Where's the Beach?

I know that my posts have been far and few in between lately. I also know that they've not been all that chipper in tone either. I've definitely been in a funk with this injury situation. I always try to remember that there is someone out there suffering much worse and that I do indeed have many things to be thankful for. Like this big ball of fluff we call Heath Man. He's our special needs child being that he's blind and also suffers from gallbladder disease. He has always been a trooper though, a total goof and love bug. I am very thankful for Jason's complete patience with me right now. A caged runner isn't always a pleasant person I'll admit. I am thankful for waking up to an email from my dad simply letting me and my sister know how much he loves us. Not everyone is so lucky to have their dad in their lives. I'm thankful for friends who care enough to send me something special. I'm thankful for running friends who keep che...

So, tomorrow is my birthday. I know some people get really excited about celebrating their birthdays, celebrate for an entire week or even a month. Me? I tend to end up getting a bit depressed quite honestly. I think it's a culmination of several things. By this time in November, the showy display of fall colors is mostly over. The trees begin to simply look bare and dormant. The grass is no longer plush and flowers have faded. My birthday also typically gets rolled into Thanksgiving because it always falls close to the holiday (though never actually on Thanksgiving). And quite frankly, I don't want to get older. (stomp foot) In my mind I feel like high school was just yesterday. While I do feel stronger, healthier, smarter now than I did in my 20s, I'm also not ready to let go of my 30s. I feel like life is whizzing by me quite frankly. Even just typing that makes my wistful, reflective, and, yes, sad. With the passing of time has come the passing of friends, famil...

I'm thankful ... That Jason made this Vegan Shepard's Pie last night. Without my prompting, he used smashed cauliflower for the topping. I may try to get the recipe written out for Tasty Tuesday. For sunshine that finally came out Wednesday, along with warmer temperatures and less wind. For my furbabies   For the colors of spring, especially purple.    For this guy. What are you thankful for today, or this week, or in general?

Well, this morning I went back to the doctor thinking I'd end up with another painful antibiotic shot. Instead I was sent to the hospital for an ultrasound. The concern was a blood clot in my neck. I wish I would have eaten breakfast is all I can say. I had expected to be at work by the time they were checking me in to the hospital. Long story short - blood clot. My doctor wanted to try a new treatment using Xarelto rather than put me in the hospital for the traditional treatment. All I know is that I'm kind of scared. I was told not to do anything either so any form of stress relief I have always turned to, running or lifting, I can no longer do. I don't know how long I'm going to be unable to be active either. My course of medication is 21 days with frequent trips back for blood work and monitoring. So today I need to find things to be thankful for rather than worrying about something I can't fix right away. I'm thankful for: My husband for either ma...

Soup is Good Yesterday I was definitely nice resting up my tired legs. I woke up when Jason did for his early morning swim, very, so very briefly, entertained the idea of an easy run. Then I promptly fell back asleep until the alarm rudely interrupted me. Guess I needed the sleep huh? It ended up a rainy, gloomy evening, so I threw together an Easy Veggie & Bean Soup for dinner. I used to be a soup hater, but I have since changed my ways. I realized that soups can be very hearty and flavorful when they don't come out of a can. Easy Veggie & Bean Soup Ingredients: 1/2 white onion, diced 1 green bell pepper, diced 1/2 red bell pepper, diced (only had 1/2 or would have used a whole one) 3-4 carrots (depending on size), diced 3 tbsp minced garlic 1 32 oz carton no-salt vegetable broth 1 can no-salt diced tomatoes (with liquid) 1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained 1 can chickpeas, rinsed and drained To taste: salt, pepper, chili powder, paprika, parsley, b...

