Race Recap: Indoor Triathlon Colorado Springs

Recently, we participated in the first annual Life Time Fitness Indoor Triathlon in Colorado Springs.  We went into the race with little expectations due to lack of sleep inflicted by Day Light Savings and a little apprehension related to the setup of spin bikes and treadmills.

This was my first indoor triathlon experience so I didn't really know what to expect.  My prior triathlon experience has been in the form of a yearly all-girls sprint triathlon at the Jersey Shore.  As many of you know, swimming is my weaker event so, I was a little excited to see how swimming in the lap pool would go.  I was a little relieved to know I wouldn't have to deal with salty ocean water, waves, riptides, and the general mayhem of a many bodies flailing round me in open water.  On the other hand, I really dislike treadmills so even though running is my better event I wasn't looking to forward to that portion.  

Overall, the race went really well.  I had a great time and learned a few things about the differences in competing in an indoor versus outdoor triathlon.  Sure, both have swim>bike>run objectives but tactically they're pretty different.  For starters, the indoor triathlon is time based rather than distance based.  In the indoor triathlon format we were given a set amount of time to swim, bike, or run as far as we could.  In the outdoor triathlons we've done we had to cover a particular distance as fast as we could such as in the SheRox Triathlon which consisted of a .25 mile swim, 12 mile bike, and 5K run.  The indoor triathlon consisted of a 10 minute swim, 30 minute bike, and 20 minute run.  Based on the distance you cover in the allotted time, we were ranked among the other competitors and given a points-based score depending on this ranking to determine the race results


10 minute swim:  For the swim this format can be a little tricky if your aim is to be really competitive and rank highly because it requires you to know your splits and pay attention to clock i.e. if you get down to the wire on time you'd need to make a split second decision on whether you can slide another lap in.  I was just aiming to see what I could do on a personal level, but in the future if I were trying to be more competitive in the swim, it might have been helpful to know what a 50 yard lap looks like for me time-wise so that I could have a goal in mind.  If you're going to have a lane partner, try sharing with someone you know and remember to stay on your own side - one of the nice things about being in a pool versus open water is the ability to see where you're going.  Another important tip is to remember your warm-up; whether you're competing in an indoor or outdoor triathlon, it's critical to get some sort of warm-up in to minimize your body's shock when you start swimming out hard.  Nick and I shared a lane for the swim and compared to the ocean swims in the other triathlons I've done, this was the first time that I felt I could actually get into a rhythm and swim without bumping into other people and getting knocked about by other competitors and waves.  That being said, more consistency swimming lent itself to quick fatigue for me so unlike an open water swim where I'd have to tread water in this scenario, I was able to let me feet drop and jog through the water...haha yes this sad to admit.


Transition #1:  Whether you're competing in an indoor or outdoor triathlon, transitioning from the swim to the bike usually takes a bit longer.  In the case of the indoor triathlon we were given a set amount of time for each transition which was not included in the race time - 10 minutes from swim to bike and 5 minutes from bike to run.  This was different from typical outdoor triathlons in which your transition times count toward your total race time.  I used having a set transition time to my advantage in this case and wore my regular swim suite for the swim and then took the time to dry off and change into some dry clothes for the rest of the event.  I was excited to try out my new tri outfit from Saucony.  Transitions as well as the bike are also great time to get some nutrition.  For shorter events like this one or the outdoor sprint triathlons I've done I needed to focus mostly on hydration (especially in the dry Colorado air) and getting a little  bit of sugar.  I stuck with water and a couple Gatorade energy chews  - one during the transition from swim to bike and one toward the end of the bike.
 
30 minute bike:  The bike portion took place on spin bikes.  If your bike shoes are compatible with the spin bike pedals, I'd recommend using them to allow for more power output and thus better efficiency.  Unfortunately mine aren't compatible, so I donned my trusty Saucony Guide running shoes and made sure to use of the pedal cages.  Don't just place your foot on top of the pedal; strap yourself in so that you can maintain a higher power output through your entire pedal stroke!  Bike computers attached to the spin bikes tracked our speed and distance over the 30 minutes.  Compared to cycling outdoors, you'll want to play around with your cadence and resistance on the spin bike to find the fastest speed.  In this case a low resistance and high cadence allowed me to kick butt in the bike whereas I would have been putting in much different effort outdoors.  Nick and I have been participating in spin classes 1-2 times per week since returning to Colorado Springs in January so I felt pretty confident and thankfully I was able to redeem myself after that swim. 

