chillicothe, ohio | a photo essay

I need to be honest with y'all: I considered jumping ship from the wedding Zander and I RSVP'd to attend in Ohio this weekend and heading solo to Miami... or Puerto Rico. Or Jamaica! It's not that I didn't want to go, it's just... sunshine! sand! the official start of summer! But I bucked up (and buckled up) for the 7-hour drive to Chillicothe, a no-name small town a few hours outside of Cleveland.

In the way that these things usually go, I enjoyed the trip and Chillicothe far more than I expected. We had more than our fair share of misadventures, and we laughed straight from our bellies at the characters we met and the things we heard. A road trip and a little slice of America made for the best Memorial Day weekend I can remember.

Sharing the same name as the major chain makes you wonder who stole whose name. This Crispie Creme opened 8 years before Krispie Kreme. Zander and I both thought the glazed donuts taste nearly identical to the chain's. Do I smell scandal and intrigue?! (Now I want a donut!)

Our first night in town, we ate at a local's joint called Roosters. Our endearing waitress said of the Italian sub, "You won't find a better one at any gas station around!" (Clearly, she hasn't been to a Wa-Wa or a Sheetz. YUM.)

Zander surprised me with a hike on Saturday morning. We got to the state forest at 8:00am, and found our first trail marker sometime around Sunday afternoon. On the bright side, we saw a doe and a bushy-tailed bunny rabbit and rarely another soul in the woods (probably because we weren't on a trail, but that's neither here nor there). We laughed about it. Classic Chillicothe!

With some time to kill before Zan's best friends - John and Siobhan - arrived in town on Saturday afternoon, we went in search of a bookstore. We found an address for a local one in what looked like Chillicothe's downtown area. The bookstore was closed for the annual street fair - the Festival of the Flowering Moon. A woman excitedly told us, "There's Indian dancing!" to which I replied, "I love Bollywood!" Zander just shook his head and probably thought, "Classic Cyndi!" That was embarrassing.

I talked Zan into a funnel cake and a pretend ride in this stationary train. I didn't talk the photobomber into his role, but I like it.

The woman working the booth was so friendly I almost wanted to buy tickets. Almost! 

I loved this beautiful Memorial Day tribute in a small park near the festival.

The wedding took place on a lake about 15 miles from our hotel. Zan's buddy married a beautiful woman, inside and out. You can see her phenomenal taste in the details. Plus, they had a s'mores bar with a campfire outside of the reception hall. You betcha I had one and then s'more!

Zan and his best friend John are a hoot and a half. I tell you what, they're always doing something silly. Together, they're up to no good in the best way.

The icing on the cake, if you will, was the ride back to the hotel. As DD, I tasked Zan with navigating me. We circled the city three times, ran into the same road block and detour... twice... and laughed until we nearly cried. Next time, I'll ask Siri for directions. ;)

capitol hill clasic 10K | race recap

I want to be one of those people who exclaim after a race how easy it was, comparatively, to the training for it, and how the miles flew by! Alas, I am not one of those people. The Capitol Hill Classic, my first ever race and first time running a 10k, was, I'll just say it, hard. It was hard!

I expected adrenaline to be the driving force, to have it carry me through much of the race. That was not the case. After the first 5 minutes or so, the adrenaline wore off, and it felt like any other run. Except on this run, I found it really difficult to distract myself and get out of my run and into my head. I made it a goal to run straight through to each of the water stops, placed at two mile intervals, and then to walk through those.

Miles 1-2 
I felt tired by the time I reached mile 1. I know myself and body enough to know that I wasn't tired at all, but I was focusing on my running instead of anything else. I kept hearing the runners around me, the crowds (that was nice, though!), and I struggled to find my groove. Mile 2 was better as I started to calm down and get into my zone.

