Girl Scout Cookie Debate

Happy Hump Day! I received some exciting (to me, probably not to y'all) news yesterday, so I decided that I had a little extra time to use for a blog post today. In the midst of a slight panic attack over how much I have to do and how there are simply not going to be enough hours in the day to accomplish everything I want and need to accomplish, my sweet Wit and Witchcraft professor told us that we can hand in our 15-page research papers the Tuesday after spring break. I was so happy that I could have hugged him on the spot. And while I am so grateful for this extension, I still want to finish as much as I can before the break, or at least get a good rough draft done, so it is not hanging over my head all break. I have other things calling my name! So, today and tomorrow will be dedicated to my research paper, and Friday through next Thursday will be me studying for the three exams I have next week. I honestly don't think I have had three exams in a week since high school, so we'll see how this goes! I'm probably being over-dramatic about this, but I'm used to writing papers, not taking tests, so I'm a little bit rusty in the studying department.

Workout

This morning was spent working on my research paper, and I needed a little sweat session to keep me form going stir-crazy, so I headed to the gym for a 12:00 cycling class. I have a triathlon coming up in just under two weeks, that I'm probably not prepared for in the least, but I'm still really excited for it, so a spinning class seemed like the way to go today. Anyway, I took this same cycling class last week and felt really drained when I arrived home. Today I felt much more energized going into the class, and I felt pretty good afterward, too. There was a substitute instructor today, but I really liked her. She had a bit of a sassy personality, and the class was tough, but definitely manageable.

I actually arrived at the gym a little after 11:00am so that I could squeeze in a quick arm workout before the start of the cycling class. Normally, I would just do it after the class, but I was quickly sliding down an unproductive slope in my paper, so I decided to just reverse the order today. My arm (and leg) workout was inspired by a last-minute peruse of Pinterest, and I ended up completing three rounds of this workout.

3x15 using 10 lb dumbbells

3x20 using 15 lb dumbbells

3x30 using 5 lb dumbbells

All images courtesy of Women's Health Magazine.

Lunch

When I arrived home from the gym, I was pretty hungry. I am currently enjoying a huge honeycrisp apple with peanut butter while contemplating what to make for lunch. It's been a few days since I have had my dairy-free pizza, but I also have a little something else up my sleeve that I was hoping to try today. We'll see where my stomach leads me.

I apologize for my inevitable lack of exciting meals these next two weeks, but midterms and other activities are going to take more precedence over gourmet meals. I promise that exciting food pictures are in your future!

Girl Scout Cookie Debate

We are in the midst of Girl Scout Cookie Season, and since I was a Girl Scout myself back in the day, I would consider myself to be an expert on all things Girl Scout Cookies. I still remember my confusion when my freshman year roommate, Melissa, mentioned something called a "Samoa." She described it as the chocolate, caramel, and coconut cookie, and I laughed and said, "You mean a Caramel DeLite?" I had never heard them called "Samoas" before. We quickly discovered that there are other name differences - Peanut Butter Patties can also be called Tag Alongs, and Peanut Butter Sandwiches can also be called Do-Si-Do's.

(Source)

We had a heated argument at the Clubhouse the other night before discovering that what you call your Girl Scout Cookies is simply a matter of region. There are two different commercial bakers - ABC Bakers and Little Brownie Bakers - and each have their own cookie names. Therefore, both names are right, though I am partial to the names I grew up using (Caramel DeLites, Peanut Butter Patties, and Peanut Butter Sandwiches - simple and to the point).

I just found it funny how passionate we all seem to be about what we call our Girl Scout Cookies - I requested help via Twitter and I had to laugh at the replies I received from my Houston friends:

• "CARAMEL DELITES 4EVA"
• "CARAMEL DELITES ALL DA WAY #houstonlingo"
• "Caramel delites all day in Texas"
• "MOST DEF Caramel Delites"

So, I have to ask, what do you call the chocolate, caramel, and coconut cookies? "Caramel DeLites," or "Samoas?" And on another note, what is your favorite Girl Scout Cookie? Mine has always been, and will forever be, the Thin Mint. You really can't beat frozen Thin Mints, and they're dairy-free, so that's even more points in their favor. 

Houston: A to Z

Okay, I can't do an A to Z list of Austin without giving my hometown some love. Again, some of these might be repeats, but I will try to keep them as original as possible.

