There's No Business Like Shoe Business

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I got new shoes.

Like, running shoes. [There go the people who thought this was a fashion post.]

We had quite a bit of dough in Dick's Last Resort Sporting Goods gift cards. My good old Montrails, while amazing, were worn out. Let's just say there was a hole my right pinkie toe could peek out from.

We hit up DSG and I tried quite a few pairs on. I knew I didn't want anything with intense foot support - I am used to light shoes that let my foot flex and do its thing, so I didn't want to end up in something restrictive.

These are different shoes, and despite liking the look of the white ones, I went with the ones on the right because they had a more relaxed fit.

You know, cuz paleo grok wouldn't have had shoes or nuthin'

So, I ended up leaving with a pair of Asics that were very low support. They seemed great and I was extremely excited about the look and color(s) of the shoe.

What was I thinking? I don't wear pink!

But then, later that night, I tried them back on with my most recent pair of socks and I. HATED. THEM. They felt tight, kiddish, whatever.

And I immediately went online and looked up my old pair of Montrail Bajadas.

When I first got into Montrails, I was a Treadmill Terry. I watched TV on the treadmill in Chicago and didn't really stray from that. Now, I am running all around Grand Rapids.

So, I feel like I've finally earned them. Their description as being tried and true for the streets and trails? It finally rings true.

And now they're mine.

First day out, I ended up on sand. Now that's a fabulous thing for trail shoes!

These retail at $109, but by ordering them on Amazon prime in a less popular color (gray instead of the orange I had last time), I cut the cost down to $69. Which is the same price as the shoes I bought at Dick's Sporting Goods and later returns. So, it was even steven!

LESSON LEARNED: Stop going to stores to find new shoes. Stick with what you've got and keep ordering more.


WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• What are you running in?
• Where do you get your running shoes?

Interview with Samantha Gash

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I recently was given the opportunity to interview Samantha Gash, ultra-marathon runner, the only female and youngest person ever to complete the desert-slam (running 4 desert ultra-marathons in 1 year), and a featured runner in the new movie Desert Runners. She has a very inspirational story that will inspire anyone to push themselves physically and mentally. 

Read on for her wisdom about training, self-talk during runs, how to keep your feet blister free, and more!

You mention in the movie that endurance training requires so much time that it can take away from other areas of your life. What is your typical training schedule (How far in advance do you start training? What are your training sessions like? Do you cross train or take any breaks?)

"When I trained for the 4Deserts I was a little (or a lot) in the dark about how to train for an event like this. It was a crash course in survival and I felt as though I developed and revised my training plan as the year progressed. I take a much more strategic approach to training now. The way I train depends on the type of event that I am preparing for. For example my big event for this year is a 2350km charity run across the Freedom Trail in South Africa, where I plan to run on average 80kms a day for 32 days.  You can check out the expedition here.  I have a couple of 50km and 100km events in the lead up to it, but this is definitely my focus for 2014.

This is an expedition run rather than a race, so speed is not the biggest factor, rather resiliency and my ability to be able to run that type of distance over quite technical terrain day after day. My running coach is ultra marathon extraordinaire Ray Zahab and he focuses on training phases that build upon each other. Despite the long distance of the run he still incorporates speed and track work in addition to longer runs at race pace, plenty of hill repeats and runs that look at my leg turnover efficiency.

My strength and conditioning coach Mathieu Dore has me in the gym 2 – 3 times a week. This is where the resiliency is really being developed as he has me working on all my weaknesses and instabilities, making me as strong as possible to deal with the stress I will be putting my body through.

In terms of cross training I am a hot yoga fan!!"

  

I am also a huge lover of hot yoga! In terms of your long runs, what kind of fuel do you use to get ready for a run? What do you bring mid-run?

"During my runs I will drink a high performance drink called biosteel – it is all natural, organic and it has the right formula of amino acids and electrolytes. It is low in sugar so it doesn’t get my stomach upset as if I took Gatorade (ps: I am not sponsored by them). I take the sugar I need in solid form such as honey stingers and clif bar shot blocks. If I am crewed in a race, I will try and have small bites of corn chips with avocado or hummus and I am definitely partial to salt and vinegar chips on a run."

You said that you are always stressing about potentially injuring yourself. What mental and/or physical advice do you have for runners who have similar stress? How do you avoid injury?

