Sunday, June 9, 2019

Too Much

Disclaimer: I received a pair of My Soxy Feet socks in exchange for my honest review. 

The theme for this week was too much. As in, everything in excess. Except for my mileage. I had hoped to hit the 20 mile mark for the week, or at least 15 miles, for god's sake. Spoiler alert: that didn't happen. But a lot of things happened this week and most of them good. Even if it was...too much!



Too much color:
My sister and I went for a bike ride last Sunday. I drove my bike to her house and we rode to the Chicago Botanic Gardens, a 16 mile round trip. If you ride your bicycle, you get in for free. It's a great deal. On the way there, we stopped for lunch at a new brewpub. I always love spending time with my sister and it was great to catch up while taking in the beauty at this wonderful place!

We missed the spring blooms but caught these amazing poppies!

Too much cold:
On Monday I ran a chilly 4 miles in the morning before work. This summer has been frustrating! Where is the heat? The sun? While the cooler temperatures make for a much easier run, I would rather be complaining about the heat and its effects on my pacing!

Yes, it was cold. But runners gotta run.

Too much rain:
And then there was Wednesday's run, which was remarkable for ALL THE WATER. We had bad storms the night before. The creek along the bike path was over the banks and licking at the pavement. I had ducks swimming alongside me. I finally had to turn around at the tunnel, which was full of water. But I got my 5 miles in for Global Running Day!

5 miles for the NYRR virtual run

Too much fun: 
My husband and I went to see the Chicago Cubs play on Thursday. We bought tickets on StubHub 2 nights before and scored some amazing seats for $50 each. Guys, we were 7 rows up from 3rd base and adjacent to the Cubs dugout!! Even though the Cubs lost, we had a lot of fun seeing our favorite players up close and personal. Yeah, Kyle Schwarber rocks left field! This is the way to baseball. Even better, there was a craft beer stand inside right by our seats. We enjoyed several yummy local beers (Revolution, Lagunitas).

We were THIS close
After the game, we decided to get dinner and avoid sitting in rush hour traffic. We drove up to Andersonville to an old favorite, the Hopleaf, where we enjoyed a really delicious dinner and yes, more beer.

I loved this amazing vegetarian dish. That's a parmesan corn cake on top of the grilled asparagus.
I've got a funny backstory but I can't share it here. 
When we left the restaurant, I reflected that we were probably really close to Half Acre, a local craft brewery. Turns out we were about a 1/4 mile away and of course, we had to stop in. At that point, I decided I had had enough beer. My husband talked me into a "tiny glass" of a coconut IPA. It was delicious. Oh man, I was overserved. But I had so much fun! Let's just say that I made it to work the next morning, but I wasn't feeling 100%. It's been a long time since we've had so much fun and partied like it was 1999. We need to do this more often. Or not.

My "small" coconut IPA. 
Too much pain:
Saturday's run was tough, in spite of the near perfect weather conditions. The first couple of miles started out ok. I was wearing my HeartZones monitor and I was running slow. I felt great. I went to the preserve with the limestone path, which has been expanded. I was excited to push myself for more miles. I don't know what happened, but by mile 3, I was toast. I forgot to charge my monitor and it stopped working. No matter, I didn't need the monitor to tell me I was redzoning even at my turtle-like pace. Frustrated, I did finish 5 miles. So I guess there's that. Pretty sure that this was the price I paid for Thursday's overindulgence. Would I do that again?


I think you know the answer to that.

Here's the thing. I'm not training for anything. I'm on a journey to accepting my new reality, which is slowing down and giving myself grace. It's all about enjoying the ride and even though I get frustrated because I can't have it all, this girl just wants to have fun. You get me, right?

I Tried it! My Soxy Feet Run Chicago
Melissa, one of the owners of My Soxy Feet, messaged me to see if I wanted to try a pair of My Soxy Feet socks to review on the blog. You all know I have a sock obsession. I used to be an ambassador for My Soxy Feet, but I was a bad blogger and I didn't tell her that. She figured it out though, and still graciously sent me a pair of these adorable Run Chicago socks.

My Soxy Feet has the cutest socks. I've always loved them. But these socks feel different from my other My Soxy Feet socks. They aren't as thick as the My Soxy Feet from the past. I love the band around my ankles that kept them in place while I ran. They were super comfy. Plus a portion of the proceeds from this sock benefits the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. If I was running the Chicago Marathon this year, I'd buy a few pairs of these. Tell me you won't...


This week was just too much! And My Soxy Feet, I tried it again! /via @oldrunningmom @mysoxyfeet #runchat #running 


How was your week? How do you feel about a bad run when you haven't been "behaving" like a dedicated runner? Stay tuned for my review of that HeartZones monitor on Tuesday! Have you run in My Soxy Feet socks?

I am linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown.







