Note From the Universe

Always, kindness prevails. No matter how things appear, nor how humbling a task, nor how unkind they've been.

Money-saving Diet Tips

1: Why buy overpriced microwave popcorn when you can throw some kernels in a paper bag and zap it. Cost: pennies.

2: Peel & freeze a bunch of bananas. When you’re craving soft serve, whirl one up in the blender and top with a spoonful of chocolate chips. Cost: 25¢.

3: Spare yourself the expense (and fat) of certain fast-food breakfasts by scrambling an egg in a mug, nuking it, and slipping it into a pita. Cost: 50¢, maybe.

4: Make insta-soup from wilted veggies and a Parmesan rind. Throw in the carcass of a picked-over roasted chicken and Grandma will applaud. Cost: a buck.

5: Why buy pricey pre-frozen fruit? Just wash, bag, and freeze your own for smoothies, yogurts, muffins, and breads. Cost: priceless!

via Daily Worth

Note From the Universe

It's not as if one could be bored enough, feel frustrated enough, or complain enough that their life would suddenly turn around. Doesn't work that way.

Whatever anyone "is," they become more of. And anyone's is'ness is whatever they say it is.

Half Marathon, Day 36

32:43
3.64 miles
8'59" pace

Half Marathon, Day 35

30 minutes
That's all I've got - used the treadmill today!

No Running for You!

Just getting home from a 15.5-hour day at the office. I wish endurance working counted as endurance training, but alas, it does not. And I do not have the energy for 6 miles today...

Contraction Humor

Half Marathon, Day 33

So, I shouldn't have taken Sunday off since I rested so many days last week, but I did so much on Saturday and my back still is not anywhere near 100 percent, so....

Back at it today, and once again, the first two miles were the hardest. Once I get to about 3, I know I can make my self-set minimum of 6.5/60 minutes, but once I get going, I don't want to stop! Endorphins are great, eh? But, with only two weeks to go, I feel like these longer runs are needed!

92:23
10 miles
9'14" pace

21 Suggestions for Success

Half Marathon, Day 31

I had to take another two days off due to my neck/back. More on that later - you won't believe what my X-rays looked like!

Today, I took to the streets with my friend Brittany to see what the race course looks like. She was SUCH a trooper - she runs 3-4 miles a day, but has never run more than 4.5 miles at a time. She ran a whole 6.6 miles before she wanted to stop to walk! While we didn't keep my normal pace and walked about 4 miles, it was nice to have some company, espeically because the first part of the course goes through some kind-of sketchy neighborhoods. Safety in numbers!

Overall, the course wasn't as hilly as I expected. There's a killer hill around mile 5-ish, but just enough to give you a good burn and keep going. I feel a lot better having done it, and may go out again this Saturday.

133:06
11.6 miles
11'26" pace (not bad considering we walked more than 2 miles)

+ (I accidentally turned off my GPS when we stopped for water. But, thanks, Starbucks App for allowing us to purchase a beverage!)

27:07
1.79 miles
15'05" pace

Note From the Universe

When you finally get that call, meet that person, walk that walk, and live that dream, do you think you'll even care that there were a few dark and scary moments in a journey that made them all possible?

Trust me, you won't even remember. And won't you be glad you never settled for less?

Half Marathon, Day 28

A slow day, due to neck pain. Went to the chiropractor though - hopefully this helps!

19:08
1.94 miles
9'51" pace

+ a 3 mile brisk walk

Half Marathon, Day 26

76:34
8.5 miles
9' pace

Fastest 1k, fastest mile, fastest 10k! Woot!

Also, today I hit 100 miles on the streets of the ATL, not to mention the 1 day I used the treadmill and one on the elliptical. They count for something, right?

Half Marathon, Day 25

I'm embarrassed to admit that I injured my neck... while using my garlic press. It happened yesterday morning while I was making James' chili for the Chi O Stew & Brew cook-off, and I feel like such an idiot! I mean, it was a lot of garlic, and I guess the repetitive motion got to me at 8 a.m., but still! I ran ok yesterday, and I actually thought the running loosened it up a bit, but I was w-r-o-n-g wrong. I woke up this morning in such a massive amount of pain that I had to use my hands to help support my head when getting out of bed. After three hours of not moving and taking the heating pad on and off, I finally felt like moving again. But, by the time evening came, I knew I didn't have it in me to run, so I did 60 minutes on the elliptical. I figure low impact elliptical is better for the neck and better than not exercising at all, right? So no mileage or pace, just time:

60 minutes

Half Way! Plus, Mapping the Race

The race website has a PDF of the race map, but it's so abstract, I wanted to know where all I will be running. Many of the streets are close to home, and I'd like to start trying out some of the course, so I mapped it out on Google. It's not quite perfect - over by .2 miles, but it should help as I am planning my ever-growing runs!

View Larger Map

Also, I didn't notice that Friday marked an important day in my training. It was the half-way point - 22 days in, 22 days to go! If training is anything like actually running, the worst of it is over -- do you always feel like the first half of your run or race is the hardest? The good new is that I feel like I've made a lot of progress, but I also know that I have so much more to do. I have only run 65 percent of the total race distance (8.5 miles) at one time thus far, so I know where my biggest opportunity is. I think I'm going to try to do start doing longer runs every other day to build up. I did three longer runs last week, 65, 80 and 80 minutes, and if I can do that again this week but maybe 80 , 80 and 100 (trying to hit 10 miles!), I will be happy with my progress. Just have to keep mentally ahead, that's the hardest part! :)

Half Marathon, Day 24

80 minutes
8.55 miles
9'22" pace

Note From the Universe

It may seem a bit backwards for some, but the first step one might take towards rearranging the present circumstances of their life is to stop dwelling upon the present circumstances of their life.

Half Marathon, Day 23

50 minutes
5.5 miles
9'05" pace

Half Marathon, Day 22

60 minutes
6.29 miles
9'32" pace

Half Marathon, Day 21

79 minutes
8.29 miles
9'32" pace