Currently...

Current Book: Weep No More My Lady. It is a big 'ol ball of CHEESE!

Current Music Podcast: I am officially changing this question to Podcast because I don't listen to music. I am enjoying listening to the presidential debates in podcast form. There's nothing like running to the sound of Bernie Sanders screaming about income inequality!

Current Guilty Pleasure: Jam coffee cake. The recipe is here. Your life will be changed forever. Note: It is green because I used green food coloring in the icing. You can make the icing whatever color you want!

Total Number of Survivor Episodes We Watched This Week: 15- all old episodes. But the new season is starting very soon!

Current Need: A new bathroom mirror. Ours straight up just fell off the front of the medicine cabinet yesterday. Damnit!

Current Triumph: My 10 miler yesterday was AWESOME!

Current Wish List: Okay, I am watching the Republican Presidential Debate right now and I wish Trump would just shut his mouth.

Current Bane of My Existence: My ITB.

Current Most Annoying Celebrity: Trump.

Current Indulgence: We went out for sushi last weekend. That was pretty indulgent $$$ wise.

Current TV Show: I started DVR'ing Sex and the City again. I love to hate Carrie.

Current Food: I love cheese and never feel at ease unless we have a couple blocks in the fridge.

Current Drink: Red wine. Always and forever.

Current Thing I Am Thankful For: Paul being off chemo for 21 days! 5 days on, 21 off... repeat 5-6 times. It makes him very tired, weak, and nauseous. Don't worry, I rub his head and his back and do everything I can to make his day a little easier.

Current Excitement: I know summer is far away, but I am vacation dreaming!

Tell me something "current" about you!

Weekly Workout Recap!

Happy Weekend! I am pleased with my workouts this week because I did some stuff other than just my boring 5 miler around my hood! Also, the weather has been FABULOUS, so that helps. I swear my runs are better when I'm not wearing two pairs of pants and 4 layers on top.

Saturday- I had it in my brain that I needed to do a "longish" run. It wasn't too cold, I had some good podcasts, and I ventured out of my neighborhood. There were a couple hills but nothing crazy. I ran by effort and didn't look at my Garmin until I was done. Boy were my paces all over the place!

Avg Pace: 8:23

Splits: 8:22, 9:11, 8:45, 8:19, 8:11, 8:23, 8:17, 8:16, 8:09, 8:02

Sunday- It was so warm out- about 40 degrees! My run was quite enjoyable! I was purposefully pushing the pace a little bit, but not too much.

Avg. Pace: 7:41

Splits: 7:24, 7:56, 7:48, 7:46, 7:33

Monday- Time to lift! I did chest @ home. A good way to start a Monday! I added some glute stuff so we'll see if I am sore tomorrow.

Chest Press- 5x15x20lb

Bicycles- 4x40

Push Ups- 5x10

Shoulder Press- 5x10x20lb
Chest Press (neutral gril)- 5x15x15lb

Stability Ball Knee Tuck- 3x15

Tricep Dips- 5x15

Plank w/ Knee Tuck- 4x20
Donkey Kicks- 4x20
Fire Hydrants- 4x20
Kick Backs- 4x20

Tuesday- Tuesdays are my "bad" day. I work and then teach six piano lessons. I can't get into my jammies and eat dinner until 7:30. I go to bed around 8:30 so that makes for a work filled day. The best way to start off a Tuesday right is with a RUN! I ran 8 miles around my hood. There were parts I had to be careful and walk due to the ice! The snow has been melting and the little puddles freeze overnight. It was a little cold, but I felt strong the entire run. It wasn't a "chore" to run 8 miles, so that is good.

Avg Pace: 8:29

Splits: 8:38, 8:36, 8:37, 8:28. 8:29, 8:24, 8:22. 8:14

Wednesday- I slogged through the rain for 6 miles! Glad to just get it done.

Avg Pace: 8:38

Splits: 8:44, 8:54, 8:38, 8:35, 8:32, 8:24

Thursday- Okay, I have come to the realization that if I only lift 2 times a week, I should not be doing split body parts. Since I can't manage to bump my lifting up to 3-4 times a week these days, I decided to start doing back and chest on the same day. It may take a little longer, but at least I will be getting everything done twice a week.

Band Asst. Pull Ups- 4x6

Chest Press- 4x10x25lb

Donkey Kicks- 4x20

Row- 4x10x25lb

Bicycle Crunches- 4x40

Push Ups- 4x10

Fire Hydrants- 4x20

Shoulder Press- 4x10x20lb

Stability Ball Pull Ins- 4x15

Band Asst. Neutral Grip Pull Ups- 3x8

Kick Backs- 4x20

Bicep Curls- 3x10x15lb

Tricep Dips- 3x15

Plank w/ Knee Tuck- 3x20

Friday- Just a lah-dee-dah run around my hood. My paces sure all over the place this week! I blame it on the treadmill running last week...

