Slacker Blogger! Quickie...

Hello Everyone!

Yikes, time seems to slip away from me so fast!  I just wanted to drop in and say "hello" and that I'm still alive.  My new 'real job' + other side jobs + running are basically all I do right now, so I hate to say that my life has been pretty boring. 

I will do my best to have a 'real' post with pics this weekend, once I can catch my breath a bit.  Until then, I wish you a happy week full of good times, good eats, and good runs. (atleast those are the three that I'm shooting for!)

Detroit Half Marathon with my Pops!

Happy Sunday Readers!

Sorry for being so MIA, but this past week has been crazy between starting my new 'real' job as well as working my part time gig, running, and trying to maintain sanity.

Butttt.....I wanted to write a post celebrating my Poppy!  Today he completed his first half marathon and I am proud to say that I had the opportunity to run with him.  It was a great day in Detroit!

Me and Pop early morning pre-race (thanks for getting up to take a pic mom!)

The day began bright and early - 4:30am!  Pops and I headed downtown early to beat the traffic, donned our old sweats and garbage bags and snuck illegally into the people-mover shelter to stay warm pre-race.  It was so dark out, even as we made our way into our "C" corral.  Suddenly (15 minutes before I expected!) the race began and we were off!  My pop gave me the game plan ahead of time - to maintain 8:15 miles as long as we could.  I had my Garmin and was in charge of the pace.  The pace groups and corrals worked great, it was so easy to get a good position and the pace felt great with everyone around running around the same pace.  2 miles in, we made our way up the Ambassador Bridge which was gorgeous and one of my favorite parts of the race.  The sun was rising and freighter was driving under us "tooting" its horn- so pretty!  Down the bridge into Canada and along the waterfront.  Pops was holding up well and we were hitting just over 8 minute miles, so I knew we were ahead of pace.  Suddenly, it was already time to go back to the US via the tunnel so down we went!  It got HOT in the tunnel as we got timed for our "underwater" mile.  The breeze was very welcomed coming up and out of the tunnel.  Pops was feeling good, despite some sock/orthodic rubbing issues.  Our pace wasn't dropping too much and I knew we were on target to go sub 1:50 (Pops' goal was sub 2, but I, being the running genius that I am, knew he was in shape for sub-1:50).  Suddenly we were back downtown and the finish line was in sight!  Seeing the finish and running along side my dad was my favorite part of the race.  I felt so priveledged to be a part of this experience with him.  I race so often that I forget how great a triumph it really is each time.  So many people do not have parents who could do such a thing- run a half marathon!  I am so lucky to be able to have two parents who I share running with.  Crossing the line in 1:48:48 - the race was perfect.  Pops recovered easily and we grabbed some bananas and attempted to find the expo (with no success, although I had carried my credit card with me the whole race!)  Once we were thoroughly freezing, we headed back to the car.

Pops, post race with sweet blanket and medal

Me post-race with my bad ass pink jacket.

Yikes!  Super - close self portrait!

The morning was complete with a post-race breakfast of spinach omlette and hashbrowns at a local diner!

Then the afternoon was spent doing a second 'workout' - shopping with my mom for work clothes!  So. fun.  That + frozen yogurt.  Basically my life is complete.

Buttt...where did weekend go?  Between working my part time gig yesterday morning, driving to the parents, the race, and prepping for the week I cannot believe it's back to the grind tomorrow!  Its all good though.  Today was one of those days I just feel so blessed and satisfied.  Hope y'all had a good one too!

Let's embrace the week, k?

Time Flies, and my life is boring.

Oh, man where does time go? 

This week has been crazy busy between prepping for my teaching job (starts Monday, yikes!) and working my two other jobs (subbing, bakery job).  Add in some running and trying to maintain sanity and I guess that's where the time goes!

Quick recap:
Sunday's half marathon went OK.  I wanted to take it easy and ended up running 1:33-34, which wasn't quite as slow as I thought, but fine none the less.  Actually my 1/2 1/2 marathon split was right around 44 minutes so I was on pace to PR (sub 1:30 for me), but the second half was alllll up hill.  Miles 7-9 gained about 350 feet in elevation!  Needless to say, PR hopes were dashed.  I got 8th place woman overall out of 1200 or so women which I was happy with because generally I try to be in the top 1% at races as my goal.  I was not so happy about dropping from 4th to 8th place in the last 2 miles, but my legs were pretty shot and I think were still feeling my 50K from the week before.

I also listened to my new obsession song "Paper Planes" about 1000 times pre-race.  Thanks sister for introducing it to me...

These are the only pics I have because it was pitch dark when I arrived!

This is the breakfast of champions that I have before most every race.  Banana + brown sugar (in tupperware at top of page).  I love brown sugar and could eat it plain all day, everyday!  This is my way of adding more energy to a plain banana without a huge amount of food in my stomach!

