Jun 25, 2012

the one where bill becomes an even older old man

happy birthday bill!



































you're no longer 30

you've dove right in to your "early thirties"

i can't help but think that sounds so old.

it's even worse when i realize i'm not 22.

i'm not 25 either as i thought the other day.

but for someone who's now 31

i can promise you.

you don't act a day over 15.

thanks to, impart, laughing at your own barking spiders.

i remember so vividly writing this last year

and it kind of makes me tear up thinking about how much we've done in such a short amount of time

time is passing at an incredible pace

i should be so alarmed

i'm worried i'll forget the small things of everything we do

but i am so blessed to get to spend each fleeting second with someone as incredible as you

here's to another eventful and exciting year.

and for someone so concerned with the passing of time,

i'm actually counting down the days.

124 more to go before i become mrs. rachel ottman.

i love you bill, and i hope you're day is awesome

(yes.  i just tried to rhyme ottman and awesome.  so shoot me.)






Jun 20, 2012

happy first day of summer

oh hi there

i hope you're as excited as i am about it being wednesday.

only one more day to dress up for work before casual friday.

this week i'm planning a birthday party for bill.

yes.

i never had birthday parties growing up - i mean i got gifts and maybe there was a special meal, but it wasn't like my whole family got together and celebrated.

bill's family celebrates birthdays.

everyone's.

and with 2 brothers, both married, one with a kid, both parents - throw in holidays - we're always celebrating something every weekend.

so it's my turn :)

living in a condo is both a blessing and a curse.  we have no room to host family + friends - i desperately cannot wait to have a place to entertain.

but this also means no before and after clean up (thumbs up)

so we're headed to the park to cook out and play games.

let's hope for perfect weather this saturday!

in other news:

i did this

17th Annual Indianapolis Marathon & Half Marathon - October 20, 2012

i registered for the full marathon distance.

i can send an email at any time if i feel the half marathon is what i'll be able to do, but i'm working hard towards a new goal.

so far this month:

"long" runs: 2 - a 4 miler and a 5 miler
longest distance ran during the work week:  today for 4 miles
speediest mile: 9:55 according to the garmin.  but seriously, i'm averaging 12 minute miles.
speed/hill work: zero speed. lots of hills (no choice)  i'm still trying to feel comfortable running 3-5 miles without stopping  it's been far too long since i've trained
actual date for 18 week program to begin:  this sunday with a cross train day
cross train activities:  i took a water aerobics class last saturday after the 5 miler.  oh man the water felt so good on my legs.  but oh man, by shoulders and back were sore monday!

that about sums it all up

i hope you're enjoying your week and you're looking forward to the weekend.  if you're on vacation, i am refusing to look at any of the photos you post on facebook, twitter, instagram, etc.  out of sheer jealousy.




























Jun 11, 2012

OPA!

merry monday

it's overcast and dreary here.

the weekend was perfect, though.

we started off by venturing downtown to the belvedere for the greek festival




















this place was packed. 

mayor greg fischer walked in right behind us - i was too political/star struck to shake his hand.

i'm weird.

the food lines had already started making their way out of the event area.

so we did what any impatient people would do.



































grabbed a mythos greek beer, a new coozy, and watched some performances.

 
 
 OPA!























it was so nice out we decided to walk over to the ohio and see the view

bill's not very great at taking pictures...i clearly was going for a full silhouette on his picture...mine is...pigtails by sunset?

































and because the greek food lines were so long, we decided we HAD to go to one of our bucket list restaurants that was in walking distance.

doc crow's is a newer restaurant downtown that has caught my eye every time we've been downtown.

we were seated right away - granted it was probably already 8-9 o'clock

and i knew immediately i wanted the pulled pork tacos and fried green tomatoes.

and they sure didn't disappoint.
i actually split my tacos with bill so i could have half of his fried shrimp po boy

the shrimp was so tasty and fresh!  definitely not friend within every inch of it's life.

my only regret was not realizing there was bbq sauce on the table - i ate most of my taco thinking it needed more sauce.  the meat was very tender and juicy, though.

and because there was so much on the menu i wanted to try, i told bill we had to order the wilbur sundae.



































fresh pork rinds, ice cream, honey bourbon sauce, bacon crumbles, pecans, and a bourbon soaked cherry on top.

oh my heavens.

yes. 

please.

gimme.

bill will tell you he's not much for ice cream.

he managed to eat his share.

oh so good and such a lovely atmosphere. 

it's very dimly lit with a country rustic/industrial bar feel



































i recommend you and yo momma check this place out asap if you're in the area.  reasonably priced and there's something for everyone.

also, park a few blocks away and enjoy the downtown lights on your way back.