A- Astrodome

The eighth wonder of the world. Not even kidding. It is the word's first multi-purpose, domed sports stadium, and I remember going to my last Astros game there before the grand opening of Minute Maid Park. Fun fact, the first homerun hit at the Astrodome was hit by Mickey Mantle. There has been some recent controversy over what to do with the beloved Astrodome, and all I know is that I believe it should remain standing (with a little bit of renovation).

Buffalo Bayou

I love running around Town Lake and through Mueller Park, but I also love running along the Buffalo Bayou when I am home in Houston. It also provides a bike trail that ends with a pretty sweet sunset if you time it right.

C- City Centre

City Centre has it all, and it's constantly growing. Shopping, restaurants, live music, a gym, and a plethora of desserts make this the go-to hotspot in Houston these days.

Eating at City Centre

City Centre on a beautiful day

D- Discovery Green

Ice skating in the winter, fireworks on the Fourth of July, and concerts galore, among other things, Discovery Green should definitely be a stop on your tour of Houston.

E- Escalante's

I guess I didn't realize that Escalante's Mexican Restaurants are only found in Houston, but it is easily one of my favorite Mexican restaurants of all time. Though I can't eat it anymore, their white queso is absolutely incredible. 

F- Frozen Yogurt

The "B" was already occupied, but I decided it's not fair to singularly recognize Berripop when I really do love all frozen yogurt. It's been my goal to try all of Houston's frozen yogurt establishments, but more and more pop up all the time. My favorites are Berripop (obviously), Orange Leaf, and Pinkberry. I'm still waiting for all of them to come to Austin!

G- Galveston

My East Coast relatives joke that Galveston isn't really a beach (they frequent the Jersey Shore), and although it's not quite as beautiful as Hawaii or Florida beaches, it is located just an hour south of Houston and it has provided me with some great memories. Weekend getaways with my volleyball team, beach volleyball tournaments, or even just a day-trip to soak up a little sun. Plus, the Strand is a really historic and cute little shopping area. There is something for everyone, I promise!

Beach Retreat my junior year 

Galveston beach volleyball tournament

H- Hungry's

I'm sure you're all surprised to see this one on the list. A Houston original, and only found in Houston, this is easily my favorite restaurant in the world. I typically order the same item at restaurants, but Hungry's is one where I can order something new and I am almost guaranteed to like it.

I- IMAX Natural Science Museum

My science-loving roommate gave me the idea for this one, but evidently there are sharks and butterflies and other cool things. I might even be persuaded to check it out!

J- Jax Grill

Admittedly, I haven't been to this restaurant in years, but we used to eat here every year for my uncle's birthday. I don't go there much anymore because I just don't think about it, but I might have to pay Jax a little visit when I go home for spring break.

K- Kemah Boardwalk

Another place I haven't been to since I was a kid, the Kemah Boardwalk is also home to amusement park rides, as well as a fun shopping and dining experience located just 20 miles from downtown Houston. 

L- Livestock Show and Rodeo

Hands down, one of my favorite Houston traditions. I can't really remember a year that I haven't attended the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and this year will mark the tenth consecutive year that Gayle and I have gone to a rodeo show together. My parents actually went to the BBQ cook-off yesterday, and I am insanely jealous. They said it was a wonderful time!

Brad Paisley at the 2010 Rodeo - easily my favorite performer!

M- Montrose

A recent discovery on my part, mostly because it's a pretty lengthy drive from my house, but this part of Houston really reminds me of Austin with its eclectic shops and restaurants. It's also home to the Beer Can House, a house adorned with 50,000 cans of beer cans. 

N- Nutcracker Market

Easily one of the greatest events in Houston. It happens in November each year, and this past year was my first time to miss it in many, many years. My mom and I used to volunteer with NCL and then we would shop until we (literally) dropped. Vendors come from all over the country to have a booth at the Nutcracker Market, and it is truly a magical place.

My mom and I at the Nutcracker Market - 2011

O- Origin of Beyonce

Okay, this might not be a true "O," but who doesn't love Beyonce? Houston, TX is the hometown of the much-loved Beyonce Knowles, and a shout out to KP for giving me this suggestion!

P-Pleasure Pier

We used to have Six Flags Astroworld, but that unfortunately did not last well into my teenage years. Alas, Houston was without an amusement park, until Pleasure Pier reopened in Galveston sometime last year. It's a small little amusement park, but it has some high-thrill rides that take you right over the Gulf of Mexico.

