Shopping = Crosstraining

This week's workouts:
Sunday 1/22: Rest
Mon 1/23: 3 mi run + power yoga class
Tues 1/24: Strength training
Wed 1/25: 3 mi run (Another social run at Run On!)
Thurs: 1/26: Yoga Rest (Well, I went shopping. That counts as cardio, right?)
Fri: 1/27: 3 mi run
Sat 1/28: Yoga class (1 hour, easy flow as opposed to my usual power)
Sun 1/29: 8 mi run

On Sunday, Michael and I hit up the White Rock Creek Trail. I hadn't been out there before but Michael ran on it last weekend and liked it and a coworker/neighbor has mentioned she runs on it occasionally. We parked at Northwood Park near Royal and Greenville and ran the trail all the way to Northwest Highway and back. It was nice to have a change of scenery, even if the trail isn't quite as well maintained as the Katy Trail. We didn't see many people at all when we started out, but by the time we were finishing up (about 9:30), lots of people were out running, biking and walking dogs. I will definitely check it out again!

We kept our pace a little slower the first half but picked it up about mile 5.

This week's plans:
Mon 1/30: Power yoga class
Tues 1/31: 3 mi run + strength training
Wed 2/1: 3 mi run
Thurs: 2/2: Rest or yoga
Fri 2/3: 3 mi run
Sat 2/4: Yoga
Sun 2/5: 9 mi run

Ice, Ice Baby

Last week's workouts:
Sun: Yoga (Detox Yoga, 20 min)
Mon: Power Yoga class
Tues: 3 mi run + strength training
Wed: 3 mi run
Thurs: Yoga or rest
Fri: 3 1.7 mi run
Sat: 9 7 mi run

My shin has been hurting this week, not sure what is going on with it. I ended up cutting Saturday's run short because of it. So I've been icing the old shin and it seems to be alleviating the tenderness.

Wednesday night I went back to the Run On! social run. This time I stuck around a little longer afterwards and found out that they draw for prizes after the run. I won a $25 gift card, sweet! I think I'll buy myself some new Feetures socks.

I also treated myself to some workout clothes from Target (2 half zip tops and a lightweight jacket) and Old Navy (two pairs of compression capris). Everything was on super sale and I needed some new cold-weather gear! Nothing like new clothes to motivate you to get moving!

This week's plan:
Sunday 1/22: Rest
Mon 1/23: 3 mi run + power yoga class
Tues 1/24: Strength training
Wed 1/25: 3 mi run
Thurs: 1/26: Yoga
Fri: 1/27: 3 mi run
Sat 1/28 or Sun 1/29: 8 mi run

Michael ran on the new White Rock extension trail and said he really liked it, so we will probably hit that up for our long run. Not sure if we will be running Saturday or Sunday, I will do yoga on whichever day we don't run. I'd love to make it to the Saturday yoga class.

Hope everyone has a happy and healthy week! Have any other Dallas runners used the White Rock extension? Do you like it?

Hotcake Hustle 10K Review

Last week's workouts:
Sun: 7 mi run
Mon: Yoga (Power Yoga 4, 45 min)
Tues: 3 mi run + strength training
Wed: 3 mi run (I went to an evening social run at Run On! It was lots of fun, I'll definitely go again.)
Thurs: Yoga or rest
Fri: Yoga or rest (Yoga for Runners, 20 min)+ walked to and from work (2 mi)
Sat: 10K race (6.2 mi)

Saturday morning, we left about 7:45 for the race (which started at 8:30). Our good friend Elliot was nice enough to drive us and cheer for us. Parking was a breeze, the race was in Addison Circle so we were familiar with the area and parking garages. We had plenty of time until the start so Michael decided to use the Port-a-Potties. He was in line for a really long time (7 Port-a-Potties for a 2500 person race, doesn't seem like a lot but I know they also had indoor restrooms. We guessed they would be even more crowded and we knew we had time so he just waited.) I wore my favorite Athleta capris, short sleeve top and then a long-sleeve half zip. I was cold while we waited but it was warming up quickly and I knew I would warm up once I got started.

The MC was very energetic and got everyone pumped while we waited to start. At 8:30 we were off! The 5K and 10K started at the same time and ran the same course, with the 10K-ers running the course twice. It was the exact same course as Oktoberfest so I knew what was coming-- the bridge! And I knew I was going to have to run over it 4 times. O_o

The start was definitely crowded, I was dodging and weaving to get around the crowd (and the walkers who wanted to walk on the left instead of the right), so I knew I started out fast but wasn't that worried about it. So we went out of Addison Circle, over the bridge, then just a little further to the turnaround. There was a water station here, which I skipped. The crowd had thinned out a lot by this point and as I came down the bridge for the second time, I could see the 10K leaders looping back around. So fast! As we came back to the starting line, the 5K-ers turned right to the finish while the 10K-ers looped back and did it again.

I was worried about passing the slower 5K-ers on the second loop, but luckily we had room to get through on the left. I could feel myself slowing down by the fourth (!) time I went over the bridge but luckily I didn't have to stop. I came across the finish line at about 54:00 so I knew I had beat my previous time. When the official results came in, I earned 52:13! That's an 8:25 pace, faster than my 5K PR! I did slow down the second half but only by a few seconds, so I am really proud.

I had seen Michael on my fourth pass of the bridge as he was on his third and he looked good! After I finished, I got some water and looked around at the after-party setup. The line for pancakes was out of control already, it wrapped all the way around the building and then across the lawn. Yikes!

