Running Fireworks

In honor of the 4th of July, let's talk conflict, controversy, and commotion for Take it and Run Thursday!

Two things come to mind. One I partake in, the other I just can't. What are they? Snot rockets and running skirts!

The nitty gritty is that as a long distance runner, snot rockets (however gross they may seem when you're not running) are totally unavoidable at times. Without them, many of us would have the lovely liquid streaming down our faces, scaring every dog, child and person we come across. Afraid to try it? Go on a LONG run, I'm talking 8-10+ miles and head for the trails. When no one is around just try it. Trust me, it will be so much more satisfying to your nose than trying to sniff or wipe it away. It might be gross, but snot rockets were one of my greatest running discoveries, no joke.

And what's my deal with skirts? Truth is, I have friends who wear running skirts both in my group (and in the blogosphere), but I just can't seem to bring myself to wear one. I laughed the first time I saw them on the racks. And this is coming from a girl who played four years of lacrosse, yes, in a skirt (although it was required), sprinting up and down the field and even found it comfy at times. My problem with the running skirt is that a) the skirts have shorts under them, so why add more fabric to the whole mix when you could just wear shorts? and b) I think I'd feel a little less strong if I were running in a skirt.

For your own entertainment, please watch this hilarious Runner's World video on the running skirt phenomenon. Want more on running skirts? Click here!

Speak up! What are your running fireworks?

PS-Anyone else running on July 4th? I'm running the Butte to Butte 10k here in town with the manfriend. The first mile is straight uphill. And I'm still sick with a bad cold so I'm crossing my fingers I'm not hacking a lung and carrying kleenex with me on what's sure to be a hot race. Can't wait!

Happy 4th of July!

Grill Packets and Shortcake, oh my!

Monday night, the manfriend and I came home to do some easy grilling for din. I got the idea from Iowa Girl Eats (who you should really check out if you haven't already). So, what did I throw in the packets? Any veggie/protein mix will do, but I used: diced chicken, sweet potatoes, green beans, garlic, broccoli, red and green bell pepper, red onion, pineapple, olive oil and lemon pepper seasoning.



I wish I had taken a photo afterward, but we were soooo ready to eat these babies! We cooked them on the grill for 10 min on each side. Packets are nice bc if you don't like a veggie that your grill buddy does, you can each have your own! Next time, we're trying red potatoes, more pineapple and maybe a teriyaki maranade. This is SO easy and perfect for a simple, healthy summer meal.

And as you probably know, few guys would be satisfied with a chicken/veggie dinner so I capped the night with an easy but yummy strawberry shortcake! I remember as a child my dad would go to the store to pick up those spongey looking "shortcake" things, cool whip and a box of strawberries. Well, when the man said he wanted strawberry shortcake, you better believe that's what he's getting...but sassy style and a little more gourmet than dad's sponge cakes.

Strawberry Shortcake:

-a few pints of strawberries from your local farm (we rode our bikes to one on Sunday)
-whipping cream (a hand mixer and patience)
-bisquick, milk, sugar (cook biscuits 10-12 min)

Doesn't this look absolutely fabulous?



The shortcakes were so easy to make w/ the recipe on the back of the Bisquick box. And they were perfectly biscuity with a little sweetness. I even had to substitute the milk with plain nf yogurt and a dab of condensed milk because we had JUST ran out of milk and they still turned out. Okay, your turn!

This was such a simple and quick dessert to make and we even had enough for two nights, which was a special treat. And, I felt less guilty about this dessert than I would with a bowl of ice cream or a gooey brownie.

An update from Tracktown

Sorry, you're not going to see the hair update today. Why? I'm home sick and frankly I'm pretty sure the hair looks like a hot mess right now. I will give you a bit of hint though. I got a few inches cut (although it seems like more) and I kinda feel like a kid. I'm debating whether or not to go back in and ask her to go a little funkier with it. We'll see how it looks after I wash it and attempt to do style it.

I mentioned last week that I was going to the Track & Field National Championships on Friday night. I did and it was fun. The office was quiet, my motivation was low, the sun was out, and Hayward Field was the place to be!

So, I left early and headed out to see some amazing athletes. The level of athletes you are within feet of, include Tyson Gay, Nick Symmonds, Kara Goucher and more! Dan OBrian was hosting the meet, interviewing the winners after each event. As usual, Kara Goucher impressed me. Not only was she the American woman to take third in the Boston Marathon, but she's an inspiring person and amazing runner.

