5K Spring Season

2011 5K training commenced the first of March and I've been dedicated and strong and steady for the past 9 weeks.  I am finally, once again, at the point in my training where I am not taking any walking breaks.  My last two runs have been 25 and 28 minute ones.  I have been able to finish 2.75 miles which is right on target for where I want to be in that time frame. 

I registered for Hustle for Hoops happening May 22 at Williams-Cone School in Topsham.  I attended elementary school there from grade 4-6.  It seems there is a basketball court (which I don't remember but that's beside the point) that is in need of repair.  A fellow former classmate has organized this 5K to benefit the school and court.  If you are interested in running or donating: Hustle For Hoops.

Spring Fashion

Once upon a time I was considered fashionable, even trendy.  Then a couple of things happened...In 2005 I left my corporate job and spent a couple of years hanging out at playgrounds and libraries so I had no need for frilly dresses and funky sandals.  I also happened to gain about 15 pounds so I wasn't highly inspired to try on and buy many clothes.  I've been back in the "corporate" world for three of years now, I've lost 10 of those pounds and without consciously meaning to I am very motivated by clothes this season. 


I have been drawn to all things ruffled--purses, shoes, shirts...if it has a ruffle I want it.  I'm also loving color.  Not just purple as usual but lime green and bright blue.  I went shopping yesterday and brought home a pile of loot.  I had come into a little extra cash.  Combine that with a 50% off store closing and it was meant to be.


This shirt has the required ruffles and flowy fabric that will be great with black pants this summer:

Here comes the lime green.  Plus note the one shirt combines lime green with ruffles.  Isn't it sickening? :

Shoes:  I desperately wanted a fun pair of sandals with flowers down the middle.  The ones I saw before were either too fancy or too expensive.  But here I have not only lavender flat sandals AND black wedges.  Casual and 50% off! :

I even found shorts that I like which is really saying something.  These both have such a fun pattern but more importantly they have a stretchy fabric! :



Now, I will it to become warm and stay sunny!

Into The Wild

Lou has been going ouside on a harness and leash since he was just a kitten.  He doesn't mind the harness a bit.  In fact it makes him feel safe and secure out there in the wild outdoors... kinda like how you wouldn't enjoy ziplining as much if you weren't wearing a harness!

He's out the door and he's off:

Spot #1 to rest and roll:

What was that noise? :

Spot #2 to rest and roll:

Dirty boy:

Green Smoothie

I've been making fruit smoothies for a while now by usually mixing strawberries with almond milk. I've been reading a lot about making green smoothies from veggies. I decided to throw together a bunch of stuff I had handy and see how it came out.

I threw the strawberries, kale, apple, and cucumber in the food processor and then added a bit of cinnamon and almond milk. I hit the button and hoped for the best.

I ended up with a red and green looking holiday drink. This smoothie tasted pretty good but was far from the emerald green smoothie of my dreams. Back to the drawing board on this one.

iPhone Car Fun

About a month ago, I bought a new car and got an iphone.  Trust me when I say I had big plans for using the iPhone to its funnest, fullest capacity in my car.  I wanted to be able to listen to music on Pandora, Sirius and Slacker.  I wanted to have the iphone guide me step by step to my destination hearing that annoying voice tell me to turn left while gazing down at a map wondering where the heck I am.  My new car lacked a thermometer so I wanted to be able to gaze down and see at a glance how hot or cold it is currently outside. 


Today, finally (thanks State of Maine for holding my refund check hostage) my ProClip car mount package arrived in the mail.  It's a kind of a custom made car mount and holder.  On the website ProClip you first select what kind of car you have.  They have mounts specifically designed to fit perfectly in every single car.  Depending on your car you even have several mounting locations.  I chose a center mount on the side which allows me to plug my iPhone into the car to charge while also plugging into the aux outlet...therefore, listening to music, gazing at temperatures and maps, all the while keeping the thing juiced up.  Once you select your car's mount you then select your phone holder.  Unlike many car mounts you can chose one that fits an iphone with a case.  I was a little worried about installing this bad boy but it turned out to be easy, breezy, took only 5 minutes and I didn't even swear once.

If you are as geeky and particular as I am, check out this article which pretty much says everything I just did put from someone who is a bit more articulate than I am :) ProClip Article


Here it is "naked".  The bottom piece looks like it's not in place but there's just a bit of a gap.  It is, in fact, locked in tight.

And here it is with the iphone in and ready to go.  It angles slightly toward the driver and is an easy reach even with my short arms. It gently and easily slides in and out of the holder.

All plugged in for maximun listening enjoyment.

Yes, it really is something like this that makes my life a little bit brighter!

Back in the saddle...make that back on the treadmill

I have said all along that I was taking the winter off from running.  Although I had higher hopes that I could continue all season it was just simply too dark and icy to safely and reasonably be able to run.  Besides, by taking time off running I was able to focus my energy on yoga and doing a new and fun group circuit workout.  I feel very fortunate that Martin's Point has a nice, new, clean, well equipped gym and it is free.  Free gym equipment, free classes, free personal trainer.  Love it.

This is the strength training area of the gym.  There is also a cardio room and an aerobic/personal training room.

The gym is called Nautical Mile and it overlooks the water so on a nice day it is easily one of the nicest views in the city.  If I have to be on a treadmill, it helps that they turn out to overlook a nice view.  However, this was the rainy view today:



So, this week I started training again.  I'm starting fresh as a newbie with week one of my couch to 5k program.  So, that means I'm doing a very easy 5 minute warm up followed by 8 intervals of a 60 second run followed by a 90 second walk recovery and ending with a 5 minute cool down.  In 30 minutes I am running a mere 8 minutes.  But it's a great way to ease back in and not get discouraged. Here is my result for week one.  Truthfully, it's a heck of a lot better than I did week one last time around.  And I have 8 weeks of training to go...

Please Spring...

I'm done with winter.  I've been done since January 1st.  I allowed a couple big storms to get everything all out of its system and then by February 1st I was REALLY done.  Now that it's March I am fearful of what may happen if we get another storm.

This was the view Saturday morning.  I will concede that it was a beautiful, peaceful, calm after the storm type of morning. I actually enjoyed the stroll to pick up my car after the 5th parking ban of the season.  Still, it bothers me that the snow is that high.  I decided I needed to do something to bring some spring into my life.

I bought some daffodils. I love their metaphor for spring.  They start out barren and bleak without any color and it's hard to believe that they will soon turn into something beautiful.  The second picture is 24 hours later and the last picture is 72 hours total.  The temperature may dip into the single digits tonight, there may be ice and snow threatening to trip me when I walk out the door.  But in my kitchen...spring has arrived!