Kendra Babbles

Running Update!

I missed last Saturday’s run since Blake and I were doing the family thing.  I had good intentions of squeezing in a run last weekend, but it didn’t happen.  I set out Tuesday afternoon to get one in and lasted all of 10 minutes before I had to give it up.  My right shin was on fire and it was bad enough I could not push through.  Not fun.

Wednesday was the DRC group run.  We set out at 4 min run/1 min walk and intended to gradually increase the run time over the 40 min course.  I have no idea what the final results were.  Just before the halfway point, my shin started up again and I dropped back from the pace group I was running with.  Then there was a mis-communication and the pace groups got all turned around.  By then we were far enough apart that random groups were running when others weren’t, so there wasn’t really an official time keeper.  I just tried to go at a decent pace and not tire myself out.  At the end we usually do a sprint and I was able to complete that, but at a much slower pace that I normally would.  We got back to the clubhouse and I did some stretching and when I got home there was lots of icing.  I had a run scheduled for today, but I think I will swap it with tomorrow, which is usually a rest day.  I think my body would like more rest right now!

*Dave Matthews Band

Last week I joined the Dallas Running Club and started their Newbie Bootkamp program (no, I do not know why it is spelled with a K).  The program is designed for brand new runners and helps them build up to a 5K.  Although I’ve had some success running indoors on a treadmill, I have been unable to run outside and not kill myself in the process.  This group meets near White Rock Lake and uses the trails for training.  The pace and group leaders are volunteers and very excited to get other people running, so I thought this was a good place to try and get some help!

We meet twice a week - Saturday and Wednesday.  Saturday is more about distance, and on Wednesdays we do hill work and work on improving speed.  Our first session was pretty easy - the weather was nice and everyone was excited.  We did intervals of 2 mins jogging and 1 minute walking for about 35 minutes.  I did this pretty easily and was able to chat with someone I met during the run.  I wasn’t really sore the next day either, which was a surprise.  In addition to the two sessions per week, they also encourage you to do at least 2 more on your own during the week.  I was lazy last week, so I ended up trying to squeeze it all in at last minute.  I ran Tuesday morning, Wednesday afternoon and then Thursday night.  This morning my legs woke me up screaming for Advil and some stretching!

The good news is that I really think this program is going to help me reach my goals.  The leaders offer great advice and try to make the sessions fun (as fun as running in 90 degree weather can be anyway).  They also brought in a chiropractor to the intro meeting to talk about stretching and injury prevention, so I feel like I’m armed with good info to make decisions about when to run and when to take a break.

The 5K is on July 5th - wish me luck!

*Godsmack

By saddle, I mean social life!  I’ve been out and about lately enjoying things that people do when they are not working, so I thought I would write up some reviews.

Big D Cats - Chamonix II Dinner Cruise on Lake Lewisville

For our anniversary, Blake and I traveled north to Lake Lewisville for a lasagna dinner cruise on board the Chamonix II catamaran.  We boarded around 7:15 at the slip right next to Charlie’s at Pier 121.  The boat was HUGE and very clean and comfortable.  The crew was also very nice!  The cruise is BYOB and they provide all the soft drinks, water and juices.  We left for our “sail” on time at 7:30 and about 20 minutes later enjoyed a beautiful sunset.  Unfortunately there was no wind on Friday night, so we did more floating and motoring around then sailing, but it was still a great night.  The food was good and it was great to just do something new!  We did notice that we were the youngest on the ship, so if you are looking for a more lively crowd I would organize a bunch of your friends to all go together.  The cruise lasted 3 hours and prices vary depending on the event, but I think it was a great price for the evening.  Check out www.bigdcats.com for dates and pricing.

Medina Oven & Bar - Brunch and Mother’s Day Special

I’ve been wanting to try out this place ever since I saw the banner that said “3 Course Brunch and 2 Mimosa’s for $18″.  I heart mimosas!  So about a week ago Novie, Lara and I went up to Victory Park for brunch and an afternoon of shopping (mostly window shopping, it is Victory Park after all).  Medina is a Moroccan food restaurant and I loved brunch!  I had a salad for an appetizer, a pizza made with sliced lamb and a fabulous dessert with chocolate and hazelnut and fruit.  Yummy!  I also enjoyed 2 Pomegranate Mimosas which made me very happy.  I enjoyed brunch so much that we made reservations for Mother’s Day and took Blake’s parents.  The food was good again, but I think I preferred the regular brunch menu over the special Mother’s Day menu.  I am a creature of habit.  If you are looking to try a new place out or just enjoy mimosas, Medina is your best bet!  www.medinadallas.com

Lee Harvey’s - Dog Day Afternoon

On Sunday afternoons our local bar has a dog day!  They close off the gates in the yard and you can bring your dog and let them run around while you enjoy some food and drinks.  We haven’t tried bringing Shelby and Tucker previously since they tend to get a bit crazy around other dogs.  But we figured we would give it a try and see how it went!  So we walked on down enjoyed about an hour at the bar.  Shelby and Tucker spent most of that time in our laps, but eventually they did calm down.  We had planned to eat some dinner while we were there, but decided to get it to go since its hard to eat and hold a dog at the same time.  All in all, it was a good hour.  Most people kept an eye on their dogs and made sure everyone was getting along.  One nice person suggested we bring them on their leashes during the week when there are fewer dogs around to help them get used to the place, which is probably a great idea.  I wasn’t aware that Lee Harvey’s let you bring them during the week, I thought it was a Sunday only deal.  If you are interested, here is the info on Lee Harvey’s.  Call and let me know you will be there - Blake and I would love to join you!  www.leeharveys.com

Duck Dog from PetsMart

I couldn’t leave this fine gem of a dog toy out of the reviews.  The puppies turned 2 years old about 3 weeks ago, so Blake and I went to PetsMart in search of a Duck Dog for their birthday.  A Duck Dog is that weiner dog looking stuffed toy you have seen on commercials, but the squeaker in its belly sounds exactly like a duck.  This is one of Shelby’s favorite toys at Granny’s house, so it was time to get her one of her very own.  We picked up an extra for a backup since Tucker tends to destroy all of the stuffed toys.

So far Duck Dog is holding up well.  He had been in for surgery only once to repair a hole where his ear used to be.  Duck Dog also lost a squeaker in his head, but the remaining squeaker the belly still makes the duck noise that Shelby loves so much.  Happy Birthday Shelby and Tucker!

*Gene Autry