{Friday Fab 5-Best Burgers Ever, Trail Running Shoes, Grilled Veggies, …}

Posted in Friday Fab 5 by sneaksandstilettos

{#1-Peppercorn-Crusted BBQ-Ranch Burgers with Chili-Lime Crunchies}

Shocker alert! I have another recipe from Iowa Girl Eats to recommend. Memorial Day is one of those days that conjures up thoughts of sunshine, American pride and grilling. I came across this recipe last week and knew we HAD to make it Monday. These burgers were amazing. Since I’m the only person in the world who hates ranch dressing I did not mix mine with BBQ. For those ranch lovers out there i.e. everyone else on the planet, you’ll love the BBQ-Ranch combo. Add this recipe to your next grill out plans.

{#2-Grilled Veggies}

Since the focus of our meal was these burgers, and they seemed super filling, I wanted something light and yummy to go with. I love roasting veggies on the grill during the summer and peppers in four colors seemed like the best choice. It was.

{#3-Must complete this mile!}

This was me Wednesday night. I got back to my house from my hilly run and was not quite to seven miles yet. I did what any number/Garmin obsessed runner does and ran around little loops by my house until I heard the comfort of the familiar chirp and felt the mile vibration on my wrist. Now I could be done. Does anyone else do this? I tend to waiver back and forth between obsessed and run free.

{#4-Trail Running Shoes…err not!}

The other day I sort of just realized I don’t own trail running shoes and my first 50k is oh, next week! I think it is a little too late for that, but I don’t even know where to begin. I will be wearing my trusty old Mizuno Wave Riders, but am a bit nervous about this. I know the trails I’m going to be running are not too technical so they should work. Anyone have recommendations on trail running shoes? I read reviews in Trail Runner magazine last weekend, but feel overwhelmed. Where to start?

{#5-I’ll take the running gear}

For a sport that really requires so little gear, how can I need so much running gear? I do mean need, too! My birthday wish lists sure have changed over the past few years since running my first marathon. Forget the romantic stuff, I want Body Glide and tech material gear. I can’t be alone on this can I?

Happy Friday!

18Apr2014

{Friday Fab 5-Easter Baskets for Runners, Run This Town, NYC Marathon, Apple Cheddar Chicken, }

Posted in Friday Fab 5 by sneaksandstilettos

Today’s post is later than usual due to a relaxing pancake breakfast made by the husband followed by some a.m. reading in bed with coffee.

{#1-Apple Cheddar Chicken}

image from http://www.iowagirleat.com

Another great recipe from Iowa Girl Eats. I seriously love so many of her eats. From dinners to treats they are all delicious. Check her out if you haven’t!

{#2-Run This Town}

I have had the opportunity to run in some great cities over the past few years. When planning upcoming trips one of the first things I plan is the routes I hope to run. I often struggle to find information on running routes in specific cities in advance and usually wish there was a resource I could use when planning my next vacation. I’ve decided to create my own resource, found under the Run This Town tab, that will highlight favorite running routes in specific cities. The posts about each city will include descriptions about sights on the run, terrain of routes, distances, where to park, and of course photos. Hopefully this will benefit other runners the next time they have a chance to travel

{#3-New York City Marathon}
I’ve always dreamed of one day running the NYC Marathon. Don’t get too excited…I don’t have a surprise announcement about running this dream race. This past week while grading papers I found Run For Your Life was on Netflix streaming along with other great running movies like Spirit of the Marathon. Run For Your Life is a documentary about the NYC Marathon. The documentary follows the race’s director from its first year with hardly any runners to the grand race it has become. Of course watching the history and nostalgia of the race that runs through all five boroughs made me want to run it even more, so I decided to look up the race online and was really disappointed to see that they are changing how you can receive guaranteed entry.

The NYC Marathon is currently a lottery system unless you run for charity, qualify at specific local races, have run 15 consecutive NYC Marathons, or have applied for the lottery three years in a row and have not been accepted. I had been counting on the last option as the charities require you to raise signficant dollars that I’m just not sure I could. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to count on that option as this is the last year they are guaranteeing entry for runners who were denied entry after applying to the lottery for three consecutive years. Also ending next year is guaranteed entry for runners who have run the NYC Marathon the last 15 years or more in a row. I’m bummed for those people, too.

Now I’m curious about what future entry options will look like (qualifying times like Boston?), or if it will solely rely on lottery entry and if you don’t ever get in, then you don’t get in. The Houston Marathon has had a lottery system for a couple of years now, but also has a guaranteed option if you run a qualifying time that allows you to register before the lottery opens to other runners. Since this is bucket list race for me and the race I plan on running for my New York state race, I will definitely be keeping an eye on this. Some of you NY readers, do you know any other details?

{#4-My poor husband}

I do this to my husband ALL the time! Usually it goes something like I don’t want to pick where we eat, you pick. Well, I don’t really want to eat there. I’m not feeling there either. And so on!

