• Keep it Simple- Choose recipes that can be made in advance and skip the recipes with a long list of ingredients or fussy prepping. Let one menu item take the starring role, with the others coming together in a simpler fashion.

• Go Fresh- This time of year the bounty of summer tastes are magnificent. Watermelon, tomatoes and corn are all summer staples ready to pick up at your local farmers' market.

• Bursts of Color- Choose brightly colored tablecloths, napkins, fresh cut flowers and centerpieces to make things pop. Tip for next spring- plant flowers in your gardens that are good cut flowers like zinnias and brown-eyed susans.

• Create a Plan and a Budget- It is very easy to keep adding items to your shopping cart. Oh, how about a fruit and cheese platter? Don't fall into the marketing trap of all the typical summer foods and supplies. It is very easy to go overboard. I've rarely been to a party where the guests are leaving hungry. 

This has to be one of my favorite races. The team at Endorfun create a fantastic race experience. The weekend kicks off with a 4 mile bike time trial on Friday night. Saturday is a short Olympic distance race (0.25 m S, 21 m B, 5 m R) and Sunday is a longer sprint (0.25 m S, 15 m B, 3 m R). The racer with the fastest time is the Lord/Lady of the Flies. 

Top 5 reasons to do this race:

1. Recovery - With three days of racing, recovery is very important. Who has the freshest legs? It is important to take care of your body post-race with good hydration, nutrition and body work such as foam rolling and yoga. Typically how you feel the next day isn't a factor.

2. Park the car and leave it - We arrived at 4 PM on Friday and left at 11 AM on Sunday. The car never moved. There is no stress about getting up early to get to the race site and deal with getting a good parking spot. 

3. Plenty of things to do on-site - Waterville Valley is a ski town, with lots of lodging choices within the village. As part of their summer package they offer a complimentary Summer Unlimited Pass to their guests. This pass allows you to participate in: mountain bike rentals, 9 holes of golf, boat rentals, tennis, ice skating, chair lift ride up Snow's Mountain. It is a very family friendly venue. 

4. Competition - The smack talk started back in February when our group decided to do the race. On Friday night, post TT, the teasing and tension was enjoyably present. For example, on Friday night Ken wanted ice cream. As his wife and quasi-coach, my teammates wondered why I wasn't dissuading him from his cravings. My reply "Hey, I have ulterior motives. I am looking to beat him tomorrow too." 

5. Cook your own food - Our condo had a small kitchen complete with a full size refrigerator, stove, microwave and dishwasher. I coordinated meals and snacks for everyone to bring. It was nice not relying on restaurant food for the weekend. I suspect this kitchen had more counter space than my old apartment. 

Interested to learn more?

• 2009 Race Report
• A 2012 Recap in Photos
• Race Website

During this warm summer spell nobody wants to spend lengthy amounts of time standing over the hot stove. In less than ten minutes the shrimp are cooked and ready to be enjoyed with this summery salsa. I highly encourage you to visit your local farm stand or farmer's market for some fresh corn. There is a refreshing snap to raw corn.

Directions

1. Placing the corn over a medium sized bowl, carefully remove the kernels using a sharp knife. Add in the garlic, beans, lime juice, basil, olive oil, salt and pepper. Set aside. 
2. Heat the coconut oil over medium in a saute pan. Add the shrimp and cook for about 3-4 minutes until pink on the underside. Turn over and cook the other side for 2-3 minutes until opaque. Be careful not to over cook. 
3. Place the zucchini in the bowls, top with shrimp and the corn salsa. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and salt to taste.