Sunday, April 10, 2016

First DNS and Apr 4-10, 2015 weekly recap

It was a very busy week for me! This made the weekend fly by even more quickly than usual - and that is really saying something.

Before I talk more about the weekend, here's how the week's training went:

MONDAY - 10 minutes on stationary bike, lift 45 minutes
TUESDAY - Rest
WEDNESDAY - Zumba class, run 3 miles on treadmill
THURSDAY - Run 3 miles on treadmill with ladder incline intervals between levels 3-7
FRIDAY - Yoga class
SATURDAY - 10 minutes incline walking at level 3, lift 45 minutes
SUNDAY - Run 10 miles on treadmill with incline intervals between levels 3-5

I was supposed to run Chicago's Perfect 10 on Saturday morning. However, I wasn't feeling 100% on Friday. To add insult to injury, the forecasted real-feel temperature at race start time was a balmy 13 degrees Fahrenheit.
The race organizers had announced a late change in the start location from Navy Pier to the awkwardly-located DuSable Harbor. Navy Pier would have been much better since it would have allowed indoor facility usage pre- and post-race. Further, the course was entirely an out-and-back along the lakefront path - which I could also run anyday for free.
Given the lethal combination of all of the above, I elected to skip the race and post my first-ever DNS. Marcia and I were supposed to go to the race together, but she ended up making the same decision.

I think it was the right choice for both of us. On race morning, I slept in, felt increased gratitude for the joys of indoor warmth, and later heard about the Black Ice Horror Show that ensued on the path.

I contemplated never running any races in the future again. Ever.
On Saturday afternoon, Adam and I went to the burbs to do an early birthday celebration for my dad (his actual bday is on Tuesday). Afterwards, Adam went to hang out with his brother. I came back into the city to meet up with my friend, Ed, who is in town this weekend from California. We got a group of friends together to go bowling and had an awesome time catching up.
From L to R: Tony, me, Ed, Madee, Jack, and Shawn (many others not pictured)
Ed, when are you and Myhien going to move back to Chicago for good??? Come on, buddy! =)

On Sunday, I did 10 miles on the treadmill to make up for missing Saturday's race. The incline work was killer, as it has been for weeks on end. I am both grateful and terrified that there are only three more weeks before the Pittsburgh Half Marathon. (More on the state of my hill-training union later.)

Afterwards, Adam and I went to dinner at Porkchop, which is a Southern-themed restaurant/bar with a location just a few blocks from our home. I absolutely love exploring local neighborhood places - and Porkchop is super fun! Lots of diverse menu options, and the food and service were terrific. It's a really nice, laidback addition to Randolph Street.
Clockwise starting from top left:
Bacon maple doughnut; the bar; fish tacos and gumbo; and Porkchop's homemade BBQ sauces
(the telltale sign of a quality BBQ establishment, in my opinion).
Adam and I both indulged in the amazing BBQ and left completely stuffed. (Way for me to refuel after a long training run, eh?) I'm excited to go back and try more of their offerings - especially after they open their outdoor seating area. I heard they have a food truck, too. Food always tastes better when eaten outdoors, yes?

On that note, I know bacon doughnuts are all the rage these days, but Porkchop's was the first I'd ever tried. Wow!!! Now I completely understand the hype. That bacon maple doughnut alone was worth the price of admission. =D

Tell me about your week/weekend?

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Linking up with HoHo and Tricia for the Weekly Wrap.

29 comments:

  1. We absolutely made the right decision. Racing in those conditions is just wrong and freezing at the start would've sucked royally. Wow to 10 on the mill! That BBQ place looks amazing. We went to a candy shop on Coronado Island that had chocolate-covered bacon. I did not partake.

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    1. Amen! I have no regrets. This may have even started me on a pattern of not wanting to push myself to race through bad conditions ever again. Maybe it's time for me to stop signing up for any races more than a few days in advance, LOL. Porkchop was fantastic - the West Loop location is very convenient! How did you have the willpower to bypass the chocolate covered bacon? Wow!!!

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  2. Awesome job on the treadmill. I've done 10 and an 11-miler on the treadmill and it's not easy. I think both y'all made the right call on skipping the race. And it was along the lake? Brutal.

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    1. Thanks Lesley! Yes, the super long runs on the treadmill are killer! We've got two of them in my building's fitness center, so I switched from one to the other halfway for a *little* change of scenery. Thank goodness for TV and music to keep us entertained during those treadmill hauls, yes?

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  3. From a guy who has about two DNS's per year, I think you made the right choice by not running on Saturday. Black ice is not a fun thing to deal with even on a casual run. Sleeping in in a warm bed sounds like a much better time! Plus, you were able to get your mileage in for your actual goal race the next day. I have a lifetime ban on myself from ever eating donuts, but maybe I'll make an exception and take a bite of a bacon maple one to see what the hype is all about! :)

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    1. Thank you, Pete! I think you said your DNS's tend to be in extreme heat, yes? Either way, when conditions are dangerous outside there is no regret on skipping out. In retrospect, there were probably a good 5 -10 races I've run in the past that I really should have skipped.

      Why do you have a lifetime ban on eating doughnuts? That would take a lot of discipline, in my opinion! FWIW - I have my own self-ban on eating hot dogs after I learned how they are made. We'll just leave it at that...!

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    2. I love the taste of donuts, but after I eat one, it feels like I have a lead weight in my stomach for about four hours. It's totally not worth the hours of pain for the few seconds of pleasure. Similar to your hot dog ban, I once knew a woman who worked at Dunkin' Donuts and she said after seeing how they make donuts, she would never eat one! :)

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    3. Ah yes, I know that feeling of lead weight in my stomach all too well. Totally understand. Oh gosh, please don't tell me about the process at Dunkin Donuts! I think I'd rather not know. =)

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  4. When did the race change from Navy Pier to DuSable? That race just has all kinds of issues, doesn't it?

