If I Had a Million Dollars....

I'd probably want more $$$... A million isn't enough to quit work and have lazy days like today everyday....

I would be happy though.... I'd start by spending some bucks at Trader Joe's.... Which open in Silverdale TOMORROW!!!!

Am I meeting Ashley tomorrow right at open?! Heck yes! Carly and I are going to hit up a cycling class when the sunrises then meet Ashley. I'm figuring that if we put the pregnant lady in front of us people will have to get out of our way.... and if that fails I'll let my nephew Callen pee on them. That is his new trick, peeing through his diaper. Well I'm assuming it was nothing personal when he peed on me today, and he had better be able to do it on command tomorrow if the need arises. 

 In other news... I can see myself getting becoming addicted to the Y! Today I tested out a new machine,  it is a bike that basically has a video game connected to it so you can pretend you are outside on a real trail. Interesting. I couldn't waste the beautiful weather this morning so when I got home I went for a run. My first one since my 1/2. Felt pretty good, I walked some but managed to do 3 miles in 33 minutes. As for how I felt afterwards, my hip flexors are soooo tight! They've been that way since the race, my calves felt normal (sore but manageable). The big problem here is my blister! I promised no foot photos, but the blister that I thought had pretty much gone away came back! uggggh. Annoyed!

Those things in the photo above are my post exercise recovery tools. The 'Stick' is used to massage your muscles and fascia so you don't end up getting knotty muscles. I'm using the tennis ball to relieve some pain i've been having in my arch. I'm looking in to buy a foam roller which should do some of the same stuff as the stick, only I'll be able to use all my body weight to really get deep into the muscles.

Seaweed Salad! The Naturopath said to put seaweed in my diet so yesterday while @ Costco I bought this salad. I topped some spinach and brown rice with it. Pretty yummy but the texture is soooo weird.

 I heart nachos. So when I gave up dairy I thought it would be one of the things that would be lost to me forever. But it turns out that what I really like is all the good stuff that goes with the crispy crunchy chips! I did add a little bit of vegan cheese, but I could have done without! The peppers, corn, beans, onion, tomatoes, cilantro and salsa where the only things I was interested in!

It looks like all I ate today was salad... but I started the day with a might Oatcake! And snacked on a bushel of grapes, had a protein smoothie (new type! Vega) and some gluten free cookies at my Parent's hours. I worked up quite the appetite by showing both my parents different things on their computers.

Now It is time to tackle this monster. Have I ever mentioned how much I HATE folding laundry?!

At least I ended my day with this....
1 frozen banana
handful of dark chocolate chips
Blend away!
Very Ice Cream like.
I've been craving popsicles though!

Gnomey makes an Appearance.

I like to think of myself as a pretty nice person..... Most of the time. But after being forced at work to be nice for 8 hours straight on the last day of school for middle and high school, it can be expected that I might have a melt down at the checkout stand at Costco.... right? Wait are you thinking in your head that only 3 yr olds are allowed to have a melt down? Yeah your probably right.... maybe when I don't work in customer service I wont I hate on people so much. I'm making no promises (Sorry for making a scene Mom!)

In other news I got soooo many goodies at Costco! Did I ever tell you that it is the one store that I could live out of?! I got my usual: Bananas, tomatoes, spinach and apples. Then they tempted me with samples of dried mangoes.... do they even need to sample them out? Doesn't everyone know by now how amazing they are?!  I also tried some seaweed salad (the naturopath recommended I try to incorporate it into my diet) sweet potato fries also made it into the cart along with my new favorite food Medjool dates.

Yeah running still hasn't happened... In fact today was a complete rest day... yikes! I better get my bum moving! Sadly my bum was STILL sore from that interval class on Monday. I think I need to start doing that one all the time, I'm soooo weak!

I have the next three days off!!! Yippie! Hooray! I'm oh so happy! Tomorrow is going to be a complete Elisa day. Meaning.... I'm doing whatever I want! Which really means waking up early going to the Y.... then cleaning my house for 8 hours until I have to go to Spanish class.... I sure know how to have a good time ;)

I think I've undated you pretty well on reading, eating, and working out lately but what I've failed to update you on is my garden! (Not the one I share with Carly.... that I can't take any credit for) So here are some shots from my front yard!

