A new year, a new you!
I'm now 41. I'm trying to get back to where I was. I have identified some weaknesses and issues in my lower legs/feet that I believe have been holding me back! With the help of Derek Clark of Mountain Ridge Physical Therapy and Jen Sober from Fit with Jen, I am well on my way back!rough
Sometimes you just need a reset button!
Although I did have a pretty good year at 40, my times were still well off of where I was just a few years ago. I've been struggling ever since having Tyler (child number 3). I did win Memphis Marathon in December with a time of 3:00:20 (wanted to break 3), but when your PR is 2:45, you wonder if it's possible to be so far removed from it even though you feel you are working hard!
True, I have not been running 90 mile weeks like I was when I was 28, because I'm not 28! I now have a job and 3 kids, and I have been running for just about 30 years!
I don't know exactly why my calves started to bother me so. I blame it on Crossfit, but who knows. I've been running while injured for 3 years now hoping that it would just go away on it's own. There would be weeks and even months when I would not have pain, but one workout or race in a pair of racing flats would send my calves into heart attack mode. The past 6 months or so the calves have been pretty good, but now my feet (or foot really) has begun to take the brunt of my negligence.
After being evaluated by Derek we found that my right calf is much smaller than the left. I have more issues with that calf than the left. I'm guessing that when the calf is in pain and I refuse to take time off I just run without using it. So I have lost muscle mass/tone.
Dry needling and some cushy Skechers GoRun Ultras have been getting me through the past 3 years! Now that I have identified the weaknesses I am working on getting my feet and calves stronger. Slowly but surely the pain is getting better.
With the help of some great coaching from Jen I'm hoping my upcoming spring/summer racing season will be good and the fall marathon will be a sub-3!
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Yough 10 Mile Run Race Report...and other ramblings
Today is April fool's day. I've been hanging around the house all day, so the only practical joke that's been played on me is by Mother Nature. April 1st and it's been snowing all day. Really? When will it end? Hopefully tomorrow will be the last cold day of the season!
Last week it snowed pretty much the ENTIRE week! It started last Sunday with winter storm Virgil. Virgil was looming as we put on the Cooper's Rock 10k run and 5k walk. This was my first time being race director of this event, and I was afraid with the storm coming in our numbers would be down, but people came out in full force and we had 151 people sign up. Everything went off without a hitch (except for my awards snafu, but everyone left with an award non-the-less).
Although we had a rough week of weather, I was able to get a decent amount of running in. I'm still not quite where I want to be with my mileage, but I'm slowly progressing and I hope the warmer weather will help me out. That, and I have a new Kelty double jogger on the way!!
On Saturday I went with my training partners up to Connellsville, PA, to run the Yough River 10 mile. I was a little afraid that I was in over my head because my longest run was only 14 miles, but we started out at a 7 min pace and we felt fairly comfortable. There was also a 10k run along with the 10 mile, and there was a woman ahead of us for the first few miles. We decided to wait and see if she would turn around at the 3 mile mark, and of course, she didn't. She had about a minute lead on us, so I had my work cut out for me if I was going to catch her by the end. I started picking up the pace and left my training partners behind (they were just fine running 7 min pace). I caught her by 6 miles and noticed that she had headphones in. She had no idea I was there, but she was running with a male runner that looked back at me a few times. I was able to rest there for a few minutes, but then she turned and saw that I was there. I was in no mood to start playing cat and mouse and have her dictate the pace, so I moved around her immediately and took off. I was feeling pretty strong, but I hit 7 miles and my lower right leg started giving me fits. I was mad! I tried adjusting my stride to see if it would loosen up, but it didn't seem to be working. I tried very hard to keep a fast pace, but my leg was killing me. This is an out and back race, so I figured I had to get back anyway, may as well struggle through it. Eventually my leg loosened up enough for me to run with a regular stride and I finished the race in first place at about a 6:50 pace. Not a bad workout!
Today my leg is still bothering me. I know I still have a lot of training ahead of me before I start feeling anywhere close to my pre-baby self, but it just seems like it takes forever for me to recover now. I am going to attempt a track workout tonight. I hope it goes well!
End of March mileage: 194. I'd like to add at least 50 miles to that for April. Hopefully this is the last cold day and I will feel motivated to do more!
Workout for the week: I've been having my track kids do some body work crossfit workouts once or twice a week, especially when it is too cold and snowy to go outside. The one we did this past week is called Melt it off! It calls for 2 minutes of running in between each exercise, but I gave the kids 1 minute since they are only middle school kids. I also do the workouts with them.
Recipes for the week: This past week was Eileen's 2nd birthday. I used it as an excuse to try another carrot cake recipe. I pinned a recipe from Lifescript.com. Healthy Carrot Cake. It came out very good. Better than the crock pot cake, but it calls for crushed pineapple, and I didn't really like having pineapple in my carrot cake. I think next time I will use the juice, but leave the pineapple out, or maybe puree it.
I've been making home made pizza every Friday. It's surprising how easy pizza dough is. I got the quick rise yeast and it is a piece of cake! We make ours with pineapple because that's what the kids like. Sometimes I throw on some bacon, or I split it in two and put mushrooms and peppers on once side.
Our week in photos:
Last week it snowed pretty much the ENTIRE week! It started last Sunday with winter storm Virgil. Virgil was looming as we put on the Cooper's Rock 10k run and 5k walk. This was my first time being race director of this event, and I was afraid with the storm coming in our numbers would be down, but people came out in full force and we had 151 people sign up. Everything went off without a hitch (except for my awards snafu, but everyone left with an award non-the-less).
Although we had a rough week of weather, I was able to get a decent amount of running in. I'm still not quite where I want to be with my mileage, but I'm slowly progressing and I hope the warmer weather will help me out. That, and I have a new Kelty double jogger on the way!!
On Saturday I went with my training partners up to Connellsville, PA, to run the Yough River 10 mile. I was a little afraid that I was in over my head because my longest run was only 14 miles, but we started out at a 7 min pace and we felt fairly comfortable. There was also a 10k run along with the 10 mile, and there was a woman ahead of us for the first few miles. We decided to wait and see if she would turn around at the 3 mile mark, and of course, she didn't. She had about a minute lead on us, so I had my work cut out for me if I was going to catch her by the end. I started picking up the pace and left my training partners behind (they were just fine running 7 min pace). I caught her by 6 miles and noticed that she had headphones in. She had no idea I was there, but she was running with a male runner that looked back at me a few times. I was able to rest there for a few minutes, but then she turned and saw that I was there. I was in no mood to start playing cat and mouse and have her dictate the pace, so I moved around her immediately and took off. I was feeling pretty strong, but I hit 7 miles and my lower right leg started giving me fits. I was mad! I tried adjusting my stride to see if it would loosen up, but it didn't seem to be working. I tried very hard to keep a fast pace, but my leg was killing me. This is an out and back race, so I figured I had to get back anyway, may as well struggle through it. Eventually my leg loosened up enough for me to run with a regular stride and I finished the race in first place at about a 6:50 pace. Not a bad workout!
Today my leg is still bothering me. I know I still have a lot of training ahead of me before I start feeling anywhere close to my pre-baby self, but it just seems like it takes forever for me to recover now. I am going to attempt a track workout tonight. I hope it goes well!
End of March mileage: 194. I'd like to add at least 50 miles to that for April. Hopefully this is the last cold day and I will feel motivated to do more!
Workout for the week: I've been having my track kids do some body work crossfit workouts once or twice a week, especially when it is too cold and snowy to go outside. The one we did this past week is called Melt it off! It calls for 2 minutes of running in between each exercise, but I gave the kids 1 minute since they are only middle school kids. I also do the workouts with them.
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| Eileen's Peep Cake |
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| Friday night pizza |
I've been making home made pizza every Friday. It's surprising how easy pizza dough is. I got the quick rise yeast and it is a piece of cake! We make ours with pineapple because that's what the kids like. Sometimes I throw on some bacon, or I split it in two and put mushrooms and peppers on once side.
Our week in photos:
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| Tyler, my Irish baby boy |
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| Eileen in her birthday dress |
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| Pip and Squeek, our new chics |
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| Travis playing with old school blocks and Indians |
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Beers and Birthdays
This past Monday was my 38th birthday. Sometimes I really can't believe that I am that old (or young, whatever). I also can't believe I have 3 kids and I live on a farm in West Virginia. If you asked me where I would be in 20 years 20 years ago, this would definitely not be my answer. But, here I am, happy as can be.
When I turned 32 I started a little tradition. Some people run their age in miles on their birthday, but I am not an ultra runner (yet), so I opted to run 200 meters as fast as my age. That was probably the last time I ran a 32 for a 200, by the way. I realized that I couldn't make it to the track on my birthday, so I decided this year that I would go out and run 38:38, since I wasn't feeling great anyway. I know that I can run 38 for 200 because I did it in a workout a few weeks ago. I haven't been able to run a fast 200 in a couple of years, and here is why...
On my run I realized that the last two years I have not been able to run fast or drink a beer on my birthday. March 18, 2011 I was patiently awaiting the arrival of Eileen. She was born on March 28th. (ok, I had a couple of beers on that birthday because my sister said it would induce labor, it didn't!) March 18, 2012 I was almost 6 months pregnant with Tyler, he was born August 26th. So I made sure I enjoyed a couple of good beers and a good run this year. I also finally got myself a Shamrock Shake! If you know me you know that a couple of beers is a pretty big deal because I don't drink much or very often (my college roommate would tell you different, but that all stopped when I turned 21, go figure). I've also been on a Shamrock Shake mission since last year's birthday when I went to McD's and was told that the shake machine was being cleaned, during lunch hour! After I was disappointed there I went to Natty Cakes for a nice store bought cupcake and I was told that they wouldn't have cupcakes until April. I thought "well then, you are just Natty, since you have no cakes, Jeez". It's not nice to tease a pregnant lady!!
For my birthday I also like to make Corned Beef and Cabbage in the crock pot and some carrot cake. I used to go out to dinner on my birthday, but since I share the weekend with St.Patrick's day it can be a bit of a pain going out, and besides, I like my Corned Beef better than anything I've had in a restaurant.
This year I decided to try a crock pot carrot cake that I had pinned. The recipe said put your cake pan in the crock pot. I put it in, but it didn't fit inside the actual pot. The rim of the cake pan rested on top of the pot. I thought maybe this was how it was supposed to go, so I put some water in the bottom and let it go for the few hours that we were at a friends house. When I came home it still wasn't done. Turns out you need a cake pan insert for cooking cakes and breads in the crock pot, who knew. I plopped the somewhat cooked cake in the oven for 20 minutes and called it a night. The cake was good but a little bit more of a brownie consistency. Don loved it. I kind of liked it, but I made it from scratch and truth be told I just really like the store bought mix better. Oh well.
