What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger

This morning when my alarm went off at 7am the wind was already howling outside. The Savannah weather hasn’t exactly been perfect since I’ve been home. Friday and Saturday it was just overcast but yesterday we had 40 miles per hour wind gusts and 2.5 inches of rain!

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I had 4 miles on my training plan today and since I’m in the last month of training, I knew I wanted to try and do them outside versus inside on the treadmill. I have no idea what the weather will be like on marathon day so instead of walking back upstairs to run on the treadmill I put on my big girl pants and faced the weather with a smile. Friends like Liz definitely helped motivate me on this disgusting morning!

@healthyhappier what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…especially when it comes to marathon prep!

Once I hit the streets the run wasn’t too bad. The winds and passing cars kept it interesting as I thought I may see a familiar face since I was running in my parent’s neighborhood. The sidewalks were flooded the majority of the way which meant that I was stuck running in the grass or on the shoulder of the road. The rain was only a drizzle for the first three miles until a torrential downpour started at mile 3.

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The good thing is that I finished the four miles and actually enjoyed the run. The rain was a new diversion that I hadn’t dealt with recently.

After showering and drying off, I enjoyed a filling breakfast while watching The Today Show. This bowl included 1/2 cup of Shredded Wheat squares, 1/4 cup of Special K Almond Crunch, 1/8 cup of Sam Flax, and a sliced banana.

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I forget how nice it is to have a relaxed morning breakfast versus a hurried one over work at my computer!

Have a great Monday and enjoy the Columbus Day holiday if you have today off!

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Making The Best of It

It felt wonderful to push the door open at 6pm and see this lovely sight!

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I’ve been gone for five days and have missed Bo and some of the comforts of home. While the trip was wonderful, there is nothing like home.

This weekend, I spent Friday and Saturday in wedding mode! They did an absolutely wonderful job planning the events including the rehearsal dinner, bridal party prep the day of, the reception, and even the after party!  Instead of letting my cancelled flight upset me, I made the best of it and enjoyed some extra time with the group!

Riverboat Rehearsal Dinner

IMG_4102 (640x478) IMG_4106 (640x478)IMG_4113 (640x478) IMG_4117 (640x478) Bridal Party Preparations

There was an array of healthy breakfast options, including this adorable fruit bowl, waiting for us at Lauren’s house. She organized two local hair dressers, who actually graduated with her from high school, to do everyone’s hair at her house. It worked out perfectly and allowed us to spend time catching up together before the big wedding!

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The Ceremony & Reception

Held at the gorgeous Taft Museum of Art, the wedding was picture perfect. The temperature was in the low 80’s and the sun was shining down on the couple as they said “I do.” Every detail was planned perfectly including the jazz cocktail hour after the wedding, tent seating for 190 people, and the DJ who kept the party going until 11pm!

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IMG_2048 (640x480) IMG_2052 (480x640) IMG_2065 (640x480) IMG_2068 (640x480) IMG_2070 (480x640) IMG_2076 (640x480) IMG_2084 (640x480) IMG_2091 (640x480) IMG_2103 (640x480) IMG_2095 (640x480) IMG_2106 (640x480) As you can tell from the pictures everyone had a great time on the dance floor!

Cincinnati Reds Game

Yesterday, due to my rescheduled flight, I was able to score a seat in their group seats at the Reds game. A huge sports fan, Casey organized  group tickets for anyone who was staying in town the afternoon. It was a great way to reminisce about the previous night’s events and socialize with the group in a more intimate setting since there were only 20 or so people in our group. The weather was gorgeous and the Reds won in the 14th inning!

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One Final Run

Lauren’s matron of honor, Chrissy, was sweet enough to meet me bright and early this morning for one final run! She and her husband arrived around 7:20 ready to take me on a hilly running tour of Northern Kentucky. Our route was 3.8 miles long and included a few rolling hills and two intense inclines which intimidated the hell out of me. I told Chrissy from the beginning that I had two goals for this morning’s run: run the entire time, including the hills and keep below a 10 minute pace.

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This elevation map confuses me a bit as the final 1.5 miles were the steepest, versus the beginning. Maybe I’m just doing something wrong with the elevation map, but you get the point! Less than 40 minutes later we had accomplished our mission and were ready for showers and breakfast before heading to the airport.

