Here I present to you the results of a Sunday spent pantless.  To figure out what the heck I am doing, you can read the original entry.

First up on my day spent pantless was my long run. Something I failed to mention in the original entry was that one article I read stated the “pantless look” does not always entail ditching the pants, but instead includes sporting short shorts covered with a top of your choice.  Hmm, this seems a little like my everyday running outfit. So I committed my first fashion faux pas – one of many – and strapped on some running bloomers, circa my cross-country college days.

Although I did capture some photos of this get-up, I decided to leave my shame in the woods where it belonged and not on the world-wide web for everyone’s viewing pleasure.  The photos were little provocative and I’m not ready to suffer the ramifications of being mistaken for an adult actress.  Not again at least.  To get an idea of what I actually looked like, go ahead and click on the “the anti-who?” tab at the top of this website, scroll done, and see me sporting my blue bloomers.

In an attempt to counteract the initial embarrassment I felt jaunting through the woods in what was the equivalent of underwear, I decided to run fast. The results would be a 16 mile run at about 7:15 pace. In my head, I reasoned that if I were to run fast enough, there was the potential that anyone witnessing the event would mistakenly believe I was actually participating in a trail race. I’m pretty sure it worked. Bikers graciously moved off the trail as I approached, which is normally the role I play.

Whether they believed I was leading the pack on my way to a race victory or simply trying to be polite toward a clearly unhinged runner, it ended up being a terrific long run.  I never realized ditching 3 extra inches of fabric could feel so freeing and, even better, I only received the occasional odd glance. Although this could have been more of a result of my tan line giving the deceiving impression that I was actually sporting shorts in a shade of fleshy white.

At the completion of the run I realized I had garnered more hellos and how-do-you-do’s than normal. Overall, I’d label it a success. I’m pretty certain if I ever muster the strength to sport these bloomers on a tempo run, I could run sub 6 minute pace. Or at least pick up some guys.

Next up was a trip to Target.

See those cops coming my way? Totally checking me out. Hell, I would too in those tights.

Now the original article I read on Huffington Post stated that some celebrities were turning their shirts into dresses, no shorts included. I viewed some photos of Blake Lively and Taylor Momsen (um, who is that?) sporting black tights under these “shirt dresses.”  I thought this would be appropriate given this is the east coast and not actually Hollywood.

After being tentative on my first few steps in the store, I realized no one seemed to stare when I walked with a little swagger.  At first, I attributed this outcome to my confidence throwing off their need to judge. But then I spotted another chick sporting almost the same exact outfit as me and realized they had probably wasted all their judgement on her.  Bitch clearly read my blog.

There was only one faltering moment, when I dropped a bottle of water and bent down to pick it up, did I realize how this pantless exploit could result in fleeting though significant humiliation. Lesson learned: Do not wear white underwear while sporting black see-through tights.

Upon arriving home, I ditched the tights and strapped on some knee-high socks, a necessity given my garden level apartment tends to get a bit chilly. I also attired myself with shorts that I am pretty sure revealed the lower part of my bumchecks. Not really a big deal. Unless people are around. They were. To them I apologize.

Note that the pug actually just got from a Biggest Loser audition. Fingers crossed he makes it on the show!

In conclusion of my Sunday spent pantless, I can say I probably will do it again. Just because. Any embarrassing moments had donned in tights with only the coverage of a shirt were mitigated by sheer comfort. The constrictive feel of denim was never once missed, as each stride felt more fluid, more graceful.  And I could use some grace.  Might help me pick up those cops.

I doubt I will be sporting bloomers anytime in the near future but if I start having trouble setting some PRs, it may be a step I am willing to take. Heck, I might even ditch my shirt if it will help me break the 3 hour marathon mark. I may not be able to pull off a silver glittery shirt-dress like Beyonce, but they won’t stop me trying. Until I muster up that kind of courage, I’m off to do some online shopping in my underwear.  Someone needs to purchase some new tights.

On Saturday I raced in the Davis Turkey Trot. For the uninitiated, Davis is a small-ish college town about 12 miles west of Sacramento and I love it. Basically if you don’t bike or run or do triathlon and live there they kick you out. I honestly think there are more bikes and organic grocery stores than people. So needless to say, they put on great races.

Aron had mentioned she was running the race and I really wanted to do it for a couple of reasons. 1. I love a Thanksgiving race and I’m hosting my family this year so no Run to Feed the Hungry for me (boooo) 2. I like shorter races and wanted to see what I could do 3. I’ve had trouble completing my speedwork but I know during a race I won’t let up. So I signed up! I checked with Alberto to make sure it was ok to race this close to the marathon and was given the go ahead to “race it and have fun!” (Side note: he sent me the nicest email this week about training, the race, etc that I think really made me feel ready. Love that JackAlberto and btw don’t tell him I said this but I think he’s going to go 2:27 at CIM)

I got to the race nice and early and oh man, it was cold. We get this awful winter fog that chills your bones and it was out for the first time this year. I was numb and kind of shaky and super annoyed wtih myself that I didn’t bring gloves or arm warmers. I wore the booty shorts and short sleeves which don’t exactly keep you warm! I quickly found Aron and went to the bathroom about a million times. I think I was kind of nervous! My 10k PR was really soft– I set it in January on a pretty hilly course (I think my PR at that time was 50:30 maybe? I remember it being around 8:05 pace) so I figured short of a total disaster I’d PR.

Side note- the Bachelor, Andy Baldwin, was totally at this race. I saw a SUPER good looking guy who looked familiar and since I lived in LA for almost 4 years my celebrity-radar is finely calibrated. I just google-imaged him and it was totally him. NO clue why he’d be running the Davis Turkey Trot but hey, the celebs (other than Arnold who I see all the time so I’m over it) aren’t exactly around here so it was fun. He was with an adorable, tiny, fast girl and ran a 6:37 pace (just stalked the race results, it was totally him), so props to him.

After a brief-ish warm up I sadly left my long sleeves behind and changed into my racing shoes. The fog had burned off so it was actually not so cold at the start. Then, we were off! I went out waaaaaaay too fast– like, 6:50 pace. I love short races so I was happy to “only” being doing a 10k. I tried to reign myself in and went through the first mile at 7:24. Ummm too fast Amy. I reigned myself in and settled into a much more manageable 7:45 pace. I wanted to race this race by feel, not by garmin so I really didn’t glance at my watch much except at mile splits– I know my body well enough and I don’t want data screwing up a PR or to get depressed by a slow pace in the middle.

I think the course went through some parks on a bike trail but truthfully I was so focused on running, my form and trying to run the tangents that I don’t really know. I don’t think I looked to the left or the right the entire time. Right around mile 4 I started to wish I’d opted for the 5k. I was getting tired and it felt like the race would never end! So, I told myself I could run at marathon pace for .5 miles and then I needed to pick it up to the end. It was kind of windy but I found a nice, tall 6′3 guy to tuck behind.

Right around mile 5 there was a TINY TINY TINY hill over some railroad tracks or a bike path or something (I told you I didn’t look) which felt like a small mountain… but then I turned on the heat to the finish. Or at least I tried to. I came through the finish in 48:40 which was defnitely a new PR and 7:50 pace which was right around perfect.

I’m pretty happy to have set a new PR and with the time. I actually think I could have run faster. Miles 3-5 I just kept thinking about the marathon and how I didnt’ want to risk getting hurt by going “all out” so I think I subconsciously pulled back. I also think if I hadn’t gone out like a rocket I could have avoided the crush in the middle. I really need to break my habit of going out too fast. Still though, I finished in the top-10 of my age group and PRd, so it’s fine. I’m just happy my legs still know how to turn over! At any rate, I’m a sub-49 10ker now and it felt good to get in a long, hard effort and not totally collapse.

