Gratitude for Friendship

This week is flying by and I haven't had a moment to write or read any blogs.  I am in the meat of a multitude of projects at work and am trying to get some last minute tasks done before I fly to St. Louis on Friday.  I am visiting my best friend, Brittani, from college.  I have yet to see her new home and her new life.  I will meet her fiance and her beautiful baby boy, Owen. 

Brittani's Trip to San Diego Last Year, Preggers :)

Last June, Brittani came to San Diego for a visit.  She had the tiniest baby bump and we talked about names for her little man.  Now she is a full-fledged mom.  So much has changed in just one year!  I can't wait to sit around drinking coffee and catching up, cooking food and eating dessert and laughing about our crazy, stupid college days.  Like the time we stole a floor lamp from a frat house or dressed up as beer for Halloween.  We'll probably reminisce about the night we wound up at Papa John's after a frat party and I started answering their phones for them (after way too many drinks) until we were kicked out.  Let's just say, many people did not get their pizzas that night.

My 20th Birthday...at a bar.

Brittani is one of those friends that I can go months without talking to but when we finally get in touch, we don't skip a beat.  We were the girls in college that would forgo parties and go to Border's to browse through fitness magazines while drinking tea and eating chocolate chip cookies.  We had many crazy nights but we had just as many nights at home eating ice-cream and talking about how we were going to change the world after college.  We had big plans for ourselves.  We didn't want to graduate and get married, we wanted to pursue our dreams and do something big and meaningful.  We both struggled to find that after graduation and reality was a tough pill to swallow.  Luckily, we haven't lost our zest for life and we manage to find purpose in every nook and cranny that we possibly can.

As an extremely passionate person, it is nice to have a long-time friend that is equally as passionate.  We fuel eachother's fire and always have.  I feel incredibly lucky to have someone in my life that will always believe in my dreams and no matter how far, will always be there. 

stickers on private parts?  why not?

I wasn't intending to write anything about friendship today and especially not anything all mushy like this.  I contemplated deleting all of this sappiness, but why?  Friendship is something that shouldn't be taken for granted.  We should express our thanks and be vocal about the joys in life, one of them being good friends.  I feel fortunate that I moved out to San Diego almost 2 years ago without knowing a soul.  At one point I wondered if I would ever make friends.  Now, I have a circle of beautiful people that I can count on and share my life with.  I couldn't be happier about that.

Tell your good friends today how much you appreciate them.  When life goes haywire, they'll be the ones to help you straighten it out.  They're the ones cheering on the sidelines at a race and the ones that will bring over a bottle of wine after a bad day.  Or in Britani's case, they'll punch someone in the face (literally) if they think someone is talking badly about you. 

To all of my wonderful friends, THANK YOU. 

Vino and Vinyasa

I managed to squeeze four of my favorite things into one work night.  Running, Yoga, Friends & Wine.  I feel like Super Woman!  It isn't like me because let's face it, I am kind of a nerd that likes to get to bed early. 

I ran 6 miles on old Tracy, my new treadmill (which I built by myself, remember?) while watching Glee, of course.  I showered off my soaking wet, sweaty body and set off to meet some friends for yoga.  My friend Ashley recently started a job at Fitzee Foods which offers free yoga on Wednesday nights (score!).  The class was excellent and we held poses for extended periods of time, making it a great mental and physical challenge.  Practicing  yoga after running is slightly more challenging, as your body is slightly fatigued, but it's also extremely rewarding because your body is craving those deep stretches.  The instructor adjusted me several times and helped me deepen into certain poses; it felt fantastic!  Yoga always allows me to check in with my body and take note of my strengths and weaknesses. 

free yoga @ fitzee

After our challenging class we went out for some pizza, wine and some quality girl time. 

We were the sweaty, underdressed girls at the wine bar.  I'm sure we stuck out like a sore thumb considering all of the other women were donning heels and skirts. 

