Category Archives: Running

Operation Motivation

So it is no secret that I have been eating horribly lately. It has been pretty well-documented on here. And by horribly I mean deliciously, but unhealthily. Very, very unhealthily.

This has mostly just been on the weekends. During the week I have been fairly good (minus last week, but it was Halloween and my best friend was here so I am giving myself a pass). I haven’t really blogged about any of my healthy eats though, because they haven’t been anything new or exciting, and writing about my oatmeal and salads doesn’t hold the same luster it once did for me.

Though you know I still love my oatmeal…

I still eat it for breakfast nearly every day.

Now, the eating wouldn’t be that big of a problem on its own, but I have also really been slacking on the workouts. I was pretty good all summer on the running front because I genuinely enjoy running outside in my neighbourhood. There are some good running areas, like the cemetery (I know, creepy, but I really like running through it), and there’s also an awesome trail behind my apartment. And sometimes I just run on the streets. It’s busy so the people-watching really holds my interest and makes me forget that I’m running sometimes (I only run on the street after dinner though, because if I do it around rush hour I am constantly dodging people in suits on their way to or from work).

So all summer I was pretty dedicated to the running thing, and I was running outside about three days a week. And then sometime around late August I started running only two days a week, which gradually became just one day a week. And there were a couple weeks in October (last week being one of them) that I didn’t run at all.

Also, and this is embarrassing, my gym is on the end of my street and I haven’t set foot in it since I switched my membership over when I moved. It is literally a two minute walk from my apartment and I have worked out there exactly once. I haven’t done BodyPump or any strength training really since June.

Both my personal life and my professional life were up in the air for a while, and I find when this happens and I don’t have a regular routine, I eat like crap and slack on being active. I completely lose my motivation.

Soo guess what’s happening. I am gaining weight. This is no surprise. Eating pizza and nachos and chocolate and candy will do that. I probably haven’t gained a ton, but it happens quickly. My pants are fitting a little more snug than usual and overall I just do not feel very svelte. I’m pretty lucky that I have a fairly decent metabolism, and I’m not as heavy as I probably should be considering the amount that I eat. But still, I need to put a stop to this.

So yesterday I decided that I needed to engage Operation Motivation. I am starting a new job today (I am so excited!!!!! More on that later!) so I will finally have a steady routine again, and I figure it is a good time to start up a regular workout regimen. And hopefully the healthier eating will follow. Probably still not on weekends though, let’s not get too crazy.

To kick-off Operation Motivation I was going to run outside, but sadly I think these days might be over…

It is freezing now, and I do not get down with winter running.

So you know what this means…GYM TIME! For the first time since I moved, I went to the gym. I ran 5k on the treadmill, and I would have hated every second of it…

But I have made an amazing (in my opinion) playlist that really excites me. I haven’t posted any of my playlists lately, but here it is in all its glory. You can click on any of the links to watch the song’s YouTube video.

Bohemian Like You – The Dandy Warhols
Burn It Down – Linkin Park
Feeling Good – The Sheepdogs
Heavy Ceiling – Said The Whale
Ho Hey – The Lumineers (thank you to my BFF for introducing me to this song, I love it quite a lot)
I Predict A Riot – Kaiser Chiefs
I Will Wait – Mumford & Sons
It’s Time – Imagine Dragons
Jump Into the Fog – The Wombats
Kill Your Heroes – AWOLNATION
Little Talks – Of Monsters And Men
Madness – Muse
Professional Griefers – Deadmau5 feat. Gerard Way
Radioactive – Imagine Dragons
Reunion – M83
Robots – Dan Mangan
Take A Walk – Passion Pit
Time Bomb – 311
Tongue Tied – Grouplove

I like to save the songs on my running playlist and listen to them only when I’m running, because I am excited to listen to them so then it makes me excited to run. It is tricky though, there are a few on there that I just want to listen to on repeat over and over again.

But yesterday it worked. I was excited to run. And I felt so smug and great afterwards. So hopefully I can keep it up. My plan is to aim for three days a week of cardio (so treadmill and possibly arc trainer), and one day of strength training. We’ll see how it goes.

