Thankful Thursdays: Recovery Edition

Only twelve days into the new year and lots to be thankful for!

I'm thankful for self-restraint:
Fellow blogger Jory told me she was running a trail race this Sunday in Reading, PA, just about an hour north of Philly. I admit I spent all of Wednesday debating about whether to go or not. I have a bit of trail fever and I want to get out there right away and start learning.


The beginning of trail fever

But at the end of the day I decided to forego the race because of three reasons: I'm still recovering from last Saturday's race, I have a half marathon next weekend that I want to feel (relatively) fresh for, and Mike already promised to run Wissahickon trails with me on Saturday and he doesn't run two days in a row because of his heel spur. I feel super lame for dragging him to so many races in the last six months so I don't want him to have to sit out for another one. Being spontaneous and signing up for Sunday would have been worthy of an "I'm thankful for..." mention too, but I think I made the right choice.

I'm thankful for speedy recoveries:
On Tuesday I took my "ultra" legs out for their first run after two days off. The first half mile felt great. The next 3.5 miles felt tiring. Yesterday I went out for 6 miles and they felt noticeably less tired. Good to know my body is bouncing back quicker and quicker after each obstacle I put it through! (Those bruised toes are looking better too)


I'm thankful for Haribo Peaches:

I've been craving these all week for some reason and they didn't disappoint when I finally got my hands on some. Candy always makes everything better.


I'm thankful for intellectual stimulation:

Classes start today. I could complain about how stressed out I'm going to be fitting in 7 hours of class and 5-10 hours of studying each week, but instead I'm going to look at the brighter, more positive side. I could never be one of those "independent studies" students that does work all on their own. I need the structure of a class to force me to get it done. So hears to more forced intellectual stimulation over the next 15 weeks!


I'm thankful for the approach of February 18th:
There's a special day coming up in the near future. No, I'm not talking about my wedding, but I am talking about our 5 year anniversary! Wow, where has the time gone?

Oh, we were so young once

Every year we go away for a long weekend to celebrate. This year we are going to head up to the Poconos and try to embrace the winter weather. We drove through the adorable town of Jim Thorpe during Ragnar in October and I was instantly in love! Last night we officially booked our bed and breakfast. Now I have something to look forward to for the next month.

What are you thankful for this week?

 

FOUR DAYS LEFT! Don't forget to VOTE for me to join Team Refuel! Vote 'Kristin Hoeberlein' once a day now through January 15th!

Thankful Thursdays: Grinch Be Gone!

After kicking myself in the butt yesterday and owning up to my issues lately, I think things are finally turning around!

I'm thankful that I got to the pool this morning:

I swam this morning for the first time in three weeks. THREE WEEKS! It felt amazing. It also felt like I swallowed six gallons of water, but hey it's been awhile! I always feel great all day after running in the morning, but swimming gives me an extra special all day kinda feeling. Oh happiness!



Can anyone make swim caps look good?

I'm thankful for running buddies:

I usually dread my weekday runs when I have to do them in the afternoon. I'm tired. I just worked all day. I just want to go home. But yesterday's run was suprisingly enjoyable. A year ago this time I started running right after work because the sun was down by 5pm and I didn't want to run in the dark after I got home. Yesterday my co-worker and racing buddy Julia decided to jump on the bandwagon and try out my strategy. We did 4 x 1 mile long loops near work and chatted the whole time. It was lovely and it flew by. After she left I did a few more fasties on my own. Piece. Of. Cake. Running buddies rock!

I'm thankful that the temperature has evened out...for now:

Last week it was 60 degrees. A few days ago it was 25 degrees. Now it's settled around 45 and it looks like it's going to stay around there for awhile. I'm not dying when I go outside, but I don't overheat on my runs. I dig it.

I'm thankful for extra awesome days at work:

Days like this:

Because the Ancient Egyptians wouldn't want to be left out

I'm thankful for photo booths:

Our office holiday party had a photo booth. And I may have hogged it a little.

I'm definitely getting one of these for my wedding.

I'm thankful for single serving cereals:

I was so excited to get to the pool this morning that I completely forgot to pack my breakfast. Luckily I found this gem at at nearby Wawa. I don't usually buy full boxes of cereal or granola because I will eat it all in one sitting. Single servings are sweet!

What are you thankful for this week?

Vegan Thanksgiving

By now Thanksgiving was days ago and all of you are totally over it and ready for Christmas and New Year's. So let's catch up quickly shall we!

Mike and I headed down to DC last Wednesday evening for the holiday. Every year my Mom's family has a huge Thanksgiving. Like 40 people. It's crazy.

We started the holiday with a nice run. The weather was cool and crisp in the morning, which meant long sleeves.

Mike and I began by crossing over into Virginia to run on the Mt. Vernon Trail.

After about 2 miles we crossed the Arlington Memorial Bridge back into DC.

Then we decided to run up the Lincoln Memorial steps and take a breather.

Bluest sky ever

Mike turned around after this and headed back the way we came. It was his longest run in months! 5 miles! I'm so, so excited and happy for him. 

Meanwhile, I decided to do a loop of the Mall of the past the Washington Monument all the way up to the Capitol Building before heading back over to the Mount Vernon Trail. 

On the way back I ran into these fools:

My sister Caitlin and her boyfriend Benny

They got a late start because they are in those special college years when your body still allows you/wants you to sleep in until 10 am. 

After the photo op I headed home to tally up the miles. I ended up with about 9.5, my longest run since the marathon only 4 days before. It felt really good and I took it nice and slow. I'm not going to lie, I kind of like this whole run as much or as little as you want whenever you want because you're not on a training plan thing. I look forward to keeping it up for another week to facilitate further marathon recovery. 