Last night reminded me how fun it is to be active with friends.  I almost always run by myself and practice yoga solo.  I enjoy this time of solitude but sometimes it's nice to mix it up.  I have friends that enjoy running and yoga too, so why not do it together?  If I wasn't planning on meeting them at class, I probably would've skipped it.  Working out (or doing yoga) with friends helps with accountability.  I already agreed to take a Body Pump class on Sunday with the girls.  You heard it here, I am taking a class fully devoted to lifting weights, meaning, I might die.

Do you and your friends work out together?

Do you enjoy Vino and Vinyasa?



You Can Do It All By Yo'Self!

I've run a marathon.  I've qualified for Boston.  I made the Dean's List in college and graduated at the top of my class.  Blah, blah, blah.  None of that even compares to what I did on Friday night.

See this sucker? 

I built it all by myself with my own two hands.  That's right.  I saved myself $120 dollars and pretended to know what I was doing.  I didn't.  I stayed up until 2 in the morning (way past my old lady bedtime) to get this machine together.  I'm a Taurus.  That means  I am stubborn, like a bull.  When I say I am going to build a treadmill, I build a treadmill.

Okay, maybe you don't think this is a big deal.  First you have to realize that I find it impossible to follow directions.  I can't even take a phone apart and put it back together.  I don't know the difference between a screw, a nail, a nut and a bolt.  They're all the same to me!  But somehow, I managed to build this thing all by myself.

I'm just a little in love with my new friend, Tracy the Treadmill ;-)

Granted, it didn't work when I finally plugged it in, but that problem is solved, so let's not talk about it.

The point is, I never in a million years thought I would be able to build anything.  What I learned is that, if I want something bad enough, I make it happen.  I threw away all notions that I wasn't capable of assembling a big complex piece of equipment, and I did it.

I remembered some wise words from a very prolific artist by the name of Lil John, "Snap yo fingas, do ya step, You can do it all by yo'self!"

I believed in myself, for once, and it paid off!  I highly recommend trying something you think you are incapable of doing.  You might surprise yourself.


UPDATE:  I ran my first 7 miles on the treadmill tonight and they were fantastic.  I realize I just wrote a post about how wonderful it is to live without TV, and I still stand firm in my beliefs, but last Friday I was exposed to something phenomenal.  It's a little show called GLEE and it might be the greatest thing ever.  I am addicted.  It's upbeat, happy and it makes me sing and dance.  I have found my new treadmill show.

My Glee on the Treadmill Set-Up

First 7 miles -  a sweaty success!  Don't judge me because I look like a man when I sweat and pull my hair back.  

Life Without TV

I forget how rare it is not to own a TV this day in age, but then I'm reminded when conversations like this take place:

Me:  I don't have a TV.
Co-Worker:  You don't have a TV?  So, like, how do you watch TV then?

Life without TV can sometimes result in awkward social situations because I don't recognize many pop culture references.  I remember the day I had to google GTL because I had no idea what people were talking about.  I've also googled DWTS and SYTYCD after spending minutes guessing what these could be.  These acronyms get lost on a person living in the stone age.

Besides awkward breakroom conversations, life without TV is pretty great.  It's been over 2 years since I've had television and I honestly do not miss it.  At first, it might be an adjustment, especially if you dedicate certain nights to favorite shows, but that passes with time.  Here are a few reasons to cut back or ditch the TV. 

I have time for more important things...

Reading.  I am able to read an average of one book every 1-2 weeks.  If I had a TV, my books would sit all lonely in the corner, unread and unhappy while I gave all my attention to the Kardashians, or some other equally ridiculous reality clan.  I am part of 2 book clubs, one locally and one cross-country with my best friend. Okay, this may seem more nerdy than anything else - but I love it!

I am not subjected to these people. 

Has anyone studied whether or not The Jersey Shore causes a loss of braincells?

Running.  This is an obvious one.  I get to run all of these beautiful places that I mentioned yesterday!  I don't get sucked into my couch watching plastic, psychotic housewives or drunk italians tanning and doing laundry.  My evenings are well spent running or working out.  I realize that most of my readers are all very diligent about exercise but the average american could probably stand to spend more time at the gym and less time on the sofa.

