Ahhhh, Marathon Monday is here again. Which means I made tonight's dinner last night and stuck it in the fridge to reheat when I got home after my 12 hour day (which started with a 5AM six mile run up and down my street....5 times - ooff...is this ice gone yet?).
Tonight's meal was super easy - quinoa, lemon juice, chopped tomatoes, feta and parsley. I also threw in some extra mushrooms from last night's AMAZING Roasted Spaghetti Squash and Mushrooms. Super easy. Super yummy. Super filling. It was so good (and I was so hungry when I got home from the after school program) that I woofed it all down because taking a blog picture. But here is the link to the recipe (I assure you, for once...my version looked pretty close to the beautiful pictures in the recipe...)
Tomato and Feta Quinoa
And now I'm ahead of the game! 4 new recipes already and I'm only 13 days into 2014! Woohoo!
Adventures in Running, Growing Up, Living and Loving Life
Monday, January 13, 2014
Sunday, January 12, 2014
The BEST Spaghetti Squash Recipe (so far...) and Hanson's Week 2
If you try one recipe from my blog, try this one. Seriously. It was delicious. My husband took one bite of it and said "THIS, is a keeper." Bonus points for how easy this one is as well. I was not sure how this one would go over, since Nate is not really a mushroom fan, but sauté them up in a little bit of olive oil with the spaghetti squash and parsley and it brings out a whole new flavor. UPDATE: (2/9) - Now adding kale to this recipe! It adds quite a bit of additional flavor to the dish! SO good!)
I am pretty sure this will be made again in the very near future.
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| Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms |
I am pretty sure this will be made again in the very near future.
Today also completed week 2 of Hanson's Advanced plan, with the addition of the first speed workout. It was a challenge, as I have never done a speed workout that required 9 miles of running before. By the last 400 I was pretty tired (and I kept thinking to myself "WHAT THE HELL...IT'S ONLY A 400). Then I remembered that a) I hadn't done speed work since September b) I'm on a treadmill in a 85 degree stuffy gym and c) it was the first day back to work after vacation. Overall, this week was 41 miles of training and I was able to get 6 out of the 41 miles done on the VERY icy road. With the addition of the first tempo run and first run done at long run pace, next week will be a real test to see if this plan is do-able for me. In the meantime, I have another NEW recipe already made for tomorrow night! Review to come! Now - go get some spaghetti squash and mushroom and make this recipe!
Monday, January 6, 2014
What I Learned on My Snow Day...
Ever watch a kid eat an apple? Every year in my kindergarten class I have a kid or two who eats the WHOLE apple, core and all. It's always baffled me, but year after year, there is always one. And, hold on just a moment while I generalize just a bit, it always seems to be the kiddo with the most street smarts, resiliency and who has the least who tends to do it.
I've never thought much about it, until I came across this video...
Did you know you've been eating apples wrong your WHOLE LIFE?
So I tried it today! Be careful when you get to the seeds and be sure to discard them, but I, for one, will not be paying crap loads of money to waste 30% of my apples again! I always knew my kiddos were natural little geniuses! ;-)
I've never thought much about it, until I came across this video...
Did you know you've been eating apples wrong your WHOLE LIFE?
So I tried it today! Be careful when you get to the seeds and be sure to discard them, but I, for one, will not be paying crap loads of money to waste 30% of my apples again! I always knew my kiddos were natural little geniuses! ;-)
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats (meatless!) and Baked Parmesan Tomatoes!
Last week I made spaghetti squash for the first time, and much to my surprise, we BOTH ended up loving it. We joked all week about how fun it was to create the spaghetti by raking the crap out of the squash. Very therapeutic (or we just lead very dull lives).
So today's recipe for Mission 24 was to use the spaghetti squash to make lasagna boats, using the shell as the boat/bowl. Now, before I go about telling you MY recipe, here is the original recipe that I modified to make them "meatless" - Skinny Taste Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats.
Now, onto my recipe. Instead of using "chicken sausage" or any other meat, I decided to give using lentils a try. It is not that I am entirely against meat, but I do try to limit processed meat and honestly, I just find it too expensive. Lentils = $1.39 per bag. This recipe used 1/3 of the bag, if that.
