Mah babe's babe

Hello again!

I left off last Thursday. Yoga that morning was amazing. We did a ton of work involving back-bends and opening our spines and our instructor said something about how we'd have lots of energy throughout our day because of it. Not sure if this was just a yogacebo or what, but I was pumped! up! all! day! It was awesome. The free iced coffee they have in the mornings probably helped.

Friday morning I set out on a "long-ish" run, because I was fairly certain I wasn't going to haul my cookies out in 35° morning weather during my quick weekend trip to KC. I did pack a workout outfit, my water bottle and running shoes just in case. Shoulda saved the carry-on space! I ran 6.56 early morning miles with progressively faster splits and felt completely amazing. 1:09:29 for a 10:36 min/mi average. I want every run to be that not. (Spoiler alert to this morning: they're not.)

My boss scared me into leaving for the airport earlier than I had planned, so I headed down there around 1:30. I'm glad I did, because the entire economy parking lot was full. I was forced into the garage spaces out there, which is $2 more per day. What a ruse!

I picked up a veggie sambo and iced coffee from La Grande Orange (Sky Harbor's restaurant scene is glorious) and waited while my flight got delayed about half an hour. It didn't matter, since my flight was now arriving the same time as my WonderTwin Ashley. We bounded off our flights and went to pick up her amazing chariot:

(I got tha Hertz hook up...holla if you hear me)

We sped off to my dad's house and got there around 11:00 for baseball watching and snacks.

The next morning she left in her pimped-ride and my mom came to pick me up for the baby shower. It was a glorious afternoon of friends, snacks, a mountain of gifties and of course lots of pictures. I miss these ladies!!!!!!

 (BUMP!)

 (Every gal needs a hip set of glittery Jayhawk diapies)

Afterwards we helped deliver gifties to Jo's house and hung out for a while. Can't wait to meet that Blueb!!!!!! And learn her name, but someone said "Beyonce Spears Conrad" and Jo didn't say it WASN'T that, so there is hope.

That night we went to Pizza Bella for mom's belated birthday dinner. The food was just as delicious as the Crossroads location, but you could definitely tell we were in the Johnson County location by the two tables nearby with screaming children.

Sunday we all met up at Eggtc. off the Plaza for a final group get-together and breakfast. This place was a standard before I moved, but they've expanded their menu and it's even more glorious. Their iced coffee was on point and my frittata ("Cheddar, potatoes, broccoli, mushrooms, onions and roasted red peppers. Topped with spicy salsa and basil") was DELICIOUS. AND HUGE. We all wheeled ourselves out of there.

(Blurry breakfast)

My flight back was on time and I relished the 90 degree air that hit me in the face as I walked to the parking garage. I forced myself to go to the grocery store and that night we started an epic binge:

I'm glad to have a new TV obsession because when Mad Men ends next spring I'm going to want to die.

I forced myself up for a 6:00 a.m. flow class at the Gainey Village location. I'd taken this class once before and while the instructor is a little more hippy dippy than other ones I've experienced (she's the one who starts class with "breath of fire" and talks about astrology/moon cycles/etc.), which you know I love, the class itself is right up my alley. A complete workout without feeling like I'm going to pass out and die like some more power classes can do to me.

I was not looking forward to this morning's run for some reason. I ended up sleeping in a little later than usual (alarm went off at 5:25 so that's my "later" time apparently) and was just not interested. I actually still wanted to go back inside and just hang out while I was stretching outside our gate. No idea what the problem was, but I sucked it up and ran 4 miles in 42:04 (10:31 min/mi) with progressively slower splits. 10:25, 10:28, 10:31, 10:38. Whoops. Not terrible, but not the greatest, you know?

Tomorrow I hope to do another "long-ish" run like last Friday. It looks like the heavens may storm-dump on us again so I might have to do it on the treadmill. Woof. We'll see.

 

Austin eating (and one lonely run)

How long will it take me to fully recover from four full days of eating amazement in Austin? However long, it was worth it. I officially have a new favorite food city.

