Good morning!
Ali On The Run looks a little different today, right? The blog makeover is still a work in progress, but many hours were spent over the weekend moving this little blog to actually being self-hosted, and doing the whole redesign thing. Those hours were not spent by me, though I was on hand to say, “Yes, I like that” or “Meh, that’s not my favorite,” and also, “Can we eat dinner now?”
The last time we were in touch was on Thursday morning. Since then, plenty has happened, and because you know I am a huge fan of things like lists and organizational tasks, I’ll break it all down for you as neatly as possible.
ON THURSDAY…
I went to yoga! I know, who am I? But my body has been feeling pretty tight lately, and an hour of major stretching felt great. I can’t say I left class on a yoga high or whatever you yoga people feel after class, but I did walk out feeling sufficiently bendy. Crunch has this new yoga class called “The Yoga Adjustment” where there’s a main instructor to tell you what to do (side angle! down dog! baby cobra! argjahdnrasana!) and then there’s a second instructor on hand to adjust you so that things stretch a little further and burn a little more. I loved it. Turns out, I’m doing a lot of things incorrectly.
ON FRIDAY…
I went to spinning. I don’t love Crunch’s Friday morning spin class, but I do love starting my weekend early with a super sweat. Class was uneventful and the workday was productive.
We found cheerleading costumes at the office. And we wore them all day.

And then something incredible happened…
I cooked dinner. And I don’t mean I made English Muffin Pizzas or reheated leftovers. I made a legitimate, from scratch, start-to-finish meal, complete with appetizers.




One of my New Year’s Resolutions was to cook a real meal once a month. I’m sure plenty of you are shaking your heads because you think I’m “underachieving” and stuff, and you cook real meals every single night, but I do not. I am typically afraid of the kitchen, so I avoid it.
But on Friday, I realized that January was almost over, and I hadn’t made more than a bunch of English Muffin Pizzas and several messes in my kitchen throughout the month.
The plan: To cook dinner for Brian.
The dish: Macaroni and cheese. My favorite.
The appetizer: Bread, that I even toasted a little bit, and an olive oil concoction (olive oil, balsamic vinegar, parmesan cheese, salt, pepper and a bit of crushed red pepper — I’m basically ready to open up my own restaurant now).




So in preparation for my big “I’m cooking a real meal” evening, I found two mac and cheese recipes: A delicious-sounding Martha Stewart one and an OK-sounding but healthier version from somewhere else.
Lesson learned: Always follow the Martha Stewart recipe.
I did not. I used the “healthier” recipe.
And while the mac and cheese was OK, it wasn’t as creamy and gooey as I had hoped.




But Brian still ate it, and he didn’t die, so success!




ON SATURDAY…
I ran 15 miles. No, I still haven’t committed to the Eugene Marathon on April 29. But I hadn’t done a big long run in a while, so I wanted to give it a shot, see how my pace was and see how I felt.
The result? My pace was solid and I felt awesome.




My goal was to stay under 9-minute miles. Goal achieved.




I ran all around Central Park, saw lots of familiar, happy faces, and loved the fact that, on January 28, I was running in shorts. This month has been stellar for running. If global warming is real, I really don’t see the problem. (Kidding. Kind of…)
Eventually I made my way over to the West Side Highway. I used to run there every single morning and I miss it. It’s so flat, hence the speedier splits later on in the run.




By the time I was done, I felt so good and really didn’t want to stop running. I love that!
Pace-wise, I never felt like I was pushing too hard, but it felt comfortably challenging. I most definitely couldn’t sustain that pace for a full marathon, but I like that I kept it up no problem for 15 miles. And guess what else? Zero bathroom stops. Huge accomplishment, which is sad, I know, but I’m psyched about it.
I drank fancy chocolate milk. You people are always saying that “chocolate milk is ideal for refueling,” and I believe you. I rarely have milk in my apartment, but after Cooking Fest January 2012, I had some leftover and obviously I always have chocolate stuff on hand. So I had a chocolate milk cocktail and it was delicious.




I didn’t do much else for the rest of the day. I met up with Brian and we ran some errands and got some lunch and got a lot of frozen yogurt. We spent the evening eating mac and cheese leftovers (I still have them for lunch today, too — so much cheesy pasta) and working on blog things.
Correction: He worked on blog things, I laid on my bed to read Runner’s World for a while and apparently fell asleep with it in my hands. I guess the long run wore me out. I forgot how much I love that “I’m so exhausted because I ran forever this morning” feeling.
I want to run a marathon. I want to run a marathon. I want to run a marathon.
ON SUNDAY…
We did more blog things. All morning. This stuff is quite a process, and I hardly even know what’s going on.
I ran 7 miles. The plan was to do a 5-mile “shakeout run,” nice and slow. I love those Sunday runs. I did keep my pace slow, but I ran a weird all-over-the-place route, so 5 miles turned into 7. Oops.
I ran with Al Roker. Well, kind of. I saw Al running in the park. This happens often, actually.




