I have a Beck/postpartum update HERE if you want to check it out today:)
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Andrew has a few more days off for paternity leave so I took advantage of that yesterday and went on a hike.
My sister joined me and we went on the trail that I used to run at least once a week last year. We used to run this trail the day after a hard speed workout and now just walking it left me out of breathe! There is a time and a season for everything and right now I’m enjoying hiking the trails for my movement.
We found a bit of snow while we were out and if you are wondering why my sister is carrying a rock in the above picture it is just in case we run into any animals!
Of course you know how a good chunk of the rest of my day was spent…
It really warmed up in the afternoon so we got outside with the kids for a bit.
And Brooke was very proud of this picture she took of Beck and asked for me to put it on the blog:)
I have a few tangents to share!
*My neighbor sent this text to me yesterday morning. It was 23 degrees outside at the time! Brooke has started to join Andrew in the desire to wear shorts in freezing weather so I had to hide her shorts.
*Sam’s Club frozen orange chicken > Costco & TJ’s versions of of frozen orange chicken. Try it.
*It is so strange to me that last year at this time it was the week leading up to running CIM! I remember being so invested that week in getting plenty of sleep and making sure I was eating all of the right things in preparation for the race and then a year later and I’m just hoping to get enough sleep to remember what my name is and to eat something other than just the kid’s leftover food;)
How has it been A YEAR since my last race?!
*Did you see that Crystal McGee set the fastest known time on quad-crossing (from North Rim to South Rim to North Rim to South Rim to North Rim again) of the Grand Canyon. According to her Strava she finished the quad-crossing of the Grand Canyon with a total of 95.54 miles with 21,647 ft of climbing in 28 hours and 11 minutes.
*If you are looking for an advent calendar of service ideas for this month, this one is a great one!
*If you ever see a Sodalicious store between Thanksgiving and Christmas I am REQUIRING YOU to drive-thru and get their chocolate and peppermint cookie. It is in my top 3 favorite treats ever.
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Just another reminder of a new Beck post here!
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Who has a December birthday? What about a December race?
What are some of your favorite service ideas to do this time of year?
Ever been to the Grand Canyon? Ever run there?
Where do you get most of your groceries from? What is your favorite grocery store ever?
34 comments
Lee
Sadly, we only have a Walmart in my town so I get most of my groceries there. If I need anything special, I drive 30 minutes or pick it up from one of the grocery stores near my office on my way home.
I have a December birthday and am looking for a virtual race that supports a charity. I did my turkey trot in 22:55 (they just emailed me that I won a medal; i finished 22nd overall). I’m almost to my 22:11 goal that garmin says i can do. i’m really hoping to do it on Christmas Eve.
I have never been to the Grand canyon. It’s on my bucket list.
I agree with your neighbor. I don’t know how anyone wears shorts this time of year and their legs don’t freeze off.
have a great Tuesday!
The Hungry Runner Girl
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH! I hope you get in a lot of celebrating and way to go on your turkey trot!I can’t wait to see you hit that goal on Christmas Eve! Have a beautiful day and thank you so much!
Victoria
Unfortunately I don’t live anywhere near a Sodalicious but a local bakery company is coming out with a peppermint dark chocolate cookie which I will DEFINITELY be picking up.
The Hungry Runner Girl
You are going to have to give me a full review on that cookie… it sounds amazing! Have a great day Victoria!
Maureen
I usually will help out at a food drive but I don’t think they are taking as many volunteers this year so I need to find a good way to give back right now that’s more than just donating money. Obviously nothing wrong with that but I like to see what my time/effort contributes too as well!
Does Sodalicious mail cookies and if so please order me a dozen of those and I will happily venmo you. They look incredible!
The Hungry Runner Girl
I have been looking for a safe option for me and the kids to do that involves time/effort also in addition to donations! Keep me updated with what you find. I will mail them to you:). They are PURE heaven. I hope your day is off to a great start Maureen.
Amanda H
My (40th!) birthday is Thursday, the 3rd, my husband’s bday is the 13th, my daughter’s is the 27th, and my dad’s is the 31st. There’s a slew of other friend and extended family bdays this month too, which is a lot of fun with Christmas coming up.
One of my favorite service projects this time of year is one that is put on by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America…the Good Gifts program. You can purchase all kinds of things for people in countries around the world – things like honeybees, vaccines, school supplies, goats, etc. They are matching gifts today: https://goodgifts.elca.org/
I would love to travel to the Grand Canyon one day, and running there would be amazing.
