Thursday Thirteen: Corpus Christi Edition

1. I got a call from HR last Friday and finally heard the news... I got the promotion! I'll be a Director in Public Housing (still with HUD). The downside is that I have to give up my plush teleworking lifestyle, but I am looking forward to the challenge (and the cash money doesn't hurt either!).

2. I did my second weekend race in a row, the Stonebridge Ranch Half Marathon (report).

3. Then with a little bit of liquid courage, I signed up for the Cowtown 50K, which will make it three race weekends in a row. I rebounded so well from the half mary, and I want to check this off the list after failing to make it to the start line last year. It will be my first "ulta" distance (longer than the marathon), and it's probably a more practicable step before attempting to tackle 50 miles.

4. I'm pretty sure that my drunk registration resulted in some bad karma from the weather gods.


5. I headed to Corpus Christi for work on Tuesday morning. It is my first visit to the area, and I have had quite a bit of down time. I head back to the Fort this morning. I am ready to see some wagging tails!

6. Last night's excursions included The Executive Surf Club and Water Street Seafood Company. Not too shabby!

7. The restaurants were located near the original (and apparently remodeled) Whataburger. Unfortunately I only do Whataburger breakfast and "late night eating." It was cool to see though!


8. It's a little odd being in a "beachy" town in Texas... kind of a California tease.

9. I was pleasantly surprised to scope out the hotel gym and see Precor cardio equipment and the Cardio Theater! Pretty swanky for a Hampton Inn!

10. Thank goodness the $5 (any) footlongs are back at Subway. I've had the buffalo chicken sub for lunch two days in a row. Nom nom nom.'

11. There was even a deal at on of the Subways here where it's 1 footlong for $5, 2 for $9, and 3 for $12. What a steal! I have way too much Subway excitement.

12. Cliff's birthday is coming up on Saturday and I still haven't bought him a present. Eeeeek! Procrastinating wife!

13. I think we're doing Cliff Birthday Dinner #1 at Nona Tata on Thursday and Cliff Birthday Dinner #2 at Salsa Fuego on Friday or Saturday. I will definitely be a little porker come Sunday morning! At least the crazy temps on race day will sweat the fat right out of me. Both restaurants have received rave reviews though, and we still haven't tried Salsa Fuego. It was written up by Texas Monthly as one of the top Mexican restaurants in Tejas!

Stonebridge Ranch Half Marathon Race Report

Pre-Race:
It was an early (3:45 am) alarm, and I chowed down on a Fiber One bar and a banana and drove to Arlington to pick up my friend Stacy. We drove to McKinney and got there pretty early - around 6:10 - and just chilled in the car before the 7:30 race. I started getting a bit hungry again... I realized it had been nearly 4 hours since I had eaten breakfast. What a long morning!

Race:
Stacy and I had talked in the car about how fast we wanted to go, and we decided to try to break 2 hours (maybe 1:55) and negative split. So we tried to keep our pace in check the first half. The first mile was too fast (8:30), but then we settled in to a very consistent pace, around 9:00-9:10 per mile. There were a lot of hills, and the headwind was pretty noticeable in certain parts. I appreciated the great course design (never any confusion about where to turn), the frequent water stops (I now truly appreciate hydration after running a few races where the water stops were a problem), and the safety (no cars to deal with). Stacy took off a bit at the half way point, and I tried to keep her in sight. I split an 8:40 at around mile 8, and that really got my heart rate up. After that, I just tried to stay as close to 9:00 as possible. My total time was a 1:57:31, which is an 8:58/mile average. I was very pleased with a sub-9 average on a challenging course, and I negative split (or at least even split). I managed to finish about 40 seconds after Stacy, which was a great accomplishment for me. I'll ignore the fact that she hasn't been working out much! Also, I finished second in my age group (out of nine people, not just two!).

Post Race:
I was really surprised with my recovery after the run. I thought the hills would make me pretty sore, but I was right back at it yesterday and I ran just over 4 miles with no problems. I got a little daring and signed up for the Cowtown 50K (31 miles) last night, so I have that to look forward to on Sunday morning. YIKES!

A Chicken 'n' Waffles Valentine's Day

I woke up on Monday morning feeling like absolute garbage. I had forgotten to take my Pantoprazole (acid reducer for the tum-tum) on two consecutive mornings, and then I had the bright idea to eat some jalapeno poppers (and a whole lot of other food 'n' beverage items) on Sunday after our trail run. I wasn't really looking forward to ANOTHER day of gluttony. I trudged along and got ready for work and slowly started getting out of my funk (but the self-pity brought on by a horrible reading on the scale stayed with me until I started drinking wine later in the day).

Fortunately I planned ahead and packed the essentials in my gym/telework bag. I had a nice 7-mile run at lunch and I enjoyed the warmer temperatures. After lunch, I did a set of sit-ups and push-ups with my friend (and co-worker) and our office director. My friend has to pass a physical fitness test, which includes sit-ups and push-ups, for the Air Force JAG program. So any ways, we did a set of push-ups (real "man" push-ups) until we could max out. I surprised myself with my form and my number - 10 push-ups, which is way more than I thought I could do. Then we did sit-ups, and I busted 37 out in one minute (after unbuttoning my work slacks so I could get serious!). After work, I did a final workout of 30 minutes on the stationary bike. I was pretty tired by that point, but at least I burned some extra calories. Then I had time to shower, dry my hair, and throw on some makeup before Cliff finished work.

