According to Berni

Whew!

What a weekend!  I had the most glorious 3 day weekend.

We did some gardening, some swimming, some BBQing, some running and a whole lot of relaxing and enjoying the beautiful weather!

Last night once it started to cool down I took Makenna and her bike over to the high school to make use of their track.

The trail running group I recently joined has a specific training plan they gave us for the 10 weeks we will be training with them.  One day a week we have a ‘Track Workout’ that is emailed to us.   Track workouts can be a bit intimidating until you break it down but then it’s not bad.   I like to compare it to a recipe that may call for

1 C Flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 egg… you get the picture.

OR even a knitting pattern that may look something like this:

K1, P1, K2, YO, P1, K1

The workout looked like this:

800 Warm-up slow run/walk
2×400 @ aerobic pace (65% of MaxHR) w/ 1 minute recovery
2×400 @ tempo – move HR to labored breathing – keep under a burn in muscles w/1 min recovery
*1 MILE MARKER Timed – your fastest mile
4 laps/1 mile at constant speed you think you can withstand for the entire mile
If you can time each lap (or lap the lap), that is ideal to see if you held pace
*Get your Heart Rate right after the mile (monitor or 10 second pulse count)
2 minute recovery
2×400 aerobic pacing – HR 65% max -w/30 sec recovery
400 cool down – slow jog (or walk)

The high school track is 400 meters around (or 1/4 mile) so every 400 you see is one lap around the track.  So a “2×400 w/1 minute recovery” translates into: 1 lap w/1 minute walk, repeated twice.  One mile is 4 laps around the track.  

Before I headed over I programmed the workout into my Garmin (which you can do using the software that came with it)  so once I got there all I had to do is press START and the Garmin told me what to do.  Easy Peasy! 

It took me 45 minutes to complete and in the end I did about 3.6 miles.  It was a nice change of pace and challenging at the same time.   I believe we will be getting a new track workout emailed every week so I can’t wait to see what next weeks workout looks like!

For those wine lovers out there, head on over to Fitandfortysomething for an awesome wine giveaway!

Well my friends, I hope you all have a fantastic week, at least we only have 4 days this week till the weekend!!   Happy Monday everyone! 

xoxo

This morning sister and I met at the trail for a 6 mile run.  We met at 7:30 and as much as I love that extra hour or half hour of sleep on Sunday mornings, I’m afraid those days are over…at least for the Summer.   By the end of our run it was so blazing hot that we were dying!   It was really only 75 out but it sure felt like 95.   There was very little shade on the trail and it was just too hot to be running in that sun. 

it. was. hard.

We normally go and get coffee after our run but today it was all about the ICED-TEA!!

My reward…

Oh yeah… that’s what I’m talking about!

What fun stuff are YOU doing with your weekend?

I hope you are all enjoying the beautiful weekend!!

xoxo

It’s amazing what a little time, money and TLC can do for a front porch.

I can’t believe how long I let my front porch go bare, this was probably the longest stretch of neglect it has ever seen!   I have always been fanatical about changing out the flowers to go with the season and adding little doo-dads for a cute little decorative touch.  But some how I got sidetracked and was determined to make it right TODAY!

So I headed off to Starbucks to grab a coffee and made my way to Home Depot bright and early this morning.   Swiped the trusty ole debit card and loaded up the trunk with my goods. 

A little elbow grease later and this

made this (take note of the valentine’s decor still hanging on the door)

look like this

Now I just need to add my little doo-dads an find a wreath or something new and fun for the front door and I’m all set!!

After all my hard work I was treated to a mani-pedi by the kiddos (I used my gift certificate they gave me for Mother’s Day) and now I’m ready to enjoy the next 2 days and relax.

How did YOU spend your Saturday???  

Happy Friday my friends!!

Remember I told you I had some fun running news?

Well sister and I have joined a TRAIL RUNNING GROUP!!

It’s a 10 week training that will include 3 trail races.  We had our first group run tonight and it was alot of fun!   The park we meet at is tucked away in a canyon and there is a beautiful trail that we run on that winds thru the canyon.  I’ve ran this trail before and there is a part of it that is UP HILL big time, thankfully we didn’t hit that part of the trail tonight.

We ran for time tonight and managed to do a little more than 4 miles in about 45 minutes.

