yearly totals and 2013 goals

My total (per Map My Run and Runkeeper) miles I have run this year are roughly

789 miles

Not bad. I am glad to see I ran pretty much every week, except in August when I fell and had to take a week or so off. Otherwise I have been consistent and that is what I wanted to do! I try to run 4 times per week, even lately 5 times a week (t,w, th, Saturday long run then sunday a short run)....

This year I ran:
2 half marathons - my pr was 1:52:34 at the Chicago Half Marathon
a bunch of 5ks - my new pr is 24:30
my first trail run - 4 miles - I ran it in 31:31 and placed 2nd overall women
my first Sears Tower (Willis) tower climb - I did it in 23:xx and it was great!

My goals for 2013:
1. Run the Glass City Marathon in April - and finish!!!
2. Run the Chicago Half Marathon in September for my birthday again and finish sub 1:50
3. PR in a 5k and finish sub 23
4. complete my first duathalon in March
5. Run as many races I can, a 10k would be nice and 5k's
6. Keep running and being consistent

2 milers indoors on the river

My mom's house is located right on the chicago river in the city's area of Ravenswood. They bought this house when I was in college but it's basically my home away from home as I lived here after college and this has always been our 'home'. Anyhow, I really wanted to go for a short run this morning but I didn't feel like dresing up for the cold even though park and trail along the river looked inviting. But my mom also has a treadmill upstairs on the second floor and I decided to give it a try.

The treadmill is circa 1997 (haha, no joke). I ran 2 miles on it, I could not do anymore! I kept hitting the reset button and it was just annoying. But the view of the snowy Chicago river was pretty nice. I worked up a big sweat. Felt good.

7.15

I ran today at Horner park in the city. This is a park near our old condo and id take my beagle here daily for walks. Anyhow it's near my moms home and I had a nice run there today. It was snowy. It was icy. And I loved it.

7.15 1:02:08 8:41



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Mizuno wave inspire 9

Mama's got new shoes! Ok it only took me about 2 years of running to get my bum in a proper runners store, get measured and have my gait analyzed. But after receiving a Fleet Feet gift card for Christmas I finally went. I went to the one in Lincoln square as we are at moms city house for the weekend.
1. My left foot is a 7 and my right a 6.5! Thanks to babies. So I need a 7.5. Yea I've been running in 7s for almost 2 yrs!!! No wonder I would get sores and big toes falling off!
2. I knew this - I pronate on my left foot. And I tend to heel strike. I can't help it! That's why when I
First started running I bought clunky ASICs.
3. So since I was using the pure flow which is a minimalist shoe I wanted something lightweight but something that would cushion my heel and offer support
I went with these. So far so good. They have better venting than the brooks pure flows (which sucks in winter but I sweat so bad I like this feature). They are supportive yet lightweight. My 7 miler today was quit pleasant.
I was torn between these and the brooks pure cadence. But with the longer miles I'm about to embark on decided to go with these
Plus......I love the blue!!! Pure cadence came in the same purple as my pure flows. I wanted a change.



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3 miles....intervals gone bad

I had big plans to do intervals last night. But after my 5 minute warm up at 9:05 I just felt heavy, tired and bored, despite some new music I put on my list (Maneater by Hall and Oates was great, but the OMD Dreaming turned out to be the dance mix, not so much). So I did two intervals at 7:30 then just left it at 8:34 for the rest. No more no less....

3 miles 25:59 8:40 

why is running on the treadmill so much harder than outside!!!??? It's a mind game I think. 

oh and the scale wasn't THAT bad, I did gain a few pounds but nothing crazy....

scale

i'm afraid to weigh myself tonight at the gym! I weighed myself at home and I wasn't happy! Of  course the best time to weigh yourself is right in the morning before you eat and i will be weighing myself after dinner but I need to see what it says! Seriously can you really gain that much weight from Christmas!?

5.32 a detoxing relief

After one too many Christmas cookies, many drinks of ale and a late night after 8:00 pm snack, this run felt like a mini detox. It was good to sweat away (or at least in mind) some of these extra calories. I feel my waist bloating a bit and know that is for two reasons.