Q- 93Q

Again, I'm not sure how well this fits under the letter "Q," but it is one of my go-to Houston radio stations, in fact, it is programmed number 1 in my car. I love that moment when I'm driving back to Houston and I can finally play my familiar stations. It's the little things.

R- Ruggles Green

Again, another big surprise. A four-star certified green restaurant, this restaurant has everything from salads to pizzas to burgers, and they have to-die-for desserts! Plus, it's located right in the middle of City Centre!

S- Space Center Houston

I slept over at Space Center Houston for a girl scout event when I was in elementary school. This was right in the middle of my "I want to be an astronaut" phase, so this was like a dream come true for me. This is also when I discovered that my favorite planet was Mercury. I have a song that goes with it, you'll have to ask me about it sometime! Anyway, Space Center Houston is definitely worth checking out, especially if you're into stuff like astronomy and space shuttles.

T- Tully Stadium

This one might be a little biased, mainly because I grew up rolling down the hill, and then actually watching my friends and younger brother play football at Tully Stadium, but some of my best memories have taken place here, and I can't help but smile every time I drive past it when I'm home.

U- Uptown Park

The place where "European elegance meets Texas style." Uptown Park has so many great places to shop and dine, and it just has a really fun atmosphere to it.

V- I'm having a harder time with Houston than I did with Austin. I'm sure there's a "V" something that I'm just not remembering!

W- Water Wall

A big Houston attraction, it is located next to the tall Williams Tower in Uptown Houston, and I have seen many different photography sessions and different events take place here. I was actually supposed to take my prom pictures here, but inclement weather forced us inside. Bummer! This fountain re-circulates 11,000 gallons of water per minute, crazy!

X- "X" always seems to stump me, and this time is really no exception. If there are any cool places or events to check out in Houston that start with an "X," let a girl know!

Y- Yao Ming

He no longer plays for the Houston Rockets, but at the time of his final season, he was the tallest active player in the NBA at 7'6".

Z- Zoo

Though I haven't been in years, I do remember doing a big interview project in elementary school about the Houston Zoo. It was founded on the principle that it would be forever free to enter, but that has since changed. However, it is still a great place to visit, despite the fact that we can't have penguins! 

By the way, I must apologize in advance for the inevitable fact that my blog posts will be few and far between these next two weeks. I have only four days of school between now and spring break, but I also have one major research paper, three exams, four small assignments due, and a WyldLife half-niter event all between now and then. So, I'll do my best to keep up with the blogging, but if I happen to slack a little bit, I promise I'll make it up to you over spring break!

Fitness and Frozen Yogurt

Clever title, right? Well, this post has a little bit of both for your reading enjoyment, so just prepare yourselves.

Last night after campaigners, I headed over to SRD to pick up a friend. She didn't live on my hall last year, but I got to know her through one of the girls on my hall, and we had been meaning to get frozen yogurt and catch up for a long time, and last night we finally got together.

We went to an Austin original - Hut's Hamburgers - and it was both of our first times to eat there. The place is a cute hole-in-the-wall type place that is obviously known for its hamburgs. I fully intended to get a hamburger or a chicken sandwich, but it was so cold outside that I made a last-minute decision to get the veggie chili, because I thought it would warm me right up. It wasn't the best chili I've ever had, but it was still good, and it did its job of getting me warm. And I apologize for the lack of a picture, I took one (of course), but it wasn't my best, sorry!

I really loved the atmosphere of the place, and I will definitely be going back to actually try a hamburger. I have to see if they measure up to my dad's burgers!

(Source) 

After dinner, we set out to try a new-to-us frozen yogurt establishment, but when we got there, it was closed. I was pretty bummed because I always love trying new frozen yogurt, but it just wasn't meant to be. Instead, we went to The Yogurt Spot and I had a combination of razzgranate sorbet, chocolate, mint, and toasted marshmallow (sounds weird, but it tasted great), topped with a spoonful of strawberries. It hit the spot, and my stomach was definitely satisfied after that little adventure. Plus, it was great to see and catch up with Chloe.

Workout

This morning started bright and early, as I was at the gym by 7:40am. I originally planned to swim today, because my weather app said it's supposed to be in the 70's and sunny later on today, but I have hopes of knocking out a huge chunk of one of my research papers, so I figured working out first thing would be a step in the right direction.

So, I decided on a quick interval treadmill workout, followed by a functional training workout that I modified from a workout that was posted on Instagram a few weeks ago. My treadmill workout looked like this:

Sprint workouts are always the hardest for me, which is pretty surprising since I did my fair share of sprinting all over the volleyball court back in the day, but sprint workouts never fail to leave me huffing and puffing.

