Mikkeller Run Club Chicago #2

On Saturday March 7th, we had our second gathering of Mikkeller Running Club, Chicago chapter.


It was another huge success with 41 people in attendance!


We started our run at 11:15am from The Northdown, our amazing clubhouse.
We were super lucky once again to have the best weather we could have possibly asked for. Our first MRC Run was also an abnormally warm, beautiful day. The month between these 2 runs contained one blizzard and sub freezing temps for nearly every single day.

We dodged puddles of melting slush and some ice to make it to Montrose, our turn around point.


We had a lot of fun running down Ravenswood.


We even had fun waiting at one of the 2 stoplights on our run.


MRC Chicago is a fun crowd!


After the turnaround.


More happy, thirsty runners!


Our clubhouse had 2 beers on draft we could choose from for our 1st complimentary post run beer:

The first was Mikkeller "USAlive!" a tasty Strong Belgian ale.

The other was "Damn It Jim, I'm A Coffee Porter Not A Stout." A delicious coffee porter collab between Werk Force Brewing and South Loop Brewing. A quick side note: South Loop Brewing did a crowd funding round and my husband and his friends went in to support South Loop Brewing- the amount they paid got them a package where they got to help brew a beer with South Loop. This is the beer they helped make. I could certainly taste the love! (and Colombian Coffee Beans!) If you find this on tap go drink it! It's a delicious rich porter.


I also saw Northdown had received Mikkeller's new "Book of Beer." So being the Mikkeller fangirl that I am, I bought a copy. It contains a lot of info on Mikkel- and how Mikkeller became the gypsy brewery they are today, as well as some of their recipes for beer... Which of course I will attempt to make at some point!  There was also a shout out in the book for none other than our clubhouse, The Northdown as being a beer bar that is not to be missed!

Dont miss out on our next run! Invite your friends!

Saturday, April 4th 11:15am at our clubhouse,  The Northdown.

RSVP: Here

Week 6 of ?? Sub 20 5k Training...

This week can be summed up as "MEH." I was sweating buckets during the speedwork and didn't feel as springy as usual. Whether it was hormones or a cold type thing or a combo of both, I just wasn't feeling myself this week. I started thinking there is no way I'll be able to hit sub 6:26 a mile for 3.1 miles in a race anytime soon while doing the 1200's, BUT I quickly reminded myself I was feeling off and this is not how I usually feel. Sure, the sub 20 5k won't be easy, but it shoudn't feel like a complete struggle whenever it happens.

Monday: REST

Tuesday: 7 miles, 53:20. "Some slow, some fast" 3  miles easy, 4 miles @ 7:18, 7:13, 7:13, 7:08

Wednesday: 11 miles cycle

Thursday: 6 Miles, 42:45. "4 x 1200's" 2 mile WU, 4x 1200's @ 4:40 (6:15/mile)

Friday: REST

Saturday: 3 miles progressive before MRC.
                 3ish miles with Mikkeller Running Club.

Sunday: REST

19 Miles running for 2:29.05

11 Miles cycling for 45:30

30 miles total for 3:14.35

By Friday I was feeling funky at work. Saturday morning, I ran 3 miles before MRC and felt quite bad. The 3 easy miles I ran with MRC were awful. The rest of the day I napped and did not eat anything because I felt so sick. Sunday I felt much better so I met my friend Vicky for brunch. But by the time I got home the stomach issues returned and I slept the afternoon away. The bad thing is I wanted to run again on Sunday but had no energy. The "silver lining" is I'm much closer to racing weight now... I just hope to be eating normal asap because my first 5k is this weekend!

I got some cool Toms with a Foxy "CB" print on them.
I got a lot of kisses post 1200's this week. CB is always happy to see me post workout. I'm just a huge salt lick to him...
We tried my blackberry stout this weekend. It was alright, but not quite as good as I thought it would be. I believe that it needs to bottle condition for a bit longer. This bottle was opened after 1.5 weeks of conditioning- We will try another bottle after 3 weeks and hopefully it will taste better. With this being my 2nd batch of all grain beer, I am constantly trying to improve and understand the process better. I'm excited for my next batches as my knowledge grows. I know CB is happy when I make beer because he gets biscuits.
Sunday CB curled up next to me while I took a long nap after brunch. I think he knew I wasn't feeling well and just wanted me to feel better and take him for a walk. Sorry buddy, not today. But hopefully this week we can go for a run or walk together.
Looking forward:

• I hope this stomach bug ends quick and doesn't impact me much more than the 2.5 days it already has caused havoc.

