Greetings from Minneapolis

Hello! Welcome to my stay in Minneapolis! I (my company) sprung for the internet access in my hotel room so I’m happily watching tennis and blogging. I mainly brought my computer in case I get stuck in the airport, but it’s also great for a night alone.

My plane left NYC about an hour late, it was raining, but nothing awful. The Delta terminal at LaGuardia is terrible, never fly in or out of there.

I sat next to some friendly people on the plane and we talked the entire time and the trip just flew by.

I really like Minneapolis. I went to St. Paul once before, but this is my first time in Minneapolis.

I took some poor quality Blackberry photos

The mighty Mississippi, driving to my hotel from the airport.

Downtown.

The Double Tree gave me a warm chocolate chip cookie when I checked in.

Yummy!

My hotel room overlooks the Target headquarters, aka my destination (not that building, another one) for tomorrow.

The sleeping part of my room.

And the living part of my room.

It’s supposed to be a suite, but it’s all one room. I’m not really sure you can call this a suite.

I took a little walk around Minneapolis, the weather is great here. So sunny and pretty warm. Not like rainy and cold NYC. I went into a Target store and had a great dinner at Masa.

I’m off to bed. My appointment is at 9:10 tomorrow morning. It’s only 15 minutes, but my flight is at 11:20 and now I’m paranoid I’m cutting it close. Which is insane, it’s 2 hours and it’s like 15 minutes to the airport, but still I worry.

I love that it’s only 9:58 but it feels like 10:58!

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Ann Arbor

As I mentioned in my last post I took a trip to Ann Arbor, MI for work this past week. While I wasn’t as impressed with Ann Arbor as I wanted to be, I still really enjoyed my stay. And the business part of the trip went really well.

Our plane was slightly delayed Wednesday afternoon, but despite high winds, a small plane, and lots of turbulence, we made it to Detroit safely and then drove to Ann Arbor.

For some reason I was put on the key-access executive floor.

The main benefit of the special floor was a lounge stocked with (free!) food and drink!

And not only did I get to stay on the special floor, I was also guest of the day!

I got a small bag of Cheez-Its, a bag of chips, the travel coffee mug, and a coupon for a free breakfast!

I felt special!

After settling into the hotel we headed to downtown Ann Arbor to do some exploring before dinner.

I loved this banner.

Dinner at Eve was amazing! I had a glass of Muscat and the bread and 3 flavored butters were fantastic.

To start we split the inspired nachos:

Fried wontons generously topped with black beans slow-cooked with smoked chilies and Ohio bacon, melted goat Gouda, Jack and Cheddar cheeses, sliced avocado, cilantro-lime salsa and finally, crème fraîche.

I had the mac and cheese for my main course, but it’s not listed on their website. It was goat milk’s cheddar and another cheese, with tomatoes, watercress, and a breaded and pounded piece of chicken. It was delicious.

For dessert I had the cup of white chocolate with brown sugar cream. It was to die for.

A great dinner, wonderful service, I would completely recommend Eve.

We headed back to the hotel, wasn’t my room nice?

The exterior and interior of the hotel were a bit dated, but the bed was comfy and everything was clean and great.

Their branding and shower products were totally modern though.

Unfortunately the walls on th executive floor were paper thin and the woman next door to me who had the plague sounded like she was right next to me. But I just turned up the TV and it was fine. 🙂

As I said the business part of the trip went really well and our flight back to NYC was slightly delayed, but otherwise uneventful.

Otherwise no news here. The extreme pain in my leg went away after about a day and a half. I did a great elliptical workout Friday night, went for a painful 4 mile run on Saturday, and did another great elliptical workout today.

I’m flying to Minneapolis tomorrow afternoon and I’ll be back Tuesday afternoon. Fingers crossed the rain doesn’t leave me delayed!

I’m hoping to get a run in when I’m back Tuesday afternoon and then a short run in Thursday evening and then it’s the half marathon on Saturday!