While the squash was cooking for 45 minutes in the oven, I boiled up a cup of lentils (which was plenty!). When the lentils finished cooking, I added them to the ricotta, sauce, onion, parsley, cheese mixture. I also added in basil and garlic (hmmm, there can never be enough garlic!). I did not make the sauce as it was called for in the recipe, I just used some leftover sauce from the fridge.
After raking out the spaghetti and mixing it with the ricotta mixture described above, I returned the spaghetti to the squash shell and baked it for an addition 20 minutes. The result - a SUPER yummy and SUPER filling dinner! While this was baking for the second time, our house smelled super sweet! Rebaking the squash let out some amazingly sweet aromas. Nate gave this recipe two thumbs up as well, although we both agreed that next time instead of just using spaghetti sauce it needs a jar of diced tomatoes as well! Will do!
Since I was cooking for about 2 hours today for food prep Sunday (egg bake and hard boiled eggs for the week, quinoa salad for dinner tomorrow, prepped the chili in the crockpot for Tuesday, salad for lunch for the week), I decided to make an easy little appetizer while the squash was cooking. I was super excited to find a use for my mini pampered chef pan and our "side oven" that we have never used. The appetizer I made were Baked Parmesan Tomatoes. I followed the recipe as written. These were a super yummy little snack before dinner, but next time, I am definitely adding some breadcrumbs to the top!
Today also wrapped up week one of Hanson's for marathon training. This week was only a half-week of training, starting on Wednesday with a weekly mileage total of 29 measly miles. It was a nice little way to transition back into following a plan. Starting next week, I will be up to 6 days a week of running (something I've never done before) and I will also do my first speed workout of the plan (and my first one since the beginning of October). I am a little anxious about it, as it will end up being about 9-10 miles midweek (I have NEVER done a speed workout like that before!). My total mileage for next week should be about 41 miles, and this will be my lowest mileage week of the plan, if I am able to follow it as written. I am nervous and excited about it all at once, but, as always, I am up for the challenge! ;-)
So today's recipe for Mission 24 was to use the spaghetti squash to make lasagna boats, using the shell as the boat/bowl. Now, before I go about telling you MY recipe, here is the original recipe that I modified to make them "meatless" - Skinny Taste Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats.
Now, onto my recipe. Instead of using "chicken sausage" or any other meat, I decided to give using lentils a try. It is not that I am entirely against meat, but I do try to limit processed meat and honestly, I just find it too expensive. Lentils = $1.39 per bag. This recipe used 1/3 of the bag, if that.
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| This is what food prep Sunday looked like today! Lentils cooking in the back! |
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| Raking out the squash and mixing up the ricotta mixture |
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| SO filling! |
Since I was cooking for about 2 hours today for food prep Sunday (egg bake and hard boiled eggs for the week, quinoa salad for dinner tomorrow, prepped the chili in the crockpot for Tuesday, salad for lunch for the week), I decided to make an easy little appetizer while the squash was cooking. I was super excited to find a use for my mini pampered chef pan and our "side oven" that we have never used. The appetizer I made were Baked Parmesan Tomatoes. I followed the recipe as written. These were a super yummy little snack before dinner, but next time, I am definitely adding some breadcrumbs to the top!
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| Use for the side oven! Finally! |
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| Baked Parmesan Tomatoes - a yummy snack! |
Today also wrapped up week one of Hanson's for marathon training. This week was only a half-week of training, starting on Wednesday with a weekly mileage total of 29 measly miles. It was a nice little way to transition back into following a plan. Starting next week, I will be up to 6 days a week of running (something I've never done before) and I will also do my first speed workout of the plan (and my first one since the beginning of October). I am a little anxious about it, as it will end up being about 9-10 miles midweek (I have NEVER done a speed workout like that before!). My total mileage for next week should be about 41 miles, and this will be my lowest mileage week of the plan, if I am able to follow it as written. I am nervous and excited about it all at once, but, as always, I am up for the challenge! ;-)
Friday, January 3, 2014
Mission 24: Recipe Numero Uno - Sweet Potato PANCAKES!
