I had those chicken salad cups! they are yum. They are usually found in the refrigerated fresh foods section, next to hummus, ravioli, beet salads, etc.
Thanks bb!
I know I don’t usually complain about the heat/summer (I allow myself one season to complain- and that is winter), but this morning was brutal. 73 with 92% humidity at 6 am. I felt terrible. 3.1 miles and I was soaking wet. Yesterday started #noshirtsummer for me, though. It feels a little strange to go out the door in just the sports bra and shorts, but it is definitely the way to go. Heading to Dallas in the morning, so we’ll see how I do in the 80 degree wake-up temperatures I endured for 28 years!
Made the trek down to Oak Cliff Bicycle shop yesterday with DH to look at upgrading my heavy bike. Other than some mountain bikes, they had an inventory of about 5 bikes, most in the $300-$500 range. The shop was tiny, and I think it is more geared to service and repair than to sales. Back to Richardson Bike shop I suppose.
On the other hand, enjoyed a nice stroll through the Bishop Arts District in Dallas and scored a tasty lunch with DH. Unfortunately that lunch probably used up a whole week’s worth of my carb allowance.
I’m sure Richardson Bike Mart still has the market pretty much cornered there.
It was a beautiful morning here - 50 degrees and 74% humidity - big change from yesterday’s heatwave. I am happy to report that I had a substantial improvement in my pace this morning - not feeling quite as discouraged. I was starting to think I was going to be one of those runners with a ten hour marathon time! I really like Garmin gives you the HR “zones” - and I am glad to see that almost 90% of my time was aerobic.
I’ve been reading some of the Maffetone books - while the reading is a bit challenging to follow (especially at night when I’m tired) - it’s been really helpful in terms of understanding the method. I can see a light at the end of the tunnel. The best part is I am not exhausted and hurting at the end of every run.
Stretch class yesterday was good - today is my challenge Pilates class. My triceps and quads are still sore from last week.
I am back from a fabulous vacation. Re-entry is always tough, though. I think the last time I posted was just before we did a 1 mile run. I ended up 2nd in my age group (new age group) but was only behind by .2 seconds. Decided I really don’t like racing that distance so I doubt I’ll do it again next year.
We started out vacation running the Grand Teton Half Marathon which was fantastic. Neither of us had any issue with the altitude and I’m grateful for that. It was a beautiful day and the course was gorgeous - just beautiful scenery the whole way. My time was pretty good and I ended up 2nd in my age group (there is a theme going here). We spent the week doing lots of hiking and sightseeing in the Tetons and then in Yellowstone. One hike was great, but it was 15 miles and the last mile up was trudging through snow. It was deep and if you fell through the top layer, you’d go down to your thigh at least. So that last mile was really hard work. I ended up with 330 floors that day according to Fitbit (it was over 3000 elevation gain, so I think it was accurate). It was fun and it was a great day. One other day was also a 15 mile hike, but less elevation change so it was easier. The other hikes were somewhat shorter and lots of great scenery everywhere. Yellowstone was beautiful but so many people there.
We ended vacation running the Yellowstone Half Marathon and it was brutal. It was a trail run and the trail was really rough - very rocky, very narrow in parts, and a killer hill. I tripped a bunch of times and I’m really lucky that I didn’t wipe out badly. I had to walk occasionally which I hate having to do but there was no way I was going to be able to run all the way up that hill. I don’t ever want to run a trail half marathon again. I ended up just barely under 2 hours, so not a fantastic time but still respectable. I ended up 2nd in my age group yet again!
These National Parks races are really well organized and were a lot of fun. The finisher medals were really cool, probably the nicest I’ve gotten. The medals for coming in 2nd were also really nice. I think we’ll look into doing more of them in the future, although not any more trail runs.
I have so many posts to catch up on! That’s the downside to going on vacation. But catching up on posts is a lot more fun than catching up on the mountains of laundry that needs to be done. And there is no food in the house so I absolutely have to get to the grocery store after work!
It sounds like a fantastic trip. Congratulations on the great race results. I think a time of under 2 hours for a hard trail marathon is incredible! Trail running is a whole different deal!
Did a pilates class early in the morning, then walked around this local farmer’s market with the brie cheese with sliced almonds and apricot filling. OMG IT IS AWESOME. Then a yoga class, then ran some errands. Have OrangeTheory later on this evening. Retirement is great!
^^^There’s that brie again! I have friends in your area - I might have to request they buy it for me next time I’m out there!!! Sounds amazing!
C3B, what an incredible vacation. And man, a sub 2 hour trail run under those conditions sounds incredible!
I did a trail run in the Oregon Coast range last fall. 1:33 (and change)… for 10K. The first few half-marathoners on the same trail were passing me as I finished. Anyone who can do a half of any kind in under two hours is AWESOME.
Wow, PG. That Brie combo sounds excellent.
