Dani Dishes 2-24-14
/On this episode of Dani Dishes, I am bringing to light National Eating Disorder Awareness week and my own battles with eating disorders. KNOW you are not alone. I am reachable if you need help: dani@weightoffmyshoulders.com!
Tedy’s Team Group Run – 10 Miles
/And on February 22nd the weather gods shined down on Boston and said: "Thou shall enjoy a special Saturday with highs of 50 degrees." And the Boston Marathon runners REJOICED!
That's right folks. After battling snow, rain, sleet and negative degree temps, we got some nice weather for a change.
And I freaked. What the heck am I supposed to wear?
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I leaped out of bed as my alarm shrilled at 6:30am as I still hadn't planned on what to wear. I knew it would be a high of 50, but that didn't mean it would be 50 when our run began at 8am! :P
I settled on a fitting Today's Miles shirt. I mean if the training plan AND the shirt said I was supposed to run 10 then I would. Right? Plus, it was a nice lightweight long-sleeved wicking t-shirt so I thought it would be perfect time to test it out.
Egg Whites, Wheat Toast, Peanut Butter
I put together a quick, but satisfying breakfast before my ride got to my house. All for only 5 Weight Watchers Points to boot. Of course, I took my ENERGYBits as well. I needed the extra boost and it is the best vitamin I can find.
(Interested in purchasing ENERGYBits, use code WEIGHTOFFMYSHOULDERS for 25% off your order)
After a catch-up session in the car with my Tedy's Team running mates, we were at Joint Ventures in Kenmore Square stretching. On the "Riverside runs," which was taking place today, we take the train to the Riverside stop on the Green Line and run the 10 miles back to Kenmore Square. It is a long train ride or rather feels long while you are on there. But the run gives you yet another attempt at Heartbreak Hill.
Thank goodness the Riverside train station has a bathroom. We know I have the bladder of a child so it comes in wicked handy. After a pit stop, Cristina, Nanci and I got this party started.
We got into our rhythm of running and chatting. You really get to know your teammates thanks to Facebook and countless hours pounding pavement together.
I was definitely recognizing that the first mile of this training run is always a warm-up. Reason being - besides the obvious - is the time between the stretching at Joint Venture and the actual time we start running. You can get a little cold while taking the train to the start of the run so the first mile is a time to wake the legs back up.
Oh and did I mention we kick that first mile off on a hill. Yay! :P
Mile 1: 9:39
But once that first mile is behind you, you are back in your groove. We complete about three miles before we show up at the beginning of Heartbreak Hill, which for those that don't remember is a series of rolling hills through Newton. The hills themselves aren't that bad it is the position they come in the Boston Marathon that takes the toll on your legs.
We have been greeted the past few weeks at the beginning of Heartbreak by the Newton Firefighters offering water and snacks outside their firehouse. I will be sure to snap a pic next time I see them. Such an amazing outpouring of support!
Mile 2: 9:03 Mile 3: 9:09 Mile 4: 9:07
The sun was certainly shining today, which made the course seem warmer than it actually was. We know on the 10-miler that we have two water stops to check out.
Can you tell I get a little excited when I spot Margaret at the water stop?
Today was especially meaningful because I got to give her the Stop Stroke Shuffle 5k medal she earned last week. :)
We took in the scene as a film crew drove past following a runner training for - I assume - Boston Marathon. After a little Gatorade and water, it was time to get back to the hills. I set out with Cristina (who is a Boston Qualifier) to pick her brain on how to attack the next week's worth of workouts as I prepare for March 1st's 20-miler. I love hearing the training methods of other folks - especially speedier runners - for possible ideas.
Mile 5: 9:45 Mile 6: 9:04
I always take an extra breathe as we look up at the final hill of Heartbreak. It is the most daunting. I uttered my normal: "I'm ready to make you my b^&*ch" statement and set to work. Something was different today, my legs felt strong and I barreled up the hill. Okay barreling might be an exaggeration, but I definitely made it up the hill faster than usual. Oh and I felt stronger. During the trek up, I was thinking how much stronger my legs felt and thinking all that biking I am now doing might just be paying off. :P
Few things can top the feeling you have getting to the top of the final hill of Heartbreak. You really know that the final 4-ish miles will be a true breeze.
