8.31.06

Good late a.m. 8-mile run. Will hit the Aleve and take the next 3 days off. U.S. 10K race on Monday.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?!? Sonic has stolen my idea! I got an ad in the mail just yesterday and it also on their Internet site at www.sonicdrivein.com. This is what they write, "Yes, the kids are back to school and the days are finally cooling down a little. But, grab some shades. Put on a pair of Bermuda shorts. Roll the top down and head to SONIC for the new Peach Smoothie. Made with real peaches, it's a guilt-free way to make summer last just a little longer. Enjoy one today." HEY Sonic, Peach Smoothies were MY idea! 

8.30.06

Oh yes! A day off. Will run long and easy tomorrow...

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8.29.06

OK 3+ mile run. A little weak. Will take tomorrow off (possibly) and do a long easy run on Thursday. Concentrating on proteins the next few days. Has a couple of eggs and toast for breakfast. 6 oz. of salmon on a salad for lunch and most likely a Boca burger (veggie burger) for dinner.

Couldn't get the TV to work for my run this a.m. Tried everything (almost). All it would do is salt and pepper. Then, my 14 year old comes in and pushes 1 (one) button -- the right one evidently... Kids! They think they know it all. Sometimes, I wonder if they might.

8.28.06

ahhhhh... the three peach smoothie and critical brain freeze.

Hit the snooze button 3 times this morning and still got in a good 3-mile run. Didn't have to make lunches (3 lunches) -- Thus the 3 snoozes.

A day for snoozes and smoothies. I'll do better tomorrow...

8.26.06

Day off :~)

OK girls, here it is. I bought this yogurt maker from William-Sonoma (online) about a year and a half ago and have been making delicious, good-for-you yogurt ever since. I eat it at least once, usually twice and sometimes three times a day. The live cultures are great for digestion and just to keep your insides doing what insides should do. It's simple to make. You just take your milk, whole, 2%, 1%, or fat free (I use 2%) and bring it to 180 degrees. Then let it cool to 110 degrees. Add the yogurt starter and pour the mixture into the 7 glass (baby food like) jars. Put them in the yogurt maker and let them become yogurt over night or at least 7 hours. I just make plain yogurt but you can add fruit or flavors if you like.  

Here is the yogurt starter. It cost about $4.95 for 6 packages of yogurt starter and each package of starter makes 7 cups of yogurt (1 making) I have found the starter at Williams-Sonoma and the Baker's catalogue but I normally purchase it directly from Yogourmet -- find them by doing a Google search. 

8.25.06

GREAT 4-mile run. Peach-banana smoothie :~)

8.24.06

GREAT late morning 4-mile run. 2.5 miles @ 8.3. Felt good.

A chocolate bar that's good for you?!? I could hardly believe my eyes. Yet, it seems that CocoaVia has been able to seize upon recent research that suggests that dark chocolate has properties conducive to maintaining a healthy heart. I tried out the pictured Original Chocolate Bar. It was a very rich, creamy, and chewy dark chocolate delight. My heart didn't feel any different, but my tongue and tummy sure did! If I get a health-bonus on top, hey, I can't complain! 

Smooth Sailing…

For the past two weeks or so I have been enjoying homemade smoothies for breakfast almost every morning. My favorite is the 3-peach smoothie. Yes, that’s right 3 peaches!

Someone gave me a bunch of peaches several weeks ago. More than I could eat before they went bad so I froze them. Just cut them in 1/2, removed the seed, and put 3 to a quart size freezer bag. I simply unzip the bag, put it in the microwave for 1 minute and then they are defrosted enough to cut up into wedges but still frozen enough to make a nice smoothie. I put these in the blender along with a cup of my homemade yogurt. Mmmmmm good! I was very surprised at how long a big tall glass of smoothie keeps me satisfied – all the way to lunch. Must be a lot of fiber. And, they are easy to make and easy to eat or drink actually. Although the peach one is so thick it’s like a Frosty and sometimes I use a spoon. It’s something I can eat while I put my face on – saves me time.

I’ve made others besides the 3-peach smoothie. There’s the banana peach smoothie, the banana strawberry smoothie, the banana blueberry smoothie, the banana kiwi smoothie, the peach strawberry smoothie, the peach blueberry smoothie, the peach kiwi smoothie the all strawberry smoothie, the all banana smoothie, the strawberry kiwi smoothie… You get the picture.

Anyway, they are really good – just thought I’d share.

8.23.06

Good 3-mile run. Didn't really feel like running but had a good run. A little tired today. Must be one of those female things.

The Military channel is really BOOOORRRRRIING!

8.22.06

Good 3-mile run. Felt strong. Stretched good afterwards.

8.21.06

Good, soft 3-mile run. Not a bit sore from Saturday's long run. I attribute that to post recovery food eating concentrating on proteins and antioxidents and a daily dose of Aleve.

