This outdoor pool is one mile from our house. A house that we’ve lived in for almost four years and we’re just now getting our butts over there to take advantage of it. It even meets the “Three C’s” (that I just made up) – Close, Clean and Cheap. Don’t ask me what took us so long, I have no idea.
So it’s done! The Flower City Half Marathon has been run. By me. And 2,364 other people too.
Pre-Race
My day started dark and early around 5 AM. I spent the early morning hours puttering around the house getting ready to go – putting together things for Zak, the kids and my mom who would be coming along later, and packing up my own bag too. The race started at 7:30, so I had a little something to eat around 6:30 to give myself an hour for digestion.
Less than 12 hours until Flower City Half Marathon! I felt more excited about the race today than I have all week – the day almost here!
I ran Monday and Tuesday this week (5.75 and 4 miles respectively) and 40 minute bike rides on Wednesday and Friday, 8 miles each. I spent today taking it easy to rest up, although I did ride my bike to a yoga class and back (2 miles each way) this afternoon to help loosen up my legs and get my muscles moving just a bit.
The Flower City Half Marathon is one week from today. Like most runners right now, I’m feeling pretty nostalgic about the sport of running in light of what’s happened in Boston over the past week here. I’ve had this post in the works for a while, but my running woes and sore toes suddenly felt insignificant on April 15, 2013.
With that said, running can be a healthy way to deal with tragedy or stress –> and sore toes can keep you from running! This post is for anyone who has struggled with sore toes so you can get out there and keep running. This is where my riveting sore toes tale begins, to give you some ideas of what to try when toe pain strikes – or better yet, beat it to the punch.
Coffee pot, blender, coconut oil, cream… what are we making today?
We’re making coconut oil coffee!
No, I have not lost my mind. Yes, I realize coconut oil in coffee might sound crazy, but it’s good! You won’t believe it until you try it. I sure didn’t.
I’d heard (read) about people putting coconut oil in coffee when I started reading about Intermittent Fasting a couple years ago. I’ve been in love with coconut oil and all of its benefits for quite some time now, but the idea of putting coconut oil in coffee seemed a little extreme and frankly, sort of gross.
This smoothie looked really good and chocolate-y, until I added two handfuls of spinach to it. Then it looked a bit closer in color to a pair of combat fatigues than a delicious chocolate drink.
Oh well. Drink up, soldier!
I gave the juicer a break today and made a green (brown) smoothie instead. Today’s combo was frozen banana, cocoa powder, cottage cheese, milk and spinach. It might not be pretty, but it tasted fine and went down the hatch without hesitation. I only felt hesitation when I got the camera out.
A few days ago I started to notice that I was getting a cold. Fortunately, it never turned into a full fledged cold (special thanks to my bag of tricks for when I feel a cold coming on!) but I was definitely not feeling like my usual self on on Thursday night, Friday and into Saturday.
Greens To Go. Thank you Daylight Savings Time for NOT SAVING ME ANY TIME AT ALL.
OK, that’s not true. I had plenty of time for breakfast this morning, I just ran out of time. This is why God invented Travel Mugs. For people like me who continue to underestimate how long it will take to get all of the children out the door on time.
Today’s green goodness was a blend of orange juice, spinach, cottage cheese, broccoli and frozen strawberries. Much like this smoothie, except without the banana – only because I forgot it, not because I’m holding a grudge against bananas or anything.
Do you know the best thing about running on cold and dreary days?
It makes running on the sunny days that much brighter.
(I know that sounds corny but it’s true!)
My weekend long run for Week 4 of half marathon training was seven miles. It was 30-something degrees and I wore all my usual winter running gear with the addition of a windbreaker over my fleece. By the time I was three miles in, I was starting to feel HOT and overdressed. Sometime around mile four I finally took off my neck warmer and mittens and shoved them in the pockets of my jacket before tying it around my waist for the remaining three miles home.
More Mama’s Weeds
