19 miles = awesome!!!

Check…it…out…

AWESOME!!! I average 8:59 minute miles!!! I feel really happy about that.  Lets step a couple of hours back.  So last night I was really nervous for my long run day.  I get like this sometimes.  Deep down I know I will get the run done but I am just a ball of negativity the night before long runs.  I don’t know why I let myself think like that.  Ah well.  I carbo loaded with rice, canned salmon, and veggies.  Canned salmon is really good!! And I was up at 6 am. I am blessed with a stomach that can handle a lot of food before I run.  I ate a whole piece of whole wheat naan from Trader Joes, a peach and two eggs.  Oh and coffee.  So necessary.  And I was on my way.

It was soooo foggy!! For 10 miles I couldn’t see in front of me! Actually made it sorta fun. 

And my Pandora App started giving me attitude.  SO I ran without music for 10 miles.  Turns out I don’t need music to run!!! This was an awesome development.  I totally was convinced I NEEDED music.  I actually thought about going home and getting an old iPod.  But I actually enjoyed it!!! Plus I think it really helped me get through the last six miles when the music did start working again.

And how did I feel???  Really good.  My foot is a little sore but I’ll ice it and it should be okay.  I think it helped that I had two Gu packets instead of one.  I had one at miles 8 and mile 14.  All and all I am so thrilled with this run.  I had a positive attitude, I felt strong, and I was happy.  It couldn’t have been any better.

How was everyone’s weekend?  How is Irene??  Ann and Matt were on the Today Show on a Sunday.  They do NOT work Sundays so I know it must be serious : )

Emily

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eggy naany cheesy delight

Hello! Crazy week over here! But I wanted to dip into to say HELLO!

Oh and share a little something I’m loving.  After a very sweaty spin session I needed a snack.  I created what I will call eggy naany cheese delight.  Do this.  Grab a half piece of whole wheat naan (I used Trader Joe’s) and pour 1/4 egg white over it.  Let it soak while you take a shower.  Realize in the shower you haven’t shaved your legs for about a week so take extra long shower.  Come back to egg-soaked naan and heat skillet with olive oil.  And fry it up!! Then at the end take some goat cheese and let it melt on top.  Let it melt.  Top with blueberries.  And…ENJOY!

Happy girl.

Stay safe east coasters!!

Emily

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Geocaching, Mexican Lasagna, Eye Brow clean-up

Hello.  Woof.  I am exhausted! This weekend was an awesome mix of go, go, go, RELAX, work, RUN, clean…eat.  Yup there ya go.  I ran 13-miles and felt SO GOOD!!! I was in love with today’s run.  I can’t figure out why but I was maintaining under 8:30 minute/miles and hardly breathing hard.  My legs were loving the run too! Can’t explain it but I WILL TAKE IT!! I needed that confidence boost more than the mileage.

Let’s go to some happiness!!!

#1.  Geocaching.  Okay someone explain why I didn’t know about this.  Basically it is like this never-ending activity where you use GPS to find caches.  It’s like this not-so-secret society!  They have user names and hide and find things!! SOOOOOO fun!!! Seriously.  Google it now.  Well, Seattle held a geocaching block party.  There were activities to complete all around the Fremont neighborhood.  It was such a BLAST!!! And all these geocachers were so nice!! So welcoming to a virgin like me.  One of the activities was to de-shell cocoa nibs at Theo’s Chocolate factory AND we got to eat them!!! YES.  Here are some highlights:

#2.  Mexican Lasagna.  Like I’ve said before, I don’t use recipes.  I get inspiration from blogs, magazines, cook books but rarely follow the recipes.  Last night I took lasagna noodles, black beans, salsa, cheddar cheese, kale (ended up be so good), spinach, nutritional yeast… I think that’s all.  Pop in the oven for 45 mins at 350.  Golden! It was so good!

#3.  Eye brow clean-up.  Every couple of months I look in the mirror and I simply can’t function until I get my eye brows shaped! Well that day was Friday.  I am really low-maintenance.  I get my hair cut once a year, I never get manicures (I bite my nails), I rarely get pedicures (rather pointless when running so many miles) but I will drop $20 for brows.  I feel so much better!

How was your weekend??  Did you play in the sun?? I sure did!!  Do you know what geocaching is???  I want so more info!!

Emily

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oh my lanta

Oh my LANTA what a week.

This is what happened.