First Strawberry of the season! 

Better late then never!

Kale!

Rainbow Chard and Purple Cauliflower.
It looks like something has been gnawing at my leafy veggies....
any hints on what an organic farmer is supposed to do?!

There are sooo many buds! surprisingly all of this seasons and last seasons are producing!

Even my flowers are coming along nicely!
I'm really glad I left them some room to grow because they are filling out nicely.

Hey, Its Gnomey!
He first came into my life when I lived on Mason Street in Bellingham.
That first plant didn't last, but I think he has brought good luck ever since!

Something Blue.

You know what I hate? Local news. Not only do the weather people lie to me, but all the news is so scary/depressing. Every time I'm over at my Mom's house or click it on at the gym it makes me feel horrible. If someone is getting killed then someone was robbed and stabbed... or a kid who is training for his first iron man was hit by a car. I seriously can't watch the stuff. The other day I heard a story about a toddler who held its baby sibling under water in the tub because it wouldn't stop crying. That topped the list of things I didn't need to hear about ever. When I watch this stuff it makes me nervous to be out in the world. I'm not naive, I know bad stuff happens, but I guess I don't see the use in watching all the bad stuff that happens. It just creeps into my sugar dreams and makes them sugar nightmares.

How about enough ramblings and I give ya some book updates?!

011. Dead Reckoning- Charlaine Harris

Do you watch 'True Blood,' on HBO? You should. It is like a grown up 'Twilight.' It is still silly, but oh so addictive. The next best thing would be to read the books that the show is based on. But I will warn you, after about book 6 things start to feel a little stale. The weird fantasy aspect gets a little too weird even for someone like me who read the first 6 in about a week. I guess I'm just kind of bored with this series, but I will probably keep on reading them because they are so easy to get through and I have to know who Sookie is meant to be with!

012. Something Blue- Emily Giffin

I really really enjoy Giffin's writing. 'Something Borrowed,' 'The Heart of the Matter,' and 'Love the One You're With" are near the top of my chick-flick-best-ever-book-list. They are the type of books that get you hooked, make you stay up way too late at night, then make you cry while your reading them during your lunch break. Giffin sometimes weaves characters from past books into other novels, 'Something Blue' is the only one that is a direct sequel. I have had this book on my shelf for years because when I finished reading 'Something Borrowed,' I couldn't fathom reading a book based on the character of Darcy. After a few years I finally took the plunge and I am oh so glad that I did. I like this book. Not as much as the first three of Giffin's novels that I've read, but definitely a page turner.

013. Baby Proof-Emily Giffin

After I finished 'Something Blue,' I knew there was one last Giffin book I had to check out. Sadly, 'Baby Proof,' just wasn't as good as her other books. I felt like it was rolling right along until the end when things get wrapped up in much too tidy of a bow. The major issues of the book seem to get swept under the rug to preserve a happy ending. I was disappointed with this one.

014. The Engine 2 Diet- Rip Esselstyn  

I picked up this book because I had the secret idea that after I read it (and it was good) I would maybe be able to sneak it into my Dad or Brother's book pile and turn them into vegetarians like the firemen of engine 2. But my Dad saw me reading it on our camping trip, asked what it was and immediately acted uninterested. I know I wouldn't be able to turn him into a plant only eater, but maybe make him see why I am. This book was really interesting, but totally preaching to the choir. Rip is basically an elite athlete (iron man triathlons) and found he performs better with a plant based diet. He gives advice on exercise and meal plans. He also goes into detail about medical evidence. It is a quick read with some interesting stories, but Rip is an athlete and fireman, not a writer so at times I felt like he was trying a bit hard with his stories. Still a good resource (especially for men) to get a jump start on a plant based diet.