{#5-Happy Easter}

Have a runner in your life? Want to send some Easter love their way? Make a runner basket for them! I filled this basket with some of my favorite running gear items. You could go big or choose just a few items to include in their runner basket. Starting from the top left items include-1. Runner’s World Magazine, 2. My Life On the Run by Bart Yasso, 3. Spirit of the Marathon DVD, 4. Bic Bands headband, 5. Body Glide, 6. Nuun, 7. GU, 8. Bearded Brothers bar, and 8. Pro Compression compression socks.

Happy weekend everyone!

26Jan2014

{Wisconsin Marathon Training-Week 4}

Posted in Wisconsin Marathon Training by sneaksandstilettos

Despite less than stellar temperatures to train in this week, both Ryan and I had some solid runs this week.

Monday-6.25 miles + HIIT Workout (Sarah)

Post-run in my new favorite winter running jacket. More on the jacket later!

Cherry tomatoes, carrots, starfruit, mangos, apples, oranges, lemons, raspberries, blueberries, and, blackberries.

Getting a healthy dose of vitamins! We threw in some starfruit this week-yum!

I didn’t have school on Monday, so I had a chance to get in a solid run outside before the temperatures started dropping followed by a HIIT workout that left me sore for days. One of my new years resolutions was to add in a few HIIT workouts this year.

Tuesday-off
My whole body was sore from yesterday’s HIIT workout.

Wednesday-6 miles (Ryan)

Ryan ran at the gym at his school followed by a good lifting sessions. Then it was time to cheer on the Badgers during their upsetting loss to the Gophers. My legs were still sore today.

Thursday-6 miles (Both of Us)

His face says it all…treadmills are awesome. Awesome as in watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians with my wife.

We hit the gym today as it was too freezing outside to endure six miles (temps were below zero). It was not a fantastic run, but not terrible either. In all honesty, I am not totally confident I would have made it to the gym had it not been for Ryan. Having a training buddy is awesome. The time went by faster than I expected as I watched last week’s episode of The Good Wife on my iphone. Ryan still refuses music or specific TV reactions. What a weirdo! Or he is just significantly tougher than me. Probably the former.

Friday-3 miles (Sarah)
I took advantage of the warmest temperatures all week and ran after work. In a strange turn of events for Wisco winters, the temperatures actually increased throughout the day with the high temps occurring at 10:00 p.m. Even with warmer temps, the wind was fierce. After my run my muscle soreness returned. Very strange. I say very strange because I’ve never experienced random muscle soreness before. I also drank way more water than normal this week since purchasing my new water bottle. Staying hydrated is so important if you want to feel good while training. Take a fun bottle to work to encourage yourself to stay hydrated throughout the day.

Saturday-10 miles (Both of Us)

It was a familiar scene again…the gym and sore muscles (so weird). Ryan didn’t get home until 3:00, therefore we didn’t make it to the gym until 3:30, so we had to cut our run a mile short as the gym closed at 5:00. By the end I was so ready to be done. Outside runs are so much more interesting. My legs were very heavy and still sore so I didn’t mind. My quads felt like I had run a PR half marathon. I’ll spare you all the treadmill photos this week mostly because they shut off after an hour so I couldn’t capture a ten mile photo. You’ll just have to take my word for it.

Sunday-Skiing date for 4 hours instead of a 3 mile run
Most my muscle soreness was gone today. Ryan’s heel was feeling great. With more winter weather advisories and windchill warnings starting in the p.m. we wanted to get outside. We decided to hit the slopes to cross train instead of our 3 mile run. Windy, but so worth it to enjoy winter outdoors. The only downside of the 20-25 mph winds was some of the slopes were icy. Not much you can do. It was great to get some fresh air before we are trapped inside for the next couple of days. Looking at the forecast over the U.S. some of you southerns are in for some cold and winter too. Stay warm!

Warming up and where I sit writing this week’s training post.

Ryan & Sarah’s Tip of the Week-Like a newbie, I totally forgot to put on Body Glide prior to our ten mile treadmill run. Like a newbie, oh wait he is, Ryan didn’t put Body Glide on his nipples. As I felt the familiar rub and burn of chaffing setting in around mile six or seven on the treadmill, I knew I had messed up. It was around this time that Ryan mentioned his sore nipples. As I stepped in the shower post-run the all too familiar sting set in. For long runs where you will sweat (for most of you this is all long runs, unless you too live in the frigid North) make sure to lube up any areas that rub. For me this is under my sports bra’s elastic band, sometimes between my thighs, and even my feet. For guys this includes your chest and nipples. Ryan also says his chest chafes more when it is unshaved, so I guess guys shave your chest, too. Hopefully that last sentence is never advice I’m having to give from experience! Body Glide has been my go to since my first marathon in 2008 and has yet to fail me when I remember to put it on.

Week 4 Mile Totals-
Ryan-22 miles
Sarah-25.25 miles

Stay warm everyone! Happy Training!