It may look like I am crying, but I am not. Well, maybe I was a little.
I had plenty of excuses to skip my speed workout today… many. My main excuse was that my plans for a babysitter fell through so I was sentenced to another round of yasso 800s on the treadmill.
I was very tempted to just skip it but just decided to stop all of the complaining and get it done because goals > complaints.
2 mile warm-up
10 x 800 m (.5 miles on the treadmill) with .25 mile recovery jogs in between each one.
1.75 mile cool-down
11 miles total
My coach prescribed a 3:02-3:06 pace for each .5 miles. That is about a 9.7-9.9 mph on the treadmill.
Mine were: 3:05, 3:05, 3:05, 3:05, 3:05, 3:04, 3:03, 3:04, 3:03, 3:02
Average for the 10 was 3:04…. three weeks ago my average for these were 3:06. Progress is progress even if it is only two seconds:)
.5 incline for these and I always make sure to start tracking the .5 miles when the treadmill actually reaches the speed I set it to.
It will be interesting to see how I am able to pace myself on these outside once I get a chance to because the treadmill just allows you to set your speed exactly where you want to be.
I told you I like angry music when I do my speed work. Today’s mix:
We are throwing a baby shower for my sister tonight at our house. We have been running around town all day getting ready for it.
Brooke loves having people come over just as much as I do.
We are getting all of my sister’s favorites and we had to test out the rolls in the car just to make sure they were okay. They are.
Lots of baking going down.
Our favorite chocolate chip cookies because even after you cook them, they still taste like balls of cookie dough.
The best part of today is that my brother and his wife (they live in Kentucky… you may remember them from when I visited them this summer) had their baby girl today!!!!!!!!!!
I now have 17 nieces and nephews and my sister will be adding another one shortly!
—————————————————————————
How many nieces and nephews do you have?
Favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe?
What are some of the biggest ‘excuses’ that you use when it comes to working out?
84 comments
Sarah @ KS Runner
How exciting! Congratulations to your family, she is beautiful! 17 nieces and nephews?! Holy cow…I only have 3!
Probably my biggest excuse is that I’m tired. Generally speaking it doesn’t stop me, but it happens. Second biggest excuse is lack of time. I can usually get around that one too.
Brooke is such a little lady now! When did that happen!? And her hair is so beautiful!
Jennifer
That’s an awesome treadmill workout!
12 nieces and nephews
The NY Times chocolate chip cookies rock!
Run excuse: you pushed hard yesterday, so it’s ok to take it easy today
PS…I loved reading everyone’s blog recommendations earlier today:)
jessica @ VEGGIE RUNNING MOMMA
So many niece and nephews.!! I can’t wait for just one.! Lol
And way to stick to it girl.!! That’s a hard work out and you got it done :) I’ll babysit next time. Lol
The Hungry Runner Girl
I may take you up on that offer Jessica:) Thank you and I hope the rest of your day is amazing!
Amanda @ Slimplify Life
In all seriousness, I didn’t even know the speed of 9.7 existed on the treadmill. You’re amaze balls.
My biggest excuse is that I ‘need’ more sleep but then I always feel 29348 better once I get ‘er done.
The Hungry Runner Girl
YES… I do the ‘NEED’ more sleep thing too but without a doubt, I always feel so much better if I just get up and go!
Thanks Amanda! Have a great day!
Fiona @ Get Fit Fiona
My favourite chocolate chip recipe is from Martha Stewart. They’re chewy cookies as opposed to cakey, which I love.
tess
ohhh. I love chewy cookies. I wonder if gluten free cookies can be made chewy. :( ::alwaysmorequestions::
Jasmine @ A cupcake for my thoughts
Yum those cookies look good! Congrats to your brother and his wife!! I have 0 nieces or nephews, there’s a huge gap between my sister and I, so it’ll be a while till I have any nieces or nephews!
My biggest excuse is the weather, I use it all the time. I don’t have a treadmill so outside is my only option and I’m a big baby when it comes to running in the cold. I hope you have an awesome time hosting your sister’s baby shower :)
Megan D
Your workout sounds intense. Like puke or die intense. Next time call me and I will come watch Brooke or you can bring her here. Tell her I promise there will be no mean kids and I will have treats….or maybe just lie and tell her you are going to Candice’s house ;) Actually, that may back fire. Badly.
What a great sister you are. I am sure everything will be perfect and yummy. Those cookies look amazing. SO excited for her!!
