Protein Pancakes & PRs

I didn't run as many days as I wanted to this week, but today's run was so good that I don't really even care. A little bit of good news though: I got a full time position at my bank! I've been working there part time since July and am so thrilled to be full time now, especially with the wedding coming up this summer. I'm still trying to figure out how to work in my runs around my schedule but they'll get done one way or another so I'm not worried.

So how about that 7 miles under a 10 minutes average pace?? It's only under by one second but still! I'm so thrilled! It started with wanting to run my personal best for a 10k, which I did, and then figured I should round it up to 7 miles. Awesome way to start the day!

After this awesome run, I made some of these protein pancakes and topped them with banana slices and shredded coconut. I wasn't crazy about these the first time I made them, but they have grown on me and I look forward to making them after a particularly tough workout now. The Perfect Fit Protein is expensive though so I don't use it everyday.

Obligatory red-faced post-run bathroom mirror selfie. This is also my current favorite running outfit... I may just be suffering from a small Lululemon addiction. ;)

I seriously can't wait to be able to run outside again. About the lowest I can handle is 30ºF and it's been single digits or low teens for the past two weeks. Someone needs to tell mother nature that this is Pennsylvania and not Canada...

Half Marathon Training: Week 9

Another late post! The past few days have been crazy as hell so this is the earliest chance I had to write this. The race is getting soooo close; I can't believe how fast time seems to have gone. 

I'm feeling pretty good about my runs lately. I got some new shoes and they've helped majorly so far. I don't feel like I'm running on the bones of my feet by the time I get done running and my pace has slowly been speeding up again. They even helped me run a 10k PR! :D

These are my beautiful new babies! I was skeptical that I could find a color that I loved more than purple for my running shoes, but these are amazing. So pretty. Not to mention super, super comfy.

I visited my sister at college over the weekend and we took the train from her campus into Philadelphia to do some shopping and get lunch. The train wasn't nearly as exciting as I thought it would be!

I also convinced her to wake up early with me and run because I'm selfish and I miss running with a partner! Her campus is GORGEOUS and we had perfect weather for our 3 miles.

Her horse got to go to college with her!

I spotted these cookies in their market building, but exercised enough self control not to take them home with me. I can't guarantee that will happen the next time I see them.

I'm hoping my long run this week goes awesome and I can actually have some serious confidence for the half!

Montrose Race for Independence 10k Recap

I found this race just a couple of days before 4th of July and convinced Joe into registering us. The late registration fee was still only $25 so I figured it was a great deal! It was a little over an hour away from home, which meant we had a reallllly early morning. We got there early and were able to get our packets and use the restroom with some time to spare.

There were tons of people there and everything started exactly on time. The races started with a kid's fun run, then the 5k started and the 10k started ten minutes after the 5k did. The 10k started out with a short run through town and then to this decline. Unfortunately, every downhill has an uphill and the hill after I took this picture was rough. The scenery was gorgeous though, so that helped!

The first two miles were on paved roads, the middle two miles were down a residential dirt road, and most of the final two miles were on wooded trails, with the exception of the finish that looped back through town. I've never run on nice trails like this before and it was really serene and fun! It was also the only completely shaded part of the course.

The course support for this race was the greatest I've experienced so far. There were so many people out cheering and some homeowners on the course even had sprinklers and hoses out to spritz runners as they ran by if they wanted. It really helps having nice people out to cheer you on!

My Garmin said I ran 6.3 miles in 1:06:10, but my official race time was 1:05:59. They had mile markers at each mile and I noticed that my Garmin was going off progressively later after I passed each marker. This race was a little tough with the heat, humidity, and hills, but I'm happy that I was able to hang around a 10:30 average pace. 

There was an Independence Day Festival going on when we got done with a cook out and some craft vendors, but we didn't really stick around too long, as we had our own festivities to attend. It looked like a great place to spend the afternoon. 

We headed to my grandparents' property to get our freedom on with some awesome 'merica shirts that we found at Wal-Mart of course. We had our own personal fireworks show and some homemade pulled pork, which was amazing.

Luna went swimming involuntarily and spent the rest of the day giving us sad eyes about it. Not my fault she has to roll in any disgusting thing she finds.

My legs were pretty sore the next day, but I'm attributing it to the fact that I wore flip flops instead of my compression socks for most of the day after the race and I did a lot of standing around. In other news, I started a structured half marathon training plan yesterday, so I'll be ready for the Pocono Lake Region Half at the end of September! Woot!

How did you spend your 4th of July? Any races or delicious cook outs? :P