Seattle's Saint Patrick's Day Dash

My plan for surviving marathon training has been to book a zillion (yes, that is right, a zillion!) races so I keep up the motivation needed to complete my long runs.  So far it is working!  Though my watch was a liar today, I got the miles in, and I think at a pretty good pace!  I started the morning off with some fruit puree (trying a runner's magazine suggestion for miles 6-10) and a strawberry fruit bar.  Not bad!  Waiting to start this morning was chilly, but once we got going the sun peeked out and the red wave was off running!  I haven't ever run this race before, and was I in for a surprise - it was crowded!  4 miles weaving around people was a new experiance, but it kept me busy, and I love a race involving costumes!  At the end there was kind of race expo, I grabed a bottle of water and a few snacks (which I tucked into my waist belt for future runs).  Next year I need to allow time to enjoy the expo!  I had stopped my watch as I crossed the finish line, but somehow in the crowd it got bumped and the time was running while I was working my way out of the Seattle Center - Bummer!  Here are my race stats for proof: Age: 34 Location: Seattle, WA Division place: 537 out of 766 Gender place: 2734 out of 3978 Time: 42:36 Pace: 11:42 I stopped for a vanilla GU, and then I was headed home, saddly my watch and I had another difference of opinnion.  I spent about 1.5 miles at 6.36 miles.  *sigh* Oh well, the miles got done and I am feeling pretty happy with week three of marathon training!

Hot Chocolate 15k

March 3rd I ran the Hot Chocolate 15k.... didn't train for it, just went out and ran 9 miles.  Yes, it was awesome!  lol....  I was nervous, I always am at the start of a race, and was really feeling the butterflies knowing that I hadn't done any training to work up to that 9 miles. 
The day started out cold.  I was early so I ran in to the drug store for some tissues and gloves - both were needed!  I sipped a short latte trying to stay warm and then we were off!  The sun came out and it was a beautiful run.  I could have skipped the hot chocolate at the end, it was too sweet and the bananas so green I couldn't open it, but I love the sweater (instead of t-shirt you would typically get with a race), and the weather just made for the perfect day. 

Seattle's Best 15k!

My longest distance to date! 
While my time was very slow compared to the rest of the runners today I was pretty happy. 
Seattle's Best 15k!
9.3 miles finished in: 1:55:54 with an average pace of 12:26.
I did learn a couple things today though,  so it really was good practice for the half marathon... 
My watch was dead, I must have left it on after my last run, here on out I will be charging it before long runs, I spent the whole run wondering if I was going too fast or too slow, it really messed with my head!
My shoes were too new and tied too tightly, my feet kept going numb.  I'm not too worried about this for the half marathon though, I feel pretty confident that my shoes will be well broken in by then.
David met me at the finish line and took pictures but they didn't work!  I was too tired to suggest using my phone, but for the half I need to make the effort!  I was really disappointed to find I didn't have any pictures from such a big day.  I would also like to try to take some video while running the half.  :)
Fuel! I had my fuel belt today, both bottles filled with juice and water which is what I train with and I like, but I had some sharkies and didn't eat them!  This was a bad move on my part, because I was nautious by 8 miles and then had a pretty hard time forcing myself to eat and drink once home.  I am going to need to take in fuel at 6.5 miles, and maybe again at around 9.5 miles.
So a few problems today, but at the end of the day I finished, I did it!  Oh, and I certainly can't say that it was totally awful because tomorrow I am going hiking! Lol.....

Race results!

Run Scared 5K

Race tme: 34:41:7 with an Average Pace of 11:11

I was 40th in my age division out of 76!

I am so proud of these results and had such an AMAZING time, it truely was the best way to celebrate my birthday!

Twin Falls Trail

A day off work to take a hike?  Yes please!  :) 

Twin Falls Trail
Beautiful waterfalls, tons of trees, a great afternoon.  :)

I've taken up hiking...

Every weekend?  Sure why not.  It is way more fun than going to the gym, and the view!  That makes all the hard work getting up the mountain worth it.  :)

Rattlesnake Ledge

Seattle's Kubota Garden

Kuboto Garden
 (A great location for a free date in Seattle!)  :)

Summer has finally arrived in Seattle

I know some may find it shocking, but it is quite often beautifully sunny here in Seattle. It is especially nice (and noticeable) when you get to skip the stuffy gym in favor of a couple laps around Green Lake with a good friend and some sunscreen. :)

Happy Monday! :)

Elliot Bay Book Company and the EBC

Okay, one more post before bed.  :)
If you live in Seattle, I'm sure you know.  Elliot Bay Book Company (aka my most favoritest book store ever) has relocated (closer to my house!).
Within the last week I have visited (ahem) several times.  One time I even brought my own book so I could just hang out.  The thing is, it's Seattle.  It rains here, a lot.  Or at least it has been this year.  We all know what that means right?  Coffee, rain, and the bookstore?  They go hand in hand! 

 

The thing is, this bookstore is just sooooo good!  They always have authors coming in to speak (many of which are free events), they have amazing book recommendations from the employees (I have found many of my most favorite books due to that recommendation wall), and though this is a new location, it still smells like the old one, only this one has the addition of amazing skylights.  Needless to say, it is love.  (I think I need to join one of their book clubs!)

