Monday, December 31, 2012

Looking Back: 2012

Before I go barreling headlong into 2013, I thought a look back at 2012 was worth while.  So here it is...my 2012 Year In Review.


Popularity Contest: 
*based on total number of pageviews

Most Popular Post: Tundra Challenge Review
I think it's hilarious that the worst "race" I ever participated is also the most-viewed post of all time on my blog!  I hope, that in some small way, I managed to keep others from being taken in by this shady excuse of a race.

 Runner Up: Date Night (Part 1)
Ah yes, the long run gone wrong.  At least the dinner tasted good!

Honorable Mention: I Do All My Own Stunts
Give me a fun trip and I'll give you a fun post!

Athletic Endeavors

Favorite Race: South Shore Rock 'n Ride Duathlon
I became a duathlete that day - and it made me more determined to eventually become a triathlete!


Most Fun Race: Warrior Dash
This race was a great because I got to spend time with my old friends...and meet a new one!


Toughest Race: Madison Half Marathon
There's a moment during almost every race where I ask myself "Why am I doing this?"  I asked myself that question a number of times during this race and came the closest I've ever come to dropping out of a race.


Trippin'

Favorite Trip: Paris
This was the most unexpected and amazing trip of my life.  I can't say enough good things about France, but if you ask me about it, I probably won't shut up for days.

Runner Up: North Carolina
Beautiful views, serious relaxation, and tons of outdoor fun!

All About The Animals: 

I couldn't not mention the critters!

Favorite Walter Pic of the Year:

Favorite Spot Pic of the Year:

Favorite "Group" Pic of the Year:

Favorite Mason Moment: 



2012 been filled with so much good  and I can only hope that 365 days from I have the good fortune to say the same.  So here we go - I'm raising a glass to celebrate 2012 and I'm ready to pop the cork on 2013.

Happy New Year!





Thursday, December 27, 2012

The Terrible Twos

That's right...RabbitsandRuns is two years old today!

(source)
Thank you to everyone who has read/commented on/supported my ramblings over the last two years.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from the RabbitsandRuns Family!



Love,
Mr. R&R, Mary, Walter & Spot

Friday, December 21, 2012

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Lobster!

I started my day off with a trip to see the lovely 'Mane Wrangler' (also known as my hair stylist, K) and then, since we were already downtown, Mr. R&R and I had lunch at the Milwaukee Public Market.  The Public Market is vaguely reminiscent of Seattle's famous Pike Place Market - although it doesn't even come close to Pike Place's diversity and charm.

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 One of my favorite things to eat at Pike Place is the crab cups and ceviche cups.  They're super cheap and absolutely delicious.


It turns out that the Milwaukee Public Market has a killer bargain of it's own...lobster dinners for $13.95 at the St. Paul Fish Company!



We each started out with a cup of clam chowder.   Mr. R&R and I agreed that it was the best chowder either of us have had in a long time.  It was apparent that there was nothing 'canned' or 'commercial' about it.


Then it was time for the main event: Lobster Dinner for him and a Lobster Roll for me.





According to Mr. R&R, the lobster was delicious and pretty much melted in his mouth.  My lobster roll was also really good - rich and creamy with big pieces of lobster and just enough spice to take the edge off the richness -  tucked inside a folded slice of grilled bread. 

By the time we finished our lunch we were both ready to lapse into a food coma, but we stopped at C. Adam's Bakery  and picked up a couple of huge cookies for later (chocolate chunk for him, peanut butter chocolate chunk for me) and spent the freezing cold walk back to the car plotting what other Market vendors we'd like to visit  in the future.








Long story short (too late), if you're ever in Milwaukee: A) Let me know and B) Make sure to stop by the Milwaukee Public Market for a bite to eat.  Even if fish isn't your thing, I think there's something there for everyone!

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Popsicle or Pop Cycle?

It appears that winter has arrived in Wisconsin with a vengeance.  On Thanksgiving, Mr. R&R and I went for a 5 mile run - in shorts and we were complaining about how warm we were.  And this week the temperatures have plummeted.  I know I need to get off my butt and run, but I've been so cold all week that the mere thought of being outside was enough to convince me that I didn't need to work out and that I'd be so much happier curled up on the couch under a warm fuzzy blanket. 

Cold Weather = Wimp
Obviously that's not going to cut it.  I've already skipped the first two races of the Great Lakes Running Series due to a lack of training and I'd really rather not skip the third!  So tonight I compromised with myself.  Instead of going outside and becoming a human popsicle, I headed down to the basement armed with a killer workout from Frayed Laces and a new Spotify playlist that I like to call 'Pop Cycle'. 

