Pottery, People, and another missed run.

I wish I could post to you all about my AWESOME 3 mile run I did Tuesday 

(that I pushed to Wednesday... oh and then Thursday..)

But as you can see I did not do it. 

Sigh.  

My long run Monday really screwed up my Tuesday /Thursday routine.   Tuesday early morning was too soon after my late Monday run.  Wednesday, I woke up to a chillly 45 degrees outside, and some very sore stems.  

Conclusion?  

No running to report on the blog today.  

Don't worry, I haven't been completely lazy and useless, 

horse is still being ridden and I am going to my usual Scuba Wednesday after work.  

I have hopes to run tomorrow so send me good vibes.  

Oh and coffee.  Send me coffee.  

Because I can't talk about running (because I am a slacker)  

I figured I would post about one of my amazing friends and fellow runners.  

The girl is a natural born athlete, soccer, skiing, running, you name it.  

She still holds our high school track record for the hurdles.  The girl is good at everything.  

Not just sports though,  She even has an artsy side to her.  The girl is also amazing at pottery. 

 An Amazing Potist?  An Amazing Potteryer? 

 Call her what you would like but she makes some pretty amazing stuff. 

So what, I have a cool friend who is good at everything, including clay.  Well it gets even better.  She had the amazing and unique idea that instead of having flashy floral centerpieces like everyone else, she was going to design, sculpt, and paint her own vases for her wedding. 

Get out of town.  

I thought this was such an amazing idea.  Instead of spending thousands of dollars on flowers that will just die, she is going to make amazing vases (with a few flowers of course)  that she personalized designed, and painted in her wedding colors.  Instead of going crazy on flowers, the vases will serve as centerpieces themselves.   

After the wedding guests will be able to take home her vases she spent a year making.  

So sweet, so personal, and such an amazing touch.  

She already had three down.  Aren't they beautiful? 

 She is going to blog about her progress with the vases on her blog, you can click here to find her blog.  I thought it was such a unique and adorable idea that I just had to share it.  If you are looking to get into pottery, want to buy some of her pieces, or want some fun ideas, head over to Holbrook Ceramics .

Thanks for stopping by,

Katie 

 

A love letter to Honey Butter

A Love Letter To No One Honey Butter

I need to take some time away from running 

to tell you about my new favorite thing.  

Honey Butter

It's honey, and butter, and cinnamon.  

That is it.  

Three ingredients, two words, so much love. 

I was strolling though the Sunday Chester Farmer's Market (amazing) when I stopped at the honey stand.  I like honey but I don't really use it much.  Don't get my wrong, I want to like honey more.....I don't really drink tea and I don't really cook with it.  

But then I saw this tub, 

with a cute little bee, 

and the word butter.

It had the word butter in it... 

it was butter.. 

it had to be good.

The lovely lady from Stonewall Apiary, LLC gave me a sample, 

and you know what they say.  

The rest is history.  

When I first got my tub of HB 

(yes we are already giving each other pet names),

 I put it on EVERYTHING. 

It started off with honey butter on toast, then I started putting it on my ice cream, then I put it IN MY COFFEE and before I knew it, I was dipping bananas in it.
Anything and everything goes with honey butter I think.....

It was an unhealthy relationship

Literally. 

This love affair was strong so I had to put some distance in the relationship.  I moved the tub of HB to the work fridge, limiting out time together from 9-5 and limiting the ingredients I could dip in my HB.  

My favorite to date is cold honey butter on a hot English muffin.  

Gooey, melty, cinnamon, it is fall in a few crispy bites.  

If you don't have a farmers market selling honey butter by you, 

Try this recipe by barefoot contessa- it is super easy - and who doesn't love Ina?

Now I know covering everything in butter isn't healthy, but let me preach this:  Eating local honey helps your allergies.  See?  I am helping my allergies.  An article states  "Some research supports the theory that local honey obtained as close as possible to where you live may help build an immunity to local allergies".  

Don't believe me? 

 Here is an article saying I can eat as much honey butter as I want. Just kidding but it is still interesting .

Buy it... make it... I don't care how but you MUST try it and you must tell me all of the wonderful things you put it on. 

Cinnamon Rolls?

Ohh... that is next

Send me your best cinnamon roll recipe.  Pronto. 

10.5 miler

Hello!

I hope everyone is over Monday and adjusting back to life after a gorgeous fall weekend.  Fall is my favorite season.  Is there anything better than a New England Fall?  Leaves are turning, cold crisp nights, pumpkin everything.  Fall is the best time to be in Connecticut. 

