What are you listening to?

HI, GUYS!  Are you ready for 10 random things that I've been thinking about as of late? 

Good.  Herewego.:)

1.  So, I'm officially obsessed with story/fiction Podcasts.  There is something so romantic (like old-timey) about listening to stories, like how we used to with radios (think "War of the Worlds").  Do you listen to any Podcasts like these?  I've listening to "Limetown", and just started with this one (it started in 2009, for crying out loud!).

2.  Here's how my day started:  45 sleepy minutes on the trainer.  Do you like to train in the morning, or in the afternoon?  Both?  You animal.:)

3.  I was out the door by 6:50am, and after yesterday's fiasco 

()

I was excited to see traffic moving like a boss.

4.  LOOK AT HOW EXCITED I AM TO EAT!(One pouch of Trader Joe's Apple Cinnamon oatmeal, 1 TBSP Coconut Cashew butter, 1/2 TBSP Chia seeds)

I<3 you, oatmeal.

5.  I saw PT Ed last night, and it went REALLY well.

I GOT TO RUN FOR A MINUTE.:)  Ed gave me more exercises to do, then checked my running gait/biomechanics.  He said that I have great form (!!!!!!!), with a couple of things to work on when I get back to regularly running (i.e. turnover).

(Source)

And speaking of which, it's going to be pretty tough when I get back to running.  I basically have to start over.  All over.  As in, when I first started running in 2008.  But I'm viewing this as a "I wish that I knew what I know now" situation.  I'm not 100% newb like I was nine years ago, and that'll make running life a little easier.

6.   And for real, on that note, life (in general) would be way more simple if we all took this picture seriously.  

7.  Back to food:  Ever get really proud of yourself over a great food idea?  Yes.  Me.  Always.

8.  Ummmm, I let this happen yesterday.

(Turn down the volume -- I got really loud with all of the excitement, lol)

9.  I'm SUPER EXCITED BECAUSE I GET TO SEE MY SUZ tomorrow night!  She has such a beautiful soul, has a wonderful talent for encouraging and lifting other up, is a fantastic athlete and trainer, and is extremely dedicated to the art of food porn:

10.  This weekend is mine and Sophia's FRIEND-IVERSARY!  We're celebrating, BIG TIME.

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RECAP QUESTIONS:

What Podcasts are you listening to?


Latest food hack that you're especially proud of?


What was the last fun thing you celebrated?

How I dealt with BLAH today...

Today was weird.  Or it started off that way, and slowly became better with the help of some stereotypical ways to make one feel better.

I did get SOME news about my foot (injury) this morning.  It wasn't want I expected (or wanted), and I still have a thousand thoughts going on in my head.  I still have SEVERAL questions to ask.

What I DO know is that I can run soon.  Very soon.  More on that later.

Also, the treadmill at The Running Institute has a baller view.

Seeing a wonderful friend was a must.  We had made our lunch date with my doctor's appointment and Suz's IVF info in mind, and I'm so happy it worked out the way it did.  Disappointed, slightly shattered, and a little bit devastated, I let myself be a little hot mess in front of my friend.  If I could spill my guts to anyone that wasn't my husband, it'd be Suz.

I <3 that she's my friend, my sounding board, my human to BLAH BLAH BLAH to, and I <3 her hugs.  She may be tiny, but she gives the best hugs.

Also, do you ever take pictures of your friends showing their blogger colors?  haha. <3

Ramen was good for the soul today.  Especially when it's 9*F out, and especially on a day that started off mildly disappointing.

I couldn't resist another form of stereotypical "deal" when I went grocery shopping.

And I'm ending my weird day with a little bit of this.  Not to make myself feel better, but to at least cheers with my husband to a brighter day.

And on that note, all I know is that sometimes, no matter what, it will be okay.  No matter the disappointing news, no matter the amount of question marks, and no matter the amount of UGH you're going through, it WILL be okay.  Tomorrow will be better, always.

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Tell me something happy about your day.:)

One Sentence Kind of Marvelous Monday

All I really wanted to do Saturday morning was to sit and drink coffee...so I did.

After a lot of sitting (and eventually doing household chores), I had a hard decision to make.

Harry and I met up with buddies to do what we love best = Eat.:)

Bread pudding might be my new favorite dessert.

Sunday morning was dedicated to going out to the Polar Plunge to watch Fearless Leader Greg jump into Lake Michigan!...and Lady Gaga....

