Sunday Short

Workout:
~Reservoir run, 3.5miles
~Marathon miles - 25

It's been a crazy week, hence lack of posts, but I have added in the running I did do earlier to my total. The hubs has departed for the next 2 months to Turkey. Had my pity party on Friday after he left. Thankfully I was on call this weekend, so that kept me somewhat busy. My parents and brother are coming to visit for the week tomorrow, so even more craziness. I was pretty proud of myself for getting up at 6:15 on a Sunday morning to run before I had to go in and round. I had hoped to go further, but the pager was already going off. I'm learning even if I only get a few miles in, it will do nothing but help. I also learned it is still muggy as hell at 6:45am and you will get awesome armpit sweat marks. And people would keep looking at your beet red face wondering if you're going to croak. Or maybe that's just me...

Battling the Bad Thoughts

Workout:
~Wednesday: Rest - My Birthday!
~Thursday: 4 miles
~Marathon Miles: 16.25

Wednesday was my birthday! I am officially old. Well, I guess not really, but I did celebrate my 3rd 27th birthday. I took the day off from running/working out, mostly because there truly was not any time in the day and I didn't think running on a full stomach of delicious gourmet Thai food and 2 glasses of wine sounded like the greatest idea known to man. I may also have been in a slight diabetic coma, since my office manager made me the greatest German chocolate cake in history. It was a good day.

My post-birthday present today was another 6:30am run with my ortho peeps in the books. Lindsay, Neil, and I are the unofficial ortho running club. I cannot tell you what a great motivator it is to know that someone is counting on you to show up and run. The run today was gorgeous. Bright blue skies, high-50's, and only 2 near-death experiences. Neil was almost run over by some jerk blowing through a stop sign; I nearly collided with a biker who thought jumping off of his bike right in front of me on the sidewalk seemed like a perfectly reasonable thing to do. I think if Lindsay had been chased by a dog, we would have had the trifecta. But despite the excitement, we ran 4 miles in about 40 minutes and  I didn't completely want to keel over. Not a bad start to the day.

I do love having people to run with, but I will confess, I get a lot of anxiety about it. Not so much now with these particular friends now that I've run with them a few times. However, in general, I have found I prefer to run by myself mainly because I get so stressed out and worried about my pace slowing down the people I'm running with. I also get into a bad cycle of comparing my abilities to their's and wondering "why can't I run as fast as them?" or "if I can't keep up with 3 miles, how will I ever run 26.2?" And, I have the fear of looking stupid. Yes, this is very bad. There was an article in  Runner's World that discussed the mental aspect of running. There are books written on this subject, but the article was a nice read and gave some good tips on how to combat this. I tried to use some positive mental speak with myself when I felt some of those thoughts creeping in today on our run. I think for me, the mental aspect is going to be the most difficult aspect of training. The article discussed having a mantra or words to say to yourself if you're feeling down. I thought maybe I could say "Beer is at the finish?"  Maybe I'll work on that one :)

 

Birthday Eve

Workout:
~3.25 mile run, approx 32 minutes
~Marathon Miles: 12.25

I DID NOT want to get out of bed this morning. At all. Not even a little. Not even with the sunshine. But I did. 95% of the reason I went is because I knew Lindsay and Neil were going to be there too. And they drive much further to get to work where we met to start than I do. So I sucked it up, threw on my gym clothes, and off to work I went. The weather was perfect and I'm really beginning to love running around Cambridge. There are so many little things I've never noticed while driving through that you get to see while running. I love reading all of the plaquards on the buildings telling me why it was important or what famous person did that it's named after.

The only major bummer of the run was the fact that about at mile 1.4, my left hamstring felt like a rubberband about to snap. I had my running pals go on without me so I could stretch. After a few minutes of stretching, it felt better. It didn't start to act up again until the very end. I polled some of my coworkers on some hamstring stretches. I need to spend more time stretching, especially after my runs. The physical therapists I talked to while I was rounding also mentioned that. This will be a must-do.

After a horrendous day at actual work, it's always nice to come home to a nice, home-cooked, lobster dinner. Wicked awesome benefit of living in the Northeast: cheap lobster. Even better: husband who knows how to cook it! Our friend Alexia is visiting for a few days, so we decided to bust out the lobster pot. Our little friends were so tasty, we ate them too quickly for me to snap a picture. But trust me, they were delicious! Paired with a salad, pretty healthy too! (I declined the drawn butter for dipping...trying to be healthy here!)

And for dessert...as I previewed in yesterday's post...Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp! I found this recipe in my usual way, searching blogs and stumbled upon this great, somewhat healthier version. Honey is used to sweeten up the rhubarb and strawberry mix. I didn't have cornstarch, so I substituted in brown rice flour. It was the perfect mix of sweet and tart, but not overly sweet like a lot of crisps tend to be. It also had just the right amount of topping to give it a little crunch, but not bog down the fruit. And it's perfect for breakfast with some greek yogurt :)

Monday, Monday...

Workouts:
~Friday: Racquetball - 1 hour
~Saturday: Elliptical - 45 minutes
~Sunday: Rest
~Monday: Rest
~Marathon Miles: 9

I would like to know where my weekend went. It was so full of fun that it literally flew by! Lot's of friend time: lunch with Lindsey and her beautiful baby girl, celebrating Lindsay's 30th birthday, and an early birthday dinner for me with our friends Megan and Nick at the amazing Myers and Chang (pretty much freaking amazing...I'll have to do a little blurb in another post. With pics. Because I forgot to take them. Again.)

It was whirlwind, but so much fun! And I did manage to get my workouts in. On Friday, the hubs and I played racquetball. A great sprint-type cardio workout. I was a sweat ball. Aside from losing and getting hit in the ear with the ball and losing my hearing for a few minutes, it was a good time. Saturday, I REALLY didn't want to work out. I was a lazy ass for all intensive purposes. And my back hurt from sleeping funny (add to workout needs - core strengthening). But I went. And it felt GREAT. I'm finding how much I look forward to my workouts. I just feel like such a nicer human being afterwards. I know the hubs appreciates that.

I am sorry for the lack of pictures or interesting things on this post. I am trying a strawberry-rhubarb crisp this evening, so look forward to hearing about that tomorrow! AND I have another fun run in the morning with Lindsay. I know you are all on the edge of your seats.  But until then, GO BRUINS!

Long Day, Short Post

Workout:
~3 mile fun run with Lindsay
~Marathon miles: 9

Sorry folks, this is going to be short and sweet. This may have been one of the longest days ever. I stayed up way too late last night watching the Bruins/Blackhawks Stanley Cup final game. I only made it through the 2nd OT, since I had to get up early today to meet Lindsay for our 6:30am run. It took everything in me to drag my butt out of bed. However, knowing she would be waiting there for me definitely gave me the motivation to physically pull my eyelids open and get moving. Once we got running, I was SO happy we did it. This morning was perfect; cool and sunny. And at that time in the morning, not too busy on the streets of Cambridge. We left from the hospital and chatted all the way to Harvard Square. Normally, I listen to my music and chug along, but it was great having someone to talk to and the miles ticked off relatively easily. We're aiming to make this a weekly ritual, which would be perfect for my short mid-week runs. That, and it starts my day off on such a great note. Even as exhausted as I am from a horrendous clinic day, I still have some positive running cheeriness left at the end so as not to totally hate everyone, ha! Running is awesome!