Miles 3-4
Mile 3 was my best mile of the race. I got completely lost in my music and thoughts, and I'm pretty sure I fist-pumped my way around one bend in the road. Right around mile 4, it started to rain. It felt humid all morning, and the rain was a wonderful reprieve. Mile 4 was also my slowest and worst. I hit a wall, and I had to walk at two different points for short intervals. Mile 4 also had a decent-sized hill. I did some of my best running of the race on the hill but petered out once things flattened out.

Miles 5-6
The second I passed the 5 Mile marker, I felt a euphoria unlike anything I've ever experienced. Running highs are incredible, and I've experienced them occasionally in training runs, but this... oh wow. Oh wow! I knew when I saw that marker that I was going to finish, that I could do it, that I had already done most of it. I couldn't stop smiling. I knew that Zander, Matt, and Matt's boyfriend Ryan would be cheering me on at 5.5 miles. I used that as incentive and picked up my pace.

At the 6 mile marker, I thought I was done. I got emotional.... and then remembered 6.2. I still had a little ways to go. That last .2 sounded like the longest distance when I realized it. But when I rounded the corner and saw the finish line, I mustered up every bit of energy I had left in me, and I sprinted.

The finish 
I got emotional as I crossed the finish line. I bent over panting, and I had a silly stupid smile plastered on my face. I checked my RunKeeper app when I could breathe again. It was way off, saying I had run 6.6 miles at an 11:00 minute/mile pace. I met up with my friend Courtney and congratulated her for her PR.

Results 
I ran at an 11:28 minute/mile pace, which is close to what I anticipated. I don't know how I feel about it? But I guess I am a little disappointed. I'm glad I have a race under my belt, and I ran 85% of it. I didn't sleep well (at all, eek) the night before, and I've had a cold all week that I felt coming on Saturday evening before the race. I'm not sure how much, if at all, those factors affected my run, but I'm excited to see how I'll do in another one. Another one!

Next up 
I'm planning to the run the Biggest Loser 10K in July and tentatively the Annapolis 10-miler in August. After this race, I truly wonder if I'm insane for doing it again.

And now... 
I was limping the day after the race. I erred by not icing after the race (such a dumb mistake), and my calves were so tight it was painful to walk. On top of tight calves, the pain in my right inner leg (posterior shin splints?) returned with a vengeance, and I'm still sore today. I need to see a doctor or talk to someone to figure this out before I start training again.

Thanks to everyone who encouraged me for this race and offered such great advice. A great, huge, big thank you to the guys in my life who were there to cheer me on. It meant so much to me!

cookies and cream cupcakes with oreo cream cheese frosting

When I volunteered to make cupcakes for two colleagues' birthdays today, I don't know what I was thinking. I ran the Capitol Hill Classic 10k yesterday morning, and then needed to get ingredients and make homemade cupcakes. I was too tired to stand, let alone think through a recipe.

Zander came to my rescue when he suggested cookies and cream cupcakes. I'll let you in on a little secret about Zander: he loves Oreos. I knew I wanted a simple recipe, one that uses Oreos, and I wanted to top it off with a new take on cream cheese frosting. I couldn't find a recipe that met all of those wants, so I smushed a bunch of them together to come up with this one.

These guys are so good I'm almost tempted to have a second. And they're so simple to make, you can do it after running a 10k.

ingredients for cookies and cream cupcakes (adapted from Brown Eyed Baker)
makes 24 cupcakes
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cup granulated sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
16 tablespoons unsalted butter (2 sticks) at room temperature
1 cup buttermilk (or sour cream)*
2 large eggs at room temperature
2 large egg yolks at room temperature
3 teaspoons vanilla + a few drops
12-18 crushed Oreos 

ingredients for Oreo cream cheese frosting  (adapted from Foodess)
8 oz cream cheese (1 block) at room temperature
4-5 tablespoons butter at room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla
1.5-2 cups confectioners sugar
12-18 crushed Oreos
12 Oreo halves for decorating