    As for skipping the outdoor run, I don't blame you at all. I did my 8 miler on the treadmill. Actually, I did my 10 miler before Gasparilla on the treadmill, too, and it actually gave me some confidence for the race. I figured if I could tough that out mentally I could conquer just about anything on race day.

    I haven't been to Porkchop yet but I could probably convince Jason to go with the words "bacon maple doughnut."

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    1. The race organizers announced the start line change on April 1 - so only 9 days in advance of event day! Yes, all kinds of issues. I do not plan on signing up for this race again in the future. They gave out a cotton shirt, too. Unless the race is dedicated towards a charitable cause, who gives out cotton race shirts anymore? Sigh.

      How did your 8-miler on the treadmill feel? Congrats on your last long run before Carmel! Good point on building up mental toughness via extended treadmill training - that is SO true. Thank goodness for TV and music to keep spirits up on the treadmill.

      Oh yeah, "bacon maple doughnut" would be a great seller in any language. =) I think you would both like Porkchop a lot! It's very laid back!

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  5. Thanks Kelly! You are absolutely right, definitely better to DNS than DNF. Here is hoping none of us ever have to post a DNF in the future!

    I definitely feel Level 2, myself! It takes a tremendous amount of willpower to push the button on the treadmill to start the inclines, LOL. You better believe that I'm staring at the clock and counting down every second until I can bring the incline back down to zero. I've never appreciated living in a flatland area so much as I do now!!! You too?

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  6. Sounds like you definitely made the right decision on the 10 miler. Not worth it if it's dangerous out. Way to go running the 10 miles on the treadmill and with inclines levels between 3-5! You rock! Doughnuts sound so good right now. :)

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    1. Thank you so much, Sharon! Appreciate the encouragement on the long treadmill run with the inclines. Thank goodness for music and TV to keep the spirits up when the treadmill gets boring! Doughnuts sound good to me all the time. If they had a doughnut-themed run out there, I'd be the first person to sign up. ;-P

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  7. If it wasn't meant to be, then it wasn't meant to be! You made the right call! And you made up the distance anyway! Way to go!

    I haven't had any bacon donuts, but we once had ice cream with bits of bacon, it was more delicious than I want to admit.

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    1. Thank you so much, Ana! Yes, sometimes you learn to just go with the flow on these things and realize there will be other opportunities in the future. OMG - ice cream with bacon bits in it? That sounds insane!!! I can only imagine!!!

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  8. Oh no! A DNS? Oh well ... sounds like it was the right decision - running on black ice is never a good thing. At least you made up for it on a training run instead, and a much warmer one to boot.

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    1. Yeah, my first DNS. =( I thought the skies were going to open up on me the day it became official, but then life just went on! It was actually a little too easy to DNS. No remorse or anything, LOL.

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  9. Sounds like the conditions were pretty bad so not running the race was a good idea. And kudos to you for getting that run complete on the treadmill!

    Porkchop is such a yummy place :)

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    1. Thanks Xaar! I had tried to avoid ever DNSing a race for the longest time, even though there were many occasions when I should have... and this time was a no brainer.

      Yay for Porkchop! Maybe one of these days when the weather is nicer, we can do brunch there!?!?!?!?

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  10. Great job in getting the 10 miles in anyway. And, your way! Black ice sounds like no fun. BBQ sauce is good on many, many things..says a true southern gal. I haven't had a maple bacon doughnut. I've had a maple bacon sundae. Not bad! You're coming down the home stretch for your half! I know you are excited! Thanks for linking with us Emily.

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    1. Thanks HoHo! Black ice is the worst. I've had some awful near-misses just WALKING on black ice, let alone running. BBQ sauce is the best! I love how there are so many variations on it! I'm finding I like the sweeter sauces the most. How about you? A maple bacon sundae sounds DELICIOSO!!! YES for the final stretch of training before the half! Thanks to you and Tricia, as always, for hosting!!!

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  11. You had me at bacon donuts...

    I had lunch with Marcia on Thursday and we talked about the change of venue for that race. Last year when I ran Get Lucky, they also changed the start line. Why? I think you made a wise decision.

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    1. I think you would really enjoy Porkchop! Can you imagine how good those bacon donuts would be after a race? WOW!

      Booo on Get Lucky changing the start line. I didn't have a good experience with Team Ortho (Get Lucky's organizer) when I ran Get Lucky a few years ago. Sadly it doesn't surprise me they had to make that change. Sigh. Thanks Wendy!

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  12. In those weather conditions I understand 100% the DNS. Safe over sorry !
    Never heard of a bacon donut.... ! But that is what happens when you live oversea. Not only do we NOT have donuts, but a bacon donut ? Even less so. LOL

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    1. Thank you, Karen! Safe over sorry, indeed. It's more than I can say for a few races I've done in horrible weather in the past because I was too darned stubborn to pull the plug, LOL. You live and you learn. =) I can only imagine some of the amazing eats in France you've had that we don't have here in the States. =)

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  13. Sounds like you made a very smart choice. I worked all weekend so don't have much to "wrap up" this week! hehe!! Bacon donut, yes please!!!!!!!!!

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    1. Thanks Michelle! I hope you are able to get some rest now after working all weekend. I used to work one weekend a quarter so I understand how it feels. Although, these things eventually all balance out, yes? Oh yes, bring on the bacon doughnuts for all of us. =)

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  14. I second the decision to pass on the race. It was a smart choice given the conditions and hey you made up for it safely! Thanks Emily for linking up with us!

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    1. Thank you so much, Tricia! It's a good thing treadmills are good standbys for those times when we need to make up the mileage, yes? Thanks as always to you and HoHo for hosting!!!

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