I’m not sore at all today although my legs were pretty tired during my “long” run (12 miles) this morning. I just kept the pace easy and didn’t worry about it. My neck is really sore but that’ll go away. Oh and I decided to go grocery shopping for Thanksgiving after the race. I looked AMAZING in booty shorts, too-big North Face fleece, flag barrettes, running shoes and salt all over my face. I want my dignity back.

CIM is 14 days away. After yesterday I finally feel ready and I’m starting to get excited. I’m really not nervous– the hay is in the barn and what’s going to happen that day is what’s going to happen. I feel pretty at peace that I’ve done everything I can to prepare myself for a great race and to be the best runner I can be that morning, so I just need to stay healthy, not waste energy stressing about things I can’t control and quit losing my arm warmers! This week should be really easy– only 42 miles which after high-mileage-palooza feels like nothing. In fact, I think I may only run 5 days this week which is insane to me. But I’m going to be a good girl and not run too much.

Finally, check out this interview with Kara Goucher. She’s so right about so many things and it really pumped me up. Love me some Kara.

By special request after mentioning it on Facebook and Twitter, I am writing about falling while running last night. The short story is I fell and I’m OK. The long story is … I was running with Duke and my friend Travis. About a mile and a half into our run, we had to pass a few people on the sidewalk. We ran out into the street and then back onto the sidewalk. I thought I jumped high enough to get back on, but apparently due to the darkness and wet conditions, I didn’t jump high enough, or one foot didn’t go high enough … or something like that.

All I know is that all of a sudden I fell on the sidewalk … in front of other people. My first priority was making sure Duke stopped, which he had. He was just kind of looking at me with a concerned look. But I got up, made sure I could move OK and kept on with my run. When I dropped Duke off a little while later I realized I had blood running down my leg and had a few more scrapes than I first realized. But I was OK, and Travis and I continued our run.

We ended up running almost 6 miles, my longest run in quite some time. I think it was my first run beyond 4 miles since the Rock ‘n’ Roll Half in early September. That just shows how bad my running has been since that race. I’m actually a little sore today from both the fall and the run. My shoulder actually hurts a little bit too, so suprise, surprise, I’m putting off a day of 100 push-ups. But I’m not forcing it and will just start again next week. Actually, I’ll probably do another day of it this weekend and then just redo the same week next week.

So, about this fall. I know I’m not alone … I just can’t be. Take my poll below.

I can’t believe it. I’m 21 days from CIM. I am officially tapering and most of the work is done. I honestly can’t believe it– this training block has flown by and I am actually kind of sad to see it end. What am I going to do with all my energy?!?! Anyway… I had a fantastic running weekend.

Yesterday morning I woke up and took my time getting out the door. I slept for nine hours and headed out for a 6 mile run. It was one of those runs where birds are chirping, running feels easy, nothing hurts and everything is fantastic. As I was running I kept looking at my garmin and thinking that it was broken because of the pace it said I was going. I was down in the 8:10 range very, very easily and almost couldn’t slow down. So I didn’t. I set off for one of my favorite 6 mile routes and it was so gorgeous that I tacked on an extra mile around the park. Sure, I was already over my weekly mileage and yes, I had a long run the next day but it was beautiful, I was happy to be alive and I wanted to run! So I did!

This morning I woke up early and met Aron for my final long run before CIM. We talked about doing 21 just to get over the mental hurdle of 20 and get some time on the feet. We ran on a gorgeous route through Lafeyette and Moraga that gradually climbed uphill and then gradually descended down. The weather was a crisp 34 degrees at the start (which I LOVE) but clear and beautiful.

I love running with Aron– the miles flew by chatting with her and before I knew it, it was time to turn around! I stuck to my gu and water strategy I’ve been using this go around and all systems seemed to be firing. I started feeling a little nauseated about 11 miles in and my IT Band was acting really cranky on the downhills but other than that I felt really good. Good enough to run the last mile at marathon pace and end with a 9:05 average and a healthy negative split. Now that is a great last long run! I not only set a long training run record, but also a no iPod record– people, it’s possible to run a long time without one! Just make sure you have someone awesome to chat with.

If you live in the bay area I can’t tell you how great the trail is– it’s beautiful, barely climbs uphill and is really fun to run back down. Plus it wasn’t too crowded and the people out there were really friendly.

Afterward we got yummy breakfast (and um, maybe a cookie) and I drove home. I was surprised when I got out of the car that although I definitely felt tight and a little tired that overall I feel really good. I’m also thrilled that we pushed past the 20 mile mark. I get all freaked out thinking about mile 20 because everyone makes such a big deal about it but as we learned today, nothing magical happens just because you hit mile 20

I was really glad to have Aron to talk to and push along with. I started feeling tired at mile 17 and I’m not sure I would have gone the full 21 without her there. I am so so glad I did because 5 more miles seems so much more doable than 6 more. Plus she’s great.

So I guess you could say I’m feeling pretty optimistic about CIM. I don’t know about my time goal, but I do think I’m going to be able to run the best marathon I know how to run. I’ve done everything I can to set myself up to succeed and I know that there’s nothing more I can do at this point other than eat well, stay healthy and be careful. I’m excited. I never thought I could train this hard or this much and without fishing for compliments (and really I’m not) I can say that I’m really proud of myself for pushing harder than I thought possible.

Oh and they got the photos up from Clarksburg. I’m trying not to look so angry when I see the camera and I think I finally succeeded. Not the most flaterring of my face but they’re fun!

Happy girl (only not really)

Look! No feet on the ground!

Yesterday, I awoke with purpose. Not only was I going to get cultured at the Bower Museum in Santa Ana, hit up a dinner party at my new friend Holly’s home, and also manage to get to the library, but I was going to run around the Newport Back Bay, which, by my calculations, was a six mile jaunt.

I almost drove to the Back Bay, but it’s really only a mile and a half away, so since I had run seven miles a few days prior, I figured nine miles was an achievable goal, and would make me feel good about myself. With my house keys firmly placed inside my sport’s bra (still my favorite key holding method) and my iPod equipped This American Life, I started jogging.

Having only ever biked around the Back Bay, I knew I was in for some grueling hill action, and was rather looking forward to it. So many of my runs are hill-free, and it gets pretty boring, and I welcomed the change of altitude. The run started easily, and I’d only come across one piece of roadkill — a dead mouse — when my first episode of TAL wrapped up. As 20 Acts in 60 Minutes wrapped up, I took stock of where I was, and was a little disturbed by how much longer I had to run. I had figured a nine mile run would take me at the most 90 minutes, but by my calculations, I was only halfway done running. Was I really only running 4.5 miles an hour? That was sort of depressing.

I kept running, and started on another TAL episode, What I Learned from Television. There were not many runners or bikers out on the paths, so it was a very solo journey. I only saw one person to wave at, and I did, despite my un-waving nature. As my second episode of TAL dotted its i’s and crossed its t’s, I became even more concerned. I still had another mile to go. Nine miles in over two hours? I reminded myself that speed is not as important as finishing, so I maintained my pace until I got home, to a very surprised boyfriend, who noted how long I’d been gone as I gulped water like it was going out of style.

Curious about my disturbing lack of speed, I went to my favorite running site, Map My Run, and got my cartography on as I sketched out my run. And lo and behold, I hadn’t finished a nine mile run; I had completed over 12 miles.

Oops. I accidentally ran 12 miles. How is that even possible? I had only run seven miles early in the week because I had been motivated by a lot of cookies, and I’ve been a strict 4-6 miler for months now.

Maybe, much like planning fun, I cannot plan long runs. If I do, I mentally freak out. But if I don’t, I just go along with it because I want to get home.

An interesting thought. A very interesting thought.

