#21- Go on a helicopter ride

This is part of my 25 Before 25 post...which is now a Bucket List!

Last year I started planning something called Super Secret Date Night that happened once a month for Tommy and I. We put them on the calendar, and would take turns planning them as we went through out the year. It was really fun!

In December of 2013 (yikes, this post is super late! OOPS! Life gets in the way sometimes) Tommy planned a super sweet date for us. I had no idea what it was, and then we got there, and I was still like, "Huh? Where are we?" Then we walked in and that's when I saw the sign for..................HELICOPTER RIDES!! WOOHOO!!

We had to wait around a little bit, and fill out some paper work, but then we were able to go out and see the chopper! It was a red one with the blackhawks logo painted on the side :) The moment I saw it I remember thinking, "Hmmm, that doesn't look too sturdy" and then I remember getting inside and thinking, "Hmmm, this doesn't feel too sturdy" most of the time.

It was a super fun date. We flew for all the way to the Sears Willis Tower, around it, and then back. It was so neat to see everything from the sky at night, especially the skyscrapers :)

Overall, it was quite a surprise, very thoughtful, and a beautiful night! That husband of mine sure does spoil me ;)

My Running Life....Currently

Ok can I just say something here?

I am a non-runner. Some of you might be thinking, "That's not true, you run a lot!" Well, that's semi-true because it's all relative, but I an NOT a runner you guys.

I like running....sometimes. I would much rather sit on the couch and eat goldfish while watching the latest episode of any one of my favorite TV shows (See this post here...lol) than go for a run. I don't ever crave a run. Like ever. I mostly crave donuts and carbs, which is partly why I get myself out there to run in the first place.

I caught myself on Wednesday thinking about running while I was at work. I even said, "Man, after this meeting I am definitely going to need that run I had planned for tonight!" or some variation of that crazy statement out loud! It was semi-weird and definitely gave me some food for thought on the long drive home.

I'm in this weird place with running you guys. Like I'm straddling the line between being a "runner" and a "non-runner" and it's a super unknown territory. You wouldn't think that, since I've been running 5ks for about four years now, but I have not ever really had those thoughts and cravings for a run that actual runny runners have.

When I think about my journey, I remember back to 2006 when I couldn't picture myself running a 5k. I ran my first official one that year in college and it was totally hard! Immediately after running it, I thought, "Nope, never again. That was just awful" and for the most part, I didn't run real races. I used a treadmill and it was incredibly boring....until I discovered that they are basically a handsfree stand for magazines that you walk on and then I was hooked.

It wasn't again until 2010 that I really started to run more often outside. I found that I basically hate being hot, so I didn't run too much in the summer. Fall and winter running were just the best and that's when I found myself running outside. Most of it was run/walking, which I was fine with because my pace or finish time never really meant much to me. (It still doesn't. Just more evidence that I'm not a runner)

I ran the Hot Chocolate 5k in November 2010 because chocolate. Then I ran the Long Grove Turkey Trot, mostly because a friend of mine wanted to run that race and I think she is part of the reason that I was slowly becoming enamored with running 5ks, though I didn't know it at the time. I also ran the Jingle Bell Run in Chicago. (One photo is a proof- Don't sue me bro)

In 2011, I signed up for three more races- the Northshore Love Run (Go speedy Sweethearts) and won a mug! Woot!, the Race to Wrigley 5k, and the Hot Chocolate 5k again.

In 2012, I got a little crazypants and decided to run my first half marathon. Now, at this point, I didn't actually think I could do it. There was a tiny voice in my head that kept saying, "This is crazy. You can't run a half marathon. You run 5ks and barely make it out alive" which is part of the reason why I wanted to do it: to prove to myself that I could. So after running a few 5ks, I knew that I wanted to run in Chicago, because it was fun, and I knew I wanted it to be in the summer so I could train and recover. A friend told me about the Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon that was in July and I signed up to run it with her, even though she was waaaaaay super fast and I knew we wouldn't be running it together. When I started jumping from 3 mile training runs, to anything more than that, I felt like super woman. I had never run those distances and it was hard and great all at the same time. Then I remember hitting 7 miles and realizing that I could totally do it! That's probably the closest I've ever come to feeling like a real runner, except for now of course. Then race day came......basically, I could have walked it faster you guys. lol. #TRUTH See the full story here.

Oh yea, and I ran the Hot Chocolate 5k again, even though I signed up for the 15k and backed out at the last second....

