On Blogging and Running

About a month ago, Lindsay Ostrom of Pinch of Yum was a guest on The Lively Show. I enjoy reading food blogs, but hadn't heard of Pinch of Yum until then. In addition to sharing delicious recipes with gorgeous photography, Pinch of Yum shares their monthly income reports. Their first income report was for August 2011 and the blog made $21.97. In May 2014, Pinch of Yum had net income of over $23,000! Suffice it to say, I've read more of their income reports (and related tips) than recipes ;)

What does this have to do with running? In January 2014's report, Bjork (Lindsay's husband and behind the scenes guy of Pinch of Yum) shared the following mindset for growing a blog:

Be a cross country star, not a tennis star. I love tennis. It was my favorite sport in high school. But I always had a ton of respect for the cross country guys and girls. Not only because of their crazy ability to run long distances, but because of the mindset they had in regards to their performance. With tennis, if you beat your opponent you consider the day a success. With cross country, if you beat your own previous record you consider the day a success. Your journey of growing your blog will be much more fulfilling if you aim to outperform yourself as opposed to other blogs.

Amen, brother!

Like blogging, I took a bit of an extended maternity leave from running. Sure, I ran a 10K this past October, but I wasn't running consistently. About three months before Monica's birthday, John's sister talked me into running a half marathon. I pulled up a Hal Higdon training plan, dusted off my running shoes, and got to work. The day before Monica's birthday, I ran my first half marathon in over three years. Was is pretty? Not exactly. But I went out there and finished.

Likewise, this past spring, I felt ready to get back into blogging on a more consistent basis. The analogy isn't perfect, but here are a few more thoughts about why blogging is like running:

You have to start somewhere. Whether it's sitting down to write or starting to run after some time off, the hardest part is starting. For running, the hardest part is getting out the door. But once you get going and see your progress and improvement, the momentum encourages you to keep going.

For example, the first recipe (and second blog post!) I shared on Fiscally Chic was for Raspberry Champagne Cupcakes. My photo wasn't fantastic, but it got the job done:

September 2010 - Raspberry Champagne Cupcakes

 

More recently, I shared a recipe for Raspberry Vanilla Cupcakes. This picture isn't perfect, but it's exponentially better than the first:

June 2014 - Raspberry Vanilla Cupcakes

Over the past 4 years, I've had more opportunities to bake cupcakes, photograph cupcakes, and blog about said cupcakes. That's not to say there haven't been a few hiccups along the way. While the following cupcakes tasted great, the photographs were less than stellar (don't laugh too much):

 

February 2011 - Banana Split Cupcakes

Ugh...I know. In blogging and running, you might have a few setbacks, like writer's block or a knee injury. You can either let it get you down or use it as a learning experience and moment of growth.

 

In addition to having more experience, my blogging and running has improved (or become a little easier) as I've obtained the correct tools. For blogging, that would be getting a better camera (and knowing how to use it). For baking cupcakes, that includes finally buying a pastry bag and piping tips. For running, it's having a proper pair of running shoes, iPhone armband, and our BOB jogging stroller.

 

Finally, sometimes I need to adjust my expectations and benchmarks of running and blogging. Going back to Bjork's point, "with cross country, if you beat your own previous record you consider the day a success." With my first post-baby half marathon, I couldn't compare that performance to my previous personal record. This time around, I didn't have as much time to train. As with blogging, there are only so many hours in the day and I think it'll be a good week if I post once or twice. That sure beats my current track record of posting once or twice a month!

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Postpartum Running

Running Shoes, Tank, Shorts

Wow! Another week has flown by and we're back to another Friday. I didn't really mean to take the week off from blogging, but when this little face is smiling at me, it's a no-brainer to spend my time playing and snuggling with her. Yes, I could do a little writing during nap time, but that's when I try to take care of myself with a quick shower or nap. Another way I've been taking care of myself is by starting to run again.

Monica will be 8 weeks old this weekend and I began running (with walking) about 2 weeks ago. I've been getting out for (sometimes very slow) walks since she was 5 days old and felt like I was ready to pick up the pace a little more. Plus, my doctor said everything was healing well after the C section and I was cleared to exercise.

