The Addiction is Official
Posted: April 19, 2011 at 8:10 amI normally am not a fan of Mondays. Sure, I enjoy getting back into a normal routine, but I hate how they never seem to include any fun. I made sure to make fun happen yesterday though. I started off with a fabulous workout of a quick weights circuit followed by a spin class. My circuit looked a little something like this:
Push-Ups | 10 on toes, 5 on knees |
Bench Jumps | 10 reps jumping onto bench |
Machine Bench Press | 12 reps |
Power Front Kicks | 20 reps per leg |
Triceps Kickbacks | 12 reps |
I did each move back to back 3 times through. It took all of 15 minutes and I could feel it before I finished. For the record, I have such a love/hate relationship with push-ups. They work my upper body so well, but are so tough! I love seeing my strength with them increase though. It makes me feel all hardcore. Although not as hardcore as my race. 😉
After the gym, I managed to find that elusive balance we all seek. Normally I feel like I either don’t get anything done or I spend too much time with to-dos and don’t have enough fun moments with the family. I set aside 1.5 hours to bang out what chores I could. Badda boom! Laundry done. Floors swept and mopped. Playroom cleaned and vacuumed. Just in time for me to take to the great outdoors for some bubble blowing and sidewalk chalk drawing as my bonding time with my sweet girl.
Then, I made sure to take some time for myself too during nap time. I whipped up a tasty little snack by peeling and chopping an apple then microwaving it for 90 seconds with some cinnamon. I topped it with a small drizzle of maple syrup and a sampler packet of this Love Grown Foods apple walnut granola I received for review.
At first, I thought this little snack would need some yogurt to tie it all together, but it didn’t. The apple + granola combo was actually really filling and reminded me of a healthified apple crumble.
Delicious! Love Grown Foods knows their granola. The stuff is like crack!
Whilst satisfying my belly, I satisfied my hankering for finding future races by checking out the Run Georgia calendar Lee directed me to. This could start a problem. I found a couple options for my next race – hopefully a 10K in the next 6 weeks or so. Then, the crazy set in. I know I want to do a half marathon in the fall. I am already 99% sure I will run the Rock & Roll Savannah half marathon.
Savannah is one of my all-time favorite places. I have always thought Rock & Roll races sound like a blast. I have family in Savannah. Most importantly, it gives Peter & I an excuse for a mini-vacation just the two of us. Then, I see another half marathon at my alma mater and I think that would be so fun too!
Something like the following happens in my head:
- Crazy, Run-Loving, Race-Ogling Tina: Oh! Maybe I can do both!
- Logical Tina: Ummm…they are only two weeks apart.
- Crazy, Run-Loving, Race-Ogling Tina: I could take the first one easy. I would be doing my longest training run that week anyways. I think?
- Logical Tina: You’re crazy! Buuuttttt…you could always plan for the Savannah race and see how training goes and maybe do both? Oh, crap! Crazy Tina you’re getting to me!!!!
And so on. It doesn’t help when certain people send tweets like this…
See? The addiction has officially begun. I don’t know what to do, but at least I have time on my side!
I rounded out my day with a nice walk for more family time and a satisfying dinner. I whipped up a version Meghann’s Black Eyed Pea + Cornmeal Biscuits.
I followed the recipe almost exactly, except for using a frozen mixed veggie blend instead of fresh broccoli and corn. It was quite the hearty dinner. For some reason it upset my stomach, though. I started feeling very crampy and uncomfortable, so I laid low and relaxed the rest of the evening by catching up on some Desperate Housewives. Hey – I have to keep balance between kid and adult entertainment too! 😉
- How do you find balance to start your week off well?
- Can you relate to my Crazy/Logical Tina conundrum?
looks like such a great day-i’m obsessed with LGF granola-oh how i miss it (i’m all out).
Super jealous of your weather!!!!
Tina,
I am running the Savannah Half. It will be my first one too.
I am a student at UGA and the hills on campus are KILLER. I am sure you remember. But, I’ve heard good things about the Athens Half as well.
Maybe see you at the Savannah Half? 🙂
Oh yes. The hills!
Ha – thanks for calling me out!
I really wanted to go more into, but it Twitter. I ran my first half in October and really had no expectations. I just wanted to finish. There were a lot of nerves going into and a lot of unknowns. I was just SO happy to finish – in 2:26.
I ran my next 2 races two weeks apart and I went all out for both of them. The first of the two I finished in 2:05 and the 2nd in 2:00. I think running them so close together is what really got me to that pace! I treated the time between them as a “taper” (although I did 1-2 speed workouts and 1 8-mile run).
You are definitely a natural runner (don’t rock a 5K like that if you weren’t!) and definitely have the time to train without overdoing it. So in my opinion (of course) would would be able to rock both of them. Of course I would also love to MEET you in Savannah – so there’s my ulterior motive 🙂 Whatever you decide though, you are going to have SO much fun!
The ideal thing to start my week off right is: a good night’s sleep, a good sweat sesh first thing & a yummy breakfast.
I can’t imagine ever running a half, so props to you 🙂 I think the longest I’ve ever want to run would be like, a 10K.
Hi Tina:
I haven’t done 1/2’s that close together, but have two friends in my running group who have, and both PR’d the second time through. What’s the worse that could happen? You PR either or neither, but finish, you get a chance to see family, run at your alma mater, mini-vacation w/ husband, challenge yourself and have fun doing something that you’re loving anyway.:)
If you do the Savannah half, I’m probably going to do it! 😀 Just want to see how I feel after running the Chicago Marathon. 😉
So glad you had such a great Monday! You’ve found your groove 🙂
I totally understand your addiction, I almost signed up for an Ironman in the fall when I decided to start racing again and then I realized that was a wee bit much. However, after reading your (and other bloggers) awesome race recaps over the past couple weeks I didn’t want to have to wait until June 12th for my first race. So I signed up for one on May 1st! eeek! little soon but totally doable – just no time goal for this one 🙂
Go for it – you’re healthy and fit so why not! 🙂
Awesome on signing up for another race! 🙂
I feel like this would happen to me too…my first 5k is in a month and a half and I feel like I’ll want to run more soon after! I say go for it, I’m sure you’ll be healthy about it, so why not?!
The Rock n Roll series is the BEST!! That was my first half – the one in Philly last September. Such incredible crowd support and a well organized race – I highly recommend it!
oooh…you caught the racing bug, didn’t you? It’s hard to find balance at the start of the week, but it seems that it sets a pattern for the rest of the week…
Go for it :))
Monday’s can be a drag
Your daughter is so cute!!
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I’m dying to run a rock and roll event. Hubby and I are looking at the San Antonio one in the fall!! It definitely gets you motivated!!
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