The injury-like thing did turn out to be a two-day wonder, which is of course how they are supposed to be. We are advised to fix injuries before they incapacitate us. This advice supposes that we can discern between a harmless twinge and something that’s about to get worse. Perhaps experience helps, or we get lucky. My Achilles tendon, or it’s surrounding structures, was swollen for a day, a little uncomfortable for a second day, then back in service. The week ended with a the longest run of this cycle, whose 24 miles doubled the Alameda beachfront before going twice around Bay Farm Island and home again. Wile beginning the first of these laps I spotted a pair of runners a long way ahead of me and wondered if I would catch them. My long run pace of 8:30-8:50 is still faster than the majority of runners I meet. As it happened, this pair were at my pace, but they got a lot closer after refilling their water bottles at a restroom. A man and woman. I ran along about 100 yards back, until they commenced a second 6-mile lap of the island. I’d now been following this pair for 6 miles, and their pace was metronomic. Marathoners? A surge brought me level, and into conversation with Gareth and Christine. I gathered that they weren’t a couple, just running buddies, out on a 22 miler. Gareth runs marathons and ultras, and is training for CIM, so we had a nice chat about that. Christine’s story was much simpler “I only ever ran one marathon, this one” She pointed at her hat, which had a picture of the Golden Gate Bridge. “I was scared of the distance, and paced it quite conservatively, not looking at my watch at all, I later discovered that I was second in my age group”. She looked about my age. They were quite impressive. No doubt I will see them again.
So that little jog used up 3 1/2 hours, longer than I expect to be running in Sacramento. The average pace was 8:38, which was within a second of the my pace in my first marathon, 16 months ago. how times change.
On the subject of CIM, I’m in planning mode for that. My pace will likely be a little faster than the 7:30 min/mile I’ve been training for. The course is at least 5 seconds faster than flat, plus I’ve been feeling quite strong lately. so 7:20 might be possible. I’m interested in planning for a deliberate negative split instead of just letting it happen. Starting out at 7:30 or a little slower, and speeding up by degrees. More about that later.

In college, I used to dread Sundays. I would wake up around noon (still feeling the effects of Saturday night partying) and have a ton of things to do before the day ended: papers to write, chapters to read, lab reports to finish, a long run with the cross-country/track team, and maybe some laundry.  But over the past few years, Sunday has become my favorite day of the week. I’m a total Grandma and don’t really stay out late anymore, so waking up at a decent hour is no problem. I’ve also learned to love long runs because they’ve become something I want to do rather than something I have to do. Oh, and I don’t have homework anymore. That’s pretty sweet! So I’ve decided,  Sunday is my new favorite day!

Favorite day started off with a walk to Dunkin’ Donuts for a latte lite. Love.

And then it was time for oats in a jar. I had about 1-2 Tbs of almond butter left at the bottom of the jar, so I made stovetop oats and then added the oats to the almond butter container. The hot oats melted the almond butter and everything mixed up quite nicely!

• 1/2 cup oats made with 1 cup water, splash of milk
• sea salt and cinnamon
• sliced banana
• 1-2 Tbs almond butter
• a few chocolate chips

My oats were perfect fuel for a long run! The weather was so amazing in NYC yesterday – sunny and 68 degrees when I set off for my run. I stopped around mile 6 to stretch out my ache-y IT band, but other than that I felt strong throughout my 12.5 mile run. I finished in 1 hour, 49 minutes which is about 8:45 per mile pace. If it weren’t for time constraints, I would have run longer! Love this weather. Can we just skip January, February, and March?

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I foam rolled and stretched and then re-fueled!

• 1 cup plain Oikos greek yogurt
• chopped apple
• 1 Tbs peanut butter
• 1/2 Kashi crunchy granola bar

And a clif bar on the way out the door!

I met Katie for 5pm yoga and the same instructor from last week was teaching class. I love, love, love this teacher. Her core sequence is killer, but the deep stretches and the instructor’s mind-body philosophy more than make up for my sore abs. I don’t think it would be cool to take a camera into the studio, but I wanted you all to see what Yoga to the People looks like, so I pulled an image off of their site (thanks http://yogatothepeople.com). If you’re in the NYC, San Fran, or Berkeley areas, you have to check out this studio. I think the instructors are great and I love that the classes are donation based. Sometimes I have more money in the bank account, sometimes I have less, but I can always manage a donation for a yoga class. And that’s a very good thing.

[source]

*Note for those unfamilar with yoga: this photo makes it look like the class is worshipping an altar or something, but they’re really just in child’s pose (a gentle, resting pose).

After a quick stop at Trader Joe’s (madness on a Sunday evening!), I dashed home to start laundry and dinner. Before I got down to business, I had a small snack: 1/2 whole wheat sandwich thin with Greek olive hummus.

And then for the next 2 hours I cooked risotto. Yikes. This recipe was A LOT more labor intensive than I expected. The results were pretty good and I have a ton of leftovers, but I’m not sure I would do this again! But just in case you have a lot of time on your hands, I’ll post the recipe. Note: I improvised and used ingredients that I had on hand, so feel free to use different kinds of cheese, wine instead of beer, or arborio rice instead of brown.

Megan’s Pumpkin and Cheese Risotto (adapted from a Millenium Knickerbocker Hotel recipe)

Ingredients:

• 1 small onion, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1.5 Tbs olive oil
• puree of one small pumpkin
• 1/2 can of pure pumpkin puree
• 1 1/2 cups short grain brown rice (use arborio if you have it)
• 4 oz cottage cheese (or you could use goat cheese)
• 2 laughing cow lite cheese wedges (or you could use Parmesan cheese)
• 5 cups hot water (or chicken stock)
• 1/2 cup beer
• bay leaf
• 1/4 tsp pepper, 1 Tbs salt
• 1 Tbs butter

Directions:

• Steep bay leaf in 5 cups of very hot water.
• Heat olive oil in large pot and saute rice, onions, and pumpkin until onions are translucent and rice has nutty aroma.
• Add garlic and saute briefly.
• Add beer and deglaze the pan.
• Remove bay leaf from hot water and discard.
• While stirring rice mixture with a wooden spoon (vigorously!), add one cup of hot water at a time until rice absorbs all water.
• This is where I started to freak out – my risotto was taking a very long time to cook. I was stirring and stirring and going to the laundry mat to pick up my laundry stirring non-stop for nearly 50 minutes before everything started to come together. I realized this was because I used brown rice and the original recipe uses white arborio rice which has a much shorter cooking time. This is what I get for trying to be healthy…
• Anyway, after your rice has finally absorbed the water and is al dente (soft, but chewy), add the canned pumpkin, salt, pepper, and cheese.
• Before serving, add Tbs butter and stir until melted.
• Allow the risotto to sit for a minute or so before serving and then enjoy over spinach or mixed greens.

After dishes and laundry folding, I was ready to pack it in. Phew, what a night of domesticity!

I finished up my Sunday with an episode of Mad Men, a glass of milk, and 2 white chocolate pumpkin cookies. Perfect.

Don’t love running? Neither did Matt until he discovered the beauty of the trails. Check out the new Running Shorts article on True/Slant for the whole story!

Cursing the alarm clock every morning? Read these tips for getting the restorative sleep you need.

Question: What’s the most labor intensive thing you’ve ever cooked or baked?

This morning I ran the Clarksburg 30k out in California’s Delta. To give you a little bit of context I want to tell you about the first time I ran this race 2 years ago. It was only the 2nd time that I’d run more than 16 miles, I totally bonked at the end and ended up walk/running the final five miles. It was absolutely horrendous. I didn’t know anyone at the race and it was totally miserable, alone and sad. It was also the race where I found out that I absolutely cannot tolerate gu or gatorade– so you can imagine how that ended up. Anyway, I’ve always looked back at Clarksburg as the place where I decided to become a good runner. I just knew that I was better than the result I had there.