• The forecast for my 5k so far is complete crap. low 40's and rain. I need to figure out what to wear for it, especially if the forecast doesn't change by Thursday. I know i'll wear my Mikkeller Running Club shirt, but might have to add arm warmers. I wanted to wear my new neon green skirt from Track n Field that I bought in Brasil, but skirts and rain = too much excess soggy material. So most likely i'll wear some booty shorts or capris. I can always wear my skirt for the Shamrock Shuffle.

• I'd like to get one more solid speed sesh in before this weekend, but that all depends on how I feel post stomach bug. I want to go into the 5K with fresh legs and really see where i'm at in this sub 20 goal.

Cheers!

-Xaar

Week 5 of ??? Sub 20 5k training.

So I’ll *try* to refrain from sounding like a broken record for the 5^th week in a row. BUT, I really need to start giving myself more credit in regards to my abilities. I’m pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, it should be uncomfortable but not impossible. I’m always left wanting more post speed work.  The 4x1 mile repeats were tough. In fact, it was probably the hardest workout I've completed in the past 5 weeks. The first mile was particularly difficult. I couldn't get into a good rhythm, and just felt off. The rest of the repeats felt comfortably hard but marginally easier. So I’m chalking this one up to an off day vs being too difficult. And this was the first time I was just happy to be done with a speed work sesh.

Monday: REST!

Tuesday:  7 miles- Progressive

Wednesday:  3 mile run, 5 mile cycle

Thursday: REST!

Friday: 20 miles cycled- 10 AM/10 PM

Saturday:  8 miles total. 4x1 mile repeats @ 6:22, 6:22, 6:18, 6:18. 3 min recovery between. COWABUNGA

Sunday:  4 Mile recovery run. 8 mile cycle

Total time: 5 hours

Running: 22 miles/ 2:50.43

Cycling: 33 miles/ 2:09.30

Total miles: 55 miles total

The snow came back again, along with the cold.

The week was super ridiculously busy at work, which spilled into my personal life leaving me zapped by the end of the day not wanting to work out. BUT, since I have a goal I either woke up before work to work out, or pushed through at the end of the day- something I was so thankful for later on. I hate to sound cliché, but that 7 mile progressive on Tuesday was the perfect addition to my day. I just didn't feel that way when I started. By mile 7 I was happy to have a midweek longish run and I felt energized- a complete 180 to how I had felt 56 minutes earlier when I got home pre-run.

During work this week I reminisced about running my last marathon almost a year ago while drinking tea out of the mug I bought at the race expo. (I don't buy all pint glasses from races!). Knoxville was so fun, but I don't miss spring marathon training one bit!
I also wore my "most expensive shirt" to the gym this week. That sweet cotton blend only cost me around $1500, but is priceless because I am injury free and running better than I ever have in my life currently. I am also keeping up with my PT exercises to ensure I don't waste my "investment" that I put into PT.
CB got to see his boyfriend this weekend too for a quick sniff fest. CB was so happy to see Paddy. Couldn't say the same for Paddy. Our weekend was chill and helped us unwind from our busy work weeks. CB wasn't amused for our awkward "family photo" we took.

Looking forward:

We registered for the Shamrock Shuffle. It will be my 4th and L's 3rd, and I cannot wait to obliterate my PR from 2013 when I last ran it. I was on the fence about it for a while since I'm not really into super large events as much any more, but quickly decided I would regret my decision on race day when I could see all the runners going by our apartment. Shamrock Shuffle here I come! Plus, it is 2 weeks after my first 5k of the year, so It will be a great test to see where I'm at for the sub 20 goal.

Mikkeller Running Club Chicago:

Also: Come join us on Saturday March 7th for our 2nd Mikkeller Run Club run. RSVP/Details HERE.  Hope to see you on Saturday!!