Friday night she settled in midpack for the women's 5k. About halfway through you could tell she was bored and ready to push the pace (as she did in the last few miles of Boston to really make it a competition). Goucher was boxed in for a bit until her break in the last two laps and finally outkicking the leader and former Olympian, Jen Rhines. If you don't know Goucher, google her and watch a few interviews. I believe she's truly one of the most inspiring athletes for women because she truly puts her heart and soul into running and isn't afraid to say what she feels in interviews.

Aix en Provence

Provence. Close your eyes and picture it. You see fields of lavendar, gorgeous countryside, quaint little homes and cheese, right?? Well, that's what I had pictured as well. And I believe it does exist somewhere in that region. But when we rolled into Aix en Provence, a town A's aunt RAVED about and was a late add to our itinerary, it was nothing of the sort.

I'll bypass the longwinded story that lead us to arriving in the town around midnight by bus at the dumpiest hotel I've ever been to. Needless to say, our first impression of Provence was nothing short of disappointing. I kept spirits high (even while having to use my borrowed travel sleeping bag on the hotel bed bc we didn't trust the bed sheets/blankets/etc) and hoped morning would bring something more pleasant.

Overall, it wasn't awful, but let's just say I didn't too much enjoy the city. The highlights were: touring Cezanne's last art studio (AWESOME!) for only 2 euro ($2.80), all the hoopla they go through to celebrate weddings (cars honking, people yelling, driving through town before and after the wedding sounding like a parade all the way) and the cute little fountains all over town. The lowlights: fashionobsessed, smoke inhaling, superficial young people, it's faster paced big city feel, and the high prices for drinks/food.

Yummy spinach/salmon quiche for lunch and fabulous choc cupcake/brownie goodness for dessert!




Cute little fountain good for people watching...just be careful the birds don't get you!















Fountain and round a bout

















Cute little garden we came across that was prime spot for old ladies to gossip and the college kids to study!
















Annie tries a drink her mom suggested, Pastis (black licorice liquer), which she found disgusting.
















I love hearts so naturally when we came across this bakery shop window, I had to pause for a photo.















Our second and final night in Provence we got to tour a bunch of the museums that were open late for free!

some of my best hair days

...are hopefully in the very near future. WHY? Like most of you, summer inspires that feeling of change, of refreshment, of things flirty and fun. And my hair is feeling that very same need.

See this photo? This was at Versaille outside of Paris. Granted, I wasn't able to use a hair straightener in Europe, we were midsightseeing and I was bent over trying to uncork some wine, but still.

Now, totally sick of my hair, I scheduled a haircut with my stylist for tomorrow. That sounds so chic, right? Stylist. Ha. Well, for just $30 she'll wash and cut my hair pretty much any way I please. Awesome huh? Except that I tend to go with my standard "um, let's just cut a few inches off, you know, clean up the ends, and maybe add a few long layers" line.

My hair is starting to remind me of this much TOO long style from last summer (I'm second from the left). Click to enlarge. This was at a backyard bbq during the USA Track & Field Olympic Trials with some of the runner girls.

The only good thing about the long layers is that sometimes the shorter pieces add for some fun looking up dos of sorts. But really, it's just pure luck. The problem with these layers is that it makes running particularly difficult. I HATE having chunks of hair fall out of my ponytail and into my face. And bobby pins and headbands don't seem to do the trick for this stick straight hair. This photo btw is from a fun evening in Paris. We ran into a few French college students in the subway and this one decided to sing Opera to us!

Here are a few photos that are inspiring me right now in the hair cutting dept...

1. Reece Witherspoon's wispy, long layered look



















2. Jennifer Aniston's golden honey blonde hair color



So, I want to know: do you sacrifice your running/workout capable ponytail for a cute, unpredictable haircut or do you go with the same ole cut each time you see your stylist?? The manfriend suggested I try some highlights. I however, am a highlight/hair dyeing virgin. What do you think? Should I make take a big leap? Or should I keep it long and freshen up the ends?

*Send me a photo and recap of a time you took a hairstyle leap of faith and I'd love to feature them in an upcoming post.

Cake, run, yoga, groceries and oh...work

Busy day over here in Sassyland! We got home late last night after some food and beers with the runners and tracksters. After stopping by the grocery store, I proceeded to make TWO layers of yellow cake for the man's bday lunch (he requested yellow cake w/ choc frosting). So as requested, I bought Betty Crocker cake mix and then chose a recipe to make for the frosting.

This morning, the dog and I hit the pavement for a 25 min run. Then I did some yoga before showering and getting ready for work. After the manfriend headed on his merry way, it was operation decorate cake time (hey, he can't know EVERYTHING I'm doing for his bday)!

I wanted to make the cake a little extra special so I decorated it like a bike wheel. Not gonna lie, I felt kind of creative using the icing and sprinkles. The man cycles AND works at a bike wheel manufacturer so really, it just makes perfect sense.

