Thankful Thursday: #Fitbloggin Baby!

As you read this, I'm en route to Fitbloggin14 in Savannah, GA!  

I had the best time EVER when I attended 3 years ago and I can't wait to meet up with old friends and meet some new friends as well.

In addition to attending, I'll be LiveBlogging a session on Friday at 9:30 - Weight Loss: Maintaining the Mojo, presented by DubyaWife and Katrina Pilkington.  If you aren't attending, you can follow along with the session here.  I've never live blogged before, so cross your fingers that it works without a hitch!

I can't wait to share all I learn with you next week!

Oh, one more thing...say a prayer that I don't keel over on my 14 miler while I'm down there.  It's going to be in the 90s. Lord have mercy.

Weigh-In Wednesday: BOOM!

I got on the scale this morning and was all WHA?????

That would be a 3.4 pound loss this week!  I didn't believe it so I stepped off and back on again. Same number.  Go me!  I was hoping for 147 so the fact I broke 145 the day I'm heading down to Savannah makes me very happy.

I've been doing this paleo-ish thing for about 2 months now.  It's definitely gotten easier but I won't lie, I'm afraid of what I'm going to be able to eat on vacation.  Or rather, what I'm not going to be able to eat.  I'm not going to kid myself and think I'll be even smaller when I get home (or the same number for that matter) because I'm going to enjoy myself.  If I want a fried green tomato or a real beer, by George, I'm going to have one.  I just won't eat the whole plate full or consume an entire 6-pack.

Peace

Training Tuesday: Detroit Marathon Week 5

How am I 5 weeks into this training plan already?  This week marked my longest run since April and I could definitely feel the miles on Sunday, which is why it's a blank.

Monday 6-16-14 RUN easy 3 miles in 32 min (10:33 pace)

Tuesday 6-17-14 LIFT 50 minutes

Wednesday 6-18-14 RUN Treadmill Tempo 5 miles with 3 at 10m/m pace. Average overall pace was 10:17 and I nailed the tempo because I was on the mill.

Thursday 6-19-14 LIFT 60 min.  XT WALK 3.5 miles.

Friday 6-20-14 XT WALK 4 miles.

Saturday 6-21-14 RUN long 12 miles in 2:16:xx (11:17 pace).  A perfectly executed long run, minus massive amounts of chafing. 

Sunday 6-22-14 REST

This week is going to be tough with traveling for Fitbloggin but I'm still planning on getting in at least my long run while I'm there.  Plus, I've already done one lifting and my speedwork session for the week.  It's the 2nd lifting session and easy run that will probably not happen.

Meal Monday: Blueberry Vanilla Pancake Muffins #recipe

Ok, so not really a "meal" but a recipe I tried this weekend.  I've been jonesing for something bread-like and came across this recipe for Paleo Blueberry Vanilla Pancake Muffins. I've tried making paleo pancakes and so far they've all been epic disasters.  These looked promising because I didn't have to stand over a stove for hours frying one little pancake at a time. I didn't have all the ingredients the recipe called for, so this is what I did.  Because of the changes I made, this isn't exactly paleo but it's close.

Blueberry Vanilla Pancake Muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup unsweetened, vanilla almond milk
4 eggs
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup coconut flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup fresh blueberries

1. Preheat the oven to 350*.  Line a 12 - muffin pan with cupcake liners.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the almond milk, eggs, vanilla and sugar.
3. Stir in the coconut flour, salt and baking powder.
4. Fold in the blueberries.
5. Fill each liner about 2/3 full of batter.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of each muffin comes out clean.
7. Let the muffins cool.

They definitely look like blueberry muffins :)  I liked the flavor - they are very different but good.  The texture is the hardest thing to get past, like they are a little bit too moist, and they stick to the liners.  I will definitely try these again since they are only about 75 calories each based on the way I made them.  If you follow the original recipe, using liquid egg whites and stevia, they come in at about 35 calories each.