Transition #2:  Transitioning from the bike to run is usually the shorter transition.  Compared to outdoor triathlons where you're going to be taking off your cycling gear - helmet, perhaps gloves, and switching shoes, my transition in the indoor triathlon consisted of hopping of the bike and walking over to a treadmill.  Because I had a set 5 minutes available for this transition I took advantage of the time to hydrate and do some dynamic stretching to shake out that dead quad feeling when moving from bike to run, keep from getting tight, and stay warmed up.

20 minute run:  With the exception of winter speed-work at Pitt's indoor track, I typically do all of my running outdoors.  The only times I ever run on the treadmill are for fitness/VO2max testing purposes.  Call me a purist but I really dislike running in treadmills - the essence of the great outdoors, wind in my hair, fresh air, changing scenery and surfaces are all lost in the mundane treadmill setting.  However, running on a treadmill in a competition against others makes it a little better.  If you don't normally run on a treadmill and you're planning to do an race that involves one it's not a bad idea to practice running on treadmill before the race to get a feel for what pace and incline is most comfortable for you...remember that training principle of specificity?  Compared to running outdoors, acceleration on the treadmill is a bit different and takes some getting used to in the race setting.  In the indoor triathlon, when we initially started the treadmill the timer and belt began as well.  Unfortunately, this was at a pace of about 1.0 MPH so I needed to increase my pace as quick as possible.  If you're treadmill has quick-pace buttons that instantly change the set pace to a higher value like 6 MPH etc. use them and continue to increase from there to save valuable time.  Compared to running outdoors where pace can vary with terrain and such, I took a set it and forget it approach by increasing the pace to a difficulty but maintainable level within 60-90 seconds and then increased the pace again within the last 4 minutes to simulate that final "kick".

In the end, I was fairly happy with my all-around results and felt optimistic about starting up my training for this year's Jersey Girl Triathlon with my ladies as well as a couple other triathlons with Nick.  Free post-race smoothies were also a plus :)


Jess's Results:
16th overall
7th place female 
15.5 swim laps (41 points)
23.2 bike miles (77 points)
2.49 run miles (73 miles)
191 total points


We are able to participate in the same race time which allowed us to compete side by side in the pool, on the spin bikes, and on the treadmills.  A rather fun experience was watching each other swim by as we passed every lap, sometimes I'd give a little extra kick to provide a nice splash as Jess went by.  When the whistle blew and it was time to head to the spin room I was dreading the pending showdown.  This race was set-up for those with great cadence ability to succeed, as resistance on the bikes played no role, it was simply a count of how many times you could get the wheel to spin around in 30 minutes.  I knew I'd have to pull out all the stops with my leg speed in order to top my small companion.  Through the incredibly fast 30 minutes we battled and were able to take 1st and 2nd place in our heats cycling competition.  For pride's sake I was able to win but both of us paid the price with a variety of chaffing and sore hamstrings due to the ridiculously high cadence the race required.  We then had 5 minutes to get ourselves to the treadmills to finish our race.  At the time of our arrival at the treadmill the top distance run was 2.9 miles in 20 minutes, which was well below my goal of 3.5 miles.  However, the feeling that an all-out swim and bike session gives you before attempting an all-out run is not always the priming you'd like.  I set the pace at a relatively steady but surprisingly hard feeling 10 mph and was able to maintain it throughout the course of the race, unfortunately that pace did not meet my goal as I finished with a final distance of 3.34 miles.  Disappointing, but at the time was good enough for first place.

A few days later the results were up, Jess proved to have an all-around great performance finishing 16th overall (including men).  Nick's run did not end up standing up as a later competitor was able to crush 3.67 miles in the 20 minute period as well as win the other events.  Nick finished 2nd overall.

