Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Delicious Pizza and a Hilly Cutback Week

Over the weekend I went to visit my grandparents with my husband. They live in a pretty rural area almost 2 hours away, so we don't get to see them as much as we probably should. It was shocking when we found a weekend with no obligations (even the Bears were on a Bye week), and we had to take advantage. We arrived Saturday morning and visited some antique stores in town. My Fiestaware collection grew slightly as we found a good deal on some mismatched pieces. (The best thing about Fiestaware is that it doesn't have to match.) While out shopping, we worked up an appetite and made a pit stop for a pumpkin pie blizzard at Dairy Queen.
Yes, that is a size medium.

If you live around the Peoria-ish area, you need to stop in Princeton, IL and the amazing pizza shop we discovered over 10 years ago: Pizza Cellar. It is some of the best pizza I've ever had. (And this is coming from someone that lived in the city of Chicago for 7 years.) My husband and I were really adventurous with our choice. PLAIN CHEESE! I say, you don't mess with the original. If a place can't figure out how to make good cheese pizza, they're not a good pizza place.

No such thing as too many slices

My grandparents have lived on the same lake for about 12 years. Despite running parts of it here and there, I've never made it the whole way around (roughly 5.5 miles) until Sunday morning. I knew it would be hilly so I packed my ProCompression socks and I was glad I did. When I started out, the first mile seemed to go on forever. I'm not quite sure why but the next few went by fairly quickly. I stopped to take a few photos of the gorgeous fall scenery but the photos just don't do it justice...

I even met a few "deer" friends along the way (pun intended). It was a great 6 mile run, but not without a little bit of a challenge. I knew that there would be hills, but I didn't quite know how many hills.

That elevation map is no joke! I like that you can tell my speed slowed when going up hill. It was a really fun way to enjoy the weather and fall scenery at a place I've been a million times before, but seen through a different perspective. I thought the hills would be good training for my next race, the Zooma Great Lakes Half Marathon this weekend! I'm looking forward to having fun with this race and completing it with some of my Chicago Running Blogger friends. If you're in the area running the race or cheering, look for us in our green compression socks! :)

16 comments:

  1. But ... did you stop at the Silver Slipper on the way home??

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  2. That certainly sounds like it was a fun weekend. And wow, I can tell from the elevation map that was a very hilly route. But I'm the beautiful fall scenery made up for the challenge. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing the photos of you guys from the Zooma race with your green compression socks. Hope you and your friends have a great time there.

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  3. I had a pretty busy weekend also. On Saturday I ran a 5k race, which I think I've already told you about, where what I think is my new PB of 21.40. The following day I did a 13km long run in about 1 hour 34 minutes.

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  4. Sounds like the perfect excursion for a Bears bye week haha! Those flag medals are from the Salute 5k/10k in Arlington Hts. Usually Memorial Day weekend if I remember correctly.

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  5. I think that sounds like the PERFECT weekend? Pizza? Pumpkin pie blizzard? What could be wrong with that? :)

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  6. Our dental hygeniest (sp?) was telling us WE HAVE TO GET THE PUMPKIN PIE BLIZZARD. Yes. She was that excited :)

    Awesome hilly run! I cannot wait for ZOOMA!

    And awesome you got to see your grandparents :)

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  7. Wow! Congrats on your 5k race! You are quite speedy!!

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  8. I know, right?? And not to mention, the best pizza ever too... like, ever!! :)

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  9. Haha, it is good but about halfway through my gigantic size, the pumpkin flavoring was losing its luster. I'd recommend the mini or small size instead. :)

    YAYZIEZ ZOOOMA!!!!

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  10. Elevation maps tell it like it is!! Good luck & have fun at ZOOMA. I had a blast at Cape Cod ;)

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  11. Thanks! There will be tons of photos to come from that race!

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  12. I normally run so slow up hills it looks like I'm walking so props to you!

    Cant wait for zooma!!

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  13. Haha, I did walk up that mother one. I tried running up it and may have uttered some curse words before deciding to walk up it. Moving forward is still moving forward!! :)

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