Weekly Recap(s): Goodbye to June and a Beautiful Basilica Wedding!

We spent last weekend at the cabin, and as I blabbed about in THIS post, I do love weekends at the cabin. However, there is no internet access, so not a lot of blogging can happen while I'm there.  I realized that I missed last week's recap, so today, I'll quickly share my workouts for the past two weeks.

Week of June 16-22:
Monday: 7.5 mile run in the AM
Tuesday: Lebanon 10k Trail Run (recap HERE)
Wednesday: 4 mile run with Matilda
Thursday: 45 minute mini-barre class at The Barre
Friday: Long run at the cabin - 11 miles, then some paddle-boarding!

Saturday: 6 mile run at the cabin, then some paddle-boarding!
Sunday: 4.5 mile run at the cabin

As you can see, that week included a lot of running (almost 40 miles) and not so much strength training. Unfortunately, that's the way it goes when we go to the cabin. Running is the easiest thing to do while we're there. I'm happy that at least I fit in one barre class, and the stand-up paddle boarding could be considered cross training, right?

On to the week of June 22-29:
Monday: Complete rest! After the 40 miles the week before, I figured I needed an extra day of rest. Instead, we went to the HotList (read about it HERE)

Tuesday: 7 mile run with the CBRC. I'm going to start going to run club now as much as I can this training season. Even though I much prefer to run in the morning, I strongly believe that my best training seasons have been those where I consistently ran with the club, and I don't just mean on Saturdays for the long runs. I'm going to make attending run club a priority as much as possible during the week. I also think running during a hotter part of the day is better preparation for any potential hot weather races. Of course there will be days where I have commitments in the evening and I still have to run in the morning, yet as much as possible, I hope to be back at the CBRC!

Wednesday: 4 mile run with Matilda

Thursday: 6.75 mile run with Theresa and Kelly in the morning.

Friday: 12 mile long run. I had the day off of work for my friend Caroline's wedding, so I got the long run out of the way. A group of us started bright and early (5:15 am!) It was hot and humid, but I managed to shuffle through 12 miles.

My biggest struggle for this run was that I definitely didn't fuel correctly the night before. I had hosted book club, and it was a throw back book ("Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, by Judy Blume"- do you remember this book?) I had 80/90s themed snacks, like sloppy joe's, puppy chow, and pigs in a blanket.

As the host, I was busy, and I just didn't eat enough (that's unfortunately not my plate in the picture above).  I wasn't fueled correctly, and felt really hungry and weaker than normal during the run. 12 miles on Bugel chips and a glass or two of white wine was not smart fueling for a long run...

But even though my run suffered the next morning, book club was a blast! Kelly definitely won the prize for best throwback outfit, with her Doc Martins, Jansport backpack, choker necklace, and jean jacket.

Perfection!

I went with tight rolled jeans, socks with sandals, and a side pony tail.  

Some trends should never come back, right?

Back to the fitness recap.
Saturday: Complete rest. After the wedding on Friday, I needed to sleep in. In the afternoon, I had a bridal shower for another friend, which was lovely.

Sunday: 1 hour barre class at The Barre and then a 4 mile easy run with Matilda. Then two hours of hiking at Willow River State Park. I will post more pictures from that hike later, but it was great!

Total: About 35 miles of running, 1 barre class, 2 complete rest days.

Upcoming Strength Training! This week, I am starting a 10 week "Kettlebell/Strength Training" class for runners at the Calhoun Beach Club. There are still spots available if you are interested! $120/10 classes, or $15 for a drop in, Wednesdays from 6-7 pm. Let me know!

....I quickly skipped over the Friday wedding, so let me return to that special event. The wedding was held at the Basilica of St. Mary, which is so beautiful.

The skies had looked a little gray earlier in the day, but the rain held off for the ceremony.

outside the Basilica

The reception was held at the St. Paul History Center, which was so lovely. I have to say, the food was really good! Wedding food isn't always that fabulous, but the food at this wedding definitely exceeded expectations.

I started with a pear salad and then the goat cheese ravioli. Yum!

After dinner, toasts, and dessert, it was time for the dance floor. This group of girls loves to dance, so we didn't hesitate to bust a move!

By the way, in fashion, I wore a repeat dress to this wedding- it was this Kate Spade dress  (similar dress HERE now on sale!) that I bought last August for my cousin's wedding. Look at me, repeating dresses (like I did at the HotList) - Functional Fits! This dress was a little pricey for me (though I love it and think it was worth every penny) so I am glad I had an opportunity to wear it again...and it has pockets! Who doesn't love pockets?