A very veggie Hump Day

Workout:
~Reservoir Run, 3 miles, approx 31 minutes
~Marathon Miles: 6

Back to back runs, whoot! I can't remember the last time that happened. It's been a LONG time to say the very least. I got to run outside today since it was glorious weather, sunny and a little cool (i.e. 65 degrees). I even saw a rainbow at the reservoir! So beautiful. The run felt good. After yesterday, I wasn't sure if my hamstring would be very happy since the treadmill irritated it. But I had no aches or pains, just my usual gasping for breath. I'm beginning to think a) stretching really does help, and b) the treadmill really does not like me.

I have another 3 miler on the schedule for tomorrow morning. I'll be meeting my friend Lindsay at 6:30am for a run around Cambridge/Harvard before work. I'm looking forward to having someone to meet and run with! I'm still not super into running with people yet. I just feel so slow and don't want to slow anyone down and more ridiculously, I don't want to look like a dork. My psyche and I are working on changing this.

After my run, Gary and I made the yummiest dinner - raw pad thai! I was inspired to find a recipe after seeing a picture of Lianne's showing a raw pad thai in a restaurant she went to. I decided it looked delicious and I had to try.  I searched several sites until I found a recipe I liked on the blog "The Sweet Life." We didn't stray much from the actual veggie components, but Gary made several alterations to their sauce.  It was ridiculously good, as in, I could eat this every day good. Glad we doubled the recipe (the one I posted below is for 4 servings)! Looking forward to my leftovers for lunch and hopefully a mandolin for my birthday; 20 minutes of zucchini julienning is too much! :)

Raw Pad Thai

Adapted from The Sweet Life

2 large zucchinis

2 carrots, peeled and shredded

4 green onions, chopped

1 bag bean sprouts

1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

1/2 red pepper, thinly sliced

Juice of 1 1/2 limes

Chopped peanuts, extra cilantro and green onions for garnish

Sauce

4 tbsp SunButter

3 tbsp tamari

2 tbsp coconut oil, melted

3 tbsp chopped cilantro

Juice of 1 lime

1 large jalapeno, finely chopped

Julienne or use a mandolin to cut the zucchini into thin noodles. Add to a bowl with shredded carrots, green onions, bean sprouts, cilantro, peppers, and lime juice. Toss to mix and set aside.

Mix ingredients for sauce together. Pour over veggie pad thai to coat.

Plate pad thai. Sprinkle peanuts, cilantro, and green onions for garnish. Eat a lot; it's healthy!

 

    

First (Running) Day of Marathon Training!

Workout:
~Treadmill Run: 3miles, 10:20/mile
~Training miles: 3 miles

Although yesterday was the OFFICIAL start of marathon training, today was the first day of actual running. I was actually pretty excited to start. I'm looking forward to the challenges, physically and mentally. Please remind me I wrote this later in the summer when I'm running 7 miles before work at 5am. But all kidding aside, I am happy to begin this chapter and to push myself. It also helped that I had my brand new kicks to try out today:

My awesome shoes - Brooks Ariel's (Size 11, i.e. ginormous)

As I mentioned in my previous post, I went and got fitted for these shoes at Marathon Sports. I want to make sure I have the correct footwear for me before I start pounding the pavement. This has also been the recommendation of several books I've read and many of our running friends as well. I had hoped to have taken them out on the first run outside, but since the torrential downpours have returned, the treadmill got the honors.

This is my first pair of Brooks and I already love them! They feel like little pillows on my feet. They're not ultra-light, but I think the fact that my feet were cushioned in the right spots made me feel like they're lighter than they are. Since I have such flat feet, I not only need some arch support, which is built into the shoe, but an extra layer of support, which helps to increase stability. Unfortunately, when you have flat-feet, the motion in the middle of your foot can increase, changing the alignment of your leg. This can lead to foot, ankle, knee, and hip problems. All things you do not want to have while training to run 26.2. The other great part about this particular shoe is that I probably won't need to put in orthotics. I'll be able to tell once I've run more in them, but so far, I'm smitten.

70 more training runs to go!

Touristing in Boston

Workout:
~Today: 0 miles, Rest Day
~Saturday: 2.5miles

 Today is the official start of Marathon Training! Which means, I get to rest! Who can be upset with a training schedule that starts that way? The running begins tomorrow. I will savor this moment, because I don't have a whole lot of them over the next 18 weeks.

This past weekend was a blur of awesomeness. One of my favorite people in the whole world and her hubs (another one of my favorites!) came to visit us in Boston. How much fun could you have in one weekend? We found out!  Despite torrential downpours, we hit up the Harpoon Brewery and their new beer hall in the Seaport District for some beer tasting and pretzels (the maple iced glaze something or other dip was out of this world).

 

A little rain didn't let us down as we had dinner in the North End and picked up the ever-so-famous Mike's Pastry cannoli's. Sorry, I am a fail and do not have a picture. Don't worry, I go there often enough, one will make it onto this blog before the end of the summer.

On Saturday the rain lifted! I even got a nice little 2.5 mile run around BC's campus in before we headed downtown. Our first stop, Marathon Sports on Boylston Street. Did I forget to mention all of us are runners? 45 minutes later, we all walked out with new running shoes. I must say, this is the first time I've actually been fitted for running shoes and it was the best idea ever. Since I work in orthopaedics, I know quite a bit. However, being not the most seasoned runner, my medical knowledge does not necessarily translate to shoe knowledge. Enter Marathon Sports Salesman. He was so knowledgeable and explained everything, from my freaking flat feet (this was not news to me) to why the Brooks Ariel shoes he fit me with provided me with the most stability (good and helpful news). For all of you flat foot people out there, you need stability shoes. Maybe not quite to the level of my messed up feet, but the low arch shoes aren't going to cut it and your ankles are going to rock around like crazy and your knees will hurt and you will basically fall apart and combust. Well, maybe not quite like that but the whole "your thigh bone's connected to the shin bone" song is actually based on a true story.

After the store, we saw the finish line as well as the memorial dedicated to the victims of 4.15.13. I had not been to it since the bombings happened and was definitely very touched. It's a wonderful place to reflect and see how much this tragic event touched so many people. There will be a permanent memorial at some point, but I kind of find this one more meaningful.

We spent the  evening wandering the sites of Boston. Here's a few pics:

Sunday was baseball day! Fenway is everything it's cracked up to be. Love coming to this ballpark! And we got to see a Red Sox win! A perfect day with close friends. I don't think I could ask for more.