Source: modernhepburn.tumblr.com via Lauren on Pinterest I'm thankful I ran - unplanned and probably when I shouldn't  have. Yesterday morning I had not planned on getting up to run. I had even told my running buddy that I was going to try to do an easy 4 at lunch because my legs were screaming at me after Tuesday's tempo run. Jason, however, had his alarm set early for his 5:30 am swim class. I had not slept well at all, and simply couldn't go back to sleep after he left. I finally decided to get up and go for my 4 miler. I mean, I was already up after all. I texted my friend and told her I'd wave at her as I passed by her house (the area we normally do our 800's). Then I set out for a very dark run. I ended up wearing full Brooks Nightlife gear - even though I knew I'd end up being hot, I still wore the long-sleeve top with my shorts for extra safety factor. Seriously, the Nightlife gear is the best for visibility! I ended up seeing ...

Italian Style & Morning Run Last night I decided to make more of Sarena's Chickpea Oat Flatbread . I've been thinking about it ever since the first time I tried it. I also want to try making it spicy to go with chilli. YUM. This time I added in sundried tomatoes, fresh oregano and basil. I also added in garlic powder. An Italian spin to go with an Italian inspired dinner. I made a red sauce and tried something new - crumbled in tempeh to make it a "meat" sauce. I served it over spaghetti squash with a side of the flatbread.   This morning I managed to tear myself out of bed to meet up with "A" for a run. I have been so fatigued since my San Diego trip. Part of me really wanted to put it off until lunch, but I knew that it was going to be really warm and I'd just end up complaining about how hot it was. Also, I knew I'd be happier with myself for getting the run done. Plus, it's hard to turn down 45 - 60 minutes of nice conversat...

Recovery Run & Weights This morning I slept in until just after 5:30 - crazy right? My plan was to get in an easy 3-4 "get the lactic acid out" kind of run. It sometimes sounds counterintuitive to work the legs when they're sore, but it really can help so much to get them moving. Since it was a shorter run, that meant I didn't have to be up and out the door by 5:30, and I wasn't meeting my running buddy either - though, I'm pretty sure I saw her zip on by at one point. At first, I thought, "What am I thinking...." My legs felt tight, heavy. But once I started moving, they woke right up and it felt fantastic actually. My plan was to keep a 9 min/mile or over and avoid hills. Well, it was so dark still that I didn't feel comfortable doing in any direction that didn't involve hills. So, typical route starting with almost a 3/4 mile incline. I must say, that stretch is finally starting to feel less intimidating. Either that or I was delu...

Spin Again Today was another insanely warm day for February. The only thing that made running less tempting were the 33 mph gusting winds. Spin class, indoors, sans gusting winds was the way to go. I almost went with a leg workout, but weights just didn't sound appealing to me. Of course, anyone who has done spin knows that's a leg workout in and of itself. Since I don't have spin class options on the weekend, I decided to take advantage of the class today and do weights over the weekend. Of course, since it is so unseasonably warm out and the air isn't on in the building AND my gym is on the 29th floors and all windows...it was like a freaking sauna in there. So to say "sweatfest" is a mild understatement. Let's just say there should be no toxins left in this body! Thankful Thursday Source: happythings.tumblr.com via Brooke on Pinterest I sort of debated on doing this. I don't want this to seem like a Debbie Downer post at all. I just thin...

Treadmilling It Today I was still really stuffy, but I felt less like I had been run over by a truck at least. Just the stuffy then runny then stuffy nose with sinus headache to contend with. I had really planned to go run outside after work. It was supposed to be sunny and about 60 degrees. Then I got it in my head that I wanted to run at lunch, at which time the sun disappeared. I wasn't sure if it was really going to get sunny and warm again or not and was dead set on working out midday. So, I ended up running on the treadmill. I honestly didn't know how long I could go with this congestion going on. I figured it would be safer and smarter to just go up to the gym and if I could only do a mile, then it's not like I had wasted time driving to the river trails. Plus, if it's allergies, then maybe running outside isn't so smart either. The plan was to see what I could do with the goal of 4 miles doing some interval speed work, which I've been slacking on ...