I SO Needed That Run

I’m exhausted as all hell…

…but I had an AWESOME long run this morning! The kind that gives you confidence in the rest of your training.

I had to run 9 this morning, and I didn’t really have any sort of plan to speak of as of yesterday afternoon. Ashley and I were texting and we figured out we’d both be doing some running this morning, so therefore we should do it together.

Despite going to sleep early and not going out last night, I still had a really hard time waking up this morning for reasons I cannot explain, so I met Ashley at 8:30 instead of 8:15, like we were planning. 

98% of the time, I run up and down the West Side Highway, and so I needed a change. 

“Why don’t we meet at the Manhattan side of the BK Bridge and then run over it and see where it takes us?” I asked.

I live about 2.5 miles from the base of the bridge, so I ran down there to meet her. Sometimes it’s a huge pain in the ass to also have to take Bailey for a walk before I can run, but at least it gives me a preview of the weather. Today? Drizzly! I was happy to have that little preview so i could grab a hat. Let it be know that I HATE wearing hats, but hate my face getting wet more, so. 

I have a few go-to podcasts I listen to when I run, but this morning I listened to a new-to-me one — HerMoney. I could always use a little more financial responsibility in my life, no? (I mean, I ordered a llama lamp last night, so…)

The first few miles felt a little rough, both because I was still sleepy and I always feel rushed when I’m meeting someone to run, no matter how much time I actually have. I was very happy to get to the bridge and see Ashley.

We ran around Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn Bridge Park (and we reminisced about the first time we ran there six years ago and how much has changed there!) and then back towards where she lives in Carroll Gardens.

Humidity was at 95%, so everything felt like a slog, but I was really happy we managed to keep an 8:59 pace. REALLY happy. I know it was “only” nine miles, but I’m not sure I’ve ever kept that kind of pace for any sort of long run.

After a crappy spring of running and being sick a few weeks ago, I really needed a solid run like this to give me confidence for the rest of the season. Check. 

Related posts:

1. Wineglass Week 5 Training: A Run is a Run
2. A Pleasantly Surprising Run
3. Seven Great Miles

Yes the view is epic, but they have FREE Smores!

Hello! I am in Washington to run a half marathon, see my only friend SkinnyRunner and eat a lot. Those are pretty much the only reasons I travel, right? I was invited to run the Suncadia Multisport Event which includes a bike race, marathon, half marathon, 5k and trail race! So many options!! We’ll talk about the race tomorrow because today we’re talking about Suncadia Resort – the entire property was amazing and so pretty and GREEN. I kept saying, “I really feel like I’m somewhere new!” because the landscape was so lush.

SR joined me for the weekend of fun because she moved from Orange County to Washington in January. I haven’t been the same since. It’s very sad and I spent much of our time trying to convince her to come back and/or hire me as a live in maid. Given how messy I made the hotel room, I don’t think I got the job.

Anyway. She picked me up from the airport in Seattle and we drove to Suncadia straight from there.

We stayed at The Lodge, which is a big hotel on the property. But there are tons of houses to rent and a smaller Inn there too.

The room was big and had a pretty impressive kitchen set-up with a microwave, fridge

We decided to hit the race expo before it closed at 6pm so that was our first adventure of the trip. I call it an adventure because even though it was 2 miles away we managed to get completely lost and had to awkwardly pass by a house with a couple gardening a few times and they were so nice they waved each time.

Luckily we found the expo and Bart Yasso was there! The 5k race is named after him and he was also the race announcer.

I decided to run the half marathon instead of the full and changed it at the expo easy peasy. Buuuuuttt, SR tried to guilt me into running the full and even recruited Bart Yasso’s help. Ha! She said he shouldn’t take a picture with me unless I ran the full marathon! Luckily he felt bad for me because I said ‘I would die out there and then the race director would have to look for my sad dead carcass on the race course’ and we got a pic.

After the expo we went into Roslyn for dinner. The main street area was so quaint. First stop – candy shop!

Appetizers?

Dinner was at the Roslyn Café. The food was delicious and I tried my first ever Scotch Egg! But a head’s up that the service is a little slow, we knew that beforehand based on a lot of Yelp reviews that warned us. Those reviews are super accurate. SR and I had a lot of catching up to do so we didn’t mind.

Ever had a Scotch Egg? It’s a hardboiled egg wrapped in sausage and then breaded and fried.

From there we headed back to the Lodge to explore. Right past the lobby is a great room with a view of the canyon. It’s breathtaking.

We went outside to enjoy the sunset that was slowly sinking behind the trees. These pictures don’t do it justice.

We did the ‘1000 steps’ behind the Lodge because we’ve been trying this training method called “anti-taper” for years now. So far it makes for harder than necessary races, but also easier to justify all the candy we eat.

The Suncadia Resort is huge and they have a ton of activities and options from massages or stand up paddle boarding to fitness classes. I also spotted an awesome pool slide that I really wish we had the time to try! (You can check out their site and/or event calendar for more info.)

 

I was enjoying the fire and sunset when I remembered seeing a sign in the lobby that said complimentary smores from 7-9pm.

Wait.

Did you just say ‘Free S’mores’?!?!!!

Summer isn’t over until you’ve had a real s’more. It’s a law of the universe.

Then, we headed up for some sleep before the run. See you later!

Question: What was the BEST thing you did or ate or saw this weekend?

Disclaimer: Suncadia provided me with a hotel stay. All opinions are my own.

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Weekly Coffee Date

Hi friends! I hope you all had a great week! It has been scorching, fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk hot here all week. I’ve been trying to stay inside with the AC on so I don’t run the risk of sweat-staining all my shirts, but I did travel into the city for a fun Facebook Live video with MindBodyGreen and a...Read More

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Content.

