This was the most normal weekend I’ve had in ages and I loved it!! I needed it! I feel like life has been a whirlwind since Chicago without my regular routine or my regular energy. So for now, I’m thankful for business as usual 🙂
Saturday
I joined the Run 4 Others group. Everyone is training for different races. Dave made a great route so we could start together and you could break off and head back to your car for your mileage.
And then there were 3. Roy and Jenn ran the full 20 miles with me and we had a blast! P.S. This was the first long run since Chicago with ZERO knee pain…woo hoo!

Jenn told us the best story about a time when she was really struggling during a run. She kept having the negative thought, “you’re toast” repeating in her head. So, she turned it around. “You’re multi-grain, fortified, whole grain, STRONG TOAST!” I will forever think of “strong toast” when I’m struggling during a run!
Post-run breakfast of champions…steel cut oats with peaches that my Gran froze during peak season and Coconut Almond Quinoa Crunch…yummo!
Getting into the Thanksgiving spirit…
We started a new (free) Sunday morning bootcamp class! For those in the Nashville area, follow me on facebook for specifics. This group is no joke. We started with hill work up a .75 mile climb at a 9% grade. The view from the top is beautiful! Then we did an hour of pushups, sprints, mountain climbers, etc…
It was a tough workout, but I had a blast. We were fired up to run down the big hill to finish class!
Alex (on the far right) BQ’d at Monumental a week ago and did this class this morning. Crazy!
After class, Jason and I went for a run together.
While the world is excited about their Red Cups, I’m stoked that Starbucks is brewing the Thanksgiving Blend!!! It’s my favorite of all of their coffees!
So here’s my cookie confessional:
I have a big crush on the vegan chocolate chip cookies from Whole Foods. Leading up to Chicago, my cookie habit grew from one a day to FOUR! I don’t care how many miles I run a day, I have no business eating four cookies a day.
So I’m no longer buying cookies for my house. If they’re here, I’ll eat them. Instead, I’ve started making Chocolate Shakeology Shakes. They taste like brownie batter and are a lot healthier for me than cookies. (Note: I’m not using them as meal replacements, but as an afternoon snack.)

Most importantly, today (November 9th) is National Adoption Day! My sweet husband is adopted and I couldn’t be more grateful for his birthmother and adopted mother:)
What’s your food weakness? Do you keep it in your house?
What’s your next race? How’s your training going?
What was the best part of your weekend?
#choosejoy











I am in love with those vegan chocolate chip cookies, too! Whenever I go grocery shopping, I have to tear my eyes away from the bakery section to prevent myself from going over there. They do taste SO good after a long run, though. When I was in Nashville this weekend I had a great strawberry coconut vegan muffin at ZolliKoffee.
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Strawberry coconut muffin sounds so good!!!
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New follower! I ran Chicago too (and got the same blue and pink top – it’s so soft!). That’s awesome that you have a good group to run with, I’ve been without a running group for awhile and would love to find one. I also am with you on keeping cookies (or anything with chocolate) in the house….if it’s here, I’ll eat it 🙂
Love your comment on National Adoption Day – my husband and I adopted two boys last fall, so adoption is close to our hearts 🙂
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Having friends to run with makes the time fly by!
Two boys….thats so wonderful! Congrats!!!
Have a great day:)
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So excited for Nashville this weekend! Yay! That boot camp sounds intense. Wowsa! Way to get it done 🙂
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Nice job on the 20! Cookie butter is my downfall. Unfortuately, it is in the house. Next bigger race is a half which is super hilly, that is, as long as it’s not icy that day. Other than that just keeping the weekly mileage up:)
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Thanks!! I share your love of cookie butter. Its so good!! Hills and ice could make for an interesting race! 🙂
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That picture of Cookie Monster is hilarious! I am glad you had a good weekend!
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It cracked me up!
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Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are my weakness and anything red velvet! If it’s in the house it’s a goner for sure Jen lol! 🙂 I’m kinda in between training for a race right now I start training for the Gasparilla Distance Classic Half Marathon on or around 11/23 and the race in 2/22/15 and I’ll be looking to beat my recent 5K PR in January and go sub-21.
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Yes to reese’s and red velvet!!!
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Amen sista!!! 🙂
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I go thru phases. Sometimes I eat cookies everyday. Other times it is milk chocolate or dark chocolate. Sometimes ice cream. But regardless of what it is, if its in the house, I’ll eat it. I try not to keep too much junk food in the house, but it happens. Especially this time of year!
I have no races coming up right now. I don’t remember the last time that happened!
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This spring that happened to me. I finished my spring goal race and realized i didnt have another goal race on the calendar. So, i just started training for a fall marathon. I ended up getting into to Chicago, so it worked out 🙂
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Yay for adoption day! I’m adopted and we adopted our 5 yr old daughter as well.
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Thats SO wonderful!!!
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