Fun fact: Al Roker is Brian’s neighbor. So Brian sees him all the time. I only see him running in the park.
Anyway, apparently I have a thing for the Today show hosts.




I ran a lot of errands, I went to the bank, and I got more 16 Handles.
And then Brian and I were up until a midnight hour continuing to work on blog things and definitely not watching the season finale of that damn Kardashian show. It’s still a work in progress and I’m making my way through some kinks, but I’m excited to have a new look with bright colors and without that really old “I’M PUMPING MY ARMS FOR JOY!” photo in the header.
So stick with me, ignore any “this site does not exist” messages and I hope you’ll keep reading.
I also hope you all had a wonderful weekend!
65 Responses
Congrats to the long run! Milk is a good source of protein. It greatly helps in your recovery period. You may also try soy milk too.
I am SO jealous AGAIN that you saw a person from the Today Show!!! I love Al! Why do I live in Seattle??
I like the re-design!
You need to slow down during your long runs. If your 5K pace is around 8 min/mile, it suggests that your marathon pace should be around 9 min/mile which makes sense for your current fitness (~3:55 marathon which should be your goal). Then, your long EASY 15 miler should be run at no faster than 9:20-9:30 min/mile to reap the benefits of a long run.
Otherwise, you won’t get much benefit out of it.. Keep your eyes on the goal and not winning a workout.
Although, It is okay to go fast in a long run once in a while (I am guilty as charged as well), just don’t make it a habit. 🙂
I agree. I definitely don’t plan to make this long run pace a habit. This was more of a test for myself — like a personal race! I wanted to see how I’d feel holder a faster-than-usual pace throughout a long run. Now I know, and I can slow back down. Thank you for the advice!
I love the revamp! I haven’t been getting updates though as a of late. I’ve resubscribed, love following and cant wait to see all the final changes!
LOVE the blog. Where can I find a Brian to help me out with mine? Can you loan him to me? Also, love the number of marathon pictures at the top of the screen. How did those get there?!?!
Lastly, WHAT is Al Roker wearing on the side of his head? I am so jealous of your Today Show fame.
You are such a running machine! Love the new blog look.
Very nice blog!
Love the new layout!
I love the new layout! It’s super snazzy! Also, chocolate milk in a wine glass = best idea ever. Now I know exactly what I’m doing after my next long run!
LOVE the new blog design!!! Good job Brian 🙂
Love the new look!
Sounds like you had a busy weekend! Great job on your run, that’s an amazing pace.
LOVE the new look!! Congrats on the long run, you are doing fantastic, as always 😉 And I really shouldn’t look at pics of food when I am currently starving 😉
wowza, the blog looks super sexy! i like.
PS love the mac and cheese cheerleader party.
Looks great!! Do you eat or drink while you’re doing your long runs? I have my first half in a few weeks and still haven’t figured out the best mix of food.water while running. Any tips?
I LOVE the new look! Yay Ali on the Run for always rocking it! And congrats on your rockin 15 miler.
She’s so pretty! I love the new design. Love love love.
And your cheerleading costume is pretty stellar too. We don’t get those at CCFA.
I love the new blog look! I’m sure it’s a lot of work to move over, and it’s nice you have someone to help you with it!
LOVE the new look!! I want to self-host but it scares the pants off me!! PS ROCKIN’ long run my friend!!
I love the new layout!!! So fancy without being too much and very organized! I’m sure you love that part!
Love the new blog! It’s so fancy. 🙂
Also, nice splits on the long run. THis weather is freaking fabulous for running.
Your blog looks fantastic! I especially love the picture of you rocking out in the header.
Love the new look!
Love the new look!
I need a cheerleader uniform!
i just switched to self-hosted too! i love your new site!
nice, speedy 15 miler!!!!!
Hahah I am cracking up over your tweet. I love the new look!
Congratulations on the new look for the blog!!
The new blog looks great!
Yay for mac and cheese. You picked the best dish for your january cookfest.
Nice splits on the long run too!
I’m pretty sure I saw you on that long run–I was out in CP with a teammate doing 400m repeats down the middle of the road. Now I really feel like a stalker.
Anyway, nice long run. You do realize that people who run that pace for LRs are running marathons in like 3:15, right? On the other hand, lots of coaches swear by marathon-pace longer runs in training. If so, you killed it. And you can either race a lot harder than you do, or you’re racing your training.
Oh, and thumbs up tot he new decor.
Wow, I just visited your blog earlier and saw the yellow bar on top. Now I read your latest entry, scrolles back up and saw the changing picture thing. I love it! And of course it shows some Marathon pictures 😀 That`s so great.
Great text, too!
You guys are sooo good. Aaron and I have been working on the conversion forever. And same thing by us working I mean him working but since I am super picky and Aaron is kind of a computer geek he has been building it from the ground up and it takes a while. But wow good for you two getting it done. You have gotten crazy fast. I am not surprised. Oohhh I want to run a marathon too, thought I was. Guess I am not, at least this season though. Although you know what, whether you run it in April or November, there are so many more great marathons in your future and I am sure you will be sustaining that pace for them 🙂
