After finishing a 20 minute run (including 15 minutes wearing 2 pound weights on each wrist), I started wondering whether or not my gymnastics skills were still up to par.

I went out in my parents’ backyard, determined to do 5 back tucks.

My mom followed with the camera and snapped some great action photos!

Setting for my back tuck.

Spotting the ground in the middle of my flip.

Surprise that I can still tumble at 26 years old?!?! 

Focused and determined to land the perfect standing tuck.

Setting for my tuck.

Mid-flip.  (I don’t use my arms when I tuck.  Notice how they’re bent at my sides.  While most people pull with their arms, I rely on legs and abs to do my standing back tuck.)

I was SO excited to land my standing tucks.  I think I should tumble for 5 or 10 minutes at the end of my workout more often. 

After my haircut yesterday, I took advantage of the beautiful day and shopped my way down Newbury Street.  Then I wandered back down the Comm Ave Mall and snapped some photos.

Women’s Statue on the Comm Ave Mall.

I grabbed lunch from b. good.  I ordered a chicken sandwich with tomato, avocado, and salsa.  I added my own lettuce and some blue corn chips when I got back to my apartment.

During my Hair Cut photo shoot, I made sure to get some shots of my handsome little corgi.

When Jared got home from work, we crossed the street for some Indian cuisine at Mela.  We were given a tiny cup of soup when we first sat down.

Jared and I split an Meat Samosas for an appetizer.

Mela’s decor.  I love the art deco style of the lights mixed with some Indian flair.  (iPhone photo doesn’t truly capture the atmosphere.)

I ordered the Tandori Chicken and Jared ordered spicy Lamb Vindaloo.  We also shared some garlic Naan.

Last time I went to Mela, it was on a weekend and the place was packed.  We waited 2 hours for our table!  Last night was was much better dining experience.  We were seated right away, the staff was attentive, and the food arrived in a reasonable amount of time. 

Even though we didn’t run with the SEAC run club last night, Jared and I still decided to pay everyone a visit.  We arrived at SEAC around 8:30 amd the post-run festivities were still going strong.  Everyone loves a beer after a workout!

I asked Dan for advice on a new pair of running sneakers.  He recommended a few different styles of neutral shoes in my price range.  I decided to buy another pair of Asics since that brand worked well for this past Half Marathon.  I can’t wait to break them in for my marathon training.

I also tried on a pair of Vibram 5 Fingers.  I couldn’t get my fat little toes into each individual toe hole.    I’ve heard that putting these shoes on gets easier once you own a pair and break them in.  But I wasn’t ready to break down and buy a pair just yet.  Maybe after my marathon, I’ll give barefoot running a try?!?!

Thanks to a freebie from the Healthworks Blogger Bash, I headed to Rock Paper Scissors this morning for a free haircut.

My appointment was at 10 am.  I arrived a few minutes early and the salon hadn’t opened yet.  Good thing it’s right next to a Starbucks so I could hang out and play games on my iPhone.  I’m addicted to Skee Ball!

Once I got into the salon, I was impressed with the decor.  I love exposed brick walls!  And the rock-themed photos on the walls were really cool.

I had an appointment with Mia for a haircut.  While I waited for her to get ready, I looked around snapped photos.

See, awesome artwork!  And a great music mix too.  I was rockin out to the Donnas and other fun songs all morning.

Mia was an awesome stylist.  Before heading to the sink, I talked about my old hairstyle and what changes I was hoping for.  She had a lot of great advice and recommended shorter layers so I can have more volume at the crown and less fluffiness and frizz.

While getting my hair cut, I learned some great styling tips.  I told Mia that I’ll never take the time to dry and style my hair with a round brush.  So she had suggestions to recreate the salon look at home.  I also learned how to back comb my hair into a ponytail with my volume.  Yay, now I don’t need to buy a Bump-It. 

When I got home, I attempted to take pictures of my new do.

Look at those freshly chopped layers!

Pretty hair!

I wear my hair in a ponytail or a bun when I go to work every day so it was a nice change to see it looking soft and stylish.

I was excited to visit Rock Paper Scissors for a free haircut, but I had no idea that I’d find a new salon in the process.  Rock Paper Scissors had a cool, rocker vibe but it was also clean and professional.  Each station was neat and tidy and my hair clippings were swept up right away.  There were a large selection of products for sale, knowledgeable and friendly staff…  and when I looked online, the prices were affordable.  Plus I’m SO thrilled with my haircut.  Mia did a great job and I’m going to book another appointment with her soon.

I’m hoping to return for a color and a trim at the end of the month!

Thanks for the feedback on my last post.  Some of you like to work out in the morning, others later on in the day.  And almost all of you agreed that I should just do things my way.  Whatever works for me! 

And the pm workouts are going well so far!

And since marathon training MY way is going well, I’m going to try posting my way.