The wedding was a really fun night, and I'm so glad I got to be a part of the couple's big day. 

Congrats Caroline and Joe!

Featured Fit: Taste of the Nation HotList 2014

This past Monday was our 4th year in a row attending the Taste of the Nation HotList event at the Guthrie Theater!

You can read about the past two years HERE and HERE. I pulled up some pictures from those past years too, as well as the 2011 event, which was pre-blog.

2011 Taste of the Nation Hotlist:

2012 Taste of the Nation Hotlist:

2013 Taste of the Nation Hotlist:

...and then the 2014 Taste of the Nation HotList!

I wore an old dress that I bought for my younger sister's wedding rehearsal dinner in 2011. An oldie, but I think it still works..here's a picture from that event back in 2011.

The event started at 7 pm, and featured small bites from many different restaurants (including restaurants that haven't even opened yet!)

Here's more information from the event website:

Honorary Chef Chair Tim McKee invites you to the Guthrie Theater on June 23 to sample the Twin Cities' hottest food and drink trends at Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation Minneapolis HOTlist. Chefs will offer portions of their very best dishes for you to sample, and bartenders will shake up unique cocktails and pour fine wine and beer for your enjoyment. Whose cuisine will reign supreme? Cast your vote for your favorite dish of the night to decide.

We're thrilled to feature an incredible lineup of local restaurants committed to Share Our Strength's vision of ending childhood hunger. HOTlist 2014 will again feature a silent auction filled with delightful packages and unique experiences. You can also enjoy great music, dancing, and scenic views of the Mississippi river.

Your ticket includes all food, a full beverage program featuring beer, wine, cocktails & non-alcoholic beverages, and great entertainment. Guests will also have the opportunity to bid on unique and one-of-a-kind items in the evening's silent auction and more. 

We had a great evening hanging out with the few friends that also attended this year (such as the below couple!)

We enjoyed tasting all the awesome dishes...

  

...and we imbibed in a few cocktails from local mixologists as well.

Eventually, we found ourselves reviewing all the silent auction items.  If you recall, last year, I won the wardrobe consultation with A la Mode Wardrobe Consulting, which I absolutely loved (read more about it HERE and HERE) so I was hoping to have good luck again this time around.

Luck was on our side. 

We did end up winning some really great items, such as an immersion blender! Yay!

It was a nice event, and I am sure we will go back next year. It is fun and for a good cause. And I always love the view from the Guthrie!

However, I do have one small complaint. A lot of the restaurants were running out of food by 8:15! The event was supposed to go from 7-10. We arrived at 7:15, and didn't even get to try all the restaurants because they were out of food by the time we made our way around.  I hope that next year they plan a little better for the crowds!

Fitting Remarks: Why I Love the Cabin....

Like most Minnesotans, a highlight of our summers is heading “up north” to the cabin. My husband’s family has a place on a lake in northern Wisconsin, and I look forward to weekends up there in the summer. On the coasts, they have their beach homes, but in the Midwest, we relish the cabin life!  

There are so many reasons that I love weekends at the cabin, but I thought I’d share my top 12 reasons  WHY I LOVE THE CABIN!

1. It is so relaxing at the cabin.  Seriously. The lake doesn’t have any public access, so its never busy or loud, just  peaceful and quiet.  The minute you arrive at the cabin you can just feel the stress melt away. Vacation time…

2. No makeup! I can definitely be a ‘girlie-girl’ and I love getting all dolled up. I love getting blow-outs and I love makeup. But, I also love not doing those things. I love not wearing any makeup all weekend. I love putting my wet hair in a ponytail every day and never once touching a blow-dryer or a flat iron. My skin feels so fresh and clean with no makeup.

3. “Bathing” in the lake. Again, I am usually a bit "shower obsessed " I take a lot of showers, and love that shower-fresh feeling probably more than a normal person. But there’s something to be said for going for a sweaty country run, and then just changing into your swimsuit and jumping into the lake to cool down. (Don’t worry, I do eventually shower at some point at the end of the day, its just not a priority.)

4. Hill running. On these aforementioned cabin runs, hill training is unavoidable.  Even though its challenging, I enjoy running up at the cabin. There’s no pressure to run fast, because you know those hills are killer. (Be sure to use bug spray!)