"I definitely don’t focus on the threat of injury as much anymore. I was so underdeveloped as a runner when I did the 4Deserts that my body constantly had niggles because I was expecting it to do large mileage through such extreme conditions. Now I am far more proactive and smart with my training to be adequately prepared for a race. I would always suggest the key is to listen to your body. If you are being smashed with long hours at work and trying to do long runs before and after work your body will wear down. Knowing when to take a day off training to get good sleep and rest is crucial. It is also not simply about training the body – you need to train the mind to be strong enough to get through these types of races."

Speaking of training your mind... it sounds like you do a lot of self-talk during your long runs, and I especially appreciated how you spent some time thinking about how strong of a girl you are after a negative experience caused you to consider dropping out of the race. What are some of the motivational and self-talk techniques you typically use? How do you keep your mind strong during a tough race?

"After the incident in Sahara all I could think about was moving forward and getting to the checkpoint. In my mind the checkpoint equated to safety and another step closer to the goal of finishing the race – which is the objective in these races. For some reason I didn’t contemplate the idea of waiting where I was for the next competitor to reach me, which would have been a lot sooner than finding someone ahead. In that moment, all I could think about was holding myself together and putting one foot in front of the other. People say that all the time “running is just about putting one foot in front of the other”, for sure it is but for me the reason I was doing that was to prove to myself that I was physically and mentally stronger than I had previously given myself credit for.

At the end of the day when you are placed in a challenging moment in the process towards any long-term goal, that is what you should keep going back to – why am I here and why I have I chosen this journey/process as the path to get me there. I feel this helps me keep perspective."

During the desert runs in the film, temperatures fluctuated wildly. What kind of effects did you notice on your body, and what did you do to try to train for that or alleviate the impacts of it?

"Ahh my body blew up like an inflatable cushion. A combination of the heat, the distance and consuming a lot of salts meant my body really did get quite puffy. Clearly my body was in shock and it was holding onto whatever it could as a survival mechanism. 2 – 3 days after the race my body would go back to normal. It is tough training for those types of extreme conditions. I would do a lot of bikram yoga in preparation for the Sahara Race and I also trained in a cool chamber for Antarctica."

A very common concern for runners - ultra-marathon or not - is foot care. As someone who clearly has a lot of experience on her feet, what tips do you have for runners who are looking to avoid skin, nail, and blister issues? 

"I had pretty terrible feet in the first race in the series so I took blister care prevention pretty seriously after that. My approach is covering my feet with hydropel, putting on a pair of thin Injinji toe-socks, a thin pair of smart wool socks (for the first 2 days before my feet swelled up) and then wearing Brooks Cascadia’s. Since using this combination I have hardly gotten anything more than a small hot spot and this was even when I ran for 389kms non-stop across the Simpson Desert, which was all in sand."

You and Lisa were holding hands for a bit of the run in the Gobi Desert. Can you tell us about the relationships you form with other athletes as you complete these challenging events? 

"Oh boy I vividly remember that moment and it was quite crazy to see it on the big screen. Specifically in that race Lisa and I formed a really special friendship right from the get-go. I knew about Lisa before the race so I introduced myself to her on day one and by chance our running pace was very similar on the first day of racing. After that Lisa asked if I wanted to do the long day (110kms) with her as she always tries to head out on the long day with someone else for safety and support. The rest is history and we have run together many times since then.

Some of my closest friends are people that I have met through the 4Deserts experience. I think there is something special about meeting someone in a desert when you are sleeping in a tent relying on very little supplies and home comforts. In a sense what becomes important is the relationships you form with other people as that is the “something” that often gets you to the finish line."

What did you learn about yourself through the course of these races?

"So many things!! It was the biggest year of my life as I also took on a three-month internship in a capital defense office in Texas, moved to Sydney, received my job as a lawyer at international law firm Baker & McKenzie and started a new relationship.

The 4Desert races taught me about the depths of my mental determination to push on despite adversity. It taught me that I often rely on the strength and comradery of others to achieve big goals. I learnt about resiliency, my love of extreme and isolated environments, my need to constantly have adventure and take risks."

It looks like you have continued to run since the Grand Slam! Do you have any new goals, now that you've officially completed the Grand Slam?

