Good morning!! Have you managed to enjoy yourself so far? Perhaps sleep in a bit or have a leisurely morning reading blogs, snuggling your children/furbabies? Or were you like me – waking up at 5:30 am to eat so you can start your long run of the week by 6:30 am? Good times. Good times.

I’m not going to lie to you. That run…ick. All because of that pesky half mile dangling off the end of those nine miles.

When setting out for my run, reaching 9.5 miles – half a mile longer than my previous personal distance record – didn’t seem daunting at all. Then, as I got going, the thought having to do an extra half of a mile seemed brutal. It felt cruel to have to give that extra effort…but not get the super high from hitting double digits! Don’t ask how my mind works that it would have seemed easier to do a 10 mile run instead of a 9.5 mile run. Logic fails me sometimes.

I could have ran an extra half to hit the ten mile mark, but I like to stick to the plan when it comes to long runs. Okay…I honestly just didn’t want to have to find somewhere to run around and rack up the extra mileage. I had my route planned out to the tee to help me get right at 9.5 miles. I even went so far to make certain I would get the ugly main road portion of my run out of the way first and have the last few miles to go through prettier neighborhood scenery.

Too bad that thought process of having the pretty part to look forward to failed me. I had to go past where I parked for the last 1.5 mile loop. It about killed me seeing my car and then having to wave bye-bye to finish up after already feeling so tired. My mind had checked out! And that made my body check out too because the last 1.5 were quite brutal. The joy of breakfast awaiting me after getting home pushed me through. 

Immediately after getting home I poured both sample boxes of the Quaker Oatmeal Squares cereal we received at the Healthy Living Summit into a bowl and added a large handful of blueberries and raisins. All topped off with some unsweetened vanilla almond milk. Chomp. Chomp. Chomp. Ahhhhh…

I heart cereal!!! I think Peter felt a little disheartened that I wouldn’t share a box with him. Sorry, bud. You don’t want to mess with a hungry runner’s breakfast!

Go ahead and laugh. Lisa – I know you are since you say I don’t have a mean bone in my body. Oh well…I have other ways to frighten Peter. Like bringing up quinoa. Oh, if he only knew what was coming his way next week. *insert evil cackle here*

• Do you have a fitness milestone you can’t wait to reach? I am so looking forward to hitting double digit runs! Hopefully next weekend!
• Do you plan the favorite parts of your workouts towards the beginning or end of your workout?

Yet another day has just whizzed right on by in a whirlwind. I guess that happens when you hit the ground running every day. I woke up around 6 am as usual to have a bit of time to myself before the kids awoke. I got them all fed, cared for, and loved on before nabbing a quick snack for myself as I headed out the door to the gym.

I usually do my own weights routine on Thursday mornings, but today I wasn’t feeling it. I still wanted a challenging workout, but without having to think. Group Power class stepped in for me nicely.

Group Power is basically the same thing as Bodypump, but under a different training program. It goes through different music tracks that work each body part for a few minutes each in an endurance style weight lifting program.

After not visiting the class for months, the endurance style lifting came as quite a shock to the body. I’m used to doing 10-15 reps and moving to another exercise. Five minutes straight each of squats, shoulder exercises, push-ups, and bicep curls will get you good. I left with my upper body feeling like jelly! I always forget the challenge the class can give me. A great way to add a little variety and to take a break from my own plans.

Later in the day I excitedly met Peter for a mid-week lunch and play date.

Every Thursday Peter’s work provides a different lunch available to workers and their visitors. When Peter asked if I wanted to join him for the sandwiches and wraps on the menu today I looked at him like he had five heads. Does he not know me and my obsession with sandwiches and wraps? Sigh.  

Obviously I said yes so he got a couple plates to go for us to make a family date of it at a park just a few minutes from where he works. The weather was perfect to sit in the shade for our lunch and then to spend some time playing.

I had one half of a turkey, tomato, and lettuce spinach wrap as well as a half of a chicken salad and spinach sun-dried tomato wrap. With some Garden Salsa flavored Sun Chips – best flavor of them all! I also delighted in a bit of post-lunch dessert.

The brownie ended up being dry so I only ate the cookie. The heavenly, ooey-gooey cookie. All before hitting the playground for some fun!

I think this may have to become a new weekly tradition! We had such a great time and it was the perfect way to break up the week a bit.  

I got right back down to business when I got home and put the kids down for their naps. Then those two hours somehow passed in the blink of an eye. Yeesh. Story of my life these days. Blink. Blink. Blink. Oh…its 2189. What it feels like at least.

Now, I have to clean up dinner dishes before settling in for the night. Only to welcome the non-stop hectic again tomorrow! Good thing I thrive in that environment…and have God to help me through. But before I go – the Love Grown giveaway winner!

Carissa – Please email me with your full name and shipping information before Sunday at 6 PM EST to claim the prize pack! Congrats!  

• How do you like to break up the work week in a fun or relaxing way?
• If you didn’t win the Love Grown giveaway – stay tuned for more giveaway fun on the blog tomorrow!