Too awesome not to share

I'm sure most have seen this, especially those in the UK since it featured on the BBC and Telegraph sites earlier today but the double decker bus doing push-ups is one of the coolest pieces of art I've seen (not that I'm anywhere near a connoisseur).  I'm not sure what I find more fascinating though, the realistic grunts and groans as it "works out" or the cute rear view of the bus, lol.  Kudos to the sculptor David Cerny for both his work and his view on why the push-ups.



Thanks to TWBrit for sending me the BBC news link this morning

Still Running

I'm at a bit of a loss about what direction to take the blog in since I'm no longer driving a truck, I seem to be kind of drifting in that regard so any suggestions about what you would like to see (or read) please feel free to let me know.

Gratuitous self-pic because I'm pleased that I'm starting to get ab definition

My running is going quite well though and I'm even adding in an occasional cycle trainer session and now in the routine of doing 2 major weight/core sessions per week which is resulting in some nice changes in my body. The trail running is something I always look forward to doing especially when we can get out and hit some hills. Today however turned into a major suffer and sweat fest about halfway through and our entire group was feeling it.  Like most of the country we are under a severe heat wave (100F plus days that started last month) and NO rain.  Well at least until yesterday when small showers and a major wind storm hit the central Arkansas area.  One of those small showers popped up this morning midway through our run, immediately after the sun came out and turned the area into a sauna.  I was so sweat-soaked that I could wring the moisture out of my shorts and my shoes were sopping from sweat dripping down my legs into them. Gross, eh?

One of the many large trees that had been blown down yesterday

Looks like fall rather than early July

Forcing smiles because our legs HURT! Notice the lack of sunshine--that's about to change

Yep, this is when it started feeling like we were running in a sauna.

Feverish earworm

Sometimes I can get lost on youtube following links of recommended vids.  This weekend I happened to stumble across Fever Ray, can't get enough of their music now.

Something different

It wasn't my first visit to London but it was quite a treat to stumble upon Cleopatra's Needle on this one.  At first we thought it was a replica but were quite enthralled to find out that it was the real deal.

Please click on the photos to read the plaques 

I think I found this the most interesting part of all though

Damage from the bomb as detailed in the pic of the plaque above

You also don't have to visit London to find one of these obelisks, the twin to this one is in New York City's Central Park and there is a 3rd from a different area in Paris (whose twin is still in the original site according to the wiki).  

Sunny day in London

Oh yes, it is time for another pic heavy post from my adventures in the UK last month during the unseasonably warm first week of my visit.  I have many, many more but don't have the patience to go through them all at once so hope everyone will forgive the slowness of me putting some of 'em up.

Runners entering Green Park after the Bupa 10k. I wanted to run this but it was full by the time I decided when I would go back to the UK

Finish line after the race on The Mall

St. James's Park, following a friend to eat at Inn the Park after she ran the 10k.  It was a happening place, we lost the table at once while we were waiting to be seated by people who just walked in the side door and just sat down, lol.  Also nearly witnessed a fight between servers who were a little frazzled with how busy it was.  Right now it's currently closed until September due to the beach volleyball Olympic event being held on the Horse Guards parade ground

The Admiralty Arch which as of mid-February was on the market for 75 million pounds. My birthday is in February........just a suggestion if anyone wants to buy me something extra-special, lol. 

People-watching on (at) Nelson's Column

me :-)

The Olympics countdown clock seemed very out of place

All the ubiquitous British red in the background then the All-American red Levis logo

The Market in Covent Garden, all flagged out for the Diamond Jubilee

Smelled and looked so yummy (The Market)

Now that's a party barge ;-)

Me with a "bobby" (not sure if that's considered derogatory now or not). Believe it or not he smiled when we asked if it was ok for us to take a pic. Oh yeah, it was quite windy that day--way too many pics messed up because of my crazy hair. Huge thanks to TWBrit for stopping and asking him if we could have the pic (and for picking out a cute one although I don't think that was intentional, lol).

Still haven't managed to circle about in the London Eye

The queue to get into Westminster Abbey, love the couple leaning into each other

Not a fantastic pic or anything but I do love the corners on the left

Being a bit naughty at Scotland Yard wink-wink

Visiting a palace

My first week in England on this visit was absolutely gorgeous--sunny skies, hot temps (in the 80s), everyone had a smile on their face and most were sporting a sunburn or in the process of trying to get one.  In other words, very UN-typical UK weather and it was a perfect day to visit Blenheim Palace in Woodstock, the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.  Fitting since on the last trip I visited his gravesite, eh?  Yes, I did opt to stand in line and get the annual pass since it was free other than getting my mug-shot and a little bit of time, kinda cool carrying that around in my wallet.