This is a flattering and freaky picture of me licking the remaining brown sugar out of the container.  Yes, I needed all the energy I could get!  And I'm wearing my Boston jacket which is probably my favorite piece of clothing on earth......

Other than that, this week has been pretty solid workout wise.  Highlights included Tuesday night speedwork at the track, and a tough tempo in the grass on Wednesday.  Both with my training partner.  The tempo was intense because it was after a 9 hour workday on my feet at the bakery that began at 6am!  I got some easy 8 milers in during the week too, and today did a 16 miler at a bit slower than marathon pace.  Pleasing.  After 5 weekends in a row of racing, it is nice to have a weekend off.  I'm actually home cat-sitting for my parents, trying to prep for Monday and sleeping in my awesome bed here.  Yes indeedy, life is good.  Next weekend is my dad's first half marathon!  I'm so excited to do it with him and be his "pacer."  He has been training all summer and I know is ready to go!

Eats wise = pretty basic and boring.  Most meals have looked like this:

Sliced deli ham with mustard for dipping.

Smart Pop, mini bag...

Ahh, the glamous life of a broke teacher with 3 jobs...

Well, off to bed.  Lots to do in the morning time.  I'm already getting nervous about Monday and my foree into being a "real teacher!"  I guess I gotta use this college degree sometime......

Word,

T-mart

Cider Mill!

Today, my sis and bro-in-law made a lovely rainy-day trip to our local cider mill by our parents' house!  It was a great trip, complete with randomness.

First stop...cidar and donuts!

Yes, they are 5 years old!  They are in their matching U of M garb, representing in style before the ugly loss occurred...but I digress...Obviously, they are really pumped about their donuts.  Unfortunately, I could not partake in the donuts (gluten) but the cidar was delicious!

Then, we were off to the apple tent! 

I picked up a 1/4 peck of mixed apples for $3.00!!  It was cool, getting to mix and match and by the look of my face, I was pretty excited.  Yes, I get excited by large quantities of produce!

Then, it was time to take sweet pics including this one.

I pretty much think that no explanation in necessary...

On our way out, we hit up the "petting zoo."  I'm not gonna lie, it was totally sad!  All of the soggy animals standing around in a tiny tiny pen!  Poor little goats!  Atleast I got their picture!

"Baaa, baaaa!"

All around- a great morning!  I'm off to run a 1/2 marathon in the morning!  Catch-ya later!  Happy Saturday!

Things that are awesome Post #1:

1) People who bring their mouse to coffee shops and such because they cannot handle the optical mouse.
2) FREE refills
3) Honeycrisp apples (I like them big)
3) The fact that I got and accepted my FIRST 'REAL JOB'!!

Yes sir, all of my pondering over 32 miles of open trails helped clear my mind and set my decision straight.  I have accepted a part time high school teaching position at a small private school about 45 minutes from where I live!  After an interview and "try-out" teaching, I was offered the position as the current teacher is moving soon.  I was hesitant at first because it is teaching THREE preps, none of which are my certifications.  (I have Biology and Phys Ed certifications)  But, I will be teaching Calculus, Chemistry, and Physics everyday, plus Physical Education twice a week.  It is alot to take on, and I was doubting that I could handle it for a time.  HOWEVER, I am always open for an adventure and a challenge, and the students and staff at the school won me over with their kindness and willingness to help!  It will be an experience, but I am all about collecting life experiences lately, and I know I will learn as much from the students as they will from me.  I'll be at the school all week this week, getting ready, then the students have a one week break and I start 'for real' on October 12th.  Let me say that now that the decision process is over, I am SO PUMPED.  Little minds, ready for me to mold! :)  A real salaried job!  I SO feel like an adult now, and it feels gooood!

No pics really.  I did eat a honeycrisp apple the size of my face today.  It was pretty awesome, as mentioned.  No other blog-worthy foods.  Only a couple more Chobani left :(  Guess I'll have to go out and buy some since they are so delicious! (except for the pineapple)  I've decided to literally eat all of the food in my apartment and start fresh, including the canned goods.  Hopefully I'll remember to take some pics of the random meals of the next few days that will be created. 

Off to plan Chemistry curriculum! Wee!

I AM AN ULTRAMARATHONER!

You heard right!  Today I completed my first Ultramarathon- a 50K race (that ended up being close to 32 miles!) on hilly trails.  Here's the 'run'down with some pics!