5. Wildlife. I always see deer. I haven’t yet encountered a bear (though it is on my summer bucket list). I often see bald eagles, which are still a treat. There’s plenty of wild turkeys too, as well as the occasional porcupine. Of course, there’s the bass on the end of Dustin’s fishing pole!

6. Stand Up Paddleboarding. Sure, we can paddleboard in Minneapolis too, but we do a lot more of it at the cabin. The lake here is so peaceful, and we end up spending a lot of time out on the boards. 

7. It's 5 o'clock somewhere! Drinking a beer at noon is completely acceptable behavior at the cabin. I’m not much of a day drinker, but at the cabin, having a cold beer at lunch is totally normal...and totally awesome.

8. Random TV- At home, we really only watch shows that we recorded on our TiVo or shows we select on Netflix. At the cabin, when we settle in for the night (and can’t go outside because of the mosquitoes), its fun to watch random shows that we never watch at home…like “Little Women of L.A.” or “Honey Boo Boo Child.” Real quality television...

9. Small town charm. The small town where the cabin is located is definitely quirky, but everyone is so friendly. There’s just a different way of life here compared to Minneapolis. Sure it’s a little grungier, a little more Carhartt than Kate Spade, but it’s a welcome change from the stress of work and the “real world” in Minneapolis.

10. The boathouse. The boathouse at the cabin is stuffed full of memorabilia and souvenirs from the life of my father-in-law. I only knew Dustin’s dad briefly before he passed away, so I always love spending some time reading old poems and reflecting on old stories in the boat house. There is so much history and love captured in that boathouse. 

11. Seeing the joy that the cabin brings to Matilda. Our dog Matilda loves, loves, loves the cabin. Therefore, I love the cabin because of how much Matilda loves the cabin! She spends HOURS outside chasing dragonflies and shadows, and it is really entertaining. She is always utterly exhausted by the end of each day, but her joy and love for cabin life is contagious. She especially loves riding in the boat!

 12. Sharing the joy of the cabin with friends or family. Over the years, we have had a few of my sisters (and my nieces) up to visit the cabin and a few friends as well. Its really fun to share the cabin and all those reasons I love the cabin with those people that I love the most!

Now, there are definitely some things that I don’t like-  the drive (I wish it were just

two hours instead of three) the bugs (OMG the mosquitoes this year!) the lack of a decent grocery store nearby (the produce is questionable at best), the lack of wifi…but those are all such minor things compared to the joy of the cabin!

So tell me- do you have a favorite vacation spot that you love, and why? Please share!

Fits Do Race Reviews: Lebanon-Jensen Lake 10k

Last Tuesday night, I ran the second race of the Endless Summer Trail Run Series!

It was the Lebanon Jensen Lake 10k.

All the races in this series start at 6:30 sharp. Dustin and I were a little worried about getting to Eagan (a far southern suburb of Minneapolis) where Lebanon park is,  in time to check in for the race. Fortunately, we both were able to leave work early, and we were lucky because the traffic wasn't really so bad. We made it there by 6 pm with plenty of time to spare.

I opted out of a "warm-up" jog since it was nearly 90 degrees and humid, but Dustin had plenty of time to go for a quick warm-up. The line for bib pick-up was quick and easy. A bit before 6:30, everyone gathered at the start-line, and then we were off.

By the way, this race seemed quite a bit bigger than the French 5k. I am not sure how many people were there, but I would guess around 700.

The Lebanon race was not quite as hilly as the French 5k we did last month (read about it HERE), but it definitely was still hard for a few reasons: 1) it was a 10k instead of a 5k- hello, twice as long!  2) the MUD.

Yes, the mud made this race pretty challenging. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not afraid to get dirty every once in awhile. I wore an old pair of Ravennas that I didn’t care if they were ruined. But it wasn’t about getting dirty. It was about how slippery those muddy areas were! My worry was about falling on my butt and breaking something. The mud was thick and slick. A few runners actually lost their shoes in the mud!

Me? I lost my driver’s license. I had to bring it with me to get carded for the post-race beer (and free pizza). I had it tucked away in my shorts pocket. But that shorts pocket wasn’t zippered, and at some point, the ID must have fallen out.

The course for this 10k was two loops of a 5k. Fortunately for me, I realized I had lost my ID on the first loop, so I figured I could distract myself on the second loop by looking for my ID along the trail.

I didn’t even have to look that long! A mile into the second loop, there was a volunteer on the sidelines holding a driver’s license, so I quickly asked him if the name was mine, and it was! He said he’d turn it in for me at the finish so I wouldn’t have to worry about losing it again. What a nice guy!