We arrived Thursday afternoon and went to lunch with Aaron's mom, sister and niece (!) who was a riot. She was a little chunkola!

After eating we set out for our apartment for the weekend. We thought we were going to stay with his aunt the whole trip, but it turns out she recently bought an apartment and has been working on making it fully furnished and updated to rent out. What a glorious surprise!

 

 

 

After we dropped our stuff off we went down the street for an iced coffee and hung out before heading to his sister's house in Buda, about 25 minutes away.

 

(Tio AV!)

 

 

I was full from my gigantic salad and airport breakfast burrito, but when we stopped by Torchy's to pick up food that night I couldn't resist an "Independent" taco ("Hand-battered and fried portobello mushroom strips with refried black beans, roasted corn, escabeche carrots, queso fresco, cilantro and avocado" COME ON!) and lots of sampling the green chile queso blanco. Ridiculous.

 

The next morning I was determined to get a least one work out for the trip in, so I set off in our apartment's neighborhood to try my best. The temperature was perfect (around 67°) but the humidity crept up on me! Still, it was neat to see the neighborhood wake up (tons of pups!) and run some hills for once. Splits were in at 11:10, 10:23 and 10:29 for 3.15 in 33:49. A nice little vacation workout, which sadly wouldn't happen again for the rest of the trip. Whoops.

 

Once I got home and we got ready, AV's aunt and uncle took us to breakfast. We stopped at this tiny little Mexican restaurant and I tried my hand a migas and breakfast potatoes. Completely stupidly delicioius. You know it's legit when nothing is in English.

 

After that we drove through all these little side and back streets to check out some amazing houses in the neighborhood. The architecture in the small spaces was insane. The whole thing reminded me of Lawrence on steroids. (Which you know I loved.)

 

A little later AV's sister and her husband came to pick us up and we headed down to Congress Street (again, Mass. St. times ten) for lunch and walking around. We had lunch at Snack Bar. Anything with "snack" in the name means I'm in love. AV and I split the black bean dip to start and I had a side of mac and cheese for my meal. A "side" because it was decievingly filling and AWESOME. (My Yelp here.)

 

 

(Dip of dreams.)

 

After lunch we were in desperate need of walking it off. Congress Street is awesome. The weather was perfect--sunshiney and not too hot.  So much people watching, so many tiny little shops.

 

(Shopping included weird anti-drug posters from India)

 

 

(We're the first people in the history of the world to pose with this, right?)

They dropped us back off after a few hours and we got ready to head BACK to Congress Street with his aunt and uncle for dinner. PIZZA! There was about a 45 minute wait so we grabbed some drinks and headed to their cute back deck that was decked out in twinkle lights, patio chairs, and ping pong tables.

 

 

The food was outstanding. (I haven't Yelped, but I'm sure I will.) We all split a Pear Gorgonzola salad and AV and I split a "Medium" (Huge.) pie with spinach, roasted red pepper, green olives, and onions. It was fantastic. The fresh spinach and green olives were the kicker for me. We had to bring home leftovers because we couldn't possibly eat more.

 

...buuuuuut once we got home we decided maybe we could possibly eat more. Enter the glowing sign of Gourdough's right down the street. How could we say no to dessert?

 

 

 

What you're looking at (thanks to photo editing, because ti was dark out on their patio and I didn't want to be the a-hole taking a flash picture of her doughnut) is their Nutty Valentine: freshly fried doughnut (almost tasted like a funnel cake) topped with Nutella, cinnamon, sugar and fresh strawberries. If you're wondering if this was out of controle, it was. I decided to pair it with more sugar: I drank a Ragtime, including "Absolute Citron & Ginger Puree With Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice & Basil. Topped With Blood Orange Soda." It was delicious, although I could have stood more ginger puree as I like to get punched in the face with ginger tasting things.

 

I slept the sleep of a thousand sugar-induced fever dreams that night, but it was worth it!