Yes, true story, this was my bib!  No, I did not plan that it would have my blog name on it!  The race was called "Run Woodstock" and it included a bunch of races over the course of the weekend; from a 5K-100 miler!  It was all on trails and they had tons of hippie stuff and bands playing and people camping out everywhere.  Totally "far-out" atmosphere.  I'd had my eye set on this race for awhile since it was a 1st annual and it was only about 30 minutes from my apartment.  There was the 50K, a marathon, and a half marathon set to go off this morning.  I originally planned to do the half and add on for my long run of the week, but as time progressed the 50K's allore grew and grew.  I knew with the hills and trails (both of which I'm not a fan of) I would never be able to go under 1:30 and PR in the half.  Same with the marathon.  Nope, the only way to set a PR today would be to try something new!

I ate a banana and cottage cheese in the car on the way there.  It was pitch dark when I arrived at 6:30 and the tents looked super cool all lit up!  I registered, signed my life away in a waver that all the ultra runners had to sign, then headed back to my car to get ready.

This picture is me trying to be chill, but really just looking tired and stoned.  (they gave out the beads at registration!)

This picture is me saying "Yikes, I'm running 31 miles very soon!"

I headed over to the start just before 7:30.  The 50K, marathon, and half all started at the same time.  We, (the 50K-ers) started with a 5 mile loop, then did a 13+ mile loop twice.  The others just did the 13+ mile loop.  Having no idea what to expect from the course and trying to mentally prepare myself for running for 5+ hours, I decided to keep my pace conservative.  To me, the main appeal of the 50K was being able to go slow, because lately it has been hard running 15K's and 1/2 marathons at 6:50 pace. 

After an anticlimatic "go" we were off!  It was semi-light now and we headed into the trail on the 5 mile loop as a pack.  Quickly, I passed all of the woman and most of the men, which worried me, but my legs weren't ready to go super-slow.  I settled in with two older men.  We talked a bit, but the pace felt slow.  I planned not to look at my Garmin much, but made the mistake of looking at it when I *thought* the loop should be almost over.  Bad call.  It read 2.8 miles.  I thought, "oh man, what am I doing!?!?!"  Going up a hill, I dropped the two guys and was alone.  Finally, I came out into 'base camp.'  5 miles down, 26+ to go....

"Camp" energized me as I headed out for my *1st* half marathon loop.  I spent about 2 miles literally talking to myself outloud.  Yeah, sounds crazy, right?  I was analyzing this job situation I spoke of briefly and it helped to talk it out a bit.  Plus, my pace was slow so I wasn't loosing my breath at all.  4 miles into the loop, I hit the 1st aid station.  I was about 9 miles in and downed a few glasses of dilluted gatorade.  Fun fact about me: I NEVER eat or drink during races.  When I set my marathon PR 2 years ago, I literally ingested no food or liquid.  Probably not the best, but it works for me.  Anyway, I was nervous because I knew with temps in the 60-70 range, and the fact that I would be out there for so long, I would need some energy in the form of calories.  Leaving the aid station, I felt good.  I was trying to break the race down mentally so it wouldn't seem so overwhelming.  The hills were brutal though.  Not gonna lie on that!

As I continued on the first loop, I started to pass half and full marathoners (remember they hadn't done the original 5 mile loop.)  This was actually a highlight of the race because it got really lonely out in the woods and everyone was really encouraging.  And obviously I felt pretty bad ass.  12 miles in was the 'main' aid station, halfway around the big loop.  Everything looked so delicious! PB&Js, trail mix, fig newtons, bananas.  I knew that I couldn't go to solid food though, without training and with still having 19 miles to go.  So I moved on. 

18+ miles into the race, I hit base camp again.  I felt strong and I was really proud of the fact that I had been running the whole time when SO MANY people were walking up the hills.  I knew what to expect on the second loop, which was a blessing and a curse in one.  I had 4 miles until the aid station and all I could think about was the flat coca cola they had.  mmmm.  It sounded so good for some reason and a guy I trained with in the summer told me that he swears by it!  I was hungry, having only ingested the gatorade up to this point.  When I arrived at the oasis, I chugged 2 glasses of coke and a glass of mountain dew!  Delicious!  I knew that the sugar might bother my stomach, but it seemed so much more appealing that a gel or gu (which I've never had!)  About 1/2 mile after leaving that station I felt great!  I was even chanting "Su-gar, su-gar."  Hmmm, yeah 23 miles into it might have had something to do with it.  I knew I had 3 more miles until the "big" aid station, so I continued onward....

** brief pause in this long story for my to go move my laundry from the washer to the dryer...perhaps you should get up and get a snack!

I must say, I never thought that I would not finish.  It wasn't that I was cocky or confident or anything or felt sooo great all the time, there was just no other option!  I was completely disoriented in out in the middle of trails and I had to get back some how!