Mile 7: 8:26 Mile 8: 8:27 Mile 9: 8:49
And by looking at my splits you can tell they are pretty darn flat. My legs felt nice and fresh today. I was talking to Cristina and Nanci today about my experience with the Runner's World Running Streak (#RWRunStreak) I participated in at the end of 2013. A Run Streak means you run at least 1 mile a day for x amount of days (set by you are the host depending). I loved doing it, but think it took a toll on my body. Not sure I am built for running every single day.
Now that I am back to running, biking, yoga and swimming, I feel more balanced and I think my legs are really benefitting.
At Mile 9.26, I spotted the familiar water stop hosted by the amazing folks at Blue Trailer (which I will talk more about on Monday). They always have great snacks and signs.
Can you tell we ALL appreciated the weather?
Today their crew was triple the norm so it was like hitting the scream tunnel at Wellesley on Marathon Monday. There was high-fiving, cheering and of course kissing ... oh wait, scratch the last part. That is a Wellesley only thing! After chatting with Molly (owner of Blue Trailer) briefly, I finished up the final 1/4 of a mile.
Mile 10: 8:28
I was probably 0.2 miles from Joint Ventures, but decided to take that last stretch as a nice cooldown walk. I was okay skipping the last 0.2 miles today since I walked with someone instead.
Back-to-back 9 min/mile pace long runs
Overall, the run felt amazing. At the beginning I was dreading it, I think I always feel that way after the extra train ride. However, once we got out on the course, the tune changed.
Plus, I was rocking my unicorn socks. Yes those are rainbows coming out of their bums.
I honestly forget what I am wearing while running so I was wondering why I was getting so many quizzical looks today ... the socks! :)
We foam rolled, stretched and called it a day. I had to get home to refuel anyway: water, low-fat chocolate milk and Dunkin' Donuts Iced Coffee. In that order!
Next week I will miss the Tedy's Team 16-18 mile group run since I will be running the Black Cat 20-miler in Salem. Will anyone else be there?
***
Week 11 Workouts:
Sunday, February 16: 30-minute bike trainer session
Monday, February 17: Spin Class (47 minutes)
Tuesday, February 18: 5-mile run and 45-minute bike trainer session
Wednesday, February 19: Hill Repeats (2.6 miles), 30-minute Stairmaster and 62-minute Yoga
Thursday, February 20: REST DAY
Friday, February 21: 60-minute bike trainer session
Saturday, February 22: 10 mile group run
***
Looking To Donate
Are you interested in helping to fight Stroke? Please feel free to click on the link HERE to share a donation. Wondering how much? How about $10 in honor of the 10 miles I ran today with Tedy’s Team?
Dani Dishes 2-17-14
/On this episode of Dani Dishes, I am looking for help with self-love, self-acceptance and self-forgiveness. Check it out and offer up any suggestions you may have!!
*GUEST POST* Never Say Never... By Suzi Storm
/Regaining weight after hitting goal or getting close to goal is something I get asked about often. Thankfully, I do not have first-hand experience with gaining weight back (besides after healing from my eating disorders - which isn't the same). Soooo I asked my dear friend Suzi (aka Suzi Storm) to share her story about regaining weight after hitting her goal weight and starting the weight loss journey all over again!!
Suzi & I at her wedding in June 2013
Take it away Suzi!
***
Never Say Never…
Dani is a friend that is near and dear to my heart. So when she asked me if I would be interested in writing a guest post I said “hell yeah”…
So if the title didn’t give it away already…this is a post about where I come out…for my love of Justin Bieber.
Just kidding. ‘Never say never’ is his song right?! Otherwise this post is already heading in a horrible direction.
My “success” story in a nutshell…I lost 101 lbs following the Weight Watchers program in 2010. In 2011 my life went on the wildest rollercoaster that I have yet to experience in my 30 years on this planet. It kind of goes like this…go to NYC to do a success story shoot for Weight Watchers Online…get chosen to go to Chicago to be on Oprah & be one of the 100 people who have lost 100 lbs or more for her very last weight loss episode...do numerous amounts of local news and newspaper interviews who want to display my story…get chosen to be featured in the Weight Watchers Winter/Spring ‘Believe’ campaign & go on to be featured in magazines along with having numerous television commercials…am asked to contribute my story and have my very own little section in former Weight Watchers CEO David Kirchhoff’s book ‘Man Meets Scale’. Oh and within this year I would go to Boston to train and become a Weight Watchers meeting leader not once…but twice (well I didn’t train twice, I just was a leader for a few months, stopped, then became a leader again…and stopped).