In true Cathy fashion, I found a 10K race and started to follow Hal Higdon's training program. A 5K seemed too easy and a half marathon is out of the question since I took a year off from running. Sure, I tried to exercise while pregnant, but running was out of the picture.

One of the obvious reasons I'm running again is to try to get back into shape. I put on somewhere between 35 and 40 pounds during this pregnancy. While that's a healthy amount to gain, it was a mentally scary number on the scale. And I was already carrying a few extra pounds when I got pregnant. I'm already down 30 pounds, but those were the easy ones. Monica accounted for about a third of that and I was retaining a bit of water near the end of my pregnancy. Breastfeeding has probably knocked off a few more. 

Mentally, I need to get out and run because it helps me clear my mind. Plus, when I go out for a solo run, John gets some daddy-daughter time with Monica.

 

On the positive side, having a baby has made me less self-conscious about my body. It just grew another human being for 41 weeks and worrying about my belly is low on my priority list. Sure, I'm still rocking some maternity wear and am wearing clothes that hide my imperfections, but I'm starting to fit into more of my non-maternity clothes. Like my skinny jeans (!), even though they were unbuttoned at the top. And I wouldn't mind fitting into a few more articles of clothing. I miss you, pink gingham button down!

As for the running itself, it's slow going and my legs are definitely rusty. Sometimes my running is more akin to a slow shuffle than jogging. And let's just say I need to invest in a few new sports bras! My Dolly Parton-like boobies are uncomfortable and flying all over the place!

So for the well-endowed runners out there, any sports bra recommendations to share?

see more Friday's Fancies at {long distance loving}

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Prayers for Boston

I was thinking about writing about baked goods or something baby-related, but it didn't seem right in light of yesterday's events at the Boston Marathon. While I've been saddened by other recent tragedies, this one hit me differently.

I've been to Boston and have seen the Finish Line painted on Boylston Street.

I know friends that have qualified for and run the Boston Marathon. A friend's husband was running yesterday and (thank goodness for social media updates) they're safe and back home.

And being a runner, I can't imagine this sort of thing happening while finishing the Chicago Marathon. And having trained for a marathon, I'd be disappointed and angry if I couldn't finish after putting in all of the hard work because of a bomb.

While reading news updates, I kept thinking, "Who would do such a thing at a marathon?" And at Boston. The race that runners train for years in the hopes of qualifying. And why would someone do this at the finish line when the charity runners and other "regular" runners were finishing?

These events also make me sad to know that our baby girl will grow up in a world where we have to worry about school shootings and other random acts of violence.

On the positive side, there are so many stories of runners, spectators, race volunteers, and random individuals coming together and running into the smoke and mayhem to help the injured. The news blurb that touched me the most was hearing of runners crossing the finish line and continuing to run to the hospital to donate blood. I could barely walk after finishing a marathon, so if that was me, I hope I would have the strength to do the same.

Please keep the city of Boston and those affected by this disaster in your prayers.
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Exercising for Two

Remember that one time I ran the Chicago Marathon? It's been quite some time since I've talked about exercise, so why not bring it back?

Post-college, I've had an up-and-down relationship with exercising. I'll be really disciplined while training for a half marathon or the one full marathon. But when I don't have a specific goal in my future, I tend to slack off a bit. I'll let work, or most anything, be an excuse for why I can't make it to the gym or go for a run outside. Sure, I'd work out once or twice a week, but I know I function better when I exercise a few more times each week. And yes, I realize there's a balancing act between a legitimate rest day and a made-up-excuse rest day.

When I found out I was pregnant, I had another excuse in my arsenal: first trimester fatigue. Most days, my sluggishness and overall tiredness were legitimate reasons to listen to my body and rest. My doctor told me that the first trimester is "all about survival" and I totally believe it. But there were times that I used my pregnancy as a baloney reason for skipping the gym.

When I think about it, it doesn't make sense. Part of me is still a bit intimidated by the prospect of gaining the recommended 25 to 35 pounds. I know my body knows what's best for it. And I've even seen the breakdown of where all those pounds go: the baby, increased blood and fluids, fat and nutrient stores, etc. But weighing more than my husband isn't a very attractive thought. So you'd think I'd be more diligent in staying active while pregnant.