I also made Soda Bread again this year, which I make with cranberries instead of raisins. Corned beef, cabbage, and soda bread are pretty easy, I don't know why I don't make them more often. I'm pretty sure I said the same thing last year and I will say it again next year. Travis liked the Corned beef and potatoes, but he wouldn't even try the cabbage because he said it looked slimy. Eileen ate everything, because she's a little bottomless pit like I used to be.
My Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe is super easy. Throw it all into a crock pot with some apple cider and a bit of apple cider vinegar and let it cook away for 6 hours. YUMMY! Don't knock it till you try it. It is acceptable to put mustard on your corned beef, but not ketchup. I draw the line at ketchup!
I knocked this out really quickly while everyone is asleep. I will write more later!
When I turned 32 I started a little tradition. Some people run their age in miles on their birthday, but I am not an ultra runner (yet), so I opted to run 200 meters as fast as my age. That was probably the last time I ran a 32 for a 200, by the way. I realized that I couldn't make it to the track on my birthday, so I decided this year that I would go out and run 38:38, since I wasn't feeling great anyway. I know that I can run 38 for 200 because I did it in a workout a few weeks ago. I haven't been able to run a fast 200 in a couple of years, and here is why...
On my run I realized that the last two years I have not been able to run fast or drink a beer on my birthday. March 18, 2011 I was patiently awaiting the arrival of Eileen. She was born on March 28th. (ok, I had a couple of beers on that birthday because my sister said it would induce labor, it didn't!) March 18, 2012 I was almost 6 months pregnant with Tyler, he was born August 26th. So I made sure I enjoyed a couple of good beers and a good run this year. I also finally got myself a Shamrock Shake! If you know me you know that a couple of beers is a pretty big deal because I don't drink much or very often (my college roommate would tell you different, but that all stopped when I turned 21, go figure). I've also been on a Shamrock Shake mission since last year's birthday when I went to McD's and was told that the shake machine was being cleaned, during lunch hour! After I was disappointed there I went to Natty Cakes for a nice store bought cupcake and I was told that they wouldn't have cupcakes until April. I thought "well then, you are just Natty, since you have no cakes, Jeez". It's not nice to tease a pregnant lady!!
For my birthday I also like to make Corned Beef and Cabbage in the crock pot and some carrot cake. I used to go out to dinner on my birthday, but since I share the weekend with St.Patrick's day it can be a bit of a pain going out, and besides, I like my Corned Beef better than anything I've had in a restaurant.
This year I decided to try a crock pot carrot cake that I had pinned. The recipe said put your cake pan in the crock pot. I put it in, but it didn't fit inside the actual pot. The rim of the cake pan rested on top of the pot. I thought maybe this was how it was supposed to go, so I put some water in the bottom and let it go for the few hours that we were at a friends house. When I came home it still wasn't done. Turns out you need a cake pan insert for cooking cakes and breads in the crock pot, who knew. I plopped the somewhat cooked cake in the oven for 20 minutes and called it a night. The cake was good but a little bit more of a brownie consistency. Don loved it. I kind of liked it, but I made it from scratch and truth be told I just really like the store bought mix better. Oh well.
I also made Soda Bread again this year, which I make with cranberries instead of raisins. Corned beef, cabbage, and soda bread are pretty easy, I don't know why I don't make them more often. I'm pretty sure I said the same thing last year and I will say it again next year. Travis liked the Corned beef and potatoes, but he wouldn't even try the cabbage because he said it looked slimy. Eileen ate everything, because she's a little bottomless pit like I used to be.
My Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe is super easy. Throw it all into a crock pot with some apple cider and a bit of apple cider vinegar and let it cook away for 6 hours. YUMMY! Don't knock it till you try it. It is acceptable to put mustard on your corned beef, but not ketchup. I draw the line at ketchup!
I knocked this out really quickly while everyone is asleep. I will write more later!
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| Shamrock Shake |
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Homeschooling Snow Days
This week we had yet another snow day. Luckily the storm that was supposed to be the storm of the century turned out to be a dud, but none the less, Travis didn't have school. I decided when we got up that it would be fun to have a home school day.
We started with Dinosaur Train because I had to get on the computer and print out some handwriting sheets. When we were all done with Dinosaur train we did our handwriting exercises. Eileen decided she needed to practice her handwriting also.
Next we had "science center" where I used one of my pins from pintrest to show Travis how a bunch of different liquids could actually have different densities. I had all the liquids, but I didn't have any food coloring which they say helps distinguish between the liquids, but Travis got the point.
After that we had "art center" where the kids colored on some paper and then I wrapped in around one of my shoe boxes for our "Legend of the Leprechaun" box. The legend of the leprechaun is yet another thing that I had pinned for the kids. You decorate the box and then leave it out by the light of the moon on the 16th, and the Leprechauns come and fill it with treats and treasures and then hide it somewhere in the house. It sounds suspiciously like the Easter Bunny, but we are going to do it anyway because I love St.Patrick's day and there isn't anything going on around here like there was in my home town when I was little.
After art center Don sat down with them to do Math center. Travis wasn't very interested in math center for very long, but he got through some simple addition problems. I let them have free play time before lunch since they had already read a couple of books when they woke up, so that took care of book center.
This took up all of our morning and kept the kids from going at each other and kept me sane. Travis wanted to do "water play" which is something they have at school, but I told him he could do that in the bathtub after dinner, which is what he did.
This week I had to do my long run on the treadmill. I had to really psych myself up for this because I haven't ever run longer than about 8 miles on the mill. So last Sunday I downloaded a movie and got on the treadmill totally ready to run 90 minutes no matter what. I could do it. But then at about 25 minutes Don brought the kids down to the play room which is right next to my treadmill and said he was going out to ski. I thought maybe they could last an hour without giving me too much trouble, but then at about 45 minutes Tyler started crying and I had to stop. He wanted no part of being put down, so I had to settle for a 45 minute run and try again the next day.
Monday I got back on the treadmill fully recharged and ready to get my run in. I usually start out easy and slowly progress either each 10 minutes or each mile, just so I have time to warm up to the treadmill and so I don't feel like I might not finish the run after only 10 minutes. I made it past 90 minutes and ran 10 miles finishing strong. I got the run in and I got over a mental hurdle. Needless to say I was so happy today when I could run 14 miles outside in the warm sunshine!!
Tuesday was workout day and I was able to finish 10x600 at 2:06 with little trouble. It seems my calf issues are gone, but I am running with my calf sleeves on just in case. It really is no fun have calf or Achilles trouble, so I don't want to aggravate it again if I can avoid it.
Food
This week I made some Shepherd's pie. Another recipe I have pinned on pintrest. I made mine with deer meat though. It was pretty awesome, although I think if I make it again I will leave out the cheese.
Shepherd's Pie Recipe
I also made Taco bake which I have pinned, also with deer meat, because in this house that is pretty much all the red meat we eat. That was very good as well and easy since it is made with Bisquick.
Taco Bake Recipe
We started with Dinosaur Train because I had to get on the computer and print out some handwriting sheets. When we were all done with Dinosaur train we did our handwriting exercises. Eileen decided she needed to practice her handwriting also.
Next we had "science center" where I used one of my pins from pintrest to show Travis how a bunch of different liquids could actually have different densities. I had all the liquids, but I didn't have any food coloring which they say helps distinguish between the liquids, but Travis got the point.
After that we had "art center" where the kids colored on some paper and then I wrapped in around one of my shoe boxes for our "Legend of the Leprechaun" box. The legend of the leprechaun is yet another thing that I had pinned for the kids. You decorate the box and then leave it out by the light of the moon on the 16th, and the Leprechauns come and fill it with treats and treasures and then hide it somewhere in the house. It sounds suspiciously like the Easter Bunny, but we are going to do it anyway because I love St.Patrick's day and there isn't anything going on around here like there was in my home town when I was little.
After art center Don sat down with them to do Math center. Travis wasn't very interested in math center for very long, but he got through some simple addition problems. I let them have free play time before lunch since they had already read a couple of books when they woke up, so that took care of book center.
This took up all of our morning and kept the kids from going at each other and kept me sane. Travis wanted to do "water play" which is something they have at school, but I told him he could do that in the bathtub after dinner, which is what he did.
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| Writing center |
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| Science center |
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| Math Center |
Running
Monday I got back on the treadmill fully recharged and ready to get my run in. I usually start out easy and slowly progress either each 10 minutes or each mile, just so I have time to warm up to the treadmill and so I don't feel like I might not finish the run after only 10 minutes. I made it past 90 minutes and ran 10 miles finishing strong. I got the run in and I got over a mental hurdle. Needless to say I was so happy today when I could run 14 miles outside in the warm sunshine!!
Tuesday was workout day and I was able to finish 10x600 at 2:06 with little trouble. It seems my calf issues are gone, but I am running with my calf sleeves on just in case. It really is no fun have calf or Achilles trouble, so I don't want to aggravate it again if I can avoid it.
Food
This week I made some Shepherd's pie. Another recipe I have pinned on pintrest. I made mine with deer meat though. It was pretty awesome, although I think if I make it again I will leave out the cheese.
Shepherd's Pie Recipe
I also made Taco bake which I have pinned, also with deer meat, because in this house that is pretty much all the red meat we eat. That was very good as well and easy since it is made with Bisquick.
Taco Bake Recipe
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| My sideways Shepherd's Pie |
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Life's little hurdles
Well, this past Friday all things changed. Life cannot always revolve around running, after all. As my husband likes to say, the only constant is change.
Friday Hubby lost his job, so, although we were somewhat waiting for it, it is still a huge bummer! When you live out here in the sticks, your whole life changes. Before I would think twice about taking an extra trip into town, but I would maybe do it anyway. Now, that trip into town is once a week. Gas money is just too much.
What does this mean for us? Well, I have to do all things in one day. I have to run all errands and plan all meetings and appointments and runs for one day. Fun times. In the summer I do this anyway because I am working more and it's a pain to drive to Morgantown after a long day of work, so it's not too hard to adapt to that.
The other major decision I made is that I won't be going to Jersey to run the half marathon in May, at least, not right now. Luckily I put off signing up for the race, but I was looking forward to it. Maybe our luck will change and I will be able to go after all. We shall see what the future brings!
On to brighter things......
Life must go on, and the great thing about running is it doesn't cost anything. I can step out my door and run down the road. A new pair of shoes would be nice, but they can wait. Friday night I was in a funk and really tired. I seriously contemplated not doing a run. It could've seriously been the day to break my streak. But Don looked at me and said "come on, you can't break the streak now". So I headed out into the snowy evening and ran. (Florence and the Machine on a cold winter's night is intense.) I was glad I did it! Although, I did slip on our hill and I banged my knee, but it was only a little sore yesterday.
February recap......
I got in 180 miles for February. My pushup challenge didn't go so well, so, I'm going to try it again for March. Pushups every day. I think I got in pushups every three days in February, at best.
Recipe....
Sweet potato topped Chicken. YUM! I loved this one. Will definitely be making it again.
Picture of the week....
