October 01, 2013

Bagels!

Happy October! October is my very favorite month--especially living in Michigan. The leaves change colors to gorgeous shades of red, orange, and yellow, and the air has a great crispness to it that's hard to describe. I love everything about fall: jeans and hoodies, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, pumpkin- and apple-flavored everything, going for walks and hearing the crunch of leaves, drinking hot tea outside, making all different kinds of soups and chilis... Nothing puts me in a good mood like this time of year!

Anyway, Jerry is home now. I didn't mention that he was gone (for safety reasons--not a good idea to announce that my husband will be gone for several days), but he went to visit John in San Diego. The whole thing came about in August when John and I were planning the Ragnar SoCal for April. Jerry was really bummed that he won't be able to go, due to work, and I would feel bad going without him. So John and I planned a surprise trip for Jerry for his birthday! He went to San Diego on Thursday, stayed at John's house for four nights, and came home yesterday.

Joe (a friend of John's), John, and Jerry
They did a Boot Camp Challenge race on Saturday morning. He had a BLAST the entire time he was there. I'm so glad that he got to go, because he's never taken a trip by himself like this. I go on little trips here and there (for races, usually), but he doesn't really get away. He said he felt guilty going without me, but I am really happy that he got to get away for a few days, and that he had so much fun. I missed him like crazy while he was gone, though, and I was excited to pick him up from the airport yesterday!

So, back to the norm today. This morning, I had my very last interval run on the schedule for marathon training! On the schedule was 6 x 1 mile at 8:48 pace with 400m jogs. Basically, that means I was supposed to run 1 mile at 8:48 pace, and then jog 1/4 mile to recover... and repeat for a total of 6 times.

As soon as the kids left for school, I headed out. It was really foggy this morning. I did an out-and-back route, turning around at the 3.75 mile mark. I was really determined to hit all of my goal splits. I felt really good, except for the fourth interval, when I got a sharp stitch in my side. I just ran through it, and when I started the fifth interval, it went away.

I'm amazed at how fast the run goes by when I do intervals! While I'm running, I'm only focused on reaching the end of that interval, rather than the end of the run. Before I knew it, I'd reached 7.5 miles and I was back home. I surpassed my goal on all of them!


I only have one more hard workout, and then it's all easy runs until the marathon. Tomorrow is a rest day, and then Thursday is my most dreaded run of the week--10 miles at 8:58/mi pace. After Thursday, though, I should really start to feel like I'm tapering, because my runs will be shorter and at easy pace.

I don't know what started it, but I have been kind of obsessed with bagels lately. Today, while I was running, I kept telling myself that if I hit all of my splits, then I would get a Pink Ribbon bagel from Panera (only available in October). I've never tried them, but have heard they are amazing. So I was very happy to hit my goal paces! On the way to Panera, however, I called to make sure they had them. They told me they sold out by 9:00 this morning :(

I still really wanted a bagel, though, so I got a jalapeno cheddar one from Kroger. It was good, but I don't think I'd get it again. I'm going to try and go to Panera first thing on Thursday to get a Pink Ribbon bagel, and then I'll eat that after my 10-miler.

Tomorrow is my weigh-in, and I'm actually looking forward to it. I've stayed 100% on plan all week!

8 comments:

  1. Katie, I just downloaded the Road ID app on my phone and I thought of you. It allows you to set up your phone to alert someone if you become inactive while running for a period of time (5 min. I think). It alerts you that it's about to alert the person in case you forget to turn it off. I don't run alone that often, but I thought it would be good for you since you do. Check it out, it's only free for a limited time.

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  2. Hahaha, glad you're taking my advice and trying a Pink Ribbon bagel! Let me know what you think!

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  3. what are the bagels like? i've never heard of them! i'm sad the only panera nearby is in the mall down the road... i hate the stress of driving and parking at the mall just for panera but i'd love to try their bagels vs. brueggers

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  4. I adore the Asiago bagel from Panera, and it's probably a good thing that I'd have to drive at least 30 minutes to get to the nearest Panera!

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  5. I'm curious about these pink ribbon bagels too. For some reason I assume they have berries in it, but I have no clue. Panera makes amazing bagels. Those cinnamon crunch and asiago ones are to die for!

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  6. Haha - you know I am a bagel connoisseur! I have had the pink ribbon bagel, but it has cherries in it, which I don't care for. Panera bagels are decent, but there are much better ones out there. I do like their gingerbread bagels and hope they came back this year.

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  7. asiago bagels are so wonderful. great flavor and they barely need any butter!

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  8. I love the pink ribbon bagels. The Panera here usually has them all the time with a different name and in the normal round bagel shape. They call them Cherry something; I can't remember the exact name.
    I haven't had one in a couple of years, thinking I may stop by Panera after my long run on Saturday!!

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