Bloomsday 2013

Hello there!

Our Cinco de Mayo was spent running the 37th Annual Bloomsday!

(via)

The guest of honor was Bill Iffrig. You might recognize him as the older gentleman that stumbled to the ground when the first bomb went off in the Boston Marathon (he's from Lake Stevens, WA)

(via)

I picked up our packets at the Trade Show on Friday. I didn't stay too long but I did manage to get a new pair of Balega socks (my fave!)

We got up that morning around 6 am and had our usual pre-race breakfast. I did have some coffee (!) with an English muffin topped with peanut butter. We drove to the designated pick up area for the Spokane Transit bus to take us downtown.

 We got there fairly early and had about an hour or so to wait before the race started. Nothing too special about my outfit, but I think I should've worn something "cooler" on top. We were in the Yellow group (just after the Elite group) which didn't start until 9 am and the temperature then was probably around the 60's already.

Hubby had not even been running at all. He's been riding his bike more and had just gotten back from Seattle the night before.

I wasn't really feeling this race at all. Maybe the heat had a lot to do with it but I had a hard time getting up Doomsday hill this year (took me 5 min compared to 4:03 last year)

The scene after I crossed the finish line. It was sooo dang hot, there were so many people (mainly teenagers) that were throwing up after crossing the finish line. I saw lots of "heat exhaustion" throughout the course, too! 

It didn't take long for hubby to cross the finish line as well.... he had an *impressive* time for not having been running this year at all.

Throw-away clothes that the volunteers pick up after the race.

Then we had our own Cinco de Mayo celebration at home: Crab ceviche with chips

My stats:

My official time: 1:09:05 (3 min slower than last year). My pace was 9:15.

I placed 35th out of 538 among 43-yr old females and 5,143 overall.

Hubby's time was: 1:15:26.

 I just though this picture was cute!

 Side note: I had my allergy appointment the other day too. Nothing much has changed which is good (that just means nothing is better either - ☺☺)

Workout for the Week:

Sunday - Bloomsday (7.46 miles)

Monday - Body Pump +Teach Zumba

Tuesday - Run 4 mi

Wednesday - Teach Zumba + Teach Body Attack

Thursday - Body Pump + Teach Zumba

Friday - Run 3 mi

Saturday - Rest

Sunday - Run 6 mi

How did you spend your weekend??

Latest Stitch Fix

I think this my 4th or 5th "fix" and it's always nice to get a little surprise at your doorstep when you get home.

The other tops look a little boxy and I didn't quite like the style so I only ended up getting the black one. I've suspended my monthly fixes for awhile since we did quite a bit of shopping during our last trip to Seattle.

I still think it's convenient and fun to be a member and you don't have to commit to monthly "fixes".

If you're interested in signing up, check out Stitch Fix online!

Phone Dump

Having the sun come out is a luxury these days. This little guy loves it!

 This picture is right after he had his teeth cleaned a few weeks ago. The vet had to put him to sleep during the procedure and he hadn't had anything to eat since the night before. He looked so sad but had pearly whites to show for it.

 Rainbows during our trip to Seattle. We saw at least 4 over the weekend.

 I had a massage session this past weekend. It was oh so wonderful!!! I know I say it every time....but it's best money spent!

How was your weekend??

Workout for the week:

Sunday - Ran 4 mi/Body Pump
Monday - teach Zumba
Tuesday - Run 3 mi
Wednesday - Body PUMP/ teach Zumba/teach Body Attack
Thursday - teach Zumba
Friday - REST
Saturday - Run 11 mi.

Cranberry and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

I was purging my pantry one day and decided to make use of some stash I had from winter.

I entered a few ingredients on to Google and this recipe came up.

Cranberry, Chocolate Chip and Oatmeal Cookies 
(adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick or 4 ounces) butter, softened
• 2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries (or raisins)
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips, chopped (optional, could also use walnuts)

Preheat oven to 350°F.

1) In a large bowl, cream together the butter, brown sugar, egg and vanilla until smooth and fluffy. 

2) In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt together. Stir this into the creamed butter mixture. Stir in the oats, cranberries and chocolate chips, if using.