Tuesday. 5:30am.  BRINNNGGG BRIIING (phone ringing… I actually have a pretty cool ring tone but the classic phone tone adds to the story). It’s the boss lady telling me the FDA approved a drug so all the non profits I monitor will be buzzing with activities.  The FDA approves drugs that early in the morning?  Seriously FDA can we please have a little respect for those of us on the west coast?   Tuesdays I work at my other job so I tell her I can’t monitor all the activity today.  However, every moment of my time was sucked up in following this drug approval this week.  So that is what I’ve been doing all week.  Watching nonprofits tweet and facebook.  Pretty cool.

Tuesday. 8:30 am.  Get to other job.  Boss lady at that job asks if there is any way I can work more on the project I’m doing for them.  I explain I am pretty tight with my time but I’ll see what I can do.  Gah.

Tuesday 11:00 am.  Get an e-mail from project number 3 saying we are moving forward quickly and that we will be working fast from now on.  Translate: more worky work.

I love being busy but seriously WHAT A WEEK!!!

Looking on the bright side: at least I am needed?  loved? I dunno.  Getting great experience though and I [usually] like all the stuff I’m doing!!

So what do I do when I’m stressed and short on time?  I RUN (8 miles tempo Tuesday, 7 miles speed intervals Thursday, 5 miles Friday).  I CROSSTRAIN at the gym! I eat fresh food, I read my book, I go for walks and talk to my mom.  I try to smile and think about how I stress when I’m busy but the reality is that I love being busy.

Have a good weekend!

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ding dang good weekend

Hello my friends.  Pretty ding dang good weekend over here!!

Yesterday I went on an adventure with my new friend to the Ballard Locks.  This picture was actually taken on my 18-miler today so I was there two days in a row! Awesome!

Ballard Locks is a park built around a canal where the boats go through.  But the most exciting part is the salmon ladder.  I’m not going to pretend I understand this salmon ladder concept but I got to watch so GIANT salmon swim and swim and swim.

Super fun.  We also explored the Ballard neighborhood in Seattle.  We found a cooking store and I ooooogled.  Someday I will have a real kitchen.  And it will be awesome.  We had a lot of fun.

Today I did 18-miles.  Oh yes I did.  Can I be honest?  I was dreading this run.  I’m not sure why.  My legs were tired all week and I was starting to doubt my ability.  BUT I did it and I feel good! I slowed the pace from last week to 9:16 minute miles.  All I can say is THANK YOU PANDORA! Music got me through this one!!! Black Eye Peas playlist = awesome.  Lady Gaga playlist is pretty awesome too.  Here is a view of my running.After my run I went blueberry picking!!! YAH!! It’s something that’s been on my list of fun things to do for a long time.  And guess what! It was super fun!! I went with my friend Heather to a place near Seattle.

I’m just plain tired.  I have to get out some reports for work still.  Eyes. can’t. stay. open.

 

GOODNIGHT!

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Timely information, Beanitos, Voting

Hello peeps!  Do you like peeps or hate it?  I think it is slightly annoying.  BUT my mom randomly says things like ‘what’s up peeps’ to me, my dad, and sister.  So it sort of makes me laugh.

Lets see.  What has happened since last time??

Wednesday was WILD.  I spilled hot tea shortly after I posted on my stomach and currently have two blisters from the accident.  Some days I wonder about myself.  The burn was bad and painful (still is!) but the most miserable part was sitting in damp clothes the rest of the day.  Oh YUK!! Just the memory makes me shutter.  Boo.  After work I jetted home so I could finish a report for my other job.  Balancing three job-type things is tough.  Can’t wait until I’m a student again and can balance three jobs with classes and homework.  Oh crapola.  Live in the now Emily, live in the now… MOVING ON.  I quickly ate a salad and sunbutter sandwich and went to play trivia.  I was a useless member of the team.  I think my only contribution was a question about Roseanne Barr.  I left early but I’m sure we did not win.  Bummer.  Still fun though!

Thursday I was up before the sun with one thing on my mind: hills.  Not excited but necessary.  Luckily Seattle is naturally FULL of hills.  So I ran my hilly route.  It was about 8 miles of hills.  Yup.  I took some pics.  One at the top of a big fat hill looking down to the water and one at the water.  Hills suck but the sights are pretty good.

I accidentally ran a mile more than I wanted.  NOT good since my legs were SO tired.  Boo.  I guess I was further away from home than I thought.  The rest of my Thursday was lots of work.  And catching up on chores and getting to bed by 10 pm.