So my running journey has spanned across about four years, but hasn't really gotten serious and consistent until the last year and a half or so. This past year, actually in November 2013, I decided to start a goal for myself that I would run a race every month for a whole year. It technically ends this month, but I am ending it for myself with the Hot Chocolate 15k, which will be my 5th year running it! It seemed like the perfect way to end things. More about this goal later, but I feel like it has really helped me get to this point in my relationship with running.

I am starting to think about running as part of something I might kinda want to do a little bit. I am starting to think about my pace and trying to be more consistent with it (Thanks to my Garmin). I am starting to get excited (yes, excited) about the soloness of pushing through a tough run and exploring the mental strength it takes to run without music, or run in general sometimes. (I mean, it's kind of torture you guys, but I think it's making me a better runner to be able to really feel a run and listen to my body instead of my music sometimes) I am starting to change some of the things I am eating and drinking (and also increasing my water intake) because I know I have a run that evening or the next day that I want to be nutritionally ready for.

Which brings me back to the real reason that I sat down to write this post for myself: to actually document the fact that I might be turning into a semi-real runner. I just wanted to get that out there in internetland because I really hope it happens. The outer me does not currently match the inner runner person in my mind, but I'm learning that maybe that's ok.
Onward and upwards "non-runner-but-maybe-becoming-a-runner-kinda" outer me!

So Much TV

I watch so much TV.
Like, a TON.
Here's a detailed list of what I watch, and have watched in the past... (don't judge)

1. American Horror Story
2. Bates Motel
3. Big Love (Super good. Super great ending)
4. Breaking Bad (Binge watched this on Netflix this summer. Enjoyed it immensely)
5. *Brothers and Sisters (also good, but Parenthood wins the battle of the family drama genre)
6. Burn Notice (my husband got me into this one...)
7. Dance Moms
8. Devious Maids
9. Don't Trust the B- In Apt. 23 (Dang, SO sad about this show! It was so funny!)
10. Downton Abbey
11. Game of Crowns
12. Game of Thrones
13. Gilmore Girls
14. Girls
15. *Gossip Girl
16. *Grey's Anatomy
17. Heroes
18. House of Cards
19. How to Get Away With Murder
20. I'm Having Their Baby
21. LOST (yes, I loved this show at one point in my life)
22. Mistresses
23. Modern Family
24. Naked and Afraid
25. Nashville
26. Parenthood
27. Pretty Little Liars
28. Revenge
29. Scandal
30. Shark Tank
31. Sister Wives
32. The Americans
33. The Client List (Not surprised this got cancelled, it was ok. Wondering what would have happened next though!)
34. *The Comeback
35. The Following
36. The Tudors
37. True Blood (GAH! Just ended! But it was time...)
38. True Detective
39. Veep
40. *White Collar

So this list is a complete list of all of the TV shows that I have watched every week when they aired. The ones crossed out are no longer on air. The ones with stars next to them are shows that I am not caught up on and am in the process of finishing out the series (or of catching up on the series!)

I use the app TVShow Time to track them all....I like it so far.

I'm pretty sure I will be adding How I Met Your Mother to this list at one point in my life...I've heard it's good!

There you have it. I know you were dying to hear about the TV shows that I am working on............. My name is Amy and I'm addicted to TV.

Wonderful Weekend

What a great weekend! (After such a sickly week!)

On Friday, I stayed late at work to get things DONE. When I left, I met my husband at the new Maggiano's in the mall by our house. It was a pretty standard one, just like all the others we have been to EXCEPT: they offer a small selection of "Lighter Takes" on their menu. I ended up ordering the chicken parmesan lighter take because I'm a chickentarian .... oh, you didn't know that existed?? Well, now you know one!   ;)

{Maggiano's}

The chicken parm was good! You could only tell a difference by looking at it because it looked like it had less breading, but otherwise it tasted the same! There were also less noodles, which were super thin fettuccine noodles. I ate half the chicken and allllll the noods and was full :)
Lighter Takes recommended!


