Trying to balance food, fitness, and fun!
Friday we started the trek to Corpus Christi….
For the 2nd year: 2nd place overall, 1st place open-mixed champs! 2 vans, 6 girls, 6 guys, 223 miles! Running Gangnam style the whole way!
We are super stoked to maintain our mixed-open title and have that 2nd overall. The first place team for the last 3 years is an open team (9 guys, 3 girls).
Posted in Running
It’s been a week since I’ve blogged, but it’s been a SUPER hectic week. More birthday stuff for Stacey, race, Girl Scouts, run, Dan came home from Germany, huge changes at work, etc. Heck of a week.
I ran Austin Marathon Relay for the 4th time on Sunday. For the first time ever, I ran a 10 K leg. I’ve always run a 5K because I am usually deep into San Antonio marathon training around this time of year. Since I’m not training for anything and we had a few minor injuries, I took a 10K leg. (the legs are 12K, two 10K, two 5K).
One of our teams had a no-show. So we shuffled running order, so I would run one of the 10K legs for TWO teams. I was nervous about this. I don’t run 10Ks. I don’t like the distance and can’t get the pace down. Before Sunday, i’d only run two in my life and they were part of a race series in 2008. I knew our other team was just happy to have a complete team, but I knew my regular team is competitive.
A major accident had happened on the course overnight, so the race started about an hour late. The race had already pushed the start time back to 8 instead of the usual 7:30. So by time we started, it was getting warm. The later legs you ran, the hotter it got. Granted, it wasn’t in the 100s like it was last year, but it was pretty warm.
Not my smartest run race, no strategy at all. I ran a little faster than i’d planned, especially for the heat. I ran a huge PR, but then again, that probably wasn’t hard, since it was only my 3rd 10K ever. (my mom is so fired from taking race photos!)
Our teams took 4th, 6th, and 12th in open women out of over 60 teams in the division. I was on the 4th and 6th place teams. We had a lot of relay first timers, including my sister, who was on the 12th place team and ran her first 10k ever.
Most everyone from our 3 teams. So proud of everyone!
Posted in Life
Do you like Tito’s Vodka, Tiff’s Treats cookies, Magner’s cider, My Fit Foods, LUNA bars and Toastie’s? Those are just some of our AWESOME food and drink donors for the benefit tomorrow night!
If you’ve never tried food and drink from our sponsors, this is a GREAT opportunity to do so, and for FREE
.
While at the party, please consider a donation to Breast Cancer Fund or bidding on fantastic items in our Silent Auction! Breast Cancer Fund is a 501(c)(3) organization.
More info: Breast Cancer Fund Benefit
Posted in Uncategorized
Back to reality. Actually, I was back to reality at midnight on Friday night after being in a car for 14 hours. Remind me, I don’t like being in a car for 14 hours.
It all started with Zilker Relays on Aug 31. Course PR for myself. And for once, I started close enough to the front of the pack and didn’t wear myself out bobbing and weaving through crowds. 102 degrees and HOT!
Saturday-San Antonio to Mobile area
Sunday-short run in Mobile area, drive to Foley to go to Lambert’s (everyone’s favorite part of trip), then down to the Florabama, and then eventually to Destin. We had so much food leftover from lunch, we didn’t have to go out for dinner.
Monday-run. Watched the fishing boats come in after lunch to decide who we wanted to charter with. A little shopping and a trip to TCBY for the family. Our hotel also had ice cream every day at 3. Nothing I could eat, I had chocolate instead 
Tuesday-gym (lots of serious builders which was interesting). rain. Sailing cancelled. Mini golf instead with dinner at the Boathouse. This was a new place for me. Total dive, but food was good. Sister said her crabcakes there were her favorite meal of the trip. Great views!
Wednesday-cloudy and windy beach time, then rain. Sailing cancelled again. Shopped WAY too much instead. My wallet hurts. I bought Dan a ton of stuff. I got a new purse (which is still in the bag, I am not really a Coach girl, not sure I will keep it). I ran 5 miles to dinner at Kenny D’s, told my parents to meet me there with a dry shirt, lol! The food was great as usual (another place I found on Yelp last time with Dan)
Thursday-Deep sea fishing with dad during day. The boat was AWFUL for the first hour (it was super rough) and then it poured, thank God for Dramamine. Luckily the sun came out and the sea calmed down. We caught a ton of white and mingo snapper (those aren’t all ours). I felt like I ran a marathon, my legs were so tired from all of the rough sea and bouncing and my arms were tired from the heavy rod, weights, and fish!
