Did I really just do that?

Yes, I really did just sign up for the NJ Marathon in Long Branch on May 6th. 

May 6th people!!!

I signed up before I made a training plan.  I signed up before I had a chance to go into Google Calendars and count the weeks backwards...and find out today is the start of week 15.  Oh my goodness, 15 weeks to train for this marathon!  I signed up before I could remember the pain I was in on November 20th.  I signed up before I thought it through.

But you know what?

I'm really freakin' excited.

Since running before and after school isn't an option for me (hello winter darkness), I've been stuck on the treadmill/taking some pretty super classes at the gym which I'll tell you about later.  And to be honest, I've been sort of wimpy on the weekends; coming up with lame-o excuses like "It's too cold", "I'd rather go to the gym", "Actually I'd rather go eat vegan pancakes at The Pop Shop and cuddle on the couch in front of the fire all day". 

Today I channeled my inner toughness and went out for a run in the snow.  Wearing this shirt as one of my layers may have helped, thanks Mom!

Ready to rock it!  LOVE that putting a marathon on the calendar makes me remember how much I adore running :) Pop Shop who?  Scratch that, Pop Shop after a run!

After living in San Diego, I was sort of dreading snow.  It wasn't too bad, and the crunching under my feet made me feel...happy. 

After a few miles my legs, lungs, and body were feeling great...minus my fingers.  I was wearing those 2 pairs for a dollar cute gloves that look pretty but serve no purpose and I was literally worried that my fingers were getting frost bite.  The hurt so bad when I got home and took at least 5 minutes to finally feel normal.  

Besides that my FIRST TRAINING RUN (wow so excited to say that again!) went great!

In another post I'll fill you in on my new gym, the classes I've been taking, the personal trainer/running coach who's going to help me become a better runner, the amazing running app I used today, and much more. 

PS: Yesterday I ordered a Road ID tag and they sent me a coupon to pass along to friends.  Use the coupon code to receive $1 off any Road ID order.  In these times, every dollar counts, right?  This code can be used up to 20x within the next 30 days (until 2/22/12), so if you've been thinking about investing one, here's your chance.  Enjoy friends :)

Use: ThanksMelissa11395552  at www.RoadID.com

Family Time

Before moving to California, I guess you could say I took my family and friends for granted.  You can basically drive from the top of NJ to the bottom in about 4ish hours.  

It's not that big.

But with my fam in north Jersey, and friends spreading out all over NJ after college, I didn't always make the time for them.

 Before I left for Cali I met up with fam and friends who I hadn't seen in ages.  All because there was never time or they were "too far away".  When I left I questioned myself, why did it take moving 3,000 miles away to start making coffee dates to see the people I love?

Friendships take work.  And when I got back from Cali, a state so large it takes up most of the west coastline, I made a decision to make the effort.  The effort to drive to see family.  The effort to call up an old friend. The effort to get over my tiredness on a Friday night and be social.  

This weekend I went home and spent some quality time with my 9 year old brother and the rest of the fam.  

I had never been to this park, but we had a blast!

Matt and Dusty had fun exploring.  Matt even found a salamander, the highlight of our hike!

This place has a lot of history.

The American Studies major in me just loves it!  During the Revolutionary War, Washington used this rock to watch for the British; you can see as far as 30 miles out!

After we got home we enjoyed sugar cookies that had been baked with Grandma earlier!

Sure, it's not always fun driving 2 hours up the Turnpike...but it's worth it :)

Do you live close to your family?

Do you get to see your friends as often as you'd like?  

Legit Zucchini Craving

Gosh!  If you didn't think I was strange you do now!  Who craves zucchini?  I can see cinnamon rolls.  And creme brulee cupcakes from CUPS.  Maybe even a big ole smoothie after a run or on a hot day.  But the plain old peel, chop, then eat variety of zucchini?

  Ahhhh ::cue angels singing::

I've never been a zucchini girl. 

  But I am a born and raised Jersey Girl; which means I have fond memories of husking sweet Jersey corn out on the back porch, I will randomly stop at a roadside farm because their nectarines  look oh so juicy, and for years I claimed to only like tomatoes that came from my Mom's garden or had the Jersey Fresh stamp of approval.  But zucchini?  Puh-lease.  I have better veggies to eat.  Until now.

 A few weeks ago I randomly bought zucchini at the grocery store.  They were dirt cheap, and therefore I bought them.  After doing some research, since I'm really not a zucchini girl and lack basic knowledge of zucchini preparation, I sauteed some up, and it was a delish meal.  

I also left a few aside, did some peeling, chopping, and ahhhh  ::cue those angels again::.

