week in review: september 22–28

Dopey Challenge Training: Week 13

Monday, September 22: rest day

Tuesday, September 23: 2.76 miles (30/60 run/walk intervals)

Wednesday, September 24: Cross training - arms

Thursday, September 25: Cross training - 30 minutes walking

Friday, September 26: rest day

Saturday, September 27: 6.23 miles (Chicago Women Rock 10k)

Sunday, September 28: 2.55 miles

Weekly mileage:  11.54 miles

Total mileage for Dopey Challenge Training: 200.06 miles

Whooooooeeeee - I hit 200 miles in my Dopey Challenge Training cycle this week. I'm really glad I forced myself to run when I got home from Michigan yesterday :)

It was another busy week for me over here. Tuesday night was #bibchat, of course, then I got a few inches of hair cut off on Wednesday night, went to Ditka Dash packet pick up on Thursday (even though I was no longer able to race), and Friday I had a bit of a work emergency when it was time to leave—our hot water tank broke and was leaking everywhere – had to wait for engineers and housecleaning to take a look, turn it off, and clean up the mess with a wet vac. I was planning on going for a run Friday night after work, but since I didn't get home till after 7, I decided to just get my race gear ready, pack for Michigan, go to Jewel, and by then it was bedtime.

Saturday morning I had the Chicago Women Rock 10k with my mom – the reason I could no longer run the Ditka Dash. I had registered for this race back in November of last year, and didn't know they changed their date (which looks like they did in June), until about a month ago... after I already registered for Ditka Dash. They lacked communication for this race. I never received an email regarding a date change or location change. It was pretty frustrating to spend money on another race, thinking it was a free day, to find out the race had moved. 

I was thinking about changing to the half marathon, but decided against it. I figured it would be best to give my ankle and feet a bit more rest (they have been bothering me the past week), plus, I had to hit the road to Michigan when I got home. After half marathons, I prefer to lay on the couch and be a bum ;)

Enjoying bubbly after the race.

It was a gorgeous day for a race (pretty warm once we started running – I was pretty sweaty by the finish). Energybits helped power me to the finish line (you can read why they help me so much in my initial review here). I'll have a recap up here on the blog in a few weeks. In the mean time, you can read my review on BibRave.com here.

After the race, I grabbed lunch with my mom, showered, and hit the road to meet my girlfriends in Michigan for a mini-getaway. We did a wine tasting, had dinner on a rooftop during a gorgeous sunset, went for drinks at a bar/grill, and then hung out in one of the rooms gabbing and snacking the rest of the night. In the morning we grabbed some Coke at McDonald's and donuts at Dunkin Donuts – all next to our hotel. We hit up Greenbush Brewing Co. on our way home for lunch and final girl time before heading back home. It was so much fun.

Gorgeous sunset.

Greenbush = yum. Their new Annex is wonderful.

When I got home, I immediately went for a run (I knew I had to do it right away, before I sat down, or it wouldn't happen. It felt good to stretch the legs after the driving), showered, and spent the rest of the day on the couch watching tv and snuggling with the dogs. I was so tired and ended up in bed around 9:30 haha. Even after running only 6 miles, my body missed getting to relax afterwards, and yesterday proved I needed a little bit of rest ;)

Coming up this week: a back to back 5.5 mile and 15 mile run for the weekend along with the two other 45 minute runs during the week. Eek. This will be my longest run! I am both excited and nervous. I'm also excited to test out some awesome products I received for being a BibRave Pro – Hoist and the Jabra Sport Wireless+. Look for reviews in the next week or two :)

How was your week? Did training go well? Any races over the weekend? Let me know how it all went :)

P.S. Make sure to review your race(s) on BibRave.com!

friday five: favorite fall activities

Happy Friday my friends! And you know that when it's Friday, it means a Friday Five link up!  I am linking up with the lovely ladies of DC: Courtney at Eat Pray Run DC, Cynthia at You Signed up for What?, and Mar at Mar on the Run. This week's theme is "Five Favorite Fall Activities".

1. Running. I love running in the fall weather. The foliage is changing colors and is so pretty, and the temperature is perfect.

2. Pumpkin Carving. Since I was a young teen, I've gotten together with one of my favorite older cousins and we carve pumpkins and eat pizza. Of course, now that I'm older, we usually add in some adult beverages :) It's a fun tradition.

3. Family walks. Another perfect fall activity, since the weather is just right. I love going on walks with my husband and our two dogs.

4. Baking. I don't bake too often, but I really enjoy it. Unfortunately, I don't have a ton of time to dedicate to it. However, with windows open and not having to worry about the house getting too warm, I like to bake in the fall! What do I bake?.... cookies, cupcakes, oatmeal pies, apple pies, etc. YUM.

