Track Tuesday & the First Day of Fall

Happy first day of Fall!! This post should be called “Track Tuesday and I Need To Stop Buying Pumpkins”, but I digress. Let’s start with today’s speed work!

New GU flavor: Caramel Macchiato!  If Espresso and Salted Caramel had a baby, it would taste like this.  It’s SO good!

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Nashville received the Fall memo and we had awesome cool temps for track!

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Gotta love when you show up to track to find baracades…doh!  I got them cleared and we had a great workout.

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First day running in a sleeve…Charlotte wanted to be in the photo, too:)

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Ladder workout

4.25 Mile warm-up
Drills and strides
400 (goal: 1:52) (actual: 1:47) The cool temps made me feel fast.  I adjusted and dialed it back for the rest of the workout!)
800 (goal: 3:44) (actual: 3:42)
1200 (goal: 5:35) (actual: 5:35)
1600 (goal: 7:27) (actual: 7:25)
1200 (goal: 5:35) (actual: 5:33)
800 (goal: 3:44) (actual: 3:43)
400 (goal: 1:52) (actual: 1:48)
(All done with a 400 recovery lap between)
1 mile cool down

I’ve never worn Moving Comfort before, but I bought this hoodie at Fleet Feet last week and LOVE it!

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In honor of the first day of fall and our cooler weather, I did a little pumpkin/corn stalk shopping…

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and stopped by one of my favorite stores, The Iron Gate to do a little home shopping.

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Driving home with a car full of corn stalks:)

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I added a few more white little pumpkins to the house.

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Then I came home to start a big pot of vegetarian tortilla soup! I will share the recipe later this week!

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What’s your speed work this week?
Have you started decorating for Fall or Halloween yet? Please tell me I’m not the only one;)
What’s your favorite GU flavor? Do you mix it up or stick to one flavor?

#choosejoy

11 Safety Tips for Running in the Dark

After some Summer-like temps this weekend, we had a glorious morning in the 50s!

7 crisp easy paced miles through the park.

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I headed straight to OrangeTheory Fitness for some cross-training.  I’m even learning to enjoy the bike…crazy!

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The cooler temperature has me so excited for Fall!  I picked up some white pumpkins for the house!

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and some fresh flowers for the kitchen.

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The cooler temps also mean that it’s dark during my early morning runs again.

Here are a few tips to help you stay safe during your early morning/late night runs.

1.  Wear reflective clothing.

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I also love the reflectivity of Saucony’s Viziglo material.

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2.  If you can, take your cellphone with you. (Also, the flashlight on the iphone can help when you’re in a pinch.)

3.  Wear or carry a light. (I run with a headlamp during the winter.)  My husband really wanted to capture this super-cool moment last winter.  I’ve found that the Amphipod reflective vests fit me best.

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4.  Run on the left side of the road.

5.  Seek out well-lit run routes.

6.  Don’t listen to music.

7.  Always have identification on you.  I wear a Road ID on my shoe.

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8.  Make sure you tell someone where you’re running and what time you’ll return.

9.  Run with a friend or group.

10.  Pay attention to your surroundings.

11.  Trust your instincts.  If something feels unsafe, don’t do it.

Everyone please stay safe out there!

What am I forgetting on my list of safety tips?

Do you take spin classes or indoor cycling?  

#choosejoy

Pillowy Pumpkin Spice & Honey Cookies

If you are excited about the fall weather, you need to bake these cookies!  I love that this recipe uses brown sugar and cornstarch.  It guarantees a super soft, puffy, and chewy cookie!  The honey makes them melt in your mouth, and the pumpkin pie spice is perfect for fall.

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You have to chill this dough for at least 3 hours before baking.  No exceptions.  Warm dough won’t make thick puffy cookies.  Make sure you have plenty of time before starting the recipe.

That said…let’s bake!

Combine your butter, sugar, egg and cream.  It takes about 5 minutes, so a stand mixer makes life a little easier.  A handheld will work just as well.

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Add the pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and…

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the honey.  This was my first time using honey in a cookie recipe and it works so beautifully!

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Mix until smooth.

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Add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, salt, and mix for a minute until combined.

Use a cookie scoop to make mounds.

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Fill a small bowl with sugar.  I used white sparkling sugar.  It gives a nice crunch to the cookie and it looks pretty.

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Roll into a dough into a ball and then coat with sugar.

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Place the rolled dough on a large plate.  Lightly flatten the mounds with the palm of your hand, cover with plastic wrap, and chill in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours.  Do not bake with warm dough.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and line your cookie sheet with a Silpat or spray with non-stick spray.

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Bake for 8-9 minutes until the edges have set.  The middle will still look a little undercooked.

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Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes and then transfer to a rack to finish cooling.

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INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1 large egg
1/4 cup honey
2 Tablespoons pumpkin pie spice (yes Tablespoons, not teaspoons)
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons corn starch
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt, optional and to taste

***Optional: Sugar to coat the outside of the cookie dough mounds.  I used White Sparkling Sugar Sprinkles.

This recipe yielded 18 medium cookies for me.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, sugar, egg, and beat on medium-high speed until well-creamed, light and fluffy, about 5 minutes (or use a hand mixer and beat for at least 7 minutes). Do not shortcut the creaming process; make sure dough is very light in color and fluffy, stop to scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.

2.  Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the honey, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until combined and smooth, about 2 minutes.

3.  Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, optional salt, and mix until just combined, about 1 minute.

