alli learns life

more random thoughts

February 10, 2012 by Alli @ alli learns life

I’ve been really off with blogging lately.

Again, this post has no real point – just random thoughts.

1. manicure. love.

really feelin' the gray lately

2. Breaking up a treadmill workout really does make it go by faster. I’ve seen a LOT of interval workouts lately, on blogs, on pinterest, yet I’d never tried one. I wanted to get through 3-4 miles yesterday after work and knew a boring run wouldn’t cut it. I did 2 min increments of 6.0, 6.2, 6.6, 6.8 repeat until I got to 3.5 miles.
holy sweaty mess. wayy more challenging and interesting than a regular treadmill run. loved it.

next up, try a real one - that I didn’t make up on the spot.

3. I randomly walked by Cosi the other day and was compelled to go in. I ordered the Chicken Tinga sandwich, which I think is new because I’ve never heard of it. Surprise! it was delicious, like want-one-every-day delicious. sooo good.

aren't you glad I remembered to take a pic halfway through?

4. I want to do 11 miles tomorrow.   dear weather.com, please stop saying its going to snow all day. that just isn’t going to work. love, alli ps. I might actually die if I have to attempt that on the treadmill.

Can we trade, today for tomorrow? 2-4 inches, 1..2..3.. go.  (and then melt)

5. I should really start finishing the book for book club before the meeting. We’re meeting tonight. I’m halfway through. fail. 

that’s all I got.

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Who has exciting weekend plans? or treadmill workouts that I need to try?

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tuesday musings

February 7, 2012 by Alli @ alli learns life

I’m a planner.  I think things through, usually wayyy in advance. Sometimes this is good, sometimes not so much.

My boss had a big meeting this morning. I harassed him yesterday afternoon about what he needed for said meeting. He was uninterested.

This morning I got in, a little before normal time, anticipating the need to prepare for said meeting and he was at my desk immediately asking me for 1000 things.  Seriously?!   why?    Drives me crazy.

Was I ready for the requests? Clearly.  but ugh. Not ideal.

The rest of that day continued that way..

My brain is fried.

Other musings from today:

- steel cut oats are pretty good. they take wayyyy too long to make (30 min) but I made a whole bunch on Saturday for the week. Mix with blueberries, almonds & honey.  awesome plan.

what took me so long?

- I had yoga on the plan, but wasn’t feeling it. nope. rest day? yes please

- free lunch? yes please

- eggplant? I reached for you because I thought you were chicken. This is weird. I don’t hate it, but I wish you were chicken.  (I am the only 28 year old thats never had eggplant before?!)

- how is it only tuesday?!

- dear old job, its about time you send me a W-2. I will harass you til I get it.  I would like some tax money, thanksssss.

- pinterest is less interesting than it used to be. can’t explain it. just is.

- I like my Garmin, but its not as life-changing as I expected it to be.  Maybe I just haven’t spent enough time with it?

yesterday's run

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Super Sunday recap

February 6, 2012 by Alli @ alli learns life

Superbowl Sunday wasn’t so super after all, but the Super Sunday race was a great start to the day.

colder than it looks

I’d call race 1 of the year a success.

Official Results: 46:02

average pace – 9:13

a little bit slower than my 10K PR but I’ll take it

It was great small race. It started on time which makes me happy. The course was good, though I didn’t expect there to be as much traffic. Cambridge St wasn’t shut down in either direction, so cars got pretty annoying.  Lots of runners were wearing Pats gear, which was fun.  Its close to home & a cheap, fun race.  I would definitely run it again.

plus an automatic PR. love it.

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anyone else race this weekend? any shiny new PR’s out there? 

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run long playlist

February 5, 2012 by Alli @ alli learns life

good morning!!

I’m up and in the midst of my pre-race routine: coffee, bagel, peanut butter.  First race of 2012.  First 5 miler. I love when races start late enough that I don’t have to get up before the sun.

I’m excited except that its 26 degrees out and feels like 15.  Not ideal.  Especially since its been so mild lately.

Anyway..  I figure with the race this morning and the game tonight (PATS!) , I won’t have time to post later.

Here’s what I’ve been listening to during my long runs, and will be fully rocking out to this morning.

Happy Sunday friends!

February goals

February 1, 2012 by Alli @ alli learns life

oh hello friends.

another month begins.  February is my least favorite month, for a bunch of reasons.

1. its cold and snowy

2. there’s little hope of it being not-cold anytime soon

3. the year isn’t new anymore. excitement is gone.

4. no long weekends

Yet, this year – its really not that cold. There is no snow.

oh hello legs! oh yeah - I ran in shorts tonight. It was glorious

Maybe spring is coming soon?! please.  and I finally work for company that respects the Presidents. (but not MLK oddly enough?! but I’ll take what I can get)  So yeah, I’m thinking that maybe this February is going to be less depressing than I remember every other Feb being.   Let’s hope.

February goals -

1. PR in Hyannis – Since I didn’t run in Philly, 2:22 is still my one & only for the half.  I need to crush it.

2. Buy & make something with kale – I’ve eaten kale once and liked it. Given that its like a crazy super veggie, I want to work it in more. Yet, I never buy it. If I put in writing, I might get that done.

3. keep running outside – Not only is running outside better for racing, but its probably better for my head too. let’s hope the weather keeps cooperating.

4. twice a week yoga –  I’ve been good at once a week, but I really want to get there twice. Once at the gym, and once hot yoga at the new studio, which I did try last night. It was good.  I forgot how hot & sweaty heated classes are. Excited to go back.

