You win some, you lose some

This week has been a very challenging week.  To say the least.  Somehow I managed to lose my voice on Tuesday.  Incredibly strange, but I just woke up without a voice at all.  Boo hiss.  I somehow managed to make it through the work week and even attended a conference in Leesburg on Friday.  The most frustrating thing is having something to say/add during a conversation and not being able to.  


Last night my voice came back about 40% or so, it just sounded like I smoked a carton of cigarettes.  Now due to the busyness of this week on top of the whole voice thing, my workouts have been slim to none.  This week there was 20 on my schedule and I really, really, REALLY wanted to at least get my long run in.  However, it apparently was not in the cards this week.  


Last night I had some serious trouble sleeping - I kept getting up thinking that I had missed my alarm.  But when my alarm went off in the morning, I decided that would at least attempt by 20 miler even though I didn't feel amazing and hadn't really slept.  I met up with Rhonda, Tracey, Jen, and Heather (I believe) in Longleaf and we ran 2.5 miles in Longleaf before "picking up" Melanie at the starting point.  We then headed out on Starkey Boulevard towards Aristida.  


By the time we got to the 5 mile mark, I KNEW that I was not making 20 miles.  I was sweating profusely, coughing here and there, and just exhausted.  As much as it stunk, I told the ladies that I was going to turn around and go home.  I think that listening to my body will hopefully help me recover quickly and get back on track sooner rather than later.  


Once I got home I took at shower and went back to bed immediately.  It was much needed and really great.  I told Ben that I wasn't quite sure what I was thinking even attempting the run after the week and especially the night I had.  I'm going to chalk this one up to a lose, but that's ok.


On a personal note, I did have a chance to make a recipe that I've had on my list of things to do for a while. (Clean Eating) Black Bean Pumpkin Chili.  I found this website via the suggestion of a super singer/swimmer/biker/running friend of mine Chris Holloway.  (You can read his blog here: http://singswimbikerun.blogspot.com/ or you can check the blog scroll on the side).  And you can also find the Clean Eating website here: http://www.thegraciouspantry.com/ and also on the blog scroll.  Here is the recipe:

Clean Eating Black Bean Pumpkin Chili

Ingredients
1.5 lbs. lean ground turkey meat
1 (15 oz.) can pumpkin purée
2 (15 oz.) cans black beans with their water – do not drain (no sugar added)
2 cups chicken broth or stock (no sugar added)
3 tbsp. cinnamon
3 tbsp. chili powder
1 tbsp. cumin
1 tbsp garlic powder
2 tbsp. onion powder
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp. curry powder
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. balsamic vinegar

Directions
Step 1 – Place the turkey meat, pumpkin purée, black beans with their water and chicken broth in a crock pot. Mix well.

Step 2 – To this, add 1 tbsp. cinnamon, 1 tbsp. chili powder, 1 tsp. cumin, 1 tsp. garlic powder and 1 tbsp. onion powder.

Step 3 – Cook on high for 4-6 hours, depending on your crock pot.

Step 4 – When the meat is completely cooked, stir in 2 tbsp. cinnamon, 2 tbsp. chili powder, 2 tsp. cumin, 2 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. curry powder, 1 tbsp. onion powder, honey, vanilla extract and vinegar. Stir well and serve.

Eat and Enjoy!

Nutritional Content
1 serving = 1 cup

Calories: 132
Total Fat: 4 gm
Cholesterol: 34 gm
Sodium: 258 mg (lower if you use low sodium chicken broth)
Carbohydrates: 15 gm
Protein: 9 gm

Nutritional Information estimated at Nutritiondata.com. Data may not be accurate.

I haven't tried it yet - but it smells delicious!!!  Here's a photo of mine (not as pretty as the original). 

I'm going to chalk this one up to a WIN!  Have a great weekend y'all! :)

Long (?!?) Run

I never thought I would say this, but today my long run was 10 miles and it didn't seem long.  Seriously.  Last weekend was VERY challenging and I was really looking forward to going "only 10" this week.


Jen, Melanie, Rhonda, and myself met up at Longleaf right around 5:30.  Rhonda landed up not running with us after being sick and having car issues in the morning.  Sometimes it is just not in the cards.  I think that is the one of the things that I have learned from this marathon training - is to BE flexible.  Sometimes you can not follow that plan - work, life, colds, kids, significant others, etc... get in the way sometimes.  And it is OK! 


The other thing I have learned during this marathon training is that my speedwork is going to have to wait until marathon training is over.  Now that I am 30 (ahem)...it's become my goal to train smarter and not necessarily harder.


Here are the mile splits for today:

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	1:37:43.0	10.00	9:46.1
1	9:42.4	1.00	9:42.3
2	9:36.2	1.00	9:36.1
3	9:29.5	1.00	9:29.5
4	9:40.5	1.00	9:40.5
5	9:42.6	1.00	9:42.6
6	9:45.2	1.00	9:45.2
7	9:53.2	1.00	9:53.2
8	10:01.7	1.00	10:01.7
9	9:47.8	1.00	9:47.8
10	10:01.5	1.00	10:01.5
11	:2.0	0.00	11:38.5

Overall I was VERY pleased with the pace and how I felt.  It was a great run and it went by FAST.  I was telling Jen and Melanie how I have been stalking the Space Coast Marathon website recently to read about any updates and just be a weirdo, in general.  Here is a link of you want to join me: http://www.spacecoastmarathon.com  But I saw this picture that I just had to share:

How funny is that?!?