Friday Hubby lost his job, so, although we were somewhat waiting for it, it is still a huge bummer! When you live out here in the sticks, your whole life changes. Before I would think twice about taking an extra trip into town, but I would maybe do it anyway. Now, that trip into town is once a week. Gas money is just too much.
What does this mean for us? Well, I have to do all things in one day. I have to run all errands and plan all meetings and appointments and runs for one day. Fun times. In the summer I do this anyway because I am working more and it's a pain to drive to Morgantown after a long day of work, so it's not too hard to adapt to that.
The other major decision I made is that I won't be going to Jersey to run the half marathon in May, at least, not right now. Luckily I put off signing up for the race, but I was looking forward to it. Maybe our luck will change and I will be able to go after all. We shall see what the future brings!
On to brighter things......
Life must go on, and the great thing about running is it doesn't cost anything. I can step out my door and run down the road. A new pair of shoes would be nice, but they can wait. Friday night I was in a funk and really tired. I seriously contemplated not doing a run. It could've seriously been the day to break my streak. But Don looked at me and said "come on, you can't break the streak now". So I headed out into the snowy evening and ran. (Florence and the Machine on a cold winter's night is intense.) I was glad I did it! Although, I did slip on our hill and I banged my knee, but it was only a little sore yesterday.
February recap......
I got in 180 miles for February. My pushup challenge didn't go so well, so, I'm going to try it again for March. Pushups every day. I think I got in pushups every three days in February, at best.
Recipe....
Sweet potato topped Chicken. YUM! I loved this one. Will definitely be making it again.
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| Life in the snow globe. It's been snowing since Tuesday. |
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Getting in your runs, or walks, or bikes!
When I am out and about with my three little bundles of joy, someone always has to comment that "I must be busy!" I just laugh and say "Yup." But really, it seems kind of silly to me. I was plenty busy when I had two kids. I was even pretty busy when I just had one kid. When I first had Travis I had some older people tell me "You aren't really a parent until you have two." I'm pretty sure I shot this 9 pounder out, so I'm pretty sure I was a parent. But, whatever!
Probably the biggest thing I hear from other mothers is that they just don't have the time to get out and run or exercise, or it's just too hard because they don't have anyone to watch the kids, or really any other number of excuses you can think of. As I've said before, I'm on a running streak, so that means I try to run at least 30 minutes every day. I am pretty lucky in that I have a supportive husband who will watch the kids whenever he is not working, and I also have friends who love my kids and will watch them also. I try very hard not to over use this luxury, after all, 3 kids is 3 kids.
So here is how I try to get in my runs....
Whenever possible I push the kids in the baby jogger. I have a double jogger, so I try to do this while Travis is at school. If it doesn't work out and it's a nice day, I will throw Travis on the front of the jogger and run on a flat surface. This has only happened a couple times because it is very hard pushing 3 kids.
When the weather is frightful I will opt to go on my treadmill down in the basement. I hate it, but it is the best case scenario some days. I have mine set up right outside of the kids play area so I can keep a good eye on them. I can catch up on some tv shows that way too. By the way, watching Cougar Town while running isn't a good thing, especially when you have a prolapsed bladder. I was laughing too much!
Recently I've been enjoying some Mom-swapping. This is something that is out there that I think few mom's take advantage of. We all have other mom friends, so why not enlist them to help. My friend Shelby lives just up the road (country road that is, about 6 miles) and she has a little girl just a few months older than Eileen. It's a little unfair since I have 2 (we swap while Travis is at school) and she has one, but all three kids are good kids, so it works out well. When she comes over I go out for a run while she watches the kids, and then she goes out while I watch the kids. It's a bonus that the girls get to have a play date. We did this today and it was 20 degrees with wind whipping and snow flying, but we both went outside anyway!
To get in my track workouts I bring the kids and give them food and something to do while I trot around the track. Sometimes I have to yell and break up fights in the middle of an interval, but hey, if Britney Spears can sing while running than I can yell at my kids while running, right?
The only time that being a runner mom is hard is race time. The shuffling around and trying to find a sitter or making sure the husband is available can be as daunting as the actual race. Usually it all works out. We will see what the spring brings when I want to run more races.
Probably the biggest thing I hear from other mothers is that they just don't have the time to get out and run or exercise, or it's just too hard because they don't have anyone to watch the kids, or really any other number of excuses you can think of. As I've said before, I'm on a running streak, so that means I try to run at least 30 minutes every day. I am pretty lucky in that I have a supportive husband who will watch the kids whenever he is not working, and I also have friends who love my kids and will watch them also. I try very hard not to over use this luxury, after all, 3 kids is 3 kids.
So here is how I try to get in my runs....
Whenever possible I push the kids in the baby jogger. I have a double jogger, so I try to do this while Travis is at school. If it doesn't work out and it's a nice day, I will throw Travis on the front of the jogger and run on a flat surface. This has only happened a couple times because it is very hard pushing 3 kids.
When the weather is frightful I will opt to go on my treadmill down in the basement. I hate it, but it is the best case scenario some days. I have mine set up right outside of the kids play area so I can keep a good eye on them. I can catch up on some tv shows that way too. By the way, watching Cougar Town while running isn't a good thing, especially when you have a prolapsed bladder. I was laughing too much!
Recently I've been enjoying some Mom-swapping. This is something that is out there that I think few mom's take advantage of. We all have other mom friends, so why not enlist them to help. My friend Shelby lives just up the road (country road that is, about 6 miles) and she has a little girl just a few months older than Eileen. It's a little unfair since I have 2 (we swap while Travis is at school) and she has one, but all three kids are good kids, so it works out well. When she comes over I go out for a run while she watches the kids, and then she goes out while I watch the kids. It's a bonus that the girls get to have a play date. We did this today and it was 20 degrees with wind whipping and snow flying, but we both went outside anyway!
To get in my track workouts I bring the kids and give them food and something to do while I trot around the track. Sometimes I have to yell and break up fights in the middle of an interval, but hey, if Britney Spears can sing while running than I can yell at my kids while running, right?
The only time that being a runner mom is hard is race time. The shuffling around and trying to find a sitter or making sure the husband is available can be as daunting as the actual race. Usually it all works out. We will see what the spring brings when I want to run more races.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Pregnancy Brain..It's other people's problem
Recently I've been speaking to some friends who are pregnant for the first time. These aren't just the normal pregnant ladies, these are formerly super fit, Olympic hopeful pregnant ladies. Imagine, if you will, being in the absolute best shape of your life, then...BAM, you're pregnant!
Great news, right? Right! That is until you start showing and gaining weight and being seen out in public. This is what I've told my friends...People lose their minds when they see a pregnant lady. They can't just stand there and say "Hi, how ya doing", oh no, they have to say something that will set you off. They will all of a sudden have diarrhea of the mouth. They can't help it. It's my theory that this phenomenon should be labeled "Pregnancy Brain".
Here are some of the comments I've heard or my friends have heard:
1. "You must be due any day." This one was said to me in April, when I was due in August.
2. "when are you due?" This one I loved. It's not bad at first, but when people start to ask you about 6 times a day, it gets a bit ridiculous. I would look at them straight faced and say "what do you mean?" and stand for a minute before I smiled. It was awesome.
3. My neighbor told me a woman asked her if she was "sittin twins". She was not.
4. My friend said a woman said she looked like her pregnant cow. She did not.
5. Being a runner while pregnant I've heard that I shouldn't run during pregnancy, even though I ran through three and I had three very large, perfectly healthy babies. In fact, when I was pregnant with my first I was in line to vote with my elderly neighbor. She introduced me to an elderly man who was a retired doctor. She told him that I was still running he said "oh, you shouldn't do that?" I said "you mean run while pregnant?" He said "no, you shouldn't run at all, ever." Jeez!
6. The men that I work with would always call me fatty. I didn't take this to heart though because they are all fat, and I just figured they were getting it in while they could because they knew I would go back to being skinny.
So, the point of my short post today is, if you are newly pregnant and you are just hearing these comments for the first time, you will have to get used to it. People are stupid, people are rude, people are insensitive. They don't even realize it most of the time. The really sad part is most of the comments come from women who have already had children of their own. You would think they would know better, but since they don't you will just have to grow a thick skin and realize that it's their problem, not yours.
Great news, right? Right! That is until you start showing and gaining weight and being seen out in public. This is what I've told my friends...People lose their minds when they see a pregnant lady. They can't just stand there and say "Hi, how ya doing", oh no, they have to say something that will set you off. They will all of a sudden have diarrhea of the mouth. They can't help it. It's my theory that this phenomenon should be labeled "Pregnancy Brain".
Here are some of the comments I've heard or my friends have heard:
1. "You must be due any day." This one was said to me in April, when I was due in August.
2. "when are you due?" This one I loved. It's not bad at first, but when people start to ask you about 6 times a day, it gets a bit ridiculous. I would look at them straight faced and say "what do you mean?" and stand for a minute before I smiled. It was awesome.
3. My neighbor told me a woman asked her if she was "sittin twins". She was not.
4. My friend said a woman said she looked like her pregnant cow. She did not.
5. Being a runner while pregnant I've heard that I shouldn't run during pregnancy, even though I ran through three and I had three very large, perfectly healthy babies. In fact, when I was pregnant with my first I was in line to vote with my elderly neighbor. She introduced me to an elderly man who was a retired doctor. She told him that I was still running he said "oh, you shouldn't do that?" I said "you mean run while pregnant?" He said "no, you shouldn't run at all, ever." Jeez!
6. The men that I work with would always call me fatty. I didn't take this to heart though because they are all fat, and I just figured they were getting it in while they could because they knew I would go back to being skinny.
So, the point of my short post today is, if you are newly pregnant and you are just hearing these comments for the first time, you will have to get used to it. People are stupid, people are rude, people are insensitive. They don't even realize it most of the time. The really sad part is most of the comments come from women who have already had children of their own. You would think they would know better, but since they don't you will just have to grow a thick skin and realize that it's their problem, not yours.
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Snow Days!
Here in Preston County we tend to get a lot of snow days. In fact, last year we only had 1 or 2, and that was a very abnormal year! This year we have already had quite a few. I don't mind snow days really, but as a mom of 3 I've gotten used to a certain routine and schedule, and snow days really mess with the flow of our household.
Travis is about to turn 5, so he is the only one in school, Pre-K. Normally Don takes him to school on his way to work, and then I pick him up at 1. When we have a 2 hour delay I take him to school at about 9:30 and then I have to turn right around and pick him up at 1. There is not a lot of time to get stuff done on those days, considering it takes me a half hour just to get the babies in the car!
Today is our third snow day, thanks to those pesky Alberta clippers. I've decided that Pintrest has become my savior on these days. Why, you ask, well, lets start from the beginning....
I started Pintrest about a year ago. For about a year I had no idea what I was doing, or what it was all about. I pinned stuff from websites occasionally, but I didn't really know how it worked with the whole sharing thing, so when I figured it out, it changed my world! Now I am addicted!