Alright, before I tell you all about my first recipe for Mission 24, I'll let you on in a dirty little secret that reveals just how inexperienced I am with cooking. 2014 is the year I turn 30. I may have 9 more months, but I turn 30 this year. And today, in order to make this recipe...I had to make mashed potatoes for the FIRST time. No joke, I actually had to google how to make mashed sweet potatoes (hangs head in shame). Ok, now that that confession is out of the way...here goes...
Sweet Potato Pancakes:
Ingredients:
mashed sweet potato (I used 1 medium sized sweet potato for this)
1 egg
1 tbsp coconut flour (or any other kind of flour you have)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp vanilla
extra cinnamon to sprinkle on top
Instructions:
1.) Mash the sweet potato.
2.) When done mashing, take off heat and add in one egg. If it's too thick to pour into pan, add another egg.
3. )Stir in remaining ingredients, except cinnamon sprinkle.
4.) fry em up like you would normal pancakes! Add extra cinnamon on the top as you like!
As my kindergarten students would say - "easy peasy lemon squeezy!"
I would suggest making small pancakes, as these do take a bit longer to cook in the middle than typical pancakes. I had the heat on my stove turned all the way up and let them fry for a good ten minutes. These smell (and taste) a bit like French Toast! They were pretty yummy! My first experiment of 2014 went well. These will definitely be made again. And, might I add, for the money-savy cooker, these are an excellent choice! Most people have flour, cinnamon, baking soda and vanilla lying around the house, so at the cost of 1 sweet potato and 1 egg, this recipe costs about $1.50 (if that) per serving!
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| Look, Ma! I made mashed potatoes for the first time! And, I LOVE my pampered chef masher! |
Sweet Potato Pancakes:
Ingredients:
mashed sweet potato (I used 1 medium sized sweet potato for this)
1 egg
1 tbsp coconut flour (or any other kind of flour you have)
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp vanilla
extra cinnamon to sprinkle on top
Instructions:
1.) Mash the sweet potato.
2.) When done mashing, take off heat and add in one egg. If it's too thick to pour into pan, add another egg.
3. )Stir in remaining ingredients, except cinnamon sprinkle.
4.) fry em up like you would normal pancakes! Add extra cinnamon on the top as you like!
As my kindergarten students would say - "easy peasy lemon squeezy!"
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| Starting to look like pancakes! But my, oh my, these smell strongly like French Toast! |
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| No syrup or butter needed! These pancakes were sweet enough! |
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Mission 24: 24 New Recipes for 2014 AND the First Day of Training for Marathon #10!
I have really enjoyed trying new recipes out this past month, especially since discovering that cauliflower, quinoa, lentils, sweet potato, spaghetti squash and other beans/grains can be substituted for almost any pasta/bread based item or meat. Now that I have a base of foods I can eat that do not make me violently ill the next day, I am excited about experimenting with them in new recipes.
With that being said, I am embarking on a mission to expand my recipe repertoire in 2014 by trying out (at least) two new recipes a month. By the end of the year, I am hoping to have at least 24 new recipes I can whip out at a moment's notice that are healthy and yummy. I have already pulled a number of recipes to try this month, including spaghetti squash lasagna boats (thanks Lauren!), sweet potato pancakes and sweet potato burgers!
AND, since I got the a gift card to get the best present ever today, there are way more recipes that I am going to be able to make!
On another note, today started my eighteen week Hanson's Marathon Method training program for Providence on May 4th. Let me say, nothing pleases a runner with OCD more than having their marathon training cycle start on January 1st!
Todays run was a six miler at "easy A" pace (for my marathon goal this pace is 9:00-9:30minute/mile). I ended up with an 8:50 pace for my miles. From the people I've talked to who have done this plan...most say that it takes about a month to get used to the slower paces on "easy A" and "easy B" days...but then the plan hits you like a ton of bricks and the heavy mileage forces you to slow down on these days. I finished up my workout today by borrowing Nate's T-25 Ab Intervals DVD. LOVE THIS! Will definitely be adding T-25 into the mix a few times a week as the next step in my weight training in the next few months! Here's to 2014!
With that being said, I am embarking on a mission to expand my recipe repertoire in 2014 by trying out (at least) two new recipes a month. By the end of the year, I am hoping to have at least 24 new recipes I can whip out at a moment's notice that are healthy and yummy. I have already pulled a number of recipes to try this month, including spaghetti squash lasagna boats (thanks Lauren!), sweet potato pancakes and sweet potato burgers!
