Running Chick

This week was a self-imposed cut-back week for me.  Between stresses at work, miserable runs and just generally feeling like crap, I was feeling totally burned out with running. I was looking at my schedule on Sunday night and had many thoughts of throwing in the towel.  However, having signed up for a race makes things a little complicated, so in an act of self-preservation, I decided to do what I usually hate to do – make adjustments.

I’m usually really OCD about following my training programs. If you ask Josh, he’ll agree and somewhere in that conversation you’ll probably hear him say the word “insane”.  Yeah, I guess I can be a bit rigid with my schedule.  But, I had to do something or I was going to throw myself off the bridge, so I dropped my weekly runs down to three from four, and dropped my weekly miles by around 15% and did all my runs at an easy pace.  I’m not sure if it completely worked, but I don’t feel like jumping off a bridge when I look at my schedule for next week.

Anyway, recap.  Wednesday, 5 @ 11:00; Thursday, 5 @ 10:04 and Saturday, 6 @ 11:09.  I had a little bit of quad cramping during the last few miles on Saturday, but I’m blaming that on heat and lack of fluids. Next week is the final big week before taper.  I have three four-milers and a 12 (or maybe 14 depending on how I’m feeling) miler on the weekend for a total of 26 miles. Once next week is over, it's a downhill slide until the race.

We got a giant box of veggies from our CSA last week, so I’ve been busy making zucchini relish, zucchini bread, zucchini chips, and zucchini soup. Can you guess what we got most of?  We also got swiss chard (surprisingly yummy), cucumbers (time for pickling), potatoes, sweet corn and various peppers. We also got turnips. I used to hate turnips when I was a kid.  For Thanksgiving, my grandparents always served up a bowl of them them mashed.  I can remember walking into their house (now mine), smelling the turnips and thinking “eew, gross”.  So, when we got several in our CSA box, I figured that my adult tastes were far more refined and I’d find them completely yummy and I’d be able to tell the story to my folks and we’d have a good laugh.  However, as soon as that smell started creeping out from the kitchen, it was like I was transported back in time and all I could think was “eew, gross!”.  Suffice to say, that is one of the foods from my childhood that will stay there!

We had a great time at the Keweenaw Brewfest.  This was the third year it was held, but due to being out of town, our first time attending.

There was a ton of people there, and we ended up hanging out with a group of work friends.  It was fun comparing beers and chatting and, despite it being 1000 degrees outside, the beer was nice cold.  The event was $25 and that got you a fancy glass (6 oz) and fifteen wooden chips, each one good for a sample pour.  I don’t think there was one beer that I didn’t like, or maybe it’s more like I can’t remember. Toward the end, it all blurred together.  Some of my favorites were the pumpkin ale from some brewery, the Black & Tan from Guinness, the margarita from some other brewery and (this I remember) the Newcastle Werewolf Red Ale.

I don’t know what either of these beers were, but I’m certain they were awesome.

Until next year, Brewfest!

This post wouldn’t be complete without some some gratuitous pictures of the cats.

Scout, who has decided that Josh’s Makita tool bag makes a great napping spot and who gets really crabby when I wake her up to take pictures.

And Pippen, lording over the world from atop the mattresses waiting to be hauled to the dump.

If he’s awake when you walk in the room, he will boop you on the head.