Can I get an amen for a quiet weekend at home? The last three weekends have been go-go-go, and while it was all a blast and totally worth it, it is so nice to know that I have nowhere to be and nothing to do. Except run, ya know. Can't have a weekend without that.
This morning started out with a run, a 20-miler to be exact. This is the second 20-miler of my training cycle, and it went swimmingly well. I headed out with some running buddies around 6:15am. (I know, crazy for a Saturday. But they had some commitments at 9:30, and I'd rather run with my friends!) I woke myself up around 5:30am so I could get a little coffee in my system and have a clif bar.
We ended up doing a huge loop of the Bean Town, running through several areas that I've never been through. Loops through the college in the middle of town, past the grain elevator, past the Ford engine plant, and through a quarry. Pretty neat. At one point, we were getting close to a set of train tracks, and the train was right next to us, moving slower than molasses. (Or at least slower than us, so less than 8mph). All of a sudden the gates started to go down where the tracks crossed the road about 200m ahead, so after making eye contact with the conductor, we started a full-out sprint to make it past before his train would get there. Fortunately he let us through, or we would have been waiting at least 10-15 minutes at the rate the train was moving! But it felt pretty BA to say we raced a train, and won. ;-)
We averaged 8:03 pace for just over 20 miles. Such a great run - and a great confidence booster. 5 weeks until the marathon!
It was so weird to be done with a 20-miler before 9am. What to do with the rest of the day?
My Business Man and I decided to run a few errands. We stocked up on groceries at Rays, and it was pretty fun to actually shop together. (Usually I do the grocery shopping alone.) And what I mean by pretty fun - he got to push the cart and I got to tell him what to put in it. Heh. (My excuse? I just ran 20 miles! Pretty sure I will be using that all day.)
We also ran into Wal-mart for trash bags, and guess who we found?! Tony the Tiger! Only in the Bean Town ...
Last stop? A neat local store - Pears Avenue. It's located at the Met Block downtown, and has really unique vintage & homemade items for the home. Everything you can imagine... hand-sewn aprons & pillows, paintings, transistor radios, furniture, vintage dishes. The Bean Town has been doing "cash mobs" recently - where a local business is selected, and at a specific date and time, patrons are invited to come out and shop til' they drop (or at least check out the store!) to support local business. I think it's a great way to encourage people to shop local and let them know what's out there. So today was the cash mob for Pears Avenue.
We ended up with some spring candles (made from recycled wine bottles) and some cute vintage linens. And there were snacks! There's a new diner practically next door, Fat Cat Diner, and they provided homemade, chocolate-covered potato chips (!!!). So good. If only they were open more than just breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday! Guess I'll have to wait until summer to give 'em a try for a meal.
The rest of the afternoon has been spent in the kitchen, baking. Can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday.
We've got big plans of going out for ice cream tonight. My favorite ice cream stand in the Bean Town opens tonight... and I absolutely cannot wait to go! Yay for Pete's!
This morning started out with a run, a 20-miler to be exact. This is the second 20-miler of my training cycle, and it went swimmingly well. I headed out with some running buddies around 6:15am. (I know, crazy for a Saturday. But they had some commitments at 9:30, and I'd rather run with my friends!) I woke myself up around 5:30am so I could get a little coffee in my system and have a clif bar.
We ended up doing a huge loop of the Bean Town, running through several areas that I've never been through. Loops through the college in the middle of town, past the grain elevator, past the Ford engine plant, and through a quarry. Pretty neat. At one point, we were getting close to a set of train tracks, and the train was right next to us, moving slower than molasses. (Or at least slower than us, so less than 8mph). All of a sudden the gates started to go down where the tracks crossed the road about 200m ahead, so after making eye contact with the conductor, we started a full-out sprint to make it past before his train would get there. Fortunately he let us through, or we would have been waiting at least 10-15 minutes at the rate the train was moving! But it felt pretty BA to say we raced a train, and won. ;-)
We averaged 8:03 pace for just over 20 miles. Such a great run - and a great confidence booster. 5 weeks until the marathon!
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| Post-run breakfast on the living room floor - smoothie, PB-honey toast (x2), iced coffee. Oh, and a big ole' recipe binder. And a lovely shot of my right calf. |
It was so weird to be done with a 20-miler before 9am. What to do with the rest of the day?
My Business Man and I decided to run a few errands. We stocked up on groceries at Rays, and it was pretty fun to actually shop together. (Usually I do the grocery shopping alone.) And what I mean by pretty fun - he got to push the cart and I got to tell him what to put in it. Heh. (My excuse? I just ran 20 miles! Pretty sure I will be using that all day.)
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| Note that the ice cream was BOGO. So we obviously had to partake. |
We also ran into Wal-mart for trash bags, and guess who we found?! Tony the Tiger! Only in the Bean Town ...
 |
| We are now BFF's. Sporting my new hoodie from the Get Lucky Half last weekend. Love it. |
Last stop? A neat local store - Pears Avenue. It's located at the Met Block downtown, and has really unique vintage & homemade items for the home. Everything you can imagine... hand-sewn aprons & pillows, paintings, transistor radios, furniture, vintage dishes. The Bean Town has been doing "cash mobs" recently - where a local business is selected, and at a specific date and time, patrons are invited to come out and shop til' they drop (or at least check out the store!) to support local business. I think it's a great way to encourage people to shop local and let them know what's out there. So today was the cash mob for Pears Avenue.
 |
| The Met Block |
We ended up with some spring candles (made from recycled wine bottles) and some cute vintage linens. And there were snacks! There's a new diner practically next door, Fat Cat Diner, and they provided homemade, chocolate-covered potato chips (!!!). So good. If only they were open more than just breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday! Guess I'll have to wait until summer to give 'em a try for a meal.
 |
| Yes, that would be a chocolate-covered potato chip. And it was absolutely delicious. |
The rest of the afternoon has been spent in the kitchen, baking. Can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday.
We've got big plans of going out for ice cream tonight. My favorite ice cream stand in the Bean Town opens tonight... and I absolutely cannot wait to go! Yay for Pete's!
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