And..... I'm back......

Sorry about that.  

I'm a bad blogger when my life gets crazy. 

I'm back from a fabulous racing weekend!  Reach the Beach went awesome.  I'll do a separate post shortly. 

Today was about trying to get back to my routine.....

It kinda worked. 

6am I did Kettlebell!

This mornings workout was a good one for a Monda, I think. 

1 minute of each exercise (30 seconds each side when applicable), 1 minute rest at the end

Swings, rest

Swings, presses, rest

Swings, presses, slingshot, rest

Swings, presses, slingshot, squats, rest

Swings, presses, slingshot, squats, rows, rest

Swings, presses, slingshot, squats, rows, lunges, rest

Mini set of abs

overhead weighted situp, rest

overhead weighted situp, Russian twist, rest

overhead weighted situp, Russian twist, Sicilian crunch, rest

Then it was home for some breakfast!

BREAKFAST

Green Monster- spinach, ice, milk, almond butter, little greek yogurt, frozen mango and banana

Then off to work I went!

I headed home to make a quick lunch at noon time. 

 

LUNCH

-spinach flat out, turkey, homemade pesto, tomatoes, lettuce and roasted some strange vegetable from our CSA (didn't go so I yanked them out)
Left over roasted potatoes. 

After work I grabbed our crop share veggies for the week.  I was bad and didn't take a picture.  Yummiest watermelon ever though!!!

After getting our veggies & watermelon I had to venture downtown to prep the planters for tomorrow.  I have a crew of volunteers coming down after work to help me plant mums, cabbage & kale for the fall.  I had to remove all the summer plantings, which took me longer than I had hoped but I got it done!

I finally got home to make dinner around 8pm. 

DINNER

Pesto Turkey Burgers - just mixed in some homemade pesto with the ground turkey

Sauteed Turnips w/ olive oil & garlic

Yum!

Now to work on road race planning details.  I'm very glad Reach the Beach is done, now I can totally focus on the 5K I'm coordinating.... I'm getting a bit nervous, being a newbie at this race directing thing and all... I'm worried I'm going to forget something!

But first I'll do a race recap post!

Have a great night!

Britt

Beachin it.....

I was rather excited for today's run when I got up.  I could not wait to get down to the beach and enjoy my run. 

Before heading out the door,

I ate a slice of ww bread and a smear of almond butter. 

Along the way I swung by my mom's.  She is my Gu supplier. 

Then me & Henrietta (the hula dancer) headed to the beach with the Gu.  :)  I was driving the hubby's truck as he had asked to borrow mine.  

I had one Gu before heading out....  then I geared up

-fuel belt w/ water

-3 Gu's

-iPhone w/ some tunes playing

It was GORGEOUS out!  Lots of surfers, bikers, motorcycle riders, walkers, etc. out and about. 

Of course by this picture you couldn't tell many people were out!

I enjoyed the scenery and a few of the oh so little houses along the way..... 
Its was a relatively flat out and back route, but there were a few areas with a bit of an incline. 
More of those vacation "cottages.....

It did feel very good to be DONE!  I felt awesome about half way through but by the end I was definitely DRAGGING......

Miles: 18

Time: about 2.5 hours, I was having watch issues

Pace: averages out to about an 8:20 pace

I want a Garmin..... I'm tempted now that the 405 is out the 305 is a tad cheaper. 

Anyhow, since I was at the beach I did my post run stretch and cool down on the beach.

Little coconut water. 

This was my first try.  It was SO YUMMY!!!  

Hey if this is better for me than Gatorade, I'll take it!

BEACH....
My Feet & BEACH
On my way back to the truck I pulled out a sandwich I had made

-ww bread

-almond butter

-few chopped walnuts

-few dried cranberries

Once home I showered up and gave in to my craving.....

GREEN MONSTER.... this one truly was a monster about 1.5 glasses worth

-2 large handfuls spinach

-ice

-1/2 frozen banana

1/2 cup blueberries

-1 c milk

-1 T ground flax

-1 T almond butter

-1 small scoop soy protein powder

Now I need to prep & pack stuff for the in-laws party.  