Tomorrow I'm hoping to take a cycling class... I wanted to go today after work, but my body is seriously in pain from that interval workout class I did yesterday. I think I need to do it at least every week, those are some muscles that don't get a lot of attention. I still haven't ran. Sort of freaking out, but I have started to put together my newest 1/2 marathon training plan. I felt like I did a pretty good job of it last time but I want to be even smarter this time around. More meal planning, rest days, stretching, strength training, hill work, mental prep, and more listening to my body!

Since I don't do well with goals unless I've invested some money or have publicly announced it... I've done both...Oh! look what I just registered for:  

Just the Half-Marathon! September 25th! It will be sort of like going back to school in the Fall! Time to get serious again

Sugar dreams await me.... 

Sugar Nightmares.

Ok so Cycling at 6:15 this morning in Silverdale did not happen. I blame it all on the terrible night's sleep I had. I have been calling my recent vivid dreams 'sugar dreams' well last night was full of 'sugar nightmares!' It is time to cut myself off. Detox time. So 6:15 didn't happen, but I was able to make it to the gym by 7am, enough time to work out for 20 min. on this eliptical like machine then head to the 7:30 interval edge class. This class kicked my bum! I'm going to really feel it in my bum tomorrow. I'm loving all the different exercises I've been doing lately. I still love running, but I really needed to jazz things up a bit. Tomorrow needs to be about running though, I don't want to lose any of my endurance or strength.

I know one thing is for sure, I need to cut it out with sugar (mostly chocolate) but another thing I've been cheating on is some gluten.... I may have made my neighbors some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies. They mowed my lawn this week and I really didn't think vegan/gluten free cookies would be a proper thank you. So I made an old fashioned recipe (my favorite) so of course I had to sample some! I didn't think gluten or sugar made very much difference to me... until I quit them and then cheated. They both make me cranky, tired and bloated.

I did save myself some today by eating a rockin' salad with fresh greens from the garden! I'm tempted to just start calling it Carly's garden, I haven't put nearly enough time in (except for the sowing of the seeds and some planting). But Carly harvested (and photographed) some greens this week that rock! I topped them with some baked tofu, peas, edamame and corn. Random but tasty.

Instead of blabbering on more about food for today... I'm going to go lay in bed and read! That workout followed by 8 hrs on my feet tuckered me out!

Sugar Dreams.

I have been having the most crazing dreams lately. Seriously.... they are out of control! I completely blame them on all the sugar I have been eating. I used to have really vivid dreams, then when I cleaned up my diet I stopped remembering them as well. That was until this week and all the sugar bingeing occurred! It all started on Wednesday when I went over to Joe and Carly's and we bon fired and made smores! Now I'm addicted to sugar! I CAN NOT GET ENOUGH! This weekend's festivities didn't help anything! 

Here's something you may not know about me... I like throwing parties! On Saturday I (with a lot of help from Carly & my Mom) threw my best friend Ashley a baby shower. It was such a fun day! Lots of friends and food... my favorite combo.

My pregnant best friend Ashley! We've been friends since kindergarten. It's so crazing exciting that she is preggers! 

Ashley and her Mamma!

Ashley and Jamie! We've all known each other since sixth grade when we played soccer together!

It is mandatory to play games at any shower thrown for Ashley.
I learned this when I threw her a bridal shower two years ago! :)

The only boy allowed!

The food was the highlight for me considering I hadn't eaten all day!
Bulk Candy (the ones on the right are vegetarian and so delicious!)
Carly baked amazing banana coffee cake muffins (bug her for the recipe maybe she'll share on her blog!)
I had to make funfetti cupcakes because they are Ashley's favorites... so hard, dumped contents from box add oil, eggs, water and bake!
I also make some vegan cupcakes... they just turned out ok, nothing to write home about.

Something that is worth writing about are these babies....
Gluten Free (no one could tell) chocolate doughnuts!
My Mom surprised me with doughnut pans, one mini one regular!
I used bob's red mill chocolate cake mix and added dark chocolate pieces.
They were awesome.

I also made some Brocguac, my go-to party dip and for the first time ever I made hummus!
It was super easy and soooo tasty!

Bellingham Girls! We all met while going to school at Western! Still close friends! Love 'em!