I took my camera along and took some pictures but didn’t really want to stop so enjoy the mad photograhy skillz I employed while running

this was heading out to the trail

that blur is my sister…

this was group orientation, there were ALOT of people there!

This was me somewhere on the trail.

and this was the view as we headed back to the park at the end of our run. 

We ended with some good long stretches, a few yoga poses (Cindy would be proud!) and said good bye until next Thursday!

I am so excited to see what the next 10 weeks have in store for me and my running!

Have you ever ran with a group?  This is a first for me but I think I’m going to enjoy it!

I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend, if your traveling please be safe! 

And if you know someone who has served in the military please take a moment to remember what they have done for each of us! 

xoxo

It’s all down hill from here my friends…

We’re just cruisin’ into the long 3 day weekend now…

So in honor of Memorial Day I thought I’d share some memories of my last Half Marathon, the OC Half Marathon. 

I went into the race with a goal time of 2 hours 30 minutes, which would be 4 minutes faster than my last half.  I felt confident that I could do it because I had been able to keep that pace during my longest run of 10 miles that I had done 2 weeks before the race.

The course was BEAUTIFUL, we ran along the coast in Newport Beach, along the back bay and into an ecological reserve, we ran past some of the most beautiful homes I’ve ever seen and ended up at the OC Fairgrounds. 

I had big plans of making another video during the race like I did the last time but at the start line just as the race was getting ready to start I was filming us and the BATTERY DIED!!!

UGH!!!

I felt good throughout the entire race and sister kept up with me until mile 9,  she did amazing!  It really felt like miles 1-9 just flew by but at mile 9 I could tell she was struggling and wanted to be left alone so I let her drop back and continued on.  In the end we both made our goal times which were different, she had her goal and I had mine.

We both finished strong and happy!!!

And can’t wait until the next one!!!  

No matter how cold it is the next time I am leaving that jacket in the car!!!   It didn’t bother me while I was running but when I saw this picture I shuddered in horror… cuz I’m vain like that!

Somehow I never manage to get good finish line pictures so I was very happy that this one came out semi-decent.

Tonight I’ve got some fun running plans- I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow!!

What is YOUR favorite distance to run??  For a regular run I like 4 miles but for a race the HALF is by far my favorite!

Happy Thursday my friends!

xoxo

Green Smoothie that is!!!

I love me a green smoothie and I’m happy to say I have found a way to make sure I get one DAILY. 

It all started with this fabulous travel mug my sweet little lump o’love bought me for Mother’s Day.

Well, it turns out this ‘travel’ mug didn’t ‘travel’ so well because it doesn’t fit in my cup holders in my car

Never fear my dear, Mommy will find good use of this mug…

So, before I leave for work each day, I wash some Spinach (yes I wash it because you just never know what happens to spinach between "pre-wash" and my house…)

Into my magic bullet goes:

• 3/4 C cold water
• 1/4 C Hemp Milk
• 2 C Clean Spinach 
• 1 1/2 frozen bananas

I blend until blended and fill my mug (not MY mug but the travel mug)… and take to work.  Some days I also like to add Amazing Grass to my smoothie, the chocolate flavor mixed with the bananas is divine!

Voila!

Green Smoothie to go!

Sometime mid-morning when I need a little somethin’ somethin’ I put a straw in it and it hits the spot!!   I am telling you it is cold and thick and like I just made it!  

If you like Amazing Grass, head over to Fitandfortysomething for an Amazing Grass giveaway!

How do YOU fit your green smoothies in everyday?? 

xoxo

5:30 AM run.

Nope.

Didn’t happen.

Sleep won out.  I slept horribly last night and when that alarm went off at 4:45 my right arm took on a life all it’s own and hit that snooze button before I even had a chance to defend myself.   That alarm didn’t stand a chance.  I could spend the day beating myself up about it but I think I’ll put my energies to better use.  I will make up the mileage either tonight or tomorrow and in the end it’ll all be ok. 

Any Biggest Loser Fans out there??? I have a confession to make. 

My name is Bernadette P and I’m an addict.

The season finale is on tonight and my little lump o’love and I will be parked in front of the TV at 8pm sharp routing for our favorites (we have 2) and sending all the best vibes we can to Daris and Ashley!   For those of you that do watch, are you amazed at all the contestants that have found love matches??   I think I saw a little spark flying between Ashley & Mike last week but then I thought I saw it between her and Daris too…???    Hmmmm another match in the works maybe??

