Girl in Training

So it's officially that time where I need to reign myself in and stop eating cupcakes for breakfast (yes it's happened, don't judge). When I train for a long distance race, I find that it's best to just cut out all of the bad crap cold turkey. Cold pizza for breakfast? Nope. Skipping runs because of bad weather? Nope..deal with it girl. Oh and I pretty much live in running tights and sports bras for the following eight weeks or so. #Runnerlife.

I'm pretty sure I have more sports bras than regular ones. Before my half marathon, I have the Chicago Quarter Marathon (which will be a breeze when I look at my overall training plan) my Soldier Field 10-Miler and THEN my half marathon in September. This is what my half marathon training plan will be like starting this summer. Just look at all of those glorious miles....I'm going with more of an intermediate plan this time to push my limits and finish strong...with the help of Beyonce blaring in my ears. Legs don't fail me now...

 I'm loving this training plan because it has me running more than 13 miles, it definitely makes a difference if your training plan doesn't go the full distance or for longer! My playlist is being compiled as we speak and I'm pumped!! Now if Chicago would just get its shit together and stop it with this ice storm. I need to run, not ice skate. Okay Mother Nature? Thanks.

Until then....

Do you have any songs that just HAS to be on your running or general workout playlist? Anyone who says Kanye will be beaten with a kettlebell. JK JK...maybe...

I Run for Hot Chocolate....and Wine

So if you haven't noticed already, all I have time for these days is posting to Instagram every now and again to show you guys that I'm in fact still alive and breathing, running races and packing for the move that will happen in just a couple of weeks now! This Sunday was my 15k and my friend's first race longer than a 10k!

 But first let's cover the race expo we went to the day before to pick up our bib numbers and swag. I got some new compression socks, race headband and race hat that is the best running hat known to womankind. I never knew a hat could define me so well...and JUST in time for the winter running season. Ready.

That night we carb-loaded with pasta of course and went to bed earlyish due to the early wake-up call (4:30am eff my life). We keep on saying that we'll never do this again...yet we always do...signs of addicts.

I knew a ton of people signed up for this race series but ummm....wow I didn't know that we would be met with all of THIS business.

There were several corrals that were released every few minutes or so which helped avoid bottlenecks, but of course it was still an issue and it's just inevitable. I mean clearly all of Chicago ran this dang race!

I was happy to change my corral so I could start with my friend. We were set to rock this race...because my headband says so.

One thing that is also inevitable when it comes to huge races like this one...there are also a ton of people who don't follow race etiquette (i.e. stopping to walk right in the MIDDLE of the road and starting in a corral that is faster than your average running pace). PET PEEVE TO THE MAX. But in any event, the weather wasn't as cold as I thought it would be and my gear was on point. I ran throughout the whole damn thing without stopping despite the uphill battles that were only in the second half of the race (of course). My playlist got me through and I crossed the finish line with a huge victory! And a medal that looked like a chocolate bar. Win.

Once Laura passed the finish line, we high-fived like pros and were off to feast on our mugs full of chocolate!

That hot chocolate was the absolute best...and it almost made me forget how much my hip flexors and ankles were burning. More selfies occurred.

I'm SO proud of her and she kicked some major ass. I mean....hot chocolate was at the finish line waiting for us soooo that's enough motivation for me.

We eventually made our way back to gear check and parted ways where I subsequently gorged on a grilled chicken sandwich waiting for my train ride home. Food never tastes so good than just after a race. NOMS. Hopefully everyone had a fabulous weekend!!!!

Weekending Like A Boss

So for all of you Chicagoans out there, can I just say that the weather we had was UH-mazing?! My weekend wrap-up is coming late because well...late concerts happen...and blog posts don't sometimes. SO Friday night I was completely exhausted, but that didn't stop the celebratory festivities at Buffalo Wild Wings or as other annoying people call it, Bdubs. The whole family was there and my FIL decided to order hot wings with their hottest sauce made with ghost peppers. It was then where bets were placed to see who would be eating them. While Josh had the julios to eat one, I said "eff that" and sat back to witness the others incinerating their mouths while watching the first Bears pre-season game HOOZA.

Saturday was our day to hash out all of our bills and such to make sure that our list of favorite places would be possible to afford. And BOOM they are. Winning.We'll be setting up times to visit them this weekend!

Sunday morning was race day! I was really dreading this 10k simply because my stomach hasn't been feeling that great during my previous runs leading up to Sunday. HOWEVER the weather was pretty much perfect for a race. Overcast and cool to start and then it didn't get too sunny until I was halfway through the race! I ran the whole way without my stomach acting up once AND come to find out, my average pace was even better than I thought by a whole minute! I felt so solid throughout the whole run and I wasn't dying by the end of the race either.