I love shopping at Sam’s and Aldi – I avoid Walmart like the plague and only go when I need something I can’t get at Sam’s or Aldi.
The Hungry Runner Girl
HAPPY 40th ON THURSDAY! You guys have such a fun month up ahead and I hope you get in all of the celebrating. Thank you so much for telling me about this program and including the link too… can’t wait to help! We need an Aldi here, I hear it is the best. Have a great day, Amanda and I’m eating cake on Thursday to celebrate your bday:)
Wendy
OMG… That cookie looks amazing!! I wish we had that shop here!
I can’t believe it’s been a year since your last race. As long as this year has felt, it sure has flown by all of the sudden. My last race was the 1st weekend of February, we do that half marathon every year, so keeping my fingers crossed that it happens.
Our groceries come from Ralph’s ( the Kroger store here), Costco, Smart & Final, and Trader Joe’s. They’re all within a 3-ish mile radius from home ?
Have a great Tuesday.
The Hungry Runner Girl
I just need to get a big order of the cookies and send them to all of you:) I totally agree, it’s been the slowest and fastest year of my life too. You’ll have to let me know if your half is still on in February! You have some really great grocery stores so close to you! Thanks Wendy and you too!
Wendy
So, I just received the official email that the half has been postponed until September 2021! At least it’s not just cancelled. But WOW has 2020 done a number on us…HA!
And I’m am going to look into Sodadelicious and if they will ship to CA :)
Amy
December 18 birthday. I have a love/hate relationship with it. Favorite grocery store is Harmons. Just wish I had one closer.
The Hungry Runner Girl
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH! I hope you are able to celebrate as much as possible this month! Harmons is the absolute best… We need one closer too! PS I miss their salad bar.
Mary
My birthday is December 31st!!
I love trader joes, but hardly ever go there, its usually walmart pick p for me!
The Hungry Runner Girl
HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH MARY! I hope you get in plenty of celebrating and your favorite treats. Walmart pickup is SO convenient. I love it. Have the best day friend!
Erika
My dad’s birthday is the 20th. He says that when he was in school he always thought that they were getting out of school for a week because of his birthday… until he was older and realized it was for Christmas :)
Our church packed gift boxes for underprivileged kids and that was fun to shop for . We always donate to food pantries and mitten/hat drives. I’d like to find something we can physically do instead of just buying for.
The Hungry Runner Girl
Hahaha that makes me so happy:). I think he should still think that way… we are all just celebrating him:). That is so great that your church does that and I’m with you, I want to do something hands on too…. let me know if you think of anything! Have a beautiful day, Erika!
Laura
Can you please shed your other top two treats!
The Hungry Runner Girl
As of right now (they change frequently haha) they are a brownie sundae (no nuts) and strawberry shortcake (with vanilla ice cream)! What are your top 3? I hoper you are having a great day Laura!
Janine
Good morning!
That cookie looks most excellent! No Sodalicious near here, but did just learn about a cookie place that we are hoping to check out soon. Fingers crossed for dark chocolate/peppermint!
Have visited the Grand Canyon several times, but have only hiked partway into the canyon. Would love to do a rim to rim someday with an overnight at Phantom Ranch in the bottom of the canyon.
The nearest grocery stores are all at least 30 minutes away, but we typically use Stop & Shop (east coast thing) and, recently, Aldi’s.
Most years, we participate in food and clothing drives. We will do that again this year, but a new thing is the donation of handmade greeting cards to a local elder services organization. They will distribute them to seniors who don’t have family or whose family cannot visit them for the holidays due to COVID.
kim
beck is the cutest human alive. i need all the beck pics. love you guys!
Kathy McElhaney
We were at the Grand Canyon last Wednesday! I forgot how beautiful it is. We hiked about 4 miles and I cannot imagine running it. Of course my legs are short, so there are parts that kinda scare me as I try to take a big enough step without falling. Les bought hiking poles for me and they were a life saver.
California grocery stores changed about 15 years ago when there was a lengthy strike. The prices sky rocketed. I usually go to our Walmart market or Target.
Abby
I immediately checked the Sodalicious website to see if they ship when I saw those cookies on your Instagram. I was so sad that they don’t :(. I have been injured with a sprained foot and ankle for nearly 6 weeks (from falling getting out of bed in the night to check on my daughter). I am so ready for full recovery and hitting the road for some runs.