Talking.  This might sound lame, but the absence of a TV allows more room for conversation.  Rather than zoning out, we engage ourselves in conversation.  Angela would want me to insert a note here that says, some days  many days I am not very chatty after work and I prefer to get lost in a book.  I admit it.  I don't always like to talk. 

And I am less influenced by the media...

I didn't realize what an impact TV had on my body image and self-esteem until I didn't watch it anymore.  When we watch TV we are infiltrated with images of stick thin women with perfect hair, skin and boobs.  It's hard not to compare oneself.  I know I did.  I assumed that the size of these starlets was attainable by someone like me -- but that's unrealistic.  Without TV telling me I should weigh 100 lbs, I feel pretty satisified with my body, as I should.  (I will admit, I am having a low-confidence kind of day - but typically I feel good about myself).

Average woman?  I think not.

I save $$$$

I don't know how much cable costs these days but I've heard somewhere around $60 or $70 every single month!! Are you kidding me?  I can have a membership to the fanciest gym in town with that kind of money.  The kind that has a bar and throws pool parties overlooking the Padres games.  I can't even image dishing that kind of dough out to the cable company.  I spend that money on race entries instead.

*****

I am not anti-TV by any means.  In fact, I occasionally pop on Hulu or Netflix and catch an episode of Modern Family or Mad Men.  It's rare, but it happens.  If I am going to stare at a screen for that long, I'd rather watch a movie and most likely it is a documentary or a foreign film. 

Have I completely alienated myself by talking about life without TV?  I promise I'm not that big of a nerd. 

Do I Really Live Here?

As soon as my clock read 5:00 yesterday, I jumped up from my desk and bolted from my cubicle to meet Ang for a run.  She works up near Torrey Pines, which most of you know is my favorite place in all of San Diego.  I was feeling kind of hungry and crabby and wasn't sure I'd have a good run but I sucked it up because we were on a time crunch.  We had tickets to see Death Cab for Cutie at 8:00. 

I threw on my super cool T7s and we we hit the trails.   

Remember this 'Rave Run' in

Runner's World awhile back??

That would be Torrey Pines... where we are lucky enough to run.

Another RW photo

Although I started my run crabby and hungry and slightly dehydrated, all of those things seemed to dissipate as soon as we reached the trails.  The trail felt so soft beneath my feet as we wound left and right, making this run anything but boring.  The ocean came into view, and as always, I was astonished by its beauty.  It never gets old.  I still smile every time I see it.  I lived for so long without it and now I wonder how I did!

It's easy to forget how far I've come.  Running has taken on a whole new meaning since moving to San Diego.  In Chicago I ran in one of two places: the lakefront path or the treadmill.  The lakefront path was nice enough, but in the winter it was brutally cold and in the summer I had to maneuver through the thousands of Chicago runners. 

Now, the possibilities are endless.  I can run along the ocean, the bay, the harbor, in the canyon, through my neighborhood trails, Balboa Park, and the list goes on. I am living the runner's dream!  Yes, I just purchased a treadmill, but I will never stop savoring San Diego and its bountiful beauty. 

I created a short list of some of my favorite places to run.

5 Fabulous Places to Run in San Diego:

#1: Torrey Pines

I've already expressed my love for these trails numerous times.

Picture perfect, soft surface, winding trails. 

#2: Highway 101 through Encinitas, Solana Beach, and Del Mar

This route is popular among cyclists as well as those training for races and walks.

#3: Balboa Park Trails

There are numerous trails running alongside Balboa Park in all directions.  Some paths are shaded with enormous trees while others (like the one pictured above) are open to sunlight with well manicured gardens.

Photo Credit: Stephane D'Alu 

#4: Los Penaquitos Canyon Preserve

A 6 mile trail one-direction where you'll pass horses, mountain bikers and fellow runners.  Challenging but incredibly peaceful and quiet.

