This is the best thing ever. I feel like it’s Christmas morning (almost).
I’m sitting in my softest yoga pants with my pals Matt Lauer and Savannath Guthrie, drinking a steaming cup of coffee, and I’m happily blogging away. Delicious steel cut oats are boiling on the stove.
Bliss.
It’s like my old mornings before I began working at my new job. I would set my alarm early just so I could wake up and enjoy the morning. Sometimes I would open all of the windows and stay home to blog or catch up on emails, other times I would walk to my favorite local coffee shop and read. (OR I would multi-task and go to a coffee shop with wi-fi and blog – those were days when I needed human interaction! Ha!)
I go crazy and start editing photos like this when there’s no one to talk to. Yes, I love The Stick. Do I need to proclaim it to the world with a Picnik (RIP Picnik.com!) photo? Probably not.
Today, I don’t have to be into work until 11am. Ahh glorious comp time. Such a innovative concept that I never knew existed. You get time OFF when you work over time?! Glorious!
So, I set my alarm early just so I could enjoy a relaxing morning. My bliss will only last until about 9:15 when I need to head out, but I’m soaking it up for now.
(By the way, Happy Roasted Marshmallow Day! Did you know we had a day to celebrate the delectable fluffy little treats? I may have to pick up some rice krispies tonight and make some after my race.)
That’s right, NFL Run 4 Miler is tonight! To kick off my favorite season (football), I am doing my favorite thing (running).
Wonderful, glorious football season is here.
I’m excited to see my Ragnar Relay teammate Lora there – anyone else running with us in good old Central Park tonight?
I need to back up and tell you about my long-ish run last weekend. 9 miles! When I got home, I was tired…(HAHA this is a joke…I mean, I was tired. But has anyone seen Phillip the Hyper Hypo on SNL? Please watch. Especially around 1:18. Hilarious.) During the first half of the run I think my body was still warming up. Little muscles and tendons were nagging at me and I was doubting my readiness – it’s not that anything hurts, it’s just that I still feel a little uneasy about the little foot pains and knee pains I occasionally feel. If I hadn’t been injured, I probably wouldn’t notice them – I think it’s mostly mental.
I was smarter this time and formulated a plan for hydration beforehand. I drove to a nearby town that I love running in, and parked at the beginning of a short trail. I did a 6 mile out-and-back run on the trail and through the town, and then stopped back at my car for some hydrated. Even though I only had 3 miles left, I still grabbed a Blackberry GU for a pick me up.
Ironically this photo is not recent, however I had the same Gu in the exact same spot on Saturday!
Those last three miles I felt like I was flying! Judging by my pace, I wasn’t. But I sure felt that way. was picturing the Ironman finish line, listening to some good music, and was fueled on caffeine and determination. Mile 9 was my fastest mile. I know I should be happy that I’m running 9 miles and training for Philly, but I wasn’t thrilled with my average pace. It was MUCH slower than my half-marathon in May. Like a minute slower. For 4 less miles. Ouch.
How do you handle that mentally?
I 100% believe in the power of speedwork and I think I need to make tonight’s 4-miler into a bit of a tempo run. Hopefully I can still beat my 4M PR of 34:35 (my only other 4 mile race!) from the Run As One in April.
Speaking of Ironman, someone I met at work during our orientation for mentors (people who help our participants with fundraising and give advice for completing an endurance event) who completed the NYC Ironman a few weeks ago. He told me that after his race, he was laying in bed, muscles crying in pain, debating whether it was worth it to get up and go to the bathroom, or just wet the bed. HA!! No that doesn’t scare me, I’m still super excited. But I thought that was hilarious and probably a pretty all-encompasing view of the soreness I’ll feel post-IM. BRING. IT. On.
For the record, he did get out of bed.
Oats are done! Off I go. Have a wonderful day, everyone!
Steamy!
P.S. If you made it this far…this reminds me. I need to do a ProCompression giveaway! I’ll absolutely be rocking some ProCompression socks during Ironman to help with soreness. LOVE THEM. Amazingly they are sponsoring the Maids of Dishonor, our Ragnar team, which is fabulous because after running three separate legs in 24-ish hours in the hills of the Adirondack Mountains, my leg muscles will surely need some extra oxygen. I’m wearing them right now because I was standing a lot last night. Multi-purpose, I tell you!