Once I entered the second trimester, conveniently during the holiday season, my energy started to return and I was motivated to get active again. During more recent prenatal appointments, my doctor continued to stress the importance of exercising while pregnant. She suggested getting some physical activity about 3 or 4 times a week. And of course while staying properly hydrated.

In talking with friends (and reading blogs) with new babies, I heard a common theme that exercising while pregnant helped with labor, delivery, and recovery. With that, I had a new goal: exercising for a (hopefully) easier labor and delivery and faster recovery.

 

Even though I'm almost into the third trimester (!), I still haven't mastered my pregnancy exercise routine. Yes, I only make it to the gym one or two times a week. But I have been more active around the house. So that has to count for something, right?

As I'm sure you can guess, my pre-pregnancy exercise of choice was running. Some ladies continue to run while pregnant, but not this one. Even in the beginning, I found running uncomfortable. Even if running was comfortable, I have a bit of a psychological barrier. Back in June, I went for an easy, probably not even 3 mile, run. That was the day before I miscarried my first baby. Deep down, I know going for a run wasn't the cause of the miscarriage, but a little piece of me will always wonder. For now, I get plenty of physical activity just walking or using the elliptical machine.

Another pre-pregnancy regular was hitting the weight room. It was generally a combination of free weights, machines, and body work (squats, push ups, abs, etc.). I lifted a little bit during the first trimester and have made a conscious effort to continue strength training now that I'm in my second trimester. Emily over at Daily Garnish wrote a few posts about exercising while pregnant and I followed her strength training workout the other day. She put it perfectly:

"I have to be careful to not push myself too far, and always make sure to stop when I can feel my body straining too hard or tiring too quickly. The goal now is not to make it difficult, but rather just to keep my muscles engaged and body moving. While I have significantly reduced the weight I lift for each exercise, I’m still lifting enough that it’s keeping my muscles toned and my body healthy."

One of the bigger changes I made to my workout routine was adding swimming. I started swimming in the summers around age 8 (as evidenced by the cute picture above) and swam competitively (i.e. year-round) from sixth grade through senior year of college. Once I finished my last event (the mile) at conference, I basically retired from swimming. That's when I picked up running. Since I wasn't running while pregnant, I was looking for a little variety. Particularly of the low-impact variety. Swimming became the perfect solution. If I thought I was walking slow, I'm now swimming at a snail's pace in comparison to my college years. But I'm taking it one lap at a time and listening to my body.

Overall, I can tell that being active while pregnant has been beneficial. I put on about 20 pounds (gulp!) in the first 20 weeks. Some of that may have been due to holiday over-indulging, but I know part of it also had to do with my lower activity level. Since exercising more, my weight gain has been much more gradual. Plus, my blood pressure is more normal. During the first trimester, it was a little bit high, though it could have been due to general anxieties of being in a doctor's office and wondering if my baby was OK.

Thanks so much for continuing to read my pregnancy- and baby-related posts! Are there any sorts of posts that you're missing? I'm currently brainstorming a DIY project to share.

Note: I'm not a doctor or exercise expert. Please consult with your doctor before beginning a new exercise routine, especially if you're pregnant.
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Walk it Out

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As I hinted last week, I was planning on walking a half marathon with my Mom. What I didn't tell you was that it was this past weekend! John and I took a quick weekend to Cleveland for the race.

And it went really well! My Mom walked a personal best time by a minute and I suppose I had a PR because I've never walked a half before. To make it even better, I won my age division for walking the half marathon! I never thought that was possible.

I also have to point out that my Dad was 2nd in his age division for walking the 10K. Way to go Mom and Dad!

Unfortunately, my cold got the best of John over the weekend and he had to sleep it off Sunday morning. But not before completing the Marine pull-up challenge at the race expo. 20 pull-ups for a T-shirt and the opportunity to enlist (kidding about the second part!)

