Mountian Goat Training, week 2

     It was the same course as week 1 so my goal was to run it faster this week, and I did! Not by much, but I'll take it. (I was just recovering from strep so I wasn't 100%.) I have also planned a few hilly runs with Margaret in her neighborhood. We ran Barker Hill Road for 5-miles on Monday and my, oh my, was that some HILL. It beat the hills on the Mountain Goat course we've run so far. We are shooting for a hilly 7-miles on Friday since we are missing the week 3 training run this weekend. We ran a fairly flat 3 on Tuesday and my legs were tired. Ok, they felt like LEAD; I'm not going to lie. Today, I relish in a complete rest day. I never quite understood the benefit or glory in them, but today I do. Oh, do I ever! If I don't have a nice firm tush by race day on May 1st, I am doing something terribly wrong. Tomorrow is a planned 4 on a flat, oh, very FLAT road. So flat, that I don't even want to see a wave in the road. Friday is the long hill run and on the weekend I'll probably do an easy 3 in the neighborhood and/or something in the gym. We'll see what I'm feeling.

Mountain Goat Training run

Headed out for my first Mountain Goat Training run...I'll be back to post an update!

Distance: Week 1 is roughly 5.75 miles, with one major climb

Almost Spring!

    

     Happy Spring! Well, almost. It was a great day~ sunny and mild, in the 50's. It was perfect running weather so I saved my run for the afternoon so I could take it outdoors. It was one of the best runs I've had since the end of October and my calf strain. It truly was pure bliss. Sadly, I have to take it back indoors tomorrow with the prediction of rain...and I booked myself a massage appointment for the evening. Oh, the suffering, I know. Thursday, the BIG 4-0 day, will also have to be inside in the wee hour morning since of course birthday plans will clutter my afternoon and evening. Oh, darn again. Friday I have my fingers crossed for decent weather...I want off the treadmill! I wonder when it will start to be light enough to run outside before work...

Peanutbutter Goodness

     Once again the Little Bitty Bakes blog taunts me. Dare I try to make these Peanut Butter Nutter Truffles? I just need to find an occasion to make them because I wouldn't have enough self control not to eat them all in one sitting...

Peanut Nutter Butter Truffles

Makes 20 truffles

• 75 nutter butter bites (about 25 regular cookies), plus additional for garnish
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (any flavor/brand)
• 1/4 cup Philadelphia Original Cooking Creme
• 2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tbsp. canola oil

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.

In the bowl of a food processor, chop cookies until small crumbs form.  Add peanut butter and cooking creme; continue to mix until blended.  Form mixture into 1-inch balls; set balls onto baking sheet.  Chill 1 to 2 hours, until firm. 

In microwavable bowl, toss chocolate chips with oil.  Microwave on HIGH for 60 seconds, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth.  Use two spoons to dunk chilled peanut butter balls into melted chocolate; cover completely and place onto cookie sheet.  Top with crushed cookies or halved Nutter Butter bites.  Allow chocolate to set completely.  Refrigerate truffles in airtight container. 

Yum! Thank you Little Bitty!

http://littlebittybakes.blogspot.com/

My 40th Surprise Party!!

Pete was an awesome husband and threw me a surprise party for my 40th.

I had no idea. It was a Thursday night. Genius.

Complete with fabulous 40 party decorations!

I was amazed by all the friends and family who were there.

Fabulous Forty. Looking forward to the next 40!

 

Me and my mama!

Good friends!

Good food!

Good family!

 

Thank you for all the wonderful gifts!

 

 

 

 

Lydia told me I didn't have to sing "Happy Birthday" because it was MY birthday.

 

She was so excited to help me blow out the candles and even waited for me to start blowing first.

 

Thank you all for the great birthday celebration! You all are part of the reason I don't mind turning 40. You help make my life wonderful and exciting.