Today was uneventful.  4-mile run, 20 min elip, arms.  Skipped the shower.  Yup I did.  It is NOT hot in Seattle so I rarely sweat on runs.  I feel comfortable about my choice.  I worked all day and now I’m here.  No plans for tonight.  And that’s the way I like it.

Happiness.

#1 Timely information.  So I’ve been struggling with overall marathon exhaustion.  My legs ache, they feel like crap, my body is tired, and my pace is slow.  BUT look what was posted on Ask Coach Jenny’s blog on Running World: Six Reasons for Low Energy Runs.  I read the article and decided it probably was all of those things to some degree.

#2.  Beanito chips.  Simple ingredients and taste really good with hummus.  I bought them at Whole Foods. 

 

 

 

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notable kitchen creation, libraries, nice men

Hello.

How is everyone doing today?  I’m having a bit of a rough one.  It would have been my grandma’s birthday today (she died six weeks ago), my other grandma was diagnosed with cancer about two weeks ago (actually one month after my other grandma died) and she is not feeling so great have a week of chemo, and my dad’s best friend’s dad passed away this morning.  Oh man.  But thus is life.  I’m thankful I have work to distract me.  I’m in the office today so that’s good.  Moving on…. when there are a lot of things dragging me down I find it is best I stick to my schedule and realize there is little I can do to change the situation.

The workouts:

Monday: 60 min elip at the gym, 15 min arms

Tuesday: 8 mile run.  It was ROUGH! My legs felt like logs or something.  I felt like I was running uphill (I wasn’t) but I got it done and kept it just about 9:00 minute/mile.  I did some abs too.

Today: 30 min stair mill, 30 min elip, 15 min legs.

 

The happiness:

#1.  Notable kitchen creation.  So I don’t talk about my food a lot but I am pretty proud of my creative creations in the kitchen.  It’s what I love to do.  Case and point – monday’s dinner.  I was inspired by Ms. Angela of Oh She Glows.  Specifically her high protein basil pesto.  So I followed her recipe while I heated my oven.  Then I took about 1/4 cup of pesto and added 1/2 cup brown rice, a CHUNK of mozzarella, and a fresh tomato and baked it for 25 mins at 350.  Major yum.

#2. Libraries.  Okay I love them.  A lot.  Enough said.  FREE entertainment is wonderful in my book.

#3.  Nice men.  So I’ve been dating.  This is new to me.  Usually I just have time for drinks but that is more time then I’ve ever had before.  A couple of days ago this random guy asked if he could help carry my groceries.  Yes it was a lot of food but honestly I was a little offended.  Anyway he asked if he could buy me a drink sometime.  So last night I had a drink with him.  And he’s not a creep but actually a nice guy.  Slightly older than what I would want but he has his life together and we have a lot in common.  Most importantly he’s a nice man!!

Question: For all you single ladies (or not single ladies) how do you feel when a random guy asks you out?  I immediately think creeper.  I shouldn’t!! But I do.

Emily

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Questions and Answers for MONDAY

I was tagged by the lovely writer of Healthy Happy Whole!

Name 3 things sitting next to you right now…

1.  My Kleen Canteen.  I drink a lotta water.  Mine is blue.  Love it.

2. Little Bee by Chris Cleave.  It’s really good!! I’m almost done with it and plan to finish it while I’m eating dinner.  I sorta wish I wrote down some quotes while I was reading.  It is making me think.

3. My cell phone.  Never far from me.  I don’t know why…it doesn’t get much action.

Name 2 foods you can’t live without…

1.  PEANUT BUTTER!! DUH! I just can’t go a day without it.

2. Coffee.  One cup a day.  No more (it makes me sick) no less (I get a headache)

Name 2 things you can’t live without…

1. My running shoes!!! So necessary.  No running makes me unhappy.

2. It’s a toss-up between my fridge and oven.  I make all my meals (fresh) and don’t really like to eat out a lot.

Name 2 people you can’t live without…

1. My mom and dad and sister.  I’m actually talking to my mom right now.  We talk everyday.

2. My friends.  I have a couple of girl friends from college and high school that will always be there for me.

Name 1 thing you did today…

1. Just one thing??  I ate a turkey sandwich.  This is notable because I rarely buy deli meet.  It freaks me out.  But every couple of months turkey sandwiches taste so good.  So yesterday I bought some turkey and yes it tasted amazing.

Name 2 things you learned from the healthy blogging community…

1. Other people like to experiment in the kitchen!! Following recipes is BORING! Actually I just like to experiment.  I live to be creative

2. Frozen bananas can do amazing things.  Seriously.  Who would have thought a frozen banana blended could taste so good??

