Five Things Friday- August 16, 2013

1) I got my August Stride Box last week. Some great things were in it!

~Island Boost Fuel in Passion Fruit Flavor (I've heard great things about this!)
~Kind Bar in Maple Glazed Pecan & Sea Salt (I've already devoured this one.  I love Kind bars!)
~ Gatorade Endurance Formula in Lemon Lime (I've recently decided to just stick with buying Gatorade to drink for running since I can't stand other products, flavor wise.  I'm excited to try this since it has more sodium and potassium than the regular Gatorade)
~Gatorade Carb Energy Chews in Fruit Punch and Orange (I love trying different chews!)
~Health Warrior Chia Bar
~2nd Surge Ultra Energy Gel in Double Expresso (sounds yummy)
~Stride Cool-Post-Run Cooling Towel.  I can't wait to try this after my 14 miler on Sunday!

2) For the first time this summer, I skipped a run without making it up (I don't count last week's as skipped since I was purposely saving all my miles for the 4 races during the weekend).  I was supposed to run last night but after Meet the Teacher, I was just plain exhausted!  Luckily it was storming by the time I got home so I only feel slightly guilty for skipping.  But I had been doing so well. 

3)Getting in runs these next few weeks is going to be tough.  On Tuesday at 7pm, it was still 96 degrees with a heat index of 100.  So I skipped the run.  It was just too hot.  To make up for it, on Wednesday, I tried the whole getting up and running thing before work, but I was a little late to work (it was only pre-planning so okay that I was late) and I was exhausted all day from being up so early.  My body can't handle that being a regular thing.  So I'm not sure how I'm going to get the runs in unless it rains early enough that I can run afterwards.  It's too hot to run if it hasn't rained (and I'm not comfortable running in the dark) and I just can't do it before work.  So here's hoping it either rains for a short time every afternoon/evening or the temps drop really soon!

4) Yesterday was our Meet the Teacher.  It's always such a stressful time but so much fun too.  I love meeting all my new kiddos for the first time.  They're such babies at the beginning of the year.  By the end, they're so much more independent.  Monday will come quickly.  It's always chaotic on the first day.  And I think it's harder on the parents than the kids.

5) I got my first Pro Compression socks in the mail today.  I love the color!  I can't wait to wear them on Sunday after my long run!

Recipe- Potato-Crusted Fish and Fresh Broccoli

I recently made another great Publix Apron Recipe.

Potato-Crusted Fish and Fresh Broccoli

Potato-Crusted Fish:
     

Ingredients:
1/2 cup lowfat buttermilk
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 firm white fish fillets, (such as tilapia, snapper, or orange roughy), 1 1/2 lb
1 (2-oz) package potato flakes (1/2 cup)
3 tablespoons butter, divided

Steps

1. Combine buttermilk, garlic, salt, and pepper. Place fish in buttermilk mixture, turning to coat; let stand 3–4 minutes.
2. Preheat large sauté pan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Place potato flakes on plate. Coat both sides of fish with potato flakes; press with fingertips to coat heavily (wash hands). Place 2 tablespoons butter in pan, then add fish; cook 4 minutes (do not turn fish).
3. Place 1 tablespoon butter in center of pan. Turn fish (using spatula), distributing butter under each fillet; cook 3 more minutes or until golden and fish flakes easily. Serve.

Fresh Broccoli:
    

Ingredients:
12 oz fresh broccoli florets
1/3 cup water
1/2 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon lemon juice

Prep

• Break broccoli into bite-size pieces, if preferred.

Steps

1. Combine broccoli and water, then cover; microwave on HIGH 4 minutes or until tender.
2. Drain; stir in remaining ingredients. Serve.

I also served the dish with some rice side dish.,  The fish was so yummy!  I'll definitely be making this one again!

The Future of Running Is...

Alicia over at In Healthy Habits We Trust asked me to think about what the future of running will be like.  In the fun, futuristic way.  Creative thinking (and wishing!) at its best!



1) Color changing shoes.  I'm one of those types of people that has to match.  My shirt has to match my shorts/skirt which matches my socks, which matches my Sweatyband.  But there's nothing I can do about changing the color of my shoes.  In the future, you'll be able to set it up on the computer so you can change the color of your shoes to match your outfit or mood for the day.

2) Our bodies will evolve and will be able to regulate our temperatures.  Meaning that we no longer have to feel hot and sweaty when we run (or cold when we start in minimal clothing!)

3) Ice packs and ice baths no longer!  There will be a device that shoots a blast of super frigid air to the area that will have the same effect as icing that area!  Woohoo!

