written directions

*Note: This was supposed to have been posted Sunday afternoon, but time got away from me. And then I totally forgot. I apologize.

I did my last long run this morning before my half marathon next weekend with Emily, and to keep it interesting, I mapped a new course for my friend Stephanie and me to do on our usual Sunday morning run.

We look a little worse for the wear–it got pretty warm out there–but we did it! Stephanie said she wanted to try some more milage, so I mapped a 7.75 mile course (note the piece of paper I’m holding up) all over Orchard Park, and did three miles before she arrived.

MUCH has happened between now and then–pantry is almost finished, presentation has been practiced twice (giving it today at 1 p.m.!) and we’ve started our Italy-prep shopping–so it’s been a busy week. But then, are they ever NOT busy?!

Oh, and I spent 8 hours cleaning the house yesterday. EIGHT. My fingers are sore (seriously–basically everything had to be vacuumed and then wet-wiped), but the house is almost free of project dust!

this calls for oatmeal

My long, CHILLY run this morning–8.5 miles thankyouverymuch–certainly did.

Just FYI, it flurried here yesterday. So, just because I got to run Friday morning in a t-shirt, doesn’t mean we’re out of the woods yet. But almost. This morning, it was sunny, but COLD. Sure doesn’t feel like we’re just days away from May around here…

I’d had thoughts of splurging on the granola Andrew put in my Easter basket (with the amount of sugar found in many store-bought granolas, I find it hard to justify it as an ‘every morning’ breakfast), but I needed something WARM.

Obviously, oatmeal was the ticket. But how to top it?? I’d already eaten a pre-run banana, so another one to sweeten the bowl wasn’t appealing. Biscoff spread was sounding good, but what would serve as my protein? Well, let’s just say the concoction I whipped up may have been the best yet! Here’s the breakdown:

-instant oats in the microwave (after many old-fashioned oats on the stovetop bowls, I think I’ve finally realized I like the texture of instant better. plus, I was hungry!)

-1/2 tbsp each dried cranberries, golden raisins and crystallized ginger

-1/2 tbsp Biscoff spread

-1/2 tbsp chopped coconut-flavored almonds (Emerald brand–fantastic!)

After mixing with 1/4 C vanilla Silk soymilk (can I just say that I am beyond-words excited that Andrew is a fan of this? post on that coming soon…), it looked a little more like this:

Terrible picture, I know, but at least you see the whole thing. The soymilk gave it just a bit of sweetness, just the way I like it.

I suppose those of us up north still have a few days to enjoy our warm breakfasts before spring really gets here…if it ever does!

snowy run

There was enough snow outside this morning–and still falling–that I didn’t relish the thought of going to the gym.

So, a run outside it was!

We’re going to be gone ALL DAY today, and then we have dinner plans with friends as well, so I figured Hadrian could use the exercise.

He did really well–thank you, gentle leader–despite the blinding snow and gusty winds. Exactly 30 minutes later, we were back in the driveway. I think everyone who saw us thought we were nuts…