Run It!

{Goldfish Kiss blogger Rebekah running on the beach in Oahu}

In my effort to take my fitness and health to a new level, I've started running on the beach.  The first time I ever ran across the sand was when I participated in the Kahana Canoe Club's relay race last March.  The last leg was a mile run along the beach--and it kicked my butt.  I ran the entire mile in my bikini with bare feet.  I never stopped to walk, but my legs were burning in ways that I had never experienced when running on the road.

I was intrigued by the new challenge of running across wet sand with the surf washing across my toes (and of course, you can't imagine a prettier place to run), so I have begun to slowly incorporate it into my workouts.

After my long day of running errands and shopping on the other side, it was all I could do to talk myself into heading to Airport Beach for a sunset run. 

When I arrived, the water looked so calm, I couldn't resist jumping in for a swim.  I swam about a quarter mile to Black Rock, pulling against a strong current, before I decided to get out of the water and run the rest of the way.  I ran another quarter mile towards Black Rock, then turned back around and headed back to the spot where I got out of the water.

I was breathing ragged at this point, and I had to take a minute to walk the beach before I could continue on.  Once I got to the spot where I got out of the ocean (marked by a big, round white buoy), I snapped my goggles back into place and marched into the water.

Swimming back to my initial starting point was a breeze now that I was swimming with the current.  Even though I was breathing hard after my run, I shot through the water like a bullet.

I was done with my workout before the sunset, and I read my book on my new Kikoy Beach Towel until the sun dropped.

I came home and showered, then headed to Kahana to join a friend at her family's home for dinner (fresh mahi mahi, asparagus and potatoes).  The front yard sports a lemon and kumquat tree.  Both going off with fruit.  My friend sent me home with more lemons than I know what to do with (most of them the size of a baseball, mind you), and I brought home some kumquats so I can have the pleasure of introducing them to Bryan (who I can imagine will not like them, but I'm looking forward to seeing the faces that he'll make when he eats one).  I had my first kumquat last night, and it was definitely an interesting experience.  I have concluded that I think I like them.  I'm not entirely convinced yet.

I cut a lemon up this morning and crammed three slices into my water bottle.  Refreshing.

I have a feeling that quite a few of them will wind up in vinaigrettes.  I've been on a huge salad kick lately, and I love, love, love making my own salad dressings.  I made an arugula, radish, and green bean salad topped with one perfectly poached egg this afternoon.  The finishing touch?  Homemade honey mustard vinaigrette:

good olive oil, good wine vinegar (3 parts oil to 1 part vinegar), Bryan's beloved Ohio stadium mustard, a swirl of honey (mustard and honey to taste) combined in one small tupperware.  I screwed the lid on and then shook the dickens out of the ingredients.

Yum.

{original image from Marie Claire magazine}