Marathon Update - Im a Marathon Relay champ!

26.2 miles this year is looking less and less likely to happen... at least all by myself. My major goal with training was to get my butt outside and in shape again... it is after all wedding/swimsuit season. But summer also means many many fun distractions. I did however reach over 100 miles training recently! (see the ticker at the bottom of my page) I'd be happy with 200 training miles this summer.

While I did get a 12 mile run in a few weeks ago, I'm quite happy with my decision do the Annual Akron Marathon Team Relay, a new event this year. Some coworkers and friends of mine will each run one of five legs, mine being the last and longest at 7.6 miles. If all goes well on 9/26 at the team relay, I'm hoping to do the Towpath 1/2 Marathon at 13.2 miles on 10/11. I'll also be participating in the 'Cleveland Corporate Challenge' 10K relay being held August 1st. (It's only a mile, but good chance to see just how fast I can run it!)

The Cleve, especially where I live, offers some outstanding places to get your miles in. Yesterday I met a friend downtown and took a Lake route around Browns Stadium, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Science Center. I often run at Edgewater Park, right on the lake. It offers amazing breezes and views of Lake Erie and downtown. Cleveland's "Emerald Necklace" (metroparks), particularly Rocky River Reservation is great for longer runs.

(pics are the Rock Hall etc. from the GoodTime III and Edgewater Park at sunrise.)

Market Under Glass '09

While we are on the topic of local food... A few months ago I was lucky enough to attend Market Under Glass. Local restaurants from across the city take over the Galleria downtown and set up precious little samples of their best dishes and drinks. Big thanks to my fabulous friend Amanda who got me the VIP hook up from her company (and her sister who backed out last minute, leaving room for me!) All proceeds from ticket sales went to Harvest for Hunger.

I found a great sustainable catering company, Spice of Life. They had by far the best looking table, and the food was outstanding. Not only are they loyal to using regional and seasonal foods, they are committed to getting the community involved in the local farms. My favorite thing they do is Planted Landscapes, where they set up a 'traveling' restaurant at a local farm, right in the fields! It's like a beautiful outdoor wedding reception.

Other highlights (besides hanging out with the exquisite Mrs. Jess Cahoon) were the martini and wine bar in the VIP section, and of course Great Lakes Brewery was there introducing their Grassroots pale ale to the market. Until this year, the ale had only been served in the restaurant, but now it's in any local grocery store that carries GLB brews.

The only place missing at the event was The Greenhouse Tavern,

the first Green Certified restaurant in Ohio. Not only do they practice the farm to plate philosophy, wood used in the restaurant has been salvaged from an old church, and they have a rooftop garden. The spring pasta (sans pork) is outstanding. I loved the fern spirals in the dish, that were picked by hand in the woods of The Cleve. Perfecto.