One day I saw a cartoon pin that said something about "honey, you better bring home some dinner because I've been too busy pinning nutritional recipes to cook dinner." I thought, wow, that's so true. I've pinned all this stuff, but I've done nothing. So, I've decided to start actually doing some of my pins.
On Friday I made a crock pot stew recipe from Pintrest. It turned out great, and I didn't have to go to the store to get anything, I just used stuff I had in my fridge that needed to be used, like my potatoes, carrots, celery, and sweet potatoes, and of course some deer meet. This comes in really handy, because I live 4 miles from a store, and that's just the dollar store, so my options are limited.
After I was done throwing that all into my crock pot, I decided I would clean the microwave using something I saw on Pintrest. "1 c vinegar + 1 c hot water + 10 min microwave = steam clean! Totally works. No more scum, no funky smells. Easy Peasy!(need to try mine needs cleaning)". It cleaned pretty well, but it also needed a bit of scrubbing, nothing is ever really easy.
Since that went so well, I cleaned the toilets with vinegar via a Pintrest recommendation. This also went pretty well. The only problem, my house was smelling of zucchini bread and beef stew, after all that cleaning it was smelling like vinegar, but it only lingered for a couple hours.
Yesterday I decided to try a craft with the kids, since it was a snow day and I can only keep them happy with toys for so long. Again I went to Pintrest for something I had pinned months ago. I took all of our old crayons and cut them up. Pre-heat the oven to 250 F, put pieces of different colors of crayons in a mini cupcake mold (don´t forget to use paper cups or spray the mold with vegetable oil). Place the mold in the oven and let it melt for about 10 minutes, they melt very fast. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely before giving them to the kids. Even Eileen could help with this craft. They came out great and now we have favors for Travis' birthday party this weekend.
More Pintrest goodies next time....
I am progressing in my running finally. I'm not crossfitting very much, but as they say, the best way to get better at running is to run! I am still doing some "weights", and I've decided to do a pushup challenge that I found on...you guessed it, Pintrest! We'll see how that goes. I am focusing more on my core too. I think I've decided that the Plank is THE best possibly exercise for the core. Again, I'm still testing this theory. Tonight it is to the track for some 600 meter repeats. Hopefully my calves will hold up. And just in case you were wondering, if you are having calf issues, I highly recommend compression sleeves or socks. I have been wearing the compression sleeves. I know I need a massage big time, but who has time for that?
This blog post brought to you by Sesame Street!
Travis is about to turn 5, so he is the only one in school, Pre-K. Normally Don takes him to school on his way to work, and then I pick him up at 1. When we have a 2 hour delay I take him to school at about 9:30 and then I have to turn right around and pick him up at 1. There is not a lot of time to get stuff done on those days, considering it takes me a half hour just to get the babies in the car!
Today is our third snow day, thanks to those pesky Alberta clippers. I've decided that Pintrest has become my savior on these days. Why, you ask, well, lets start from the beginning....
I started Pintrest about a year ago. For about a year I had no idea what I was doing, or what it was all about. I pinned stuff from websites occasionally, but I didn't really know how it worked with the whole sharing thing, so when I figured it out, it changed my world! Now I am addicted!
One day I saw a cartoon pin that said something about "honey, you better bring home some dinner because I've been too busy pinning nutritional recipes to cook dinner." I thought, wow, that's so true. I've pinned all this stuff, but I've done nothing. So, I've decided to start actually doing some of my pins.
On Friday I made a crock pot stew recipe from Pintrest. It turned out great, and I didn't have to go to the store to get anything, I just used stuff I had in my fridge that needed to be used, like my potatoes, carrots, celery, and sweet potatoes, and of course some deer meet. This comes in really handy, because I live 4 miles from a store, and that's just the dollar store, so my options are limited.
After I was done throwing that all into my crock pot, I decided I would clean the microwave using something I saw on Pintrest. "1 c vinegar + 1 c hot water + 10 min microwave = steam clean! Totally works. No more scum, no funky smells. Easy Peasy!(need to try mine needs cleaning)". It cleaned pretty well, but it also needed a bit of scrubbing, nothing is ever really easy.
Since that went so well, I cleaned the toilets with vinegar via a Pintrest recommendation. This also went pretty well. The only problem, my house was smelling of zucchini bread and beef stew, after all that cleaning it was smelling like vinegar, but it only lingered for a couple hours.
Yesterday I decided to try a craft with the kids, since it was a snow day and I can only keep them happy with toys for so long. Again I went to Pintrest for something I had pinned months ago. I took all of our old crayons and cut them up. Pre-heat the oven to 250 F, put pieces of different colors of crayons in a mini cupcake mold (don´t forget to use paper cups or spray the mold with vegetable oil). Place the mold in the oven and let it melt for about 10 minutes, they melt very fast. Remove from the oven and let them cool completely before giving them to the kids. Even Eileen could help with this craft. They came out great and now we have favors for Travis' birthday party this weekend.
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| The Kids Crafting |
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| our finished crayons |
I am progressing in my running finally. I'm not crossfitting very much, but as they say, the best way to get better at running is to run! I am still doing some "weights", and I've decided to do a pushup challenge that I found on...you guessed it, Pintrest! We'll see how that goes. I am focusing more on my core too. I think I've decided that the Plank is THE best possibly exercise for the core. Again, I'm still testing this theory. Tonight it is to the track for some 600 meter repeats. Hopefully my calves will hold up. And just in case you were wondering, if you are having calf issues, I highly recommend compression sleeves or socks. I have been wearing the compression sleeves. I know I need a massage big time, but who has time for that?
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| Pic of the week, Travis reliving his youth, he will be 5 on Sunday! |
Friday, January 25, 2013
What would I do without Wireless?
As we all know it has been frigidly cold this past week. Although I do have a nice weather cover for my Kelty double stroller, I really would not subject my children to that kind of cold (although I've read where they do it all the time in Sweden or Norway...one of those cold countries). So this week I've had to get creative with running and it's worked out pretty well.
Monday I got to run at Big Bear Lake while my babysitters watched the kids for me. What I would do without them I do not know! Then Tuesday I had an already scheduled indoor track workout with a couple of training partners. I realize I am VERY lucky to have access to the indoor track.
Wednesday I ran on the treadmill. This is where the wireless part comes in. I do not have cable or dish down in the basement where my treadmill is. I have tons of VHS and DVD's to watch, but after 8 years I have watched all of them more times than I can count. So now what I like to do is either watch a show on my new Nexus Tablet or bring the laptop down to watch a free show online. It's so nice! It keeps my mind off the fact that I am just a giant gerbil in my basement going no where. (I just had a thought, maybe I could be like Ed Begley Jr. and make my own electricity, but then, I need electricity to work the treadmill...nevermind).
Thursday I was lucky enough to get outside and run on the rail trail while my wonderful (he really is wonderful, that's not just fluff) husband watched the kids during his lunch hour. The only problem here was that snow had fallen overnight and as soon as I started running my calf tightened up. I was not about to let that ruin an opportunity to run outside with my training partners, so I soldiered on and then hobbled around the house the rest of the day. I wish I could figure out why my calves keep knotting up. I guess I just need to go get a massage. Anyone want to watch my kids while I go get a massage. LOL!
Today I will be back on the treadmill since it is not only cold, but now it is snowing like crazy. We'll see how the calf holds up. 30 minutes is all I need for my streak!
ONTO EATING!
I'm on a sweet potato kick lately, so last night I decided to make some sweet potato pancakes and some sweet potato biscuits. The kids loved them and I loved them too. I just went with the Bisquick recipe for both and added in the mashed sweet potatoes. Yummy! Travis had his pancakes with honey and syrup!
I have some avocado in the fridge that needs eaten, so I've been thinking about making avocado & egg salad. I always have eggs that need eaten! Lately I've been cooking the eggs in a muffin pan in the oven for 15 minutes so we have basically hard boiled eggs that don't need peeled. It's very convenient. Of course I find all of these great ideas on Pintrest which I am now addicted too.
This blog post is brought to you thanks to Travis being at school, Tyler being asleep for more than 10 minutes (a rarity) and Eileen drinking a bottle which always occupies her time.
Monday I got to run at Big Bear Lake while my babysitters watched the kids for me. What I would do without them I do not know! Then Tuesday I had an already scheduled indoor track workout with a couple of training partners. I realize I am VERY lucky to have access to the indoor track.
Wednesday I ran on the treadmill. This is where the wireless part comes in. I do not have cable or dish down in the basement where my treadmill is. I have tons of VHS and DVD's to watch, but after 8 years I have watched all of them more times than I can count. So now what I like to do is either watch a show on my new Nexus Tablet or bring the laptop down to watch a free show online. It's so nice! It keeps my mind off the fact that I am just a giant gerbil in my basement going no where. (I just had a thought, maybe I could be like Ed Begley Jr. and make my own electricity, but then, I need electricity to work the treadmill...nevermind).
Thursday I was lucky enough to get outside and run on the rail trail while my wonderful (he really is wonderful, that's not just fluff) husband watched the kids during his lunch hour. The only problem here was that snow had fallen overnight and as soon as I started running my calf tightened up. I was not about to let that ruin an opportunity to run outside with my training partners, so I soldiered on and then hobbled around the house the rest of the day. I wish I could figure out why my calves keep knotting up. I guess I just need to go get a massage. Anyone want to watch my kids while I go get a massage. LOL!
Today I will be back on the treadmill since it is not only cold, but now it is snowing like crazy. We'll see how the calf holds up. 30 minutes is all I need for my streak!
ONTO EATING!
I'm on a sweet potato kick lately, so last night I decided to make some sweet potato pancakes and some sweet potato biscuits. The kids loved them and I loved them too. I just went with the Bisquick recipe for both and added in the mashed sweet potatoes. Yummy! Travis had his pancakes with honey and syrup!
I have some avocado in the fridge that needs eaten, so I've been thinking about making avocado & egg salad. I always have eggs that need eaten! Lately I've been cooking the eggs in a muffin pan in the oven for 15 minutes so we have basically hard boiled eggs that don't need peeled. It's very convenient. Of course I find all of these great ideas on Pintrest which I am now addicted too.
This blog post is brought to you thanks to Travis being at school, Tyler being asleep for more than 10 minutes (a rarity) and Eileen drinking a bottle which always occupies her time.
Daddy put Tyler in the laundry basket!
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
New Year New....Same old same old!
OKAY.... here we go again. I'm doing pretty good on my New Year's resolutions, so I might as well try this one again, again. I'm sure you can sympathize with me, being a mom of 3 along with a job and coaching and trying to get in runs at the same time. So I'm thinking you don't mind that I only write a post every 3 months or so, every time saying I will do this more often. LOL, I swear, I will do this more often.
