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?

 

Related posts:

  1. My goals for the NYC Marathon
  2. a little more about body issues and a wonky last 2 days
  3. Ragnar Napa CHECK! Sleeping is overrated

Tunnel 2 Towers 5K and One Lucky Labradoodle

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

So funny thing…..I’ve been participating in road races of all distances since 2006 EXCEPT for 5k! That’s right! After 40+ scored events, I have yet to do a 5k! There have been 4 milers, 5 milers, 8ks, 10ks, half marathons and marathons but somehow I missed what’s usually the first distance.

Anyway, that will all change on September 29th. I’m officially signed up for the Tunnel 2 Towers 5K.

siller

My friend Lisa lives right near the start and has been doing this for a few years now. I’ve usually backed out because I’m not such a fan of tunnels. But this year she coaxed me into it. I figured it was time to face some silly phobias head on before turning the big 40 next month.

As I filled out the online registration there were a few optional sections. You could donate money to the organization that runs the event and you could also run in honor of someone. I mentioned back in this post about my friend Gina’s dad who was killed recently. Ordinarily if given an option to run in honor of someone I usually put my husband’s name in. But this run is about heroes. It’s to honor and remember the heroes of 9/11 that sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. I just felt my friend’s dad was the perfect person to honor for this run. Because he was HER hero.

fb-9513

As she turns 40 this week, it’s my small gift. (she might even run it with me which would be so awesome. Maybe if everyone left encouraging comments below it would help her decide to do it!). If you want to donate you can do so here.

After 5 days straight of running I gave myself 2 days off which gave me the extra time in the mornings to take the doodle for some outdoor fun time. (I’ll get back to running later today actually with a 7 mile tempo). Duncan enjoyed a walk in the woods and some sprints on the soccer field. I enjoyed my coffee!

photo 1

my love (coffee) and my dog. lol!

photo 2

soccer field sprint

1240508_10201898073875178_1153738738_n

i like the mystical magical forest!

Hope everyone’s week is moving along nicely.

Questions: What was your first race? 5K? 10K? Marathon? Did you follow a plan or just sign up and run? Who is your hero? 

 

Related posts:

  1. testing out new shoes and a twisted knee in my sleep
  2. 60 degrees in December

Naming Your Training Runs

31. August 2013 · 1 comment · Categories: labradoodle, running, Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

Hi all,

Happy final day of August (How does it happen that in a blink of an eye 8 months of the year have flown by?!!!) I’m in the middle of 5 straight days of training runs. It’s my last push of training before my Center of The Nation Series (5 half marathons in 5 days). You can read more about that here.

So I decided for fun I’d name each of these runs.

Thursday started off with the Bouncy 7:

sports bra fail

sports bra fail

Apparently my sports bra has reached the end of the line. It’s lost it’s hold!

bouncypost

My pace was a perfect. Not too fast, not too slow. I stopped for water and to eat a few energy chews which slowed me down a bit between miles 5 and 6. I normally don’t fuel unless it’s double digits but I want to get in a groove now for my big events in a few weeks.

Friday’s run I named Run for Pi! Nope that’s not a typo. Do you remember the math symbol Pi (π) ? Pi = 3.14

MMMM Pi?

MMMM Pi?

Another run with exactly the pace I was hoping to keep. I’m planning on 11 min miles with perhaps a few slower walking miles each day  so that my final half finishing times will be between 2:30 and 2:45.

Today’s run I’ve named Fight the Funk 4.4. I’m not sure why I have been feeling a bit blah lately. Oh and apparently I timed my neighborhood run perfectly after garbage pickup. Seriously, garbage juice and stinky cans for the entire 4 miles! Good job Sally!

day3

foul and funky 4.4

Tomorrow I’m planning somewhere between 16 and 20 miles in NYC with some friends. And monday I’ll eek out another 3-5. Stay tuned for the next post to see what I end up naming those.

In other news, Duncan’s been my one true thing lately. And I’ve been making sure he knows just how much I appreciate his unconditional love.

There was a little romp time last night…

doodle cuteness

doodle cuteness

A trip to Petco for more superheros

Ironman completes the set

Ironman completes the set

And then, today we went to support our local dog park where they were having a big fundraiser called the Summer Fun Dog Wash to raise money for some necessities for the park. (I designed the nifty flyer).

photo 1

Duncan didn’t get a bath but I donated some money for a frisbee and 3 homemade cake pops…I ate 2 of them already luckily i remembered to take this pic of the last one!

photo 4

Now it’s time for chores (phooey!). Hope you enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

Question: Cake pops? Have you tried them? Do you like them? Anyone running anything special this weekend?

Related posts:

  1. good news + bad news = just news
  2. Running is my therapy—so long Robin
  3. Bring on the Rain and a Hamstrain

Do you remember the time you left your cell in my car?

25. August 2013 · Write a comment · Categories: running, Uncategorized, vacation · Tags: , , , ,

Yesterday morning it was time to say goodbye to Lake Champlain and the beautiful Adirondacks. Donna and I (and the doodle) were on the road by 7:15am. The plan was for me to drive about 4 hours to Rockland County where my friend Sue lives so I could visit with her a bit before driving the last hour home. I was also planning on dropping Donna at a train station right in that town where she could get an express train to Manhattan and then transfer to another train to be home by 2pm (she doesn’t drive so she is used to being dropped at train stations). I got her to the station at 11:33am for the 11:45am train. She got her ticket, and then we just hugged goodbye and talked about how perfect things had worked out. The train pulled in to the station, she got on, and then the doodle and i walked back to the car. I opened the passenger door for Duncan to hop in and that’s when I saw Donna’s cell phone! It was charging in my car on the drive down and in our excitement that she was able to catch the express train neither one of us noticed. So I grabbed the phone and started running back to the station where the train was still actually in the station but the doors were closed. I screamed and ran like they do in the movies….but much to no avail…. the train pulled out…

Later in the afternoon she called me from her ….um….what do they call them?…..oh right! land line. (shiver) and we came up with a plan to get her the phone back.  I had plans to drive in to Manhattan and run with my peeps this morning, so Donna decided she’d take the train from her house to Penn Station and i’d meet her there after my running. So this morning I drove into Manhattan…

Verrazano Bridge sunrise

Verrazano Bridge sunrise

…and put on my SpiBelt with both my cell and Donna’s cell on the belt. I felt like Tim the Toolman Taylor!!! Off I went to meet my peeps. We ran along the west side up to Central Park for a loop and then back down the west side.

some of the female peeps who all have worked or still work at the same place.

some of the female peeps who all have worked or still work at the same place.

we passed some cool looking sculptures like this one:

engaged to the big apple =)

engaged to the big apple =)

and then there were the usual colorful canoes:

photo 1

I had planned on running 10 miles but it was still so early that i ran 3 additional miles, then walked 1 more and still had time to grab some breakfast before Donna’s train arrived. The phone return went off without a hitch. We laughed about it and said goodbye and then I walked another mile back downtown to get to my car and head home.

Speaking of cell phones… I met up with my friend Sue  yesterday (after the train station drop off) and we talked at length about cell phones particularly smart phones and how addictive they are for some. (raising hand! yep. i admit i’m addicted to being connected) then today a friend posted this vid:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OINa46HeWg8#t=109

 

Question: How addicted to your smart phone are you? I confess I desperately held my phone up to one corner of the cottage while I was away just to post a pic to instagram!

Related posts:

  1. Worked my first expo and my bargain outfit
  2. with each injury I get a little better at the acceptance phase
  3. Wednesday what-not
« Older articles
Newer articles »