Congrats C3B! Clearly I am not on the “fast track” so I’m impressed. Your vacation sounds fantastic!
I ran 8.6 miles at a snail’s pace. In the training program I’m using by Jeff Galloway, he says, ““recommended pace is at least 2 min/mi slower than your best half marathon performance during the last year. You cannot go too slowly on the long runs.” And then there’s dealing with heat: slowing approximately 30 seconds per mile for every 5 degrees above 60F. Accordingly, on this 85 degree morning, my pace should approach infinitely slow 
Seriously though, if I: optimistically assume I could run a half marathon pace of 10 min/mi, my long run training pace in Florida’s summer conditions should be 14:30 min/mi. This morning I used a 3:1 run/walk interval, kept my HR in the aerobic or transition zone for 95% of the time and ended up with a pace averaging out to a 13’25” min/mile. Beat that, fellow mollusks! One good thing is knowing that I’ll have no trouble making it to the finish line of the half. I also walked another 2 tonight with DH. Looks like I’ll have a 25K step day.
Congrats, C3Baker! Wow. That is a STELLAR half time for a trail race - at an elevated altitude.
@C3Baker, awesomely great races. I’m not worthy.
I ran 2 miles and walked another. Then played 9 holes of golf for 21,000 steps today.
Of course with @abasket’s ice cream discussion I can’t stop thinking of the ice cream I’m going to have tonight. The mango mochi from traders joes or the Choco Taco. Hmmm!
I think I am going to have a scoop of ice cream for dinner today! (Not as a dessert, as the dinner. )
^^^^ Sorry about that! But it’s one reason why I DO exercise!!!
Nice run tonight. Apparently my body was in the mood - I never claim to be speedy - my typical run pace is 10-10:30 /mile pretty consistently. Rarely under 10min/mile. Tonight I ran 9:30ish/mile. Felt pretty good but I have to wonder if my app was off!!!
Meant to share that this weekend I was able to see something cool in person. My niece has a treadmill desk! I wasn’t expecting something as legit as it was. Quite cool! She is someone who thrives on doing more than one thing at a time. She says she averages at least 2 hours a day on it. It literally is a treadmill that can go up to 4mph that has a nice size desk area above the treadmill - and actually the treadmill “dashboard” is on the face of the desk area. Wow, I don’t know how she does it but she does! She says she usually keeps it at 3.0 - 3.5 - which IMO is still pretty fast while multi-tasking! She works for my brother. Have no idea how she convinced him to purchase this for her!
Oh don’t be sorry, abasket! I had a ginormous lunch today… so I was thinking about all possible dinner options - Mr. is gone on yet anothet business trip, so I was in the mood for something quick and easy (after making a Moldovan spread on Saturday). Nothing quick looked attractive, but ice cream sounded good! (No, I am not pregnant. 
) Of course, it will not be a DQ cone or Skinny Cow bar!
My hip is still thinking about whether it wants to give me trouble or not… So I am treading it lightly with running on it for another week.
Been traveling since last Wed–from the east coast (Nantucket) to the midwest (Cleveland) for a family committment and then back to the east coast (Providence) to watch Olympic Trials for rhythmic gymnastics (my D is a judge). Got steps in but that was it. Home today and back to the gym tomorrow. Just didnt feel like doing anything today except unpacking.
Congrats CB3 on your half marathon races–your races were in some beautiful places. Also–congrats to all the others here who did races this weekend. (Blanking on specifics, but remember that several people were racing.) Wish there were similar events to challenge those of us who aren’t runners.
@BunsenBurner, sorry to hear your hip is still bothering you. Refresh my memory, have you had any imaging studies to determine whether there are any structural joint issues going on? If there are none, you might benefit from some lower kinetic chain fascia release techniques and stretching that enable your lower kinetic chain to function with better alignment and flexibility that eliminate compensations that are giving rise to your pain. Simply stretching the lower kinetic chain muscles might not be enough; the fascia release plays a major role in proper alignment and allowing the muscle to function freely. If this is something you think might benefit you, let me know and I can point you in a direction for some good resources for techniques and exercises designed specifically to address lower kinetic chain fascia. It’s amazing what you can accomplish with a properly placed tennis ball :).
I ran 4.2 miles last night in the 93 degree heat. Gotta love summer! It went OK, nice to be back on flat paved trails! Tonight will be a shorter slower run with the running club.
abasket - that treadmill desk sounds pretty wild! I suppose once you get used to it, it would work OK. But I can imagine a learning curve in focus/distraction while working and treadmilling simultaneously.
BB - I hope you enjoyed that ice cream last night! During the summer, we end up having ice cream for dinner on Sunday nights at least once a month. It’s a nice walk to the local ice cream place and since we usually have a big breakfast on Sundays, the rest of the day is lighter and less.
PlantMom - good job on your run. I’ll bet you will surprise yourself with how things go on your half marathon. It sounds as if you’ve done a lot of good training for it. When is the race?