This is my list of upcoming races that I have actually signed up and paid for:
July 15, 2011 - Warrior Dash (3.4 miles)
July 22, 2011 - Seafair Sprint Triathlon relay - swim leg (800M swim)
August 27, 2011 - Lake Sammamish Sprint Triathlon (800M swim, 14 mile bike, 3.1 mile run)
September 10, 2011 - Lake Stevens Olympic Triathlon (1 mile swim, 25 mile bike, 6.2 mile run)
I might also throw in the Torchlight 8K run at the end of July if a) I can afford it and b) other people want to do it too. I might potentially try a 1/2 Ironman at the end of September, but only if training goes *really* well. And hopefully a marathon or at least a half later in the fall too!
I just got new running shoes this past weekend, so time to buckle down on some good summer training!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Bike news!!
Today was a pretty perfect day weather-wise for bike riding, and we took advantage of it with a nice ride out to Ballard Locks and then to Golden Gardens. There were a few biking firsts for me on this ride:
1. First time riding clipped in for a reasonable distance (we ended up going almost 19 miles). My left clip was too tight for the first half but once we stopped at a bike shop and got it loosened, they were great!
2. First time biking on the road. This was a little bit scary, particularly in trafficky spots, but it was good for me to practice getting in and out of the clips quickly!
3. First hilly bike ride of the year (especially coming up Stevens Way on UW's campus).
4. First time hitting 16 mph pretty consistently and getting up to 19-20 at top speed.
There were definitely several parts that pushed my comfort zone (biking has never been my strongest/most comfortable phase, and the added getting used to the clips and the road were interesting), but it was definitely helpful and I think I'll feel a lot more confident next time I'm biking something easy like the Burke-Gilman trail!
1. First time riding clipped in for a reasonable distance (we ended up going almost 19 miles). My left clip was too tight for the first half but once we stopped at a bike shop and got it loosened, they were great!
2. First time biking on the road. This was a little bit scary, particularly in trafficky spots, but it was good for me to practice getting in and out of the clips quickly!
3. First hilly bike ride of the year (especially coming up Stevens Way on UW's campus).
4. First time hitting 16 mph pretty consistently and getting up to 19-20 at top speed.
There were definitely several parts that pushed my comfort zone (biking has never been my strongest/most comfortable phase, and the added getting used to the clips and the road were interesting), but it was definitely helpful and I think I'll feel a lot more confident next time I'm biking something easy like the Burke-Gilman trail!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Baking Report - 6/6/2011
I've decided to keep this blog going and make it a bit more well-rounded by adding some hiking/camping reports in addition to the running and triathlon stuff... and might as well add some baking/cooking to it as well!
I made a final round of study treats for Nolan tonight - homemade guacamole, chips, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (above left), and cheesecake cookie dough bars (above right). The cookies and guac turned out yummy (hard to screw those up, pretty basic), and I have to give the cheesecake bars a rave review - they are super rich but soooo delicious, and pretty easy to make. Here is the recipe:
INGREDIENTS:
Crust: 1 1/2 cup graham cracker cookie crumbs, 5 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted), 2/3 cup chocolate chips
Cheesecake filling: 10 ounces cream cheese (softened), 1/4 cup sugar, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 egg (room temperature), 1/3 cup chocolate chips
Cookie dough filling: 5 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened), 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar, 3 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1/8 tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 3/4 cup all-purpose unbleached flour, 1 cup chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees, rack positioned in middle
2. Line 9x9 pan with foil (extending over edges of pan), butter the foil
3. Stir graham cracker cookie crumbs and melted butter until crumbs are moistened, mix in chocolate chips and press crumb mixture into bottom of pan
4. Bake 6 minutes, set aside
5. Mix filling and cookie dough
6. Pour cheesecake filling over crust
7. Drop teaspoonfuls of cookie dough on top of cheesecake filling
8. Bake for 30-40 minutes at 325 degrees, until the top feels dry and firm and looks set if shaken gently
9. Drizzle 1/3 cup melted chocolate chips in lines over the top
10. Let cool in pan on wire rack for 1 hour
Hike Report: Pratt Lake, 5/29/2011
Decided to head up for a hike on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, as that was supposed to be the nice day. Go figure Seattle weather reports, it was actually Saturday that was sunny. Sunday was cloudy but luckily not raining!
We headed up I-90 to the Granite Mountain trailhead. The trail was dry for the first mile or two, and we were considering heading up Granite, but given that we both had packs and were wary of snow/avalanche conditions, we took the less steep route towards Pratt Lake. It was a 4-5 mile hike each way, the elevation gain a lot more gradual than up to the Granite Lookout. About 1.5-2 miles in after several waterfall crossings, we hit snow... a LOT of snow. It was all packed down, so it was fine to walk on, but I think towards the lake there was at least 4-5 feet of snow. It was weird walking around so close to the treetops!
Near the lake, we got out onto the open ridge and decided to climb up the snowfield (bottom picture) for a lunch break. Being afraid of heights, this part sketched me out a little bit, but I figure it's always good to push out of your comfort zone a little bit. I fell a few times in the snow and even more slipping and sliding back down on the trail, but all in all it was a good hike and good to get some pack time in. No rain, and good company!
Peek-a-boo view of Pratt Lake from our lunch spot. The clouds/fog were rolling in by the time we finished.
This was a pretty steep lunch spot for someone who is afraid of heights!!