AND, since I got the a gift card to get the best present ever today, there are way more recipes that I am going to be able to make!
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| Thanks Katie and Joel! |
On another note, today started my eighteen week Hanson's Marathon Method training program for Providence on May 4th. Let me say, nothing pleases a runner with OCD more than having their marathon training cycle start on January 1st!
Todays run was a six miler at "easy A" pace (for my marathon goal this pace is 9:00-9:30minute/mile). I ended up with an 8:50 pace for my miles. From the people I've talked to who have done this plan...most say that it takes about a month to get used to the slower paces on "easy A" and "easy B" days...but then the plan hits you like a ton of bricks and the heavy mileage forces you to slow down on these days. I finished up my workout today by borrowing Nate's T-25 Ab Intervals DVD. LOVE THIS! Will definitely be adding T-25 into the mix a few times a week as the next step in my weight training in the next few months! Here's to 2014!
Monday, December 30, 2013
Running 2013: Highs, Lows, and Everything In Between...
Miles run: 1746. I made it a point NOT to make a goal for miles this year (although I still kept track of miles run), now that I am a "marathoner" I find it kind of pointless. I follow the marathon/training plan(s)...I take time off when I need to (and yes, I actually did do that a few times this year) and run when I feel like it. With that being said, this is about 200 more miles than I've ever done in a given year since I started running.
Elliptical/Bike Miles: 95. Nothing special to report. I dislike doing both of these.
Most Miles Run in One Month (ever!): August - 180! Hello sore IT band...this explains it!
Pairs of New Sneakers Burned Through: Seven (that I remember, but it's probably more). I guess that is where all my money went this year. ;-) That includes 5 pairs of Nimbuses and 2 pairs of Brooks Ghosts.
PR's: Every distance. One of my first lessons from Bob was about how to train you anaerobic vs. aerobic systems. When I first started training with him, we learned through my lactate training that I was training my systems unevenly (too much anaerobic, not enough aerobic). By mixing in slower runs with the dreaded lactate threshold runs, I was able to even out my systems. Since I am a total number geek, I thought this was pretty cool. This year I...
-Cut approximately 1 minute off my 5k PR (21:45 to 20:49) at Moxie 5k
-2 minutes off my 10k PR (47:34 to 45:34) at B2B
-5 minutes off my half marathon PR (1:42 to 1:37:22) at Rail Trail 1/2
-10 minutes off my marathon PR (3:42 to 3:32:31) at the Hartford Marathon
Loving that pattern, but not going to try to PR every distance in 2014. This only happened this past year because I finally got myself into shape.
Marathons: Three (well, two plus the 50k, although I only ran to the marathon split, then walked the last 5 miles of it). This will NOT happen again. Two is my absolute max for a year from now on. My body says no more. Well, my wallet really...but my body won't mind either.
Races Run: 23! I vowed last year to cut back...I did, but only by 1 "race". Oops. Maybe I can cut a few more out this coming year? I'll work on that...However, this did include 3 events I did not race (Color Run, Ryan's Trail Run and the Canicross) and the two relays..so...technically...
#1 Favorite Race of the Year: Hartford Marathon - hands down, favorite race - A PR, a BQ, and a great weekend! The course support at this event is unmatched. The pacers were so supportive, and the mentors on the bikes were awesome. Runners up include Lake Auburn Half, Rail Trail Half and of course, the Triple Crown 5k races. They were my first races, and therefore will always be near and dear to my heart.
Best Non-"Race" Running Event: I had an ABSOLUTE blast running through the mud with Fenway at the Pineland Farms 5k canicross. I am pretty sure we came in 2nd to last (I am not a trail runner, let alone a muddy trail runner, and I had no intention on racing this event), but I had a blast. Not so sure Fenway did though..