"For sure, I now love to run ultra races for fun and then construct ultra expeditions in combination with social advocacy projects. There is something that draws me to defining the parameters for my own adventures as opposed to always relying on a race director who tells me when to start running, where to run and where you have to stop.

As I discussed above the next big expedition, which has been in the works for over 18 month is a 32 run across South Africa’s Freedom Trail. I am running with the incredible Mimi Anderson from the UK who also just happens to be 52 years of age. We learnt the statistic that one in 10 school age girls in Africa miss class during menstruation or drop out of school completely at puberty, because of a lack of sanitary products and toilet facilities, and negative social stigma.

This really devastated us both and we wanted to use our run to bring awareness to this issue and then take steps to bring forward positive change. We are collaborating with the global NGO Save the Children, and our goal is to raise $50,000 for the start-up of a social enterprise business to help keep girls in school. The business will employ women to make and distribute low-cost feminine hygiene products for the Namahadi Community in the Free State Province of South Africa. Save the Children will project manage the business for one year, which includes providing all of the materials, supplies, wages, skills training for 12 South African women who will manufacture the products.

I am working with the filmmaker and producer of Desert Runners, as they have become two very influential women in my life. So I guess the 4Deserts also taught me the power of collaboration with like-minded people to create social change.

The website for our project is www.freedomrunners.org and you can donate to the social enterprise business here - https://donate.savethechildren.org.au/FreedomRunners"

Many thanks to Samantha for taking the time to give me these great answers! I hope you can benefit from reading about her experience and story.

If you are interested in checking out the movie Desert Runners, it is now available on DVD and for digital download at www.desertrunnersmovie.com. As a reader of this site, you can get 10% off the film by entering the code "RUNNERS" at checkout! 

Run 8 Miles, Drink A Beer

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(1) Sometimes, ya just gotta reward a good thing with another good thing. Let's talk about beer now, kay?

You know how they occasionally reward you with beer after running a race? It has only happened to me a few times, like when they handed out beer after the Run for Boston 5k. Apparently, it's a thing.

But, even if it wasn't, I would have still used it to justify drinking a beer literally five minutes after hopping off the treadmill from an 8 mile run.

After all, when the sun is setting and your husband offers you a beer, you kinda have to go with the flow, right?

(2) Speaking of long runs... I have really only been doing them over the last year, because I used to just get so bored that I couldn't push myself to run for long periods of time. Enter Netflix, which I clearly rave about enough on this blog, yet still insist on mentioning...

My husband and I share a Netflix account, and we are giving it a serious headache. My husband is all about non-fiction, and in particular, he tends to like entrepreneurial and financial documentaries (I just spelled entrepreneurial correctly on my first try, so go ahead and clap for me for a second right now). 

Meanwhile, I am fiction all the way. And, because of watching Netflix while working out, I'm all about the intense action and super strong women (inspiring mid-run, no?). I am big on Alias, Nikita, Continuum, and occasionally something a little campy like Charmed. The result? A Netflix account that can't figure out if we are documentary buffs or campy thrill seekers... 

That said, after so many long runs guided almost entirely by Netflix show binging, it's safe to say that Netflix knows me by now. Like, Netflix knows what I consider to be exciting:

Who put the glad in gladiator? Her-Cu-Leeees! (Sidenote: I once got pulled over for speeding because I was so into belting out the words to a song from Hercules that I was leaning a little too hard on the gas!).

So, now that we have discussed running 8 miles, drinking beer, and Netflix, I suppose I will tease you with a picture from tomorrow's post:

What the heck?

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• Do you agree with by beer-is-goof-for-you justification?
• What other shows should I be watching on the treadmill?

Adapt Bluetooth Headphone Adapter

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Let's talk about bluetooth headphones.

Why do I need them?

(1) I love streaming TV programs on my iPad to get me through long runs, but I have this fear that I'm going to spaz out and hit the headphone wire and my iPad will come crashing down...

(2) I do a weights routine with my husband in which we have to be able to see the seconds pass to make sure we get to 45 seconds on each set... but the clock at the gym doesn't show seconds, and with my phone attached to my headphones, I'm not able to hand it off to my husband so he can time me.