To be honest, walking a half marathon was harder than I expected. I thought I could breeze through training. Read: run 5 miles and hope to crank out 13.1 on race day. I survived the race but was a little more sore than expected. It's tough being on your feet for 3+ hours!

Next time, I'll be sure to listen to Hal Higdon and do more than the bare minimum.

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2012 Goals: Health + Fitness

Nike running shirt, Asics running socks, Champion sports bra,
Saucony running shorts and Omni 10 shoes, Timex Ironman watch

It's the last day of documenting my 2012 goals. And I'm saving the "best" of last: health and fitness. You can't have New Year's resolutions goals without talking about health! I don't care if it's cliche, I'm talking about them anyways.

As I've said before, I have trouble motivating myself to workout if I don't have a goal in mind. The last time I seriously trained (or even ran) was for the Cleveland half marathon in May. Since then, I've found plenty of excuses to skip running: moving, out of town weddings, bachelorette parties, work, I'm tired, and more.

The big "ah-ha" moment telling me I need to get back on the horse came when I had a physical last month. The number on the scale was a little higher than expected and my "bad" cholesterol was also a touch too high. I know cholesterol levels are partially hereditary, but I there are other things I can do to keep it in check. Mainly diet and exercise (duh).

And then while driving to Cleveland for Christmas, I had a craving for vegetables. It may have been the magazines I was reading, but my body knew I was about to enjoy one too many cookies in the coming days. It was telling me to eat a salad. Plus....I wanted to try brussel sprouts! Who does that?!?! Yes, brussels sprouts are the new quinoa or cupcake, but really???

My Mom picked up a bag of brussel sprouts for me to experiment with at home. I tried this recipe for balsamic glazed brussel sprouts (for Christmas dinner, no less!) and even the brussel sprout haters devoured them! I printed out the recipe for everyone in attendance.

With all of this in mind, here's my health and fitness plan for 2012:

• Work out 3 times per week. This can be running, weight lifting, spinning, yoga, or whatever else gets the blood pumping and sweat pouring.
• Drink more water. I have a huge water cup at work (maybe 32 oz) so I'm going to strive for one, maybe even two cups of water during working hours.
• Go veggie every once in a while. The doc said to watch my consumption of red meat, so I'll try to sub in different veggie-focused meals. I've already found friends in quinoa and spaghetti squash.
• Bonus: Meat is expensive, so eating more veggies than meat is also good for the wallet!
• Similarly, eat more fish or seafood. Maybe once a week?
• Set a more consistent sleep schedule. John is better about going to bed and waking up on time. I, on the other hand, have to drag myself out of bed in the morning. It's time to get better about this!

I have a "number" in mind for the scale, but I'm not going to stress about it. The bigger focus is to establish healthy habits again. Plus, I still have a few months until bikini season :)

Have a great weekend! Check out the other Friday's Fancies here!

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Pillow Fight!

Before I jump into some recent weekend excitement, I thought I'd share a short recap of the St. Louis half marathon. As I said before, this race was just for fun and to motivate me to stay active during the winter and my busy time at work. The time wasn't spectacular for me (2:11:33), but we had fun and were able to see friends and family. The race course in St. Louis is still hillier than I remember or maybe it felt that way because Chicago is pretty flat. John and I ran (and walked) the whole race together, which made things interesting. He wanted to go faster while I was struggling to keep up. We fell into a rhythm around mile 10 and even picked up the pace at the end. That's us after we recovered after finishing. A big thanks to everyone that volunteered and cheered for the runners!

Another plus of seeing my parents in St. Louis was that my Mom brought her sewing machine for me. With the new house (we've been cleared to close!), we'll need drapery and other nesting-type things. I'm excited for more pillows, but John would rather have me focus on drapes or a shower curtain for our second bathroom. We'll see...

While John was having a dude's day on Saturday, I decided to take a field trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics. It may have been a while since I looked at fabric, or maybe I wasn't looking hard the last time, but seriously....their fabric selection has vastly improved! No more stuffy, boring fabric! I wanted to buy the whole store! I only walked out with 5 yards (plus 4 yards from Crate and Barrel Outlet), some zippers, and supplies. Maybe the sewing machine was a bad idea...haha.