I love Trader Joe’s but we are over 3 hours from the nearest one so, we settle for Safeway!
Leigh
Yes December birthday! No to a race, did my half marathon in November and have a 12km trail run in January so my goal for this month is to be consistent and enjoy running for a bit! So wish we had sodalicious here in NZ. Those cookies look divine!
Beck is the sweetest. I’m so glad you’re making the most of this newborn season rather than stressing about running. The newborn phase is gone all too quickly! As you wrote a few weeks ago which really encouraged me, running will always be there for you when you’re ready to pick it back up. Xx
Tracy
SUPER IMPORTANT ?: Is that a chocolate crinkle cookie ? I’m going to try to recreate these and I must know! hahahha! Cream cheese frosting with crushed peppermint on top?
Beck is so adorable!
The Hungry Runner Girl
The frosting has a slight peppermint flavoring to it too! Yes, it is a chocolate crinkle cookie! Let me know what recipes you use, it is amazing!
Kristine Chew
That is a great photo of Beck!
One of my work places used to collect new and gently used winter clothing items to donate to different no profits serving the most vulnerable. I am not sure what the rules are this year because of Covid
No race but I signed up for a winter challenge where you collect virtual badges for different runs. You can walk run or hike. I did my first one in the dark this morning..run for chocolate which was the easy one lol. I am not looking forward to the egg nog mile….you have run a lap and aim to drink 250 ml of eggnog.. I like eggnog but..
Also I can’t believe it is already December!
Hope you have a wonderful day hanging out with Beck!
Tess
My birthday is TODAY! Since Covid likes to ruin things I’m gonna give myself a diy spa day. Thought I would get up earlier to run but slept in instead. And I can’t imagine running the Grand Canyon!! Unreal.
The Hungry Runner Girl
HAPPIEST HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY TESS! I am so happy you are doing your own spa day and that you slept in. I’ll eat a cookie to celebrate you today! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Erika
I have to agree, it is best sodalicious cookie!!! Obsessed. Also, I’m sure you’ve noticed your heart feature isn’t working on your posts. I miss it! I love to heart all the things!
J
Best Christmas cookie ever: Make any type of chocolate crinkle cookie (or even cake mix cookie recipe to keep it really easy) and as soon as they come out of the oven, put an Andes mint on top. Let the mint melt a bit and then swirl with a toothpick. Not only are they delicious, the melted mint looks pretty and takes the place of frosting.
kelly
December birthday here. 30th. It’s weird, but so many people always assume it’s the 31st or suggest we celebrate on the 31st.
That cookies looks soooo good. I love peppermint and was super jealous of your TJ’s peppermint pretzels. YUM!!!
My brother has run Rim to Rim several times. it sounds outrageously scary to me. He said there are sections where you can NOT look down or to the side.
Those hiking trails look amazing! I think it’s great that right now you are enjoying walking and hiking. It’s so weird how there are times when I get really antsy when not running, then there are times where I have not missed it and relished doing different activities. I think it means we are in a really healthy and strong place to know that our life does not necessarily revolve around or is defined by running and that it’s always there for us. It makes that return all the more sweet and comfy.
I foresee a lot of crockpot/instant pot use when Andrew returns to work. Sending you positive vibes when that happens.
Jaci
No December birthdays in our household. We usually do a local 5- or 10-mile road race put on by the YMCA but it’s virtual this year and we opted out. My husband is running the final (half marathon) virtual Boston series (5k in Oct., 10k in Nov. and half in December) on the 12th and I’ll run the course too so I can at least take a picture and cheer him on. Hands down favorite grocery store is Aldi, with Costco a close 2nd (but we live 70 miles from the nearest Costco so it’s like a special event and we only go every couple months and stock up).
Betsy
I’ve hiked rim to rim 5 years ago. There were seven of us women who did it together. One was my 65 year old step mom (incredible shape). We started out with a r2r2r plan and then took plan B which was reservations at the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North rim. I know angels were accompanying us that day because one hiker had to take an ambulance to a hospital north of the north rim in Utah and stayed a few days and another hiker made it back home to NW MO but what she thought was the flu was a kidney failure issue and spent a couple of weeks in the hospital. We were all levels of fitness and preparedness that day. We learned a lot of what-not-to-do-next-time things but I would absolutely LOVE to do it again. I know I could shave off hours of time. Listening to munchercruncher and her husband talk about it on IG live lit the fire in me to get this trip planned.