Calf Cramps Like a Boss and I Wish I Had Padded Biking Shorts

 So, I am an official triathlete. The race yesterday was completely awesome- I now have a serious hankering to do another tri, this time outside. It was 10 minutes in the pool, 30 minutes on the bike trainer, and 20 minutes on the treadmill. The pool portion went really well- the water was a little colder than what I am used to at the Y, but I knocked out 22 laps in the time allotted!
   On the bike trainer my butt was going "Wow, Em, thanks so much for NOT investing in bike shorts and leaving your tailbone bruised like a banana." I didn't really feel the soreness until I got in the car after the race, but I could tell by 15 minutes into the bike trainer session that wooden chairs were not going to be my friends for the next couple of days. I got 9.85 miles in, but apparently some 12 year old kid in an earlier heat got 12 miles! WHAT.THE.HECK.
  The treadmill was my favorite part- we had to set it at a 1% incline, but I felt awesome and was able to keep a 7 minute pace the first ten minutes. I had to turn it down a little to a 7:30 for 3 minutes because my heart was beating really fast (not enough electrolyte intake... it was hard to drink on the bike, and the swim didn't allow any time for chugging the purple sludge ), but then I got it back up to 7 minutes flat, and ended at a 6:30 pace for a total distance of 2.77. I had an awesome playlist to help keep me entertained during the bike and run, which was definitely necessary since the spinning room was literally just a room filled with bikes and nothing else, and the TVs above the treadmill were so high I felt like if I watched them I would faceplant onto the 'mill and give myself an accidental nosejob.
    My calves were screaming when I hopped off the treadmill, and I was limping around the rest of the night, but I felt AWESOME... until this morning.
   When I was little, I used to get the worst growing pains at night, and that is exactly what this morning's pain felt like. Luckily I didn't really have too much time to focus on it since we were in the car 30 minutes after I woke up. I got to the 10-miler with plenty of time to spare, and felt good, if not tight, for the first few miles. Then my stomach started acting up.... UGH. I ran with my buddy Jon, so our conversation distracted me from my growing discomfort, but at mile 5, when I saw a port-a-potty near by, I ran for that thing like it was the finish line. At that point, I was focusing on finishing the race, not getting a good time, so I didn't worry too much about the time I was wasting. 
    I was okay after that, until mile 8, when my legs just went dead. Completely dead. It probably didn't help that the course was hillier than anything I have ever ran in my entire life- there were LITERALLY NO FLAT SECTIONS. Good training for Charlottesville, bad training after a triathlon...
   Mile 9 was better, and at mile 9.5 I was running alongside these two guys and they were cheering for me to sprint to the finish and "go get 'em," so go get 'em I did! I had a finishing kick that came out of nowhere when I saw my Dad and his colleague at the end, though I think I kicked it up because the woman he was with is an amazing runner who finished 3rd in Boston and runs a 6:30 mile WHEN BEARING CHILDREN, so I wanted to impress her, since I basically want to be her someday...

 

  The rest of the day after the race was spent making the delicious feast above, reading blogs, watching House, and then heading over to Target for sports bras and REI for Nuun electrolyte tablets. A stop at TCBY may have also been made...
  Have you noticed that after a hard race, walking around actually seems to help more than an ice bath? It does for me anyways. I skipped the ice today in favor of flushing out the legs with all the trekking around while shopping, and 60 minutes on the elliptical and 45 minutes of leg strength while watching CupCake Wars!! 
  All in all, a great weekend, though now my left glute is so knotted it probably resembles my hair after I get out of the pool, and I think I have a date with my foam roller in the future.


 I leave you with a delicious new dessert idea: 1/2 a sweet potato with rice pudding, Kamut puffs, whipped cream, and cinnamon:

First Green Smoothie and I am Actually INSANE

Did I drink this entire smoothie? OF COURSE.

WHY THE HECK AM I DOING TWO RACES THIS WEEKEND?!?! AM I ACTUALLY INSANE??!

Ok, now that the freak-out moment is over, time for pictures!!!

Completely Boss French Toast after my Tuesday workout. Three slices+PB&J+banana+syrup=perfect fuel for loafing around all day and enjoying the inclement weather.

 

Desert the other night and my new favorite magazine: Runner's World, UK edition!!! It's so cool to see the differences in perspective between our continents, plus, the slang is priceless and makes me giggle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Super awesome lunch from the other day... snow day perhaps? Or Monday when I had off? Too few days of school has wacked out my inner calendar. Best egg creation yet!!

My First Green Monster!!!