Oh, and the new EBC (Elliot Bay Cafe), they still have my favorite salad:  Arugula, pear, goat cheese, and roasted pine nuts.  I'm listing this as restaurant #4 for the year, because well, I told my boyfriend that if I am ever missing and he can't find me, I am probably here.  :)
'Night all!  :)

Full bloom

I'm sorry to have been absent, I haven't been feeling well...  I'll give you a few hints as to why:

Seattle is in full bloom, and I am ready for summer.  :)

In Search of Stairs

This weekend we worked ourselves into a sweat at the new gym, and then wandered the town.  We were looking for a stairway from a movie we had watched the night before, and while the stairs remain elusive, we had a great time on the hunt.

My first two new restaurants of the year

Okay, I have two Seattle area restaurants to add toward my goal of visiting 5  -

A Caribbean sandwich shop in Fremont; Paseo features a crazy long line, they only takes cash, and they are closed on Sundays and Mondays, but I have to tell you, it was love at first bite!  I grabbed this pic off of flickr because I was too busy eating to even think of my camera, Paseo is really that good.  :)  Our friends scored a table inside (I think there are only 4 or 5, so be prepaired to take your food to go), and we chowed down on four of the *Most Popular* Cuban roast sandwiches.  They are messy,  napkins need to be at the ready, but the food is so good you may just be tempted to lick your fingers instead of politely wiping.  :)  (Don't say I didn't warn you!)  lol....

Today I met some girlfriends at the Portage Bay Cafe in Ballard.  They feature local and organic food - all of which was DIVINE!
Might I just make one suggestions?
Order the French Toast.
They have a toppings bar featuring fresh fruit and organic maple syrup, all kinds of lovely eggs and juices, the staff was amazing, the restaurant light and airy, we loved it!  The line for Sunday afternoon brunch was long, and they don't take reservations, but call ahead and have your name added to the list, it cut our wait time down to 10 minutes.

2010 Socializing and the Flower and Garden Show

Hello! This is an incredibly busy (read STRESSFUL) time of year at work, and in my free time I have been compensating with social activity! Last weekend some girlfriends and I got together for brunch at Citizen Cafe, a French/Vietnamese coffee house in lower Queen Anne.

Despite being tiny and semi-chaotic, the food at Citizen Cafe was tasty (I had the turkey crepe and a bite of the biscuits and gravy - both of which were delicious!), and they offer $5 pitchers of Mimosas! We hung out for hours and caught up on the year and a half since our last brunch get together. I love girl bonding time! :)

This weekend I meet some of my co-workers at Feierabend, a fantastic little German place in East Lake Union. The have tasty food, and if you go with a group of people you have to drink a boot! 3 Liters of beer is slightly intimidating to this non-beer lover, but I sipped in the name of workplace bonding! I was very careful not to let the boot touch the table though, I did NOT want to have to drink the whole thing! lol....
...But wait, there is more! lol... My friend Beth came into town today to join me at the Flower and Garden Show! I guess I am not too into local conventions, but I make a point to visit the Flower and Garden Show every year. I love the large displays, and each year am amazed by the full grown plants they hall in for exhibits. This year was especially interesting with several winning exhibits featuring eco-gardening, practical applications, a goat, and chickens!

I think you are all caught up, I hope you enjoyed all of the pics!

Ballard Market Shopping!

David and I have developed a new market habit, and have also tackled another one of my goals for the year - shopping at the Ballard Farmer's Market!
We have visited the last two weekends, and as the weather turns warmer I'm sure this market will become a favorite destination. Hosting a little bit of everything (and many more food options than some of the other Seattle area markets), I am finding that I actually want to buy things at the Ballard Farmer's Market. :) It is pretty inexpensive, local, and there is a fantastic tea shop!

Miro tea is awesome, so tasty, and they easily offered recommendations. Now that we have an espresso maker, it is hard to justify going out for coffee, but the fruity tea latte I had at Miro will bring me back for sure! :)

The walk to work (Seattle in pictures)

This morning was foggy, chilly, and we wish it were threatening snow (for a white Christmas!), so I felt semi-inspired to take a few quick pics on my way into work this morning....

Exploring Belltown

Today we were aiming for a walk, a hike, some time outside, but trying not to freeze our fingers off, we opted for Belltown over Discovery Park. Belltown isn't my favorite Seattle neighborhood, it's a weird mix of rundown businesses, loft living, dive bars, cute cafes, and homeless assistance programs. The only thing I love about the neighborhood is a pizza joint which played a part in our second date (spumoni ice cream, not pizza, but the date was 10 hours, many meals and many destinations).
Today after counting maybe 15 different pizza places (why are there so many in this neighborhood?) the highlight was coffee at Uptown Espresso - a dark roast and I was supper impressed with their foam!

I am also happy to report we came home to some FANTASTIC news:
How is your weekend going?

Weekend Hill/Stair Climb

Two weekends into age 31, two weekends of canceled plans, but this weekend we took off for some urban hiking - exploring the hills and stairs of Queen Anne!

I'm not sure we found any of the stairs featured in the September 2009 Sunset magazine article, but I had no idea there were so many to be found on Queen Anne! We had a great time exploring, shared a coffee and pumpkin spice gelatto, lusted after brick mansions and at every turn exclaimed over the views!

Could you imagine having a view of the space needle from half of the rooms in you house?
... I just kept thinking that maybe at 31 I will learn to take things as they come. It was a great day!