Goodnight all

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17 miles, really fast airplanes, fresh bread

Hellllo.  Happy Sunday.  It’s weird because yesterday felt like Sunday and today feels like Saturday.  Well I just can’t explain that!

Saturday was quite busy.  Spinning, farmers market, work, watching the Seafair air show… more work.  It was neat.  Spinning was goooood.  Farmers market was awesome!!! Oh tomatoes are starting to show up!!!! I LOVE SUMMER TOMATOES!! I bought two and they are waiting to be consumed at the perfect ripeness.  Oh the anticipation is KILLING me.  The farmers market was jammed full of people.  I LOVE that! I pranced by little booty back to my apartment for a quick shower and lunch and I was on to my next adventure.  I was invited by a very nice boy to join him and some of his friends at a park on Lake Washington to watch the Seafair airshow.  It is a Blue Angels show.  It was so cool.  But almost as equally neat was meeting so many nice people and just hanging out with no agenda in the park all day.  It was SO refreshing!!! I never have the time or the opportunity just to laze around in a park all day.  So nice.  Then I can home to take it easy before my 17 MILE RUN that I totally dominated.

Yesterday and this morning were very nice! I was very happy.  Here are the happiest things:

#1.  17 miles.  It was a very successful run.  It was HARD but that is what I like.  That’s what she said?  Of course it is going to be hard to run 17 miles!!!  I went in wanting to maintain about 9 minute miles.  Guess what!!! My average pace was 9:01!!!  I’ll take it baby!  I ended absolutely exhausted but I think it was a productive exhausted.  It was a little more hilly than I planned so I’m even happier with the time.  Fun fact: last year my 17 mile run during marathon training round one my average pace was about 9:50 minute miles.  I’ve come so far! Ha ha pun intended.  So I have a power hair doo for my run.  Check it out.  Want to feel powerful??  Do your hair like this.#2.  Really fast airplanes.  Now I have never been interested in planes.  I mean yes they are neat (and a little freaky! how DO they stay up there??) but I’ve never really considered really fast planes that awesome. Okay the Blue Angels air show is pretty awesome! I was impressed.  They move so fast that you can’t hear them coming because of the sound delay.  It is hard to get good pictures because they move so fast.  I tried but mostly you’ll have to believe me.#3.  Fresh bread.  At the farmers market I bought some fresh bread.  Whole wheat honey.  YUM!!! When I buy fresh bread I always wrap half up and freeze it since it is just me in my little apt.  Works like a charm!!!!  I had a piece yesterday and it was GOOD!!! 

Okay.  Shower time!!

Question: What are you looking forward to this week?  I am looking forward to some more Seattle sun (well according to the weather man so it is questionable), trivia on Wednesday, runs, and productive work days!!!

SMILE today.  It is a good day!

Emily

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compression socks, sunrises, my commute

Happy Friday.  I am being super cool on a Friday night.  On the agenda??  Lounging in my compression socks (keep reading) and watching Mad Men and eating my nightly Greek Yog + apple + cinnamon + protein powder sprinkling + peanut butter.  WhatEVER!  This is ALL I want to do right now.  When a girl works 50+ hours in five days with the guarantee of more work over the weekend Friday nights should be reserved for whatever the heck the girl wants.

So this is quick.  Biiiig date with Netflix asap!  Happiness time!

#1.  Compression socks.  I participated in another Adventure Run but the legs were NOT having it so I flaked out during the adventure.  I already ran 7-miles that morning and had four on the agenda bright and early this morning.  Not to mention 17 on Sunday.  Oh well it was fun for a while.  BUT I got some free compression socks!!! AWESOME!!! I’ve worn them all day (don’t worry I worked from home) and I love them.  I have been recovering really slowly and my foot has been achy again so the socks are worth a try!  Runners: do you have compression socks?#2. Sunrises.  When I tell people I am running by 5:30 in the morning they think I’m nuts.  I’m not, they just don’t understand.  But look at this view.  Pure love.  Pure happiness.  Pure calm.#3.  My commute.  I love it.  Well Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.  It is lonely working in front of a computer for 10 hours a day all alone in my apartment.  BUT no bus stress for this girl.  Turns out commuting is a major time suck! Who would have thought?  My commute is this:to this:And BANG personal computer off, work computer on.  Word day begins!!!

Question: What is better-sunrises or sunsets?  I LOVE sunrises!! They are quite, private, peaceful, MINE

 

Happy weekend!

Emily

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