 Okay, so recipe for the Egg Creation:
-1 whole egg
-2 egg whites
-pepper
-red pepper flakes
1. Heat pan
2. Crack eggs in and let spread to pan's perimeter.
3. Cook on medium heat for 5 minutes.
4. Slap on a plate and enjoy the delicious yokey-ness!!!


Green Monster
-1/2 cup frozen spinach
-1/2 cup frozen each of strawberries, blueberries, and peaches
-1/2 cup water
-1.2 tablespoon cocoa powder
-1 rice pudding

1. Blend and sip her up, or in my case, put it in a bowl, add some Kamut puffs, whipped cream, and SF Chocolate Sauce.



In other news....
   My legs hurt from lactic acid build-up, I am totally freaking out for my indoor triathlon tomorrow, I have way too many AP tests to study for, and I really wish it were Spring Break. Anyone else feeling the stress? Got any good ways to beat it? I'd do yoga, but knowing me, I'd turn it into an intense power yoga session and pretzel my way into incomprehensible pain like I did last time.....

Internal Conflict: WHY DID I SIGN UP FOR TWO RACES THIS WEEKEND?!?!

 So I know I slacked off and didn't post my delish meal pictures or my exciting recap from yesterday's snow day, but that was because the computer is still being used for taxes so me and my camera are mourning the withdrawl from lack of camera uploads, and I didn't feel like posting without any pretty pictures to tell my stories. However, today was just too chock-full of Runner's Rambles not to post.
  SO yesterday's workout:
20 minute warm up with pickups
3x5 40 sec 8.5, 20 sec 6.0, 2:00 EZ in between sets
21 minute cool down
  I got up late to do this, since I didn't have school thanks to the four inches of white stuff that fell that night. Normally, I am all for waking up early to get my run in, but yesterday my body was begging for some extra sleep. (I also may have wanted to wait til 9 o'clock when all the cooking shows come on... Hello Food Wars!) Only problem? When I woke up, I couldn't decided to eat before the workout, or skip it and risk tummy grumbles midway through the miles. Solution?


Yummm. I love these things; they are the only runner fuel that never upsets my stomach, no matter how soon after eating them I run. Yesterday, I ate one, and an hour later was doing my workout, no stomach problems whatsoever!
  I spent the rest of the day doing homework, sleeping, and reading blogs. In my opinion, a snow day well spent. The evening workout totally wore out my legs, and I was definitely feeling the aftereffects this morning:
-45 minutes speed work on bike
-30 minutes of strength on level 10 on elliptical
-45 minutes of leg strength, including lateral lunges, reaching lunges, burpees, single leg squats, etc. Those burpees were KILLER

   After that, this morning my legs were screaming at me a little bit- I yet again depleted my salt and didn't get enough purple sludge. I am going to try salting my food instead of eating so many pretzels and drinking so much gatorade, since frankly, I am extremely tired of both of those parts of my diet.
  Speaking of diet... Has anyone ever read this magazine? It simultaneously makes me want to re-vamp my diet, cook organically, and scold myself for eating processed food (though truthfully, the only processed stuff I eat is granola, pretzels, and rice pudding). I read the January issue while on the elliptical today since I forgot my ear phones, and it inspired me to do some research into finding the ultimate "training diet" to up my salt and energy and decrease the bloating I sometimes experience. I am seeing an afternoon spent at the library's nutrition section very soon...


  And now onto the Internal Conflict! I signed up for an indoor triathlon on Saturday, and a 10-miler on Sunday. I know I will be able to handle both races, but I am a little worried since they are only 15 hours apart.... and I have to leave for the 10-miler at 6:30, which means I have to get up at 5, eat at 6, and somehow be awake by the time the race starts... My coach thinks I can handle it, so I guess I should have the same confidence in myself, but I am just wondering if I will be able to handle going all out in the pool for 10 minutes, the bike for 30, and the treadmill for 20, then go eat,sleep, and run 10 miles at a sub-eight minute pace on hills. I guess I better break out the Runner Super-Woman mental preparation. I've actually thought of getting the symbol tattooed if I ever qualify for Boston or Kona, to remind myself I am, in fact, a SuperWoman.

Of course, if I got a tattoo before 21 my parents would pee themselves, but I can dream, can't I?

And now I leave you to go continue my date with my foam roller (official love-hate relationship with that thing... It hurts so good!) and watch an intense episode of House.

Peace!

Jack Frost, beat it.



Snow, WHY?!?!!?!

   Yes, it is snowing right now. I have mixed feelings about this because
-I want Spring to come!
-I also want off of school...