After an 80 mile week and a 63 mile week plus 4 days of business travel, not a lot of sleep and a weird diet I wasn’t exactly stoked to run this race. I woke up and instantly wanted to go back to bed. In fact, instead of warming up I opted to take a nap in my car. I don’t know about you, but I don’t think that’s a very good way to start a race. I forced myself to run a mile before the race and lined up at the start. I felt bloaty and heavy and just… ugh.

So, I started running and was surprised that I was actually running about 10 seconds/mile faster than marathon pace. I felt ok and started running with a really nice girl who helped the 5 miles go by quickly. But after 5 miles I realized that today was not a day for me to run marathon pace. I was very, very achy and my legs hurt. I don’t know how to explain it, but it was like my quads were cramping and there were small elves with knives inside my glutes and hips.

So I decided to cut my losses and just treat this like a long, easy run with 5 miles of GMP at the front. Not ideal, but CIM is my goal race and this wasn’t worth killing myself. Um, the final 13 miles… they really hurt. A lot. Every one of them. I even stopped to go to the bathroom and to clear a pebble out of my shoe. And I’m not a stopper. In fact, there were a few times where I contemplated quitting. I just felt awful. Each time I saw someone I knew I shouted, “this is a death march!” Cheery, I know. But it’s how I felt. I consoled myself by thinking that it was good practice running while it hurts and that I actually was doing something valuable– becoming mentally tough. Although I felt horrendous, and I can’t overstate how bad I felt, I never stopped running and just kept running the mile I was in. I also completely ignored my garmin because, to be honest, I just didn’t want to know how bad it was!

There were a couple of moments on the course where I flashed back to two years ago– heavier, slower, no clue what I was doing… and felt so grateful for the amount of work and improvement I’ve managed since then. Even on a terrible day where everything hurt and I was exhausted.. I was 2 minutes/mile faster. I finished the race almost 40 minutes faster than last time and more importantly, know how to put it in context. I’m on week 14 of 18 weeks of hard training– of course I feel like crap. I smiled a couple of times when I saw parts of the course I remember feeling absolutely defeated last time because although I hurt, there was no way this race was going to defeat me.

The 30k met up with slower half marathon runners with about 5 miles to go. I decided that since I was running slow I would encourage all the half marathoners. I ran by 2 guys in their 40s who were running slower than me but didn’t look too miserable so I said, “great job gentlemen, keep it up! almost there.” Well, what an ass! It’s not ok to say that to guys, 3 miles from the finish when you’re bouncing by them in spandex. In fact, it’s kind of mean. But I was trying to be nice, promise! They sort of laughed and said, “well you look good…” I’m assuming they meant my running form and excellent stride.

I also found myself wanting to chat this race. I chatted with the girl for the first 5 miles and found a couple of friends along the way. I’m not normally a race-chatter but it was nice. It helped to take my mind off of the pain. It was also a pretty course– I love the Delta. The vineyards are changing colors, there were some cool birds and I love rural California. Since I couldn’t disassociate from the pain like normal I was glad for distractions.

Free Saucony shirt? Don't mind if I do!

Once the race finally ended (and I finished with a 9:00 pace– not, not, not very good but whatever, it’s fine) I got a Saucony shirt from the booth since I raced in Sauconys and hung out with my coach JackAlberto (who rocked the 30k at a 5:28 pace) and his wife. He was really encouraging and reminded me to chill out a little. I ended up with 19.6 miles on the day which is good.

And so, although my time doesn’t reflect progress, here are some things I’ve learned from this race:

1. Although it wasn’t my day I have made tremendous strides in two years. In context, today’s time is good.
2. I can run when it hurts and I don’t enjoy it.
3. I’m burned out and so, so ready to taper. I need some pop back in my legs.
4. Carrying my own water works for me. It’s mildly annoying but it works.
5. Cheering for dudes as you pass them is mean and condescending.
6. One bad race isn’t necessarily indicative of the full picture. Put your race in context with the rest of your life and make sure to consider all the other factors– sleep, food, amount of miles run, etc.
7. It’s just a race.

This week my mileage comes down into the 50s. I’m so excited. No double days or bone-crushing hunger or getting up at 4. Awesome. 4 weeks until CIM. Crazy. In some ways I’m so ready to be done– I can’t wait for running to fit into my life instead of fitting my life into running but on the other hand… I have loved training hard. 28 days!

(This gets a little religious-philosophy-ish, just a disclaimer.)

Something was really off during my run today, my very first 10-miler.

I took a mental inventory, attempting to put my finger on it: did I drink enough water? Check. Eat some good protein and carbs an hour beforehand? Check, check. Get at least eight hours of sleep? Indeed.

I was dragging, for no apparent physical reason.

Oh…wait. Maybe it was the huge burden of doubt I was carrying like a backpack strapped to my shoulders. Maybe it was the number 10 I was tripping over every few strides.

I hate being my own worst roadblock to achieving what I really want: wondering whether I’m really worthy or capable. Who you are in running is who you are in life.

I pretended I was carrying 10 pounds in that imaginary backpack, and at every mile marker I removed one pound of doubt and left it in the dust. As silly as it sounds, this mental exercise helped. I felt lighter as the run progressed.

I considered the role faith plays in running. Sometimes, you have to tap into something truly out-of-body and sort of unexplainable to get through a challenging run. Sometimes, out of nowhere, you really surprise yourself. Is it God? Is it adrenaline? A second wind? That unused and undeciphered mysterious portion of your brain? Or something else entirely? To me, it feels like faith. Like The Little Engine That Could.

My thoughts took a religious turn. Being Sunday and all, I was once again inundated with a swell of guilt for not being in church.

I don’t like churches. This has been a difficult self-discovery for me to swallow, after years of Catholic doctrine programming through CCD during my childhood. I was sure a lighting bolt would find me after confessing this feeling. Guilt jolts me even typing the sentence.

But to me, churches are stifling, overdramatic, and fraught with ulterior motives, mostly because they’re invented by people. Once, when I was sixteen years old and attending Mass at a small church in rural Indiana, I spotted a pamphlet informing the parish how they should vote in the upcoming election (republican, of course). That didn’t sit right with me, even at an age when it hadn’t yet occurred to me to question establishments.

I just feel like they’re missing the point. Does this make me feel less guilty? No.

But I’m reminded of that saying, “Some go to church and think about fishing, others go fishing and think about God,” (Tony Blake). I find my spiritual connection in places without walls, without constraints. Places of natural, deity-made beauty. Places where my beliefs aren’t required to fit into nice and neat boxes. Places like my backyard on a quiet evening, canopied by a diamond-studded night sky…the woods, serene and gently blanketed with the first winter’s snow…the beach of an ocean that’s endless and touching the majestic-looking sunrise…a long run on a beautiful Sunday, my heart pumping, blood rushing, and mind clear enough to hear things our busy lives keep us from picking up on.

Places where doubt disappears, and somehow you know you’re not alone in your efforts.

So maybe I could be like those people who go fishing and think about God, only I’m running instead, and maybe that would count for something.

And if I could just kick doubt to the curb once and for all, maybe I could sign up for the half marathon I’ve been turning over and over in my head.

I think I can, I think I can…

Ok, so I’m exaggerating by about 7 sneakers.  But look at this beauts:

This would be my 4th pair.  In this color.  I have an additional 5 pairs of the lighter blue version.  I won’t even begin to discuss the number of trail running shoes I have.  I alone could keep Brooks out of the red.  I question spending my money on unnecessary items – like toilet paper and food – but would sell myself on the corner of Main if it meant lacing my feet up in a new pair of Brooks.