Run, turtle, run

Workout:
~2 miles, wicked slow

Yes, wicked slow is a speed. I just wanted to get a quick run in tonight to do something since it was so glorious outside! Low 70's and sun, that is my perfect weather. I had a nice little evening jaunt in the neighborhood (I'm on call, so I couldn't stray too far from home tonight). It felt good, but man, am I out of shape! Great starting point for training I suppose. I didn't try to go like a speed demon even though it was a short run since I think the last time I ran was just before I left for Europe. Last month. The beginning of last month. Yes, I realize this is sad. But now, I just need to run 2 miles 13 times and I totally have this marathon done!

I checked the weather for tomorrow, 70's and sunny. 50's and sun in the am for my run! I'm almost excited to get up at 5:30 to run!  I am looking forward to trying out my new running knee-length tights. I have not yet gotten to feeling great about wearing shorts while running (yet another goal on my list), so I'm trying to use capri's, etc. I've not tried the knee-length before, so a whole new wardrobe adventure is on the horizon.  What do you like to wear when you run? Any favorite brands worth mentioning?

It's 10:30 and I've not yet eaten dinner. Should probably cram some of the delicious, fresh produce we bought at the Haymarket Square Farmer's Market on Saturday in my mouth before I head off to bed. I'm thinking green beans and apricots (not together of course!).

Back to life, back to reality

Why hello there! I apparently have gone 1 full month without a single post. I do apologize for that. Part of the reason is I kind of suck at blogging. The bigger and cooler part is that I was in Europe with my hubs for 2-1/2 weeks! A majority of May was spent sightseeing, eating, and drinking our way through Normandy and Paris (France), Zurich (Switzerland), Prague (Czech Republic), and Munich and Berlin (Germany). It was the trip of a lifetime! And now I get to cross off one of my 30 before 30's - go to Europe! A few pics from the trip:

Prague at night from the Charles Bridge

The Eiffel Tower, Paris

Brandenburg Gate, Berlin

Amazingly, I did not gain any weight on my trip. How this occurred while drinking 1.5L of beer a day and eating sausages, chocolates, and more bread than I would ever care to admit to, I haven't the faintest idea. If it was bad for you, I ate it. I drank every day for 19 days. And I enjoyed every freaking minute of it. We also did not workout. At all. We did walk a ton and took several bike tours, although when you stop at a beer garden in the middle, I guess that wipes out your biking calories burned. We just wanted to enjoy ourselves and not worry.

Beer tasting at the Prague Beer Museum

Swiss Truffles and Pralines. Life-changing.

So now we're back...back to life, back to reality. Yes, I hope you have that song stuck in your head now like I do. I definitely have my work cut out for me. This week, I make my triumphant return to the gym and more importantly, I begin marathon training! I'm still tweaking a few things, but I think I'm going mostly by the Hal Higdon training program. And since I'm going to be for reals training, lot's and lot's of blog posting to be happening. I know you are excited. I actually am too.

Nashville Half Marathon and Racing Lessons Learned

After a long hiatus, I'm back. After the marathon bombing and the ensuing craziness, it was a bit difficult to find the time to blog and at times, the motivation, given everything that was occurring.  But now that things have settled some, I have some things to write about, first of which is the Nashville 1/2 Marathon/1st Annual Girl's Run Weekend!

(Photo creds to my resident photog EH!)

Many of my friends are runners. One of my dearest friends also blogs and writes about it! We are all scattered across the country and have always talked about trips to get everyone together at least once a year. Back in the fall of last year, another dear friend (and the best organizer on the planet!) suggested running the Nashville Half Marathon. After many emails, 8 of us found that the weekend would work and signed up (one signed up for the full!). It was a diverse group with everyone knowing some of the group, but not knowing everyone, so it worked out as a great way to meet some new runner friends!  We represented the East Coast on this trip: Boston - 1, Baltimore - 2, DC - 3, Tampa - 1, Naples - 1.  There was lots of great conversation, food, beer, and we even met Olympian marathoner Kara Goucher! A few of our group members may have had a mini freak-out over meeting Kara (you know who you are).

(Thanks LM and the great human who took our group photo!)

The trip was phenomenal; the run was not. It was the most miserable run I have ever had in my life. This was for a few reasons, the largest being that there were torrential downpours THE ENTIRE race. Thankfully, Lianne and I were able to procure ponchos the night before. Ok, well, really, it was more like we pressed our faces to the window of the closed beauty supply shop and the owner took pity on us, but we got the goods regardless. The ponchos helped us stay somewhat dry; some in our group ran the whole thing in it, others ditched them and just dealt with the rain.

(Thanks CS for the pic!)

10 Valuable Running Lessons Learned:

1. TRAIN - Yes, I realize this should be a no-brainer. I really started out on a good regimen. And then it fell apart. Partially because I let work and life take over...again. I've run a half before with minimal training and survived. But I was not in the shape to do it this time, especially with how hilly the course turned out to be (that elevation map was deceiving!). Again, as I have written before, I really realized on that third horrific hill that I need to start being more selfish about my well-being and my own health. I know I cannot run a full marathon without training. And I know I cannot perform the way I want and without injury without training. So...TRAIN.
2. CHAFING HAPPENS - I have always read about this being a problem, but it never happened to me until this weekend. Apparently when every article of clothing you are wearing becomes so saturated with water that you are literally wringing out your shirt sleeves and the bottom of your running capris, chafing will happen. I was chafed by my iPhone I put in my bra (see item #3). I was chafed by my underwear after a port-o-potty spot. Bad news bears all around. A fabulous solution is bacitracin and tefla dressings (another perk of working in healthcare; you can raid the dressing supplies as needed). So be smart about your wardrobe and accessories. Or just don't run when the heavens have opened up.
3. iPHONE IN BRA = BAD IDEA - I often run with my iPhone. It has my music on it and especially in the case of this race, it was communication between me and all of the much faster people. I ran with my friend during the race and attempted some chatting/bitching, so I didn't listen to music. I also realized at mile 12 when I was alone that even though I wanted to listen, my headphones had shorted out and my iPhone speakers had become so saturated with rain/sweat, they stopped working too. Epic fail. Thankfully it dried out. It also left its mark, literally, on my boob (again, reference #2). So, I guess I really need to invest in an iPhone armband or go with the ol' reliable iPod shuffle from now on.
4. BRING YOUR OWN TP - I will leave this to your own interpretation, but all I can say is thank God for a friend giving me a piece of Kleenex before leaving the hotel. Although it was damp and stained bright neon coral from my running shirt, it did what was needed.
5. FORGET THE SHOES, IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SOCKS - I want to personally thank the sock man who sucked me and my running hero friend into buying these compression socks at the Expo the day prior to the race. The Swiftwick Performance Zero socks saved my feet from blisters and pain. My shoes and feet were completely soaked 20 minutes before even starting the race and never were dry again until I dried off from my post-race shower. And not a blister on 'em! Seriously, best socks ever. I am giving them my endorsement (and believe me, they in no way asked for it). Other fun facts: they are made in TN, they are 200 needle count (it's like having 800 thread-count sheets on your feet!), and they are made with olefin, which is a natural fiber that helps absorb moisture naturally. Does it get any better?
6. POSITIVE ATTITUDE - I'm not much of an overly Suzy Sunshine type person. I'm not a Negative Nelly either, but I tend to like to be surprised when the glass is more full than expected. However, I realized on this run how much your mentality comes into play while running. I was so glad to have my friend running with me to help keep me pumped up and motivated going up all those damn hills. But I also realized by giving myself credit and actually telling myself "I can do this" that it seemed a little easier and totally worth getting to the finish line for the Gatorade and vanilla creme cookies. That and the giant medal and the space blankets.
7. SHUTTLES DO NOT = 11 PEOPLE - Definitely worth finding out exactly how many people your hotel race shuttle can take at a time. The downtown Sheraton can take 11. Remember that people. So when your group of 8 has 49 people in front of you at 5:30am for a 7:00am race start, you too also realize you may not make it in time. However, I would not necessarily recommend the almost 2 mile walk in ponchos to the start line either. Cab it. Seriously.
8. EAT MORE THAN A LARA BAR PRE-RACE - I was so afraid of getting an upset stomach I underfed myself. For anyone who knows me, I realize this is an idea that is hard to fathom, but it happened. About an hour before the race was supposed to start, I was already hungry. I love Lara Bars (cherry pie, yum!), but I should have had more with it.
9. JIMMY JOHN'S IS AMAZING - After you have run 13.1 miles (and walked 3 more between start and finish), you will be hungry. The bananas and pretzels at the end are delicious and filling...for 10 seconds. What you need is some freaky fast food...enter Jimmy John's. I lived on this stuff in undergrad, and then in grad school. Sometimes lunch, dinner, or after the bar, but always awesome. It's awesomeness was never more apparent than after this race. A Vito was just what I wanted. And if filled me up until our dinner/drinking celebration in the evening.
10. BOSTON STRONG - I was so overwhelmed by the support of the running community this weekend in Nashville. At the Expo, there was a huge board that we were all able to sign with messages for Boston. They passed out bracelets to wear with the BAA colors and "Boston 4.15.13, Run Now" on them. So many runners had special Boston shirts made or even just Red Sox shirts, anything to honor our city. I definitely teared up multiple times. It just showed me again what an amazing group of people that runners are. Thank you to all of you for your love and support for our city. We will keep running. Boston Strong.