I'm glad I sucked it up and went into the office, because I was seriously contemplating a "sick day" when I woke up on Monday morning. Cliff surprised me with flowers (roses and star gazers), which were delivered to my office. Plus I got a sweet note, and that always makes me more giddy than the flowers. The pretty, pretty flowers (and my post-workout shower towel in the background, which Cliff pointed out might annoy my co-workers):

After work we enjoyed the beautiful weather and shared a bottle of cab on the patio at Central Market. It was nice to relax a bit after work and enjoy some time together before dinner. We had a last minute change in plans on Sunday when we discovered that not only was Bonnell's charging $85 per person for a set menu (appetizer, entree, dessert, and one glass of wine), but we couldn't use our Groupon ($35 for $70) on a "holiday." I checked out my Open Table iPhone application (hooray for not having to talk to a human!) and reserved us a table at Button's. We thought their set menu ($50) included a bottle of wine, but it turned out we got unlimited glasses of wine. Score... a great deal for us! We both ordered the same appetizer (chopped up salad) and entree (chicken and waffles), and we decided on different desserts (Cliff got the brownie and I ordered the bread pudding... Cliff made the better decision). It was our first time ordering chicken and waffles, and it was absolutely delicious! Plus Cliff got to text message his parents and tell them he was eating collard greens. I devoured my food, and I'm not even much of a fried chicken fan. It was heavenly though, and it was such a nice break from our routine "nice dinner," which usually includes a steak. Plus our total check was only $108 - a steal on V-Day!

The Trail Run at Eagle Mountain Park (5.25 Miles)

Cliff and I ran "The Trail Run at Eagle Mountain Park" this morning with some friends of ours. It was a 5.25-mile trail run. I wasn't sure what to expect since I had never run there before (even though the trails are only 6 miles from our house), and Sansom Park (about 6 miles in the opposite direction) is very technical. It was a very low-key race. No race bibs or timing chips... just a clock at the end of the race and a piece of paper to turn in with your time.

I started out towards the front of the pack and immediately about a dozen or two dozen people passed me in the first mile or so. I did make up a little ground towards the end though. The trails were very wide and much less technical than Sansom. However, the uphills really got my heart rate up, and the mud made the course a bit more tricky. I saw the mile markers at 1, 2, 3, and 5, but I missed 4. I split 9:40, 9:20, and 9:40 on the first three miles. My total time was 49:45, which was a 9:29/mile average. The most exciting "nature moment" was when two deers were chasing each other and ran right in front of me on the trail.

This was the first race I had run with my husband since the Vegas Marathon/Half Marathon we did back in December 2007, and I was very proud of him for completing his first trail race! Also, my friend Stephanie was the overall female, finishing in 40:38. Her husband, Russell, also finished the race in under an hour. After the run, we had a "puppy play date" with their dog, Reece, and our brood. Then we had some "adult time" with lunch and tasty beverages at the bar up the street. Happy Sunday Funday!

Our smarty pants, GusGus, getting in the pool in February. Keep in mind, the Trinity River froze last week.


Reece playing with the Bassets:

Finding the Mojo

So after being sick for two weeks (and why am I still congested?!), backing out of the 50-miler, and being couped up in the house with "snow days" from Tuesday-Friday, I'm back at it! We had another office closure today, but I didn't let that get me down. I did a 25-minute "mini boot camp" indoors with jumping jacks, sit-ups, free weights, squats, etc.

Saturday - 60 min on the stair stepper, 30 min on the stationary bike
Sunday - 3.4-mile run, 2.5-mile dog walk, 35 min on the elliptical, 25 min on the stair stepper
Monday - 6.05-mile run, 2.5-mile dog walk
Tuesday - 6.08-mile run, 60 min on the stationary bike

I shed 3 of the 6 (EEEK!!) pounds I gained during my week of gluttony and laziness.

I also signed up for a 5-mile trail run, which is this Sunday on some trails only 6 miles away from my house! Also, I'm planning on signing up for a half marathon the following weekend.

As for my some bigger goals... I'm not quite sure yet. I thought some fun races would get me motivated and help me show up to the start line in the future. The Cowtown 50K and Ardmore Marathon are in the back of my mind, but the Cowtown is the day after Cliff's birthday, and we've also been talking about vacation plans.

Some other goals I've been tossing around:
-Sub-4-hour marathon (after going out too fast in December)
-Complete a 50-miler (after not doing Rocky this year)
-Qualify for the Marathon Maniacs
-Complete the El Scorcho 25K or 50K (I signed up for the 25K in 2009 or 2010 and didn't make it to the start line due to an injury)
-Complete the Cowtown 50K (I signed up for this race last year and then I had gastro issues to deal with)

Decisions, decisions. But I know the most important part is to get out there, be fit, and have fun!