very imposing

side view and the moat depression

intricate ironwork

fearsome! looks like something out of a video game

looking up at the eyes looking down in the main entry

Moi

Doesn't she look so elegant?

lush, I probably overuse it but it so applies to quite a lot of the UK

One of the areas we couldn't enter: the maze

love the ducks

Watching the sunbathers

silly pic of me trying to hug one of the giant trees :-)

More sunbathers

We toured much of the interior also but like most places they wouldn't allow photography on the inside (want you to buy the books from the gift shop). Parts of Blenheim Palace can also be rented out for weddings and other events but honestly I wouldn't want to be married there unless it was out in one of the amazing (and extensive) gardens.  Next visit there will be to run the Blenheim Palace half marathon in the fall and I'm hoping to ride the miniature train and play in the Marlborough Maze afterwards--yes, I am still a kid sometimes, lol.

Earworms

Wanted to share a couple of songs/artists that have been on repeat on lately. Enjoy!

Icona Pop's "I Love It" has been making the blog rounds lately and rightly so, it's incredibly catchy and upbeat and this would make an awesome pick up the pace addition to the running playlist

Antero Lindgren "Cigarette Stump" for those days when you're feeling mellow or melancholy. Works for either mood or at least it does for me

It's not much of a secret that I loves me an accent and have a boot obsession that's a bit crazy so hearing the gorgeous and hilarious Craig Ferguson ruminate on about HIS boot obsession equals a very happy Gabby.  Fast forward to around 6:19 to hear only that part. Huge thank you to TWBrit for sending me this link!

A PR at last!

PR for those who don't know is personal record, or if you're European, it's known as a PB--personal best.  PB just makes me think of peanut butter though which makes me hungry which doesn't do well for losing weight. Enough which(es)?  Arrrgggghhhh, now I have a Which Wich craving.........Right, where was I? Lol, I'm sure most people have quit reading by now in aggravation.

 So yeah, a personal record was finally attained this year even if it was in a distance that I haven't formally raced in prior to this year, the MILE! Or in this case the Go!Mile.  For the Women Can Run clinic we had 3 timed miles, my best being a 6:56 so Saturday I was hoping to get under 7 minutes again.  Obviously I managed to bust that 7 minute mark again, this time with a 6:43!!!!! Can you tell I'm happy?  A huge thank you goes out to Brenda, Vicki, and Ginny for all the quality training and advice I received from/with them this year so far. No way would I have gotten this pr without them.

Elsie in the corner checking out my sweaty towel and cute t-shirt

And the Go!Running Go!Mile race is a must-do! It's gonna hurt but it's over quickly. Very well organized (except for the one delayed starting gunshot, lol), loved the separate heats and being able to cheer on my friends.  Watermelon after a race is divine and the towel at the finish line was very welcome to mop away the sweat.  I think most of my fellow running club members had pr's or close to it and our women's team took 2nd in the state RRCA Grand Prix points, woot!  Congrats to all :-).  

Love the Brooks Running Green Silence, those are my speedy shoes

I normally won't post pics of when I'm racing because quite frankly I look absolutely horrid when I'm pushing that hard.  I'm swallowing my pride on this one because I love my form on this shot (thanks Arland!) and how me and the woman in the green shoes are almost exactly in the same pose. Looking back through the photos, we were pretty much synchronized through the series, at least at the halfway point of the race.  Too bad I couldn't have kept that up, she finished 10 seconds ahead of me.  

A surprise visit to Cambridge

I'm going to blog about my visit to the UK as the mood hits, probably won't be in chronological order but more as I sort through my photos and something strikes a chord.  This one does just happen to be sorta in order because it came on the evening of the day of the Google Big Tent Event, my first full day in England.  It wasn't a planned visit to Cambridge but it was en-route back to where I was staying while there.  Beautiful city full of students and universities, gorgeous architecture, amazing window shopping, and a meal so spicy from Bill's cafe (the piri-piri chicken) it put anything I'd ever eaten in Texas or Louisiana to shame.

Closing time, streets were emptying

I could live here!

I so wonder what this guy was thinking other than "damn tourists"

Hmmm, wonder what happened here ;-)

Because Cambridge is dominated by students, cycling is the primary mode of transport.  As a matter of fact, cyclists seem to have the right of way over everything and everyone, including pedestrians on the sidewalk, I was nearly plowed over several times before I started paying closer attention

I absolutely love this shot, easily one of my favorites of the entire trip

Daisies in multiple forms were scattered everywhere. Can anyone enlighten me as to the significance of them? 

Cycles and red phone boxes

Art Gallery chickens, taken especially for my sis

Adding a few more pics that I took of Bill's cafe that I found today :-)

Bill's Beer

Very cool light fixture

Looking down into the dining area