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A Strange Little List

I wanted to post tonight, but I have to make it short so excuse the strange format:

– I took Monday off from exercise. I was so sore yesterday, I feel like all the walking I did Sunday caught up with me. I tried to go running tonight, I did 2.45 miles, but maybe around 2.25 miles my right Achilles tendon started to KILL and I thought it best to stop. But I was 2.45 miles away from home so I had to walk all the way back 😦 I’m heating it now, then I’ll stretch and ice it and hope for the best.

– I registered, before I went running tonight, for the Brooklyn half marathon on May 22. I’m really excited. I love the course and I think it will be good to do another half almost 2 months after my first one.

– If you have or know any children I highly recommend taking them to see:

I know I work for the company that publishes the books (and I’m so paranoid I’m not writing their names here incase they come up in a Google keyword search), but I saw the movie last Thursday and I thought it was very good.

– I bought 2 books today! I might finally make good on my New Year’s Resolution to read more.

– I’ll be in Ann Arbor, MI tomorrow and Thursday. We leave tomorrow afternoon and come home Thursday evening. The books I bought are for the plane, I need a good book for a plane ride.

– While in Ann Arbor I’ll be having dinner at Eve. It sounds good, I don’t know if it’s quite my type of place, but I love that the chef/owner was on Top Chef and I knew it was her from the moment I saw where the restaurant was and heard its name.

Off to stretch and ice my ankle. Have a good Wednesday and Thursday!

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Meal Planning Monday 3/22

It’s been a few weeks since I did one of these, but I really think it’s about time to start up again.

Monday

• Lunch: leftover steak burrito and chips and salsa
• Dinner: chili

Tuesday

• Lunch: beans and rice
• Dinner: savory oats

Wednesday

• Lunch: chili (or picking up something on the way to the airport)
• Dinner: eating out in Ann Arbor

Thursday

• Lunch: eating out in Ann Arbor
• Dinner: peanut butter sandwich (as long as flight is on time)

Friday

• Lunch: chili
• Dinner: TBD (probably eating at home since I’m broke!)

Shopping List:

• spinach
• Kashi Go Lean Crunch
• almond milk
• tortilla chips
• oranges
• bananas
• frozen fruit
• peanut butter pretzels

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Sunny Sunday

I’m sure I’ve used this title for a post before, but it’s just so true for today!

First, some things I didn’t get to yesterday.

One of the best things I saw yesterday was the wedding going on at the church across the street from my apartment.

Taken out of my bedroom window 🙂

On Friday night I went out to Alma for Brooklyn restaurant week, their view of lower Manhattan is amazing.

I went there last year too (picture is from last year) so I knew it would be good. Unfortunately there was an hour wait for the roof deck, but the downstairs dining room is still great.

I got a pomegranate margarita, we ate some chips and salsa, got some guac, and I had my appetizer of beef and chili tamales I was so full I could barely eat any of my chicken fajitas!

About half way through our entrees someone who worked there (the owner?) came over and asked if we would like him to buy us dinner (duh!). Apparently there was a big party waiting to be seated and they needed our table to make their giant table.

All we had to do was relocate to another table and he bought our food! Not our drinks, but with the promise of a free meal we ordered another round of drinks! (Yes, it’s amazing I ran 12 miles the next morning!)

For dessert I had the churro. It was delicious, but not warm. It definitely should have been warmed up.

Since I brought my entree home I was able to eat it for dinner last night.

I made some rice to go on the side (I’m not a huge fan of corn tortillas).

I also had my favorite Easter treat last night

Cadbury eggs! So good!

As I said I was going to last night I washed the hat I wear running.

Before:

After:

Not bad! I am very happy with how it turned out.

Then I watched some of my favorite tennis guy

And then headed to bed.

This morning I woke up and, after I decided I was feeling ok after yesterday’s run, I decided to run a bunch of errands.