cupcake steps 
1. preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a muffin pan with liners.
2. using a large bowl for a stand mixer, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt (dry ingredients)
3. beat in butter (softened), buttermilk (or sour cream if you prefer, but I think the buttermilk adds to the "cookies and cream" texture and taste), egg and egg yolks, and vanilla. Beat these at medium speed until smooth and creamy - about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl with a rubber spatula.
4. fold in the crushed oreos until evenly distributed
5. bake for 20-24 minutes until the tops are pale gold and an inserted toothpick comes out nearly clean. let cool completely

frosting steps 
1. make sure your butter and cream cheese are soft. you can use a microwave to help in this process, but it's best to let them come to room temperature naturally. mix together on medium speed in a small bowl using a stand mixer until light and fluffy (about 2 minutes) mix in vanilla for 30 seconds
2. with speed turned to low, incorporate the confectioners sugar 1/2 cup or so at a time
3. with mixer still set to low, add in the crushed oreos until fully beat in. you will still have some oreo chunks - that's okay! if you want a crunchier outcome, fold in the cookies by hand instead of beating them
4. chill the frosting to thicken it
5. ice the cupcakes and serve with half an Oreo on top

*Baking with buttermilk: I'm new to it, and it's... interesting. It creates a heartier, thicker cupcake with a distinct texture and flavor. Some people die for them... It's growing on me. I liked it in this recipe to help create a cookies and cream effect.

Do you bake with buttermilk? What's your favorite recipe that incorporates buttermilk?

where to eat in dc | le diplomate

I took French in high school because my Mom spoke near fluent Spanish, and I was too contrary for my own good. My brother smartly took Spanish when he was in high school, four years ahead of me. He and my mom would stand out on our back porch swatting at mosquitos as twilight neared, laughing and jabbering in Spanish. It sounds like I took French because I was jealous, but I just wanted to be different.

My french teacher, Ms. White, wore color as well as Washington politicians wear black and navy blue. She gave us extra credit on tests for using phrases like, "j'ai oublié tout mon français" - I forgot all my French - in lieu of answers we didn't know. Every semester, our class threw a petite fête that celebrated French food, music, and cinema. I haven't been as excited by and curious about French culture as I was during those parties since then.

Until I ate at Le Diplomate, the new French restaurant in Logan Circle here in DC.

Zander had reservations for three weeks. It's the "in" spot right now, and it deserves that accolade. House wine is served in carafes and half-carafes, in true European fashion. One long booth brings patrons together, and only a small separation of the tables keeps parties intimate and apart.

I raved all night long. I loved the large, open bar space that feels communal, and I loved the simple touches - a frosty cool glass of dry French rose, the bread table that I wanted to reach out and touch, the impeccable service, and mouth-watering menu. Zan started with the beet salad (poorly pictured above), while I opted for the hot asparagus soup (also poorly pictured above). He loved the beet salad, but I swear to you Scout's Honor style that the asparagus soup is one of the single best courses I have ever tasted. I think he had first course remorse, personally.

Zan chose the duck breast with duck confit and a farro salad for his main course. I've had great duck, but this takes the blue ribbon. The thinly sliced duck breast is succulent, a perfect medium rare, and flavored so nicely I wonder if they couldn't make a savory candy out of it. 

I chose a traditional dish: steak frites. The pat of garlic butter melts instantly on the seared steak and drizzles down the sides. Some may think it's too garlicky, but I say that's impossible. The fries, delicious as they were, may have been the meal's only bite short of perfection; they were over-salted. I would eat this meal every day if our hearts were built for it.

Stuffed to overflowing, we couldn't imagine ordering dessert. And then we did. It took us three weeks to get into this place, who knows when we might be able to do it again! The dark chocolate Napoleon is a beautiful, slightly complicated sight. It marries a dark chocolate ice cream with a cookie crunch and places it beside paper thin sheets of dark chocolate sandwiching milk and dark chocolate mousse all on top of a cookie. Zander licked the plate. He beat me to it.

