#runnerprobems

For the past couple of weeks I have been trying to run home from work at least once a week. 

The quickest route home is two miles - the perfect distance to get the blood pumping and work out all of the day's stresses. 

The only downside is looking like this during the morning commute.

Trying to only bring the essentials to work means wearing running shoes, running jacket and running backpack on the T. 

Luckily, I only ran into my physics lab partner and our office intern while looking like this (maybe they didn't recognize me? One can only hope). 

Oh how I love...

...the snow! 

But really. I love it. It's just so fluffy and white and beautiful and oooooh! 

I don't even mind trekking to work through the stuff. Okay, maybe I mind a little.

I just hope it stays around long enough for me to play it in this weekend!

And here are my newest #knittedhatmodelingshots for Drew's Etsy shop.

Just kidding. She doesn't have a shop yet, but honestly, who wouldn't want a hat just like this one!?

Happy Hump Day!!

oh happy (mon)day!

I like to think I had a lot of witty, ground breaking and meaningful thoughts to share this evening.

Turns out it's 9:45 and I am exhausted. So instead of the aforementioned deep insight into my life, here is a list of really great things that happened today (in no particular order):

Received a beautiful wedding invitation in the mail from a very happy couple in Georgia!

Drank a glass of apple cider.

After contemplating skipping my regular High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) class and just going for an easy jog (or skipping both all together) I enjoyed a garmin-free, balmy (is it really January?) run. AND due to the excess of endorphins acquired from this run, I also made it to HIIT (and proceeded to die in plank position for 1 hr straight. Only kidding of course, well, not really).

Made a delicious mushroom and onion pizza (I admit it; I may have overdone it with the mozzarella just a little bit). I then proceeded to eat over half of said pizza. Remember how I ran and went to HIIT? Did I mention how hungry that made me?

And a totally unrelated to Monday photo of the carrot cake my dear friend Monica brought over on Saturday. 

I promise this week I'll try and take some photos of things other than food. 

Wish me luck. 

You know it's marathon season when...

...the only photos you have taken in the past week were of food. 

Enjoy!

Eggs, avocado, onions, peppers, fried plaintains, cheddar cheese and some toast (I made this for breakfast both Saturday AND Sunday)!

Grilled mango salmon, sweet potato fries and kale.

Ginger leek soup, kale, roasted sweet potatoes, beets and toast!

 These nachos were much more appetizing than they look. 

I swear.

Happy Tooosday to you!

Kelly Rink

Because it's Sunday, and sunny, and it's winter. And that's what you do when you live 5 minutes away from a free ice skating rink. 

1st Annual Double, Double!

So a while back I was searching for a race to run on New Years Day (you know, to start the year off right) and happened upon this race. While jet-setting to Allen, TX was not in the cards I thought that maybe I could complete two half marathons in two days on my own (I now regret this crazy idea). Since August I've been mentioning the idea here and there to some friends/random people I meet on the streets (only kidding). Turns out, not everyone was jazzed about the idea of running a half marathon on December 31st (or the next day as well for that matter), but I still held on to this idea thinking maybeeee I would attempt it!

So at our recent running holiday gathering I mentioned it one last time and low and behold, someone else was interested! And not just one person, but TWO people! So after some last minute details, three of us met around 2:30 pm on New Years Eve to begin the journey!

Fast forward 13.1 sunny, crisp, snowy miles (and one heartbreak of a hill) and part 1 of the "First Annual Double, Double" was complete! Here are some finisher (and pre-run) photos of the group. 

After I watched (read: slept through) New Years Eve, I watched some of Carson Daly's New Years Eve Special and although I hate to admit it, was asleep before midnight (I guess running 13.1 miles will do that to you).  

After getting a solid 8 hours of sleep I woke up and thought to myself "Man. why am I doing this again?!" After an hour on the couch contemplating whether or not I really wanted to another 13.1 miles, I decided I had to at least try to complete the second half marathon, laced up my sneaks and was out the door! My plan was to run at whatever pace my legs wanted and just enjoy the 2+ hours of good old fashioned running I had ahead of me!

I opted to run a different route than half marathon #1 and headed down the southwest corridor towards the Charles River. The first couple miles were slow and tired, but after I switched my music to Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons I definitely noticed a little extra pep in my step. I headed towards the MGH bridge, across to Cambridge, back up to the BU bridge, and returned to JP via the Emerald Necklace. 

(enjoying the sights from the MGH bridge)

After 10 miles I was back at Jamaica Pond and happened to run into 7 members of the Forest Hills Runners!! I joined them for the last 3.1 miles and just like that, the First Annual Double, Double was over!

I am still a little amazed that I was able to finish the second half after Monday's (and with Monday being the first time I'd run more than 10 miles since the Philly marathon). It was a very cool experience to say goodbye to one year and welcome the next with so much running, but maybe next year I'll cut the mileage down a little and have more energy for celebrating the more "traditional" way. 

Either way, it was a great experience and I am very happy I completed both runs. 

Here's to 2013 being a great year of running, relationships and life in general!

Bring it on.

MMXIII

Happy New Year, from this city to yours!