53 comments :

  1. I definitely overdid it this week and didn't get enough sleep. I ran the NYC Mini 10K (it's a women's 10K that started as the "mini marathon" back when people didn't think women could run a marathon- LOL.) It was one of my slower ones and that's just fine! Definitely worth the other fun and runs! Grace is good. I hope the Chicago weather gets back to "normal" whatever that is!

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    1. I keep saying I'm going to give myself grace! But yes, having fun was totally worth it.

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  2. All of my travel weeks were over doing it weeks! But as the kids say, YOLO so why not have fun?! I never run well after drinking. I don't think my body absorbs it well. Looks like you and your hubs had a great time together though. Looking forward to your heart zones review. I have one on the way! Thanks for linking up

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    1. We need this day in the city! We had a great time and even though I was upset about yet another run fail, I'd do it all again! YOLO indeed!

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  3. I had a great week on the bike - just over 50 miles with some nice PRs on segments I ride frequently. I ran a measly 4 miles, can I still call myself a runner? I'm just happy to be active. I also did yoga.

    I spoke too soon last week when I talked about our awesome weather - suppose to be 99 today. People can say what they want about a "dry heat" - that just means red flag fire warnings for us. I'd love a little more humidity.

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    1. We've got plenty of humidity to share here! It's not that warm though, so it's at least tolerable. And yes, if you run, you're still a runner!

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  4. Those socks are cute!! You're lucky to have access to MLB so close by. We have the Iowa Cubs (in DSM), which are a "farm" team for The Chi Cubs....we haven't made it to a game yet this year...yet.

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    1. We've got two MLB teams in Chicago and the rivalry is strong! Mike and I have gone to so many games. When we lived in the city, we'd hop on the "L" and go at the spur of the moment. It's always a good time!

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  5. Wow! A bike ride, botanical gardens, a new brewpub AND spending time with your sister? You know how to spend a Sunday.Too bad the Cubbies couldn't pull out a win for you.

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    1. Today is a lot more low-key, although I got some chores done this morning. Now I'm sitting outside on the deck. My kind of Sunday...

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  6. Those socks are so cute! Heck, I'd wear them with my Birkenstocks to show them off! :)

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  7. Not sure how I came across your blog but I'm glad I did! The first post I read was the 9 Things About Menopause. I've already been through it and everything you said was so true! I'm 66, not a runner, but I do work out almost every day. I get frustrated with the changes in my body which seem out of my control, no matter how much I work out and eat healthily. Especially that fat around the middle. Ugh. Anyway, I'm enjoying your perspective on aging but still doing your thing. I'll be back! :-)

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    1. I'm glad you found me! Misery loves company, right? LOL. Thanks for commenting!

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  8. Love those socks! And we had a week of completely out of order TOO MUCH rain alongside too humid and too hot up in my office. Argh! Sorry to hear about the bad run, assuming it was partly dehydration, which I think is what undid me today a little.

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    1. Maybe so...but too much alcohol is never a good idea, right? :p

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    2. Well it can sometimes help things ... My dehydration was to do with not drinking enough the day before while officiating, I hasten to add!

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    3. It's got to be hard to keep up with the hydration when you're busy doing that!

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  9. oh I'm dying to go to another cubs game! my last game was actually spring training in Phoenix, 10 years ago while we were on our wedding/honeymoon trip. I used to go much more often, back when the cubs were the worst team ever and yet we all were still so dedicated...

    I know EXACTLY what I did wrong when a run goes wrong. But I have to say I very rarely go out the next morning after having big food and drinks the night before. I'm kind of afraid of puking while running. It's not happened so I don't know why that is. I know a LOT of people who can eat and drink like the dickens and then go out and PR a race the next day. Not me. I'm too old and started too late for that. On the other hand, Wendy, I guess you had a good time and that's ok that you overindulged because I know you aren't doing that all of the time.

    I would love those chicago socks!! please tell me I can get them and have them shipped here? Or maybe I'll have them shipped to my friend Jenny in Chicago and pick them up when I arrive in October!!

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    1. Click on the link or go to mysoxyfeet.com. Aren't they the cutest?

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  10. My Monday run was the same! Seriously, where was that weather for our race? And then all the heat, yes, more rain, but this weekend. Nothing at all to complain about. Except needing a few more hours in my day!

    I'm a boring person and a party pooper so no, I don't have to deal with hangovers. But hey, if you enjoyed yourself & felt it was worth - then it was!

    I have tried My Soxy Feet. You know me, try everything. They were cute & comfy but still just not my fav.

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    1. Interesting, I didn't feel that bad the next morning. Just kind of off. Enough to remind me not to do that again! LOL

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  11. Ha! I love that you and your husband partied like it was 1999 :) Good to let loose and enjoy some delicious beers. A coconut IPA sounds good! And Chicago has so many great options! Totally fine in my book too live a little :)

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    1. That's the problem...too many beer, too little tolerance! LOL! But it was so much fun!

