Summer Beginnings

Wow.  It's been over a month since my last post and gosh...a ton happened.  School ended and summer began within that period of time, as well as a race, a trip to upstate New York to peruse the wineries on the Finger Lakes, and the beginning of the many items on my very long to-do list.

I'll begin with running:

Freedom to Liberty 4 Miler

Workouts have been good, however, they are often tough to get through due to the humidity and heat.  I still try to complete one long run and one {two, if I'm lucky} workouts per week sandwiched between easy distance days and yoga.  I did run a small race at the beginning of June on a steamy Saturday morning.  This particular race ran from one high school in my town to the other covering a distance of four miles.  The weather {as noted} was really tough to take and my plan was to treat the race as a workout/tempo run, but I ended up running better than expected -- 26:04 {6:31 pace}. 

Long runs are anywhere from 9 - 11 miles and workouts consist of intervals, hills and occasionally sessions on the track.  I'm also hoping to begin swimming workouts.

Finger Lakes, NY:

A trip to upstate New York is worth it's price in gold if you like wine.  Known particularly for their whites, Lakes Seneca, Cayuga and Keuka have a lop to offer anyone with even the smallest interest in vino.  We have been making it up there on an annual basis, sometimes bi-annually as a reconnaissance mission, and we come home with a wide selection of beautiful wine...all varieties and colors.  My favorite vineyards: Hermann J. Weimer and Keuka Lake Vineyard

A few photos posted recently on Facebook:

Food:  

In recent months I've been experimenting in the kitchen in an attempt to create delicious and wholesome vegetarian and vegan meals.  And you know what???  My family isn't complaining about it one bit.  I have found that meals made primarily with grains, vegetables and beans can be equally satisfying and just as yummy as those made with meat, and it's been fun trying to come up with new ways to prove it.  

Examples:

• Quinoa with Veggies, Feta and Lemon Vinaigrette
• Lime Quinoa Pasta with Black Beans and Corn
• Edamame Salad with Corn and Tomatoes
• Last night's Roasted Parsnip and Pear soup {not my recipe}

It is my hope to get some of these recipes up on the blog ASAP.  

VIA Marathon promo shoot:

If you remember from last year, I participated in a shoot to film a short PSA with 6abc in Philadelphia to promote the Lehigh Valley Health Network Marathon for Via, which will be held on Saturday and Sunday, September 7 & 8, 2013.  The event will feature a 5k run/walk and kids' run on Saturday and a Boston-qualifing marathon, a half marathon and a 5-person relay on Sunday.  The commercial features their chief meteorologist and accomplished runner, Cecily Tynan, and a few other runners from the Lehigh Valley.  I'll be sure to post the link as soon as it is finished in production!

To complete this post, I thought I would share a few things I've been loving lately:

• Any song by Phillip Phillips
• Justin's Chocolate Almond Butter - it's like eating frosting from a can {sort of}
• Not having to get up at 5:50 am to run...7 am is more like it
• Rich and Skinny denim shorts - a recent score from Marshall's
• And finally, drinks {poolside} anytime of day....

  

Oiselle Distance Shorts and a Future Flea Market Trip

Sometimes you just know when you've found the one.  Running shorts, that is.  Oiselle recently sent me a pair of their Distance Short to try out and I have to say, they are super-comfy.  I love how Oiselle makes clothing that is made just for a woman's body.  These particular shorts come equipped with three pockets {two external and one internal}, a low rise at the waist and shaping at the legs.  The best part?  They are poof-proof, meaning they are more flattering than typical running shorts.  So bottom-line, if you are in the market for new running shorts, give these a go....they won't disappoint.   

Last night I threw them on for an easy six miler on the trail with Jesse.  They were perfect!

On another note, on Sunday my dad and I will be heading to the flea market just up north in the mountains.  Although this particular one may not compare to those in the larger cities, I am still very excited to spend the morning with him.  This tradition began last fall when we ventured to the same place and I came home with a few awesome treasures.  

On my list for this trip: vintage jewelry or clutches, antique bowls to hold jewelry, and a small mirror to use as a tray.

Now, I know perfectly well that one can never actually “plan” what they want to buy, but it is always fun to try!  Have a great weekend!

 

Fitting In Runs When Possible

Tuesday nights have become notoriously busy in my household since my daughter has both dance AND softball all within a two hour and fifteen minute span.  Dance on Tuesdays has been going on since September and finding out that the one weekday she would have softball practice was going to be on the same night was a bummer. 