(3) The only time I really like talking on the phone is while I am doing other stuff. I need to be able to mix batter, walk on the treadmill, or drop things off at the post office, all while  on the phone. Hands free is the way to be, ya'll.

So, I decided that with bluetooth headphones, I could solve both problems: there would be no wires for me to spaz on, and I would be able to hand my phone to my husband so he could time me, no strings attached.

Here are some of the contenders I initially found:

(One - $49.95) (Two - $59.99) (Three - $224)  (Four - $149)

FYI: I tried to steer clear of the type of headphones that go over and around your ear to the back. I've had those before, and they are just so painful because it feels like they are pinching the dear life out of my tiny little ears.

After a while, the Adapt Bluetooth Headphone Adapter popped up. This little nifty thing reminded me of the shape of a fitbit, but it performs a much different function. It connects via bluetooth with your products, and then it converts it so that you can plug in any headphones. The best part? $39.95. Cheapness tends to prevail in my mind.

So, I ordered it, and it arrived quickly because I have Amazon Prime and it was eligible for free two-day shipping (yesssss). I am now running on the treadmill and watching movies like a boss.

I've also used it at the gym to do Daily Burn workouts in the free area. I can set the exercise up on my iPad, and then be able to do it in the middle of the room and no one else can hear it.

As you can see, I do sometimes wear it clipped onto my sports bra or tank top, but most of the time, I prefer to clip it to my pants. I am able to adjust which track I listen to, and adjust the volume, or even pause my show, all by touching buttons on my hip as I run. It is so easy, a monkey could do it... (and perhaps that's why there's a monkey on the button).

I guess I'm giving this product two thumbs way way up! 

Want to get the product?

Adapt Bluetooth Headphone Adapter

Do you have any other TO DIE FOR fitness accessories? I am obviously obsessed with my iPad, but also love using my heart rate monitor.

What shows/movies do YOU watch while exercising? I just started The Good Wife on Amazon Prime and am loving it (and the fact that the episodes are LONG and there are five seasons of it!).

Back Into The Swing

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It took a while, but we're finally back into the swing of normal life after getting married and having an awesome honeymoon in Costa Rica. To me, "normal life" is only normal when I'm back to my routine (If you're into Myers Briggs, I'm a total "J" and like need to plan things out).

Since returning from my honeymoon, a lot of people have jokingly asked me if I was going to stop caring about food and fitness now that I'm married. The answer is... drumroll please... no. I am not going to stop caring! But I am definitely going to give myself a bit more leeway than I did during wedding prep. ;-)

FOOD:

I'm now obsessed with heirloom tomatoes. I know, I'm late into the game on this one, but it is definitely a game changer. I have been slicing them up and sauteeing them with a little bit of oil and spices, then either eating them plain or topping them with fried eggs, sriracha, and nutritional yeast.

Eggs and Avocado. It's pretty much my favorite combination, so I've been eating it for breakfast fairly frequently. Instead of making egg white omelets all the time, I am doing one full egg and two egg whites. Packed with protein without going overboard on fats or cholesterol. 

Have you noticed what the above two pictures and the one below all have in common? Sriracha. That stuff is my jam sauce.

Another thing I occasionally sriracha-up is fish. We've been eating blackened tilapia like it's nobody's business, and lately we're pairing it with fresh vegetables from the farmer's market. Below is zucchini. 

WORKOUTS:

I am working out most days... but not all. I skipped a bit when I was in Holland, and have skipped a bit in between. For the most part, I am working out early to get it out of the way and feel accomplished for the rest of the day! That means a lot of 5:20 wakeup calls... and lots of pre-workout drinks...

I've also been running up my bill at The Mercury Method. If I run there and back, it is by far one of my favorite workout days. Unfortunately, as the days get shorter and light disappears, it's dark out in the morning when I would like to run there (and would be dark out when I finish the class if I go at night). My husband is not a huge fan of me running around the city in the dark without our personal bodyguard dog, so we'll see.

Speaking of the dog... this lady here has been getting a few runs outside, but she's really excited for the fall weather to set in so that I can take her on longer runs. She overheats if we are out for too long in the hot 90-degree days we've been having so frequently lately.

As far as a typical workout week goes, right now, I don't have one... but I can tell you what I did last week!

