How To Run A 5K

If you follow along with my blog at all, you would know that I have an on again, off again relationship with running.  One week I am posting I am running a half-marathon, the next I am saying who needs running or exercise.  But when it really comes down to it I really do enjoy running.  I think it is something you either like or do not.  For me (as a former college athlete) it is a form of competition that I now have a lack of in my life.  The other part for me is I LOVE to eat!  So if I can eat what I would like and go run it off, then I am a happy girl!

Daniel and I set out on the task of training for a 5K back in February.  I posted a long time ago about my first 5K experience.  I knew this time I was really going to train and push myself.  Yeah right!  I got about 3 weeks into the training and life happened.  I started staying late at work making sub plans and spending my afternoons getting things together for my trip to Europe over spring break.  To make a long story short, the training just stopped.

Now add two weeks in Europe to the equation.  No time or access to running coupled with exhaustion made it impossible for me to pick up my training schedule.  Needless to say I arrived back in the States booked for a 5K and no time to train.  The only advantages that I had going into the race were that I am athletic and Daniel did not train at all, so we could suffer through it together.    

The morning of the race arrived and we were pumped.  The goal was to finish the race.  We took it nice and slow, not pushing ourselves beyond what we were physically capable of handling.  In the end we both crossed the finish line in pretty decent times (33-34 minutes) and had a blast.  We are even trying to figure out what the next one will be... granted there will be training involved with that one!

I told you all that, because I want to stress two things.  First of all running a 5K is a reality for almost anyone.  There were people at that race from all ages and all types of physical capabilities.  With the right amount of training and the right program it is something that anyone can aspire to complete.  The second thing is that training is essential.  Unless you have been very physically active in your life leading up to this you will need to train to ensure your safety.  By gradually building up your distance it makes it seem like such a doable task and much more enjoyable.  

Below I have shared by training schedule that I followed (for a little while) during the training for this last 5K.  I made it a really long time ago, but I think I used Hal Higdeon's 5K Novice training plan.  His website is a great resource for all distances.  Another great tool is the Couch to 5K Program, which starts you off very slow with small intervals of running mixed in with walking.  Both programs offer applications to download on your smartphone as well and they walk you through your exercises.     

I hope this helps any of you considering walking or running a race of any distance in your future!  Check out the following resources for more information about races in your area:

Run The East 

Running In The USA

Road Race Runner

High Five For Friday

What a week?  I have spring fever.  My students have spring fever.  And only 28 instructional days stand between us and exams.  This semester is flying by.  However, this week did not.  But it is Friday and we made it!

1- Spending time with my man is the best part of any week.  Double the pleasure this week, because we took my mom out to dinner!

2- I completed my second 5K this past week and it was so fun!  Its fun to enjoy the challenge of competing with myself, but I realized I need to actually train before I take on the next one!

3- The search for lampshades is going on week 2 now!  These were the second ones that I have bought only to get them home and realize that they had a pattern on the inside that you could see when you turned on the lamp :(  Hopefully the third time will be the charm!

4- Disney knows how to get to me.  In the midst of a busy week they can lift my spirits and get my mind on vacation planning with a simple email.  What do you say Mr. Pennington?

5- Isn't Pinterest just full of amazing things.  Case in point this absolutely adorable t-shirt that my husband will have in his closet very soon!


Have a great weekend everyone and I will see you Monday for a continuation of my European adventure!

Traveling Tuesday: Myrtle Beach

This weekend Daniel and I planned a little getaway.  We never got around to celebrating our anniversary (back in August), so we thought better late than never.  We headed down the Carolina coast to Myrtle Beach for three days of relaxation.  Surprisingly, we had way more things planned than we ever got around to doing.  It just turned out to be nicer to relax and take it easy.  A few of the highlights included a surprise dinner to a new favorite restaurant and a night full of Disney movies.

We stayed at the Bay View Resort.  I think Myrtle Beach is one of the hardest places to find a quality hotel by shopping online, because so many look wonderful on the outside, but the inside is a nightmare.  We took a risk with Bay View and were pleasantly surprised.  The rooms were by no means large, but the bed was comfortable (a king-size for the couple who typically sleeps on a full!), the bathroom was nicely renovated, and the view from the balcony was gorgeous!  Another perk was that there was a full service Starbucks located on the ground level along with a great indoor swimming facility.  We didn't use the pool, but we certainly enjoyed the Starbucks!

 Shopping is one of the primary draws of visiting Myrtle Beach.  They have two great outlet malls along with a traditional mall and countless other places to do all the shopping your heart desires.  We enjoyed the outlets, because they have many great stores like an ADIDAS, Nike, and of course JCREW!  I was able to make a few purchases off of my want list and sadly crossed off a few from my currently craving list.  The polka dot blouse I posted about recently ran astronomically large and the XXS was too large for me!  I got some other cuties though!

