clouds turn to brooke's

So I went and took my ON cloudrunner's back to Runner's. It was the 10th day (they give you 10 days to try them out and return if you have any issues what so ever). So I basically did it because a) I've never had some many blisters in the past 2 years I have been running b) was down to my last day to return and well if you aren't happy you might as well say something, it's not like these shoes (or any running shoes) are cheap.

So when P and I went we walked in and saw Katie (thank goodness) 1) because she is the best at her job at that store, 2) helped me with the On cloudrunner purchase last week and gave them to the hubs when he picked them up. 3) would be the only person I will take suggestions from.

I told her I would be willing to try something else on, I am not brand loyal as I have run in a couple different shoes now. She was surprised those particular shoes were giving me issues, since I have an identical pair. We came to the conclusion that it might be a defective pair, enough said.

I told her I was willing to try on another pair, like mentioned above, and if I couldn't find one I would like a refund (another perk of Runner's..return in 10 days to exchange or full refund. How does one go wrong!?)

She brought out 2 pairs of Brooke's and 1 new balance. Now please forgive me I am not trying to be a shoe snob, because as stated before I was willing to try on anything and Katie always hooks me up. But I've never been a huge fan of Brooke's...the toes are a bit too narrow for the roominess I usually like. And new balance, not trying to judge but when new balance first came out, all you saw were old grandpa's wearing the brightest of whitest pair! I think old man when I think new balance.

She put one new balance on and one Brooke's launch 2. I didn't like the narrowness of the NB but the colors were cute! ( high cry from the bright white!). Then she put on another Brooke's but those were narrow as well and the original Brooke's I had on were beating out all the other shoes, with it being so light weight and roomy in the toes.

So I got a pair of Brooke's. Katie knows my hesitation and assured me again I've got 10 days with these shoes too. I felt bad giving the ON coudrunner's back today because I noticed there was a lot of sand on them from the beach run the other day. But apparently I don't even notice a huge rock, why would I notice sand, LOL!

Meet my new Brooke's Launch 2:

I'm sure other people wander around their homes in their new running shoes and compression socks too..right?! Or is it just me?

After getting new shoes, P and I went to the zoo and I almost wore above ensemble. haha I controlled the impulse to do so. :) 

**Are you brand loyal? If so which one or ones? 

weekend away wrap up and more

I find when I pack for us to go anywhere, I over pack...big time!

We headed to the east side of the state and rented a cabin on the beach. It has been unseasonably cold here in Mi and unfortunately it did not warm up for our weekend. But luckily I have a trooper for a child and she happily plays no matter the forecast.  This was the first day when the sun peaked out for 3 minutes.

The scenery/landscape is pretty awesome:

I went for a 5 mile run, in the rain, not a refreshing rain but a chilly cold rain. One of those where you kinda can't get warm no matter how hard you try through out the day cold rains.  I will say, there is a brand new and pretty great RT, that started directly out of the drive way of our cabin! I was pumped to see it when we arrived because I really didn't know where I would run, I'm not a beach runner. 

When I was done with my 5 miles, I stopped by the cabin and asked P if she wanted to come sit with me while I cooled down and dried off. She is always willing to get her feet in the sand. I stretched and then sat here and just watched her looking for rocks/stones.

We hit up the local farmers market. I got peaches and homemade chap-stick (hello awesomeness!). The peaches were gone in less than 24 hrs, and the whole family tried the new chappy at least 2-3 times. :)

This was the first time they let me into their secret fishing club. (have I mentioned how much I love that they have their own things they do just the two of them...Love.)

So as a Michigander, whenever I am by a body of water I look for Petosky stones. They are these great old stones that can be difficult to find. They are a bazillion years old, or at least 2 million, and they were once part of a coral reef. We found 7!! So I found the first one and requested a high five from the family, then the hubs found a few and so did P. Not so rare around here apparently. 

These 2 on the hunt for Petosky stones:

Sunday morning cuddles before packing up:

We got home early Sunday afternoon. In enough time to do laundry, and the hubs to cut the grass. While he was cutting he came into the house to let me know the apple trees were in full effect. P and I went out with a bag to fill up. Apple mini breads is what I had in mind:

We laid pretty low, got take out for dinner, the heat wave is back. LOL just in time for us to be back home and 1.5 hrs away from the beach! Michigan, I'll never understand you!! 

This morning I had little to no desire to run. I ran 3 miles on the TM and then 7 miles on the bike. 

Sometimes you just need a change in pace.

I'm also heading to Runner's today to return my shoes, I am getting blisters like no bodies business!! 

I might get another pair of shoes or I might just get a refund, I haven't decided yet.... to be continued. 