Ms. White introduced me to France, and Le Diplomate took me there for an evening. Next step, a plane ticket straight to Paris.

run 365 update | 10k training

I'm running my first ever race this Sunday. I'll be participating in the Capitol Hill Classic 10k, and I... am... nervous. To say the least. I haven't slept well all week, getting part excited and part butterflies about the next day's run. I've never "tapered" before. I don't know which night I should "carb load" - is it the night before the race, or is it two nights before the race? I have no clue what to eat the morning of the race. I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I tend to not eat before my morning runs because I'm, no pun intended, running out the door. I'm nervous about finishing, too - namely, will I?! When there are no stoplights giving me built in mini-breaks, will I be able to run 6 miles? And there's this little nugget: I've never run 6 miles before. My training has taken me up to 5.1 miles. I've read that the endurance you've built in your training and adrenaline from the race get you through the last bit, but is that just a thing people say? And what will my time be? I have no clue what my race pace is for a 10k. I'm not even sure I have a goal besides finishing. Actually, I take that back. I do have a goal. Just one: I want to dance across the finish line.

Training 
I've averaged 3-4 runs/week since the beginning of March January (but took most of Feb. off because of travel). My fastest run came in at 9:23 minutes/mile on a 4.5 mile run. The running app I use, RunKeeper, must have had a glitch, because that run was chock full of hills, and I've never run that fast. Or maybe it was a great day? A more normal average for me is around 11:00 minute miles, as you can see from the screenshot of my run yesterday.

Hills 
I enjoy running rolling hills. I just laughed out loud typing that it's so crazy for me to say. Moving to Cleveland Park in February changed my running forever. It's a far hillier neighborhood than any I've ever lived. No matter which route or direction I take, my biggest choice is whether I want to run uphill first or last. I read or heard somewhere or other recently, "Uphill takes more than downhill gives." I don't know about that? There are some downhills that give a lot.

Get out of the run and into your head, self
I like to tell myself to get out of my run and get into my head. Physically I am capable (I tell myself), but mentally it's a whole other game. My best runs are when I get so distracted I actually laugh or tear up because I'm so invested in my thoughts. I read a tip from one runner to jot down things about which to think on your run on your hand. I might try that.

New kicks
I started having pain on the outside of my right leg after 3+ mile runs bad enough that I'd limp when I stopped running. I went to PR Running in Cleveland Park, and within minutes of analyzing my feet on their high-tech machines, and looking at my shoes, the expert working with me said, "You shouldn't be running in these." He pointed at the outside of my right leg and asked, "Are you experiencing pain here?" It blew my mind. Since getting new shoes, I have not had pain again in that area, but unfortunately have been experiencing pain on the inside of my right leg above my ankle...

No pain no gain?
I did some internet sleuthing, and it sounds like I may be struggling with Posterior Shin Splints. Causes listed: flat feet. Yeppp, that's me! (And I learned at PR that my right foot is flatter than my left, which makes sense why the pain is only in that leg.) It makes me (even more) nervous for my race this weekend, but I'm going to rest for the next few days and ice it. After the race, I need to look into arch supports, I guess... (grumble). 

So... 
I'm proud that I broke my 3 mile wall, and I'm really excited to dance across that finish line!

I made it a goal to run 365 miles in 2013
 run 365

travel tuesday | cycling the shimanami kaido

It has become increasingly clear to me that my favorite thing about living abroad - and what I miss most about it - is inhibition. Having a finite amount of time in one place means you never stop moving and trying new things.

About a month before I left Japan, I decided to cycle the Shimanami Kaido - the 70 kilometer route that connects two of Japan's main islands - Honshu and Shikoku - by way of six smaller islands in the Seto Inland Sea. A few friends and I picked a weekend, hopped on a train to the start of the route, rented bicycles, and started pedaling.

...without a clue where we were going. At least in the beginning.  

The route starts in Onomichi City on Honshu. We rented bicycles for a nominal cost and grabbed a map. The bike shop owner pointed out which way we should go. To start the route, you have to take a ferry to the first island. We missed the port and rode on for a few miles. We didn't care because we had the day, and all of the Seto Inland Sea was ours.

