I am linking up with Coco, Deborah, and Lynda for the June edition of Coffee Talk. The link-up starts tomorrow but I'm getting the festivities started a little early.
This link-up asks: "If we were having [insert choice of beverage here] together, I would tell you..."
[First off, my choice of beverage today is orange juice. This is by design, because...]
I haven't been feeling my best this week. After the crazy busyness of Memorial Day weekend, I came down with a stuffy nose and a cough. I had some trouble sleeping because of the cough, which led to me not being well-rested. Both of these things reduced my motivation to work out, which has left me feeling sluggish. Since schedules have been tight, I haven't had time to go grocery shopping. This means I haven't been eating as healthfully as I would like, which further contributes to my lethargy.
I could keep going, but you get the idea. Basically it's been a huge domino effect of blugh!!! Hopefully I'll be able to get the ship righted in the next few days. In the meantime, you can find me doing this:
Tomorrow I am running the Super Sunny 5K. Thank you to Annabelle for picking me as the winner of a race entry giveaway! Originally I was targeting this race as a PR attempt. In preparation, I put in some decent speedwork sessions over the past month. But since I haven't been 100% this week, I don't feel like pushing myself to the max. Admittedly, I thought about DNS-ing. However, I want to support Annabelle, as she is the race director. The race also benefits Garden Center Services, which is a really good cause. So I am committed to being there. Even if my only focus on the course is simply to put one foot in front of the other.
Next month, I'll be running the Rock N Roll Chicago Remix Challenge. This consists of a 5K on Saturday, and the half marathon on Sunday. The Rock N Roll race series had a National Running Day sale on June 1, so I took advantage. (Too bad the sale discount got completely wiped out by service fees - but that's fodder for another discussion.) After Rock N Roll San Antonio, I know I said I wasn't motivated to do back-to-back race challenges again in the future. But that was a 10K/half marathon combo, whereas this is a 5K/half combo. Big difference, right? And I am completely motivated to earn this beautiful Remix Challenge medal:
#WillRunForBling
Kayla will be visiting and staying with me during Rock N Roll Chicago race weekend! I haven't seen Kayla since the Disneyland Half Marathon almost two years ago, so it will be awesome to catch up. She is also doing the Remix Challenge, so I'm very excited to have a partner in crime at both races. =)
Kayla and me at the Disneyland Half Marathon starting corrals (how cute is Kayla's outfit???)
Do we look ready? We look ready.
I tried omakase-style sushi for the first time. Yesterday, I had dinner with my friends Mel and Kristine at Tanoshii in the Andersonville neighborhood. Tanoshii is popular for offering omakase, which means "chef's choice." Basically, you share your individual tastes and the chef surprises you. Here are some of the night's creations:
The food was tasty, and I enjoyed the uniqueness. However, the experience also came with a big price tag. You are definitely paying for the chef's thought process much more than the food itself. If you had an expense account, it would be perfect to use it there!
Zumba has added yet another song to my playlist. I've mentioned before that my Zumba instructor, Christina, is an incredibly good dancer. She also has really fun, diverse tastes in music. During a typical class, we'll do many of the Latin dances you'd expect in a Zumba class, but she might also throw in some Bollywood, hip-hop, hoedown, or any other number of styles. She definitely knows how to mix things up!
Going back to the more classic Latin music, here's one of my favorite songs from class:
I've got most of the dance moves memorized! If I ever hear this song at, say, a wedding reception, I stand prepared to tear it up. =)
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What would you tell me over coffee or your beverage of choice?
Oh my goodness You just made me even more excited for July! I can not wait to visit Chicago.. I miss it and I can't wait to see you and catch up!!! Sorry you haven't been feeling the best... I hate it how that happens after a busy stretch! Hope you get your energy back soon!
I am super excited for you to visit, Kayla! It's going to be awesome to catch up and run together! Appreciate the well wishes and I am feeling much better now, thanks so much. =) I can't wait to hear how your triathlon went!!!
Drinking my coffee as we speak! I haven't yet committed to RnRChicago...I'm hearing that we are going to have a hot summer, so I've been kind of dragging my feet on this one. I see Marcia this week, so we'll talk about it over lunch...
Good luck today at your 5k! I hope you feel better!
