Per James, today:
I told him from the start it was hilly. He said, “Noooo, it’s not hilly, it’s flat!”
If I complete my goal of 20 miles during this run, I will have climbed almost 2000 feet… and if he completes his 50K, he will have climbed about 3500 feet.
So there ya go. It’s hilly. Because everywhere you go in the Pacific Northwest is hilly.
It’s time for a little Motivational Music Monday over at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest! If you have a particular song this week that’s really getting it done for you, go let James know what it is! New, old, fast, slow… something’s gotta be making you happy!
James is going with a karaoke-inspired song this week from The Commitments. I love that movie… it’s one I could watch over and over and it would never get old, mostly because the music is just so good. So while you’ll have to pop on over to 50 in 50 to see what James came up with, I am going to post my favorite song from that movie, Try A Little Tenderness. This is the best version of the song I’ve ever heard. While I couldn’t find the actual movie scene, I did find one with lyrics, so you can read along. Have a listen:
Now, here’s the funny thing… my boy MB also does a version of this song, but I’m sorry to say, The Commitments’ version is still my favorite. However, one can never go wrong with Michael…
I think the first time I ever heard the song itself was in the movie Pretty In Pink. Jon Cryer did a bang-up job in this scene… with the original version by Otis. Go ahead… watch and have a little smile…
Happy Monday my friends! Hope you have a smashing week!
A couple of you already know that I don’t fare well in the kitchen… even after advanced study with 1 year of a home economics class and 1 year of a foods class. (Have I ever told you about the time I was making cheese toast and I set the toaster oven on fire?! True story… and I was 36 at the time.) Anyway, every once in a long while I leave my comfort zone of the normal mac and cheese and attempt something new. I did that today and achieved total success! So, of course, I have to share it with you! (Okay, so it was only a sandwich, but hey, it was a success.)
James was perusing this cookbook when he stumbled upon something he wanted for lunch… a Hot Turkey and Strawberry Sandwich with Sweet Potato Fries and homemade Mint Limeade. Easy peasy. I highly recommend it for a nice light lunch or dinner!
For the sandwich, spread cream cheese on the bread and put turkey slices on top. Then broil it for about 4 minutes. I had never used the broiler on my oven before so I was relieved that I actually figured out how to turn it on.
When it comes out of the oven, add a layer of sliced strawberries. Who would have thought that sliced strawberries on a turkey and cream cheese sandwich could be so yummilicious?! It truly was… don’t knock it ’til you try it.
For the Mint Limeade, I used our handy-dandy Nutribullet. Puree 2 cups of water, 1/3-cup sugar, 1/4-cup mint leaves, and 1 lime, rind and all. After it’s pureed, drain the mixture through a sieve and add 2 more cups of water. Very refreshing on a hot day!
The sandwich, depending on the bread that’s used, has about 263 calories, 20g of protein, and 23g of carbs. The sweet potato fries are a runner’s friend, full to the brim of vitamin A, and one of those super foods a runner just shouldn’t go without. The mint limeade drink is only 71 calories, 18g of carbs, with more vitamin C than you can shake a stick at!
And there you have it… my success in the kitchen for this month!
… and it didn’t suck. I might finally be on the mend after 2 months. I now have a plan for Missoula in 2-1/2 weeks.
And something super cool… James made the promo video for RNR Seattle. He’s at about the 20 second mark flashing his rave green Seahawks shirt.
Have a great rest of your week!!
My husband is in the process of concocting a crazy scheme with his father… signing all of us up for the Grand Teton Relay in August 2017.
What it is: A 12-runner team relay starting in Ashton, ID and ending in Jackson Hole, WY… 180 miles of pure fun, running over the Tetons mountain range.
The Tetons
The views you will see are unmatched. The Tetons will follow your team across rolling farm hills, steep mountain roads, and fast running trails. Imagine the stars shining over the Grand, lighting your way. It might make you cry (If you are into that sort of thing). –taken from grandtetonrelay.com
Each runner will complete three, 4-7 mile legs of the relay.
Why do it: For the scenery and adventure, of course! Apparently there have been a few Sasquatch sightings, so hey, why not!! I’m all for meeting a legend!!
Something for my running friends to think about:
Who’s interested in crossing the Tetons in 2017??
