Things I Love Right Now 9/24/13

Do you ever go through phases where you really, really love something and you wear/eat/use/love it everyday? Those things for me right now are:

1. Happy Baby Spinach, Mango, Pear Smoothie. Baby food you ask? I know, weird. BUT it's a perfect fast blend of fruits to have with my english muffin in the morning before a long run.

2. My foam roller. My quads have been hard like rocks after long runs and stretching does NOT do them justice. I have a plain blue PT roller and I adore it. Now if only rolling could help this awful knee pain...

3. "On Top of the World" - Imagine Dragons. This song is my long run jam right now! Oh my gosh it just warms my soul.

4. My Oiselle Flyte LS shirt. I wore it for the first time for an outdoor run (I do not count the hotel gym nor casual wear) and it was AMAZING. Kept me warm and cool/dry (if that makes sense) and the thumb holes kept me from fidgeting with my shirt. I'm debating ordering it in another color or waiting/praying that they bring the onyx jacket back.

5. My bright orange CEP calf sleeves! I love neon and usually I go with green but with the darker nights a-coming I wanted something that really stands out (before I start running in my obnoxiously bright green Brooks jacket which will probably end up on a favorite list in mid-November).

6. RESIDENCY INTERVIEW INVITES. I'm gonna be a pediatrician ya'll!!!

Type A personality

If there is one thing that running forces me to do, it is to be less type A. While I still track my mileage obsessively and highlight "Runner's World" articles (oh boy did I just admit that on the internet?) I am learning to be more flexible with my schedule and training. My knee was still bothering me yesterday (feels fine today) but I am making myself take a full pain-free day off. Which means I am pushing back my long run again (12 miles) to Monday instead of the original day Saturday. That's still 13 days before race day so in terms of proper mileage I am not worried but as an almost physician and all around overachiever, breaking from my planned schedule makes anxious.

So what did I do with my extra rest day? We went to the beach this morning with the puppy and it began to DOWNPOUR. And of course Charlie wouldn't get out of the water til we threw his ball and let him swim so we were the only ones on the beach, once again proving we are true Mainers. We then stopped at a local bakery, stocked up on bagels and goodies, and hid inside on our comfy couch. I took the time to register for ALL my upcoming fall races ($$$). I've got a good mix of 5k to half marathons with the most frequent distance being 10k's. I will NOT allow myself to go to Brooks/Oiselle/LuluLemon websites to prep for cooler weather workouts because nothing good comes from lazy day online shopping except my awesome flyte LS (see below).

Hotel pre-run FLYSTYLE!

This Week's Training Plan (start taper):
Monday: 12 mile run
Tuesday: rest day
Wednesday: 4 miles
Thursday: power yoga
Friday: 4 miles
Saturday: rest day/SUP if nice weather
Sunday: 7 miles and volunteering at Soup Kitchen!

Stormy SUP! Core work :)

Weekly Training Plan (late!)

Holy smokes. This week was a whirlwind. We flew to Houston on Sunday, took an 8 hour medical licensing exam on Tuesday, flew back Wednesday night (midnight!) and hit the marathon course early Thursday morning to beat the Indian summer heat. I was in SO MUCH PAIN! I think our spring through the airport to catch our flight in flip-flops led me to have a little tweak in my shins and right hamstring which makes me very nervous. 2 weeks out from race day I cannot get injured! So I am rearranging my schedule just a bit to give my body what it needs.

Sunday: flight to Houston
Monday: 2 miles on the treadmill (ew)
Tuesday: 8 hour exam!
Wednesday: 2 miles on the treadmill (double ew)
Thursday: 5 miles of HOLY HILLS
Friday: hot yoga
Saturday: rest day
Sunday: 12 miles

No running clothes? Highly unusual!

Today's Treadmill Motivation

Fast Friday Motivation

Those who know me, know that I love Oiselle. I love their gear and what they stand for. So when they posted a tweet about the best #fastfriday inspirational quotes, I couldn't help but think of my favorite. Not only did he break the 4 min mile but he did it as a junior doctor and was also a neurologist... awesome!

“We run, not because we think it is doing us good, but because we enjoy it and cannot help ourselves…The more restricted our society and work become, the more necessary it will be to find some outlet for this craving for freedom. No one can say, ‘You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.’ The human spirit is indomitable.”
-Sir Roger Bannister

Weekly Update

I have been having trouble sticking with my training plan. Not in the lazy, missing days sense but the I keep adding miles to my runs problem! Yesterday (Sunday) I ran a glorious 10 miles along the water. All miles less than 9 minutes (adding 30-45 secs to each mile per my long run training guide - shameless nomeatathlete.com plug, the best!). On track to run a less than 2 hour half marathon, which is my goal given that this is my first!

I also tried Clif bar Gu this run, in the raspberry flavor. Delicious! Much better texture than the Vega brand, although I still have to try the Huma chia seed brand before I make my race day decision. It's a bummer because I love what the Vega brand stands for but it just did not work for my stomach.

This weeks training plan is a little wonky because I am going to a training in Boston for the admissions committee for my medical school then leave on Sunday for my last licensing exam in HOUSTON. Gotta balance training runs and life! I am so excited to meet potential MD applicants, I can't believe a little under 4 years ago I was waiting for interview offers and now I am almost a resident (go pediatrics woo!).

This weeks plan:
Monday- rest day/SUP (65 degrees today, hope I don't fall in!)
Tuesday- 3.5 mile run at 5am before bus to Boston... meh.
Wednesday- yoga
Thursday- 5 mile run
Friday- rest
Saturday- 12 mile run
Sunday- flight to HOUSTON!

My new Oiselle flyte LS! 

I also got a package from Oiselle this week with some new sports bras and the flyte LS shirt. I LOVE it. I am normally a small but went up a size because I tend to like my arms a little loose. It's perfect for layering under a vest with a tank underneath. I am so excited for cold weather and pumpkin beer and hot chocolate and fall half marathons!

KICKING CANCER'S BUTT!

This just in, I broke my doublethenecessaryoverachieving fundraising goal for my half marathon!!!

Fighting pediatric cancer, one mile at a time :)