For me, it’s usually a struggle to find time for a run to begin with...however, there is one bonus to this busy night.  I have a little over an hour of downtime to myself while my daughter is at softball practice, and her dad is the coach, so I don’t feel nervous about leaving her at the field.  In the end, what started out as a crazy night, turned out to be a perfect way to fit in a mid-week {longish} run anywhere between 6.5 and 8 miles.  

Last night I got in a quick six and a half and felt great!  

 

To the moms out there…How do you make time for exercise in between being a taxi cab driver/team supporter/homework monitor/chef/etc? 

NYC Gourmet Food Trip

Happy Friday, everyone!  I feel like this post is long overdue, especially since we went on this trip over a week and a half ago.  Last Sunday, Fred and I boarded a city-bound bus {cooler on hand} with friends for a fun-filled day of shopping in NYC.  On the agenda were three stops purposefully planned for us to explore and shop various food markets in New York.  Included for the day was Zabars Gourmet Food Market, Little Italy, the Meatpacking District and Chelsea Market. 

First stop:  Zabar's Market which was located on the Upper West Side.  This two-floor emporium had so much to choose from including cheeses, fresh breads and pastries, coffee, meats and other items you would find in a typical market.  The second floor was full of cooking items and kitchen gadgets.  

Second stop:  Little Italy!  By 11:00am, we were famished so our first mission was to find a place for lunch.  We chose a place on Hester Street called Caffe Napoli.  We started with some fresh focaccia bread and the best parmesan/garlic/olive oil dipping sauce I ever had plus an antipasto salad.  For my meal, I ordered the special...chicken with mozzarella and spinach topped with a marsala sauce.  Double yum!

After walking around a bit, we hit Ferrara...the famous Italian bakery in Little Italy, for dessert.  Fred and I bought a few cannoli and biscotti to take home, plus a cup of decaf for the rest of our walk.     

Third stop:  Meatpacking District/Chelsea Market.  While in this area, we toured the High Line section, a newly renovated railroad bed/walking path/park.  If you are ever in the city, this district is worth checking out!  

From the park, the Freedom Tower was visible amongst the buildings... 

Some sites and sounds around the neighborhood: People from a mission playing the drums garbage cans for funds; a pretty entrance to a local boutique; the Diane von Furstenberg building complete with painted lips, and an ultra-modern hotel on a side street.

Because we had a few hours to spare, we stopped at this local pub to relax.  A good hour was spent there conversing with a nice couple who lived in the neighborhood.  

By 4:00, we made our way to the Chelsea Market for the last hour we had in the city, only to find out that it was closed due to a private party.  Apparently someone rented out the WHOLE building for an event later that evening.  We were trying to figure out who could possibly do that...Trump, maybe?  On the flip side, Fred promised me a return trip ASAP because we missed out on the market...the one part I was most looking forward to!  

Have you ever been to NYC on a food shopping excursion?  If so, where would you recommend?    

Running:  Lauretta and I met {bright and early} on Wednesday for a "before-school" run of 7.08 miles.  We ended up running at a nice pace and finished in ~52 minutes.  It felt great!  

Have a good Friday! 

Pet Peaves

Saturday morning I thought I would try a little experiment and take my phone with me on my run hoping to capture a few pictures.  This is probably the first time EVER that my phone got a little running action but I was glad it came along for the ride.  Keep in mind that this run was right after Friday night's storm, so the roads and sidewalks were a little snowy and icy. 

While running, I got to thinking about my two major runner pet peaves and because I had my phone with me, I was able to catch one of them on film.

Pet Peave While Running #1:  Unshoveled sidewalks and intersections, especially those that belong to a business.  

Here you will see a nice, clean sidewalk that belonged to a local dentist.  There is not a stitch of snow or ice and I was easily able to trek right on through and proceed into the neighborhood.  

On the flip side, this sidewalk was literally a block away and these people obviously didn't get the memo that we had weather.  The result...running shoes filled snow.

Pet Peave While Running #2: People who don't yield to pedestrians.  The last time I checked, it was a Pennsylvania state law to yield to any person who is running or walking.  I love those people who cut you off at an intersection or nearly run you down in the midst of their route.  

Maybe because I've been a runner for a long time and have been a victim to these careless drivers, I am extra conscious about letting pedestrians cross in front of me.  The worst part? Being cut off in the middle of a tempo run or progession.  That's enough to tick you off, especially when the seconds count towards an ultimate goal. 

Ok, I'm done.  What are your pet peaves, whether in life in general or while running?  I'd love to hear!!