#5: Mission Bay & Mission Beach

I only recommend this to people that can handle crowds.  The bay side is calmer and less crowded, however, the ocean side of this path is full of beach goers.  It's great for people-watching with clear ocean views.  It's also ideal for an evening run to watch the sunset.

Newfound Confidence

I love having the bike trainer at home now.  I know--  I live in San Diego, why on earth do I need a bike trainer?  Or a treadmill?  Simply because it's very convenient and perfect for quick workouts.  No planning required.

For instance, yesterday I woke up and drank a cup of coffee and checked my e-mail.  Then I threw on my bike shorts and a sports bra and hopped right on the bike trainer.  I didn't need to figure out where I was going or worry about cars or routes.  I just wanted to get some quick cardio in.

watching Modern Family while cycling adds 

a nice little laughter/abdominal workout

After just 45 minutes on the bike I hit the trails for a 3 mile recovery run.  I always like to see how my legs are holding up after a long run like yesterday's 20.  They felt great!  I took it nice and slow which can be hard to do, but I forced myself to let guys pass me.  Man, I hate that.

I made it up every hill along the way without ever having to walk.  This is a great sign, especially for me, the hill hater.

My confidence is starting to grow.  My training is finally coming together and I can see gains.  When I started this training cycle I felt weak and pathetically slow.  I had just been laid up in bed after donating my eggs and dealing with complications.  I couldn't exercise for over 2 weeks!  I felt like I had lost a great deal of fitness in this short time of being bed ridden and the prior weeks of easy, cautious workouts.  I doubted my ability to run this race at all.

I almost dropped out.  I can distinctly remember one day in which I felt so awful that I stopped mid-run on the side of the trail, sat on a log and cried.  I was done.  Ready to quit.  Angela told me to just give it another week.  This was the best advice.  She didn't try to convince me to run the race because she knew that wouldn't work.  Angela trusted that I would get over this hump and see the light at the end of the tunnel.  So, I gave it another week and felt slightly better.  I still considered dropping out but thought I'd give it one more week.  Before I knew it, I forgot that dropping out was even an option.  Now I feel great and I am thanking Angela and my friend AJ for advising me against quitting.

My goal for Chicago is to rock a 3:30.  This is 5 (almost 6) minutes faster than Surf City.  I believe I can do it.  My training plan seems to believe I can run a 3:24, but I say that plan is whack.  ;-)  It will all come down to October 9th; how my body feels and the weather.  My biggest concern is truly the weather.  I'm from Chicago, I know how bipolar it can be.

hoping I feel as good as I did here, at Surf City

Angela ran Chicago in 2007 in which it was blazing hot and they stopped the race.  People were being carted off to the hospital left and right and a few people even died.  In 2009 she ran it again.  This time it was in the 40s at the start and she wore a long sleeve the entire race.  Clearly, the weather is unpredictable.  I am praying to the running gods for cool weather.  Please god, no crazy heat and no horrid humidity.  I don't think I can perform in those conditions after my training here in mild San Diego.  It's a blessing and a curse that I live in such a perfect climate.

Either way, I can only control my training and my attitude.  The weather is out of my hands.

I am enjoying a cut back week right now.  Saturday will involve sleeping in (wahoo!) and Sunday I will watch my friend Sarah run America's Finest City Half Marathon.  I am hoping to join her for a few miles of it.

Any upcoming races for you?

What are your goals?

Best. 20. Miler. Ever.

I am convinced that pizza is the absolute best food to eat the night before a long run or a marathon.  I'm sure many dieticians will disagree with this premise, but I have pretty sound reasoning behind this.  All of my good long runs and races happen after eating a whole lot of vegan pizza the night before.  That's my theory anyhow, and I will be eating pizza the night before the Chicago Marathon.

The morning after our little pizza party we set off for 20 miles along the coast at 8am.  We couldn't have asked for better weather.  It was about 65 degrees the entire way with a nice marine layer that hung around the entire time.  At mile 16 Angela and Teresa called it quits because they're smartie pants and they listen to their bodies (something I might not have been smart enough to do).  However, I was feeling so great I could have run a marathon.  Honestly.  All I can hope is that the weather cooperates in Chicago and I feel just as great as today.

