Friday Favorites #8 – London and Athens edition

I’m feeling a little better about the marathon and already started thinking about what I would do differently for the next training cycle (more to come on this in a later post), though I don’t know when that will be yet. I guess it also helps being in London and Athens over the last couple of days to help take my mind off of it.

With that said, here are some of my favorites since we last caught up –

IMG_2931Rehab for the London Marathon – thank you to everyone who read my blog, read my text messages, and listened to me hash out my disappointment in the race. I needed that, so thank you. Here some good reads that also made me feel better about the race – 34 Crazy Guinness World Records Set At The London Marathon (I saw some of these runners on the course. Maybe I should have tried to set a crazy record than racing.) and NYC Running Mama’s post on Women’s Running. Also, at the Acropolis Museum, we saw the Breal Cup awarded to Spyros Louis at the first marathon race in the first modern-day Olympic Games in 1896. Pretty darn cool!

IMG_2919London sights – we took the extra couple of days after the marathon to do some sightseeing in London. We did everything we didn’t do last time we were in town – tea and cake with friends, Chinese food in Chinatown, The British Museum, eating fish and chips, and going on the London Eye.

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IMG_2936Greek salads – I’m eating my way through London and Athens, but one of my favorite dishes so far is the Greek salad. I love them at home and I love them even more in Greece. You can’t go wrong with fresh vegetables and feta cheese. I think I’m eating my weight in feta cheese.

IMG_2942Milk Bar gelato – I’m sad to leave Athens because of this place. Milk Bar is located on a side street in the Plaka district of Athens near the Acropolis. Ever since Croatia, I cannot pass up gelato while on vacation and I’m so glad we stumbled upon Milk Bar on our first night in Athens. Their gelato is incredible and I love the woman who works in the shop. She is the absolute sweetest and so hospitable. I am sad to not be able to go back every night and am convinced she should open a location at home.

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IMG_2969Lots of walking recovery – I’m enjoying this not worrying about running while on vacation thing. I am also glad that my post-marathon soreness is starting to subside a little which makes walking up and down stairs so much easier. My recovery plan calls for a couple of days of cross training this week which is a little tough to do while away (I wasn’t as specific about needing a hotel with a gym in it this time) but I am making up for it in a lot of walking and my morning yoga routine (I might have Brett Larkin’s YouTube video memorized by now). We walked all around London and in Athens, we followed a 4.5 mile walking tour of the Acropolis and ancient Athens.

Have a great weekend everyone! We’re off to Santorini!

Recent marathon finishers – What are your recovery plans? Anything you would do differently during your next training cycle?

Friday Favorites (Favourites) #7 – London Edition

It’s already Friday and it’s the start of my 3rd day in London. With Josh at work yesterday and today, I’m trying really hard to not exert myself. I love London and would love to walk all around the city like I did the last time I was here, especially since the weather is so nice but I am reminding myself that I don’t want to be tired and repeat what happened in Chicago. We have a couple of days in London after the race, so hopefully I will be well enough to sightsee then. Regardless, I’m loving my casual time in London and attempting to keep my marathon nerves at bay.

Carb loading

It’s too bad I can’t be as creative with food options, but I am enjoying the hunt for carbs in the city.

Smoked haddock risotto with spinach and a poached egg

Smoked haddock risotto with spinach and a poached egg

Steak and arugula (rocket) pizza

Steak and arugula (rocket) pizza

Mushroom and arugula (rocket) filled pasta with mozzarella and pesto sauce

Mushroom and arugula (rocket) filled pasta with mozzarella and pesto sauce

Light walking around the city

I walked all around the Piccadilly Circus and Regent Street area the last time I was here but it just never gets old. It’s a short walk from our hotel and I ventured in that direction for lunch yesterday. I love the architecture of the buildings and double-decker buses. I just really love London.

Such neat architecture on Regent Street and beautiful blue sky

Such neat architecture on Regent Street and beautiful blue sky

I love the buses. I'm a dork but they look cooler than the MTA ones.

I love the buses. I’m a dork but they look cooler than the MTA ones.

Morning yoga in the hotel room

Josh had to carry my new travel yoga mat in his suitcase since mine was overweight. I needed to keep up with my morning yoga routine and was too lame to just use a towel on the hotel room floor, hence the travel mat. It folds nicely into a suitcase but is still two pounds and when every pound matters, two pounds is still too heavy. However, I love it and works perfectly over the carpeted room floor. In addition to yoga this morning, I was able to foam roll on it a little as well.

See the iPad/YouTube set up and me being a dork taking the picture in the mirror?

See the iPad/YouTube set up and me being a dork taking the picture in the mirror?

Short run and Hyde Park

It’s fun to meet up with someone you know in a foreign country and go for a run. James and I went on our short run yesterday afternoon in gorgeous 60 degree weather in Hyde Park. There was so many people out on bikes, horseback riding, and just lounging around.

I love the phone booths too.

I love the phone booths too.

New Hyde Park Gardens

Hyde Park Gardens

Just chillin’

And for now, I’m just chillin’, getting caught up on the blog, work emails, and relaxing.

View while blogging, except all the toast is gone now since I am carb loading.

View while blogging, except all the toast is gone now since I am carb loading.

Happy Friday and weekend everyone!