Summer fun - Fish Tales in OC

Here are the girls at one of our favorite restaurants earlier this summer showing off their paintings. Fish Tales have great food and create a super kid friendly atmosphere. Pirate ship and an arcade. They also offer free face painting almost every evening. Not to mention a spectacular view of the bay. A majority of the tables are located in the sand area of the restaurant.  There are also tables near the bar that are on the deck area.

We try to make it there at least once or twice during the summer season but it is so popular - the wait for a table can be outrageous.  Luckily we were able to get there early this time (seated at 5 pm) and had no problem getting a table.  Noticed a very long line when we left an hour or so later.

The kids meals are pretty standard - chic tenders, mac'n'cheese, pizza, etc. The cool thing is they serve the kids dishes on frisbees that they can take home ( I can't even tell you how many we have! Ha!)  They also make a variety of daiquiris that the girls love.  Unfortunately I do not stray from my favorite dish, Ahi Poke Salad.  It is so good!  Raw tuna over seaweed salad with some fried wontons.  Love it! I should really branch out but it us so good I can not justify getting anything else.  Need to mention they have a wide variety of options on their menu - seafood, burgers, etc.

Fish Tales turns into a really fun nightclub after hours.  Tends to be a younger crowd but still worth a visit.

Fish Tales is located on the bay at 22nd street.  Their website, www.ocfishtales.com, features the menu, a webcam and listing of events throughout the summer.

Accessories Love

Today I received a request from Brooks to participate in a survey.  It involved questions about running accessories and my purchase history.  It was a real eye opener!  One question asked which running accessories I used. Well.... I checked off every single one except one!  It was a list of 12 or so items.  Yikes!  I didn't consider myself such a runner geek but I guessing am.  I felt somewhat validated that I was able to say that I use a majority of those items frequently.  Money worth spent.

But on the flip side, I have a ton of shoes that I rarely ever wear.  I bought them on a whim or it was a shoe that had worked for me in the past so I bought a couple pair as "spares".  Then I get injured because of the shoe thus they are then collecting dust.  

It makes wonder if this is the case with most runners or am I just a sucker for the next, best accessory.  It is said that all you need to run is a pair of shoes.  I laugh in their face;).  The great marketing arm of running has sucked me in.  I wonder - do I need all this stuff? I remember when I first started this sport and I was naive to the accessories offered and I did fine.  BUT my goals and running have changed dramatically.  I can definitely say I am more committed and goal oriented.  I try to have some type of plan for the year whether it be a goal race or races.  These goals are more challenging every year.  This year I have my eye on a 50k.  I haven't fully committed to the race (aka haven't registered yet..) but it is out there.

So I'm rambling a bit.  I guess my point is - do our running accessories become more complicated as we progress in our running experience?  For me, I utilize almost all my stuff.  I can visualize myself without it but I think it would put me out of my comfort zone.  Is that sad?

Believe in your instincts

I haven't been writing in some time and I miss it.  I obsessively read over other's blogs and enjoy the glimice of their lives.  I want to enjoy my writing again and it would so awesome to record our  wonderful lives as it unfolds,

On a not so positive note, I had a very stressful time at a local and favorite restaurant.  Things happened that were preventable and in the moment I acted like all was ok.  Mistakes happen, right?  As the evening progressed, I noted that our server was not completely aware of the mistake she made and it drove me bonkers.  This wasn't the typical " I am sorry I got your order wrong".  It was servicing my kids daiquiries with alcohol.  And it was a good ten minutes of them sucking them down before she literally sprinted over and grabbed the "cocktails" from them without explanation.  My kids didn't know how to response and neither did I.  I assumed what the problem was and I was right.  I understand mistakes uhappen.  She later explained (when she brought the virgin variety) that the bartender had made the mistake.  When she brought the bill, I was surprised to find that I had been charged for both the adult daiquiries and the virgin ones as well. WTF!  So it was apparent at that point she had been at fault entering in the wrong drinks.  I was at my wits end.  Lying and over charging me!  So we had to patiently wait to get the bill re-adjusted and get my change (15 minutes later).  I left without a word to management.  

The rest is my immaturity.  I should have contacted management immediately upon leaving but..... The anti-confrontational person I tend to be - I tweeted about it instead for the whole world to see.  I was emotional and the few drinks I had didn't help my decision making.  I received a response from the restaurant asking for my email to start a private conversation about the situation,  I am super impresed with this restsurant with their online marketing presence.  Their parking lot is always packed during the season so they don't need to go above and beyond.  I was equally impressed that the owner contacted me and was able to name the server in question without any detailed information from me.  An investigation was done!  It really boosted my impression.  But at the same time I realized I had gotten someone fired.  Note - she was definitely not the most notable server I have ever had but this was her job.  Maybe she doesn't have kids and understand the severity of her actions but to try to charge me twice to cover her tracks was unacceptable.  This concerns the safety and well-being of my daughters. 

Needless to say, I feel conflicted.  My new sweet friend thought I did the right thing.  By letting the world know what happened I was able to get a response and something out of it.  She is definitely more social media savvy than I am but I decided to delete the accusing tweet so the restaurant would not get in trouble.  I had made my point.  But I wonder, is this behavior acceptable?  Is this the only way we can get a response? Airing our grievances to the world? My friend contends that I accomplished more by communicating on a public forum rather than going the traditional route of contacting management onsite. I wonder....

Ready to Find a Marathon

Good morning!

