Glow for a Cure

As a member of the Tampa Bay Bloggers, I have been invited to be a “Race Ambassador for the Cure” at the upcoming Komen Florida Suncoast GLOW run in St. Pete.

The 17th Annual Florida Suncoast Race for the Cure is back in St. Petersburg on October 3rd for a 6:00pm nighttime GLOW run!  The race starts in beautiful downtown St. Pete at Albert Whitted Park near the Salvador Dali Museum.

There are lots of different race options this year to GLOW PINK.

• 10K Competitive: The 10K competitive race will wind through the beautiful, waterfront streets of downtown St. Petersburg and Snell Isle. This event is timed and all participants will receive a runner goodie bag, timing chip & Race bib.
• 5K Competitive: The 5K competitive race will follow the same beautiful course as the 10K, just half the distance. This event is timed and all participants will receive a runner goodie bag, timing chip & Race bib.
• General Registration: You don’t have to run to have a good time at the Race! This registration is for those who want to do the non‐competitive 5K Run/Walk, the 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk or be Proud in the Crowd. All participants will receive a Race packet with a Race shirt & Race bib.
• Students for the Cure: A special student rate for students in middle school through college. You will need to enter your school name and student ID during registration. All Students for the Cure registrants will receive a race packet with a Race shirt & Race bib. This is a non‐competitive, non‐chip‐timed entry. To participate in one of the competitive categories, you must register in that category. There are no student rates for the competitive Race categories.
• Kids for the Cure: No matter the age, we need everyone’s help in the Fight Against Breast Cancer!! Kids for the Cure is available for all kids 10 years of age & under. We will have kids dashes and kids’ activities available on Race Day. Kids for the Cure Race packets will include a Race shirt & Race bib.
• Virtual: Can’t make it to the Race? You can Race in spirit instead! Virtual Race participants will be mailed a commemorative Race shirt. 

Click here for more information and registration.

Time to pay it forward with a free entry to the October 3rd Race for the Cure in St. Pete.  Use Rafflecopter below to enter the giveaway.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Canoeing for Sharks Teeth in Florida

Over Spring Break, my family and I canoed the Peace River in search of sharks teeth.  The Peace River runs through the southwest portion of Florida and is well know for it's fossilized sharks teeth and prehistoric mammal bones.  Spring is the best time for fossil hunting because the water level is still low and usually below normal.  The water level needs to be low so you can get out of the canoe in shallow water to sift and search for sharks teeth.

We drove the 2 hours down to the Canoe Outpost in Arcadia, to start our adventure.  There, we met up with the Taylor family, rented canoes, and borrowed sifters and shovel heads to help with our sharks teeth hunt.  The Canoe Outpost bus drove us to Brownville Park where we launched the canoes.  From Brownville back to the Arcadia dock was an 8 mile, leisurely, half day paddle.

The day was a bit cool to start with, but turned out to be gorgeous and just the right temperature.  Lots of animals were out soaking up sun along the river banks.  We saw too many turtles to count, two snakes and six alligators along the way, ranging in size from little to one huge 6 foot gator.

These were the little guys.  The gators stayed away from us and we stayed away from them.  They were not on the banks of the shallow water we waded in to look for sharks teeth.

The best part of this trip was getting out and playing in the shallow water.  My boys liked looking for sharks teeth but also enjoyed catching fish and playing in the water with their friends.

To find sharks teeth, we looked for shallow areas that had black rocks or sand.  Dylan and I found one large tooth.  It was broken but we were still extremely excited about our big find.

Taylor Family

Cutie pie Dylan in the middle of our canoe

Allana and Jared in their own canoe

Denise's daughter and Jared had their own canoe this time.  They did a fantastic job paddling on their own.  They zigzagged the river a little but moved at a fast pace.  Jared put his boy scout merit badge to good use on this canoe trip.  Jared only ran Allana under one low lying tree that resulted in a spider in their boat (my only fear when canoeing).

About a mile before we reached the unloading dock in Arcadia, we passed under a train trestle.  We heard a train coming in the distance so waited and got a super view of the train crossing the tracks above the river.

We found about 35 sharks teeth and had a fun family day outside with friends.  Our big shark tooth was 2 inches tall!  I'm so happy to be creating wonderful memories with my boys.

Do you have a great location for finding sharks teeth in Florida?

Whole Foods Market Giveaway

Last week I had the opportunity to visit the Carrollwood Whole Foods Market in Tampa for an Italian wine tasting.  We sampled 20 different Italian wines and an assortment of gourmet cheeses, dry meats, and chocolate.

