I’m a morning runner. Well, most days I’m a morning runner. Today was not most days. Honestly, I went back and forth about whether to even set my alarm. In the end, I did. I got ready and went to the gym at 5 AM.
The gym is pretty packed at that hour. I don’t know why, but that comes as a surprise. At least, I’m not the only crazy person out there! There’s never anyone on the treadmills, but the row of ellipticals is always full. The morning regulars love to ellipticize! I digress…
I went straight for my favorite treadmill and started digging in my bag for my iPod. My iPod wasn’t there! What did I do? I left! Fully dressed in my runner gear, I turned around and walked out. I drove home and fell into my bed – 1.5 extra hours of sleep! That massage relaxation really got the best of me!
Some mornings are just better spent with hoodies, puppies, and oats in a jar! Yum! I took my sweet ol’ time eating some creamy banana oats out of my Teddie jar. I loved everything about it.
Taking that extra time to chill in the morning was so worth it. I had a very productive day at work and couldn’t wait to run at 3:30. A quick change, a little snack,
and I was off! My applesauce and Kashi combo was perfect for a fast fuel option. I met my friend and ran a fabulous five miler!
I didn’t want to run hard today because I’m already preparing for Saturday’s 20 miler. Instead, I kept a comfortably, challenging pace for the entire run.
Total Distance: 5.0 miles
- Mile 1 – 6.4 mph (9:22/mi)
- Mile 2 – 6.8 mph (8:49/mi)
- Mile 3 – 7.0 mph (8:34/mi)
- Mile 4 – 7.2 mph (8:20/mi)
- Mile 5 – 6.6 mph (9:05/mi)
Total Time: 43:40 – In case your checking my math, I did a little sprint at the end of that final mile. It was in me!
I felt so good throughout the run. I know that my morning run would not have felt nearly as good. The body truly knows what it wants. By changing my schedule just a bit, I was able to get the best of both worlds. Marathon training makes it very clear that health is about so much more than daily workouts. Massages, sleep, cross-training, stretching, rest, and fun are all pieces of the puzzle. Strong running would not be possible without a little of everything!
When I came home, I had a little of everything – Everything Salad!
Eaten while g-chatting. It was a dinner date – haha! Although simple, my salad was chock full of the things I love:
- mixed greens
- cucumbers
- red bell peppers
- carrots
- fresh green beans
- broccoli
- dried cranberries
- almonds
- TJ’s Sweet Poppyseed dressing
It paired perfectly with my whole wheat English muffin.
I made sure that real butter melted into all the nooks ‘n crannies…just like my Grammy makes ‘em. Satisfying!
Nothing fantastic happened today, but it was a really fantastic day! I love days when a smile comes so naturally and everything seems so right.
What made you smile day?