 

 

Saturday was Elia's birthday party (although her actual birthday was Thursday) so we headed over there after the world's most amazing breakfast tacos, conveniently just down the street from us.

 



 

 

She was wearing a fancy first birthday outfit and we watched her open gifts while we ate lunch and a glorious pink cake.

 

Afterwards we set out to get Aaron a BBQ Snack before heading home to rest up. He said it was easily one of the best barbecue he's ever had. ATX protip!

 

That night we met up with his sister and husband again at the Alamo Drafthouse for dinner and to see The Equalizer which was good Denzel actiony fun. I'd say the alternative title could have been "How to Kill Someone 100 Different Ways in Home Depot." The Alamo in KC opened up right around the time I left, so I was excited to finally give it a try. I loved it! I'm planning a visit when we go back to KC for Christmas. I had a really surprisingly amazing Greek salad and of course AV ordered bottomless popcorn. (We couldn't even finish the first round, although I tried really hard by stress eating.)

 

Sunday morning we woke up and knew we were meeting Aaron's sister for lunch at Bouldin Creek, so we attempted to go light on the food for breakfast. We'd seen Soup Peddler down the street so deicded to head there for smoothies. I ordered the "Business Time," which includes "cold-brewed espresso, banana, peanut butter, raw local honey, cacao, rice milk." It was everything I've ever wanted in life. We sat out on their sunny patio and it was a perfect start to the day.

 

 

We decided to fit in one more Austin discovery and parked ourselves at Radio Coffee & Beer's patio. Of course, Aarond had to sample a single taco truck taco while we drank some amazing cold-brewed coffee.

 

 

We headed back to pack up and meet up for lunch. There's not much I can say about Bouldin Creek that hasn't already been said (Although I tried) It was basically one of my favorite places on the planet.

 



Our flight home was fine, although half an hour late. We watched football at the airport and finally made it on home. Thankfully, my car parked in economy parking was fine. I officially love Austin and can't wait to return for more funtimes! I just have to prepare myself for FEASTING!

 

 

Workouts this week:

 

Yesterday's 4.16 run was supposed to be 5, but at least it was speedy. For me. (I feel like I always have to put a "for me" at the end of statements like that. I don't want someone thinking I'm an elite racer when I'm...struggling on a 4 mile run. Right?) 4.16 in 41:13 for a 9:54 min/mi pace. Carbo loading for four days straight works!

 

This morning's 5 miles felt great. So great that I accidentally turned it into 5.62. Whoops! 10:29 min/mi pace. Felt strong.

 

Tomrrow is yoga. THANK YOU INFANT JESUS.

 

Friday is another run. I'll try to get a "longish" run in before work because I leave a few hours early to go back to KC for BABY BLUEB'S SHOWER!

 

I leave you with this:

 

 

 

Oops

Yesterday I had a "oh, crap" moment. For some reason I had the wrong pace time in my head for my 2:20 half goal. It's 10:41/mi, not 10:46. And yes, I know 5 seconds seems pretty measly, but to someone who isn't exactly the most natural runner, it means I need to get my act together!

Thursday morning yoga was necessary and awesome. After warming up with about 15 minutes of flow we spent the majority of the rest of class in various down-dog positions and deeeeeeeep lunges working out hamstrings and hips. Also! I learned that some people called Flipped Dog "Wild Thing," which is basically my new favorite term of life.

Another "crap" moment this morning: I babied out on core work. It was humid (no comments from the peanut gallery, mom) and I was DRENCHED in sweat when I came back from my 3.12 miles. All I could think about was a shower. I'm sure Sunday afternoon yoga will involve core work somehow.

(Sweet, another Garmin pic where it looks like you took a dip in a pool of sweat. 

Well, maybe I did.)

Tomorrow calls for another 8 miles. I might try to extend it to 8.5 to build upon last week, but we'll just see how I feel. 

I'm v. excited because in one month I will be celebrating the impending birth of Blueberry with my ex-wife. HOORAY!