 This is my third or fourth attempt at writing this post. It's making me a little grumpy. :( But I finally took a bunch of pictures, and want to get them online! So here it goes. Again. Today was supposed to be a 22 mile run day. I was pumped about wearing my new Pearl Izumi jacket that I won from Gazelles on Crack's giveaway. (Check out her blog, it's awesome). The jacket fits perfectly and I couldn't wait to wear it for a run. Just look at it. It's beautiful and neon!
 So we started off around 9am. I ran with my friend Bre, and our friend Carla biked along and carried our crap (thanks, Carla!) My knees started feeling kind of off three or four miles in, but I figured it'd go away eventually. So we kept running. and then the bridge went up, so we had to wait for it.
 So we waited. And waited. I took a picture because I love the waterfront. And the bridge went up and came back down. And then we ran some more! We ran an 11 mile loop and started to run it again, but at mile 14, my knee was really killing me, and Bre's calves cramped up. So we walked awhile, jogged a bit, and reassessed the situation. We decided to turn around and make it an 18 miler instead.
Then we went to McMenamins to get some cajun tots with ranch, a beer, and some pasta. I was a little surly because they were out of hard cider, and their espresso machine wasn't working. And the tots were delicious in my mouth, but all those fried tots are not sitting well in my tummy right now. My knees were killing me and I was hobbling.
 So now I'm relaxing at home, icing my knees, and watching TV. My ankles and hips also hurt a little bit. :(
I'm kind of disappointed in today's run, but I don't want to get injured (well, I probably am, but I don't want to be seriously injured). I only have two months until my first marathon, so pushing too hard isn't a good idea.
When I have a rough workout, I try to remember that the body is a funny thing. It has good days and bad days and days that can't be explained. You do what you can, but you have to listen to your body.
Anyone else have a long run this weekend?
Yesterday, my friends and I walked along the Vancouver waterfront before going to McMenamin's for some cajun tots and hard cider.
Nicole Paxson Painted Lady Powder:
Price: $25.50 for 10 g./.35 oz.
Description: "As light and airy as the Painted Lady butterfly- Painted Lady Powder keeps shine at bay all day long and into the night with a clean and polished finish. The featherweight- translucent formula is so sheer, it’s a perfect fit for every skin tone plus gives your face flawless shine control when you need it most. Top off your daily regime or use it for touchups throughout your active day. Offered in a convenient compact, it travels with you- because we know you wont want to leave home without it. APPLICATION: Pat skin with powder where-and when-needed, using Nicole Paxson application sponge or blending brush. For maximum shine control, focus on areas where the most shine usually occurs."
Review: This does a decent job of keeping shine at bay without looking gross at the end of the day The compact is decently well constructed but does not include an applicator. The "translucent" formula is actually rather dark, and only matches my NC30-35ish skin during the summer months.
Lipgloss+Spandex rating:
Review of Click Espresso Protein Drink:$25.95 for 14 servings. ($1.86 per serving) My nutritionist gave me two free sample packs of Click Espresso Protein Drink. Each sample was 1 serving, and 1 serving contains 120 calories, 15 grams of protein, and a double shot of espresso. It can be consumed hot or cold. I tried it hot, and it was DELICIOUS. Kind of like a thick, strong latte? I really really liked the flavor. Overall, it's a fabulous product. While it is a bit more expensive than my current protein powder, I would definitely purchase it to add some variety! Lipgloss and Spandex rating:
A little bit about the Albertina Kerr Centers and their Race for the Roses:
Our race to support Oregon children and families began more than 100 years ago and is just as urgent today. From providing a child a safe home, to offering community involvement to an adult with a developmental disability, Kerr provides invaluable support to our neighbors in need.
Kerr is dedicated to helping those among us with nowhere else to turn. Putting a smile on the face of a child, providing refuge to a desperate teenager—these are our everyday finish lines.
For one exceptional morning in April, our race becomes your race. We invite you to join thousands of fellow participants for a life-changing, life-saving event. One day. One cause. One finish line.
And now, the RACE RECAP!
4:50 am - Alarm went off. Hit snooze.
5:00 am - Alarm went off again. Dragged my body out of bed. Ate a breakfast of 1 banana, 2+ Tablespoons of Almond Butter, 1 serving reduced fat Wheat Thins, and a protein shake. Got dressed, put on a little makeup (it calms my nerves, keeps me from looking terribly blotchy in pictures, and fills the 2 hours of time that I have to put in between breakfast and running).
5:50 am - Friends pick me up, and we drive to the race and try to find parking.
6:30 am - In line for the bathrooms. Fortunately, there are TOILETS, not portapotties, and sinks to wash our hands! Then we head into Exhibit Hall A, where people are stretching and congregating. There's a course map in there, and it's a little depressing to look at.
 The course map tells me one thing: We're going to run all over the #%@$^#%$ place!  Me, in the Convention Center before the start
6:43 am - We head to the starting line. The weather is cool, but it's just right for running. There are pacers and I try and get near the 9:00 pacer, since I'm hoping to finish in under 2 hours. I fantasize about passing the pacer and confetti raining down on me when I finish in under 2. My friends line up with their pace groups.