So simple.  So refreshing.  So perfect!  And that is why I've been craving zucchini non-stop!

Today I had to go fill out new hire paperwork for my new part-time job,,,at a gym!  I had to go to their other location down by where I went to college.  On the way home, after stopping for Dunkin', of course...

I saw this.  Only a mile down the road?  I'm in!  And they better have zucchini...

 Thankfully they did.  For the sake of everyone involved.  I also picked up some:

swiss chard

green beans

cucumbers

cilantro

All for $5.55!

Although I've been on a raw zucchini kick, there are some recipes from around the blogosphere that I am dying to try!  Check em out:

Muncher Cruncher's Healthy Chocolate Zucchini Bread 

Thai Style Raw Zucchini Pasta over at Food Not Fuss 

Breaded Zucchini and Zucchini Fries from Nourishing Flourishing 

Oh She Glow's Oil-Free Zucchini Walnut Raisin Loaf with Cinnamon Streusel 

Cheesy Zucchini Pizza That Will Rock Your Face from Eat, Live, Run 

What food have you been craving lately? 

Are you going to get your butt in the kitchen and get going on these zucchini recipes or what?! 

There's Nothing Like...

an awesome run

to put you in a good mood!

This is "runner's high clip art" from Google Images, I'm that random.  (source)

I don't know what it is, but lately my runs have not been giving me that amazing, accomplished, I'm awesome feeling.  Of course not every run is going to do that, but I've been in a bit of a rut, having a bunch of these so-so runs for the past couple weeks.

It's not fair, I just want to go for a decent run!!!  (source)

Let me back up a little bit.  I have some ideas of what could be contributing to my lack luster runs.  Numero uno being NJ humidity and heat!  I am so not used to these running conditions.  By the end of a 5 mile run I'm all sweated out, with no energy left to give.  Not a good feeling when I was going out for easy 10-milers at the beach the last few weeks I was in San Diego!

Lovely, just lovely. (source)

Number two would be not fueling properly.  I'm on a new schedule, currently unemployed and I'm not about to wake up at 5 a.m. if I don't have to.  So if I eat dinner at 7, go to bed and wake up at 7 (I actually wake up later!)  that's 12 hours with no food and although I may have some glycogen stores in my body, it's not enough if I'm planning longer than a 2 mile run.  No wonder I'm hitting a "wall" at the end of a 5 mile run and cutting runs short!

Everything I've ever learned about fueling properly, I learned from this book. It gives you the science of how to fuel your body, must read! ::wink, wink::  (source)

And finally, I'm playing on a co-ed softball league with Shane and some friends.  Although it's not the MOST physically demanding, I know my body just isn't used to that all out short running to bases with little warm up and softball in general.  And I got knocked in the shin with a bouncy ball, ow!


Okay so now that I've identified possible problem areas, let's fast forward to Monday's run.  

(source)

Serious awesome-sauce!  It was like everything was just right.  It actually started off with me being lazy.  I was so discouraged with my past few runs I didn't even want to go outside and attempt another one.  So I made myself my usual b-fast, made some coffee and chilled out for about 45 minutes.  But then I started to get antsy and bargained with myself to go for an easy paced 4.5 miles.

As I stepped outside I noticed something was missing.  The humidity!  It was a gorgeous day, not too hot, and it didn't feel like I was wearing a wet blanket!  Well I started out along my usual route and after about a mile I really started to find my running groove.  I felt rested, fueled, and wasn't a sweaty mess!


As I approached the turn around spot for 4.5 miles I told myself, "Go ahead.  Go a little further today.  What's up this road anyway?"  As this is my boyfriend's neck of the woods (we're literally in the woods) I genuinely didn't know what was beyond my turn-around.  So I went for it.  And it was fantastic!  It was a great route with lots of tree cover and flat, flat, flat!


I payed attention to time, knowing I shouldn't go more than 8 miles since I didn't want to increase my mileage too fast.  So I headed for home and even had the energy to sprint as soon as the house was in sight.

Ahhh, running bliss.  Monday's run truly boosted back my confidence and I'm looking forward to getting out and hitting the road.  I  have some races in mind for fall and a running goal that I want to share so I push myself to achieve it.  I'm not officially in training mode yet, right now I'm just running and building a base for when training begins in a few weeks!


Have you ever found yourself in a running (or any type of workout) funk?  What did it take to get you out of it?

When do you run?  Do you always eat a pre-workout meal or snack?

In a Nutshell

Hi there blog-a-boos!  Hope everyone is having a great Wednesday!  I've been taking pictures of my eats all day (minus one banana; I was ravenous and needed it at that moment!), so stay tuned for my very first What I Ate Wednesday, otherwise known as WIAW!

