1. I haven’t yet posted my training for last week but it should be up later today or tonight. I will most likely back post it and link to the page in this post so keep your eyes out if you enjoy reading those recaps. I back posted my training from last week and you can read about it here.
2. On Friday night Ian and I went out to Pasta Bowl to have a nice, relaxed dinner. The Pasta Bowl is actually where Ian and I had our first date so even though it’s not our favorite restaurant in the city, we have some good memories there
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I started off with a glass of wine and Ian and I split sauteed calamari in an olive oil and garlic sauce. For my meal, I enjoyed their vegetarian salad (grilled veggies, olives) and Ian had their gnocchi. We were both happy campers.
3. I managed to sleep in until after 9 on Saturday morning and while I could have kept sleeping, I woke up starving. I wanted to make something special and different from my usual weekday breakfasts but I was incredibly indecisive and eventually just ended up making a big old bowl of pb2 oatmeal.
4. Saturday morning was incredibly lazy. Ian and I just lounged around in our pjs until the Michigan vs. Northwestern game started at 11. Unfortunately, while I was sitting on the couch I did something to my back and spent most of the game face-up on my yoga mat on the wood floor trying not to twist my body the wrong way. Not fun.
5. A hours and two Tylenol later I decided to try to go out for a run. Surprisingly the 6 miler didn’t hurt my back (although it didn’t make it any better) and I had a good run. My Garmin was dead so I tried out a new to me app, RunKeeper and I actually liked it. If I didn’t have a Garmin, I’d probably use it all the time. I was also in love with the fact that I could run in shorts in November. Crazy.
6. I pretty much snacked my way through Saturday afternoon and by the time dinner rolled around I wasn’t too hungry. With a long run on Saturday morning I figured I should eat something so Ian and I walked over to Pita Heaven for a light dinner. Honestly, I forgot how much I liked Pita Heaven the first time we went over a year ago. I ordered the Mediterranean salad that was topped with avocado, cherry tomatoes, dates, almond slices, and peppers. Usually it comes with feta cheese but I asked for it without. I also gave my pita bread to Ian.
7. After dinner Ian and I finished Arrested Development. I’m so bummed. I miss it already. I can’t wait until the Netflix-only episodes are released next Spring. I’ve also heard talk of a movie *fingers crossed*.
8. On Sunday I woke up and my back/shoulder/neck was still really hurting. I decided to try to squeeze in my 16 miler anyway and fueled up.
My shoulder didn’t get better but it also didn’t get worse so I kept running. I probably should have skipped it entirely though and my body was not happy with me. My back hurt, my legs were tired, and I was just mentally not in it. To make things even better, my sports bra chafed my mid-back and I didn’t even feel it until I stepped into the shower and it burned. Lovely.
9. Post-run I was in a bad mood and despite my back “injury” I decided to deep clean our kitchen. I pulled everything out of the cabinets and cleaned them and also scrubbed our microwave and toasted oven. It feels so good to have a really clean kitchen.
10. Finally after my cleaning frenzy and a shower, I sat down to my post-run meal, a huge salad with avocado, butternut, roasted & salted pecans, hemp seed, and TJs goddess dressing. Amazing. [I also had a piece of cornbread + some cereal].
11. Sunday was spent running errands, laying down with Icy Hot bandages on my back, and watching lots of Breaking Amish. Eventually I decided it was time for dinner and whipped up some spaghetti squash bad thai. I liked this recipe but it wasn’t peanut-ty enough for me and I ended up adding some pb2 to the sauce.
12. Dessert was one of my new favorite combinations: pumpkin + 1/2 scoop vanilla protein powder, pumpkin pie spice, maple syrup, roasted & salted pecans, and Enjoy Your Life chocolate chips with a spoonful of peanut butter. Yum!
13. I woke up early this morning to gauge the status of my back. Unfortunately it’s not getting much better and I decided to take some time today to get it checked out. Bummer. While waiting for the doctor’s office to open, I ate some waffles topped with crunchy peanut butter, banana slices, and maple syrup. Delicious!
What did you do this weekend?









