my first 10k race and attempt at a green thumb

And wow...it's already Sunday again, which means I haven't blogged in a week. My bad.

Putting that aside...

This morning I ran in my first 10k. It may seem silly considering I've already ran a half marathon (which I did a full recap of on my other blog and plan to reblog it over here!) and a 5-miler, but never a 10k. It was honestly the perfect distance for where I'm at in my running "career." I think I'll take the summer off, and attempt a second half in 2013 - sounds like a good year to me!

In terms of running races in general though, I think I need to run in more just to get over that initial nervous feeling, because it was all up in me this morning! I pretty much get to a race just before it's about to start just so I don't have the build up of nerves.

For this one today, I got there with 15 minutes to spare, which was just enough time for me to get safety pins and get that number on me!

 The hubby generously took a pic of me pre-race (aka the nicer looking version of me).

The post-race pics aren't as pretty, mainly because I always wear more clothing than I should, and then become overheated while running. Yes, I'm so brilliant.

The hubby couldn't come with me to the race because he had to work, but I somehow coaxed my mom and sister into attending. Ok so I bribed my sister with Starbucks...nbd.

My sister was my professional photog - she took a good action shot of me. But first, let me tell you about the course. Along with a 10k, they also had a 5k and 1k; the track I was on was actually a 5k and 10k peeps just ran it twice. This allowed me to run past my mom and sister halfway, which was so nice when you just wish that you signed up for the 5k instead.

I was happy when it was over and note to self: dress how you planned on dressing even if the weather doesn't feel like it will warm up because it does - hello, you're running!!

Me and the little sis after. I'm surprised she got that close to me. I warned her I was a sweaty mess, but she must love me that much to see past my smelliness.

We hung out for a little bit and then we went to the greenhouse.

I've never had a garden before (especially since I live in a gardenless place - aka townhouse with no lawn), but knew I wanted at least some herbs in some pots on the balcony.  My grandma graciously gave me some old potters a few weeks ago, and they have just been sitting on my balcony with no plant life in them.

So after the race, I asked my mom if we could stop at this one greenhouse we drive by, especially since I knew their herbs were on sale.

$20 later, I had some very nice herbs and a few other things, plus soil to fill those empty potters.

My sister came back to my place and watched me make a mess plant away, which didn't take too long, or maybe I just don't know what I'm doing...hence the 'first attempt at a green thumb' title.

I successfully got everything transferred to pots and here is this final look:

I also have a few peony plants snuck in there that my mom bought me last weekend because I love peonies. I'm pretty excited for them to bloom!

Just disregard the pile of soil in the cardboard box. Like I said, my planting was more like 'scattering soil' - I think I slightly confused it for confetti.

I hope they survive for at least a month, because I'm about to get into what I actually purchased today.

Ok, so I lied - I didn't purchase the chives; they're from my grandma's garden that she dug up for me yesterday. But, I promise the rest I did purchase...like the basil below.

A hot pepper plant (!!!) and kale (!!!!) - clearly I'm a big fan of both.

The herb plant pot - cilantro (my absolute fave), parsley and watercress. 

I lined everything up at the back of my balcony and crossing fingers, eyes and toes that they will grow and survive to give me good food all summer.

And finally, I also got two little plants for inside.

Really interested in seeing how my green thumb is...

QUESTION: How is your green thumb? Or do you have one? AND/OR what is your favourite thing to grow/would want to grow if you had a garden?!

tuesday thrills

1. Is it possible to go your whole life allergy-free then all of a sudden get them? Because that seems to be the only thing that makes sense for where this stuffy nose is coming from.

2. I tried Love Grown Foods granola for the FIRST time ever today. I think I was living under a rock before then. My flavour of choice:

source

3. I also tried So Delicious banana split coconut milk ice cream sandwiches for the first time yesterday. They are also another reason why I think I've been living under a rock up until now. I only ate one, but it could have easily been 5. Edited to add: I just noticed that these delicious little things only have a 100 calories per bar...super bonus!

4. It's crazy, but it's been a while since I've ran outside (considering how nice the weather is lately). I have this weird obsession with watching old Grey's Anatomy episodes, so I would go over to my mom's house and set up my laptop at perfect height to run and watch it (kill two birds with one stone type of deal --> edited: Char had a muuuuch better phrase to put here that I'm going to start using instead...she's so clever! Feed two birds with one scone!!). It was quite a brilliant set up, if you ask me...

Now it's time to be a big girl and run outside, where the sunshine exists.

5. I just discovered from someone's retweet on Twitter that you can listen to the whole new Temper Tramp album, all you have to do is click HERE!!! My fav song by them will always be 'Love Lost' because the first time I heard it was in Australia, and that place is so amazing! Their new album is sounding pretty good...as I listen to it while writing this ;)

6. I haven't taken a 'real' picture since getting an iPhone. It also doesn't help that I had to give my tester camera back a few weeks ago. Plus, the memory card isn't working for some reason on our current camera...so iPhone pictures it is, for now!

