A blog post! A blog post!

Hooray! Hooray!  I haven't posted in a long long time--almost two weeks--which, in the blog-o-sphere, seems like quite a long time!  I wish I had a good excuse, like some simply fascinating travels or exciting life experiences, to cite as reasons for not posting in a while, but I don't....Life has just been busy and "Skinny Mary-Michael" has dropped to the bottom of the list, below "Apartment-Shopping Mary-Michael," and "Job-Hunting Mary-Michael," etc. Seriously, just seeing how activities of daily living can quickly derail my regular blogging has given me even more admiration and respect for those bloggers who manage to post several times a week for years and years. So impressed!  Also, this morning, my email was hacked.  I sent 200 involuntary messages to friends and acquaintances, several of whom I have not contacted in years.  My  spam was pretty clever too "Hi Kim, I thought you would need to see this! It changed my life!" And the website would be something completely random like germanshepherds.com.  As a result, all kinds of far-flung friends emerged from the woodwork today. It was an interesting day, needless to say.

Anyway, I'm trying to get my routine (fitness and otherwise) and my blog back on a regular track.  I this weekend was a good start.  Aside from some questionable high-calorie decisions on Saturday evening, I got some great workouts in and I "officially" started my training for the Marathon (October, November & December) and the Goofy Challenge (January).  I'm saying "officially," though I realize it might be a bit early.  It's May and, according to my weekly agenda, I don't have to start actually "training" for another month or so, but I want to get some extra running-time in before July-August, when it gets too sticky and swamp-like outside to blow through a twenty-mile run. Also, I just ran the good ol' half-marathon-plus-5K combo two weeks ago, so my mileage is technically ahead of where my training plan indicates it should be. (My current "official" plan has me starting out running 9-12 miles/week.) 

Saturday I had my first BodyPump class in over two weeks (painful, but a good pain!) followed by a particularly difficult spinning class (Those Saturday morning instructors are hardcore.)  Then Sunday, I had a nice 4.25 miles run. (Not a long "long run" but it felt good.)  I really  want to work on getting in more frequent but shorter runs.  I worry I've been running too infrequently, but long distances and that it has taken a toll on my knees. I have to protect my knees for this Fall/Winter running extravaganza!

Also this weekend, I went to my girlfriend's housewarming party.  At the party were two other people who had trained for the Frederick Half Marathon earlier this month.  Sadly, only one of them ran.  The other one, Carrie, got a stress fracture one week before the race, and couldn't run.  She actually was wearing a walking cast at the party.  I felt so bad.  I would have been hugely disappointed if I'd trained for my first half and got an injury only a WEEK before the race.  But, she had a really GREAT attitude about the whole situation.  I would have been so annoyed, but Carrie still went to watch the race and cheer all the runners on.  She said she had a great day. Very admirable! And fortunately, she's planning on running the Baltimore Half in October, so she has time to recover.  No Maryland Double...boo. :(

The other guy, Rich, ran the half "because of a drunken St. Patrick's Day dare."  I think that's interesting....Should I dare more of my non-running friends to run races while they are drunk?!  Maybe I'd recruit more running buddies that way! :)

Anyway, it was an interesting conversation.  I think I take for granted that running a half-marathon for me is no longer a "big deal" like it used to be.  In one sense it is, because I look forward to it and I love running it.  I love the sense of occasion.  I really like to run and, even though at the Frederick Half, I didn't feel like I was in good shape, I was still able to finish running it, and then do the 5K a few hours later. It wasn't my fastest time or my best effort, but I wasn't nervous about it. 

I remember my first race ever.  It was a half marathon. I had never run thirteen miles before and I was so petrified that I wouldn't finish.  I get that way now with full marathons, and I'm sure I'll be a bundle of nerves right before the Goofy Challenge! 

Talking to Carrie, who had trained so hard that she'd fractured her foot, and Rich, who swore he'd never run one again after this, brought me back to reality(?) a little bit.  I think that's one of the reasons I like writing and reading running blogs so much.  There are other [crazy] people out there who like running as much (& sometimes more) than I do. No one will blink if I say I'm considering running howevermany races in a short period of time.  I don't have to downplay how often I run/race.  And people tend to understand that I can say "I just ran a half marathon" and "I am out of shape" in the same breath and it makes sense.

Now, I just have to maintain my regular blog writing....that's the tricky part! ;)  

Long week

Oh dear....I've been neglecting my poor blog this week.  I need to write my Frederick Race Report--before I forget what happened! (I finished--slowly, but surely--thank goodness!)  In a very similar fashion, I've also neglected my workout routine.  And sleeping.  And eating/eating healthy.  I have however, been very diligent about drinking and staying out late. I have been exceptionally proficient on both of those fronts.