Already hit the liquor store for wine 

(and Home Depot for primer...if I'm lucky I get to prime later, oh yay... blah).  

Hope you are having a fabulous Sunday!!

What is your favorite post run or post work out meal?

Britt

Danny don't rain on my parade......

Stupid Hurricane Danny may ruin my weekend plans..... ggrrrrr.....

Months ago I got tickets to see James Taylor at Tanglewood in Lenox, MA. This is THE place to see JT! The hubby and I have been going to see JT together since we were in high school, yep we were HS sweethearts.... aw. But we have never been to Tanglewood out in the Berkshires.... its a bit of a hike and the hotels ain't cheap.

So please send your good weather wishes my way.... please and thank you.

I was a bad food blogger last night and didnt' take any food pictures...... oopsie. To be honest I'm not 100% sure what I ate, but it was GOOD!

What I think we had.... naan, chicken curry, saag chicken, rice....
Michelle you out there, what did I eat? ;)
Also we (me & Michelle) had some yummy wine with dinner.

I think the reason why I didn't do my homework was due to the baby cuteness in my precense. My friend Courtney's little girl Clara was so sweet and cute! She wasn't fussing at all while we were there. Definitely need to pay another visit again soon! This time bring the hubby though, Courtney's husband Al was sad no boys came along..... although I'm worried about the trouble they could get into..... well Kirt would... Al has quite the guitar collection.

I was very glad we headed home when we did though, the hour drive got us back home around 9:30 and I crashed. Had to be up early for Kettlebell this morning!

Class today was challenging but good. I like it that we did each exercise only once, but for 2 minutes. At least you didn't have to think about doing it AGAIN, so I really tried to do each one well and push myself.

Swings- 40 seconds regular/40 second single arm/40 seconds alternating
Long Cycle Clean + Press 1/2/3/4/5 and then repeat if time
Goblet Squats / Behind the Neck Squat 1min/1min
Plank variations- push up & inch worm 1 min/plank w/ knees to elbows 1 min (OMG ouch!)
High Pulls- 5/5 each side repeat for 2 min
Chest Press + Get Up Sit Up
Rows 1/2/3/4/5
Tactical Lunges- 2min straight (ouch!)
Side Planks- 1 min each side (um ouch again)
Bottoms Up Cleans
Crush Curl / Hot Potato
Snatches

That workout definitely whooped my butt. My abs will be sore tomorrow too!

Then I headed home and did a quick monster. Since we are headed out of town I wanted to use up the last of my spinach.

BREAKFAST
-2 handfuls spinach
-ice
-1 cup milk
-1/2 frozen banana
-handful blueberries
-1 T almond butter
-1T ground flax

Just working a half day and then we are packing up and heading out. Crap.... I still need to pack. Kinda forgot to do that Wednesday night when I was home.

Its suppose to be cool and rainy... what is cute but still practical, ideas? I may bring my galoshes.... although they aren't cute ones... they are boring forest green ones. I need to get some of those cute ones with rubber ducks or something on them. ;)

Not sure if I'll have much time to blog.... may try blogging from my iphone, see how that goes.

I am excited for dinner tonight though! We are trying out a place called Alta, it sounds delish!

Happy Friday and hopefully we stay somewhat dry this weekend NE folks!

Britt

I'm not booked tonight.....

Good Morning!!!

Yes, I'll just quickly gripe once again how flippin dark it is in the morning....gggrrrr... gripe done. 

Now its beautiful and sunny out though..... but its just about time to head to work.  :( Sometimes I miss my schedule I had as a waitress.... days off and then working 5-11 or so.  

I would get so much done in the mornings, but of course once the sun was UP. 

Reggie and I walked at 5:30 and then I was off to Kettlebell.  This mornings class was hard but fun, it was a relay!  Teams of 3.  We did 8 rounds of the following.....

200m sprint

8 box jumps

8 double cleans 

My group rocked! :)  

I felt awesome on the sprints... catching or beating some of the guys most times.... go me.  

