2011 Oldsmar Tap House 5K

Alternative Title: Will Run for Brew, Part Two

I remembered the Tap House Run being a much hotter event.  Don’t get me wrong.  It was hot, but not as humid as it was the first year when I last ran the 5K event.  I also remembered despite the heat really enjoying the course through downtown Oldsmar and its beautiful view along the bay.

This year, Jackie anticipated winning Das Boot, so she pushed her way through the crowd to the front of the pack.  The rest of us found a start position way in the back.  Much like the start line, we would admire Das Boot from a distance.

I started the race running alongside of Mike, Chrissy, Bob, Angie and Faith, but found my pace and a path through the crowd to move ahead.

Just after I passed mile 1, I spotted the fastest runners already heading to the finish line.  I began counting them to see if Jackie would make the top 50 for Das Boot.  Sure enough, there she was somewhere around number 30.  She was booking it for Das Boot!

Although I ran another 5K race in the evening a month prior to this race, I still wondered how I would perform in the evening especially since the weather would be a bit warmer.  This race was hot, but not that hot.  Honestly, it was pretty bearable and the Gulf breeze blowing in from the bay was a welcomed relief during the run.  However, I think some of my late morning training runs and the occasional evening run prepared my body for the heat.

But also to prepare for this race, I drank water throughout the day to help my body combat the heat.  I believe staying hydrated all day is what saved me from heat exhaustion and any cramping during the race.  I also carb loaded with a bagel and peanut butter for breakfast and a bowl of pasta for lunch, so I wasn’t hungry before or during the race.  I seemed to find the perfect amount of fuel to keep me going.

And keep going I did snapping photos along the way and only stopping to walk while rehydrating at the water station. I dumped water on myself as well as downing cups of cold water.

3.16 miles
Garmin Time 30:21
Ave Pace 9:37
Max Pace 7:11

Overall, it was a fun little 5K, but the street party afterwards was a blast with lots of sudsy Sierra Nevada Pale Ale flowing and tons of yummy food, like tacos from Tijuana Flats and Italian ice from Rita’s.  The whole event was a great time from start to finish and then start to finish again, but having my hubby and our friends there to support each other made a fun evening even better.

I’ll drink to that!

Hello Dolly!

It’s Xmas Dolly’s birthday this week and she requested Monday’s Music Moves Me participants to select a song just for her.  Of course, y’all know I love my Broadway tunes, so I couldn’t resist sharing this song just for Xmas Dolly.

But perhaps Hello Dolly seems a bit silly because not everyone likes show tunes.  So how about a song that is a bit more upbeat and contemporary?

After all, Xmas Dolly’s birthday falls on the same weekend as the two 5K races I just finished and finished strong.  When it comes to my running, I’m on the right track, baby.  My times just keep getting better and better and it makes me want to dance.  In fact, I think I will do the Gaga dance across the finish line at my next race.

So, let’s celebrate who we are because we were Born This Way!

Happy Birthday, Xmas Dolly!


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A Fabulous French Toast Flub

PhotobucketMy kids constantly crave French toast for breakfast.  I don’t know what it is about this egg-soaked sweet cinnamon bread that they love so much, but they always request it.  And of course, Iron Chef Allan happily obliges, because it’s his favorite breakfast food too.

However, on one such occasion, Iron Chef Allan realized there was not enough leftover Cuban bread to make a decent batch for breakfast.  But, we did have a stock pile of Thomas cinnamon raisin English muffins, thanks to a recent Publix BOGO deal.  So Iron Chef Allan got a little creative in the kitchen and decided to substitute the usual crusty bread with cinnamon raisin English muffins.

The results were better than you could imagine.  English muffins are like little sponges and the nooks and crannies soaked up loads of the sweet egg batter.  Each bite was a squishy explosion of flavor.

Gotta give it to Allan for thinking outside of the bread box!  It was quite a delicious idea.

French Toast
(Adapted from the Joy of Cooking. Iron Chef Allan also said that it depends on his mood as to which ingredients he adds.)

Ingredients
1/3 cup non-fat milk
1/3 cup heavy whipping cream
4 eggs
2 tsp sugar or maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla
1 tbsp orange juice (optional)
¼ tsp zest of orange (optional)
¼ tsp salt
Pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon
Day old Cuban bread slice into 1” slices or Sliced English Muffins

Directions
Whisk ingredients in a bowl. Soak each slice of bread in the egg mixture. Using a skillet set to 350, brown the bread on each side. Serve with maple syrup.

Now link up and see what If I Could Escape and Gone Bananas are serving for this week’s Friday Food Fight.

 

*Also submitted at*

I am a Food RENEGADE!

It’s Fun to Stay at the YMCA

For three summers now, I’ve enrolled my children in the YMCA’s Splash program, which offers free swim lessons sponsored in part by The Katelyn Foundation.  Not only is the price right for these swim lessons, but this wonderful refresher course helps start my girls’ summer off on the right foot flipper.  After a long break from swimming, my girls need to be acclimated to the water once again by relearning proper swimming techniques and water safety awareness.