Me and Hot Bod Teresa

We look the same age, right?  Lucky B&%^h! ;-)

I finished the 20 miles with an average pace that was right on target with my training plan.  I didn't drop to my knees and thank god that the run was over.  I felt great!  Running with others helps to slow me down a bit and makes for a far more enjoyable run.

After our kick-ass run we hit up a place called Lotus Cafe in Encinitas which is basically heaven for vegans (and non-vegans).  I ate almost this entire chocolate peanut-butter cupcake by myself before my vegan tamales even arrived at our table.

One of the best things I've EVER put in my mouth....

Angela enjoying her enchiladas and yes, we bring Starbucks everywhere.

To balance out the cupcake and pizza, we made a healthier dinner.   Our salad consisted of arugula, mixed greens, strawberries, sliced almonds, dried cranberries, fresh basil, cucumber and homemade white balsamic dressing.  Delish!   On the side we had red wine and some spinach pasta covered in fresh basil.  I am quite satisfied.  :)

Our delicious salad with all sorts of goodies

The bike trainer Angela ordered arrived the other day so I am looking forward to some cross training on the bike tomorrow morning.  I hope everyone is having a great weekend!

What is your favorite meal the night 

before a long run or a race?

Fast Shoes and Horrible Bosses

My new racing flats came in the mail yesterday, from Brooks, of course.  I have sampled almost every Brooks shoe this year trying to find the perfect one for my foot and my stride.  I chose the T7 Racers because they are minimal (they weigh almost nothing) and they're cuter than the Green Silence, in my opinion.  They provide hardly any support, just a a soft thin sole to protect from debris. 

T7 Racers - They're even lighter and flatter than they appear

I was so excited to run in them so I tore them out of the box immediately when I walked through the door. I slipped them on to find that they fit perfectly, like a glove.  Actually, more like a ballet slipper.  I am so used to bulky soles and weight under my feet but these are on the opposite side of the spectrum.  Here's what Competitor had to say about these kicks:

These performance shoes are fast enough to be the go-to racing choice for many elite runners. They’re minimalistic and perfect for up-tempo runners with an efficient stride. They even feel fine without socks. Light and flexible, the T7 is a perfect update to the beloved T6.

Granted, I am not an elite runner but I do have an efficient stride. I didn't feel any pain during my 6 miles, but to be safe, I ran on the grass as much as possible.  I felt like I was flying!  I didn't wear the Garmin so I don't know if I was actually running faster or if I just felt lighter. 


Can shoes have a placebo effect?

I realize it isn't smart to jump from a supportive shoe to a minimal shoe overnight.  I am going to be patient and try not to run in these new shoes for every run -- but it will be hard.  They felt so great, it will be a challenge to slip on the heavier, clunkier shoes now.  I might try them on the treadmill tonight for a tempo run.  I'm like a kid with a new toy, I can't help myself!

After my run last night, I showered and decided to play with my new hair.  I was excited to find that I can still wear it wavy!  I need versatile hair or boredom strikes. 

I put on some comfy clothes and went to see a late movie with some work friends -- Horrible Bosses.  I don't usually spend money on mainstream movies, but this movie was calling my name.  I probably have one of the best (or worst) horrible boss experiences.  I could go into detail but I'd rather not re-live it.  I think I have PTSD.  Maybe my ex-workplace should pay for therapy, eh?

We drank our wine juice boxes, ate popcorn and skittles and laughed our butts off.  This movie was not unique or brilliant in any way.  In fact, it adhered perfectly to the formula for big-screen comedies these days.  Either way, it was stupid and funny and my abs are sore from laughing.  Charlie from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is one of the main characters and he plays his standard, doofy role, which I happen to find extremely hilarious.  Jennifer Aniston is raunchy, a side of her you've never seen.  Kevin Spacey is an evil a-hole and Colin Farrell is unrecognizable.  My friend didn't even realize it was him until the closing credits.  If you've had a horrible boss that has made you consider murder (even for a second) then you should see this movie.  If you can't handle vulgar humor then take a pass.