This gives me tremendous hope for smashing some PRs for my 15k and moving forward with my training. :D The only qualm I had was that the start waves weren't released far enough apart...soooo those who pretty much LIED and said that they run at a faster pace than they really do...were holding up a lot of other people...#GGRRRRR #getoutdawaybitch.

Once both my friend and I finished and patted ourselves on the back for kicking ass, we took a million photos per usual.

We gathered our free post-race snacks for the road and I had to head out to prep for the concert later on that night with Josh and the in-laws. Yep... Daughtry, Goo Goo Dolls and Plain White T's. It was a blast HOWEVER leaving concerts early is not my cup of tea, especially when I was holding out at least to hear Iris.

And let's just face it, 85% of Daughtry's fan base consists of middle-aged women who wish their husbands were Daughtry. There was a group of older women next to me and uh, girl needed to cut back on the canned limeritas. I'm all for a girls night out away from the kids (lord knows I'll be one of them one day) but handle your damn liquor properly and don't flail your arms around and obstructing my view. I'll break your hip. Concert etiquette, ahem!I'll be damned if you ruin "Black Balloon" for me.

Josh however was less than enthused. I'm pretty sure he would have rather watched paint dry than go, but he didn't have a choice in the matter. People watching at a venue like this though is one of my fav things to do. Entertainment for days. Overall, I love this windy city and summer just couldn't end without an outdoor music experience!

What are your concert pet peeves?? Did everyone else have an amazing weekend??

Rocking & Rolling on Race Day

Sunday morning...and when I say morning...I mean early enough where to some people it could very well be Saturday night still...the Chicago Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series was to begin! Now I'm used to early race days, but waking up at 4a.m. for a race is never going to happen again. My friend and I had a LOVELY time trying to park in our reserved spot since they basically started closing off the whole fricken Loop hours beforehand. When we finally made it and we lined up in our corrals, it was quite an amazing site to see how many thousands of people participated!

This was behind me...

And this was in front of me!

I'm pretty sure this was the largest race I've ever participated in and it definitely gave me the biggest running high ever. PLUS my friend and I stopped off at Sports Authority the night before and we discovered the best running compression capris EVER. Runners, I was not paid to say this, Under Armour's Women's UA Fly-By Compression Capris are the BEST. The best part is that I didn't even feel like I was wearing any pants and post-race, I was feelin' even better in them. Zero sweat and fuss. Sports Authority only has them for sale in store right now, but feel free to get them on Amazon too for $36.99! A STEAL. But really, new workout/race wear is primo motivation for me.

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Once my friend and I found out how amazing these were, we had to buy another pair. I bought these bad boys in their "Neo Pulse" color. How much win is this? A lot. I'm pretty sure these will most definitely be worn for my 10k coming up in two weeks.

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Okay you can thank me later. Now back to the race! A lot of people felt cheated afterward since there were many reports of the distance being longer than it should have been by half a mile...which if you're a hardcore competitor, that's a bfd. Also, times were off according to some reports. My GPS even tracked it to be a longer distance as well. HOWEVER it was a great race and there were awesome bands playing at each mile marker. The extra motivation was definitely appreciated since I just flippin' came back from vacation...where I did zero training.

I finished and I was able to do my victory pose in the middle of downtown, in the street and lived to tell the tale.

Of course I needed to stuff my face with a bagel too since I absolutely couldn't have eaten anything that early in the morning before the race. Free bagels, free swag...it was a great day. So attractive.

My only regret was that Ace of Base didn't make it to my running playlist in time before the finish. Luckily we all finished before it got really hot out. Grant Park was home to the thousands of finishers where we stretched out and snagged a bunch of free drinks and stuff from all of the sponsors.

I just looked at the "official" race day photos of myself too and yep, I look absolutely ridiculous in 80% of them thus far. So we'll settle for this post-race pic with our cardboard guitars. Because, yes.

I was quite impressed with myself since I didn't stop once and I kept on hauling ass! Not too shabby after all of that drinking and binging on snack food on vacation. Now to look forward to my 10k that's happening in two weeks. Bring it, bitches!

Chasing The Sun...and My Sanity

Holy effing lord I felt like kissing the very ground I walked on when we landed in flippin' Chicago Sunday afternoon. Before I get into the pretty photos from the honeymoon, this experience must be shared.