Leave the kids with grandma, strap on your runners and pack your party wagon! What happens in the Tetons stays in the Tetons (until it shows up on youtube). — grandtetonrelay.com
Yes indeedy! It’s time for Motivational Music Monday from James over at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest. Everyone is encouraged to play, so please head on over to his site (even if it’s not Monday no mo’) and tell him a song that makes you happy!
In case you missed it, we just completed the RNR Seattle Half Marathon (well, James completed the full). They played some great wake-up music at the start line, stuff that made you want to get up and shake what your mama gave you! This was one of those songs! I also had this on my playlist, and when it finally came on somewhere down the road, it helped me to get one of my best splits of the race, plantar fasciitis pain and all.
It wasn’t pretty and it wasn’t fun, but yes, I finished. One of the best ways to see a city is to run a race through it. I got some great shots of Seattle… shots I wouldn’t otherwise be able to get. Here is my day in pictures.
This is at the start. So many people, it took me over an hour to cross the starting mat once the first corral had gone. James hit the 5K mark before I even started.
We started at the Space Needle/Seattle Center.
Alaskan Way Viaduct… can you see the wall to wall people?
So majestic to see both stadiums… and knowing that is where the finish line is… so close yet so far away.
A nice shot of the Columbia Center. Remember I was recently at the top of that building?
The huge ferris wheel on the waterfront. Another landmark.
I love it when drum lines play on the course.
Mariachis serenading us from above. I was starving at this point and was ready for my Mexican food.
A group of pirates cheering us on and handing out water, mile 7.
This guy is always here at this particular point during the race, right next to Genesee Park heading to Lake Washington Blvd.
Lake Washington Blvd… a gorgeous stretch.
Close to 1/2-mile lined with American Flags, right after the memory mile, mile 9.
Safeco Field, home of the Seattle Mariners, mile 12.
And done!!
I ended up logging over 18 miles that day (love the worthless stats). Next up, Missoula Marathon and Half on July 10th.
Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful dads out there and especially to my husband James over at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest! May you all have a beautiful day!
Detox Sucks
The holiday celebrations are over now as mum-in-law Janet has gone back to the UK. No more debauchery for us… we have races coming up… all… summer… long. With the first one being this Saturday. And by debauchery, I mean this:
Well, at least until Saturday night after Rock ‘N’ Roll Seattle, then it’s Mexican Food and karaoke!
Plantar Fasciitis
I haven’t been brutally honest with everyone about my foot health. After running SLC in April, I developed heel pain. And then I got the flu. And I was bed-bound for a week. And when I finally was able to get out of bed, I couldn’t stand on my feet because of the pain. Holy wow! So I’ve been hating life this past month (not really, but you know what I mean), and this is my new norm:
Ice baths. And rolling. And ice packs nearly every hour. And tape. And ibuprofen. A LOT of ibuprofen. I have good days and I have bad days, but I’m hoping for a good day on Saturday. I’m still going to participate in the race, and I am risking a DNF, but I just don’t have it in me to quit a race before I even start. I’ve tried 2 different types of shoe inserts and have a completely different type on the way now. At this point, it certainly can’t hurt. So stay tuned… will she finish or will she DNF?! (spoiler alert: she will finish)
Graduation Day
And last but not least, my baby boy has now graduated from the 5th grade and is on to the middle school, although he looks like he should probably be in high school. We went to dinner the other night and we asked for a children’s menu. The hostess was confused. She looked behind us to see if we had a young child or if she missed counting somebody. I had to explain to her that the kid towering over her was only 11. Mind blown.
Anyway, what proud mom doesn’t want to show off her child’s accomplishments?! So here ya go… scenes from today (and he should be paying me big money for not posting the video of him #singingnotsinging).
This is his 5th grade teacher. She was in the 5th grade the year he was born, in 2004. Anyone feel old yet?
Cheers!! Have a great rest of your week!!
It’s time once again for Motivational Music Monday! Anyone can contribute, so go check out James at 50 in 50 Marathon Quest and add a song and/or link in the comments!
This coming Saturday is
Rock ‘N’ Roll Seattle
our 4th race of 2016!
I’m doing the half & James is doing the full (may heaven help him on all those hills)!
And I couldn’t think of a more appropriate song for this coming week!
For everyone rockin’ it this weekend, we salute you!
Happy Monday! May you have a blessed week!
Never A Dull Bling 