 It was a 3 day weekend for me, as I spent Wednesday - Friday at the Big E horseshowing.  For you non New Englanders, the Big E is just a huge 3 week fair filled with rides, animals, shows, shops, and fried everything.

It was a very new environment for Bradley-

 big stadium, lights, people everywhere, rides, noises, 

oh and Pauly D Djing right outside the horse show. 

 Bradley hated that....

Bradley got over all of his fears and was a very good boy and had a clear round in the 3'6 classic.  I am thinking about buying this picture, a little torn because his knees aren't straight.. and I look a little dreadful, but we are in the coliseum and hes cute....

Is it worth buying?

While the horse show went well, my running really suffered because of it. 

 It was a really long and stressful week at work,
 and then Wednesday Thursday Friday I was driving back and forth 
to and from Springfield, an hour and twenty minutes.  

Because of this (and my laziness) I missed my entire week of running. 

When the weekend came I was so exhausted from the horse show,

 and then I spent Sunday diving (diving season is coming to an end I have to take every chance I get to splash around with the fish!)
 

This meant my last run was my 9 miler over a week ago.

OOPS.....

Saturday was recovering from the horse show, and Sunday was spent diving,  so I decided to squeeze my long run in on Monday after work.  The weather was perfect- 70's and sunny with a breeze.  No humidity - finally.  

I threw on my shorts, tank top, pink PROcompression socks, Gravity Newtons, and Camel bak with two NUUN tabs and water, grabbed Olive and I hit the road for 10.5. 

I decided I wanted a mostly flat route, and a loop where I could drop Olive off around 6.5 (I don't like her running too far of a distance with me, although she is MORE than capable...).  

I did this 6.5 mile loop round Old Lyme, dropped Olive off at my parents, and did a 2 mile out and back.  It was a pretty run with scenic views, the only down fall was a lot of time spent on curvy main roads with no side walks

I was really nervous about this run because I had taken 8 days off from running entirely, and my 9 mile felt pretty awful.  I set Spotify on a good station and finally headed out the door. 

The hardest part is always ALWAYS getting out the door.  The more time I spend thinking about how awful it is going to be, the less likely I am to ever put my sneakers on.  I told Stacie not to let me back on the property until my Garmin said 10.5 and she agreed.  

The first two miles were stiff and ouchy, but things started to loosen up by mile 3.  

(supports my three mile theory but that's another post)

I was feeling good from miles 3-6.5 until I had to drop Olive off.  Something about passing your house that makes going out for another four REALLY tough.  I dropped her off, gave her water, and headed out with my gu for a 2 mile out and back for my last four miles.  Some of this felt heavy and tough, but I was really happy with my splits towards the end.  You can tell I had a harder time at miles 7 and 8, and got my grove back for 9, 10, and 10.5

Can I just stop and say how much I LOVE my Garmin Forerunner 110- and how much I LOVE the Garmin connect site?  Plug in my watch and all of this amazing data comes up, splits, maps, elevation- it is truly amazing.  And worth every penny. 

After my run I decided to keep moving - I rode Bradley, cleaned stalls, grabbed the dog, and headed back home to Chester for dinner.  I have a l o t of veggies dying in the fridge, and wanted something healthy, so I decided to make a fritatta.   A big bowl of sauteed veggies (green beans, eggplant, red pepper, tomato, onion, garlic, mushrooms) 6 eggs, grated cheese, salt and pepper, and a dash of water.  A few minute in the pan and a few minutes under the broiler and viola!  

Coupled with a hand full of tater tots and BOOM- breakfast for dinner.  

My run wasn't a piece of cake... but it wasn't as hard as I expected either.  If only getting out that door could be easier.  

Two weeks until my fourth half marathon!
 (Third this year!)

Stay Tuned and Happy Running,

Katie 

Weekend

Oh Blogger, 

Why you delete my post and all my captions and lovely words?

You suck.  

Because it is Wednesday and I am far too tired to re write this entire post,

 I will leave you with a weekend via pictures.  

And a few bullets

Friday:  Wine and dinner by the fire with my family and my dog 

Saturday:  8 am Yoga on the farm, farmers market, really tough 9 mile run, rode the horses, made fresh pasta.  Found a recipe for two ingredient cookies (highlight)

Sunday:  8am Body Pump class (ass kicker), walk with the Dog, unloaded a l o t of hay.

                     (this is what I look like after a really tough 9 miles, angry and hungry)

What to expect in your first spin class

My First Spin Class 

A.K.A.
 I woke up before 5 to ride a stationary bike in the dark.

