Gorgeous

The weather has been absolutely gorgeous.

60's yesterday
70's today
80's tomorrow and Friday
annnd of course rain next week.

I got to spend part of the afternoon with Eric. (he took time off from school for me. =o)
We had a picnic.
And we took a nice walk around park of the city.
Spring is here and even though this weather may not last-I will enjoy it while I can.

More food

We made these awesome chocolate smoothies/shakes tonight after our run.
Chocolate tofu
Silk Chocolate milk
Half a banana
Frozen mango pieces

You should try these.

Yummy food

I recently discovered two delicious foods.

The first one is something I have seen other people call a Green Smoothie.


It's 2 c. spinach
1 cup chocolate soymilk (but any kind of milk is ok)
1 banana
All blended together=yummy.
The one thing I would change is less banana substituting a different kind of fruit. I really don't like the taste of banana so I think I would use strawberries or papaya or mango.
You honestly cannot taste the spinach so don't let that put you off. It's such a great way to get your leafy green veggie in for the day. SO many good for you nutrients.

The second food I am in love, love, love with is this.

Almond butter. Who knew? But it's so delicious and has this amazing flavor. I have just had it on toast for now but I could see flavouring oatmeal with it, or adding it to a cookie mix.
You need to go to the store right now and get some of this. Or any kind you can find.

It's been a while

I seem to have forgotten that I write on a blog...

it's been a couple days since I posted last but I don't even have much to say.
Our weekend consisted of working, Eric participated in a bike race that I couldn't go to and he didn't take any photos, sickness on Sunday....and homework. Pretty typical (except for the bike race and sickness).

Tonight we went on a great bike ride. It was sunny, kind of chilly but really great weather for a quick 10 mile ride. Here's a photo that I made Eric take with me. =o)

I made this awesome lunch bag out of a old t-shirt an it turned out really good! I will post some photos tomorrow. Yay for recycling!! =o)

See you tomorrow.

Oh blah...

Today I drove to East to pick up my running shoes from the Newton's house. Since I was already there I figured I would go for a run around the lake. From the get-go I knew it was going to be bad. My stupid knees again and this time my right ankle was really tight.

I felt like I was running so sloppy and all over the place. I was kind of limping a little because of my right leg being way more sore, my whole form felt way off. Kind of like I was running through mud and I was just throwing my upper body forward.
It was ugly I'm sure and it felt terrible. Needless to say it's hard to be motivated while your hating what your doing. I ended up running/walking the 4.5 miles. I will admit, mostly walking. I hate that.
I love the feeling you get after a good workout. Your so proud and your whole body just feels tingly and great! I did not get that feeling today.
Eric says everyone has off days. Do they?
I am just getting irritated. I find it hard to stay motivated anyway-let alone have a day where I am feeling so sloppy.

Maybe if I get shorts like these, I will run better.

Excited!

Do you know what I am SO excited for?

I am going to start recycling today!

I'm on my way to get some bins right now!

I did it.

It was awesome.

New Music

I am really digging this right now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3RUTgB07J_U

Check it out. Seriously.

(My favorite song is wheels but I can't find a good copy on youtube)

Husband

Why is it that I can't get him to clean the house, but he has no problem spending hours cleaning/working on his bike?

He is very dedicated. (and adorable)

Frustrations

It's no secret that I am trying to train for a 10k.
IN fact I probably talk about it more than I should.
With that being said, here's me talking about it again.

I am having THE HARDEST time with my training. I am not a runner by trade. In fact I have never really run before in my life. I played soccer when I was little, and I swam a lot but I have never been trained as a runner or was never inspired to go out and run 5 miles.
So this is all new to me. I thought after I laid down my $100 bucks for running shoes that I could simply strap them on and begin running. Silly me.
My first injury was shin splints. Painful but after a couple days off I was over it. Next came the most horrible excruciating pain on the inside of my right knee. I took a couple days off-laid low, eased back into running hoping to be rid of it but no such luck. Pain the minute I start running.
I hurried to the nearest Gazelle Sports and see what they had to say. "Buy these $50 dollar orthodics" (sp?), I was told. Sold!
At first (yesterday) I was totally fine. In fact I felt great! I was running fast, it was easy and I didn't feel tired or achy at all.
BOOM! Today hit. I drove over to East to run with my sister-in-law. I felt fine walking/warming up but the minute we began running I knew it was over. We probably ran for 3 minutes? and I was done. BOTH of my knees killed. Literally the worst pain. I almost had to stop and sit down.

