Crossed a Goal off My List

Hello I hope everyone is doing well, I know I have been gone for an unforgivable amount of time and any article that I have read on proper blogging etiquette says that I should be punctual on my blog posts and not start out every post with and apology and excuse as to why I have been absent.  I honestly can say I am not sorry for being absent because for the last several months I have not had anything to say, I in fact have had the worst case of creative block that when I did open my blogger page this is what came out, lkadjfkuaiofjkladjflkj.  I wanted to spare everyone from the gibberish that often spills out when I start back to work and I promise that there has been nothing huge missed in the last month and a half while I was on this unannounced hiatus. But lets get back into the swing with something great.

I crossed a Goal off My List!


For the past year or so I have been flirting with the idea of becoming a runner and would have good days and bad days attempting this.  During the last month, I have been talking more and more with my runner friends and really deciding that I wanted to run some races.  So I found some 5k's near my home and decided it was time to try.  I didn't do any Couch to 5k Programs and probably ran a total of 15 miles in perpetration for the 5k I participated in yesterday. That's right I went against every piece of advice that I had searched online and ran a race with pretty much no training.

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One of my friends was able to join me on this run and we had agreed to meet at 5:45 and ride together to the Tennis Garden where the event was being held.  True to Penny form I woke up at 5:45 and had to text and say I was running late, but on my way. I didn't get to drink the coconut water I had planned and that frozen waffle and Peanut butter remained in the freezer untoasted and calling my name. We made it to the Tennis Garden just after 6am (this event was just a few minutes from home) and register and then had the 1hr wait until the start. During this time we met a wonderful woman who until I told her I was a new runner had been undecided as to run or not. This was such a great meeting, we were perfectly matched and became a partner who I could encourage when neither of us felt like running.  I did a combination of running and walking and finished in 44 minutes and 36 seconds.  

I am ecstatic with these results. I wasn't the fastest and I was passed up by a Grandma who was power walking and many other people, but none of that mattered to me. I am so happy that I finished I had a friend and an acquaintance cheering me on at the finish line and received a medal to go along with my number and most of all I am now addicted.  I have already planned my next race and found a training plan. 

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The Mission Inn Run. It is a 5k, 10k, 1/2 and full Marathon as well as group runs. I have a few friends who will be running the 1/2 marathon so I am excited to be able to cheer them on as I complete my first 10k and begin preparing for some other more challenging races that I have my eye on.  I don't know if this means that I am becoming a runner, the one thing I know is that some of my goals include completing races and I want to finish these in my 30th year. 

I can not promise that this is going to mark my return to blogging as I have been suffering from writers block, but I am going to try and share my training and current diet on a regular basis. 

What goal do you want to complete this year?

We made it Vancouver Washington!

Here are some Cell Pictures from the first 4 days of our trip. 

 Ashland Dog park, So didn't want to leave this beautiful area. 

 This picture was so cool, I wanted to share it. I totally dig Camera360 for Android.

 An Oregon Rest Stop, Who knew they had rest stops that were so Picturesque.

Columbia River.

 There may be many pictures of water in the upcoming days, I have so missed living close to the a large body of water. 

Now I have to fight this girl for the 2nd bed in the hotel room, she is a little mad I chose to use the Eliptical machine rather than walking her in the dark "Cold" (70 degree) Washington Night. 

See you Soon!

Rooad Trippppp!

We set of the other day to see family in Oregon and quickly decided to continue on to Washington since we were so close. Here are some pictures of where we have been so far. 

 Vista Del Lago, such a tease there was no water access from where we were.  :(

 I <3 when they act this cute! Doesn't always happen, but it is cute. 

Where I am staying. There is a  great piece of undeveloped land that I get to take the dogs on a off leash walk, those pictures will be tomorrow. 

While I was at the Sun Dial bridge in Redding, Ca I was blessed to see many butterflies and this one landed on the plant behind me while the puppies were cooling their paws in the river. 

Sun Dial bridge and this can be used as a sundial. when you cross the bridge there is a curb that has time and when I was there it was accurate. 

The backside of the bridge. 

Well until tomorrow. I will remember to take my camera with me as I travel around the little area of Ashland. There are so many unique stores and beautiful sites, I want to get them all on film. I hope you are all doing well and will be back soon. 

Yeah for Wednesday!

Good Day, Ever since I posted the phrase "Good Eye Might" I want to open every email, blog post or text with that. Really I can't help but to smile when I type it.  But on to Wednesday, today was a good start to it and rapidly descended into not so great, but I planned to do What I Ate Wednesday because I always enjoy being able to go back and get ideas from myself and the others on Peas and Crayons Link party. 

My breakfast, Greenberry Shakeology with 1 Cup Strawberries and 1 cup OJ Blended. 

 This is the new Java Blue Lime Twist at Starbucks. This is the Bomb Diggity drink. They have one other flavor and it adds the perfect fresh taste to the morning coffee. I could drink this everyday. 

 My on the Road Snack we were driving all over the desert getting some stray errands done that we had missed on Monday. 

 Lunch was a Pear and Tofu Shiritaki Fettuccine. This is a great meal and super simple to make.

1 Package Tofu Shiritaki Noodles

2Tbs Cream Cheese

2 Tbs Sour cream 

2Tbs Parmesan

It tastes great with veggies as well, but I was so hungry I didn't even think about veggies.

Dinnet BLT on Schar mini baguettes. These little Baguettes were fabulous, since going Gluten Free I haven't had a hoagie sandwich and every once in awhile I will miss them, but not anymore. The Sandwich was quite good and I really wanted to spend an hour eating it so it would never end but alas it was so good I hoovered it. 

If you are Gluten Free I recommend that you try the Schar products, each item I have tried has been a great re-placer for the breads I gave up so long ago. Well I gotta run and maybe give the dogs that walk they have been bugging me about now that it has cooled down.  

Have a great Evening!