Right now I am doing some work from home. I have been doing some computer work in the loft while my two older children fight over toys down below. It's so stupid really, "Get away from me, play with your own toys.. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH". I want to gouge my eyes out. I know that in a couple hours I will drag my three children to the track, give them toys and some dinner to occupy them while I try to get through a track workout without someone crying or hurting themselves. If I can do that, I will be okay for the day.
Done with my rant, on with my resolutions.
1. I'm trying to stop biting my nails. I've been biting my nails since before I can remember. It's a disgusting habit, I know, and my husband hates it. I've gone 2 weeks with no biting. I find the key is to keep them nicely manicured with a pretty polish.
2. I started going to church again. This past Sunday was the first time in a while. I picked a kid friendly church where I know a lot of people. It worked out great! I hope the trend continues.
3.My little running streak. I had one going after Tyler was born, but right before the holidays I got sick/injured and I took a few days off, so I officially restarted my streak in the New Year. My streak is I have to get in 30 minutes of running every day. The official streakers website says 1 mile, but my streak is more for fitness reasons, so I am opting for 30 minutes!
That's pretty much it. I am done with the official Crossfit craze because of time, membership money, and gas money. I will do mostly body weight workouts from home, focusing on my abs which, lets face it, need a lot of work after 3 babies in 4 years. I did a modified Paleo for 6 weeks and didn't see too much of a change for me, but decided that I really need carbs. Carbs are my friend. Now that I am back to a carb friendly diet and trying to up my running mileage I am getting leaner again, around the middle, where I need it. I have a little over 3 months before I get completely discouraged, meaning....They say it takes you 9 months to get this way (fat), so it will take 9 months to get back (not fat).
This is the end of this post because Tyler is in his walker screaming his head off!
Right now I am doing some work from home. I have been doing some computer work in the loft while my two older children fight over toys down below. It's so stupid really, "Get away from me, play with your own toys.. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH". I want to gouge my eyes out. I know that in a couple hours I will drag my three children to the track, give them toys and some dinner to occupy them while I try to get through a track workout without someone crying or hurting themselves. If I can do that, I will be okay for the day.
Done with my rant, on with my resolutions.
1. I'm trying to stop biting my nails. I've been biting my nails since before I can remember. It's a disgusting habit, I know, and my husband hates it. I've gone 2 weeks with no biting. I find the key is to keep them nicely manicured with a pretty polish.
2. I started going to church again. This past Sunday was the first time in a while. I picked a kid friendly church where I know a lot of people. It worked out great! I hope the trend continues.
3.My little running streak. I had one going after Tyler was born, but right before the holidays I got sick/injured and I took a few days off, so I officially restarted my streak in the New Year. My streak is I have to get in 30 minutes of running every day. The official streakers website says 1 mile, but my streak is more for fitness reasons, so I am opting for 30 minutes!
That's pretty much it. I am done with the official Crossfit craze because of time, membership money, and gas money. I will do mostly body weight workouts from home, focusing on my abs which, lets face it, need a lot of work after 3 babies in 4 years. I did a modified Paleo for 6 weeks and didn't see too much of a change for me, but decided that I really need carbs. Carbs are my friend. Now that I am back to a carb friendly diet and trying to up my running mileage I am getting leaner again, around the middle, where I need it. I have a little over 3 months before I get completely discouraged, meaning....They say it takes you 9 months to get this way (fat), so it will take 9 months to get back (not fat).
This is the end of this post because Tyler is in his walker screaming his head off!
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Are we there yet?
Thanksgiving week! Hunting season, Turkey Trots, and driving hours for a large meal and tons of family. I don't know what I'm most excited about!
Tomorrow I embark on my 6 hour drive to the NY/NJ Metropolitan area with 3 little kids and no husband (poor man has to work). :( No worries, I've done the drive before by myself a million times, just not with 3 kids. In my head I have it all planned out.. stop every two hours to stretch our legs, get some air, and change diapers. Travis will be able to watch a DVD in the truck for the first time. Eileen is a little too young for the DVD's, but she should be fine, and I'm hoping Tyler just sleeps the whole way.
Now, here is how it's really going to go. Travis will get car sick watching the DVD's, but will insist on watching them because the kid would watch videos until his eyes bled. Eileen will have a major pooptastrophy and require multiple changes of clothes along with being cranky and whiny the whole day, and Tyler will scream for at least half the trip. I might bring some ear plugs just in case!
On to the Turkey Trotting....
This past weekend I rode in my first ever cyclocross race. I haven't ridden my bike in a very long time, and my sit bones were sore just from riding one lap on Friday, but I think I did ok, and I'm glad I did it. It felt really good to be on my bike again, and you have to take the opportunity when you get it. This race was at our house, so I didn't have to pack the kids up and take them to a baby sitter.
On Sunday I did have to pack the kids up and take them to the babysitter. When I thought I had everything ready and I was going to put the kids in the car, Eileen with a poopy diaper. Never Fails! I still made it in plenty of time. I ran the Rowlesburg 5k and got my ass kicked by a high school kid. I knew it was going to happen, but it didn't make it any easier to take. What do I expect though, I'm still carrying 10 extra pounds and I haven't done any speed work, in fact, that was my speed work. On Thursday I will run a 5 miler which will be my second hard run postpartum. I'm hoping the plan of going out more conservatively this time will help with the hurt.
Paleo during the holidays....
The past week or so I've been pretty good with my diet. It is a team challenge, after all, so I feel I have to bring it! But this is Thanksgiving week, and I'm just saying right now that I will be eating everything in sight on Thursday, it's only right. That's the problem with being on a "diet" this time of year. I have three parties this weekend, then the Holiday party season will be in full swing in the coming weeks. I believe our challenge ends on Christmas Eve, I have a feeling I'll have many cheats between now and then!
Recipes....
Last week I made Paleo Beef Stew. I made mine with deer meat and it was awesome! I would highly recommend it! Unfortunately Travis is in a picky eating phase, so of course he wouldn't even try it. Eileen will eat just about anything though, so it only makes my life slightly harder when I have to make something else for Travis.
I can say I've eaten mostly bacon, sweet potatoes, eggs, chicken, salmon, and deer meat so far, and of course lots of veggies. Everything I've made has been great though. I highly recommend sweet potato hash with eggs on top, cooked in bacon fat of course!
Tomorrow I embark on my 6 hour drive to the NY/NJ Metropolitan area with 3 little kids and no husband (poor man has to work). :( No worries, I've done the drive before by myself a million times, just not with 3 kids. In my head I have it all planned out.. stop every two hours to stretch our legs, get some air, and change diapers. Travis will be able to watch a DVD in the truck for the first time. Eileen is a little too young for the DVD's, but she should be fine, and I'm hoping Tyler just sleeps the whole way.
Now, here is how it's really going to go. Travis will get car sick watching the DVD's, but will insist on watching them because the kid would watch videos until his eyes bled. Eileen will have a major pooptastrophy and require multiple changes of clothes along with being cranky and whiny the whole day, and Tyler will scream for at least half the trip. I might bring some ear plugs just in case!
On to the Turkey Trotting....
This past weekend I rode in my first ever cyclocross race. I haven't ridden my bike in a very long time, and my sit bones were sore just from riding one lap on Friday, but I think I did ok, and I'm glad I did it. It felt really good to be on my bike again, and you have to take the opportunity when you get it. This race was at our house, so I didn't have to pack the kids up and take them to a baby sitter.
On Sunday I did have to pack the kids up and take them to the babysitter. When I thought I had everything ready and I was going to put the kids in the car, Eileen with a poopy diaper. Never Fails! I still made it in plenty of time. I ran the Rowlesburg 5k and got my ass kicked by a high school kid. I knew it was going to happen, but it didn't make it any easier to take. What do I expect though, I'm still carrying 10 extra pounds and I haven't done any speed work, in fact, that was my speed work. On Thursday I will run a 5 miler which will be my second hard run postpartum. I'm hoping the plan of going out more conservatively this time will help with the hurt.
Paleo during the holidays....
The past week or so I've been pretty good with my diet. It is a team challenge, after all, so I feel I have to bring it! But this is Thanksgiving week, and I'm just saying right now that I will be eating everything in sight on Thursday, it's only right. That's the problem with being on a "diet" this time of year. I have three parties this weekend, then the Holiday party season will be in full swing in the coming weeks. I believe our challenge ends on Christmas Eve, I have a feeling I'll have many cheats between now and then!
Recipes....
Last week I made Paleo Beef Stew. I made mine with deer meat and it was awesome! I would highly recommend it! Unfortunately Travis is in a picky eating phase, so of course he wouldn't even try it. Eileen will eat just about anything though, so it only makes my life slightly harder when I have to make something else for Travis.
I can say I've eaten mostly bacon, sweet potatoes, eggs, chicken, salmon, and deer meat so far, and of course lots of veggies. Everything I've made has been great though. I highly recommend sweet potato hash with eggs on top, cooked in bacon fat of course!
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| Prepping for Beef Stew |
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| Finished Stew with Avocado |
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| Travis' Self Portrait |
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| Mom's Self Portrait pre-cyclocross race! |
Thursday, November 8, 2012
To Paleo or not to Paleo?
Okay, before I get too far away from a post (like another 10 months) I will post! Here are the challenges to myself this winter!
Challenge 1: I am on week number 4 of Crossfit (google it). It's crazy, but good crazy. My friend Leah turned me on to it, and boy do I need it! Having 3 babies in 5 years does not bode well for the body. Although I managed to get myself in pretty good running shape in between each baby, I neglected my overall fitness. At 37 years old I am losing muscle strength anyway, so I figured I better get on it.
Right now I am going three times a week, and I am very sore most days (it's a good sore! I swear!)
I get my run in on the rail trail after class which means I am very tired while running. On the days in between I just run and maybe do some abs. I haven't done any real running workouts yet, so I'm hoping that all this strength training will pay off when I start trying to pour on the speed. It can't hurt, right? Or can it?
Challenge 2: Cook more...again. I'm thinking of trying this whole Paleo craze (google it! LOL)! I'm not totally sold on Paleo because it cuts out so many carbs that I am used to since I am a runner. Also, I just never really buy into a craze because I am a firm believer in "calories in and calories out", or "you ate in, negate it!" But I have seen the power of Paleo in action. They are doing a Paleo challenge at the gym for six weeks, so maybe I will take the challenge. Although, those six weeks run through Thanksgiving, and that means no stuffing or mashed potatoes. Come on! That's just not right! I live for the Thanksgiving meal which is why I try to find a Turkey Trot to run before I stuff myself. I feel I must earn my dinner.
