Rainbows and sweat

Yesterday was a scheduled 7-miler.  Started out fine, 76 degrees but 86% humidity-though there was a slight breeze at first.  I was trying to get out ahead of supposed storms that were moving in.  I did have a light sprinkle for about 10-15 minutes and considered turning around and trying later, but turned to see a rainbow (can you see it?) and decided to just keep on plugging-might as well just get the miles out of the way early and have the whole rest of the day to myself.

I did do small loops around my immediate area instead of my usual out and back that I prefer for anything over 4 miles so I'd be close to shelter.  Turns out that wasn't necessary, after that first sprinkle the rain stayed away.  Unfortunately, it did stay overcast...which is usually a good thing since it blocks our scalding sun, but when there's rain clouds around that means one thing-humidity.  Lots of it.  Meaning another sweat-fest of an outing.

Yeah, I'm used to it-SoFla native here ya know...but I prefer sweating from exerting myself, not from walking out the door just to stand outside.  Yes, there's a difference-humidity can really sap the life out of you which just makes the exertion part uncomfortable and very tiring.  Like, take a 3 hour nap in the afternoon tiring (yes, that's exactly what I did after we ran some errands).

Anyway, 6.93 miles in the books.  I am concerned though about pace.  Been having problems keeping up run intervals with all this humidity (makes it hard to breathe while running) which means overall pace has been horrible--bringing up big concerns for ToT.  Just keep swimming...right? Almost literally...

Virtual Racing: The Cupcake Classic 2012

Jess from Run with Jess has another fun free virtual race coming up-The Cupcake Classic 2012 .  It's a virtual 5K being held from October 14-21, 2012.  Lots of great sponsors and there'll be a random drawing at the end for prizes.  You can even buy a shirt if you'd like.

You may remember back in April I had fun doing her Jelly Bean run (you can catch up with my post from that here).  Virtual races are fun and there's less pressure since you can just run by yourself or with some friends instead of being surrounded by hundreds or even thousands of people.  Jess has a fantastic blog, so check her blog out and sign up for the virtual race!  You may even win a prize...and don't forget, it's free to enter!  And of course, don't forget to treat yourself to a cupcake when you're done ;-)

Mmmm....cupcakes....

2012 Tower of Terror waivers posted!

Nothing like having the waivers posted to make a race seem closer and more real.  I pulled mine up and I'm going to be bib #10192.  Way way way in the back of the corrals...again.  I have no idea how many runners there are registered, but I'm hoping it's way more than 10,000 so I'm not in the very last corral.  I've avoided the last corral for my last few Disney races, crossing my fingers that it's the same for this one.

If you'd like to look up yours, click here 

5 weeks to go...

This or that

Okay, I’ve seen several different blogs doing a “this or that” for these so I’m jumping in too.  Not that I eat or drink any of these things too much...*hides guilty face*

So, here we go:

1. Coke or Pepsi?

Definitely Coke.  When I was a kid, I would go through phases where I’d like one, then switch to the other.  Now it’s all Coke, I think it's sweeter with a slight citrus touch.  But I’d rather have a Mr. Pibb.  

2. Caramel Apple or Cotton Candy?

Both are favorites, but I’ve got to go with cotton candy.  Especially when I can find the purple cotton candy at Disney World...mmmmmm.......plus cotton candy is less calories.  Yes, I know it is straight sugar.  What's your point LOL

3. Salt or Pepper?

Depends what I’m eating...I usually don’t use much of either, but I suppose I use more salt than pepper.

4. Pudding or Yogurt?

This depends on time of day.  Morning-yogurt, especially Yoplait’s Fiber One key lime pie flavor (only 50 calories!).  Afternoon or evening, pudding (Jell-O’s sugar free butterscotch or chocolate are my faves, especially with a little bit of Cool Whip Free on top!

5. American or Provolone Cheese?

Neither...well, okay American if it’s a grilled cheese sandwich.

6. Cookies or Brownies?

Mmmmm....brownies.....mmmmmmm....

7. Pretzels or Chips?

Pretzels for sure, we always have a bag of pretzel sticks in the house.

8. Cake or Pie?

Cake please!  Make mine Red Velvet.

9. Oatmeal or Cereal?

Cereal.  Tried oatmeal and to me it just tastes like mush.

10. Mexican or Japanese?

Japanese...hibachi preferred, much more fun!

11. Chinese or Italian?

As my waistline will attest, ITALIAN!  I do love my pasta ;-)

12. Surf or Turf?

Most definitely turf.  My surf repertoire consists of one thing-tuna fish sandwiches.  Give me a nice, juicy steak any day of the week.

13. Pizza or Pasta?

While I love pizza, pasta will always win in my book (don’t forget the freshly grated cheese, please-preferably romano cheese)

14. Mustard or Ketchup?

Ketchup.  Mustard is gross and smells funny.  Yes, I know I’m weird.

15. Sandwich or Wrap?

Sandwich.  Wraps are too flimsy for this carb-lover.