Ok, I do purchase (way too much) food but I don’t second guess smuggling vast quantities from my parent’s fridge or standing by the plate of free samples of cantaloupe slices at Whole Foods stuffing myself in an attempt to get a daily serving of fruit in my diet. And I do use toilet paper (when I’m not running at least) but refuse to buy anything but the cheapest.

While we’re on it, that soft ply crap is completely destructive to the environment.  I’m not chaining myself to an evergreen anytime in the near future but lets draw a line somewhere.  I understand you may like the plush feel but really do you need to slaughter 27 trees in the process of wiping yourself?  Seems a little excessive to me.

But back to me emptying my entire disposal income on running sneakers.  My computer currently has 6 widgets that are tallying the mileage of the running sneakers in my current running rotation.  Until they are ready for retirement.  Then they move into my attic where they sit.  All lined up.  Over 100 pairs since my college years.  It’s unhealthy and slightly disturbing but we have a long history.  A long history that soon will soon require me renting a storage unit to house my unhealthy spending habit.  Which will most likely cut into the money I could otherwise spend on more running sneakers.  It’s a tangled dilemma I’m weaving through at the moment.

In other moments, I ran 9 miles today.  Schedule said 8 and my heart said 10.  I compromised.  My pace was in no mood to do the same and although my mind said 7:45 pace, my body went with 7:17.

In post-run moments, I tried to restrain myself from my normal all-out Sunday food binge but, as evidenced by my inability to stop buying running sneakers, habits are hard to break.  I’m left slightly stuffed and trying to move around enough to make room for my Sunday night meal.  Which will surely include the consumption of my husband disguised as vegan carrot cake.

Next moment up:  Food coma.

“You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can’t know what’s coming.”
Frank Shorter

so yesterday was my longest run: 36.4 kilometers; just over 22 miles. i ran it in 4:37, which for my long, slow run isn’t so bad. it’s also not so bad considering the following:

-i had to stop twice for pit stops
-i had three water station buddies meet me on the way and took a few minutes each time
-my feet and ankles hurt so bad i thought i had broken something in them
-i was completely alone

this last part is really key. 4.5 hours running, on your own, is a real test. more than a test. it’s just an unbelievable task. the pain in my legs at 20 miles was so intense that i started to cry for a bit. it wasn’t a “poor me” cry or a “wow, i’m really doing this” cry – it was a legitimate, spontaneous release of emotion and pain. visceral. real.

when i originally planned my route, i thought it would be a good idea to end my run a mile or so from home. my rationale, at the time, was that walking a mile home would probably be a good thing. experienced marathoners reading this will laugh – what a gong show. when you stop running after a marathon distance – your legs just don’t work properly. you try to fire your hip to lift the leg and the foot doesn’t really follow. the legs are so tight that they don’t bend properly and the pain….oh the pain…..to put it into perspective for you – it took me almost HALF AN HOUR to walk a mile. i was going to lay down in the park on the way but was truly too scared that i wouldn’t be able to get back up.

here’s what i’ll tell you: i’m on the other side of this run and i’m the better for it. i come out of this experience though with a new-found appreciation for the distance. a near-reverance for the event. absolute astonishment at the achievement of others: terry fox (who did this, daily, for a year, on one leg), team hoyt (a father and his quadroplegic son, who completed ironmans together), kara goucher (a woman who took the lead in her first marathon ever, NYC 2008 though she didn’t win – she held close and strong to the end)….

i’m not proud today. i’m humbled.

yesterday is still so fresh and the pain in my foot hasn’t really subsided. my legs are still pretty wobbly and i’m sort of nauseous. i can’t bear the thought of running 32 next week, 24 the week after, 14 the week after that (ok, that one’s no problem) and then the full marathon. usually i’m excited after every run, planning  my next long route, buying more gu, creating playlists – today i can’t even talk about it without getting teary.

i’m tired. i’m sore. i think i’m hitting the wall.

so here it is – the big metaphor – this IS the wall. this is my mile 23. there are 3 weeks to go. so like my long run yesterday, i’ll shed a few tears, slap myself hard in the legs till they sting and just keep going.

on the other side of yesterday’s run – really only one thing is certain: i’m going to make it.

What a weekend! Prepare yourself for a monster recap

Saturday started off with the usual cup of 1/2 decaf and a banana. Perfect prep for a long run with my beantown running buddy.

Hannah and I ran a lovely 9 miles through Central Park and I was pleasantly surprised at how good my IT band/hamstring felt (must have been the day off from running on Friday). As soon as we finished I had to shower and hustle out the door for a meeting downtown.

I grabbed an apple and a vanilla Chobani for the subway ride. I got some weird looks for taking photos of the food in my lap…

I had a morning meeting with some folks from Nike – a shoe designer and some marketing reps. A small group of NYC runners met with the Nike team to discuss training shoe design – and I snagged a free pair of racing flats! These babies won’t go on the market until January, so I was psyched to get a sneak peek.

My stomach started growling mid way through the group meeting (hello, 9 miles), so I snacked on a clif z bar and some raisins.

And then I met up with Ms. Hannah and a blog reader (Hi Rachel!) for a tall skim decaf 1 pump pumpkin spice latte. It was even better (and more high maintenance) than usual.

Hannah and I procured some very essential Halloween accessories and then walked across town. We were in need of a mini-meal and the Whole Foods salad bar seemed like a good option. I filled a small take-out container with lots of veggie goodness. I don’t remember exactly what I put in there, but it was a mix of beans, beets, brussels sprouts, and other roasted veggies.

The rest of the afternoon was spent preparing for Halloween night!

A princess, a marathon runner, and a flapper.

Except Alma’s ensemble was for real – she ran the marathon this weekend!

We ventured to the E. Village (dodging a 7 foot tall hamster wheel costume on our way…) and met a few friends at a place called Quantum Leap. The restaurant is famous for their veggie burgers, so I made Hannah stand under the sign (in the rain). What a good sport

Our dining companions were Mario and Luigi.

Along with a pumpkin ale, I enjoyed the “fire rock burger”. My juicy veggie burger patty was topped with jalapenos, onions, mushrooms, tomato, and chipotle mayo. The burger also came with soy bacon, but I took that off because I think it kind of has a weird texture.

Plus a side salad and the BEST garlic fries ever.

We were all pretty full after devouring our burgs so we ordered another round of drinks and lingered at the restaurant for awhile. In true prohibition style, I ordered a diet coke and slipped in some of my own Jack Daniels.

And then it was time for more Halloween celebrations. The village was absolutely crazy last night – the weather was beautiful and the costumed crowds were out in full force. A bunch of us found our way to Mud Coffee – coffee shop by day, bar by night. I really liked that we were able to hang out and talk without having to shout. It was a very chill atmosphere and the scene reminded me of a speakeasy – a perfect pairing for my flapper costume and smuggled whiskey.

Hannah and I got home pretty late and after chugging some water and nibbling on some (un-pictured) pumpkin cookies, I crawled into bed. It was a very fun night, but it definitely involved a later bedtime than I’m used to!

Stay tuned for part 2 of my weekend recap…Marathon spectating, a GIANT red velvet cupcake, and quite possibly the best yoga class ever.

Things I am not at this current moment in time:  Chipper.  Upbeat.  Remotely optimistic.

I ate a cupcake for breakfast because my initial breakfast plans fell through when I realized my bananas will not ripen past a shade forest green.  I like consistency and have eaten a banana with my breakfast every single day since about 3 years ago.  Torn, I ripped through my freezer like the savage beast I am looking in a panicked attempt to find a frozen banana.