 I got so excited today because the birdies were singing and I swear it looked a little greener outside, but then I watched the news while on the elliptical and oh hey! 4 to 6 inches!!!!
   It's okay though, because that means I can sleep in and do my workout when the sun is actually up and the basement isn't so dark and cold. Plus, it means another day off of school, making this a THREE DAY WEEK. OOHHH YEAH.
   What did I do with my day off today, you ask? Well, I got up, made myself some totally boss french toast with some stale bread, milk and spices, slathered it in PB&J, put some syrup on top, and dug in. I will post the pics tomorrow; right now the 'rents are doing their taxes on the main PC with my camera software on it.
   I ate the french toast before my run, because I was a hungry monster when I woke up. No stomach problems on my 6-miler, though, which I did @ 8:27 pace with 7 minutes on 2%, 3 minutes on 1%, repeating for 4 cycles and finished off with the last 10 minutes at 2%, aka I am a rockstar hill-master!!!!
  I spent the rest of my day doing homework, laundry, and going to Wegmans to pick up some groceries, and Border's to get my (AHHHH) AP study stuff! I can't believe it is almost AP time, or that I am taking 5 tests?!?!??! At least I get off school each time I take one....
  This evening's workout was spent solely on the elliptical because I wasn't feeling the pool, I am doing a bike workout tomorrow, and I wanted to zone out and just watch the Foodies cook while I switched from levels 10,9, and 8. 97 minutes later... I did abs, went home, and proceeded to eat my weight in salad that was accompanied by an awesome-sauce PB&J and A NEW DESSERT.
   GASP EMILY WENT OUT OF HER SWEET-TOOTH COMFORT ZONE?!?!?! Yes, bloggies. I will leave you in suspense and post it tomorrow.....

Countdown to Spring: 1 month!!!

  Today almost felt like spring. Yes, the birds were singing, yes the sun set a little later, but, alas, there was still that nip of winter chill in the air. I myself have no favorite season, so I basically greet every season the same: extreme excitement couple with fond memories of the year's past season, complete with daydreams of frolicking in leaves, basking in the sun, smells the flowers, or playing in the snow. THIS Spring, however, holds special meaing, since it means I WILL FINALLY KNOW WHERE I AM GOING TO COLLEGE!!! I cannot wait!!!

SPRINGTIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

   So yesterday's run was absolteuly, ridiculously awesome. 12.25 miles in 108 minutes, all done on the dreadmill because my lungs have decided "hey! You are going to have to move to Florida after college because we never recovered from your double pneumonia and we are getting back at you by giving you a cold-induced cough. SUCK IT." I am basically chained to that thing until early April, when I will start doing my lung runs outside and my track workouts on an actual track. Easy days will still be done inside because I like doing some runs on the treadmill so I can control the speed and make sure it is a 'recovery run' and not a 'hey let's see how fast I can make it up that hill' run, which is what often happens in my overly-hilly neighborhood. BUT BACK TO THE POINT.  The run was amazing- I kept the incline between 2 and 3.5% almost the whole time, and the last 8 and a half minutes were done at 4%, an incline that a month ago made me want to puke!! Not yesterday, though- I channeled my running SuperWoman and conquered that hill like it was my job. I took a Clif Shot gel at around 40 minutes in. SO DELICIOUS. It was my first one ever, and I chose the chocolate flavor, since who doesn't want some chocolate love midway through a long run? I also had a Clif Shot Blok around 80 minutes, because my stomach was growling a little and I knew I still had a couple miles left and wanted to finish strong.
   I got off the 'mill feeling like I was hot stuff:

Yeah, I am sweaty, yeah, my face is red and zitty, but hey, this is what the smile/grimace of hard work looks like. The evening workout was...
-1 hour of bike intervals and 1-legged drills
-10 minutes on elliptical, strenght setting
-30 minutes of leg strength.. WOW was my salt depleted after all this
   I was totally looking forward to making myself some awesome PB&J-stuffed french toast and eggs, but oh hey, our power went out while I was cracking the eggs! On top of that, I had a haircut appointment in an hour, so I booked it to Subway, picked up lunch for the fam, scared down half my sub, drove to the salon, got my haircut, and came back with some TCBY. Stressful, but froyo always makes me happy.
   I got to make the french toast today, though, which made today all the better, especially after last night's happening: I LOST MY PHONE :(. I am so sad; I have had it for almost 3 years, and after recently beading it during a snow day, was becoming quite attached to the turqoise and blue wonder LG Voyager. I had to order a new one, but I am definitnely going to bling it up as soon as I get it. I may not be particularly girly in most ways, but I love me some phone CZ's. 
    Today I sort of ignored my coach's plan and did 5 miles instead of 4, because I felt pretty good, and I liked the Amazing Wedding Cakes show I was watching. I also did 80 minutes of the elliptical later on and 30 minutes of arm weights, plus a 1-minute lifeguard training required drill to finish up my training:
-swim 1 lap with tube
-save a submerged victim
-lug ten-pound brick from bottom of 10 ft. pool
  For me, this was followed by accidentally swallowing 2 mouthfuls of water, a foot cramp,and a severe chill. What a way to spend a Sunday!
  

