I was so excited when I saw that pickles were BOGO at Publix yesterday. Why do pickles put such a spark in me? You must remember my past pickle post from the Keys100 blog. (Click that linky to refresh your memory.) Pickles or, more accurately, pickle juice is really wonderful! Oh, don't be shaking your head or making that face like you just ate something sour. Trust me, if you're ever experiencing a foot/leg cramp of epic proportions, pickle juice can be what saves you from what feels like excruciating torture.
With having one relay under my belt and knowing what foods I did and didn't eat during that, I'm looking forward to putting that experience and knowledge to use when I run Ragnar in February! Pickles will probably be tops on my list. (Before you ask, yes, I did buy pickles yesterday at Publix. Who can turn down a BOGO like that?! No, these won't be the pickles I take in February. I'm sure they'll be long gone by then. Yes, Mom, I'll make sure to buy fresh ones so I don't have to have the "it's a sell by date and not a use by date" discussion.)
What will be on my shopping list as February gets closer? Pickles (like you didn't know that), Belvita cookies, granola bars (probably the Nature Valley Protein chewy bars that have dark chocolate on the bottom), water (duh), Gatorade (double duh), and some other stuff. Last time, I brought yogurt, and Morgan and I each had one. It was nice, but being that February probably won't be hot like May was, I don't know if I'll still bring them. (Maybe one or two to be safe, right?!) Also, I had some PB&J sandwiches last time; again, they were good, but you know how that goes: they've got to be packed just right or else they're going to end up smushed. Oh, and speaking of smushed, yes, I'll be taking bananas, but I have got to put them in something to protect them! I do love me some bananas, but not the mushy kind because they've been squished or sat on!
So what recommendations would you have as far as food goes? I'm all ears!
Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 22, 2013
It's February, it'll probably be cold...
Before I get to the true purpose of today's blog post, I've got to share a funny story with you about something that just happened! I'm on my way back from Tallahassee and am finaaaaaaaaaaaaaaly on my connecting flight. (Ugggh - weather! Seriously, Mother Nature, of all the days to have bad weather over Tampa, it just haaaaaaaaaad to be today around 5:30pm?!) Anyway, the flight attendant is this really young chick. She's asking everyone if they'd like a drink, and when she gets to the guy across the isle from me, she says something like "You were on my earlier flight. I remember you." Now, let me paint the picture for you: the guy across the isle is an older man, so I'm sure he was getting quite an ego boost that this cute, young chippy remembered him! But here's where that ego gets crushed. She then continues on and says, "I remember your tie. My dad has the same one." Ouch!!!!! I just had to look away at that point.
Ok, back to the real reason for today's blog post: what to wear! Do you remember my "what to wear" quandry from the Keys100 in May? (If not, shame on you! Go read all about it by clicking here.) But this is going to be the exact opposite situation! In May, it was all about staying protected from the sun and still trying to stay cool despite the insane heat. (Do you remember that? If not, it's review time, kiddies!)
Last week, when I told my friend Lourdes about Ragnar, she said "I hope it's not cold." Crap! She's right! It'll be February, and for you non-Floridians, Florida, even Miami and the Keys, can get damn cold in winter! (Don't roll your eyes at me! By "damn cold" I do mean less than 70...much less than 70!) I'll be watching the weather closely as the days get closer to race time, but think about it for a moment: you need something that you can wear for running, it's got to be something that you can start in and not want to stop midway to take off because it gets too warm. (Guys, get your minds out of the gutter!) It's got to be something cute. (Really?! You expect me to run and wear something not cute?! You know those pink Zensa calf sleeves are making another appearance, as will my blue ones! (Thanks, Mom!))
So returning to the task at hand: will it be my shorts (cute Nike or Adidas spandex), my black spandex capris (they were the ones I wore when I ran the Molly's House Angel Run in March, so you know they're "lucky"), or my full-length leggings? They're not spandex, so they don't really wick away the moisture, but they do make my legs look really long. That's a good thing, right?! (You best be shaking your head to say, "Yes, Kim, that's a good thing!") But then there's more! What about the rest of me? Long sleeves? Short sleeves? Will the team do costumes or some other "theme" for the run? I was thinking about that today. What might be a fun theme? 80s punk rock? 70s disco? I hate to admit it, but I am so not creative, so it's hard for me to come up with something original and fun. (Got any ideas or suggestions, readers? Post 'em up!!!! Help a sista' out!)
And what if it's cold-cold, like 65?! No, I'm kidding...kind of. Going back to the Molly's House run, it was about 52 degrees at the start of that race, and it actually was perfect! But like I said before, February can get damn cold. 40s, 30s, etc. (Yes, Florida can get into the 30s! I'm not BS-ing you!)