Success.  In the form of a banana more resembling a turkey sausage in color than an actual piece of fruit.  I forced it down and now, reflecting back on the moment, I’m wondering if it actually was a turkey sausage.  This consumption of a mystery product was followed by said cupcake to ease the pain.  And the anticipation of the inevitable stomach ache sure to follow.

The breakfast disaster + meager 12 miles on my schedule (on a Sunday no less) only contributed to my foul mood.  Also contributing:  Barbie Girl Meet Me Halfway on a loop in my head the entire run.

I did force myself to bring my water bottle to try and take some fluids.  This is a struggle for me.  Even during races I rarely drink water.  My half-marathon I took about 3 sips.  I know, I know, I should drink more.  I am aware of this but maybe I’m just too busy, I don’t know, actually running.  Ok, when it’s hot and you’re losing a lot of fluids go ahead and drink up, I get it.  But there are people strapping backpacks filled with what appears to be a gallon of water onto their backs, trekking out on 6 mile runs.  Really?  You’re telling me that’s a necessity?

Or the folks who have 4+ water bottles strapped to their waists on races.  I had one guy chatting me up about how there just aren’t enough water stops on the course.  Dude, there’s a water stop every mile and it’s a comfortable 55 degrees outside.  I think you’ll live.  What do you want someone to ride along side you with a garden hose?  How much fluid can you possibly be losing on that blistering 7:15 pace?

These guys ran the Sahara with less water than some people throw back on a 3 mile jog. Man up or maybe consider taking up walking.

I won’t even get started on the ones out there who feel compelled to consume 100 calories worth of simple carbohydrates for every step they take past 5 miles.  Really?  What you might collapse if you don’t have a steady IV of GU in your blood stream at all times?  I doubt it.

Like I said:  Not chipper.

My 12 miles turned into 13.3 miles. Total time: 1:38, Average Pace: 7:24. I could say I tried to keep it at 12 but I set out with full intentions of doing 13.  It felt good but I’m itching for more mileage.  Ah well.  I’m off to hydrate.  From a cup, not a backpack.  Like a normal human.

Okay, no more job talk today! I actually had a big day in that I hit what I consider to be one of my biggest fitness goals.

I kinda-sorta slept in today and tried to make a fancy feast of french toast. However, I made the rookie mistake of over-soaking the bread in egg whites.

Still delicious, they were just super egg-y and fell apart on me. Had an orange dipped in almond butter on the side.

And don’t worry – I’m still eating lots of apple treats!

These apple oatmeal muffins have taken up the space in my freezer that’s usually dedicated to vitamuffins. Slathered in PB. Of course.

I couldn’t wait for lunch today so I could make a pita with my leftover roast chicken.

Do I even have to say this was good? Who needs deli meat?

I used a new-to-me hummus on the pita as well.

I’m told this is the closest thing to Sabra hummus that you can find in the Maritimes. It’s pretty darn good! I liked the garlic in the centre. Besides the presentation, it wasn’t anything to run home about though. President’s Choice Organics hummus, in my opinion, is just as good.

Theeeen, I waited 2.5 hours, mustered up all my courage, and hit the trails for 10 miles. That’s right my friends! Double digits!!!

This is a huge running accomplishment for me. I have no idea why, but I’ve always put double-digit runs on a sort of “pedestal.” I always thought they were so hardcore, and I’ve never considered myself hardcore at, anything!

I tricked myself into thinking that I was just going on a very long jog. No stress. It was a nice and sunny day out, 6 C (43 F) so not too cold. Not a lick of wind either, the river looked like glass.

My first 5 miles were easy, other than the fact that I was having tummy troubles. For the record, garlicky hummus and dark chicken meat do not make the best pre-run meal My stomach doesn’t digest high fat foods well, and I was very crampy/burpy for the first half. But, since this was such a long friggin’ run, it did eventually pass.

I did my usual 9 minutes running, 1 minute walking intervals. I went at what felt almost like a “jogging” pace for me. I figured, if I was going to run a whole 10 miles, they didn’t need to be high intensity!

After 70 minutes, I dug into my cran-razz Clif Shot Bloks. I had three left, so I popped one every 10 minutes (during my last three walking breaks). This was my second experience with these and I loved them! I was scared they would bring my stomach cramps back, but spacing them out made them easier to digest. They were easy to chew and swallow, and didn’t leave a gross sugary taste in my mouth like some sport gummies or gels do. They provided me with the perfect amount of energy to get back home

I was actually feeling good enough at the end that I skipped my last walking break, and even sprinted towards the end! Total stats:

Time: 1:44:17
Distance: 10 miles
Avg Pace: 10:25

I’m thrilled with that. I was secretly hoping to get it done in under 1:45:00. Now I just don’t know where to go from here When I started focusing on running after my triathlon this summer, it was my goal to get up to the double digits before it started snowing. Now that I’ve done that, should I just keep going? Should I lay off? Maybe I just won’t set any more running goals and do whatever the hell I want

Walking down the stairs to my apartment after was so hard. My legs were really sore to begin with today from all the exercise classes I’ve been doing. I was literally hobbling around. I immediately took a couple ibuprofen then foam rolled and stretched for about 20 minutes. Then I took turns icing my hips, knees and ankles while drinking a delicious smoothie.

• 1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1 scoop peach-mango protein powder
• 2 big scoops plain yogurt
• handful each of frozen papaya chunks, frozen strawberries, frozen blueberries and frozen raspberries (remember not that long ago when these were super cheap fresh? Boo.)

Here’s my “holy crap I just ran 10 miles” face.

Ha, I look a little tired. Rightfully so!!!

Dinner was another tofu quesadilla because the first one was so good.

• 1/4 block crumbled tofu
• red pepper
• red onion
• chili powder, paprika, cajun seasoning
• EXTRA cheddar cheese (10 miles deserves extra cheese, dontcha think?)

I had leftover potatoes and carrots from yesterday’s feast. Re-roasted and much better the next day. The chicken grease made them crispy on the outside and mushy on the inside.

I always put the salsa on top of my quesadillas as not to make anything soggy. Plus it’s more fun that way.

Yumm, perfect recovery food!

Thankfully, I’ve regained mobility in my legs. My upper body was surprisingly stiff too, either from tensing up or my camelbak. But that’s back to normal as well. Tomorrow will definitely be a rest day. Then maybe some light activity on Saturday to get my muscles moving and blood flowing again. Praying I don’t wake up with a Charley Horse tonight!

Question of the day: What’s your biggest fitness achievement so far? I talked about this on Brie’s blog before. But being able to run 20 minutes straight was a huge one for me. Others include swimming my first kilometre, squatting an olympic bar for the first time, and of course, the triathlon! And now running 10 miles!!

I started this morning with a perfect fall long run, most of which was spent in Central Park. It was pretty amusing looking around at the outfits of people around me. Some were dressed for summer in sports bras and shorts, and some were wearing running tights, under armor shirts, hats, and gloves. I fell somewhere in the middle with shorts and a lightweight long sleeve shirt. Central Park was beautiful with the leaves changing and the paths full of runners. NY is the best…

All of the advice Ive ever read or received about marathon pacing recommends starting off slower than your goal pace. This advice always freaked me out though, because the idea of being 13  miles into a race and having a deficit to make up sounded so terrifying. However, I usually trust the professionals, so I decided to start testing out this technique on my long runs. My goal pace for the marathon is 8:00-8:30 per mile, so I decided to shoot for the following paces:

• Miles 1-4: 9:15-9:20 pace
• Miles 5-8: 9:00 pace
• Miles 9-12: Sub-9:00
• Miles 13-14: 8:30
• Miles 15-16: PUSH IT!