 In bigger news, I am now signed up for the Charlottesville Half!!!!!!!! I AM SO EXCITED. Now, I am going to go browse races for the day after graduation... Talk to you soon.

Back To Winter

So now it is starting to get cold again, the wind is howling, and there is a chance of freezing rain on Monday... When I have off of school, so there isn't even the delightful possibility of a delay/impromptu missing of classes thrown in. LAME.  <------ BOO!!!

  In other news, I find out my collegiate future in T-minus 5 weeks. Am I freaking out? Well, sort of. I am trying not to get my hopes up about any school, but at the same time, I want to be optimistic. I keep on having fantasies that I am at the gym on April 1st and I text my mom to check my college accounts and I find out that I got into UVA and then I start jumping up and down on the elliptical (yes, I know this is impossible on the elliptical. That is why it is a fantasy.).




Rated the most beautiful campus in the world. I have to agree. Plus, I love me some sub-Mason Dixon line hospitality.



Is UVA the top choice? Well, I've loved it since I was 13, it's where the bro goes, so it would mean an endless supply of brotherly advice, whole-grain dishes (the  boy is a genius with quinoa), and an already-acquired knowledge of the town, a.k.a. there is way less of a chance of me getting lost on the way to Kroger. There is also Delaware and William and Mary in the running, but in my heart, I know I am a hoo. I just hope the UVA Admissions Office agrees! Wonder if it helps that I am running the Charlottesville Half-Marathon in 5 weeks.....

   Oh YEAH! Did I mention I am doing another half? I am stoked out of my eyeballs about it; I am not trying to PR there, since the course is extremely hilly and I wanted to use it more as a training run for the Ocean City Half in late April which is flat and fast, but I cannot wait to 1. Skip school for the expo 2. See my favorite brother in the whole wide world 3. Spend some quality family time 4. Continue the tradition of getting Subway and Pretzels on Route 29 and 4. Possibly get to run in my future college town!!!! (I actually went on a run there in November with my Dad to see what the running was like. Because yes, I am choosing my college based on running. Verdict: Hilly but so awesome I cannot even describe it.. What could be better than clean sidewalks and two Bodo's bagels with throwing distance of the dorms?!?!??!). And maybe even drive down there.... Since, even though I have my license and drive all the time, I rarely get highway time since my mom gets freaked out on the highway with new drivers and tends to gasp when they go over 60 miles an hour. Love you Mom ;)
     In other news, yesterday was hats-off one of the best Fridays I have had in a while. School wasn't stressful, my Environmental Science teacher didn't make us do work and discussed Jersey Shore with us for 20 minutes (the woman is an expert, since she is from.the.shore.), and I am almost finished my 2nd oil painting!!! The afternoon included a smoothie with
-purple zero Calorie sludge, aka Powerade
-1 scoop Strawberry Protein Powder
-handful of frozen peaches
-1/4 cup of frozen strawberries
-1/2 cup of water
-4 ice cubes
 TOTALLY DELISH! It was eaten with an apple sliced and spread with PB and granola, and some pretzels and Laughing Cheese. I also took a ridiculously awesome hour long nap, then slept-drove to the gym and did 90 minutes on the elliptical while watching all my favorite Food Network Friends (Paula Deen, will you be my grandma?). When I got home, my stomach was trying to make gurgle-conversations with me, so I made...

BEST CURRY EVERRRRRRRR.

IT was the most delicious curry success in the world. The only problem? I included wayyyy too much edamame... oh well, guess I got my daily dose of fiber in!!
Green Monster Curry
-1/4 cup microwave brown rice
-2 whole eggs
-1 egg white
-1/3 cup chopped red onion
-1/4 of an avocado, chopped
-baby spinach
-either frozen spinach, creamed spinach, or Saag Paneer
-Red Pepper flakes, Cayenne Red Pepper, Curry Powder, Marsala Curry Powder, Cardamom, Nutmeg, Balck Pepper
1. Cook rice in microwave
2. Heat up pan, spray with Pam, and dump in rice, avocado, onions, spinach.
3. Add in all spices.
4. Stir and cook for 5 minutes on medium heat.
5. Add in eggs, and stir.
6. If desired, add more spices (I always add more curry powder and cardamom at the end).
7. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, or until egg is cooked.
8. EAT UP

***I left out the edamame because it was a pain to have to pick it out and then suck out the pods.

  I also enjoyed this with a sort of failed attempt at a grilled PB sandwich.. I did a PB sandwich with Sugar Free Choc. Sauce and crushed up pretzels on the pan, but it didn't get quick gooey enough. I think next time I'll add more PB. Even though it wasn't that gooey, it wasss delicious.