First I headed to Trader Joe’s, but on the way wanted to stop at Lululemon and Blue Marble. Lululemon was holding a yoga class so that didn’t work, but I got a great double mini marble cup of strawberry and blackberry ice cream from Blue Marble.

Then I went to Trader Joe’s which was pretty much empty. It was amazing!

I decided I wanted a burrito for lunch so I stopped at Calexico for a carne asada burrito. They are out of this world amazing!

After that I walked back to the subway, came home, unpacked, and went back out to 3 more grocery stores.

And then I got to finally eat my burrito

That’s half the burrito (other half is for lunch tomorrow) and I had one of the salsas with TJ’s reduced fat tortilla chips.

Oh and check out my new springy shirt I wore today

I got 2 compliments on it–the Blue Marble worker and the TJ’s cashier. 🙂

I also stopped at Starbuck’s and got a green tea lemonade

I used to drink these all the time, I don’t know why it’s been so long since I’ve had one.

And a cupcake (I was feeling the sweets today)

Then I hung out in my gorgeous, sunny living room

Today wasn’t quite as warm as yesterday, but it was still a gorgeous day. All in all I walked 4.66 miles today! If I had realized I was going to walk that far I probably wouldn’t have gone, but my legs feel great so I guess it was ok.

And I (stupidly) wore my flip flops, but there is no swelling my ankles! I’m trying to find a shoe for the summer that is still casual and somewhat attractive, but that doesn’t make my ankles swell. So this is good news.

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Almost There

No, I did not run 10 miles. I look confused because I ran 12 and I’m unfamiliar with the idea of not having enough fingers to show how many miles I run. 🙂

12 miles. Insane. Who would have thought, less than a year ago, when I started running, that I would be running 12 miles in one go. I wasn’t even running 12 miles each week at that point!

I woke up around 9:30 to a GORGEOUS day. We’ve had a string of gorgeous days here. Check out Tuesday in Union Square

Today it got into the mid-70s and it was amazing!

I heated my calves, stretched my ankles, took a shower, ate Ezekial bread with almond butter, drank an Emergen-C, and did some more stretching.

I decided to try out my new Lululemon top I bought to wear for the half marathon.

This picture kind of isn’t flattering, but I think the shirt really works for me. The rouching and bunching help to cover some less than pleasant areas, but it’s still cool and comfy. If I had more money I’d buy it in every color.

Anyway, I knew I’d need to stay hydrated so I filled my water bottle with 1/4 red Gatorade and 3/4 water.

And the pocket was stuffed with Sharkies. As we will find out that is not enough water to run 12 miles.

Off I went. Although this unseasonably warm weather is great, it was really effin’ hot while I was running! I got a bit of a tan (I thought ahead to wear sunscreen on my excursion).

Check out my splits:

Mile 1: 10:11
Mile 2: 10:42
Mile 3: 11:16
Mile 4: 10:36
Mile 5: 10:28
Mile 6: 10:35
Mile 7: 10:38
Mile 8: 10:15
Mile 9: 10:27
Mile 10: 10:29
Mile 11: 10:05
Mile 12: 9:56

Overall time: 2:05:44
Calories burned: 1,551
Average pace: 10:28

I couldn’t have asked for anything more. Some highlights:

– From miles 2-4 I followed (about 10 paces behind) this group of 3 people just to help myself keep a good pace. As you can see they went a little slow, but I think it was good.

– By the time I got to mile 4 I had already drank half of my water/Gatorade mixture. I knew I had to ration it (they still haven’t turned on the water fountains in the park) so I let myself have 2 small sips every mile and every half mile if I really thought I needed it. I also didn’t have sips on miles when I had 6 Sharkies (miles 4, 8, and 10.5).

– Breathing-wise I feel like I could go faster (I’m never that winded), but legs-wise I feel like I’m going all out. I’m hoping that once I run the half and I start doing weight training this will improve (I also think it will just improve with time).

