What to do when you don't have anything you have to do...

My first 48 hours of not working was spent in a combination of: sunbathing, reading, running, biking, shopping, getting the lay of the land and visiting with friends.

The weather has been absolutely fantastic – highs in the mid to low 80’s.

Monday was really all about being social and getting some sun. Tuesday was all about being a bit more focused about getting back into training (visiting Gold’s Gym, working on my summer calendar and getting my run/bike miles in). I also did a little shopping for essentials --- like cute beach cover-ups. The surf shops have the cutest stuff! Priorities people.

It’s a tough life.

The hilarious thing so far is that the June Bugs are here (aka Senior Week). I am thoroughly enjoying all the 17/18-year olds taking over the city. Nothing like watching a dude throw up in a bush at 4:30 in the afternoon after clearly a having rough morning.

Long Weekends

What a great time to plan a 3-day weekend. Since I haven't taken much vacation over the last 10 months (my vacation accrues May to May) due to work demands, I need to burn some days before May...and last Friday was the perfect day off. Temps were in the upper 60's/low 70's. Lovely.

This was going to be a weekend crammed with activities --- social, family and training.
The only bummer was that the dental work I had done on Thursday morning really was bothering me. It aches and feels really sore. There's only so many pills you can pop. I'm going to have to go back to the dentist this week to make sure everything is ok. If you can't tell...I'm dreading it...but this pain is pretty bad...and I can't take it anymore

FRIDAY
Friday was all about being outside, family and errands.

I started off with a 20 mile bike ride at Hains Point. That's where the pix was taken. Man, I really love riding in circles. :) Bonus that I ran into a fellow Snappler.

I next headed out to run some errands, including going to look at a Felt B16 tri bike at Revolution Cycles in Rockville. What a beauty. Was surprisingly comfortable to ride in the different set up. I think I rode it around so long they actually started to worry I wasn't going to come back. I also checked out a new Trek --- it was way more expensive and surprisingly not as comfortable as the Felt. Lots to think about --- like do I need this and should I look at the Cervelo P2 b/c it's the comparable ride. Luckily there's no real rush.

I finished up the day at Mom's.

SATURDAY
Today was the beginning of the taper run before next week's Suntrust Half Marathon. We were scheduled to run 8 miles. After the prior day's bike ride I cut my run down to just under 7 miles.

After the run I headed over to a friend's baby shower. It's always nice to see friends you haven't seen in awhile and especially for such a wonderful occasion. My friend looked fabulous and so incredibly happy. I'm looking forward to meeting her new daughter when she arrives in late April.

By the time the party was over I was officially moving into "I haven't had a nap and therefore I'm getting grumpy" mode. Watch out! Luckily I was able to grab a 2 hour nap before meeting folks for dinner and a movie.

SUNDAY
After leisurely making my way to Wilson in the morning, I somehow was motivated to knock out my laps. I again was reminded that I am way too lazy to train w/o someone pushing me and have to pair up with a real workout plan...that I actually follow. If I use my old workouts from college as a comparison --- I really am a super slacker. I'm missing the good stress those workouts gave me. Man...I miss my old training partner and how we used to annihilate our sets. Red faced and heart pumping was the theme. :(

After swimming I headed out for brunch with some running folks. What a lovely day to sit outside, catch some rays, chow down on breakfast foods and enjoy some good company.

When I got home my Cannondale was calling my name so I went out for ride through the trails by my house.

What a nice way to end the weekend.
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Food is GOOD

Tonight Team Snapple sponsored a nutrition clinic with the always fabulous Rebecca Scritchfield --- aka dietitian extraordinaire. See http://rebeccascritchfield.wordpress.com/about/.

I participated in a session last year with Rebecca and learned quite a bit. This year's session was a nice reminder that correctly fueling your body (both before and after a workout) is another key component to healthy living and optimal performance.

I am definitely a product of trying "the best new thing" and thinking I know best. The result ultimately many times leads to crashing and burning.

The good thing about training is that you are forced to not diet and instead eat. Granted --- I'm still a snacker and enjoy treats probably a bit too much, but have learned that trying to limit and deprive myself leads to disastrous results. I'm here to attest that starving is not good. Training while hungry is also a disaster.

I laughed as Rebecca described all the things not to do because I've done many of them:

• Reduced caloric intake to drop weight and ended up crashing or feeling weak or gittery.

• Not properly hydrating before and during a half marathon and as a result cramped up so severely near the finish line that I had to stop to regroup.

• Going out for a late dinner and drinking the night before a half marathon --- that's what happens when you go to the Miami Half Marathon. You think you are invincible.

According to Rebecca --- the good news is that food is good. Scales are bad. Portions and the right combinations are king.

To help celebrate our new knowledge we headed over to a pub for beer and bar food. Classic. No need to start today what you can put off until tomorrow.

Here's to proper fueling in 2011!

Will run for beer

All things need some level of libation-related motivation and our group is definitely no different.

Last night the running club held a happy hour at Gordon Biersch in Chinatown (see http://www.gordonbiersch.com/restaurants/index.php?pg=location&sub=loc&location_id=7).

This is the second social event I've attended with the running club and I'm always surprised by how many interesting and friendly people I meet. You know me...happy to talk to anyone.

I got some great running advice from some of the coaches, heard about some fantastic vacations folks have taken and even got an offer to help plan a future trip to India from a couple who visit their annually. I have to remember to take them up on that offer!

I also met Ellen, the coach of the half marathon training group. I think that's my next challenge starting in Nov. I don't think I'm ready to take the plunge into the marathon training group...big difference between 13.1 and 26.2 miles! Folks say that I could head toward 26.2...but I'm thinking baby-steps may be better.

It's so funny to see people in their normal life --- showered, brushed hair and cute clothes. I almost didn't recognize folks!

There were a handful of folks from my 10-miler group at the happy hour, as well as the super-cool speedsters from the faster group.

I also talked for some time with the running club president...he's quite the character. He told a hysterical story about last week's 7 mile run. He had just got one of those new Garmin GPS running watches and participated in the Sat long-run out of Adams Morgan. After running for 6-miles he realized that he had made a wrong turn and was in Maryland!!! He ended up flagging a cab and heading back to Adams Morgan since he had gone 5 miles in the wrong direction. How funny that the running club president returned from the Saturday long-run via a cab!!!