After their swim lessons, I reward the girls with extra swim time at the YMCA’s zero entry pool and sprayground, complete with bubblers and a water slide.  It’s fun in the sun for every age!

 

All this week, I’ve sported my bikini, but the long wall of reflective windows has me second guessing my chosen pool attire.  At least swim lessons at the YMCA were the right choice.

 

 

*Proudly submitted to*

Mama's Losin' It

“Vlog: Summer is here and it’s time to hit the water…will you be jumping in with the kids? How do you feel about prancing around in your swimsuit?”

Ain’t No Rest for the Wicked

This week, I’ve got two 5K races. On Friday evening, I’m running for beer at the Oldsmar Tap House Run. Then, on Saturday morning, I’ll be running in the Rap River Run, but hopefully without a hangover.

My running friends think I’m crazy to do two races back to back like that especially since I’ll celebrating with several pints of Sea Dog Blue Paw after the Tap House 5K.  But I doubt I’ll drink that much.

Besides, running is a great cure for a hangover.

Visit AmandaXmas Dolly and Hairbows & Guitar Picks for more Music Monday fun.

Summer Vacation 2011, Day 1

On Day 1 of summer vacation, the kids and I piled into the swagger wagon and headed to Honeymoon Island, which is one of our favorite local beaches.  The girls and I love the beach so a day trip there seemed like the best way to start summer vacation.

Although Little Lion Man loves the water and the sand…

…he enjoys anything with wheels more.

After splashing in the sun, we visited the Nature Center for a scavenger hunt, which the girls love because park rangers always award them with a small bag of seashells.  While the girls hunt through the center, I enjoy rereading the history of Honeymoon Island.

In the 1939, Life Magazine held a contest where couples could win a two week stay on the island.  After which Hog Island became a popular destination for young couples, hence its name change to Honeymoon Island.

At today’s visit, the park ranger shared two treasures that another visitor recently found on the beach: a Lighting Whelk egg casing and a large sea sponge.  The girls were very intrigued, especially when the park ranger said some tiny hidden eggs were still attached inside the casing.

Fun in the sun mixed with a little learning.

It seems we’re definitely off to a good start this summer!

Hot Diggity Dog!

PhotobucketEver since my third pregnancy, I’ve been having really horrible reactions to MSG, nitrates and nitrites.  When I eat foods containing MSG, I feel lightheaded and woozy, like I’m drunk.  It’s a terrible feeling and each time I eat food prepared with MSG, the reactions get worse.   As a result, I’ve sworn off certain restaurants, spices and foods, particularly hot dogs.

 

I began giving hot dogs the cold shoulder until my husband, Allan, stumbled upon Applegate Hot Dogs at our local supermarket.  These organic grass-fed beef hot
organic hot dog dogs intrigued him and that night he fired up the grill to see what these franks were all about.

 

Hot Diggity Dog! Those were some tasty dogs!  The casing had some chew, but these lean tender tasty hot dogs weren’t as greasy as regular beef franks and the dogs didn’t bark back by repeating on me.  We were completely sold on these dogs and now Applegate Hot Dogs will always be on our cook-out menu.

 

I just wish our supermarket sold the other Applegate varieties because I would love to try the Natural Big Apple Dogs, especially since Allan found a spectacular New York Sabrett-Style Onion Sauce Recipe to serve with it.

 

 

Now link up and see what If I Could Escape and Gone Bananas are serving for this week’s Friday Food Fight.

 

*Also submitted at*

I am a Food RENEGADE!

Juneathon 2011, Day 2

PhotobucketNext Friday evening, my friends and I will be running in the Oldsmar Tap House 5K.  I don’t usually run in the evening, but I am making an exception for this race because beer will be served after we cross the finish line.  I will run in the evening for beer!

 

However an evening beer run requires training and therefore this evening, I decided to join the Suncoast Running crowd for a 3 mile Thirstday evening run and I dragged my friend, Faith, along for the ride.  After all, I’ve been having such great success with group runs and shaving minutes off my time, it only seemed like the right thing to do to keep improving my times.  And of course, the beer had nothing to do with it.

 

But this evening, running with a group with the promise of ice cold beer at the end didn’t bring the same success of shaving minutes off my time.  Oh well.

3.1 Miles

Time 36:30

Ave Pace 11:47

Max Pace 8:49

Juneathon 2011, Day 1

PhotobucketSomehow I got roped into joining the Juneathon again, which means I have to run or do something every day during the month of June and blog about it.  With today being National Running Day and Day 1 of the Juneathon, I simply had to run.

 

Every Wednesday morning at 6:00 a.m., Suncoast Running hosts a 4-6 mile group run.  Since I thoroughly enjoyed my Memorial Day group run, I decided to give Suncoast Running’s Wednesday morning group run a shot.  Of course, every week I tell Tracey I’m going to be there and never show up, so you can imagine her surprise when I actually did show up.  It’s just really hard to commit to anything with Little Lion Man’s unpredictable night time sleeping pattern.  But I was there today and that’s all that matters!  And it was a great little National Running Day run too!

4 miles

Time 40:50

Ave Pace 10:13

Max 8:30