Single Pink Flower

“Wait here young lady” he said to me as I finished tearing down my cardboard box and placing it in the recycling bin. I hesitated, based on the situation, but his kind demeanor made me think otherwise. So I waited as he walked back to his grocery cart and his friend continued to dig in the garbage. My garbage. Our garbage.

He pushed aside a lamp with no shade, a box of leftover Domino’s pizza (filled with only the crust I’m sure), until he reached down and pulled up a single pink flower. Unsure of what he was going to say or do, I did what he told me to. I waited.

He turned back around, flower in hand, and began walking towards me. “Hopefully your neighbors don’t see you. You are making them look bad.” I grinned, unsure of what he meant by that. “Here, take this flower as a thank you for being such a good citizen and recycling”. I said thank you and grinned a little bigger. He went back to join his friend “dumpster dive” and I went back to get in my car and go to work. 

I see these scenes acted out in movies and hear about them in songs, but thought that's the furthest they come to being reality. But then it happened in my city, in my neighborhood, in my backyard. It happened and I was a lead character who walked away with a single pink flower and an immense amount of guilt. 

I think about those two men. I wonder how long they've been living on the street, burying for treasure amongst our junk. I think about me. I wonder how long I've been judgmental and selfish when I'm surrounded by more than enough materialistic things. I think about us. I wonder how long our society has been awkward towards these situations and what we can do to restore love in this world. Lastly, I think about that single pink flower. I wonder how something so bright and vibrant can bloom in a place that can be so dark and dreary. Then again, don't we all? 

As Ellen DeGeneres says at the end of every episode:

Be Kind to One Another

10/18

Never have I ever:

• Ran 17 miles 
• Had my legs and feet feel like they were on fire and question whether or not they really are
• Ran in what feels like circles for 3 hours
• Needed water but thought it's the last thing I want to pour down my throat
• Woken up at 4:45am to voluntarily run 
• Skipped a Saturday training run in exchange for Yoga 
• Heard the running store clerk tell me my total and I just laugh…until I realized she was serious
• Ate a Peanut Butter flavored GU packet mid run and craved a bagel and coffee to go with it

Never have I ever done those things...until now. My run this morning wasn't an ideal pace (I normally run a 9-9:15 mile) but I've told anyone and everyone that I'm not doing this marathon for time. I just want to finish the dang thing in one piece! I've started incorporating 30 sec. walk breaks every 3 miles to help break things up and give my body and mind a chance to get reoriented.

Monday - 13.1 mile run 

Tuesday - 4 mile run 

Wednesday - 5 mile run 

Thursday - 4 mile run 

Friday - Rest

Saturday - Yoga 

Sunday - 17 mile run 

I did feel that my dinner last night helped fuel my run as well as my breakfast (oatmeal with blueberries) before I headed out this morning. If you take anything away from this post, let it be this: carb loading does not mean ordering everything off the menu at Olive Garden. Up your carb intake 2 days before a big run but don't up your portions. Keep it realistic and have fun experimenting with meals that work for you. 

Dinner // Gluten free pasta with steamed broccoli, 1/2 avocado, chicken breast, & sprinkled with Parmesan cheese

As I sit here, sitting in my robe with legs perched on the ottoman, the thought of standing up and being human today seems out of my reach. I hurt. My feet feel like cinder blocks, my legs feel like jello, and my arms and abs are sore from yoga. My hair is still wet with sweat and my coffee pot isn't brewing enough to meet customer demands. Come on, Mr. Coffee! But it's Sunday which means church, lunch date with a dear friend, and Jazz in the Park to shut this wonderful weekend down!

P.S. What is your favorite meal the night before an intense workout? Comment below. 

Yoga on the Rocks

When fellow Denver blogger, Kendall, at dippedinyellow.com, contacted me asking if I wanted VIP tickets, I could hardly contain my excitement as Yoga on the Rocks is talked around the city quite often and the event sells out fast. Put on by CorePower Yoga and held at Red Rocks Amphitheater, the same place where musical legends strum their guitars and beat their drums, it is a "Denver memory" that will forever be highlighted in my mental scrapbook. 