I'm hoping to do a short run tomorrow to loosen these legs up. I can finally walk like a normal person again! I'll also report on the non-running activities on Nashville, i.e. food, drink, fun.

A Marathon Monday Never to Be Forgotten

I had planned on having a pumped up, excited Marathon Monday post today. The day started off wonderfully. The weather was perfect, not too cold and certainly not as hot as last year. Crowds 4-5 people deep lined the course. The elite men's and women's fields had multiple lead changes and exciting finishes. The usual excitement of the Marathon that overtakes the great city of Boston was in full-swing.

However, all of that changed at approximately 2:50pm.  2 explosions seconds apart on Boylston Street at the finish line changed everything. Runners and fans alike ran in all directions. Boston Police, National Guard, and health care personnel sprang into action to assist the wounded. People stood dumbfounded, still not grasping what had just happened around them. Initially, people thought maybe it was a manhole cover or a blown transformer. We have learned it was actually what everyone had feared - 2 bombs, purposely positioned and deployed at the end of the world's oldest marathon. Set off at a time when a large group of runners would be running through and fans would be cheering along the street.

My husband and I stayed home this year. We watched from our window, as we live on the race route, just shy of mile 21. We spent the morning cheering on the runners and wheelchair participants. We watched the elite runners fly by and the amateurs and charity runners do their best to make it to that coveted finish. The crowds began tapering off and I had contemplated watching a movie when my friend texted me to turn on the TV to the news. She told me there had been explosions at the finish line. Gary and I watched in stunned silence as the local news replayed the footage of the blasts, of the smoke wafting into the air, of the frantic race officials and police officers rushed to the aid of those injured. In sheer disbelief we wondered, how could this happen? Who would do this? And why?

The phone calls and texts poured in from our friends and family, both in Boston and across the country. I volunteered in the medical tent at the finish line last year helping to treat runners with dehydration, cramps and blisters. This year, that very same tent was now treating burn victims and those with extremity injuries. While I was happy to put every one's fears to rest that we were safe and nowhere near the site of the explosions, I couldn't help feeling like I wish I was in that tent today. I felt so hopeless sitting at home, staring at the TV wide-eyed, feeling like I had been punched in the stomach.

We have lived here for nearly 3 years now and consider Boston home. This shouldn't happen in your home. This shouldn't happen anywhere.  As one of my good friends and a fellow runner asked, "why do people have to ruin anything that's fun in life?" And I think that's a significant question because at the heart of the Boston Marathon IS fun. It's a race that brings people together from across the globe. The whole state of Massachusetts and city of Boston come out to support perfect strangers who embark on this crazy, long 26.2 mile stretch, beginning in Hopkinton, through Newton and up Heartbreak Hill, and to downtown Boston, ending at Copley Square, where the finish line is marked 365 days a year. Competition, camaraderie, charity; these are all parts of this too. Massachusetts is considered "the Spirit of America" (and we have our license plates to prove it!). The Boston Marathon is the spirit of the running community. Today that spirit was broken by tragic, unspeakable events. But I do have hope and I know in my heart that Boston and running will come back from this stronger than ever.

Spring has Sprung!

Workouts:
~Saturday: 2 mile run, abs
~Sunday: Arms - 4 sets of 10 reps each: Dumbell bicep curls, bar bicep curls, wrist flex/ext curls with bar, pushups (knee ones!), tricep kickbacks, chair dips
~Monday: 3 mile run - 30:38, Legs - squats, lunges, wall sits, calf raises, kickbacks

Monday Weigh-In:
~Down 2 pounds!

First, super excited about the weight loss! Granted, I'm not worrying SO much about the number on the scale, so much as how I feel and my clothing sizes. Nevertheless, I still plan to weigh in every Monday just to see how things are going from that aspect.

Sorry I've been a bit slacking on the posts. This weekend was both eventful but relaxing with some time with the hubs, dinner and brunch with friends, and some spring cleaning at home. I had a great run today! Beautiful sunshine and 60+ degrees. Totally bugged out of work at 2pm so I could get my run in. Sorry job, you'll always be there; this weather may not be! I must have stretched better today, because my hamstring didn't hurt like it did over the weekend. I also think that the beautiful weather just puts a pep in my step. In my case, probably too much of a pep. I ran an 8:45 first mile. Way too fast. Pacing is one of my goals to work on this summer. I have a terrible habit of starting WAY too fast and then dying later in the race.

Thankfully, Spring has arrived! Well, at least for a few days anyway. I love this time of year in Boston. It seems like the whole world runs, especially where we live. There were tons of runners at the reservoir today of all types and abilities. It's so refreshing to see all of the different people running. It makes it seem do-able :) This time of year also means it's almost time for the Boston Marathon! We live right on the route, a little ways past the infamous "Heartbreak Hill", around the 35k marker. With the race coming up on Monday, April 15, over the last week, they have been getting the road prepared with markings. I'm happy to report one of the medical stations is directly across from our house. This is what the road told me anyways. The port-o-potties will also begin being delivered in the next few days. You would be amazed at the sheer number of them! (Don't worry, pics will come). The race definitely lives up to its infamous billing. I volunteered in the medical tent last year and had an amazing experience. The people who run, from the elite and wheelchair racers, down to us more regular folks, are all exceptional people. I had a great time meeting many of them in the tents. Hopefully this year isn't as hot! I'll be spectating this year. Because the race is run on Patriot's Day, we get the day off. Again, oddball New England holiday. But I'll take it. Anyone have any plans for Marathon Monday?