What do YOU think the future of running looks like? let me know in the comments and then head over to In Healthy Habits We Trust to join in the link up! to get the code for the banner, see the very end of this post!

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Weekly Recap- August 5-11, 2013

I am so, so sad that summer is over.  I start back to pre-planning next week.  And I'm dreading it because that means no more early morning runs during the week.  I'm planning on running around 7 at night (since I have to run before we eat otherwise I get bad cramps and this is about as late as I can go).  But tonight at 7 it was still 87 with a heat index of 93.  It's going to kill me! 

I didn't do any training runs this week.  I saved them all for the races this weekend.  Kristin from A Mom on the Run and I ran 4 races in 36 hours!  So much fun!

Friday--Tour de Pain part 1--4 miler in 42:11 (but according to Garmin it was 4.09 miles so, Mile 1: 9:45, Mile 2: 10:25, Mile 3: 10:48, Mile 4: 10:24, Mile 4-4.09: 8:06, average pace: 10:18)

Saturday morning--Tour de Pain part 2--5k in 29:50.  7 seconds off my PR...boo!  (Mile 1: 9:30, Mile 2: 9:41, Mile 3: 9:46, Mile 3-3.1: 6:49, average pace: 9:32)

Saturday afternoon-- Tour de Pain part 3- 1 miler Sizzler--Official time was 7:47 but all of our Garmin's said we ran more, around 1.1. My Garmin said my mile was 7:11

Sunday morning--Drenched 5k--we ran with Kristin's son so we walked almost all of it.  We didn't time ourselves and it was nice to chat and get wet.

Total miles this week: 11.39
Total miles in 2013: 361.76
Total miles: 790.25

Five Things Friday- August 9, 2013

1) I am up at my parents in Jacksonville for the weekend to run the Tour de Pain, extended version (meaning I am also running the Drenched 5k on Sunday!)  A total of 4 races in 39 hours!  The Tour de Pain kicks off tonight with a 4 mile beach run.  I've only run on sand once before and I remember being so sore the next day.  So I really have no goals in mind for any of the races this weekend.  I don't even have a plan for tonight's run (I've worked up to 28 straight minutes of running--do I still do that before I start my intervals?  Or do I do what I normally do and run a mile then start intervals?).  Then tomorrow morning is the 5k. I have no idea how sore I'll be so no plan for that one either.  Tomorrow afternoon is the 1 miler.  I do plan to run that one straight.  Good news is that this will be my first 4 miler and 1 miler so automatic PRs!  My outfits are all ready! (Thank you for supervising, Bella!)

2) I am also running some virtual races for Jost Running.  I will be running the August Home Run 5k on Saturday when I am running the Tour de Pain 5k.  I won't be wearing the bib, but it's so cute!  And the medal is a hot dog!  I'll be submitting my times and I'll post a picture when I get the medal.















3) On Tuesday I got a haircut and colored it darker.  I really like it!  A great way to start off the new school year! (when I saw this picture I almost didn't recognize myself!)

4) I can't believe the summer is already over!  Pre-planning starts back at school on Monday and Meet the Teacher is Thursday afternoon!

5) **Adding on--I am figuring out that I am starting to have a hard time remembering things.  I see run-related things that I want and then forget about them!  So I thought I'd start a little wish list here so I don't forget (plus, my bday is in a little under a month in case a certain someone is reading). 
 ~White Tiara Visor from Running Princess
~Some Gone for a Run Tees in M: Womens Everyday Runners Tee Runner's Tiara in Lush Berry,  Womens Everyday Runners Tee Florida State Runner (Royal/Orange) in Charcoal Gray,
~ I can always use more Sweatybands!
~Road ID (Wrist Slim, color purple size Small)
~Mizuno Women's DryLite I Run T-Shirt (size Medium)
~Nathan Sports StrobeLight in Pink

Clermont Blogger Dinner- Red Lobster

So last night I headed to the Red Lobster in Clermont for a blogger dinner. 

I knew this was a smaller setting and I wouldn't know anyone so I was a little nervous.  I was glad that I was able to bring my husband--I'm pretty shy.  But I shouldn't have been!  I left the dinner thinking about how it was so much fun and I loved that it was a smaller setting!

I saw a couple of the girls from the Yelp event the night before.  Summer, Heidi, and Vanessa remembered me and said hello.  They were the gals in charge of the event.  We also met the general manager of the store, Kellie. 

When we sat down, we were able to order whatever drink we wanted.  I decided to try the Berry Mango Daiquiri.  It was so pretty when it came out and tasted delicious!

Kory had a beer (I think it was the seasonal Sam Adams)

And I dug into the biscuits right away.

