Proceed to Party

Source: 915blog.com via School of Satchel™ on Pinterest

This weekend was no exception...

I started out Saturday with a few hours of actual work between my full time job and Weight Watchers.  Since I had made a plan to run after I got out I stopped at Target to pickup something to eat since I knew I was going to need something. I really do have a love for Clif Bars. Saturday I tired the Cool Mint Chocolate flavor before my run.I liked it but I still think the white macadamia is my favorite. It was raining after I was finished at weight watchers.Then I remember this saying... So I braved the run. I headed over to section of the bike trail that has a fair amount of tree cover. Overall I am really glad I went out and ran. It was probably the quickest 5 miles I had run in a long time. I felt good really good. Saturday ended early so that I would be ready for 20 miles Sunday.

Sunday I headed over to wicker park for the Opportunity Enterprises long run. This was my first 20 mile training run for the Chicago Marathon. I was really fortunate to run the 20 miles with another runner Sue. We finished exactly how we wanted. Although running in my new shoes wasn't optimal and I cramped up afterward I am really glad the run was able to be completed.

Then I went out to the Toby Keith Concert to celebrate my run and my really good friend Sherry's birthday. We had a really good time as always.

I spent most of today relaxing and just enjoying the day off. I can't believe the Chicago Marathon is so quickly approaching.

What did you do with your long weekend?

Favorites Friday: Running Stores are awesome

Here are a few things I things I love today:

New Running Shoes:

1. I got these Mizunos at the grand opening of the areas newest running store Extra Mile Fitness

2. Which brings me to another thing I love: Free Fun Runs and Running stores. Yesterday Extra Mile had their official grand opening and fun run. They had a 3 mile run around Valparaiso. It was a warm evening but their event was awesome. They had a huge turn out. The course was really nice. We started out near the Valparaiso campus and went on to the campus and down the streets around campus. It was not the easiest 3 miles I have ever run but who doesn't like a challenge every once in awhile...

2B. So part "B" of number 2 is why I love a good running store. They are the most helpful people. They make sure you do not leave their store until you get the right pair of shoes. They work with everyone from I think I want to try running and need good shoes to the high school cross country stars. They also have everything. Socks and proper running gear are really important. Even if you aren't going to spend your life savings at the store at least go there and get some good advice. 

3. Twitter.... its fun and I can say all the random crap I am thinking. I can also read random crap by others. I pretty much tweet random sports, healthy living, running and life thoughts. Follow me if you want to get my daily thoughts on stuff. I also tweet more stuff about what I am eating because it takes much less time to post than on this blog. So hey follow me. 

What kind of running shoes do you love? Twitter or now?

Take Care of Yourself

Source: fibromodem.wordpress.com via Kimberley on Pinterest

Honestly this is all I have for you today. I have to omit certain parts of my life from this blog so just know today I was remind how important this really is. It doesn't really matter what you need to do in the aspect of taking care of yourself but please start doing it.

Deanna's Active Link Challenge
August 29th
8 Mile Run
167%
I did 5 Miles by myself
Then 3 miles with my Wednesday night group. A fellow runner Dan really pushed me the last 3 miles. Actually felt really good to get this run done.

What are you going to do today to take care of yourself?

Why did you start?

Source: ucrunnereats.wordpress.com via Ellen on Pinterest

I have a wide variety of an audience... some are runners, weight watcher members, my amazing family and friends who would read no matter what and random Google folks. The one thing I can say about my opening is that no matter why you started whatever you are doing don't even give up on yourself. Remember back to the first day... maybe it was your first run or weigh in. No matter what it was remember back to how you felt that day. If you are a runner you will never forget that first time you decided to try "running." It is possible you wanted to turn around right then and there. This past weekend my sister whom I love was joking when I said well I ran today... She said really you run? I had no idea. I often forget when I say..."well I am only going to run 5 miles today" that this seems like the marathon I am training for to others. The key is that no matter what reason you decided to get started on your goal never let that memory or moment when you decided I am going to do this. Keep that thought fresh in your mind for as long as you can. It will never be perfect but just keep going don't let anything... including the weather stop you.

