Running High Five & the Nicest Porto Potties

I've been busy with things around here. I've only had a few days free to workout. I worked out last Monday. I ran a 5k outside (in the awful heat). As I was coming to the end, I think this kid on his bike (with a bunch of other kids) could see the sweat dripping and probably a dying look in my eyes. He was so sweet. He gave me thing huge smile and a high five. Just what I needed in order to finish the last little bit of my run. 

As usual, I was the only one walking in the gym already sweaty and red faced. I had a row machine to reunite with and a ripped class to get more of my butt kicked. I enjoyed the last 1:20 minutes left of my workout and left exhausted!

In other new: I do have a life outside of working out. A couple weeks ago, Jason and I headed down the San Francisco. We drove about an hour away and took the Bart in the rest of the way. That way, we didn't have to worry about parking and we could drink our way through the city. Out main reason for going (the Cherry Blossom Festival):

SF doesn't have any cherry blossoms, but it was still fun to watch all the festivities. I love the taiko dojo. They really get into their drumming. At one of my races, these guys were there (not the kids) and they played as we crossed the finish line. It was great motivation to get your feet moving faster! Once that was over, we needed to get some food. We were seriously hungry!

A few seconds after lunch, dessert was introduced. I love their presentation. The best thing: this is a crepe (no cone)  with chocolate ice cream. Isn't it so cute!

Jason got some kind of custard (I hate custard), but loved his. Again, so cute!

Since I am a runner, I had to tell you about their porto-potties. They were a slice of heaven (I never thought I would ever say this about a potable bathroom). They looked nice (very visible from a distance), and had a ton of room inside and even had a handle that you could hang on to (if needed) while squatting. Since there was so much room, I didn't need to. Very nice

Also, Chobani was there giving out free samples. Since the line was about 1/2 hour long and we didn't have a place to keep it cold, we didn't want to stand in line. 

A nice view from our day of walking a million miles. 

Flags were still at half mass.

Swimmers were out enjoying the nice day for their workout.

A little sun bathing happened.

Of course:

It was a great day. Very long (we left at 8 am and go home around 11 pm), but prefect day! Can't wait to do this again next year!

Do you live (or have visited) SF during this time of the year? Have you ever gone to this event? If you live in DC, how awesome is your cherry blossom festival?

Any motivational high fives lately?

Horrible Run with a Side of Happiness

I had no motivation or concentration yesterday. My brain was nowhere to be found! At home, in the morning, at work all day, then on my short run last night...brain dead. I though a short run was going to get me out of my funk (it usually does), but no luck. I knew I wasn't going to go to spin class, I just wasn't in the mood. But, my run felt long, dreadful and boring. I hated last night's run!

I know bad runs comes and go and they make us stronger, as runners. But, man!! It was a horrible run! I was not happy and couldn't wait to get home, shower and just sit on the couch and do nothing. That's the kind of motivation I have...none!

It was just bad! I even walked a little during my run. I got distracted by so many things. Oh look, a bird!

A couple good things, that made me happy was that as I passed a couple flags (yes, I have 2 flags in less than a 3 mile run) was that they were at half mass. I made me see that we are all united (runners and non-runners). I knew that before, but it made me really think about it. 

Just because a person doesn't like to move their feet faster than a walking pace (often and for fun), doesn't mean that they weren't affect by what happened on Monday. It's good to see a nation come together as people. 

Are flags around you at half mass? When was your last horrible run? I'm lacking some serious motivation. What do you suggest I do to get myself motivated (not including registering for a race...due to funds)?

Running for Boston & Homemade Taquitos

Last night, I join (virtually) with other runners and ran 2.62 miles for those affected by what happened in Boston on Monday. I wore my only blue & yellow I have and ran silently. It was one of the best runs in a while. I am not a marathoner, but as a runner, you are united together!

After my hour long stretch, in yoga class, I hurried home (I was starving!!), I started pre-heating the oven and made something awesome:

Homemade taquitos!! The recipe said it would only make 10 taquitos, but mine made about 15! I used 3 chicken breasts, but the key is that you don't want to stuff them too full, or its too much and you can't roll them tightly. I had some bbq sauce, on the side, but I didn't think it needed it (Jason did). I had 3 and I was stuffed, Jason ate 5 and was full. Can't wait for leftovers tonight!

Did you run 2.62 miles? If you are/were in Boston, how are you doing?

I can lift a car over my head!

Yesterday was an interesting April evening. I felt like I was working out in a sauna the entire time! I headed out for my simple 2 1/2 mile quick run around the local park and knew I was going to have a difficult time. This is because it was 87 when I left work. 87 in April! I'm all for warm weather, but not this warm this early in the year. I guess I'm just happy to be able to run outdoors (we'll see how long that lasts). 

I was able to squeeze in 10 minutes of rowing after my run and before my spin class. I did about 1600 meters (which is almost 1 mile, .99 miles). I was still gushing sweat from my hot run. Not many people walk into their gym already red faced and sweaty. 

Feeling tough after the spin class

Spin class was great, as usual. The instructor pushed us to sweat more than we did last time. I didn't go to class last week (I was sick), and it's crazy how much difference it makes (in a bad way) to miss a class. Plus,  I was still sweaty from the run and rowing. 

