Enjoying the Early Morning

So, after a week of getting about 10-12 hours of sleep every night (don't ask, I have no idea what is going on with my body), I was delighted to be back to my normal 5:45 AM-arise-with-the-sun-sans-alarm-clock routine.

Except for the fact that it was Saturday. And quite frankly, while I do wake up earlier than an average individual on the weekends, 5:45 AM was still pretty darn early, even for me.

Oh well! Up and at 'em, I guess! Haha. Normally, I would have lazed around a little bit more, but after a week of thunderstormy gloomdoom CENTRAL, being greeted with THIS view was more than enough to get my day started RIGHT.


Weeee!!!

Anyway, Because of my abnormal sleeping patterns, I just gave up on my running routine for the week. A shame, too, considering it was supposed to be the very first week of my actual half marathon training. Sigh. I'm not going to let myself off easily, however. I missed a week, but I'm just going to have to start where I SHOULD have been... so four mile run it is!

God, I don't know why I even TRY to sound peppy. I was kind of dreading it, let's be real. And by "kind of", I mean "completely and totally".

But whatever- I got myself on out there... and it actually wasn't all too bad! I mean, it was no walk in the PARK, let's be honest, but it wasn't AS horrendous as I would have expected after having taken a week completely off. I guess when you envision the worst, you really can't be all too disappointed, now can you? Haha. The key to happiness, if you will. Yet another pearl of wisdom for the books, my friends.

Well, after THAT kind of a start to my Saturday, you KNOW those endorphins were all in high gear and I was ready to take on the world...

Except for the fact that it was still only about 7:15 AM on a Saturday... so the world is pretty much still sleeping.

Except for...

Those avid farmers' market fans!! Yesss!! The Green City Market (located right in the heart of Lincoln Park) is one of the BEST farmers' markets EVER! It's huge, has a terrific selection, is centrally located and even has entertainment from time to time! It's SO my happy place, really. And, today was CERTAINLY no exception!

I mean, this place is enough to even almost make me want to eat fruits and veggies sometimes!



ALMOST. It doesn't help that like right next door is...



Well... things that are more along the lines of MY kind of basic food group, if you know what I mean.

I didn't end up purchasing anything at the market since I'm going on vacation this week, but don't you think that was the end of my early morning experience. Please. Last stop?

My favorite little coffee shop... Siena by Maria. It's so cute and cozy and, holy MOLY, I love the owners!! They are the most adorable couple EVER and the service they provide totally reminds me of the kind of down-home, friendly service you would receive in, like, Cape Cod or something. Well... not like I've ever BEEN to Cape Cod, but you get where I'm going... right? Right.

But I digress. Anyway, I had my book that to finish! So, armed with a pumpkin spice latte (that's right- Siena sells these puppies all year ROUND!alkfdsj!) and... well, a lemon cookie (I know, I know. Breakfast of champs, and all that), I settled in to continue Enjoying My Early Morning...


Sigh. SUCH a productive, fulfilling day so far! And it's not even 10 AM yet! Come on, world! Up and AT 'EM!

My First Group Run Experience... or Lack Thereof

A week and a half ago, I went to the farmer's market and stumbled across a stand for the American Cancer Society (ACS). They were there to talk about sponsorship/etc for their cause for upcoming half marathons and marathons. The sign is what initially drew me to their stand, because I figured I could use pretty much any and all the information I could get about training for this half marathon dealio.

These people turned out to be like the NICEST people ever, and about ten minutes after talking to them, I'd somehow agreed to coming to their next "fun run" group session on June 14th at 6:30 PM. Twist my arm, really.

Now, if you know me at all, you know that I am pretty staunchly against running in groups- primarily because I am S.L.O.W. Not only that, but there is no way that I'm going to be making any conversation with my fellow runningmates because I'm too busy gasping my way through a run... and chitchatting is the LAST thing on my mind.

Needless to say, I was more than a little nervous about this first group run of mine, but a commitment is a commitment and, quite frankly, I was kind of curious about how this was going to turn out. Anyway, the bus ride home from work was spent mentally pumping myself up for this group run. By the time I got home, I was actually getting kind of excited...


And/or terrified. Whatever.

I figured I might as well play the part of a "real" runner and guzzle down some water...

And sure, a cookie. Why not? It had oatmeal in it! And walnuts! Fuel, if you will.

So, there I was enjoying my second bite of oatmeal chocolate chip walnut cookie, when I decided to double check the time and place for this whole running group extravaganza.

Just as I thought... meet at Stanleys. Just as I thought... meet at 7:30...

Yeah- I hope you did a double take of that picture. Because I certainly did.

6:3o?!?!

Immediately, my eyes darted to my DVR clock...

Big. Fat. Buzzkill. I mean, Stanley's is close enough but not SO close that I could get there in 7 minutes unless (irony of ironies) I ran there.

Which was so not going to be happening, let's be honest.

Sigh. It was such a gorgeous night though, that it wasn't too hard to convince myself to get outside and get my 3 miler on. 3 miler!! I know, right?!? I was PUMPED to be on my last week of this whole 5K-precursor-before-beginning-my-half-marathon-training schedule!

You know, it's kind of funny. After all this mental dread regarding this running group, I actually was genuinely disappointed that I missed out on this evening's group run. So disappointed, in fact, that I think I'm going to take it upon myself to find that ACS farmer's market stand this weekend to see when their next group run will be. (I mean, I already tried tweeting them about the next day/time of their group run, but have yet to receive a response. Hmmph.)

Who would've thought? Actually seeking OUT group run opportunities? I think those post-3 miler endorphins are still in high gear here...