Today was a good day

"shake em up, shake em up, shake em up, shake em!" yep, Ice Cube.

After work I surprised myself with a good 4 mile run. Maybe the secret to running is hitting the pavement when the desire hits. But then again some of our best work outs and runs come when we least want to be running. Anyways, this week I have thoroughly enjoyed other forms of exercise: yoga, body pump, walking...but today my body was yearning to stretch the legs and I loved every step of the four mile run. Absence makes the heart grow fonder in every other aspect of life, why not running?


Upon returning to my door step out of breath and parched something out of the ordinary caught my eye. Two brown boxes. Mail? Birthday packages? Nooo, I am seeing my momma next week. OH! Could it be? Lia Sophia jewels?! (All of our guests jewelry, plus mine and Amanda's, was delivered in less than a week!) I immediately texted Amanda who was out on a kayaking adventure,"jewels jewels jewels!" Before I even had a chance to guzzle h20: "omgaad I'm coming home. kayaking done."




15 minutes later it was play time! Excited doesn't even begin to explain our emotions.





You look like a pirate, arrrgghhh!


What to wear tomorrow!?



Then came the creation of the perfect summer cookie! Chocolate, graham cracker, marshmallow, oh my! S'mores cookies found on Baked Perfection and adapted to suit my personal preferences.


Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups miniature chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups mini marshmallows
*1 tablespoon flour*


Steps to cookie glory:

-Preheat the oven to 375 degrees


-In a medium bowl combine the 1 and 1/2 cup flour, graham cracker crumbs (about 5 smashed graham crackers), baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. In a second larger bowl beat together the butter, sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract until creamy.





-Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in the flour mixture until smooth. Stir in the chocolate chips.




-Take a minute to asses the dough. Is it super sticky? Wet? This is where you can add the *one tablespoon* flour if your dough is too sticky. If you do add the tbsp make sure to mix it in well! Then, drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes (set your timer!) and remove from the oven. Push 3 to 4 marshmallows into each cookie.




-Return to the oven and bake an additional 3-4 minutes until fully cooked. Transfer cookies to wire rack to cool.




*Notice how the cookies on the left are flat and the ones on the right are plumper? If your first batch comes out too thin you can still add a tablespoon of flour before putting the second batch in the oven*

Sweet land of liberty these are a treat. I will eat you (sorry started talking to the cookie for a moment) when celebrating my independence this weekend.

All I need now is a fire pit and a glass of milk.






Question: while baking does anyone still lick the finished bowl of batter or spoons? Or has salmonella scared us away from this childhood favorite?

Market square day 10k musings

And it's Monday.

How was your weekend??

First and foremost the Lollapalooza schedule is out! At first glance Saturday (day) seems like a bust so I am diving head first into the unknown, hopefully coming up for air with some sweet new music. TBA is playing at 2:45, now do we think this is a creative name for a band or they really have not filled this spot yet? Just kidding. Kind of.

Second, as I am writing this my landlord is working on the sewer pipe...I guess it broke over the weekend. ew. My bedroom, which is in the "basement" smells like sewer. I pray he fixes this soon. In the mean time any water usage is permitted.

Market Square Day 2010 10k reflection time.

It.was.awesome! Well as awesome as six point two miles can be. It is true what "they" say, the first three miles are the hardest. So in the case of a 5k, doom and gloom. Anything over, good times. In all seriousness, running through the familiar streets of Portsmouth, NH alongside 2,000 other people, with Queen, "We are the Champions," the Rocky theme and other inspirational songs blasting from neighborhoods was, well, inspiring. Motivating. Uplifting. Absolutely and positively energizing!

This past race marked the 33rd anniversary of running, eating, singing, playing, and downtown Portsmouth purchasing power in Market Square. Little background: taken from here.

Created to celebrate the renovation and beautification of Downtown Portsmouth - and, in particular, Market Square - the Festival has grown in size along with the growth and popularity of Portsmouth. It is estimated that between 60,000 - 80,000 people walk through Downtown Portsmouth on that one day enjoying the entertainment, products and food offered by artists, cratfters and merchants - many from the Seacoast area.

On average, 100+ vendor applications are approved/accepted for inclusion in the festival. Three performance stages feature local and regional musicians. The day 'kicks off' with the Market Square Day 10K Road Race. Most of Downtown Portsmouth is vehicle-free and pedestrian-friendly from 9am 'til 4pm on the second Saturday in June each year.