Anyway, NEW JOB! I start today! I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it later, but I don’t think it could be more perfect for me. It is a Communications and Social Media Specialist for a marketing/events agency and I am just so, so excited about it. It’s full time, permanent, and it’s a 20 minute walk (or two subway stops) from my apartment. I have worked with this company in the past at my old job, and I have always felt that they foster a very creative environment in their office. I have wanted to work there for a long time, but they don’t usually hire externally. So yeah, just good things! This is why I really try not to worry about things, because I know, everything will work out. It just will. Though I definitely did go through a bit of a funk when I lost my job. I think it would have been impossible not to. I actually went out for lunch with all my old coworkers on Friday to celebrate my new gig. It was really great to see them, and I am so grateful that they are still supportive of me even though we are no longer working buddies. I will always have a special place in my heart for them.

I hope you guys had a great weekend! I definitely have some shenanigans that I need to write about…

Running Business

You may have noticed that I have not been posting very much about running lately (or maybe you haven’t noticed, and maybe you don’t care). Truthfully I got into a bit of a running funk over the Christmas holidays, which lasted until February. I was running maybe one day a week (which definitely isn’t terrible, but I was half-assing it most of the time), usually on the treadmill, because I am not sure I’m really a fan of winter running.

And you know how I feel about the treadmill

It is so hard for me to be motivated on the treadmill.

But I really want to run my first 10k in May, so I figured it was time to get pumped up. To help me out in the motivation department, I downloaded the Couch to 10k app for my iPhone and just started it about halfway through.

(I used Couch to 5k when I first started running, so I can already run that distance…though I basically feel like I have to start over every time I take a break from the running thing.)

So the app is good. I like to have a goal to work towards to keep me into it, and I like that it is easing me into the 10k (a distance I never thought I would be able to run, because I am not a natural runner, as you may remember).

Since I have downloaded the app, I have actually only had to run a few times on the treadmill, as it has been insanely gorgeous outside lately and the perfect condition for outdoor runs!

Seriously, what the hell is this?! I am not complaining, but is this still winter? What is going on? I would be afraid for our climate if I wasn’t so busy enjoying the beautiful weather. (Oh and yes, I use Celsius, because I am Canadian. That is high 60s/low 70s I guess for you cheeky Americans, and it is really rare that it would be this warm at this time of year here. And please note if we Canadians did actually live in igloos they would have melted and we would be homeless.)

I do really like the app, but I’ve noticed that sometimes it just jumps ahead. For example, it will tell me to run straight for 20 minutes, and then 15 minutes in it will tell me to walk for three minutes. And I am torn because I know the 20 minutes isn’t up, but it really would be nice to just walk early…so that demotivates me. Walk time already? Welllll alright, you twisted my arm…

It is “cheating” (myself, I am cheating myself), but it’s hard to resist.

At first I thought this was happening because I was closing the program and changing songs on my iTunes, or using my RunKeeper app simultaneously or something (so I can track my distance), but it does it even if I leave it open and don’t touch it. So I don’t know what is up with that, but I am not a fan.

Otherwise the app is good (but if anyone happens to use that app and has had that happen before, please let me know if there is a way to make it stop).

Oh yeah, and I did also see a typo in the program:

You goal? What is that?

At least it didn’t say “You’re goal”, or I probably would have deleted the app and boycotted the program.

So for the past few weeks I have been running about three days a week using the app, and then one day just 5k straight. I have actually been running so much that although running outside compared to the treadmill makes me feel like this:

I have still been getting bored of my residential route.

So on Wednesday I decided to try something different, and I drove to a path I know on Lake Ontario try out a new running route.

It was quite sexy. Definitely Instagram-able. I really wish I could just walk out my front door and that would be my scenery.

I will just say, going from running not much at all, to running a few times a week, I noticed an immediate change in my body. I felt better about myself almost instantly. I wish I could just bottle that feeling and open it up when I am in a workout funk, because I sometimes forget how good it feels to just move and do things. But it is so easy to succumb to lazinesss. I feel like you are sedentary for a few days and it just snowballs into no exercise for a week. It’s important to keep the momentum, so you can remember how good it feels!

And also, I have said it before and I will say it again, running is the only thing that I find keeps everything “in check” body-wise (snug pants-wise).

Anyway, that’s what has been up with me on the running front. And I have been working on a cartoon post about the worst day of my life (don’t worry, the worst day of my life is now funny and a good story) for a while now, and I hope to post it by next week. It’s taking a while, but I like to take my time on my silly drawings.

I hope you guys have an awesome Friday!

For the Love of Being Active

Allo.