Medical Tent Team #1 - 2012 Boston Marathon

In our continued effort to be healthier, GW and I have bought pill boxes to help us remember to take all of our vitamins. Yes, I feel like an old person saying/doing this, but it's actually been really helpful.  I fill them up on Sunday and we're good to go. And then I can get those giant, Costco-sized pill bottles stored in the cabinet for the rest of the week instead of left out on my already too-small counter. It's really a win-win for everyone involved. And PS, the adult gummy multivitamins are totally the way to go. Even if you take them on an empty stomach, you don't get nauseous.

Happy Monday!

Run, run, this is fun...

Workout:
~Run 3 miles

I didn't want to do it. I REALLY didn't want to do it. I did not want to run today. At all. But a little voice inside me said, "you'll feel SOOO much better if you do," so I did. Was it my best run ever? No, not even close. But I must say, it did feel good when I was done. Today was really windy and I spent half of my run running against the wind (cue music here) or with it blowing me sideways. I'm glad I forgot to charge my Garmin, since I'm pretty sure I was nearly running in place. But, as GW always points out, it's not how fast you did it, but that you did.

I learned two things today on my run:
1. When the wind is blowing wicked hard and you are running along a ledge, make sure no one is below you if you intend to spit. While I did not hit anyone, I came close and I know if I were running and gasping for breath, the last thing I would want is someone's saliva landing on my head. Definitely not cool.
2. I need to work on my core strength. I have been a lazy ab kid and I could feel it today. I was focusing on breathing and trying to run upright. When I took pilates, I could tell how much the core strength helped me through my run. Today, I felt like I had a donut around my waste. A big cream filled glazed one. It was not helping me go the distance. This needs to change. I had mentioned a pinterest workout a few posts ago. I tried it. Lame. Need to go back to the drawing board. If anyone has suggestions, please let me know!

Happy Hump Day!

Happy Easter!

Workout:
~3 mile run

I'm back! I got to run today and I could actually move! Granted, my breathing was atrocious and I had to stop a few times, but it was good to get out and run. It helped that the hubs was running with me and helped to push me. I tried to keep the bad thoughts out of my head, i.e. you have to do this 4 more times in 4 weeks. It's going to be a bit more trying than I had hoped, but I know I can do it. Plus, there will be lots of support, so I'm super pumped!

Today I did learn the importance of having a playlist. I just got sick of a few songs on Pandora. I happened to have already been stopped when I changed songs/stations. I need a playlist for this half or I think I might spend half my time changing stations when I get tired of stations.

We had a lovely Easter Sunday! I was on call for the weekend, but 2nd call today, thankfully! After my nice mid-day run with the hubs, we made Easter dinner. Our friends Megan and Nick came over for Easter dinner. We had a nice mint and rosemary rubbed lamb roast with cheesy potatoes, Turkish cucumber and tomato salad, and a nice tossed salad with walnuts, tomatoes, and goat cheese. For dessert, I made a key lime pie. This was my first ever and even though I wasn't so sure how it would turn out, it was phenomenal! Very tangy but delicious. In retrospect, I would have had the graham cracker crust go up higher. Otherwise, I wouldn't change a thing.

Hope you all had a Happy Easter with friends and/or family!

I'm back! Well, at least the top of me

Workout:
~Arms: 
Bicep curls 15x3
Tricep kick-backs 15x3
Chair dips 15x3
Alternating shoulder press 15x3
Theraband rotator cuff exercises
~MORE back stretches

Ok, I couldn't take it any more today. I HAD to do SOMETHING. I was feeling like a blob. And today was a bummer; I somehow managed to lose my voice at work. Seriously, wtf? I'm sure my husband is happy, but it sure makes dictating notes difficult. So when I got home, I decided I would find something athletic to do that wouldn't kill my back. Thus, I did an arm circuit workout at home. I rearranged/cut some exercises that were more low-back involved so I wouldn't kill myself. And of course, I applied a gob of IcyHot. I think I'm becoming an addict. My arms will definitely be feeling it tomorrow, but that is a feeling I am welcoming with open arms (ha, I guess pun intended). Much happier Becky here now.

The back is feeling better again today, just not nearly 100%. Thanks to all my lovely friends who've checked in on me, you're the best! (And I would have called you back except for that whole voice issue). I am going to try for a run early tomorrow morning to test out how it feels on the ol' spine. With IcyHot, of course. I'm still not sure on the Lidoderm patch. I think I maybe needed a second one for the other side of my back. I just don't want to lose too many days of training for this half marathon. I realize I will not be setting any land speed records, but I'd like to do somewhat well. For me, given some of the setbacks, I'm hoping for about 2:20ish (maybe 2:25)? I will be very happy with something around that. Originally I had a goal of sub-2:15, but I don't think it's going to happen this time around.

With the warmer weather coming (50 here today!), I'm in the mood for some more spring/summer meals. I found a recipe for Shrimp Burgers with Coconut Peach Salsa on the blog How Sweet It Is. I have yet to be disappointed by any of her recipes. This was no exception. Fantastic! GW says "one of the best things you've ever made!!!" That's pretty high praise. The only swap I made was no-fat plain greek yogurt for the sour cream. I honestly couldn't tell you the last time I bought sour cream, we always swap. Oh and when she says it makes 6, she means it. I made 4 and they were GINORMOUS!

Excuse the poor photography. I snapped this one before GW started to eat it!

On the Bench

Workout:
None, under doctor's orders :(

So I'm on the bench again today. Apparently my hunched over walking and the cloud of IcyHot odor that was encircling me gave me away. That and me asking the anesthesiologist if she would give me a spinal. The doc I work with told me not to even think about running or anything else today. Except yoga. So I did some, but it was really more like lots of stretching. No vinyassa here. The back actually does feel better, but still not 100%. I have a little more appreciation for what some of my patients go through. And bonus of working in an ortho practice:

Can't wait to try this out tomorrow! 12 hours of topical pain relief. I hope it works! I can't stand smelling any more IcyHot. The menthol smell is getting old.

One the bright side of today, I got out of work early (*gasp*) AND we had delicious steamed clams for dinner! Another benefit of living in Boston; fresh clams for wicked cheap. Nom nom nom. They were so good, I forgot to take a picture while we devoured them. Next time.