Monday: Spinning

Tuesday: Barre Fly at Mercury Method

Wednesday: Spinning

Thursday: Weight lifting

Friday: Skip

Saturday: Skip

Sunday: Bodypump

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

• How do you feel about skip days? Sometimes I really value them. This past week, between Bodypump and Spinning, I hit my legs pretty hard and was super sore. It really helped to take a few days off to let them recover!
• What are your reset foods? I like to load up on veggies and lean protein.

Orange You Glad I Got Some New Shoes?

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Guess what? I hinted at it in this post and I'll hint at it again...

Look, I can stand on one leg!

No, my friends, that is not my ill fated attempt at a yoga move. It is, in fact, a new pair of shoes that I am trying to point at.

I actually had no idea that you are supposed to get new shoes in reasonable intervals. I always got comfy with a new pair and rode it out until my mom made me buy a new pair. I wear the suckers almost every day, though, so I don't know who I was kidding!

My last two pairs were black, because I thought they were low profile and I liked that they didn't scream 'LOOK! I'M WEARING RUNNING SHOES!'

Now, my thoughts have changed. Hand me something bright as a highlighter and send me on my way, please.

After much deliberation (okay, like 30 minutes - I'm not one to dawdle), I went with these babies:

Montrail Women's Bajada in Poppy Red, Moray

Apparently, they are built with traction for "superior off-road performance." If you know me or read my workout posts, you know I'm not a big off roader. I ran on a path for the Run For Boston 5k, but other than that, I'm a treadmill lady.

I know they look red in the pictures, but I swear to you that they seem orange in person (and the laces are pure orange too). What's so interesting about that fact? Well, I realized yesterday that I have been on an orange binge.

Exhibit A: My Desk. I realized yesterday that I had far too many orange items sitting on my desk. Inside that orange bag? There were TWO ORANGES for me to snack on. Not even kidding. Who am I?

I also almost bought orange Lacoste sunglasses yesterday. By almost, I mean I took some pictures to send my fiance for approval. Somehow, despite approval, I did not purchase.


What do you think? 
Maybe some of you will have to convince me to take my new shoes off road... and stop buying orange things!

This Week's Workout Schedule

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Another week in the books, yall. I'm calling it a success. I'm gearing up for my bachelorette weekend, which involves some clothing I am rather excited about (not to mention... SHOES!). Stay posted for a photo dump.

WEDNESDAY: AM Cardio

I'm not going to lie to you here, I have no idea what I did on Wednesday. I know that I followed my plan, and my calendar just has "AM Cardio" from 6-7am. Other than that, I am clueless. 

Obligatory "Hot Room, Legs and Towel" Picture. Wonder if Lara is sick of me taking these yet!

THURSDAY: AM Bodypump, PM Runner's High @ The Mercury Method

For some reason (read: went out to dinner the night before, so I was probably on a carb overload -ALSO I SAW MICHAEL JORDAN, which I've mentioned 8124 times), Bodypump was a breeze on Thursday morning. I upped my weight on almost everything, but still felt like I hadn't worked that hard. Bizarre, because usually, I feel like I'm going to die during Bodypump.

So, in the afternoon, I hit up a Runner's High class at my favorite new spot, The Mercury Method. The class is geared at stretching and strengthening the big and tiny parts of your body that contribute to running. One of my coworkers is a runner and mentioned that even attending just one of these classes had significantly improved her pace, so with the Run for Boston 5k coming up, I figured I'd give it a try. IT. WAS. AWESOME. 

FRIDAY: Skip Day

I took the train up to the suburbs for my mamasita's birthday, so I decided to not only take a day off, but also eat a ton of food and have a few cocktails. Seems like a good idea before a race, right?  I'm only partially serious...

I didn't turn my Heart Rate Monitor off immediately after crossing the finish line, because I continued to move around and wanted to get an accurate idea of how many calories I burned by running a 5k, just for future reference (Priorities...). It ended up being about 350. Not particularly impressive.

SATURDAY: Run for Boston 5k
My actual time for the 5k was 23:23, which is awesome given my encounter with Michael Jordan on Wednesday night. Oh, and also awesome given that it's a PR. #Winning

In all honesty, I'm not sure if it was a fluke or what. I run somewhat frequently (maybe 2ish times per week), but I don't train for races because I have a serious case of what I like to call "Workout ADHD." My running consists of...