4.  Using a medium 2-inch cookie scoop, form heaping two tablespoon mounds (I made 17). Put the Sparkling Sugar in a small bow.  Using your hands, roll the dough into balls.  Then roll the dough in the sugar to coat.   Place dough on a large plate, flatten mounds very slightly with your palm, cover with plasticwrap, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours, or up to 5 days, before baking. Do not bake with warm dough because cookies will spread and bake thinner and flatter.

5.  Preheat oven to 350F, line baking sheets with Silpats, or spray with cooking spray. Place mounds on baking sheets, spaced at least 2 inches apart. Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, or until edges have set and tops are just beginning to set, even if undercooked, pale, and glossy in the center. Do not bake longer than 9 minutes for soft cookies because they firm up as they cool; bake for 9-10 minutes if you like firmer cookies.  Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before removing and transferring to a rack to finish cooling.

6.  Store cookies airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 4 months. Alternatively, unbaked cookie dough can be stored airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so consider baking only as many cookies as desired and save the remaining dough to be baked in the future when desired.

One accidentally broke and I had to eat it.

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I boxed up the rest for my Gran’s birthday and made a little gift for a friend:)

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#choosejoy

Recipe from Averie Cooks.

Weekend Wrap-Up

85 miles this week and I’m feeling pretty good!  Only one more week of high miles before I start to taper for Chicago.

Saturday long run…

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2.5 solo miles

15 miles pacing the Fleet Feet Chicago Group

2.5 solo miles (7:50 pace)

After my ice bath, my Oiselle sweats felt like heaven!

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I didn’t get to stay in them for long because we left to see my family and celebrate my Gran’s birthday.

Post long run…legs up!

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Car ride entertainment: The new Runners World. I intentionally didn’t read it when it arrived so it could be my long run reward.

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My sweet Gran turned 83!!!!  (I don’t think Caroline was thrilled to be in the picture.)

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We were all wiped out from a big day at Gran’s house…even the puppies.

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Sunday: up early for 8.5 miles.

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I got to wear my new Fleet Feet Fall Marathon Training tank.

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Post run Breakfast of Champions!

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And gym time with the hubs (who thankfully tolerates my dorky pics).

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Our patio remodel kicks off tomorrow…woo hoo, so today the vegetarians ordered a grill!

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I found these cute little acorns at Pottery Barn,

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and was inspired to start unpacking some fall decorations.

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Our weather was perfect, so we had prosecco on the Bricktops patio…

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with my favorite grilled artichokes,

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margarita pizza,

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and a stop at Sweet Cece’s for some cookie dough and froyo!!

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I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!!

What are yor favorite froyo toppings?

Have you stated decorating for fall?

#choosejoy

FALL-elujah!

It’s (almost) fall y’all!

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The cooler temps have finally reached Tennessee…cue the hallelujah chorus! It’s long sleeve and shorts weather. Aka the greatest temperature of the year!!

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I am very aware that the first day of Autumn isn’t until Sept 23, and I’m doing my best to not rush the seasons.  I am truly a summer lover, but I’m being bombarded with all things pumpkin and I’m starting to crack.

It’s like the universe…or clever marketers are getting me into the autumn spirit a little earlier than usual.

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Here are the little ways that the fall fever is creeping into my life.

  • I couldn’t resist the fall flowers at Whole Foods.

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  • William Sonoma has pumpkin steel cut oats.

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  • I needed to bake some birthday cookies for my Gran. Why not make it a pumpkin recipe?!!  (I’ll try to post this recipe later this weekend…it rocks!)

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  • The grocery is selling pumpkins.  I still haven’t bought one yet, but it made me happy to see them.

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  • The new Martha Stewart Living arrived in my mailbox.

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  • Fall Funny (Confession: I don’t actually like Pumpkin Spice Lattes…I know…crazy!)

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  • Pinterest is full of autumnal PINspiration!

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Guilty of #5Buy anything that says Pumpkin Spice on it!

I can already check off #10Bake cookies with the KitchenAid

And…#23I want to have  Jack 0’latern carving party!!!

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I still haven’t decorated the house or bought mums, but the fall spirit is on it’s way!

Are you in the Fall spirit yet? Do you love all things pumpkin?

#choosejoy

The Friday Five

1.  Apple iWatch. I know it doesn’t have GPS.  I know it won’t replace my Garmin.  I know it’s still 5 months away.  It still looks so cool and I can’t wait to buy one!

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2.  Major Girl Crush…Vogue did an interview with Christy Turlington Burns about running the Chicago Marathon.  She is running to raise awareness for her non-profit Every Mother Counts.  She has also partnered with my favorite running brand, Oiselle to create apparel for EMC.  Guess who else is running Chicago?  Me!  Do you think she wants to run with me and become friends?!!  Read the article HERE.

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3.  Every night before bed, I drink a cup of chamomile tea to unwind and I have a new favorite from Dean & Deluca.  It’s a sweet and floral herbal tea made from chamomile flowers harvested in the winter months in Egypt.  Basically…it’s really good.

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4.  The sun is rising a little later and setting a little earlier.  It’s so important to run with a Road ID!  (Coupon Code Below)

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I prefer the Shoe ID.  The Shoe ID is a lightweight, Velcro walking or running ID. In fact, it’s great to wear anytime and is a popular ID for kids. Includes a 3M reflective strip for high visibility. Peace of mind is standard and the ID plate is interchangeable with the Wrist ID Sport. Go!

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To save 15 % off all ID Products use COUPON CODE: DU68M4N98S

5.  Teaser: I am currently baking these cookies and my house smells like Autumn! Recipe coming soon.

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There’s a lot of joy in this little container.  PS. My label maker also makes me very happy:)

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Happy Friday!!

Who’s racing this weekend? Long run? I love to hear about it!!

#choosejoy