New shoes, pepper socks, baby sandals

These are my old running shoes:

Please excuse my pepper socks.  I would like to say those are the socks I wear when all my professional socks are dirty, but I won't pretend. I am wearing socks with frogs on them today.  

Anyway, those were my super old running shoes. I bought them two years ago and ran the Marine Corps Marathon in them. I wore them through pregnancy.  I wore them after pregnancy. I wore them on my first run as a mother.  And I wore them out.  And by that I mean they have too many miles on them and they must be retired (good thing my husband doesn't feel that way about me because I am pretty exhausted right now...and I would sure hate to be retired!).

Since I am so frugal, I kept putting it off.  There was always something else that I needed to buy. However, the last few times I've run I've had a serious pain in my buttock (that's a funny word, but in my head I said it with a Forest Gump accent so it sounded cooler).  After diagnosing myself, I decided that I had periformis syndrome (I took anatomy last year, I am practically a doctor) so I am trying to follow these guidelines from Runner's World.  Although I don't think mine case is that serious, I decided I needed a little rest.  I am trying to do some serious stretching to open my hips and stretch my muscles in hopes that my symptoms will go away.  However, I knew that I really couldn't return to running until I got some new shoes because bad shoes are a common cause of running injuries.  

So last week I dragged myself to my favorite running store and picked up these beauties:

They are Saucony Hurricanes.  I have been running in the Asics GT series since I started training for my first marathon back in 2003.  I went to Phildippides in Atlanta (this will always be my favorite running store ever) and they made me run around the store and put on a bunch of shoes and I walked out in ASICS GT-somethings (I can't remember the number - it was 10 years ago).  And I never looked back.  Every time I need a new pair of shoes I just pop in to the running store and buy the latest version.  No questions asked.  So what was different this time? First, my painful periformis muscle; and second, I wanted to make sure my foot/gait hadn't changed after pregnancy.  The guy made me stand on some fancy machine and then brought out the Asics GT-2170 and Saucony Hurricane 15. I tried both on but for some reason my gut was telling to go with the Saucony Hurricanes. So I did.

I wish I could tell you how amazing it is to run in them, but I can't.  Why?  Because I haven't found the time to run in them yet.  Actually, I ran to my sister's house the other night to babysit her kids but that was a short mile.  Not much to judge shoes on.  

I will get out soon though.  My husband said we could do a family run tomorrow but I'm not holding my breath because he hates running and is 95% likely to change his mind.  It would be fun though!  As soon as I get more than four hours of sleep I will go.  I have a half marathon to train for!

Speaking of, my good Peace Corps friends invited me to run the Philly Half Marathon in November with them.  We used to run half marathons each fall together and it would be SO fun to do it again...except it is $115.  Plus hotel.  Yeah, a bit out of my budget, but I am tempted. We shall see!

And don't worry, I bought Evan a new pair of shoes too:

They didn't have running shoes in his size at the consignment store though so he got sandals instead. I'm not sure if he'll ever wear them because I never put shoes on him, but I figured that now that he is pulling up he might need shoes on occasion.

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When was the last time you bought new shoes?

What are you favorite type of shoe to buy?

      I love buying running shoes but hate shoe shopping for anything else.  The worst type of shoe for me to buy is new work shoes.  It takes me days to find the right kind and then I end up returning them for something else.

Hot Day for a Run

Today sure was toasty. I am heading to the beach next week though so I am trying to get my runs in.  It sure would be nice to fit into my pre-pregnancy shorts and summer clothes. Even my husband asked why I way the same clothes all the time. When I told him my other clothes don't fit yet he suggested I go shopping, but I don't really want to spend the money if there's hope that my old clothes might fit. We shall see.

I usually don't like to run during lunch when it's so hot out. We don't have showers so that means I have to be sweaty all day long. During the winter it's no big deal because I don't sweat that badly, but now that it's 80+ degrees out and 70% humidity, not sweating isn't really an option. However, it is so hard to get my runs in after I get home from work that I feel like lunchtime is my only option. Sweaty mess and all.

Here, I am, all sweaty. Not sure what that thing is in the bottom left corner, I think it's my iPod case. 

Today I put on my running clothes and realized that I forgot my socks. I just had my business socks on...which happened to have red peppers on them. 

Yeah, I know, totally professional. So I had to run in those. I didn't think it would be too big a deal since I was only going 3 miles, but no, I got a blister.