5. It's not really an activity, but I love being able to wear jeans, sweaters, and low boots – I can't wear the cute knee high ones every one else can, thanks to my giant legs muscular calves... it's hard to find a pair that fits well and looks good. Anywho, it's my favorite weather and attire :)

What is one (or two) of your favorite fall activities?

Thanks to Courtney, Cynthia, and Mar for hosting! Make sure to check out their "Friday Five" posts (direct links above in first paragraph) and link up if you are joining in on the fun (and if you aren't – how come?!). Don't forget to read/comment on some of the other link ups, especially on a Friday like this one where the theme will be all over the place :) It makes it so fun and diverse. 

Have a great weekend!

rock 'n' roll expo and 5k recap

I was on the fence about running at the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, as the weather is usually pretty miserable in July (sooo hot and humid), but since we were having a fairly tame summer, I decided to register. Another thing that helped make my decision is that they added in a 5k for Saturday in order to receive an extra medal Sunday (for completing both the 5k and half marathon). I have a hard time saying no to more medals! I only registered about a month prior to the race. Generally, I register much sooner to get the cheaper rates... and by earlier, lets say that I'm often registered a year in advance haha.

If you want a short version, check out my BibRave.com review here.

The Rock 'n' Roll Health and Fitness Expo was held on July 17 (12:30–7 pm) and 18 (9:30 am–5pm) at McCormick Place, Hall D1. It seemed like a well run event, though I got there at about 6pm on Friday night and didn't have much time to wander the exhibitors like I had planned. It took such a long time to get there from the bus I hopped on at Michigan Avenue... I was pretty bummed about this. You needed to know your bib number to know what line to jump in. 

I had only received one waiver via email to bring in (that had my half marathon bib number), so was hoping maybe the people participating in the festival were all grouped together and would get both bibs in the same location. False. I ended up needing to go to the solutions desk and get another waiver and have them look up my bib number (I couldn't find it anywhere on the lists they had posted), then hit up the 5k line.

The Course.

After receiving our bibs, we went over to the t-shirt line. I had ordered the half marathon women's shirt up a size, since they suggested it (said sizes ran small and was best to order up). I'm really glad I did – fit perfect! I really liked the blue color, too. Unfortunately, the 5k shirt was HUGE! So disappointing. I had ordered medium, and the smallest size was a small, so I swapped the medium out for that. My mom's registration said she had requested an XS, but again, they didn't come in that size. Weird. I wish they were available. When I took it home, I held it up with one of my husband's large shirts, and it was BIGGER than that. Bananas. They were nice shirts, and made by Brooks, so I really wish the 5k shirt fit better. I do love the half marathon shirt, though, and wear it often.

Inside the expo.

Blurry, but this was the bib pickup area.

Before heading out to check out the other exhibitors, they had some samples for everyone to grab. I got some sunscreen and a few other things. Then, it was to the Brooks Rock 'n' Roll area - lots of great stuff! I ended up getting a tank, a shirt, and the obligatory pint glass. Between my mom and I, we had enough to split it up so we'd both get the VIP bathroom pass for the half (which, I have to say, was AWESOME... I'll elaborate more when I write that recap). 

After paying for our fun Rock 'n' Roll gear, we headed out to the rest of the vendors. Unfortunately, by this time, we only had about 10 minutes left. I was sad because I had a list of vendors I wanted to stop by to purchase product or check it out (curiosity). With the time I had, I was able to try out 'The Stick' roller and purchase two bottles of Tri-Berry Nuun (I also got a Nuun water bottle that was Rock 'n' Roll themed - pretty cool!). Unfortunately at this point, they were making announcements that everyone had to leave. It was the quickest expo evacuation and shut down that I've ever seen. For such a large race (and the addition of the 5k on Saturday), I found it odd that it would close at 7pm. It's not an easy place to get to, whether you are driving in from the burbs or taking public transit from the city. I was shocked at how long it took to get there, and then we barely had any time to enjoy the great expo! I would have loved an 8 or 9pm closing time.

Sculptures in the park by the Art Institute of Chicago.

The morning of the 5k was beautiful - sunny, and upper 60s. The race was set to start at 8am, and mom and I got there around 7:15ish. We hit up the port-o-lets, as usual, which had a bit of a line. Oddly, it was just one long line for a set of maybe 10–15 bathrooms. Usually there's atleast 1 line per set of 2 toilets. They had hand washing stations (yay water and soap!).

I'm really not sure how accurate this course map is.
I don't remember doing that square shape at all. I feel
like it's a bit off - pretty sure that from the start weran down
the sidewalk and did a small half turn down near
the museum campus and then ran the rest of the way back
on the lakefront trail down by the water... ?

The race began on time, and it seemed like they just let everyone go. I don't recall seeing a pace line-up, but we started at the back and passed people along the way. Nothing too spectacular about the course, it was a usual up and back by the lakefront, though coming back it did go down by the lake rather than up on the sidewalk (by lake shore drive). It was mostly flat with one short hill. It's a beautiful view, even if I do see it often during races, I don't really get too tired of it ;)

Beautiful day in the city!