The race was well organized with great volunteers but both of us would highly recommend a major change to make it smoother and more truly competitive.  The idea would have been to utilize bikes that can sense resistance and cadence therefore providing a way to celebrate those who can truly bike at high speeds from those who can spin no resistance at a high speed.  The bike turned out have a great effect of equalizing those in cycling shape to those not.  Regardless of the feel the bike left we would both highly recommend indoor triathlons to those in cold weather climates that want to supplement their winter training and get into the racing season early.  LifeTime did a nice job with the event and their friendly staff always makes it easy to workout.

Our hearts go out to Boston

Having lived in Boston, having family ties there, and having participated in the Boston Marathon multiple times (Nick as a runner and myself as a spectator) we started our Monday morning with a sense of excitement.  It was Marathon Monday!  Because Nick decided to do the Texas Half Ironman last weekend, we opted to sit the Boston Marathon out this year.  Despite this and although we live in Colorado Springs currently, we woke up feeling connected to Boston and somewhat giddy for the race.  It was Marathon Monday!  We’ve spent the past few months tracking runners like Shalane Flannagan and Kara Goucher who came to train at altitude here in the Springs (we even got to meet up with Kara’s husband at our Tuesday night running club).  We had high hopes for a U.S. women’s victory and spent the morning tracking the elite runners while at work, sneaking peeks at race updates in between patients.  (Of course, of all days, it was a perfect attendance day and all of my patients showed up…didn’t they know the Boston Marathon was today?)

Over the years I’ve come to love distance running (although I need to improve my marathon time a little to qualify for Boston) and it amazes me to watch the elite runners, their mile splits, and footage of the finish.  It’s such inspirational stuff!  Even after the elites finished, there were still a few other runners in the race that I knew and I was checking in via Twitter and Facebook.  That is when I learned about the explosions.  I was nearing the end of my lunch break and grabbed my phone to check for updates one more time before grabbing my 1pm patient (just before 3pm ET).  I was struck with utter disbelief when I saw the latest update stating:  "At 2:50pm ET 2 bombs went off at the finish line of the Boston Marathon."  The world stopped for a minute…did I read that correctly?  How could someone attack runners and innocent bystanders?  How could this happen at the Boston Marathon, arguably the most prestigious of all marathons?   I immediately thought of our friends and family in Boston…were any of them at the finish when this happened, were they ok?  Thankfully they were alright.  Video footage from the news showed the blast as runners crossed the finish with 4:09:44on the clock; I ran 4:09:52 in Chicago last Oct…these were the people in my pace group.  I may not have known any of these people personally and I haven’t qualified for the Boston Marathon (yet); but this really hit home with me, those were my fellow runners…marathoners…part of my community.  I was stunned and deeply saddened.  There are many reason why I run, but one of the foremost is the community that running manifests.  This tragedy can be a reminder to celebrate your community any chance you get.  It’s a reminder to live life to the fullest and to tell the ones you love that you love them.  That night, I sent all my running buddies messages to tell them how much I love and appreciate them.  We runners are a strong community and just like the infamous Marathon parking sign states "No Stopping", there really is no stopping a group of runners...together we are strong and we will run!  These events will bring us closer, make us stronger, make us all a part of this amazing running community.  Today at work we all wore Boston gear and tonight at running club we ran for the Boston Marathon and all of the runners and spectators affected by these horrific events.  As I've continued to watch the news coverage, I was reminded of the goodness in our community and that the kindhearted people outnumber the cruel with the countless stories of heroism from first responders and good Samaritans during today's horrific events.  Hal Higdon said “The Marathon never ceases to be a race of joy, a race of wonder” and I hope that this always rings true.  I know that I’ll still be training with that goal to qualify for Boston one day.

As a previous participant, the first thing I've always thought of when someone mentions the Boston Marathon are the crowds.  During my first Boston in 2008 I was astonished by the constant cheering, signs, support, and of course, the wailing tunnel of college co-eds at Wellesley College (Hillary Clinton would be proud).  This sad event hit those spectators, those who make the marathon that special moment.  I sincerely hope that future Boston Marathons will continue to see such love from the crowds.