Followed my tradition I usually have with Dan. Last night’s dinner at the Crab Trap. Yes, I am wearing a jumper. Don’t eat or drink anything if you wear a jumper. How the heck do these girls I see out wear them? It’s a major undertaking to get that thing off and on. Ate my weight in tuna steak.
Friday-Drive FOREVER. Ate at Prejean’s Cajun in La (Dan and I found it a few years back), SO good. I got home at midnight.
Saturday-sleep. laundry. sleep. Took mom to see Austin Roller Derby. We both had a blast. Late dinner at Zoe’s. (mom is addicted now). I was so beat from all of the driving on Friday and the harsh boat ride on Thursday.
Sunday-Brain Power 5K. Big thanks to Heather and all of my friends who signed up to participate or donated. I won my age group, 4th overall woman. 2 of the girls who beat me were less than half my age! It was tear tag timing, which meant I should have started closer to the front, I never learn, haha!
Sunday night I made stew from Paleo Comfort Foods but added mushrooms, zucchini, and cauliflower. It’s good, but I should have made the portions bigger, it’s not filling enough with how I packaged it for my lunches. Dan hates stew. More for me, lol!
Dan came home with the new jeep last night from Arizona. I lost my garage parking spot. Dan’s spots=2. Melissa’s spots=0. HUMPF!
I can’t catch a break with shipping companies! UPS lost the tent I needed for Zilker Relays tonight. I wanted my girls to have shade in the 102 heat before and after the run!
The Dr’s office gave FedEx my address instead of Dan’s work address. So my medicine had to be returned to the pharmacy in Utah. Having to have it resent to the Dr’s office and I will pick it up 9/11. Good thing I have still have some to last me until then. I was trying to have them hold it at the warehouse and have Dan pick it up there, but it wouldn’t be protected from the heat 
I was supposed to be off today. Not the case. Had to come in after my pedicure. This was after I got 5 texts from 1 person asking me questions that someone else in the office could have easily answered. It was 1:30 before I could even think about the project I needed to work on, even though I was supposed to be on “do-not disturb.”
I am rolling almost a whole week of vacation time to sick leave tomorrow. This makes me sad I should have started using my random days sooner! (there is a limit on how much you can bank based on how many years you have). And you can’t use vacation time if you have holiday or comp time (which I have). I couldn’t really take my long vacation before now, so I should have used it day by day much sooner.
Tomorrow is a new fiscal year at work. I am so glad I am gone for the first week of it.
Tonight is Zilker Relays. I am so nervous I could barf. It’s short. It’s REALLY hot. Supposed to be 102. I am pushing to run first so I can be done first! I haven’t raced since like March, so I think that’s part of my nervousness. It’s way too hot to be fast, but I don’t want to be a snail! Will try to find a happy and safe medium.
After the race it’s off to San Antonio, then Mobile tomorrow, then Destin on Sunday.
Let the fun begin. Hope all of the rain will be gone from Issac, because I NEED A BREAK!
Posted in Life
My only experience “tailgaiting” in the SEC has been through Austin’s Annual SEC picnic. That may change later this year, when we’ll hopefully see a game at Texas A&M. SEC games and pre-game are NOTHING like the rest of the world. Don’t believe me, read Gridiron Belles. Not the food, the dress, the attitude, NOTHING!
Even though Dan was still on his way back to the US, I had to go show my Auburn pride! WAR EAGLE! 
They had Rudy’s cater half the food, the other half was brought in by members. 
Since there are burn bans in the area, no grilling allowed. This was SO much easier, still SO good (sort of semi-homemade). And I LOVE Rudy’s anyhow. Turkey, brisket, sausage, pulled pork, tons of sides, and desserts. I was kind of bummed at first, because I really wanted to bring something, but since i’d been downtown since 6 am, that probably wouldn’t have really worked out (I showered after running and read my book until the picnic started). My stomach was certainly not objecting!
Big thanks to whoever brought the lovely fruit! There was like 8 different kinds of dessert and the fruit was the only thing that was gluten free. It was so bright and colorful, it would have been on my plate regardless!
Happy we were next to the Aggies! I invited my co-worker and her new husband to come out
Good times! Although we need more tents for next year! We had three tents and about 75 people toward the end, and no trees, so I got a little too much sun. It was a new location this year, so we weren’t exactly sure what to expect on set-up. Bigger and better for next year!