HAPPY FRIDAY! 

I’m spending my Friday night at my favorite place: on my couch. I was supposed to go ninja with my coworkers, but doing nothing sounded far more appealing tonight, and I’m not sure the last time I did this, as the past few weeks have been pretty busy.

As someone whose mental health has been a rollercoaster over the past year or so, I’m so thankful to be feeling so at peace lately.

My mom’s in remission.

I recently got promoted at work.

I got to work out the other day with one of my childhood athletic idols. More on that soon, but for now, here’s the solid braid game I had going on:

(I am SO glad I am getting my hair done tomorrow.)

I’ve spent two of the last four weekends at the beach with my friends. 

I’m going to Vancouver in two weeks to run the SeaWheeze Half.

I realized what a good place I was in today when I heard about the possibility of news that would have crushed me a few months ago, but now I just see as kind of sucky. 

I’ve always said I don’t see running as therapy, though I do see it as therapeutic — and getting back into regular running again has felt amazing mentally in a way no other workout ever will for me.

I feel re-energized to start writing/creating more again.

I’m going to two fun/interesting events next week I wanted to share:

- Outdoor spin with Cyc Fitness. Why not?  

- Uplift has started a series called “Strong Women Uplift Each Other” and next week, they’re discussing mental health. I love what Uplift stands for, and that they’re tackling tough issues like this that affect women.

But for now, I’m getting into bed with a good book. What are you reading/what podcasts are you listening to right now? And what brings you contentment? 

Related posts:

1. Exhaustedly Content
2. On Top of the World at the Times Square Ball
3. Princeton Half Ironman 70.3 Training: Week of July 7-14

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Sugar Crunch Grapes and Waiting Until July for a Calendar

Hello! Happy Friday! How was your week? I’m getting ready to head to visit my one friend SkinnyRunner so today has been all about working on a few writing projects and packing. But before all that I hit the sidewalk for a 4 mile run and 21 day fix dirty 30 workout.

Then, I made those super protein waffles I keep seeing all over Instagram.

Since I’m on my way outta town Vegas helped me pack. That would be really nice of him except he got fur all over everything. Fantastic.

Okay now I have to share my favorites from this week because I’m really excited about…

My new watermelon shot glasses! I do not need these, but I 100% needed them. Ya know? I couldn’t not get them. Who cares if they don’t even fit in the cabinets because I have so many random mismatched glasses? I’ll probably break one or two soon per usual anyway.

I am usually a purple grape lover but the name of these green grapes caught my eye – sugar crunch grapes! Sign me up.

And I finally got a year calendar to plan out upcoming races and events. I went to Office Depot (or something like that, they’re all the same kinda) in January and they were all out. For some irresponsible reason I never went back and have been lost in the world ever since. This is the only way I can kinda keep track of upcoming travel and race training and other random stuff.  So yeah, it’s the end of July and I’m just getting a calendar. That’s pretty much my life.

My other favorite thing of the week / my entire life is this pic of my fave tiny person in an RER onsie. I randomly found it the other day and it completely made my heart burst.

(RER gear is available in my spreadshirt shop)

And fro-yooooooooo!

Question: What’s your favorite thing this week?

The post Sugar Crunch Grapes and Waiting Until July for a Calendar appeared first on Run Eat Repeat.

I’ve NEVER Seen This Before On The Running Path!

Hello! How are you? Over here it’s pretty good. I created an easy workout and healthy dinner last night that I wanted to share. But first – I saw something on the running path that I’ve never seen before. It’s mostly weird because I’ve lived here for about 6 years now and run this path about 4 to 5 days a week that entire time – anything new is kinda weird, right?

Well, I was just running along listening to my podcast of the day when I saw a very tattooed lady riding a pretty white and brown horse coming toward me on the running path. I love it!

I gave a little wave and said ‘good morning’ but I don’t think she heard me because she didn’t respond. So, I didn’t want to stop and take a picture right in her face because I wasn’t sure what scares a horse (I think I’ve watched too many movies?), but I snapped one when they passed. On the way back I saw a BIG pile of poo that was obviously from the horse and I spared you a picture of that. You’re welcome.

Speaking of random things – I know getting mystery bruises is common but I think I’m going for a record here. I got the big one on the left a few days ago and even showed it to my mom. This morning a few other ones are popping up. I must be smacking my arm into something and don’t realize!

Maybe I’m being clumsy because my brain is disoriented from heat stroke? I didn’t turn on the AC the day I went to the US Open of Surfing since I was going to be gone all day.

When I got home at 7pm I saw that the inside and outside were exactly the same temperature – almost 90 degrees. So much for insulation!

The good thing about summer is all my favorite fruits are in season – watermelon, mango, margaritas… and I’ve been filling up on them.

Ben said he was antsy the other day and wanted to workout. I run or do a  21 day fix workout or something early in the day so I didn’t really want to do anything – plus I was throwing together dinner. So, I used one of the oldest tricks in the book – a deck of cards workout.

I assigned each shape an exercise and told him to do the number of reps the card had with face cards being worth 10. It is fun because you don’t know what’s the next move and it’s easy because all the moves are familiar – just make sure you have good form.

What’s not easy (for me at least) is drawing the shapes. Ha! How tragic is my artwork?!

I just had him keep picking cards until I was done making dinner.

And dinner was super easy too! I like easy stuff. I’m lazy.

I baked a few boneless skinless chicken breasts with seasoning, sesame ginger dressing and hot sauce. I threw some frozen veggies in the microwave. And when the chicken was almost done added a baking sheet of potatoes to the oven to cook.

Protein. Carbs. Veggies. Check check and check.

Then, I made a banana mug cake for dessert and everything was right in the world.

Question: Do you ever see horses or other fun animals where you run?

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