Hello! I started my day with a 2 mile run to the gym and quick strength session. I really let strength slide during the last few months of training for the NYC Marathon so Iām on a mission to get back into it! 
In addition to getting back to strength training I am still working on cleaning up my diet. I challenged myself to try to eat cleaner Nov 6th and did great the first week, but had an indulgent weekend after the Santa Barbara Marathon and need to get back on track. Luckily, that week was enough to break my habit of eating my 8 pound chocolate egg every night!
I made a great Pumpkin Protein Smoothie for an afternoon snack that was a great balance of sweet and satisfying. 
In the blender:
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ice
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scoop Vega Vanilla Chai
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1/2c pumpkin
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pumpkin pie spice
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1 cup almond milk
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Served with a scoop of sunflower seed butter
Friday Favorites 
These are my two favorite things this week! After a few weeks without sunflower seed butter I was reunited with my love while shopping for T-day on Wednesday. And the Vega Vanilla Chai protein powder is my new protein obsession. It is expensive, so I would suggest buying an individual packet of it before committing to a whole container.
Question: What is your favorite thing this week?
So, I am a chai LOVER. Big time obsessed. I may have to buy a little packet and inhale, err, I mean sample it, and see what I think. Yummy!
salad “dressing” made with PB2…I’ve had it almost everyday!
The pumpkin protein smoothie looks awesome. I may need to try and find some places in NZ that have the vanilla chai flavour (or mix my own with a chai coffee sachet/shop online). Thanks for the idea :).
Being home and cleaning out the fridge, yesterday was wheat pancake mix I had forgotten about and leftover spaghetti, yum!
I have a question for you, I’ve been catching up on my Google Reader today and I came across a post where you mentioned hurting your IT Band after the Disney marathon. Do you have any posts where you describe the pain or what you did to get over it? I did my first half last Sunday, and now I can’t run a mile without my knee screaming. I think that might be what it is. I searched it on your blog, but I guess it band brings up a ton of posts and I’m not finding anything.
Thanks!
Hey Anna, yeah I wrote about it a lot when it happened since I went to Physical Therapy. Maybe just search physical therapy in my side bar for more?
I am still on a canned pumpkin high…I mix it in shakes, oatmeal and yogurt and eat it daily or twice daily…just loving it. š
Curious how you feel about the sunflower butter? I’ve been wanting to try it because my kid loves pb&j but her school has nut restrictions, and if it’s good enough for her I know I’d eat it too.
My favorite thing this week? Chili. We broke tradition to make that for Thanksgiving this year and as far as leftovers go, it’s very enjoyable š
I like Sunflower Butter more than Almond butter these days – but it was different at first. I think the thing is, you can’t expect it to taste like PB. I love it now, but I think I had to warm up to AB for a while first š
Favorite- time off. Pie. My new mini crockpot for lunxhes. Least favorite- second degree burns on my hip from spilled turkey drippings š
Bah it’s been a good solid months since i’ve done any decent sort of strength-training. I need to get back on it as well!
Having a breakthrough with my hip and ankle/heel injuries. Praise the Lord!
Peanut butter is my favorite thing this week. Justin’s is off the shelf *sad face* but I found something that will do until my True Love returns!!
Where do you buy that vega powder? I’m using the chocolate sport performance powder & love it but would rather have the chai flavor. I bought it on amazon but they didn’t have that flavor!
I bought it at a local health foods store – Mother’s. I think Whole Foods or Sprouts might have it too (I know TJ’s does not).
I’m glad you had a great Thanksgiving! And I’m also thankful I didn’t go to any of the sales. Insanity!
I agree with Kate!! No money spent here! No fighting lines!
Favorite thing of the week is not buying ANYTHING on black Friday!