Posts Tagged ‘ beach ’

The Comforts of Home

July 17, 2010
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We said our goodbyes to the beach this morning.  Another year gone by, more memories made.  Keeping with tradition, we ended our vacation with a sunrise walk to the ocean.  It’s such a quiet, peaceful way to leave.  A soft haze fell over the ocean and the pink sky glowed above us.

Vacations always provide a welcome break from the hustle and bustle of the daily routine, but in the end, it’s those same routines that we sometimes miss most.  I was excited to head home to my puppy, my kitchen, and my bed!  It felt great to take a long, refreshing shower and begin a typical Saturday.

While on vacation, I definitely missed my well-stocked kitchen.  It was fun to enjoy chowder, ice cream, fresh fish, more ice cream, but I’m ready for some good home cookin’!  I couldn’t wait to get to the farmer’s market to restock.

I sipped a New Harvest iced coffee as I perused this week’s supply…and I ended up with a couple of bags of goodies.  Prepare to see lots of fresh fruits and veggies this week!  In keeping with my summer rules, I limited myself to one special purchase of the day.

Babette’s Feast Gazpacheo Soup was made by the fine folks at Wishing Stone Farm.  This simple soup looked so cool and refreshing.  I couldn’t pass it up!  As soon as I got home, I fixed a light lunch with my farmer’s market finds.

The gazpacheo lived up to my every expectation.  Nice work, Babette! I paired it with a sliced cucumber and a toasted whole wheat English muffin.  I definitely needed those veggies!  My body is feeling a little out of whack after a week’s vacation and this lunch hit the spot!

My family’s been invited to a summer bash today.  It seems there’s somewhere else to go every time I turn around.  I’m planning on going for a bit and then coming home to relax for the night.  I can’t wait to sleep in the comforts of my air-conditioned bedroom!

What do you look forward to coming home to after a vacation? Most of us long for a good night’s sleep in our own bed…but I definitely miss Lucy most.  She was all tail waggin’ and kisses when I walked in the door this morning.

Sea Legs

July 16, 2010
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This week I’ve had the chance to test my sea legs a couple of times.  No, no…I didn’t go boating or anything.  I just ran along the sea!  It’s been fun to explore the coast on foot with my cousin by my side.  It’s been a long time since I’ve run with a buddy…I missed it!  My cousin is training for her upcoming cross-country season.  For the first time, she is running some longer distances.  This morning, I welcomed her to my favorite place – double-digit land! We juggled our running schedules a bit this week, so we could do our runs together.  I rested up yesterday and prepared for today’s long run.

My sweet cousin has adjusted nicely to my early bird routine.  We got up and ate a light breakfast – whole wheat English muffin with PB&J – before running.

With fuel in our bellies, we strapped on the Camelbaks and set off for a lovely ten miler.

Total Distance: 10.0 miles

  • Mile 1 – 8:57/mi
  • Mile 2 – 8:44/mi
  • Mile 3 – 8:51/mi
  • Mile 4 – 9:00/mi
  • Mile 5 – 8:57/mi
  • Mile 6 – 8:52/mi
  • Mile 7 – 9:07/mi
  • Mile 8 – 8:49/mi
  • Mile 9 – 8:56/mi
  • Mile 10 – 9:02/mi

Total Time: 1:29:19

Average Pace: 8:55/mi

So fun!  We ran a really nice route and felt great.  My cousin set a personal distance record and I got to experience it with her.  She is destined for a great running career!  Someday we will race together…which reminds me…the roads I ran this week are part of the route for my upcoming race – The Blessing of the Fleet 10 Miler.  It’s a night race with lots of spirit.  They already have signs lining the streets of Narragansett.  With each training run, I got more excited to race!

There will be no racing without proper refueling…

There’s nothing like a cold, creamy yogurt mess on a hot summer day!  I’m trying to eat hearty meals after long runs.  Otherwise, my appetite is all wacky the next day.

  • 1 container plain Oikos
  • 1/2 c. Kashi GoLean
  • 1/2 c. Kashi Heart to Heat
  • 1 sliced banana
  • 1/2 c. blueberries
  • 2 T. mixed nuts

***

It’s my last night at the beach…time to soak up the last few hours of sun and sand.  I’ve loved every minute of this week.  I’m proud to call Rhode Island home.

What is your home state?  What do you love most about it? Rhode Island is small, but it’s full of great places.  We have quick, easy access to major cities and country living.

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