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  12. Those socks are super cute! How cool that you get a free entry for biking to the botanical gardens. You almost blend in to those flowers with your great top!

    I overdid it a lot this week. A friend from LA was in town Monday, Tuesday I ate my way through meetings in Philly, Friday we went out with my son, last night we went out for date night, and tonight friends from FL are in town .... Yikes!

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    1. Overdoing it is not a bad thing, is it? Sounds like you had a fun week!

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  13. I love both the Botanic Gardens and the Cubs! I haven't been to the gardens in ages, but my parents have started to go all the time. My mom is hoping to retire soon and wants to start taking classes there and eventually be a volunteer - I'm happy that means she'll get outside more. I celebrated global running day with a run and spending a bit too much on running sales haha.

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    1. Oh, I feel you on the sales. It was so tempting! Fortunately, I had some new InknBurn coming and that kept me happy!

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  14. I don't think I've ever done it with alcohol, but your Saturday run sounds like exactly how I feel running on too little sleep. But sometimes the bad run is a fair trade for having too much fun, right?

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    1. I'm thinking that too much alcohol probably = too little sleep, so it's really all the same, LOL!

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  15. You had a busy and fun week! I overdid it with alcohol once, and for me that's half a glass. It was NYE, many years ago. Ugh. No hangover though. :p
    That's awesome you scored such great seats!

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    1. It was such a fun day and I can't wait to go back! If only we can get those same seats...

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  16. Your Thursday sounds amazing! I'm glad you had too much. Much deserved!

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    1. It's been a long time since we've done that! Glad we still can have fun together, even if it is infused with alcohol.

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  17. Coconut IPA sounds very interesting! I haven't seen that around here yet. Looks like you've had a fun week. I've just had too much rain lately. I was on vacation this week and it's rained the last three days. Enough already!!

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    1. This brewery makes exceptional IPAs--this was one of their "specialty" beers. The coconut blended really well with the hops. It was delish!

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  18. Wow, you scored some awesome seats for that Cubs game! Maybe I need to look on StubHub more often for Yankees tickets. I haven't been to a game in forever.

    I'm not a huge beer drinker but that coconut IPA sounds so yummy!

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    1. Those tickets were a great score! We've been to so many Cubs games over the years--we reminisced about some really bad seats we've had. It was so nice to be that close!

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  19. I didn't know you could still find deals like that ono Stubhub! I remember when it first began, it was amazing. I'll have to look. I haven't been to a ballgame for a few years.

    Weather has been so weird this year. Hot one day, cold or rainy the next. Well, here we've finally hit the heat..excessive heat warning and a forecast of 112 tomorrow! I knew we'd pay for that lovely May.

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    1. Heat? What is that heat you speak of? We're still in the 70s, which is nice, but we've got more rain in the forecast this week.

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  20. mmm baseball! Hard to have a bad day at a stadium
    Our weather is also all over the place. Thursday was a disgusting humid mess, yesterday was perfect for hiking and today is chilly and rainy
    Love that your botanic garden does free admission for green transportation. Such a smart idea. Is that the one in/near Buffalo Grove? Friend whose wedding I went to wanted us to go there -- I opted for the Field Museum because Dinosaurs!

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    1. The botanic garden isn't in Buffalo Grove, it's in Glencoe but that's about 20 minutes from BG. The free admission when biking is a great perk!

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    2. Ahh ok. I just remembered the bride's family recommending it

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  21. Your Thursday sounds so fun! It's worth a bad run every once and while to enjoy a day like that and some good beers. Once this little girl pops out, I have so many Chicago breweries on my list to try, especially Revolution.

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    1. You'll love Revolution. I also recommend Half Acre. Metropolitan was the prettiest tap room we visited.

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  22. Sounds like it was a fun week between the game and the garden with your sister :( Sorry to hear about the Saturday run not going well. I haven't tried stub hub yet but it sounds like I need to. That was a good deal.

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    1. It was an amazingly good deal. We couldn't quite believe it! Best seats we've ever had at at Cubs game.

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  23. The game and night out with your hubby sounds like it was a lot of fun! Coconut IPA huh? Was it overly coconutty (is that a word LOL)?

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    1. It sounds weird, right? But the coconut worked really well with the hops. It was delicious!

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  24. What a fun night you had on Thursday! I've heard about Hopleaf but never been there. Now I am curious about that funny backstory. Hmmmm

    Those socks are cute! I think I've owned a few of those socks years ago. I also love socks but just stick to Smartwool socks.

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  25. Love those cute Soxy Feet. And yes, so over the rain and cold. It's been going on for too long. Love that field of poppies. So pretty!

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    1. We're going back to the cold this week, with more rain predicted. This has been a strange summer so far!

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