So yesterday I wrote about how to not hate running, and I feel as if it may need a little follow-up. I had a couple of comments that made me go “hmm, that is a good point,” and although I responded to them, I want to address them here as well because I feel they were valid with their concern. So today is yesterday’s less funny follow-up.

A couple people commented along the lines of “why force yourself to do something if you hate it?” and I AGREE, but I feel like that maybe didn’t come through in my writing.

Hate is a pretty strong word, and one that I try not to use often. When I use it to describe something like running, I guess I am trying to use it in more of a jokey-jokey manner.

I don’t think that I would ever do something if I really, truly hated it. But with running, I just thought I hated it. I never stuck with it enough to give myself a chance to like it. I assumed I hated it. I went into every run with thoughts of “I hate this” instead of being open-minded about it. Once I really gave running a chance, I discovered that fine, it’s not easy, but it has okay moments.

The other thing is, I have never exercised just to exercise, and I thought running was essentially exercising just to exercise.

But those comments made me think all day today about what activities I actually love.

Growing up I was active because I did a lot. I swam every day in the summer, did a lot of waterskiing and wakeboarding, skiing, skating, hiking in the forest, and played a few sports (I especially love volleyball even though I’m not great at it). I was outside doing stuff all the time. But the difference for me between those activities and exercising is those are all fun and I genuinely love them, and I have never found “exercising” fun.

But I don’t live on a lake anymore, so swimming, water sports, and skating every day are all out for me as ways to be active. I don’t live near very many hiking trails, so that is not really feasible either. My skis mysteriously disappeared after I left them in my Dad’s garage while I was moving (I am not blaming you Dad, but I’ll admit you are a suspect in their disappearance), and since there is no snow most of the time, that means skiing is out.

As for playing sports…sure, sometimes, but it’s not an every day thing. Office Boccia isn’t a very good workout (though it is fun).

I want to be active, and to maintain a healthy weight I need to be active, but all the activities that I truly love are not ones that I can do every day. The exercising just to exercise is a mindset thing, I know that, and my way of getting over it is to trick myself into liking activities that I previously thought were not fun. Or make activities that are typically not fun a good time.

Enter running. I love running because all I need to do it is a good sports bra, and a pair of running shoes (I do need new shoes though, mine are pretty old). I don’t need any other equipment, I don’t even need a treadmill. It gets me outside and active with minimal prep.

When I am running, I am still not thinking “I love this, this is so awesome!” but I have come up with little tricks to make myself like it. I like listening to music, so it helps me to like running. I like being competitive with myself, so I make up little games like “I WIN” to play while I am running. I like wearing new clothes, so new clothes for running make me excited to run. Those sorts of things.

Also, and I keep mentioning this, but I cannot get over how I feel after a good run. I don’t think there is any other activity that could make me feel any better. I also really like how motivated and excited I get after I make any progress. I just love how running makes me feel, as cheesy as that sounds, and that is probably the closest I will ever get to loving it.

So that’s why I run. I want to be active, I can trick myself into liking it, and I love the way it makes me feel afterwards. If you just hate it, and you can’t find a way to make yourself like it, then definitely do not force yourself to do it. Walking is way cool also!

There are so many serious running blogs that talk about running marathons, what to eat, what to wear, etc. but I know there are people who, like me, just want to be active and find a way to like running and maybe one day run a 5k. I hope that my post was helpful in that context.

And now I am curious…

  • Why do you exercise?
  • Do you exercise just to exercise?
  • What is your favourite way to be active?

How to Not Hate Running (not that I’m an expert)

A couple of weeks ago, Jane (who leaves the best comments ever on my blog, I live for them) asked me if I could write a post about how I got over my fear of running.

After thinking about it for a bit, I decided this would be a good topic for me to cover because I still do not looooove running, but I used to really, really hate it.

I’m still a novice runner, and I’m not knowledgeable on increasing your speed or distance, but I’m not afraid of running anymore. I have now run three 5k’s and hope to complete a 10k in the spring. I never, ever thought I would say that.

None of my close friends are serious runners, and I feel like a lot of them feel the same way as I did about running…which makes me think that many people feel the same way as I did about running: hateful and afraid.

So here is my running story, followed by what I do to help myself not hate it. Kind of serious talk, so I’m calling on Wayne’s World, one of my very favourite movies, to help balance that out.

I avoided running as much as possible all throughout elementary school and high school. I would run if I had to while playing sports, and of course if someone was chasing me in manhunt (I would run for my life, and into fences), but I remember dreading events like the Terry Fox Run and gym-class running.

