Think Pink!

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Coco




Are the trees blooming in your neighborhood?

Posted in Life | 7 Comments

Remembering With Thanksgiving

Posted on March 25, 2012 by Coco

Last Sunday I randomly was the reader for this section of The Prayers Of The People:

We remember with thanksgiving those who have died in Christ, and those whose faith is known to You alone. . . . 

Since last weekend was the anniversary of my Dad’s sudden death, this prayer stayed with me more than it usually does. I was calm when I read it, but later I remembered bursting into tears last year, when his name was spoken in the added “especially … ” clause.

Contemplating my calm, I wondered if this is where I am–remembering with thanksgiving. But I don’t think I’m there yet.

I’ve been doing lots of remembering, but I am not really cherishing or relishing my memories. I appreciate them for a moment, but then I need to push them away, because they still are accompanied by the sharp pain of loss and grief.

Saying this prayer, I give thanks for my Dad, for his life, and for his love, but this prayer also gives me hope that someday my memories will be more sweet than bittersweet, and that I really will be able to remember with thanksgiving.

Posted in Life, My Faith | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Training Log (?) Cherry Blossom 10 Miler

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Coco

Last weekend I rocked my 2:00 goal for the Rock’N’Roll USA Half Marathon, and now only one week from tomorrow is the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler!

Cherry Blossom Ten Mile Run

I had a decent week of recovery workouts planned, but instead of taking a few days to recover, I feel like I slacked off for the whole week. Really, I just skipped my two weight training days, but missing those workouts makes me feel like a slug.

Monday (Easy Run with Tiger Lilly)
Neighborhood run: 3.9 miles, 39 minutes
It’s amazing how even my mile split times were–just about dead on 10:00 for each one.

Tuesday (Planned Rest Day)
Walking: 1 mile mid-morning dog walk
I was supposed to have a day trip to NYC, but my flight got canceled due to fog at LGA after we were all buckled in! I went home to change out of my suit and pack a lunch for the office, and squeezed in a dog walk while I waited for traffic to die down. I packed a gym bag, thinking I could squeeze in a workout at work before my son’s 7 pm lacrosse game, but I ended up being crazy busy at work until 6:40, and barely made it to the game on time. At least I got that walk in.

Wednesday (Treadmill)
Tempo Workout: 3.9 miles, 40 minutes
After my warm-up, I did 5 minutes at each of 6.3, 6.5, 6.7 and 7.0 mph.
Cherry Blossom Walk: 5.25 miles
My friend met me at my office and we walked briskly to and around the Tidal Basin to see the cherry blossoms. It was a grey morning, but the trees were still lovely!

Thursday (Unplanned Rest Day)
Walking: 1.5 mile morning dog walk
I had to get to work early for a meeting, but knew I would be home early after another meeting close to home, so I thought I could do my weights workout then. By the end of the day I had three conference calls scheduled from 3-5 pm and a new deadline to meet that kept me working (at home) past 9 pm.

Friday (Easy Run with Tiger Lilly)
Neighborhood run: 2.5 miles, 24 minutes
I could tell that I was sleeping too late, and when I finally checked the time on my phone, it was 5:52, with the alarm set to go off at 6:00 (instead of 5:00). I don’t know how I ended up setting a later alarm time, since I had gotten up early all week. I decided to try to do a quick run with Tiger Lilly, running for 2.5 miles after a short walk. 
Walking: 1 mile afternoon dog walk

Saturday (Neighborhood Run)
Walking: 1.5 miles morning dog walk
Neighborhood run: 8.36 miles, 1:18:42 (avg. 9:25 min/mile)
Split Times: 10:12, 9:02, 9:26, 9:49, 9:19, 9:22, 9:23, 9:06
I got up early to walk the dog and then squeeze in my run before I had to hit the road for my son’s lacrosse game. It was so warm and humid that I was comfortable in a t-shirt and shorts when I was walking the dog. Needless to say, I got warm and sweaty during my run! My right ITB felt a wee bit tight, but on the whole I felt pretty good!

After missing a week of weights, I am committed to getting back to my routine this week!

When you are squeezed for time, do you tend to favor one type of workout over an other?

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Satisfying Snacks For That Afternoon Slump

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Coco

This week has been crazy. From a trip to New York that wasn’t, a late night lacrosse game, an early morning tour of the cherry blossoms, a work dinner, and several last-minute meetings, my usual schedule–and meal planning–was thrown out of whack.

Luckily my snack cabinet was well-stocked.

I first saw Nabisco belVita “biscuits” when I was in London–at the airport actually. I wondered why we didn’t have them here, but then saw them in the grocery store when I got home. These are yummy, but they are really glorified cookies. Each “single serving” package contains 4 small “biscuits,” for a total of 230 calories, and only a few grams of fiber and protein. I probably won’t buy them again.

My Mom introduced me to Ritz Crackerfuls and they are a surprisingly satisfying snack. Each single serving package has a large cracker sandwich that has 130 calories and 5 grams of fiber. The first ingredient is “whole grain flour” although there are a lot of other ingredients typical of a processed food snack.

I discovered 18 Rabbits bars at the airport this week (before my flight got canceled). I needed something to go with my coffee, but wasn’t in the mood for a mega-muffin or greasy egg sandwich. Each bars has 240 calories, 4 grams of protein and 4 grams of fiber. The ingredient list is much more wholesome than other airport snacks, and includes oats, nuts, seeds, cherries, and satisfying chunks of chocolate.

Cliff Chocolate Brownie ZBars are still my favorite portable snack. Each bar has 120 calories, 3 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber. The chewy consistency may take some getting used to, but these bars satisfy my late-afternoon hunger and my constant need for chocolate.

What do you snack on?

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(Almost) Wordless Wednesday (The R’N’R USA Edition)

Posted on March 21, 2012 by Coco


(My o’dark-thirty running partner; Me in my toss-away sweater)

Thanks to all the Marathonfoto photographers who were up early working the pre-race crowds and lining the course at the Rock’N’Roll USA Half/Marathon!

 

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