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Progressive Runs and Pumpkin Muffins

Let me start this by saying...I'm in a bad mood. I have been grumpy, fidgety and downright biotchy all day long. (P.S. If I spell biotchy like that it's not swearing. Promise). I decided before dinner to just get the dang run in anyway, despite a stomach ache and a bad attitude. What happens? Nothing short of a freaking miracle.

First: I ran one mile in 10 minutes. Then I stopped to pee and reconsider if I REALLY wanted to run. I did.

Then: 5 miles in 43:22. Yes, my friends, that is basically the equivalent of 4 minute miles in my book. Alright, so maybe it's closer to an 8:40 pace, whatever. For me that is crazy fast. I started at a 9:30 pace, and just kept increasing the speed until I finished the last half mile at a 7:30 pace. Hard, but so worth it.



Please excuse the fact that my makeup decided to rebel. Also, please note that I didn't even put makeup on today, so that's at least one day old. HOT. After this post I'll be checking the mailbox daily for both my Olympic Trials invitation and modeling contracts.

5 miles, 8:40 pace
You know how people say things like "I was in a bad mood, I went for a run, and now I'm actually glittering!"? Well, I don't feel like that. I'm still grumpy. But I'm a grumpy girl who ran pretty dang fast and I will take it. Luckily I had some pumpkin muffins to try to elevate my mood:


These are pumpkin muffins with a brown sugar/vanilla/cinnamon glaze. Incredible. Kari is hosting a bake-sale fundraiser, so I had to test a new recipe and make sure it was a success. Let's just say, I'm more than happy with the results. I may post the recipe, or I may guard it as a new secret family recipe because they are really that fantastic. Plus, they have a cup of pumpkin in the batch. Ergo, they can replace salads as your daily vegetable. GENIUS. 


When do you run at your best-when you're angry, happy, sad, tired?
Normally, when I'm happy I enjoy my runs more. Today I didn't LOVE the run, because it was hard. But I guess a bad mood pushes your further. This was confirmed by a couple of comments from the likes of Kara and Alyssa on Daily Mile:



I've seen just muffin tops for sale in the grocery store, but I wonder--is there a pan so that I could just make muffin tops? Anyone?
This would seriously be amazing, and I would purchase it ASAP. And then eat so many muffin tops I would get my own, permanent muffin top. Less awesome.
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Comments

  1. Sarah GreccoOctober 4, 2011 at 9:47 PM

    Pumpkin anything pretty much makes any bad mood better. There has GOT to be a muffin top pan. Have you checked pampered chef? They always have cool stuff.

    I'm pretty much in a bad mood until I work out.....haha.

    xo
    Sarah
    Get Up & Go

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  2. ashleyOctober 4, 2011 at 10:23 PM

    agreed, if an awesome run didn't do the trick, surely yummy pumpkin muffins will help!! i always run faster when i'm in a bum mood.

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  3. FalonOctober 4, 2011 at 10:32 PM

    Oh the treadmill envy is strong. Gosh it is getting dark so early. I had pumpkin fro-yo tonight. Heavenly.

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  4. UnknownOctober 4, 2011 at 10:36 PM

    It would be better if you farted glitter. I think farting glitter is as good as it gets as far as moods go. Go run another lap.

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  5. GracieOctober 4, 2011 at 10:40 PM

    They do make muffin top pans; you can buy them from Target or Amazon. The tops are all that matters anyway, right?!
    Great run by the way! I did a progressive run today, too - they are hard for me since I suck at pacing (I guess it's not as much guessing on the TM).

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  6. JuliaOctober 4, 2011 at 10:44 PM

    can totally relate! some of my best runs are when i have so much emotion running through me that i dont know what else to do besides run! its like the emotion just fuels me and my mind is not even really on the running. then its over and i realize whoa...i ran fast! haha!

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  7. JuliaOctober 4, 2011 at 10:45 PM

    p.s. hope everything is okay dear friend! thinking of you!

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  8. Beth @ RUNNING around my kitchenOctober 4, 2011 at 10:48 PM

    Good for you for sticking it out and getting the run done…when I'm in a funk like that, I kick myself later if I don't go and am normally happy when I do it anyway! And I LOVE pumpkin muffins :)

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  9. KimOctober 4, 2011 at 10:48 PM

    Yes! I bought my muffin top pans off amazon and love them! They fit about the same amount of batter as a normal muffin tin--but be sure to grease or spray the entire pan to make sure the spillage doesn't stick to the pan. You will need to play around with the cooking times/temperatures. I'm still working on perfecting it while attempting to compensate for the high altitudes.

