Good morning and happy Monday!
I had quite a busy weekend, but it was definitely fun! It all started out Friday when my parents arrived in town. They stopped off at my apartment to drop off a few things, and then later we all went out to dinner at a Greek restaurant up in Lakeview.
Saturday morning I headed out for my 6 mile run and decided to run south through the Gold Coast neighborhood. On my run I came across this Halloween display:
Haha pretty cool! The temperature was also pretty cool… It was the first outdoor run where I’ve had to break out the running tights and long sleeves! I’d been avoiding the cold weather by running on the treadmill, but I wanted to run outside and I’m so glad I did!
After my run I showered and got ready for book club. This month our book was Orange Is the New Black, which is now a Netflix original series. I actually liked the book more than I like the TV show because the show is much more extreme and the book was more realistic as to what prison was really like for her. Definitely give it a read, I really enjoyed it and got through it fairly quickly.
Our view from book club, hosted by Ashley, was also quite gorgeous!
Photo stolen from Emily’s Instagram
After book club I headed back up to Lincoln Park to watch the Missouri football game with my brother, sister-in-law and my parents. We won’t discuss how that game went…
Sunday morning I was up early and headed downtown to meet up with my friend, Marley, from Charleston. We met this summer when we were both bridesmaids in my friend Amy Lee’s wedding and we hit it off right away! I definitely miss this girl.
I only had a little bit of time but she, her friend and I checked out the Bean and I took them up Michigan to get a look at the river.
Then I hurried back down Michigan Avenue for an architecture tour with my parents and older brother. It was pretty interesting and I really loved that we went into the lobbies of several buildings, which I had never done. This tour definitely taught me to stop for a minute and look up at all the amazing buildings in Chicago!
After the tour I went to lunch with my parents and then headed home for some R&R. I was exhausted from walking around for several hours all morning! Then it was time for cocktail hour at my apartment and dinner at an Italian restaurant in Lincoln Park with my parents! They head home this morning but it was so nice to have them come and visit!
Alright, now on to the workout portion of today’s post! First, let’s take a look at how last week went:
Monday: 3 miles + Purely Inspire Workout 4
Tuesday: Purely Inspire Workout 2
Wednesday: 3 miles + Purely Fit Life #20
Thursday: 2 miles + Purely Inspire Workout #4 REST DAY
Friday: Purely Inspire Workout #5 2 miles + Purely Inspire Workout #4
Saturday: 6 miles @ avg. pace of 9:22 – the run went alright, both IT bands at my knee ended up hurting but I had a great pace and otherwise felt really good. Splits: 9:27, 9:26, 9:22, 9:44 (hit the Gold Coast Farmers Market, too many people!), 9:16, 8:55).
Sunday: Purely Fit Tabata Workout Excessive walking…
And now here is what I have going on this next week, which includes my first “official” week of training for the Phoenix Rock N Roll Half Marathon!
Monday: 3 miles + Purely Inspire Workout
Tuesday: Purely Inspire Workout 3 (circuit workout)
Wednesday (MY BIRTHDAY!): 3 miles + Purely Fit Leg & Balance Workout
Thursday: 3 miles + Purely Inspire Full Body Workout
Friday: REST
Saturday: 4 miles
Sunday: Purely Fit Life Circuit Workout + Abs
Have you ever been on an architecture tour?
Have you ever been to Chicago?
When was the last time you had a friend come visit?
I’m surprised that the KC game wasn’t mentioned here – can’t believe they’re still undefeated! I’m looking forward to their games against the broncos. I find it funny that now the Chiefs remind me of you, since I don’t think I know of any of fans!
I want to come to Chicago so badly! I can take the train there very inexpensively – maybe next summer!
Haha Chiefs fans tend to solely be from Kansas City! I finished writing this post yesterday before the game ended so I didn’t think to add it in!
I was thinking the same thing about your lack of Chiefs shout out! Haha! Go CHIEFS!!!
Woooohooooo!
Yes, I’ve been to Chicago :). My sisters and I are hoping to come back around Christmas too!
The last time I had a friend visit was in August, when she was in town from Arizona for a bachelorette party.
Love it, you’re fully taking advantage of the city being so close!
Sounds like a fun weekend! You got some awesome photos.
How has running longer distances (in my head that’s 5+ miles) been going since you took a break from it for awhile? Do you find it pretty tough to get back to where you were endurance-wise or has it come pretty easily to you?