Football season starts next week, I can’t believe it! It’ll be a light season on game watching for Dan and I together with our opposite schedules. For games 1-4 I think we are on opposite ends of the country and two games he’s not even in the United States!
I am looking forward to stocking up on Auburn stuff next weekend
Posted in Life
For the 2nd time in a week, I very narrowly escaped an accident. I must have an angel.
First one was someone almost t-boning me in Dan’s truck on Monday. I am not sure why they proceeded through the intersection, or how they stopped. I am glad they did. I actually closed my eyes and waited for the impact, that luckily never happened.
Second one was today. With a city bus. I am not sure how I escaped this one. I was inches away from the driver’s side of the bus mowing me over. I hadn’t even run 1/10th of a mile when it happened. It was dark, but I was wearing neon (not like that matters). I approached the intersection (one way street), I looked and the bus was stopped at the bus stop. (I always look both ways even if it’s one way and even if I have walk sign). I paused and went on, then when I was more than halfway to the other side when the bus flew around the corner and almost hit me. No brakes, no nothing.
I can’t get the vision of the bus almost hitting me out of my head. Closest call i’ve ever had.
I’ve been going non-stop still, even though i’ve been back since Sunday night. I can’t even remember half of the last week.
I do remember this, made me laugh. Yes, the Crowne has a Cougar Room. Yes, I know U of H Cougars is likely the source of the name, but I still think it’s funny.
Friday: Met up with my new staff in Houston in just enough time for them to head back to Austin. The rest of the weekend I was flying solo, but i’m a pro at those things. (there was a pirate of the carribean theme this year). That’s Texas made out of zinnias. Unfortunately I didn’t really have time to walk around and look at the other booths since I was solo. Plus my booth was way off in the corner with the educational booths.
Saturday: Paid my $5 and ran my long run with Kenyan Way. Can’t beat that! $5 for pace group, aide, and a map. I was between pace groups, but it worked out great. Got a solid 10.5 miles in, which is the most i’ve done in a while. I was swimming in sweat when I was done.
Hit Whole Foods on the way back to the hotel. Salad bar again, but this time I got a smaller container, lol. I filled it with half post-workout breakfast (eggs, migas, sausage, fruit) and half for lunch (hb eggs, veggies, meat). So good!
Saturday night I went to dinner with Nicole at Freebird’s and then went to my very first Roller Derby bout. It was a lot of fun! I have friends in Austin and DFW that do it too, but i’d never before seen it live. I will definitely go again! It was so good to see Miss Nicole, I don’t see her often enough.
Sunday: Did runner’s yoga from YouTube (if you can’t find the one with the guy in the pink neon spandex, he’s actually pretty good, lol). Headed to the convention center early for exibitor’s breakfast aka Gluten Fest 2012. Chicken and waffles, pastries to the sky, and fruit. Grabbed a plate of fruit and dug into my bag for some nuts.
Show was 10-3 on Sunday. It was DEAD. Pouring rain outside. At noon I went to lunch with my cousin Kristen at Phoenicia, which is kind of like a greek version of Central Market or Whole Foods (another awesome salad bar). So fun! I hadn’t seen her since my grandmother’s funeral 3 years ago. I loved seeing her, wish I would have made more room in my schedule earlier in the week, it really had been too long. It’s a long story, but we’ve always been friends, even though our mothers (who are sisters) do not speak to each other since we were in elementary school. I am civil to all of my relatives, despite what my parents feel about anyone. I need to see her and her siblings more often for sure.
At 3 pm I packed the heck up and got on the road to the office. Dan picked me up at the office, then we had to head to his office so he could download files he needed for his trip to Brazil on Monday (he’s gone until Saturday afternoon). I grabbed dinner, met him back at his office and we ate and caught up. Sounds lame, but it was nice to finally see him and talk to him. By time we got home, it was time for bed!
Monday: The heck day. At least though, Dan’s flight was early, so I got to say goodbye. The whole day was a bust after that.
Tuesday: Day was much better. I finally got back into the gym (neither hotel I stayed at had weights, nor did the cities have Gold’s). I loved seeing my regular gals at the LUNA run after work. It was overcast and rained a little, which probably scared some away, but my regulars were there and smiling and really enjoying the 85 degrees!