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  10. ralconyOctober 4, 2011 at 10:52 PM

    they sell flatter and bigger muffin wrappers (they are stand alone so you can just use them on a baking sheet, you don't need a special pan for it) or you could try something like a whoopie pie muffin pan which has shallow holes for the whoopie pie sandwich pieces. neither would produce a muffin top as big as the ones you see in the store but it's easier than cutting the top off of the muffin and throwing away the bottom!

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  11. ElleOctober 4, 2011 at 11:34 PM

    Yup, you can definitely buy a muffin tops pan. The baking times are different though.

    I am thinking you need to share that recipe. Looks sooooo good!

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  12. Suz and AllanOctober 4, 2011 at 11:45 PM

    Look at you killing it on the treadmill today! Great run! Ahh pumpkin-can we really ever get enough?!

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  13. Christina @ The AthletarianOctober 4, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    I like running when I'm angry or happy! Running helps me calm down when I'm angry. It gives me the time to think and calm myself down while releasing happy endorphins :) Running while happy is just easy. Those are the best runs!

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  14. UnknownOctober 5, 2011 at 12:20 AM

    Nicely done! I feel like I'm running so fast on a TM, then i look down and I'm running a 9:45 mile. Do you ever feel that the TM is faster than the actual pace?

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  15. LindseyOctober 5, 2011 at 12:22 AM

    Wow, great time!! Hope everything's ok! :) Running while I'm in a good mood is usually when I run the fastest, or like Christina, it calms me down if I'm in a bad mood.

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  16. SamOctober 5, 2011 at 12:28 AM

    That's actually called a 'progression' run--which you did an awesome job with, btw! But just so you know. A progressive run would be a sprint to the polls to vote Obama '12. ;)

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  17. stephanieOctober 5, 2011 at 12:34 AM

    a muffin top pan is nothing short of genius

    awesome run :)

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  18. Rose @ Eat, Drink, and Be MeiriOctober 5, 2011 at 12:47 AM

    I work out problems pretty well on long, lazy runs.

    And I run HARD when I'm upset. Trying to run away from problems/guilt/whatever, I suppose. It distracts me, at least briefly.

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  19. JaneOctober 5, 2011 at 2:18 AM

    I love your natural sweaty look, I actually find it really motivating, it makes me want to jump on the treadmill and run, well at least shuffle along anyway.

    Great job with your run, that is an awesome time :)

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  20. .October 5, 2011 at 6:11 AM

    Grumpy running... love it! Good for you for that pace. All I can say is wow!

    When will the muffin bottom officially be eliminated??!!

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  21. Cotter CrunchOctober 5, 2011 at 6:39 AM

    haha, that happens to me A LOT! i just gotta put up with it and get to the next day. We are allowed those, right?
    :)

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  22. ThriftyMummyOctober 5, 2011 at 6:51 AM

    Impressive time! About to head out myself - grumpy but as it's blowing a force 10 outside (well, not far off it) I think I'll be lucky if I can do 11 min miles!!! Wish I had pumpkin muffins to come back to :-(

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  23. Tessa @ Amazing AssetOctober 5, 2011 at 7:35 AM

    Nice job on the run! Those are so tough, but you do keel great after at least :)

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  24. PamOctober 5, 2011 at 7:41 AM

    Oooooh, those muffins look fabulous! Glad you had a good run! Those magic runs always come when you least expect them, for sure.

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  25. Sable WeismanOctober 5, 2011 at 7:51 AM

    I knowwww I found a recipe & instructions for muffin tops but now I can't remember where! Gah. Sorry.

    Congrats on that run!

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  26. AlyssaOctober 5, 2011 at 8:05 AM

    Did you know there is an entire Seinfeld episode about muffin tops?

    My husband once pissed me off SO BAD before a 14 mile run and it was the fastest long run I'd ever had. By the time I got back, I'd forgiven him. Win win. I don't generally feel "glittering" either, but I pretty much always feel better than I did before the run. Also, I like the comparison to 4 minute miles, that's pretty much the same deal for me, so good way to put it in perspective.

    And AMAZING job on the run!! Is it possible all that hard work and training is paying off a bit? :)

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  27. Running RicigOctober 5, 2011 at 8:08 AM

    Awesome job on your run! I'm definitely speedier when I'm a crank too. That's why, if I'm angry or grumpy Mike always asks "don't you want to go running?" lol

    Those muffins look AWESOME!! Thanks for tagging the bake sale too!!

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  28. kristenOctober 5, 2011 at 8:22 AM

    All I can think about now is the Seinfeld episode with the muffin tops and "stumps."

    Great run! I find that even if I don't feel better after the run, the endorphin rush of a fast, angry run at least makes me feel bad ass :)

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  29. emilyOctober 5, 2011 at 8:25 AM

    Your run sounded like mine...except after the first mile I didn't keep going :-P Great job, and crazy fast!

    I'm in awe of your ability to just make up a new recipe. I'm not that talented, so I just plagiarize my food from recipes from others.