• 3-4 mile runs with my dog which are taken at a leisurely pace
• 4-7 mile runs at the gym while catching up on TV shows (read: trying to watch Game of Thrones without exposing the entire gym to a nude scene)
• Leisurely 15 minute runs (no idea on distance) to/from my classes at The Mercury Method

I definitely have the race bug after this last race - as soon as I crossed the finish line, I started strategizing on the next weekend I could run, and am planning on an 8k, 10k, and possibly a half-marathon (don't hold me to that, I have ADD, remember?!). That said, I refuse to follow a training plan, at least over the summer, so we'll see what happens.

I am obsessed with a water bottle. Is this normal? #Halp

SUNDAY: Bodypump & CXWORX

This is so very quickly becoming my favorite workout day of the week. It's awful and lasts forever, but I feel so solid and accomplished afterward. 

Also, check out my cute new water bottle! It's glass (with a silicone casing), which I am loving because it seems safer but also tastes much better. This picture doesn't quite capture its neon orange color. My fiance made me choose the neon orange instead of neon pink because "Orange is a Dutch color." Note: It's pretty much the same as the BKR (at the same price), but it holds 19.5oz instead of 16oz and it's skinnier in my bag, which I needed for commuting to work/gym.

MONDAY: 5 Mile Run + 20 Minute Stairmaster
I got on the treadmill with the goal of watching The Bachelorette, only to realize that it's set for "Web only viewing" on Hulu, so I couldn't watch it on my iPad. I considered downloading ABC's app, but was working with about 18% battery (If you fail to plan ahead, you plan to fail? Not me!). I ended up watching an episode of Modern Family and then something else I can't remember.

TUESDAY: Pilates & Shoulder Burn Out

This is becoming a usual, as well. I love walking out of a pilates class with sore shoulders! Post-workout-green-smoothie totally happened.

WEDNESDAY: Runner's High Class @ The Mercury Method

Happening tonight... we'll see!

What about you?

• Do you plan all of your workouts in advance or do you go with the flow? I have a few days per week that have turned into a plan (Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday), but the rest of the time, I just see how it goes.
• Do you run most days of the week, or just a few like me? 

Workout Wednesday and A Sneak Peak of Me in White

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It's Wednesday again, folks! After an eventful evening of dress fitting in the suburbs (there were some issues... that's all I'll say...), I'm back in Chicago!

While I'm obviously not about to share any images of my dress, here's a little sneak peak from the fitting appointment:

That robe is so freaking comfy. I want it in a million colors. I want to live in it.

Anyway... workout time.

Pre-class. You use a wooden bar in 98+ degree heat.

Wednesday

30+ Minutes Running

Barre Fly Class @ The Mercury Method

My plan for Wednesday was to head over the The Mercury Method to try out one of their new classes. I ended up coming from home, so I ran over (takes about 17 minutes, so precise). I was worried that I'd be late, so I had to run pretty quickly and my heart was PUMPING by the time I got there. That translated to a high heart rate during the entire class. By the time I got out, I was exhausted and could hardly run jog walk home.

Marry Me!

The class, itself, was pretty intense. It incorporates a bit of dancing, a lot of abs, and a lot of arms. As it turns out, I must have been pulling the bar too far back, because I actually injured the area around my sternum (it happens to me in Bodypump if I have lazy form on the chest fly). I was in pretty severe pain during the night on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Tisk tisk. Bad Carly.

Thursday
30 Minutes Stairmaster
15 Minute Dog Run
I usually do BodyPump on Thursday mornings, but after spending most of the night unable to sleep because of the aforementioned chest pain, I decided it wasn't worth it to wake up at 5:30 for a hard weights workout. Instead, I did a pretty painless stairmaster workout on my lunch break, and also took the dog for a short run before getting ready to meet my parents for our menu tasting.

Friday
15 Minute Interval Sprints
15 Minutes Abs
60 Minute Spin Class
On Friday, I tried my first Friday afternoon Spin Class. I was slightly worried but ended up LOVING it. It felt so good to get out of a class at 6:50 and be so worked out. I walked home afterward and made my fiance and I a delicious meal of lemon and pepper salmon with a side of broccoli. #YUM

Saturday
Skip
After having some bad pain in my sternum/chest area on Friday night/Saturday morning, I decided to forgo a workout. Plus, I had lots of exciting wedding meetings!

