Marathon Training Monday

Taper time! After the 20 miler, it is time to taper.  You run less, rest up, and get ready for race day.  I can't believe I am at this point!

Last week the mileage was 5, 8, 4 and then on Saturday I ran 12.  Everything felt pretty good considering I had just run 20 miles.  12 made me feel tired, but overall my excitement for race day is keeping me motivated.  This week the mileage is 4, 6, 3.  This is more like the typical miles I run during the week when I am not training and just feel like having a good mix of shorter and longish runs.  I think this week is going to feel great.  Saturday is the last "long" Saturday run with 8 miles.  This next time I run double digit miles will be on race day!

I can't wait for this marathon.  I feel like training went way better than last year and I am feeling really good.  My packet pick-up ticket came in the mail and I am getting super pumped.  I already picked out my race day outfit and my parents and I have been planning what we will do the day before.  I love the atmosphere of race day and I can't wait to share this one with my family again.  I'll keep you updated as I count down the days to the Chicago Marathon! 13 days!!!!

Wedding Planning Wednesday

Flower time!  This is a topic that I know very little about.  So, I have been all over pinterest and I have been trying to educate myself.

At this point, we have met with two different florists to get information about options and pricing.  We went to Four Finches and to Pollen.  Both sounded pretty amazing so now we are just weighing our options and figuring out where we want our budget to be.  I think it's pretty crazy how expensive flowers can be!  I am that super practical person who thinks, "Why pay so much for something that is going to die so quickly?"  However, I want our wedding to be beautiful and flowers do have a special way of making everything look magical.  I am also liking the look of something a little rustic with lots of candlelight.  I hope that everything turns out wonderful and I can't wait to share pictures as we start to make choices on decor!

For now, check out my pinterest page and let me know what you think! I love hearing ideas so please keep them coming!

Dark Chocolate M&M Zucchini Bread

Marathon training makes me SO HUNGRY! Seriously, I am hungry all the time.  Plus, my lunch at school is at 1 in the afternoon.  So, when I eat breakfast at 5:30 and run in the morning I feel great, but by the time lunch rolls around, I am practically seeing stars I am so hungry.  I decided it would be a fantastic idea to hide some food in a drawer in my room so that I can discretely munch occasionally.  This was the motivation behind these Dark Chocolate M&M Zucchini Muffins...

This recipe made 24 mini muffins plus a whole loaf pan.  Bri was very excited when he saw what was happening in the kitchen and these guys came out great!  

Dark Chocolate M&M Zucchini Bread

(adapted from The Kitchn)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

2 small zucchini, shredded and squeezed dry with paper towels

4 eggs

1 cup non-fat, plain greek yogurt

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup dark chocolate m&ms

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 and grease a mini muffin pan and loaf pan.  

2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, oats, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.  

3. In a large bowl, beat the eggs with the greek yogurt and vanilla until light and fluffy.  Beat in the shredded zucchini.  Add in the dry ingredients and beat until just combined.

4. Stir in the m&ms and then spoon into the prepared muffin tin and loaf pan. 

5. Bake the muffins for about 20 minutes and bake the loaf for about 25-30 minutes.  A toothpick should come out clean from both.  Let cool and enjoy!

Marathon Training Monday: Ready to Run 20 Miler!

Sorry I took a bit of break last week...my crazy life finally caught up to me and I just couldn't focus on everything at once!  However, I am back and ready to tell you about my fabulous experience in the CARA Ready to Run 20 Miler!  This "race" is a training run that it supposed to make you feel like you are a ready to run the marathon.  20 miles is the longest run during training and you are supposed to treat it like a dress rehearsal for the marathon.  So, I packed a gear bag, put my race bib on, had a delish pasta dinner the night before, and tried my very best to get a good night's sleep.  

For those of you who have never packed a gear bag, here is what I suggest:

-Clean undies, pants/shorts, and a shirt.  I didn't pack a shirt because we got a shirt at the finish line, but typically I do

-Deodorant

-Flip Flops (all I ever want is to take off my sweaty socks so these feel great)

-An ID and some money 

-My glasses

-Wipes-you're gonna be sweaty so this helps! 

Put some of these things into a plastic bag.  That way, when you take off your gross stuff, you can stash it in the bag and it won't touch your other things!

I did not bring music with me as I had a bunch of running buddies:

Me and Jana

Our starting line selfie with some of the Perfect Tens

This was a training run, so you run with a pace group as best as you can.  I stayed with my pace group the entire time!  We chatted, laughed, high fived each other, and all got beers at the finish line.

It was a beautiful day out and the run went great! I totally feel ready to rock the Chicago Marathon in a couple weeks!  For now, we taper, rest up, and stay healthy!