7. On Sunday (aka the last day of half-price fraps at Starbucks), I tried a chai tea frap and it was delicious. I wish I had tried it sooner because paying full-price for a frap is just non-sense!

And yes...I got a venti.

8. This is my mom's little cutie and such a fluffy furball mess!

My sis didn't want in the picture, but she's my little cutie ;)

9. I went to my first (our town's second) farmer's market this past Saturday. I didn't get much, but I still consider these some good pick ups!

And lastly...

10. Tomorrow is my birthday and I turn...old (aka: 26). I totally freaked out when turning 25, so 26 shouldn't be as bad...but, why am I still freaking out?!

It also kind of sucks that I have school tomorrow on my birthday. I started on Friday and let me tell you, it's going to be a fuuunnnn 6 weeks. I can already tell. Complete with a lot of crying and complaining to my friends who are strung along with me. We must be crazy!

QUESTION: What are your Tuesday thrills?!?

sunday funday

I don't know why that phrase always makes me think of my husband's friend, but it does.

(Husband, husband's friend, Jared)

Maybe it's because the first time I actually laughed about that expression was when he quoted it from Jared. Don't worry Jared, I concur...especially with a caesar/bloody mary in hand ;)

Maybe we should change all the other day's of the week (minus Monday) to something that rhymes with fun. Like Tuesday could be Runday (which it pretty much is for me anyways, since it's a day off school I actually do have to run!). Wednesday could be Wonday. Thursday could be Punday. Friday itself can just be Funday; because 1) you don't want to take the 'F' out of TGIF, and 2) it is fun to celebrate the weekend coming. And, Saturday could be Satunday!

Where was I when they came up with the names of days?! Oh right...not born!

My Sunday funday started with a little muffin action. As a vegan, the one thing I do miss on the odd occasion are muffins. It's highly unlikely that you can get a muffin (and by that I mean buy) anywhere made without eggs or milk. I'm fine with making them myself, but it definitely does suck when you're on campus and someone across the table from you is eating a crazy-good looking muffin, and you have nothing. 

I solved that 'nothing' problem and made some banana chocolate chip. Now I'll be the one making people jealous tomorrow morning. I used the recipe from the 30 Day Vegan Challenge, which provides fool-proof recipes.

Sunday funday continued with a nice outdoor run. It's been 8 days since I've ran, but I'm ok with it. I had a busy, busy week that my priorities were different and it didn't kill me to not run. I still managed to squeeze in some 12 min BodyRock's! The one non-fun thing about my run though...my watch died before my run was done.

It was my own stupid fault. I got cocky and thought 23% battery life would get through 5 miles. FYI: it doesn't!

It's now charging so I won't have that problem the next time I set out for run. Maybe I'll test the limits with 30%, but never 27% again...unless it's a little stroll! 

I think I ran pretty close to 5 miles (which was my intention), but the last time I checked my watch before it died, I was at 4.39 mi and then I have no idea when it died after that. I guess it's up to my own interpretation, so this is where I can say that I ran 15 miles in 46 minutes. Alright, you might catch onto my lies, so I'll just leave it at 5 ;)

Now, I'm set out to do a workout with the hub at 1:30pm (after he's finished up with some golf lessons) and not gonna lie...just spend the rest of the day relaxing. That's my kinda Sunday funday!

QUESTION: What are YOU doing this Sunday funday?!

defied all odds

Today I did the most unlikely thing I've done all week...I switched up my breakfast!

I am such a toast with PB&J kinda gal, that I cannot get enough of it, but this morning, I made a vow to myself (and other food choices) to not go there. I had to remind myself that I wasn't allow to make toast this morning.

It was oatmeal's time to reshine! (is it ironic that my toaster is in the pic above? ;))

I defied all odds! Especially since 'defy' means to openly resist and I think I pretty much did that this morning when I had to tell myself...NO toast! ;) I had the 'classic' oatmeal; complete with brown sugar and (almond) milk with a little not-so-classic mix-ins like ground flax, a little cinnamon, blueberries and raisins (unpictured - I added them after the shot...oops!)

*****

I managed to bust out another outdoor run yesterday (after a little coaching myself, like I've done before), but the weather caught me off guard! I guess I'm still not overly used to this warm weather, that I actually went out for a midday run with a jacket on. What was I thinking? Let's just say that it came off within a matter of minutes! I really have forgotten since last spring/summer why I chose to run either in the morning or evening...makes sense again!

(because this is what happens when I come home from a midday run...sweaty mess!)

I really don't believe in pushing yourself when you know your body can't take it, and I'm almost sure that I didn't do this yesterday, but I'm not 100%. See, on my last run (from Tuesday), once I had gotten home, I had realized (luckily it didn't interfere with running) that my ankle was kind of sore. Then, I was going to run again on Thursday, but didn't end up doing it, and thank goodness I didn't because on Friday I actually noticed that my ankle was a little swollen. I didn't even think to check for this in previous days. I just assumed it was a little sore.