Do you have a gluten free or paleo muffin recipe you like?  If you do, please share it in the comments.

Now for something fun!  I also blog over at the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans and we have a VERY cool giveaway going on right now.  Shrinking Jeans has joined with Lipton as part of their "Win an Extra SUNday" contest!  Hop over here and check it out!

Weigh-In Wednesday: clothes-ure

It was decent week, especially considering the week was a step back week for training so I only ran 15 miles total. I'm down another .8 for 11 pounds gone. (MFP doesn't total from this go-round.)

I was really bored decided yesterday to start going through my closet. I boxed up around 100 pieces of clothing to send off to Goodwill. Some were items too big. Some still too small. Most were crap I just didn't want anymore.

I think the hardest item to box was a pair of size 14 Silver jeans. These were "reward jeans" from many years ago when I'd lost about 1/2 of the 50 pounds I eventually lost and they've been folded up on the top shelf of my closet for years. I'd been in an 18 and treated myself to these $80 jeans when I'd lost about 20 or 25 pounds. I'm back comfortably into my 8s and even a couple (vanity) 6s but I have at least 10 pounds to go.  I doubt my size will change much more with another 5-10 pounds but you never know.


Those are my 8s on top. Puts into perspective how far I've come (and I wish I'd saved a pair of 18s for comparison). I will never wear a size 14 again and it was time to say "good-bye".  Closure.  Or "clothes-ure" as the case may be.

Training Tuesday: Detroit Marathon week 4

Here we are into week 4 already!  This was a super easy, step-back week, so I feel like I haven't worked out much at all. Sunday doesn't show any activity, but I did go shopping with my daughter for a few hours, so I'm sure we covered a mile or so in the mall.

Monday 6-9-14 RUN "easy" 5 miles in 54 minutes (10:51 pace).  SWIM 1200 meters.  For some bizarre reason, I got it in my head that I would do a bunch of doubles this week since all the runs were easy and short, but sadly, this was the only one.

Tuesday 6-10-14 LIFT 50 minutes.

Wednesday 6-11-14 RUN "easy" 5 miles in 55 minutes (10:56 pace).  Super humid after a storm and the run kind of sucked.

Thursday 6-12-14 LIFT 60 minutes.  Lifted heavier than Tuesday.  Here's hoping the trend continues.

Friday 6-13-14 XT walked about a mile on campus visit number 1 of the weekend.  I've also been doing a squat challenge but I'm not logging it.

Saturday 6-14-14 Run "easy" 5 miles in 52 minutes (10:23 pace).  The temp was in the 40s.  I had a great playlist.  I ran much faster than I should have.  It's all good though.  Then did another 1+ mile walk at campus visit number 2.

Sunday 6-15-14 REST (and retail therapy with my girl).

I need to stop looking ahead at the training plan because it kind of freaks me out a bit.  I need to re-arrange a few runs next week because of my trip so I'm looking at a speedwork day very close to this coming weekend's 12 miler.  Not sure how that's going to play out.  We shall see.

Motivation Monday: patience

Had some ups and downs this weekend.

A great run where I got lost in my thoughts.

Visiting colleges with my kids.

Comforting a hurt.

Waiting impatiently until I get to see friends I've been missing.

Trying to find the motivation to stay on track (that trip in 10 days is helping).

Some days it's hard to believe that everything will be ok but I need to find the patience and faith that it will.

Thankful Thursday: seeing progress

I've been following a paleo-ish diet for about 6 weeks or so now and I'm finally seeing some results.

April to June and about 10 pounds GONE!

I'm talking about the changes I've made over at The Sisterhood today.  I'd love it if you'd go visit and check out my post.

WIAW CUPCAKES! and a Weigh-In

I'm continuing to make progress on the weight loss.  

Not a ton, but overall I'm a little over 10 pounds down now.

Down another 1.4 this week.  I can see changes in some pictures but other days (like today) I still just feel fat.  Clearly I have a long way to go still.