I wasn’t terrible at running, I just hated it. I told myself that I was just not a runner and was never going to be a runner.

I couldn’t imagine that anyone ran because they actually liked it. I had no idea why people would want to run track, and I didn’t think people who ran marathons were real people. I don’t really know how else to explain that, so hopefully I am making sense.

When I first started going to the gym, I dabbled a little bit on the treadmill. But I continued to hate it. I only did it for exercise purposes, and watched the time and calorie count the whole time.

But I wanted desperately to like it! When I heard about people running, or saw runners while I was driving, I was jealous of them!

I can remember one day in my early 20s I decided that I was going to try to like running, so I laced up my sneaks one morning before class and hit the pavement. I was back home within 10 minutes. I barely gave it a shot. These times of “I’m going to be a runner today!” and then failing continued for a few years.

But within the last couple of years, my thoughts on running have been turning around. I think the real running turning point for me was when I discovered running blogs.

I saw real, regular people who were out running all the time and they actually liked it. I saw girls that I could relate to, just regular people like me, running marathons!

My attitude about running started to change. Maybe running wasn’t evil. I decided to try again, for real this time.

I started the Couch to 5k program, and I loved that it really eased me into running. Before that program I could barely run steadily for a couple of minutes without thinking I was dying, and all of a sudden I could run for 20 minutes without stopping?

It was so motivating to see my progress, and I felt like I could notice progress quickly, which is always helpful.

I also loved how I felt after I ran – so good about myself, like I accomplished something that day even if I just laid around and did nothing for the rest of it. I started making myself just get out there and run, run through the hate. It didn’t matter how fast I was going, or how far I was going, as long as I was out there doing it.

My goal for my first 5k race was just to run without stopping, and I did it, and I ran it with a time of 32 minutes! And I actually had fun! I was so proud of myself afterwards, because I did it on my own. I never thought I would be a runner, and suddenly I was! In my next 5k, I ran it in under 30 minutes, which is actually a decent time. I wasn’t even aspiring for that kind of time because I didn’t think it would have been possible for me. It was a motivating little surprise and I was pumped.

I don’t know that I will ever run a marathon. That is a lot of running and I still don’t love it. It isn’t something I am currently aspiring for. I run mostly because it is a way for me to be active and feel good about myself. It makes me feel healthy and strong. And obviously I like how it makes my body look.

I have also discovered what great “me” time it is. I do not have to worry about anything while I am running. I can just zone out.

I am convinced that running is so much more mental than physical. I didn’t run because of my mental barriers, not my physical ones. I was able to run, I just didn’t want to. As soon as I started running I would just be thinking “I hate this. This sucks. Why am I doing this to myself. I can’t go on.”

I was talking myself out of it before I even got into it. But now I make a point to talk myself into it.

So from someone who used to hate running, here are some tips on how to not hate it:

Don’t worry about what you look like.

One of the biggest reasons I didn’t want to run was because I assumed I looked ridiculous. I figured everyone in their car who drove by me was pointing and laughing at my silly attempt at running.

I didn’t really know what shoes to wear, or what clothes I should be wearing. I was so self-conscious of how I looked and if I was doing it right.

I didn’t know what I was doing, and I felt like every other runner did.

It also didn’t help that I have quite large nungas that were not properly strapped in (see this post on sports bras if you have that problem), so I was self-concious about that as well. I hated getting any sort of attention when I was running.

I’m not sure how I got over this, but now I don’t care. If people want to look at me, fine. If I get honked at or yelled at, I turn my music up and ignore it. Why would I care about what strangers in their cars are thinking about me? I am doing something to better my health. If I look ridiculous, that’s cool, snark on it if you like.

But, more likely, no one is looking at you. When I look at a runner on the side of the road, I usually envy them more than notice how fast they’re going or what they’re wearing (unless it’s nice and I want it).

Make a playlist that will pump you up.

This is huge for motivating me. I am always making new playlists and including my favourite songs of the moment. I also try not to listen to those songs at any time other than when I am running. This makes me excited to run because I’m excited to listen to those songs.

(You can check out my playlists here, and I gotta update that page soon as I have some new ones)

Or you could listen to an audio book! I haven’t done this yet, but I could see it getting me excited about running.

Set goals for yourself.