Least Favorite Race of the Year: Breakaway 5k. Not impressed. "Flat and Fast, Guaranteed PR" my ass. Now, with that being said, I didn't have an awful run - it is still one of my better 5k times...but it was HOT, unorganized, and the start was awful (I may have swore at people who lined up wrong at the beginning and almost caused a pile up - not my proudest moment). And, we had the genius idea to run this race in the middle of a 20 mile training run. Won't be doing that again...ever. And, despite my fail at the Providence Marathon this year (don't run a marathon with a flu-type bug/chest cold from hell), Breakaway still makes last for the year.
Races Volunteered: 7 - Race the Runways (FROZE my butt off working the finish line), Boston Marathon water stop mile 14 baby!, Bands on the Run 1/2 (door greeting at packet pickup = least fun race volunteer position ever...), all three Triple Crown Races, and, the most fun, the Pineland Farms 50k and 50 miler finish line in the mud. So. Much. Mud.
Firsts: This year I participated in my first relays. Although they were fun, I can't exactly say they were my thing. Too much logistics. When I race, I want to wake up at the very last minute I can, arrive at race, run, and recover/eat.
Also, my first trail run. I am not a trail runner. I am not fast (that is a MAJOR understatement) or sure-footed on trails. But I do love them...and this particular race, Ryan's Trail Run for Suicide Prevention, was an amazing event, for an incredibly important cause...
Sherpa of the Year Award/Race Plan FAIL: TIE - Alice/GCI and Jim/Rail Trail Half!
1. Blah, blah, blah, blah never try something new on race day, blah, blah, blah. You would think that someone who has raced for years would know this. Nope. I decided to try out a new fuel belt for the Rail Trail half in June, a race that I REALLY wanted to PR on. I did, but only because I had an AMAZING sherpa who not only put positive thoughts in my ear for 13.1 miles AND also held my fuel belt bottles that kept falling out. THANK YOU JIM!
2. Who else would be crazy enough to accompany me on a 3 hour drive + 20 minute ferry ride across the ocean to run back and forth 7.5 times on an island, and "accidentally" run the marathon distance in the process? Love ya Alice!
Favorite Photo of the Year: Or maybe just the most ridiculous photo of the year. Tie between...
Elliptical/Bike Miles: 95. Nothing special to report. I dislike doing both of these.
Most Miles Run in One Month (ever!): August - 180! Hello sore IT band...this explains it!
Pairs of New Sneakers Burned Through: Seven (that I remember, but it's probably more). I guess that is where all my money went this year. ;-) That includes 5 pairs of Nimbuses and 2 pairs of Brooks Ghosts.
PR's: Every distance. One of my first lessons from Bob was about how to train you anaerobic vs. aerobic systems. When I first started training with him, we learned through my lactate training that I was training my systems unevenly (too much anaerobic, not enough aerobic). By mixing in slower runs with the dreaded lactate threshold runs, I was able to even out my systems. Since I am a total number geek, I thought this was pretty cool. This year I...
-Cut approximately 1 minute off my 5k PR (21:45 to 20:49) at Moxie 5k
-2 minutes off my 10k PR (47:34 to 45:34) at B2B
-5 minutes off my half marathon PR (1:42 to 1:37:22) at Rail Trail 1/2
-10 minutes off my marathon PR (3:42 to 3:32:31) at the Hartford Marathon
Loving that pattern, but not going to try to PR every distance in 2014. This only happened this past year because I finally got myself into shape.
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| Trackies at Beach to Beacon. A PR for all of us on that day! |
Marathons: Three (well, two plus the 50k, although I only ran to the marathon split, then walked the last 5 miles of it). This will NOT happen again. Two is my absolute max for a year from now on. My body says no more. Well, my wallet really...but my body won't mind either.
Races Run: 23! I vowed last year to cut back...I did, but only by 1 "race". Oops. Maybe I can cut a few more out this coming year? I'll work on that...However, this did include 3 events I did not race (Color Run, Ryan's Trail Run and the Canicross) and the two relays..so...technically...
#1 Favorite Race of the Year: Hartford Marathon - hands down, favorite race - A PR, a BQ, and a great weekend! The course support at this event is unmatched. The pacers were so supportive, and the mentors on the bikes were awesome. Runners up include Lake Auburn Half, Rail Trail Half and of course, the Triple Crown 5k races. They were my first races, and therefore will always be near and dear to my heart.
