Stop and Smell the Roses

If you haven't visited Maymont's Italian Garden during the month of May, you should get there soon. Having been gone for half of the month and in zombie land for an additional quarter, I nearly missed out on the rose  bloom this year.

This morning I took a slight detour down into the Italian Garden before heading back to shut myself into my office for the rest of the day. I'm so glad that I did; as soon as I stepped into the garden, the scent of roses was all around me and the stunning blue of the sky against the whites, greens, and corals of the garden made for quite a pretty picture.

Though still beautiful and fragrant, this riot of roses isn't going to be around much longer. I encourage you to get to Maymont as soon as you can to enjoy this little slice of heaven.

Eat: Beef Stroganoff and Bonus: Short Shorts

Hey guys, question.

Do these shorts make me look pale?
Oh nevermind. Who am I kidding.

It has been so hot recently that I have been reduced to embracing my short shorts. These are one of the first pieces of Lulu that I ever got (a birthday present from BFF) - Run: Speed Shorts, and in the past I have been reluctant to wear them. These suckers are short - a 3" inseam. To give you an idea of just how ridiculous they are, I am 5'2" and have a 29" inseam and they are almost inappropriate on me. Before I packed them for last night's run, I put them on and consulted Husband:

Me: J, are these too short?
Husband: Turn around.
(I turn around)
Husband: Bend over.
(I bend over. No reaction.)
Me: Ugh, can you totally see my butt in these?
Husband: Nope. You're fine.
Me: I don't think I believe you.

Anyhow, Prabir and I had a semi-disasterous run on Wednesday. It was 80 degrees and there was so much tree pollen that I truly felt like I was dying only 2 miles into our planned 4 miles. Thankfully, yesterday it was only (only?!?!) about 72 degrees and the pollen didn't seem as bad. I wore the short shorts and think that my bum was safely covered the whole time. In fact, I was reminded of just how comfortable those Speed Shorts are and I'm thinking I need another pair for summer training... once my Lenten Lulu Fast is complete of course.

We did a 10k before the big 10k on Saturday - a totally random course that took us 58:00. Hoping for something faster on Saturday. We walked for a few blocks when we were overwhelmed by heat and pollen, which we will not be doing on Saturday, so that will help. Prabir's goal is to sub-55:00. I'm going to try to stick with him.

The other news of the week is that Wednesday was Husband's birthday. He requested that I make his favorite dish of mine, Beef Stroganoff. Because it is pretty easy and very customizable to fit a variety of diets (no diet, vegetarian, low fat), I figured it would be good Eat entry.

Full recipe after the cut...

But before that, let me just share two gorgeous pictures of Maymont's Italian Garden. The tulips are in full bloom right now and it is just breathtakingly gorgeous.




Yesterday afternoon




This morning - the tulips haven't woken up yet.


And now for the recipe...

Richmond Rave: Maymont

So far I've been talking a lot about the running and the eating part of my life, but not so much about the playing. It's about time I rave about something fun to do in Richmond.

Up first, Maymont.

If you are from Richmond or the central Virginia area, you probably know Maymont. If you are a transplant like myself, you probably don't know Maymont or it took you a long time to figure it out unless a native took you early on. It's such a great place that I think Richmonders kind of want it to be their "secret."

I didn't really discover Maymont until I had been in Richmond for four whole years. Don't ask me how that happened - the place has so many of my favorite things that it's ridiculous. A Gilded age mansion with all the trimmings, beautiful gardens, open park land, big old trees, adorable animals.

And best of all, it is free.

The thing that most people don't realize is that Maymont is not funded by the City of Richmond, but run by a private foundation. It costs over $9,000 a day to keep Maymont free and open to the public 365 days a year. So the next time you visit, stick a few dollars in the donation collection spots or text to give.

When family and friends come to visit, Maymont is now one of the top "Places to Visit" on my list.

Here's just a taste of what it has to offer (all photos are my own):

Spring magnolias along the famed Magnolia Drive

The Three Graces and reflective pond

Italian Garden in the fall

Japanese Garden with Azumaya  in the fall

More Japanese Garden

Maymont Mansion

J, myself, my best friend, and her husband on a trip to Maymont in the fall

Oh yes, and Maymont is in fact so fabulous that you can also run a race there.

Sportsbackers sponsors a Cross Country Festival at Maymont each year in September. I did the 8 Miler for the first time in September 2011. It was extremely challenging for me (the longest distance I had ever run) with lots of different types of terrain and even some water obstacles. A beautiful but difficult run. You start in Maymont then utilize a series of James River Trails before re-entering the property. The last quarter mile involves running up the extremely steep hill in front of the mansion, which is where they thought it would be best to station the photographer (naturally).

Please, don't be blinded by my paleness.

I hurt for a week afterwards, but it was great fun.

More info for the 2012 Maymont Cross Country Festival is here.