Runners are some of the best people you will meet.  When I think of runners I think of people who like to chat, party, volunteer, help, and improve themselves while they work their bodies to their limits.  There are few runners who do so in a depressed or secluded fashion.  This is a sport of love and that love can be shared internationally and across all human variables.  Major marathons attract individuals from around the world and an attack on an event that brings so many nations together is callous, cowardly, and hateful beyond my comprehension.  The volunteers, spectators, and runners at the Boston Marathon came together to celebrate human achievement, regardless of denomination, race, orientation, religion, or belief.  We will continue to support all events who bring humans together, and I will proudly support and participate in Boston 2014.  I hope to see you all there.  I pray for the families and individuals more intimately affected, and wish them all a healthy recovery from these sad events.

Date Night: Colorado Mountain Brewery Partner Perspective

Colorado Mountain Brewery, Colorado Springs CO

Handcrafted Beer and Mountain Grill

Menu boats a unique "Colorado" taste inspired by traditional western and southwestern foods.

We are going to take a dip into Food Critique, but I will suggest that everyone is mindful that as far as critics go, you could do much better.  If we don't like our food then there is something very wrong!!

Colorado Mountain Brewery is a place best suited for those who like the a louder atmosphere, lean towards eating for pleasure rather than worrying about healthy options, and enjoy a beer.  It can be likened to mainstream steak houses in many ways as far as the type of family atmosphere.  The menu provides many options from bison, steak, and burgers to salads, and flat-breads.

Appetizer:  Venison Egg Rolls

Jess' Dinner:

Bison Chili: ground bison with green chilies, chorizo sausage, secret chili seasoning,

Jumbo Soft Pretzels: Two fresh baked soft pretzels, one made with Monumental Stout and the other blended with jalapenos and white cheddar.

Oktoberfest, Brown Ale

Jess' Take:
Do you ever look at a menu and think "Jackpot, this is exactly what I wanted!"  That's basically what happened here.  It was a chilly night (no pun intended) and some spicy Bison Chili sounded perfect.  Add in some savory soft pretzels and a couple craft beers and voila - you've got yourself a very happy girl.  Compared to the regular beef or vegetarian Chili that we normally make, the Bison tasted more "rustic" to me with just a little more sweetness and richness than ground beef or turkey; it was just the authentic Colorado-style food I was in the mood for.  On a side note, I also felt pretty darn good on the 13 mile run I did the following morning (even after 1 too many beers, haha).  I can't say whether the Bison can get all the credit, but it is one of the leanest and most protein-packed meats you can buy...good to know for us athletes and those of you doing the paleo diet.  I'm sure the extra iron helps too, especially when your're at altitude.  Combine that with some fiber-rich kidney beans and vitamin loaded veggies and you've got yourself a pretty delicious and nutrient dense meal.  In fact, I ended up looking into some Bison Chili recipes and found this yummy one from Trey Hardee, the 2012 Olympic Sliver medalist decathlete:  http://www.outsideonline.com/fitness/nutrition/Chili-Power-20120701.html  Just keep in mind that because the Bison is so lean, it will cook faster than beef so it's important to cook it low and slow to keep it nice and tender.  

Nick's Dinner:  House Smoked Texas Brisket Sandwich:  Shaved thin, piled high and topped with Ole '59er BBQ sauce.  Monumental Stout, Ole 59er Amber Ale

Nick's Take:  

I was in the mood for a bit of western food the night we went.  Usually in Colorado that means I order up bison, elk, or another piece of iron rich meat.  Tonight, we ordered the venison egg rolls, and I ordered the brisket due to the recommendations of the joint itself.  The egg rolls came with some delicious, and I'm sure healthy, dipping sauces.  They were deliciously palatable and hit the spot as a mix of spicy and sweet. The brisket was juicy and cooked well.  Sandwich-wise it was delicious with a deluge of BBQ sauce and went well with stealing some of Jess' soft pretzels.  I found the monumental stout to be my type of beer, malty, complex, and full bodied.  The amber ale was a bit more standard and reminded me of mainstream ambers.  I will testify against eating the brisket the night before a half marathon in this case, however.  The results on my stomach the next morning were not ideal prior to a race, but still better than overeating simple carbs like spaghetti and the payment you make for that mistake.  