I started out at an easy pace and basically did a 3/1 type of run (first 2/3 slow then last 1/3 at a faster pace).

5:32 45:48 - 8:36 pace

	Pace (min/mi)	Elevation (ft)
1	9:00	11
2	8:42	-1
3	8:41	-21
4	8:28	15
5	8:17	-11
6	8:12	6

3 miler Christmas Eve

Christmas eve I did a quick 3 mile run. Tried to keep it to a tempo run and did a little bit of a different route.

3.07 25:07 8:11
8:07, 8:14, 8:11

Tomorrow's 5 miler should be fun after all of the food and drinks of Christmas eve and Christmas Day1!

8.86 miles in the sunny, cold winter weather!

Man, it was a great run today. I just felt like I could have gone on forever. But life doesn't allow endless time in a day so I am thankful I was able to get in the miles I did today. It was chilly but sunny, a bit windy when I headed south but overall I really felt great. It's always nice to have a good run after you have a sucky run (last treadmill run was AWFUL).

I bought a new running shirt with hand warmers attached from the Gap this morning at a last minute excursion to the mall (I know it was torture! but we made it pretty fast in and out of the craziness of the Christmas shoppers!). I layered it over my very tight fitting running shirt and the combo was perfect. I ran with my warmer pants although I am on the search for new running tights for the winter. I wore my LuLu ear warmers and I was off.

I tried to run at a slow, comfortable pace. But again the last few miles I kicked it up as it's such a mental game...I know I'm almost done so I speed up!

8.86 miles 1:15:02 8:28 pace

mi	Pace (min/mi)	Elevation (ft)
1	8:29	9
2	8:43	-24
3	8:31	20
4	8:34	0
5	8:34	10
6	8:28	3
7	8:19	-2
8	8:17	-21
9	8:15	-4

3 awful miles

I was excited I was able to go to the gym before dinner tonight since my mom is visiting. I just wasn't feeling it. All the songs were wrong, I could find nothing to get me into the zone. So I pushed forth and just finished up 3 miles although I wanted to do 4.

26:05 3 miles 8:41 pace - blah! sweaty and just felt off...not all runs will be great, right?

Now some refreshing Hearths Ablaze from Half Acre brewery...yum!

White chocolate peppermint cookies

We have been baking Christmas Cookies and sticking them in the freezer until Christmas. So far we have made: butter cookies, m&m bars, cake mix cookies, Cake Pops, peanut butter blossoms (with pb cups in the middle). 
we tried a new one this year....YUMMMM 
White Chocolate Peppermint M&M Cookies
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon water
2 large eggs
2 cups White Chocolate Peppermint M&Ms (about one and a half 9.90 ounce packages)
1. Preheat oven to 365*F.
2. Combine dry ingredients and set aside.
3. Combine butter, shortening, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and water. Beat until creamy.
4. Add in eggs and mix until well combined. Add flour mixture and mix well. Stir in M&Ms.
5. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto a cookie sheet (I do 12 per sheet).
6. Bake for 10-12 minutes. (10 for softer cookies, 12 for crisper cookies.)

Grandma C's spaghetti sauce

I am not Italian...but I did marry one and my girls sure have appetites like one! I was able to snag Grandma C's spaghetti sauce recipe years ago and today had such a craving for it. So since we had the time (it tastes better the longer you let it simmer) I made it. The girls and I could not stop eating dinner. I think I probably gained all my weight back tonight at dinner...so worth it!

Grandma C's Spaghetti Sauce - super easy and so yummy!

1-2 pork chops with bones (Grandma uses pig feet but um no, not going to do that)
5-6 6 oz cans of tomato paste
2 cans of water per can of paste ( so today I used 6 cans of paste, used 12 cans of water)
5-6 garlic cloves, minced
seasonings - pepper, sea salt, oregano, basil, parsley
a pinch of salt

1. In a dutch oven, warm up some olive oil and the garlic cloves. Brown the pork chops and both sides, season with S & P.
2. Add in the tomatoes and water, stir. Season with basil, oregano, pepper,  and parsley and bring to a boil. Then simmer, covered, for hours. The sauce will thicken so stir often. Add a little sugar to cut down on acidity (butter works too).