Here were my actual paces:

• Mile 1: 9:14
• Mile 2: 9:17
• Mile 3: 9:09
• Mile 4: 9:11
• Mile 5: 8:54
• Mile 6: 8:55
• Mile 7: 8:46
• Mile 8: 8:48
• Mile 9: 8:25
• Mile 10: 8:32
• Mile 11: 8:37
• Mile 12: 8:36
• Mile 13: 8:20
• Mile 14: 8:14
• Mile 15: 7:25
• Mile 16: 7:30

That means I ran 16 miles in 2:18:02, making my average pace (according to my Garmin) 8:37!!! I really pushed it my last two miles, and felt good doing so. It looks like starting off slow worked for me! I felt pretty great too. I already can’t wait for my long run next week! I’m definitely trying this technique again.

Goals from Last Week:

I’d say I earned a B- at meeting my goals from last week. The goals were to run both weekend runs outside (CHECK!!) and to add at least one easy 3 miler. I did 2 miles on the day of my Jillian workout, but those were already in my training calendar so only sort of count. I was planning on doing 3 miles on Friday night, but I ended up getting stuck at work. So, B- because even though I didn’t really meet the second goal, I ran outside despite the rain on Saturday (and almost died of a heat stroke thanks to my BAD clothing choices…)

Goals for This Week:

1.  Add at least 1 easy 3-miler. I’ll keep this one from last week since I didn’t really do it.
2. Take the stairs: Confession: I NEVER take the stairs at my apartment. I just kind of hate it. I get winded then feel like I’m really out of shape. However, I recognize that losing weight is hard while training for a marathon, so I need all the help I can get. Hence, no elevator usage unless I have a legit reason, like bags of trash or something.
3. Cook!! Like Felicia, I get in ruts with cooking, especially when work is crazy. Unfortunately, this also means fewer vegetables and more unhealthy meals! This week, no matter what happens at work, I want to cook some more dinners!

Felicia, what are your goals for the week??

Despite Saturday’s rain and wind, I managed to fit in quite a few fun activities. I started the weekend early with some coffee and a 4.5 mile run mostly around the reservoir in Central Park. I was a little sleepy for the first 20 minutes, but I felt much better after that. I returned home to try out the new pineapple Chobani greek yogurt flavor! I enjoyed it with a sliced banana and 1/2 Clif mojo bar (the other half was eaten quite awhile ago…).

Then Alma and I grabbed our yoga mats and headed downtown for 60 minutes of vinyasa flow. I was really challenged during the lunge asanas (especially crescent moon, yikes), but I felt sooo much looser and relaxed after class. I enjoy running much more than other activities (yoga, spinning etc.) so it’s always a struggle to find motivation to cross-train. However, I know how important stretching and strengthening are to my running, so that gives the activities a defined purpose. Plus, I’ve found that the more I do an activity (like cycling!), the more I enjoy it.

After class, Alma and I treated ourselves to pumpkin spice lattes! I ordered a no-whip decaf skim latte with 2 pumps of pumpkin spice syrup. My order was so high maintenance that the barista accidentally made me the iced version. Hot or iced, I enjoy all of the overpriced beverages Starbucks has to offer

When I got back from yoga class, I was h-u-n-g-r-y! I plated up some sliced apple with almond butter and a slice of whole wheat toast with (more!) almond butter and pumpkin butter. And then awhile later I dug into a multi-bran vitatop with pumpkin butter.

An friend from college was visiting the city this weekend and I agreed to run a few miles with him that afternoon (um, yes, that would be run #2 for the day). We ran for about 3.5 miles at 8 minute pace. After this morning’s run and then the hour-long yoga class, my legs were feeling pretty dead. I made sure to snack on some tasty treats to refuel.

peanut butter lara bar & spiced almonds:

and then a Sam Adams Octoberfest beer!

After a few hours of being lazy, it was time for dinner! We braved the winds and rain and ventured to a restaurant called Turkuaz on the Upper West Side. I’ve been wanting to try this place for awhile and it didn’t disappoint. The interior was really cool – the main dining room reminded me of a tent in Middle East. The space was cavernous (by Manhattan standards anyway) and the ceilings and walls were draped in canvas fabric.

Dinner started with some warm flatbread while Alex sampled a Turkish beer.

For my entree, I actually selected something with chicken! Now if you’ve been following my blog for awhile, you may remember my 30-day Vegetarian Challenge. At the end of the month I announced that while I wouldn’t prepare or consume meat at home, I might partake at certain restaurants or on special occasions (Thanksgiving). Lately I’ve been putting in some serious time at the gym/on the roads, so I felt like I could use the extra protein and heme iron.

Anyway, back to the entree: I ordered a chicken kabob dish that contained roasted tomatoes, char grilled peppers, yogurt sauce, and toasted bread cubes. It was so delicious! I would definitely go back to Turkuaz and order this again.

The rest of my evening was pretty low key. Alma and I opened a bottle of red wine that we had leftover from our housewarming party and I enjoyed some dark chocolates along with a few small pours of vino. Antioxidants!

I was having trouble sleeping on Saturday night (mosquito attacks), so around 3am I headed to the kitchen for a small (un-pictured, sorry!) bowl of cereal. The carbs + milk helped me drift of to sleep – finally!

After my late bedtime, I didn’t wake up until after 9:30am on Sunday. It was kind of awesome – I never sleep that late anymore!

After the requisite coffee and 1/2 clif bar (new pumpkin pie flavor!), I headed out the door for a long-ish run. I wasn’t sure how my legs were going to feel after my high volume week of training, but I was pleasantly surprised. The weather was absolutely gorgeous  – 60 degrees and sunny. I’m sure that helped make my run so good! I ended up running 12 miles in 1:46:37 (a bit under 9:00 per mile pace) and I felt strong throughout. My IT band started aching a bit after 5 or 6 miles, but it wasn’t too bad. After the run I downed some water and a banana and jumped in the shower. Thank goodness our hot water was working again (ughhh…so many problems with the boiler in this apartment building).

Around 2:30pm, I headed to brunch with my friend. At this point I had been awake for 5 hours and had run 12 miles, but had only ingested about 250 calories. I started feeling pretty yucky. On the subway I had 1/2 of an un-pictured fruit and oat bar (free sample from the HLS!) and that made me feel a teeny bit better.

Once we arrived at our brunch locale, I immediately ordered a big glass of OJ to get my blood sugar back up. Once the food arrived, I was ready to dig-in! I ordered the goat cheese and spinach egg white omelette that was accompanied by country potatoes (with lots of ketchup, of course) and a slice of sour dough toast.

It was just what I needed – I felt 100% better after eating! Post-long run brunches are fun, but I think I just need to skip the  shower next time. Food should come first in my book

Oh! And the restaurant featured this amazing sandwich as one of their specials: french toast sandwich with ricotta and nutella filling, covered with strawberry jam and honey. OMG. This sounded so good. If I wasn’t craving salt and protein (eggs + potatoes!), I think I would have ordered this sammie.

I wanted to enjoy the Autumn weather for the rest of the afternoon, so after running some errands, I popped into a Starbucks and ordered a decaf skim misto with 2 pumps of pumpkin spice syrup. FYI: Mistos are 1/2 milk, 1/2 coffee and are about $2 cheaper than lattes! But I think they taste pretty similar.  I enjoyed my warm drink while walking around my neighborhood.

Once I was back at my apartment I basically crashed. Late bedtime + 12 mile run = sleepy Megan. I was able to enjoy a little nap and it was awesome. I wish I could do this more often!

My stomach felt a little off all day, but around 8pm, I knew I needed to eat something. I toasted up a slice of whole wheat bread and topped it with almond butter and 1/2 banana. I rounded out dinner with some veggie chili and ate it with a generous dash of hot sauce and a dollop of greek yogurt. Perfecto!