I don't consider myself a Yogi by any means and the only times I have done it is in front of a tv while Jillian Michael's tells me to do downward dog and then 100 jumping jacks. Not relaxing - not spiritual - not yoga. 

You always hear about the spiritual side of yoga and how some do the act simply to balance their mind. If we are being honest, I always snubbed my nose at "those people" because how can you balance your mind when you are trying to balance your body and twist in to a human pretzel? 

But today? Today I was one of those people. The instructor alone was amazing, but when you add in the surroundings - the people, the mountains, the sun rising, the birds chirping, the wind blowing slowly and moving your hair ever so gently - it made for a pretty remarkable experience. 

After an hour of breathing and stretching and, to my surprise, sweating, we headed to the tents where free samples were being given away by companies like LaraBar, Luna, and Whole Foods. SCORE! 

Again, a big THANK YOU to Kendall and CorePower Yoga for an enjoyable Saturday morning at Red Rocks!

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I survived! You survived! Happy Friday!  I can't wait to share with you what I will be participating in tomorrow morning - eek! Stay tuned! 

Whoa…too many exclamation points. Noted. 

I have added some swag to the blog that will make it easier for YOU to be a reader of P.S. Wish You Were Here. Enter your email address in the box to the left and every time I write and post, you will get it directly sent to you. Could it get any easier than that?  

That's all I have for today. I have some "deep" posts to write up (have to let them simmer a little longer)   so better get to sipping my (now cold) cup of coffee from the neighborhood shop and slip into thought.

P.S. What are you looking forward to this weekend? Comment below. 

In My Bowl

Strawberries & Blueberries & Flaxseed.

My breakfast this morning was simple, colorful, and nutritious. I wasn't that hungry and am trying to keep my portions smaller but served more often.

If you haven't tried flaxseed, start now! The benefits of these little things are great and they are easy to "sneak" in to any meal - fruit bowls, salads, burgers, you name it! 

Flaxseed contains many components that are good for your body, with the primary three being:

• Omega-3 essential fatty acids, "good" fats that have been shown to have heart-healthy effects. Each tablespoon of ground flaxseed contains about 1.8 grams of plant omega-3s.
• Lignans, which have both plant estrogen and antioxidant qualities. Flaxseed contains 75 to 800 times more lignans than other plant foods.
• Fiber. Flaxseed contains both the soluble and insoluble types.

source: http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/benefits-of-flaxseed

P.S. What's in your bowl today? Comment below. 

Denver Hit & Run 5K // Race Entry Discount Code!

I've done my share of races but nothing like the one I will experience on August 16th. After watching the video (link posted at bottom of post) of what I have to expect during this race, it reminded me of a cross between American Ninja Warrior and Wipeout. Umm..HOW FUN is that?!

"The Hit and Run 5K is an exciting, fun race for people of all ages. We've have runners varying from ages 10 (the youngest age the participant can be) to 70. You can run, jog, or walk the course depending on your ability. The obstacles are meant to be challenging, but not hard. If you approach an obstacle, but are hesitant, you can go around or watch other racers attempts. We also allow friends and families of the runners to watch and take pictures of their runner at the obstacles. We also team up with local charities and donate some of our funds to their good causes."

But seriously, how awesome does this race look….

This is the perfect way to close out your summer by gathering up a group of friends (because you know you won't want to look ridiculous alone!) and having fun along this 5k course! I was beyond ecstatic when the folks at the Hit and Run 5k reached out and gave me a discount code for my readers! Register HERE and...

To get 20% off your race entry, use the code: 

P.S.WishYouWereHere20

During the registration process if you click the option to share on Facebook, you can get and additional $5 off!

Link to Youtube Video: http://youtu.be/Sf1R65ewPmM

Still have questions? Email: info@hitandrun5k.com

Thank you to the people I have been in contact with at the Hit and Run 5k. I look forward to your race!

9/18

Halfway through my marathon training! YEAH! After coming off vacation, I felt exhausted at the beginning of the week. It didn't help that I got back to the city on Monday night and worked 12 hours the next day and 11 hours the following. Oh, reality. Always have to be there don't you?!