I was really excited when I opened my email to see a Groupon gift from Lucy

My mother. 

Ten classes at the gym?  Free?  For me?

This is awesome.  I was so excited that I went to Groupon and bought myself the same groupon- well the 15 class option.  I now have 25 classes to use at Shoreline Fitness.  25 classes for 20 $.  This is AMAZING.

The only catch is you have to use the groupon within 30 days of redeeming it.

So I will have to go 2-3 times a week to use each set within the month.

I saw the schedule and looked at the 5:30 and 6:00 am workout slots.  I am (slowly) turning into a morning workouter and I am starting to enjoy the accomplishments of getting my workout in and a shower before most of the world wakes up.

Looking at the schedule, I saw that there is a 5:30 spin class.  I have never tried Spin and I have always wanted to.  My friend Kristen already has a membership class and agreed to meet me at 5:20 for the class.

Getting up at 4:45 was quite brutal- It was still pitch dark out and I was still tired from a late night out celebrating a college friends 30th birthday.

I put on my big girl panties gym shorts and ran out the door.  

When I got to spin, it was not what I expected. 

 I expected the normal bikes you see at the gym.  

You know, big comfy seats, slanted back in a magazine reading position. 

Instead I was welcomed by this:

Hard microscopic seat, 

uncomfortable handle bars,

 and really awkward pedals. 

 Oh and this weird red button that is apparently how you switch gears/resisitance

I must have looked really confused because the instructor came over, adjusted my seat and pedal straps and "tucked" me into my bike.  The instructor was a hard core looking biker, with gigantic leg muscles, a bandana, and enough energy and spunk to make me laugh at 5:30 am. 

What was very cool and unexpected was the setting of the room.  

It took place in a windowless room, with the lights off, black lights on, and music loud.  

I really liked that the lights were off and no one could tell how far my shorts were lodged up my ass, or how much sweat was pouring down my face.  What I could see was the instructors legs moving a thousand miles a minute.  At some points I was nearly certain he was going to fly off his bike and take off like a helicopter.  

If you are going to your first spin class:

* Expect the class to last an hour

* Wear longer pants-  I spent a lot of time pulling my shorts out of my butt.  Not fun

* Bring water and a rag (this I did do)
You may fall out of your pedals, and you may have a sore ass for a while.
 I have both 

* Don't be too shy to ask the instructor for help or advice, 

I was really glad when he came over to help me out and I would have never asked on my own 

Here is what you can expect to hear or do

Rolling Hills- changing your resistance up and down to stimulate rolling hills 

Big Climbs - long periods of high resistance to stimulate steep hills

Jumps- sitting three beats standing three beats while pedaling

Sprints-  pedaling as fast as your little legs can go 

Warm up/cool down 

Terms:

 Cadence:  The instructor wanted us to match his cadence, aka match his rhythm/leg motions and pedal at his speed.   He wanted us to try to keep his resistance and increase and decrease when he gave the commands, but you can really change the resistance based on your experience and comfort level.

Bump it:  increase in resistance (I kept thinking of that game..)

Quarter turn/full turn:  increase resistance by that much on the knob

Jumps:  switching from standing and sitting while pedaling  (3 beats each)

What really made the class awesome for me was the lights, this guys crazy enthusiasm, and the music.  I LOVED his play list and I wish my silly brain could remember all of the fantastic songs I was sweating too.  I have to sneak a recorder in next time.... 

I learned that Spin class is only as fun as you make it.  This guy was full of energy, and at times was even coyote HOWLING (and then certain participants howled back- weird and funny).  I even heard him meow over the mic at one point.   He was so energetic, motivating, instructive, he was great.   I couldn't help but look around the room and laugh, at these group of sweaty grownups, on stationary bikes, in a dark room, pretending we were outside biking up hills and passing people.  It was really funny when he would announce we were "climbing a hill" or "passing someone "  or he would constantly shout WHATS YOUR NUMBER (I think in reference to heart rates..)

If you don't think too hard, spinning seems really confusing and stupid when you can just go ride your bike however in the sunshine and beautiful scenery.  If you think a little harder,  spinning is an awesome workout in a controlled environment (with AC and water) with someone teaching you and motivating you the entire ride.  

I really enjoyed my spin class and I am really excited to make it a weekly thing.  I was really intimidated at first so I brought a friend with me to break the ice.

  I hope this post motivated you to try something new, and hop on a stationary bike nearest you. 

Almost every gym has a spin class... Sign up!  

Great cross training for runners!

Happy Spinning,
Katie  

Oh and here is some spinning humor before you go

And yes.

Expect this to happen