I've also heard we're going to have a very hot summer! It seems that even during the "cool" summers, RnR Chicago is always still a steambath, sigh. Half marathons in July are no bueno! Please keep me posted on what you decide either way. It would be so great to see you there!!!
I totally agree with you on registration fees. They can be deal breakers sometimes. Yay for the remix! Can't wait to see you and Kayla! I'll be remixing as well. I kind of need that guitar. Hope you're feeling better!
The registration fees are the worst! I know there's a lot of marketing psychology behind why race organizers choose not to disclose the fees upfront, but it still frustrates me. Can't wait to see you at RnR Chicago at BOTH races! Hurray for us all earning more fabulous bling! Thanks so much, Marcia!
Uggh, those service fees! There oughta be a law against them only displaying the fees once you've gone through to the last page of the registration process. It's like it's too late at that point to turn back! :) I've got to try Tanoshii, it sounds incredible (for a once a year splurge)! :)
Pete, I could not agree more with you! The airlines are required to disclose all their fees upfront, why not the races, right? Sigh. BTW - huge congrats on your shiny new 10K PR yesterday! You continue to have the running year of your LIFE!!! =)
I did the Remix Challenge last year and enjoyed it a lot more than I expected! Well, relatively speaking. The temperature during RnR weekend last year was somewhere between an oven and a sauna, so "enjoy" might be a strong word for that whole experience. But I did like doing the 5K/half back to back (and this year's medal is way cooler!). I'm going to Pitchfork on Saturday (the day before RnR Chicago) and am considering going to Racine the following morning to spectate Ironman 70.3, since I have a few friends running it (and a couple for who it'll be their first 70.3), so I'm thinking I'll sit RnR out this year, but we'll see.
Bethany, I remember reading your recaps from the Remix Challenge last year! YES - the temperatures were a complete sauna last year. You know it's a bad sign when you're already dripping sweat just standing in the starting corrals waiting to begin, right? If you are going to Pitchfork and might be spectating an Ironman, I think it's a smart idea to sit out RnR. After all, you KNOW the weather is going to be saunalike again! How could any half marathon in July not be, right?
I hope you are feeling better already and enjoyed your race. I have the same shorts you are wearing in the Disneyland pic. That remix medal is very cool. I think a 5k/half combo is very doable. I'm not a fan of the 10k anyway.
Thank you so much, HoHo! That is awesome you have the same shorts! Aren't they amazing? So comfortable and a very nice length. I'm with you, I'm starting to not enjoy the 10K distance very much because it's too long to sprint, but too short to run "easily" for race purposes. Very challenging distance!
Ugh, I hate the service fees! I will cheer you for the RnR Chicago. It is supposed to be a HOT one this summer so we'll see how marathon training goes.
So no RnR Chicago for you this summer, eh? I don't blame you - it is hot EVERY year. Who came up with the idea of hosting it in July, right? I look forward to seeing you on the course as a spectator. =) You are going to rock out your marathon training, especially with all your experience!
Thank you so much, Karen! You do totally understand the snowball effects, isn't it the worst? It's hard to break out of the vicous cycle once you really get rolling in it, sigh. Weekends and days off really help a lot. =) I think you would rock out a race challenge weekend, the way you rock out EVERYTHING you do! =)
Thank you so much, Ana! Likewise - I can't wait to hear about your experience at RnR Virginia Beach. =) Has your Zumba instructor ever used the Shakira song in your classes, too?
Oh my goodness You just made me even more excited for July! I can not wait to visit Chicago.. I miss it and I can't wait to see you and catch up!!! Sorry you haven't been feeling the best... I hate it how that happens after a busy stretch! Hope you get your energy back soon!
ReplyDeleteI am super excited for you to visit, Kayla! It's going to be awesome to catch up and run together! Appreciate the well wishes and I am feeling much better now, thanks so much. =) I can't wait to hear how your triathlon went!!!
DeleteDrinking my coffee as we speak! I haven't yet committed to RnRChicago...I'm hearing that we are going to have a hot summer, so I've been kind of dragging my feet on this one. I see Marcia this week, so we'll talk about it over lunch...
ReplyDeleteGood luck today at your 5k! I hope you feel better!
I've also heard we're going to have a very hot summer! It seems that even during the "cool" summers, RnR Chicago is always still a steambath, sigh. Half marathons in July are no bueno! Please keep me posted on what you decide either way. It would be so great to see you there!!!