Serve over your favorite pasta - if you want add in meatballs to this sauce too.
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sweaty 5

Last night was really a 'rest' night but I wanted to go to the gym. So I ran 1.10 miles and felt so tired. I said screw the running part...I did weights and abs instead for about 20 minutes.

Tonight I ran 5 miles 43:36 8:41 pace - uneventful, warmed up at 9:05 then ended up running at 8:27. It's hard to run on the treadmill as when I run outside I run fast/slow with the peaks and valleys. But I am thankful for the gym on darks winter night where I can at least get my miles in

Cabbage Soup

The original recipe was given to me by one of C's Aunts at my wedding shower. We have enjoyed my version of her recipe for many winters. Cabbage is full of  vitamin c and fiber

1 - 1.5 lbs lean ground turkey
1 chopped onion
3 chopped carrots
3 chopped celery stalks
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes
Beef (or chicken/veggie stock work great too) Stock - full up the empty can of the tomatoes
garlic salt
garlic powder
pepper
1 head of chopped cabbage - Trader Joe's has a great pre-chopped bag
parsley

1. In dutch oven, heat olive oil and cook up carrots, onions and celery - season with garlic salt and pepper. Add in the turkey and ground until no longer pink. Add in the beans, tomatoes, cabbage - mix - then add in the stock and a little more garlic powder and pepper. Bring to a boil. Simmer for about an hour.

I make rice on the side and add in per bowful depending how much people want. Garnish with parsley.
 

tempo 3

I ran a quick 3 miles today. At dusk and it was a bit windy. Felt good to run outside since so many runs have been in the sweaty, stinky gym!

3 miles - 23:47 7:56
8:00
8:00
7:47

Indoors 8 mile

Today was my LR of the week. I was eager to do it outside but not a fan of wet, cold drizzle. So I went to the gym on that dreaded treadmill. It wasn't so bad, I have a new playlist so that helped. I ran until the treadmill maxed out at 60 minutes, then quickly restarted it for an additional 11 minutes to get to 8 miles.

8 miles 1:11:05 - I started out 9:13, then up to 8:57, kept it there for a steady pace then last half up to 8:41 then last 2 up to 8:20. I do like the training of running slow then your last few miles cranking it up a bit.

110

I made it to 110. I know the scale isn't that important but it sure feels good to have reached my goal. I'm still working in my core. I need to firm up that baby jiggle. Ok. That jiggle has been there before the babies. Time to say adios to it.


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Salmon with tomatoes, capers and kalamata olives

I usually bake Cod or Tilapia during the week since they are 'cheaper' but we do enjoy a good salmon as often as possible.
1-2 lbs salmon filets (skinned)
1/2 c. grape tomatoes, halved
1/4 c. capers
1/2 c. diced kalamata olives
lemons
olive oil
fresh or dried basil
sea salt and pepper
1. Preheat oven to 400. Line glass baking dish with overlapping foil sheets. Place salmon on top. Drizzle with lemon juice.
2. In a small bowl, combine, capers, tomatoes, olives and season with basil, s & p and drizzle with olive oil, mix then pour over the salmon. Drizzle more olive oil, lemon and s & p. Seal shut the foil and bake for about 15 minutes until the salmon is fork tender. This is GREAT on the grill too in the summer
Serve over brown rice (I throw in chopped up celery and carrots and use stock to make my brown rice) and broccoli on the side (topped with lemon, lemon and lemon and parm cheese)

2.26 with Double Stroller!

I was able to get my 2 miler in this afternoon. M and A were both in the double BOB as I ran my 2 mile loop with them. It was much harder pushing M as she is about 40 lbs instead of having T and A in the stroller....a good 20 lbs in addition! But nonetheless I was glad to get in these miles

2.26 20:10 8:54

splits were crazy
9:18
8:28
8:57

can you tell the first half I run uphill then downhill for the second?!

