Second Running attempt

This Saturday I ran another race. I completed the 2 miler in record time for myself. I still cannot run the entire course yet but I am improving so that is all I can ask for. I will be taking a break from races this week because I will be off in Colorado attempting to ski and snowboard. This trip should prove to be very challenging for me. I have had a total of 2 hours skiing time and 4 hours snowboarding time in my whole life. I think lessons are in the near future :). I am excited though, don’t get to see much snow in the Sunshine State. Before my trip, still have much to do. Have personal trainer session today, volleyball playoffs tomorrow and I have to pack sometime. Later…..

Note: This post was transferred from an old online journal but helps chronicle my fitness journey.

I beat my time!!!

Last Saturday I completed my first 5k on my own. No distractions so I was able to go at my own pace. I was hoping to at least match my best time on the treadmill which is 45 minutes so far. I wasn’t really timing myself except when they called out the times at each mile markers. During the race I kept repeating what my trainer had told me on Friday, “You need to work on your endurance”. I repeated this while pushing myself to run more and more. I sprinted at the end and discovered that I had not only met my 45 minute goal, I had actually beat it by 5 minutes. So happy!
I have been trying to get into running all the local races as a means to get constant exercise. Previously I attempted to keep in shape by playing team sports a couple times a week. I found that softball and volleyball were not giving me level of exercise that I need. Who knows if I will keep up with this running thing. For now, running races gives me weekly goals to work at. This upcoming Saturday, I will be running a 2 mile – time to start training 🙂

Note: This post was transferred from an old online journal but helps chronicle my fitness journey.

Olive and Sun-Dried Tomato Spread

Just got done making my “spread” that I am bringing to Christie and George’s Party tomorrow. It is so yummy. I made it at the last party that I had at my home. It was a big hit so I decided to post the recipe for everyone.

Olive and Sun-Dried Tomato Spread

3/4 cup drained oil-packed sun dried tomatoes, oil reserved (My publix has them in the produce section)

3/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives

1 cup fresh parsley leaves

2 to 4 cloves garlic

1/2 cup pine nuts (usually in the Asian section of publix)

Fresh ground pepper

Crackers or bread rounds (I prefer cut fresh publix Italian bread)

1. Combine tomatoes, olives, parsley, garlic, and pine nuts in bowl of a food processor. Pulse to blend. Add enough reserved oil to achieve spreadable consistency. Season with pepper.
2. Serve with crackers or bread rounds.

3 cups about 12 servings
Calories: 70, Fat: 6 g

You make this, you will be popular at your next gathering.
Enjoy.

Villa Cimbrone & Ravello

Today we visited the town of Ravello. Ravello is not too far above the town of Amalfi but due to the curvy roads required to get there, it is about a 30 minute trek. We walk along narrow streets like we had seen before in Capri. Although the streets here are more narrow and have much more character than Capri which is highly commercial and crowded with tourist shops. I took pleasure in walking the streets that contained many villas and hidden restaurants. Gardens are every where. Vines with ivy and flowers line many pathways. During our bus ride there, I viewed many lemon trees, many of which used to make Italy’s famous Limoncello drink. We were able to sample this drink today from a store that produced it. Limoncello is at the same time bitter and sweet. We are told that it is made from the seeds of lemons and then fermented.
A woman sitting next to us at lunch recommended that we visit the Villa Cimbrone. The villa is surrounded by many gardens. A trail through a wooded area in front gives a spectacular view of the water. At the end of the path was a statue of a man with a little boy on his shoulders. We soon reached another courtyard – a beautiful rose garden. We pass two more gardens, one with two statues and another with a fountain one end and another with a huge covered patio. The greatest of all was a rainbow of flowers that appear along the path back to the house.
After the villa, we take the bus back to Amalfi to catch the ferry to Salerno. From Salerno, we catch the overnight train to La Spezia (6 hour ride!). Could spend at least 5 more days here.

Villa Cimbrone

Note: This post was taken from an 2004 journal.

Isle of Capri

In the morning we set off for the Isle of Capri (pronounced with the emphasis on the first syllable). I observe beautiful views from the ferry that we take to arrive there. Upon arriving in Capri, we purchase one of the three tickets we need to get to the Blue Grotto. Another ferry takes us around the perimeter of the island. Row boat picks up 4 passengers each from our ferry. The row boat takes us up to another boat where we pay for our admission ticket and row boat charge for the grotto. While waiting to go in, the boat men are yelling at each other in Italian, perhaps making jibes at each other. A small passage is the entry point into the grotto. We all need to duck our heads to go through it. Once inside, the color was magnificent. Apparently the sunlight bounces off rocks outside the cave and is reflected back in to produce the vivid blue color. Our boatman asks us if we would like to go for a swim. We give an emphatic yes! Swimming in the grotto was so refreshing. Other row boats glided around us while we swan around. Unfortunately, time was limited and we had to the return to the boat.

Swimming in the blue grotto=fantastic

When we got back, we decided to check out a natural arch (arco naturale). The walk there was estimated to be about a mile, however, the uphill journey and many steps made it seem much longer. We witness an older lady struggling to pull a bag up the hill. Nikki offers to help. While walking with her we attempt to communicate. It proved to be difficult cause she spoke no English and us no Italian. We did understand that she has to carry her groceries this far uphill distance frequently and she has been living on the Island for about 40 years. When we arrive at her house, we find that it overlooks the arco naturale. Viewing through the arch, we can see crystal blue water below. Next to the arch was an entrance to a path that led us down to this cave called Grotta di Matermania. It contained a few man made steps that didn’t seem to go anywhere. Not quite sure what the cave was used for besides it was built by the Romans and used to contained mosaics that are now in a museum. Past the cave, we followed a path that led us to another breathtaking view. After a long and sweaty walk back, we take the funicolare back to the marina (a train like object that takes us down the mountain). We decide to take a swim before our ferry arrives.
Arco Naturale

Arriving back to the town of Amalfi, we decide to rush back and shower for the expected performance that evening. When we arriving, it appears that there is no performance. I observe the same charming people from the evening early – an older lady with her dog, a man with his daughter. Not sure why there is no performance , we begin asking a couple of Italian guys for a cheap place to get a nice dinner. The nice guys walk us to a great restaurant and decline to join us but offer to ride us around in their vespas later on. We agreed. I had a great shrimp risotto and a great white table wine. The thing about Italy is that even the cheapest wines taste great. After dinner, our earlier guides meet us in front of the restaurant with their vespas. They ask if we would like to go for a walk on a pier. After walking for a little bit, they suspiciously separate us. My Italian companion is getting a little too friendly for my liking so I locate Nikki and she feels the same way. They give us a ride back to Atrani, we have one drink with them and bid them good night.

Note: This post was taken from an 2004 journal.