Back in the Groove

It was a glorious day yesterday. The sun was shining, the snow was melting, and I was burning some calories at the gym. I did an hour on the stair stepper and 30 minutes on the stationary spin bike and my legs felt the burn of doing something different. My arms are also a little upset with me after my mini "Nicole Boot Camp" on Thursday, when I did about 25 minutes of sit-ups, free weights, push-ups, jumping jacks, squats, etc.

I did indulge a bit at dinner though. Cliff and I split a bottle of Cabernet, watched more "Nip/Tuck," and then headed to Boo Ray's for dinner. It was our first time out of the house together in a week, so we definitely appreciated it. We ordered a dozen oysters on the half shell, and the whole experience makes me want to become a restaurant consultant. They didn't give us any appetizer plates, and when we asked for them, they brought us one. There were only 8 crackers (not even 12), so we had to ask for more crackers. And I also had to ask for Tobasco sauce (although that is a more reasonable request). Cliff ordered the "stuffed" filet charred rare, and it came out medium well (and they also need to change the description from "stuffed" to "topped"). They were very nice about re-firing it, and the waitress even mentioned taking it off the check. The second filet came out perfect though, so Cliff said free dessert (instead of free dessert AND free filet) would be fine. What totally perplexed me though was that the manager didn't even ask Cliff to cut into the steak when he brought him the re-fire. Seriously?! It's like waiting tables 101. Now I would absolutely LOVE to tell the owner or manager all of my "helpful hint," but I don't want to come across as a complete witch at an establishment that we frequent probably weekly (at least for $1.50 happy hour drafts, if not dinner).

Perhaps my cutest doggy snow picture:

Four Things Friday

1. I awoke to some awesome snow outside, which far surpasses this lame ice that we've had since Tuesday. I was excited to play with the dogs and take pictures, but they (especially the Bassets!) didn't share my enthusiasm. Our office is closed for the fourth day in a row, which means Day #4 of my staycation.


2. I'm going to have to force myself to do some sort of indoor "boot campish" workout today before I go insane (or weigh 200 pounds). I wish our neighborhoods weren't so dangerous to drive in during this weather, or I'd camp out at 24 Hour Fitness!


3. I decided to pass on the Rocky Raccoon 50-miler this year. I still have the sinus infection (congested, coughing, colorful gunk), and this weather would make it pretty difficult to get to Huntsville. Hopefully I can get some good workouts in this weekend and make some new short-term goals.


4. Meanwhile, it seems to be the month for eating. I've done a bit more boredom eating and drinking since Monday was the last time I left the house. We're celebrating Jordan's (bonus son's) birthday this weekend, Valentine's Day is coming up, and Cliff's birthday is at the end of the month. I really need to hit the gym or the pavement!

Photo-less Indecision Thursday Thirteen

1. Why won't my laptop allow the "paste" function in Blogger? So odd. Words, words, everywhere. I want pictures.

2. Being "snowed in" loses its luster after a day or two. We're on Day #3 now. I'm antsy and I have cabin fever.

3. I've been on Amoxicillin since Sunday, and I don't think it's doing a very good job of kicking this sinus infection. I probably need to go to the doctor again, but I'm s-t-u-c-k here.

4. Normally I work from home pretty frequently. Somehow, since the office is closed, I don't have to work. I don't really understand the logic in this, but I shouldn't ask questions. I'll attempt to enjoy my three-day staycation.

5. I need to make a decision today about whether or not to run the Rocky Raccoon 50-Miler.

6. Pros: I feel like I bail on everything. I signed up, I paid, I should go. It would be a great accomplishment, and I think I can finish. Assuming Christie goes, I don't want to bail on her. The weather should be better on Saturday.

7. Cons: The weather stinks, and driving there might be a problem. It's Jordan's (bonus son's) birthday this weekend, and staying home and having fun sounds like a fantastic option. I've been sick for over a week now, and the antibiotics don't seem to be effective.

8. Our new Netflix endeavor is Nip/Tuck. We watched four episodes last night, and it is quite entertaining.

9. We also saw a few good documentaries this week, including "Beer Wars" and "A Lawyer Walks into a Bar."

10. I feel like I'm getting exponentially fatter. I've gained about 3.5 pounds over these past few days due to more food and drink and less exercise.

11. I logged 65 minutes of Wii Fit activities yesterday and actually felt a since of accomplishment. We really need a treadmill or elliptical machine at the house!

12. The Basset Hounds had never had an accident until yesterday... when Lucy #2'd on the dining room rug three times throughout the day.

13. Our neighborhood roads are iced over, and we peeked out the windows like creepers yesterday and watched people stall or spin out right in front of our house. It was kind of funny until someone knocked over our trash can.

Wahhh wahhhh

It's nice to be off work for the second day in a row, but I'm starting to get cabin fever. I'm bored, and since I don't have a great exercise option, I'm substituting exercise for more food and drink. Plus my antibiotics aren't working, and I'm constantly blowing my nose. This sinus infection needs to go away, especially with this lil' run looming right around the corner. Done venting. Back to Zuma Blitz.