16. Apples or Oranges?

Granny Smith apples, yum!

17. Strawberries or Raspberries?

Strawberries, the darker and sweeter the better.  LOVE berry season!

18. Blackberries or Blueberries?

Blueberries.  Love taking them to work as part of my snacks, good finger food while working.

19. Rice or Noodles?

Noodles.  As in pasta with tomato sauce noodles.  No other noodles please.  Again, weird picky eater here.

20. Spicy or Mild?

How about medium?  I always like a little spice, just please don’t burn a hole in my esophagus.

21. Salad or Soup?

Salad for sure.  

22. Soup or Stew?

Neither.  I’m not much for liquid-y food.

23. Salted or Sweet Popcorn?

Salted with a slight touch of butter (Pop Secret Homestyle is my fave)

24. Cauliflower or Broccoli?

Oh, ugh, ewwww and gross to both.  No thanks.

25. Onion Rings or French Fries?

French fries.  But can I please have them in the form of tater tots?  Much more fun to eat!

26. Burger or Hot Dog?

Hmmm...depends on the day.  If I had to pick one, I’d say burger with bacon and barbecue sauce.  But I do love my Ball Park smoked white turkey franks on a potato roll.

27. Popsicle or Ice Cream?

Ice Cream.  Make mine a Cold Stone Cake Batter please (with cookie dough mixed in)

28. Coffee or Tea?

Tea.  We are tea crazy in our house...especially from Teavana.  Coffee is just way too bitter.

29. Chocolate or Vanilla?

Wow.  I’m stumped.  I’d say vanilla, though if you asked me when I was much younger I’d have said chocolate.

30. Sausage or Bacon?

No brainer.  Bacon please!

31. Peanut butter or almond butter?

Peanut butter...with grape jelly

32. Salty or Sweet?

Sweet for sure.

33. Fried or Scrambled Eggs?

Um, no thank you to either.  I may have loved my morning egg when I was an infant/toddler (according to my mom), but now...yuck!

34. Waffles or Pancakes?

Pancakes...nice and fluffy buttermilk pancakes.

Dang, now I’m hungry.  So, what are your choices?  Don't play the healthy card and say "neither"...what do you REALLY like if you could have whatever you want, no consequences?

Lizards and Butterflies

Sunday morning miles--start at 80 degrees-->84 degrees, 83% humidity-->75% humidity

Um, yeah...can you say sweaty?  I had to peel my clothes off afterward.  But that’s 4.15 miles done with the rest of the day ahead to enjoy.  I’m very glad I have a haircut this afternoon as even with my hair in a ponytail thru the back of my hat, it’s gotten long enough that it was sticking to the top of my back, neck and shoulders.  While I wouldn’t mind my hair growing longer, it’s just too annoying for workouts.  I could always pigtail it, but I’ve got way too many layers cut in to try in an attempt get some body out of my very fine hair, so braids just wind up having hair sticking out every which way.

So, I had a couple of peeves going on today.  First--attention all SoFla lizards!  While I respect the fact that you are animals who live outside so pretty much everywhere outside is your home, why oh why oh why do you have to wait until the very last second as I’m coming by to race from one side of the sidewalk to the other?  You have been very lucky so far, but I refuse to hurt myself pulling up or over-lunging to miss stepping on you guys...one of these days it’ll be SQUISH! And at this point I won’t feel badly about it.

Second--my town is actually very fitness-friendly with miles and miles of sidewalks and bike lanes as well as 14 parks plus a YMCA center in our 27-square mile town of just over 65,000 residents.  In fact, most of the sidewalks here are usually 1.5 times as wide as your average sidewalk with many areas at least 2 to 2.5 times as wide.  We have tons (yes, I’m not exaggerating) of cyclists and dozens of bike groups that ride out here, from packs of 2-4 people to well over 100 at a time that will zoom by as I’m doing my miles.  It’s actually pretty exhilarating to be walking or running along and have such large groups flying by.

That said, there are some cyclists to choose not to use the bike lanes and instead ride on the sidewalks.  And I’m fine with that, especially when there’s kids riding.  But when I’m walking or running along all the way to one side of the sidewalk and you are riding two abreast, why do you think that I’m the one who has to move over into the grass while you pass by?  Seriously, and with our sidewalks being as wide as they are?  In the state of Florida, the law says you have to yield the right of way to pedestrians, not the other way around.

Sorry, but this happened to me twice this week so it makes me grumble.

On the “it makes you smile” side today--lots of butterflies out this morning, even as humid as it was.  Made me want to stop and try to get one to land on my hand (love it when they do that), but they were more interested in the flowers than me.  They did make me smile as I passed by though.  Not used to seeing them out early in the morning when it’s still so humid out.  Maybe it’s a sign summer weather will give way to fall weather sooner.  Yeah, not likely but I can dream, right?  In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the butterflies :-)

Oh...only 7 weeks left until the Tower of Terror 10 miler!