Sweaty hair post-Bodypump-and-CXWORX

Sunday
BodyPump (60 Minutes)
CXWORX (30 Minutes)
Sunday is fast becoming one of my favorite workout days of the week. Once I realized there were back to back BodyPump and CXWORX classes, I was sold. They're in the same room at the gym, so I don't even have to do any work or hustle to get to the next one.

Monday
Muscle Definition (60 Minutes)
I went to a muscle definition class that was pretty fun. The trainer does his own music mixes and it was pretty awesome. Like taking a class to clubbing music. Lots of energy.

Let's go, pup.

Tuesday
30 Minute Run
I had to get to work pretty early, so I didn't have a lot of time in the morning to make a workout happen. I ended up just taking the dog for a run. We went about 4 miles in 30 minutes, which felt like a decent workout because I'm still kind of new to running outside so it always works new muscles in my legs than the treadmill.

If you're ever wondering why I take my dog on a lot of my outdoor runs, it is for two reasons. First, she makes me feel VERY safe. I feel like I can run through any neighborhood because, if anyone tried to mess with me, she would protect me. Second, I cannot explain how happy it makes her to be taken on a run - which in turn makes me so happy. Her smile throughout the run makes me want to run more. This picture, taken ten minutes after getting back from a run, should explain it all...

I love you, I love you, Yes I do, Yes I do.

Wednesday
20 Minutes Stairmaster
20 Minute Run
I slept at my parents' house in the suburbs on Tuesday night, because I had been up there to have my first dress fitting. I have to catch a 7:05 train to make it to work on time, so I got up at 5:15 (ouch) for a run in the basement.

The unfinished part of my parents' basement is where the elliptical and treadmill are. It's kind of scary and makes me feel like someone's going to sneak up on me and try to kill me. Seriously. It's sometimes a huge distraction and I find myself looking over my shoulder.

Nothing an episode of The Bachelorette can't fix, though!

You're creepy.

What about you?

• Do you ever find yourself having weird pain after new workouts?
• How many skip days do you typically have per week?

Memorial Day Weekend

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After a couple of eventful and exhausting weekends, Justin and I were pretty thrilled to have a long weekend to relax at home. I worked from home on Friday, and was done working by 3, so I decided to take the pup on a run over to Wicker Park.

I shamelessly stopped at Six Corners to take a "selfie" with my dog in front of strangers.

There's something really energizing about running with my dog. That huge happy grin she's got in the picture above? It is pretty much glued to her face any time she is taken on a walk or run. For some reason, it makes me really happy to see her so happy. Plus, she's a fast one, so it makes me push myself a bit harder.

"Mom! Can't I get in?!"

Once we got to the fountain in Wicker Park, she wanted to drink and get in. Let's just say I only let her do one of those things.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, cut your damn hair.

When we arrived back home from our run, Justin was already home from work, so I hopped in the shower and got ready as fast as I could. This included half-blow drying my hair.

We went back to Grange Hall, because they are known for their huge burger selection and my fiance loves burgers, so I wanted to take him there. It's about a 15 minute walk, so we headed over and got seats at the "bar." I ordered the summer salad and had a side order of baked navy beans. Both were delicious.

You're tasty and I love you.

My fiance got a really good burger on rye (he informed me that this is actually called a "Patty Melt?" I had no idea). The burger, I hear, was very good... but the comical part of it is that it doesn't come with fries. $13 for a burger with no fries. So, we paid the extra charge and bought a side of fries and guess how big it was? Get ready...

Why are you so small?

Yeah. I was a good wife-to-be and managed to not steal his fries as I usually do. BUT, this move on my part meant that we were still a smidge hungry. We decided to turn it into an excuse for a long walk, so we headed from West Loop over to Michigan Avenue, where we walked around for a while before popping into the Forever Yogurt on Chicago Ave.

Where have you been all my life?

They had a new flavor - salted caramel popcorn - and it is not a joke. I seriously cannot stop thinking about it. Hint hint, Justin. #TakeMeBack

Let the Pain Begin

The next morning, we slowly ramped up to the day, and then I went over to take a class at The Mercury Method in Wicker Park. Since it was a pilates class, I decided to just run over there and get some cardio in. As it turned out, I got an awesome 15-20 minute run in going there... but then on the way back, I was so freaking tired (the class is almost 100 degrees, so it's draining) that I just walked crawled home.