In fairly chronological order, here are some enjoyable eats over the past 2 days.

I made a hummus sandwich before I left for work yesterday.  I spread Spinach and Artichoke hummus onto wheat bread and added lettuce and pickles.  Plus some Wheat Thin crisps on the side.  Not too shabby for a meal made form random items I found in the fridge!

I enjoyed a cup of Mediterranean Eggplant Soup at work last night.  I really enjoy ordering food from the Healthworks Cafe.  Sometimes I think it’s worth it to spend a bit more money on food so I can save time not preparing stuff at home and enjoy fresh and healthy foods.

I also enjoyed a salad filled with vegetables and topped with chicken.  Yum!

I ran 2 quick miles on the treadmill when I clocked out of work last night.  I set the treadmill at 7.1 mph (8:27 mile) and let myself go.  When I finished, I took a few minutes to stretch out.  I swapped my usual foam roller stretching for some old school moves: lunges, forward bends, and all that good stuff.  I tried out lots of different moves to loosen up my quads and glutes because they’re always my tightest muscles after a run.

This morning I ate a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios with fresh blueberries.  This cereal reminds me of my dad because he used to eat a HUGE bowl of Cheerios every morning while I was growing up.  I don’t eat Cheerios very often, but Jared bought a box and I figured I’d help out before they’re stale.

Because it was the last day of the month, it was a crazy day for gym membership sign ups.  Busy gym, a few cranky members, and thankfully laughter and good times with my coworkers.

I declared that today was a Rest Day and went right home after work instead of going for a run.  I used my evening as personal time:  manicure, reading Breaking Dawn, pasta for dinner, and 2 episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. 

I have the day off tomorrow and while it won’t be the most exciting day ever, I have a few VERY important things to do.  Haircut!  Studying nutrition!

At 26, I don’t feel old.  I look pretty good and feel great.  Age is just a number!

But yesterday while I was thinking about why I can’t motivate myself to work out first thing in the morning, I realized that I’m an old dog!  In all of my 26 years, I have never ever worked out in the morning.  I’ve always worked out at night.

Throughout my 11 years of gymnastics, I practiced Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 3:30-5:30 and Tuesday and Thursday from 6:45-8:45.  When I quit gymnastics and started cheering on an All Star team, I practiced 3 nights a week from 7-9.

During 5 years of college cheerleading, I practiced 4 nights a week from 6-9.  I’d often go to the gym after practice and work out for another 30-45 minutes.

Now I understand why I can’t jump out of bed and hit the gym…and why I often get a burst of energy around 8 pm.  I usually perform pushups and crunches in my living room while watching evening TV.

Being an old dog, there’s a good chance I won’t be able to learn any new tricks.  So I’m just going to work with what I’ve got.  No more attempts at morning marathon training.  I’ll save all of my runs for after 5 pm.  That’s when I feel the most motivated to get moving.  I think I’ll enjoy my training if I’m on a schedule that I’m used to.

Yesterday morning I had my typical yogurt breakfast before heading to work.

I ordered a custom made wrap for lunch.  My wrap was stuffed with chicken, lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers and drizzled with Balsamic Vinaigrette.

I snacked on a mini Clif Bar, 2 pieces of chocolate, and an Ice Tea during the long afternoon hours.

After my shift ended, I hit the treadmill for a 3 mile run.  It was too hot and humid to even think about running outside.  I was sweating like a beast in the AC so I can’t even imagine how gross I would’ve ended up had I ventured outdoors.  My 3 miles felt great!  I ran at 7 mph, 8:34 miles, and felt comfortable with the pace.  The only struggle was trying to read the closed captioning on the TV because I had forgotten my headphones.

Jared and his buddy Drew were in charge of getting dinner.  So I snacked on some strawberries and some Barney Butter.

The guys didn’t get home with dinner until after 8 pm.  I was expecting burgers, but they showed up with pizza.  That works!  My brother was in town for the night so the 4 of us hung out at my apartment, enjoyed some cool beverages to counteract the sweltering evening, and watched the Bachelorette.

Yup, 3 guys and me watched Ali’s search for love.  And we had a lot of laughs watching such a ridiculous and drama filled episode.

Since both my brother and I were at home last night, my entire family decided to go out to dinner for a belated Father’s Day celebration.

We went to Trattoria Romana in Lincoln, RI.

I ordered a bottle of Montepulciano (Italian red wine) for my family to share.  We had a nice toast and everyone was happy with my wine selection.

My dad ordered Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms and Calamari Fritti, tender calamari rings pan-fried & topped with hot cherry peppers served with cocktail sauce & lemon.

I’m always craving fresh mozzarella so the Mozzarella Caprese  was the perfect salad for me to order.  Fresh sliced Buffalo mozzarella & vine-ripened tomatoes with Vidalia onions & fresh basil finished with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

It was tough to choose an entree because there were so many delicious options on the menu.