Now for that WIAW tidbit.  

I took a chance and attempted to make paleo Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes yesterday.

The cupcake part turned out really good but my attempt at a meringue frosting was a flop.  If you try to make these, I'd recommend lessening the honey called for in the frosting because these were really too honey-overpowered.  I also used crushed strawberries instead of preserves. My meringue was more meringue-like before I added the strawberries, so maybe the water content was too high.  You can find the recipe here.  One other tip - these really need to be consumed pretty much immediately.  The meringue got worse in the fridge overnight and the cupcakes ended up really wet, probably from the frosting soaking in.

Any tips on making meringue?  I probably shouldn't have even tried a paleo version since I can't even make the real thing.

Training Tuesday: Detroit Marathon week 3

Had a pretty good week and managed to get in most of my workouts.  Finally back up to double digit runs, too, and feeling not too much worse for wear.

Monday 6-2-14 RUN easy 3.2 in about 33 min (10:18 pace).  I ran this watchless - just glanced at the clock on the way out of the house.

Tuesday 6-3-14 LIFT 45 minutes

Wednesday 6-4-14 RUN 5 mile Tempo as WU, 3 at 10m/m pace, CD.  Averaged 10:19 pace and hit the tempo paces because I used the TM.

Thursday 6-5-14 LIFT 55 minutes

Friday 6-6-14 REST

Saturday 6-7-14 RUN Long 10 miles - Did a WU, 5k and 10k for 10.3 miles in 1:58:05 (11:27 pace).  This was a 5k/10k double race and the report is here.

Sunday REST

Thankful that this week is a step-back week because I'm a bit skeerd about 12 miles coming up soon!

#racereport - Reeds Lake 5k/10k

When I created my Detroit Marathon training plan, I knew I had a 10 miler scheduled for 6/7/14.  Last year I ran the 10k at Reeds Lake and it's my current PR (by a HUGE margin).  I love the race because it's such a pretty course and last year we got pint glasses at the expo. I knew I had no chance to come anywhere close to a sub-60 10k this year, so I decided to run the double (run the 5k at 8am and the 10k at 9am).  I'd need to add an extra mile to hit 10 miles so I figured I'd run it between the two races.

I met up with a couple friends at the "expo" Friday afternoon and grabbed my race packet and shirt.  Sadly, no pint glasses this year.  (Last year was the 35th anniversary, so the glasses must have been for that.)  Pete and I headed over to Derby Station where I splurged on a Smitten RyePA from Bells.  Twas lovely.

I got home and checked out the course.  The 5k and 10k start in the same place, but begin in opposite directions.  The 5k is flat and through the town of East Grand Rapids while the 10k loops the lake before joining the 5k course around the 2/4 mile point.  I got Flat Bari ready and mentioned to one of my friends that I felt very unprepared.  I wasn't feeling great about this race. I'd been waffling all week over which shoes to wear, when to do my extra mile, what the weather would be like. You know, basically causing my own freakout over a training run.

I broke the cardinal rule of racing and wore a brand new top.  I'd stopped at Lululemon and found my favorite Run Swiftly tank in this really cool coral color.  The tank worked great (as I knew it would).  The Moving Comfort Juno bra, on the other hand, has to go.  On every run over about 5 miles it chafes the living shit out of my back.  Sometimes it chafes under my boobs.  Today it bled.  I really need to find a better bra or I'm going to need a transfusion after the marathon.

As per usual, I slept like crap Friday night and woke up before my alarms.  I had my usual coffee and oatmeal (about the only grains I eat anymore) and headed down to the race.  I got there about 35 min before the start, so I decided spur of the moment to run my extra mile as a warm up.  The run really felt like crap. My legs felt dead and I was already hot. It wasn't the best way to start my 10 miler but at least I got it out of the way.