6m pace run

I was scheduled to do 5 but I felt so darn good running, I kept going. Plus I know I won't be able to do my 3 m run tomorrow. So instead I added a mile tonight to do a short 2m Friday with jogging stroller.

My pace run tonight felt great. I started out at 8:57 and kept it around 8:49 then 8:41.

6 miles 8:49 52:56

Now can I hold that for 20 more miles?!?!


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3 miler with a cold - first training run

I have a bad cold. But they say if it's from the neck up, run (neck down, rest). I did my first training run today - although I felt chills and stuffy it felt great to run after 3 days of rest.
3 miles 26:33

I'm using the novice 2 higdon 18 week training schedule. I liked his half schedules and this one looks great. Anything more I don't think I'd have the time. I'm going to keep my pace runs around 9:00 as that is my ultimate marathon pace goal - to run a 4 hour race. We will see. I'm excited as I've run 3 half marathons and feel ready for this challenge. I just have to take it slow and I know I'll be able to do this - I hope!
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Chicken Cutlets with mushroom wine sauce

In college, my best friend used to cook these great meals in our tiny kitchen. She would whip out eggplant parm and it was always so yum. She really was the one who inspired me to cook. As I learned a few tips from her I learned to love cooking and also took some of her great recipes with me when I graduated. We are still BFF and text each other daily, multiple times, and share almost daily what we are making for dinner. It's fun. This recipe is one from her family and it has become a favorite in my family.
1 lb chicken cutlets ( thinly sliced, slice in half or pound down if you don't get them from the butcher that way)
bread crumbs
eggs beaten with a little water
flour
fresh sauteed mushrooms
white wine
chicken stock
s & p
1. Dredge cutlets in flour, dip in egg wash then coat in bread crumbs. In a frying pan, heat olive oil until hot. Cook cutlets for a few minutes on both sides to brown and secure bread crumbs. Place in a glass baking dish. Cook in batches until all chicken is browned. Season with S & P.
2. Place mushrooms on top of chicken and pour about 1 c of white wine and 1 c. of stock over the chicken. cover with foil and bake for about 45 minutes at 325 - last few minutes remove foil to brown....add more stock and wine as needed
I serve over mashed potatoes or brown rice with a nice zucchini or broccoli on the side.

Holy Toledo!

I really want to run the Chicago Marathon, but it's so expensive and so crowded! I am having second thoughts. A friend ran the Glass City Marathon in Toledo and recommended it. My sister in law (who ran her first full last year in about 3:50) is running the Toledo as we agreed we would do that race..me doing the half and her doing the full. BUT now I am thinking, why not just run the full marathon as I can train in the winter/early spring?

My list of pros/cons

pros - Toledo
- flat course
- cheap race
-friend and sister in law running it
- scenic
- cool temperature assured for race day and training
- C's old neighborhood and memories of us living there

cons
-small crowd, not a lot of fanfare
- not a big city

I think i'm going to just go for it...then I can always run the Chicago half in the fall or try to run the full if there are spots!? So I will start my Novice training plan this week....I need to decide if I want to to Novice 1 or Novice 2. I am just worried I won't get my long runs in during the weekends with the kids/schedules.....I have to do this. I just feel the time is right and this March will mark my 2nd year of consistent running.

Kale, Bean and Sausage soup

Kale, Bean and Sausage Soup - made this up with a little help from another recipe. Smells so yum. Serve with some fresh, crusty sourdough bread.
10 oz chopped kale
1 14oz can diced tomatoes
1 small diced onion
4 celery stalks, diced
4 carrots, diced
1 quart chicken stock, unsalted
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 14oz can cannelinni beans, drained and rinsed
1 lb apple chicken sausage, diced
1. In a dutch oven, heat olive oil and saute onions, garlic, carrots, onion and celery - season with pepper and a little salt, cook until soft. Add in the diced sausage and cook until browned.
2. Add in the beans, tomatoes and broth. Bring to boil while adding in the kale. The kale will wilt, simmer covered for about 20 minutes until blended, adjust seasonings as your prefer. Serve topped with parm cheese and bread on the side!

jogging stroller jog - busy day!

