Egggcellent.

Another rush rush day.  Forgive my abbreviated post, I promise more reading worth content (okay, I'll try my best) on Monday!

12 mile run=  windy.  cold.  sunny.  1:46:20.  Glorious :-)

Cooking = 2 kinds of taters, cookies.  Yummy.  I even managed not to dip into the batter-go me!

Yard work= 2 bags of flesh eating weeds.  I won the battle.  Damn you, super growing weeds.

4 loads of laundry= How are there only 2 of us?  Does the cat wear clothes, too?

House cleaning = How has it taken over an hour to clean a room that will just get dirty again in 2 minutes?  Hmmm...

Cleaning the garage = Really, I'm just being ridiculous now.

Singing "Shots" and the top of my lungs along with my Ipod and turning around to see the neighbors laughing at me.....$hit.

At least I ran 12 miles.  The rest can stay in the house after I move.  tonight. :-P

 New Examiner post on Flower City Festival-only 3 weeks away!

Have a wonderful Easter everyone! 

A Good Friday.

Shhhhh...don't tell anyone.

But the Easter Bunny came early.

Tradition?  Nahhhhh.  But fun anyways :-)  A small snafu this morning caused me to move my 12 miler till tomorrow so today = 45 mile ride, then cookie and Easter time with Mama TFB and the hubster! 
Why am I bothering with words?  A picture (or several) does so much better....

 That explains alot.

 Homemade runners pack!  (I guess I do put the miles in to Websta :-))

Best present ever......flinging light up animals!  Yup, we're 5.

Awesome day, awesome start to the weekend

(our Sunday is jam packed, so it made sense to spread out the celebration!)

Tomorrow-long run time and more treat baking....and maybe....a new car? 

What's on tap for you this weekend?

Smorgasboard

It's time for another random post, filled with fun things that I've been filling my world with.  Hang in there for the ride....it's personal preference, of course, but I've had some fun experiences lately I'd like to share!

1.  Thai food.  Specifically, Aja Noodle.  Is it authentic?  Probably not.  But soba noodles with tonkatsu sauce, chicken and veggies...garnished with fresh ginger.  Excuse me while I drool.

2.  Fresh Herbs.  Last year for Easter I got a basket....filled with fresh rosemary, chives, thyme, and basil.  Amazingly enough, I didn't kill it.  Nope.  Water, fertilizer, and, of course, plenty of supervision.

Don't touch those herbs.

3.  Shoes!  I dragged the hubster shopping so that we could get some spring stuff....I found a few pairs of capris, a bikini (okay a 10 pound goal bikini) and these guys...

No?  Well, these were my second options.

Neither ones were walk-in-able.  Is it sad that I liked pair #2 better? :-)

4.  New Girl.  I don't care if it's over blogged, I've mentioned it a zillion times before, or anything else.  This show is pee-in-your-pants funny.  I'm not sure how these people deliver their lines without completely losing it, but every week the show gets better and better.  If you haven't watched it yet, just do it.  You'll thank me later when you're singing..."Who's that girl...." (it's Jess!!)

5. Moneyball. I just read the book on my kindle, and now it's time to see the movie. Think they can replace Jonah Hill for me? I hate that kid. I suppose Brad Pitt will make up for it, though.....I heard he tore up the movie! Either way, the book was great. Even for someone that really doesn't like baseball. At all.

6.  Biographies.  Yes, my name is Rae and I am addicted to my kindle.  Awesome bio reads lately-Diane Keaton, Tina Fey, Ellen DeGeneres and Barack Obama.  Quite a group, no?

7.  Natural Peanut butter.  Yum.  I'm obsessed with the stuff anyways, but I just tried Peter Pan's version...well, after horking down half the jar, I reverted to a better way to have some portion control....peanut butter, I love you, but you are evil!

8.  Muse.  How have I not known about this group?  Awesome running, driving, kickboxing tunes. 

What's exciting in your world lately? 



Playing for less part VI: Easter!

It's a beautiful spring day here in Western NY.  Birds chirping, sunny skies, and perfect spring temps in the mid 50's.  Ahhhh.  Much better than the snow over the weekend (what?) or the 80 degree temps two weeks ago (what??).  Just perfect April weather.