Going into the workout I expected a challenge, but this exceeded all my expectations.  I got my booty handed to me.  By the time I was done, I was dripping sweat and seriously considered going outside in my cycling clothes to cool off!  I also learned that I suck at one-legged drills.  My pedal stroke seems to stall out at the top.  Any experienced cyclists have any advice on that?  I was also reminded that I need to do something about the cleat on my right shoe - it makes an awful clicking/rattling noise!


I figure if I keep plugging away at my bike speed and endurance throughout the winter, I'll be in a better place on the bike when duathlon season rolls around again.  Now if I could just get my act together regarding running!  On a positive note, it's supposed to warm up over the next couple of days, so hopefully I'll be able to get outside.  If not, it looks like I'm going to have to resign myself to running on the indoor track - which is just above the dreadmill on my list of places to run!



Saturday, November 3, 2012

A Whirlwind Weekend In Paris

Last Thursday night I boarded a plane in Chicago, fell asleep somewhere over eastern Canada and woke up about an hour before we touched down in Paris on Friday morning.  After clearing immigration and customs, I located the driver who would take me to Versailles - and Mr. R&R!  At first, the view out the window was nothing terribly special, but about 30 minutes later, as we emerged from a tunnel, my driver said, "Welcome to Versailles," and the view became something that I've dreamed about since I was about 12 years old: narrow cobblestone streets, tiny shops, apartments with flowers blooming in window boxes, and a big open air market.  Within minutes we arrived at the hotel and once again I found myself breathless as I looked up the Rue de Paris at Chateau Versailles.


After a quick shower, we set out to explore the area.


Mr. R&R and I stopped in a little cafe for lunch (quiche lorraine for me, duck confit for him) before strolling up the Rue de Paris to tour Chateau Versailles.


Approaching the Chateau


























After concluding our tour, we returned to the hotel for a short nap, it was time. We boarded a train and a short time later we emerged from an underground station to one of the most spectacular sights I've ever seen.





We wandered around Paris drinking in the sights and sounds of the city, had dinner, and then discovered that the trains back to Versailles stopped running at 10:30pm - an hour earlier.  There's nothing like trying to bribe a cab driver in a language you only sort of remember! Eventually, we managed to find a driver to take us back and crashed hard.

On Saturday morning, we located a Starbucks (those tiny espressos just weren't going to cut it) and boarded another train into Paris to continue our adventure.  Since we had such a limited amount of time, we had to make some tough choices about which famous landmarks to visit.  Our first stop: The Louvre.  We knew that we didn't have time to truly tour the museum properly (an endeavor that could take days), so we opted for what we dubbed 'Louvre Light' - a quick peek at some of the museums most famous pieces.


Having a DaVinci Code moment

Winged Victory


A lady who needs no introduction 


Venus De Milo


Cupid & Psyche

 After the Louvre it was on to the Jardin des Tuileries, Rue de Rivoli, and Place de La Concorde.








We stopped in a cafe for lunch (croque monsieur and a perrier) before strolling along the Seine to the Quartier Latin - home of Notre Dame, Pont du St. Michel and The Sorbonne.







After a full day of sightseeing, we met up with one of Mr. R&R's colleagues for some wine, which turned into dinner, which turned into more wine/bar hopping and let's just say that my ability to take non-blurry photos decreased exponentially while my fluency in French increased - or so I'm told!

Street sign that amused me to no end.
Warm Chevre Salad (and where the photo/fluency issue really began)   
Halloween Weekend in the Sorbonne Bars
After convincing another cab driver to take us back to Versailles (it was after 1am at this point), I collapsed into bed swearing off wine for the rest of my natural life - or you know...until the next day!

Sunday morning required another Starbucks stop and then a stroll around Versailles where we stumbled upon a boulangerie/patisserie and possibly the tastiest best thing I ate in France: a sandwich au jambon.  It was the most simple sounding thing in the world, freshly baked baguette slathered with butter and a few slices of ham and cheese tucked inside and It. Was. Amazing. - and cheap!  I seriously can't stop thinking about that sandwich - and neither can Mr. R&R!

We enjoyed our coffee and sandwich on a park bench near Chateau Versailles while we soaked in the atmosphere and marveled at the fact that we were really here!


Once my hangover was under control, we returned to Paris for our final day in the City of Light.

We made our way up the Champs Elysees (which we both thought felt a bit like Times Square in New York) to the Arc De Triomphe.







Eventually we wandered back to Place de La Concorde and the Jardin des Tuileries, stopped at a little stand for a hot gauffre topped with Nutella, and eventually found ourselves sitting on a bench outside the Louvre, munching on a hot brie and chevre sandwich, and watching the sun set over Paris - the perfect ending to a perfect whirlwind of an adventure.