It’s been pretty tough, actually. I’ve been building up my mileage for months and I’m only at about 12 per week right now. Haha I’m actually kind of scared for all the long runs I have coming up but I’m sure the slow build of my training plan will be fine. I think the key is to just stay consistent. I know I missed a lot of runs and really wish I’d just taken the time to get them in. Also, slowing down helps a lot. I try to remind myself that you have to build either speed or distance, but not both at the same time. I picked distance!
I was in Chicago about a year ago – such a beautiful city! And good to know that you’re enjoying OITNB, I was at the bookstore yesterday and I was thinking about picking it up. I might have to go back for it now!
I really enjoyed learning what it was actually like to be in prison (or at least her experience). Very different from the show!
I love Chicago! My boyfriend and I visited last December and we had a great time. Both of us are considering moving there at some point after graduation. It’s beautiful!
It really is a beautiful city, I still can’t get over it!
Sounds like a fun weekend! 🙂 I took an architecture boat tour when I was in Chicago a few years ago and loved it!
How do you like the purely inspire workouts??
The architecture boat tour is by far my favorite thing to do with visitors! And so far I’m liking the workouts. Not every one is my favorite, but they tend to go by really quickly and push me out of my comfort zone. And if I’m just not feeling what their workout is that day, I do my own thing!
I love Halloween, well really any kind, of festive decorations. When I was in New Orleans last weekend, I came across a building or two that were done up really spooky! It always puts a smile on my face because I love cheesy stuff like that.
Oooo I bet there were some great decorations in New Orleans!
I really like Chicago. I was in Lincoln park Saturday for furniture shopping with my family. We ended up eating at the massive whole foods there. It’s always delicious but would love any recommendations you have for Lincoln park restaurants. We have a few favorite restaurants but they are all downtown Chicago.
Taco Joint on Halsted is always fun, Cafe Babareeba is also good and nearby. More towards the park (my neighborhood), there’s Riccardo Trattoria (nice Italian), Dunlay’s on Clark, The Peasantry (I haven’t been but my brother and sister-in-law love it), Two Sparrows (great brunch), Sultans Market (very casual – I go alone and eat but great food), Toro for sushi, Mia Francesca (Italian and serves gluten free pasta), aaaaand that’s all I can think of for now… Haha feel free to email me anytime!
I’ve never been on an architecture tour, but that sounds really cool. The closest we’ve ever come is my wife’s cousin is big into restoration and when we visit them in Vermont she’s always telling us stuff about the houses/buildings we drive by, which is fun! Sounds like you had a great weekend!
Oh I love that – haha casual and FREE tour!
Will you be doing all of your longer training runs outside? After Thanksgiving I don’t have lab on Saturdays and I’d love to join you on a couple (if you’ll let me!).
UM YES. I was actually going to ask if you’d want me to switch my long runs to Sunday so we could run together! If, that is, you can handle my super speedy pace…
Happy birth week!!!! Yes, you get a whole week. I LOVE birthdays and YOU!
Haha really I’ll just take the whole month!
I did the Architecture Tour when I went to Chicago last summer- and I LOVED it! I hear it’s really cool to go at night (i’ll have to do that next time!)
I’m pretty sure I’m the only person in the world who doesn’t know anything about Orange Is The New Black..
Well this is the book the TV show was based off of, so need to watch the show. It’s a woman’s account of life in prison for about a year, pretty interesting!
Sounds like a great weekend! Nope, never been to Chicago but my sister in law wants to move there so maybe one day!
You both should come visit!
[…] I really enjoyed how easy it was to find and book a tour on Vimbly. I liked it so much that I used it again to book the architecture tour I went on with my family on Sunday! […]
The Missouri game…yeah. I go to Mizzou and was at the game. The whole stadium was silent after the “ting”. I feel bad for the kicker. He’s been getting a ton of flack for that one. Other than that it sounds like you had a pretty awesome weekend!
I think it made it worse that it hit the post rather than just missing. More painful, more visual… Oh well. Haha guess we have to just move on.
architecture tour sounds interesting, we’ve never been on one before! great job with the workouts too and the run 🙂
we just visited a friend in DC it was a great time as it has been a long time since we have seen her!
Oh fun! I’ve been to DC just once and I was only in the city for an afternoon!