eating | 2 Cups 'N Run

I started the weekend with my planned 25K/15.5M long run early this morning.

I wanted to keep an easy pace of average 05:24 Min/KM (08:41 Min/M), with the first 5K being a bit slower than average, and the last 5K being a bit faster than average.

This is me at the end of my run, back to my car, running around the parking lot to make it to 25K… seriously I couldn’t stop at 24.89..

I never thought I'd be that person... — I never thought I’d be that person…

The weather was amazing, cold enough to keep me cool but nothing more than that.

I wore my Mizuno compression BG-5000 tights, that’s one amazing pair of tights.. they are on the pricey side but they are worth it for hard efforts, especially long runs, where the compression helps with the feeling of tired legs. The only thing I don’t like about these tights is that they don’t have a back pocket, only that little key pocket inside the front of the waist… seriously, what are running apparel people thinking when they make clothes with this pocket? Who wants to run with a key sticking into their waist?

I wore my new Ironman running sunglasses because I knew the sun would be up and bothering me at some point, I started running at 6:30 AM so my finish time was to be about 8:45. I actually wore them on my head for the first half hour or so since it was still grey out, and they didn’t move or bother me in any way. So I’m really happy with this $30 pair of sunglasses, really worth it.

Ironmen Sunglasses — They might be men sunglasses… who cares

This was my 2nd run with my new black Mizuno Wave Rider 16s, it feels so nice to be running with new shoes. My first pair of Wave Rider 16s (aqua) is getting to that point where the cushioning is not as supportive as it used to be, although I still wear them often. I probably have about 500KM/310M on them… so they should last a bit longer.

The first 5K I run as planned, pretty easy. For some reason those first KMs always feel the hardest.
Then I picked up the pace, I think the next 15K/9.3M were average of 05:05 Min/KM (08:11 Min/M). Nothing crazy, but definitely faster than I intended, especially for a long run… although my hips starting feeling thight, I loved the feeling of pushing, of making an effort, of making it not easy on myself… And I know this is not always healthy and I really don’t want to get any kind of injury or pain, but sometimes I can’t help it. Last 5K were faster, I was high on running, enjoying the view and the morning air and the fact that I’m healthy and that my body can run. Average pace 04:45 Min/KM (07:38 Min/M).

So even though running is hard, and we have to run smart, and take care of our bodies, today I say, go out and push yourself, run harder or run longer, until you feel the burn, even if for a minute, because it’s worth it.

I had a tempo run scheduled for tomorrow but I will switch to an easy run, and I will make up for today’s speedier run.

So that was my run, and I’ve been feeling happy and eating non-stop ever since. THE END.

After a crazy long flight experience, which included a 7 hour delay due to weather, I made it to NYC.

Despite how crazy this may sound, I love to travel. I love airports: people watching, all the lights, all the energy. I like flying, and planes, and watching new movies I haven’t seen. Although I don’t like plane food or to sleep sitting down. There’s a down to every up, right?

Isn’t it funny how when you are a mom, a few lazy hours away from your children are so enjoyable? That sounds so bad! But we all need our alone time, even if it is with 400 other people in an enclosed space flying above the Atlantic ocean.
I hardly slept during the flight (had to take advantage of every awake minute free as a bird!), and watched 4 movies: Enough Said (very cute and entertaining), The Butler (great drama), In a World… (surprisingly good), and The Family (entertaining throughout but the end was just too stupid, which ruined the whole movie).

EL AL In Flight Magazine: Love my movies!

The big problem with travel is that it’s just so exhausting, I didn’t particularly feel it at the moment, but I was so tired after landing, and that heavy feeling didn’t go away after a good night’s sleep either. Which means I’m not up to working out. Now as much as I love running, and I am good at pushing myself and at keeping my scheduled training routine, when I am truly tired or not feeling well for any reason, I’m just not willing to suffer through it. Rather call it quits for the day and save my energy, and maybe my health, for another time.

So I didn’t work out the last couple days and this morning since I was up early I went for a quick half hour run on the hotel fitness center. Nothing too fancy but they had 3 treadmills and an elliptical so it was enough.
I did at 10 minute warm up between 6 and 7 MPH (kind of trying to figure out this MPH thing without Google Unit Converter (isn’t it an awesome tool?), and then run another 20 minutes at 7.5 MPH. That was it… and I was struggling… yes my body is still tired.

Took full advantage of that little coffee station

On another note, ate a bunch of cream cheese cinnamon raisin bagels, drank a bunch of Naked juices (yummy), about 5 coffees a day (I’m not kidding, they kept me warm), did some shopping, and pretty much froze to death.