Weekly Recap 2/3-2-9

It seems like the weeks are just flying by since New Year's.  This week was pretty jammed packed and as you can deduce from below recaps, I ran once. My focus while its unbearable to run outside has shifted more toward 'sculpting' vs. solely on running.

MONDAY
Kettlebell Class followed by 4 miles @ our weekly Tin Roof Run

TUESDAY
My gf Sarah finally joined me for RIPPED class - although we use small weights, its definitely a workout.

After class on my way to trivia Elizabeth reached out to see if I would want to be on a NUUN  all girl's team for Ragnar Trail Atlanta. Ever since my first experience with Ragnar Trail Vail Lake, (ridiculously long recap of everything you would want to know about a trail relay HERE )I vowed that I had to do another one in the near future- happily obliged and so excited to to have a gals weekend to look forward to in April! 

Finished the night by losing trivia badly with the absence of two of our team members- championship is this upcoming Sunday!  

WEDNESDAY

Yoga at lunch

Bootcamp (first time in 3+ months since I've done this)

Today was the kickoff of our favorite bar's "social club" First Wed of every month there is a featured alcohol tasting with reps to drop some knowledge on us + unlimited food. I'm not a fan of bourbon, but since the roommate and I are friends with the owner, we wanted to be supportive and help make the first one a success. Upside, we were the ONLY girls there and we may have had some interested suitors approach us (we declined politely) 

THURSDAY

RIPPED Class

I did nothing exciting. It was nice to just come home after work and veg out on couch and enjoyed an episode of "The Taste" while trying to create my own culinary creations... stuffed bell peppers. First time trying these out and they were delicious (I mixed 98% lean beef with quinoa, onions, and canned tomatoes) 

FRIDAY

Remember that beer fest I went to where everything went terribly wrong and was one of the worst experiences of my life? It didn't go over so well with the roommate either (she also got sick even though she was just a volunteer pourer and didn't drink much) Although this transpired in December,  Friday was the scheduled "thank you party" the organizers were throwing for all the volunteers. I was Leah's   +1 so we could make better memories and maybe, just maybe want to go next year. 

She also invited someone I've been wanting to meet for quite some time, Jeanette Faber. She's a sponsored Brooks runner and ran in the USATF World Championships in Russia this summer for the marathon distance. Although she ran a 2:44:03 in Russia, her PR is 2:32:37 - damn. 

It just so happens she transplanted to Nashville a year ago so we know a lot of the same people.  I was picking her brain for advice when I decide to get disciplined and gun for a PR while getting speedy. Although I'm not ready yet, I'm excited to get back on the horse soon and put her knowledge to use.

SATURDAY

P90x Core Synergistics 

One of my high school friends and teammates asked if he could come up to visit and check out a hockey game and local breweries. He lives in Alabama and their alcohol rules are still limited on what they can carry and such. I showed him all the goods he hasn't yet experienced on his previous visits. 

We pretty much ate and drank till our hearts content 

Tennessee Brew works Brewery

Fat Bottom Brewery

Pharamacy Burger (where I got bratwurst since I knew we were going to Burger Republic for dinner) 

Burger Republic - seriously best burger I've had in awhile- taco seasoned beef, jalapeno guac, pepper jack cheese- YUM. My favorite part was their naughty milk shakes- this was the Evil Smores - chocolate ice cream, chocolate graham crackers, marshmallow vodka, hershey chocolate bar + whipped cream on top! 

I got tickets to the hockey game via our suite and although the Preds lost miserably 5-1, still had a great time. 

