Weekend Wrap-Up!

Lunch on Friday consisted of more chicken and sweet potatoes, plus some tortilla chips with hummus and Sriracha. The hilly speed workout we did in the AM really zapped my energy, so I took a 30 minute nap before I ate lunch. I was SO worn out.

Then I spent the day working on analyzing data before my phone meeting. I also snacked on the last of our dried mango slices (sad day) and a fig bar. Dried mango is my weakness. Good thing I’m going to the store today! I will have to stock up.

I had a phone meeting in the afternoon, in which we FINALLY made progress on an article a research professor at Mizzou and I are presenting at a literacy conference next month. Now to finish analyzing and writing, so we can be completely finished!

Jake came home and we headed to Bambino’s to chow down on some pasta! I love balsamic vinegar and could eat it on EVERYTHING. No joke. I especially love dipping bread into this olive oil/vinegar/garlic mixture. We inhaled that basket…but hey, we were carbo loading!

Funny story – Jake and I had originally planned on doing a race this Saturday – the AdventureMax trail half-marathon – but last month, we decided not to do it because we needed to get an easy 15 miles in this weekend. We LOVE the event and were both pretty bummed about not doing it, but we knew we would want to race it and since we really only needed a training run, it was probably best for us NOT to do it. Wellllll, the race director texted Jake Friday afternoon and asked if we were going to do it. We just couldn’t say no to him! So, the next thing we know, we are signing up for a race in the AM. I was super excited, but told Jake I was NOT racing it. I was going to walk when I needed to and just use it as a training run. He was on the fence on what he wanted to do. He loves racing, but he had also taken a month and a half off after his hundred, so he has just been getting back into consistent racing. I figured he would end up racing it, but he said he would just see how he felt Saturday morning. So, that was our excitement on Friday night!

We shared the Greek pasta, which is amazing. It’s so light, which I love. We couldn’t finish it even with sharing! We also had a salad, which was inhaled before I could take a picture.

After we ate, we were going to go grab a couple drinks, but first, we spent some time looking over the race information. Jake had made the course awhile ago, so he was already familiar with it – I ran this half last year while Jake led it on his mountain bike, but I get lost at Two Rivers (I’m directionally challenged), so I didn’t really remember it. Also, Two Rivers is where I fell during my last race. THREE TIMES. So, I was REALLY hoping I wouldn’t fall at all this weekend. I’ve got some sweet scars from my last crashes out there. ; )

It’s kind of hard to see, but here are some of my battle wounds from my race at Two Rivers in September. I came in first female, though, so it was worth it! ; ) My first time crashing in a race and I ate dirt three times. Classic.

After dinner, we went to Lost Signal Brewery and had a beer, then to Mother’s Brewery and had a beer. It was such a relaxing night! We stopped by Galloway on our way home, then were in bed early, ready for our race – I mean training run…

I woke up SO sore. I did a rowing circuit Thursday, then went to yoga that night, then Jake tried to kill me on Friday during speed work on hills. Since we were planning on an easy training run, we really pushed it Friday, which we 100% would not have done if we knew we were doing a race the next day. I was having trouble picking my legs up because my hip flexors were so sore, and that’s KIND OF important when running trail. Every muscle hurt before the race. When we pulled into Two Rivers and got out of the car, I seriously considered dropping from the half and running the 10k. I was nervous about how terrible I felt…I didn’t want to struggle with lifting my legs and fall a bunch. Well, I decided to just suck it up and do the half. I would walk the whole thing if I needed to – I needed the mileage. So, I threw on my Trail Sisters trucker and my Nathan pack, and we headed to the start!

We were ready to go! Jake immediately walked ALL the way up to the very front. Eye-roll. I gave him a good luck smooch and moved back to more of the middle of the group. I was not going to race this, I just wanted to get my training run in and not die.

We both finished! This run was super hard for both of us. After talking with Jake, it seems like we had a lot of very similar thoughts. I wanted to quit after a mile and a half. My legs were DEAD. I’ve never started a run feeling that awful before. Typically, when I run trail, some of the miles fly by, just because I’m so focused on the terrain and the beautiful views, but not this time. I felt every single step. BUT, I still loved the race and am glad we did it. It was good training for us when we do the back-to-back trail race next month. GULP. I have lots of work to do before that! Jake ended up finishing in the top 10 for males, with a time of 2:01:00. He got first in the age group, too! I finished top 5 females, with a time of 2:18:03. I also got third in my age group, which was a surprise. As much as the run hurt, I’m glad we got it in. I stuck to my plan, too – I walked when I needed to walk (which was a lot). Post-run smiles! It was a beautiful start to our Saturday.