We headed up I-90 to the Granite Mountain trailhead. The trail was dry for the first mile or two, and we were considering heading up Granite, but given that we both had packs and were wary of snow/avalanche conditions, we took the less steep route towards Pratt Lake. It was a 4-5 mile hike each way, the elevation gain a lot more gradual than up to the Granite Lookout. About 1.5-2 miles in after several waterfall crossings, we hit snow... a LOT of snow. It was all packed down, so it was fine to walk on, but I think towards the lake there was at least 4-5 feet of snow. It was weird walking around so close to the treetops!
Near the lake, we got out onto the open ridge and decided to climb up the snowfield (bottom picture) for a lunch break. Being afraid of heights, this part sketched me out a little bit, but I figure it's always good to push out of your comfort zone a little bit. I fell a few times in the snow and even more slipping and sliding back down on the trail, but all in all it was a good hike and good to get some pack time in. No rain, and good company!
Peek-a-boo view of Pratt Lake from our lunch spot. The clouds/fog were rolling in by the time we finished.
This was a pretty steep lunch spot for someone who is afraid of heights!!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
2011 Race List
Here it is as of 5/18/2011:
June 18, 2011 - Cottage Lake Super Sprint Tri
July 24, 2011 - Seafair Sprint Tri
August 28, 2011 - Lake Meridian Olympic Tri
September 24, 2011 - Black Diamond 1/2 Ironman Tri
October 23, 2011 - Columbia Gorge Marathon
December 10, 2011 - Deception Pass 50K
June 18, 2011 - Cottage Lake Super Sprint Tri
July 24, 2011 - Seafair Sprint Tri
August 28, 2011 - Lake Meridian Olympic Tri
September 24, 2011 - Black Diamond 1/2 Ironman Tri
October 23, 2011 - Columbia Gorge Marathon
December 10, 2011 - Deception Pass 50K
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Guess who's back?
Yup, I finally have Internet access again! Along with, since the last time I posted, a new full-time job with benefits and a non-crazy boss (funny how I thought the last one would be "stable" - this one is so totally different), and a new house/new roommates.
The job is full time, Monday-Friday 8-4:30 (no evenings or weekends, yay!) with benefits (double yay) at Pacific Lamp & Supply in Georgetown (south Seattle). The company has been in business since 1912 and is continuing to grow despite the economy. My position is receptionist (phones only), plus lots of accounting (accounts receivable), data entry, and other admin type things. So far (knock on wood), I am really enjoying it. I will have been there for a month on May 18!!
The new house is in the Wedgwood neighborhood of North Seattle, a few blocks from my favorite bakery (the Greatful Bread!) AND my favorite park/running spot (Matthew's Beach). The room is really nice and big and on the second floor, and it's a nice cozy house (with a backyard) in a quiet neighborhood. The other two roommates pretty much keep to themselves, but they are nice and one of them has a sweet golden retriever!
Fitness-wise - I have been doing a lot of hiking lately (and even taken my new backpack out a few times) and hoping to get out more and more (once this rain disappears). I got a little bit out of the cardio/strength training routine with this new job, but now I am hoping to settle back in to cardio 5-6 times a week and strength training 2-3 times a week.
My next race is looking like either Beat the Bridge 8K this Sunday (maybe) or more likely, the Cottage Lake super sprint tri the first weekend in June. I can't believe tri season is coming up again already! Time to hit the bike trail and hopefully the lake (please show up soon, warm weather)!
Oh, and I've started a new diet as of this week - the ABS Diet. It seems pretty sensible and reasonably easy to follow, so we'll see how it goes!! I am hoping to lose at least 10 pounds and tune up by the time July rolls around.
The job is full time, Monday-Friday 8-4:30 (no evenings or weekends, yay!) with benefits (double yay) at Pacific Lamp & Supply in Georgetown (south Seattle). The company has been in business since 1912 and is continuing to grow despite the economy. My position is receptionist (phones only), plus lots of accounting (accounts receivable), data entry, and other admin type things. So far (knock on wood), I am really enjoying it. I will have been there for a month on May 18!!
The new house is in the Wedgwood neighborhood of North Seattle, a few blocks from my favorite bakery (the Greatful Bread!) AND my favorite park/running spot (Matthew's Beach). The room is really nice and big and on the second floor, and it's a nice cozy house (with a backyard) in a quiet neighborhood. The other two roommates pretty much keep to themselves, but they are nice and one of them has a sweet golden retriever!
Fitness-wise - I have been doing a lot of hiking lately (and even taken my new backpack out a few times) and hoping to get out more and more (once this rain disappears). I got a little bit out of the cardio/strength training routine with this new job, but now I am hoping to settle back in to cardio 5-6 times a week and strength training 2-3 times a week.
My next race is looking like either Beat the Bridge 8K this Sunday (maybe) or more likely, the Cottage Lake super sprint tri the first weekend in June. I can't believe tri season is coming up again already! Time to hit the bike trail and hopefully the lake (please show up soon, warm weather)!
Oh, and I've started a new diet as of this week - the ABS Diet. It seems pretty sensible and reasonably easy to follow, so we'll see how it goes!! I am hoping to lose at least 10 pounds and tune up by the time July rolls around.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
A new addition to the family...
No, I'm definitely not pregnant - not THAT kind of addition!! But one I am super excited about nevertheless - I have a shiny new road bike to ride for the 2011 triathlon season!! It is a 2010 Trek 1.2 21 speed road bike, and it is so comfy, fast, and light compared to the $5 mountain/hybrid bike I've done all my previous triathlons on. I can't wait to take it out for some nice long test rides on the next dry days!
Any suggestions on a name? It's a bit hard to tell from the picture, but the frame is navy blue with light blue and white accents.
Other news in a few words: I am almost done knitting my first beanie (after re-starting it 8 times!), my goal for Lent is to do some kind of workout every single day, and I am getting organized to apply to grad school at Seattle University this October!
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