Yesterday was such a beautiful day in MD!  Finally.  After all the cold, ice and snow, it was wonderful to feel the sun on our faces.  I made it just over 6 miles yesterday.  I would have gone longer but I accidentally stopped my GPS app on my phone.  UGH!  So irritated.  I need to fire up my Garmin and wear it as a back-up.

Running is going well.  A little tenderness in my knee after the run so foam rolling was in order.  Definitely need to make that a priority after every run (I always say this after an injury and then it goes by the wayside after a few weeks.)  Any suggestions on how to keep at it???

The training schedule for the half is now in place.  YAY!  Next on my list is finding a marathon before the 50K in November.  This will serve as a training run leading up to my BIG race.  So here are the criteria I use to decide:

Time of year - the race date has to give me enough time to train adequately on the front end and than ample time to recover properly for the longer race. SO....if November is the longer race, I am thinking in the range of late August (though not great conditions for 26.2) and early October. A span of about 2 months.  Not bad.

Course - this is a big one for me.  I usually stick to flat courses - not a big fan of hills or mountains;).  But the 50K route is all rolling hills so I probably need to deviate from my standard.  I don't want anything too challenging (like Blue Ridge) but something to give me the hill experience over the long haul.  Also the 50K is a trail run so maybe a trail marathon?

Location - I don't have a problem traveling for a race but it is easier logistically and monetarily.  With that in mind - my first preference would be to find something in the Mid-Atlantic area.


Cost - Rock-N-Rolls are not in the mix.  Too much $$!  I think I will stay low-key and small.  For one - I don't want to get swept up in the grand excitement of RNR and go balls to the wall.  Have to remember - training run, training run.  Plus, I would love to save the dough to do a destination race sometime in the winter - thinking someplace warm!

So there are the four points I need to consider.  I have done some initial research but nothing in-depth.  Any ideas/suggestions?

Do you put a lot of thought into race scheduling or do you just wing it?  I used to sign up for events on a whim but now that I have matured (HA!) I try to plan things so I don't waste registrations.

Short on Time Training

OK - I have a half marathon in 7 weeks!  GASP!  Due to my lengthy recovery from my knee injury, the longest I have run in months is almost 5 miles.  I need to get my butt in gear.

Well....I just did a quick google search and found a ton of training plans for 7 to 8 week time frames.  Phew!  I thought I was behind.  Yay Google!

Interesting that a number of them have really low mileage during the week.  My typical training usually ups weekday and weekend numbers.  Here is an example from Dartmouth College MBA site:

Tried to cut and paste chart - no luck.  UGH!  I got a MAC for my birthday almost 9 months ago and I am STILL struggling with it.  Well - here is the link.  If you look at the immediate level training schedule,  most weekday runs are 3 miles - week after week.  They have long runs in the usual  standard progression.  Weird....

I am struggling with running and mileage right now for various reasons.

1. It has been a sucky winter to run.  Snow, ice, frigid temps.  It just SUCKS.
2. Boot camp is kicking my ass!  Thankfully we do run a bit during class.  I usually have this grand plan to run afterwards.  NOT!  I am so spent I just want a nap.  Note to self - need to work on scheduling and/or motivation.  See below.
3. Motivation (the big one).  I just can't get into the training mindset.  I was so good leading up to Savannah marathon but after the injury everything went south.  Logically I know I am being too hard on myself.  I will get into it - I just need to have patience.  A training plan will help.

So....to kick start my motivation, I may talk to some of my boot camp buddies about meeting for a run once a week or so.  A couple of them are training for some spring races.  I just hope they won't be sick of seeing my face.  HA!

I am working on incorporating more photos but for now here is one from where I would love to be right now...

Princess2 saying hello from Aruba during our Thanksgiving 2013 vacation.

Hopefully 7 - 9 miles will be in the books by tomorrow afternoon.  Wish me luck!

Time Away

Wow!  I can't believe it has been over two years since I have written here.  Yikes.... Time sure does fly.

Reading over my last few posts, I immediately sense that not much has changed.  But than I start to think of all the thing I have initiated within the last few years.

• I finally ran my 3rd marathon (Savannah)!  
• Got the guts to sign up for a 50k but was sidelined after marathon with fluid in my knee.  Crossing my fingers I have recovered and am starting to train for my upcoming 1/2.
• Started a new 3x/wk boot camp program to supplement my running - looking for balance here.
• Have been taking classes at the local community college to pursue teacher certification! Very excited about this one but is a long process. 
• Both princesses are in school full-time so I try to volunteer at the school as much as possible.

Many things are the same

• Still work at the running store but only one day a week - keeping my discount!
• Love of the beach - we aren't going as much as we used to but we still make it at least one weekend a month during the off-season.
• Trying to run as much and as smart as possible.

Running!

I have sidelined with my knee since November and I think it FINALLY back to normal.  Ran 3 days back -to-back last week.  I got in some miles on Sunday before the snow came through.  Since we were house bound I had to get creative on the treadmill.  (Note: the mill is in our basement which can get mentally taxing.  Thankfully there is a TV.)  I did a interval/pyramid workout.  Started with walking and then bumped it up by .5 every 3 minutes and then back down to walking for 2 minutes.  Once I hit 6.5, I reduced the speed by .5 every 5 min with no walking breaks.  Whew!  4.5 miles later I was a sweaty mess and so glad to get it done!

Hopefully I will make boot camp today.  Another day with no school so I have to drag the Princesses to kids club at the gym. Wish me luck!

How do you handle treadmill workouts?  Just another run or do you have to get creative?