Help, I've fallen and I can't get up

Workout:
~Gentle Flow Yoga

Apparently housework CAN kill you. Or at least jack up your back. BAD. I decided with the coming of this beautiful spring weather, I would do some spring cleaning. After being hunched over for 15 minutes cleaning out the bottom shelves of the fridge and trying valiantly to scrape off God-knows-what that was spilled God-knows-when how long ago, I stood up. And immediately almost sat down. Holy searing back pain. Like fireworks down both of my legs. NOT cool. I thought eating ibuprofen and using my back massager all night would help. It did but not enough. When I tried to run today with the hubs, I made it about 5 steps. Great run. Definitely didn't get tired! But instead of completely bailing, I threw back another 800mg of NSAIDs and did a yoga on-demand program. The stretching felt great and was just what I needed.

I had a come-to-Jesus meeting with myself yesterday about training and weight loss and basically life in general. I have found that even if it's hard, don't throw in the towel. Even if I fall off the wagon, I need to get back on. Throw in whichever cliche necessary, but I the only one who can do this is me. So after perusing many blogs by people who have already accomplished what I'm trying to do, I came up with some basic things I need to do. Maybe this will help any of you who need a little help too.

1.  PLAN. I should be good at this. I'm the queen of list-making. I made a sheet with every day of the week. For each day there is a corresponding box for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and workout. This way, I can plan it all out. Obviously sometimes something will change, but I find I stick to it if it's already been decided much easier than going willy-nilly. 
2. BE POSITIVE. Unfortunately, I have a tendency to get down on myself for one little mistake. And then beat it to death. I can't do this. It's going to totally undermine me and everything I'm trying to do. So...SMILE. DEEP BREATH. I CAN DO THIS. 
3. PUT YOURSELF FIRST. I am very bad at this. GW can tell you that. I'm not saying I have to be selfish, but I do need to get my workouts in and if that means leaving work without everything done or not making an extravagant dinner, then so be it.

Yes, none of this is probably earth-shattering, especially to those of you who are already good at these things. But if it helps anyone else who is struggling, then that's all I can hope for.

Happy Sunday to everyone! Go Gators!

Peeps Madness

Workout
Rest Day

Thank God it's Friday. I feel myself saying that a lot these days. I don't know about the rest of you, but by Friday, I'm dying. Very happy today was a rest day. (Yes, I will be better at blogging on non-rest days; I realize this is not really exciting or helpful if it's supposed to a blog that also is discussing workouts/running. But hang on, because that's ALL it will be about this summer thanks to the crazy marathon training. Back to our story...). This week was an especially long week. I don't know, I think a majority of my patients and others I interacted with must have drank some crazy juice, because holy cow, was it nuts. And life-sucking. With that in mind, I will blame all of them for my Peeps binge today. Yes, Peeps. I love me some Peeps.

Peeps

I know they are pure sugar. Yes, PURE sugar. But they are tasty. So tasty that I had 3 in the car on the way home from the store (I told you it was a bad day). There is a precise way to eating them: begin with the little blips of hard sugar coating, aka the eyes. Then the tail. Then the front. Then the head. Finally, finish off the little blob that's left. I'm pretty sure I have a little undiagnosed OCD. Oh, and they must be the chicks, preferably yellow. I'm not a huge fan of the bunnies. They seem a little sketchy to me, but to each his own. While searching for my Peeps picture, I found if you ever are having a bad day, just google Peeps images. There are some far more warped people than me out there making some hilarious set-ups with Peeps. Just trust me on that one.

I hope you all have filled out your March Madness brackets and are realizing that none of your picks are working out, as mine aren't. What a crazy tournament! This is why I love March Madness! GO GATORS! (And I'm writing this as I watch their game...get it together!) And a shout-out to my Iowa Hawkeyes who are killing in the NIT right now!

I PROMISE tomorrow will include an actual workout. Run and arms perhaps? I think it's a good plan...don't need no turkey arms up in here.

No creative title today

Workout
~2.5 miles treadmill, varying speeds

I had a quick treadmill workout today. I had to be to work somewhat early today and thanks to the crazy wintery mess Mother Nature dumped on us. It wasn't the greatest workout of my life, but at least I did something right. I'm trying a new ab workout this evening. If it isn't too weird, I'll put it upon a later post. I don't want to condone a crummy workout without trying it first!

Yes, I have been a blog slacker. Fail. Times infinity. I have got to get on here more regularly. I realize I keep track of myself a bit better when I do, not only exercise but food-wise as well. I guess it's my way of staying accountable, which God knows I need to keep on this healthy life train.

This is the lamest blog post of life today, but just not feeling the blogginess, but as I stated, I need to be regular to get the habit going. I think it's the crappy weather. Sad face.  So I will leave you with a mini photo collage of the weekend:

Dropkick Murphy's Concert at the Garden! 3/15/13

Beer-Battered Shrimp Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa 

Another amazing recipe from How Sweet It Is!

 

The famous South Boston St. Patrick's Day Parade with St. Patrick himself!

And to top off the weekend...mini Guinness cupcakes! Thank you Evi for the fab recipe!

 

It's Official!!!

No, I'm not pregnant. I AM RUNNING THE CHICAGO MARATHON 2013! After all of the spazzing...ok, well, really just one day of it...but after all of the anticipation, I got my lottery entry and signed up today! So did the hubster! So freaking excited it's unreal! Please remind me to come back to this entry when it is the middle of the summer and I'm logging 15 and 20 mile runs about how enthusiastic I was about this.  But for now, I will stay on the chipper side of life!

We've been some busy folks the last few weeks. I went home for a long weekend for my dad's birthday, the big 6-0! Had a great time celebrating with the family. We went to an AMAZING Persian restaurant in Grand Rapids, MI, called Shiraz.  Truly delicious food. I've eaten at several Persian restaurants here in Boston and this is on par. My parents, brother, and I shared a wonderful sampler of their appetizers. You got to choose 4 of the many they had and we ended up agreeing on the baba ghannouj (roasted eggplant blended with herbs and olive oil), hummus, dolmeh (stuffed grape leaves), and maust khiar (yogurt with cucumbers and walnuts). I think we went through two baskets of pitas to get all the goodness out of that sampler! For dinner I had gheymeh bodemjon, which was braised beef with yellow split peas, and eggplant in a cinnamon-tomato sauce with Persian sun-dried limes. I chose to substitute in the zereshk polo, which is a saffron rice with barberries and sweet butter. I am obsessed with barberries! They give a great tartness to offset the savoriness of the meal. This was my dinner:

While I was home, I also got the privilege of meeting my brand new baby niece, Shelby!  Isn't she the cutest freaking thing on the planet?

 Her mama and I have been best friends since playing travel softball together in high school.  So glad she's here to spoil!














This past weekend we finally were able to go skiing in Sunday River, Maine! And I did not die (again)! The weather was absolutely amazing with temps in the 40's and bluebird skies. I forgot how much of a workout skiing is, let alone 2 full days in a row. 2 days later, I am still sore...everywhere. But this was totally worth it:

I have had yesterday and today off to recuperate. Tomorrow it's back to the running. Might have a date with my treadmill friend if the rain continues. But knowing Nashville is in about 6 weeks is some wonderful motivation!!!

I can't feel my butt!