Final Verdict:  Great place for beer, red meat, and "Colorado" options.  You'll enjoy the options of bison, elk, and their seasonal beers.  There can be a good long wait around dinner time so be willing to head to the bar for a while.  I'd also probably look for a different type of restaurant if you want vegetarian options.  This is a place we will reserve for the bison and microbrews.

Carnival Victory Cruise, No, not that one

Less than a week ago I was able to exit relatively unscathed from the annual guy trip that many of my best friends were able to take aboard the Carnival Victory.  Prior to the trip there were multiple jokes and warnings from co-workers about the recent ... ummm ... hiccups that Carnival has had.  Luckily, I was able to arrive back home with some stories and very few complaints.  

We decided on the Carnival cruise that went over St. Paddy's Weekend and took us through a couple great locations.  We also met some great Spring Breakers and fun-loving sea goers on the trip.

Our first stop was Key West, FL. where the beautiful weather and plethora of bars made for a great day of walking and hopping among the local establishments.  The options that Key West provides include local trolley tours, self-done scooter touring, eclectic shopping, and lively local watering holes.  Our group opted largely for the last option (surprise, surprise).  Our tour including dancing on stages, entering into chants, and hitting some of the famous Key West spots. 

Key West, despite its tropical feel, proved to be eerily similar to Martha's Vineyard in my opinion.  The hard to get to town thrives on visitors and providing a vacation experience to all.  Local establishments are based largely on providing a show and uniquely Key West experience.  We were able to bounce around and explore the town with ease.  A great cruise destination due to the tourism options.

Following Key West we headed back to sea to head southwest to our next destination.  Cozumel, Mexico, an island south of Cancun which shares the same clear seas and hot winter weather.  Our tour of the island included an ATV adventure in the jungle, a stop at the beach where many forms of sea life were present directly on the shore, and a stop at a Mexican restaurant to test out the local tequila and beer.  Cozumel is the only piece of the trip I would have done different.  The ATV tour, while fun for the hour your rode, took over four hours to complete including a large amount of static time and a large push to purchase additional options above the price of the excursion.  The overall cheesiness of being a captive audience that is constantly being sold to was a deal-breaker for rating it a 5-star experience, however the tour of the island itself was a welcome addition to the trip.  After getting back and experiencing the beautifully temperate night it is definitely a place I'd choose to visit again to get a more in-depth tour of Mayan Ruins and to enjoy the tequila in the non-devil's shot form (addition of Tabasco sauce).

                 

After working the karaoke and club floors for the following night, we had a day at sea planned on our cruise.  It was also St. Paddy's!  The day included the option to dye anything green on the whole boat, chill in the hot-tub, and dance on the main deck.  We had a friend enter the hairy chest contest and subsequently get robbed out of a top-3 place (it may have been to his somewhat poorly understood dog bark).  All-in-all it was a great way to end a cruise, spending the day at sea with very little land in sight throughout the whole day with the sun shining.  

In the end, Carnival did a great job with offering a variety of food and drink options, the best of which are available nightly at the formal dinner, and the DJ was often spot on in the opinion of this 27 year old.  Be careful when you pick excursions, and make sure your flight home leaves earlier than later to avoid a long day waiting to get home.  

Bon Voyage!

Race Season: Less Than A Month Till Taper

Can't wait to start the season!

We've had a busy time since our latest move including our commutes to work, planning our continuing education, studying for our CSCS exam, and training for the racing season.  The "Big" race, Half-Ironman Texas is in one month but the season will officially kick off for us next week when we participate in Life Time Fitness Colorado Springs' Indoor Triathlon.  Also it's been cold outside, so we've been preparing indoor style!