While the cold won't stop me, it might mean looking a little like I'm going skiing and not running. Mittens? Scarves? Turtle Fur head band to cover the ears? Hmmmmm, I'm going to have to think about this. (Turtle Fur's cute, but I don't know if I could run with it for a while.)
What's a girl to do? How about some good weather voodoo ju-ju dance?! Want to join me?????? You know you do! :-)
Ok, back to the real reason for today's blog post: what to wear! Do you remember my "what to wear" quandry from the Keys100 in May? (If not, shame on you! Go read all about it by clicking here.) But this is going to be the exact opposite situation! In May, it was all about staying protected from the sun and still trying to stay cool despite the insane heat. (Do you remember that? If not, it's review time, kiddies!)
Last week, when I told my friend Lourdes about Ragnar, she said "I hope it's not cold." Crap! She's right! It'll be February, and for you non-Floridians, Florida, even Miami and the Keys, can get damn cold in winter! (Don't roll your eyes at me! By "damn cold" I do mean less than 70...much less than 70!) I'll be watching the weather closely as the days get closer to race time, but think about it for a moment: you need something that you can wear for running, it's got to be something that you can start in and not want to stop midway to take off because it gets too warm. (Guys, get your minds out of the gutter!) It's got to be something cute. (Really?! You expect me to run and wear something not cute?! You know those pink Zensa calf sleeves are making another appearance, as will my blue ones! (Thanks, Mom!))
So returning to the task at hand: will it be my shorts (cute Nike or Adidas spandex), my black spandex capris (they were the ones I wore when I ran the Molly's House Angel Run in March, so you know they're "lucky"), or my full-length leggings? They're not spandex, so they don't really wick away the moisture, but they do make my legs look really long. That's a good thing, right?! (You best be shaking your head to say, "Yes, Kim, that's a good thing!") But then there's more! What about the rest of me? Long sleeves? Short sleeves? Will the team do costumes or some other "theme" for the run? I was thinking about that today. What might be a fun theme? 80s punk rock? 70s disco? I hate to admit it, but I am so not creative, so it's hard for me to come up with something original and fun. (Got any ideas or suggestions, readers? Post 'em up!!!! Help a sista' out!)
And what if it's cold-cold, like 65?! No, I'm kidding...kind of. Going back to the Molly's House run, it was about 52 degrees at the start of that race, and it actually was perfect! But like I said before, February can get damn cold. 40s, 30s, etc. (Yes, Florida can get into the 30s! I'm not BS-ing you!)
While the cold won't stop me, it might mean looking a little like I'm going skiing and not running. Mittens? Scarves? Turtle Fur head band to cover the ears? Hmmmmm, I'm going to have to think about this. (Turtle Fur's cute, but I don't know if I could run with it for a while.)
What's a girl to do? How about some good weather voodoo ju-ju dance?! Want to join me?????? You know you do! :-)
Saturday, August 10, 2013
Ragnar Relays: 200 miles + 12 people + 2 vans = FUN!
Have you ever heard of a Ragnar relay? Unless you're in to running and in to races or events, you've probably never heard about it. The first time I heard about it was back in February when I started running with the Team Essen group in Palm City. Let me be honest, I simply heard about it. (Reading between the lines, I'm sure you know that that means I knew nothing about it other than the name!) You know how you hear of something for the first time, and then you see/hear it all over the place? Yup - that's what started happening! Be on the lookout for this logo (below). You might be surprised how often you end up seeing it around.
By the way, did you know that she's often misquoted?! No, neither did I! According to Wikipedia, it's often misquoted as "You like me, you really like me!" But that's not from when she won the Academy Award! It's from a spoof that she did of herself in a Charles Schwab commercial.
Ok, so getting back to the email, it was definitely my "You like me!" moment because I got asked to participate in this new relay! Had I been a crappy runner and/or just a miserable person to be around, you know no invitation for Ragnar would've come my way. :-)
Are you sitting there wondering what the heck I got myself into with this? I'm sure the title gave it away, but here's the deal. Ragnar relays happen all over the US. (Linky if you'd like to see where they happen: http://www.ragnarrelay.com/events). What they all have in common is this: it's a 200 mile (give or take) relay of 12 people and it goes throughout the night. Yes, you read that correctly, running happens around the clock! I don't yet know which legs I'll get or which times I'll be out running, but you know what? I don't care!!!! Maybe I'll be running at 7am. Cool! Maybe I'll be running at 4pm. Good! Maybe I'll be running at 2am. Awesome! (Seriously, I mean "awesome-awesome," not "awesome" in that "I'm really being sarcastic" type of way.)