Perfect for Easter time.  Speaking of which, it's 4 short days away!  What are your plans?  Buy your chocolate yet?  Send your wish list of sweets to the Easter Bunny?

'Round our house, we get pretty spoiled at Easter time.  Easter Bunny hubster brings a nice basket in the morning, and in the afternoon, Easter Bunny Mom brings a basket chock full o candy, an Easter egg hunt, and presents-small things like bubble bath, books (found from book sales!) and candles, but still fun to hunt for. 
So how do you do a fun Easter without breaking the bank?

1.  Set a dollar limit.  The hubster and I try to do this with all our holidays-Easter is usually a low limit $10-$15 for all.  We then have a great time shopping for little trinkets at the dollar store, Target and Walmart (or even garage sales-get creative!)
2.  Know thy recipient.  We're going to Jamaica in two weeks.  Chocolate tastes good, but darned if I'm just a little bit on the bikini diet for the next few weeks so I feel good when I go on vacation.  (Truth:  I also plan to indulge a bit at the all-inclusive...hello, mandatory!!) So, clearly, the hubster and I don't really plan to exchange a ton of chocolate.  Love-peeps.  Able to leave it-Snickers, any type of "everyday" chocolate that you can get any ole time.  Hint-the Easter Bunny MAY have brought the hubster some Jamaica worthy things :-D
3.  Good Candy:  Like I said earlier, who needs a Hershey bar in your basket when you can get that any ole time?  But the GOOD stuff, that you can only get at Easter, that should make it's way to your Easter basket.  In Rochester?  Andy's Candy is the place to go!  It's quite expensive, but a normal sized piece will last quite some time if you savor it.  I always get a peanut butter cup the size of my fist, cut it up, and enjoy it for at least a month :-)  (It freezes well).  Other must haves-A cadbury egg and did I mention peeps?  YUM!
4.  Bulk foods! Looking for inexpensive filler?  Check out the bulk food bins!  I like to pepper the baskets with small candies-hard candies, gum, jelly beans, lollies, dried fruit and/or nuts (in little baggies, of course!).  The cheapest way to include a myriad of small goodies is to check out the bulk bins-you can get just a lil' of everything.
5.  Coupons-not just for groceries-yes, I know I'm a coupon whore.  Hey, it saves me money and keeps me from snacking after dinner two nights a week (cutting the coups) so I'm not complaining! Aside from weekly shopping treats, check out your fliers/coupon websites/stores for great Easter finds!  Target and Walgreens both have great chocolate store coups, which you can stack with manufacturer's coupons to get great discounted deals (2 bags of M&Ms for a dollar?  HELLO!)

6.  Think outside the (candy) box. - I alluded to it with tip#1, but who says you need to just have candy in an Easter basket?  Throw in some stickers, lottery tickets, a fun puzzle, maybe an energy bar or gu if you've got a runner/athlete in your family.  The sky's the limit!  In our family, dollar bills and mini nail polishes find their way into the egg hunt sometimes...such a fun surprise to open an egg without candy in it, and a bit healthier to boot!

Do you have any Easter savings tips?  Fun traditions surrounding the good ole Easter Bunny?  Spill!

In other news, I published my first article on Examiner-check it out!  It might not be the most exciting, groundbreaking research, but, hey, you gotta start somewhere :-)  Watch for more news on Rochester races, thinking outside the box workouts, and how to have fun with fitness!

