Yes...running AND champagne

My friend, running buddy and roommate often laughs at me when my pre- race dinner consists of a glass of wine.  I am convinced that this is a great idea and continue to stick with the tradition :) 

Crossing that finish line at the end of a race is one of the greatest feelings.  You feel free, accomplished and strong.  I've often thought, this can't get any better, and then I read about the See Jane run series.  Not only do you get some awesome bling (see below for 2011 medal), you are awarded champagne and chocolates at the end of the race.  I love me some champagne :)  This race has been on my race event list for the past two years, and I am determined to make it happen.  I have emailed the race officials at least two times to see when registration opens.  This is one I definitely won't miss.  I hope that you will be there too.  Enter this contest for a chance to win a race entry for you and a friend!
See Jane Run

I survived- Warrior Dash 2011

I had been wanting to participate in Warrior Dash for some time.  I registered 1/26/11 right when registration opened.  I did not have anyone doing it with me, I just knew that I was going to do this.  Warrior dash ended up going on Groupon in September of this year and luckily my friend Angela and several of her friends signed up.  Yay, a big group!

We woke up on race day and decided have a last minute effort a painting our faces, day of the dead skeletons.  We had great intentions of dressing up as smurfs or something else, but life and work got in the way.  With the short time and limited supplies, we did a pretty good job, I must say.

I was slightly nervous, and as the course progressed, rightfully so.  I am pretty terrified of heights and they had several tall climbs.  I had to skip one and climb back down another.  Maybe next year I will be brave enough to tackle them all.  Nonetheless, this was fun!  My favorite part was going through the mud pit at the end.

Me swimming through the mud pit

Jumping over fire

It was a great day.  Despite the air and elevation giving me asthma issues, our team "left no man behind"  Got to meet new people, some new friends. :)

Nike Women's Marathon 2011

Love the Nike Women's Marathon.  This year I did the half.  I went to the Stanford Nike to get my sweatshirt early this year.  Since they had a green one, and green being my favorite color, I did not want them to sell out.

Saturday I went up to the city for my bib pick up and for the expo.

 ..and then to find my name on the wall outside the Niketown store.  I met two friends and the hotel near the airport and we went to dinner.  The next day was early to rise!  Nike was a lot of fun, despite my bad time and feeling lethargic.  I ran with a good friend and had good friends waiting at the finish.  Who doesn't love crossing that finish line and getting a Tiffany necklace from firemen in suits?

Race beginning for the gun in Times Square

Angela and I steps from the finish

Finisher necklace

Victory Donuts

Victory race Dynamo

So I have come up with a deal.  Well....sort of.  I was frequenting Dynamo Donuts often.  Several trips from San Jose to the city each week was getting costly.  The new rule is I can get donuts every time I have a race or running event.  (I added in birthdays, holidays and anniversary's too- but good thing I have at least one race a month just in case).  On mile 10 of the Morgan Hill marathon this past weekend all I was thinking about were my victory race donuts and the new ones that I was going to get to try.  (well and the BLING that I would receive at the end).  I also have the disclaimer that if Dynamo tweets that they are having a donut that I have not tried, I can go then too.  That is why I call this a sort of deal :)

My victory box (to share with roommates and friends of course) after Morgan Hill Marathon:

Morgan Hill half marathon

This past Sunday I ran the Morgan Hill Half marathon to complete the CA marathon series.  Living in Morgan Hill for over 23 years made this race special to me and I was extra excited. 

I woke up Sunday morning still a little sore from the Nike Women's Marathon the previous Sunday.  I drove down to Morgan Hill to arrive at 6:00 to pick up my race bib.  (I had to pay an extra $10 but was luckily able to pick up my bib that day).

The race and course were nice.  Starting at the Centennial center and heading down Edmunson to Oak Glen, Willow Springs, Hale and then back to the Centennial.  There are a few miles of downhill after mile 6.  People kept saying that this was a very hilly course, but compared to Nike it seemed like a breeze (and possibly living in Morgan Hill left me know what to expect).  I finished at 3:04:52.  Crossing that finish line and getting two medals felt good!

Dynamo Donuts... again =)

This weekend I ran the Nike Women's (half) Marathon in San Francisco.  On Saturday the plan was to head to the city to pick up my race bib and to attend the expo.  Of course we were stopping by Dynamo Donuts!  I had actually called Dynamo the day before, found out what the baker was making, and placed an order to pick up Saturday.  We finally arrived at Dynamo.  Our box was waiting for us :)  So many new flavors to try.  Once again, all were awesome.  We immediately fell in love with their caramel.  It is extremely good and not sticky at all.  I don't know how they do it.  They keep getting every donut right!

When we were at the store on Saturday, we made a wish list for an order to pick up Sunday.  Victory post race donuts!  Once again, mmmm.  We took two dynamo virgins (race buddy and race supporter) and they immediately fell in love with the place as well.

The only ones that I have left to try are rhubarb, quince crumb, strawberry earl grey, meyer lemon huckelberry  ginger orange and peanut buddy.  I will be back soon!

Saturday: Caramel de Sel, Vanilla Bean, Pumpkin Chocolate Chip, Apricot Cardamom, maple bacon, lemon thyme, candied orange blossom, caramel apple and coconut.

 

Sunday: Maple bacon, lemon pistachio, chocolate passion fruit, vanilla bean, caramel del sel, molasses guiness pear, corneal rosemary cherry

I'm addicted to Dynamo Donuts...True story

It all began during my quest to achieve yelp elite status.  I found myself wanting to try new places so that I could yelp them.  My boyfriend loves to watch the food network, so we started looking up places from food network shows.  Low and behold we came across "The Best Thing I Ever Ate".  On the list was Dynamo Donuts.  The featured donut was the maple bacon.  First of all I don't event like donuts (silly me) so this didn't sound the least bit appealing.  My boyfriend was all for it, so I said we could go and I would 'taste' a donut.

We decided to head over to Dynamo around 4:30 and were at the other end of the city.  Come to find out, Dynamo closed at 5:00.  I called over and the nice young man said that he would wait for us.  Win!  We ended up getting there at 5:02 (after almost missing it the first time).  He ended up giving us several donuts two for one since they were closing.  We got a few maple bacon, lemon pistachio, chocolate rose hazelnut, passion fruit milk chocolate and chocolate rose.

Lemon pistachio, maple bacon, chocolate geranium hazelnut, chocolate rose, passion fruit milk chocolate

I fell in love with the lemon pistachio and the maple bacon.  ALL of the other donuts were good too!  The dough of the donut is unlike any other that I have tasted.  It is light and fluffy-almost croissant like.  The toppings are gourmet, perfectly paired and not too sweet at all.  (If you've been to Psycho Donut in San Jose- ewww- these are nothing like them.  They are top of the line and this is coming from someone who never eats donuts).