I don't know what the deal is. Why can't I be one of those people who just wakes up, throws their shoes on and goes?? I'm really, really frustrated and I don't know what to do. I would love to go to the doctor and see what they think but not having insurance kind of kills that idea.
I just want to be able to run and not hurt. Any tips/tricks/stretches/ideas would be so welcome.

Did I mention that I have a 5k race on Saturday? =o(

Spring is here?

Hello first cookout of the year!

I wish this weather would stay...but it's supposed to snow next Monday.
For now, I will enjoy the next two days of 60 degree weather.

This is Whole Foods.
This is their bulk foods aisle.
This isn't even half of the bins that they had in that aisle.
This is where I could spend all of my money and time.
This is where I want to be buried.

Ann Arbor Trip

Here are some images from our trip. Not in any good order. Actually the first one is all the stuff we brought home.

This awesome cupcake shop we went to!!

Gosh I love that face.

And that's mostly it. I didn't get as many photos as I would have liked...but that's the way it goes.

However

Tonight was not my night.
Or Eric's night.
Just a blah night.

Why?
Well, we opted out of a run this morning because we were trying to get a head start on our little day trip..see below and also because we were feeling a little bit lazy.
So that meant we had to go tonight. Blah.
We headed out and the first mile was so bad. We were both so off. Eric said he felt sick (he ate a lot today) and I have been suffering from what I now know to be runners knee.
Couldn't do anymore without extreme pain. We ended up walking three miles and then just called it quits.


Some days I feel so great-like I could go forever. Nights like tonight make me hate running.

And I went...

To this amazing place.

Jealous? I know. That's not all..


I look rather scary but that's not the point. Moosejaw!!
Also, we went to Trader Joe's but silly me- I didn't get a photo.

We had a great time in Ann Arbor, and even though it was a long drive, totally worth it.
We stocked up on staple food like quinoa, wheat gluten flour, couscous, etc... They have tons of things in bulk there and I did get a photo but the computer is taking it's sweet time uploading so I will share more tomorrow.

Today was a good day.

I am so excited for tomorrow!!!
I am going somewhere so awesome, to shop at the best place ever. Well, a couple of the best places ever. I can't reveal where I am going because it gets me way to excited.


Here is a photo that makes me smile.


Found here

Hello Legs

Do you ever decided to go for an adventure outside and before you know it your legs are begging for you to stop, go back inside and resume couch position?
That was me this weekend.
Saturday night-five mile run.
Not bad you say? You can do that easily? Bully for you!
Sunday afternoon-30 mile bike ride. Can you still do that?
Woke up on Monday, not sore in the least. Totally fine actually but I decided it was best to give my poor legs a day to heal.
I went out this morning for a quick run and I felt like my legs were going to give out on me. I pushed through but only did two miles.
I wonder what it would take to have my legs removed and replaced with super olympic legs?

Theory: Men run faster than woman.

What do you think?

My day

I spent the better part of the morning/early afternoon hanging out with my mom. We had a good time. Well-I did. =o) Then I came home and because it was a glorious, sunny, warm day-I took a nap. ha. I know, I know. But I made up for it later because when Eric got home, I ran two miles!
See?
And then dinner and another 6+miles on the bike! I'm trying not to be lazy.

To conclude, I am making the best smelling granola. Oh and trying to get Eric to use the stationary bike. Good luck to me!

Sun

So far in March (all four days) it's been sunny and upwards of 40 degress. I love it. I just need the snow to melt because it's making running a very muddy adventure. Two and a half weeks until my 5k. I'm excited. I think it's going to be challenging but would it be fun if it wasn't?

Motivation

I need motivation so I can look like this



and these are calling my name in the other room



But currently this is what I am doing

My Happy List

1. Warm sunny days

2. Being organized
3. French toast w/powdered sugar & turkish coffee
4. The feeling after a good, hard workout
5. Law and Order
6. A day off when I can do whatever I want
7. Sleeping in with no alarm
8. Juicy free range burgers
9. Falling snow
10. Watching air-planes take off

That was harder than I thought. =o)

Flowers

Here are some images that make me so happy.

All images curtesy of Weheartit