8.19.06

Wearing my official Atlanta Track Club signet, a pair of Nike dryfit shorts, and my worn out Nike trial running shoes I set off on a journey... Before leaving I strapped on my Fuel Belt filled with four 7 oz. bottles of fluid. As I reached mile 3, my face broke out into a great BIG smile :) knowing that TODAY, being a Saturday, I would not be constrained to any time limitations. TODAY would be different, today would be good, and it was. I felt good, strong, my pace was good. No lack of energy today. I took fluids. At mile 6.5, I knew I was ½ way there. Again, a smile broadened my face. Actually, I think at every mile marker a BIG smile came across my face. I took fluid and ate a Power Bar. At mile 8, I remember thinking about how responsive my body had become, almost like a machine. One foot in front of the other, the right leg and then the left, hands and arms gently swinging by my side, relaxed, not tense like they used to be. At mile 10, I knew I had only 3.1 to go. I do that every day -- Piece of cake. I took fluid – the last of 20 oz. I’ll take a slower pace for the last 3 miles. At mile 12, I could invasion the final mile. To Oak Street, that’s all, just a nice soft run down to Oak Street and then I was there 13.1 miles, a ½ marathon. It was a good run for a Saturday.

8.18.06

Good 3-mile run. A little low on the energy level :(

8.17.06

A day off...

Dale Jr. & his Mini 

I've forgotten how to cook for two.

8.16.06

Good 3-mile run. A little sore from sitting on the hard bleachers for 3 hours last night at a Vball game. Got to remember those cushions!

the journey of a lifetime...

25 years ago today it began... the saga continutes. I'm ready to go another 25 :)

8.15.06

Good 3-mile run.

126

8.14.06

GREAT 3-mile run! Felt light and strong. Could have run much further... Maybe another day.

128

8.11.06

Good 3-mile run. Not sore at all, a lack of energy though.

129

Yeah! The 120's

8.10.06

Good 3-mile run. A little sore, will hit the Aleve. Probably should have done that sooner -- after the race on Saturday. Felt lighter. Stretched good afterwards. Why do cats like to lick you while you stretch? ICK!

131

8.9.06

Good 3-mile run.

132

8.8.06

How many times can one hit the snooze and still make it on time to work? At least 7, if you don't run. The snooze is 8 minutes -- do that math. I'm not sure why 8, why not 5 or 10? I guess they have figured that 8 is the optimal time frame for a good snooze. 5 would for sure be too short and, well, while 10 sounds nice - I probably would have been late for work...

You guessed it -- another day off. Tomorrow, we shall run.

134

we're going the wrong way with this

133

My DREAM car 

OK Who is the Wise Guy (or gal)

I said today I was going to get serious about losing this last 10 lbs. and get back down to an ideal race weight and what do I find on my desk when I get to work? A BOX OF RUSSELL STOVER CANDY! :[

8.7.06

The first day of a new school year. One senior, one freshmen -- what a life.

Took another recovery day. Will get back to it tomorrow. Some 20 points days ahead to get back down to ideal race weight. Will feel much better then.

8.6.06

Well, you can probably tell by my LACK of blogging that the race did not go as well as I had hoped yesterday. I did good to finish in under an hour. My time was just that 59:?? something.... It hasn't been "officially" posted, yet. The heat was oppressive and the office park where the race was run had BEAUTIFUL green grass -- obviously watered by sewage water (I believe), at least, that's what it smelled like. pew wee.... It was BAD!

I overheard many people talking about how their times were way off because of the heat. Mine was about 8 minutes off from my best 10K time. It was a good course, some slight inclines, but nothing major, all on the road and through a rather large office park. I am up about 10 lbs. also -- that probably added some time to my time... We'll work on that over the next few weeks to see if I can't get back down to a good "ideal" race weight by Labor Day -- my next 10K -- the U.S. 10K Classic (America's Greatest 10K - as it's advertised.)

May take tomorrow off -- we'll see how I feel in the a.m.

School starts for us tomorrow. I ready to get back into the routine...

8.3.06

3 miles. Soft run. Will take tomorrow off and hope to run the 10K on Saturday in under 50 :~)

8.2.06

3 miles. Good run. Sweating like a PIG!

8.1.06

OK, so I can see that some of my Blog postings are a little out of order. That has something to do with this posting to Blogger via email -- it's not all it's cracked up to be!

Hope today's makes it... but you never know.

Anyway, good 3-mile run this a.m. Kind of taking it easy this week. Feel like I should be doing more. Never satisfied unless I 1/2 kill myself. Hoping to run the 10K on Saturday in under 50 to qualify for seeding in the US 10K Classic on Labor Day. Will be wearing a chip -- again. Hope they keep the mats out :~)

Need a pair new running shoes BAD. Bought some new insoles to help squeeze a little more life out of these. Got to get a moment and get down to Phidippides or up to The BIG Peach Running Store and get pro fitted. Looking for another pair of trail running shoes. I really like the stability they provide.

Soon...