Michelle and Ryan cleaned up in the 10k! Ryan also got first in his age group and Michelle got third in hers! After the run, there was beer, BBQ, and live music. It was a blast!

Reppin’ some of our favorite stuff! Altra, trucker hats, and our medals.

Yesssss. This BBQ sandwich hit the spot.

My run based on Strava. The total time is a little off from the official time. I love seeing the map of trail runs. They look so cool!

After the run, we stopped by the store to get some stuff for the BBQ we were having later that night. We got cleaned up, took a short nap, and hung out in the shop waiting for everyone to come over! We were both pretty worn out.

Jake is pretty excited that our beer fridge is almost full! It’s nice having a variety to choose from.

A little grapefruit beer really hit the spot.

Part of the spread! We had brats and veggie burgers, then everyone else brought a side to share. We had tons of delicious food!

Check out this plate of goodness. Yes, please! So yummy. I had felt a little sick all day after our run, but I felt MUCH better after I ate all of this. I think I just needed more food in my system.

We moved all the seating outside the shop because it was so beautiful out. We had planned to have a bonfire, but it was just too windy. We had a blast just sitting around chatting.

Dan told me he wouldn’t let me take his picture, so I just took it while he was getting onto me for always taking pictures. Win-win. ; ) McCall was supportive, as always. Thanks, lady!

Crazy pups in the middle of everyone. Val and Josh brought their fur baby, Lupine, over, so our girls LOVED that!

The dog whisperers…

These two are pretty great!

Jake got called into work Sunday morning, so the girls and I stayed in bed and relaxed. Well, they relaxed, I got to work on some more data analysis…I think they were worn out from all the playing they did Saturday night.

When Jake got home, we went to the Aviary to grab brunch. Jake got the Crepe Lorraine, which was delicious.

And I got the Eggs Benedict Crepe. Which is my FAVORITE. So. Yummy.

After brunch, we both got sleepy, so we took a little nap, then got the girls ready to go on a short recovery run with us. Lu was ready to get started and Aspen was wondering where her Dad was – pretty typical of these two.

3 easy miles with the fam! The girls did really well, as long as Lu could lead the pack. Eye-roll. Aspen can run for hours, and while Lu is not really a running dog, I think she could go for awhile!

Can you wear too much purple? Nope.

Lu loves when I hold her against her will and take pictures. Just ask her.

Lu sat down right in-between my legs and then Aspen tried to crawl into my lap. She thinks she’s a lap dog…but I’ll never turn down cuddles from my babies!

After our run, we went to Coyote’s for dinner and to watch the end of the Chiefs game. My Dad met us there, which was super fun! My Mom wasn’t feeling all that great, so send some positive, healing vibes her way, please!

Sunday Funday!

The best kind of Sunday – beer, chips and dip, and our favorite wings. Yes, we like to eat healthy, but it’s all about balance! We almost always eat out on Sunday evenings, which we love.

Ended our Sunday with some DELICIOUS brownies that Ryan and Sam left at our house…thanks, guys! We obviously didn’t need the sugar….if you need brownies, ask Ryan to make you some. They are seriously AMAZING.

See! I told you Lu loves being held against her will. ; )

Then she escaped and made a bed on one of Jake’s jackets. She always does this to clothes if they’re on the bed.

Look at that bed head! Hahaha! This is the longest her hair has ever been, but I can’t cut it! It’s just too funny.

Breakfast this morning was oatmeal with an egg cooked into it. I used to eat this ALL the time. Has anyone tried it before? It’s really good with peanut butter on top, too. You just cook your oatmeal like you always do, but crack an egg into it and stir it up before it goes in the microwave. I also add a little cinnamon and then top it with honey after it cooks. PB is my favorite to add on top, but we are still out of that…my bad!

I got the go-ahead for my study! So now I have to get it approved by the university, then get started. FINALLY!! I’m so ready to be finished. SO. READY. I’m going to spend the day working on that. I feel like I don’t even need to tell you my daily plans anymore until graduation…but hey, I AM going to go to the store later, so there’s that! ; )

Happy Monday!