After a quick shower it was time to get cooking! Caitlin is a hardcore vegan, and even though our huge family caters for Thanksgiving every year, there are more and more family members every year who have gone vegan or vegetarian so Caitlin has started cooking some things on the side for these folks. I give all of the creative credit to her. I just chopped what I was told!

Me and the chef

Maple sweet potatoes

Kale, brussel sprouts, and almond salad with shallot vinaigrette

Butternut squash and cranberry pilaf for "stuffing"

Vegan apple pie

Mini vegan pumpkin pie

She also had regular vegan mashed potatoes, butternut squash soup, and steamed broccoli and beet salad.  Everything was absolutely delicious! I keep telling her she should be a chef if only to not deprive the world of her wonderful vegan desserts!

Cooking is more fun when you take silly pictures

The vegan choices were a hit with everyone, particularly the brussel sprout/kale salad (of which I chopped most of the brussel sprouts ahem ahem thank you very much). 

As is tradition after stuffing our faces with food at my Grandad's house, most of us head out to the street to work it off with some touch football. 

I caught the ball once. Too bad I didn't know what to do after that. Oops.

How was your Thanksgiving? Did you have any special/not traditional Thanksgiving food dishes?

Thankful Thursdays: Who Wears Short Shorts?

Many things to be thankful for this week!

I'm thankful for vacation days

I decided to take next Monday off of work to recover from the race. I know next week is a super short week anyway (yay Thanksgiving!), but I rather not sit in a desk chair all day 24 hours after running a marathon. Instead I'll be on the couch eating bagels and doing homework. That's a fair trade I'd say.

I'm thankful for (what will probably be the last of) warm weather:

I doubt that shorts will make it into December

While my half asleep facial doesn't really express my excitement about the warm weather, trust me, I was feeling it. The non-runner in me doesn't dig the 60 degrees. I'm ready for sweaters and scarves and moccasins. But the runner in me is thrilled to be pounding the pavement in shorts again. Of course, after about a month of long running pants weather I did have to get comfortable with my speed shorts all over again. Be gone with you thunder thighs!

I'm thankful to have a running partner again

There was a time when Mike and I used to run a lot together. If not during the week, then definitely on the weekends when we'd do our long runs together to prepare for our first half marathon.


ODDyssey Half Marathon 2011

Though he is still dealing with his foot injury, he has been able to join me for two short taper runs this week and it has been blissful. At first, I admit, I wish I had gone out alone. After all, I have been running solo for five months now and got used to it. It didn't take long, however, to get over that and enjoy his company again. He's still struggling with his injury, so he can't run too often or too far, which means that when my mileage starts hiking up again he won't be able to join me. For now though, I enjoy this time with him.

I'm thankful for the end of the semester

Most of my classes were already cancelled next week, so I'm really just looking at two more weeks after that of class time and homework. I'm so ready for winter break!

I'm thankful for personalized M&Ms

Combining chocolate and marriage?? Sign me up!

What are you thankful for this week?

Thankful Thursdays: Yep, I'm Jumping on the Bandwagon

A lot of bloggers have something along the lines of Thankful Thursdays and while I try to stay as original as possible, I can't pass up the oppotunity to take a moment and reflect on all of the things I'm grateful for. So, without further ado, I present the inaugural Thankful Thursdays post!

I'm thankful for my gym membership

The last week and a half has been very trying. Dealing with a running injury is always difficult, and being able to supplement that with other sweat-producing activities, is extremely comforting. I've only been a member of my new gym for a week and I already feel at home. I've hit up three spinning classes, the cardio room, and the pool twice. From now on I hope to incorporate more of this crosstraining into my training plans. As we approach the colder months I also know that there will be a few days when running outside just isn't an option. Yay for gym memberships!

I'm thankful for Sweetgreen

I've previously expressed by undying love for Sweetgreen and all of it's greeny goodness. I haven't visited in awhile, but this week it's made a comeback and I couldn't be happier. Thank you, Georgetown University students, who made this place possible.

I'm thankful that October is almost over

October has been a rough month no doubt, but I have good vibes for November. Not only is my body feeling better and better, but each day that passes means I am one day closer to hanging out with my awesome family. I've been super busy and have not had as much mom/sister phone time as I would have liked, but come marathon weekend we will all be together again and I can't freaking wait!

Literally my all time favorite family photo

I'm thankful for upset stomachs

During my 5 mile run Tuesday evening my stomach was acting up all kinds of crazy. Normally I would be cursing this feeling, however that evening I embraced it because, hey, I was running again! And sometimes running and upset stomachs go hand-in-hand, and there's something very familiar about that. And after more than a week off that old familiarity felt kind of good (crazy, I know).

I'm thankful for Trader Joe's Peanut Butter Oat Bars

These things, with all of their oatey, peanut buttery goodness, are freaking delicious. End of story.


Happiness in a box

 I'm thankful for being with someone with a sense of humor

Mike has always made me laugh. It's one of the reasons I fell in love with him. So even when he does something small, like taking a picture from my blog of me celebrating a pain-free 5 miles and turns it into a Subway ad, it makes me smile. It also kind of makes me want Subway. Clearly, I'm easy to market to.


Five dollar. Five dollar footlong.

I'm thankful to start running with Back on My Feet again tomorrow

I've missed the last three Fridays running with them because of Ragnar and then my injuries. I'm so, so excited to get back out there and run with these amazing people again!

What things are you thankful for?