After careful consideration, I picked the Pollo Fiorintina which was Chicken breast sautéed in a sweet Marsala wine sauce topped with imported Prosciutto di Parma & fresh mozzarella served over a bed of sautéed spinach & capellini pasta.

Amazing!

I was up bright and early for work this morning.  Typical early am breakfast, raspberry Chobani with fresh blueberries and some Barney Butter.

I ate leftovers for lunch (from Giacomo’s last week) and dinner (from last night) and snacked on a few things throughout the day.  Unfortunately not the freshest and healthiest foods.  But at least I know good vegetables will be in my future.

More garden growth.  I know it will be a while before I can actually pick vegetables.  But I think watching the growing process is half the fun.  I can’t believe my little seed packets have turned into healthy plants.

Extreme closeup of my garden, with the vegetables thriving in my rocky soil.  Impressive!

Since it was a nice evening, I did a quick workout on my deck.  I jumped rope, did push ups, squats with weights, and bicep curls.  After I got my heart rate up, I took my workout indoors and cleaned my bedroom.  I worked up a sweat!  More likely because of my stuffy apartment and not so much from my frantic cleaning.

Even though it’s a Sunday night, it feels like a Monday to me.  It was a long day, but overall a decent start to my work week.

Tomorrow marks week #3 of marathon training.  And time for me to get serious!!! More crunches, less cupcakes.  Umm, I mean lots of running! 

Even though I quit gymnastics over 12 years ago, I’ve still remained close with my best gymnastics friend Jen.  We spent a Girls’ Day at the beach on Saturday afternoon.  We went to Scarborough Beach in Narragansett, RI.

I ate my 6″ turkey sub and Sunchips as soon as we set up our towels.  My small bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios that I had eaten for breakfast digested quickly and I was 110% excited to eat lunch.

Part of the beach was covered with seaweed.

Another section of the beach was rocky.  Boulders in the water and pebbles at the shoreline.

Scarborough Beach is full of happy childhood memories.  My aunt used to pile my cousins and me in her van and take us to the beach.  We’d spend the afternoon building sand castles and boogie boarding.

There was an air show going on at Quonset Point and a few planes circled overhead and entertained the crowds on the beach.

It was a great day at the beach.  I passed the time talking Jen’s ear off and reading the final book in the Twilight series.

So much sun, so much Vitamin D…  and while I can honestly say there was so much sunscreen, I also have to admit that there was a slight sunburn.

I woke up yesterday morning with one thought in my head: Pool!

I ate some yogurt for breakfast, cleaned, packed, and then Miles and I hit the rode.  I drove straight to my aunt and uncle’s house to spend the afternoon hanging out by the pool.

I was all by myself and didn’t have a partner to play shuffle board.

I also didn’t have any food for lunch.  I munched on some cherries and a handful of potato chips that I found in the cabana.

Home Sweet Home!

I walked around the yard and snapped pictures of the house and the flowers.  But my favorite photo is this one of our old cement mixer that’s abandoned in the woods at the edge of my backyard.

There wasn’t any food at my parents’ house so my dinner was as random as my lunch.  I made a sandwich with cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes.  A few hours later, I had 5 mini-meatballs with cheese and sauce.

I knew I needed to do some running so I hopped on the treadmill for a quick 20 minute workout.  Our treadmill is really old so the speed isn’t correct.  While I can assure you that I ran for 20 minutes, I have no idea how fast I was going.  I set it at 7.2 mph but it felt much slower.  So make up for the speed, I wore 2 lb weights on my wrists during the first 10 minutes of the workout.

My childhood bedroom has turned into a pit.

Rather than stay home and clean, a chore I’ve been putting off for years, I went to visit a friend from high school.  She built a fire and we sat around and chatted the night away.  Much more fun than tackling those piles of old clothes.

I’m glad that even though my day was dedicated to the pool and time with friends, I still managed to squeeze in a quick workout.  Plus my arms are definitely a little bit sore from running with the weights.

I can’t believe how quickly my vegetable garden is growing.  I leave for a few hours and when I return, the plants look at least 1/2″ taller.  It’s amazing!

And speaking of growing, my cousin Jenna is growing up so fast!  She just turned 15, but I can still remember when she was born.  I loved helping her learn to walk.  Now she’s in high school and talking about getting her license soon.  Ahh!

Jenna and my mom came to visit Boston yesterday.  It was HOT outside, but we still walked all over the city and had a great day.

We had planned to dine on a restaurant patio on Newbury Street.  Umm, no thanks.  It was too hot and we needed AC.  We went to Joe’s American Bar and Grill.

I ordered a chicken Caesar Salad.

I couldn’t resist the Daily Special: a cold cup of gazpacho.  Perfect to help me cool down on a hot day!