The rest of my Sunday was very chill - Gossip Girl watching, tea sipping, vita brownie (with almond butter!) snacking, and preparing for the week ahead.

Fingers-crossed, I think the  hamstring/IT band injury might be almost 100% better…

Last night I tallied up exercise totals for the week: 46 miles of running, 2 x 45 minute spinning classes, 50 minutes elliptical cross-training, and a 60 minute yoga class. Holy cow, I had no idea that I’d been that busy this week! My legs are a little bit sore from the increase in mileage, but this is the most positive (and pain free) week of training that I’ve had since last fall. Hooray!

Check out these healthy, Halloween cookies (they’re kind of like personal apple pies!).

Question: What’s your favorite thing to eat when you go out to brunch? Sweet (waffles and french toast) or savory (omelettes)?

Today I tackled my first stand-alone 20 miler of this training block. Although I’ve done a couple of 19 milers they’ve all been either interval workouts or miles I’ve tacked on to a race which means I’ve had a couple of minutes to rest before completing my run. So although I’ve done 20 miles in a day, I haven’t, in my mind, done a 20 miler. You feel me?

I had a busy weekend full of family and friends’ birthday parties and spent the night at my mom’s house in Chico. Normally I get really nervous about 20 milers– I mean it’s 20 miles. That’s a long way. But I was so busy making a kickass M&M cake, bread pudding, buying the cutest boots known to man, hanging out with my mom, celebrating the family and drinking wine that I kind of forgot to be nervous. I mean, I prepared (if by prepared you mean eat a lot) and went to bed early (if you call midnight early) and rested my legs (if by rested you mean walked all around the mall and downtown in cute but not supportive shoes)…

Normally I like to train really hard. When I’m working in a race I like to remind myself of all the hard workouts I’ve done, how terrible I felt, etc but you also need the good runs to remind you why the heck you do this! So this morning I woke up, drank some coffee, ate some toast and jetted out my mom’s door. She lives about 1/2 mile from the most glorious park you can imagine– the lower portion has a 5 mile dirt loop that leads to a network of hilly trails that are just gorgeous, heavily used and perfect for training.

I felt kind of junky the first 4 miles of my run but around mile 5, everything started to click. I ran the lower portion of the park and then headed about 3-4 miles up hill (some of it rolls but mostly it’s a gradual ascent) and then turned around. Miles 5-18 flew by! At one point as I was running along a trail that rims the side of a canyon (ps I forgot how fun trail running is– focusing on your steps really keeps you from getting bored) I thought to myself, “am I having fun? On a 20 mile run? Really?” But I was! I had a great time out there today! It was a gorgeous fall day, sunny and cool, the leaves are changing and there were tons of runners, mountain bikers and hikers enjoying the park. I loved it! Plus, I spent basically every spring, summer and fall of my childhood in the park and so it’s fun to reminisce about all the shenanigans that went down during my wayward youth! I remember struggling to WALK up one of the hills I ran up today which makes me laugh. I also got to see my coach JackAlberto out running which was a huge boost- can’t look weak for coach!

Today was, hands down, the best I have ever felt during a long run in my entire life. Not only did I negative split the run in a big way, but I felt like I could have run a marathon today. I only stopped twice (both times to refill my water bottle) and only needed 2 gus- one at mile 9 and one at mile 16. And truthfully, I only kind of needed those. I felt awesome. Plus, I had fun. I never got nauseated, never felt tired, never puked, never got achy, never cramped… just ran 20 solid miles.

When I got home, I continued to feel good. My muscles never stiffened up and although I’m tired, I managed to go on a walk with my mom and her dog, do some chores and have a normal day. This run is a huge confidence booster to me with CIM 6 weeks out. Yes, I ran it at 9:10 pace which is way slower than I hope to run the marathon, but I was able to run a 7:50 last mile and tackled some pretty huge hills. Also, did I mention that it was fun? So what contributed to my success?

1. I carried my own water. I don’t normally bring my own water, but it was necessary today. I’m finding that slowly sipping water every 5 minutes works well for me. Crap. That means I’m going to have to carry it in the race and I really don’t want to. But I hate aid stations and I’m not yet elite, so squeeze bottle it may have to be.
2. I didn’t stress out about this run. I was so relaxed when I woke up and only glanced at my garmin occasionally. I just ran how I felt, listened to my body, zoned to my tunes and enjoyed my morning.
3. I’ve been running a lot. I think today’s run is confirmation that my fitness and endurance are improving and that’s because I’ve been putting in the work. It wasn’t magic.
4. Last week I only ran 51 miles– a huge reduction which allowed me to recover and absorb some of my training.
5. I ran somewhere new– my brain didn’t automatically stop where I normally get tired or send tired signals toward the end of the bike trail. Changing it up is good!

I don’t want to put too much emphasis on one long run, but I’m ecstatic. It’s a great way to start my last 70 mile week. And I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’m sad it’s my lat 70 miler. I’ve loved, loved, loved all the running I’ve done this cycle. Tapering is going to be so hard for me! I’m so happy to have a great run, in a beautiful place and to have fun doing it.There’s only one word for a run like this morning– spectacular. I was grinning like an idiot the whole time. Life is good people.

The Sunday long run = my favorite run of the week.  Those few weeks where I’m constrained to 8 or 9 miles on Sunday, I end up grumpy and feeling less than accomplished.  Today was my last 20-miler before the marathon and I wanted to make it good.  The result:

Success.  I ended up doing a little over 21 miles, which is good given my last 20 mile run I got tempted and added an additional 3, just because I somehow justified in my head 20 wasn’t enough.  The 20-miler before that I ended up getting lost and did about 24.  So I feel as though I restrained myself.  For once.

I’ve heard it said you’re supposed to keep a nice, slow pace on long runs.  I’m sure there are benefits, like being on your feet for a long time to properly prepare for the marathon.  But running over 8:30 for anything over 12 miles will end me up in a nursing home before I turn 27 because of the knee pain this “slow” pace causes.  So, yea, my long runs I do on the faster side of my training runs.  Running with the Buffolo-style Sunday runs is how I label them.  Only THE best running book of all time.  Legit.  Read it.

To sum up my run:

I strategically mapped out a route that included every uphill I could find in the near vicinity.  I despise downhills but that’s a story for another day.  I managed to take a bathroom break at WholeFoods in 33 seconds.  Which I think is more impressive than the completion of the run itself.  I’d request a pat on the back if this where possible via the internet.

• Miles 1-6:  I felt pretty strong, keeping a solid 7:30 pace.  I thought maybe I should go faster.  Then I slapped myself in the face to snap myself back to reality.  Who exactly do I think I am?  A passing car witnessed said slap.  I hope it provided some in-car entertainment.
• Miles 7-11:  I spent this time eyeing out some woods to take a potty break.  The leaves, however, where no longer holding tight to the tree limbs, providing adequate shelter and I concluded I would wait until I came upon WholeFoods.  (Sidenote:  WholeFoods make great pit stops because the bathrooms are located right near the entrances and occasionally there are free fruit samples.  Exciting, I know.  No suck luck today, however.)
• Miles 12-16:  I was relieved my bladder was empty but not so happy that I was suddenly feeling the need to curl up on the sidewalk and take a quick nap.  I threw back two dates and waited for the sugar rush.
• Miles 17-21:  Now relieved my dates were doing their job, my thoughts drifted to the next two weeks ahead where my longest run would be 12 miles.  I was already missing my 20’s before I had even completed my last one.  This was enough to get me back on my 7:30 pace, and I finished strong.
• Results: 21.15 miles, 2 hours and 40 minutes total, 7:35 average pace.

And so I will check my final 20-miler off the calendar, but I will do so while shedding a few tears at their passing.  Until the marathon, 12 miles will just have to suffice.