That literally happened all in ONE YEAR!! Oh and did I mention that I made Lifetime (that’s when you have hit your goal weight and maintained it for 6 weeks) on December 23rd 2010…and in January I was off to NYC…pretty much all of the events I mentioned above were spaced out within a few months of each other.
When you lose weight, no matter the amount, the questions are generally all the same. “How did you do it?” “How long did it take you?” “What was your AHA moment?” “How do you feel about yourself now?”…
In mostly all of my interviews I used to say “I will NEVER go back to being THAT person again!!” Before losing the weight I was depressed, angry, and hated myself every day for the choices I was making…of course I thought I would never go back to being THAT person again!! I was a size 6 and feeling AMAZING!! And did I mention all the cool shit I got to do?!
I will never be THAT person ever again…what a naïve thing to say. Because guess what…it’s 2014 and I am THAT person again. Did I *want* to end up back in this situation? Did I *want* to repeat the whole weight loss journey again? Hell no!! Who ever wishes for stuff like that?! But sometimes we lose control and sometimes we are so lost that we can't grab a hold of ourselves until we are hanging out with George Clooney & Sandra Bullock in space. Never say never, because you never know what will happen.
I have gained all of my weight back, plus another 30 lbs. I am officially the heaviest I have ever been in my life. I even had to be put on blood pressure medication and last year I thought I was having a heart attack and had to be hospitalized. Come to find out, it was just a panic attack. Something that was happening often and I had to be put an anxiety medications.
I didn’t *feel* anxious per say. But when I think about it now I guess I did have a lot of anxiety. I feared going to public places where I might run into someone who saw me when I was at my goal weight. I dreaded seeing family members who hadn’t seen me in a few months. See, I gained the weight back very quickly. After I ran my first (and to date my only) marathon in October of 2011 I pretty much stopped running. Then I started drinking more (Beer is my poison and my most tempted lover) which of course lead to eating more…which lead to more hangovers, which lead to less movement, which lead me back into my couch with my sweats on and a beer in my hand…the same exact picture of the girl I said I would never be again.
See, I never got to just *BE* with my new body. Losing weight is hard and is a transformation for anyone but losing 100 lbs is some serious life changing stuff, and I am not talking because of all the amazing experiences I got to have but I am talking about your body. Your physical body and your mental state…they take a dramatic change. And I never really got to understand that until it was too late.
I think around spring of 2012 was when I really fell back in the hole. I was up about 30 lbs so you would think I would’ve stopped there, but my self-hatred for those 30 regained lbs ate me and ate me and I just continued to drink and eat and drink and eat and drink and eat. Everyday I would ask myself “How in thee f*ck did I get back here?!” But that wouldn’t stop me. Sad part is, this wasn’t the first time I had gained weight back. Years prior I had lost 55 lbs on the program. I didn’t hit goal weight. I didn’t even have one set. But I was pretty close to a healthy weight and felt great. But then I had gained that back plus another 50 lbs.
So here I am now…2014 and at my highest weight yet. Do I give up?? Do I throw in the towel and believe that I can’t lose weight and successfully keep it off for more than a year and half at a time?? HELL NO!!!!
I got married last June and it was the happiest time of my life. But aside from my wonderful marriage (& I must say that I am so lucky to have a husband who has loved me & has supported me no matter what)…I have been living in my own personal hell over the past year. My drinking might be the worst it has ever been and it has forced me to look at my patterns and my habits. This is something I am still seeking answers to and not something I am ready to publicly share until I come to peace with it myself.
And my food intake?? If it’s cheesy and bad for me, well then I will put it in my body. Sure, every now and then I get these so-called AHA moments (I always hated this question and I think that I now truly believe that there is no one AHA moment) and I start to track my food again and count my points…this usually lasts for a week or two but then I am right back into my old, disgusting habits again. And my exercise?? I sign up for races and then never train again to them. I went from running ½ marathons and a marathon to not even being able to run a ¼ mile straight.
Something over the past few weeks has changed though. I don’t know if I am just, as they say, sick and tired and of being sick and tired. But I have really been taking a good look over the past 8-9 years of my life to try to see what the patterns are…what the triggers are. I think I have figured some of them out. Others, well they are a work in progress. I never did this before though. It was just about weight and unhappiness. I knew I had bad eating and drinking habits but I think that my mental thought was “well if I track them they are OK.” That’s not always the case.