On Saturday, we woke up suuuuuper early to go run with the Libertyville Running Club. The alarm went off at 6:30, and we both rolled over and were awake, but it was sooo nice and toasty and snuggly in bed that I didn't want to get up! The struggle was real. But we actually did end up rolling out of bed, and getting to running club just in time to start in the back. We ran 4.41 miles, then met in the park and had some post run yoga to stretch it all out. It was a really good run! It was some pretty perfect weather, and my running buddy was just what I needed to get the job done :)

Then we got home, and I checked in with the Tone It Up app on my phone to do some catch up. I was not feeling too great on Wednesday and Thursday so I didn't do any workouts. Then on Friday, I didn't get one done because of staying at work so late. I ended up doing the Arms & Abs routine x2 and the Bikini Booty routine. My butt was like, "Whaaaaaaaaat?" after that one, lol

In the afternoon, Tommy and I drove to pick up Kyle and Kelsey to head to a Sox game! Thousands of people were there for Paul Konerko's last home game, but I was there for beer and nachos.
We also met up with Emily, Joe, Brenda, and Joe's dad. It was so nice to see everyone and hang out!

{Beautiful Day}

{My love}

{Paulie Selfie}

{Kelsey, Emily, & I}

:0)

Today, on Sunday, Tommy and I went for a HUGE bike ride on the trail by our house. It's such a beautiful trail, and it's my favorite in the Fall, mainly because I just love Fall. We decided to go north on the trail up towards Independence Grove where we got married! It turns out, we did 15.33 miles on our bikes today, and it was the furthest I have ever been on the trail! My quads will be sore tomorrow...which will make crossing shoe laces and sitting on the carpet criss cross extra tough, lol. Oh well! It was a super nice bike ride with my love and totally worth the soreness :)

To end the day, I ate left over Sleepy Sweet Potato topping, recipe TBP (to be posted), and made these delicious breakfast muffins:

YUM. Literally taste like apple cinnamon oatmeal baked in a muffin. So good.

I hope you had a wonderful weekend too!

Today

DANG! I was so productive today! I love days like this because I get so much done and I feel so good about it. Now, as I am sitting down to write this, I am thinking, "Gosh, why don't I do this more often?" and then I remembered that it also sucks, takes all day, and my feet hurt. heh.

Anyways, here are some snaps of what it was like to be me today:

{Running on the trail}

{Pretty Day}

{Wore my LRC shirt and got a shoutout!}

                              Step 1                                    Step 2                                    Step 3

Dinner in three steps. Step 1- simmer minced garlic in evoo, add spices and lemon juice. Step 2- add shrimp. Step 3- add pineapple chunks and quinoa. Step 4- (Not pictured) DEVOUR for dinner :)

{Sooo good!}

Made these oatmeal peanut butter balls as a sweeter treat for this week. I found the recipe online through my Instagram account. It was from someone I follow named Tiutrijenna :) She mentioned she got it from another Instagram account called Realheidipowell. 

~Mix together a 16oz jar of peanut butter (I used extra crunchy!), 1/4 cup honey (or agave), 2 scoops chocolate protein powder (I used Perfect Fit), and 3 cups of uncooked oats (I used only 2 cups).

~I just kept mixing until it looked pretty put together, and then formed into balls and put them in a cupcake liner in a cupcake tin. I drizzled some honey on top, and then put them in the freezer for an hour. 

     So I want to eat more kale, because I tried it as a salad once (at my friend Megan's baby shower!) and it was so good! If I remember correctly, it was mixed with another leafy veggie, and had a lemony dressing that I can't remember how to make! So I found this picture on Instagram of a kale salad with edamame and cranberries, both of which I love and already have in my pantry. yay. It is from the same account that I got the oatmeal peanut butter balls from! 

     For the dressing, I made the Golden Sun Dressing from the Tone It Up Nutrition Plan that I purchased online from their website. It is a lemony dressing with a bit of sweetness that I think will be perfect on the kale! I'll let you know on Monday though.... :)

Basically, Instagram had some delicious recipes today.

Googling

My Google searches lately...

1. Jolly Phonics Song

2. Bible verse posters

3. Clean up robot song

4. Sleepy sweet potato recipe

5. How do I take a screen shot on a PC?

6. When does the final season of Parenthood start?

7. When does Game of Crowns season 2 start?

8. 15 K running plan

9. Short hairstyles

10. First Grade math common core

School, food, TV, & Running happening over here right now!

August Run

I was so excited to do my run this month because it was in my own backyard!

August's run was the Mainstreet Libertyville Twilight Shuffle 5k that took place in my own town. I super liked that I could pick up my packet down the street, and that the race started in the evening and ended with dinner! I also saw a TON of my neighbors who also ran it, along with the Libertyville Running Club :) which I joined in an effort to work on my running, and meet some new running loving friends. And on the plus side, they also run for donuts! And beer!