Its all in the Music

Now that my calf seems to be a bit less cranky, it's time to get back to...speed work Tuesdays!  Yay!  No, really, I'm not kidding.  Long runs are my favorites, but there is something uber satisfying about hopping on a treadmill, banging out a certain number of repeats, and hopping off-most of my speed work is done in 40 minutes or less with warm up/cool down, and I love it because-
1.  I feel super accomplished.
2.  I feel super speedy!
3.  I know exactly how fast and far I ran
Which answers the age old question (for runners, I know the rest of you are on the edge of your seats) regarding speed work-track or treadmill?  If you've been reading for any length of time, you know I'm not a huge treadmill fan (even though I own one-truly, I'm a sadist, I know), but, for speed work, it can't be beat.  I can keep a steady pace (I have 400, 800 and 1600 paces to nail for my half plan) and I don't have the option of slowing down during the repeat-I can hit it exactly (I know there's a decrease speed on the 'mill, but I choose to pretend otherwise, thankyouverymuch).
Moving on.  Today's workout of pain = 400 repeats.  I love you.  400's are the best, IMO, because they are short, fast, and less than 2 minutes of pain until you get to rest/recover :-)
The Workout
1 mile warm up (9:00)
7 x 400 repeats @ 6:58 with 2' recover
.5 mile cool down
Total:  4.25 miles, 35:18
Buffalo half, here I come!
So, while I was in the pain cave, I thought about my tunage.  The latest issue of Runner's World did an article on letting go of technology on some of your runs-ditching the GPS, stopwatch, Ipod, etc.  And I started thinking.  I know that I have an unnatural attachment to my Ironman Timex (I tried to wear it to my wedding.  A thoughtful bridesmaid wrestled it away from me and hid it. Such a good friend).  I also have a Garmin...and I never use it (I think I've used it 3 times in the last two years).  So I don't have a data attachment-a time attachment, for sure, and I'm working on that.  I seem to feel that I might miss something BIG if I go for a relaxed, untimed run...type A, much?  I'm working on this.  Slightly.
But my music...is non-negotiable.  The only time I run tunes free is during the run leg of a triathlon (they're banned-I don't feel like a DQ!) but for every other race and workout, music is on.  Runner's World contends that you can de sensitize your response to the boost from music, or miss important body cues regarding perceived effort and/or possibly injury because you are so focused on the tunes.
I can see that.

Source

But what I do know is that the music usually makes the workout a bit easier to tolerate (for tempo runs) keeps me amped (speed work) and allows my mind to wander and relax (long runs-which, when done outside, I keep one ear bud in and one out, of course!)
My "secret"?  Matching the tunes to the workout.  I probably annoy the hubster with my continuous hogging of our mp3 download folder, but I usually switch up my play lists at least 3 times a week (the player works underwater, so I use it for running, swimming, and lifting).  I choose slower paced songs for the long run so I don't push it too hard, faster songs for tempo work, and a mix of high BPM songs for speed work (to encourage fast turnover) and slower recovery songs.  My recent favorites?
Long run songs: We are Young (Fun), Pumped Up Kicks (Foster the People), Addicted  (Saving Abel), Paradise (Coldplay)
Tempo Songs:  Magic (B.O.B), Shots (Lil John), Start the Commotion (Wiseguys) Where's your Head At (Basement Jaxx)
Speed Work:  Crazy Little thing Called Love (Queen), Cannibal (Ke$ha), Toxic (Britney Spears), Mambo #8 (Perez Prado)
No judging, please.  If it gets my legs moving, it stays.  Even if it's a one word song, was popular in the '70's, or involves a former mouseketeer. I'm a mess.
Do you use music to help your workouts?  How about watches/GPS/other fun technology?  The huz is practically married to our Garmin and his bike computer, but can run without music any ole day. You know what they say about opposites :-)

HIM training week 3: The Teenager in me

I'm lame and apparently suck at April Fool's jokes.  No, we didn't buy a ginormous truck (although I seriously wanted to.)  The hubster put down the foot of reason and sort of insisted that I wait until I'm 60 for my beloved big a$$ pickup truck.  Fine.  October 2, 1972, hubster.  I'm waiting.


Awesome Fortune cookie from Saturday!



I was gonna go with the obligatory GUESS WHO'S PREGNANT post, but, really, that would have been dumb-though I feel it would have been hilarious was I actually :-P  (no, I'm not.  Pinky swear).  Ahem. Moving on to April 2, then....

With regard to the vehicle, we really did go look and narrow it down to two choices:  The Chevy Equinox and the Hyundai Tucson (thanks Alexa!)  We wheeled and dealed for the Equinox, but didn't get a number that we liked, so we walked away (which you should ALWAYS do!)  I expect a call today with a "OMG brand new offer that JUST came in!" so we'll see where we go from there.  Right now we're still on the fence....

Equinox:  A bit bigger, slightly better ratings, smoother ride.
Tucson:  Same gas mileage, still decent room, slower acceleration, about $2000 cheaper.  Plus you can get free oil changes for life (worth about $1500).
Decisions, decisions :-)  Does anyone out there own either one of these vehicles and care to weigh in?  I would be most interested!!
Moving on to training.....week #3 in the books!