I offered to bring lunch and cake today for his office (there are only six of them). So, what will they be having?

-Subway party platter (with four assorted types of sandwiches)
-Sweet Onion & Barbecue flavored chips
(made here in Oregon and oh so yummy!)
-Dole caesar salad mix
-Double layer round yellow cake w/ choc frosting bike wheel birthday cake! (Photo to come. I can't find the damn camera cable cord.)

I think I'm earning some serious girlfriend points, for the record.

Any fun weekend plans? I'm hitting the big track meet up tonight with a fellow runner! Fun fun!

Yeah, no one ever told me THIS (about running)

Hey hey hey, guess what? It's Thirsty Thursday! I mean, Take it and Run Thursday!

Today in the lounge we're talking about...what in running did you find out not by your running group, or in an article or friend, but by plain ole experience? I heard quite a bit that at first it would be hard, really hard, but it would get better with time and perseverance.

What I didn't learn from someone else until it happened to me, was that once running becomes "the thing you do," it could go back to being really, really hard. And I'm not just talking about after you take a month or two off, I'm talking about the days when one run is just awesome and you're flyin' and the next you feel like "oh my gawd, could I go any sloooower?!" Whether it be fueling or rest fluctuations, sometimes it just seems like those days the bod is saying "hello, this whole running thing...yeah, it's still hard no matter how many times we've done this before."

Sometimes those runs remind me that hey, it's okay to take a day off and take a walk and do yoga instead. And others, I think "what is wrong with this bod? get it together already!"

On another, but somewhat related note, I went on a 30 mile bike ride last night with wind coming at me from the front, side and back at various points on the ride. I decided to ride and save the knees for tonight's SPEED workout. However, I set out for the hills and the wind already hungry and with low energy. AND, it got cold quickly and I forgot to bring any arm or knee warmers.

When the wind hit me head on, the clouds started covering the sun, and I started to feel tired on the gentle rolling hills, I prob should have turned back, but I didn't. I kept saying "just a little bit further" until I was inching up the big hill and doing the full loop with no plans of turning back. I had a package of blueberry Luna moons (mmm, love the things!) with me so that sort of saved the day, but just by a hair. I got back to the man's at 830pm just as he was giving me a call to make sure I was okay. I was, thank goodness. Tired, but okay.

I hope I've learned from this. Learned that what can be jolly good fun can quickly turn to exhaustion, blood sugarless unfun if you're not careful.

And, here in Tracktown, USA, we have the Track & Field National Championships going on from today through Sunday! From my office I can hear the announcer. Literally feels like I'm at the meet right now. And tonight, after our SPEED workout, we'll head to the pub and rub elbows with all the real speed demons (prof. athletes) and track fans, while enjoying good beer, some food and live music! Gotta love it!

This is supposed to get easier, right?

This whole returning to running after two months off thing has thrown me for a loop. A loop I wasn't quite ready for. I forgot that when they say you lose double the fitness for the amount of time you take off, they mean it. Two months is NOT like taking four days off.

Each mile is a victory. My lungs and my legs feel like they're finished after just five minutes into a run. But because I know persistence pays off, I've been fighting the fatigue to get to at least 40-45 minutes before I think about stopping.

Last night, I worked until 630 and then having already missed the group run, I put on the New Balances, Nike shorts and Old Navy tank and drove to the park for my own little run on the bark. I took the long loop so I was forced to go all the way around with no turning back when it got tough.

Sunday's run was painful. After 2.5 miles with the girls I had to peel off and turn around and then pushed myself to do 6 miles since the 10k is coming up. But you know what? My right knee was wrenching with every step. The lungs were mediocre, but the knee, not so much.

Last night my knee wasn't hurting as bad, but still not good. Halfway around the loop, I realized I'm a fighter. I stay in the ring until the last bell, until I can't go any more. Why? Because I think anything less would be unsatisfactory. Incomplete. Below average.

I'd like to run without pain someday. I believe the lungs and legs will get stronger in the next few weeks and I'll be back to my running fitness level soon enough. But my knees, I'm not so confident they're up for the challenge. I wonder, how fast could I go if my body were to cooperate with my mind? One thing I know for sure is that Boston will be unachievable with this kind of knee pain.

But it's all in due time. I think this whole biking thing will help my joints, but it's hard when the time you see your friends is on the track, the roads and the bark paths and your goals require serious road time. The thing I keep having to remind myself is that patience is critical.

Without serious recovery time, we cannot improve. With the foresight that some goals cannot be met when you'd most like, we must find new and different challenges to keep the fighter in us fighting. Meanwhile, bikini season continues to come head on with no sign of stopping. :)

Take care of yourself!