This was my kind of event!  I loved the samples and grazing on a variety of delicious foods and beverages.  Whole Foods Carrollwood has lots of fun events like this on their calendar.

The La Tur brie with hot peach chutney was amazing!  This mixed milk cheese was very creamy and paired perfectly with the sweet peach chutney.

 

I wasn't thrilled with any of the wines on this table but I loved the cheese and chocolate.  The Sottocenere cheese was aromatic and creamy with a hint of what taste like garlic.  The chocolate had bits of parmigiano reggiano in it for a very unique, salty sweet taste.

 

Mike was our pourer and entertainer at this table.  My favorite from this table was Mionetto il Spritz, a semi-sparkling wine with flavors of orange and herbs.  I tried the Mionetto il Spritz with an orange slice and a second sample mixed with red wine, making a sangria type drink.  Both were very flavorful and delicious.

A table of chesses = heaven!  My favorite from this table was Laura Chenel Chevre Truffle Log goat cheese.  It was smooth with a rich, delicious, full flavor and a bit of tart.

We had live entertainment to amuse us as we sipped and tasted.  He played some great songs.

I can't leave Whole Foods Market without a dark chocolate bar. Dark chocolate with sea salt is the perfect salty sweet combo.

Whole Foods Market sells high quality natural and organic products; promotes and advances environmental stewardship and sustainable agriculture; serves and supports local and global communities; and is committed to seafood sustainability and animal welfare standards.

Giveaway time!  One lucky reader will win a $20 gift card to Whole Foods Market Carrollwood. The gift card is only valid at the Carrollwood location so you must be local to the Tampa Bay area in order to win.  Enter through Rafflecopter below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*This was incorrectly, originally listed as a $25 gc when it is actually a $20 gc. Sorry for any confusion. It's correct now.

Disclaimer: I was given a bottle of wine and cheese in exchange for review.  All opinions are my own.

Gasparilla 15K Recap

Gasparilla is a local Tampa race that I run every year.  The 5K was my first race ever in 2009.  I've come a long way since 2009.  Back then I thought 3.1 miles was a long way to run.  Now I've completed four 26.2 mile marathons.

This year I registered and ran the 15K, a distance I'd never raced before.  Automatic PR baby!  Gasparilla was one week after the A1A Marathon so I truly just want to enjoy the 15K.

I met up with my running group on a hot and humid Gasparilla morning.  The weather never seems to be nice for Gasparilla race weekend.

 

I started the race with a couple of running buddies but we all eventually went our separate ways on the course.  The Gasparilla course took us along Bayshore Blvd with beautiful houses on one side and Tampa Bay on the other.  It was a hazy morning with most of downtown Tampa cloaked in blanket of fog, but I kept on running.

This was my first 15K so I didn't have a PR to beat.  I estimated that I would finish around the 1:30 time mark.  That particular morning, I didn't feel like pushing myself to ensure 1:30 or faster, though I did consider it as I ran.  Some relief came as misting water fell from two tall sprinkler stations on the course, providing much needed cool-off areas.  And then my iPod died at about mile 6.  I was so glad I wasn't running the half marathon the next day!

I finished with an OK time.  Wait, let me rephrase that...I finished with a new PR!!!

Division: 158/442
Gender: 928/2836
Overall: 2221/5146
Halfway Split: 45:03
Chip Finish Time: 1:32:49
Average Pace: 9:57 min/mile

 

My parents were running the 5K that morning with my sister Angie.  My parents last ran Gasparilla back in the 1980s!  I think all my running encouraged them to complete a race too.  So after I finished the 15K, I met up with them in the 5K corral.  My mom and Angie ran together so I ran with my dad.

 

 

The 5K race was pack with runners and walkers, as usual.  We ran to the right, keeping an even pace, passing walkers as we needed to.

 



Everyone did fantastic!  My dad ran the entire race at a steady pace and finished in 46:03.  Mom and Angie finished in 40:22.  I'm very proud of my parents for getting out there and finishing a 5K!



My dad in the red shorts, Feb 1980

My Parents after Gasparilla 2014



What's your favorite Gasparilla Race distance?


 

Sarasota Half Marathon Preview

I'm so excited to run the First Watch Sarasota Half-Marathon on Sun., Mar. 16, 2014 in sunny Sarasota, Florida!  2013 was my first experience running the Sarasota Half.  Last year, I registered purely for the race bling because I saw a friend's medal from 2012.  The medal is known for being huge and featuring a beloved Florida ocean dweller, the dolphin.