Monday evening I was supposed to have a "date" with an online-dating fellow.  We had talked last Tuesday about maybe doing something Monday night, but I hadn't heard from him in six days.   Thinking he might have forgotten, I brought my gym bag so I could head to Body Pump and Spinning after work if I never heard from him.  Then, Monday afternoon, an old friend of mine, who I rarely see, texted me to tell me he was going to be in town Monday and Tuesday night and informed me we would be hanging out.  This friend is one of my very favorite people in the whole world, so I was starting to be glad that I had not yet heard from my date.  Maybe he had forgotten or chickened out?  It's probably a little old-fashioned of me, but I think that the guy should call the girl to confirm/make plans.  (Or rather I should say, if a guy takes initiative in this small way, it's a good litmus test as to how he'll act in other ways...confident, chivalrous, etc.  If he's waiting for me to make plans for him, it seems like he's a little lazy. Or either too arrogant or too insecure to try.)

Then, at 5:00pm, I had a little professional meltdown.  My boss called me into his office to inform me that I wasn't getting the promotion I've been waiting four months to hear about.  To add insult to injury, the external candidate who is getting the offer graduated from my college, with my degree, three years ago. The SAME year, coincidentally, that I started working at my current place of employment.  I was not completely surprised that I did not get the promotion, and I had some reservations about the position for which I was eligible, but my ego still took a nasty blow at this news.  I am a competitive person, and I wanted to "win" the position.....probably, admittedly less than I actually wanted the position itself.  But to be overlooked for someone external with a very similar background and less professional experience was difficult.  There were tears....and sniffles and hiccups.  I wish I could have been a very calm and stoic rock about the whole situation, but unfortunately I was not.  I mean there was very little I could say to my boss except that I was "disappointed."  But truthfully, I was angry, frustrated and discouraged.

Around 5:30pm, as I was walking to the metro, wiping my drippy nose and hiding my mascara-raccoon eyes under enormous sunglasses, I received a text message from my would-be date: "What happened?"
I was unsure about what to respond to this. What happened?  Umm, I haven't heard from you in almost a week?  I just got passed over for a promotion?  I'm in a grumpy sour mood and do not feel like expending energy conversing with a bit of a clueless boy?  All of the above?

I probably did take out a little bit of my frustrations on him, poor guy.  I told him I hadn't heard from him in a week and I assumed that if he wanted to make plans he would be in touch.  He responded "Ok, babe," which I thought to be slightly presumptuous for someone who never confirmed plans. So I, as gently as possible, suggested that if he wanted to see me, he might have reached out to me before 5:30pm on the day of. (He might also have chosen to 1.) use full sentences and 2.) maybe exchange a few pleasantries, but that did not appear to be his style of communication.)  And though I scolded this virtual stranger regarding his etiquette, I truthfully was relieved, because now I was free to spend all evening either wallowing in pity over my job rejection, or hanging out with my old friend Joe. I chose the latter.

It was honestly, the best remedy I could have hoped for.  Joe is just one of those people that I will not see for months--sometimes years--at a time, and still pick up right where we left off.  We stayed out late drinking and catching up Monday night, and then again on Tuesday for good measure. It was so great to see him.

By Wednesday morning I was pretty drained, due to an over-emotional week, lack of sleep and an excessive quantity of tequila shots. But that day, I received another text from another friend that I rarely get to see who happened to be in town.  This friend just had a baby, so not only do i rarely get to see her, but I rarely get to see her when it's "just us" anymore, so I had a hard time turning her down.  (Even though, quite honestly, she was actually pretty far away from my work and my home for being "in town"....and, after a long dinner and some catching up, it still took me over an hour to get home...bed by midnight, which at least was earlier than Monday and Tuesday. 

Needless to say, there has been a lack of vigilance this week regarding exercise (and blogging.)  I was hoping to use this week to get my routine back in order after the half marathon, but it's turned into a "rest week."  Though obviously, not sleeping-rest, just cardio-rest. :)  I am hoping to try for a nice run this evening, and I am looking forward to Saturday's spinning class with an unwarranted amount of excitement.  I can't wait to get back into the swing of things! I feel so off kilt being out of my routine.

Race Day Poetry: Frederick Half-Marathon

Today I am running the Frederick Half Marathon, and, as is my tradition, I have composed a couple of race-day poems.  

But also, I thought you might find it interesting to note that this race is the first portion of a two-race series known as the "Maryland Double."  If someone runs this race and then also runs the Baltimore full or half marathon in October of the same calendar year, they receive a third "bonus" medal for completing "The Double."   And, since Maryland is my home state and possibly the greatest state in the entire union, I've included one stanza of our state song, "Maryland, My Maryland."  

If you've never heard this little ditty, it is sung to the tune of "Oh, Tannenbaum," like the Christmas carol.  It's actually a bit of an odd choice for a patriotic anthem, because it was originally written as a call for Maryland's secession from the Union, and it became a popular song throughout the Confederacy during the Civil War.  The author, James Ryder Randall, was a native Marylander living in New Orleans.  He refers to President Lincoln as a "tyrant" and the Union as "Northern scum."  Not exactly the most eloquent or timeless lyrics.  As a result, most of the stanzas are not at all inspiring or motivating or applicable to anything today.  But, according to Ken Burns, General Lee ordered his troops to sing the song as they marched into Frederick in 1862. It didn't go over well back then, but this morning I too will be marching (driving) into Frederick.  And I too have a battle (of sorts) to fight.  