Love this girl! Can't wait to be an auntie to her baby!

Ashley got me present for hosting! Gilbert (her last name) wine!

Tomorrow I'm going to start focusing on healthy living and begin training again. I'm in love with the Y (ymca) that they just built in Silverdale. I hate the drive but the facilities are soooo amazing! And for once in my life I'm actually excited about the classes! I've never been one to take classes, but something has changed in me! On Saturday Carly and I took a Pilates class (our first ever) that totally kicked our bums! Tomorrow I'm going to try to make myself wake up for the 6:15 cycling... we'll see how that works out... depends on how many sugar dreams I have between now and then!

Here is the plan stan.

If I thought that I would get a breather after the half marathon I was right. If I thought that it would be a long one... I was wrong.

26 days until the Warrior Dash.

(Oh! I need ideas for costume/outfits for me and my fellow warriors to wear. Any thoughts would be appreciated! The best one I've heard so far was for the mario cart characters... I call Peach!)

That means I need to get into a different kind of shape. I'm not worried about the 5k of running, what I am worried about is the fact that besides my legs my body is in terrible shape! I have ZERO upper body strength! The other day I attempted a pull up and all I could manage was a hang. seriously if I managed to lift my body at all it was a miniscule amount.

So even thought this race is really just about having fun with friends on a ridiculous course (and getting a free beer at the end!) I still want to be able to hold my own. So here is my plan of action to get in a little bit better shape for this race and to jump start my training for the next half marathon I'm planning on doing in September in Bellingham.

Starting Monday:
Run 2-3 times a week
3 Strength training days (probably 2 at the YMCA and one with Jilian Micheals kicking my butt with her 30 day shred and kettle bells exercise)
2-3 days of cross training (elliptical, spin class, yoga.... basically anything that is easy on the calves. I really need to let those babies heal up if I'm going to have any future with running)
1-2 rest days

I'd really really like to keep my running mileage up.... so that means 1-2 short runs and at least 1 run that is over 5 miles ever week. And that is being easy on myself. After the Warrior Dash I'll completely reevaluate the plan and focus on getting my miles much higher.

Another thing I need to focus on is what I'm eating. Towards the end of my training I became a carb junky... I rationalized it by saying I was carb loading... but I don't think I needed to be eating truck loads! If I eat better and get my core stronger I think my next race will feel even better.... oh and maybe I'll be able to walk the day after!

I am finally not terribly sore today! The blister is still epic.... but I think its going to heal itself. As for my left calf muscle. I need to do a ton more work on that baby. I am going to call my PT tomorrow to see if my second referral came through. Hopefully I can get in again. If not I feel like now I at least have some of the tools necessary to heal myself just much slower. Being injured showed me how important it is to listen to you body, take it easy when you need to and to know when to ask for help.

Are you sick of hearing about my running life? Sorry it sort of takes over a lot of my brain function. I have been reading though and will be posting soon! After Saturday I think I'll have more time to
1. read
2. mow my lawn (my landlord will be oh so pleased)
3. take more time to eat healthy meals
4. blog
5. sleep?!
6. devote some time to learning spanish (my class is still going, but I'll be honest I haven't put enough energy in to it to get anything out of it)
7. did I say sleep?

yay! that is what I'm off to do now... sleep!

I'm Addicted to the Thrill, It's a Dangerous Love Affair.

North Olympic Discovery Half Marathon Recap!

Sequim to Port Angeles
Official Time: 2:24:09
Averaged 11 minute miles

After all of the ups and downs of training and after all the injuries I finally did it! I completed a half-marathon. Check that off my new years resolutions and bucket list! I've compared training to a relationship many times in this blog:


In a relationship
Abusive Relationship
St. Paddy's 5K
Viking Fest Road Race
Highs and Lows
A Little Support Please!


And on Sunday all the pain, tears, worries, and fears were all worth it when I crossed the finish line. It finally wasn't a one sided relationship! I thought that I would cry, but the only emotion I felt was happiness. Seriously I had a huge smile on my face for about an hour afterwards.  


