My favorite song on the radio is Sweater Weather by The Neighbourhood. I CANNOT get it out of my head. 

Calvin Harris ft Kelis - Bounce

Ellie Goulding - Burn

Run, row, spin, workout, whatever it takes!

Food Cravings: A mirror into your soul (As brought to you by Natalie Dee)

That title might be a little more deep than I'm willing to go, but what I wanted to discuss is how my food cravings, in particular, have changed since I started running and what I think that means.

At a very tender age, I was always the chocolate girl. If I were Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I would be that kid that drowned in the river of chocolate. Gomomgo can attest to that (I may or may not have also been the child who hid behind the couch to eat a stick of butter, but I digress).

Don't get me wrong, if given the choice between chocolate and a carrot, the fudge is always going to win (and don't even BEGIN to pretend that you would choose a vegetable). 

(source)

However, over the last several years, I've noticed that I've craved richer, denser, saltier, cheesier, warmer foods.  I was really flabergasted by this change because I've always been a sweets kind of gal. 

A few years ago, I looked up what these changes in food cravings meant and I've stumbled upon some interesting resources. Don't get me wrong, I'm no nutritionist nor am I certified in any way to dole out advice, but I do have my degree in GOOGLOLOGY, which makes me an expert investigator of all things found on the internet. What I've discovered about food cravings is really interesting.  Come, let's take a look:

1. Some sources suggest food cravings are related to nutritional deficiencies, others suggest psychosomatic complaints, while the third groups thinks its a combination of both. 

2. If you crave chocolate and sweets, that's more an indication of your emotional state. Some studies suggest that serotonin is released when you eat something like chocolate. It helps to boost your mood.

3. Craving salty foods may suggest a mineral deficiency, such as lower levels of calcium. You might also be tired, lack energy, fatigue easily, or require more salt because of your active lifestyle. Salt is the lifegiver. 

4. If you crave spicy foods, its suggested (and in my eyes is a bit of a stretch) that you crave the increase in heart rate, spike in adrenalin, and rapid breathing. I have also read that you might crave spicy foods due to poor thyroid functioning. 

5. Water- you need more Omega 3's, Ice- low in iron!

6. Are you craving read meat? You might be missing out on iron, B vitamins, and carnitine.

7. Coffee/Caffeine- Dude, you need a spike in your adrenal gland function. You might be tired, lacking iron, or you might be low in vitamin C. 

Again, I'm no expert, but this is definitely some food for thought. Get it? HA!

Want to know what food cravings say about you?  Take this quiz from Women's Health Mag.

                                                                                                                                                                   

So tell me, what is it you crave the most? Any food that makes you weak in the knees?

Martin Solveig - The Night Out