NOW.  before you get all sad on me for not eating the required gyro at the greek festival and for not waiting out the line..

we came back on sunday.

don't judge us.



































i can honestly listen to the greek guitar for hours.

oh, and eat
bill and i split the:
spanakopita (feta and spinach in filo dough)
pastitsio (greek lasagna with thick spaghetti like noodles)
and pita with hummus.

and if we learned anything from friday

i like dessert.

ice cream is clearly my weakness, but chocolate will do too



















honestly, it looked better than it tasted.  it was a chocolate torte (mousse, cake, chocolate)

but it had been frozen and kinda tasted like blah.

but i don't like to waste.

so bill and i split it.

and in case you're wondering.

i ran 4 miles on saturday.

it all evens out, right?

those 4 miles were a struggle, but they  made me feel like i could do this whole distance running thing again.

let's see what i say when i'm running 16 in the humid heat.

i hope you had a fantastic weekend.

and i hope you got out to enjoy the sunshine and the happenings.

i also hope there was ice cream involved.

Jun 8, 2012

one more thing...

i failed to mention

the indianapolis marathon...

it's two weeks after my best friend's wedding.

which puts me doing a long run somewhere i have never been - hours before i'm supposed to be ready to be a bridesmaid.

i also failed to mention

the indianapolis marathon is 5 days before bill and i leave for key west

which also means

the marathon is 7 days before i get married!!!

no pressure.

today i took my training schedule very seriously.

June 8th:  REST DAY

done.

i plan to do some walking at work as well as this evening, but i took today off from running.

i'm following hal higdon's novice marathon 18 week program.  i have about 20 weeks, so i've modified the first couple of weeks to mimic the rest of the program while putting myself in position to do longer runs on the weekend.
June 2012
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Notes:




1
2







3
4
5
6
7
8
9




3m
rest
4m
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
cross
rest
3m
3m
3m
rest
5m
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
cross
rest
3m
4m
3m
rest
5m
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
cross
rest
3m
3m
3m
rest
6m
























July 2012
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
cross
rest
3m
3m
3m
rest
7m
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
cross
rest
3m
4m
3m
rest
5m
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
cross
rest
3m
4m
3m
rest
9m
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
cross
rest
3m
5m
3m
rest
10m
29
30
31
Notes:



cross
rest
3m



























August 2012
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Notes:


1
2
3
4



5m
3m
rest
7m
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
cross
rest
3m
6m
3m
rest
12m
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
cross
rest
3m
6m
3m
rest
rest
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
half marathon
Rest
3m
7m
4m
Rest
15m
26
27
28
29
30
31
Notes:
cross
Rest
4m
8m
4m
Rest
















September 2012
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Notes:





1






16m
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Cross
Rest
4m
8m
5m
Rest
12m
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
Cross
Rest
4m
9m
5m
Rest
18m
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Cross
Rest
5m
9m
5m
Rest
14m
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
Cross
Rest
5m
10m
5m
rest
20m
30
Notes:





Cross







October 2012
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Notes:
1
2
3
4
5
6

Rest
5m
8m
4m
Rest
12m
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Cross
Rest
4m
6m
3m
Rest
8m
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Cross
rest
3m
4m
2m
Rest
MARATHON DAY!!!   26.2 Before I say I do
21
22
23
24
25
26
27




leave for wedding

GET MARRIED
28
29
30
31
Notes:










hal's programs have worked for me before, and i love the gradual approach.

there's a novice II program that might be more suited for myself, however i've always ran just one steady pace without working on speed work or intervals.

my garmin came in the mail yesterday so i may be working some of the novice II pace runs and speed work on my shorter distance days.

my only concern thus far looking at the training plan, well, ok, my only 2 concerns:

1.  i've only ever ran 7 miles before work.  the plan has me doing 9 - 10 miles during the week in weeks 13-15.
     a. that seems like a lot to do pre-work
     b. those weeks aren't until september, but it can still be quite warm to run those miles in the evening
2.  can i pull this off?  i mean, i thought the same thing training for my first half marathon.  but the miles seemed to pile on so effortlessly.  but still.  that's only HALF the distance.

in other non running news:

this weekend is the greek festival!  we went last year and had a really good time.

mythos beer and gyros are in my future.

happy friday!