So many people get into this event.

This really is quite the event in Chicago.

This was the first time I've ever been to the Polar Plunge; it was pretty spectacular.

Greg took my phone with him to take pictures and videos (I have a waterproof case), and he didn't let us down in the point-of-view department!

We had a blast watching all of the Plungers in different costumes jump in the cold water.

It was my also the first time I've ever worn boots to the beach.

We were hungry after all that watching.

Greg was REALLY hungry!

We were also thirsty --------> Shamrock Shakes hit the spot.

The rest of my Sunday afternoon was dedicated to this.

I finally got to see Suz on the show, and it seriously made my life.<3

Y'all have a marvelous day!

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YOUR TURN --------> ONE SENTENCE to sum up your weekend for me!


Do you participate in any charity events?


Name one yummy thing you ate this weekend!

Running Always Lifts Me Up, and other marvelous things

HEY!  Happy February!  

Here's just a few (hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!) things from our weekend to throw in some Marvelous for your Monday.<3


So I posted this picture on last Friday's post.  I was D-O-N-E with last week, physically and mentally exhausted, and the only way I could illustrate that was to post this photo.

Turns out, I'm not that original.

I know.  I'm just as shocked as you are.

Anyway

Saturday morning = my longest run of 2016 (hah).  Can you say "GORG"?

I realized that I still had the timing loop on my shoe from the Rock 'N' Roll Arizona 10K.  I haven't had to place one of those thingies on my shoe in I don't know how long, so I guess it's only natural that I just plumb forgot about it.

Two songs came on that rocked my freaking world.

8.16 miles -- my longest in a while, without injury or being sick.:)

When I got home, I couldn't warm up for anything.  I had some breaky (toast and eggs and a 'naner), and took a shower-steam-bath combo.<3 <3 <3 <3 <3  Harry came home from his long run with something special for me.

But not really.  That's his breaky and coffee.

Some (very) random cleanup around the house = tea kettle, humidifier water thingy, one of Harry's hats, and my cycling shoes.  They needed a scrub.  In the dishwasher.

This was us for the rest of the afternoon --------------> pulling the ottoman in front of the couch, snuggling up, and cue Netflix.  We dug into "Sense 8".  We only watched the first episode, but it was intense!  Check it out.

Dinner was with some kinfolk at BRGRBELLY, one of our favorite neighborhood spots.

They always give you a yummy cookie to devour with your burger, like a little treat on a job well-done.  I noticed that my cookie was kind of small...and sad.  The cookies used to be a little bigger, I swear!  I whined a little, and Dave, Harry's cousin's boyfriend, gave me his.  Maybe he really didn't want his.

Or he just wanted me to quit whining about it.

Afterward, we stopped at the little tea shop nearby.  Harry adores tea, and this place will hook you up with any style and flavor you can think of.  It's definitely on his list of happy places.

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Sunday morning brought on some procrastination and coffee.  I had a few things to work on, had my day set out, and it included a run somewhere in there.  Harry was going over to Fearless Leader Greg and Solemate Steph's house for some home-brewing; I was going to meet up with them later.

I ended up moving my run and errands to early afternoon, heading out to a trail in the 'burbs.  I like this trail, as it's a very clear out-and-back, but the power lines are a bummer.

It was 50*F and pretty breezy, but why not shorts?!  Well, two sad reasons:  I'm pale as a ghost, and I hadn't shaved in a couple of days.  Yeah, TIM, sorry.

Off to TJ's for some necessities.

 And then off to have some Sunday margaritas with Stephanie.  It was my idea to get the pitcher, which I'd regret just a bit later.



It was Steph's idea to get the guac.  We split the bill, but I'm pretty sure I ate wayyyyyy more than she did.

Three or so margaritas later, we met up with Greg and Harry at the bar they mosey'd over to after they were done brewing.  They all wanted to play pool; I warned them that I wasn't great at it.  Greg and Steph won both games, to say the least.:D

The rest was pretty much history for the evening.  I got into bed early, and now here I sit, typing to you marvelous people.

SOME TRUTH before you leave (Source:  Runner's World)

Happy new week, happy new month!:)
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Do you have any awesomely amazing plans for the next 29 days (THAT'S RIGHT -- LEAP YEAR!)?


Favorite kind of burger?
-I ask the dumbest questions sometimes.


When was your last race? 


FOLLOW-UP:  Are you looking forward to another one soon?