FGF (Feel Good Friday)

01. February 2014 · 1 comment · Categories: recreational fun, running, Uncategorized · Tags: , , ,

Never thought today would be the Friday I decided to coin this post title. You see, this morning I had to go in for an ambulatory surgical procedure. Let’s just say something needed to be removed because it didn’t belong. I had been anxious about this date for weeks now. Not so much because I was nervous about being in pain but I was afraid the doc would restrict my running for at least the next few days. 🙂 Just before the anesthesiologist sent me to LaLaLand, I said “So wait, can I run tomorrow? Like 6-10 miles? I’m scheduled to meet my friends and I don’t want to bail.” He smiled and said absolutely, as long as you take it easy today.” Whew!

weeeeee!

weeeeee!

Everything went well and I was wheeled out still a bit dopey (I actually felt drunk). My good friend knew I was starving since I couldn’t eat anything in the morning so he took me to IHOP (I was just there yesterday! No prob, I can take one for the team and eat pancakes again!)

photo 1

this time I went with only 2 pancakes and added eggs and bacon =)

I was actually shocked at how good I felt so I pushed it and asked if we could go take a look in IKEA. Glad it worked out because I scored!

photo 2

a cart full of goodies!

I got a new night table for my bedroom and a new bookcase for my living room. I relaxed the rest of today and slowly assembled both pieces.

photo 5

Billy on the left and Hemnes on the right. My favorite part of Ikea is the names of the furniture pieces

So, yes, I feel good! It’s officially FGF!

Tomorrow as I said, I’m meeting some of my running peeps for a run in the city. They’re doing about 11ish but I figured I shouldn’t push it so I’m jumping in around mile 5. That’ll give me 6 which I think is a good compromise.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Question: Superbowl? Do you care? Not so much? Are you in a football pool? Interested in the commercials? Going anywhere? What’s the menu gonna be?

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run, run, runaway and other parts of my day

30. January 2014 · 1 comment · Categories: labradoodle, running · Tags: , , , , ,

Hi!

Happy penultimate day of January! Yep, that was one of my favorite S.A.T. words from back in the day. It means second to last.

This morning a package arrived. I had ordered some 4×6 and 5×7 prints of a bunch of pictures of friends and family to hang in some new frames I bought. It’s weird. I’m so used to just viewing pics digitally it felt really nice to hold them in my hand.

IMG_2547

I’m blessed to have such a photogenic dog, friends and family too!

These are the 2 frames I got:

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I actually got a variation of this that doesn’t have the white matting. It’s just clear glass so the photos “float” in each pane.

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this one’s going in my bedroom. It’s all one piece so I don’t have to worry about making a million holes in the wall

Then I took Duncan to the groomer so he could get this out of control shag tamed.
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And the result, as always, perfection:

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Scratch n Sniff….I smell so good.

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flaunting his fur at the park

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batwing ears and paws of perfection!

While the doodle was at the groomer though I was able to squeeze in a quick run which I desperately needed. It was what I call a “runaway” run. I had something personal that I had to take care of today that made me sad. Sometimes when that happens I just want to literally run away with my run. I didn’t take music. Just replayed some stuff over and over in my head.

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indoor selfie since the phone battery dies outside from the cold

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schedule called for 6 but I needed to be home in an hour so 5.3 was where I netted out. I ended up walking at least a mile with the dog afterward anyway so I’m good.

I felt so much better. And then my friend and I went to IHOP for lunch. I pretended it was still breakfast time and had a stack of 5 pancakes. Nothing healthy about this….

IMG_2568And now I’m going to get some work done before I get too comfy on the couch. Have a great day!

Question: Anyone still have real photo albums filled with pictures on their coffee table? Anyone have a digital photo frame that does a slideshow of lots of pics? Anyone love pancakes more than I do? I doubt it.

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PRs, pacers and post-race pancakes please!

12. October 2013 · 2 comments · Categories: labradoodle, running · Tags: , , , , ,

Today was the Rock ‘n’ Roll Brooklyn 10K in Prospect Park. The day started early. Alarm went off before 5am and I was out the door at 6am. Duncan isn’t so fond of my weekend races that require alarm clocks to go off at 5am when we should be sleeping in. I strum violins for him. Such a tough life he has.

earlyam

pre race coffee requirement met…

I traveled over my beloved Verrazano Bridge but since the sun hadn’t risen I got this picture:

pre-dawn Verrazano Bridge

pre-dawn Verrazano Bridge

Pretty still but nothing compared to this one from August:

sunrise porn

sunrise porn

I scooped up my co-mustache-packet pickup-pal Lisa and then we headed to the start corrals where we met up with most of our group

mustache

the packet pickup mustache girls

starting group

starting group plus one mustache boy and minus two mustache girls =)