I think Theodora would be proud of this morning’s breakfast which was enjoyed outside a local Starbucks. The unsweetened ice green tea was a welcome change from the coffee I sipped all weekend and the egg white and turkey bacon sandwich far exceeded my expectations.

IMG_4148 (640x478) IMG_4147 (640x478) I listened to my legs and sported these hot shoes for the journey home instead of Rainbows or Jack Rogers.

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These comfortable and supportive shoes along with smooth layovers and a healthy lunch kept me smiling all afternoon!

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I’m back in New York City where the sun is still shining, the sky is blue, and there is barely a puddle in the street. 

Question: What are your tips for enjoying a wedding when your flying solo? This goes for single and non-single people who happen to attend a wedding on their own.

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My Type of Sunday

Happy Sunday! I hope you were able to enjoy at least a few hours of rest and relaxation today.

Last night, Bo and I enjoyed a cooking date. We stayed in, cooked a delicious dinner together, enjoyed one of our Archery Summit bottles from our September trip to Portland, and relaxed.

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We picked up a fresh baguette and three small portions of cheese at Eataly yesterday during our shopping trip. The creamy 3 milk chev was definitely my favorite.

We knew we wanted a summer meal inspired by the fresh vegetables in Eataly’s produce department.

IMG_3169 (640x478) A cold tomato salad paired with fresh red corn kernels was the perfect side dish to accompany our rack of lamb.

Unfortunately, around 9:30 I headed to bed due to a horrible headache. I’m not sure what the cause but I know that I slept like a rock until Bo finally woke me up around 10:15!  I still didn’t feel wonderful when I woke up even though I slept 13 hours.

I decided to take it easy today and take a breather. Sometimes I plan so much that I end the weekend absolutely exhausted. I wasn’t going to let today end that way.

We started with a delicious and healthy brunch.

IMG_3171 (640x478) IMG_3173 (640x478) An open faced egg white and parmesan cheese sandwich paired with fresh berries was the perfect start to our day while watching Meet the Press. Bo and I have resolved to be more in touch with politics this year and are really enjoying this time together each week as it leads to some intense debates and conversations.

Around 1pm, we headed to the gym for our individual workouts. Bo is confined to the spin bike for the next 10 days until his follow up appointment regarding his thumb. Since it was a nerve surgery it’s a very sensitive healing process.

My training plan called for a 3 mile recovery plan. This is a new idea for me as I spent every Sunday on the couch last year after my long runs. So far I’m really enjoying it after the fact. The 3 miles have been slow each week, around a 10:10 pace, but when I leave the gym my calves and hamstrings feel much looser. I guess my coach really is the expert!

IMG_3174 (640x478) After a quick manicure and pedicure date, I came home ravenous. I’m focusing on eating healthier on the weekends and therefore turned to a measured bowl of Kashi Crunch, skim milk, and berries. This bowl included 1 cup of Kashi and 1/2 cup of raspberries.

The rest of the afternoon was spent watching the Women’s World Cup final and doing a chore that has been on my to do list for weeks.

IMG_3176 (640x478) IMG_3177 (640x478) Oh the joys of organizing my dresser drawers! Lately my race t-shirts and Lululemon gear had taken over my drawers to the point that they barely open! I spent an hour going through the drawers. In the end there were 2 pairs of compression socks and one pair of CEW tights found and 15 t-shirts donated due to lack of wear or size. I have no need for L running shirts that are huge or XS shirts that I haven’t worn in years.

Don’t worry, I fueled this intense activity and Theodora’s early evening visit with a side of summer cherries. I told Bo that I think cherries always need to be in our refrigerator. They are clean and easy to eat which makes them the perfect summer snack!

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Last but not least, we ended the weekend with a healthy homemade dinner: grilled chicken salad.

IMG_3181 (640x478) IMG_3182 (640x478) The ingredients included:

  • fresh mixed greens
  • beets
  • goat cheese
  • pistachio
  • grilled chicken
  • olive oil
  • balsamic vinegar

It was a delicious combination that left us full and satiated due to the flavor complexity.

I’m going to curl up with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo before an early bedtime.

It should be a fun week with some blog friends in town, a stepped up training schedule, The NYCM Long Training Run #1, a special preview screening of Captain America, and celebrating Theodora’s first triathlon!

Question: Do you enjoy relaxing Sundays or Sunday Fundays filled with brunches and fun?

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