I will admit, I’m not a big goal-setter. But for running it really helps to motivate me, especially when I was just starting out. I felt awesome every time I made a time or distance goal I had set for myself. Achieving even mini goals made me want to keep on doing it.

Get new running garb.

Whenever I get anything new I want to wear it immediately. When I bought new clothes for running, I wanted to get out there and run just so I could wear them.

Track your progress.

I immediately got the RunKeeper app for my iPhone, so I could track my speed and distance. Though I wasn’t competitive about running, I still liked to know how fast and how far I was going. I also liked to save that information and compare it to my next runs, and this gave me little goals.

You do not have to run fast.

You don’t even have to run well! Just like anything, you just have to keep at it. Even if you are moving at a pace that is slightly more than a walk, it’s still something. The more you do it, the better you will get. Just get out there!

And read running blogs!

That’s probably what did it for me. And since I have started blogging about running, several of my friends decided to take up running as well. My motivation motivated my friends, which has now motivated me even more (and I have running buddies!)

It is just a big cycle of inspiration.

Am I missing any good tips?

And can anyone tell me how to not hate the treadmill?!

Slow Death by Treadmill

Welp, I am pretty sure I will be having nightmares tonight.

Not because of my scary movie marathon the other day. Noooope, because I had the ultimate pleasure of seeing this mess today:

That would be 51-year-old Doug Hutchison dressed as his 16-year-old wife (oh sorry, she may be 17 now) for Halloween.

Ol’ Douggie-Pants has given me the serious creeps since his role in The Green Mile. I’m sure you all remember the greasy faced Percy, known for killing the cute little mouse, Mr. Bojangles, and for being an all-around D-bag.

(source)

Of all the movie characters I would like to punch in the face, Percy remains number one for me (the hunter who shot Bambi’s mom is a close second).

Marrying the 16-year-old Courtney Stodden amped up his creepy level further than I ever thought possible, but his Halloween shenanigans have trumped even that.

I have said it before and I will say it again, people are weird.

Moving on…

When I left you guys yesterday, I was headed to the gym for some intimate one-on-one time with the arc trainer. Sadly, all the arc trainers were taken when I got there, so I had to go with a back-up plan. The treadmill.

I haven’t ran on the treadmill since last winter, so at first I thought it might not be as bad as I remembered and I may actually enjoy it.

Not quite.

It started off okay, but two minutes in it started to go downhill. Basically this was the chain of events:

Fine, I exaggerate a little. But it was not fun.

It’s not that the treadmill is more difficult than running outside, it’s just that it’s so mindless and boring! I switched it up and watched TV instead of listened to music, thinking that would help keep my mind off the treadmill. No dice.

I don’t know what I’m going to do all winter. I don’t want to stop running. I like the way it makes me feel about myself, and I like what it does to my bod (running is the only exercise I have found that seems to keep everything “in check”), but I do not like the way the treadmill makes me feel.

I think I may try listening to an audio book. Maybe that will help?

Anyone actually enjoy the treadmill? What are your tips for not dying of boredom?

It was so gorgeous today, sunny and 16 degrees C, so I wanted to take advantage of it because I know these days are just about over. As soon as I got home from work I headed outside for a run. Compared to the treadmill, it was a breath of fresh air! I actually enjoyed it.

My little RunKeeper app came on at 1k into my run and said my pace was 5:45 per kilometre. Um, what? I thought it had messed up and had the time wrong, but at kilometre 2 it was about the same pace, so I checked to see what was going on and it was actually correct! That is the fastest I have ever run!

I had to stop at a stoplight around 3.5k and my pace went downhill from there. I find it so hard to stop and then run again, this is why running at a steady pace works best for me.

Anyway, I ended up finishing in about 29 minutes and I was so incredibly happy with myself. Maybe the treadmill taught me not to take running outside for granted? You never can tell…

Annnnd in other news, I discovered Peanut Butter Puffins.

I have never tried them before and OH MAN, they are good!

FYI they are:

  • 100% Natural
  • Dairy Free
  • Low Fat
  • Wheat Free Ingredients
  • Gluten Free (Honey Rice & Multigrain)
  • Cholesterol Free
  • Vegetarian

according to the Puffins website. But that is not why I like them. I like them because they are delicious! They taste like peanut butter Cap’n Crunch!

I topped some Puffins with 1% milk and a sliced banana and I was in heaven.

Puffin' Delicious

Pretty sure I’ll be eating this combo for the rest of the week.