1 mile W/U - 11:37

The 5k - 35:13 (11:20 pace)- I had plans to meet up with my friend Jessica before the race, but we didn't find each other before the gun went off.  I lined up near the back and worked to stay really controlled.  My training plan pace for the 10 miles was supposed to be around an 11:45 pace and I was running most of the 5k in the low to mid 11s.  Close enough.  Right around 1 mile I hear Jessica.  She'd seen my Fellow Flower flower in my hat and chased me down :)  We ran the rest of the 5k together, chatting and just having a comfortable run.  I knew my time was going to be no where near my 5k PR but it wasn't my worst time either (I have several others with that distinction).  Looking back at my Garmin paces showed I really faded the whole 3.1 miles, except we were trying so hard to control our pace for the last .1 and that one picked up quite a bit. (11:10, 11:22, 11:30, 10:25 pace for last .1).  After the 5k, we grabbed some water, a strawberry, a bathroom break, and I did some stretches.  With all that, it was good I didn't try to run in between because I wouldn't have had time.

Post 5k and feeling great!

The 10k - 1:11:15 (11:28 pace) - Jessica's plan was to try and run the 10k hard and shoot for a PR, so we split up.  By 9am, it was feeling quite warm out and a good portion of the 10k course is in full sun. It's also really hilly (for around these parts).  I felt pretty good for the first couple miles and was even speeding up a bit while at the same time trying to stay controlled because I knew I still had a good 4 miles to go and the biggest hill was coming up.  Right after the 2 mile mark, I caught up to Jessica, who was struggling a little with the heat and hills.  I hung with her for the rest of the race, walking the uphills and running the flats and downhills.  We also ran through every sprinkler and stopped at aide stations to dump water on our heads.  It was WARM.  It was so nice to have someone to run with since in 90% of my races I've run alone.  We chatted, we were quiet, we laughed in the sprinklers.  It really was a very nice morning to run with a friend.  Knowing this was "just a training run" also kept the pressure off to try and run too fast.  Jessica needed another break around .4 miles from the finish and she told me to take off, so I did.  It felt good to open it up at the end and pass a least 1/2 a dozen people.  Again, I was pretty sure this race would go down as one of my worst from a timing standpoint, but it wasn't.  I beat my awful 10k time from North Carolina by 14 seconds :)  The finishing kick definitely helped there (11:28, 11:03, 11:36, 11:17, 11:53, 11:25, 9:30 pace for last .2 - it's nice to know I can at least turn it on for a quarter mile).

Cute pic Jessica's hubby snapped at around mile 4.5 or 5.

The Takeaways - Today, I think I showed some maturity as a runner that I haven't in the past.  I was able to "check my ego at the start" like one of my friends suggested and run a very controlled "race".  I'm ok with the paces I put up today.  They were pretty much on target for today's training run (ending up with 10.3 miles in 1:58:05 and an 11:27ish pace).  Given the heat and sun, I'm totally ok with this.  I've also now officially run my first race "double", not counting doubles I ran in training for the relay last year.  It was a fun way to get in my miles along with a few hundred of my closest friends.

Did you race this weekend?

Fitness Friday: Let the Real Training Begin!

It also happens to be the last day of school!

Now, I can start switching my running times to the morning when it isn't so freaking hot.

I also have my first "official" long run of my Detroit Marathon training tomorrow morning.

10 miles!

Once the double digit runs start it's like the "real" training begins.

I'm running this training run a bit differently though.

Tomorrow I'm running back to back races - a 5k and a 10k, with either a mile before the 5k or in between the 2 races (thye are an hour apart so in between is realistic).  That part I haven't decided yet.

Thoughts?  How would you run that?

I'm also struggling with which shoes to wear.  I don't think I can run 10 miles in my Newtons after 5 miles on the TM hurt on Wednesday.  Wear the Newtons for the 5k and Nikes for the 10k?  Just the Nikes?  Am I overthinking this just a tad?

#TBT - my babies are growing up!

This post is a bit of 

Three Things Thursday, Thankful Thursday and Throwback Thursday

all rolled into one.