Every Monday we continue to make the hour drive to spin class in order to kick off our week in training with  group fun.  Following our classes, I do my best to get Jess into the pool.  I'm beginning to seriously consider buying her a pair of floaties.  Luckily I don't think it's possible to drown in 4 ft water during an indoor tri.

The indoor triathlon is based on distance covered in the time given.  For the swim that is 10 minutes.  The curve is set by the person who completes the furthest distance and everyone else is given points in terms of percentage.  At the end, you add up the percentage type points for a total score.  Last time I participated my swim cost me the win as I won the bike (100 pts) and tied for the run (100 pts) but only managed about 50% of the best swimmers laps.  It was rather depressing.  So this year I joined a triathlon training/master's swim class.  Hopefully I won't embarrass myself huffing and puffing this time!

This year I have a main focus on April, my first half-ironman.  I won't be taking it easy next weekend sandwiching long runs and speed work around the indoor triathlon.  While building up a base during the winter, which wasn't always as fun due to blistering winds and cold, I knew that come race day it will likely be 90 degrees that greets me.  Regardless of the pending heat, I am looking at a month of hard training ahead until a week-long taper that will culminate with my arrival in Texas.

Now it's time to begin the final push!

Couple's Run: Black Forest Winter Series

Jess and I had a fun time this morning at the Black Forest Winter Series.


It was a beautiful, albeit cold morning.  The course was well sheltered from the cold breeze by the thick coniferous forest.  It's a gorgeous segment of Colorado Springs laid east of the mountains in between desert and alpine climates.

After our unexpected move back to the area we haven't had a consistent race schedule.  Our last race was 3 months ago as our focus has been all over the map.  Luckily, Jess is the queen of finding Saturday morning excursions to get us back on track.

The morning run in Black Forest followed dirt trails with a nice majority existing on packed snow.  Due to our recent lack of racing we both opted for the 10K short series section to get back in the groove.  We were glad to keep the slippery hills short today as the course was a nice combo of rolling and slow.


We found our way back eventually, despite less than stellar speed which will hopefully improve over the next month as our racing season starts.

Fortunately we found our way back fast enough to get our pick of chocolate donuts, hot chocolate, and hot apple cider!

It's important to spoil yourself a little bit after a hard effort!

Can't wait until next time.  Run hard!

Seizing the Opportunity

Jess and I never planned on being back in the Springs, but what we've found is great training for our upcoming triathlons.  Jess performs yearly in a woman's triathlon series, and we will be traveling to Texas for the Ironman 70.3 this April.

We experienced a lot of disappointment when our jobs in Texas fell through, but luckily Jess found that exploring the mountains can lead to a great natural chair with a view.

Our new focus on triathlon training in Colorado also landed us at Life Time Fitness.  Spin, master's swimming, and altitude runs in combination with a hot tub makes life really nice.  Jess prefers to do all her laps in the pool when she knows I'll be making dinner... the girl just can't stay awake after a water workout!

The cold nights in southern Colorado are accompanied by warm sunny days.  We've often been able to go out in shorts during mid-day, just make sure you take a bunch of layers for when the sun goes down!

At first we thought that losing our training in the Texas heat for a race that's been over 90 degrees in recent years would be our downfall; now, we have come to enjoy the opportunity of living at altitude and with a community passionate about sport.

Until next time, my favorite Saucony motto:  Life's Hard!  Run Hard!

Running High in Colorado

Our first weeks back in Colorado have been filled with new experiences after our short winter hiatus.
We pushed for all the typical Colorado experiences on our first stay.  Now, we've been able to settle for getting the feel of living in Colorado Springs rather than rushing to get around the state.

 Some of the best things in Colorado are right here in town.  We're hoping to find that Colorado Native lifestyle.  I know we will have too quickly as we train for our spring and summer triathlons here and the Pittsburgh marathon.  One thing we have become sure of is that no course will feel too hilly after living at the base of the Rocky Mountains.

Jess and I are beginning our new jobs and hope to get out and provide some more Partner Perspectives soon as we get into the new year.

We can't wait to share what we learn!

Back In Colorado!