Once my time on the treadmill was done, I started on my functional training circuit.

The box jumps just about killed me, which is also surprising because the summer before my senior year of high school, I did box jumps probably three times a week. I guess that was kind of a long time ago, but I didn't expect my legs to be quite as shaky as they were!

I followed that circuit with three rounds of another mini-circuit that I sort of put together on the spot, and it included exercise ball wall squats, tricep dips, and 30-second plank holds. I then rounded out my time at the gym with a little ab workout, and I'm fully anticipating a sore body tomorrow, because it's been a while since I have done any sort of functional training like that. Now I'm off to start on that research paper - wish me luck!

My First Massage

I don't know what came over me, but yesterday after my cycling class at the gym, I felt exhausted. My body just felt tired and all I really wanted to do was lay on my couch and watch a movie. Unfortunately, schoolwork didn't quite allow me to do that without feeling guilty, but I decided that a little massage was just what I needed. Gregory Gym - our gym on campus - happens to offer 30 minute massages for just $33, so I decided to take the plunge. One of my roommates had gotten one before and just raved about it, so I decided to take the plunge and sign up. More on the actual massage in a minute.

Breakfast

To fuel me through a long day of class, I started off with two Van's Blueberry Waffles, topped with peanut butter, cinnamon, coconut flakes, and dairy-free chocolate chips. The peanut butter mixed with the blueberry is a very.. different taste. Not bad, just not my favorite. I also heated up two of my egg white vegetable bars to eat once I got to class.

After class, I took advantage of the sunny weather and swam 80 laps in the outdoor pool at Gregory. I still had about an hour before my massage, so I took advantage of that time and did a bit of reading, attempting to get a jump start on what I hope will be a very productive weekend.

Massage

The title of my post says this is my first massage, which isn't exactly true. It's my first real massage, but after the first day of the BPMS150 - a bike ride from Houston to Austin - I got a 15-minute massage, mostly for my legs, and I can honestly say that I wasn't sore at all the next day. And that was a good thing considering I still had about 80 miles to go. So, my thought process before scheduling this appointment was that if 15 minutes can make me feel essentially pain-free, a 30-minute massage will do wonders. Not that I was really in pain, but I think all of my recent training endeavors, paired with school, have taken quite the toll on my body. I didn't quite know what to expect from this massage, and I was a little nervous because I am very ticklish, but it felt great. It hurt, but in a good way, if that makes any sense. I feel 110% more relaxed, and my body feels so refreshed. I'd say it was a success, and if you are a UT student, I highly recommend taking advantage of this opportunity. Jeff is a rockstar!

And now I'm off to turn this Thursday into a productive one. And DON'T FORGET, there are only TEN MORE DAYS until this special offer for the Pretty Muddy Run expires. Just commit already! Look for some training posts coming soon!

Easy Chicken Dinner

I had a lot of vegetables to use up last night before my trip to the grocery store today, so I sort of threw them all together for a delicious dinner last night before small group.

Trust me when I tell you that it's really easy to make, but I'll walk you through what I did because I promised someone on Instagram that I would post the recipe, and it's been a while since I've posted a (somewhat) new recipe, so now we'll both have it when our vegetables start seeing their last days.

Broccoli

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees

2. Cut your broccoli into florets

3. Put broccoli florets in a bowl and toss with olive oil

4. Sprinkle in some lemon pepper

5. Line on a foil-lined cookie sheet and cook in the oven for 12 minutes

Zucchini and Squash

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees

2. Slice zucchini and squash

3. Optional: cut zucchini and squash in half

4. Place zucchini and squash on a foil-lined cookie sheet

5. Use a brush to lightly coat the zucchini and squash with olive oil

6. Sprinkle lemon pepper on the zucchini and squash

7. Cook in the oven for 8 minutes

Spinach

1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan over medium heat

2. Run spinach under cold water

3. Add spinach to the pan and lift and turn the spinach for a couple of minutes until wilted

Chicken

1. Cut chicken into small pieces

2. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a pan over medium heat

3. Add chicken to the pan and sprinkle with lemon pepper

4. Toss until completely cooked

All of this can really be done simultaneously, so the preparation and cooking process shouldn't take more than 15-20 minutes. Throw it all together in a bowl, add some salsa, and enjoy!

Now I'm off to turn this Wednesday into a productive one. See y'all later!