I waited with Elliot to watch Michael cross the finish line, he came in with 1:04:20, an awesome time for his first 10K! We decided to forgo the ridiculous lines for food and beverages and just headed home. I wanted pancakes, but not that bad! Overall, I had a great race and would do it again.

My first race of 2012 was a success! Now looking forward to the Hot Chocolate 15K on Feb. 11!

This week's plans:
Sun: Yoga
Mon: Power Yoga class
Tues: 3 mi run + strength training
Wed: 3 mi run
Thurs: Yoga or rest
Fri: 3 mi run
Sat: 9 mi run

Plan It Out, Work It Out

So what races have my running buddies signed up for?

So far, I am running:
The Hotcake Hustle 10K on Jan. 14 (Pancakes and coffee at the finish? I'm in.)

The Hot Chocolate 15K on Feb. 11 (Hot chocolate and more chocolate goodies at the finish? I'm in.)

Rock & Roll Dallas Half Marathon on March 25 (I loved this race last year!)

I think the first two races will help me build back up to the Half Marathon in March. My mileage base is still pretty good and I'm confident about these races! The 15K will be my first race of that distance, it should be fun!

Michael is running the Hotcake Hustle as well, his first 10K! I put together a training plan for him and I know he'll do great!

So here is this week's training plan.
Sun: 7 mi run
Mon: Yoga
Tues: 3 mi run + strength training
Wed: 3 mi run
Thurs: Yoga or rest
Fri: Yoga or rest
Sat: 10K race (6.2 mi)

Let the spring race season begin!

Lentil and Black Bean Soup

I came across this recipe in the November issue of Runner's World and just now had a chance to make it. It was delicious, super thick and filling with just the right amount of spice.

Description from the article:
"This vegan stew is thick and superfilling thanks to the beans and lentils. Both are good sources of protein and fiber-rich carbs. "The body absorbs these nutrients slowly, keeping energy and hunger levels on an even keel," says sports nutritionist Monique Ryan, R.D. One cup of lentils contains almost all of your daily need for folate, a B vitamin that's key for the formation of energy-supplying red blood cells. Chili powder, cumin, and paprika punch up the flavor while providing a dose of anti-inflammatory antioxidants."

Delicious and a great post-run meal!

Ingredients:
1/2 large onion (I used yellow)
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp paprika
2 c vegetable broth
1 T tomato paste
1/2 c red lentils (My Tom Thumb only had one kind of lentils, they were a brown-green and they worked fine.)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
Lime juice
Cilantro (for garnish)

Directions:
Chop half a large onion and saute in a pot on medium heat until soft. I added just a little vegetable oil even though the recipe didn't call for it. Add 1 minced garlic clove, 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon paprika; saute 1 minute. Add 2 cups vegetable broth and 1 tablespoon tomato paste; bring to a boil. Add 1/2 cup red lentils; cook until tender, about 25 minutes. Partially mash 1 cup drained, rinsed canned black beans; add to soup with 1/4 teaspoon salt, juice of one lime, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook five minutes. Garnish with cilantro.

Note: The second time I made this recipe, I put in a whole box of broth (about 4 cups) and also put a lid on the pot while the lentils cooked. I think the consistency turned out much better with these two adjustments.

Happy New Year!

Hope everyone had a happy (and safe) start to 2012! We celebrated at home like most years.

Do you make New Years' Resolutions? I usually do, I like to have goals for the coming year. Here are the resolutions I made for 2011:

1. Run three half marathons. Check! I actually ran four and got my PR down to 2:03:42..

2. Floss more regularly. Check! My dentist appointments went so much better this year.

3. Keep the apartment cleaner. (I need to come up with a cleaning schedule for myself.) Debtatable. I think I did a better job overall, but I still have a ways to go. I didn't make a schedule for myself.

4. Read 25 books. Check! I read 27.
On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan
Atonement by Ian McEwan
When You Are Engulfed in Flames by David Sedaris
Outliers: The True Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston
Mile Markers: The 26.2 Most Important Reasons Why Women Run by Kristin Armstrong
The Best American Short Stories 2010
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption by Laren Hillenbrand
The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer
Winter's Bone by Daniel Woodrell
Thinking in Pictures and Other Reports from My Life With Autism by Temple Grandin
SuperFreakonomics: Global Cooling, Patriotic Prostitutes and Why Suicide Bombers Should Buy Life Insurance by Steven Levitt
The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely
Bossypants by Tina Fey
Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
The Opposite of Fate: Memories of a Writing Life by Amy Tan
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo
Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
Rules of Thumb by Tom Parker

5. Take a vacation with my husband. Check! In August we went to the Hyatt Lost Pines Resort in the Hill Country. It was great to get away for a few days! We also went to the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs between Christmas and New Years with my parents. More of a family vacation, but we did have a lot of time to ourselves which was nice.

So what do you want to accomplish in 2012? Here are my goals:

1. Get to a healthier weight. I've lost some weight this year, probably just due to stress. I'd like to put about 5 lbs back on so that my jeans will fit again.

2. Strength train at least once a week.

3. Get to work by 8:00 every morning. Ever since I switched to working out in the morning, it has been harder and harder to get in on time! I'm lucky that my boss is really relaxed about when we come in and I'm not even the last one in. I think a big part of this will be breaking the snooze button habit! I'm bad about hitting it several times before I actually get up.

4. Read 25 books.

Those are the only goals I'm going to set for myself for now. I thought about setting a mileage or race goal for running, but I think I just want to maintain my fitness level and see where that takes me.

I hope 2012 is a happy and healthy year for you and yours!