Monday, May 11, 2009

You Could Be the Lucky Winner


The Rescues' "Break Me Out" has been on repeat for the last two weeks or so, and the song pretty well got me through the road race I ran on Saturday morning. Why did I think running four miles on a hilly mountain at 8 a.m. would be fun? It was my first road race in about six years, and I never seemed to catch my breath and had a side stitch for the first time in ages. There was no mile marker for mile two, so I kept running, thinking I still wasn't half-way through which really psyched me out. Starting my Saturday with my friend CC was really fun though, and afterward I went to a yoga class (thanks to a free one week pass...paying $14/class wouldn't fit in my budget) for 75 minutes at a for-real yoga studio (as opposed to yoga at the gym where you can hear the blaring music and weirdos can watch you through the window). Very chill and calming. Tomorrow I'm trying hot yoga...100+ degrees. Should be interesting.

Saturday I baked for over three hours for our Mother's Day lunch and created something delicious....chocolate cupcake slathered with marshmallow cream and topped with peanut butter frosting. Crazy good combo.

Speaking of sheer yumminess, the other day I made caramel cheese cream frosting for the first time for a baby shower at my place, and it was so sweet it almost burned. I highly recommend the recipe.

Saturday night was the third date with my neighbor Clay. We went to a wonderful restaurant that was new to me and ate outside, sitting for several hours and just talking. Then we made the mistake of renting an inappropriate third date movie: The Reader. The first half was pretty much just a woman in her mid-30s (Kate Winslet) having sex with a 16 year old boy over and over. I could opine further, but I'll refrain. As soon as the sex stuff started, Clay asserted that "for the record" I'd chosen the movie. Sunday when I got back from church I found a book I wanted to borrow and note outside my door--fun surprise. Funny, we just now exchanged phone numbers. Date #4 is on Wednesday; we're grilling out.

Sunday my family had a great Mother's Day lunch at my sister's house, and she made super cute fruit kebobs. It was fun to be with my nieces, and I watched another mediocre movie with my mom (Nights in Rodanthe) that night.

So wanna play a game? Whoever comes the closest to guessing my time for the 4 mile road race gets a prize. And lets make the prize cupcakes/cookies/sweets of your choice or for more healthy people some great music. You have until Friday at 9 a.m. to guess.

p.s. I'm grateful that I'm working at home tomorrow and can chill/work on my sofa, at a coffee shop, or on my balcony.

26 comments:

W T G said...

This is clearly throwing a dart since I have no clue about your running ability so I'm going to guess .... 50:27

Well, off to go running ... Cheers !

boohoo said...

The dates sound like they're going really well. Inappropriate movie choices are the best ;) Hehe. All those cake ideas have made me so hungry right now!

Hmm, I really have no idea how long it would take to run four miles so ... 55minutes

Jennifer Kirby said...

Missing mile markers are so disorienting (and, like you said, brutal on mental strength). My guess is 37:33.

HappyascanB said...

Yay you on a road race! a 4 miler, though? Strange distance; no? So my guess would be really close to Jennifer's. i'll go wtih 39 minutes even. I imagine you've got a ten minute mile down pat! Great news on the date, too! Grilling out together is always fun, low key, and enjoyable!!!

Ally said...

HappyascanB: I think that was my first 4 mile road race. Usually they're 3.1 or 6.2 (5k or 10k). I think I'll do a 5k next :)

WTG: Hope you enjoyed your run!

Jennifer: Yes, very disorienting!

Ys: Ha. But these sex scenes were not even sexy!

Jennifer Owens said...

You are like the cupcake queen. I always get a hankering for one every time you mention them. I made some a couple weeks ago - but with boxed cake mix and canned frosting and they were totally blah and not exciting.

I was not going to guess at all for the running thing because I am so clueless when it comes to that. But if I could take a chance at having some of your cupcakes mailed to me, I'll risk looking foolish. I'll say 32 minutes. Come on cupcakes!

Ally said...

Jennifer: I like your risk taking in the name of cupcakes! And I find the store frosting to be really lacking plus it's so easy to throw some cream cheese, butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar in a bowl and get something MUCH better. I'm still a big fan of the Betty Crocker butter cake box mix though.

Anonymous said...

Well considering that my husband and I can walk four miles in an hour or a little more, and that I know absolutely nothing about you other than what I read on your blog and I've never met you in person, I will guess that you ran four miles in 40 minutes. Just a wild guess from a stranger. :) -Terri (aka Anonymous)

Cat_Chaser said...

Your finish time is 39:40:20( mm:ss) ( I had to do some weird math).

Now, can I have a cupcake please?

OK Chick said...

My guess is....43:45!

I want to hear about hot yoga. I've been wanting to try it, but it's expensive. I've only known one other person that's tried it, and they loved hot yoga!

Clay, seems to be a nice guy. Keep us posted!

Scotty said...

34:44

Clay asserted that "for the record" I'd chosen the movie.Smart boy. Sounds like its going well.. :)

Unknown said...

Hot Yoga sounds really sweaty. For something sweet to eat, I'll guess 37 minutes and 55 seconds.

Ally said...

Jeff: Yeah!! A comment from you; I've missed those. And yeah, it's going to be nasty sweaty. I'm taking a towel.

Scotty: He is smart, although for the record it was a joint decision!

Ok Chick: Yoga at these studios is definitely expensive....$14/class is outrageous. I'm just trying b/c of the free coupon.

CC: I'll let you know on Friday :)

Terri: I love comments from "strangers." Thanks for playing!

A2 said...

I have a friend who is addicted to hot yoga; she goes 4 times per week! As for the race, I'm guessing 41:35. Fun to catch up with you via blog :)

Anonymous said...

I have a little more confidence in you than most. I know each mile would have probably been slower than the one before even though you planned on a steady pace. The 33 minute was a good guess but I say 34 minutes. Please deliver cupcakes personally. Dr. Rjj

Thomas said...

I just saw The Reader last week. I guess I should have warned you that it is not really a date movie.

Casey said...

I found your blog finally! You're such a great writer Ally! :) And PS- your running time was muy excellente!!

Ally said...

Casey: Thanks! And I think it's pretty honorable of you not to guess :)

Thomas: Yes, you let me down.

Dr. RJJ: Should you win, then yes, I will deliver them personally.

A2: 4 times a week would be about 3.5 times too many for me!

Accidentally Me said...

37:56 :-P

Aaron said...

I think you came in strong: 36:36.

But what I really want to know is... did you watch the scenes in their entirety or fast-forward through them?

Anonymous said...

I have no idea what to guess because I don't think I've run 4 consecutive miles in my life (darn asthma)! The chocolate/marshmallow/peanutbutter cupcakes sound amazing!

Oh, and I gave you a little award over at my blog :)

Ally said...

TD: You should just guess anyway! It can't hurt. Thank you for the award. Fun!

Aaron: I appreciate the vote of confidence. And we didn't fast forward through them; don't worry--they were more disturbing than sexy and didn't last long; there were just a lot of them.

AM: Thanks for playing.

Tiff said...

Time: 34:55

And I WANT those durn cupcakes!

bMoles said...

37:56

Jennifer Owens said...

Okay Ally. It's Thursday. And I'm anxiously awaiting the cupcake results. (o:

Ally said...

I'll announce the winner tomorrow at 9:01 a.m.!