And to leave you on a happy note,  the other day on Twitter WholeLiving magazine was having a give away in honor of bike to work day.  They were giving away this amazing cycling jacket to one lucky winner.  To enter you had to send them a picture of yourself riding your bike and having fun.  I sent them this picture of me on my last Vermont trip.   And I WON!!!    How cool is that???   I thought I’d fall off my chair yesterday when I got the message!  

I hope you all have a WINNING day!!  

What’s the coolest thing YOU’VE ever won??

xoxo

Where do the weekends go??

Sometimes I think I need to slow down and RELAX more but there’s just so much to cram into those 2 short days…  

A big part of my Sunday usually consists of meal planning and grocery shopping.  I start out by asking each of the kids for a dinner idea then I sit down and plan my meals for the week and from that I make my grocery list and head out to the stores.  Once I am home and groceries are put away I put the menu up on the fridge so everyone knows what is going to be served. 

This week at Fresh N Easy I picked up 2 new items.

A pesto and an Artichoke antipasto topping. 

I admit, I have NO IDEA what I am going to do with this Pesto…   Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!  The only thing I could come up with was to toss it with some pasta…

But this…. this is simply divine on a sandwich!!!   I bought some of those Oroweat thin sandwich breads and if you take one of those, spread one side with a wedge of laughing cow cheese, put some mushrooms and spinach on it and spread some of this on the other side and grill it in a pan (like you would a grilled cheese)…   Mmmmm good!   It sure hit the spot on a gloomy day!

With some of this summer goodness on the side

Well friends, I hope you have a great start to a great week and if you have any ideas what I can do with that Pesto I’d love to hear them!!

I have some exciting running news coming up this week that I can’t wait to share with you!!  Stay tuned!

Happy Monday!

xoxo

Good morning my friends, hope you all are enjoying your weekend! 

I met sister at the trail for a 4 mile run this morning.  By the end of 4 miles we were both covered in NATS!!  It was the weirdest thing!!  We were swatting them the whole way trying to keep them out of our mouths and eyes…  what is up with that?  I think I swallowed one ICK!   It was still a nice run. 

And it was COLD!!   I’ve lived in California my entire life but somehow I am still surprised when we have May Grey or June Gloom…   we always seem to have a heat wave sometime in February/March which get’s me ready for Summer but then we get these cold spells that remind me it’s still only Spring.  You’d think I’d know this by now…

Oh, I saw a funny bumper sticker this morning… it said:

“What if the Hokey Pokey IS what it’s all about??”

I thought it was funny!

Enjoy your Sunday everyone!!

xoxo

Today I am grateful for time spent with my sister.

My goal for today is to CLEAN MY HOUSE!

I wish I could say that I’ve been traveling the globe, jet setting from one exotic place to another… but that would be a lie.

No, I’ve just been working hard and playing hard and enjoying life!

I’ve been training, eating well, running races and running after my kids.  Oh and working, working hard!

Remember back in January when I lost my job??   Well, I had good intentions of taking the summer off and spending some time with the kiddos but those plans were changed when a job offer came in that I could not refuse.  I mean really, who in their right mind refuses a job offer in this economy??  Not me I say, no bad juju coming my way… not this year!

So, without further adieu I introduce you to the NEW AND IMPROVED According to Berni…   I promise to post regularly, keep you updated with my ramblings and stay up to date on YOURS.   By regularly I may not mean daily but I will do my best to love, honor and entertain you to the best of my ability… how’s that?

And while I’m at it, let me share some race times with you.   I ran my 2^nd Half Marathon on May 2^nd with a goal time of 2:30 which would be faster than my previous time.  Well I finished strong at 2:28 and was thrilled!  It was SO much fun and what a beautiful course along the bay in Newport Beach!!   I even had a decent finish line picture that I just ordered so when it comes in I will share it with you!  I have to say that the Half is my very favorite distance to race, I am hooked on the Half that’s fo’ sho!!

5 days later I raced in the Aflac Irongirl 10k and was a bit nervous just because it was 5 days after my Half but I had a PR and finished that in 1:07,  and that was with 2 short walking breaks!  Go figure…

Well my friends, it feels good to be back.  I’m excited to continue on this adventure with you!

xoxo

Today I am grateful for blog love!

My goal for today is to drink all my water.