“Ima buy you drank”

WORKOUT – TM run

11.5 miles/1:25

1. incline

I took a rest day yesterday, walked the dog 3 miles and that was it so today I was finally ready to rumble in the jungle with the dreadmill.  This was my first faster run since the marathon a week and a half ago.

This is what it ended up looking like:

1 mile/8 mins          (8:00 pace) warm up

7.9 miles/57 mins  (7:14 pace) dying

2.6 miles/20 mins   (7:41 pace) felt so easy after running faster!

Honestly, the part that I’m most proud of is that I ran the first 30 minutes with no music and no TV, just watching the clock.  Some people, possibly my own family and friends, like to tell me that my blog is boring.  But if it’s a tenth as boring as watching a gym clock, I should just quit now while I’m ahead behind.

I didn’t hit my 300 mile goal for the month by a long shot, but that’s ok.  I’m just gonna go beat myself over the head with a chocolate twizzler.

No 300 for me.  or spray painted abs.

SALAD EXTRAVAGANZA

Last night some of my blogging friends met up at Salad Works for dinner in Orange.

I had been out of town for nearly 2 weeks so it was nice to see the girls again and talk about all things running… What pace was your 1600’s?  How’d you feel in the last half mile of your 10k race?  What does McMillan say your pace should be? Boston or bust?  and on and on. 

My man would have punched himself in the face if he was there.  Not that he’d ever go to a ‘salad store’ on his own free will anyways.

Monica, Pam, Royce and the world’s largest carrot

I liked the concept of the store because I love all things salad: you could pick one of their signature salads on the menu (displayed in the front) or you could make your own.

What I didn’t like is that if you made your own, you could only pick 5 toppings and then you had to pay .79 for each extra topping.  If I went that route, my salad would have cost $29.64!  Or basically, the cost of a Whole Foods salad bar.

(I wrote up this part of the part last night and if you go read Monica’s post from earlier this morning, it says almost the same thing.  Dumb blonde and red-headed bloggers think alike)

After being way too wishy washy, I finally decided on the Fire Roasted Cabo Jack signature salad.

I asked to hold the cheese and tortilla chips and was able to sub cucumbers and avocado for them which was super duper pooper trooper.  I didn’t expect to be able to substitute ingredients so I felt like I won the lottery.  small victories, people, small victories.

The salad was really good!  And the service was great too – either the employee deserves a big time raise or he really wanted some free running tips because he repeatedly stopped by our table to see if we needed anything.

I think my salad was about $8, but on Wednesdays all their salads are only $5.99.  I’d definitely go back for that.  and for this:

Margot, who I think should become a running coach, but her training plan scares me.

And look at those two sexies: Sarah who’s been killing it at the track with Margot and Heather who just had a whopping 6 minute PR!  I’m somehow friends with some serious runners.

While at dinner Margot hooked us up with some Nuun.  I bought a tube a couple years ago but never finished it and never really got into the fizzy, effervescent taste. 

I bet you’ll never guess which is the old one.

But Margot and Sarah swear by it and I’ve heard rumors of Nuun-tinis so I decided to give it another chance this morning at the gym… minus the martini part.  Even I have my limits and 6:45am is just too early.  7am sure, but 6:45 is just craycray.

I tried the cucumber mint and actually didn’t mind it because it didn’t taste like a sports drink – it just tasted like water with cucumber slices in it.  And that’s right up my alley since this is what I’m dranking right now:

I’m starting to wonder if Margot’s intentions were completely chaste or if she was trying to buy me a drank…

Tagged as: blogging friends, ive got issues, nutrition, restaurants, salads, video killed the radio star