And a lot of foot fuzz from the socks. Note to self, remember my running socks next time. They are important!  And no criticizing my feet, I realize they are not my sexiest attribute. And I also realize that my shoes are old as dirt. My hubs was going to buy me a new pair for my bday but he bought me golf clubs instead. So, I'm still running in the same shoes I ran the Marine Corps marathon in...in 2011. That's practically a crime but I keep spending our money on groceries and car seat bags and ridiculously expensive half marathons that I don't have money to buy new shoes.  And not only are they old but they are all stretched out from my fat pregnancy feet.

It's on my to do list.  Buy new running shoes.

I'm surprised I got my run in because work is so busy right now, but I'm glad I did. I was extra efficient in the afternoon and that was an added bonus.  I also realized that I grossly underestimate how long it will take me to do things. I swore I'd have my mailing for National HIV Test Day done today but even though I was very productive, there were too many things to do. I guess it will go out tomorrow instead. Hopefully the staff meeting doesn't eat up too much of my time.

Now I'm on the bus home. Fun times. I don't have Internet access, but I can upload this when I get home. Might as well do something productive on the 2 hour bus ride home, right?

And because I can't end a post without my adorable baby, here's a pic I snapped this morning of Evan sleeping. It's a bit dark because I didn't want to wake him and my iPad doesn't have a flash. It's adorable anyway, in my opinion.

My failed Pinterest recipe...

Before I get started, I would like to say that I think I'm getting hot flashes.  Is this a result of pregnancy?  I NEVER get hot, especially in my office.  However, a few times today I've started getting really hot and even a bit sweaty.

But I cooled down and now feel normal.

Not sure if the heating/air conditioning is playing a trick on me or if my body is finally starting to heat up a bit with this pregnancy.

Just thought I'd mention that.

This weekend I decided I would make some soup that I could freeze and easily bring to the birthing center to eat while laboring.  Remember, since it's a birthing center there is no cafeteria.  Or even someone who cooks.  There is a kitchen, but you have to do your own cooking.

Since Ivan doesn't cook much I figure I better have some stuff prepared so that I don't starve.  There is a grocery store kinda close by and across a busy street there is McDonalds and Subway.  So we aren't completely in a food wasteland.

But, anyway, I figured this Gnocci, Sausage, and Spinach Soup that I found on Pinterest looked so yummy and was filled with carbs, fat, and veggies.  What a great thing to make.  Here is my versions (next to the real version):

Source: Picture on right is from Reeni at Cinnamon, Spice, and Everything Nice

Yeah, I'm not sure what happened.  I'm still really curious as to how Reeni (from Cinnamon, Spice, and Everything Nice) got hers to look so much tastier than mine.  And redish colored.  Hers looks like tomato cream and mine looks like alfredo.  I skipped the roasted red pepper but that was it.  Is the pepper what gave it such a richer color?  Did I pour in too much cream?  Hmm, not sure.  The soup isn't bad, it's pretty tasty actually, but I think it would taste better if it looked liker hers.

It's a mystery!

And since I have nothing else to talk about, here are some more pics of my lunch:

Lovely fruit

According the the Bradley Method nutrition guidelines, I'm suppose to eat a citrus fruit at least once a day.  So, every day I try to have an orange or grapefruit.  It's suppose to build strong membranes (so my water doesn't burst prematurely).  I've eaten so much citrus my baby will probably come out in it's bag of water!  And who can resist $1.99 lb cherries?  YUM!

Tricking myself into thinking I'm not drinking water...

In an attempt to drink more water, I decided to buy these sparkling waters with "essence" of fruit.  This one is raspberry and the other one I got was lemon/lime.  Hmm, "essence" doesn't actually mean a ton of flavor.  It's ok, but I sure would like something that tasted a bit more like Orangina, but without sugar or too many calories, of course...since the midwives told me to avoid drinking too much juice.  I think my body's too smart though - it doesn't really crave these drinks like it does Pepsi or real orange juice.  I guess it's better than water though.  And since my pee was the color of my bridesmaids' dresses, I better get on the drinking bandwagon!

Oh, and another tidbit of info.  Check out my new work shoes:

I am a fashion queen!

Yup, I have resorted to wearing tennis shoes every day to work.  I lost my work shoes last week (can't remember if I told you that or not) and had to wear flip flops and tennis shoes.  Then I found my work shoes and wore them but they were so tight I decided to wear tennis shoes instead.  And I haven't turned back.  Everyone in my office thinks I just got back from a walk and everyone in the street thinks that I changed out of my high-style pumps into tennis shoes (at least that what I pretend they think, since I don't actually know).

My feet are so much happier.

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What did you have for lunch today?

Have you ever made a recipe that you found on Pinterest?

What do your work shoes look like?