Last 5 miles until the half marathon!

I can't believe it! Today I had a 5 mile run, which is the furthest I am supposed to go until my half marathon in 8 days! It is beautiful outside today, the sun is shining and I would have loved to attempted my run outside except it is still a little wet and I didn't want to ruin my glass running slippers like the Disney e-mails call them. It was a relatively easy run, and I tried to push myself a little bit by changing the speeds on the treadmill from 6.5-8! I didn't do the entire run fast, just different intervals.

I ran 5 miles in 42:56, 8'34 pace

Right now I am drinking my Melaleuca  protein shake with a banana added to it. I added the banana today because we are going out to dinner tonight, which means I will eat later than I usually do. This morning for breakfast I mixed 1/4 cup of blueberries, fat free greek yogurt and flax plus cereal. It was really good! I surprised myself. It was very adventurous for me, I have to admit after following a number of health blogs lately I have been trying to be more creative with my meals.

I'm so happy it's Friday. My vacation officially begins! We are trying Rojo tonight in St. Clair Shores. It is a new Mexican Bistro that just opened near my house. The nice day+lakefront=margaritas? 

Florida forecast, in the 80's!

That's right. I decided I will be staying in Orlando for 3 weeks! It was supposed to be a week, but I changed it to stay a extra two weeks! I'm really excited. I checked the forecast for next week, and I can't complain. Here are a few things I have to look forward to in the upcoming weeks:

1. Disney Princes Marathon- my first half marathon, 13.1 miles!
2. Skydiving at Skydive Space Center 
3. Disney World!
4. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios 
5. 3 weeks to kick start my healthy eating on my own, running outside and going to the pool!

Today I went to the gym for my Cross Training day. I did one hour on the cross trainer at different levels and speeds. For the first 30 minutes I read Glamour and the next 30 minutes I held 5 lb weights in each hand. I was a little sore today from Yoga, but in a good way. I am excited to try a few different classes at Yoga Shelter. The class I did yesterday was called "Slow Flow". The description is "for those looking to experience a physically slower moving class. We will be holding postures that cover the entire body, and focusing on the breath which will help to create a supple and toned body. This class is soft and smooth but always challenging". It was a challenging class, and I was pleased that I could feel the effects of it today. I ate oatmeal with blueberries today for breakfast. 

Here is a picture of my new Lululemon Stride Jacket II. I was just trying it on, I will probably wear it skydiving in Florida!

Time to start packing! I will have a washer and dryer in Orlando. I am housesitting for some amazing friends I met in Thailand! They were there visiting for a contest we were all in sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.  I am sad they won't be there, but I am excited to see their cute pup! 

San Diego? Full Marathon?

I know it's crazy to be thinking about a full marathon, with my first half only a little more than a week away, but I am! I am really considering signing up for the Dodge Rock 'n' Roll San Diego Marathon & 1/2.  I got a e-mail confirmation today that one of my best friends signed up for the full, with the possibility of a few others doing the half! I am definitely going to wait until after next week and see my run goes, but I think it would be great timing in June.

I will get home from Orlando March 10, which means I will have a little less than three months to train for the full. However, I have already been training two months for my first half- so if I just keep running the two weeks I am in Florida (which I am sure I will because I am ecstatic to run outside again) then when I get home I can get right back into it. ALSO, it will start to warm up so I can do my training outside instead of the gym! 

I REALLY might do this! A full marathon? 26.2 miles? Help? 

No strawberries yet.

Yes, sadly there are no strawberries yet. I was hoping for a strawberry miracle overnight, and it just didn't happen.

I had a really busy day today. After work I ran my 3 miles at a race pace. It went by really quick. I tried to push myself a little more than usual since it was such a short run. I kept thinking about a 5k and how fun it would be to try to really push myself during one, now that I have been training quite a bit.

I ran 3 miles in 24 minutes 37 seconds. Pace 8'11

Since I have been feeling sore, I decided to finally try out Yoga Shelter with my groupon. It was just what I needed. This was the FIRST time with yoga that I actually broke a sweat and felt like what I was doing was beneficial. I have tried it a few times, at my gym, and haven't enjoyed it very much in the past, however I liked it today. If yoga really is equivalent to strength training (I have to research this) I would prefer to do yoga over weights. My tea has a very yoga message today! I went to a class called "Slow Flow" and would definitely go back to this style class. I also used my new YOGA mat, "The Mat" from Lululemon. I liked it! It was soft and I felt a lot of support. It wasn't slippery, and it laid out nice and flat. Today my wrists didn't hurt as bad when I was in certain positions, I don't know if it was the mat, the class, or my mood.