Exciting news in Kettlebell land....  not only are they moving to a big new space BUT they are also going to be sponsors of the race I'm planning.... and are donating gift certificates for the top age group finishers!  I'm kinda jealous, I wish I could run the race and have the chance to win one.  I'm also still working on some food prizes too.... figure gift certificate and a food item....something to enjoy later and something to enjoy right away!  

Once home I watered plants and whipped a tall green one.

BREAKFAST

Green Monster

-2 handfuls spinach

-1 cup milk

-1 scoop soy protein powder

-1 handful blueberries

-1/2 frozen banana

-1t ground flax

I'm running late, time to get ready for work and get my butt out the door.   

I'm meeting my mom for lunch, yay, and I have NOTHING planned for after work tonight!  So nice to have a free night.  :)

Happy Hump Day!

Britt

Just another manic Monday......

Monday morning comes way too fast! My alarm at 5:25 this morning was not kind, I could have slept for at least an hour more. The fact that the sun is not coming up till almost 6 isn't helping either.... so sad, fall is coming. Boo hoo.

I took Reggie for a walk and then headed out the door to Kettlebell. The owner forgot to turn the a/c on last night... so it was crazy hot in the gym, blech.

Today's session, as many rounds as you could do in 4 minutes, 1 minute rest, all done 5 times.
12 Air Squats
9 American Swings ( I mainly used the red bell, think that is 36 lbs)
6 push ups

I was able to consistently do 4 rounds in 4 minutes, few times started a 5th round but didn't have time to finish. My thighs will DEFINITELY be sore tomorrow after all those squats!

Here is a picture with me in it at Kettlebell... I'm in the blue, think we were doing presses

Once home I got stuck having to wait for the shower, so I whipped up a quick Green Monster. Yes I'm addicted. I was a sweaty drippy mess and something cool and refreshing was in order. This morning's monster included.....

-couple handfuls spinach
-1 cup milk
-1/2 banana
-ice
-handful blueberries
-ground flax
-1T almond butter
-1 scoop soy protien powder
-couple pieces of mango



I think the mango gave it a bit of an orange glow around the edge.
The green monster hit the spot, but I know at work I'll need a snack.... I packed a cut up nectarine & a sandwich thin. I'll probably toast the sandwich thin and throw some PB on it. :)

Today is going to be crazy busy, aside from just normal work.

Lunch time

-pick up food for Reggie (keep forgetting, bad dog mom)

-walk Reggie (my dog walkers, aka in-laws, are going down to the Cape)

-actually EAT lunch

After work

-walk Reggie

-meet the course certification guy for the 5K, finally get the course certified!

-school board meeting (MUST remember to bring a snack!)

Hopefully I'll be home before 10pm. Blah. What a way to start the week!

What do you do to keep yourself sane on busy days? Aside from just cursing all the stuff you have to do. ;)

Happy Monday!!!

Britt

Slack slack....

Yes I'm a slacker... again.  I started a post yesterday and then got a bit side tracked.  I'll try again.  :)

 We had our department outing on Friday, it always gets done early so we usually venture to some waterside bars afterwards.  That meant by 2:30 I was already drinking a lovely rum punch aka Jimmy Juice.  It was my splurge of the day, drink wise.  This tiny bar deck is well known for it and I haven't had one ALL SUMMER, so it was time.  I r

eally should have snapped a picture but forgot.  :(    All is not lost though as the good people of Taste the Seacoast have info on their site.....  Jimmy Juice.  Little slice of summer heaven right there. 

It was unbelievably hot out and there was no breeze on the deck.... an odd occurrence as usually by the water there is some breeze.  So after finishing our Jimmy Juice we headed next door to a mexican place next door.  I decided a margarita after a stiff rum drink was a bad idea.  So instead I did a Corona Light... it screams summer to me, its not the greatest tasting beer in the world but it is good on a hot day.  

