Weekend Fitness Frenzy

Since I didn't do squat all week...partially due to a 3-day migraine :( ... and partially due to lack of motivation and energy post-migraine, I decided to do what any normal athlete would do...

too much on the weekend.

I was going to run a little bit on Friday. But... I had an active 3-year old in tow all day and some painful internal struggling to power through. By bedtime Friday, I knew I had to do something on Saturday...and I had already half-committed to a possible run with a friend on Sunday... maybe... meaning I was facing a weekend fitness frenzy...at least by my standards.

By late Saturday afternoon, things finally calmed down on the homefront. I headed to the gym at around 5 o'clock and settled in on the StairMaster for a little warm-up. Twenty bored minutes later and totally up-to-date on the Blake Lively/Ryan Reynolds nuptials, I closed my People magazine and stepped off that machine and climbed aboard the elliptical. Fifty super sweaty and soulfully satisfying minutes later, I had firmed up my Sunday running plans thanks to my smartphone and was done working out for the evening for which my shell-shocked quads thanked me. All in all, it was a very productive session.

When I awoke on Sunday, I was a little concerned about the state of my quads given the run I had in mind. I was planning to meet up with my running buddy who is always up for awesome challenges. I love running with her because we have good conversations and both relish training on demanding terrain.

We planned to meet at high noon...because we like to make things harder. We set off to run the same loop as last Sunday, but this time we did three loops plus a little extra in the middle of each loop...which brought my total for the run to 9.6 miles. She did more. I was a waste product after the 9.6.

Below are photos of my two very favorite parts of this route...the photos were taken in the spring when everything was green so imagine instead of the green (except the eucalyptus) it is the golden brown typical of California at the end of summer.

This little 'gateway' is at the crest of the BIG hill. 

I love turning the corner that precedes it and seeing this opening...

 and when you pass through it, the valley opens up at your feet :)

After climbing the BIG hill, you run a bit around the rim of the valley, crossing to the other side.

You then descend on this road.

This view always makes me think of The Road to Endless Possibilities.

With each loop it was getting hotter, but it never got unbearable. Then I dropped an awesomebomb right as we approached our final 1.4 mile descent... kombucha on ice in my car at the finish. Roserunner got very excited and announced the arrival of her second wind and started picking up the pace. I grumbled and flailed and couldn't match anything faster than a determined plod until the downhill began.

We got to the bottom. I was a salty mess. I usually drink a big bottle of Nuun before runs like this one...but I had forgotten to set it up before I left the house :(  Instead, I followed my car-ride kombucha with Nuun at home. And while I tend to take ice baths following long runs (yes, 9.6 is long in my book), I've been opting for warm epsom salts baths lately. I don't really know why. And I don't really know what difference I would feel versus an ice bath. But the epsom salts deal seems to be very comforting and my muscles do feel pretty happy right now.

I'm thinking next week I might shoot for a double-digit run...not sure how that will fit into the Don't Run, Run Faster training plan...perhaps if I, once again, don't do squat all week and just save it all for the weekend... 

*****************************

And we have a victor...

the random number generator at random.org says...

28

which translates to...

Lisa from Mom to Marathon!

Congrats to Lisa on winning the Endorphin Warrior Training Bracelet...and many, many thanks to all who participated in the giveaway :)

Some good stuff...

When I share with you all the stuff I'm digging right now, please understand that I am not suggesting anyone should run out and get any of it. Some of these items are medicinal in nature and should only be used on recommendation of your health care professional. Some are controversial and may elicit eye-rolling and heaving of sighs. It's just me sharing what I'm grooving on – nothing more, nothing less.

Here are my picks this week...

Fresh peaches...

All year every year, I wait patiently for peach season to return.

And now...it's HERE!!!!

and I have no idea why that peach looks so misshapen...yikes! It was good :)

Bakery on Main gluten-free granola...

...mixed with blueberries and raspberries and a little rice milk makes 

a delicious and healthful snack or meal.

Kaia Foods sprouted seeds...

As part of my new nutritional regimen, I am suggested to incorporate seeds into my diet...

pumpkin and flax during the first half of my monthly cycle and

sunflower and sesame during the second half.

Even though the Garlic & Sea Salt sprouted sunflower seeds smell like a combo of a**, decomposing sweat socks and the worst halitosis imaginable, they are delicious! 

You know, if you can sorta muscle your way past the gag reflex, all kinds of food possibilities open up.

– Emile, Ratatouille (2007)

Kombucha...

Also really weird-smelling but great-tasting and very refreshing, 

I've read about kombucha for years and scoffed.

I no longer scoff. Now... I love.

Warning: the stuff is fizzy so don't shake it or open in your car without exercising caution.

Licorice water...

I hate black licorice, be it in jelly beans, whips, whatever.

Even the smell of anise makes me gag.

Lucky me...Licorice Extract is a twice a day component of my "beat adrenal fatigue" protocol...

and surprisingly, when you mix a quarter-teaspoonful of the nasty, tar-like substance with a tall glass of hot water, you get a delicious, naturally-sweet tea. I didn't like it at first, but I believe that was more based on my anti-licorice bias and less on how it actually tasted.

New hair conditioner!

I have coarse, thick, dry hair. I've never bothered to check out hair care products...too lazy or just not interested. I always figured my hair is what it is and there ain't nothin' gonna help it without a ton of effort. Then the other day I was just done with it feeling like straw. That same day I happened to walk up the beauty aisle at the grocery store (which I never do) and this bottle jumped into my cart.

It has transformed my hair into a shiny, silky, non-greasy mane of luxurious locks.

Pretty awesome.

Mezamashii Run Project from Mizuno...

Back in November I bought my first pair of Mizunos.

They were the ruby red Wave Rider 15 Limited Edition beauties 

and they changed the way I run in a really good way.

Recently I was invited to be a part of Mizuno's Mezamashii Run Project...

"...more ecstatic, electric, wind-in- your heart running."

Okay...whatever...But I love my Mizunos, 

and the other night I did have an ecstatic, blah blah blah run 

in these glorious, sunshiny-yellow shoes

that made me remember what I LOVE about running 

and why it is worth it to do all the rehab work so I can continue to do it.

Last item on the Love List...

the fact that I, once again finally, have a waist...

So it isn't chiseled or cut or ripped or modelesque...

it IS a waist again. 

One that goes in at the sides and doesn't stick out in the front.

And it's mine.

What are YOU digging right now? What will you be grooving on this weekend?
– I'm contemplating attempting an elliptical marathon this weekend. I'm not sure if it will be a groove-fest or a psychotic trip to hell. I really don't want the latter :P