Yesterday, I prayed for sun for our long 12-miler.
Sun came:
And kicked me in the face.
It was one of the most challenging, draining, thought-I-wouldn’t-make-it runs in a long time.
To rewind a little, I started the day with some chia pudding since chia helps joint lubrication—I figured it would help my knees a little to have some chia action in my life.
We spent the morning chilling around the casa, but had to go to the construction site for the cafe—they broke ground yesterday!
I had to take a picture of the guys out there jack hammering 
Very exciting stuff!
We came back, I laid around and watched Food Network –I’m always as inactive as possible right before a long run- and then had a breakfast cookie a little while before I was supposed to leave.
Then met up with Kelly and Meara to tackle our 12-miler.
The breakfast cookie is my pre-workout fuel of choice, for everything. Having it right before a long run –usually I need about 2 hours between eating and working out- it sat like a rock in my stomach. That, in conjunction with the newfound heat, made for a treacherous 12-miler. I had to ask the girls to walk twice with me because I felt so miserable.
Including the walking, we still made some pretty awesome splits:
Mile 1: 9:11
Mile 2: 9:05
Mile 3: 9:22
Mile 4: 10:06
Mile 5: 9:03
Mile 6: 9:22
Mile 7: 9:03
Mile 8: 9:10
Mile 9: 9:10
Mile 10: 9:58 (walking break)
Mile 11: 10: 15 (walking break)
Mile 12: 9:07
Whew!!!
Even though it felt like DEATH, I was so glad we finished. It gave me confidence that I can rock out the half because I’ll have bfast a couple of hours before, the sun wont be beating down on me (until the end) and the adrenaline will be KICKING! 
I came back home, took an ice bath *shudders*, grabbed a piece of millet and some coconut water, then met Jeni and her friend at hibachi for dinner.
I had the usual soup: 
House salad with ginger:
And shrimp with vegetables, no rice:
It was pretty face-rocking.
The guys were at a squadron event last night, so Ashley and I met some friends at Charlie Trippers for drinks.
I didn’t take any pics –a couple of girls don’t know about the blog and I didn’t really feel like explaining it last night, haha- but I had two beautiful glasses of Riesling and a house salad.
It was a lovely night
I’m about to hobble into the kitchen to make some bfast, but have a wonderful and relaxing Sunday- see ya later today!
xoxo,
Gina
Hi, I'm Gina. Welcome to The Fitnessista! I love blogging about my adventures as a new mom, military wife and fitness instructor, as well as sharing new workouts and recipes. Check out the About page for more info - thanks for stopping by!
I’m familiar with that kind of run. Unfortunately I did a race (one of my first ones) on a very hot Saturday afternoon in early June (it’s not supposed to be that hot at that time of year!). I thought I was melting. Literally. However, it looks like you rocked your run yesterday despite struggling. Enjoy your Sunday.
Congratz on completing your run!! It took alot of hard work but you did it
That ice bath must have been miserable though…but I guess it works! 
When you take an ice bath how long do you ice? I know this is good for recovery and joints but have never done it. I have lots of joint pain when i run long distances. Thanks
Way to go on the 12 miles!
wow and i thought my 45* was nice
way to get those 12 miles done!! the fact that you completed in and didn’t quit (even in those terrible conditions) says soooo much about your character. rock on 
Sounds like you rocked that run, despite not feeling 100% on top of your game!!! You’re going to do great in your half mary!
Congrats on the run!! Ice baths always hurt so good
ugh 12 milers can be brutal. Your splits were awesome, even though you didn’t feel the best! congrats!
I always find that either I have a VERY good run where each kilometer just flies by, or an AWFUL run where I keep counting down the distance left to go.
Oooh congrats on the groundbreaking! That is exciting.
Great job pushing through the 12 miler!!
I was the same way on my long run yesterday- even titled the blog “death run”! Haha! I also can’t eat right before, or during, a run. I wish I could, but my body just doesn’t react well.
Theres nothing like a horrible, er… wonderful post-run ice bath! I really have grown to love them.
What’s your favorite Reisling?