I have 2 nephews and 8 nieces and one more nephew on the way. We are throwing her a shower here next weekend and then the next weekend we are flying to AZ to throw her one there. To say my mom is going overboard would be an understatement. Simplifying isn’t really a strong characteristic of hers ;)
The Hungry Runner Girl
Girls rule in your family:)
I hope you are serious about me dropping off Brooke with you guys… I could just leave on my workout from you house. That would be amazing. You are going to have a blast in AZ. See you in approximately 5.6 hours.
Megan D
Dead. Serious.
I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t mean it and it would make me so happy to help you and to play with Brooke.
4.5 hours now.
Kerry
Eek that sounds like torture.. I hate running! Brooke is so cute, reminds me of my Sienna.. girls can be little divas can’t they ;) PS. I’m a new follower :)
Susan
Congrats & blessings to your brother and sister in law! Beautiful baby!
Have fun celebrating your sister’s upcoming delivery, too. Family means everything!
The Hungry Runner Girl
Thank you so much Susan and you are SOOOO right!
Ashley @ A Lady Goes West
Hi J! I don’t know how you did all that on the treadmill. You’re awesome. I’ve actually started adding a little bit more cardio into my weeks by doing some short intervals on the treadmill and man I get bored quickly. But then again, I don’t have big running goals like you! :) Oh and, I have no nieces or nephews yet, but hope to one day. Have fun at the shower! :)
Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries
Congrats to your brother and your SIL! How exciting! Holy cow – 17 nieces and nephews – you’re a busy aunt!
Would love that cookie recipe!! Sounds like my kinda cookie…
The Hungry Runner Girl
OOPS… I forgot to link it! Here it is:
http://www.hungryrunnergirl.com/2011/01/best-chocolate-chip-cookies.html
Have a great day girl! I MISS YOU!! COME BACK!!!!
Laura @ This Runner's Recipes
Congrats on the new niece!! My sister and brothers- in-law are all a lot younger than me so no nieces or nephews.
I always use tired as an excuse to skip strength training, and I use the weather as an excuse to run inside on the treadmill, but I haven’t skipped runs in a while unless I’m sick.
Still searching and testing for the best chocolate chip cookie recipe!
Kate @ www.socalrunnergal.com
Congrats on another niece! You have a huge family!
Yassos are actually my favorite treadmill workout. :) NICE WORK!
Kristina @ Blog About Running
17 nieces and nephews! WOW! I have zero since I am an only child!
My biggest excuse is “a rest day will help not hurt” because it sounds so reasonable right? It’s just not good when you try to use that too many days in a row ;)
Brynn
Congrats!! I have one niece and one nephew plus my little four month old! And he is my biggest excuse!!
The Hungry Runner Girl
And cutest excuse:)
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious
Wow! That’s a lot of nieces and nephews. I’m amazed! Congratulations on the new one! I got the best almond chocolate chip cookies from the Fitnessista’s new HIIT book. It’s hands down amazing.
Alisha @ Real Girl Running
I have no nieces or nephews!
Yesterday I had the lamest excuse yet. I was having a dream that I was sick and staying at home from work. When my alarm went off, I thought ‘Why would I get up and go to the gym?? I’m sick!’, and I went back to sleep. Lamesauce!!
Cheryl
I have 17 nieces and nephews, so far….they are tons of fun!
Laura
Wow 17 nieces and nephews!! I have 4 and I feel like it’s plenty, lol.
Your speedwork is insanely fast! I’m lucky to do 7:30 mm 800s! Now I feel like a turtle, lol.
My only excuse is if I’m overly tired. And 9 times out of 10 I still get up and go because people are expecting me. Today I didn’t….I needed my sleep!
Becky @ Olives n Wine
My biggest workout excuses tend to be weather related… it is too hot/cold, it is raining/snowing… and so on! I just bought a few workout videos to use at home so I no longer have that excuse ;)
Caroline
Wow- 17 nieces and nephews is crazy!! I don’t have any as of yet, and don’t see it happening within the next few years either. Congrats to your brother, sister-in-law, and entire family on the birth of the new little one!
Kaella
Congratulations Aunty!!!!
I have two nieces and a nephew. I wish they lived closer but we skype a lot!!
Have fun at the baby shower tonight! I’ve tried your chocolate chip recipe and love it!!! I would definitely say it’s one of my favourites! My little guy also added white chocolate chips to it (a lot of them) so that also made them extra tasty!
Usually my excuse is I’m too tired because my toddler tornado kept me up hahaha!