After a long layoff for the holidays when we visited our family and friends we were faced with another job search.   The traveling physical therapy business is anything but certain, especially when you are looking for two jobs near the same place.  We were hoping to travel to Texas during the winter where I planned to train in the warmth for my Ironman 70.3 Texas in April.  Well, life doesn't always go as planned, and we are back in the beautiful, and much colder than Texas, mountains of Colorado.
Our cross country drive from Pennsylvania involved long days driving through the plains but also a great stop at our Alma Mater, Pitt, where we were able to connect with friends.  Colorado Springs gets well deserved
praise as an amazing city to live, but Pittsburgh easily competes in my humble opinion.  Alas, we drove off in the rain on to our new jobs.


Luckily our training will have a great altitude boost to supplant the loss of temperature acclimation.



We are back and excited to share our continued travel and athletic experiences for the New Year!  Have a great one and we will see you soon!

Creations: Wedding/Bridal Shower Wine Gift

Wedding/Bridal Shower Wine Gift

I’ve always loved arts and crafts, however being a travel therapist has limited my creations lately since it would be rather impractical for me to travel with extra craft supplies and to create things for an apartment we’d be moving out of within 4 months.  Instead I’ve been channeling my creative energy to new recipes, therapy drills (although my patients would call them cruel rather than creative), and GIFTS!

One of my favorite recent creations has been a Wedding Wine Basket!  I was ecstatic and truly honored to be a bridesmaid in my friend Jess’ wedding.  Jess and her fiance Brian didn’t create a wedding registry and told guests that gifts were unnecessary; they were just happy to have everyone they love get together to celebrate.

Consequently I thought that the Wedding Wine Basket would be a fun and personal gift for them.  For those unfamiliar, the gift basket is filled with a variety of wines for the newlyweds to share on special occasions that lie ahead in their future together.  It can also make a fun bridal shower or group gift in which each bridesmaid contributes 1-2 bottles of wine.

I used Microsoft Word to create personalized labels for the following occasions and included a label a little poem related to the occasions.  I printed the labels a Avery label paper and then cut each label to the appropriate size.  Then I carefully applied the labels to the wines.  Another variation is to create tags instead of labels and attach a tag to each bottle with a ribbon.

Wedding night:
Mr. and Mrs. Hudock
This day is meant for you to share.
Enjoy each other, a perfect pair!
July, 28^th 2012

First fight:
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
When fights occur and tempers are hot,
Pour a glass and be thankful for what you’ve got.
For in marriage it would be a bore,
If everyone agreed and said nothing more.

First dinner party:
Cheers to Good Times
Open your home to entertain and eat,
Catch up with old friends and new ones to meet.
When the night is over share this bottle of wine,
But don’t sit down yet – it’s clean up time.

First Christmas:
A Christmas to Remember
Now it the season for holiday cheer.
Enjoy this bottle as family and friends draw near.
Pop the cork for a toast, for this much is true,
Santa is sure to be good to you.
 

First anniversary:
I Thought I Loved You Then
On your first anniversary you’ll wonder where time goes,
No longer are you newlyweds, you’ll soon be pros.
Now raise your glass to this date as the first, not the last,
And as you build your future don’t forget the past.

First child:
And Baby Makes Three
The news that a baby will soon share your life,
Will make you parents, not just husband and wife.
This one is non-alcoholic so you can both raise a glass.
Sit back and relax, nine months will quickly pass.

I hit up some local wineries with my mom to choose the wines and added some extra personal flair to the basket by including some heart shaped wine stoppers from a local shop and some personalized wine glasses for the colleges that Brian and Jess attended (PSU and PITT).  

I chose a cute basket from Marshall’s that appeared it could be useful for storage, magazines or such.  Using tissue paper as padding, I carefully and securely arranged the wines and glasses in the basket (they needed to survive a 4 hour car ride).  

Shrink wrap from the dollar store and a big white ribbon were the final touches. I placed my filled basket into a large shrink wrap bag, tied the top with a white ribbon and used a blow dryer to fit the wrapping down to size.   Voila!