Source: greatist.com via Jessica on Pinterest

Deanna's Active Link Challenge... get to 100% Everyday Challenge
August 27th
40 minute walk
Active link only 97%... ugh forgot to wear it for a couple hours.
August 28th
5 mile Run with a great running friend
Active Link 126%
Don't quit... remember why you started and hold on tight to that feeling.

Race to the Taste Recap

Race to the Taste 

This weekend started off with a nice and hot 5 mile race at the Porter County Expo Center... A running friend Dan is the director so I really wanted to try out this race since I had never run it before.

I knew before the race even started that I was not going to perform 100%. Having too much fun the night before a run is very ill advised. I had wayyyy too much "fun" the night before. In fact I told many of my friends when I arrived that I was still feeling the effects from this "fun" I had the night before. Which of course made them all laugh as I tend to make people do.

They started the race near the back the Expo Center and we lapped around the Expo center and out on the road near the Expo center.

I quickly hit mile 1 around the 8:30 mark and I thought to myself ok maybe this won't be so bad.

It took me much longer to get to mile two and I knew that this was not going to be a record setting race. Just before the halfway point the sun was beating down on me and my stomach began to grumble. They marked the course to let you know that you were "halfway." Which I thought was really nice since it was mile 2.5... I really was feeling this race at this point. I was also about to die from the water not being cold but warm.

Mile 3 seemed to go by in a blur.... Somewhere between mile 3 and mile 4 I caught up to a runner that I knew pretty well Sylvia. We trucked along together until just final water stop. Once we made it to mile 4 I just kept telling myself one more.. one more...

Just after mile 4 I was just behind a runner named Dawn. She was doing me a favor and wearing really  bright clothes.... I just kept focusing on getting to the end behind her.

With only .40 of a mile to go Dan the race director recognized me and gave me the final push to the end.... you can even see some really scary photos of me by clicking here....

Place	Name	City	Bib No	Age	Overall	Total Time	Pace
1	KELLY COTTON		310	28	35	39:01.1	7:48/M
2	Holly Melton		356	26	36	39:05.7	7:49/M
3	MARIALENA NAGEL		363	29	59	43:32.0	8:42/M
4	Deanna Grimes		328	29	66	44:32.4	8:54/M
5	Marie Fessler		321	29	85	49:13.9	9:51/M

I know I could have done better but I am happy I finished and under the 9min/mile pace. Sometimes you do well sometimes you don't... I am just glad I went to the race and completed it. Plus they had really yummy Clif Carrot cake bars afterward.

What did you do this weekend?

How Bad?

Now matter what your goal is how bad do you want it? As a runner I have taken some crazy measures to make sure I get the runs in so that I can be in shape for my races. What goal are you setting out for and what are you really ready to do to get there?

Try Something New Tuesday

I am going to try to give you this as much as I can:

New Food:
Bulgur Wheat
What is it? According to the Wikipedia definition it is a cereal food made from several different wheat spices most often durum wheat. 
So what do I think it is? I really thought it was Qunioa. It has a very similar texture and taste.
My Nanny made this concoction at my nieces birthday party and it was delicious. When I asked her exactly how she made it she gave me the typical grandmother answer that she just threw it together because she couldn't find the original recipe. I can basically say I think she used these ingredients

Bulgur Wheat
Black Beans
Corn
Onion
Olive Oil
Garlic
Green Pepper=

Yummy Goodness. Try it. Love it.






I also have been taking some new running routes as I take off from my home. One of things I really love about running is you really never have to take the same route. Today was a beautiful afternoon to get outside and enjoy the sunshine. I am love the weather these days.
5.10 Miles
49 Minutes

Another great part about today.... New Hair...I just love how good a haircut feels.


















What do you think about Bulgur wheat?