Challenge 3: Be a better Mommy. I guess really this should be challenge 1 because it should be highest on my priority list. My two eldest children are at challenging ages. Travis will be 5 in February and Eileen will be 2 in March. Sometimes I find myself going through a day where all I've done is yelled or told them don't do this or don't do that. I have little patience sometimes, and they like to push each others buttons as well as mine. For example, last night while making dinner, the baby was crying...loudly, Eileen was whining...incessantly, and Travis was singing the Batman theme song. I just soldiered on figuring if I get dinner on the table Eileen will stop whining, Travis will stop singing, and I can pick up the baby so he will stop crying. Otherwise, I will start drinking. ;)
So, on Monday I will start my challenge, because Travis has been out of school since October 29th, and he goes back on Tuesday, and also the Paleo challenge starts on Monday. Right now I am baking my second loaf of Pumpkin Bread trying to perfect my recipe!
Challenge 1: I am on week number 4 of Crossfit (google it). It's crazy, but good crazy. My friend Leah turned me on to it, and boy do I need it! Having 3 babies in 5 years does not bode well for the body. Although I managed to get myself in pretty good running shape in between each baby, I neglected my overall fitness. At 37 years old I am losing muscle strength anyway, so I figured I better get on it.
Right now I am going three times a week, and I am very sore most days (it's a good sore! I swear!)
I get my run in on the rail trail after class which means I am very tired while running. On the days in between I just run and maybe do some abs. I haven't done any real running workouts yet, so I'm hoping that all this strength training will pay off when I start trying to pour on the speed. It can't hurt, right? Or can it?
Challenge 2: Cook more...again. I'm thinking of trying this whole Paleo craze (google it! LOL)! I'm not totally sold on Paleo because it cuts out so many carbs that I am used to since I am a runner. Also, I just never really buy into a craze because I am a firm believer in "calories in and calories out", or "you ate in, negate it!" But I have seen the power of Paleo in action. They are doing a Paleo challenge at the gym for six weeks, so maybe I will take the challenge. Although, those six weeks run through Thanksgiving, and that means no stuffing or mashed potatoes. Come on! That's just not right! I live for the Thanksgiving meal which is why I try to find a Turkey Trot to run before I stuff myself. I feel I must earn my dinner.
Challenge 3: Be a better Mommy. I guess really this should be challenge 1 because it should be highest on my priority list. My two eldest children are at challenging ages. Travis will be 5 in February and Eileen will be 2 in March. Sometimes I find myself going through a day where all I've done is yelled or told them don't do this or don't do that. I have little patience sometimes, and they like to push each others buttons as well as mine. For example, last night while making dinner, the baby was crying...loudly, Eileen was whining...incessantly, and Travis was singing the Batman theme song. I just soldiered on figuring if I get dinner on the table Eileen will stop whining, Travis will stop singing, and I can pick up the baby so he will stop crying. Otherwise, I will start drinking. ;)
So, on Monday I will start my challenge, because Travis has been out of school since October 29th, and he goes back on Tuesday, and also the Paleo challenge starts on Monday. Right now I am baking my second loaf of Pumpkin Bread trying to perfect my recipe!
Photo of the week!
Eileen as Tinkerbell
Friday, October 12, 2012
Has it been 10 months?
Last time I blogged I was getting ready to run Rehobeth Marathon in Delaware with my friend and training partner Ron. I didn't even realize that I didn't write a blog post about how the marathon went until a friend reminded me. So here it goes, and then some!
I went into the marathon feeling a bit sick and rundown. Now, at the time I had an 8 month old who wasn't sleeping through the night, so I just figured I had yet another cold and I would try to run through it. I did everything I usually do to prepare and I just hoped for the best. I stuck to my game plan the morning of the race. I went in hoping I could possibly win, which would be a first for my marathon career. In the early morning light I saw what appeared to be a fast woman! Dang it! Maybe she's just trying to run sub-3 like me, or even trying to get the last ditch Olympic Trials qualifier in, where she may wind up blowing up and I'll blow by her late in the race and win. Whatever..I just wanted to run sub-3 and chalk up another marathon!
It turned out to be a very windy day on the Delaware shoreline. I was feeling okay at first, but by the time I got to about mile 10 I was whooped. Oh well! I had second place pretty well sewn up, and I had never placed second in a marathon, so I was determined to finish. Somewhere around mile 16 my training partner blew by me. He didn't say much, just left me in the dust. I didn't have it in me to try and stay with him. I had just enough mental fortitude to make it back to the finish.
As we all know with marathons, sometimes you just don't have a good day. I was glad I didn't quit, but I was very disappointed in my efforts. I ran 3:07, well off my personal best, and over 10 minutes off of what I had hoped to run. After the race my partner and I went to the Dogfish Head Brewery so I could drown my sorrows. (I really don't drink very much, so this involved about 2 beers.) Then on home we went.
In the days after the marathon I didn't run much and I was already planning my attack on a fast 5k in March. I noticed my stomach getting a little pudgy. I thought, "well, I've not been running much and it is the holiday season, guess I better lay off the cookies!"
On Christmas Eve morning I went for a 10 mile run with some of my regular running partners. We had a great run, and I don't remember feeling bad, but something told me I should make a stop on the way home and get a pregnancy test. So I did, and it was positive.
I waited in the kitchen for Don to get home so I could give him our good news, our third child had been well on his way for a few weeks. He had even accompanied me in my marathon, all the time sucking the life out of me so that I had barely anything left to battle the wind for 26 miles.
So here I am, so many months later, with a nearly 7 week old, embarking on the same journey I have already been on twice before. I am 37 years old and I have 3 children under the age of 5. Exactly whose idea this was I do not know, but I can tell you it wasn't mine. But, so far so good. Our new little bundle of joy, Tyler Joseph, enjoys the double stroller, and older brother Travis is in Pre-K until 1pm, so I just have to make sure I can get my running in by the time I have to pick up Travis. Or maybe I need a triple stroller!
Today I was given the okay for full on exercise. I've been running for almost 4 weeks straight. I am trying to maintain a running streak. We'll see how it goes. Soon I will have to go down in the basement and dust off the old treadmill!
I went into the marathon feeling a bit sick and rundown. Now, at the time I had an 8 month old who wasn't sleeping through the night, so I just figured I had yet another cold and I would try to run through it. I did everything I usually do to prepare and I just hoped for the best. I stuck to my game plan the morning of the race. I went in hoping I could possibly win, which would be a first for my marathon career. In the early morning light I saw what appeared to be a fast woman! Dang it! Maybe she's just trying to run sub-3 like me, or even trying to get the last ditch Olympic Trials qualifier in, where she may wind up blowing up and I'll blow by her late in the race and win. Whatever..I just wanted to run sub-3 and chalk up another marathon!
It turned out to be a very windy day on the Delaware shoreline. I was feeling okay at first, but by the time I got to about mile 10 I was whooped. Oh well! I had second place pretty well sewn up, and I had never placed second in a marathon, so I was determined to finish. Somewhere around mile 16 my training partner blew by me. He didn't say much, just left me in the dust. I didn't have it in me to try and stay with him. I had just enough mental fortitude to make it back to the finish.
As we all know with marathons, sometimes you just don't have a good day. I was glad I didn't quit, but I was very disappointed in my efforts. I ran 3:07, well off my personal best, and over 10 minutes off of what I had hoped to run. After the race my partner and I went to the Dogfish Head Brewery so I could drown my sorrows. (I really don't drink very much, so this involved about 2 beers.) Then on home we went.
In the days after the marathon I didn't run much and I was already planning my attack on a fast 5k in March. I noticed my stomach getting a little pudgy. I thought, "well, I've not been running much and it is the holiday season, guess I better lay off the cookies!"
On Christmas Eve morning I went for a 10 mile run with some of my regular running partners. We had a great run, and I don't remember feeling bad, but something told me I should make a stop on the way home and get a pregnancy test. So I did, and it was positive.
I waited in the kitchen for Don to get home so I could give him our good news, our third child had been well on his way for a few weeks. He had even accompanied me in my marathon, all the time sucking the life out of me so that I had barely anything left to battle the wind for 26 miles.
So here I am, so many months later, with a nearly 7 week old, embarking on the same journey I have already been on twice before. I am 37 years old and I have 3 children under the age of 5. Exactly whose idea this was I do not know, but I can tell you it wasn't mine. But, so far so good. Our new little bundle of joy, Tyler Joseph, enjoys the double stroller, and older brother Travis is in Pre-K until 1pm, so I just have to make sure I can get my running in by the time I have to pick up Travis. Or maybe I need a triple stroller!
Today I was given the okay for full on exercise. I've been running for almost 4 weeks straight. I am trying to maintain a running streak. We'll see how it goes. Soon I will have to go down in the basement and dust off the old treadmill!
 |
| Travis, Tyler, and Eileen! |
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Taper Time
After months of training I can no longer put off the inevitable. The marathon is coming...Saturday! I've never run a marathon this late in the year. The weather looks to be pretty good, albeit cold. 27 degrees at the start...BRR!
But I am ready. I'm not going after the time that I had originally hoped for, but I was under the influence of pain meds when I set that goal back in April.
I can easily say that this is the sickest I've been ever in my life. I feel like I've battled the same little cold just about every month since June. That's what happens when you have 2 little ones and one is in daycare and the other doesn't sleep more than 4 hours at a time. Don has been good enough to put both kids to bed this week so I can get over this latest cold and be healthy and rested for Saturday. I am feeling much better and I only have an annoying cough remaining.
This is taper week, which of course means a lot less running and letting the body rest and recover from the months of hard training I've put in. I don't do the usual taper. I taper down my long runs, but not really my regular runs until the final week. This time around I started a week early mainly because I was sick last week. I did my usual 10 mile long run on Sunday and then my usual 8x500 meter repeats on Tuesday. Now it is 4 miles a day and rest, rest, rest!
I have a nasty habit of thinking beyond the race when it gets to be this time. I am already thinking about how I will recover next week and when I will start my new training program. I am kicking around the idea of trying out Crossfit for a while. I feel that not only have I lost the usual muscle you lose with age, but I also lost muscle and strength during my pregnancies. I feel I still have fast times in me, but I'm going to have to get stronger to get there again. I also want to work on speed, so no spring marathon for me!! But, I have to remind myself first things first, lets get through Saturday!
Recipe of the Week
Hash Brown Quiche
3 cups shredded hash brown potatoes
1/3 cup butter, melted
seasoning salt to taste
1 cup diced cooked ham
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Press hash browns onto the bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie dish. Drizzle with melted butter, and sprinkle with seasoning salt. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until beginning to brown.
In a small bowl, combine ham, onion and shredded cheese. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and a little seasoning salt. When crust is ready, spread ham mixture on the bottom, then cover with egg mixture.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until filling is puffed and golden brown.
Don loved this, but said he prefers the regular crust, so I will try it again, only with the regular pie crust and no onions, because I thought they were a bit overwhelming.
Pic of the Week
The Kids with Grandpa Parks, aka.. Santa
But I am ready. I'm not going after the time that I had originally hoped for, but I was under the influence of pain meds when I set that goal back in April.
I can easily say that this is the sickest I've been ever in my life. I feel like I've battled the same little cold just about every month since June. That's what happens when you have 2 little ones and one is in daycare and the other doesn't sleep more than 4 hours at a time. Don has been good enough to put both kids to bed this week so I can get over this latest cold and be healthy and rested for Saturday. I am feeling much better and I only have an annoying cough remaining.