An Austin Summer

It's the fifth monday of the spring semester and I truly can't believe how fast time is flying. I saw a post on Facebook today by the Houston Rodeo & Livestock Show that said the start of the 2013 rodeo season is just ONE WEEK away. That blows my mind, because I definitely feel as though this year is just flying by. I only have three school weeks until spring break (hallelujah), but then I think of how much I still have left to do before spring break and I realize that I should probably buckle down and do it.

Breakfast

I slept pretty hard last night, and was not too pleased when my alarm went off this morning. I agreed to babysit for a family that one of my roommates knows from 8:30am-12:30pm, so I needed to get up and get ready to greet the day. Breakfast was pretty easy, as I attempted to make some of my no-bake energy bites last night, but they were not quite as moist (sorry, I know many of y'all hate that word) as usual, so the ones that weren't able to be formed into balls, I threw into the oven and turned into peanut butter granola. It was the perfect breakfast, along with a couple of my egg-white vegetable bars. It fueled me for a long morning of babysitting.

The two girls I babysat were just precious, but every time I babysit, I remember why I am so hesitant to do so. Inevitably, every time I babysit, one of the kids ends up crying, and I find myself willing the clock to go faster. We still had a good time, and they live in a place I am considering living if I find myself in Austin after graduation.

Making some yak

Workout

After babysitting and a quick meeting at SRD (more on that to come in a second), I grabbed a honeycrisp apple and peanut butter, and snacked on a few more things before biking over to Gregory to take advantage of the sunshine and warm weather. Now that my half marathon is over, I can start focusing on my upcoming triathlon - there is a lot of swimming and cycling on the agenda these next few weeks. I snagged a lane all to myself and swam 80 laps in the Austin sunshine before retiring to a lawn chair and reading a bit of my latest book: Captivating. I'm trying this new thing where I read all of the books on my Kindle / in my possession before purchasing any new books. We'll see how long this lasts.

Austin Summer

Now, about my meeting at SRD. I received an email this morning from Jessica, the registrar at my beloved SRD, asking me to come by sometime this week for a meeting with her and Mary, the administrator, regarding summer employment. I had emailed them over Christmas break asking them to keep me in mind if they had any summer availability, and as it turned out, they do, and I am officially working the front desk at SRD 8am-3pm Monday through Friday for the entire summer. This means I will have to stop the application process at the place where I interviewed Friday morning, but I could not be more excited about these summer job plans. SRD has been so good to me, and I will always remain loyal to them. Plus, you can't beat free food from SRD! It's also great because I still have weekends open, allowing me to go home to Houston, take a weekend trip to Galveston to play in a few beach volleyball tournaments with one of my roommates, and to attend the wedding of one of my Young Life teammates. A job that will help me pay for the trips I want to take, and an Austin summer - life is good!

And now I'm off to do the homework that I have yet to touch today. Adios!

Broken Curse

Happy Sunday! I'm taking a break from Survey Sunday, not because I don't have one in mind, but because I'm doing a race recap for y'all today, and I have a lot of other homework to do, so two posts today probably isn't happening. Don't worry, I'll be back next week with another good one for your reading enjoyment.

Anyway, this morning started bright and early as my alarm went off at 5:00am. I really wasn't that tired, mostly because I was asleep by about 9:30pm, so waking up at that early hour really wasn't horrible. I stood in my pajamas debating shorts or tights for quite some time before finally settling on tights, just because I knew we would be waiting around in the dark for at least an hour, and if I started out being cold, I would never get warm. I did get a little warm a ways into the race, but I think the tights were a good decision on my part.

(Source)

So, after finally getting dressed and ready for the race, I headed to the kitchen, toasted some bread, lathered on some peanut butter, and sliced a banana so that I could eat a piece of peanut butter and banana toast. I also sprinkled it with some cinnamon, and it was the perfect pre-race fuel. Toast, peanut butter, and banana has been my go-to pre-race meal for the past couple of years, and it has yet to let me down. I finished off the rest of the banana and ate one of my banana-oatmeal-almond butter muffins before Katie's parents arrived at the Clubhouse to take us over to the race. We got over there around 6:00am, but we sat in the warm car for a few minutes before heading over and getting ready for the race to start.

