A foot of snow another treadmill run and some sweet treasures

14. February 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: labradoodle, running, sweet treats, Uncategorized · Tags: , , , ,

Happy Friday everyone. It’s Valentine’s Day.

I have a beautiful treasure.

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A Valentine’s card that my Grandpa gave my Grandma back in 1954. They were high school sweethearts and spent close to 70 years together before my grandpa passed in 1992.

And just literally a minute ago I received a delivery…

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My brother and sister-in-law do so much for me. I’m so lucky to have them. And today I was surpised with some chocolate covered strawberries and a reminder that I am loved. AWWW!

So not only did I weather the storm that dropped over a foot of snow and lots of rain and sleet as well but I MADE IT TO THE GYM last night in between bands of snow. Girls gotta make it work when training for a spring marathon right?!

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gym parking lot selfie

photo 1

5 miles done!

It was supposed to be an easier run as I just did a tempo on Tuesday but I felt good. So after a warmup mile at 11:30pace I kept my pace about 9:30 for the last 4 netting an average overall pace of a 10 minute mile.

There is just so much snow everywhere…

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not my car. these folks never bothered digging out from the last couple of storms. They’re probably not gonna drive until spring.

Tomorrow my peeps are trekking here to Staten Island to run a 10K trail run called the Cold Feat 10K! We ran it last year too. I’m really excited because we’re supposed to be getting a few more inches in the morning so it should feel like we’re running in a winter wonderland. And then I’ll be serving everyone brunch before they trek home to Brooklyn and the Bronx. And Sunday I’ve got a 14 miler to complete. I am already planning to scale back my running next week because i think all these treadmill runs are putting some stress on my shins and also I seem to be speeding up too much on the treadmill runs. I don’t want to burn out.

I’ll leave you with this video of the doodle in the snow. Have a great weekend y’all!

 

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Make it Work Monday and Treadmill Tuesday

05. February 2014 · Write a comment · Categories: labradoodle, running, Uncategorized · Tags: , , , ,

We sure got walloped with a lot of snow yesterday.

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I knew commuting through the blizzard would be unpredictable, unsafe and quite honestly just frustrating so I cleared it with my boss to work from home. The best part of this was that it saved me from having to deal with shoveling or leaving the house for most of the day. I did bundle up to take the dog out a couple of times.

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Life is always good!

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Snow nose!

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I think my privates just froze

Good thing I had no running on the agenda. Work kept me busy. My meals were pretty last resort….packet of oatmeal for breakfast and a pb&j sandwich for lunch. Thankfully I remembered I had this one piece of “in case of emergency” chocolate saved for a day just like this.

photo 3

emergency chocolate!

So I tore open that wrapper and indulged along with a cup of coffee right after my 3:00 conference call. (Note to self: buy a replacement chocolate square ASAP!)

Eventually after the snow stopped falling I shoveled out, cleaned off the car and trekked out to the grocery store. I literally was the only customer.

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sole supermarket shopper

Today, I went to the gym at lunch for what should have been a 5 mile hill workout. Well I had to stop at 4 miles because I got lightheaded and almost passed out. I went to the locker room and just sat down on a bench for a few. Then put my coat on (over my sweaty running clothes) and hoofed it back to the office. I was afraid to get in the hot shower because of how woozy I felt. I finally started to feel better after being back at the office and eating a turkey sandwich. Luckily none of my coworkers noticed since I am always a pretty casual dresser. Lol.

photo 5The run was great while it lasted. I kept the speed steady at 6mph (10:00 mile pace). I put the incline to 1 for a half mile and then bump it up to 5 for the next half alternating this for all 4 miles. It really clearly showed how my effort level increases dramatically to maintain the same pace on the inclines. I know that these Tuesday workouts (intervals, tempos, hills) are definitely making me a better, stronger and hopefully slightly faster runner.

I’m now chillin’ on the sofa with the dog and we’re watching the Biggest Loser Finale! I always love to see the transformations but for heaven’s sake, why must they put these people in high heel shoes that are so high they can’t walk down the steps? These are real people…not runway models.

We’re getting another snow/ice storm starting late tonight and into tomorrow morning. I guess I’ll evaluate in the morning whether or not i’ll be heading to the office or working from home.

Hope everyone is having a lovely evening.

Anyone watching the Biggest Loser?