The day of the run was super humid, which made it hard. It was actually the slowest 5k I've ever done {insert nervous face emoji here}because of the heat. I think the coolest thing about this race was the amount of people who came out of their house to cheer the runners on in their own front yard. They were putting their sprinklers on and clapping for everyone, which was so sweet and made it much easier in the heat!

Tommy ran it with me, and we both discovered a few things along the way:
1. Libertyville is the most hilly town in the United States of America
2. We SUCK at running hills
3. We will be running it again next year!

Overall, it was fun, even in the heat :) Race 10 of 12 races in 12 months is done!

{Race 10}

{So fun!}

July Run

Welllll, the July half marathon is finished (obviously, it's September!) and it went so well for me!

{Read about the first time I ever ran a half marathon here}

I made it my goal to run the race in 2 hours and 45 minutes, which is a slooooow comfortable pace for me. I was mostly concerned with the fact that it was going to be hot and humid, because I'm an idiot and signed up for a run in Chicago in July.

Well thank goodness for global warming ;) because it was the perfect running day....not even getting a tiny bit humid until I was on mile 12, and by then, I didn't even notice it much because all I was focused on was finishing the race.

Tommy came with, and was super supportive throughout the race. He didn't run it with me, mainly because I wold him not to. For some reason I get super anxious on runs longer than a 5k, and I worry about him while we run, instead of just running. It's weird.

Anyway, right before I started, he waited with me at the start line to see me off. Then I started the run with "Animals" playing on my iPhone and basically was teary eyed and crying a little throughout the whole first mile. They were happy tears though! Mainly because I just kept thinking, "Wow. I can't believe I am running 13.1 miles today! What an amazing body I have! How lucky I am to be able to do this awesome thing in this beautiful place!" Totally cheesy, I know, but I iz what I iz.

Tommy met up with me at the water station near mile 4. We walked through it and I took half of my first Hammer Gel with some water. Then we started back up and he ran with me a little bit to mile 5ish. We said goodbye there, and I was on my own again until mile 7. Then we ran a little bit more, and he kept me company. Right about that time I was starting to feel hurty. I remember saying to him, "Boo, I'm not in pain, but I am feeling uncomfortable" while we were running. I also took the rest of my Hammer Gel then and did the whole wrapper THROW-DOWN like a true runner. heh.

We parted ways, and met up again at mile 12, where my body was like "woah" and we walked it out a little bit. I picked it back up and finished strong, hand in hand with my hub and then instantly wanted to pass out. He always pushes me at the end, and while I'm grateful for it, itsssss sssssooooooo haaaaarrrrrdddd!

I got my medal, foody goodies, passed on the free beer (AGAIN!), and we stood in line to get a free stretching by Athletico. That was heaven :)

Then we walked back to the car, but not before getting a double chocolate donut from Dunkin Donuts (omg yum), and stopping to take a picture of my medal in front of the bean!

It was a nice race, especially because of the weather, but I do not think I will be doing the Rock and Roll Half again in Chicago. It's just too much of a risk to run it and hope it's not hot....I don't love running, medals, or donuts THAT much.

I ended up running it in 2:39:42, which beat my original goal of 2:45, and blew my first half marathon time of 3:00 out of the F*cking water! Woot. I was pretty proud of sticking with it and not hating my life while I was running!

I think at this point, half marathon races are good distances for me. I'm not mentally/physically/devotionally ready for a marathon, and 5ks are too short now. The half is long enough that I know I couldn't just go run one tomorrow, but short enough that I know I could run one if I tried. Does that make sense?

Anyway, July run for 12 races in 12 months complete!!

{Right after finishing}

{Race number 9}

{My main support system}

{My sweet medal}

{I run for donuts}

Getting Half Marathon Ready...

...Or at least trying to!

Had a last long run the other day, and it went well. My hips started hurting around mile 6, and I didn't push through it because I wanted to make sure my body wasn't in trouble on Sunday. I took half a gel at mile 3, and at mile 6. I didn't take a gel before the run, but I will on Sunday. Those times seemed to be ok times to do it! Mentally it felt good. Energy wise it felt good. Body wise I started to hurt a little bit, but I think I can push through that on Sunday (well, I'll have to!)
I just hope it's not the hottest day ever....