 The 9-10 minute mile start. That little white sign is the 9:00 pace sign.
7:00 am - We start exactly on time! (YAY!) I try and keep my eye on the pacer, and tell myself that I can do this, I've run 21 miles, I can do it. I set up my iPod nano's stopwatch feature so I can keep track of my splits.
Mile 1 - 9:20. Water station is too crowded. I know I'll be okay for awhile.
Mile 2 - 8:55. Water station also too crowded. Decide to wait til the next station.
Mile 3- 9:24. I get a little nervous about being able to keep up with the pacer. I can see him, and he's still the same distance in front of me, but still.
Mile 4 - 10:16. Saw that and thought, DANGIT. I get some water and take a Gu Chomp. (Blueberry Pomegranate, in case you were wondering!)
Mile 5 - More water and another Gu Chomp. Didn't see the mile marker?
Mile 6 - More water and another Gu Chomp. Didn't see the mile marker?
Mile 7 - 28:09 for miles 5,6,7 (9:03 pace). I need to use a portapotty, but don't see any!
Mile 8 - 10:13. Some volunteer yells, "Go, neon girl!" I'm decked out in my grey pants with yellow panels, and Brooks Nightlift black and neon yellow jacket and hat, but I think to myself that there are plenty of people wearing neon... and then I look around me and realize there aren't!
Mile 9 - 8:27. I realize I'm about 5 minutes too slow to finish under 2 hours. I decide to stick to a 9ish minute mile pace as close as I can, and finish under 2 hours and 5 minutes.
Mile 10 - 9:24. After pressing "next" a gazillion times, I wonder why I didn't update my music last night.
Mile 11 - 9:52. FINALLY! A portapottie. I debate using it and adding to my time, or waiting til the finish. I decide I'll run faster if my bladder is empty.
Mile 12 - 9:22. Up the bridge. I think I'm going to puke. The hill seems like it'll never end, and I see many runners walking up it. I'm tempted to walk, because it really just makes more sense to walk it, but decide to continue running. I keep telling myself, "You can rest... WHEN YOU'RE DONE!"
Mile 13 - 9:49. The finish line seems far away and I can't see it from the mile marker. I tell myself that all that's left is a half a loop around the track. When I turn the last corner, I can see the finish line so close and sprint in. The official clock says 2:06 but my nano says 2:04:18 (9:33 pace). SWEET. Each finisher is given a bottle of smartwater and a rose, which was very nice. I meet up with one friend, and wait for the other to finish. Inside the convention center, they're taking finisher pictures instead of giving out medals, which is fine by me. There's yogurt, coffee cake, scone bites(?), granola, coffee and hot chocolate. We ate a little while we were waiting in line to take our pictures.
After the race, we went to Ruby Tuesday's. It's kind of a tradition. I had edamame, mushrooms, croutons, broccoli, ranch dressing, and pasta salad from the pasta bar. My friend and I split the avocado quesadillas and the salmon cake sliders. And we ordered cocktails! Seriously, it's socially acceptable to have a strawberry margarita at 10:30 am, if it's after a race.
How do you celebrate after a race?
Let's start with the toenail TMI. Don't worry, there won't be any pictures!
After my 21 mile run two weeks ago, I noticed that the toe next to my big toe was looking a little funny. The nail was looking dark and it's gotten darker and darker since then. I really don't want it to fall off, but at this point, I think it might be a goner.
Other bad news: Since going off my strict healthy eating plan, I gained four pounds. In a week. I've lost one pound, and have three more to lose to get back to where I was. Sucky. Really sucky. And I've been feeling really blah because of the less than healthy food, and because my allergies make me feel like my whole head is going to explode.
Anyone else have allergies? How do you deal? Claritin and Zyrtec aren't cutting it!
This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.  L to R: Ulta eyeshadows in Pearl, Plum Noir, Deep Sea, Verdigris  L to R: Ulta eyeshadows in Pearl, Plum Noir, Deep Sea, Verdigris  Same shadows, different lighting. Pearl is a white with pink/blue iridescence.
Plum Noir is a plum with a bit of sheen.
Deep Sea is a shimmery teal.
Verdigris is a shimmery dark moss green.
This is your new blog post. Click here and start typing, or drag in elements from the top bar.  L to R: Camel, Truffle, Suede, Toast, Sandstone, Plumsmoke  L to R: Camel, Truffle, Suede, Toast, Sandstone, Plumsmoke Camel is a matte shadow that is close to NC35 in color.
Truffle is a shimmery neutral yellow based tan.
Suede is a silvery tan with a lot of shimmer.
Toast is a medium tan with shimmer.
Sandstone is a silvery tan with cool undertones and lots of shimmer.
Plumsmoke is a plummy tan with shimmer.
April is Autism Awareness Month! Most estimates state that Autism affects 1 in every 110 children. There isn't a cure yet. But by learning more about Autism, we can better understand people with Autism, can be more compassionate, and can accomplish more together.
For more information on Autism, check out the following organizations:
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