I typically do my runs before work but when my alarm went off on Wednesday morning, I used the ol "listen to your body" advice and opted to sleep for an extra hour. I figured I could run on K's treadmill or just hit up the gym in the evening. After breakfast, I told K that I had to run but the thought of doing so seemed so far out of reach. I just felt blah. Being the wonderful 9 yr old that she is, she said she would bike next to me and keep me motivated.

She would zip past me saying things like "Go Carrie go!" and "You are as fast as a cheetah!". Entertaining? Yes. I was proud of her for staying with me the entire 5 miles as last week she wanted nothing to do with her bike!

Monday - lift

Tuesday - 4 mile run

Wednesday - 5 mile run 

Thursday - 5.5 mile run, lift

Friday - 4 mile walk 

Saturday - Manitou Springs Incline 

Sunday - ice these bad boys…

Today was a scheduled 13.1 mile run but after I got in a little argument with the mountain yesterday, I decided it was best to take the day off and run it tomorrow. 

P.S. Are you good at listening to your body when it needs a break? Comment below.

Recipe: Lean Turkey Burgers

I found this recipe while skimming Competitor, a fitness magazine that primarily focuses on running. My day to day meals look and taste the same and while I love routine, my taste buds have been screaming for something other than chicken and veggies.

Lean Turkey Burgers

Ingredients:

4 white button mushrooms
1 medium zucchini
1/3 cup minced sweet onion
2 Tbsp. chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1 1/4 pounds 99 percent lean ground turkey breast
Cooking spray

Directions:

Using a box grater, finely grate mushrooms and zucchini into a large bowl. Add minced onion, parsley, salt and pepper, and gently mix in turkey until mixture is uniform. Form into patties. Lightly coat a large nonstick pan with cooking spray and heat over medium flame. When hot, add turkey pat ties and cook for 5 to 6 minutes on each side or until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

Per Serving: 177 calories, 1g fat, 3g carbohydrates, 1g dietary fiber, 35g protein

A Heart Divided

I grew up being taught that I can only have one love; one favorite ice cream flavor, one favorite color, one favorite food; one favorite sports team. I was told to share my favorite this and my favorite that, when in reality I didn’t have just one, I had many.

 

While sitting on the dock at my parent’s lake house, my thoughts dwelled on this notion of only having one love. Throughout the week, I thought more about it as my mind kept switching from “I love Minnesota” to “I love Colorado”. I would miss CO when friends would text to see if I wanted to go to the mountains and hike and I would fall harder for MN when I would have my toes in the sand while I  looked at the still water as the sun reflected off it.  It came down to this: I have my heart in two places and that is ok.

 My time back in Minnesota was mostly spent at the lake, which has always been my safe haven and place to cure the ache and ignite the memories. It’s been my “go-to” when I need to get away, be reminded of simply and effortless beauty, and that I am and always will be a lake girl. It’s a destination that, rain or shine, is a meeting place for family and friends, and the perfect backdrop for pictures and Croquet and an adult beverage at 2pm because why not?

I spent a couple days at the cabin by myself and surprisingly didn't get bored or lonely. I enjoyed my morning runs along the hills of green grass and I enjoyed my morning coffee while sitting on the dock with my toes dangling in the water. I spent the afternoons reading on the patio and spent the evenings writing in my journal and catching up on the days gossip via E! News. 

Lake Snaps

This is the reaction I get when I ask to take a picture with them

Making fun of how girls pose 

Kendall singing "Jesus Loves Me"

Mallory singing "Let It Go"

They put on a great talent show! 

Learning and playing the "Cup Song" 

Home Snaps

Cheering on Marcus at his baseball game

The kiddos loved "driving" Auntie Carrie's new car

***

As I sit here, back in Denver and back in the groove, I pride myself in knowing that my heart is in two places. How fortunate I am to love where I live and love where I'm from. I find comfort in knowing that wherever I am, I'll be learning and growing and taking photographs along the way. I look ahead and can't wait to tell my future children the experiences I've done and the people I've met and the places I've seen. I can't wait to tell them that they can love Barbies and toy cars at the same time, and that having a twist cone is ok because who says you can only love vanilla or chocolate?

  After all, two is better one.