3) The cookies should be two inches apart on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake them for 10 to 12 minutes, taking them out when golden around the edges but still a little undercooked-looking in the middle. Let them sit on the hot baking sheet for five minutes before transferring them to a rack to cool.

My Life Lately

Hi there friends!

It's been almost 4 weeks since I  last blogged. After what happened in Boston, it seems so trivial and not-as-important in the grand scheme of things.

What mostly kept me away was my *carpal tunnel* acting up. Now that I'm back to working in the clinic, I use a laptop so much during the day, that I had to make some adjustments including laying off using my home computer for a while. It has definitely made a difference.

Speaking of work, I now have to be in the clinic daily but I at least control my own hours. I insisted on keeping "part-time" hours and I'm lucky enough to be able to do that. I continue to teach 4 classes at the gym in the afternoon and night as well as keep up my running 3 times a week... so overall, I stay busy enough that I've tried to prioritize what's important.

This past weekend, hubby and I went to Seattle for my niece's baptism. I'm glad we went because it just puts everything into perspective. That living life is more important than living in fear and how important it is for us to cherish our family and friends.

And here's my new obsession...

I may be 7 years late but at least I'll be caught up with all 7 seasons in about two more weeks. I just can't forget cooking, cleaning, laundry, work, gym .... Oh, and that there's a world other than being in front of the TV.

How's your life lately?

Rock N' Roll USA (Washington DC)

Hi there ☺! 

I'm back after a quick trip to Washington DC.

Hubby had a meeting to go to while I ran the Rock N' Roll Half Marathon.

We got in Thursday night after a long flight from the West coast. We stayed at the JW Marriot hotel which is right on Pennsylvania Ave in downtown DC.

The rooms were small but  nevertheless comfortable.

And you can't beat the view from our window.

Washington monument

Freedom  Plaza

Street view

The hotel elevators were pretty cool, you just enter the floor you're going to and it tells you which elevator to take [non-stop].


As soon as we got settled, we walked a block to have Happy Hour at The Hamilton.

It was weird to see everyone in suits and ties.

Half off sushi during happy hour.

Since it was still light outside, we took advantage and went for a quick stroll down the street. 

Treasury Department

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Chinatown 

The following day, we took the Metro to the Armory where the Expo was held so that I can pick up my bib and all kinds of goodies.

And lunch was at the Capitol City Brewing Company where it was pretty crowded with more people in suits and ties.

We went back to the hotel to rest and watch some basketball hoops.

Dinner that night was at a local Thai restaurant called Haad Thai. We shared an appetizer and phad thai since we were still pretty full from lunch {and non-stop carbo-loading}.

The next morning was the race. Weather was forecasted to rain all day but it started out in the 40's (warmer than the last couple of days we've been there). 30,000 expected runners.

Starting line

I had lots of layers on in anticipation of the freezing temps.

It turned out, the weather cooperated with no rain throughout the race at all. I took my gloves, jacket and hat off around mile 4. There was one steep hill around mile 6 but otherwise, the course was pretty flat. My knees also cooperated since there weren't many downhill portions.

It also took a while to get through the post-race *maze* since everyone was moving so stinkin' slow ---- trying to get their medals, drinks and FOOD!

But hubby and I managed to find each other and we took the Metro back to the hotel to rest and shower.

Linner was at Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, we got 10% off our bill for showing my "race bib".

I was so in the mood to chow down *greasy food*.

After lunch, we just walked around the corner to check out Ford's Theater where Lincoln was shot.

We spent the rest of the night back in the hotel, watching basketball hoops until we fell asleep.

My flight the next morning was very early, I had to leave the hotel around 6 am.

Largest soy latte to wake me up!

 It was another loooong flight -- almost 6 hours non-stop to Seattle and then another hour to Spokane.

Guess, who was waiting to cuddle???

I finished my sixth half-marathon in 2:02:48 (better than my time in 2012). Overall, I really enjoyed the RNR race, very well organized, great Expo and the atmosphere was FUN! I would definitely do the DC race again but maybe next time, spend more time to explore the city.

How did you spend your weekend?