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?!

Cooking Saturday & 4 easy miles

Today was one of those perfect Saturdays where I felt relaxed, slept in, got everything done that I wanted to, and had the perfect dinner with my bae and wine! YUM!

Fuel before my workout! Sourdough bread, Justin's Peanut Butter, Bananas, Chia Seeds, and Honey Stinger Honey

After sleeping in and turning off my alarm (no hot yoga for me...whoops!), I made it to the gym and did an easy 4 miles on simulated hills (it was 20 degrees out- I'm definitely over running outside with all the layers, mittens, and a hat!) then did a few rounds of strength work of weighted leg extensions, tricep extensions, and curtises with rotations on the pulley cords. Then I moved over to the barbell and did some squats (first started with just the bar then added on 50 Ibs. weights- two sets) and finished with 2 rounds of dips!

Alex met me at the hot springs and we soaked for a bit- best way to end any hard workout! I then headed home and began cooking up a storm!

I started with making some Ginger-Molasses Quick Bread from Run Fast Eat Slow's cookbook (OBSESSED with this recipe!). Molasses is really great at improving iron levels (which I definitely need right now as I am struggling with Anemia)- I'll take any excuse to have bread as a snack! I added in a few mini chocolate chips because why not :)

Then I made some Sweet Cinnamon Tahini Butter and started by toasting some raw sesame seeds (made a double-batch of this stuff and it was SUPER easy to do!). I then made my way to making some peanut butter coconut sauce for my lunches for the next week and prepped some Teff Double Chocolate Cookies (they're cooling now- can't wait to test those out!). I'm also hoping that there will be a few cookies left by the end of the week to fuel me through my half marathon on Sunday :) Then I made some Minestrone Soup with Chorizo & Kidney Beans- YUM YUM YUM! This recipe was amazing and I used up one of the parmesan rinds that I had been saving to use in a simmering soup. Paired this soup tonight with a glass of wine and that caps off a perfect Saturday night!

Lately Saturday afternoons have been our movie dates- we watched Fantastic Beasts today and it was pretty good! Definitely doesn't stand a chance against any Harry Potter, but still entertaining! Last week we watched Hidden Figures and it was AMAZING!

Any other good movies we should watch?

How was your Saturday? Do you prefer to get some chores done today or save them all for tomorrow?

Favorite running cookbook suggestions?

Happy weekend!

Snow in April & first post!

Well hello there! Welcome to my blog- I am so excited to start this journey with you. I hope to entertain you, bring a little joyfulness into your life, and share my corner of the world with you! It is April 27th and it has been snowing ALL week here. Can you believe it? We are expected to get up to 20" of snow by Saturday night- so much for the flowers blooming & green grass... oh mother nature how much you love to torment us runners!

Spring & Winter collided in Colorado this week. Goodbye green grass for a bit longer!

I did my fourth run on the treadmill this week seeing how it's been freezing rain/ sleeting/ snowing early in the mornings when I normally do my runs. Switched up my long run on Saturday and did that today since the weather is supposed to be pretty terrible and I also want my legs to have enough time to rest between now and my half in Albuquerque next weekend (eeek!). 

BEAUTIFUL drive into work the other morning...alright snow, you win this time!

My next week and a half will consist mainly of easier runs (with some speedwork) building up to my half. I also have a 20-miler scheduled for that day (running the Run Revel Rockies Marathon in June! 45 days away!), so I'll see how I feel and add in some warm-up miles and take it from there. I've already done one of three 20-milers on my training schedule, so feeling pretty confident in my training to take me into my final stretches of this marathon training cycle.

Enough about me! How are YOU? Any exciting plans to look forward to this Spring? Any races you are working towards? How's the weather in your corner of the world?