– There is no pain (besides sore muscles) to speak of. Ankles feel great, foot feels fine, knee is good.

After I finished I went to the first deli I could find and about a passion fruit coconut water. I’ve never had any type of coconut water before, but several people I know swear by it.

I found it to be very hydrating and the perfect thing to tide me over until I got home.

This is officially going to be my outfit for the half. Hopefully it will be weather appropriate.

When I got home I immediately hopped into an ice-cold shower. It sucked, but I think it really helps my legs.

I stretched and then dug into some food.

I discovered these Purity Organic juices and I think they’re amazing!

Yes, they’re still juice so there’s lots of sugar and no real nutritional value, but they taste so good!

This one is strawberry paradise which is a strawberry lemonade. I’ve also tried the cranberry lime (watery, but it has maca in it) and the orange passionfruit (really good).

I also had an unpictured bagel and pineapple yogurt with Kashi Go Lean Crunch and chia seeds.

I got all artsy. 🙂

While I was watching an insane amount of tennis (what else is new?) I realized that the hat I wear running is insanely gross.

I’m going to do a little washing experiment, I’ll let you know how it goes.

Now I’m just spending the rest of the evening relaxing. My sore muscles don’t want to do anything too crazy!

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This Week’s Workouts

Since I haven’t been very good about posting every day I thought I’d do a recap of all my week’s workouts in one post.

I took Sunday and Monday off after my 11 mile run on Saturday. But I did a good amount of walking each day so I felt like I stayed pretty loose.

My goal for the week was to run 7 miles on Tuesday, cross train on Wednesday, run 7 miles on Thursday, and then 12 miles on Saturday.

I went running Tuesday night and my body just felt off. All my muscles were tight, everything was sore, and it just sucked. I knew I wasn’t going to do 7 miles so I just said I’d run the first loop of my run (about 3 miles) and then see how I felt.

In the end I managed to run 5 miles, which is great, but I was really disappointed in how I felt physically.

Here are my splits:

Mile 1: 9:55
Mile 2: 9:27
Mile 3: 9:45
Mile 4: 9:18
Mile 5: 8:56

Not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but it doesn’t really reflect how awful I felt.

Plus, when I got home, my left foot, which hasn’t hurt in a while, started to bother me again. With that in mind I decided not to cross train on Wednesday and to just rest.

I debated whether I wanted to go for a run on Thursday and I ended up deciding I would do 3 miles, see how I felt, and either stop or keep going.

I ended up doing 5 miles again and I felt much, much better physically. And I’ve recovered much better.

Here are these splits:

Mile 1: 9:27
Mile 2: 9:30
Mile 3: 9:27
Mile 4: 9:13
Mile 5: 8:48

As you can see much faster than Tuesday’s run. And I timed it so I finished right by the subway and was able to just hop on the train and meet my friend (at a very casual place) for dinner!

Friday night I was going to cross train, but the weather was so crappy and I was so tired I just stayed home.

As I suspected it would be all week it was pouring, pouring, pouring, oh and super windy, on Saturday so I cancelled my run and did my cross training Saturday morning.

I did a great, sweaty elliptical workout (when was the last time you heard me say that??).

Min. 1-5 level 5
Min. 5-10 level 8
Min. 10-15 level 12
Min. 15-20 level 16
Min. 20-25 level 12
Min. 25-30 level 14
Min. 30-35 level 12
Min. 35-40 level 14
Min. 40-45 level 12
Min. 45-50 level 8
Min. 50-55 level 5

I actually really enjoyed it!

I went to bed Saturday night prepared to wake up and run Sunday morning. I was happy to find that it wasn’t raining when I woke up although it looked like it was going to start downpouring at any moment.

With that in mind I decided I’d eat breakfast and see what it looked like when I was done. Well, while I was eating, it started thundering, so the run was off.