Since it was raining, I did not stick around to roam the streets, eat the grub or purchase handmade jewels, art and crafts after the race. But I have taken part in these miraculous festivities before. Before the race, The Meat House was grilling up steak, the vendors were setting up their unique jewels and the fresh lemonade was being squeezed. I was so close to taking off my race bib and slipping underneath The Meat House's grill to hide and bask in the smoky glory. But I didn't.

I guesssssss I am glad I didn't though. Because the hospitality during and immediately following the 10k was truly appreciated and very much needed. Probably better than what I would have received sneaking around the Meat House tent circa 9am. MSD volunteers set up water booths along the course and many residents set up hoses and water stations too! Thank you to all who volunteered and those that put aside their water and electric bill concerns for us to run through the sprinklers and sprint to Rocky for seconds of pure cool glory. Boxes and boxes of watermelon, oranges, bananas, powerade, water and samples of wheaties fuel were situated under a tent right at the finish line for all the hungry, dehydrated and sugar starved runners. I could not move my tired legs and sore bum fast enough to electrolyte haven.

All in all I can see why Market Square Day's 10k is the most popular road race of the Seacoast. The community's support, cheers, hospitality and enthusiasm carried so many through six miles. Congrats to all the runners and race walkers who finished the 2010 10k and thank you, thank you, again and again to all who helped out on Saturday! Your presence was appreciated!

Mind games.

Whew, just completed a three mile run. In new sneaks. In approx 28 minutes. I needed to do this tonight. Why? To know I could run 3 under 30. You see this little activity called running, yeah it's physical but it's also a mental sport. This past Sunday I ran in the Red Hook Memorial 5k. I was eager to run and even more ready to see a spectacular time at the finish line. My legs are strong, endurance is up and it's only three miles. AH! Famous last words. Those three miles were worse than all 13.1 of the Seacoast half marathon this past November.

The external factors impacting this hellish run cannot be denied. The hot temperature, humid pollinated air and oh, those fires in Canada produced some serious second hand smoke. Never thought that would be an excuse! Coffee in the am...just a few sips since the race wasn't until 11am, was a baddd choice. The baby sips were enough to dehydrate and turn my stomach around mile 2. Amateur.

Training for a half marathon for thirteen weeks instilled valuable lessons in strength and perseverance, however all was forgotten this past Sunday. I have always struggled with my undermining psyche. While others might fall victim to injury, I succumb to that little voice. Even though I know I'm stronger, I become vulnerable. Despite knowing that it will all be over soon (miles or minutes), I agree with the ego when it says my legs won't make it. I am so grateful for the ability to run, to physically put one foot in front of the other, however, the idea of walking never seems that bad at the time. I know how to concentrate on my breathing, focus on right now, and quiet the mind but what do you do when the voice inside your head is a full octave louder than usual? The short of it, the mind and body work together and my mind checked out. I'd like to state with confidence that it won't happen again, but I think it's best to declare the need for fresh and clean techniques to push through the miles.


Here are a few quotes and articles to motivate us to nike (just do it!):

Use as much stimuli as possible, recruiting all five senses. Pull in all the negatives and positives, the possible triumphs and defeats. Fully develop the picture (for the neuro-pathways). Finish with your final step. Then do it again. Mind and Body Work Together Runner's World

#62 of 101 Greatest Running Tips from Women's Health: Get over it "If you have a bad workout or run a bad race, allow yourself exactly 1 hour to stew about it--then move on." --Steve Scott, coach and U.S. record holder in the mile

"One thing about racing is that it hurts. You better accept that from the beginning or you're not going anywhere." -Bob Kennedy, US 5000m record holder and first non-African under 13 minutes.


"Success does not come to the most righteous and rigorously disciplined but to those who continue running." -Amby Burfoot

"Believe that you can go farther or faster. Believe that you're young enough, old enough, strong enough, and so on to accomplish everything you want to do. Don't let worn out beliefs stop you from moving beyond yourself." -John Bingham, "Tools and Rules," Runner's World

"You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." -Winnie the Pooh

"Not meeting a race goal doesn't mean that the race is a failure," says Mark Wallis, a running coach and marathoner from Tucson. "If you can learn something from it, a bad race could be a stepping stone to a breakthrough performance. Also, when you work through a challenging experience, you develop mental strength and perseverance that will help you on your next tough run." How to let it go Runner's World


Head Start Runner's World


How to beat the excuses and run About.com



Remember to have fun!! I was way too caught up in Sunday's race and forgot why I was there in the first place. "Fitness has to be fun. If it isn't, there will be no fitness. Play is the process. Fitness is merely the product." -Dr. George Sheehan


And if all that isn't enough, I leave you with firefighter Matt Long's inspirational story:

Now, who's ready to hit the pavement??