This is taper week, which of course means a lot less running and letting the body rest and recover from the months of hard training I've put in. I don't do the usual taper. I taper down my long runs, but not really my regular runs until the final week. This time around I started a week early mainly because I was sick last week. I did my usual 10 mile long run on Sunday and then my usual 8x500 meter repeats on Tuesday. Now it is 4 miles a day and rest, rest, rest!
I have a nasty habit of thinking beyond the race when it gets to be this time. I am already thinking about how I will recover next week and when I will start my new training program. I am kicking around the idea of trying out Crossfit for a while. I feel that not only have I lost the usual muscle you lose with age, but I also lost muscle and strength during my pregnancies. I feel I still have fast times in me, but I'm going to have to get stronger to get there again. I also want to work on speed, so no spring marathon for me!! But, I have to remind myself first things first, lets get through Saturday!
Recipe of the Week
Hash Brown Quiche
3 cups shredded hash brown potatoes
1/3 cup butter, melted
seasoning salt to taste
1 cup diced cooked ham
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
salt and pepper to taste
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
Press hash browns onto the bottom and sides of a 9 inch pie dish. Drizzle with melted butter, and sprinkle with seasoning salt. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until beginning to brown.
In a small bowl, combine ham, onion and shredded cheese. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and a little seasoning salt. When crust is ready, spread ham mixture on the bottom, then cover with egg mixture.
Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C.) Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until filling is puffed and golden brown.
Don loved this, but said he prefers the regular crust, so I will try it again, only with the regular pie crust and no onions, because I thought they were a bit overwhelming.
Pic of the Week
The Kids with Grandpa Parks, aka.. Santa
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Gobble Gobble
Today while I was on my run I was thinking about the new Paleo Diet craze. I have a few friends who are VERY into it. It is really more of an obsession than a diet I think. I've put the book on my Christmas list so that I can learn more about how to eat like a cave man, but really, all these crazy anti-carb diets got me thinking. I should write my own diet book!
Yup, I would call it "The 1940's Diet: How to eat like your Grandmother did". My grandmother Helen is pushing 90 years young. She gave birth to seven children. Helen is a lean little lady, and the few moments I've been able to spend with her in the past 10 years I've learned this about her eating. Helen eats oats with milk everyday for breakfast, and not the pre-packaged sugary kid either. She also has a banana. For dinner she will have 2 servings of veggies along with her starch and protein. I don't really know what she has for lunch, but I think it's something in the way of a salad or sandwich. She doesn't eat any pre-packaged sugary snacks, and she stays away from soda and usually alcohol. I have seen her drink wine on occasion. Seems pretty simple really, make your food and eat it, and don't eat a bunch of processed food.
Heading into Thanksgiving, there are a few rules I have for the weekend. I must earn my turkey! Meaning, a walk or run some time in the morning. I have a fun 5k Turkey Trot planned. We will be in South Carolina, so I will probably take a lot of walks and soak in the last days of warmth and sunlight before we head back north into the winter!
I already ran a Turkey Trot in New Jersey this past weekend. It didn't go as well as I would hope. It seems I can't stay healthy for more than a few days. After a nice 5k time trial with the WVU Cross Country team on Tuesday evening (18:04) I was sick to my stomach on Wednesday with no idea why. The little bit of vomitting I did seemed to zap my energy, and after a long car ride I was in no mood to run fast. I did okay with my 29:50 for 5 miles which is the equivelant of an 18:00 5k, but I wanted more. Maybe this Thursday's Turkey Trot will go better. I have been pumping myself with vitamins and trying to get rest. We'll see!
Recipe of the Week
This week's recipe is my dad's Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich recipe.
You need some nice sturdy bread. Then you spread some cranberry sauce on the bread, top with turkey, then stuffing, then mashed potatoes, maybe even a little bit of mayo, or gravy. I prefer to warm everything before it goes on the sandwich so the cranberry stands out, but you could warm the whole sandwich also if you like.
Tell me what you think!!
Picture of the Week
Yup, I would call it "The 1940's Diet: How to eat like your Grandmother did". My grandmother Helen is pushing 90 years young. She gave birth to seven children. Helen is a lean little lady, and the few moments I've been able to spend with her in the past 10 years I've learned this about her eating. Helen eats oats with milk everyday for breakfast, and not the pre-packaged sugary kid either. She also has a banana. For dinner she will have 2 servings of veggies along with her starch and protein. I don't really know what she has for lunch, but I think it's something in the way of a salad or sandwich. She doesn't eat any pre-packaged sugary snacks, and she stays away from soda and usually alcohol. I have seen her drink wine on occasion. Seems pretty simple really, make your food and eat it, and don't eat a bunch of processed food.
Heading into Thanksgiving, there are a few rules I have for the weekend. I must earn my turkey! Meaning, a walk or run some time in the morning. I have a fun 5k Turkey Trot planned. We will be in South Carolina, so I will probably take a lot of walks and soak in the last days of warmth and sunlight before we head back north into the winter!
I already ran a Turkey Trot in New Jersey this past weekend. It didn't go as well as I would hope. It seems I can't stay healthy for more than a few days. After a nice 5k time trial with the WVU Cross Country team on Tuesday evening (18:04) I was sick to my stomach on Wednesday with no idea why. The little bit of vomitting I did seemed to zap my energy, and after a long car ride I was in no mood to run fast. I did okay with my 29:50 for 5 miles which is the equivelant of an 18:00 5k, but I wanted more. Maybe this Thursday's Turkey Trot will go better. I have been pumping myself with vitamins and trying to get rest. We'll see!
Recipe of the Week
This week's recipe is my dad's Thanksgiving leftovers sandwich recipe.
You need some nice sturdy bread. Then you spread some cranberry sauce on the bread, top with turkey, then stuffing, then mashed potatoes, maybe even a little bit of mayo, or gravy. I prefer to warm everything before it goes on the sandwich so the cranberry stands out, but you could warm the whole sandwich also if you like.
Tell me what you think!!
Picture of the Week
An aerial view of the Manasquan Turkey Trot. Taken by my sister Jane.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Dream a little dream
On Sunday I sat with Eileen and watched the NYC Marathon. It is a marathon that I have yet to conquer. NYC was supposed to be my first marathon back in 2001, right after 9/11 and the death of my father. I guess it wasn't meant to be since I got some kind of 24 hour bug the night before and I spent the whole evening throwing up. If it happened to me now I would definitely pack my bags and take off for home before the race even started, but back then I figured I needed to at least try. I tried for 4 miles, then I got on the subway and went to Brooklyn. I eventually got turned in the direction of Central park and made it there in about the same time it would've taken me to run it. Oh well!
As I sat there watching these incredible women run awesomely fast on a not so fast course, I couldn't help but think maybe one day that will be Eileen. Maybe she will be able to achieve what I couldn't. Or maybe she'll be a snow boarder, or a mountain biker. Maybe she'll be the President. Who knows! But it's both awesome and scarey to hang out with a 7 month old, or a 3 year old, and wonder what lies ahead for them. What will they turn out to be? Only time will tell!
Now that I am over my sickness (I gave in and went and got some anti-biotics on Friday) I've had a great week of training. I finished off my "down" week with a 16 mile run. Then on Tuesday I jumped in with the WVU girls for my first track workout in over a year and a half. 8x800's. Felt great!! My right achilles has been bothering me a bit, otherwise I'm sure I could've done 10. One day at a time.
Since I gave up on trying to run Philadelphia Marathon (it's next weekend) I am going to bump up my long runs again and go for 22 this Saturday. I've decided to run Rehobeth Marathon in Delaware in December. I feel much better about that decision. I have an extra three weeks of training.
Product Review
Lately I've been loving a couple of new Saucony Products, so I feel I should share the joy!!
The first is the Saucony AMP Pro2 Reco. These are recovery slippers that I like to wear after a long run or hard workout, or just when below my knees are hurting. They come in whole sizes, so I would recommend ordering up. I am a 7.5, and I ordered a 7, I should've ordered an 8.
My other favorite right now is the ProGrid Peregrine. I am fond of Trail shoes because I live on dirt roads and I like to run on trails, but these are extra nice because they are very light weight for a trail shoe. I have been doing most of my running in them, even my long runs, and I ran the Spruce Knob half marathon in them.
Recipe of the Week
I chose this one because I make an easy, one pot version, and I wanted to see if I could do better, which I did. Also, I had egg noodles and Mushroom soup that needed to be used!
I used Panko bread crumbs instead of the home made kind here, and also black pepper because I didn't have red pepper.
As I sat there watching these incredible women run awesomely fast on a not so fast course, I couldn't help but think maybe one day that will be Eileen. Maybe she will be able to achieve what I couldn't. Or maybe she'll be a snow boarder, or a mountain biker. Maybe she'll be the President. Who knows! But it's both awesome and scarey to hang out with a 7 month old, or a 3 year old, and wonder what lies ahead for them. What will they turn out to be? Only time will tell!
Now that I am over my sickness (I gave in and went and got some anti-biotics on Friday) I've had a great week of training. I finished off my "down" week with a 16 mile run. Then on Tuesday I jumped in with the WVU girls for my first track workout in over a year and a half. 8x800's. Felt great!! My right achilles has been bothering me a bit, otherwise I'm sure I could've done 10. One day at a time.
Since I gave up on trying to run Philadelphia Marathon (it's next weekend) I am going to bump up my long runs again and go for 22 this Saturday. I've decided to run Rehobeth Marathon in Delaware in December. I feel much better about that decision. I have an extra three weeks of training.
Product Review
Lately I've been loving a couple of new Saucony Products, so I feel I should share the joy!!
The first is the Saucony AMP Pro2 Reco. These are recovery slippers that I like to wear after a long run or hard workout, or just when below my knees are hurting. They come in whole sizes, so I would recommend ordering up. I am a 7.5, and I ordered a 7, I should've ordered an 8.
My other favorite right now is the ProGrid Peregrine. I am fond of Trail shoes because I live on dirt roads and I like to run on trails, but these are extra nice because they are very light weight for a trail shoe. I have been doing most of my running in them, even my long runs, and I ran the Spruce Knob half marathon in them.
Recipe of the Week
I chose this one because I make an easy, one pot version, and I wanted to see if I could do better, which I did. Also, I had egg noodles and Mushroom soup that needed to be used!
I used Panko bread crumbs instead of the home made kind here, and also black pepper because I didn't have red pepper.
TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE
8 oz yolk-free, whole wheat wide egg noddles
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 (10 oz can) condensed, reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/8 tsp. ground red pepper
12 oz white tuna, packed in water, drained, broken into chunks
1-1/2 cups frozen baby peas
1 slice whole wheat bread
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 cup low-fat milk
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 (10 oz can) condensed, reduced-fat cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/8 tsp. ground red pepper
12 oz white tuna, packed in water, drained, broken into chunks
1-1/2 cups frozen baby peas
1 slice whole wheat bread
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 cup low-fat milk
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Spray a 2-1/2 quart casserole dish with cooking spray.