Furthermore, today is also the first leg of the "Triple Crown" horse race, the second of which, the Preakness Stakes, is run in Maryland. "Maryland, my Maryland" is sung on this occasion. (The third stanza only, I think...as most of the poem is, as I mentioned, a violent battle cry against the North.)  Nevertheless, in the spirit of Marylander-pride and Maryland racing--both thoroughbred and human--here's to the Old Line state:

           Thou wilt not cower in the dust,

Maryland! My Maryland!
Thy beaming sword shall never rust,

Maryland! My Maryland!
Remember Carroll's sacred trust,
Remember Howard's* warlike thrust,-
And all thy slumberers with the just,

Maryland! My Maryland!

 

*I grew up in Howard County.  I don't remember his "warlike thrust," but I can tell you that HoCo residents have a lot of pride. :)

And of course, below are my decidedly less majestic poetic endeavors.

Race Day Haiku:

Added a 5K

After the half marathon.

I am a moron.

Race Day Limerick:

The Frederick Half Marathon I’ll race.

Though I’m sure I’ll have quite a slow pace.

If it’s not too much trouble,

I’d like the “Maryland Double!”

If I can’t, I’ll have egg on my face.

Cheers!

Tres bebidas Jueves (or 3 Drink Thursday)

In honor of one of my most favorite of all alcohol-related holidays, and my very favorite alcohol (tequila), here are tres muy delicioso recipes for your drinking pleasure! 

Recipe #1: The Mexican Martini

I first tried this when I was in Austin, TX last year for work.  Though I was a bit hesitant about this blending of ingredients, to my surprise and delight, it was one of the tastiest combinations I've ever come across.  If you enjoy a salty beverage (or a dirty martini) this is a great drink for you!  It is one of my favorite drinks of all time, when it is made correctly.  Unfortunately, a quick google search for recipes produced a LOT of incorrect (not as yummy or strong) recipes. If there's a recipe that calls for sprite or sweet-and-sour mix or similar, it's wrong.  Use this one instead:

Ingredients:

Coarse salt (for glass rims)

2 1/2 oz. Clear Tequila (the drink looks prettier with clear rather than gold.)
3/4 oz. Grand Marnier or Cointreau

1/2 oz Lime Juice
1/2 oz. Olive Brine from Jar (i like mine extra dirty, so I sometimes add a bit more.)
2-3 Olives (for an extra Mexican kick, use jalapeno-stuffed olives, but normal cocktail olives are fine.)

Lime wedge, to garnish glass  

Directions:

Salt the rim of a chilled martini glass. Skewer two to three olives & place in glass. In a shaker 1/2 filled with ice, then add tequila, cointreau, lime juice and brine. Shake. Pour liquid ingredients into the glass and Voila! (or the Spanish equivalent to "voila.")

 

Recipe #2: A Beer Margarita

I tend to be a bit of a margarita "purist."  I like a lot of tequila, salt, some lime juice and very little else.  But I will occasionally mix it up, especially to partake in a good "Beer Margarita."  These are fantastic for summer because they are very refreshing, and you can make a large quantity of them inexpensively. (cheap cervesas + cheap tequlia = delicious drinks on a budget)  ;)  This recipe does not call for any water or sprite, although, you might want to add a little to cut the limeade concentrate.  I like my drinks on the stronger side, but if you're serving it at a party, a little more filler will help to keep your guests from becoming instantly intoxicated.  

 

Ingredients:

Coarse salt (for glass rims)

2 12 oz cans or 16 oz bottles of your favorite beer, chilled

1 12 oz can of frozen concentrate limeade, thawed

1/2 cup chilled tequila

Ice cubes

Lime wedges for garnish

Directions:

Salt the rims of four chilled margarita glasses. Combine beer, limeade, and tequila in a pitcher and blend well. Fill prepared glasses with ice, then with margarita mixture. Garnish with remaining lime wedges. Serve immediately.

Clearly a classy drink. ;)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recipe #3: Skinnygirl White Sangria

Bethenny Frankel is well-known for "creating" and mass-marketing her "Skinnygirl Margarita."  If you haven't her bottled version of the stuff, I highly recommend it.  Though nothing can beat the real thing, it tastes a little bit like Gatorade....and goes down a little too easily.   But aside from her signature margarita, Bethenny has also come up with an interesting recipe for sangria.  Her recipe calls for Prosecco.  But, I'm not the biggest fan of the bubbly, so I substitute an inexpensive bottle of chardonnay...or three as the recipe dictates. White zinfandel might also be a yummy substitution and might also add some color, but I haven't tried that....yet!

 

 Ingredients:

8 peaches, pitted and sliced

4 white plums, pitted and sliced

1 pound green grapes, cut in half

3 bottles Prosecco (an Italian sparkling wine)

One 12-ounce can Fresca or diet lemon/lime soda

One 12-ounce can club soda

Directions:  Combine all ingredients. Chill for at least one hour.  Serve over ice. (Couldn't be easier, right?) 

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm....all of these recipes are making me very excited for cocktail hour! and summer....how far away is Memorial Day again??