Tricia @ A Couple of Dashes
Those cookies sound like they would be right up my alley! I generally prefer to eat the raw dough, instead of actually baking them, so this might be a good alternative for me! :)
Becky @ Ok, so here's the plan
I have one niece, she’s 3 and adorable. :)
My go-to chocolate chip cookie recipe is the nestle tollhouse recipe. It’s just so good!
My excuse is usually just plain laziness or “I don’t wanna!” neither of which is a good reason!
Liv @ Healthy Liv
Congrats to your bro and sister-in-law!!!!
Mmm love cookies that taste like cookie dough! And those rolls…they look insane!
chelsea @ the new wifestyle
have such a fabulous time tonight celebrating your sister and her new baby!! i am very glad you taste tested those rolls because they look outrageous and now i need them too.
[email protected].
I have zero nieces/nephews!
Sometimes I get held up at work – and if I am even 15 minutes out of schedule, I usually have to cancel a run because I have to pick up my son from daycare. I don’t like to leave him in daycare for more than 8 hours, so sometimes it is tight. Today was one of those days – work got intense and I didn’t leave til it was too late. I don’t have a treadmill at home and I’m alone with my son most nights, so it makes it hard!
Rachel @ Blonde with a Chanse
How fun! I love baby showers, oh and congrats to your brother and his wife :) New babies are the best!! I have 5 nieces and 3 nephews, and another on the way :) I am so excited!!! I love chocolate chip cookies that use oatmeal and vanilla pudding in the recipe. If you are interested I can find the specific recipe for you. As for my main excuse for not working out, it is definitely my daughter. She sits in her crib next to me and plays with her toys while I run on the treadmill, and sometimes she just isn’t having it and will cry the whole time. So that is my excuse sometimes hehe ;)
Tedi @ running with infertility
I don’t have ANY nieces or nephews. My husband and I are the only married couple on both sides of the family. So we have to wait till they all get married, just wish they would hurry up. :)
I always tell myself that I am too tired to do a workout. But then I get told from my doctor that it will help you sleep better if you workout even when you are tired. Lame! Now I’m back to working out when I’m exhausted!!
Anna | Gone Banannas
My jaw practically hit the floor when you said you were running at 9.7, 9.9 pace. SWEET BABY J, that is FAST, Janae!!
I absolutely looked up that cookie recipe and took stock in my head of whether or not I had all the ingredients at home already because we are stuck in the middle of this blizzard in Boston so there was NO WAY I was going to be able to get ingredients – good news – I think I have everything. PHEW!
Christy
Congrats! Being an Auntie is the best! 17 is just awesome! I have 2 nieces, 1 nephew and that’s all she wrote. Ha!
I’ve been spoiled with running buddies. So if I can’t get anyone to go with me, I bail.
Looking forward to hearing all about your sis’s baby shower. Enjoy the evening!
Megan Chism
I envy your dedication to running. Ever since I started school again I have found it so hard to stay motivated! Today it was nice and sunny and warm so I was able to go out a run in shorts and a tank top! Thank heavens for that!
LeAnne @ This is my faster!
Congrats on becoming an aunt again!!!! That’s awesome :)
I have one niece and one nephew (hopefully more soon).
Biggest excuse for working out: It’s raining too hard to go to the gym and swim…didn’t want to get wet in the rain before getting wet in the pool ;)
Suzy
Okay, those are some seriously fast splits. WOW. I know what it’s like to run 3 minute 800s on the track, but the treadmill? Over my dead body. Literally. You’re going to KILL those 800s on the track.
Jen D.
POST THAT RECIPE!!!!?
tess
It’s there…she put it in the comments a few down from the top…under Ashley @ My Food N Fitness Diaries comment. (I hope I got that name right…)
Jen D.
Thanks so much! I didn’t even catch that. I keep looking for a good recipe.
Linda @ the Fitty
This is amazing progress, especially since you did it on a bad day and still PR’ed, you know?
Anne @ CandyCrazedrun.com
Oh my goodness gracious, 17! Brooke is one lucky girl :) We have a really small family, my mom has one brother with two kids, and my Dad has one brother with three. Add in my brother sister and I an it’s 8 total on both sides.
Congratulation to your brother an SIL, their daughter is simply gorgeous!
Elle @ The Clean Project
My biggest excuse is being tired. I have a crazy unpredictable work schedule, so I usually want to make up for lost sleep, but I know exercise always gives me good energy too so I try to talk myself into it…
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie
Congratulations to your expanding family! It is so great having such a large family. And those cookies look absolutely delicious right now!
Natalie @ Never Serious Blog
So many babies! So so sweet, congratulations on being an aunt again! I don’t have any yet. It’s just me and my younger brother in my family and he doesn’t have any kids (thank goodness, because he’s an unmarried college student! :)
I just cannot get over how HUGE Brooke is these days! She’s so darn grown up!
My favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe is the Sally’s Baking Addiction perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe. Can’t be beat! :)
Ashley @ Saving Money in your Twenties
oh my gosh… 17?! That’s amazing!! I have two nieces and I think THAT’S a lot! haha :) I made chocolate chip cookies last night– I use this recipe and loooove them!! http://kelseysappleaday.blogspot.com/2011/08/best-ever-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies.html
Amber
Best recipe ever! I don’t make them often because it is hard to stay out of them!
molly
17?! I’m at a whopping 2 :) … And only because I am married ha!
Uma Thurman is my JAM right now!! I bought that entire album. Way to rock your treadmill workout…does not look easy in the least!
Cheri @ Overactive Blogger
Ahhhh this post is making me feel like such a slack ass! My legs were killing me today after 10 yesterday so I skipped my speed workout and am going to do 5 at race pace tomorrow with a friend.
Amber
Great job getting ‘er done! I wish I read this this morning when I totally caved in to my excuse. 10 miles with the running stroller planned but my girl didnt want anything to do with it. It was either ipad for ten miles or ditch the run, so I ditched it.
My fav chocolate chip recipe is here. It uses cornstarch so they always turn out fluffy and virtually impossible to ruin, which is important for my lack of baking skills.
http://kelseysappleaday.blogspot.com/2011/08/best-ever-chewy-chocolate-chip-cookies.html
Brooke is beautiful!
Lisa @ Running Out Of Wine
My first niece is expected in April!! I am so excited to be an aunt!
That treadmill workout sounds intense- honestly I don’t think I could go that fast for 5 seconds without flying off.
Amy @ Mama Running for God
Way to get it done!!!! Love Brooke with the balloons…she’s so cute!!
I love all chocolate chip recipes..I haven’t met one I didn’t like.
Congrats to your brother and his wife!! That’s alot of neices and nephews! I have one niece and one nephew. lol
Tara @ Living Light
Congrats on becoming an auntie to another little one! So exciting!
I have zero nieces/nephews but a lot of my good friend’s children call me auntie and I love it. Gotta love when friends become family!
Those cookies look amazing. I’m still searching for my perfect recipe but I 100% always choose a soft cookie over a crispy cookie. I pretty much bake cookies just so I can eat the dough ;)
And good for you with keeping with your running goals! If I have a bad sleep I try to convince myself that if I’m trying to be healthy then sleep is part of that. Gotta find balance ;)
char eats greens
I love how you added all the little info about your Yassos. I always think that when I do speed work on the ‘mill – how will my body exactly translate that to being outside haha. Way to get it done though!! 2 seconds is still pretty fantastic if you ask me ;)
Marissa @ Run Riss Run
Holy cow, 17 nieces and nephews!! I have 9 nieces and nephews and 9 great nieces and nephews!
My fav chocolate chip cookies recipe includes lots of butter and are a bit undercooked :)
My biggest excuse is wanting to sleep because i get up so dang early to workout.
Flower
Congrats to your brother and his wife on their new baby and I hope your sister has a wonderful time at her baby shower. I love all things babies!
And I hope you do too with 17 nieces and nephews and another on the way ;) That’s a serious amount of kids. I have 2 nieces and 1 nephew, but I’m open to more (in case my sister or brother are reading….)
Lisa @ TechChick Adventures
Have a great party! Wow, that’s a lot of nieces and nephews. I have 7. Probably my only excuse is not having enough time, but that’s also why I run in the morning before work because there is always enough time if you get up early enough :)
Daisy- Fit Wanderlust Runner
Congrats on the newest addition to your family! 17 is a lot. Hopefully the baby shower goes smoothly and that your sister enjoys every second of it. The funny thing is that lately I have been dreading my long runs but I have been looking forward to speed work. Of course my speed work is way slower than yours. You are speedy! :)
Gracie
I have a niece and a nephew – my brother’s kids – and they are less than a year apart!
Marian
We have one nephew and three nieces, all on my husband’s side of the family. My brother is not married and seems to have no interest in tying the knot, so we won’t have any new little people in the family. (But, he’s a great uncle and gets to act like a big kid with his two nephews, so sometimes it’s like having another child around when we’re all together!)
How neat for Brooke to have so many cousins! I think that would be awesome!
Education Papers
Its informative i like it. It’s a good article. Its more attractive and effective for people.
Jessica
Great job on doing the workout and not talking yourself out of it! My biggest thing is time (or lack thereof) or if I’m sore. I only want to do yoga when I’m sore!