Crazy Bad Luck & A Hair Cut

That's right.  Snip, snip, snip.  I cut a huge chunk of my hair off. 

Look at all that hair!

I could NOT get a good picture, but you get the idea!

I haven't changed my hair in years so this is big news.  Do you think the weight lost from my hair might make me run faster?  I think so.

Angela and I went for a run on Monday, one day after my 18 miler.  My legs felt surpringly fresh and I was able to get in 5.2 miles at a nice pace.  I am starting to notice that I am recovering better while training for this second marathon as opposed to my first.  I think my body knows how to adapt to the longer runs now because it's done it before.  That is a big plus to this training cycle.

and for my bad luck...

Unfortunately, the rest of the week has been going downhill for me.  I started yesterday off with a ticket on my Jeep.  Then, I arrived at work to find out that my co-worker and I made a colossal mistake.  The kind that makes your stomach drop, puts your heart in your throat and makes you almost vomit.  We both felt like complete morons and were scared for our jobs.  Today, I get a text message from Ang letting me know that someone egged my car!  I have no enemies (that I know of) but I was parked in the street so I was fair game.   Of all the Jeep Wranglers in the whole neighborhood (and there are a lot) it just had to be mine.

In more bad luck-- last Friday the top of my Jeep flew off in the middle of the freeway causing me to run into a median wall!  It was frightening but luckily I was okay.  I also had an awful fall a couple weeks ago while running.  I scraped my knee, my arm and my hip so badly that I cried like a baby.  There was a lot of blood and now some nasty looking scars.  Sadly, that wasn't the first time.  I also spilled an entire cup of coffee on myself another day on the way to work and had to go back home to change.  With my recent string of bad luck it can only go up from here!  Right!?  I swear I am a good person! 

Tonight, I am squeezing in another short run before heading to the movies with some friends, and tomorrow is a 7 mile run (5 @ tempo).  I am gearing up for my first 20 miler of the summer, this Saturday.  We are meeting a friend at Lake Hodges which I think will make the time pass quickly.  The 3 of us did our 14 miler together and it was very fun -- the kind of run where you lose track of miles and time.  That is the best way to do a long run, in my opinion.  I am already planning on brunch at Rancho's afterwards. 

 Have you ever made a colossal mistake at work? 

The kind that makes your boss and the CEO gasp. <-- that would be me

Have you ever had a crazy, random string of bad luck? 

If so, what kinds of freak things happened to you?

18 Miles of Solitude

It’s Monday.  Back to the daily grind.  I really think we need to take on a more European approach to working.  We need siestas and more vacation time.  This whole 40 hour work week just seems like a silly way to spend our precious days.  Life is too short!

Sorry—I have this talk with myself every Monday after I drag myself out of bed and force myself back into business attire after a weekend of yoga pants and going bra-less.

I did my 18 miler this weekend all by my lonesome self.  Angela had to work so I was solo.  It wasn’t as bad as I anticipated but it was hotter than I expected.  Usually the marine layer hangs around until noon but I had no such luck this Sunday.  It was bright and sunny by 9 am.  I was melting.  In an effort to not have to carry anything, I did the first 7 ½ miles right in my neighborhood.  When I eventually tired of Balboa Park I returned home and grabbed my handheld water bottle and some Gatorade.  I finished the run by heading downtown, to the harbor and back.

Ending an 18 miler on several uphills is killer on the legs, as I’m sure you know.  I was just barely dragging myself along by the end.  But I made it all in one piece!  I was soaking wet and my feet were throbbing but I did it.

I decided to try something new and I listened to an audio book for 2.5+ hours.  It was actually pretty nice! For one, I didn’t have to change the song or create a playlist. It also made it comparable to running with a friend. I like chatting and hearing stories along the way so this was the way to go. I was entertained! I highly recommend it if you are into that sort of thing. If you know me, I’m a huge book worm so I seize any opportunity to devour a book.