I haven't used any of the new fabric yet, but I did sew a pillow I've been meaning to make for about a year. Here she is! With a zipper! And you'll see that she nicely coordinates with a pillow I made from Orla Kiely fabric.

 

 
And what will I be doing with those 9 yards of fabric? Some might be used in the new house. I'm also considering whipping up a few pillow covers and selling them on Etsy. John's definitely hoping for option two. Though maybe I can convince him otherwise if there'll be a giant pillow fight :)

Where are you on the pillow fight continuum? Necessary or superfluous?
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Blinded by the Light

Hi, friends! I've finally emerged from the rock I've been hiding under for the last week (hence being blinded). Did you miss me? I missed you. To ease back into blogging here's a quick round-up of what's gone on since we last chatted:

Our loan has been approved (YAY!!) and we've increased our earnest money payment to 10% of the purchase price. Basically, we put down a small amount when we made an offer on the house to show the seller that we were serious and interested. If we walked away from the house, the seller would get the money. If the offer wasn't accepted or a contract wasn't finalized, we would get that money back.

Another sneak peak: the argyle garage

Since the offer was accepted, we entered the attorney review period. The attorneys reviewed the contract and we hashed out the details of how home inspection issues would be addressed and remedied. In our case, the seller has agreed to fix everything we requested from the home inspection (none were serious safety concerns). Five days after the attorney review period, earnest money needs to be increased to 10%. The increase in earnest money provides the seller with additional security and assurance that we will buy the house. And rightfully so, 10% is a lot of money for John and I to walk away from! Fortunately, all of our earnest money go towards our final down payment of 20%.

What else is up?

I bought a case of apple cinnamon Carb BOOM! energy gels for long runs and upcoming half marathons. I've tried different brands and flavors and this is my favorite. It tastes like apple pie filling :) Plus, the St. Louis half marathon is next weekend and I ran 10 miles with Jess on Saturday. I registered for STL to stay active during the winter, so I'm not planning on a super time. And I haven't really tapered. I'm going to run the Cleveland half marathon in May and plan to taper then.


source

Stephanie and I met up for coffee and breakfast at Floriole. The quiche and latte were great and the conversation was even better! She lent me "The Happiness Project" recently and I've really enjoyed reading it. Have you read it? Gretchen Rubin makes monthly resolutions and tries all sorts of different ways to increase her happiness. One thing she did was start a blog because research shows that novelty and challenge make people happier.

Maintaining a blog can definitely be a challenge, but I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experiences. Plus, I get to meet new friends and "hang out" with all of you. Why did you start blogging?
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Making a Run for It

Note: As I'm writing this post, I'm drinking our most recent batch of homebrew. A spiced winter ale :)


As I hinted a few posts back, I've started training for my fifth half marathon. (My fourth St. Louis half marathon!) While I enjoy running, part of me registers for races as an extra boost to get my butt off the couch. Winter is pretty ugly in Chicago and it's easy to be lazy and sit inside. Plus, this is the busiest time of year for me at work. I tend to forget about taking care of myself (exercise, eating, sleeping, etc) if I don't have something to work towards. Since I know some of my coworkers and friends have the same tendencies, I thought I would share a few tips on running and staying fit during the winter months.

Set a goal to stay motivated
You don't have to do something beyond your capabilities like running a half marathon or marathon. Maybe a 5K (3.1 miles) is more within your means. To stay extra motivated, find an accountability buddy to train and run the race together. Nobody willing to train with you? Join a running group in your city. Tell your friends and family about the race and invite them to cheer for you on race day.

Find your perfect training plan
There are several excellent websites with free training plans. If you've never run a 5K, I recommend the Couch to 5K plan. You'll start off by walking with a little jogging and build up to running 3 miles. Hal Higdon also has a wide variety of training plans. From the 5K all the way up to an ultramarathon (50+ miles). Jeff Galloway, the brains behind the run-walking, low mileage training program also has several options.