Love the new blog look! Great Splits-inspiring.
Loving the new blog design! It’s so fancy!
<3
So pretty! Congrats on the mac & cheese (and the run, obv)
I like the new look of your blog page. You need to add back the comment button at the end of the blog post from the first page (without having to click to the particular post’s individual page — just more convenient).
I love that you wore cheerleading outfits at work. That sounds fun.
I saw Al Roker in my race coral once two years ago. I think I beat him that day. I think he looks taller on TV.
I hope you decide soon about the marathon. It makes me nervous that you haven’t officially decided, yet and haven’t started officially training and time is ticking…..
I like the way the new blog looks. It’s awesome that you can get Brian to do it. I have to change it myself very frustratingly. Seriously 50,000 + dollars for an engineering education and I haven’t even learned basics of html programming. What a waste.
The new blog looks great. Awesome!
The new site is so preeeeeetty!! Yay!
LOVING the new look!! Nice work!!
I am also very jealous of the cheerleading costume and am sniggering a lot that you wore it for Brian. Bet he loved it 😉
Here’s my favorite part of your new blog: In my Reeder app on my iPhone, where I read all my blogs on my way to work, the icon that shows up next to yours is now a TINY LITTLE RUNNING ALI!
1. Your site looks FABULOUS!!!! Im jealous Brian knows how to do all that stuff. Seriously though, awesome. 2. Can I have a cheer leading costume???!!!!! It is amazing. Very very jealous. Can’t believe they were just giving those away at your work! 3. 15 miles in 2:04?!?! You are so freaking speedy. That is fast lady. You should definitely do Eugene Because Oregon is amazing and you are running so fast! 4. Have a great day!
Love the new layout, great job! And awesome 15 miles
You are not “underachieving” in my book. My goal for 2012 is to learn to cook a meal once a QUARTER! Love the new look of your blog.
I love the new blog look! I ran in shorts yesterday too and it was fantastic! I did not see al roker or anyone super famous though.. bummer
I love your new look, Ali! So pretty. I also love that you can see your conversation with Emily in gchat! 🙂
makeover looks great! and thank you for confirming my longstanding theory that any project fueled with froyo will be a success.
I need to start running in central park more regularly so I see more cool people like Al Roker and less of the homeless guys sleeping on benches along the river.
Also, I’m with you on the average drinks in fancy glasses game. Last week I drank gatorade out of a wineglass. nothing saying classy like the bright yellow/green glow radiating from a wineglass…..
I love that you are cooking dinner in the cheerleader outfit and you don’t even mention it. And I like the new look too! 😉
Love the new look!
OK, I’ve already told you this, but I’m loving this blog format. So fancy. AND… DUDE, your splits are amazing. You’re going to crush your next marathon!!!!
Congrats on the new blog! And on cooking dinner. And on the fabulous run. Please send some of that running mojo my way.
And congrats on deciding to do Eugene!
Oh wait, you haven’t done that.
Yet…
The blog looks great, Ali! And awesome long run – you’re getting really fast!
Dude! I used to be Brian’s neighbor! And I used to run in the park nearly every single day! How come I never saw Al? 🙁
Congrats on the new blog design! The long run this weekend was a success – you are definitely ready for Eugene!
diggin the new blog look! martha stewarts mac and cheese recipe is hands down the best mac and cheese i have ever made! nice pacing on that long run!
Love the changes! I need to do this….did you do it yourself or use a program or something?
Brian did it all! From what I gathered via staring over his shoulder while he worked, he picked a “theme” from some WordPress-affiliated site and then used HTML coding and all that nonsense to customize it. I paid him with three day’s worth of macaroni and cheese. Even trade? Yes.
Loving the new blog! You fancy, huh?
Oh, and everything tastes better in a wine glass.
Also love the cheerleading costume. Great job on that run!! 🙂
Hey! Loving the new layout! I was bummed we couldn’t meet up in NYC but there’s always next time =) Probably for the best since I somehow got a horrible stomach flu this weekend and I don’t think it would fit into your running schedule!
xo Marie
Chocolate & Wine
Ohhh the blog is looking very pretty!!! 🙂
Killer long run missy! I think a spring marathon is calling your name 😉
I need to try to make real mac and cheese like that instead of the kind from the box :-/
http://www.eugenemarathon.com/
Also, you left out the part where you denied me a dance party because running 15 awesome miles is more important than jumping around and feeling so close to me. Whatever…this better mean you’re running Huge Eug.
I love your new self-published blog! It probably needs some time getting used to, but its great 🙂
The blog is looking great, Ali! And I am stoked for your almost announcement of running the Eugene Marathon 😉
Congrats on the new self-published blog! It looks so profesh.
And NICE long run. That is a solid 15-miler. You may be too fast for me these days, but FYI I’ll actually be doing part of my long run in CP next Saturday morning….