I love the Pasta Bowl! I used to order delivery from there every pre-race night.It sounds like you are being smart about your back. I hope you feel better!!!
Katie @ Livehalffull recently posted..Monday Motivation
Thanks Katie! Pasta Bowl is super delicious, I wish they had a type of pasta that I could eat because it’s soo good!
yuck! sorry to hear about your back but i’m glad you’re going to the doctor. your weekend looks a lot like mine – peanut butter filled
i’ve been on such a peanut butter binge lately, i just can’t stop housing the stuff. keep us posted on your back and i hope you feel better!!!
molly @ heart, sole & cereal recently posted..a squash-filled weekend
I know, I need to pull back a bit from the pb jar. It’s going way too quickly!!
Oh no – I hope your back gets better! Hopefully all you need is a good massage or adjustment.
Sarah @ Blonde Bostonian recently posted..The Big Game
Thanks Sarah!
Haha yea, probably should have not done the 16 miler but I’m the same way with sticking to my training plan, I totally would have done it too!
Katie @ Peace Love & Oats recently posted..BBC–Week 3
I know I get so nervous to skip! The pain wasn’t getting any worse either so I just kept running!
Yikes — I really hope your back is all right! If you have to take some time off running, you should use your free time to come up with an epic injury story :p haha. But in all honesty, I hope nothing is really wrong, because taking time off training plans is no fun.
I ran in shorts this past weekend, too, and it was SO awesome. While I do really enjoy cool weather running, it’s such a nice treat to be able to go for a run in November where you don’t have to spend the first 1-2 miles thawing your frozen body haha.
Bethany @ Accidental Intentions recently posted..Best Body Bootcamp Week 3: Loving Ladders
Thanks Bethany! It looks like I should be able to run tomorrow *fingers crossed*!
I love cool weather running too but not layering up was really nice. Although I definitely got a little too hot on Sunday and needed more water than I brought with me and all of the drinking fountains were turned off. Boo!
Hope your back gets better. I ran the Perfect 10 this weekend in capris and a drifit long sleeve shirt and I was overheating! It was perfect running weather on Saturday. My weekend involved lots of finals preparation.
Christina recently posted..Manic Mondays: Finals Edition
I’m glad you had a great race!
What the frick-a-roo did you do to your back?!?! I hope it is feeling better by the time you read this comment!
Emily recently posted..Weekly workout recap
Thanks Emily! I have no idea what caused it but it doesn’t look like anything too serious. Whew!
I hope your back gets better friend and I’ll be thinking of you for sure. That melty peanut butter is really hitting a soft spot in my heart right now LOL. As for me, I decided to run my final cross country race on a whim LOL.
HollieisFueledByLOLZ recently posted..Lightening up Pancakes
Thanks! Good for you for running it. No regrets right?
The pumpkin combo with the chocolate chips and the pre-run rice cake looks so delicious! Sorry about your back!
caloricandcrazy recently posted..Athena, Bella & Me
Thanks! The combo is great and definitely worth trying
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Sorry to hear about your back! Maybe you could pay a visit to the chiro? They’re usually pretty good at aligning the spine properly.
I love how versatile spaghetti squash is! Last week I made coconut curry with spaghetti squash and now I’m dying to make a pad thai version!
I love spaghetti squash so much, why did it take me until this year to really try it?? A coconut curry version sounds delicious too! As far as the pad thai’s go, I really liked the practical pale version and thought the one I made on Sunday was good but not quite pad thai-y enough. I also love that the practical paleo one uses sunflower seed butter in the sauce!
hope your back gets better! omg all of your food looks so delicious!
I ran a small local 5k this weekend and relaxed on Sunday. A good weekend for me

Katie @ Katie Moves recently posted..4 Diamonds 5k Recap
Sounds like a perfect weekend
Thanks!
I was at the Michigan v. Northwester game. Oh man it was awesome. Usually I leave the games early, but not this time. I’m glad I stayed too! haha GO BLUE!
That pumpkin dessert thing looks sooooo delicious! I seriously am so addicted to pumpkin!
Natasha recently posted..Perfection is impossible
I’m glad you had fun, the game was super exciting!!
You should try it, it’s really good!
Pingback: WIAW + A Giveaway {11-14-2012} | Running the Windy City
Spag squash pad thai?! Sign me up

Katy @ Naner-A-Day recently posted..Inside Out
It was sooo good!!