But one thing is for sure…I will NEVER give up!! I may fall and I may fall really ‘effing hard, but I will always try to get back up. It’s not easy. Especially since all I want to do is get back to being healthy and fit again. But I have to try to keep learning to be patient with myself. Change never happens over night. And even though I have learned SO many valuable lessons along the way about this journey, I still have many more to learn. I have *so* much more to learn about myself. I’m not a quitter. I am a fighter.
You know what…I am NEVER going to be THAT girl again…I am going to be BETTER!!
Maybe you are or have been in this situation. Maybe you are at your goal weight and struggling. Or maybe you have maintained your weight for 10 years. Either way, we are all in this together. But we all have our own individual seats on this ride. All we can do is scream and cheer for not only ourselves but for each other. Never give up and most importantly...never stop believing in yourself.
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Win A Chance To Run The Inaugural Craicfest 5k With Me!
/Annddddd the winner IS:
Congrats Shimmy!!
If you didn't win, but still want to party with me at Craicfest 5k - use code WOMS to receive $8 off your registration!! Sign up HERE.
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Beer. Dancing. Music. Friends. Celebrations.
What could those words possibly be describing? Besides my normal Tuesday night.
(Note: We all know that is a big fat lie! But thanks for laughing along!)
I'm actually talking about two of my favorite events: a Cambridge 5k race AND St. Patrick's Day!
Team Slumbrew at Cambridge 5k's Yulefest 5k 2013
And for the first time ever Cambridge 5k and St. Patrick's Day are teaming up for...
Craicfest 5k on March 16, 2014 at 9:30am! :)
WAHOO!!!!
It IS t-minus five weeks until we don our favorite green apparel.
For those that don't know, Cambridge 5k is a running series here in the Boston area that organizes "unique handcrafted running events that are super-fun!" And I can attest to that. I completed all five in 2013 (four with Team Slumbrew).
The now six-part series is a combination or road and trail races geared for all running levels. Every race is a good time capped off with a giant dance party, while enjoying local craft beers.
Somerville's Own Slumbrew
The Cambridge 5k series is the brain child of one of my favorite race directors, Eddie. He really cares about the participants, the local community, as well as the overall race experience. He is open to thoughts from runners and we all appreciate him for that.
So now that we all know how much I love the Cambridge 5k series and Eddie, it's time to talk about the newest race ... and get to the giveaway!!
The newest addition to the series will be the Craicfest 5k on March 16, 2014 at 9:30am.
The details:
Join us on St. Patrick's Day weekend for a unique 5k road & trail race through DCR Northpoint Park, followed by an amazing party hosted by CambridgeSide Galleria!
Get in the spirit and wear your GREEN! Or even better, run the race in your best Irish-themed outfit and you could win some serious prizes in our costume contest!
Registration includes a great C5K race shirt + free food & beverages at the post-race party featuring an awesome mix of Irish alternative & hip hop hits!
Who can pass up a 5k race, dance off AND post-race party with local craft brews? I KNOW I will be there.
I'll make sure you have a BLAST!
So can do you want to join me ... for free!
***
So here’s how to enter to win your free entry into the inaugural Craicfest 5k:
The giveaway will run from Sunday February 9 (8am ET) through Sunday February 16 (8am ET)!
The winner will be selected and announced on Sunday!
Stop Stroke Shuffle 5k Registration CLOSED!
/The Stop Stroke Shuffle 5k registration is HERE!! Some of you may be asking what the heck the Stop Stroke Shuffle 5k is. Well it is a virtual race.
This will be the third 5k I will be hosting!! The first two have combined to raise over $2,000.
Here are the details:
A virtual run-walk means you do the 5k (3.1 mile) "race" at your leisure between February 9 and February 16. Map out your own route, get your own friends together or jump on the old trusty treadmill. Your call.
This "race" is one to anyone all over the world.
I will provide a race bib that you can print out and fix to your shirt (if you want).
EVERYONE that completes the "race" will receive a Finisher's Medal in the mail from me. YAY! How cool is that? I know one of my favorite parts.
But you may be asking: "Dani! How much will this fun cost me?" or "What is my entry fee going to?"