Wednesday: Long day of training new staff, going away party at Chuy’s for our interns. Green Chile Fest is going on! I had the green chile shrimp salad, which was awesome. I wound up eating dinner and running afterwards, which is backwards to me. I was in a funk and didn’t want to run at the park. Tried Glutino English Muffins for pizzas. I pan fried them in EVOO before making the pizzas. They were ok, not sure i’ll buy them again (they are nothing like an english muffin in texture or taste).
Thursday: Been training new staff all day long. I’m off tomorrow, since I haven’t had a break from work since the 10th. Not sure what my plans are, other than putting together some goodie bags for LUNA and hopefully sitting by the pool and finishing my book. Dan’s not back until Saturday afternoon
Posted in Life
Monday was a total “case of the Mondays.”
Packed my bag to do the track workout that i’ve been wanting to attend regularly on Mondays from now on.
Got back to the office on Monday only to find a giant pile of work and nothing had really be done while I was gone
I barely got my travel reimbursement reports (I had to do 2) done before an all morning meeting. In the meantime, I got a sad email from a friend telling me she was going to have to cut back her extra-curricular commitments (which means me seeing her less).
My coworker reminded me that we needed to leave at 11:45 to go to a conference downtown for the rest of the day. CRAP! I thought that was on Tuesday. (so I had to ditch the track workout idea up North). We didn’t leave until after noon but I was told we were eating downtown. Wrong. My coworker ate before we left, but I didn’t know that.
So I had to stop at Wendy’s (only fast food near where we were going). $8 for half a salad that left me starving and a tea. A tea which all 32 ounces spilled inside my purse! It’s a good thing it wasn’t one of my Michael Kors purses, but the purse and almost everything in it was ruined.
When we arrived, everyone (including my coworkers) were eating boxed lunch. GRRR! Why did no one tell me this? Conference was interesting, but didn’t really teach me anything that would help with my job. Noticed other people from my office and other attendees were doing things other than paying attention which was annoying.
After that, I ran over to my friends house to drop some items off and visit with her. Then I go to get in the truck to meet them at the lake to run and it’s dead. Three girls who have never jumped a vehicle before, jumping a big truck off of a BMW. We got it started and I drove North to try to get a battery.
By that time, Dan had landed in Miami and called ahead to Auto Zone to find me a battery that would work. Took me an hour in rush hour traffic to get there. Then I had to convince the guy to help me install it (because they don’t really do that).
I almost got t-boned pulling out of the lot, because someone ran the stop sign. Seriously, I just closed my eyes and waited for them to hit me. Somehow, some way, they stopped within a inch of the truck!
I made it home at like 8:15 and not a moment too soon. I was tired, grumpy, and very hungry!
Gosh, I haven’t had a day like that in a really long time! Hoping I don’t have any repeats!
Is it possible to be super busy but at the same time, it be stress relieving and relaxing?
Me thinks yes.
I’ve been going non-stop since last Saturday and I feel GREAT!
Saturday: Promoted LUNA Chix at women’s center spa day, then Coworker’s wedding out of town.
Sunday: Long run with my friends at Hill Country Running. Stayed up too late driving home from the wedding, but run was decent. Then going away dinner with our friends Devon and Kristi (moving to DFW), then Olympic Party downtown with Austin Runner’s Club, Jack and Adam’s, and LUNA. Drive to San Marcos. Stayed up SUPER late with my good friend Alison catching up.
Monday-Wednesday: training class, runs after training, dinner with Alison Monday night.
Wednesday: Travel to Houston, ran with Bayou Country Road Runners, played in a fountain (not recommended if you have errands to run). Set a record for most money ever spent on a salad and weight of salad. Whatever it was good and healthy.
Thursday: Early AM to the Houston office. Out on a boat all day doing sampling in Galveston. Fun but it made for a very long day and a very late lunch (thank goodness for snacks). Some Zoe’s kitchen, Barnes and Noble, and then a very hot run with a group from Luke’s Locker. Wish I wouldn’t have gotten dinner at the hotel, my crab and shrimp salad was really lacking I regret not getting something in the Luke’s Locker area before heading back to the hotel.
Friday: Wow, is it Friday? I got to sleep in today. They don’t want me at the conference until noon to work our booth. So instead I am working in my hotel room, in bed, drinking coffee, plotting my plan for hitting some tax-free weekend shopping before work today. First stop is Athleta. Only one in Texas and it’s in Houston. Pro deal+tax free, heck yes!
*Hardest part is trying not to spend my vacation money on tax free clothes and shoes!
Posted in Life