Average Pace: 8:29

Splits: 8:19, 8:41, 8:40, 8:31, 8:19

How many times a week are you lifting these days?
Did you have a good week of workouts?

Friday 5

1. New piano bench! I got a new piano bench! Well, it is an old piano bench, but new to my house. It's the one my brothers and I used at my parent's house growing up. It has been officially passed down to me! Except Christmas thinks it's his new bed...

2. Running Rut. The running rut I have been in is officially OVER! That doesn't mean every run is fabulous, it just means my runs don't feel like a chore anymore and I look forward to them. Whew. That was like a month long rut I couldn't seem to get myself out of. That being said, I'm not really in the mood to make any goals right now or sign up for races.

3. Coloring. This week, a couple students and I worked together to create a bulletin board for the Recorder Karate unit I do with the 4th graders. I am not very artistic but I do love to color. It is so relaxing. Coloring and puzzles... I could do it all day!

You probably won't find this bulletin board on Pinterest but I love it anyway because a lot of LOVE went into it!

Oh, and while we're on the subject of Recorder Karate, this week I got the actual "My dog ate my recorder" excuse!

4. Iced Coffee! Not only does Paul supply me with chicken, but he supplies me with iced coffee! He always makes sure there is a big jug of it in the fridge. I was a bit perturbed when I woke up Thursday morning and there was no iced coffee! Luckily, there is a McDonalds about two minutes from my house. I hopped in my car (still in my jammies!) and got a large black coffee. When I got home, what did I see sitting on the counter? The jug of iced coffee! In my tired, Thursday morning haze, I totally missed it!

5. I don't watch the Super Bowl. I hate football every day of the year and don't magically enjoy it on Super Bowl Sunday. I also hate commercials and don't think the ones during the Super Bowl are that great. But one thing I always try to catch is the singing of the National Anthem. I like it best when they sing it "straight" and don't put in too many fancy runs.

Any other Super Bowl non watchers? What will you be doing instead?

Do you like coloring?
Silliest thing you did in a tired haze?

Today, I'm linking up with the DC girls for Friday 5! It's my first time! YAY!

Ways to spice up chicken.

Chicken. It is my lunch every day. Sometimes, it's my breakfast. That's right. If I lift in the morning, I eat a cold piece of chicken and a banana on the way to work. It's the quickest way for me to get some protein! Yes, a smoothie would be good, but I am too lazy to make a protein shake. Not too lazy to workout mind you, but too lazy to make a shake.

Paul makes me chicken and he is really good at it. When we have gas for our grill, he grills it. I love burnt chicken! But we haven't had gas for our grill in awhile, so he has been baking it. He does a good job, but I get really sick of chicken quickly if it is not grilled. There was one day last week where I had to force myself to eat a piece on the way to work. I wanted to gag, but I did it.

I suppose I should just go buy some gas for the grill, right!!!??? Okay, it's on the to do list for tomorrow!!!

But in the meantime, I shall write this blog post about the ways I spice up chicken when I think I can't stomach another piece. Hopefully by the time you are reading this, I will have bought gas for the grill and am enjoying smoky, burnt, grilled chicken...

Mmmm! Be still, my heart!

Chicken noodle soup!

Remember, I make soup now? I made my very first batch of soup a couple weeks ago, and since then, I have made 3 batches! I put in noodles, celery, corn, onions, carrots, and of course, chicken. But then I add extra chicken when I fix myself a bowl. (We always have chicken breast in tupperware in our fridge ready to go.) Chicken noodle soup has been my lunch at work for the past week and a half. I am in love!

First I start making soup... before you know it I'll be on Pinterest!

Chicken fajitas

Okay, so I haven't actually made these yet, but I aspire to make them. Heather @ Girl Goes Running gave me the idea, and even though I have been to the grocery store three times in the past week, I still haven't got the makings for this yet.

Protein bowls

Protein bowls is my catch all term for anything you throw in a bowl that includes some sort of protein. My protein bowls usually consist of chicken, black beans, tomatoes, brown rice, and CHEESE! But you could really just be creative and make your protein bowl in whatever style you wanted. Mine just always seems to be Mexican influenced.

Mayo Free Chicken Salad ala Iowa Girl Eats

This chicken salad is delish! It's made with Greek yogurt, almonds, cranberries, and a bunch of other stuff. You can check out the recipe directly from the source- Iowa Girl Eats. You will not be disappointed with this recipe! 

