This week is gonna rock!

Im really looking forward to this week. Not only because L will return from a nearly 2 week business trip, or because CB will go to the vet for a checkup post surgery (so he can get the all clear to run again), but also for Thanksgiving and it being the only excuse I have to make 30 side dishes (unless we go out- after all its only L, CB and I), but also because my Tribu is coming to visit!. You might remember Tribu from the huge disaster that was the 2012 Miami Marathon where she so unselfishly stuck by my side the entire race, while I hobbled/limped through 26.2 miles with a hip flexor strain in 90 degree/ 100% humidity after training in 30-40's in Chicago all winter long. She put aside her possibility of a 2nd BQ for a PW. If that's not friendship, I dont know what is. Best 4:30 spent. Ever!


We will be tacking the Grant Park Turkey Trot this Saturday for our first race together since that dreadful January day in Miami. Im struggling with a "plan" for this race. Im so much of a freaking planner that I like to go into races with some semblance of a goal, but ever since the Fox Valley Marathon and the injuries I've incurred, Ive been taking running lightly while I heal. While i'm confident my 5K PR (22:18) from last years "Hot to Trot" is in no danger of being broken, I do wonder what I am capable of for this Saturday. Had I not gotten the ITB and the Ankle issues, I would have been shooting for a mid 21 something. That's out of the question for sure.

 The 3 other 5Ks I've done this year were 23:34, 23:37. and 23:41. Pretty damn consistent! So i'm thinking of going for  a 23:30 and see how that kind of pace feels.






I went for a run this Sunday and it was absolutely gorgeous out.The path is pretty empty this time of year post Chicago Marathon, which is a welcome change from the chaos that is the trail during the summer with all of the training groups.

It's really nice to not have to worry about passing a large herd of runners, or getting hit by a cyclist. I can just run and enjoy the moment. Since i'm not running a Thursday Turkey Trot, I plan on hitting the lakefront  in the morning for a nice mind clearing run.

I will happily be rocking out my new leggings (on right) which I got from Target this weekend in Saturdays race. I had been obsessing over the $80 pair on the left from sweatybetty.com for a few days, but they didnt have my size. When I saw the knit pair in target for $20, my heart skipped a beat... I plan to wear running tights under them since they are not made of a spandex/athletic material. My legs will be happy and warm in their new tacky leggings :)

Finally, I made vegan chocolate pudding from scratch. And it turned out delicious. Thank you Kim for the recipe! 

How do you make a "goal" for a race?

What are you looking forward to this week?
-Im definitely looking forward to spending time with my family and Tribu and also a 3.75 day workweek :)



----XAAR

6 + 1=

7 miles in 1:02. Pace: 8:51/mile (thursday night- wrote this post after, but forgot to upload it)

Today is fabulouso cupcake Friday!



Which one to choose? Vanilla cake with raspberry, red velvet, chocolate chocolate, cookies and cream...



Cookies and cream!!! Yum!


Now back to last night....

Originally set out to do 6 with my precious CB, but we both felt good and made it a lucky 7 miles. No music, no water either.


"mom! I'm connected to the satellites, you don't need the garmin, let's go already!!!!"


It was in the mid 50's and crazy foggy out. Not much wind surprisingly.



We took it easy because I did a hard workout of 6 x 800's @ 7:30 pace/mile with 400m jog in between yesterday.


Running tonight brought out all the cold rainy windy memories from last week's Chicago spring half. It was eerie running on the path in the foggy, still conditions tonight with not many runners or cyclists out.




CB was a good boy. Running with a dog can be challenging. But thankfully there weren't any
!SQUIRRELS!!! out tonight. They are his vice. He stayed focused and kept on the dirt part of the path or grass. Towards the end he needed more encouragement, but we finished strong.




We saw a rabbit and also the Canadian geese with their goslings. I didn't get too close because I almost got attacked by them on the Los Gatos Creek trail in Campbell, CA when I tried to take photos of their babies last year. Lesson learned. Even CB won't mess with them. (and he will chase anything that moves)


Sears tower in the fog.

What are you looking forward to this weekend?

-I'm super happy my wonderful, wonderful is returning from a business trip on Saturday morning.
I'm also looking forward to going to the kickoff meeting for the Chicago Endurance Sports Chicago Marathon training program on Sunday. We will receive our shirt, training plan and meet the coaches and other participants in the program. And I'm most looking forward to hearing Carey Pinkowski speak. He is the race director of the Chicago marathon. Can you tell I'm already fired up for this!?!

Have a great weekend!

Tchau

-Xaar

16 miles, felt like poo

Planned to do 20-22 miles on Saturday. Ended up with 16 in 2:29

33 for the week
200 for the past 5 weeks.


Not too shabby you might say. However I just felt heavy, fatigued, and like I was struggling to put one foot in front of the other. Around mile 11 my favorite underwear for long distances decided to act up and cause wedgie after wedgie which I couldnt seem to fix. Don't like the chaffing that resulted.This run was the first bad run ive had in recent memory. I couldn't pinpoint it to anything specific, guess it was just one of those days. Weird thing was i only averaged 4 seconds a mile slower than my 18 miler last week. But I felt so good last week. 







On the way back around mile 11

It was a bit chilly. More than I expected because it was so sunny I assumed it would be warm out. I'm glad I brought my gloves. It was 34 with some nice wind.





Almost got run over by some senior citizen who decided to drive on the trail. He almost caused an accident trying to get back onto the road a half mile down the trail. He should NOT be driving anymore.












Soldier field in the distance!






Less than 2 miles to go!


So I ran out a little more than 8 miles so I could walk a few blocks home. I pushed the last mile to 8:20 something to make up for the crappiness of the previous 15 miles. It felt good to walk a few blocks back. When I got home all of a sudden I started feeling like I was going to puke and have major stomach issues out of nowhere! Bam! Luckily I started feeling better after drinking some more water and later on some mt dew. It cures any stomach issue I've had. Maybe because I never drink soda except while I'm sick- it was pretty awesome how it fixed me so fast!





(the water really did look like that yesterday... Crazy!)

Decided to take today off to recuperate. This week sucked. I. Stomach flu earlier in the week and now this. I'm feeling good about this coming week.

On the menu for this week is the Chi-Town Half marathon. My first race of 2011, and first race as a resident of Chicago. Im excited and cannot wait to PR in this race. Im in better shape now than when I was training for the Nike Women's Marathon last year.

Off to make a new pasta concoction..

-Xaar

4 miles on the lakefront trail

Ran with my favorite redhead tonight.




He takes running seriously. I think he was mad we had to wait for the garmin to locate the satellites instead of hitting the pavement at full throttle as soon as we stepped outside.









It was beautiful and the warmest day here this year. The trail was packed with walkers runners cyclists and rollerbladers.

Cb might have to stay home next time because the cyclists are going pretty fast while passing the people on foot.



-Xaar

Lakefront trail path

4 miles averaged 8:40 a mile and felt GREAT! I wanted to do more but it was getting dark and I have to do a long run tomorrow.

Happy happy hamdog.


He was perfect tonight. Only one time he tried to get some canadien geese, but no squirrels so this was awesome.


I think he is the cause for me running fast tonight. He likes to push the pace when we run.



Gosh, it was so beautiful tonight. Some of the buildings are lit up green for St Patricks day.






I'm really looking forward to running more on the path.





I think this might beat running on the treadmill.




Yes. It does win.

-Xaar