I had to switch up my training plan this week (for the 10 miler in November!) since I’m hopefully running my long run with someone else on Friday afternoon! I was supposed to do a 7 mile speed training run tomorrow, but I knew that would be a bad idea to do the day before my 8 mile long run!
Instead, I ended up doing a 5 mile speed training run today! I had hoped to run outside since I’ve been on the treadmill all week, but I woke up and didn’t even want to step outside! 48 degrees, raining and a wind advisory! Let’s just say my 1/2 mile walk to the gym was a workout on it’s own!
So I hit the treadmill for this 5 mile speed workout (I adjusted the 7 mile one I had on my plan).
5 Mile Speed Workout
miles 0-1 – warm-up speed
miles 1-2 – run at an 8:09 min/mile pace (this was 7.4 on my treadmill)
miles 2-2.25 – jog (for me, 6.7)
miles 2.25-3.25 – run at 8:09 min/mile pace
miles 3.25-3.5 – jog
miles 3.5-4.5 – run at 8:09 min/mile pace
miles 4.5-5 – jog
then cool down walk!
I ended up finishing the 5 miles in 42:33, which was an 8:31 min/mile pace. I was really worried when I saw the 7 mile speed training on my schedule, but I totally could have kept going for the last two miles! Also, the speed training for 7 miles included the same 3 miles at a fast pace, just a half mile between each one rather than a quarter mile. So I did complete the 3 miles (which was my plan) I just took out 2 miles of jogging and cool down.
Well, needless to say, after heading home to roll out and shower, I was STARVING.
And lucky for you, I was feeling creative and came up with a brand new oats recipe!
Carrot Cake Oatmeal
Ingredients
about 1/4 cup of grated carrots, steamed in microwave beforehand
1/3 cup oats
1/3 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
1/2 cup water
1 egg white (3 T)
1/2 T chia seeds
plenty of cinnamon and nutmeg (to taste)
raisins and walnuts to top!
Directions
Combine oats, water, milk and egg whites on stove and begin to heat, Be sure to stir in the egg whites! Once oats start to cook, add in carrots, chia seeds and spices. When it’s done cooking, pour into bowl and add toppings!
It was delicious and perfect for a cold, rainy morning!
On Wednesdays, I have to pack both a lunch and a dinner, since I’m at school until 7:30 and then don’t get home until 8:30. I was packing up my food and decided that I was really tired of the food I can pack. Do you ever get that way?
For dinner, I packed the same salad I had yesterday (and monday…) since I don’t have time to go buy something. But for lunch, I decided to treat myself. It’s been that kind of week. So how do I like to treat myself?
Protein Bar!
If you live in Chicago, you HAVE to try the Protein Bar! I talked about it when I got that smoothie, but I love the local and sustainable ingredients they use, and everything is customizable! You can make anything Vegan, Gluten-free or dairy free!
For lunch, I decided to get the Chicken Chili Quinoa Bowl!
It had quinoa, topped with their chicken chili and cheese! I got their vegan cheese (the guy was very confused when I asked for chicken chili and vegan cheese; I had to explain I was avoiding dairy) and then usually they have Greek yogurt on top (like sour cream) but I also didn’t get that.
It was absolutely delicious and totally worth the 5 block walk through torrential winds and rain! Seriously, those poor tourists I kept passing today, they must have thought our city has the worst weather! Oh wait… it does.
So while I was there, I saw that they had Kombucha Synergy drinks, so I grabbed one to drink back at school. I’d never had it, but I’ve heard so much about them on other people’s blogs!
Did anyone else know it was fizzy? Did anyone else toss it in their back pack and then not be able to open it for hours because it would fizz all over?
No?
Oh. Well I did. Oops.
I got the Strawberry Serenity flavor and, once I finally got to taste it, it actually reminded me of Strawberry Andre! You know, the $5 champagne? Haha okay so it was better than Andre, but it had that fermented strawberry taste! It was pretty good!
When I got home late from class I was in the mood for something warm. It was raining and SUPER windy in Chicago, so by the time I got home I was wet and cold! Umbrellas are just pointless… mine flipped over about 3 times this morning before I gave up.
I decided to try out Katie’s Single Lady Cupcake from Chocolate Covered Katie. I used Garbanzo flour and added in some cinnamon and nutmeg. It was good! Although I do wish I had remembered to spray the ramekin first! It was hard to get out… haha.
I put a little PB on it, but the real winner was the Cranberry Apple Butter from Trader Joe’s. Sooooo delicious! Went perfect with the cinnamon flavor!
What is one of your favorite seasonal foods or spices? I’m all about cinnamon right now!
Has anyone else tried Kombucha? What did you think?