Trying for a Tri

Saturday

Alas, I do not have internet!! How is a girl to survive?? Probably a well needed time-out from the interweb for me. I’ve decided to blog anyways, save it, and post it when I return to civilization

Those of you who guessed today is my 6 month blogiversary were right!!! (I have no idea if anyone guessed that, since I can’t check, I’m just assuming my smarty-pants readers were able to figure it out).

I started blogging exactly six months ago today! So much has happened over these past six months. I finished my last semester of university, got a “grown up job,” graduated university and ran my first race on the same day, bought a car, finished a triathlon, and found a sweet bachelor(ette) pad!

But that’s all in the past. Let’s look at the present, shall we?

I arrived at Point-de-Chene (Shediac/Parlee Beach for those of you who know the area) just before sunset last night. My mother and I headed out for a walk on the beach right away. It was beautiful!!

My little “step-brother” showed up to keep us entertained…

 
We made friends…

And maybe tortured a few snails along the way

The rest of the evening was spent relaxing and going to bed early because I was exhausted.

I was up at 6:30 this morning and hit the road for a run! (after putting back a little banana + PB with water first, of course). It got really hot today so I wanted to beat the heat.

It was one of the best runs ever! My new sneakers felt great. It was a quiet and beautiful morning as I ran on the dirt roads along the beach. I felt completely spoiled. It was also my longest run in months!

Duration: 50 minutes (10 of that was walking for my warm-up and cool-down)
Calories: 439
Max HR: 174
Avg HR: 153

I took quick walking breaks every ten minutes for the first half-hour, and then did it every five minutes to get me through those last 10. As of right now, I feel completely pain free

It was just me and the other early risers when I got back to the cottage, so I got to enjoy a quiet breakfast on the sun porch.

Instant oatmeal with the other half of my banana and PB. I used a packet of this stuff for the oatmeal:

  
One thing I liked about this stuff is that it’s a 1/2 cup serving size as opposed to 1/3 cup like most other oatmeal packets. I like me a bigger bowl! I also liked that there was already cinnamon in it, and enjoyed the “multi-grainy” taste.

Shortly after we hit the road to cottage numero deux. The first cottage belongs to my mother’s boyfriend’s family, whereas the second one belongs to my family. It’s a little farther out in an area called Amherst Shore. Just past the Nova Scotia border, on a bay overlooking NB and PEI.

I ate one of my new bars in the car while my mom drove.

Sort of like the Superstore’s “no-name” version of a protein bar.

 
Not bad pictures for being taken in a moving vehicle!! I didn’t even bother trying to get ones of the fine nutrition info print. It was about 210 calories with 14g protein. It was alright, had a bit of a crunchy cardboard taste reminiscent of the Zone bar.

I was immediately filled with warm joy the second I got to soak up this view again.

I did a little of this on the deck:

 
And walked around, taking in the air at my favourite place on earth.

I also consumed half a watermelon.

Now it’s just me and my mom, who is at this very second is nagging gently urging me to get off my bum and help with dinner. See ya for what’s looking like a rainy Sunday!!

Sunday

Today looked a lot like this:

Me and Archie here slept a glorious nine hours last night, despite there being a band-for-hire playing the catalogue of the world’s worst songs ever up the hill. I don’t know what it is about my cottage, but this place is so good for sleeping and napping!

I had a repeat of yesterday’s breakfast, since I often forget how wonderful simple bowls of oats are. It was almost noon by the time I got out of bed, after spending the morning reading a plethora of cycling and running magazines. I thought a little spurt of activity was in order. I did C+K’s challenge in 15 minutes, then did my favourite yoga poses for another 15. It was a surprisingly sweaty 30 minutes!

For lunch, I took everything we ate for dinner last night and stuffed it in a pita with hummus.

• romaine
• orange pepper
• mushrooms
• red onion
• tomato
• turkey breast
• butternut squash
• hummus

It was delicious!! I was thisclose to going back and putting peanut butter in it. Next time, I won’t hold back. I think a squash-turkey-nut butter pita could be amazing.

It rained on and off all afternoon, and I didn’t have much motivation after sleeping so long last night. So it was a well-needed lazy day

Supper was even more amazing than lunch. On the menu: COW.

 
Ohmygoodness. Words cannot even describe. I cannot believe my tastebuds and body have been missing out on this for so long! (ahem, more than a decade!) My mom and I picked up some ground hamburger at a local store in Cap-Pele, a small Acadian town not too far from here. So we assume it was good beef. My mom said she mixed it with an egg, some oregano, and a piece of flax bread, and then just cooked it on the stovetop.

Let me put it this way: I will never again compare a veggie burger to a real hamburger. There is no comparison.

My mom and I just got back from a quick walk with Archie. It was so cute to see him barrelling his way through the fields with a big goofy doggy grin on his face. We’re leaving first thing tomorrow since I work in the evening

Oh!! And to finish off this crazy long post – just want to give a shout-out to Lori, who did her first triathlon today!!! I can’t wait to get home and read all about it!

Hope everyone enjoyed their weekends, with or without the beef