The First Watch Sarasota Half Marathon & Relay Race features a fast and scenic course that takes runners and walkers through St. Armands Circle, along the Ringling Museum of Art and next to VanWezel Performing Arts Hall. I won't be walking this half marathon but the course limit is 4 hours (18 min/mile) making it truly walker friendly.  We do have to scale a large bridge on the John Ringling Causeway but the incline is gradual.

The race participant perks include, one of the largest finisher's medal in Florida, every participant receives one, in both the half marathon and relay at the finish.

Other race perks include:

• two-location packet pick up at Fit2Run stores in St. Pete and Sarasota
• gender specific tech t-shirts, runner tracking via text messaging
• goodie bag
• mile marker aid stations and highly visible timing system
• post race party including gourmet breakfast items and live entertainment, sponsored by First Watch Restaurants, an event that earned Competitor Magazine’s 2012 Award for Best Post-Race Party and Brunch in the Southeast Region including beer garden (21 or older participants only)
• Kids Corner at the post-race party featuring face painting, balloon artists, and interactive games and contests

RACE COSTS
 

Half-Marathon SOLD OUT

$95 through March 9, 2014

$105 March 10-14 (registration closes at 8:59 p.m. unless 4,200 cap is reached before this date)

No race day registration

Two-Person Relay SOLD OUT

$125 March through March 9, 2014

$130 March 10-14 registration closes at 8:59 p.m. unless 4,200 cap is reached before this date)

No race day registration

Visit www.sarasotahalfmarathon.com for event information and registration.

Disclaimer: I was given a race entry in exchange for promotion and review.  All opinions are my own.

Lemon Pepper Chicken

I'm always looking for new healthly-ish recipes for dinner for my family.  This Lemon Pepper Chicken recipe is a home run!  Both of my picky boys, they get that from me, love this dish as do me and my husband.  My 9 year old even requests that I make Lemon Pepper Chicken now.  I love when I find recipes that everyone enjoys.

 

Lemon Pepper Chicken Ingredients: 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves ¼ cup flour ¼ tsp salt 2 tsp lemon pepper seasoning (I used McCormick) 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp coconut oil 4 tbsp lemon juice Directions: Place each chicken breast half between two pieces of plastic wrap. Pound lightly until about 1/4 inch thick. Remove chicken from plastic wrap. In a shallow bowl, combine the flour, salt, and lemon pepper seasoning. Coat each chicken breast with flour mixture. In a large skillet, heat butter and coconut oil until very hot. Cook the chicken breasts over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Drizzle 1 tbsp lemon juice over each chicken breasts. Cook about 2 minutes more or until pan juices are slightly reduced. Recipe by Chrissy @ Loving Life http://lovinglife27.blogspot.com/2014/02/lemon-pepper-chicken.html

I modified this recipe from BHG.

Best Damn Race Recap 2014

This was my first time running The Best Damn Race in Safety Harbor, FL on Feb 1.  I ran the half marathon, my 9th half.  The half distance is usually my favorite distance.  I got this race done but it definitely wasn't MY best damn race.

Originally, I wanted this to be the race I finished in under 2 hours.  After my PR at the Space Coast half of 2:06, I thought this was a reasonable goal.  But come to find out, if I don't run regularly, the half marathon distance of 13.1 miles really SUCKS.  Hmm, who would have thought?!

I only ran once since the Disney Marathon back on January 12.  It was hot and humid on race morning.  I'm used to running on flat trails and the BDR course was anything but flat.  Yes the max elevation was only 82 ft. but the multiple little inclines were killers for me with my lack of training.

 

 

Because I registered for BDR early, I got free race photos! I thought it was only one race photo but it was ALL of my race photos.  How cool is that!  Thanks BDR and J Ryan Photography.

Thumbs up and still smiling for the camera but certainly not feeling this race.

 

 

I surrender!  Can someone carry me to the finish line?

 



 

 

This looks more like a shuffle than a run.  I was near the finish line and probably at about mile 11.

 



And this face about sums up how I felt at the end of BDR.

I earned a cool sailboat medal with a spinning sail, ate a Jimmy John's sub as part of the post-race food and hung out with friends.  Awesome!  My friend Mica even PRed with a time under 2:30.

Age Group Place: 59/117
Gender Place: 368/736
Overall Place: 705/1190
Chip Time: 2:19:49.8
Average Pace: 10:40/M

Starting this week I'm back to a regular running and workout schedule.  I can't run half marathons without proper training....well I can, but I hate it the whole time.