Bag (Lauren by Ralph Lauren via Marshalls), Chambray Dot Button Up: Old Navy, T-Shirt: J. Crew Factory, Gingham Button Up: J. Crew Factory 

I mentioned earlier that Daniel surprised me with a special dinner.  He took me to a place I had recently been talking about and it lived up to the hype.  Ruth's Chris Steakhouse is the place to go for an amazing steak.  I had the Mixed Grill and Daniel had the New York Strip.  We left there feeling delightfully stuffed.  The steak was so tender that it melted in my mouth and the chicken and crab cake on my plate were equally as good.  I loved the atmosphere and it was a nice, quiet place to dine and enjoy each others company.  I didn't get a chance to snap a picture of the salad or dessert, but they were amazing as well.  The dessert was a Whiskey Bread Pudding and I dare say it was almost as good as the Bread Pudding at Raglan Road in Disney World.  Almost.  

We spent the rest of the weekend shopping and exploring.  We went to Broadway at the Beach, enjoyed a morning jog by the water, and ended the weekend with a trip to Barefoot Landing.  All in all it was the relaxing weekend that we both needed.  ABC Family was even running a Disney movie marathon Sunday night and we sat on our bed for hours enjoying the Lion King, Cinderella, and Hercules.  Who says you have to stay on the go the entire time your on vacation?  The only thing I stressed over this entire weekend was being able to watch Downton Abbey on Sunday night, but no worries we were able to find it! 

You guys know the drill.  If you want to participate in Traveling Tuesday, just blog about an amazing location you have been to and link up your post in the comments below.  Happy Tuesday and Happy Travels!

13.1

13.1, miles that is.  Yes, I am crazy and I have taken on the task of training for a Half-Marathon.

Now that Daniel and I are settling into our lives back near our hometowns I began to check out some 5k races in the area and I stumbled upon the Heart & Sole Half-Marathon sponsored by the YMCA.  I looked at Daniel, said "I'm going to run a half-marathon."  He replied, "Oh really?"  That is his usual response to the many great ideas that I come up with on a regular basis.  So naturally I had to prove him wrong and I begin training today!  I have even convinced him to run with me!!

The race is not until early next year, however I noticed that most of the training programs have you running 3-5 miles the first week, so I decided to start training immediately.  It might take me some time.  I haven't ran too much since I conquered my first 5k last December.  You may remember my desire to simply finish the race and how I surprised myself with running a pretty decent time considering I didn't train at all.  A half-marathon might be a little different.  Like 10 miles different.  So I am sticking with just completing the race this time... still breathing.

I'm not sure what it is about running, but it just makes me feel so much better.  I think its the fresh air and the pounding of the pavement.  Getting the frustration of the world out one step at the time.  I have been really looking at training plans, blogs, and running gear since I have been more and more interested in running.  Peanut Butter Fingers is one of my all time favorite blogs and she has some great advice on training for a half and for fitness in general.  She also gives great tips on running gear and convinced me to invest in some good running shoes.  I got this beauties for my birthday :)

Mizuno Wave Rider

I am currently drooling over a Garmin Forerunner 405.  These watches are seriously amazing for outdoor running, because they are GPS-enabled and can be programmed with multiple running programs.  They track heart rate, calories burned, average mile pace, distance, and much more. 

Finally, a run isn't complete without some awesome tunes.  I think Ipods are amazing and I am particularly fond of my very old, but incredible Ipod Shuffle.  I love how they clip on to your clothes and the songs are easy to change.  A good playlist is just as important.  I have used a great site called Rock My Run for a while now and they make running playlist that vary in length and bpm in order to get the most out of the type of run you want.  

So have any of you guys every ran a half-marathon?  I am looking for advice on the best training plans.  I know Hal Higdon has a good basic program, but I am looking for information from anyone who has actually tried a program.

Daniel and I are off for a Happy Anniversary Day Date... so excited to see where we are going 

the hiking chronicles

The gloomy rain has set in once again this week and its making me itch for the outdoors.  This past weekend Daniel and I did have the luxury of getting outside for a little while before the rain rolled in, so we took a hike in a local park and had a lovely morning.

We set out to a park we had not been to before (well I have, but not in many, many years) called River Park North.  Its a lovely little sanctuary of nature in the middle of a city and they even have paddle boats!  We didn't get to try the boats this time, because you have to reseve them, but they are certainly on the list for next time.  We walked the entire span of the trail and back again, during which we saw some incredible animal and plant life.  I even saw a snake in the water!

my new running kicks

My two favorite animals of the day were the little family of turtles and the beautiful blue dragonfly.  They were everywhere chasing each other... we were actually afraid they were going to crash into us a couple of times.

daniel's best karate kid pose

 We really had a lot of fun and I recommend it to any looking to get outdoors.  In addition to the hiking trails they have fishing areas, paddle boat and fish boat rentals, picnic areas, a playground, and a science and nature center.  Also for all you local Greenville residents "Sunday in the Park" starts up this weekend.  Its an awesome free concert series in Town Common Park every Sunday during the summer months.  Pack a picnic, grab your lawn chair, and enjoy an evening of free music.  I hope to see you there!