Shane and I have been keeping pretty busy here in NJ.  I'll give you a quick recap...in a nutshell! Over this past couple weeks Shane has been working all over the tri-state area, training for his new job and I've been applying like crazy for a teaching job in the fall/summer employment.

Since I can't apply to jobs all day, I've been walking to the lake that is literally right around the corner. 

This picture was taken on my first visit to the lake.  Quiet, serene, peaceful.

 Today however there was an abundance of teenage boys, I think because a lot of the schools had 1/2 days due to the extremely hot temperatures.  Oh joy.

 Although a lake beach is not my first choice, I feel very lucky to have the option!

A few days ago I took Shane's niece, Natalie, to the lake.  Of course that meant I had to go in deeper than my knees.  I kept on my flip flops and slowly made my way in.  Can you tell I'm not into the whole swimming in lakes?  They sort of gross me out, but I'm getting better!

The next step is to buy water shoes that don't fall off.  And dunking my head under the water.  Then if I'm really brave, practice open water swimming since I MIGHT be doing a sprint distance triathlon at the end of the summer.

Oh I didn't tell you?  That's because I'm not officially signed up, don't have a bike, and have a fear of swimming in bodies of water besides pools.  Hm, I have the desire but don't know if I will actually go through with it this summer.

I've also been RUNNING in my new neighborhood.  With no job I've been waking up sort of early, and only because I need to beat the heat.

My runs have not been stellar lately.  I just can't seem to get myself out of this funk.  I think it's a combination of lower motivation, not used to heat/humidity, and my muscles have been tight lately!  So I've been doing some yoga in my makeshift yoga studio ;)  

There's been some trivia nights.  Our team lost.  And I can't say the name of the team since a bunch of 12 (I mean 25) year old boys thought it would be funny to prank the announcer with a very dirty name when pronounced. 

But my outfit was a win; cute right?  Classy bathroom shot, SkinnyRunner style.

And there's been softball!  Shane and I are on a co-ed softball league.  We signed up while we were still in San Diego and so we missed 3 games, but I'm glad we've started up!

 I haven't played softball since gym in high school.  I kid you not.  It's just not my thang.  But I'm having so much fun!

I've actually been making contact with the ball, getting on bases, and even scored a run last night!

Shane's not trying to ruin the picture, he's only saying hi!

Have a fabulous night, my sweet potatoes are about ready to come out of the oven.

Back in NJ and it Feels So {sweaty}

Wowzers, it's been a minute!  Last time I blogged we were ending our year long adventure in San Diego and in the midst of packing up and returning to good old New Jersey.

I'm sure I don't need to tell anyone whose ever moved before that it's no fun packing up all your belongings and trying to make meals out of what little remains in your cabinets.

The movers came, and our all of our stuff, save 2 checked bags, began the long trip to NJ.  Since the 25th, Shane and I have each been living out of a suit case.  Ah!  

 

My good friend Kerry gave us this bottle of champagne before we left, so I found it fitting to pop it open and celebrate our year long adventure in SoCal.

 

 

 Shane needs to get over my picture taking!!!

 

Our last night in San Diego we were pretty classy.  I had the some broccoli and tofu, Shane had a Trader Joe meal and we enjoyed our bubbly in plastic cups.  We had actual sliverware/plates since we decided to donate them and eventually get a newer more grown up set in NJ.

 

Princess and Daisy did not enjoy being in their carriers, and the drive to the airport was the worst (constant sad meowing and pitiful looks) but once we set them down they were quiet and actually got some naps in.

To be quite honest I was really upset and depressed about leaving and so I did not have the motivation to take more pictures.  I know this sounds funny, but the San Diego Airport is beautiful and seriously nice and now I'm mad I didn't document it!  We passed the time waiting by playing online/computer games, which Shane kicked my butt every time!

Our flight didn't depart until 10:10 pm, so we were tired and slept most of the ride.  When we arrived at the Philadelphia airport around 7 in the morning we were greeted by a blanket of wet humidity.  For real, go live for a year in 0% humidity and then go to the east coast during the summer.  SHOCKER!

Ah, what a mess!  Those are just boxes that were previously there; we're still living out of one suitcase each.  But if you follow me on twitter (@healthy_cupcake) you'll know our stuff should be arriving within the hour!

Our room looks a little better now, but we need our stuff!

And the cats are adjusting way better than their last airplane ride.  They were mad at us for days, but this time they're eating, drinking, and being affectionate; thank goodness.

I think I hear the truck. 

More updates for another post :)