Since none of us were ready to call it a night we walked to one of my favorite bar / restaurants downtown, Flying Saucer for some beer- a beer snob's heaven

Everytime I go there, I feel the need to get a photo with whomever on these balls - I know there are more than these 3, but all I could manage to find

Leah and I circa this weekend- holding eachother up 

Circa Fall 2011- chillin / Stephen flick us off 

My 26th birthday circa 2010- model posing 

If you come visit me in Nashville, I promise we can get a ball picture too ;) 

Sunday

30 min of my own moves with weights while watching the most adorable movie ever Snowbuddies (I have dog fever lately - similar to baby fever, yet I don't need a man to complete this cure) 

Took Tom to my favorite brunch in town (all you can eat buffet) at Puckett's. Did some shopping at Kohls to use up coupons, then cooked and watched they Olympics while doing my taxes- lazy yet productive at the same time

It's imperative to be snuggled up with hot cocoa (bonus points if in an Elvis mug) while watching the winter olympics. Did anyone else notice how gorgeous / perfect hair / perfect smile the female snow boarders were??? They were all also all blonde and tiny, with a median height of 5'3. Guess my dreams of a snowboard

Overall, a pretty good week. As planned, running took a backseat to other workouts, and I'm okay with that. It also helps that it is frigid cold here and i have no desire to run in these temps!

Anything noteworthy in your week??

Five for Friday

 For Friday

ONE: I have learned that my body does not respond well to traveling combined with not drinking water. Last week once I landed in Nashville from the LONG night of travel I was waiting for the shuttle to take me to my car and I looked down at my legs and was shocked at how swollen I was. For 2 days I upped my water consumption and by the third day I was finally back to normal

No more cankles!!!!

TWO:  CELEBRATIONS!!!I am so fortunate to be surrounded by so many amazing people.

 About once or twice a month we do a "Wine @ 5" (but really at 4) social gathering where someone hosts the event and brings in a few bottles of wine and snacks. We all catch up and unwind before heading out for the weekend. Last Friday the wine @ 5 was in my honor!!

They tried to bring in some Hawaiin items with the pineapple and pound cake- rest of the food was delicious. Everyone brought in different sports medals and trophies and the entire area was covered in accomplishments--- wish I had thought to take a photo of all the trophies.

The second celebration came Monday night- roommate made two melt in your mouth cakes to have for a mini party at our Monday night group run. My only request that there be some type of oreos involved

Cake on the left is hard to make out but it says "Congrats Lisa! 50 x 13.1" Cake on the right is an awesome runner. After our blistery cold run we all hung around and chatted with food, beer, and cake--- even a few strangers joined in on the celebration.  A few of my friends who are not in our run group came as well and Sarah gave me such a thoughtful gift- personalized pint glass with date of my last race and my 2 favorite candy- reese cups and Haribo gummy bears... she's a keeper. 

THREE: Tuesday night was the last night in our trivia league... we went out with a bang and finished FIRST that night!!

In 2 weeks we meet up to play with the top 5 teams in each league in Nashville, and if we place that night, then move on to Mississippi for a chance to win $25,000. Very unlikely we will win, but we've had so much fun in the process! 

FOUR:  Over the last month I've been focusing a lot more on cross training with different types of cardio and weights. I found a groove with Tuesday and Thursday R.I.P.P.E.D class for an hour--- although I'm not the most coordinated, its still fun to try new things and already see progress both in the mirror, but also in the ease of doing some moves

First day kicked our butts

My focus for the time being is less on running (although I'll still do it) and more on getting my body back into fitness shape instead of just running shape. This means building my strength and flexibility. In doing so, combined with proper eating, this will enable to ultimately reach what I consider 'racing weight'. I have no desire to create another goal that involves running a large # of races, I do however have a desire to hit some lower times- one of the ways to do that is to shed some lbs. 

FIVE:  I found my next very LAST MINUTE adventure. Some colleagues from work are doing the Ragnar Arizona (Del sol)  next month and asked me this week if I wanted to tag along. This is actually a work 'team building' event for the core group that I'm crashing, so the focus is on having fun and not being competitive-- change of pace for me, but I'm ready for change.  I'm also excited to cross another Ragnar in a different location off my belt- Once this is complete I'll have 5 down, 11 more to go. 

Thinking about it... I would like to do another relay this year in a different location, so if you are putting together a team in a non crossed off location and need a runner, hit me up!!!