Eventually it was time to head home.  But the rest of the normal working world was just getting out of work for the day, so I met up with some friends back at little bar near my house.  I was good and got water.  Once my hubby was out we tried to figure out a game plan and decided to grill at our friend's house and watch the Red Sox v. Yankees game.  We did burgers, dogs, potato salad and some mixed veggies.  I had a lovely burger on a perfectly toasted deli roll, so good!  The potato salad was excellent  as well, made with CSA potatoes and onion.  (but all were camera shy).  I had some wine with dinner, but soon I the day was catching up to me.  We left before the end of the game.  (but at least it was going well for us Yankees fans)

Yesterday was a big day.  So I had to get started with a yummy breakfast, our traditional Saturday breakfast at a place down the street.  

-Blueberry pancakes w/ one egg scrambled on the side.  Yum.  I really should have just ordered 1 pancake, they are so huge!

After breakfast I ran some errands, got my bangs trimmed and my eyebrows waxed (ouch!  but they look so much better now).  At one the hubby got done with a little work for the day and it was off to get my lovely NEW car (well new to me). 

My beautiful 2006 Honda Pilot

I really don't drive that much during the week or even the weekend, but when we do road trips we always seem to be crunched for space.  Poor Reggie was always surrounded by stuff.  Hopefully now we will have a bit more room for us all and kiddos once we get to that point.  For now we will just pack the car full of friends and family!  :)

As for today, it was my long run day.... but not as long as last week thankfully.  I only had 10 miles planned.  I decided to stick around my town rather then heading to the beach, although the hubby and I may hit the beach later. 

I ate a couple small handfuls of Kashi Heart to Heart and then was on my way.  In my lovely NEW shoes, this was a week of new stuff I guess.  I took a couple scenic shots along the way....

About the half way point....

Railtrail near the end.... crosses an old railroad bridge. 

I was hungry hungry after my run, so I did a green monster & some cereal

Green Monster- spinach, milk, ice, banana, blueberries, ground flax & almond butter

Cereal- Kashi H2H, cantaloupe, strawberries, almond butter and low fat cottage cheese. 

Love how the cottage cheese looks like puffy clouds. 

Well now to take care of a few things around the house and then head to the beach!!  

Enjoy the last bit of your weekend. 

Britt

Will run for beer..... and a t-shirt

Sorry didn't get to blog last night, I was too pooped after work, the 10K and then heading out to meet up with the hubby.

The race went fairly well. It wasn't too hot, I think by the start it was under 80 degrees out and by the end of the race the sea breeze had kicked up a bit. This is one of the few mid-week night races I'll do during the summer since its by the ocean.

I MET my goal, I wanted to do better than my last 10K in June and I did! Yay me! :)

I did it in 46:10 which is a 7:28 pace average. Last 10K I did in 47:06 which was a 7:35 pace. So I'm happy. Still no PR, but that is a-ok.

This race is bit different for the area as they actually have FREE BEER at the end and you can get more than one if you want. Fortunate for me the guy I was next to in line grabbed two and shared. That is the other different thing, not everyone gets a t-shirt. Only a certain % within each division get a shirt, since that % is based on your time you don't get the shirt till the end. Sooner you hop in line the better chances you have of getting the right size. So you line up and wait for them to start handing them out, one year I forgot this and got stuck with an XL. So I was sure to hop RIGHT into line..... I was the first woman. :) But I didn't hit the beer area first forgetful me, lucky for me the guy in front of me did and shared. Although in hindsight I probably should have gone for water right after the race.... not beer. Oopsie.

So recap of earlier in the day.

My green monster held me ok, but still needed a mid- morning snack

-sandwhich thin toasted w/ The Bee's Knees PB

-iced coffee w/ 1 sugar in the raw

For lunch I headed home, had to take Reggie for a noon time walk.

I opted for a turkey pesto wrap again.

LUNCH

• flat out
• turkey
• pesto
• tomato
• red pepper
• side of carrots w/ lil almond butter

Also during lunch I ventured to the natural food store & pharmacy in search of Amazing Grass, according to Amazing Grass they carried it.... unfortunately they did not have. :( Bummer. I did pick up some Agave Nectar though. And since I paid w/ cash they treated me to a chocolate. SWEET (literally)!!