I met up with my friend Ashley for lunch at a place called Rancho's in North Park.  We shared a burrito and vegan pancakes.  It was the perfect combination of food after a long run.  I think it may become our regular post-run breakfast spot.

Ranchos is a funky little spot that displays an assortment of

mexican art & an array of Frida Kahlo portraits

The rest of the weekend was rather uneventful but in a good way.  I babysat my favorite 2 year old on Saturday.  She makes me want to have a kid!  When I am babysitting her I feel like we’re just hanging out.  We go for walks, go out for breakfast and we talk.  It might not be the most intellectual conversation but it’s fun!  I say “I love you!” and she says it back. T hat feels awesome.  I tell her she’s pretty and she tells me I am pretty.  It’s great for my ego.

For my readers out there – if you’ve read Sarah’s Key you must see the movie.  MUST.  Bring a huge supply of tissues or else you'll have make-up smeared down your face like I did after hours of crying.  I went to the theatre on Saturday and I absolutely loved it.  Many parts of this film were in French (which made me love it even more) and Kristin Scott Thomas is the lead actress.  I think she is brilliant and I recommend ALL of her movies.  I recently watched two French films starring Kristin Scott Thomas, Leaving and I’ve Loved You So Long. Both of these are fantastic.  If you like foreign films, check them out. 

tres magnifique!

I am starting to get a little antsy waiting for my treadmill to arrive. It takes 2 whole weeks to be delivered and I have a very small amount of patience. I want that sucker in my living room right now. I am way too excited to wait another week and a half.  Send a prayer to the running gods that it miraculously shows up on my doorstep tomorrow – okay?  Thank you!

My Impulse Buy: A Treadmill

Last night I clicked PURCHASE on a pretty pricey item; a NordicTrack treadmill.  Many of you call it the dreadmill -- but I am rather fond of this piece of equipment.  I love speed workouts and I love them even more on the treadmill.  I hate the gym and would much rather do these workouts in the privacy of my own home. 

The best part is, there are no payments for 6 whole months.   That's where they sucked me in.  I admit it, I fall for all of the gimmicks and sales tactics.  I am a salesperson's dream customer.  I buy the newspaper from the boy at the door that says he will get a scholarship if he meets his quota.  I once bought make-up from a woman that walked into my office from the street, and yes, I made the check out to her.  It was probably stolen merchandise because I am pretty sure Victoria Jackson doesn't hire people to do door-to-door sales.  I fall for the Mary Kay people and I am guilted into buying candy for every kid's fundraiser.

There she is.  Isn't she a beauty?

NordicTrack C900

At least this time I bought something that will last for years and will make my (running) life simpler.  Can you tell I am trying to make myself feel better?  The other factor that brought on some guilt is that the average temperature in San Diego is 72 degrees.  Who needs a stinkin' treadmill in that kind of mild paradise?  Well, apparently I do.  I will love it and I will use it and I will make it worth every penny.

Any treadmill lovers out there?

Do you have your own? 

Do you use it?  Was it worth it?     

Chocolate Cake and Soccer Stars

I received this exciting piece of news in my e-mail yesterday:

Soccer stars Abby Wambach, Hope Solo and Alex Morgan who spearheaded the U.S. women’s team to the World Cup final will be part of the race weekend activities at the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. The trio will be part of a charity relay team on race day at the October 9 event.

All three of them, in Chicago, my city. I am super excited and I will be stalking them, don't you worry.

As many of you know, I am slightly obsessed with the U.S. Women's Soccer team.   They are strong, confident and completely awesome. 

Abby Wambach and I will be running in the same race.  I may even run beside her and we may high five.  Who knows, this could be the start of a lifelong friendship. 

The Huffington Post wrote about it here.