At the start line.

A band on the course.

Great day for a run by the lake!

I like to smile.

After finishing, we received our 5k medal, which I really liked, along with a banana, pretzels, water, and a bagel. We sat by the lake enjoying our post-race snacks and then worked our way to check out the after party. While walking by the start/finish line, I got a glimpse of a blonde ponytail - it was Shalane Flanagan! I took some candid photos and we mosied on our way. While walking to the party, Shalane passed us on a golf cart and stopped at a tent that had a line. I realized she was headed to a meet and greet or autograph signing, so we hurried over to get in line.

Enjoying my post-race bagel.

The goodies!

Awesome medal received in an awesome city ;)

Hey! It's Shalane!!

The start/finish line.

Off to the festival.

Rock 'n' Roll Chicago 5k medals.

Now, I don't know if I just missed something, but I don't remember receiving any info regarding her doing a signing. I knew she would be at the expo Saturday and racing over the weekend, but I would have headed over sooner for her autograph if I knew about it. The line moved fairly quickly, even though she was talking with everyone, signing medals and bibs, and taking photos. It was pretty hot waiting in line – the sun was beating down on us and there was no shade. I honestly was trying to hide in the shade of people's shadows. I could tell my skin was getting burnt... no good. When it was my turn, I told her what a big fan I was and how inspirational she was. It's a bit of a blur – I was just so excited! She was sweet as can be (and super adorable!). When my mom told her she was doing the half the next day as well, she told her how impressive that was. I think that made my mom feel pretty good, as it should.

Ahhhh - one of the greatest moments in my running life!

Super excited.

The festival grounds.

After mom and I got photos with Shalane and she signed our ribbons, we headed on home. I was giddy with excitement from the 2 minute interaction haha. It was time to rest up for the half marathon the next day, where I was sure it was going to be hot hot hot.

the weekly chase #25

On Tuesdays I join the Weekly Chase link up with Mindy from Road Runner Girl – thanks for hosting, Mindy! Below is a recap from how the goals from last week went over, and my new goals for this week.

Weekly goals for September 15–21; recap

Goal #1 - Daily goals – 

A: Log and stay under calorie goals. 

B: Drink 48 ounces of water.

C: Eat healthier snacks/meals. 

D. Hit 10,000 steps per day via Fitbit.

A. OK with this, but on my whirlwind Saturday I forgot to log anything, and ruined my 145 day streak. This upsets me a lot. I was really hoping to get to 365! Ugh. I know this is such a stupid thing to be mad about, but I am. Time to start over.

B. Yes.

C. Yes.

D. 4 out of 7 days yes - 6546, 5428, 15175, 7352, 14249, 31008, 15368.

Goal #2 - Continue Dopey training = 3 days of running. Two days will be 45 minute runs, while the weekend will be a short 3 miles (which is less than what my 45 minute runs produce). Technically the week calls for 4 runs, with 4 miles on Saturday and 13 on Sunday, but I am hoping to get my race next weekend switched to the half, so am swapping out the weeks. Cross train two days.

I actually did 4 days of running, including 4 miles Friday, 13 miles Saturday, and a 5k Sunday. Since I'm not sure I'll be able to switch my 10K to a half this Saturday (or if I even want to anymore), I wanted to make sure I got in the back-to-back training days. No official cross training this week.

Goal #3 - Roll with the stick, stretch, and ice daily.

I did pretty good with this, but not every day. I definitely noticed a difference, so want to get back in the habit of doing it daily.

Goal #4 - Lose .5 pounds.

I gained this week. Poop. 

Goal #5 - Clean the house. This isn't physically health related, but my mental health depends on it ;) With the crazy weeks and weekends I've been having, piles of clothes and mail have been getting larger and larger, and it's time to get things in order!

Got some of it done, but there's still plenty to do.

Weekly goals for September 22–28

Goal #1 - Daily goals – 

A: Log and stay under calorie goals. 

B: Drink 48 ounces of water.

C: Eat healthier snacks/meals. 

D. Hit 10,000 steps per day via Fitbit.

Goal #2 - Continue Dopey training.

Goal #3 - Roll with the stick, stretch, and ice daily.

Goal #4 - Lose .5 pounds.

Goal #5 - Continue to clean the house throughout the week.

Goal #6 - Start downloading iTunes music for the marathon. There's no way my phone is going to make it the entire marathon length (as I'm sure it'll take me 6+ hours to complete), and my phone is getting old and tired. Since Spotify isn't on the Apple Nano, I have to use iTunes (which I haven't bough music for in yeeeears). I don't want to spend so much money all at once, I figured breaking it up a bit will be better. Plus, with Christmas not too far off (can't believe I just said that), I'll be asking for some gift cards to help complete the process ;)

How about you — what are your goals for this week?