I didn't really get the bug bites thing till I opened it. They have a little card inside with the chocolate featuring an endangered bug, mine was the Latern Bug. So I got a little education on that bug on the back of the card.

I plugged on through the work day and eventually had to fuel up a bit for my 10K, so a larabar was in order. New flavor for me, Cinnamon Roll. LOVE! Definitely will get that flavor again!

So then it was off to the race! It started at 6pm and was sold out, so I had to get there early to park and get my number. Saw some running friends and my mom. We discussed the big NYC trip, we are both so excited.

Like I said after the race I had a BEER, probably about 16oz of light whatever it was... never actually did get myself over to the beer truck. I also chowed on some watermelon, it was very yummy. But it was starting to cool off a bit more and the sea breezed kicked up a bit and I was wet from dumping water on myself during the race (it wasn't 100% intended, I was just being sloppy with my drinking while running). I did put on my new shirt, but still felt wet and gross, so I headed home. Later I found out my mom placed 3rd in her age group with a time of 54:54, stiff competition among those 60-69 year olds!!

On my way home I heard from the hubby that the function he was at was over but he and a friend were going to grab dinner at the restaurant it was held at. So I quickly headed home, showered and dropped Reggie off at my in-laws.... he had been home alone for too long so I asked if they could watch him for a bit.

I was SO HUNGRY by the time I reached the reastuarant. It is a steakhouse but I really didn't want steak... I did want something filling though. I opted for the pulled pork sandwich off of the bar menu. HOLY HUGE sandwich!!!

DINNER

• herbed roll
• pulled pork
• coleslaw
• mixed fries-sweet potato & regular

I only ate about half the sandwich, few fries and a little slaw. It was just way too much food!

Also had a yummy glass of Pinot Noir.... YUM.

A full tummy definitely did me in and I was ready for bed, thus no blog. Plus I had to be up and out for 6am Kettlebell this morning!!

Today's class was simple but challenging.
10 Rounds as fast as you could

• 7 double cleans
• 14 pushups
• 21 knees to chest crunches

Then we did 4 different types of planks, holding for 45 seconds.

• regular
• side planks, 45 each side
• bird dogs
• reverse plank

I think kettlebell is definitely helping me get some rock hard abs! Wonder why? ;-)

After showering I did another Green Monster for breakfast. This mornings variation included...

• 2 handfuls spinach
• 1 frozen banana
• 1 cup milk
• little ice
• handful of blueberries
• cup of cantaloupe
• 2t ground flax

Two thumps UP!

Happy Friday, have a great day!

Britt

Kermit obviously wasn't drinking one of these......

A Green Monster Smoothie!

It is easy to be green....... with a green monster smoothie. :)

Yes I have been slow to try it, how could it possibly be good.... its GREEN, it involves a lot of spinach in the morning and with banana.... what?

Well I'm sold, its delicious.... even my sorry attempt.

Today's Green Monster

• couple handfuls of spinach
• about 3/4 of a frozen banana
• 1T almond butter
• cup of milk
• 2t ground flax seed

YUM!!! I cannot wait to try other mix ins. I keep meaning to get to an herbal pharmacy near me that carries Amazing Grass, from what I see in the bloggosphere its a popular thing to add.

Oh and some AMAZING wonderful news for me. My mom and step-dad are going to join me in NYC when I run the marathon..... AND pay my way!!! They are going to buy my ticket and pay for the hotel room, holy cow! I am so blessed (and spoiled) to have such a great family. :)

They are marathon junkies themselves (as I have mentioned) and want to experience what its like in NYC for the marathon.... PLUS my big bro lives there! So its also a chance to finally visit him in the big city and see what his life is like there! Yay, that just makes me even more excited for the race now.

Speaking of races, I have that 10K tonight. Hope all goes well.... may have to blog late once again tonight!

Have a fabulous day!!!

Britt