Post race, we were all pretty muddy. The pictures don't really do it justice, but my shoes were basically ruined.

The Course:

So, yes, the course: two loops of a 5k route. There were a few hills, with some single-track sections. 

Other than the driver’s license snafu, I really enjoyed this race. It is so fun to switch things up from the usual running routine around the lakes and do some trails. Of course, my pace was significantly slower than a road 10k, but that's common with a trail run. It was a challenge, and I was crazy sweaty at the end (90 degrees and super humid weather will do that to you!)

I got this picture of Meggan charging to the finish line!

We stuck around for a slice or two of pizza and a beer. Then there was a raffle for prizes. I actually won- just a pint glass, but hey, its still exciting to win something!

So far, the races with the Endless Summer Trail Series have been awesome. "Endless Summer" is right- its really fun to enjoy the outdoors at new locations while getting in a good workout.  The races have such an awesome laidback vibe. They are perfect for runners of all levels- everyone is welcome!

What do you know about these Hokas? I have read a little bit about these trail shoes on Sweaty Emily's blog, but I didn't realize just how big they are! Have you tried them?

...and I leave you with this picture of a shirtless trail racer. Yowsa!

Weekly Recap: Curio Dance and Tips for Hiking with Your Dog!

Happy Father's Day! I hope you had a great Sunday. I'm back with a weekly recap from the second week in June!

What's happening in fitness fashion?
How about THIS cute running shirt from none other than Costco? My friend Kelly has it, and I think it's so cute.  Subtle stripes and a longer cut, and of course at a price that Fits the Bill!

What's happening in fashion?
In fashion this week, I had an opportunity to wear THIS new-ish dress from JCrew Factory on Friday.

I wore the dress on Friday night when a group of girlfriends and I went to see "Curio Dance" at the Cowles Center. 

What is Curio Dance? 
It was a performance of prominent soloists and groups dancing in street shoes to bare feet around the globe. With roots grounded in American dance forms and the constant push for invention, Curio Dance choreographers cross over lands and generations to reveal a thread through movement. Entertainers bring light to their soul in contemporary dance blends of Hip Hop, Cuban Orisha, Native American Eagle, Chinese Martial Arts, Acrobatic Yoga, Breaking, Housing, Waacking, Krump and more. 

The show was really fun and entertaining, with an interesting mix of different styles of dance. Have you been to the Cowles Center before? It's quite nice!

But back to the dress- you can find it HERE on sale right now!

What happened in fitness last week?

Monday: Ran 5.5 miles in the morning with Matilda, 1 hour barre class at The Barre.

Tuesday: Ran 4 miles with Dustin and Matilda

Wednesday: Ran 7.75 miles with a great group of gals in the morning

Thursday: Ran 4 miles with Matilda, 45 minute mini-barre class at The Barre

Friday: 1 hour barre class at The Barre

Saturday: 10 miles with the Calhoun Beach Running Club

Sunday: 1 hour barre class at Balanced Barre in Wayzata.  <-- this was my first time checking out the Wayzata studio.  Unfortunately, the St. Louis Park studio is closing at the end of the month. I wish the Wayzata one was more convenient for me, but it was a bit of a drive. It was a great class though! It was the "Fire" class, which is their most advanced class. It mixes in cardio and doesn't really have any breaks...Definitely intense!

When the sun finally broke through the rain today, we decided to make another drive out to the 'burbs. This time it was to the Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove for some exercise for Matilda.

We spent a little over an hour hiking around Elm Creek Reserve. Matilda LOVED it!

It is a really nice park with 29 acres of trails in the off-leash area. A year dog park pass is $35, but we just purchased a day permit for $5. (Read more about the Three River Park District dog park permits HERE.)

Tips for hiking with your dog? 

• Bug spray: We brought bug spray for us, and we were sure that Matilda's Frontline flea/tick treatment was up to date.
• Bring water: We use one of THESE Gulpy Water Dispenser (find one at HERE)

• Bring an old towel to wipe off the muddy paws! We have received so much rain lately that some areas of the park were quite muddy. I brought an old towel in the car to wipe Matilda down as much as possible for the drive home (though she did still need a bath later as well)
• Follow the rules. Bring the plastic bags to pick up after your dog, and if there is a entry fee, just pay it. Its going towards the maintenance of the park!

The Elm Creek Park is very enjoyable and we will definitely be back there this summer!

I hope you had a great week in Fitness, Fashion, and Fitness Fashion!