Olivia
Hi there Janae! I just wanted to let you know I have been following you for a little while now and you really are an inspiration to me. Not only with your running but blogging also. Reading your blog motivates me to get out and beat the feet even when I don’t feel like it! You have inspired me to start blogging myself which I am thoroughly enjoying. I have been training for my first half in February and hope to run many more and progress onto the full later on in life. Anyway, to answer your questions- no nieces or nephews (yet), oat choc chip cookies, and excuses = tired, too busy, and ‘oh I’ll do it tomorrow’. Greetings from little old New Zealand! :D
Nicole@Thegirlwhoraneverywhere
GREAT GREAT job!! I love/hate when the treadmill owns me! I miss doing repeats on an Outdoor track…that felt so much more
Rewarding to me than doing them on a Tmill!!
I can’t believe you have that many nieces and nephews…for real?? I have two and they are the cutest!:)
Jen
I have 12 nieces and nephews. 6 of them are from 1 sister!
I also have angry music for running. Til I Collapse is on mine as well. It’s a big departure from my typical Vance Joy & Ben Howard stuff. Listen to Renegades of Funk by Rage against the machine. That might be one to add to your mix:)
Kimberly @ Keeping Up With Kimberly
Congrats to your brother and his family! I have 1 nephew and he is turning 1 year old on February 5th. They live about 18 hours away from me, but we are all meeting at my parent’s house (in Louisville, KY actually!) for his birthday party. I CAN’T WAIT!
My excuse is always that I’m too tired. It’s a really bad excuse and I need to stop using it and get going!
Missy
Ok there is something about the choc chip cookies looking like dough balls that is resonating with me.
Elena
Wow – how many siblings do you have to have so many nieces and nephews? I thought you have two sisters and a brother but maybe more?
I have 6 nieces and nephews and 2 kiddos of my own.
Favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe was the toll house one! Have a great day :)
AmandaM
that lululemon bag is the perfect gym-going bag for holding (book in my case) earphones, etc! i use the same one and hang it on the treadmill like that too :)
Monica
Aww, congrats, Auntie!
I have 8 nieces and nephews! 5 boys and 3 girls. Age ranged from 15 years down to 4 years.
I’m boring and like Phoebe’s grandma’s recipe from Nestlee Tool Huse… (remember that episode of Friends?) But seriously, the plain recipe from the back of the Nestle Toll House chocolate chips package is my all-time favorite. Lame? Maybe. Delicious? Absolutely!
Jane @ 50statecanuck
OMG. 17 nieces and nephews? I’d worry I’d forget their names!! LOL! I only have one nephew – and a niece on the way. I am his godmother and I LOVE HIM TO PIECES.
I have been known to say “I’m tired and it would be better for me to rest than force a workout and risk injury”…and sometimes that is the truth, but there have been times when it’s JUST AN EXCUSE!
Julie
Thanks for another playlist!
I love either loud music or mashups/mixes for my intervals, too – Girl Talk’s last three albums are such staples for me that if I listen to them when I’m not working out, my heart rate increases anyway because my body’s so used to hearing them when I’m sweating! You should definitely check out DJ Earworm’s yearly mixes, they might be fun for spin, and you can download them from his site.
Nicole
Congrats on the new little one in your family! By the way, your sis-in-law’s eyelashes are so perfect in the picture. I can’t imagine giving birth (in general) and then having beautiful eyes after!
I have my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe from Allrecipes.com.
My excuses are “I’m just so flippin’ tired.” ….even though working out helps make me more energetic!
dina
I have 18 nieces and nephews. One of my brothers has 11 kids! Congratulations to your brother on his new baby girl, she is precious.
I always make chocolate chip cookies with vanilla puddind mix added to the batter. It makes them so soft and extra delicious.
My biggest excuse…I have 2 little ones (2 yrs and 9 months) they don’t tolerate the cold well when I take them out in the double stoller this time of year, and I don’t have a baby sitter or a treadmill at home.
Danica @ It's Progression
aww Congrats to your brother and sister-in-law!!! How exciting! That’s awesome that you get to be an aunt to so many.
Livi @ Eat, Pray, Work It Out
Those cookies look to die for!!
Losing Lindy
wow 17?? I only have 4 and I have three brothers.
Emily
Thank you so much for posting about the excuses. It was nearly 9pm last night (when I usually go to bed at 9:30) and I still needed to get my 7 miles in. I kicked the excuses to the curb and had an awesome run!
Kay
Congratulations to your family!!