Yellow WYN signs have been posted all around Boston.  (I also saw these signs in Gloucester last weekend)  What’s Your Number, Anna Faris’s latest movie, was filming at the church at the end of Newbury Street.  I didn’t catch a glimpse of any movie magic, but I got a shot of the trailer and saw the catering crew.

Doesn’t it look like we’re somewhere much more tropical than Boston?  There were gorgeous Palmetto trees planted in the Gardens.

And I was really excited to pose with my iPhone4.  Fortunately for you guys who put up with me and read my blog, I don’t have a blog post dedicated to my 2 hours waiting in line to obtain this piece of technology.  I was cranky and it was boring.  But I’ve never had a phone with internet before so this purchase was a BIG step for me.  Very exciting!

We saw the cutest Mama Duck and her little baby.

Seeing the real deal made me have to take a picture with the Make Way for Ducklings statue.

And since it was the first time that I had ever seen the statue without a crowd, I needed to get a photo.

Mom, Jenna, and I trooped down Charles Street and then crossed the bridge to the Charles River.

There were some great views along the Charles, including Community Boating.  Jared was a member last year and we went sailing and kayaking.  I think he needs to renew his membership so we can get back out on the water.

I’m Army Strong!    Showing off my “guns” with the US Army gun.

My mom wanted her picture taken at the Hatch Shell.

The Boston Pops perform at the Hatch Shell on 4th of July.  I will never, ever stake out a spot to watch the Pops on the 4th live and in person.  WAY too crowded.  People are packed in like sardines.  You have to get there so early to save your spot.  It seems so boring to sit there all day long.  I hate mobs of people!  I’m perfectly ok enjoying the show on TV.

The banks of the Charles were the perfect place for our afternoon stroll and will be the setting for most of my future runs.

We strolled down Dartmouth Street, through to Back Bay and on to the South End.  We desperately needed my cool apartment and a cold glass of water.

While I wished I could’ve spent such a hot day swimming in the pool, it was great to spend the day in the city with my mom and my cousin.

I made dinner plans with a group of friends and headed to dinner at Giacomo’s.  I didn’t take any pictures of my food, because I was too distracted learning how to use my phone.

Wednesdays are my Friday.  I woke up knowing I only had to make it through 6 hours of work before I could start my 3 day weekend.  So exciting that every weekend will be a 3 day weekend.  Thursday-Saturday with nothing to do!

I had a delicious breakfast.  I added fresh strawberries to strawberry Chobani.  Plus Barney Butter.  When I have a jar in the house, I can’t resist!

My workday included a delicious salad loaded with fresh vegetables and a trip to Legacy Place in Dedham, MA to drop off flyers at lululemon and lucy.  Okkk, so some minor shopping also occurred.  There’s no way I can walk away from a sale at lululemon!

Our friends Drew and Nicki invited us to eat dinner at their apartment.  Nicki is a great cook!  Jared and I shared a stuffed artichoke.  My first real artichoke that I had to peel.  It was so tasty, especially the cheese and olive stuffing.

Nicki also made a baked pasta dish.  It had mushrooms, which I don’t usually eat.  But I devoured tonight’s meal without a second thought.  Nicki really is a great cook, especially when it comes to vegetarian dishes!

I thought about running this evening, but decided against it.  I have plenty of time during the rest of week #2 of training to complete each of the scheduled runs.  So as usual, I’m switching things up a bit!  Thank you for the support after my crappy, crampy run and my tough decision to skip out on cheerleading.  Melissa was on-point when she commented that it seems like I enjoy cheerleading more than I like running.  However running is MUCH easier to fit into my schedule and I am really committed to running this marathon.  So for summer/fall 2010, I’ll be pounding the pavement and/or treadmill until I can accomplish my 26.2 mile goal.

I’m looking forward to waking up at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning so I can wait in line at the Apple Store and purchase my new i-phone.  The first time I’ll own a phone with internet!  Then my mom and cousin Jenna are coming to spend the day in Boston.

Quick announcement:

Women in the Boston area, grab a partner and sign up for…

Fiona’s Challenge III: Partner Edition!

• Teams of 2 women apply online. (Applications will only be accepted from complete teams).  If you are in need of a partner, you can recruit other members by leaving comments on Fiona Fit’s blog.
• Applications must be submitted before the end of the day on Friday, July 9th.
• Members and non-members are invited to compete. (at least 1 non-member per team)
  
• At each club, twelve teams will be chosen based on the testimonials — make them as funny or serious as you would like!
• The chosen teams will be announced at a kickoff party on July 12th from 5-8pm at The Beehive in the South End.
• The final fitness challenge will take place on August 8, 2010, and winners will be announced on August 17th.
• Chosen teams at each club compete against each other for the grand prize!
• Any teams that are not chosen will receive two week trials for non-members.

Visit the Healthworks website for more information!