Week #3:

Swim yardage: 4900(2 swims)
Bike Miles: 81 ( 3 rides)
Run miles: 19 ( 2 runs)
Strength: 2 full body, 2 core
Week low: 9 mile run on Wednesday.  For the first time ever, I bailed on a run.  I've had a few calf issues, and I was also mentally shot.  It even led me to break up with running for a week.  Meh.

Week Highs (2!):  #1.  40 mile ride on Saturday.  I watched Twilight, did 30 miles easy, then inserted pickups in the last 10 miles.  I was tired, of course, but I felt super strong.  I'm gonna make that bike course for Musselman my b*tch.  Just you wait.
#2.  My run!  My run!!  Woohoo!!  Of course, I am a fickle son of a b.  I break up with running, then take it up again 4 days later?  WTF?
Well, I really had no darn intention of lacing up for a week, at least.  And then Sunday came.  It was dreary, cold, and meh.  Then, a few things happened.  First of all, the hubster commandeered the trainer (damn him.  You'd think we bought it to share or something, jeez! (we totally did).  Okay, fine.  So I can either ride later or try a run. Hmm.  I was debating this when I started to put away my laundry, and lo and behold, in my sock drawer, I found 2 pairs of compression socks and my sleeves!  Dummy.  Maybe those guys would help with my calf pain??  Wow.  Now, I know the smart thing to do would have been to wear them around the house and adhere to the no running thing.
No one ever accused me of being smart.
10 miles were on the schedule, and I was gonna see if I could at least do 5.  So I set out for my 5 mile loop.  The rain turned to sleet.  Then snow.  It was frickin' cold.

And it rocked.  I knocked long run goal pace (which is Half marathon pace plus 30 seconds on this plan) outta the park and felt awesome. 
Why?  I don't know.  But I'm not gonna turn my nose up at it.  Running, we are now friends again! (I'm such a fickle teenager).

Week #4 goals-speed work in the pool to work on getting those times down and healthy eating so I can indulge a bit on Sunday :-)

Lastly (such a long post!) we ended the weekend with a salute to the birthday girl!  To my 15 year old fur baby....you'd better plan on sticking around for another 15 years :-) (Yeah, we let her eat the whole "cake).

How was your weekend?  Play any good tricks?  Get fooled?

Monster Truck time!

Hey hey hey!  Enjoying our little April freeze?  Brrr!  Today is a very special day, but we'll get to that in a sec.  I know you're all dying to find out how our vehicle shopping went yesterday (yup, we found it!) so here's a little recap....
We visited both Vision Henrietta and Hoselton in Fairport.  I had some thoughts going into the search (Either the Equinox or the Rogue) but kept an open mind.  The hubster and I checked out an ass ton of vehicles....

We took a few out for a test drive-The Equinox rode really well, but we just weren't sure at the end of the day about it.  However, I had my mind solidly made up, and the hubster aqcuiesed to my #1 chocie (woot woot!) for 3 reasons:
1.  A happy wife is super important (hah, wish that worked!)
2.  It had planty of cab room AND room for the bikes
3.  It's pratically required in Wayne County (land of the farmers)

Check out our new piece!

 Awww yeah, baby.

WOOOHOOO!!  Can't wait to pick it up! (har har har)

In other news, I had a giant revelation today about my calf issues....it's called compression socks.  I own 3 pair.  Maybe they should stop warming my sock drawer?  Dummy.  Since I got that flash of brilliance, I decided to be a silly goose and try a run.  My sched called for 10 miles, I decided to go for 3.  Then it started sleeting.  And snowing.  And I was wearing one layer sans gloves...Rae, you're a moron.  So you know what I did?  I finished it.  The whole 10 miles.  Maybe because I didn't plan on it, I couldn't feel my legs, or I just felt awesome.  I guess you can never tell what's gonna happen...running, I think we can be buddies again!
The Workout
10 miles, long run pace
10.03 miles
Time:  1:27:41
Pace: 8:45
Bingo.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go celebrate. Someone turns 15 today.....

 She asked for a case of canned food and a tuna cake.  I want a chocolate cake.  We'll see what kind of compromise can be reached :-)