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  30. UnknownOctober 5, 2011 at 9:29 AM

    Grumpy + Hungry = marathon traning in progress. You'll be alright, not much longer now. Almost taper time!!!! Thank goodness for pumpkin though right! You rocked that 5 miler.

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  31. Paige (The Last Doughnut)October 5, 2011 at 9:36 AM

    Hi Vanessa! I changed my blog address. Just wanted to let ya' know... the new address is thelastdoughnut.blogspot.com

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  32. AnonymousOctober 5, 2011 at 10:08 AM

    "I'm a grumpy girl who ran pretty dang fast" hahaha. I LOVE IT! I tend to be the same way... and I definitely do my fastest times when I'm angry and envision someone's face on the pavement ;-)

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  33. LisaOctober 5, 2011 at 10:23 AM

    Wow speedy!!! Rock the run - woot!!!! Sa-weet!

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  34. BabyWiltOctober 5, 2011 at 10:48 AM

    Is it bad that I found humour in your grumpiness??? :-)
    bah-humbug!!!!

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  35. Lisa JOctober 5, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    modeling contract for sure, I mean.. check out those cheekbones!

    Yesterday I got a pumpkin muffin from the airport- inside was cream cheese- I don't like those kind of surprises, yours sounds waaaaaaaaay better

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  36. CautiouslyAudaciousOctober 5, 2011 at 11:04 AM

    Great pace! I think I run best when I well rested and I can be angry or happy but not sad. If I'm tired, forget about it I might as well be hungover...

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  37. CACOctober 5, 2011 at 11:44 AM

    great run! definitely have the worst runs when i'm tired or when I overate the night before. Ha. Best runs happen when I just need to escape, so we'll call it "contemplative!"

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  38. KaraOctober 5, 2011 at 11:57 AM

    If I run angry, I'm usually still angry when I'm done, but calmer about it. My husband doesn't like my rest days for just that reason :)

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  39. Rachelle WardleOctober 5, 2011 at 1:07 PM

    Yay nice run!! I usually love running when I'm angry but it always takes me awhile to get going. Gotta love pounding that pavement when your having a bad day.

    Those muffins look so so good. Have you shared the recipe yet? I must make them.

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  40. UnknownOctober 5, 2011 at 1:09 PM

    great run!!! And umm...I will be bidding on those guys!

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  41. MandeeOctober 5, 2011 at 1:18 PM

    dude you should make a muffin pan that just does the tops!! You could be rich!

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  42. Nicole ArbeloOctober 5, 2011 at 1:37 PM

    I think you should share that recipe with us, I need any way I can to get more good stuff into my girls! I really enjoy running when I'm crabby, it almost always helps! I know that Vitamuffin has muffin top pans on their website, but for some reason I think that the only way to get a perfect muffin top is to pull it off of a muffin (a la the Seinfeld episode "Top o the Muffin to ya").

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  43. Ali McOctober 5, 2011 at 3:48 PM

    hahaha muffin tops ah Seinfeld. I love Kara' s and you comments on daily mile! Isn't it so great :D those pumpkin muffins look great. YUM your sweaty pic is so cute, I've never seen you like that....it's a nice change from your flawless self. Now I know you're real.

    PS: what is /w everyone keeping their makeup on. if I did that my skin would break out even worse than it already is :(

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  44. The Hungry Runner GirlOctober 5, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    SPEEDY WOMAN!!! DANG!!! Those muffins look amazing! Hope the grumpiness has worn off:)

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  45. MarleneOctober 5, 2011 at 7:16 PM

    YES they make muffin top pans. I have some and I think I'm going to use them this weekend. :)

    Nice run girl!!!

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  46. Stephanie FOctober 5, 2011 at 7:22 PM

    I'm not sure about where to get a muffin top pan. But I've got plenty of muffin top if you need to borrow some.

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  47. TheRavenousMommyOctober 5, 2011 at 7:27 PM

    I've definitely seen muffin top pans! I bet they have a good selection online :)

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  48. AnonymousOctober 5, 2011 at 9:18 PM

    I think we are on the same page...I was feeling very biotchy and bummy today and I went for a run and it was like my body was rejecting the run, I couldn't get myself together and then finally 2 miles I let go and felt great.

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  49. AnonymousOctober 5, 2011 at 11:48 PM

    i'm mad at you. i got the need to make pumpkin muffins this afteroon and had to use a new recipe that wasnt all that amazing. if you had shared, then I could have made your awesome muffins. guess you better post it and ill just have to make more :)

    ReplyDelete
  50. Jamie WOctober 6, 2011 at 9:10 PM

    dude, those pumpkin muffins made me drool. but i can't find canned pumpkin anywhere!! i'm on a mission.

    ReplyDelete

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