I ended up going back to the gym to do another 55 minutes on the elliptical.

Min. 1-5 level 5
Min. 5-10 level 8
Min. 10-15 level 12
Min. 15-20 level 14
Min. 20-25 level 16
Min. 25-30 level 14
Min. 30-35 level 12
Min. 35-40 level 14
Min. 40-45 level 12
Min. 45-50 level 8
Min. 50-55 level 5

Again I really enjoyed it. I don’t know what’s happening to me! The time just flew by and although I felt like the resistance on the elliptical I used today wasn’t as tough as on the elliptical I used yesterday it was still a good workout.

I’m hesitant about writing this, but my body feels so much better now that I haven’t run for a few days. Sometimes I feel like I’m 90 years old, but I haven’t felt like that the past few days. I love running and I want to continue to run, but it is something to think about.

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Playing Catch-up

I wrote this earlier this week with the intention of posting it earlier in the week but then never did. So enjoy!

Watching the Oscars with my friend Laura was great. We ate the gnocchi I had made and snacked on the monkey bread I had baked that didn’t come out too great looking, but tastes way, way, way too good!

Instead of the cream cheese glaze I used a vanilla glaze.

I only got about 4 hours of sleep Sunday night to Monday morning and I was feeling it at work on Monday. I also had no appetite, it was so odd. I’m not sure if that’s ever happened before.

I finally ate a Luna bar around 2 or so because I felt nutrition hungry, but I didn’t really want food.

After work I went to see a sneak preview of The Green Zone.

It was good, not great, but I love Matt Damon. It just wasn’t as suspensful as it should have been. I enjoyed watching it, but I’m happy I didn’t pay for it.

My friend Erica came with me and unfortunately we split half of a medium popcorn (and I only ate maybe half of my half). It was gross, but delicious.

So to recap on Monday I ate a green monster, 3 monkey bread balls, a Chobani with cereal, 2 Luna bars, movie theater popcorn, a few sips of a Coke slushie, and a quarter of a thing of organic real juice strawberry and lemonade.

Thankfully my appetite returned on Tuesday 🙂

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My Sunday

I had a great time Sunday cooking, getting ready for, and watching the Oscars.

I knew I wasn’t going to exercise after my 11 mile run on Saturday so I took advantage of my early wake up call to go grocery shopping before the crowds hit. Most exciting find? Chobani was on sale for 10 for $10. Needless to say I bought 10 pineapple ones.

When I got home I immediately got to work making the gnocchi I had planned for Oscar night dinner. I found the recipe here and I followed all the instructions except I used locadelli cheese instead of parmesan just out of personal preference.

The recipe was involved, but not too bad. There was only one mishap which was the milk/nutmeg/butter mixture boiling over at one point, but it all turned out ok.

As the gnocchi was getting cold in the fridge I decided I’d make an egg-white omelet out of the leftover egg whites. Not a good idea. It was the most awful looking and smelling thing I have ever made. It went in the garbage.

Instead I made moderately healthy nachos. TJ’s reduced fat tortilla chips, kidney beans, fresh salsa, guacamole, and cheddar cheese.

Pretty good. 🙂

Instead of working out  I decided to have an active recovery day and I walked to Target to buy a bundt pan. It was a few miles there and back and although my legs were sore it felt good to get moving.

When I got home I got to work doing some more cooking. I made a tomato sauce to go with the gnocchi, the same recipe that was included with the gnocchi.

I decided to spend a few extra dollars and get the good tomatoes.

So good.

When it came time to cut the gnocchi I was at a loss for what to use. Then I realized I could use the top of a spice container.

It worked quite well.

I’ll do a little Oscar recap later!

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Bad Me

I was going to be a good blogger and do a post today. I actually have half of it written. But after only getting 4 hours of sleep last night, having a crazy day at work, and not getting home until after 10pm (details to come), I’m putting my post off until tomorrow morning.

Forgive me 🙂

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