Livin' the Dream in Lima

Gosh, summer is flying by. How have I already been off school for a month already? I've been busy doing all my favorite things - running, baking, spending time with friends & family, laying out by the pool. It's pretty much pure bliss. Running-wise, I'm gearing up for the Freedom 5km here in the Bean Town on the 4th. Last year, I ran 20:05 , but hadn't been training much. Well, I was training, but not really for speed. I think I've come pretty far since last July and am gearing up for a PR (sub-18:50).  I've been running 1-2 speed workouts a week as well as a 10-12 mile long run. On Monday, I set out for a 5-mile tempo run at goal pace of 6:35-40 pace. I nailed it and finished with a 6:32 average (which is almost how fast I raced the 5km last year!) The best part is that I felt awesome  the entire time. So I am very excited about the 5km a week from today. Baking-wise, I've been making lots of cupcakes. Surprise, surprise. I'm actually t

Saturday, I ran one of my favorite races in the whole wide world. Or at least the Midwest... I haven't really raced anywhere else. (Now, if anyone wants to sponsor me for a marathon in Hawaii or Oregon, that opinion might change...) The Steamboat Classic is regarded as the "World's fastest 4-mile' and "Illinois' Toughest 15km", so I knew I was in for a butt-whooping treat.  Last year, I ran the 15km with some of my college girlfriends , and we kept it easy at a conversational pace so we could enjoy the run.  This year, I was in it to race . Because it is so hilly, my only goal was to run at least faster than my half-marathon PR pace (6:54 average). Only 9.3 miles versus 13.1... should be a piece of cake, right? Talen came down Friday night to hang out and cheer me on at the race. She couldn't run because the Monday after we ran the marathon, she had some loose pieces of cartilage surgically removed from her knee. Ouch! She has only been giv

You probably have come to the conclusion that I like to bake. Just look at the plethora of baked goods recipes compared to savory recipes up on my Recipage . This past weekend, one of my friends got married. She asked me several months ago if I would bake her wedding cake .  You see... I have never wanted to bake a wedding cake. They always seemed so intimidating and scary. What if it collapses on itself? What if I can't get it to look good? What if it's too hot and the icing turns all droopy? There are just too many variables with a wedding cake, and too much pressure. I asked my friend, "Are you sure  you don't want cupcakes?! Those are so easy!" She and her fiance really wanted a cake.  Since it was only for 85 people, I accepted, and considered it to be a challenge. I got some Wilton 3-inch deep cake pans in three sizes - 6", 10", and 14" so I could do a 3-tiered cake. The first task was to bake the cakes. (The easy part.) The 14"

Is it really only Wednesday? This week has been crazy busy! Cookies & cream batter, yum My Business Man's business is celebrating its 90th birthday this week... so he recruited me I volunteered to bake 40 dozen cupcakes for him to deliver to local businesses to celebrate. Yes, 40 dozen, as in 480 cupcakes. That's a lot of cupcakes in my little kitchen. (With only one oven. And just three cupcake tins.) Dining room table full of cupcakes Boxes ready to go It was loads of fun, but I will admit I'm a bit relieved that I don't have to bake cupcakes today. ;) Clockwise from top left - Nutella with Nutella Cream Cheese Frosting, Red Velvet Cheesecake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting, Monster Cookie with PB Buttercream, Cookie & Cream with Vanilla Buttercream, and Lemon Supreme with Lemon Cream Cheese Frosting. --- Now onto the running... Last night our local YMCA hosted a 5km - the Herb Jay River Run. I wasn't sure if I'd

It's officially 5km season! I had high hopes of running my first 5km of the summer last weekend, but ended up with a big wedding cupcake order so I had to wait until this weekend to toe the starting line. Yesterday I ran the Scott Huysman Memorial 5km, in conjunction with the St. Gerard parish festival here in the Bean Town. The race was slated for a 10am start time, which I first thought would be unbearable. A June race? At 10am? Talk about HOT! Fortunately for us, a rainy cold front moved in Friday and conditions were perfect for racing. About 60*F and sunny. Me & one of my running buddies (Kristi) at the start. She rocked it out in the 5km and then went down to Columbus for a mud run that afternoon! So BA. I didn't really have a plan for this race - just run fast . (Isn't that pretty much how all 5km's are? A dead sprint from start to finish?) It wasn't a very big race, so I settled in pretty quickly after the gun went off. I found myself in 5th or