Summah summah summmah time

It's Memorial day weekend eve and I cannot stop thinking and dreaming of things I want to do and try this summer season. All of a sudden there is more time, sunlight and opportunity to do activities. Summer gives me wings (sans the red bull and sugar)!



So far my summer to do list includes but is not limited to:

-go kayaking (never been!)
-go on a Portsmouth Harbor cruise, mayyyybe even the Wine cruise :)
-teach myself (again) how to do a back dive
-take a Bikram yoga class
-visit Nashoba Valley winery
-picnic at Castle Island in Boston
-hike Mt. Monadnock
-surf lesson!
-play at Six Flags or some other theme park
-make homemade gnocchi
-visit the New England aquarium
-run a 5k, 10k (haven't run a race since my half marathon)
-run ON the beach


What is on your summer to do list?
Want to join me in any of these fun activities!?

Portsmouth, NH

While running downtown this evening I was smiling. Smiling while running you ask? Yes, check out where I live!



*sigh* I love Portsmouth.




**Note** these pictures were not from this evening, but they were taken by moi.



I graduated from UNH in May 2006 and thought to myself, BOOO YAH JERSEY HERE I COME! I went, but just for a few months. Visiting friends in Boston and Portsmouth that summer made me realize I was not done living in New England. Oh no, far from it, my life as a northern belle was just beginning. So in August of 2006, I found a job, an apartment and rented a UHaul (all with help of course).




I remember talking to my parents before the big decision and their wise words will always stick with me: "The things we regret most in life are the things we don't do." Thanks mom & dad


So here I am, a Portsmouth NH resident for just about 4 years.





Loving summer evenings down by the decks ...

afternoons by the water...

snowy winter christmas parades...

and the ever growing population of five star (in my opinion) restaurants.

I won't live here forever, but I live here now so don't mind me as I jog around downtown with a smile, take pictures of cute kids on the beach, snapshots of my delightful entrees and drinks and people watch while sipping on breaking new grounds iced coconut coffee all as I soak in the beloved Portsmouth, NH.

Be sure to check out the Delicious Destination page for more Portsmouth lovin'

How do you unwind?

It's 5:00. If you work for corporate America, you are out of work for the day or will be shortly. What are you going to do with this freeeeeedom!?

Most days I am off to the gym: body pump, a solid strength and conditioning work out with my favorite Canadian, Mari Fisher OR perhaps a run outside with MFish and Amanda (roomie!). NOTHING allows me to unwind quite like a run outside, the feeling as my feet hit the pavement, listening to my breath and people watching or maybe I'm just in the zone and noticing no one, thats cool too. I don't run for a time, I run for me. Ahhhh sweet relief. If I am letting my body rest I am cooking, baking, or reading....and there's some definite TV action in there too...OH and a glass of vino. Who can resist the powers of the DVR and a glass of red wine? Not me. Above all else, these little hobbies of mine (well maybe not TV watching) center and balance me after staring at a computer screen all day. You chop and dice, measure and mix, bake and sautee and that creates something magically delicious (lucky charms much?) for you and others to enjoy. There is also something about engaging in a story: fiction, non-fiction, comedic, thought provoking that centers my mind yet let it escapes too. You feel me? At the moment I am reading Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay and it.is.all.I.can.think.about. FOCUS Corinne, focus. It is not 1942 and you are not a little girl in France ... or am I? :)

Last night I had a killer body pump workout and then ran 2 miles in my NEW vibram 5 fingers . First time running in these and I think it was very apparent. Holy calves burning. It took me a while to jump on this but after reading Born to Run meeting and running with Christopher McDougall himself two weekends ago in Boston, and lots of positive feedback from my boyfriend Matt I was ready to dive in. It struck me while I was running in these quirky looking shoes that I was 100% feeling my feet, not in a bad way, merely noticing every movement my body made and every foot placement. Because when you run in vibrams, if you make a wrong move, you feel it. AND that's the point! My feet were just going...I didn't feel like I was forcing it! WOW. For all you wonderers and skeptics: It was incredible. They may look funny, but I'm hooked. A shoe that can bring out my inner 7 yr old (the one that ran barefoot), a shoe that makes me FEEL my feet but is uber comfortable, a shoe that makes running feel effortless...um, yeah I'll take it.




Tonight I am headed out for a few celebratory cocktails to Ri Ra’s as it is one of my friend’s birthdays! Lindsay will be “the age to not be named” on Friday. More on this type of unwinding later ;)

I will leave you with this:

The key question to keep asking is, Are you spending your time on the right things? Because time is all you have. " -Randy Pausch - The Last Lecture