I think since my decision to do the race was so last-minute, I wasn't fully believing what I was about to do. I haven't run 13.1 miles in a long time, and this was the longest race since my broken toe incident, which, by the way, hasn't bothered me for at least two weeks. I'd say it's fully healed, despite the fact that I still think it looks a little fat. Anyway, we ran into a couple of people that we knew, and I started getting really excited for the race. Plus, I knew it would all be over in about two hours and I could get back in my warm bed if I so chose. We started right about on time, and I started off on the course that I ran just two years prior. It was just as fun (and hilly) as I remember it being. I feel like my hill training was pretty minimal, especially in the weeks leading up to the race, but it wasn't too bad until I looked up and saw the infamous Enfield hill at mile 12. I had to laugh when I heard the people around me saying, "That's it, that's the hill." Because, yes, that was the hill. The good thing is that once you got to the top, you only had a little over a mile to go.

THE hill (Source)

I felt pretty great the entire race, but I thought that mile 10 to mile 11 was easily the hardest mile for me. I couldn't tell you why, but I felt as though it lasted forever! Other than that, I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day to just casually get up and go run around Austin. And I have to give a shoutout to my friend and roomie, Katie, who absolutely DOMINATED her first half marathon with a time of 1:56. And she was worried about not finishing! I wish I had pictures of us to share, but they all came out pretty dark and/or blurry, so you'll have to trust me when I tell you that I looked like a rockstar pre- and post-race! I also wish I could show you a picture of all the food I ate post-race, but that was devoured long before I thought about documenting it. Oops!

So, my half marathon curse has officially been broken (the last two were plagued by injuries), AND I set a new personal record! I now have the itch to complete a full marathon in the near future, but I know that requires a lot of time, a lot of training and a whole lot of commitment. I would love to complete one (and just one), but I'm not quite sure if I have it in me. But then I have to think about the fact that the people we are running for are running a much tougher race than I am. I think it was mile 9 that featured cheerleaders all wearing yellow and holding yellow signs in honor of people who might be fighting cancer, who have beat cancer, or may have unfortunately lost their battle with cancer. It was a pretty powerful sight, and one that I don't think I will forget any time soon.

View from above the race (Source)

P.S. If you were tracking my results (which I'm sure all of you were), my race number was 12878. I ran the race under Katie's friends name (Devanne), because you are unable to transfer registrations from person to person. Betcha didn't know I was running under an alias!

Twas the Night Before the Half Marathon

What does one do the day before a half marathon? Well, I can't give you a list of what you should do, but I'll walk you through what I did today. The last half marathon featured on the blog was the Disney World Half Marathon, but I wouldn't say that going to Magic Kingdom the day before running 13.1 miles is considered to be the norm.

In terms of training, what I did before my first half marathon was run throughout the week - I ran Monday (5.6 miles), Tuesday (4 miles), and Wednesday (5.4 miles) this week - do some sort of cross-training at least one of the days - I swam on Thursday, as it was a beautiful day outside, take Friday off from any type of exercise, and run 2ish miles on Saturday morning. As planned, I didn't exercise at all yesterday, and made sure to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. This morning, I woke up around 7:00 to run two miles around my neighborhood. I was a bit surprised when I checked my phone to see that it was 35 degrees outside. I'm praying that it won't be that cold tomorrow morning. We all know how I feel about the cold weather!

It was a beautiful morning, though, so I can't complain too much about that. After my two-mile run, I came back inside, showered, and made some scrambled egg whites  that I ate alongside a couple of my egg white vegetable bars, a couple banana-oatmeal-almond butter bars, and a few no-bake energy bites. Evidently I was hungry this morning! 

I sort of snacked my way through breakfast and into the later part of the morning, so after I got a haircut and by the time lunch rolled around, I wasn't too hungry. I ate a large honeycrisp apple with peanut butter around 2pm, with a couple more egg white vegetable bars and no-bake energy bites. That kept me satisfied and fueled for some school work until about fifteen minutes ago when I whipped up a dairy-free pizza to eat for dinner. I made it the way I always do, but I added a bit of leftover pulled pork that a sweet YoungLife committee mom made for us before club on Monday, to the top of it. I don't know if that's weird, but it sure tasted good!

So, my day has been pretty chill - lots of relaxing, some homework, and lots of water. I am going to try to get to bed fairly early, because my 5am wake-up call is going to come early. I am really looking forward to the race, though, because the weather should be good (albeit, cold), and I really like this course, though it is pretty darn hilly. I would love to finish in under two hours tomorrow, but realistically speaking, that probably won't happen. Hey, just finishing is an accomplishment in my book!

I'll be sure to post a race recap sometime tomorrow or Monday for y'all. Wish me luck!