Yoga Shelter in Grosse Pointe is located right next to Trader Joe's. Trader Joe's became popular while I was in Thailand, and I actually haven't had a chance to check it out before today. I went in and was very impressed with the selection, the design and how shopping there felt different than just going to a regular grocery store. I bought two things to try, the Trader Joe's Roasted Seaweed Snack and the Trader Joe's Veggie Sticks, Potato Snacks. They were both delicious! I actually ate a lot of snacks that were "seaweed" flavored in Thailand, and I didn't think I would be able to find it in the states unless I went to a Asian grocery store. One thing about living abroad is watching the treats the kids eat there compared to the states. Kids in Thailand LOVE seaweed and fish flavored SNACKS! 

I borrowed the book "Skinny Bitch" by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin. I have heard a few mixed reviews about this book, but decided to read it during my Florida trip. Has anyone read this?

I am exhausted from running and yoga today! I am anxious to see if I will feel sore at all tomorrow from the class. I have a lot to get done this week before packing my bags and heading to Florida on Monday!

The sun is shining.

It sure is! How can 30 degrees feel like summer? I went to the gym after work and didn't even wear a jacket- I know that is dumb but it just seemed so nice! I woke up today feeling less sore and much better than yesterday. I guess that is what a 3 hour nap and 8 hours of sleep will do to you.

I have been drinking Yogi tea instead of my morning coffee as a attempt to limit my caffeine in the morning. I drank a green tea every morning in Thailand, and for some reason just felt healthier drinking tea over coffee. I've been drinking Yogi Green Tea Goji Berry and Yogi Green Tea Pomegranate. I don't put ANY sugar or anything in it, and it's delicious! It took me a while to realize each tea bag has a cute little note on it. I thought that was very clever and inspiring!

I did my 4 mile run today after work. 

I ran 4 miles in 37 minutes and 1 second. 

One of my students got me the CUTEST little "Strawberry Grow Kit". I'm not sure where he got it, but I love it! I hope a little strawberry grows. 

I am going to try Yoga Shelter this week, and I'm really looking forward to it. Also I am staying in Orlando another week or two, so I'm really excited! I have to book that now. My lululemon stride jacket II came in the mail, and I'm quite disappointed with it. The style is cute, but the zipper is a pain! It will not zip right. I am about to call them right now to see what's going on, I don't know if I will order from lululemon again, going to the store is more convenient. I ordered the ultimate running socks and they came snagged! The customer service was great though, I called and got free 2 day shipping on a new pair, but now I have to take the other ones back. My new socks were great, however. I wore them on my 12 mile trial run, and they didn't slip, and felt great. I couldn't really tell a big difference from the featherweight socks I wear, but they did have a l (left) and r (right) to tell the difference between the two!

I have about 50 emails to go through, my pet peeve is having even one in my inbox! I don't know how I let them fill up, I have a lot of catching up to do!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! Look at my cute bag from Lucy.

I am not feeling great right now, a little bit tired and a little sore in my shoulder. I am considering doing Yoga tonight, or taking a rest day. I am going to lay down for a bit and see how I feel! I do love that saying, "get in the shape of happy." I haven't shopped at Lucy yet, but maybe I will check it out!

Update: 6:35 PM I took a REST day today. I am really sore today. I wasn't at all yesterday, the day after the long run but today I feel really sore. I'm just laying in bed taking full advantage of this "REST" day.

3 mile EZ, aftermath of a long run

I woke up today with a sore right shoulder. Well that and a puppy poking my head to wake up. Reilly (the Golden Retriever) slept in the same room as me last night and I knew that meant he would wake me up as early as possible for feeding time. I was right, 7:30 AM his little paw started gnawing my face to wake me up to feed him. His life revolves around food and resting. Silly dog.

I don't even know how that is possible, I must clench my arms too much when I run. It's pretty sore still :( My legs were also pretty chafed from the running skirt, but not too bad. The 3 mile run was easy today, I went at a really slow pace as well. I went to LA FITNESS in Bloomfield Hills, it was really clean and new looking.

I ran 3 miles in 30:40 at a 10'12 pace.

I wanted to go really slow and just concentrate on feeling better. We had a big breakfast this morning with Parker's family. We had bacon, potatoes, whole wheat toast, and eggs. Every Sunday they have "Sunday breakfast" it's so cute! I am still here, that is why I went to the gym in Bloomfield. Before we went to the gym I had a pear and I just got back and had oatmeal with blackberries I crushed up using my fingers. Although it was messy, it was delicious! I made Parker one too but put walnuts and brown sugar in his. I also had some shredded sauerkraut, I know this is a random thing to eat, but I love it!

I'm enjoying a relaxing Sunday. I usually like my "rest day" to be Sunday, and now with no more long runs I can do that. I have spent the entire weekend away from home. The weekends always FLY by! I talked to my friend today I am housesitting for in Orlando. I met them in Thailand during a contest I was in, and they are genuinely some of the nicest people I have ever met. It is crazy some of the friendships I have made while abroad. I miss my friends from all over the world!