Well, each participant will be making a $25 donation. The proceeds raised will be going towards my $5,000 fundraising goal to represent Tedy's Team in the 2014 Boston Marathon. That's right folks! I'm going back for more.
For those that don't know, I ran the Boston Marathon last year with Tedy's Team.
Tedy asked the American Stroke Association to work with him to create “Tedy’s Team,” a group of runners raising money for the American Stroke Association and training to complete the Boston Marathon® and the Falmouth Road Race. Their participation supports Tedy Bruschi’s fight against stroke and honors both the survivors and the loved ones lost to America’s No. 4 leading cause of death.
In addition to the dollars being raised, an equally important issue for Tedy’s Team is the increase in awareness of stroke and recognition of its warning signs. Tedy’s Team is striving to reach as many people as possible in its message of recognizing the warning signs and acting appropriate when seeing them — calling 9-1-1 immediately.
I ran in honor of my Stroke Heroes, my grandparents, and will be doing so again this year. Unfortunately last year, my grampa passed away during the training. But, I feel as if he was looking down on me on April 15, 2013 and he helped me cross that Finish line at the right time.
***
If you would like to take part in the run or walk:
1) Please register here. (Thank you Racemenu for help with the site) --- Make sure you are providing an accurate mailing address because that is where I will send the medal.
2) You can complete the 3.1 mile-run walk whenever you like from February 9-February 16.
3) Once you complete the race please send me a photo of yourself and your time to dani@weightoffmyshoulders.com
4) HAVE FUN!!
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Finisher's Medal
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Download Your Race Bib Here!
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If you would like to make a donation to my fundraising goal and do NOT wish to participate in the run-walk (which is absolutely okay), please visit my fundraising page here.
Ready to Sparkle? Enter my Sparkly Soul Headband Giveaway
/Annddddd the winners ARE:
a Rafflecopter giveaway CONGRATS!!!!
Thank you to everyone that participated and big thanks to Sparkly Soul!!
***
How do I keep sparkling on days when I don't feel blah?
How do I had a little sparkle to my ho-hum work clothes?
Can I dress up a grueling workout with sparkle?
When in the middle of a tough race how do I let people know I'm still sparkling?
With my Sparkly Soul headbands of course... :)
Perfectly in place during the Walt Disney World Marathon
Adding a little flair at a Tedy's Team charity event
Staying put during a tough training session
According to their website, Sparkly Soul headbands are:
no headache and no slip....yes, REALLY no headache and no slip. Our patent pending design makes certain that your headbands stay in place - no matter how intense your sports or fitness activity.
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Sparkle all around - 360° of sparkle
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Entire band is elastic
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One size fits all adults. Also, fits kids ages 5 and up.
And I can confirm that they do not slip! :) I have worn them through windy road races, marathons, triathlons, long days of work and while sleeping ... never budged once.
Plus, I feel dressed up at work when I add a Sparkly Soul headband to the mix.
I wear Sparkly Soul so often people recognize me by them. ;)
Just a small portion of my collection
I love the color options. The headbands come in both wide and thin versions. You can totally mix and match and make all sorts of amazing combinations!
A thick headband - the only thing that can tame my mane
2 thin headbands
So now that I have you all ready to sparkle, it is time to share the good news...
Sparkly Soul is announcing the newest color: the special edition Sky Blue headband. It is the first ever special edition headband, which is here to celebrate both Valentine's Day and founder Dari's upcoming wedding.
Photo Courtesy Competitor Magazine
The headband is sky blue with a matching velvet backing.
I was lucky enough to pick one up at the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon Expo this past weekend.
Pamela of Sparkly Soul rockin' 3 wide headbands at RnR New Orleans Expo
But now it's your turn. That's right. These headbands don't hit the web until Friday, but I am giving away 6 headbands - 3 wide and 3 thin - to 6 lucky readers.
***
So here's how to enter to win 1 of 6 Sparkly Soul headbands:
The giveaway will run from Monday February 10 (8am ET) through Friday February 14 (10am ET)!
The winner will be selected and announced on Friday!
Dani Dishes 2-10-14
/On this episode of Dani Dishes, I talk about emotional eating and when food is not the answer. Find out the new question I ask myself before I grab for the emotionally-driven snack...
