Daily Archives: July 2, 2011

The Accidental Run

Posted on by
2

Workout

So that elliptical workout I mentioned this morning?

Never happened.

Instead, I took one look out the window, saw the sun shining, realized how little of this I actually get and decided to go for a run instead. I was happier than Kim Kardashian was when she got her $2 million dollar engagement ring.

Since we had a late night last night and I woke up feeling a little foggier than usual, I set my Nike+ for 3 miles telling myself to just hit that distance and then I could either bow out or keep going.

Just like last Saturday, 3 miles came and went… and I kept on running.

It was beautiful out – the bay breeze was on my face, there were people walking their dogs, having picnics, BBQing, I was rocking out to the Glee soundtrack and Huey Lewis and I had a (tequila shot from last night fueled) spring in my step.

I made it all the way to the Golden Gate Bridge before turning around for the run back home.

Here were the stats:

My legs felt great, but my knees started to hurt the last mile, and my hips felt a little tight. Some pigeon posing is on the agenda for later.

Slowing my pace down to within the 8:00 minute range has helped my endurance and stamina like you wouldn’t believe.

The past month or so I’ve been trying to sprint my runs (there is zero reason for this yet I keep doing it) and maintaining a steady pace that I can hold the entire run has made all the difference in the world.

I realized it wasn’t about how fast I was going – I’m not racing and I’m not going for a PR. I love to run, and when I slow down a bit, I can run further and longer, enjoy it more, and not feel like I’m going to collapse at the end.

**********

From there, boyfriend and I decided to take advantage of the amazing weather we rarely have during SF summers and instead of the beach (its become apparent that we were all over the place this morning with our plans!) decided to hit the park.

We stopped at Radio Shack to purchase a solar paneled radio so we wouldn’t miss a beat of the Giants vs Tigers game.

They were up 6-0 in the 3rd and then a rain delay happened. Right after they said it was 96 degrees outside.

Midwest weather, I don’t understand you.

It was a perfect, relaxing afternoon. We made prosciutto, mozzarella, red onion and pesto sandwiches with some Food Should Taste Good Sweet Potato chips. These babies are AMAZING. I’m dying to try the Cheddar and Chocolate versions.

There were magazines- (InStyle always gets read within 5 minutes of receiving it and Vanity Fair always gets saved for when I have 7 hours to kill reading all the articles that are 19 pages each.) These babies always get left somewhere in the middle:

A beautiful view- (the fog was situated only over the bay giving it that hazy look)

And plenty of space to sprawl out… and snooze – which boyfriend and I definitely did!

Off to watch the rest of the Giants game (2nd batter in after the delay and they hit a Grand Slam!)and figure out the rest of the night.

I think starting with a glass o’ vino sounds perfect!

Have a great Saturday! :)

 

What’s your all time favorite magazine?

I love InStyle, Vanity Fair, Women’s Health and Fitness, Sunset and Cooking Light the best (evidently I’m a magazine junkie) but put a new Us Weekly or People in front of me and I won’t come up for air until I finish it!

Last Friday Night

Posted on by
Reply

Am I the only one that can’t stop listening to Katy Perry’s new song? It has that “it’s going to be beyond annoying in about a month but for now I love it” quality.

Happy Saturday everyone!

I awoke feeling a little…. parched.

To rewind, we started last night out with Happy Hour at Nick’s Crispy Tacos.

Nick’s is in Russian Hill on Polk Street and has delicious tacos (filled to the brim with all the fixins and made with high quality ingredients), and even better Happy Hour specials.

We had already eaten at home, but took full advantage of the drink menu.

$10 for a pitcher of Stella? 2-for-$5 Coronas?

Fill me up.

After sharing some pitchers with a group of friends we wandered to the next spot and there were a couple more drinks and a lot of this:

Pop-A-Shot.

Probably the single greatest piece of entertainment you can have in a bar.

Trying not to distract boyfriend with my camera flash.

If the NBA ever wants a 5’4″ player to sign, I’m their girl.

My high score? 52, thank you very much.

It was a great night with a great group of friends – I love long weekends.

**********

Fast forward to this morning and I awoke with a slight case of dry mouth and that tired feeling around my eyes – even after I made a point to drink 56 gallons of water when we got home last night.

In college, I could throw back drinks with the best of them and then wake up the next morning like it was no big deal – go to the gym, go about my day, get ready for the next night.

Then mid-twenties happened.

For whatever reason, the last couple of years if I have more than a couple of drinks (2-3 is my max) I am a lazy, headache-y, blob all day long the next day – something I absolutely hate. Last night I hit the 3 drink limit. (Yes, it is as pathetic as it sounds).

For that reason, I drink a lot less and not very often at that. We’re (sadly) talking a couple of glasses of wine or vodka sodas (I’m also convinced that good alcohol produces less intense hangovers).

When I was younger, hangovers didn’t bother me, but now they seem so much more brutal – and my weekends are much more precious that I don’t want to waste a minute of them because of a self-inflicted hangover.

Obviously every now and again an occasion, etc comes up where it really can’t be avoided – I’m only human. ;-)

It’s no secret that the older we get, our bodies can’t process alcohol as much as they could when we were younger.

“The critical enzymes for breaking down booze are somewhat diminished in efficiency as we age,” Schaefer told MSNBC.com.

According to Schaefer,the body depends on the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase, or ALDH and aldehyde dehydrogenase, or ADH, to break down alcohol into a nontoxic substance called acetic acid.

As those enzyme levels go down, hangovers get worse.

If you do plan to party, Schaefer says, keep another point in mind: Pounding cheap booze leads to pounding headaches the next morning. Inexpensive beer, wine and liquor are guaranteed to intensify hangovers over pricier options, he said.

“The more expensive liquors are often filtered and triple or more distilled — thus, cleaner alcohol, less junk,” he told MSNBC.com. Source

I knew I was on to something with the Grey Goose. ;-)

To combat our dry mouth this morning, boyfriend whipped us up an elixir that within minutes of consumption can make me feel 100% again.

Looks appetizing doesn’t it?

In the mix:

  • Trader Joe’s Green Plant
  • Frozen strawberries
  • Frozen mangoes
  • Banana
And voila!
A juice chock full of nutrients to get us back on track and ready for the rest of the day!
Now that my thirst has been quenched and a couple slices of whole wheat PB toast has been consumed, we’re off to get a workout in, hit the beach and enjoy this beautiful weather!
Have a lovely Saturday everyone! :-)
Do you notice a serious decline in your drink consumption abilities? What’s your remedy for feeling 100% again?
Even though I stick to very few drinks, at times they still have the ability to make me wake up feeling a little “off”. Usually getting some good nutrition in and a good workout (read: sweating) has me back on track in no time.