Just Plodding Along

This weekend we got to take the family on a big adventure to the big city. We rode the train into the city. After and hour and a half and 22 stops we arrived in the Windy City.   We hit some key spots  Magnificent Mile  Ghirardelli Chocolate Shop  Millennium Park  We of course had to stop at the Bean  We walked by the Bank of America Theater where The Book of Mormon is playing. I want to see it so bad but it is sooooooooooo expensive for tickets. Well maybe if I win the lotto. Overall a super fun day. We walked so many miles. We also stopped for deep dish pizza for refueling. This week I did really well sticking to my training plan even with family visiting. Not gonna lie when I hit the treadmill for my 9 mile LSD on the treadmill (due to iced over roads) it took all my will power not to jump off after 3 miles to go have fun with the family. But I stuck with and am glad I did because it was one...

First thing- family is here to visit for the weekend so I am pretty excited to hang with them and do fun stuff! Second thing- I have somehow magically (okay it wasn't magic it was nice run blogger Falon  who was kind enough to invite me) hooked up with an amazing group of run bloggers who are planning to do the Chicago marathon. The general idea is to coordinate lodging, eating,  and expo and geek out on running and races and medals I hope and carb load- lots of carb loading please. I am about to lose my mind with excitement. I was excited about the Chicago marathon before.....now- oh my gosh, freak out. It is going to be so much fun. So if you are thinking of doing the Chicago marathon let me know because you do not want to miss this fun! Third thing- with above mentioned family we celebrated a late Christmas and I scored pretty big. Believe I am journal  I have heard great things about this running journal and can not wait to get some goals down and start track...

Yesterday I ran four miles in 27:34. (Update: I meant 37 whoa- lets not get crazy here, I am not that speedy). Apparently running in cold motivates me to get a move on so I can get back inside. The last couple of runs have been going well and after about three weeks off from running any sort of distance my legs feel all fresh and happy. This is good as marathon training kicks off in about two weeks. After my brisk run D's parents and I decided that Chicago was the place for us. D had to work so I was in charge of entertainment. First stop breakfast at a local place for exploring fuel.  After lots of driving and traffic we arrived downtown. Of course it starts snowing. Doesn't snow the last four days we have sat around at home in sweatpants. The minute we decide to do something, bam snow. Not cool. Actually it was kind of cool to walk through Grant Park in the snow and while it was cold it was not windy which seems to be key to making a trip to Chicago enjoyable.  Unfor...

On Saturday D and I headed to the big, mean city of Chicago. D had been to Chicago a while ago but the closest I had ever been was running through the O'Hare Airport a few times (why O'Hare, why must I always run through you?). We were excited, me probably annoyingly so ('we're goin to the big city, we're goin to the big city (insert hand clap here)) and caught the early train to start our adventure. Chicago river  Our plan was pretty vague. Show up, orientate ourselves and walk around and explore. Art Institute of Chicago  But I had one goal. See the BIG BEAN.  And it was glorious. It is actually called Cloud Gate but come on it is a bean.  After seeing the Bean we went in search of food and shopping, heading toward the Magnificent Mile. The only thing I bought was a coffee mug but it was fun to look at all the high end stuff. All the buildings were amazing and it was really fun to wander around in such an awesome city...