I arrived at the "big" aid station.  More coke, yum.  The people there were really friendly, and I knew I had 6 miles to go.  I kept saying really corny things in my head like "I'm an ultra-runner!"  And "I'm really doing this!"  I was passing more people who were in different races and I was clicking off the miles.  My form on the hills had deteriorated pretty badly, but that is to be expected.  Finally, my watch clicked over to 30 miles!  I couldn't believe it.  The most I have ran since last May is 15 miles.  The most I've ever run is a full marathon.  This felt like totally uncharted territory and I loved it.  Then I hit 31 miles and was pissed!  Where was the finish??  This is supposed to be a 50K!!!  For some reason this angered me more than I should!  Then, I emerged from the trail, heard the music, and saw base camp!  Yay!  Crossing the finish, I didn't know what to expect.  My legs had been moving for 5 hours and 15 minutes.  Surprisingly, they didn't cramp up.  I immediatly voiced that the race was long to the two guys at the finish!  I said "this was 31.75 miles!"  They were surprised that I had run the 50K, not the marathon and informed me that I was the overall female winner, and that only 6 men had come in before me!  After collecting my random prizes, grabbing a sandwich and a cookie, and soaking my legs in the lake (ahh, good call,) I was on my way home.

Here's the loot.  My bib, and the t-shirt (once again with my blog name on it!)  My pink beads, and the peace-sign metal for winning my age group, and the 'dog-tags' for being a 50K finisher.  Most random is the trophy.  It literally said on the box "Girl Taking Her Jeans Off Trophy."  Random? Yes indeed.  But I told you, it was a random race!

Even more random is the fact that they gave me this plaque with the trophy.  But I'm unsure of where on the "Girl Taking Her Jeans Off" I am supposed to put it??  Oh why oh why couldn't there have just been a sweet cash prize?

And here's the 'official Garmin.'  31.75 miles in 5:16:10, 9:58 mpm pace.  Would I ever in a million years be proud of running that kind of pace?  Not before I saw that course.  But after that course and seeing the karnage of people walking up hills and tripping over tree roots, I am mightly proud of that pace!  I'll be interested to see the results of all the races and how paces compare.

And lastly.....

Food reward!

My sis convinced me to go for a blizzard.  She also said I had to take a pic of it upside down for the blog.  She also said my blog posts are way too long.  So ha!  I took this pic for her, but she had to make it through the worlds-longest-blog-post to get to it!

Me in all my sweaty glory!  I am an ultramarathoner!  Hear me roar!

Playing Catchup

Good day out there!

My my, where has time gone?  My life is crazy-stressful busy right now, as I am debating some life changes involving my job and such.  I'll let you all know once I figure it out!  Right now, I just feel stressed and overwhelmed about where my life is headed.

But onward....

Training-wise, the week has been decent.  Got in some speed work with track club on Tuesday night.  3x1600 and 2x200.  My last 1600 was fairly bad, but overall it was a legit workout.  This weekend I'm doing a cool trail race.  It is actually a bunch of races, and I'm debating about doing a half marathon or going for something longer...stay tuned....

Eats have been good as well.  There have been a few of these...

stress induced...

Lunch above was eaten in the car in between a couple interviews.  (ie part of my 'life changes' decisions).  PB2 (yum) on low cal rice bread.  I like this rice bread, but I think it is better toasted.  This wasn't my favorite, but it could have been because I was nervous/rushed/stressed while eating.  Random: my cell phone seems to be sitting in a paper cup on the passenger seat???  Yeah, it was a long day...

But the best part...the good meals/recipes!

First off: Chickpea Patties!

I made this recipe last night, adapted from "Real Simple" Magazine.

Ingredients:

1 can chickpeas

4-5 sundried tomatoes

salt, pepper, and Mrs. Dash

water/lemon juice as necessary

flour (I used rice flour)

Combine all ingredients in a food processor, except flour (I used my blender!)  Process until smooth.  Form into patties, and coat in flour.  (Mine made 8 patties.)  Saute in a fry pan until crispy.  Serve over lettuce with green beans on the side!

I actually froze the rest of these raw so we will see how they are when I pull them out.  Overall, the sundried tomatoes made this recipe delicious- much recommended!

Second: Corn Salad!

This recipe was also adapted from "Real Simple."  I made it today, to let the flavors mesh for tomorrow's lunch.

Ingredients:

2 ears corn, cooked and cut off cob

1 can black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

1 avocado

juice of 2 limes

salt and pepper to taste

2 T blue cheese

Mix everything together!  Let it sit!

I'm actually really excited about this recipe because it is the first time a bought and used an avocado!  We shall see how it turns out/holds up, but I'm happy to have something new and fun for lunch tomorrow subbing.

Well, that's the extent of my life.  Dinner tonight = frozen yogurt because I need it after the day that I have had.  Simple pleasures; eating fro yo on the couch..err..futon...while watching great Thursday night TV.  All is well.

Keep it real,

T-mart