Wine, Women and Song

Whoa there Don Quixote! This post isn’t about what you think it’s about, right? Confused? Just have your cousin beep my beeper and I’ll find a pay phone and get right back to him.

The time in our lives is very important. We’ve only got so much of it, so we’d better be using it wisely. If time were money, as some say that it is, training for endurance sports would cost us all a fortune. We’ve got to make sacrifices with our commitments to become the best that we can possibly be. Sure, we’re all busy with family, work and socializing. There are more commitments in our lives than there are Kardashian sisters. For me, this involves reducing the countless hours of wine, women and song.

Humans, by nature are social creatures. Just ask Mark Zuckerberg. We like to get together and tell important stories (jokes) that others claim to not enjoy but yet they want to hear more of. Did you hear about the bear that walked into a bar??? Humans require interaction with others. Happy hour really wasn’t invented to save us cash on our indiscretions. It was created so that we could validate our good times.

If you want to finally get to Boston or even just compete in your local 5K for the first time, you are going to have to make some sacrifices. You and Don Julio will have to be seeing less of each other. Training for marathons or triathlons can eat up a huge amount of time in our lives. Weekly long runs can easily exceed a couple of hours in which we are inaccessible.  You’ve got to tell your friends, family and significant others that you have not been abducted by ALF. If you are poised to become what your daydreams produce, you’ll need to make sacrifices.

I am of the breed that it’s difficult to say no to a social invite. For instance, the college football season is just around the corner. College football is in my past. It’s in my blood. My grandmother once asked if Oregon Duck football was my favorite television “show.” Umm, yes, yes it is. I don’t know if I can turn down a guest appearance at a football game party/tailgate/discussion. This is positioned directly opposite any marathon training. Especially if chips and dip are involved.

If you want marathon smiles, you’ve got to put in the miles. There really is no way around it. This isn’t the sixth grade; you can’t trade a test answer for a cookie. Put the time in at the gym or on those backcountry roads and your race experiences will be greatly improved. Just make sure that your football buddies or grandmother knows that you still exist.

by RJ Lott

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Food Abroad: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

I have to admit,

I panic a bit about food prior to any vacation, especially a trip to a foreign land.

Casey has gotten pretty used to my annoying food demands at home, but it would seem rather petulant to insist on searching all around unknown territory on foot for an adequate, by my standards, meal. And, don't get me wrong, I have no problem being demanding and petulant.

So it was such a pleasant surprise (for everyone) to find that England had amazing food. Who knew?! I had been stressing about the carb and fat-loaded Cornish pasties and Bangers and Mash for weeks! Turns out that the vast array of ethnicity's that make up the UK have led to an enormous assortment of food.

The highlights;

The Woodmen British Flat (pizza)- This was the boys dish...a field greens, cheddar and mushroom pizza from Union Jacks which is a Jamie Oliver restaurant in London. I HIGHLY reccomend it.

Spicy mustard-based coleslaw- This is what we, girls, ate:) Along with an unbelievable heirloom tomato salad.

hummus, red pepper couscous, butter beans and Turkish spinach flatbread...UNBELIEVABLE!!

If we had more time to spend in Sherborne, I would've taken advantage of this perfectly lovely little farmers market along the street where we stayed.

Here comes the bad...Harrods Chocolate Room is the Devil! No comment on whether I had a sample.

 Annnd...the ugly; fish and chips, and bangers and mash...totally British, totally fattening and totally yummy...so I hear, I swear.



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Jimmy or Warren?

So...I have this new friend. His name is RJ and with 17 marathons, one ultra-marathon and "a dozen or so" triathalons under his belt, he knows a thing or two about running. Oh, and he's pretty funny.(And I get to post his wit and wisdom from time to time:))

I am frequently asked why I run so much. Do you want the short answer? Running is a buffet. And twenty bucks says that I already know what you are thinking. “What does a sneeze guard have to do with aerobic exercise?” Well, nothing. Absolutely nothing. But a buffet is similar to running in the sense that you can have whatever you want. Do you want an outdoor adventure? Do you want to catch up on your favorite “Real Housewives” cast? Or maybe you are just out to stretch Fido. You can indeed have whatever you want with running. It is a buffet.

When I run, I often do not like repetitions. I am not one to fancy the treadmill, unless there is snow on the ground, and then it’s ESPNEWS on rinse and repeat. The great outdoors is the ultimate place to run for me. It’s not labor intensive if you are enjoying your time. I challenge you to run on a street that you’ve routinely driven down in your car. Perhaps the speed limit is 50 or just 25, but either way, I absolutely guarantee you that you’ll see something that you would have missed in your horseless carriage. Perhaps it’s the cute old guy tending to his garden or the cute little lab puppy chasing butterflies. The cuteness factor of the built environment exponentially increases the slower you travel. How much cuteness to what to see today? It’s a buffet; you can have whatever you want.

I once had this hellish chemistry class in college. In the building where we did our experiments, there was a sign that read: “You can’t have a laboratory without the labor.” Ugh. Unfortunately, for that semester of frustration, the quote was correct. In running, the key is to eliminate the disappointments and sorrow. If you are new to running, make it fun and beneficial. If you are a running veteran, still keep it lighthearted. We aren’t running to put bread on the table; you enjoy you. You can always mix in speed work with long runs and then sprinkle it with cross training. The key to any foodservice industry is to get you to come back. I want you to return to this buffet and frequently.

However, there is always one caveat to the buffet. If you eat too much rice pudding too fast, you’ll get sick. You must always listen to your body. I’ve fallen victim to the perils of the buffet. Crazy ideas of piggybacking marathons in the past have left me with Achilles tendinitis and stress fractures in my feet. Injuries will absolutely put the “labor” back in “laboratories.” The key to enjoying yourself at a buffet is to take your time; there will always be another clean plate to use. This is no different than in running. There is always tomorrow, take it easy and enjoy.

-RJ Lott Pin It

Treadmill Interval Workout

Treadmill Interval Workout

*Set your treadmill to a good jogging pace that you could hold for a long time. Here are the interval times;
beginner- 30 second run, 30 second rest. At each rest, increase the speed by 1.
repeat 10 times.
intermediate- 45 second run, 30 second rest. At each rest, increase the speed by 1.
repeat 10 times.
advanced- 45 second run, 20 second rest. At each rest, increase the speed and incline by 1.
repeat 10 times.
*You can repeat the whole workout up to 3x.

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Grab a towel. This might get messy:)

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LOVE this brand

People always ask me what brand of workout clothes I like because I shop for them so much.
Lululemon, right?
Honestly, Lulu has gogeous, quality pieces but am I the only one who is a little over it?
It's almost become like Coach did where you're so sick of everyone having it that just seeing it turns your stomach.
I LOVE this brand.
ALO has super cute, trendy workout clothes for around the same price points as Lulu.
I'm loving this coral/camo combo:) Pin It

Post-Workout Chocolate-Banana Protein Shake

Post-Workout Chocolate-Banana Protein Shake

1 scoop of 100% whey isolate chocolate protein powder
1 1/2 C crushed ice
1/2 C skim milk
1 small banana

-Blend to combine and enjoy with a straw.

(I have this EVERY day:)) Pin It