Running...in Spurts!

Had a great run last Saturday with my training group.  8 miles on a new route.  I was running with a gal that I met in the training group - Running Buddy 2!  So RB2 and I got to talking about intervals.  She's been running about a year (I think) and has been running around 4 minute intervals, with a 1 minute walk.  I'm running 7 1/2 minutes with a 45 second walk.

We started talking about how running the intervals seems to have given us more endurance.  When I first started running, about 2 1/2 years ago, I didn't run intervals.  I ran a 5k race in about 32 minutes.  Running Buddy 1 got me running intervals.  She trained with Team in Training and that was how they trained for a marathon.  Ultimately she was running 9 minutes with a 1 minute walk.  So, after I started running intervals, I ran that same 5k race a year later in 29 minutes. 

I really think that the intervals have helped me build that endurance and faster speed.  However, our trainer, the Running Ghost, doesn't seem to be a fan of intervals.  He has "encouraged" both me and RB2 to move away from the intervals. 

Here's my question to all you runner's out there...How do you feel about intervals?  Are you using intervals?  Have you seen benefits with them?

Thanks for stopping by today!  I have a 10 mile race next Saturday - so excited!

Running with Shadows!

I'm linking up with Harriet at Hey Harriet for another Shadow Shot Sunday!  Check out her blog - there are simply amazing photos!  Love this!

So, here is my Shadow Shot - my sweet little kitty Sophie!  

I'm becoming obsessed with turning my photos into black and whites, and the ones with shadows are really cool - if I do say so myself!

Thanks for visiting today!

Running...raw!

I love it RAW!  No, not like the World Wrestling Federation kind of raw, but the Sushi kind of raw!  Yum!!  So, here it is Friday, during the Lenten season, and every practicing Catholic is either at McDonald's getting their Filet-o-Fish, or at the local sushi restaurants!  My choice tonight?  Sushi!  I love sushi!  And, what could be better than drive-thru sushi?  A little place opened up a couple months ago - drive thru!  Nice!

Here is what we ordered tonight!  Seaweed salad (very crunchy, but gets in your teeth), California Roll, Rainbow Roll, and a Lion Roll.  First time trying the Lion Roll - it crab and tempura shrimp with a spicy sauce and dynomite sauce.  Pretty good - the sushi maker put shredded carrots around it to make it look like a lion - cute!

My favorite though is sashimi (raw fish with no rice).  I love salmon, tuna, and octopus!  We tried to make our own last summer.  Went to our local fish market and bought 1/2 pound of salmon and tuna.  Now, 1/2 a pound doesn't sound like that much, but once we cut it up, it turned out to be something like 25 pieces.  We made ourselves sick eating so much.  I think we figured it wouldn't keep, so we had to eat it.  Honestly, it was a while before I could face sashimi again.  You know, too much of a good thing...

We had the absolute best sushi several years ago when we vacationed in Oahu.  We went to a restaurant called Sushi Sasabune.  They offered something called the "Trust Me" meal.  If you are an adventurer, they will bring you all the fresh fish that has been caught that day.  Each time they brought a new plate they would explain where it was caught, the best sauces to use, and how to eat it.  They just needed to tell me its mother's name, and we would have been on a first name basis.  It was so incredibly fresh and delicious!  Hubby and I made these faces of "eating ectasy" with every piece we ate!  The sushi chefs were laughing at us and our crazy faces - we didn't care!

So, are you a sushi eater?  What's your favorite kind?  Are you open to trying something unusual?

Thanks for stopping by today!

Running...randomly...

Just finished my Tuesday tempo run - ugh!  It felt very random - felt good for a while, then...not so much!  I don't think Cake Pops are actually an energy food, and that's pretty much what I was feasting on today!  Randomly, here are my latest creations!  I'm totally stealing ideas from Starbucks, who obviously stole their ideas from someone else!  

Reese's Peanut Butter Cup

Rocky Road

Sprinkles and Chocolate Covered Espresso Bean

Random Thought #1

Finally finished my traffic ticket saga.  Attended traffic school - online!  Truly, the only way anyone should do it.  Years ago I went to an actual  "sit down" traffic school - pure, slow agony for 8 hours.  Online, it took me about an hour, and here's some factual tidbits I learned.  Did you know...

1) A commercial truck driver can register a 0.01% blood alcohol level and still not be cited!  Um, should a commercial truck driver be drinking at all?

2)  Bicycle accidents cost over 8 billion dollars a year.  Thank goodness I don't own a bike anymore - I couldn't afford it!

3)  A motorcycle helmet should fit snugly...I had to pay to find that out?

Random Thought #2 (Warning...if you don't want to read about bodily functions, please skip to #3)

My stomach was a little upset during my run...in a "gassy way" (sorry).  