DeleteThanks so much, Wendy - I really appreciate it!!!
I totally agree with you on registration fees. They can be deal breakers sometimes. Yay for the remix! Can't wait to see you and Kayla! I'll be remixing as well. I kind of need that guitar. Hope you're feeling better!
ReplyDeleteThe registration fees are the worst! I know there's a lot of marketing psychology behind why race organizers choose not to disclose the fees upfront, but it still frustrates me. Can't wait to see you at RnR Chicago at BOTH races! Hurray for us all earning more fabulous bling! Thanks so much, Marcia!
DeleteHope you are feeling better! Rock n Roll Chicago sounds like so much fun. Look forward to reading about it. Thanks so much for joining us for coffee
ReplyDeleteThanks Deborah! Thank you so much to you, Lynda, and Coco for cohosting the link-up, as always! It continues to be one of my favorite link-ups!
DeleteUggh, those service fees! There oughta be a law against them only displaying the fees once you've gone through to the last page of the registration process. It's like it's too late at that point to turn back! :) I've got to try Tanoshii, it sounds incredible (for a once a year splurge)! :)
ReplyDeletePete, I could not agree more with you! The airlines are required to disclose all their fees upfront, why not the races, right? Sigh. BTW - huge congrats on your shiny new 10K PR yesterday! You continue to have the running year of your LIFE!!! =)
DeleteI did the Remix Challenge last year and enjoyed it a lot more than I expected! Well, relatively speaking. The temperature during RnR weekend last year was somewhere between an oven and a sauna, so "enjoy" might be a strong word for that whole experience. But I did like doing the 5K/half back to back (and this year's medal is way cooler!). I'm going to Pitchfork on Saturday (the day before RnR Chicago) and am considering going to Racine the following morning to spectate Ironman 70.3, since I have a few friends running it (and a couple for who it'll be their first 70.3), so I'm thinking I'll sit RnR out this year, but we'll see.
ReplyDeleteBethany @ Accidental Intentions
Bethany, I remember reading your recaps from the Remix Challenge last year! YES - the temperatures were a complete sauna last year. You know it's a bad sign when you're already dripping sweat just standing in the starting corrals waiting to begin, right? If you are going to Pitchfork and might be spectating an Ironman, I think it's a smart idea to sit out RnR. After all, you KNOW the weather is going to be saunalike again! How could any half marathon in July not be, right?
DeleteI hope you are feeling better already and enjoyed your race. I have the same shorts you are wearing in the Disneyland pic. That remix medal is very cool. I think a 5k/half combo is very doable. I'm not a fan of the 10k anyway.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, HoHo! That is awesome you have the same shorts! Aren't they amazing? So comfortable and a very nice length. I'm with you, I'm starting to not enjoy the 10K distance very much because it's too long to sprint, but too short to run "easily" for race purposes. Very challenging distance!
DeleteUgh, I hate the service fees! I will cheer you for the RnR Chicago. It is supposed to be a HOT one this summer so we'll see how marathon training goes.
ReplyDeleteSo no RnR Chicago for you this summer, eh? I don't blame you - it is hot EVERY year. Who came up with the idea of hosting it in July, right? I look forward to seeing you on the course as a spectator. =) You are going to rock out your marathon training, especially with all your experience!
DeleteNope, too hot! Plus, I do not want to pay for it. I will run it if I get a free entry. :-) I will be running 11 miles with my group anyway.
DeleteYeah, I hear you. I think this will be my last year running RnR races, as well. Too expensive and the Chicago race is always super humid and sunny!
DeleteThank you so much, Karen! You do totally understand the snowball effects, isn't it the worst? It's hard to break out of the vicous cycle once you really get rolling in it, sigh. Weekends and days off really help a lot. =) I think you would rock out a race challenge weekend, the way you rock out EVERYTHING you do! =)
ReplyDeleteI hope you are feeling better!
ReplyDeleteOoh!! that remix challenge sounds fun! I can't wait to hear how it goes!
I love the idea that you are ready to dance the Shakira song at the next big event!
Thank you so much, Ana! Likewise - I can't wait to hear about your experience at RnR Virginia Beach. =) Has your Zumba instructor ever used the Shakira song in your classes, too?
Delete