Tedy's Team Group Run - 10 Miles
/20 degrees with Real Feel 9 degrees. Checking out the weather last night I wasn't allll too excited to be running in the freezing temps. BUT after missing the group run last week since I was in New Orleans, I was happy to be running humidity-free. ;)
My Tedy's Team running partner Meg usually gives me a ride to the run, but she was sick this morning. Her husband, Joshua, who usually runs with us as well still came to give me a ride. I felt so bad. It wasn't necessary, but he had to get Meg coffee anyway. :P
I got dropped off about 7:40am which gave me plenty of time to stretch before we left to take the train at 8am. It was great to see all the familiar faces after missing the 16-miler the week before.
It was a rainbow sock kind of day & yes I still have my RnR Timer thing on :)
Today was what we call a “Riverside” run which means we took the T from Kenmore Square to the Riverside stop and then we run the 10 miles back to Boston., including Heartbreak Hill.
While on the train there was a little incident with a stranger who seemed to be pretty homophobic. You can read about it here.
We arrived at Riverside, hit up the much-appreciated bathroom and hit the course. I was going to try and take it easy today since I knew the sidewalks could be covered in black ice with the recent snow/rain.
It was great to be back with the group. Plus catching up on two weeks of life really helps to pass the time. I did come prepared today with headphones in case I ended up by myself again.
I was relishing in the weather. It was cold, but it was really the wind that was painful. There wasn't humidity though so I was happy.
Mile 1: 9:07 Mile 2: 8:50 Mile 3: 8:46
I felt like I was working harder than my pace was showing. I wasn't sure why, but made sure to continuously check in with my body since Heartbreak Hill was coming.
Mile 4: 8:51
Around 4ish we hit the water stop, which meant I got to see the always smiling Margaret. She is one kickass lady, who is out every week manning a water stop and encouraging all of the runners. She is part of Team Casey, which is a big big part of Tedy's Team.
Oh and she was rocking the Boston Marathon colors in Gatorade.
After a quick regroup, we headed back on to the course to Finish our date with Heartbreak Hill. Again for anyone that doesn't know, Heartbreak Hill isn't one hill it is a series of rolling hills.
Mile 5: 9:17 Mile 6: 9:05
I turned to Sara and Cristina as we approached the final hill of Heartbreak and said: "Okay ladies let's make this our b&#ch!"
And that is exactly what we did. :)
Once we dominated Heartbreak, the run was all "down hill" from there. I usually say it is down hill from here once you hit the half way mark of a run, but not when we do the Riverside run.
Mile 7: 8:42 Mile 8: 8:47
We had our second and final water stop at Mile 7.9. It is great being able to run water belt free and having the opportunity to chat with our Coach mid-run.
I think I got a little extra pep in my step as I knew we had just two miles left. My legs started really waking up and were ready for a little speed to finish it out. Plus, I popped in my headphones and started rocking out to some sweet Disney tunes.
Mile 9: 8:27
At Mile 9.5 I saw the amazing folks of Blue Trailer were out at their usual post. I hadn't seen them in a couple weeks since I was out of town. It is always fun seeing familiar faces. I met Molly (owner) and her crew at one of the first Boston Marathon long runs.
She has a nice water stop, snacks and a fun sign.
Since they were out of tequila, I opted for a munchkin. :)
It was just the little extra I needed to finish out the run.
Mile 10: 8:31 Final 0.25: 2:00
The weather warmed up as we ran, which made the time out there more enjoyable. As a whole the run felt great. It did make me realize I need to get back to hill repeats and cross training. I have gotten lazy since the Dopey Challenge and this lit the fire under my booty to buckle back down.
Now it is time to plan out the rest of the week's activities and prepare for next week's 16-18 miler!
***
Week 9 Workouts:
Sunday, February 2: Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon
Monday, February 3: Walking Around New Orleans/Being A Tourist :)
Tuesday, February 4: REST DAY
Wednesday, February 5: REST DAY
Thursday, February 6: REST DAY
Friday, February 7: 5k run
Saturday, February 8: 10 mile group run
***
Looking To Donate
Are you interested in helping to fight Stroke? Please feel free to click on the link HERE to share a donation. Wondering how much? How about $10 in honor of the 10 miles I ran Saturday with Tedy's Team?
New Orleans: Beer, Bourbon St & Beignets!
