Girls Night Out and Monday Mini-Goals

I had a pretty busy weekend and had to work both Saturday and Sunday. Since I moved my long run to Friday, I took a rest day on Saturday and was able to squeeze in a 1 hour bike ride (18.5 miles) Sunday afternoon. After work on Sunday, I had a girl's night out at California Pizza Kitchen. It's kind of sad, but I haven't had the time to socialize lately, so last night was really fun with good company and good food :) I got the California Club pizza, and we split the red velvet cake for dessert. OMG that red velvet cake... It had cream cheese frosting, white chocolate shavings, vanilla sauce, AND vanilla ice cream. Amazing.

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Foodie Pen Pals September Reveal

It's Foodie Pen Pals Reveal Day! Don't know what Foodie Pen Pals is? Each month, you sign up and get paired with another foodie. You get to know them a little and what they like. Then you put together a little package filled with yummy treats for them! (Spending limit of $15). The best part is, you get a package from another participant. At the end of the month, bloggers who received packages share what they got from their pal on the Reveal Day.


For this month, I was paired with Bree over at The Thing About Joy. She filled my package with healthy treats, both homemade and store-bought! I also got cute cards with a hand-written note and a recipe for the cookies she made me! How sweet :)

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Training Log 9/22- 9/28

This week was crazy high volume with both running and biking. On Sunday, I biked a personal distance record of 100 miles on my first century ride. Those were some hilly, beautiful, and fast miles! Seriously, I thought the day went by way too fast. On Friday, I decided to go for my peak mileage with my long run, and ran 20 miles. It's less than a month now until the Marine Corps Marathon, and I'm about to get busy with travelling for interviews, so I'm glad I got to squeeze a 20-miler in this week. Taper time is soon, so that'll probably mean more biking and less running. Or maybe less of both since I am traveling every weekend leading up to the marathon! 


9/22 Sunday- 100 mi bike (Back Roads Century)

9/23 Monday- rest

9/24 Tuesday- speedwork, total 5 miles

9/25 Wednesday- 8 mi easy

9/26 Thursday- 24 mi bike

9/27 Friday- 20 mi run

9/28 Saturday- rest

Totals:

Biked- 124 mi
Ran- 33 mi

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Whole Grain Pumpkin Pancakes

Let's start the weekend off with some pumpkin pancakes, shall we?

I can't think of a more perfect breakfast on a cool autumn morning :)

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Why I'm Riding 4400 miles Across the US

Cancer is a loaded word. It has touched everyone in some way or another. Maybe you have felt the tremors when you heard that a friend of a friend was recently diagnosed. Or maybe it has violently shaken your life and turned it upside down, whether you are battling it yourself or are fighting for someone near and dear to you.

Cancer is a powerful force that changes lives, but those who are facing cancer do not have to battle it alone. I made a decision to join hands with the cancer community to show my support.

I am on a mission to ride 4400+ miles across the country, from Baltimore, MD to Portland, OR with the 4K for Cancer in the summer of 2014.

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Peaking with Marathon Training

The Marine Corps Marathon is exactly 30 days away! I decided to go on a long run this morning. At about mile 10, I decided to make my long run into a 20-miler. My personal distance record, and the peak mileage that I am planning on doing. I hit the 20 mile mark mainly for the confidence boost. From here on out, it's all going to be downhill with my training. Until the actual marathon, of course :)

So today, I learned what my fueling plan is NOT going to be. I'm NOT going to only drink 8oz of water and I'm NOT only going to eat a 110 calorie gel at mile 10. Yea... I was smart enough to do both those things today. Since I wasn't planning on going 20 miles, I only brought along a small Amphipod 8oz water bottle and a Clif Shot gel (Double Expresso). Such a bad idea and I was hurting starting at mile 15, going up a hill. The dreaded WALL was looming in front of me, and I felt a deep gnawing hunger in my stomach. I also felt generally fatigued, and I slowed down a lot to conserve energy. I made it through, though, and didn't actually hit the wall, even though I was so close I could brush up against it.

So, next time. Bring more fuel. 

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Every Mile Matters: My Next Big Goal

My goal for this fall is to complete my first full marathon. I've been thinking about what I want to accomplish after that. A spring marathon? PR in another distance? Or even try a triathlon? I've been thinking about triathlons lately...

Reflecting on this past year, I have gone from a non-runner to an endurance athlete. My "runniversary" is coming up next month, October 21st, the day of my first race, my first half marathon. That was the day that I'll never forget, when I reached my goal of finishing the once-intimidating distance. This past year was the year of working towards my personal goals and self-betterment. I would say that I have been quite successful.

So onto the next year.

I have put so much effort into training for endurance running and cycling events, solely for myself. Now, I want to use my sports to do something beyond myself. I want to give back to my community. And the best way I know how is to pour my passion for my sports into my passion for serving others.

I have decided to dedicate this year towards supporting the cancer community and joining their fight against the life-changing disease through the 4K for Cancer. The 4K for Cancer is a cross-country ride across America, but it's so much more than that.  Along the way, the riders serve the cancer community, share their stories, and give them hope and inspiration.

To learn more about why I am doing this, check out my profile page HERE.

I will be sharing more about my journey, so stay tuned!

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