So the hubs and I woke up Saturday morning, packed and headed off to the airport to leave sunny Barbados. Sad face. We eventually boarded our flight, sat down...and waited for lift off...and waited...and waited....ahem...yeah apparently there seemed to be a "maintenance issue" and the pilot reported that he would keep us updated in 15 minutes...yeah half an hour later...there was a "computer system problem" that needed to be fixed...2.5 EFFING HOURS LATER as I was on my last thread of patience...

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I could have used some rum punch after the first half hour of that full flight...the flight attendants gave out gross granola bars and zero complimentary drinks (both non-alcoholic and alcoholic) or actual food.

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So since it was four hours to Miami, we were on that damn plane for a little over six hours...in which I asked myself, what circle of hell am I in right now? Josh was pretty confident that we could still possibly run to our connecting flight to Chicago...and then the pilot announced that someone was occupying our gate and we had to wait until they left...I was ready to smack a bitch. Seriously? What else could go wrong?

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 After everyone took exceptionally long to gtfo of the plane, we got our luggage, ran off that plane, went through customs and several check points to still try and make this damn flight.

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However...when we got to the last check point...which was a huge line...we finally realized that there was no way we were going to make that flight home. #killme. Why in the world does Miami have to be so huge? I want a Finishers medal for that flippin' run with my luggage! Josh & Emily: 0, Miami airport: 1.Can I just at least get a sympathy applause for the strong effort?

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 The airline hooked us up with a new flight, hotel accommodations and food vouchers for the severe inconvenience...we checked into our hotel, ordered pizza since we had nothing but a packet of hummus and pita chips all day, stuffed our faces and passed out on the bed until our 9am flight and it left ON TIME!! See ya, Miami!!

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After a few hours, we landed in Chicago and boom we were home. Josh and I rejoiced, danced in our seats and fist pumped in the air for good measure.

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It was a smooth transition weather-wise since it was a hot 80 flippin' degrees when we landed! Wahoo!! Josh's Dad picked us up and away we went back home to celebrate Mother's Day. I hope you all had a great one!! I sure wouldn't know what I would do without my mom. She always goes above and beyond for the family and she helped make the wedding go so amazingly well!

 

Now that the wedding and honeymoon are over though, time for our next big adventure! HOUSE HUNTING!

Bachelorettes & Blowjob Shots

Let me start off by saying I hope everyone had a fabulous Easter weekend! I spent all of Sunday surprising my liver with non-alcoholic beverages and trying not to fall over asleep into Easter egg baskets. As you all may know, I had my bachelorette party on Saturday. I hope you all enjoy the grainy phone pics. Let's start with the limo ride there and our arrival to the Palmer House.

 All epic things. We popped some champagne as we made our way to the hotel. I have two weeks left as a singleton and I was going to make sure everyone knew about it.

There were chocolate bunnies and eggs as an Easter decoration in the lobby...I was already thinking to myself how I would quite possibly gnaw off the ear of one of those bunnies in a drunken stupor.

We checked in, got to our rooms and started to dress for the occasion.

We wait for the elevator in style.

 

And take a ridic amount of selfies of course.

My sister went above and beyond to spoil me and I'm forever grateful. She's the best.

We started off with dinner at Lockwood and omg foodgasm. I had the beef filet and I couldn't even handle how amazing the food was.

Right when I thought dinner was heaven...apparently it was only the stairway to heaven because ummm...we ordered a "Chocolate Sphere" and THAT was just a sphere of heaven.

During dinner we came up with some goals to achieve during the night and two of them I know we achieved. I befriended a fellow bachelorette and her party and also had a random dude buy drinks. This fellow dude was in a polo shirt and was a part of a bachelor party. Who the hell wears a checkered polo to a club? Sigh. I didn't know which was worse. The checkered polo club or the Guidos with hair more stiff than my heels. One thing I do know is that my ladies helped me say goodbye to my single life one song and booty shake at a time.

I did so many blowjob shots I thought I was turning 21 again. It was fabulous. One of my leading ladies even won a hula hoop contest on stage like a boss and won a free shot. Yay for free shots! (My liver quivered just typing that out). The next morning I managed to get my ass out of bed and trying to convince myself that I didn't party it down in some sweaty gym locker room the night before. Showering was in order stat. Once we managed to get our bodies moving we loaded up on caffeine and threw ourselves into the limo. Seriously. The aftermath.

With how I managed to put myself together, you'd never know what kind of crazy shenanigans happened the night before...

Team Emily...two weeks...let's do this.

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