Funny story as I was running this morning I didn't have my head phone in, no desire for music either. I was noticing my left heal was striking really hard, and I was wondering what was up with that. After I was done, I walked to the bike, and heard something in my shoe...yep HUGE rock. LOL how did I not notice that when I walked into the gym...and up the steps..possibly it was too early. :)

*Weekend wrap ups, any races or long runs!!?? 

speedy Friday and back on the TM

 This was me, before the speed workout. Don't I look happy and all unassuming. LOL I had a wonderful and much needed great nights sleep last night. I got to sleep in my bed all night and didn't even wake up to go pee. This is huge! There was no snoring hubs, and if he was I was in such a deep REM I didn't even notice. And there was no little girl crawling into the bed. (I think she sleep walks into our bed). When either the snoring or added company happens I take myself to the sofa where I try to get some sleep. But last night, it was blissful! My alarm went off and I popped (literally) right up and away I went.

I went up around 6:00 am because I was just running my speedy 3 miles which should take me around 30 mins. There was no one there. The business that happens at 5:00 am slows down by 6:00 am but revs back up at 6:30 am. So I was in a prefect pocket at 6:00 am. 

As you know I really didn't want to run on the TM for the 3rd day this week, but you gotta do things you don't like sometimes. I started out at a pace of 9:50/mile. Then after the first mile I moved to 9:24/ mile and then by 2.5 miles I went to 8:54/ miles. I was happy to play around with the pace and kinda see what I could do without flying off the end of the TM. I noticed my bike shorts (which I wear under my running skirt) were riding up (I need to get a few smaller pairs) but I didn't want to stop because I had a good thing happening, but was worried about trying to fiddle with them as I ran at, what seemed to me, an incredible speed. I was feeling the rubbing but knew they'd just ride up again if I stopped. Around mile 2 I pulled them down, and didn't miss a beat. I later felt the damage the 2 miles caused in the shower...ouch! 

I was so consumed with stopping the TM to see my average, I missed it... twice, as it went by the screen. I was only able to get these, which really don't matter in a speed workout...haha oh well. If I had to guess I did an average of 9:30 which I am proud of, especially after a long 7 mile the day before. 

Post run excitement, or something of that nature!

I also noticed a blister! I've never gotten a blister before, I've had this area on my toe sore before, but a blister has never formed...until today! (ps my big toenail is painted yellow, I don't have a fungus, when P given me a pedicure she always makes sure to use yellow, because it's her favorite color).

My quads are a bit sore and I've stretched them out twice already, I'm sure the 1.5 hours we have planned in the car today will be just fabulous for them. LOL! 

Have a wonderful weekend everyone! 

zucchini bread and 7 miles

The last couple days have been okay. Wednesday was suppose to be my 7 mile run on the TM and RT. My plan was 4 miles TM and 3 miles RT but the darn sun is not rising until 6:45, ain't nobody got time to wait til 6:45 to run on the RT. LOL Well luckily it didn't happen anyway. Wednesday morning my alarm went off, I turned it off because I was awake and then fell back to sleep!! UGH. I adjusted my plan for the week which included 6 days of working out and 25 miles. And moved my longer 7 mile run to Thursday morning. Which left me with only 5 days of working out, but still on track for my 25 miles.

Wednesday we made zucchini bread, 2 loafs and a batch of GF zucchini mini muffins (awesome!)

Then we spent some time outside on a very chilly August afternoon:

This morning I did my 7 miles all on the TM. I really dislike just pounding on the TM. 

But you gotta do what you gotta do!

I kinda felt a little nauseous after my run. Like immediately after. I was walking and drinking the last of my water and I was thinking " wow I feel like I could vomit." I pushed the last .3 miles to my speed work mileage, I'm not sure if that's what pushed me over the edge or what, but ugh...I felt yucky.

I do this when I am drying my hands off after washing them at the end of my workouts.

Have you ever felt less than great after a run, even nauseous? 

Wednesday whatnot's #9

Wednesday whatnot's are a little bit of everything from the week, that I can't write a whole blog post about. They are just little whatnot's as I call them: :)

You might ask yourself, "what are Michigander's doing in this late August heat?" We are baking! Because there is no heat, it's high 60's! In August...in Michigan!

I got a new GF cookie mix (new to the store) it was really great! I didn't have butter so I mashed up 2 banana's which kinda made the mix too runny ( you were suppose to be able to form 1" balls with your hands, yeah that wasn't going to happen) but they turned out delicious. Before they kinda looked like no bakes.

After with some added powdered sugar, because triple chocolate isn't enough, obviously.

The packaging: There were 3 different kinds. I chose chocolate :)

The rest of my whatnot's are uber random. 

Bella found the sheets the moment I pulled them from the drier and tossed them onto the bed. I should have made the bed right away, but when I say how cozy she was I left her like that most of the afternoon. 

These on my end table, always makes me smile. I love magazines, and especially magazines that promote health and talk about running! 

And more baking will ensue today because we are still hanging in the 60's. And with these babies laying around, they are just asking to be made into bread. I'll even be a good daughter-in-law and take a loaf to my father-in-law who loves zucchini bread! 