Some Seaside Starters (appetizers) came out-- the Southwest Chicken Pizza, Spicy Buffalo Chicken Bites, Lobster-Crab-and-Seafood-Stuffed Mushrooms, Parrot Isle Jumbo Coconut Shrimp, and Sweet Chili Shrimp.

I helped myself to all of them except the buffalo bites (oops--already ate some before I took the pic).  Kory kept trying to get me to try a little of the buffalo bites but I'm a wimp.  I did steal a piece of the blue cheese though.

My favorite is still the mushrooms. So yummy!  When we were full, the wonderful wait staff (Drew and Kim) boxed up the appetizers and put them in the beginning of our to-go bags! 

And we got to learn some interesting things about Red Lobster that I didn't know.

• The restaurant we were in was the prototype and the restaurant is modeled after Bar Harbor, Maine.
• The East Colonial Drive and Sanford restaurants are trying out a new service called Seaside Express Lunch.  You order and pay when you arrive, grab a number and a seat and lunch is served very quickly and should be under $10.  These are the only 2 locations in the country to be trying this.
• They started a new menu last Fall with "Maine stays".  These are food options that will stay on the menu and not vary.
• There is a Happy Hour from 3-6pm with drink specials and $5 appetizers.
• There are also special menus available--a Lighthouse menu with lighter options and an allergy menu.

For dinner, I had a half dozen steamed oysters and snow crab legs.  I chose a Caesar salad to start.  The oysters were yummy.  Sometimes they can be too chewy or sandy and gritty, but these were just right.  And the crab legs--delish!!  I sure made quite a mess but it was worth it!

Kory had the Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp and for dessert we split the Warm Chocolate Chip Lava Cookie.  Kory really enjoyed the peach-bourbon BBQ glaze on the shrimp.  And the cookie--it was heavenly!  A warm chocolate chip cookie with melty chocolate in the middle topped with ice cream??  It can't get better than that!

And the conversation was so much fun!  Jen had new Google Glasses she was trying out so she was passing them around (Kory tried them).  And Bess, Joe, Vanessa and I talked about our time in Gainesville and the Gators.  The conversation just flowed.  There was no awkwardness and it was just plain fun!

Oh, and I can't forget about the awesome swag!  A lob-stah tote and a very generous gift card!

 Thank you to Red Lobster and to Heidi, Vanessa, Summer, and Kellie for setting this up!

Orlando Yelp Event- Red Lobster

What a great event!  I met up with my friend Cecille last night at the Orlando Yelp event at the Red Lobster on East Colonial Drive.  Red Lobster went all out with this social group!

We were provided 2 drink tickets when we arrived.  I ordered the Sunset Passion Colada.  Oh my.  This was sooo good and refreshing!  I would definitely order this again! 

 

Then the Cheddar Bay biscuits came out.  These are seriously my favorite bread/biscuit item you can get anywhere.  They're so cheesy and just perfect (and I was good.  I only had 2 the whole night!)

 They brought out some appetizers.  My plate doesn't look very pretty (Sorry, I had already dug in when I remembered to take a picture!)  I had the Sweet Chili Shrimp and the Lobster-Crab-and-Seafood-Stuffed Mushrooms.  (And the Cheddar Bay Biscuit of course!)  The shrimp definitely had a kick, but the sweetness made it tolerable for me (I'm a wimp!!)  But the mushroom was my fav!

 Then they placed some additional appetizers out for us to enjoy.

The Southwest Chicken Pizza

Fiesta Salad

And Shrimp Tacos

I had to try a little of everything, of course!  The Southwest Chicken Pizza was yummy and had a kick, as did the fiesta salad.  I loved the salsa on top of the shrimp taco!

They also had Tilapia off their Fresh Fish menu.

 Up next, it was time for another drink. I got the Island Colada Especial.  It normally comes with a sidecar shot of Disaronno Amaretto and sprinkled with nutmeg, but I declined both.  This tasted soo banana-y which is just what I wanted!

They brought out some more entrees for us to enjoy.

Lobster Lover's Grilled Cheese.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken Alfredo

Both of these were amazing!  The grilled cheese was so grown up and the Parmesan Chicken Alfredo is perfect for the non-seafood lover.

 You can't forget dessert!

 I sampled the Chocolate Wave cake and the Carrot Cake.  The Chocolate Wave cake was so decadent.  Five layers of chocolate---yum!

And we even got swag!  A cute lobster tote bag and a gift card!

 

We learned some great info, which I'll share with you tomorrow. And we had great servers--Helen and Jon (I think that's his name!)

 

I had a great time with Cecille and the Yelp gang!