Feature Friday- Frittatas & Focusing on yourself

I am the type of person that hates to say 'no'. I love to have my eggs in multiple baskets and 'share the love' (so to speak), but I feel like I've gotten to this point in my life where I want to give more to those things I do and do less. It's taken me a while to finally realize that it's ok to say no sometimes and follow your intuition. We all have to do things that we're not excited or ready for, but this is different. Sometimes we take on too much to cover up other facets of our life or sometimes we just love to be busy (I guess mine was sometimes a mix of both), but I'm ready to simplify and find other hobbies that I love to do (besides running/fitness/cooking/outdoors) and branch out. Take time to intentionally do something (or NOTHING). This weekend may consist of a whole lotta nothing and I'm OK with that (the old me would have been freakishly terrified of not having every second planned or saying 'no' to an activity/ appearance/ opportunity to go do something). Do things with purpose and give yourself permission to take time to give those activities/people the real attention they deserve and maybe let those other things go for a bit and see how you feel. 

In other news, the Disney 2018 medals for Marathon Weekend have been released!! These are so beyond beautiful and I cannot WAIT (the Dopey one is totally my favorite) to run through the parks for 4 days straight! Not that I'm necessarily excited for winter to arrive, however I am excited for January to come! 

I am also putting the finishing touches on my Sweet Potato Spinach & Garlic Fritta- make sure to check it out here! 

Some great memes to send you into the weekend ;) :

Long weekend fun!

Hellloooo Tuesday! Going back to work after a long weekend is SO tough. Luckily, my weekend included lots of rest, relaxation, and running. Friday (rest day for me) started off with a lunch date with my person at our favorite spot (Winonas - a MUST if you are ever in Steamboat) for some buffalo chicken salads!

Then we made homemade pizza for dinner (perfect for carbo-loading for my long run in the morning) and it was amazing! Forgot to take a picture (I think I devoured it too quickly ;) ).

Saturday morning I woke up at 4:45 to get my 16 miles in and it was pouring out. I started with 6 easy outside then headed on the treadmill for 7 at just under marathon goal pace (8:57 with some downhill training) and finished it up with 3 outside (in-between showers finally). 

Since it was a total wash of a day, we relaxed at home (luckily there was a Harry Potter marathon on and we mayyyy have watched 2 or 3 of them!). I made the most AMAZING lasagna from Run Fast, Eat Slow and even made homemade marinara sauce (definitely a game-changer; also added in a parmesan rind that I had lying around and it made the sauce extra cheesy). 

On Sunday, the weather finally felt like Spring (mid-60s) and we headed out to camp! We half-expected to arrive to the campsite (about 30 minutes away from home) and for it to be full because of the Holiday weekend, but only 2 of the 11 sites were filled (and stayed that way the entire night)!

I got in a 3-mile run between leaving our place before Alex left in the car (got in 1.15 miles with Stella) until he picked us up on our way out there and then finished up my run after we set-up our site. It was SO peaceful out there!

We did a short hike out Teepee Creek and ended up hitting snow (I wish more trails were dry)! The part that we did hike was beautiful and with no one else around- so serene. 

Since it's still mud-season here, Stella's paws turned into a dark brown mess. Luckily, she found a snow pile to plop down and cool-off in!

I think one of my favorite parts of camping has to be how good food tastes out here! We had some chopped up corn on the cob and sausage for dinner and had to follow that up with smores! They were soooo good. I'm cutting out sugar now until after my race in 12 days and can't wait until I can have another smore. 

The temperatures Sunday night dropped down into the low 30's and it was COLD! I think I wore my hat all night and luckily had mittens on the next morning until it started warming up.

We got home early Monday morning and after cleaning for a bit (Alex's dad is visiting this coming weekend, so we had to clean everything and make sure his room was good to go), I headed out to get a run and strength training session in. 

One sneaker on, one sneaker off- it's how I do.

I did an easy 3 miles (the taper is kinda really nice in the beginning) then 25 minutes of a full-body strength session before grabbing some flowers and running a few other errands in town. 

I got straight to gardening when I got home (first ever garden by myself #adulting) and added in some rocks that we got on our hike Sunday! Hopefully, they stay alive for most of the summer....

I need to add-in a few more rocks when I find them, but I think it looks pretty cute! 

For dinner, I made Paleomg's Bacon Chorizo Chipotle Smothered Meatloaf (one of Alex's favorite meals) and it was amazing!

That's my long weekend recap! Now back to work and looking forward to next weekend already :)

Do you normally like to get your long runs done in one shot or break them up?

Favorite home-cooked meal?

Ever tried making your own marinara sauce? What are some things you like to add in it?

Beginning the taper

Alright. I am determined to not let the taper-crazies get to me this training cycle! I have officially begun tapering and have less than 3 weeks until race day. Today I slept in until 8:30- I can't remember the last time I slept that late, but it was definitely needed! We made breakfast (avocado smash on a sesame bagel & egg on top) then I went to work meal prepping for the week. Chicken & Rice Soup for lunches, roasted a whole chicken for use in both the soup & chicken tacos we'll have this week, baked sweet potatoes for breakfasts, and green egg frittatas for breakfast!