And with that, I am outta here! I have a work event tomorrow evening and probably will not have time to post, so I am hoping to have a cartoon story post I have been working on completed to put up here. Fingers crossed!

Have a great night!

Toronto Women’s 5k Run Recap

Hello all you Halloweenie boppers!

I am in fantastic mood today. How could I not be? It is Halloween weekend! Ando and I are hitting up a Halloween partay tonight and I just put the finishing touches on my costume. I am so excited to wear it!

It’s not a repeat costume like I originally thought it would be. Barbie has officially been retired. I don’t want to say what I am being just yet, but I will be sure to post pictures tomorrow.

I love dressing up for Halloween, as I feel like it’s the only day of the year my outfit is completely “put together”. I am pretty low-maintenance in my day-to-day life, I suck at accessorizing, and something is usually off with what I’m wearing. I’m usually missing the right shoes, the right purse, my nails aren’t done, or I’m sans neckless.

But not on Halloween. It is the one day I truly plan out what I’m wearing, and I enjoy getting really into it. Anyone else feel like this?

I also love looking at other peoples’ costumes, and the day after Halloween is pretty much my favourite day of the year on Facebook. I will creep anyone and their mother in their costumes (if you are on my Facebook just be aware, I will be checking you out).

Toronto 5k Women’s Run

This morning I had a hot running date (but not an actual running date) with my coworker Lexy!

A little while ago we decided we wanted to run a 5k together, so the Toronto Women’s 5k Run sounded perfect. Lexy is pretty athletic and used to be big into triathlons (she actually came first in her age group in a triathlon a few years ago), but she said running was always her least favourite part ;) . She just had a baby (Hudson!) four months ago, so today’s race was kind of her comeback tour, if you will.

I was not concerned with time at all for this race, I just wanted to run with Lexy. We ran the entire thing, at a fairly easy pace, though we did push ourselves the last kilometre. I’m pretty sure we completed it in about 32 minutes (I don’t know the actual time yet, and I didn’t bring my iPhone with me to track our time).

The kilometres flew by when we were running. It was a gorgeous sunny day, though pretty chilly, and the park is beautiful. Especially at this time of year with all the colourful leaves in the trees. It was actually in the same park as my first 5k in the spring, and it was definitely not as colourful then.

Chatting with Lexy throughout the race made the running go quickly as well. This was my first time running with a friend, and I loved it! I am hoping to rope more of my friends into races.

There were also firemen handing out water at the 3k mark, so that was, uh, a nice distraction…

Yes, You May Put Out My Fire

(I just found that pic online from the 2010 race, but same thing, you get the idea.)

Lexy’s husband Mark and their baby Hudson were waiting for us at the finish line. Our own personal cheerleaders.

Yep, cutest family ever.

And then I photo bombed.

lindsey-evanoff-race1

Annnd the award for the cutest cheerleader definitely goes to Hudson (sorry Mark).

He kills me with his cuteness.

We snagged some snazzy medals, which I was pretty pumped about because this is the first running medal I’ve ever received!

I am going to build a trophy case for that bad boy. Just kidding, just kidding… Seriously though, I think I have only gotten one other medal in my entire life, for some figure skating competition in elementary school. Other than that it was all participant ribbons for me! So yeah, I was excited.

I was also excited about the post-race food.

Of course I was.

I ate those chips immediately, and rest of the food swag was pretty decent as well.

A couple mini Luna bars (LOVE Luna bars), a mini bag of fibre crisp cereal (I’ll be eating that with Greek yogurt this week I am sure), a banana, a Dairy Milk thinsation, and a cinnamon raisin pita. I saved everything besides the chips, because afterwards the three of us (plus Hudson) went out for a little brunch party.

My Brunch Plate

We went to a Fox and the Fiddle pub in Toronto (pretty sure they are a chain), and I ordered a western omelette, which came with homefries and toast. I wasn’t sure what to expect for breakfast from a pub, but my omelette was amazing! Though I had a bowl of oatmeal before I left for the race, I inhaled it! Highlight of that plate, for sure.

This was such a fun race, and I am so glad Lexy and I did it together. I have now ran in three 5k’s, and I gotta say, I think I am ready to step it up. Perhaps a 10k in the spring? We will see. I think I have caught the running bug.

I am off to get ready for tonight! I hope you all enjoy your Saturday, and if you are hitting up a Halloween party have a great time! And please tell me all about your costumes!