One last thing... if you are interested in music you may want to check this out this weekend too.  The North Carolina Symphony is playing at Tryon Palace.  Tryon Palace has a special place in our hearts, because if you remember thats were Daniel asked me to be his wife .  We went to this event last year and it was phenomenal.  They play outside on the giant lawn overlooking the river and it is simply beautiful.  They performed a Star Wars tribute last year... much to Mr. Pennington's liking!  Best part of it all... its free!

happy weekend!

summer

Jingle All The Way

Yesterday, I ran in the Jingle All the Way 5k with my friend Jessica.
It was Jessica's second race and a first for me.
My mom was on hand to cheer for us and she was such a trooper in the freezing cold weather.  

My race number!

The race wasn't an overly crowded one, so it was a great introduction to the racing scene.  I decided to take things slow in the beginning, because my over all goal was just to finish the race.  I had only ran a 5k once before and that was Monday on a practice run.  Much to my surprise I completed the race with much more ease that I anticipated and I really enjoyed it!  I'm ready for the next one!

My final time was 32:10, so I averaged just over 10 minutes per mile.  

For the next race I am shooting for 9 minute miles and to finish under 30 minutes!

Elation!  I was so proud of myself!

I haven't really competed in any sports since college,
so it was really cool to feel my competitive spirit coming back.
I am even trying to convince Daniel to get back into running and try a 5k out with me.
Who know's maybe a half-marathon is in my future!!  

Freedom!

Today was the first day of Christmas Break! Sweet Freedom!

I was so unsure of what to do with myself since 

I haven't truly been free from obligations since the middle of June.  

I decided to take a little trip to visit my old workplace and see some friendly faces.

It was so good to be back there and it reminded me of how much I miss everyone.

Then I got to have lunch with my mom and that was awesome!

I love visiting her at work and when I can bring her some food its double happiness.

When I got home I had the most ridiculous sweet tooth!!

I never crave sweets, maybe its that 5k glooming in my mind?

No worries though, because I found the most delicious recipe here.

Chocolate Crinkle Cake Mix Cookies

what you need

1 box Devil's Food cake mix

1/4 cup canola oil

2 large eggs

powdered sugar for garnish

how you make it

preheat oven to 350 degrees

combine cake mix, oil, and eggs in a large bowl and mix until combined

(you may need to use your hands...i did)

roll cookie dough into small balls and roll around in a bowl of powdered sugar

place dough balls on a greased cookie sheet and bake for approximately 12 minutes

enjoy (while listening to christmas music)!

well, tomorrows the big day

the day i put myself through unnecessary torture

also known as the "Jingle All The Way 5k"

Goal: Finish... with a pulse

I'll let you know how it goes!

Creamy Cheese Tortellini

Well its been a while... but school is coming to a close so free time is in my future!

Tonight's menu was maybe a new favorite for the Pennington's

I was searching through a Christmas cookbook for some holiday goodies and 

came across this one... its pretty amazing and super easy!

what you need

1 package (7 oz) cheese-filled tortellini

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin slices

1/4 cup butter

1 small green bell pepper, chopper (1/2 cup)

1/2 sweet onion, chopped

8 baby carrots, sliced

1/2 cup frozen garden peas

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 3/4 cups milk

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup shredded monterey jack/colby cheese

how you make it

Cook and drain tortellini as directed on package.

Meanwhile, in 3-quart saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil, stirring frequently, until no longer pink in center. Remove chicken from saucepan; keep warm.

In same saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Cook bell pepper, shallots and carrots in butter, stirring frequently, until bell pepper is crisp-tender. Stir in flour and pepper. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is bubbly; remove from heat. Stir in milk and frozen garden peas. 

Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute; remove from heat. Stir in cheeses until melted. Stir in tortellini and chicken until coated.

I was extra happy tonight, because it was the first time I got to use my AMAZING Le Creuset dutch oven!!  I ogled over these pots for years watching Giada de Laurentiis on the Food Network.  Earlier this year Daniel and I broke down and purchased this little beauty and I must say it was well worth it!

In other news, I have a 5k coming up in only a matter of days.  You may remember that I started training for a race last month.  However, with school and the holidays I have had way too much going on to run.  My friend contacted me yesterday though and said a race was coming up this weekend and wanted to know if I was interested.  

Call me crazy, but I agreed!  I gave a 5k a try today for the first time ever and I made it!! Well, I did have to walk just a little bit, but I finished which is my main purpose for Saturday.  I am so happy to give this a try, I just hope I make it!