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Ankle roll—and no it isn’t a new kind of sushi

25. January 2014 · 4 comments · Categories: injury, running, running gear, Uncategorized · Tags: , ,

I’m a fan of sushi! Spicy Tuna rolls, California rolls, Boston rolls….yeah delish….but today I “ate it” on the sidewalk and rolled my ankle. #fail

spicy crunchy ankle roll

The Crunchy Ankle roll

Gratefully I caught myself quickly and am pretty sure I avoided any major damage. I ran 2 additional miles afterward and everything felt pretty good. Seriously, the entire park loop that I was running on was not only shoveled but super salted and totally dry yet this one little snowball just played a trick on me.

outdoor run

nice and easy 5 miles. nice and balmy 25 degrees.

I completed a nice easy 5 miles out in a balmy 25 degrees. Tomorrow I’m running 13.1 and it looks like the temp will be about 11 degrees, so today was a good check-in to see how many layers I’ll really need. I hate to overheat.

pre-run gear check. feels like the right amount of layers. let's give it a whirl...

pre-run gear check. feels like the right amount of layers. let’s give it a whirl…

snow makes everything looks so peaceful

snow makes everything looks so peaceful

I’ve made some progress getting some of the rooms back in order since having my house painted. Will post some before and after pics tomorrow.

And now I better go accomplish something OTHER than running and blogging.

 

Question: Ever ALMOST injure yourself but somehow manage to come out unscathed? Tell me about it? 

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snowbody knows me like me

04. January 2014 · 1 comment · Categories: labradoodle, running · Tags: , , , , ,

Snowbody knows just how much I love the snow more than me. Really, I don’t know what my fascination with it is. It causes inconvenience in commuting, my back to ache from shoveling and it’s even canceled my flight twice. But I am a snow bunny! I love snow!

Yesterday, I shoveled a bit and then trekked in to the office. I was one of 5 people who made it in. While I waited for the bus, my hair, which was still wet froze. I could turn it upside down and it would still stand straight up.

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fro yo hair!

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ici-curls

I worked like a busy bee and then ran to my bus stop trying to make it back home before dark so the dog could have some snow time. But the bus took a LONG time to arrive. It was 11 degrees and I had on boots that didn’t keep my feet warm at all! (I’ve already started searching for better ones… L.L. Bean Sale anytime soon???)

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NYC sure is the gritty city.

It was dark when I got home but luckily it was so cold Duncan really didn’t want to belabor the “process”. He got straight down to business…

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this pee picture was actually from the night before so just imagine the snow is about 8 inches deeper.

I shoveled some more, had dinner and passed out on the couch. Thank god it was Friday. I was S.P.E.N.T.

Today I waited for the temperature to warm up so I didn’t go for my run until 2pm. (It was 5°F in the morning but warmed up to 25°F by the time I went. So Duncan got a little snow play action around noon…

dogballs

a doodle’s nemesis….snowballs! he chews each one off when we get home

And then I opted to drive to a National park by me to do my run figuring the neighborhood streets and sidewalks would be messy. I just assumed they would have plowed the running path. I was wrong! But I ran anyway. 4ish miles total…some in the snow until I realized it was really hard and then I moved out to the road praying my new sneakers wouldn’t get destroyed (thankfully they didn’t….not a dirty sludgy salty mark at all). It was so beautiful though. I only saw 2 other groups of people….an older couple walking and another couple cross-country skiing! (Now there’s a good way to enjoy the non-plowed running paths!)

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just before i started when I looked “fresh” lol!

riskkicks sotss-ecard5I got to wear one of the new Columbia jackets from my shopping spree a few weeks ago today. It was AMAZING! I wasn’t cold at all (even with exposed legs). And to think it was originally $130 and I got it for $49.99 WOWSAH! SCORE!

So now I’m eating chinese food and staying cozy for the rest of the night.

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I was too RUNgry to take a pic of my first serving which included the same + 2 dumplings. lol.

Tomorrow I’m off to the annual Little Christmas party that my friend throws each year. Everyone comes in PJs, brings a contribution toward dinner and we exchange “wrapped crap”. Oh I can’t wait to give you the recap on Monday. It should be a good time. And I’m bringing the S’more’s Crack Dip! I made it once before and it’s definitely worthy of an encore…

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S’mores crack dip

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did i mention i made it just for me? (I WISH!)

Okie Doke, enjoy the rest of your weekend.

Question: What’s your favorite Chinese food dish? I can never eat enough dumplings!

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