Workout:
~ P90-X leg workout, 55 minutes

Yes, I really cannot feel my butt. Thank you P90-X. I forgot what a biznatch of a workout you were, but it was wonderful. My thighs were on fire. I think I did more lunges in that 55 minutes than I have in the last year, which is both great and pathetic at the same time. I'll be taking some ibuprofen before bed tonight so my legs will actually move on my run tomorrow morning.

Deliciousness was had at our house tonight. And the best part was, it took about 25 minutes to make total. Drum roll please...Brussels Sprout Slaw and Spicy Honey-Brushed Chicken. Amazing!  The slaw had a great crunch from the hazelnuts, sweetness from the pomegranate, and a slight saltiness from the paramsean/romano/asiago cheese (thanks Trader Joe's!). We altered the dressing a bit; less vinegar and we didn't have hazelnut oil, so we just omitted. And it paired well with the chicken. I found the chicken recipe by googling "chicken thigh recipes"; so high-tech, I know, but SO worth it to find this recipe!  Using the broiler cuts down the cooking time. And now, after 2-1/2 years in our apartment, I have finally realized we have a broiler. Oh how much time and tin foil I have wasted.

 Isn't it so pretty and colorful?

Our Saturday was spent helping our friends Lindsay and Rob move into their new house. Again, lots of leg work going up and down the world's most narrow stairs. Between that and the upper body lifting, I'd say an 8 hour day of moving constitutes a good day of working out. And made the tasty beverages afterward in celebration totally worth it! Sunday was a lazy day with napping and cooking since the snow kept falling. A nice way to end the weekend.

Finally Friday!

Workout:
~5k, 33minutes - this was probably another quarter mile longer run, but Garmin couldn't "locate" me for a little while

Another day, another run. Pretty excited about this and excited that I made myself go after I got home from work! That's 3 days in a row. Again, a bit chilly, but not as cold as yesterday. I pretended to be a real runner and wore my Boston Marathon Adidas jacket from volunteering last year. It's actually a great coat to layer on over my compression/heat gear and it's white and reflective so people can see me. Plus, if you didn't know better, you'd have no idea I was in the medical tent and did not actually run the race (unless, of course, you DID run it, and then you would know your coat had different colors from mine, but I digress). I am not above tricking myself into believing I am a great runner with cool accessories to get my butt out the door!

And once I did get out, I had a beautiful sunset run around the frozen reservoir (that is ice Florida friends!):

Hard not to get pumped up for runs with scenery like that!  My time was a bit slow, but I'm still recovering from my wicked cold and really getting used to this running thing again, so I'm ok with that. Plus, parts of the reservoir path weren't totally cleared, so I was running over the snow/ice/mud. Maybe I can consider that cross-training too?

I don't know about the rest of you, but Friday could not come soon enough! This week was just bizarre and threw me off my game. Happy for the weekend, not happy for the next set of snow that is coming our way. Thankfully, no Nemo proportions. Maybe we'll actually get to go skiing Sunday after all (fingers crossed!). But tonight, I am watching "Argo" at home and am enjoying a glass of wine with some lovely blackberries and a square of Intense Dark Chocolate Cabernet Matinee from Ghirardelli. Heaven. Really.

 

Cheers to the weekend!

 

No freezing weather gonna keep me down

Workout:
~3 miles, unknown time

Today I ran in this weather:

Check out the "Feels Like" temp!  Truthfully, as awful as it looks, it wasn't too bad. I wore UnderArmour Heat Gear compression shirt with a breathable North Face shirt on top, some running tights, hat, and running gloves. Really, wasn't bad. I know my Florida friends are probably falling out of their chairs right now after that statement. The bad thing was the stuff draining out of my face! Every 2 minutes it was wipe the nose, spit, repeat. I guess it cleared out my sinuses. However, I learned a valuable lesson:  be certain the wind isn't going to shift before you spit.

Ok, enough of the grossness. I will try to refrain from this except in very small doses. Sorry, I'm in healthcare, these things don't phase me. But really, the run felt good. It was nice to be outside and doing it again. And I noticed how much my mood improved and how much happier I was all day at work. Added bonus! I'm beginning to have faith in doing well at the Nashville Half again.

In continuing with the healthy trend, tonight I made blackbean burgers from the blog Eat, Live, Run. So yummy and pretty easy to make, especially if you have a food processor. I don't change the recipe much except an extra jalapeno and extra garlic. (I love garlic. Vampires won't get within a continent of me. One less thing to worry about I suppose). I served the burgers on a bed of mixed greens (instead of a bun), topped with avocado, along with baked sweet potato fries and siracha ketchup. Very filling and veggie-friendly.

And after a nice chat today: shout out to one of my best friends and bloggers for the pep talk after the Marathon Registration Massacre. You are amazing!!! :)

Happy almost-weekend friends!

Chicago 2013!...oh, wait...

Workout
~1 mile run. SLOWLY. With snot dripping down my face.

Sorry for the gross description here, but it was true. I'm also trying to show my commitment to running by posting this. Or something to that effect. I tried really hard, that's what counts right? Planning on 3 snot-dripping miles tomorrow. Get excited.

Yesterday was the first day of Chicago Marathon sign ups. I was so pumped! I was home sick from work (legit sick, crappy upper respiratory grossness) and sitting at my computer at 1pm (12pm CST). As soon as it was open I started clicking away and...denied. "Server error", "Come back later", etc, etc. I tried for about an hour and a half both with the MacBook and iPhone and even the super Apple powers that be could not get me in. I got through once to get all of my info in, but still was stone-walled. I figured I would try again in a few hours. Yea, that didn't work out so well. I found out they shut down registration. Apparently Active.com, the company/server in charge of  registration, had a huge glitch. Ha, ya think?! Now, I know things happen and it's not a conspiracy, but definitely bumming about this, especially after they announced there's only 15,000 spots left. Seriously, 30,000 people miraculously entered during a 4 hour technological nightmare? I'm praying that about 10,000 of those spots are people who were double registered. Whatever the case, I have to wait until tomorrow to find out when we can register. I'm being melodramatic, but I will absolutely DIE if I don't get to run Chicago this year. I have already psyched myself up in my head and convinced myself to run THIS marathon. (And I got the time off from work!). I must, I must!

MUST. RUN. HERE.

(and don't worry, photo courtesy of me)

Sicky Sunday

I'm sick. It sucks. I feel like I swallowed razor blades. Hot tea, water, and gallons of DayQuil are helping slightly. Hopefully, if I blow my nose a few million more times, there won't be much left. That remains to be seen. Very glad today is a rest day anyway.

When I have a cold, I like to eat spicy food to try to clear out those sinuses. I've also been feeling a bit deprived on the vegetable front the last day or two, so I made something that would give me both: Thai Turkey Stir Fry with Asian Greens. I found this recipe in a Runner's World issue from late last year. Gary and I made it last week and loved it! It's got a nice kick from the red pepper paste, some protein from the meat, and a crap ton of veggies. Just what I wanted! We had enough of the ingredients lying around that I was able to make it. You could definitely substitute other veggies or meats in as well (for instance, tonight I used elk meat, because that's what we had in the freezer. Yes elk. I realize this is not a staple of most people's freezers. But you can use ground turkey, chicken, beef, or buffalo as the original recipe suggests).

