Dog Days of Summer

These last few weeks have been going by so fast, and with classes starting next week, I don't see any sign of it slowing down.  I'm starting to realize how much time a dog requires, but it is all time well spent.  After a long and sometimes stressful day of work, I look forward to coming home for little Georgia Mae's "pet session": 10 minutes of belly, leg, and behind-the-ear rubs and verbal praise.  Despite the desert heat (and monsoon humidity) we've enjoyed many long evening walks and runs together.  A couple weeks ago I took her on her first real hike, and although she handled the terrain really well, I think the elevation gain was a challenge, as she tired after 2 miles (compared to our 3 to 4 mile evening run/walks).  With my hunnie working crazy hours, I'm so glad I have my little gal to motivate me to enjoy the outdoors every evening.  When my mom and sis made their trip out to the desert, the weekend was full of oogling over how sweet and adorable little Georgia was...well that was until she let out her wild side and tore apart her new tennis ball toy.  While they were here, my hunnie's family joined us for a BBQ, and lucky little Georgia got spoiled with a piece of corn on the cob, elk meat, and ice cold cantaloupe.  Today I started working with her on the "Stay" command.  I'm not sure if she's getting it yet, but maybe a weekend of reinforcing it with praise and treats will do the trick.  If Georgia could talk, I'm pretty sure she'd say "It's a good day to be a dog."     

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A-Mountain Hike & A Mountain of Salad

As my mother would say, "Nothing better than a long, torturous hike on a hot day."  The mercury reached a dry 103 yesterday, which, for me, meant filling up my Camelpak, slabbing on some sunscreen and hitting A-Mountain after work.  Circling up A-Mountain, I enjoyed 360 degree views of our bustling little desert town.  During my hike, I created a mental list of the groceries I had at home and how I could turn them into a fast and refreshing post-workout dinner.  Yes, it's true...I think about food when I'm working out.  This salad is the result of my mental indulgence, complete with greens from my hunnie's dad's garden and steak leftover from Memorial Day grilling.  It was easy and delicious (AND I enjoyed a buttery roll too)--exactly what I needed after a long workout and an even longer day at work.

Tangy Steak Salad
3 oz steak
2 cup mixed greens
2 oz goat cheese, crumbled
8 grape tomatoes, halved
1/6 red onion, thinly sliced
2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
organic (no salt) seasoning, dash

Toss ingredients together and enjoy!

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50-Day Fitness Challenge

Desert Winters are the perfect time to bump up your outdoor workouts.  Mornings are cool and skies are clear.  On the other hand, late-Spring/Summer in the desert means both heat and the monsoon season.  With this extreme weather comes less motivation to get outdoors and stay fit.  I'm hoping to run my first full marathon in December, but with training beginning in two months, I need to find a way between now and mid-July to stay active.  Que in the 50-Day Fitness Challenge.  Beginning tomorrow, I will workout 5 days a week, and make opportunities (NOT EXCUSES) to enjoy the outdoors.  The focus of the challenge isn't on workout intensity as much as it is on sticking to a fitness routine. 

• Challenge dates: May 28 - July 17
• Workout 5 days a week
• 3 of 5 workout days must be outdoors
• Include variation in workouts (running, swimming, hiking, yoga, weights, etc...)
• Publish 7-day training plan every Monday of training week

To kick start the challenge, tomorrow my hunnie and I will be running with friends in a 3 mile fun run through mud and an obstacle course.  Here is this week's training schedule, beginning with the Mud Run tomorrow: 

Saturday	Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
3 mi Mud Run*	2 mi Hike*	3 mi Run	3 mi Run/5 lap Swim*	Rest	Spin Core	Rest	6 mi Run*	Bikram Yoga

The star (*) indicates an outdoor workout. 

To end things on a motivational quote, Ben Franklin once said Energy and persistence conquer all things.  You can thank the inventor of the lightening rod for my 50-day Fitness Challenge mantra. Pin It

Desert Date Night

After a couple chaotic weeks of exams and work, my hunnie planned a quintessential-Tucson date night: evening picnic at Gates Pass.  With Camelpaks and a cushy ice chest in tow, we hiked into the mountains west of Tucson.  We found a spot behind a rock outcropping where we were blocked by the wind, set up our little travel grill and cracked open a Belgian style ale.  On the menu for this desert date night:
      Water crackers
      Garlic and sun dried tomato hummus
      Herb goat cheese
      Marinated steak and kabob veggies
      Dipping sauces (to suit any man's desires)

What a great way to enjoy some Springtime heat in the Sonoran Desert with my hunnie!  We talked, we grilled, we watched the sun set...and then we hurried down the mountain, because the trail closes at dusk.  Not even my collision with a Cholla cactus could ruin our night out. 

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