Every now & then I'll have a Grandma story for you, and I've got the first Ragnar-related one! Grandma was actually the first person who I told about getting invited to be in this relay. She's so cute, and her reactions to my crazy adventures usually begin with a slightly exhausted-sounded comment of "Oh, Kim!" (I can picture her saying that, shaking her head a bit, with a smile that says "you're a trip!") A few days later, I call her and give her some more info about the race, and she says, "So what did Dave say about this?" I told her that even though his initial reaction was something along the lines of, "You're doing what?!", he really was fine with it. So Grandma, in typical Grandma style, says, "Well, if he's ok with it, I'm ok with it." Ummmmm, shouldn't that be the other way around?! If Grandma gives her 'ok' to something, then everyone else should be ok w/ it too! :-)
So over the next 6 months, I'll be blogging about getting ready and other running-related moments. Like my Keys100 relay, I plan to bring my netbook and blog throughout the race whenever I'm not actually out running. Bookmark this page, ladies and gentlemen; you'll want to refer back to it every so often up through the beginning of February. But come February 6th, 7th, and 8th, I expect each & every one of you to be glued to this site! Post your replies or comments. Let me know you're with me along the way!
In April, I did the 7 Mile Bridge Run in the Keys, and you know (or at least you should know) that's when my obsession with being part of the Keys100 relay started. If you didn't follow my Keys100 blog, shame on you...but there's no time like the present to catch up on all of that fun! Just be sure to read it from the bottom on up to the top so you don't miss out on any of the hilarity. (Linky: http://kimskeys100adventure.blogspot.com/)
The Keys100 was a 6-person 100-mile relay from Key Largo to Key West. I was on a team with 5 Coast Guard members, and we had a beyond fabulous time!!! (Check out the blog if you think I'm making that up!) Well, since then, Joan has been wondering if I'd be asked back to be part of Team Cinco next year for the 2014 Keys100. (Team Cinco, if you're reading this, I'd love, love, love to run with you again!!!) Well, if you can't tell, no invitation's been extended (yet), but I did get the coolest email just a few days ago from Hans, one of the members of Team Cinco, asking if I'd be interesting in being on a Ragnar relay team.
Let's stop & reflect for a moment. Do you remember my mom's comment when I told her back in April that I was going to run with people I'd never met? In case you want to read it, click here. If you want the summary, I'll give it to you now: "How do they know that you're not 300 pounds and planning to walk the entire thing?" Obviously I'm not 300 pounds (not that there's anything wrong with that) and obviously I didn't walk the entire time (or at all!) during my portions of the Keys100. (Yes, there is something wrong with walking during a running race!) This is where I had my Sally Field moment: "You like me!"
By the way, did you know that she's often misquoted?! No, neither did I! According to Wikipedia, it's often misquoted as "You like me, you really like me!" But that's not from when she won the Academy Award! It's from a spoof that she did of herself in a Charles Schwab commercial.
Ok, so getting back to the email, it was definitely my "You like me!" moment because I got asked to participate in this new relay! Had I been a crappy runner and/or just a miserable person to be around, you know no invitation for Ragnar would've come my way. :-)
Are you sitting there wondering what the heck I got myself into with this? I'm sure the title gave it away, but here's the deal. Ragnar relays happen all over the US. (Linky if you'd like to see where they happen: http://www.ragnarrelay.com/events). What they all have in common is this: it's a 200 mile (give or take) relay of 12 people and it goes throughout the night. Yes, you read that correctly, running happens around the clock! I don't yet know which legs I'll get or which times I'll be out running, but you know what? I don't care!!!! Maybe I'll be running at 7am. Cool! Maybe I'll be running at 4pm. Good! Maybe I'll be running at 2am. Awesome! (Seriously, I mean "awesome-awesome," not "awesome" in that "I'm really being sarcastic" type of way.)
Every now & then I'll have a Grandma story for you, and I've got the first Ragnar-related one! Grandma was actually the first person who I told about getting invited to be in this relay. She's so cute, and her reactions to my crazy adventures usually begin with a slightly exhausted-sounded comment of "Oh, Kim!" (I can picture her saying that, shaking her head a bit, with a smile that says "you're a trip!") A few days later, I call her and give her some more info about the race, and she says, "So what did Dave say about this?" I told her that even though his initial reaction was something along the lines of, "You're doing what?!", he really was fine with it. So Grandma, in typical Grandma style, says, "Well, if he's ok with it, I'm ok with it." Ummmmm, shouldn't that be the other way around?! If Grandma gives her 'ok' to something, then everyone else should be ok w/ it too! :-)
So over the next 6 months, I'll be blogging about getting ready and other running-related moments. Like my Keys100 relay, I plan to bring my netbook and blog throughout the race whenever I'm not actually out running. Bookmark this page, ladies and gentlemen; you'll want to refer back to it every so often up through the beginning of February. But come February 6th, 7th, and 8th, I expect each & every one of you to be glued to this site! Post your replies or comments. Let me know you're with me along the way!
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