There is now only 70 days until Space Coast and needless to say I'm getting pretty pumped about the whole weekend. Ahhh! :)  Now it's time to get back to some college football action - have a great weekend y'all! 

TWO for ONE Long Run post!

So this week has been a little crazy, haven't really had a chance to post about my long (10 miler) last week. Being the multi-tasking woman that I am - here's a TWO for ONE! My favorite kind of twofer involves alcohol, but this will have to do.

Last week (9/4), Ben and I stayed down in Indian Rocks beach for the weekend - which was awesome! I had to do 10, and we scoped out a park/trail/botanical garden not too far away that we decided we were going to run to and back to the condo. Turns out the park is called Walsingham Park, here is a link to the website: http://www.pinellascounty.org/park/22_Walsingham.htm?TB_iframe=true

Here is the location, the city says Boca Ceiga but it seemed like Largo to me. We ran to another city even - geeze.

This is the path through the park - definitively will be heading back to run there again next time we stay in Pinellas.

It was beautiful! There were trails that were clearly marked every quarter mile, nice water views, water fountains AND bathrooms! What more can you ask for in a park?!? Here are the splits. Was doing really well until that last mile got me. My shoes were giving me a real problem and I had to walk back to the start.

Split	Time	Distance	Avg Pace
Summary	01:53:41	10.00	11:22
1	00:10:43	1.00	10:43
2	00:10:47	1.00	10:47
3	00:10:30	1.00	10:30
4	00:10:05	1.00	10:05
5	00:10:20	1.00	10:20
6	00:10:12	1.00	10:12
7	00:10:04	1.00	10:04
8	00:10:07	1.00	10:07
9	00:11:32	1.00	11:32
10	00:19:17	1.00	19:19

The best thing about staying on the beach is going directly there after running! Anyway, it wasn't pretty - but got 'er done!




This week (9/11), had 18 miles on the schedule. It's been probably five years since I've done that sort of distance. Actually it's been more than five years. I was super nervous that I wasn't going to be able to complete the whole distance. And I landed up at 17.5, but my Garmin died so there will be no "stats" for this run. Overall, I was so happy to be done with that run that I almost kissed my car! (kidding)

Rhonda and I met up with Tracey at Longleaf right at 5 am (well I was two minutes late, but I was putting a cooler on Starkey Blvd so that should make up for it). We started off and were catching up on the weekend happenings - Rhonda's son's first cross country meet and Tracey's cancelled triathlon.

I was telling Rhonda and Tracey about this documentary I was watching with my sister and brother-in-law last night on the History Channel telling the story of the families from 9/11 who received phone calls from their family members in the towers.  It was haunting, but I could not look away.  We started talking about where we were 10 years ago, and how we will never forget that day.  It was a little eerie to be running in the dark talking about such a dark topic, but obviously in the forefront of our thoughts.

We have been running into Aristida first and then out to Starkey afterwards.  This week, we were able to get in 6 miles just as we were coming out of Aristida, so that was nice!  I was mentally breaking this run into 3 segments of 6 mile runs.  We ran out a total of 9 to Starkey and then back.

The sun was coming up as we finished the last 6 miles and it was getting mighty hot.  We just happened to finish right about the same time as Richie and Big Steve.  Richie even had a mini cooling station (sent RIGHT from heaven!) at the finish.  And Big Steve even allowed us to double-dip in the cooler.

It was a hard run, but I'm so glad it's over now and I don't have to run again until Tuesday. Hope y'all enjoy the rest of your weekend! :)€

Happy Birthday to ME! :)

As many of you know, this past Friday I turned 3-0! It was an amazing day/weekend spent with some of the best family and friends out there.  What some of you don't know is that I went ahead and bought myself an early birthday present!

** A NEW CAR!  **

I had been riding in my 2008 Toyota Camry for almost three years now.  When I first got her, she was AWESOME.  But then, there were a few issues.  First, I met Ben.  And the poor guy barely fit into my sweet little Camry.  We actually had to open the sunroof screen so he had extra head space.... Second, the sucker was so low I couldn't go anywhere when it rained.  (One particular time I got stuck in South Tampa and Ben had to come pick me up in his truck - from a Pawn Shop, no less.)  Finally, and the nail in the coffin, we took my car to Pensacola for a little vacation and my butt was SO sore from those seats.  Maybe my butt is just not as small as the butts in Japan?

Either way, I've been eyeing and tossing around different ideas for a new ride for a few months.  I knew I wanted something higher than the Camry, but wasn't sure exactly what I was looking for.  In the beginning of August, Ben had to take his Avalanche to Gordon Chevy for some window tinting.  Out buddy Chris works there and he was showing us this Lincoln MKX that Gordon just got in.  Obviously, this car was impressive.

But a Lincoln? C'mon SON, I'm not that fancy.  I mean I hail from New Port Richey for crying out loud.  Ben and Chris were both trying to make me drive the car, but I knew that if I drove that piece of luxury, I would be hooked.  So I walked away.  A few weeks later, I got a call saying that the Lincoln was still there.  And that Gordon was looking to move more inventory before the end of the month. 

Hmmmm.....

So I went up to Gordon to "look at the numbers".  I'm a real numbers person, and I'm not trying to get into a car that is outside of my means.  But the numbers were even better than what I was paying on my Camry!  For a fancy Lincoln!

Here are some photos:

Some of my favorite features:

• A/C in the seats (!!!) - this is AWESOME after running
• Navigation - I will NEVER get lost again - plus I can hook up my cell phone to the navigation
• Riding HIGH

Sometimes I still look for my Camry when I'm walking out to the parking lot, but have been pleasantly surprised recently :)