5. commit to a March race – one race a month, right?   the race I was looking at is morning after St. Patrick’s Day.  Does that sound like the best idea I’ve ever had? No.  I have a few alternatives in mind, but I need to figure it out and register.

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who’s running super sunday this weekend?  hyannis in a few weeks?
any fun goals this month?

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January was loongg

January 31, 2012 by Alli @ alli learns life

Usually I write these and “I’m like wow, that month flew by. How is it over so fast?! “  Not this time. January was loongg. I’m ready for it to be over.  I feel like New Year’s was foreverr ago.  

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January goals -

1. make time for my long runs  – yup. they got done. before work wasn’t ideal but it was the only way for two of them. only 2 long runs left before hyannis

2. keep running outside – averaged twice a week which I would say is pretty damn good for January.

3. yoga – I got there at least once a week. Good, but I can do better. Still haven’t tried the new place, but going tonight!

4. be smart about money – I guess. I haven’t really done any shopping which is good. Bringing my lunch pretty much every day. Lots of cooking & only one big grocery purchase. I did spend more than normal with visitors though.

I went to NY for New Year’s, had 2 weekends of visitors, did yoga a handful of times, and managed to run 63 miles. January was fun but busyy. 

I’m ready for a low key February.

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suggestions for Feb goals?
is anyone else ready to fast forward through the rest of winter?

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tough ten

January 28, 2012 by Alli @ alli learns life

Its a gorgeous day!  Okk..  its dark now but it was a gorgeous day.

I did my first double-digit run since Nov & my foot.

10 miles

they weren’t pretty though. pretty hard is more like it..

I always take a rest day before a long run to “save my energy” or whatever. I’m usually just too nervous that my legs will be tired.  This week I decided I don’t run enough mid-week miles, so I ran slow & easy yesterday.  Today, I think I paid for it. But that’s how I’ll get stronger right?

I should’ve taken pics but I didn’t.

it looked like this... less fall, more winter.

It was a tough run, it was still soo nice to be outside, in the daylight, and in the 40′s too!

I even wished I wore shorts..

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Last night, I watched the Adjustment Bureau, which was surprisingly awesome. I’ve had the Netflix DVD for maybe a month. I couldn’t remember what it was supposed to be about, but threw it in anyway.  So good. Watch it.

Today, I caught up on all the productive stuff I never get around to doing, plus a few Homeland episodes on the couch. perfection.

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what’s everyone up to this weekend? do you run the day before long runs?

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hill repeats

January 26, 2012 by Alli @ alli learns life

this week has been fairly blah.

I almost bailed on my run last night, but didn’t. I managed a great 5 miles. 4 comfortable miles and then hill repeats.

dear beacon hill,
you look scary and awful, but I will dominate you. repeatedly.
love, alli

so that was excellent and an attempt at run with a purpose. Usually I just go, hoping for a decent pace, but no real plan. I really need to do more speedwork/tempo/hills.

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I went to the gym on Tuesday for a few treadmill miles & some elliptical. less than satisfying but what can you do..  Then, I spied this chick.

this is wrong on so many levels.

1. Its January and you’re wearing a sports bra. Unnecessary. Put a shirt on.

2. You have a tramp stamp. Gross. Again put a shirt on.

3. Jumping rope in the middle of walkway. Is that realllllly necessary?!

I wanted to kick her.  but that would just make it awkward when I see her allll the time. So instead, I took sly pics and hate on her on the internet. I win.

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moving on..

I also made lots of food this week - chicken rollatini, sweet potato lentil soup, and then this lovely concoction this morning (not that you can tell what it is)

egg whites, laughing cow & hot sauce on a sandwich thin.
Good thinking, Breen. Thank you for emailing me about it.

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What else?

I registered for the Super Sunday 5 miler!!

Who else is running?!

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Oh & I’m loving this song right now.

I wish I knew how to make that smaller. sadly, I don’t. giant video. Sorry guys.

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tell me a story. anything.
what races are you eyeing? how do you feel about hill repeats?

panda!

January 24, 2012 by Alli @ alli learns life

happy birthday amanda!!

this is the best pic I can find of us. ha.

hope you had a fabulous day.

xo

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girls weekend

January 24, 2012 by Alli @ alli learns life

 Tuesday. ugh

This weekend was wonderful & exhausting. Back-to-back visitors wasn’t the best plan I’ve ever had but I loved seeing them all.

Friday night, Katie & Lisa arrived approx. 10 minutes before my parents. We all had pizza, wine & fun catching up.

Saturday morning – the girls & I woke up to SNOW. 

  we trekked over to Faneuil Hall for lunch & shopping.

Ned Devine’s was empty given the weather but excellent.  Panini, sweet potato fries, and a glass of sauv blanc. yes please.

Katie & Lisa

Katie & I

We even picked out Lisa’s outfit for her engagement photos. Though I failed to document that, there will be plenty of pics of it at some point

Saturday night, we had a drink at my apt with JT, had him snap this pic of us & all headed to dinner.  

Dinner was at Panza, which is my favorite place in the North End. Even with a reservation, the wait was 45 minutes. Obnoxious but the food is worth it. I always forget how frustrating that is, especially since I have little patience.  Oops.

Still, I had a fabulous weekend with the girls. So much fun. Might take me til next weekend to recover though.

how was your weekend?

anyone want to come do the mountain of laundry I have waiting for me?