I’ve been in such an incredible mood for the past few days, it almost scares me. I hope I’m not annoyingly chipper 
Today just Rocked! Yes, that’s rocked with a capital R. The best day I’ve had in Boston in a while. I attribute my over-the-top happiness to a kick-ass run this morning. Oh yes, those were some powerful endorphins!!! 
THE RUN
This morning at the last minute, Molly and I decided to go for a quick run. I have to admit I was a bit apprehensive about how it was all going to go down. I pretty much run once a week now, and it shows… my stamina has really decreased. It was a beautiful day and we decided to just start running and see where that goes… it could even end up with just being a coffee date if the run wasn’t really happening. I met Molly about 1.5 miles into my run and I was already feeling it. I told her how silly it was for me to assume that I could just do 7-8 miles, just like that. I no longer run like I did while training for the half marathon, so I shouldn’t expect to be able to run decent distances just because I the number sounded good to me that day. So off we went, and somehow we both really got into it. Every time we had a chance to turn around, we just kept going! I’m going to fast forward to the end, I ran 9.5 miles today, averaging 9:48 minute miles (with the last 1.5 at an 8 minute mile pace… I was flying)!!!!! In fact, I could even keep going, I just decided it was time to get home. Oh, I also drank 18 oz of water, while running. I’m very proud of this too. This run was just amazing for my self confidence, on every level. I was seriously on cloud nine for the rest of the day and felt like a rock star!! Molly, you rock… and I kind of rock too 
PRE-RUN SNACK/BREAKFAST
The usual: ww toast with Barney Butter + 1/2 banana
LUNCH
Lunch was crazy awesome… see it says so on my recipe so it must be true! Wow, I’m a dork… moving on!
I followed Meghann’s recipe for chickpea parmesan burgers, plopped it on a FFL english muffin and voila – an incredible (and filling!) lunch! Some carrot sticks on the side were the perfect sub for fries.
This recipe was super easy, and was seriously amazing. You have to make it asap!!!
And then it was time to enjoy this gorgeous day with my husband…..
I enjoyed a bite of this chocolate sample from Hotel Chocolat
And a delicious pumpkin spice chai with skim milk (no sweetener) from Tealuxe (my favorite tea spot!). Look at the frothy milk… mmm
Having my camera with me at all times comes in handy. This is our street… isn’t it cute?
A juicy apple tied me over until dinner…
DINNER
Shannon brought this amazing roasted red pepper dip to our housewarming party that was camera shy. The dip is slightly spicy and tangy (Shannon added some light cream cheese to cut the spice down) and is absolutely amazing scooped up with crackers, in sandwiches as a spread, and over pasta like in tonight’s dinner (the recipe for the dip can be found here).
Happy husband (candid shot)… I hope you don’t mind, Adam!
My portion: 2 oz whole wheat pasta with 1 chicken sausage, grape tomatoes, baby spinach and roasted red pepper sauce. This was so satisfying, perfectly balanced and absolutely delicious!
PS – This was yesterday’s lunch: 2 ww slider rolls with leftover grilled fish, roasted red pepper sauce and laughing cow cheese. Amazing!!
This sauce is so versatile. I highly recommend it! Thanks, Shannon, for bringing it over. Adam and I are in love with it 
I’m off to a few bars to celebrate a friend’s birthday. Happy birthday, Emily!!!
How is your weekend going?
THOSE sliders look awesome!! what a rockstar day…sounds like you had quite the great day! yay!
Glad to hear you are in such a good mood. I’m not going to lie, this weekend started off a little crummy because I still had a ton of work to finish up on Friday night before I could fly home for thanksgiving. Now that I am home, however, I am much more relaxed.
I love runs like that. You really enjoy it more when you don’t have a plan.
Cute outfit!
Keep rockin’ girl! Congrats on the long run… it’s amazing what endorphins can do for our moods.
I love days like that! Great run!
Sounds like a great day! And I’m so glad you liked the dip (and thanks, Shannon, for bringing it over!)
Glad you are having a great weekend – this weather is so awesome it’s putting me in a good mood too
that chickpea parm sandwich sure does look great! i think i will have to give it a try soon
jenna
My run was the same way. I LOVE feeling strong and fast! Glad you got the same high!
Delish eats and samples are the only way to eat chocolate otherwise it can get out of hand.
My weekend has been filled with reading the first 2 books of Twilight. Not my fave, but I’m charging on.
So glad to hear your day was so amazing, running can definitely do that to you and it’s one of the best feelings in the world! Plus eating all that delicious food doesn’t hurt either. That roasted red pepper sauce looks so yummy!
Huzzah! I had a nice run yesterday too. Of course, I don’t run much at all, but whatevs. It’s a great way to wake up.
I had a similar run yesterday. I finally had to stop because I had so much to do. I could have kept going for several more miles. An amazing feeling. I think the weather had something to do with it. When it’s that nice in Boston in November, it is invigorating!
I love the chickpea burgers. I’m going to have to try that!
haha I am glad my recipe got the Crazy Awesome stamp of approval.
Awesome run!! wow, I can’t wait to work up to that! It’s amazing how even after a little while of less training my body doesn’t perform as well. I notice that with cycling too, but you rocked it! All your eats look wonderful, I’ll have to try that sauce, yum!! I want some of that pumpkin spice chai too
Wow, Elina, you have a really great blog! I’ll add you to my feed… and also try not to let you down in the HBBC. =P
ooh, those chickpea patties look great! and fabulous dinner
glad you guys enjoyed!
I love reading about your Rockin’ Run and your good days
I had a great weekend too–for different reasons though…not much exercise unfortunately! 
Thanks all for your nice comments, as always! From the sounds of it, quite a few of you had a great weekend… and many even had an awesome run! Yay
#19 - Thanksgiving is coming – are you scared? // Nov 25, 2009 at 9:35 am
[...] Feeling like a rock star [...]