The entire weekend was the hottest weather we've had around these parts all year. So I was extremely careful about hydrating. Bottle after bottle of water and coconut water (natural electrolytes). I also carb loaded like crazy all while staying gluten free. The day before the race I had to work (something I will try not to do next time, standing on my feet for 8 hours isn't a good enough rest day) then jumped into the car and met my parents, Carly, Joe, Callen, Carly's Mom, her Sister, and Ryan up at the camp site in Port Angeles. I made a big plate of GF spaghetti for dinner (quinoa is the closest to wheat noodles out there). 

A ton of carbs and some baked tofu were the perfect dinner! Oh... and two smores! They make gluten free graham crackers that are pretty darn tasty and the mini vegan marshmallows are even better than the regular ones.

Carly and I did our nails. Purple with "Conquer it!" for me. Pink with "Team Elisa!" for her.

Both Ryan and I were pretty nervous and jittery all night. I think the other campers could feel it. Somehow I managed to sleep pretty well. I still woke up with the sun though. Which was nice because it gave me some time by myself to make some oatmeal and center myself.

I tried a little bit of coffee and found that I may have lost my taste for it... or maybe just how my Dad makes it! :) After some stretching and more water drinking we all piled into Carly's car to the start lane. We made it just in time to get a prime parking spot, but we had a ton of time to stand around and be nervous. But that was also a great opportunity to take a ton of photos!

 I can't even describe what it meant to me to have my family there to support me. Knowing that they were there at different intervals of the race and especially that they were there at the finish made gave me so much motivation to try my hardest. I saw them twice during the race and each time it was an extra large dose of energy! (even though my brothers couldn't be there I knew they were supporting me too!) and oddly enough I felt the support of a few friends during the race... I felt like they were sending me good vibes!

The leg of pain. That is a timing chip on my ankle and right around mile 3 is when it started digging into my ankle.... oh and also when I started feeling a blister coming on my right arch.

 When it was time to line up we headed for the 11 minute mile section. I figured this would be what I could maintain for the longest amount of time. In my head I had planned to take it easy, walk if I needed to (crawl if necessary). I was feeling really good at the race start, my legs felt light and nothing hurt, which I think I can attribute to the endorphins and adrenaline. 

 Start of race smiles!

Still smiling at about mile four, right before our first big hill and right when Ryan and I separated for most of the race. I had to stop to fix my timing chip and he went on. I was actually glad that we both were able to run the race at our own pace. It was really important to me to run my own race and not have to worry about staying up to speed with him. I was able to get completely lost in the race. It is kind of interesting because in both of the shorter races I completed this year I really enjoyed passing people, but on Sunday I couldn't have cared less about people eating my dust. This race was all about me.

Mile seven-ish. I caught back up to Ryan after he took a port-a-potty break. He waited for me also because he had all the gels and shot blocks. I was so happy and surprised to see my family right here! They caught us walking though the water station! I am not coordinated enough to drink or eat while running, but right when I saw them I started booking it! :) Even baby Callen and my Mom were there to cheer me on! (hearing "go auntie!" was awesome even if it came from my Mom!) Ryan and I separated again after this, we were both feeling great but feeling great at our own pace!


The course overall wasn't too hilly, just right in the middle and thankfully it ended completely flat. But that middle section was pretty intense for someone who didn't do much hill work. After the first two hills I crossed a bridge and turned right into a monster of a hill. "Oh Wow..." I thought I had said it in my head, but the girl running next to me goes, "I know!" :)


After mile seven my legs were really feeling it. The heat of the day was totally sucking the life out of me. At about every other water station (every two miles) they had orange slices and candy. I've never enjoyed an orange so much in my entire life! They really helped to keep my energy up. The only times I felt terrible were when I had to lean down to either fix my timing chip or tie my shoe. When I got back up the blood had rushed out of my head and I literally couldn't feel my body, but somehow I kept running forward. 