Greek salad w/ chicken

I have been loving Greek salads lately! Lettuce, tomato, feta, black olives, and Greek dressing. Sometimes I'll chop up a little bit of chicken to put on top because at least it's better than just eating plain chicken.

Tell me your favorite chicken recipes!
What's your go to way to get enough protein?

What I Wrote Wednesday! (FLUFF!)

Yeah, yeah, I know it's supped to be What I Ate Wednesday, but I am so freaking busy right now that I need an excuse to not write a long blog post with deep thoughts, "Aha" moments, and helpful information. 

Today you get NONE OF THAT!!! Today you get FLUFF! And not even NEW fluff! Old fluff! 

Here is a round up of some of the "fluffiest" stuff I have written. I tried to dig deep back in the Meg Go Run archives and find some posts you may have never read before. I cringe reading old posts, but oh well!

Stars Without Makeup!!!!

A Late Night Wal-Mart Date

I've temporarily lifted my ban on Weis Markets.
(FYI this was like 3 years ago... the ban has since been reinstated!)

Am I A Weirdo!? 
(Do you get naked in the lockerroom?)

Those Two Times Christmas Bit Me...

If you're a blogger, share a link to one of your favorite "fluffy" posts you have written!

My #1 Running Dream

This is going to be short and sweet, friends. I love reading and hearing about people's big running dreams and goals. I started to think about mine, and of course there are many destination races and PR goals I have in mind. But when I boil it all down, there is really only ONE BIG running dream that I have.

I want to feel strong and have the energy to do this thing that I love for as long as I possibly can. If I am lucky enough to live into my 80s and have the desire to get out there... whether it's running, walking, or hobbling... I hope I can do it.

It's actually making me a little teary eyed right now, picturing myself as a little old lady fiddling with her Garmin, checking her paces, pulling on bright pink compression socks... Will that be me? I don't know. But I hope that if I still love running, that I can still do it.

What's your #1 Running Dream?

Weekend Wrap Up! (And a RANT!)

We didn't do too much this weekend, but we did have fun! Sorry for the lack of pictures. I was too busy living in the moment to document everything for the blog!

This was our first full day of work all week and I was RUSTY. You would think I'd be brimming with energy and patience, but it was just the opposite. At 1:50 I thought it was nearing 3 o'clock. I almost cried when I noticed my error.

The rest of Friday wasn't too exciting. I did a puzzle and started another. We finished a season of Survivor. I started a Mary Higgins Clark book. These are the things I'll be doing when I'm 80, I'm sure of it.

For some reason on Saturday, I had it in my mind that I was going to run 10 miles. I didn't feel awesome but I didn't feel horrible either, so I figured I'd at least have a decent run. My paces were allllllllllll over the place, but I completed the run feeling strong. This run had some hills, so I used some muscles that haven't seen the light of day lately!

That afternoon I grocery shopped and did some house stuff. I also had to finish the puzzle I started the night before because friends were coming over to play games that evening and I needed to have it cleared off the table by then. There's nothing like having a puzzle deadline!

QUICK RANT!!!!

I went to Aldi to grocery shop and right as I was pushing my cart into line, a couple rushed right in front of me and put their stuff on the conveyor belt. What the hell!? I teach the kindergarteners not to run when they line up and not to push in front of people, but here there were two grown ass adults at Aldi doing it! It just freaking AMAZES me when I see adults acting like 5 year olds. 

RANT OVER!!!!

We met our friends Bree and Lauren at Tokyo Diner for dinner. We love this place because it's usually pretty chill, the prices are right, and the sushi and hibachi are good. Let me tell you, we SHUT THAT PLACE DOWN. It wasn't until we noticed that the entire staff was cleaning and packing up that we realized we had been there for three hours and it was time to go!

Bree came back to our house to play games. We tried one we got for Christmas called Exploding Kittens. It is... interesting. After we played one game, we still weren't sure how to play it!

I went for a quick 5 miler in the morning. It was so warm out!

Paul and I spent the day just hanging out together. One thing we did was sing some Phantom of the Opera at the piano. That's right, my husband sang All I Ask Of You with me! AND he wants to go see Phantom! It's playing in Baltimore right now but it is also playing in NYC. We will see...

That afternoon, I made one of my favorite desserts of all time: Jam Coffee Cake. My mom used to make this when I was little and I loved it! I still love it. I had two huge pieces while we watched Survivor and I enjoyed every bite!

And this is why I'm not a food blogger! I know that looks disgusting, but it's SO GOOD!

Paul says, "Wellll your presentation isn't that great."

Tell me something fun you did this weekend!
Ways adults act like 5 year olds: GO!