Have a wonderful Wednesday!! 

* What's your Wednesday whatnot? Please share!! 

running on clouds

My new shoes are in!!! And I have the best hubs in the world, because he picked up my shoes on his way home from work so I didn't have to drive out there. (plus we had some major playing going on at the park, so we were preoccupied).

So cute! Love the colors and the new shoe smell, LOL! 

ON cloudrunner are by far my most favorite shoes, obviously because this is my second pair. :)

My goal this week is to run 25 miles. I am on track after running my 5 miles this morning which leaves me at 10 so far for this week. Tomorrow is 7 miles, Thursday is strength, Friday is speed 3, and Saturday is another 5 miles. We are out of town but we are by a beautiful lake where I know I'll have great scenery to keep me occupied.  

As I was running on the TM this morning (in my new shoes...yay!) I was trying to watch to see when the sun was finally rising. It's getting so much later!! I need to run 7 miles tomorrow with the hopes to do 4 miles on the TM and 3 miles on the RT, but you know I am just not sure I can swing it. (Remember I have to be home by 7:00 am so the hubs can get to work). I try very hard not to make him late. :) 

It makes me sad that it's still dark out. I'm not ready for summer to be over :(

Me just hanging out in the women's locker room post workout. 

I was beyond hungry this morning. After saying good morning to P I got the watermelon out of the fridge immediately. 

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day!! I am thinking it's going to be a pretty good day. Lunch with my sister, P and my nephew. And then more park time! Plus school supply shopping...

*Are you ready for summer to be done? 

easy run on a sunday morning

So with my new schedule in play I ran the 5 miles I had scheduled on Sunday.

It was an easy run, mainly because I was so not active last week. It was a cool crisp morning, 58*, perfect for a morning run. I was in heaven!

My usual sunrise pictures:

The RT was so quiet and peaceful! 

Every weekend when I run, which is usually a Sunday, but sometimes it a Saturday or both. I see the same older gentleman on a bike. It's one of those bikes where he is sitting more down and his legs are out in front of him. Anyway we always seem to start about the same time (where ever it is he starts from) but we "run" into each other around the same area each weekend, so I tried to move a bit quicker and see if I couldn't meet up with him somewhere else, and I did! LOL it's the small things that keep running interesting! :)

Post run, happy face: 

-Does anyone else try to race to a new place or mentally race someone else to keep things interesting? 

  

farm fresh friday, and some not so great energy levels

So my running spirit is low. I really don't know why but I kinda think there is a reason behind it. I really think I was starting to come down with something. I have been abnormally tired like falling asleep at 8:00 pm kinda tired.

I think this has been keeping me down.

I did noticed I was getting a twinge in my left shin. I have had shin splints before, I know the early signs of them. I knew I was coming due for new shoes soon anyway, because I'm about 5 months into these with about 400-500 miles.

So as much as I didn't want to ( sarcasm! ) I went to Runner's Performance and got a new pair of ON cloud shoes ordered! :) they are super cute too, I don't have them however, they had to get them from the other store so I'll have them earlier next week. SO excited!

But lets back up a little bit:

Wednesday morning run was at the gym on the TM for 3 miles. I had to get to work and just wanted a quick run, 3 miles seemed nice.

This is a very poor picture of my doing my quad stretches:

The sunrise...oh the sunrise :)

That afternoon I had to drive out to my mom's house (she was watching P ) from my work it's a good hour and 10 mins away. I needed a little something :

Thursday I didn't go for a run because I had that twinge of pain in my shin. But I made a delicious dinner. Chicken Cesar salad:

Friday was again one of those days I needed sleep. I turned my alarm off and slept until 7:00 am! 

But 8:30 am we were grocery shopping. Once home, I made homemade potato salad, put a pork tenderloin in the crock pot for pulled pork sandwiches this weekend. And then we went to Runner's :) 

I got a terrible headache after lunch and actually had to come home and lay down for an hour. P was happy to watch a few episodes of my little pony while I rested. I'm not totally sure what that was about. We then went outside and played, and then I started dinner. 

I was very proud of Friday nights dinner. It was all mainly farm fresh foods. :) That always makes me feel like I am doing a good job. 

I made burgers on the grill. Burgers that come from a grass fed local organic farm:

Corn on the cob from my mom's garden. P helped shuck the corn :

And the potato salad, the potatoes are from my mom's garden, the onions were as well.  (It was delicious!)

Then we ended the night getting ice cream, chocolate caramel cashew for me! :)

I then made a list. I am a list maker, sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't.

This is my list, my goals and my plans for the next week. I then made 2 more weeks behind this one. 

I need something. 

I have my new shoes, and hopefully this bug will be gone soon too.

I've decided that on September 12th, the day of the half marathon, I am going to run my own 13 miles. This is a BIG goal form me. 13 miles would be my longest run yet. :) a good goal huh?! 

I really hope I can get back into the swing of things.