Thai Turkey Stir Fry with Asian Greens

adapted from Runner's World

Thai Buffalo Stir-Fry
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
4 large garlic cloves, minced

4 tablespoons roasted chili paste, divided
1 pound ground turkey

3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon dark brown sugar
1 package fresh basil, chopped 

Red pepper flakes (optional)

—In a wok over high heat, heat olive oil. Add garlic and 1 tablespoon of the roasted red chili paste. Cook garlic for 30 seconds, add meat, and break up using a wooden spoon, cooking until beginning to brown. Add another tablespoon roasted chili paste, soy sauce, and dark brown sugar. Cook another minute. Add final 2 tablespoons of roasted chili paste. Add chopped basil and toss together. Remove from heat.

Quick-Cooked Asian Greens
2 tablespoons coconut oil

1 large bok choy, chopped

1 head napa cabbage, chopped
2 cups red cabbage, shredded
2 tablespoons soy sauce

—In a hot wok, heat the coconut oil. Toss the bok choy, napa cabbage, and red cabbage into the wok and stir to coat with oil. Cook for two minutes. Add in soy sauce and cook one more minute. Greens should be crisp but still tender.

Hoping tomorrow and this week are better than last week! And for those of you who don't have to work tomorrow, enjoy!

And we're back!

I have been the most slacking blogger of all time. Life got rolling around me and I didn't take the time to stop and write it down. So this post will be a mini-photo collage/update of the last 2 weeks.

February 2 - celebrated my friend Megan's birthday. We had dinner at Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square.  They have delicious food and fun, old-school 20's style drinks (read lots of gin and bitters - yum!). We then headed out to miniBar and CityBar for more drinks and fun. A great night overall!

February 3 -  Superbowl! What a crazy game, right? Glad the Ravens one, but truthfully, I wasn't that invested in the game. The hubster made his amazing gumbo - chicken, andouille sausage, dirty rice, peppers, beans, tomatoes...delicious! And he made so much we ate for days.

February 5 - Mumford and Sons concert!  Seriously, one of the best concerts I have been to. These guys are amazing musicians and singers. Even though I didn't know every single song (I do now!), I still found myself singing along. They came out at the end and sang a cappella in front of us...blew my mind!  Go see them if you get the chance!

February 6 - the packing party that didn't happen. Our friends Lindsay and Rob just bought a house. We planned on going over to help pack, with a little dinner and wine. The dinner and wine happened, but no packing...oops!  But we had Rob's famous guacamole and it lived up to its billing. However, the recipe's a secret, so I can only give out the picture:

February 8-10 - NEMO!  We were supposed to go skiing in Maine that weekend, but Winter Storm Nemo had other plans. 24 inches fell in Boston in 24 hours. Shut down the T, parking ban and travel bans were in effect. It was wild!

Since we were literally snowed in on Friday night, I thought it was fitting to make a nice winter veggie chili for dinner.  I found it in one of the Food&Wine Daily emails.  It was a filling, hearty chili with a nice little kick of spice. We topped it with a dollop of Greek yogurt and cilantro. You can serve with rice, but we omitted that; it was filling enough without the extra carbs! Gary actually liked it better than regular stew. A healthy, do-again recipe!

Winter Vegetable Chili

February 13 - welcome to the world Shelby Marie!  One of my best friends in the entire world, Sarah, had her beautiful baby girl at 9:37pm on this night. Could not be more excited or happy!  Can't wait to see them in 2 weeks!

 

 February 14 - Happy Valentine's Day! Gary and I went to Island Creek Oyster Bar for a very late dinner. ICOB is one of the sister restaurants of Eastern Standard and is also in Kenmore Square. The vibe there was very chill, a little less formal than ES, which was great, especially since I had come straight from work and looked kind of a hot mess. We had a dozen local oysters:  Island Creek oysters from Duxbury, MA, Icabod Flat oysters from Plymouth, MA, and Big Rock oysters from E. Dennis, MA.  So fresh! The oysters and the oyster sliders were our favorite parts of the meal. I'm still trying to figure out how to recreate the sliders. They were served on a brioche roll with lime chili aioli. The best sliders of any kind I've ever had.  Gary got the Rhode Island Fluke, white fish on a bed of risotto. I had the scallops with broccoli rabe and red-eye gravy. We felt like the entrees were ok, but nothing overly spectacular. I ordered the lemon tart for dessert. Nice and light, tart, and light crisp crust. Overall, we will definitely be back, particularly for the fresh oysters and sliders!

February 15 - Baby Shower for Baby D! My friend Lindsey is due in May, so our coworkers decided to throw her a baby shower. There were about a dozen of us and a night full of good food, drinks (except the expectant mother of course!) and lots of laughs.  Our guest of honor made cute little glass jars of homemade granola as thank you gifts. Delicious! Cranberries, nuts, and orange zest. She was kind enough to share the recipe with me, which I'll hopefully get to play with soon and have a post later :)

Unfortunately, there were lot of things going on, but not a lot of gym time. It's been a frustrating 2 weeks in that respect. But I realize I have to keep pressing forward and start each day with a  positive attitude. There's 10 weeks till Nashville and I can do this!  Also, sign up for the Chicago Marathon is Tuesday!!!  That will make it even more real and make me know it's time to get to work. I'm not sure if other people have so much difficulty with getting into habits, but if you do, please tell me how you've beaten it!

Happy Sunday! Will try to get another post up later tonight :)

Deep Thoughts

With the start of a brand new month today, I've decided to take a few minutes to look inward. Ironically, this was a fortune cookie I got a week or two ago and was very fitting for this post:

Leave it to the Chinese fortune cookie makers to make you have deep thoughts. But so it goes.

First, I'm so very thankful for friends, family, and an amazing husband. After last weekend in Stowe with new and old friends and the hubs, and getting to catch up with a lot of dear friends throughout this week, I realize how lucky I am. Even with miles between many of us, I still feel the love and support. It's a great thing and it makes life so much richer.

Now that it's February, it has also allowed me to feel like I'm starting fresh. January did not go quite the way I had planned with regards to my workouts. I realized I've really let me work get in the way of me focusing on myself, and I don't want to continue to let that happen. As I've pointed out in several posts, I also feel so much better about myself and life in general when I am working out regularly. So, with this new month, I will make getting to the gym my main goal. Workouts with no excuses. If that means some of the work doesn't get done, then so be it. Dictations can wait; my life and well-being cannot. I think making some small goals each month will help me to get to my big pictures goals.

To celebrate this new month, GW and I had dinner at Brookline Family Restaurant. It's a wonderful Turkish restaurant in Brookline, a few minutes away from our house. Since Gary is studying Turkish and studied there last summer, he has a good idea of what good Turkish food is, and this is it! I had the musaka:

 
If you haven't had it before, it's a wonderful dish of seasoned ground lamb with eggplant, peppers, and tomatoes. Hearty and delicious!  We have a few Turkish cookbooks and I'm looking forward to trying to make this at home.

Happy Weekend!