I speed showered and then got ready for book club, which was just around the corner at Lindsay's house.

As usual, the spread of food was delicious. Generally, there is some very healthy stuff, and some naughty (but still fairly natural) stuff. This time, as it turned out, everyone kept it pretty light and low calorie. Which meant it worked out perfectly that I brought CHOCOLATE CHILI TRUFFLES! Recipe coming this week. They are #yumstown.

One thing that beats good food? Good company.

After book club deteriorated into a few of us playing Fruit Ninja on Kinect (I'll spare you the action shots, but I have them for future reference blackmail), I went home to retrieve my fiance, and we walked to dinner.

You know how sometimes, it's just impossible to find a place to eat? That's what happened. I suggested Lush, Jaipur, Mana, Habana Libre, and Shaman, before my fiance finally agreed to FatPour... which, as it turned out, had an hour long wait once we got there. Unwilling to wait for that long, we called Old Oak Tap and they said they could get us in immediately. Good decision, for sure.

I went with Shrimp 'n Grits for my meal and it was absolutely delicious. I cannot recommend it enough. The shrimp was perfectly tender and had its tail removed (I hate doing this myself because, quite frankly, I just find it to be too slimy and gross and I don't like touching my food).

I also went with our server's suggestion and had the Champfleur to drink. It's champagne with elderflower liqueur. It was like a slightly sweeter and more floral champagne. #chwinning.

Watching the chefs prepare your meal = My Jam

On Sunday morning, we headed over to Jam in Logan Square to meet my fiance's cousin for brunch. There are so many brunch spots in Logan Square that we want to try, so it was hard to choose just one, but we made it happen.

I had the server's suggestion (apparently this is a habit of mine) and ordered smoked salmon with poached eggs and potato latkes. The eggs were poached perfectly and the salmon was wonderfully smoked.

There was a farmer's market right outside the restaurant, so we walked around for a bit after brunch. I almost bought asparagus and heirloom tomatoes, but we only had a few dollar bills and didn't want to deal with credit card machines at a farmer's market, so we ended up coming home with one thing: dill cheese curds. Priorities...

Once home, I changed and went to the gym for a Ballet Burn class. It was awful and boring and made me really crabby, so, once I got home, I decided to go on a run  (and make my puppy happy).

Best friends should run together, that's how it ought to be

Apparently, she now associates my running shoes with happiness, so as soon as I picked my shoes up, she got excited and started grinning and walking around in circles. So happy.

After my run, I realized that my parents were going to be downtown very shortly, so I hopped in the shower while Justin did a CostCo run. Send that man to CostCo and what does he come back with? Flowers. I am so blessed.

Once my parents arrived, we walked over to Randolph Street Market. It's like the pop-up-shop Disneyworld of vintage and DIY furniture and decor.

How many Carlys does it take to send a text?

I didn't make any big purchases, but there are a few items I'm interested in. They are there every month, so I figure there's no rush. My mother did buy some fresh potted herbs and a topiary, though.

After dropping my mom's purchases off at the apartment, we hopped in a cab and headed over to Southport. We put our name in at Tango Sur and then had a drink at Deleece.  

The drinks were wonderful, and dinner was filling. For the most part, everything was delicious, apart from some issues my dad had with his steak (first it was red and screaming on the inside, then they tried again and brought him a super fatty piece).

By the time we left, we were tired (red wine = zzzzzz) and ready for bed. I slept a solid eight hours before waking up to head to the gym for a Spin class and Bodypump class. After eating a Quest bar at an alarming speed, I made us a nice, healthy spread to chomp on as we marathon'ed a few of the new Arrested Development episodes.

Sabra Hummus, Wasa Crackers, Veggie Straws,
and tons of strawberries.

After more cooking (meals for the week) and TV watching, we finally watched the Blackhawks vs Red Wings game. I was really not into it, so I got ready for bed early. Zzzzzzzzzzzzz

Happy pup. Sleepy pup. How are you so flexible?

What did YOU do over Memorial Day weekend?