 This hasn't really happened to me before, but I was "passing some gas" during my run.  I kept hoping that everyone I ran by had an iPod blaring in their ears so they wouldn't hear me.  Does this every happen to anyone else?

Random Thought #3

I  love my moon roof!  

I especially love to open it in the evenings.  Love that cool air coming through the roof, and some good music on a CD.  I'm listening to Bonnie Raitt lately - love her bluesy voice!

Ok, your turn...what's randomly going on with you?

Thanks for stopping by today!

Running...obsessed!

I'm obsessed...in a good way!  What, you may, ask am I obsessed by?  These little delights!

Cake Balls!

Yeah, I know, I love just saying the name too...cake balls...cake balls...cake balls.  Ok, the official name is Cake Pops - if you want to get all technical!

I am obsessed with them!  I've made, perhaps, 4 batches in the last month, and I have 2 batches ready to go in the fridge!  They are delicious, dangerously bite-sized, and so easy to make! And, they taste like a little chocolate covered truffle!

 

I first heard about them from a friend at work.  Then, I googled them and found so many wonderful blogs with cake pop/ball ideas!  Check out this one - Bakerella- apparently the first to ever introduce them!

Here's what you do:

 

1)  Make a box cake and let cool.

2)  Crumble in a bowl and add 1/2 cup of canned frosting.  Mix into a "truffle-like" dough.

 

3)  Refrigerate over night.

4)  Roll and smash into little balls!  Refrigerate again, over night.

 

5)  Buy candy melts - I use Wilton.  Melt and dip a lollipop stick into the melted candy, and insert into the cake balls.  Let sit for a short time, and then dip the entire ball into the melted candy.  Sprinkle on anything you want!

6)  Stick these lollipop sticks into styrofoam to let dry and harden.

7)  Pour yourself a glass of milk and watch them disappear.

8)  Go to department store and purchase a new pair of jeans in the next size up, now that you have discovered cake balls!

I found an idea for cake pop carrots!  They are awaiting me in the fridge - I'll let you know how mine turn out - great idea!!

Thanks for visiting!  And, in case you haven't noticed...after not blogging for 2 months, I have now gone a full 7 days of posting!  Yeah me!!

Now, let me know what lovely delight you are obsessed with!

Running with 3 things!

Today I'm going to institute my own little version of "3-thing Thursday"!  I want to share 3 tv programs that I can't live without these days!

 

  1.  Top Shot - I'm not a gun owner, nor have I ever fired a gun, but this show is very entertaining!  Every week the contestants learn about and use some kind of weapon.  Of course, they have pistols and shot guns and military rifles, but they have also used blow guns, tomahawks, and bowie knives!  It's very cool to learn the history of all these weapons and see how an expert pistol shooter suddenly performs when they have to deal with popping balloons with a dart gun!  And yes, that's Colby from Survivor!  He's the host.  I liked him on Survivor, but he can be incredibly irritating on Top Shot.  He narrates the contests each week.  Something like, "Sam misses his first shot.  Sam hits his next shot.  Oh, Sam missed his third shot.  Sam hits the fourth shot."  You just know that at some point during the season, someone is going to think about shooting him, just to put the viewers out of the misery of listening to him!  (not really - hope it never happens)

 

2.  Justified - Oh, my.  This show is really, really good!  U.S. Deputy Marshal Raylon Givens is the main character - a man who straddles the line between right and wrong.  He's very sexy, and cool, and...well you get my meaning.  The actor has been in a bunch of other shows and movies - Die Hard (the last one), Deadwood (HBO), Hitman (movie).  He's really good on this show!

But, the character of Boyd Crowder is so good too!  He's a criminal, torn between Jesus and crime!  But he is just hilarious at times with his twang and reasoning behind everything he does.  The actor is really good!  Last season he preached in a little "backwoods" church - just fabulous!  You've got to rent last season's episodes - I think last season was better than this season.

 

3)  Modern Family - hysterical, hilarious, pee-inducing funny!  (Almost always!)  I love every character on this show.  I think I've seen myself in every single one of the characters!  Yes, even the gay couple! I love Gloria's character, but sometimes she borders on shrill and stereo-typed.  I hope the writers don't go there very often! 

I'd love to hear what shows you've been watching lately!

 

Thanks for stopping by today!  (Do you realize that this is the 6th day in a row for my blogging?  I'm so excited!  One-more-day!  I-can-do-it!)

Running with beauty!

I'm joining up with A Southern Daydreamer for Outdoor Wednesday today! 

Here was the view from my house one beautiful morning last week! 

Each moment of the year has its own beauty . . . a picture which was never before and shall never be seen again.


- Ralph Waldo Emerson

In nature we see where God has been.  In our fellow man, we see where He is still at work. 

~Robert Brault

 
No further explanation necessary.
 

Be sure to visit the other participants over at A Southern Daydreamer - thanks for stopping by today!