Saddest Easter bunny ever

Yesterday I ran outside after work for the first time in probably over 6 months. I don't like running while its dark because the lakefront path has many uneven surfaces and I have a tendency to trip. Not fun!

Since it now stays light until after 7:00, I went on a run date with my favorite little man.


The weather was cool, and there wasn't any wind which actually made me feel quite warm. The Churro Dog looked like he was having the time of his life for our 6.5 mile run (always melts my heart to see him so happy).


I think we're going to have to make run dates a regular part of our week from now on.


The skyline looked fantastic as usual. (Especially with the use of a filter app)


Saw these photos of myself from the Chitown "10k" I ran Sunday. All I could think was WHOA I look terrible! Hey! At least im not heel striking!!! The left phot was from the beginning of the race, the middle and right were from the finish- where you can tell how pissed I was at the course snafu. I also look terribly bloated while rocking a muffin top.

This week I've really turned around my eating and have been working to break the psychological connection I have with eating large amounts of food. (More food= more satisfying) I've found that I don't need nearly as much food as I had previously thought and it's scary and eye opening and awesome at the same time.


Breakfast! Ovomaltine! I got it in Brasil- it's basically crushed up chocolate malt balls with vitamins. It's awesome with rice milk. Yummmmm great way to start the day!

I feel that by eating significantly less than normal + whole non processed foods I have more energy, less fluctuations in mood, and feel great. I also have yet to actually feel hungry. Yesterday was the first day in a long time I didn't have a single snack. And I didn't miss it. I tend to eat out of boredom and am making a point to be very conscious of this.

With that being said, I do plan to enjoy the Chicago Beer festival tomorrow and sample many new and delicious craft brews, as well as have a wonderful Easter brunch at a swanky restaurant downtown. For me, food needs to be in moderation and be healthy and non processed 70-80% of the time, and indulge sometimes. I want to look and feel better. I'm the only thing getting in the way of achieving those goals.


Happy Easter from the saddest bunny ever!

What are your plans for this weekend?

Have you ever experimented with your food intake?

- xaar

Chitown 10k [but not really] recap

38:40, for 5.15 miles. Not a 10k. Avg Pace: 7:30 a mile. YAY

So i signed up for this race a few days ago because I was going to cheer for Britt, Jenny and Hillary anyways because we had a brunch date for post race. Figured I would give an earnest effort at the 10K distance after my first 10k in Brasil in January. This race would be one in which I was trained well, and coming off a less than stellar experience at the half marathon last week due to weather.

Myself, Jenny and Britt pre race

My only goal going into this race was to try to maintain 7:30's and then kick it in for the final mile.  *Spoiler alert* there was no final mile.

The half and 10k started together. After a half mile or so there were volunteers directing 10k runners to turn. I thought this was incorrect after briefly studying the course map- but who am I to question? *Since im never in a position to win a race, I dont generally look at maps closely. I followed the small herd. After a mile and not seeing a mile marker I knew something was wrong. But there was really nothing I could have done to go back, or fix it. So I followed the herd. Somewhere after mile 4 we turned back south to head towards the finish. I knew for sure at this point, there would be no more loops and we would be done a mile early. And I was BUMMED.

The Race director made an announcement post race that volunteers had mistakenly started pointing the 10k'ers in the wrong direction and because of this snafu, they will refund the 10k runners and give a $10 coupon towards a future All Community events race. Needless to say I'm going to ask for my refund.

 I really had my heart set on beating my time from Sao Paulo. Because if you arent improving, youre going backwards right?!? And it's only about the PRs and PBs?!?!?  haha I really just wanted a good race since last week's half was in crappy conditions. I did get a good 5.15 mile "race" in today.

During the last half mile I saw Pete who was so nice to cheer me on and take a few photos!
Post race, we all went to a delicious brunch place (Frances' in Lincoln Park) that had "spiked" milkshakes. I was on "Team Oreo." And it was delicious!
I had their skillet which was yummy and cant wait to eat the remaining portion of it later.

It was so nice to catch up with new and old friends :)

Post Brunch with some serious speedy company: (photo stolen from Jenny)

Hillary, Britt, Myself, Jenny, Chanthana

Final thoughts:

I ran this race  in 2011- the first year it existed, and had no problems. (didnt run it last year due to injury) I understand problems and mistakes do happen and I applaud the Race Director for stepping up and announcing a fair resolution to this snafu. While i'll probably never do their Chitown race again, because it is run on the confusing inner paths of the lakefront, I would/ am considering running some of their other races this year.

Silver Lining:

I now know im going to PR the hell out of the Shamrock Shuffle in 2 weeks. *save for catastrophe, and that makes me happy. Im a stronger, non injured runner FINALLY!

- xaar

Not my best photos...

I really thought it was cool that the Get Lucky race posted photos of the participants to their Facebook page. Unfortunately, my photos are not too frame worthy... *they aren't the best,(from RnR Chicago) but are certainly no where near the worst.


I look puffed up and about 15lbs heavier here than I do in other photos...


Thankfully not so puffed up here.

You can probably tell what I'm thinking through the grimace. In case you can't, (the PG version) would go something like "wow running into the wind/sleet sucks. This is soooo fun. Can't wait to do this again. Yay running."

By Monday I felt so emotionally drained. I couldn't find my key before work and by the time I got to work realized I left my lunch at home on the kitchen counter. I almost broke down into tears. Found my key in my purse (figured it was there) and went back home to get my lunch. Luckily I live a mile from work. CB was so distraught when he saw me come home early, I almost considered not going back to work. But I did, and it was a busy day. Thankfully things have gotten better this week.

Maybe the time change/ weather had something to do with my depressive state. I am now a firm believer in Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Do the season changes/ time changes affect you?

-I never believed or even heard of  S.A.D. while living in California or Florida- but then again, we really only had 2 seasons there and they weren't too different.




- xaar