The instructor kept saying that he wanted us to feel like we could lift a car over our heads by the time we were done with his class. I like the little things they say throughout the entire class. It makes me start to tell myself the same thing. It was so warm in the class, it was like I never left my sauna. he class was completely full (10 more people came in looking for bikes, too), the fans were going and the ac was set to freezing, but it was still crazy hot/stuffy in there. I could feel the sweat dripping off of me. But, by the time I left class, I felt like I could lift a car over my head!

Driving home with the windows down (at 7 o'clock) allowed the sweat to dry off and stop dripping. I could feel a few layers of sweat cover my entire body. My legs felt the grossest!

How many times a week are you completely covered in a sweat dripping layer? What was your workout yesterday (or today)? If you could vote for me, for best blogger (even if you're not local), you'll be my new BFF (check out the right side of my blog)!!

Stretch it out

It was another windy day here in Nor Cal. I didn't even workout outside, and all my "wings" started to show. Yes, I did say "wings". It's that part of my hair, on the sides that won't lay flat and kind of do a little curl thing and stick out, a lot. It was really windy outside! This is just from me walking from my car to the gym, and then leaving the gym. It's a good thing I don't care what I look like when I workout.

I lifted some weights with my legs before my yoga class starts. I always go into my yoga class a little early, so I can do my own stretches that I like to do. The fans and lights are all off and I can starts to relax and stretch what I needed stretched, just in case we don't focus on that part during class. 

About 5 minutes before class started, a guy walked in (no biggy, we have lots of guys in the class). He had his buds in and yelled "can I jump in here?" (he had a jump rope in his hand). The instructor replied "no, but you can yoga in here", he said "what!!?!?" (still with buds in), then looked around class and looked very embarrassed. It was funny!

I think my instructor read my mind of what I needed to stretch. We spent so much time stretching our upper leg muscles. It felt so nice! I feel like a new woman now! I'm so glad, because I have (an outdoor) run and spin class on my schedule tonight. I can't wait for the class, but I know my legs will be sore again. I'm trying to concentrate on my upper legs and booty area. I saw something I didn't like, so I'm trying to make it the way I want it to look. It's going to take some time, because I don't want to stop eating yummy desserts!

Do you get "wings" when it's windy? What are you training for?

Even if you're not local, please vote for me for best blogger (I will love you even more if you do!). Follow this link.

Sweat-y Workout

All of last week, all I wanted to do was workout. I wanted to get my sweat on. But, I couldn't because I was  so sick. Every time I took a deep breath, I hacked up a lung for 10 minutes. So, I took it easy and got a lot of things done around the house. yesterday, as it got closer for me to leave for the gym, I didn't want to go. Working out gives me a boost, a boost I haven't had in over a week. I needed to go, so I made myself. And, boy an I glad I did!

On Saturday, I was finally able to meet my friend for our run date. I was able to convince her to do my crazy leg workout with me afterwards. We completed our 5k around the park and then walked to a (mostly) quiet place in the park to work our legs. Let's just say, I'm still sore and my ripped class didn't help make my legs feel better last night. 

Since it was crazy windy here yesterday, I took my outdoor 5k to the treadmill. I don't mind the treadmill, I would just rather be outside. If there is any weather that I don't like, I will go inside (unless I'm training for a race in that weather). 

After the 5k, I was able to sneak in some legs weights (which did make my legs feel happy) before the hour long ripped class. I love this class. This is what my workout did to me. I did take it a little easy because, I  still have this stupid cough, so I can't push too hard without coughing like a crazy person. It looks like I got kissed by the sweat fairy (never mind the horrible picture of me)!!

Tonight, yoga is going to feel so good! I can't wait to stretch for an hour! My legs so need it!!

What area do you need to workout the most? I need the upper leg/booty area the most!

Best Diet Ever?

I haven't been posting my workouts. That's because I haven't had any since Monday's run. That's because I've been sick. Jason was sick first, then I got it. I knew I was going to get it. I haven't been sick (except for food poisoning) in over 3 years, no joke. I don't do anything special. Jason has been sick and I never got what he's had. My co-workers have been sick and I never caught it. It was just my time. At least it wasn't the flu. 

I think I've found the best diet ever. I can eat anything I want. That's because I can only eat 4 bites top, before I'm extremely full (like I just ate a huge, 3 patty full of cheese burger kind of full). And, I only get hungry twice a day. I've lost 4 pounds in 4 days. My abs are coming back because I can't stop coughing. I have one of those coughs that (as my parents called it) make me sound like a seal barking. My pounding headache has finally gone away. But, I can't take a deep breath without coughing up a lung. So, until that can happen, I won't be working out. Instead, I'll show you what we did before we got sick:

We added some pretty flowers, in pots, in front of our house, to add some color. 

We replaced some plants that died during the cold winter here.

We planted some veggies and herbs to our garden beds. We planted some tomatoes, chives, basil, mint (that's in it's own pot), zucchini and cucumber. The only reason why I can't wait for summer. 

Yesterday, we had a little Easter lunch/dinner (I call linner), just us. We had chicken salad (disguised as a carrot, but the color didn't come out) and dyed deviled eggs. 

Everything was super simple to make, which is good, since I was still a little sick yesterday (even after sleeping for 13 hours!!). To answer your questions, no I only took about  bites of this and have saved it for later. 

Did you do anything for Easter or spring break? I don't get a spring break, but I'm trying to spend more time outside, since it's been so nice!