Here's what I'm doing to prep for Sunday:

>Drinking a TON of water. It feels like all I have been doing is drinking water, which is probably all I HAVE been doing since I'm on summer break...I bought a Nalgene bottle that holds 32 ounces. I am trying to drink at least two or three of those a day. If you know me, or have read any of my previous posts, you know that I generally dislike drinking liquids, lol. It is the hardest thing for me to do. This Nalgene bottle has a smaller spout so it's easier to drink from, and it's purple so that's just the best.

>Charging up my Garmin. I recently purchased a Garmin Forerunner 610 and boy do I love that thing. My favorite thing about it is that it is a touch screen so it is super easy to use on the go. It also has a feature where I can run against a previous time that I have run on the same course. I haven't used that yet, but I am super excited to! It's also a good size, easy to use, and is super motivating when it lets me know what my pace is and how far I've run right there on my wrist!

>Picking up some gels. So I've tried a few different gels. I have to say, I'm picky when it comes to these.   My least favorite gel is probably the GU brand gel. It's a popular one, and I see it at a lot of bigger Chicago races that I've done. I think I generally do not like the consistency of it.
I think the Cliff gels are ok. I like the raspberry one, and the expresso (yes, it's spelled like that) but I don't love that there is caffeine in the expresso one.
My go to gel that I prefer to use during longer runs is Hammer Gel. I like the apple pie, raspberry, and banana. They are easy to open, the right size to hold when I run, and I like the consistency because it's not too gritty and it's thick enough that I can just down it with water (or without water) and be ok. They are not the easiest to find though! After calling around to a few places in town, there is only one place that sells it near me apparently. The have two out of three of the favors that I prefer so that's good I guess! I have to go and get one more for Sunday but otherwise I'm feeling prepared gel wise!

>Choosing my outfit. I have learned in the past that having a comfy race outfit is key. I am working on an outfit to wear for Sunday but so far I know for sure it will consist of my under armor spandex shorts, my feetures moisture wicking socks, and my sweet sweet Brooks tennis shoes. Not sure about above the waist yet....I also run with music, but have struggled all my life with finding the right headphones that will stay in my ears whilst bouncing up and down on my run (first world problems). If you just went, "OMG Amy me tooooo!" in your head, then check these headphones out. These are the ONLY ones that I have found to work. I'm just sad that I haven't found them sooner! They are the Yurbuds Ironman Focus Headphones. I got them for $30 at Sports Authority on a Black Friday deal last year and they were worth every penny!

>Getting my playlist ready. I have recently switched over to using my iPhone to listen to music instead of my iPod shuffle. I am having a hard time updating the shuffle because my version of iTunes is so old and needs to be updated, but my computer is so old and has no hard drive left and so I am in the process of switching things over to an external hard drive to make room. Lol. There's a lot going on over here in my computerland.
Anyway, here are the songs that I'm running to lately and that will push me to go the distance on Sunday:
1. Animals by Martin Garrix
2. Brave by Sarah Bareilles
3. Crazy Kids by Ke$ha
4. Fancy by Iggy Azalea
5. *Feel Again by OneRepublic
6. Love Is an Open Door from Frozen
7. Love Me Again by John Newman
8. Love Runs Out by One Republic
9. Maps by Maroon 5 (Are you surprised this is on here? I super dislike Maroon 5...)
10. Misery Business by Paramore
11. Love the Way You Lie by Eminem
12. Sleazy by Ke$ha
13. Talk Dirty by Jason Derulo
14. Turn Down for What by DJ Snake & Lil Jon
15. *Baggage Claim by Miranda Lambert
16. *Black and Yellow by Wiz Khalifa
17. Get Away by Danny Gokey
18. *In Live With a Girl by Gavin DeGraw
19. King of Anything by Sara Bareilles
20. Ridin' Solo by Jason Derulo
21. Come Get It Bae by Pharrell Williams
22. Happy by Pharrell Williams

The *starred songs are my power songs. Sometimes I even skip them and listen to them when I really need them!

Welllll, that's that so far! Any good songs to recommend??

- Amy

May Run

In May I ran the Soldier Field Ten Miler. Let me just say that I was super nervous to do this run. All I kept thinking was, "IT'S TEN MILES! I can't do that!" but I did, so shut up brain.

It was a really great day weather wise- not too hot, not too cold. My friend Kelsey decided to run it too, so her, Kyle, Tommy and I all went together. After running, we laid down on the grass and died. THE END.

{Before the race}

{During the race}

{After the race}

{Race #7 DONE!!}