 Also, Twilight:Eclipse was a bore and I turned it off to read blogs instead... and now I am off to run 12 miles and watch Foodography! Best 3 day weekend of late-winter ever!!!!!

Seventy Degree Thursday!

Yes, you read that title correctly. It got up to SEVENTY DEGREES TODAY!!! It was so beautiful- the sun was shining, the birds were singing, all the snow melted, and I was able to actually turn off the heat in my car and drive with the windows down. It was perfect running weather, but sadly, I had already done my workout, and wasn't sure if I should sneak in another run... I mean, I have only had 1 running two-a-day so far, and with 2 races next weekend, I really want to adhere to Coach Superwoman's schedule. So, I enjoyed the lovely afternoon by, you guessed it, napping!!! I made a snack, read a magazine, then laid down to read a book and promptly conked out until 4:30. That, my bloggies, is my definiton of a rockin' afternoon.
  This morning's workout was awesome!!!! It went a lil' something like this:
2 mile warmup
3x1 mile @ 8:00 pace with 2 minutes EZ in between each mile
2 mile cool down


  I went about 10 seconds faster than last week's repeats, felt strong the whole time, and even had a second wind at the end! I hadn't been getting them during most of my daily runs, except for the long runs, but three times this week I have felt like I could have just kept going and going! If only I didn't have to hop off and go shower and go to school... I would much rather stay on the treadmill, jamming out to Drake and watching ice hockey recaps.
    
This afternoon's workout was also pretty awesome, though my knee was a little sore. I accidentally banged it into my parent's nighttable two weeks ago, and then had to repeatedly slam it on the pool tile during lifeguard training while trying to hoist myself onto the pool deck, so it is a wee bit bruised. I was able to stretch it out, though, and then did:
-60 minutes elliptical, with 30 minutes of strength intervals and 30 minutes of hill intervals (those strength intervals totally kick my butt! 75 level resistance is ridiculous!!!)
-30 minutes of strength training, where some meathead who I always see in the weightroom was, if my lipreading skills are accurate, super cheesed off that I was outside the weight room taking up space and using the bouncy ball (hello, there are two more) and medicine ball. I get so annoyed with these kind of guys, and there always seem to be a couple of them around the gym. They make me feel like I have to legitimize my being in there, when in reality, I pay the same gym fee they do, and just because I am a girl doesn't mean I shouldn't be allowed to use the weights and med.balls. I may look like a tiny little pipsqueak, but I know for a fact I could kick allll their butts at a race. SO THERE.
-15 minutes in the pool, which was about 24 laps. I wanted to go for 20, but they restricted the pool to only one lap lane to due a water aerobics class, and no way was I sharing a lane with 2 people again. The other night I shared it with, count 'em, THREE swimmers, one of whom I collided with. The collision sent my calves cramping so badly I teared up and proceeded to cut my swim that I had been looking forward to all day 10 minutes short. My calves have been cramping so badly lately that I think my salt levels must be totally depleted- I am calling my doctor to inquire about salt tabs and supplements I can take. Any suggestions????
  In other news, I was totally famished this evening, so the smell of home cooking wafting into my driveway when I got out of the car sent my stomach into fits of Monsters Inc.-worthy growling. 2 bowls of white bean and turkey chili with rice later, I was a happy woman. I got even happier when I had this....

I know I am boring and have the same berry-rice pudding-whipped cream-cereal-chocolate sauce dessert every night, but honestly, it is my 2nd favorite part of the day. It signals that it is almost time for bed, and that I can go enjoy some whipped deliciousness while relaxing and reading the ol' blog. I guess eventually I will have to find other desserts, but don't worry, Kozy Shack brand, I will never stray too far. Note: I do sometimes change it up and have chocolate mint sugar-free pudding instead..Woo! Risk Taker!!!

Now I am off to chug some of this stuff and kick it to bed. Happy almost Friday!!! I cannot wait to jump into my PJs after the gym and watch some Twilight and make some egg-and-rice-curry.