It kind of worried me that it was still swollen 3 days after I ran, and it doesn't help that it still hurts a little bit. But luckily, I didn't reswell it with my run yesterday.

Do you like my new use of words with 're' in front?! Reshine. Reswell.

Just don't push yourself if you know it might negatively impact your body and have you out for longer than if you had just decided to take a break.

I think I better google some exercises to strengthen ankles, apparently! And, take it easy when I do decide to run next!

Such a gorgeous Sunday out there. Hope you ate your oatmeal or pancakes or cereal or toast and are going to enjoy this beautiful day! I have homework ahead of me (2 midterms + an assignment due next week...yay, for school work never ending!) and welcome my hubby home.

I never told you any of this, but he was gone all week on a March Break golf trip with some juniors. He was down in South Carolina!

The only reason I wasn't jealous (or bitter) that he was gone and I was stuck at home is because the weather was so beautiful here. I wouldn't be surprised if our weather actually beat his one day! So anyways, he comes back later this evening, which is awesome.

Have a great day!

QUESTION: What did you have for breakfast?! Is there anything you had that you think would permanently detach me from eating toast every morning?!

get out there!

Have you entered my LARABAR giveaway yet?! Go right now and enter here! (Closes Friday)
*****

Sometimes I like to talk to myself to make me do things - mostly in my head, because it'd be pretty embarrassing if someone actually caught me doing that!

Yesterday was one of those days. Luckily, I was in the comfort of my home, giving me the ability to shout...err...talk away!

The weather is pretty spectacular in south-western Ontario right now that I knew this week was prime for finally running outside. The last time I ran outside was on December 31st, 2011 when I ran a 5-miler down in Florida. As you can see, this was pretty much half a century ago, in runner's terms!

Some might ask, 'well why didn't you run outside when you returned back home?!' and my answer would be that I hate winter and any excuse to stay away from it is ok with me. Running on the treadmill is almost as bad as winter running, but not quite, so I sucked it up the past few months, and took to the belt!

With the Canadian weather finally cooperating, I've been pumping myself up for the much anticipated run outside. If I had to watch curling on the TV at the gym one more time, I might  have...learned how to play, myself (haha kidding!). It's not even the same person working behind the desk when I go to the gym, so why is curling aways on? And why is curling always on that channel, anyways?! Obviously curling is a tender subject still....

Back to the running outside anticipation: sometimes when I have a build-up of anticipation, it can back fire, where I start thinking of excuses why I shouldn't do that thing I've been anticipating.

This almost happened with my run yesterday, but then I told myself to, get out there!!

So, I got out there, and got this done...

If I had not gotten out there, then I would have never realized how awesome a first run outside (after months of hibernation) would be! I would have never realized that my pace is actually quicker outside and would have continued to be frustrated with the treadmill. I would have never gotten much needed vitamin D and been able to run on natural inclines.

The moral of this story is, if you stop and pause to think for even one second, you might talk yourself out of something you know you want to do. So just tell yourself...get out there!


Have a great Wednesday! Mine will be spent on campus for 12 hours...yaaaaay!

For that, I definitely needed to start my day off with some lovely tea.

And maybe Starbucks...don't judge!

reflections from a week off

I must admit that, although I didn't go anywhere for my week off school (aka: reading week), I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I had vowed to work out everyday, and pretty much do nothing (in terms of things that required brain power). I totally held up with the latter, and surprisingly the former!

I managed to work out nine days in a row!! Before I go into details, I just want to let you know that I did not overdue it each day - I took the hard days with the easy ones.

This was a good chance to get caught up on some much needed butt-kicking and running. I love to run, but between winter (ie. dreadmill and avoiding it) and school, I haven't paid much attention to it. I knew I needed that to change soon, and when better than a week off school?!

I ended up running 15 miles total last week, but they were all torturous runs. I have this cold that began the week before my week off and it just won't go away. Worse than a cold is a lingering cold. If someone would like to come take it off my hands, I wouldn't mind. Needless to say, I was having a hard time doing 9 minute-miles, and when I tried to break the 8 marker, I had an internal battle with myself thinking it was dying!

Other than working out, I did a little reading (not!) and cooking good foods. I'm pretty much the most boring person ever...good thing I realized this halfway through the post.

Had we ventured to Florida like the original plan in my head entailed, then I would have had more exciting news, like running the Disney Princess Half Marathon 2 days ago and getting so tanned that I wouldn't need to cake-on the blush/bronzer everyday! But husbands have to work...

Now that my reflecting period is over, it's time to get back to stats assignments and squeezing in workouts when you can!

This is the workout I have planned for myself in a few hours...onset of crying may begin...NOW (mainly because I have more than 1/2 of this stats assignment to still finish)

QUESTION: Given a week off, what would you do? Please say you're more interesting than me!