I was on the fence about whether to push for a PR or just relax and enjoy knowing tomorrow is a 20 miler for me but my mind was made up before the first mile. I found myself running next to Mike and I felt really strong. We didn’t speak much at first. I didn’t want to chat with him if he felt like then he’d be “stuck” talking and slowing down. I mentioned that our pace was about 9:15 and if I could keep that pace I’d definitely PR. He reminded me we were on an incline. I really didn’t notice so when I realized that I could even push it faster on the downhills I started to solidify my decision. I would give it all I had. Next thing you know Mike became my pacer and coach. He really kept me going. I don’t think I’d have come close to that time without him. And I’m SO glad it happened sort of accidentally and wasn’t planned..

Me and Mike....Big thank you to Gary for taking this pic

Me and Mike….Big thank you to Gary for taking this pic

The downhills were 8:30s and the flat parts were mainly 9:15s and the one hill at mile 5 I slowed down to 10:14. But I am proud to say that I ran the entire time. Usually (when we train in Prospect Park where the race took place) I walk up most of that hill or I strategically need to refill my water bottle at a water fountain. Not today. Maybe my pace slowed and I dramatized how crappy I was feeling, but I kept running.

We finished in 57:26, a 2 1/2 minute PR over the 2011 RnR Brooklyn 10k. I even pulled up my garmin data from that race to compare my splits side by side:

splits

Interestingly I gave it a bigger push in the last mile in 2011.

The rest of the crew followed right behind. It was a great day to run.

finishgroup

the larger group of finishers

time-shirt-medal-bib

colorful shirt and medal!

happy

happy girl!

We celebrated at JD and Karen’s house with pancakes! (I didn’t take a picture but they were delicious!). Once I got home I took the dog out into the woods for a little nature trail time. It’s the perfect complement to my weekend races. I can keep the legs warm and make it up to the doodlebug at the same time.

learned my lesson. state land NOT federal!

learned my lesson. state land NOT federal!

Surprisingly, I feel pretty good! I’m going to get to bed early tonight and plan to take it slow tomorrow for my 7 pre-race miles, plus the Staten Island half marathon.

Question: What did you do today? This is a BIG marathon weekend….know anyone running in Chicago, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, California or Baltimore?

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Healthy Snacks to Refuel Post-Long Run: New Finds

08. September 2013 · Write a comment · Categories: labradoodle, running, Uncategorized · Tags: , , , , ,

Hi everyone.

Hope you’ve enjoyed your weekend. I’m in taper mode this week as I’ll be headed to the Center of the Nation Series in a week and need to start letting the legs rest a bit more. I’ve even been sleeping more! It’s been great.

Yesterday morning started out at 7am with a photoshoot. I took my camera and my doodle and tried to get some calendar worthy shots for a calendar contest that I’ve been participating in for the last 4 years. It’s a calendar of labradoodles and so far Duncan has been selected 4 years running! Here are a few of my favorites:

happy dog

happy dog

Wanna go walk down this path with me?

Wanna go walk down this path with me?

I'm gonna hide behind this tree and then you come find me.

I’m gonna hide behind this tree and then you come find me.

After the shoot, I did a quick 3 miles. Nothing special.

there's that dog drinking water in the background again!

there’s that dog drinking water in the background again!

But then I got an invite from a friend to go to IHOP for breakfast. I’ve never turned down a pancake in my life.

photo 1-1

I heart pancakes!

So that was that. I actually got the Simple and Fit veggie omelet and then a side of 3 pancakes. It could’ve been much worse. I have a confession. I eat my pancakes dry. I don’t like syrup. Please don’t judge. =)

The rest of the day was freelance work and cleaning and then I met an old college friend for dinner.

Today I got my long run in.

8miles

first 4 miles were faster than my normal long run pace. last 4 i slowed it down.

Then I made a stop at the grocery store. It’s getting to be my favorite time of year.

Fall Pumpkins and Mums

Fall Pumpkins and Mums

I grabbed a bunch of new healthy snack options.

I approve

I approve

Let’s just say the Kashi Sea Salt & Olive Oil Hummus Crisps ARE THE BOMB! I loved them. And at 120 calories, 4 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein per serving it really satisfied my salty crunch craving. The Boom Chicka Pop was delish too! Like kettle corn, salty and lightly sweet. And then of course a little hydrating watermelon. I love discovering new snack options. How about you? Any suggestions?

 

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