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| Hartford Marathon <3 |
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| Very mad at Mom. |
Least Favorite Race of the Year: Breakaway 5k. Not impressed. "Flat and Fast, Guaranteed PR" my ass. Now, with that being said, I didn't have an awful run - it is still one of my better 5k times...but it was HOT, unorganized, and the start was awful (I may have swore at people who lined up wrong at the beginning and almost caused a pile up - not my proudest moment). And, we had the genius idea to run this race in the middle of a 20 mile training run. Won't be doing that again...ever. And, despite my fail at the Providence Marathon this year (don't run a marathon with a flu-type bug/chest cold from hell), Breakaway still makes last for the year.
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| Surprising, Providence was NOT my least favorite race of the year.... |
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| But Breakaway DEFINITELY was...despite all of our wins! |
Races Volunteered: 7 - Race the Runways (FROZE my butt off working the finish line), Boston Marathon water stop mile 14 baby!, Bands on the Run 1/2 (door greeting at packet pickup = least fun race volunteer position ever...), all three Triple Crown Races, and, the most fun, the Pineland Farms 50k and 50 miler finish line in the mud. So. Much. Mud.
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| Race the Runways Frozen Volunteers |
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| Maine Track Club volunteers Boston Marathon water stop mile 14! |
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| Dave and Bill finish at Pineland in the MUD! |
Firsts: This year I participated in my first relays. Although they were fun, I can't exactly say they were my thing. Too much logistics. When I race, I want to wake up at the very last minute I can, arrive at race, run, and recover/eat.
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| 3rd place Female Team at Maine Marathon Relay |
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| MDI Relay |
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| Audrey, Melissa, Holly and I finish together... |
Sherpa of the Year Award/Race Plan FAIL: TIE - Alice/GCI and Jim/Rail Trail Half!
1. Blah, blah, blah, blah never try something new on race day, blah, blah, blah. You would think that someone who has raced for years would know this. Nope. I decided to try out a new fuel belt for the Rail Trail half in June, a race that I REALLY wanted to PR on. I did, but only because I had an AMAZING sherpa who not only put positive thoughts in my ear for 13.1 miles AND also held my fuel belt bottles that kept falling out. THANK YOU JIM!
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| Look closely and you'll see Jim carrying my stupid bottles through the finish! |
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| Waiting for the Ferry |
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| CAW! |
GCI also gets best race plan fail because somehow, I ended up STARVING by mile 16. I may have thought that I've experienced RUNGER before, but until then, I had not. I was so hungry, I stopped after the marathon split (I figured at that point, I was ok with running a sub 4 hour marathon and would walk away with that positive and screw the 50k time), got my wallet from camp, and went to the island store to get ice cream. Clearly, it was a good choice. Alice walked the last 5 miles with me (as I ate ice cream, pretzels, more crap that I can't remember) and then we headed back to the store for dinner.
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| Milk was a GOOD choice... |
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| FEED ME! |
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| Ice cream and Chips...the eats of really successful ultra-marathoners...or not... |
Highlight of the Year: Getting that hard-earned Boston Qualifying time at Hartford. I cried the whole way through the chute and cried while hugging and thanking the 3:30 pacer profusely. I wasn't able to stay with him in the last 2 miles, but his words rang in my ears for those two miles when I was really struggling to hang on to anything that resembled a run.
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| Hartford <3 |
1. Color Run...
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| This is what happens as a result of getting to an event 10 minutes after the gun starts and being driven on a ATV backwards on the course to meet the "colorful" Bride-to-be! |
2. Pre-race Hartford...
Honorable mentions also go to the photo of Alice and I explaining to the camera how the Providence Marathon really went earlier in this post and my favorite photos below that pretty much sum of 2013 in a nutshell...
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| And this is what happens when race day jitters meet the most ridiculous group of people ever... |
Honorable mentions also go to the photo of Alice and I explaining to the camera how the Providence Marathon really went earlier in this post and my favorite photos below that pretty much sum of 2013 in a nutshell...
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| Providence Training Partners |
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| Moose Pond Sole Sister <3 |
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| Hartford |
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| Trackie Peeps |
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| Tuesday Night Trackies at Lake Auburn Half |
Here's to a 2013 that was full of memories, PR's and pushing the limits, and a 2014 of new adventures!
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