Keep track of your progress

Part of my RW training log

No need to get a fancy GPS-enabled watch to track your mileage. All you need is a basic sport watch that can track your time. And then use a website such as mapmyrun.com to map your run (duh). Once you have your mileage and time, write it down somewhere. A notebook, an Excel spreadsheet, or something like Runner's World's online training log (what I use). It's very encouraging to see how far you've run. And I love analyzing my stats. 728.4 miles for all of 2010! And I just learned that I can export my stats to Excel for further analysis. I'm in love!

Gear up

My biggest tip is to buy real running shoes at a real running store. The employees know what they're talking about and can help you find the best shoe for your feet. They may even tape your gait and biomechanics while you're running on a treadmill. In Chicago, I shop at Fleet Feet (they have locations nationwide). In St. Louis, I shopped at The Running Center of St. Louis. In Cleveland, I went to Second Sole. There may be other local running stores near you. And please...don't pick your shoe based on color! A pink shoe for overpronators will only cause problems if you need a neutral shoe. A good running shoe will probably cost around $100. This is an investment in your health.

As for socks, it's a good idea to buy moisture wicking socks. Cotton is no good. It'll keep all the sweat in and lead to blisters. I also use Body Glide on my feet or any other places prone to blisters or chafing.

You don't need fancy clothes to run. I'm sure you already have shorts, a t-shirt or tank top, and a sports bra. Moisture wicking clothing helps, but it isn't necessary. Target and Old Navy have some pretty good options for less.

Overall
I'm not a medical professional or running coach. So you'll probably want to get a physical before starting running or training for a new distance. And be sure not to do too much mileage, too fast. A good rule of thumb is not to increase either your (1) weekly mileage and/or (2) long run mileage by more than 10 percent a week.

Other than that, just get out there and run!

Runners, it's your turn. Do you have any tips for a rookie runner?
New runners, what are your burning questions about training?
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My Ode to Running

Today I'm sharing my Ode to Running over at Health on the Run. Swing by to find out why my relationship with running is like the plotline of a romantic comedy. As a treat, there's an awkward picture of me from grade school.

Check out Lauren's blog for more reads about running, fitness, public health, and nutrition.

What are you waiting for? Go now!
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I'm a Marathoner!

I did it! I finished the marathon! It was definitely a rough 26.2 miles thanks to the unseasonably warm October weather. As in temperatures in the 70's and 80's. I finished in 4:45:42, which is 19,341 out of 36,159 finishers (38,131 runners started the race.) And yes, I'll probably do another one. I love a good challenge and want to improve my time. Plus, I enjoyed running through the different neighborhoods with 1+ million people cheering us on.

I ran with a friend until I hit the wall around mile 18. Between miles 18.6 and 21.7 my pace slowed from 10:31/mile to 12:22/mile. Ouch. You can tell that I'm hurting and thinking to myself, "Eff, this sounded like such a good idea six months ago."

But I couldn't let down my cheering squad. My family took the L around the city to cheer while John rode his bike around the race course. Here's a picture of everyone in their matching shirts. They even hoisted up an extra shirt so I wouldn't have problems finding them.

After the race we went to Eleven City Diner for an awesome brunch. They serve breakfast all day as well as some killer corned beef sandwiches. I had the Eleven City French Toast and chicken apple gouda sausage and enjoyed every single bite. I would definitely recommend stopping by there for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

Once again, I'd like to send a big thank you to everyone that cheered (including the crossdressers in Boystown) and to all of the volunteers along the race course. There's no way I could have finished without your enthusiasm, crazy signs (i.e. "Run like you stole something"), water, Gatorade, and garden hoses. For now, I'm taking a little time to recover, but will run an unofficial half marathon with Jess in November. Then we'll see about my next full or half marathon :)

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Chicago Marathon Eve Eve

OK kids, Sunday is the big day. The day I've been preparing for and training for since May. Actually, I've been mentally preparing for this since early March. And it was approximately one year ago that we started our move to Chicago and saw the marathon run through our neighborhood. Yes, the Chicago Marathon is here! I'm about to embark on my 26.2 mile tour of Chicago with 45,000 other people. It's a flat course, but I'm sure there will be many highs and lows during my 4+ hour run.

