All Good Things...

It's all been good.  Very good.

Good food.
The gluten-free scene isn't quite up to par at Seagrove Beach, but I was very impressed with the availability of gluten-free pizza from Pizza by the Sea.  The dough was prepackaged and frozen, so I'm not THAT impressed, but at least it was available.  Based on the website claiming "best kid-friendly dining"...we opted to order takeout!

Our best gluten-free dining experiences actually  came from picking up fresh fish at Goatfeather's Seafood Market, and cooking in.

Although Fish Out of Water came in a close second.

Good company.

What a blessing it was for us to enjoy time with the Husband's parents and my mom.  Our short time together left us all wanting just a little bit more.  And isn't that the best way to end family time?

And what a trooper my mom was!  She rented a bike to keep me company on my 11-mile training run.  She called it "role reversal".  After running by my side while I learned to ride my first two-wheeler, it was my turn to run alongside her as she enjoyed riding her beach cruiser.

And of course, 35 mile bike rides, rooftop conversations, and walks along the beach with the most amazing, thoughtful, handsome, best friend a girl could ever ask for just makes any vacation...better than good.

Good scenery.

God's creation is astounding.  Sky, water, and land -- He uses those three things to create an infinite number of artistic experiences for His glory and our enjoyment every single day.  How many combinations can He come up with?

I'm in awe.

Good training.

Miles and miles of beauty in which to run, bike, and play.  The half marathon is two weeks away.  I missed my training partner this week, but Mom did a great job as road crew!

 Good times.

GBud and Alley's Taco Bar - What beach vacation would be complete without a little Mexican fiesta time?  None, according to these California girls!

It was my turn to ride alongside the Husband as he got in his training run.  Some people like to sleep in on their vacations.  I know.  I don't get it either, but it's true.












Good resting.

Okay, so I did very little sitting on the beach, although the beach was only 150 yards from our house, but sitting is not my forte.  I did truly rest.  I did truly "let down", and I know many of you who know me well will be proud of me for that.

But during the times I did sit on the the beach, I saw dolphins breach, I looked at the perfect horizon and was not at all surprised that the people of 1492 thought Columbus was a total freak, and I thanked God for who He is and for His incredible blessings.

But all good things...mmmmmmm.

 But if they have to come to an end, what a good ending.

Excercising on Vacation - Get Out and Have Some FUN!

Vacation is all about getting away. But there are some things that I just can't get away from. One thing is exercise. Why? Because I love it. Because it's fun! The first thing on my mind when I wake up is what type of workout I'm going to start my day with. Scratch that. The last thing I think of before I go to sleep at night is what I'll do to exercise the next day. There, that's a little more honest. And yes, that's even on vacation. The husband says that vacations are for resting. True, but some of us rest a little better after getting the endorphins flowing.

I love my gym -- the whir of the treadmills, the clanging of the weights, and the energy in the air as everyone is bustling about to meet their fitness goals. I love my group fitness classes and the participants even more. We work HARD together, and there's a feeling of camaraderie when you go through intense exercise together, especially when you accomplish things you never thought you'd be able to do!

But on vacation it is nice to have time away from the gym and to work out for me. I've had the best workouts this week. A coastal town has miles of roads and beaches, with gorgeous scenery, and built in air conditioning blowing in from the sea. No mirrors, mats, or HVAC this week.

Monday started with long runs on a coastal road. Tuesday started with a 24-mile bike ride with the husband. I'll be thinking of that bike ride for weeks to come during 6:00am spin classes! Wednesday was back to a good training run and a great walk along the beach with Mom. Since jellyfish were lining the wet shore, and I have a serious fear of jellyfish stemming from a bad childhood experience with a Portuguese Man o' War, we opted to walk, or march, in the deep sand. Wow, does that work the hamstrings, calves, and glutes!

And then there was Thursday. Oh, Thursday. I've been envisioning this workout for months. Seriously. I have a great 75 minute Vinyasa Flow Yoga CD by Baron Baptiste. I loaded it onto my iPod for times when I'm away from home and just need to start my day right. But the best thing about Thursday's yoga workout was that I set my mat up on the rooftop deck just as the sun was starting to take the chill out of the air. And this is what I got to see during my practice.

Unbelievable.

It's possible that I will never again be satisfied with another yoga experience.


And, savasana, or final relaxation pose, looking up at this sky left me giddy with excitement for the day.

So, at the close of this day, what do you think I'm considering?

That's right. Will tomorrow hold another long bike ride winding through more beach towns? Should I get that 10-mile training run out of the way before Saturday? Hmmmm.

I do know that whatever I choose it will start my day off right, it will be fun, it will be refreshing, and it will lead to rest.


And here's a funny little video that the husband took over his shoulder while biking. Exercise should always be FUN!