I really wanted to get a run in before C went to work, but it was just too darn dark. So after T was dropped off (the little one I babysit for ) we took M to school and I told A that I will be taking them on a little jog in the double BOB! It was rainy and cold but she was game so we came back, I strapped them in and off we went.

2.30 miles 20 minutes and some change for a 8:50ish pace, not bad - glad to get in any miles I could! Then off we went to Trader Joe's to stock up for the week, then hurry home to unload and pick up M from school. Then we picked up the beagles, and drove to grandma's in the city for her to dogsit for us this weekend. We had lunch, played, Uncle B came to visit then off we drove back home....home to putting the rest of the groceries away, laundry, vacuum and now I will induldge in one of my favorite Christmas Ale's....Anchors away :)

Ok, I forgot howmore much I enjoyed the Sierra Nevada Celebration - cheers again. I love hoppy Christmas ales!!
 
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3

3 on the treadmill tonight....did about 4 7:30 intervals then just did 8:34, 8:20, 8:13...felt heavy again, not sure what is going on. Hope I am not getting slower! But I did finish 3 miles in 25:09 for 8:24 pace....then I did arms and abs.

5

I was so tired tonight. We were up early this morning and on the train by 9am. Today we our annual Walnut room/Santa visit at Fields (Macy's) with grandma. It was fun and nice with the weather being so warm...we visited C at his office and after a few lunch drinks, I was starting to get a headache. We caught the late train home, headed quickly to M's ice skating lesson then home for dinner and to watch Rudolf. I was anxious to get to the gym....I wanted to run 5 miles but after 3 miles at 9/850 pace was wondering if I had it in me. Then before I knew it I was over 4 miles and made myself listen to two more songs to get to 5 miles.

Rather slow tonight at a 8:50 pace but happy I put in the 5 miles I did. Hopefully I burned off some of those yummies I induldged in today.

My weight has been the same for the last week...the exact same! Which is good because I have been indulging at little more over the weekend at a few events...but I am still sticking to my nothing after 8pm rule so maybe that is helping.. I still have 3 lbs to get to my goal weight of 110!

where is the celery!?

I hate when I forgot things at the grocery store. I am OCD about having ingrediants in the house and certain foods for my recipes. You see, each Friday I plan out meals for the next week, starting Sunday-Friday. I make my list based on the recipe needs and go shopping on Friday...99% of the time at Trader Joe's (some at Target and some at our local market down the street). So when I went to the fridge tonight to make dinner, I couldn't believe I did not have CELERY! I looked and looked and could not find it. We ate up the last of our package from last week on Sunday and I swore I saw a new one in there...but it turns out it was just romaine lettuce. I remember going to the section of celery,then telling A to put carrots in her cart but then forgot if I actually put celery in...I guess I did not. Alas, I wasn't able to make my planned meal but instead am doing a jar sauce, frozen meatball spaghetti dinner...can't make everything from scratch right? why do I feel so guilty?  I have already told my girls 'We need to go get celery tomorrow' about 5 times...they are like ok mom we get it, you forgot CELERY!

Ah, the life of a type A personality....i'm taking the night off from running to rest my legs. I want to run tonight but know if I rest tonight I will have a better run tomorrow night. Pilates DVD tonight is my plan!

4.06

Since the weather has been so 'springlike', I took the chance to run after church this afternoon. Just a 4 miler, felt good, felt slower which is fine since I had a long run yesterday. Was a nice, easy paced run...just what I needed to burn some calories and add miles to the week!

Not all runs have to be fast, tempo, hard runs....otherwise it takes the joy away from running
4.06 35:19 8:42 pace

7 miles

7 miles 59:34 pace of 8:30

8:40
8:34
8:36
8:33
8:26
8:18
8:24

weather was good, cool but not cold...felt heavy again first few miles but then mentally when I was on my last 'leg' I knew I was doing fine. I had fairly even splits so that makes me feel better. At times I felt like I had to slow down but maybe it was all mental...maybe I just kept running the same pace. Anyhow, it always feels good AFTER you run and look back to see what you accomplished. Not bad for an hour run.