Before I run, I'd like to thank a few people that have helped me on my journey of becoming a marathon runner.

First up is my incredible husband, John. Throughout my months of training he encouraged me, followed me on my long training runs on bike, made me do PT for my knees, and reminded me to eat protein after my runs. While I was out on runs he made many of my lunches to take to work and many of our dinners. He put up with me when I complained about aches and pains and hung out with me on the weekends when I just wanted to sit home and watch movies.

This picture was from our first half marathon in St. Louis. We trained for and ran that race together and I wish he was able to run this first marathon with me. He was supposed to be running a marathon last January, but injured his knee in the process. He's finally feeling better and has started to run again. Maybe I'll be able to train with him during his marathon debut, whenever that is.

Hal Higdon

Next up is my pseudo-coach Hal Higdon. Hal doesn't know it yet, but we're on a first name basis. He has a great website with every running tip in the book, as well as a plethora of training programs. From the 5K all the way up to ultra marathons. I followed his Novice 1 marathon training program and it's definitely worked out for me. Running 4 times a week is perfect. He also has advice and encouragement for each week of training. I trusted his program and I'm confident the training will serve me well on Sunday.


Jess

Jess is my (mostly) morning running buddy. She's my first friend in Chicago and we bonded over running. I began following her blog before moving to Chicago and met her in person at one of her trunk shows at Macy's. At first we considered getting together over coffee or wine, but I finally suggested going running together. She's run a few marathons, so I thought she would be game. Now we meet up for morning, afternoon, and/or weekend runs and discuss life and our dreams. She's not running the marathon this year, but will be volunteering at the water station at mile 10.5.

K is my running friend from work. My cube is next to hers and I was a little awestruck when I started my new job. Her cube walls are covered in marathon race courses. K was the one that really encouraged me to sign up for the marathon, knowing that I was going to have four half marathons under my belt by the time the marathon rolled around. She's running Chicago again this year and she just finished Boston in this picture, which is huge in the running world! We've only run together once, but we talk about training and running all the time at work. And let's not forget our mutual love of cupcakes. It's a good thing we run so much.

And last, but not least, is my family. Thoughout my childhood, college, and even now, they cheered at my races, swim meets, and soccer games. This is a picture of all of us after the St. Louis half marathon this spring. Somtimes I think they're even more excited for the marathon than me. They're coming to Chicago to cheer for me and had matching shirts made for the race. I'll be sure to post a picture after the race :)

Well, that's about it. I'm going to the expo this afternoon to pick up my race packet (yay!) and I'll be sure to post all about the race once it's over. Good luck to all of the other runners! It's going to be a great race!
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Hungry like a Wolf

When we left off I decided to tackle the brutal 20 miler on Saturday afternoon/evening. I'm training for my first marathon, so running 20 miles is kind of a big deal. Ideally, I would have gone out on Sunday (and had Saturday to rest), but the weatherman lied to me and said that it was supposed to rain on Sunday. If you were in Chicago, you would have noticed that it was sunny for most of Sunday. But, whatever. 

No rain! Thanks weather.com

Out we went. South on the Lakefront Trail for 10 miles with John encouraging me from his bike and toting gels and Gatorade. (Isn't he awesome!) And then back north 10 miles in the dark. I will admit that it was pretty cool seeing the Chicago skyline all lit up. But this may have been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Especially the last 2 or 3 miles. Note to future running self: Do not run 35 miles in 3 days. And do not listen to the weatherdude. All I could think about was getting home and eating.

And eat, I did! An amazing turkey burger on a pretzel roll and some veggies. And then some peach yogurt and a cupcake from Molly’s. And a protein bar at 3:15AM. And a three egg omelet for breakfast, and on and on. That's one of the best things about running and training for a marathon. Being able to eat everything! It's like Kevin from "The Office" discussing ultra feast when Pam was pregnant.

I spent Sunday afternoon baking peanut butter oatmeal cookies with Jess. Or rather, I sat on the couch and  chatted about life while she baked. And then she shared homemade macaroni and cheese. It was the perfect end to an awesome weekend!

How was your weekend? Was it relaxing or packed to the brim with activity?
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