On the Shimanami Kaido, you cross six small islands: Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima, and Oshima, before sailing blissfully downhill into Imabari City on Shikoku. There are three cyclist routes, each color-marked: easy, intermediate, advanced.

The scenery is gorgeous - tropical, verdant, mountainous, all in one panoramic view. There are also some funny sights on the islands, like a dinosaur statue.

And replicas of the Easter Island Statues.

And the ever popular Japanese phrase, "Let's enjoy." This is the first only time I ever saw it with a pants down illustration. I really did enjoy.

We didn't train for our bike ride, and I didn't purchase special cycling clothes. There are bicycle ports on all of the six islands you cross on the Shimanami Kaido. If you decide to throw in the towel, you can drop your bike off and take the next ferry across to Imabari. No matter what, we said, we'd finish.

The easy cycling path is the most scenic, as it has you follow the coastlines. The advanced path takes you up and over the mountains. We took the easy path... until we didn't. It was a shock to the system to realize we missed our trail and hopped on another. We shrugged and kept pedaling... up... and up... and up until we finally made it over that mountain.We earned a break.

The route was built in 1999, so all of the bridges are modern and well-kept. There are multiple routes for vehicles to cross over to Shikoku, but the Shimanami Kaido is the only way for pedestrians and cyclists to make the trip. There are designated lanes for cyclists to cross the bridges. Some will tell you that the inclines to the bridges are cyclist-friendly, but only believe them if you're Lance Armstrong.

Crossing the final bridge that leads the way onto Shikoku at sunset is what it is all about. And the journey, too; it's one of my favorite memories in Japan. The last bridge is the longest - it's several miles, and you think it will never end. But when the sun starts to dip below the mountains in the distance, you hope it never will.

if you go... 

bike rentals are inexpensive, 500Yen with a 1000Yen deposit

be at least moderately fit (total: up to 50 miles)

bring cash for small bridge toll fees

read this guide

read my thoughts here, too... 

i wrote about the shimanami-kaido on feminist-san 

my hometown in japan: hikari, yamaguchi

casa fiesta de cinco de mayo!

I had an unopened bottle of Don Julio tequila that Zander and I brought back from Mexico, and I knew what I had to do with it: pitchers of Corona-ritas for Cinco de Mayo. Since Cinco was on a Sunday this year, Matt and I opted to host a brunch party. We made chilaquiles, queso (the recipe), and churros, while Zan manned peppers, onions, and chorizo on the grill. Friends brought chips and guacamole, salsa, and even homemade Mexican chocolate sorbet. We downed mango bellinis, too quickly forged our way through the tequila, and there are still a dozen Mexican beers in my fridge. 

Melanie sent me links throughout the week leading up to the party for everything from churro popcorn to a DIY photobooth. I knew I had to have a photobooth after I saw that, but I didn't have time to find the materials I'd need for the fringe. Zan came to the rescue with a simple way to hang a blanket we purchased in Tulum on a brick wall in Matt's and my apartment.

Matt made a last-minute trip to Party City for props - 'staches, maracas, a miniature sombrero, and a big 'ole colorful one. Zan brought over his oversized straw sombrero to complete the looks. Matt and I took a "family portrait" with Theo. That dog sure knows how to rock a mustache.

My old college and DC roommate (so much history!) came into town with her boyfriend for the weekend, and man oh man it was so good to see them. We had a great turnout for the party, and it was such a great time with so many wonderful friends that we've already started planning a bigger, better photobooth party for next year. 

It was a lot of fun incorporating some of the culture (cough tequila) Zander and I experienced in Mexico into a celebration with friends here at home. The occasion also inspired me to do what I love possibly even more than taking photobooth pictures: travel-related research. Here's a short overview of what Cinco de Mayo is really all about and why we (yes, we Americans!) celebrate it. 

Okay, I lied. I don't love anything more than taking photobooth pictures.