My playlist was also an important part of my race. I'm thankful that I had time to add some new tunes to it the night before the race. I think I listened to Jay-Z's 'Run this Town' about 5 times BEST RUNNING SONG EVER. The first couple lines, "I'm addicted to the thrill, it's a dangerous love affair," fit in to my 'running is a relationship' theme. But the best line is "Victory's within the mile, almost there don't give up now, only thing thats on my mind, is who's gonna run this town tonight." 


It turns out that I was the one running the town! The only time I walked was through the water stations! I kept on chugging! Repeating in my head, "Conquer it" or "This is is" or "Just keep running" and a lot of  "I know I can do this."

 Katy Surprised me at the finish with a sign! It was so awesome because I saw her, Carly and my Dad about a tenth of a mile from the finish when I was really really feeling like I was done for! It Gave me that little extra push to get me over the finish line with a great big smile on my face!

 Right around mile 11.5 I met up with Ryan again and exchanged a few words both us stating that we felt like hell. He was feeling extra like hell though, his left thigh muscle was completely cramping up. He ran with me for about a mile before he had to walk for a little bit.

 Blowing kisses. I wont be making this face ever again...

Home stretch!

Ryan coming in about 30 seconds after me. I think when I left him I might have yelled, "Conquer it!" I'm sure I got a lot of strange looks from the other runners because of that one. 

 And he did! He ran across the finish line (with a smile on his face) hurting leg and all!

 Right when you cross the finish line someone comes up, hands you your medal and an energy drink and walks with you all the way through to the finish station. I asked the girl if this was just in case I fell over and she said yes. It actually was kind of nice because there was a chance that was exactly what I was going to do.

I would have been happy with any finishing time, my goal was only to finish. But of course in my head I had an idea of what I wanted to finish in. That goal was right around 2 hrs 30 minutes (but I wouldn't have been disappointed with anything under 2:40). So when I saw the official time of 2:24:09 I was ecstatic! I think that is a pretty decent time for anyone's first half marathon, much less someone who was injured throughout her entire training! (Imagine real quick the time I could have put up if I would have been healthy!)  

It was so great to have a running buddy for this race. I thought at first I wouldn't like it, but we both ran our own race and it was nice to know there was someone else on the trail with me. 

Sweet sign! 

Sisters!

Nobody looks cute after running 13.1 miles! Nobody! 

And if you couldn't tell... Purple is not only my birthstone (amethyst) its also my power color!

Callen had a blast playing with my muscle roller! 

After hitting up the food and water tent (I had packed a GF bagel) we got massages! I had her focus solely on my calves. It was so awesome and so necessary! 

All the training paid off. All the cold morning runs, all the tears from frustration, all the physical therapy appointments... all of it was worth it. I've never known a runner's high like this before.


This race was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. There is something so rewarding about taking your body to its absolute limit (I couldn't have run more than 13.1 miles) especially after putting so much time and energy into training. 


I'm not gonna lie, I'm totally feeling it today. I'm super sore. Yesterday my back was killing me which was most likely from absorbing the shock of running for over two hours. But today I my legs are really feeling it. Walking down stairs is close to impossible. But it is getting better all the time. Did I mention the blister on my foot? The blister that was bigger than a silver dollar?! Yeah right on my arch. Ouch and Gross! My calves are still tender, but I am so surprised that they don't hurt me more. They've hurt more after a 3 mile run. All the pain was worth it. To quote another one of my playlist songs, "This is 10% luck, 20% skill, 15% concentrated power of will, 5% pleasure, 50% pain." And 100% happiness at reaching my goal!


The best part is that I can't wait for my body to rest up a bit so that I can get back out there! I'm ready to train for the Warrior Dash coming up and I'm signing up with my friend Nicole (and I think Ryan will do it too) for the Bellingham Bay Half Marathon in September. I'm wasting no time! The best way to stay motivated is to keep a goal in mind!


Sorry for the super long post but this is the culmination of soooo many emotions I just had to put it all out there!


Oh! and one more time I want to thank my family for being there for me every step of the way... from hearing me bitch, to catching my tears, to putting up with only seeing me in workout clothes for 4 months, and especially for cheering me on from start to finish on Sunday. It means everything to me.