/What is the heart of New Orleans to me? Why beer and beignets of course! ;)
I headed to New Orleans the first weekend in February for a quick 72 hour to visit to meet a bunch of amazing bloggers, co-host the #RnRTweetup (more here) and participate in the Rock 'n' Roll New Orleans Half Marathon (recap here).
But once the run was done early Sunday morning, it was time to put on my tourist hat and see more of the city.
So where was my first stop ... the NOLA Brewery of course!
My friend Dacia (from My Roots To Grow), her boyfriend Erick and I were ready to celebrate my race with some local brews. I get a kick out of trying local craft beers wherever I travel.
Lauren, the bartender, was GREAT! She let us try little samples of the beers before making a decision on which to buy.
Since I couldn't make a decision on one brew off the bat, I went the safe route ... a couple of flights! :)
Every beer I tried was delicious, but my absolute favorites were: Girl Stout Cookie and Irish Channel Stout. The Girl Stout Cookie tasted like a thin mint Girl Scout Cookie ... aka Heaven!!
While we made friends with the other patrons at the NOLA Tap Room, we all enjoyed the Puppy Bowl on the TVs. Why yes we were at the Brewery on Super Bowl Sunday watching the Puppy Bowl and it was AWESOME! We all were cheering on the puppies, voting for MVP and generally having a blast.
Lauren was nice enough to bring us through the Brewery for an impromptu tour.
Yes they had their own Cornhole game with beer on the bags. :)
After seeing this, I want to make my own Plinko Drinko game. Who doesn't love Price Is Right's Plinko???
A jazzy giant beer dispenser/piece of art. :)
How cool are these? They are actually connected to backpacks that people can wear at celebrations, parades, etc.
After spending a great afternoon with Dacia, Erick and our new friends, it was time for me to head back to the apartment, shower and meet up with the bloggers I had hosted the #RnRTweetup with. :)
They were going to hit up Bourbon Street, while watching the game. Since the game was a blow out and I didn't really care about either team, I focused more on getting to know the girls better. I was meeting them all for the first time in person that weekend after having friendships online for a couple of years.
We even got Sarah from Mom Running on Empty to ride the bull at Bourbon Cowboy. ;)
I didn't know much about Bourbon Street traditions, but apparently getting a Hurricane from Pat O'Brien's.
Having that reminded me why I stick with beer or wine - too sweet for my liking. But tradition is tradition, right? :P
Now this street performer knew how to work a crowd. He was charming, a flirt and had the poses for the camera already decided.
As we wandered back down Bourbon Street to call it a night, I made sure to take in as much people watching as possible. :)
I gave all the girls huge hugs before heading back to the place I was crashing at.
It was easy to fall asleep after such an eventful and cool day. Plus there was more sightseeing on the docket for the following morning.
I slept in until about 8am on the Monday then convinced Kenlie to join me on a trip to the famous Cafe du Monde for beignets.
We took the walk from her apartment so I could see even more of the city and French Quarter minus all the fog that the race had the previous morning.
Jackson Square was completely covered in fog when I passed it no more than 24 hours in advance.
There was a lengthy line at the hot spot, but a worker came out to let us know there were additional seats inside. Kenlie and I jumped on it and were seated less than three minutes later.
This old school spot is cash only, but full of atmosphere and history.
A beignet is "a square of fried dough eaten hot sprinkled with confectioners' sugar" ... aka deliciousness!
The goal - besides enjoying the food - is to see how little powered sugar ends up on your clothes. I forgot about this little detail when I decided to wear a black jacket on our walk.
Success! I made it through all three beignets without getting any powdered sugar on the jacket ... until I stood up! That's right folks. I bent over to pick up my bag, brushed the table and BAM powdered sugar everywhere. #winning ;)
After a decadent breakfast, my host Kenlie took me on a walking tour of the city focusing on Royal St - the art mecca of the city.
It was wicked cool to see paintings and artwork hanging all over the city, while musicians played in the streets. I wish I had taken more pictures, but it was chilly and keeping my hands in my pockets was the wiser choice. :P
After a great walk through the city, Kenlie and I headed back to her place so I could pack up before a goodbye lunch at The Store. I had a delicious and reasonably-priced pulled pork sandwich.
Once I was full, it was time to head to the airport. Big thanks to Kenlie for the ride.
I wish I had more time to explore, but I think I made the most of my 72 hours in New Orleans.
I never met a beer or beignet that I didn't like. I'd call that a successful trip! :)