******

I thought I would share the chocolate cake recipe with you that I made for Angela's birthday.  The one we ate half of last night.  It was incredibly delicious.  Below is the cake recipe I used, but they suggest a ganache as a topping.  I went with a vanilla frosting, regrettably, as it was a bit runny and more of a glaze than anything.  It was certainly tasty enough but it wasn't quite as aesthetically pleasing as this cake below. 

Side Note: I forgot to add the canola oil and guess what!  It turned out delicious!  I accidentally cut hundreds of calories and it was still fantastic. 

from Post Punk Kitchen

Just (Vegan) Chocolate Cake

1 cup almond milk (or your favorite non-dairy milk)
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa powder, Dutch-processed or regular (or a mix of both)
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350?F.

Whisk together the soy milk and vinegar in a large bowl, and set aside for a few minutes to curdle. Add the sugar, oil, vanilla and almond extract and mix well.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Add in two batches to wet ingredients and beat until no large lumps remain (a few tiny lumps are OK).

Lightly grease an 8 inch springform pan. Pour in the batter and bake for 32 to 35 minutes, until a toothpick inserted through the center comes out clean.

Gooey (Vegan) Ganache

2/3 cup almond milk (or your favorite non-dairy milk)
8 oz semi sweet chocolate chips
3 tablespoons pure maple syrup

In a small saucepan bring the milk to a boil then lower heat to a simmer. Add the chocoate chips and maple syrup and mix with a fork. Turn heat off and mix until thoroughly melted. Let cool for about 15 minutes before using.

To assemble:

Just pour the ganache over the cooled cake and kind of tilt the cake at all angles to get the ganache to drip down the sides. Refrigerate to cool and set the ganache.

ENJOY!

Celebrate Good Times!

I will cut to the chase:  I finally had a successful long run!  I can thank Ang for that because she seems to be my good luck charm.  She has good juju.  During our last training cycle, I was the one that pulled us through our long runs but the tables have turned.

My last attempt at 16 miles ended with a recue from my good friend who so lovingly brought me a vegan muffin and water.  This time around, I made it.  I brought water and took short breaks along the way.  At one point we stopped for Gatorade and I ate a little something.   It was abnormally humid for San Diego so I was sweating like crazy despite the nice marine layer that hung around for the entirety of our run.  When we finished, I felt pretty good.  We ate Chipotle burrito bowls packed full of rice, black beans, guacamole and that amazing corn salsa.  Let me tell you, Chipotle provides a very satisfying post-long run meal.  I highly recommend it. 

Angela’s 29^th birthday is tomorrow, so we celebrated with friends on Saturday night.  We drank one pitcher after another of Mojitos and Sangria in our cabana at Lei Lounge.  The group reconvened at Bourbon Street to dance for hours.  I wound up barefoot, as usual, jumping around like a 10 year old hyped up on pixie sticks.  My feet hated me the next morning, but it was all worth it.

While the night was a blast, it reminds me why I don’t drink often.  It probably appears otherwise but we aren’t big drinkers.  We save alcohol for special occasions, like birthdays, PRIDE and random visits to LA.  Because of this, I can’t even function after a night of drinking.  I can hardly form complete sentences and I feel like a zombie.  It’s as though I lose a large sum of brain cells every single time I drink.  I usually spend my mornings reading but when I’m hungover, staring at a page full of words just gives me a massive headache.   I prefer to keep my system clean and free from all those toxins.   I think people wonder what kind of 25 year old I am.  I can answer that easily:  The healthy kind that spent way too much of her youth dancing on table tops.  I don’t regret those days but I have no desire to relive them. 

So yesterday was a nice little detox and I am back on the health wagon. 
[UPDATE: 9:20 PM - I just made Angela a vegan chocolate cake -- back on the health wagon after this cake is demolished.]

I'm curious; what is your favorite post run meal? 

Chipotle or vegan Ramen noodle soup (the kind that costs 24 cents/pack)

Do you find that you can’t function after drinking, or is it just me?  

Angela went to work on Sunday and gave an entire proposal to her boss on a lactate threshold testing program.  She is a rockstar.