The chicken was possibly the best one I've ever done- melted 3-4 tablespoons in the pan & brushed it onto the chicken. Topped the chicken with thyme, garlic, oregano, rosemary, and fennel seeds. Recipe for the green egg fritata will be posted up on the recipe page shortly!

After cooking and had a small window where the rain let-up (it's been overcast and rainy all weekend), we headed down to the lake (about a mile from where we live) and did a 3 mile easy run! It was a great way to shake out my legs from yesterdays long run and recover. 

Stella was pretty angry (hangry maybe?) at us towards the end and we kinda had to drag her back (seen in the photo above). Sorry Stells....

After our run, I headed to the skating club's ice show- it was super cute and concluded the end of our season until summer! Then I saw this fantastic bald eagle on my drive home. It really is the little things in life you guys....

Just left Alex in charge of the feta spinach stuffed chicken and maple roasted brussel sprouts for dinner and it kinda smells like something may be burning...gotta go! Have a great Sunday eve!

Favorite recovery methods the day after a long run? 

Any good meal prep recipes you care to share?

Race-cation hangover

Good morning friends! Do you ever feel completely exhausted after coming back from a race that you traveled to? I honestly feel like I've been 'hungover' of sorts after getting back from Albuquerque late on Sunday. I slept in on both Monday & Tuesday and struggled to get back to my morning work-out routine today! Since Alex headed off to Salt Lake for work this week (he left an hour after we arrived home on Sunday night- yikes!), I've been on Stella-duty 24/7. Watching a dog full-time with no help is pretty challenging! Yesterday I planned to take her on my speedwork run outside at the track, but mother nature had other plans and it started pouring rain and didn't let up until late last night. I ended up switching my Tuesday & Wednesday workouts and did an easy 4 miles on the treadmill last night. This morning, I did 30 minutes of strength training and then began my speed work sesh.

The plan was to do half this workout this morning (since I was crunched for time before work) and finish the other half this afternoon- all outside on the track, but it started raining a mile into our run! I dropped Stella off and did the rest of the AM portion on the treadmill.

I did: 

AM:

- 1 mile w/u

-800 in 3:55; 400 recover

-1 mile @ 7:53; 800 recover

PM to be done (hopefully outside): 

- 1 mile w/u

-800 in 3:55; 400 recover

-1 mile @ 7:53; 800 recover

-400 in 1:56; 200 recover

-1200 in 5:52; 400 recover

-1-2 miles easy cool down

10-11 miles total

I fueled up after my run with this amazing deconstructed smoothie bowl. 

I added in some whole-milk plain yogurt, chia seeds, 1 banana, purely elizabeth maple walnut granola, my sweet cinnamon tahini butter, and added a dash of cinnamon. It was delicious and perfect refuel!

I'm trying to add in a few extra snacks today to refuel for my workout later today (and stay off my feet to recover) as well as get prepped for my 24 hours of no-eating (I have to have a procedure on Friday morning as a follow-up to my anemia and have to fast 24 hours prior to it)-definitely going to have a very big breakfast early tomorrow morning after my run! Not sure how I'm going to survive with no food for so long....help.

I snacked on some Trader Joes Sesame Honey Almonds (YUM) and a kiwi this morning and am already dreaming of digging into my Veggie & Turkey Mix-Up for lunch today and top it with some salsa! You can find the recipe here. 

Happy Wednesday!

Do you ever split-up your workouts or runs?

Ever had to fast for 24 hours? How'd it go? Any tips?

Speedwork on the track, road, treadmill, or a mix?

April mileage and family run day!

And just like that our weekend comes to a close and it's Sunday night- I really wish we included Fridays as part of the weekend... it would make a huge difference! Started off the day with Alex making us banana protein pancakes and bacon- YUM. They were so delicious and then we went about some Sunday morning chores (re-potting some plants, hanging photos in our new place, meal-prep, laundry, etc.). It was finally SUNNY out again so we ventured outside with Stella and went for a short run together down by the lake. 

It was around 41 degrees out, but felt amazing since this was the first run this week that I did outside. It's looking like it may snow again the first part of the week, but I am determined to only run on the treadmill ONCE this whole week- beat that mother nature! I prepped dinner for the night (sweet potato salmon cakes from Run Fast Eat Slow cookbook) and finished prepping my breakfast & lunches for the week (egg muffins, sausage, & sweet potatos for breakfast / coconut peanut butter noodle salads for lunch). Our afternoon consisted of a nap, some reading, and then I headed off to my last Sunday afternoon teaching ice skating until the Fall (YAY- I get full Sundays off for a while). 

Frying up some sweet potato salmon cakes in coconut oil!

Now time for some relaxing before a quick 4-day week of work. I am SO excited for the Run for the Zoo 1/2 in Albuquerque next Sunday and thinking that this could be a PR for me, but depends on how I'm feeling and the weather- having fun is the most important! :) 

April Mileage- 130.15 miles! 

I am SO PUMPED about this mileage for the month of April. I never felt like I was pushing myself or have felt burned out at any point during this training cycle thus far (which I normally always feel at some point). This also includes the first week of April where I was only doing 3 or 4 milers coming back from being in the hospital the last week of March for my kidney infection and anemia (hoping to do a post on this real soon!). I am feeling strong and ready to see what the month of May has in store for me!

Do you keep track of your mileage each month?

Prefer to do your easy runs with others or by yourself?

How's the weather in your corner of the world?!