Brandon is being a world traveler lately so I have been indulging in things like really really bad TV (like, Real Housewives bad) and writing a little blog post since it has been about 2 months since I posted anything other than a veggie soup recipe. Plus, it’s summatime! Ahhhh, summer. I love you.
Rewinding to ahh.. err.. the months of April and May, I’ve been trying to keep myself busy with the usuals – food, family, travel…
Celebrating Easter with my family <3
Attending the incredibly fun Best of City Pages soiree – live band, gorgeous venue, oyster bar (!!) and GLAM DOLL DONUTS which I haven’t been able to stop thinking about since. I mean, they had sriracha peanut butter donuts. Definitely go next year if you are a TC person and make sure to check out City Page’s summer music festival lineup when it gets announced later this week!
Running my first-ever 10k and hitting my goal time with a 53:13 finish (I was shooting for ~55 min) as part of marathon training back in April.
Visiting our friends in Chicago, having a drink in the Hancock Tower Signature Room, cheering on the White Sox and running the Lakefront (I LOVE CHICAGO!)….
and celebrating another duo of friends who got hitched at their beautiful wedding in Milwaukee (where I had the chance to run Lake Michigan a little further north).
Now, I am officially on week 16 of 18 in my Grandma’s Marathon Training!! I would like to write about the whole training experience someday soon, maybe after the race, but it will be a novel because it’s been a crazy ride! For now, here are a couple quick thoughts on how marathon training has been so far:
- I have a hard time managing 6 days per week of running (I’m on the Grandma’s-sponsored marathon training plan). I will be returning to my beloved Hal Higdon plans for the next race. I’ve been taking extra rest days and am unsure that I’m really getting enough mileage (??? HELP, so much conflicting internet advice!!!), so I am definitely going to pick something with less days per week of running that I can follow more precisely.
- I really wish I was doing a little more cross-training. I had SUCH a sore/injured IT band after my first half marathon I didn’t want to run for a LONG time afterward. My last few halfs I was doing some strength training and felt a lot better for it. I’m not really cross-training at all during this training cycle and I miss it/need it.
Brandon and I did go cruising around on our new bikes a couple times over the past few weeks. His bike is new-new, and mine is an 80’s classic from my parent’s garage. They bought it the year I was born, and it gets me around the lakes and down the street for a burger and a beer. Cross-training, right? I did 8 minute abs a couple times too (<– definitely check out this video. It’s the best). Like, 2 times. Count it!
- Overall, training is going well. It is definitely harder than I expected it to be! And it hurts, but I guess it isn’t supposed to be easy. I finished my 2nd attempt (yep) at a 20 mile run yesterday and don’t feel totally wrecked today, which I think is a good sign. NOW I feel ready to run 26.2 in 3 weeks. Well, maybe after my legs rest up a little 
I officially kicked off the summer in the Twin Cities with my parents’ help this past weekend while they were up visiting and moving my sister. I’m geared up for all the activity and excitement of summer – absolutely my favorite time of year. Bring on the BBQs, lake days, fireworks and sunshine. And oysters, because there ain’t nothing better than dining on oysters al fresco on the patio at Salut.
That’s all for now! Leave me a comment if you stopped by and let me know how your summer is going? (or just text me, I like that too :)) What’s the first thing you did when the weather warmed up?! I wore shorts and a tank to run (YES!!) and drank a margarita. Yep, in that order. Happy summer!