To put your name in the running, please leave a comment about the most sore you’ve ever been from working out…or maybe moving your entire apartment…etc – did you contemplate wetting the bed like my friend? Funny stories welcome! By commenting, you’ll be entered to win a black pair of ProCompression socks – the size is S/M. I will choose a winner on Monday and someone will get a Labor Day present. Good luck!
Your lazy morning sounds AWESOME! Those always end up being my most productive instead of running around my apartment like a chicken with her head cut off trying to do a million things in the 8 minutes I have before I’ll be late for leaving for the train…
I do the same thing, i wake up earlier than I need to so I can workout and enjoy my mornings. they get me ready for the day. I am a huge distance runner yet have not bought or tried any compression products.. I would love to win some.
Yeah for extra long mornings those are the best! U would live to win compression socks I hear so much about them! The most pain I have ever felt was after my first mountain goat run 10 hilly miles!! I couldn’t walk right for days
good luck tonight!
Hum, I would have to say, VERY VERY sore came just two weeks ago, I had gotten a mild case of what my coworkers believe was the ‘west nile fever’ and was out from running for 10 days. Of course my first run back was a 16 miler (I am also getting ready for Philly in Nov.!) Man was I so sore. I could barely make it down my office steps that take me to the ‘best bathroom’ (it is a single!). As Sunday passed Monday came and I decided to add Yoga – next morning sore!,then tuesday run and weights (also new to my routine) sorer! Wed. 8 mile run, sorer ( you can see where this is going) by Friday morning (my off day) every time I went to the restroom I had to lower myself down onto the seat with my arms. HA. walking was not fun either. I heard a few chuckles as I would walk (slither) my way down the office steps in my heals, (one step, clomp, two steps clomp) and I was holding myself up on the railing! but Sunday came with my 18 miler and I am all back to my normal self. I love your blog it keeps me motivated. (and, I might see you in philly in Nov.!) I read a few other blogs and one talked about her compresson sox. I have never run in compression sox but they look so ultra cute and I wouldn’t mind having a pair to test out. (wink wink, nod nod) Have a great day and a great run tonight!
I love compression socks! They feel great after long runs. I can’t think of any specific time that I was super sore, though!
hmmm sorest I’ve ever been? After doing my first Insanity workout. Sore for 4 days. Wasn’t that sore after a marathon. LOVE compression socks!!!
I’d love to win a compression product. The worse soreness for me was the first time I did CrossFit, I could barely lift my arms above my head to shower when I got home! But it pays off, it’s a great workout.
Your oatmeal looks so tasty
. I love being up early in the morning and eating breakfast and just chilling out in front of the TV.
Oh goodness–I would LOVE to win these compression socks! The most sore I’ve been recently was probably after volunteering back to back days at a sprint tri (also putting in a 6.5 mile run later that day), then volunteering at a Half IM the next day, and then coming back and starting one of my busiest weeks of work, as well as trying to get in my training miles. Hello sore feet and calves!
Literally I’ve never been as sore ever as I have been this week… I played field hockey again Goethe first time and every single muscle in my body hurt! I out on my compression socks for sure.
Ps I loveeee mornings like that
The most sore I have ever been is after the first week of P90x my husband and I slept downstairs because we couldnt make it up the stairs
That morning sounds wonderful. This is crazy, but I think the most sore I’ve ever been was after a barre class. They look girly, but they are TOUGH!
I love when I just get up early to enjoy the mornings, but I also love sleep alot, so those mornings don’t happen alot.
The most sore I have ever been was the day(s) after I moved out of my parents house into my new apartment. I had been rocking high heels at a party the night before (also had a little too much to drink) and spent the next day going up and down stairs both at my parents house and at my new apartment carrying heavy items. I had cramps in my calves the night after and couldn’t stand up straight for a couple of days. I walked like I was 80 years old and needed a cane!!
As much as I hate getting up early sometimes, I love it when you can just relax and enjoy the freshness of the morning. Especially when they’re cool and you can curl up with something warm and a blanket.
I’m pretty sure the most sore I have ever been was my husband (fiancé at the time) convinced me to get up at 4am so we could drive 1.5 hours and hike two mountains in one day. We stopped at a little lodge at the top of one mountain. Everyone in the lodge was just waking up! By the time we were done most people were just starting their ascent. It was the longest hiking trip I had ever done and happy I accomplished it. I sure paid for it though. That night I could already barely walk after sitting for a while and the next day I could barely move! It was fun though, nothing compare to being on top of a mountain early in the morning!
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