Almost 17 years ago, these two made me a mom.

In 2009 they headed off to middle school, but
not before a trip to Washington, DC.

In 2 days they finish their Junior year.
Academic honors, AP classes, marching band,
theater, athletic varsity letters, NHS.

I am so incredibly blessed to call David and Kaylee my kids 

and I couldn't be more proud of them.

In a couple days, they will officially be Seniors in HS.

Where did the time go?

WIAW and a Weigh-In: don't try this at home

It's been a rather rough few days at work.  End of the school year usual craziness plus some other stuff I won't talk about on the blog.

Needless to say, I wanted a beer last night. 

And pizza.

One of our local brewpubs, Osgood Brewing, has a gluten-free IPA and for an extra $2 will make you a pizza with a gluten-free crust.  I hadn't tried their gluten-free pizza yet (but their regular pizza is amazeballs) so after a really crappy workout at the gym, I went for beer and pizza.

I might have eaten the whole pizza

The pizza was great and so was the beer.  What wasn't so great was my weigh-in this morning, but I pretty much knew this would happen.

I was VERY good all week long and made it down to 148.8 on Monday morning.  I'm not mad at myself and the beer and pizza were definitely a treat, but it still sucks that one day blows a week's worth of effort. (I'm still down 1 pound from last week but it would have been 2.4 pounds and solidly in the 140s before last night's dinner.)

Lesson to be learned?  Even gluten-free pizza and beer have calories and carbs which will cause my weight to jump.  Clearly my body hates me in this regard.  That being said, it really did taste great last night and I know those extra 1.4 pounds will eventually come back off.

Oh yah, One other thing. 

It's National Running Day so get out there and bust out a mile or 5 :)

Training Tuesday: Detroit Marathon week 2

Not a bad training week.  Still feeling some aches from my injuries that concern me slightly but overall I'd say I'm improving, so I'll be happy about that.

Monday 5-26-14 RUN 4 miles in 46 min (11:23 pace).  This was not a good run.  Pretty sure the majority of my Monday runs are going to be watchless from now on.

Tuesday 5-27-14 LIFT 30 min.  Working on finding weights for my next lifting cycle.

Wednesday 5-28-14 RUN 4 miles speed work with 2x1600 at 9:30 pace.  Average pace overall was a 10:09 and using the TM I was able to hit the speed paces.  Pretty sure that wouldn't have happened outside.

Thursday 5-29-14 LIFT 40 min.

Friday 5-30-14 REST

Saturday 5-31-14 RUN Long 9 miles in 1:40:xx (11:06 pace).  Didn't drink enough.  Only walked twice to take in fuel.  I'll take it.

Sunday 6-1-14 XT BIKE about 32 min (14.3 mph).  Dodging families on the trail.  Pretty sure I'm never going to feel comfortable clipped in.

Don't forget! Tomorrow is National Running Day.  I'm planning to log 5 miles - what are you going to do?

Menu Monday: Zucchini Hummus #paleo

One of my go-to party foods has always been hummus.  I have a couple great recipes that I bring to get togethers but sadly, hummus is not considered paleo thanks to the chickpeas.

We were invited to a friend's place Friday night and I spent part of Thursday trying to decide what to bring.  I wanted something that I'd be allowed to eat since I was pretty sure most of the food there would be off limits.  I stumbled upon this hummus recipe on Pinterest and decided to give it a shot.

I thought there was no way it would be thick like regular hummus given the water content in zucchini or taste even close, but surprisingly, it was a very good.  It really DID taste like hummus and the spicy peppers and pine nuts on top gave it a little zing.  I made 1/2 a batch, which yielded about 2 cups of hummus.  It was especially good with the cukes and a few people at the party had it with chips and said they really liked it.  I think I'm going to try making a roasted red pepper version since that's my favorite flavor of hummus.

Do you like hummus?  What's your standard potluck contribution?