Changing Things Up…..

Yesterday, I went out to grab a salad at lunch and just couldn’t force myself to go back inside.  It was a beautiful day in Chicago and I couldn’t remember the last time, I had been out just wandering around the city.  I was longing for my running shoes so I could cover more ground faster! 

Being downtown on a daily basis, I tend to be constantly rushing around, back and forth to the train or my car, or running errands for work.  I rarely even leave the building for lunch so yesterday I was pleasantly surprised to see some small changes like new store fronts and brightly painted sidewalks which had not been present in the spring.   Yes, the spring.  That was the last time, I was out running and/or wandering during lunch.  I remember specifically going out for that springtime lunch run so I could see the spring colors (March 27, 2012) and I haven’t been back out for fun or running since.  Kinda sad.

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Yesterday, I spent some time on Michigan Avenue around the Art Museum. 

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And strolled thru the Art Museum Gardens:

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I also was pleasantly surprised to see an increase in healthy lunch options and stopped into Kramer’s Health Foods on Wabash for a Supreme Veggie Salad and Faux Chicken Salad.  Really tasty, I’ll definitely go back! 

Today will be another beautiful day in the city and I plan to change things up from the norm and head out to “see what I can see”.  I hope you get a moment today to stop and enjoy the day.   I think we work too hard, are too busy in general and miss a lot of the beauty around us.  I’m going to get out and enjoy some of that beauty and I wish the same for you.

Do you ever have the opportunity to break up your work day by relaxing in a beautiful park or strolling around town?

** Enjoy the Beauty ** Amanda – TooTallFritz ** amanda@tootallfrtiz.com

Beautiful Day in Chicago!

This week has been a bit of a scramble but I did manage a swim on Monday (70 laps = 1750 yards = .99 miles = 40:04 minutes) when Aby’s track meet was canceled due to rain.  Yesterday I squeezed in a lunchtime shake out run.  My legs were still heavy from Sunday’s race so I needed something slow and relaxed.  When I run at lunch, I always hit Chicago’s lakefront and it was a perfect day yesterday for lollygagging and photo taking!  I ran out on the lakefront, then came back thru Grant Park to get a view of the fountain!

Sears Tower:

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Entrance tunnel (under Lake Shore Drive) to Grant Park by Museum Campus:

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Shedd Aquarium:

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Chicago Skyline looking North toward Navy Pier:

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Grant Park:

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Buckingham Fountain:

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All in all, I ran 4.5 miles at a very leisurely pace.   The City is so alive, there are lots of people milling around doing the tourist thing and I love seeing them and seeing the sights myself in the brightness of spring.  It’s the days that I can get out and run at lunch that really help me appreciate the beauty of Chicago.

People frequently ask what I do when I get back to work and am hot & sweaty.  I wash up in the bathroom!  If I actually go to the gym, to run on the treadmill, I can shower there.  However, I normally run outside so I just wash up and use the Yes to Cucumber Wipes.  Then I tell people to stay away from me.  🙂

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Over the next 3 weeks, I will be focusing on increasing my run miles.  A couple days a week I will be running more than once (2x and eventually 3x per day).  My first multi run day will be this Saturday with a hilly 13 miler in the morning and a 5K Fun Run in the afternoon.  I will continue to build the bike miles.  I will also be focusing on getting out as much as possible on mid-day lunch runs to acclimate to the heat pre-Ragnar.  The heat is the one thing we can not control and we will be running all hours of the day & night, particularly since there are only 6 of us running the 200 miles.  Stay tuned for lots of fun training in the weeks ahead!  Oh, and send me a truck load of ice for ice baths, okay?

What is your next goal and/or focus?  Everyone needs a goal, please share yours with us in the event that something YOU are doing might inspire and/or intrigue someone else!

Happy Running **  Amanda – TooTallFritz **  amanda@tootallfritz.com **