ABC's

(A) Age: 39
(B) Bed Size: queen
(C) Chore You Really Dislike: unloading the dishwasher
(D) Dogs – none at the moment but perhaps again one day...
(E) Essential Start Your Day Item: my wee hour workout
(F) Favorite Color: red
(G) Gold or Silver? silver
(H) Height: 5'3 1/2"
(I) Instruments You Play: nada~ I pretended to play the flute and piano as a kid but I was never really good, so I never got past a year of lessons. I couldn't read the sheet music.
(J) Job Title: special education teacher
(K) Kids: two very cute ones
(L) Live: live your life to the fullest
(M) Mom’s Name: Cheryl
(N) Nicknames: I'm not sure what people call me when I'm not around, but to my face it's usually Carrie.
(O) Overnight Hospital Stays? having my babies
(P) Pet Peeve: People who have the ability, yet don't use it.
(Q) Quote: Attitude is not a feeling. Attitude is a choice.
(R) Right or Left Handed? right
(S) Siblings: older sister, younger brother
(T) Time You Wake Up? 4am for a coffee and a run or some sort of workout. A couple hours later on the weekend.
(U) Underwear: none of your business
(V) Vegetable You Dislike: I'm not a fan of cooked spinach, but raw is delicious!
(W) What Makes You Run Late: Everything. Being on time is unusual.
(X) X-Rays: most recently my leg at the orthopedist...for what ended up being the calf strain.
(Y) Yummy Food You Make: lasagna, but my husband makes me believe everything I cook is top notch.
(Z) Zoo, Favorite Animal: elephant

The only things in this life that you really regret are the risks you didn't take

"The only things in this life that you really regret are the risks you didn't take. And God knows if you see a chance to be happy, you grab it with both hands and to hell with the consequences."

~Grumpy Old Men~

     I just can’t seem to find the time to blog…life is full and I have no complaints. The big 4-0 is rounding the corner. Just seven days left of my thirties and I’m on to a new decade. It’s time to up the face cream ante and grab life by the horns. My mom asked me if I had a problem turning forty, and outside of the occasional deep wrinkle that glares back at me, I have no qualms of moving into the next era of my life. I’m in a good place with a wonderful husband, two beautiful children, a nice home, good friends and a career that I enjoy. My cup is full.

     However, turning forty makes me want to take on a new challenge. My last personal challenge was over ten years ago, when I walked the Boston 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk, totaling 60-miles. My cousin couldn’t do it with me so I had to make the decision to bow out or to do it alone. Being a person who wouldn’t even go to the movies alone, it was a big deal to go to Boston and spend three days walking with strangers; but I did it and I’ve added it to the top best things that happened in my life. Now it’s time to add to that list again and this year, I’m adding the marathon to my list. I signed up for the Empire State Inaugural Marathon this coming October, and just yesterday, I signed up for a marathon training program that starts in May. If I’m going to do it, I want to do it right, with smart training.

     I just recently ran the hilly 4-mile Shamrock Run with my friend Emily. I have, or dare I say, HAD, some racing anxiety, so Emily coached me through the race. I was fine, no anxiety! Gladly, I signed myself up for my next race in May, the 10-mile Mountain Goat, another hilly course, but I’m ready to take it on. That training will land me in a perfect spot for the marathon training program that will begin two weeks later.

     The kids are doing well. Lydia just had a 5^th birthday party, which she was super excited about. Turning five was a BIG deal for her. She is a big kid now, so she says. We had a Fancy Nancy Tea Party theme at Shades of Orange Art Studio for Kids. It turned out to be a great party. Jonathan is moving right into toddlerhood and his personality is starting to shine. His first official word was “poopa” and his first sentence was, “I did it!” Recently he has taken to the ball and I think he thinks he is going to be a basketball star. I can’t keep him away from the basketball nets at the bounce place we go to. I’m pretty sure that height will not be on his side for his future in basketball. He does have a great two hand overhead throw, so maybe he can bring that into a career in soccer. His dad was quick on the soccer field so maybe he’ll inherit some of that gene.