~Christie
congrats on the run!! You are going to do amazing at your half! There is always something about races that makes you kick it into full gear too!
Conratulations on the run! That’s great that you pushed through the pain!
Congratulations! But man, I worry about runners’ joints. I have some family members who’ve ruined their legs. I just don’t know if distance running is something our bodies were made for, y’know? Sprinting out of danger, definitely. Be careful! Knees are kinda important!
Congrats on the run AND the ground breaking for GROOVE!!! Both are very exciting accomplishments!
How do you make your chia pudding?? Congrats on the run!!
It was a great run no matter how you look at it
Can’t believe your bakery/cafe is coming to LIFE!
You have such a great attitude, I love it! Just remember that not every run can be an amazing one…the tough ones are bound to appear every now and then! It’s awesome that you finished that many miles, and still managed some amazing splits!
Hoooray for breaking ground on the cafe! how exciting!
Happy Sunday!
Yay – you survived, and you are totally going to rock your half Gina. I have no doubts about it.
So exciting that they broke ground on the bakery yesterday. I’m truly hoping to be there in person for the grand opening!
Great job on the run! The longest I’ve ever run in 8 miles. Some runs feel amazing, while others are a struggle. Keep up the great work and I can’t wait to hear more about the cafe. Have a relaxing Sunday!
You have extreme mental toughness Gina! Rock on! Way to go!!! And congrats on the ground breaking! Big day!
great run- you are totally set for a fab half marathon! congrats!!
Yea….you did it….Congrats!
Next time will be easier!
Enjoy!
Yes you can totally rock another 1/2 marathon! Awesome job with the 12 miles.
Awesome run! Sounds like next time will be even better, under different circumstances. It’s amazing that what/when/how we eat can make or break a run of any distance.
Oooo the hibachi looks great, I love shrimp!
Sorry to hear your run wasn’t perfect, but hey, you did it!
I totally understand grains + running = hell! Glad you made it, and the cafe breaking ground is super-exciting!
SO exciting about the breaking ground! It’s HUGE!!! Glad you made it through the run…
Hot runs are the worst! I can’t eat grains before a run– I get the worst side cramps! I ate a fresh date during my long run today, and I’m not counting it as a “sweet!” Running fuel counts as a freebie, in my opinion.
(at least it wasn’t a mini Snickers, like some runners eat!)
So exciting for breaking ground on the cafe!!
i totally agree- a date isn’t a sweet, it’s a fruit
Great job making it through that tough run!
Great run, G! Congrats!
Good job making it through the run!
I haven’t had hibachi in a while and I definitely need some in my life!
You did fantastic on your run! I need more training…but I look at it as a work in progress! So excited for you about the ground breaking for the cafe! You must be sooo excited! When is the expected open date?
it looks like 2 months!
Congrats on making it through the run!!
Love hibachi =)
xo
K
AMAZING!!! 12 miles is huge! I conquered 8 today, this is super encouraging. It’s all about mental strength, and that’s what I am practicing as I run. If you are mentally strong, you can tackle anything. YOU DID IT!!
Your breakfast cookies are the best things! And mmmm, shrimp. Congratulations on finishing the run!
Wow — the picture of the groundbreaking is so inspiring! It’s really awesome it will be up so soon.
Congrats on powering through your run — I’m sure your half will not be nearly as death-like!
Good for you for getting through those 12 miles!!
And yea for the groundbreaking!!
So glad you mentioned the Riesling – it reminded me that I have a bottle in my fridge. 2 hours til I can go to the gym and then go home and have a glass!!! Yes!
Good for you for the long run! That’s 5 more miles than I’ve done! I can’t even imagine running in the heat. I’m from Canada, so if I go running in the morning on a summer day, it’s usually nice and cool until the sun comes out (and then you melt!). I had signed up for the Las Vegas half marathon and told a colleague that I was doing it in December … he thought I said “in the summer” and was like, “Are you mad??” To a Canadian, running in 45 degree weather does NOT sound like a good time!
I’ll have to try the breakfast cookie sometime … I feel like I need something more!
K