Cook noodles in large saucepan as directed. Coat a large skillet with cooking spray. Add onion, cook 4-5 minutes. Stir in soup, sour cream, milk and red pepper until well blended. Remove from heat.
Drain noodles; return noodles to pan. Add soup mix, tuna and peas. Toss well. Transfer mix to casserole dish.
Prepare fresh breadcrumbs: Tear bread into pieces, place in bowl of food processor. Process until finely minced. Sprinkle evenly over casserole. Top with paprika. Spray top of casserole with cooking spray.
Bake 30-35 minutes or until heated through.
Pic of the Week
Travis and Rocky on our dirt road!!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
It's November
This wacky weather has given me yet another cold. It's my third in six months. The last two I went and got anti-biotics, so I pretty much refuse this time! I will try to weather the storm. If I am no better by Monday I might bite the bullet and go to the doctor.
Funny enough, this latest sickness came only hours after my best long run in 2 years. Ron (my long run partner) and I ran 20 miles at 7:30 pace, progressing the last 8 miles and finishing at 6:48 pace for the final mile. When I got home I started to get the chills and sorted other funkiness. I really hate being sick. I especially hate it three weeks before a marathon.
I was already on the fence about actually running Philadelphia Marathon. I was feeling like I needed a little more time. A few more weeks to get in some runs longer than 20 miles, and also some good workouts. So when I got sick I decided to throw in the towel. I will basically be missing another week of training just when my toe was getting better.
I've decided to run Rehobeth Beach Marathon in Delaware with my training partner. that will give me 3 more weeks of training. The weather has been beautiful, but I am now armed with a nice weather cover for the jogger. I hope I won't have to use it too often before Christmas.
I'm hoping this funk will be gone by the end of the weekend. I have been drinking more tea than the queen! At least I am staying hydrated. If Eileen would sleep for more than 4 hours in a stretch it would help me greatly, but she doesn't seem to be in any rush to do that!
The big hub-bub around here lately was of course the snow storm. I was all set to get up on Saturday morning and drive up to Oakland to try and win a pumpkin role at the 10k. I woke to snow covered roads and called my friend Jen who lives up that way. Oakland gets more snow than Bruceton, and Bruceton gets more snow than Morgantown. So it was raining in Morgantown, snowing in Bruceton with a couple inches of accumulation, and snowing even more in Oakland with about 7 inches of accumulation. Jen told me I should stay home and she braved the snow covered roads to get to Broadford park which is usually 20 minutes away but took her 50 minutes. Then they decided not to run the 10k and only run the 5k. So, I am glad I stayed home!
Recipe of the Week (or two)
Last week I hosted a Pampered Chef Party, We had great fun. It prompted me to look on their website for some recipes. This is what I found:
Easy Chicken Fajitas
Funny enough, this latest sickness came only hours after my best long run in 2 years. Ron (my long run partner) and I ran 20 miles at 7:30 pace, progressing the last 8 miles and finishing at 6:48 pace for the final mile. When I got home I started to get the chills and sorted other funkiness. I really hate being sick. I especially hate it three weeks before a marathon.
I was already on the fence about actually running Philadelphia Marathon. I was feeling like I needed a little more time. A few more weeks to get in some runs longer than 20 miles, and also some good workouts. So when I got sick I decided to throw in the towel. I will basically be missing another week of training just when my toe was getting better.
I've decided to run Rehobeth Beach Marathon in Delaware with my training partner. that will give me 3 more weeks of training. The weather has been beautiful, but I am now armed with a nice weather cover for the jogger. I hope I won't have to use it too often before Christmas.
I'm hoping this funk will be gone by the end of the weekend. I have been drinking more tea than the queen! At least I am staying hydrated. If Eileen would sleep for more than 4 hours in a stretch it would help me greatly, but she doesn't seem to be in any rush to do that!
The big hub-bub around here lately was of course the snow storm. I was all set to get up on Saturday morning and drive up to Oakland to try and win a pumpkin role at the 10k. I woke to snow covered roads and called my friend Jen who lives up that way. Oakland gets more snow than Bruceton, and Bruceton gets more snow than Morgantown. So it was raining in Morgantown, snowing in Bruceton with a couple inches of accumulation, and snowing even more in Oakland with about 7 inches of accumulation. Jen told me I should stay home and she braved the snow covered roads to get to Broadford park which is usually 20 minutes away but took her 50 minutes. Then they decided not to run the 10k and only run the 5k. So, I am glad I stayed home!
Recipe of the Week (or two)
Last week I hosted a Pampered Chef Party, We had great fun. It prompted me to look on their website for some recipes. This is what I found:
Easy Chicken Fajitas
| 1 | medium red bell pepper |
| 1 | medium green bell pepper |
| 1 | large onion |
| 1 | plum tomato |
| 1 | pound boneless, skinless chicken breast halves |
| 1 | package (1-1.25 ounces) fajita seasoning mix |
| 2 | garlic cloves, pressed |
| 1 | small lime, cut in half |
| 8 | (7-8-inch) flour tortillas, warmed |
| Optional toppings: salsa, shredded cheese, guacamole, sliced pitted ripe olives and sour cream | |
- Cut bell peppers into 1/2-inch strips. Cut onion and tomato into 1/4-inch wedges. Set vegetables aside. Cut chicken into 1/4-inch strips. Combine chicken and seasoning mix in small bowl; toss to coat and set aside.
- Heat Grill Pan over medium-high heat. Lightly spray pan with vegetable oil using Kitchen Spritzer. Add bell peppers and onion; cook 3 minutes without stirring. Stir and cook an additional 3 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Remove vegetables from pan; set aside.
- Spray pan again with vegetable oil. Add chicken; cook 2-3 minutes without stirring. Add garlic. Stir and cook 3-4 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. Add reserved vegetable mixture and tomato to pan. Squeeze lime over chicken mixture. Cook 1 minute or until heated through; stir.
- To serve, spoon a portion of the chicken and vegetable mixture in center of each tortilla. Top with desired toppings, if desired.
You of course don't have to use their grill pan.
Picture of the week
Dragon Takes flight!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Glorious Autumn!
Today was the first day I ran in long tights and a jacket. The weather is absolutely wicked out there. Blustery and cold! I ordered a rain shield for the baby jogger, but it has yet to get here, so I had to wait until Don got home from work today so I could go for a run. I suppose I could've run on the treadmill, but I'm just not in that state of mind yet.
Yesterday I did my first tempo run by myself. I ran on our usual tempo loop that I've been running for years. I used my GPS to try and keep myself at a decent pace, but the stupid watch is always a bit off, so here I thought I was running about 6:30 pace and I was really running about a 6:15 pace. Not that I'm complaining, but I do feel like I would've been more likely to go 10 miles instead of 8 if I hadn't been pushing the pace a bit. I had to get back to the kids anyway so I didn't have the extra time. It's a nice step in the right direction with Philadelphia Marathon 4 weeks away!!
On Saturday I went up to Oakland, Maryland and ran the Autumn Glory 5k with some friends. In my old age I start out a lot slower than I used to, but I make up ground quickly. By the time I hit a mile I was leading the entire race. This is both a blessing and a curse for a woman! I'm used to having guys around me to pace off of and to block the wind. So when I hit the turn around point of the race it was like running into a wall! The wind was rediculous. A race that should be a fast course turned out to be a not so fast 19:20 for the win.
Sunday was my first 20 mile run in more than a year and a half. It felt great! Most of my runs have become progression runs simply because I am usually pushing the kids or I have to shake the rust off of the old legs, and Sunday was no different. Our last two miles were the fastest, so I was ecstatic! My toe is still bothering me some, but it really only hurts after runs, when it will throb for a while. I'm fairly sure that the toe nail will fall off, I'm just hoping it happens before Philly and not during.
Recipe of the Week
Pulled Pork Burritos
Put some pork loin in the slow cooker and cover with Root Beer. Let it cook on low for 6-7 hours. Pull and cover with Bar-b-que sauce. This is the pulled pork recipe I had, and while I was on my run I thought wouldn't it be great with some red beans and rice in a burrito. But I got home and I only had jumbalaya rice. So I used that instead. We loved it!! Simple, without the burrito shell it is gluten free too!
Picture of the Week
Eileen and her pumpkin (Cousin JD's hand-me-downs)
Yesterday I did my first tempo run by myself. I ran on our usual tempo loop that I've been running for years. I used my GPS to try and keep myself at a decent pace, but the stupid watch is always a bit off, so here I thought I was running about 6:30 pace and I was really running about a 6:15 pace. Not that I'm complaining, but I do feel like I would've been more likely to go 10 miles instead of 8 if I hadn't been pushing the pace a bit. I had to get back to the kids anyway so I didn't have the extra time. It's a nice step in the right direction with Philadelphia Marathon 4 weeks away!!
On Saturday I went up to Oakland, Maryland and ran the Autumn Glory 5k with some friends. In my old age I start out a lot slower than I used to, but I make up ground quickly. By the time I hit a mile I was leading the entire race. This is both a blessing and a curse for a woman! I'm used to having guys around me to pace off of and to block the wind. So when I hit the turn around point of the race it was like running into a wall! The wind was rediculous. A race that should be a fast course turned out to be a not so fast 19:20 for the win.
Sunday was my first 20 mile run in more than a year and a half. It felt great! Most of my runs have become progression runs simply because I am usually pushing the kids or I have to shake the rust off of the old legs, and Sunday was no different. Our last two miles were the fastest, so I was ecstatic! My toe is still bothering me some, but it really only hurts after runs, when it will throb for a while. I'm fairly sure that the toe nail will fall off, I'm just hoping it happens before Philly and not during.
Recipe of the Week
Pulled Pork Burritos
Put some pork loin in the slow cooker and cover with Root Beer. Let it cook on low for 6-7 hours. Pull and cover with Bar-b-que sauce. This is the pulled pork recipe I had, and while I was on my run I thought wouldn't it be great with some red beans and rice in a burrito. But I got home and I only had jumbalaya rice. So I used that instead. We loved it!! Simple, without the burrito shell it is gluten free too!
Picture of the Week
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Just call me mountain goat!
This past week Don was away on business, so I was a single mom. Again I utilized the baby jogger, and also some good friends, so I could get in my runs. I had one big test this week, I took the kids camping up at the Mountain Institute in Spruce Knob, West Virginia. I packed up the car and headed into the mountains all by myself, including setting up the tent for the first time in my life.
Now, you may be sitting there saying, SO What! But for this Jersey Girl, it's kind of a big deal. I wasn't in girl scouts, my family didn't go camping, and I was only allowed to go to 4H camp one year. So until the age of 25 I had very little outdoorsy experience. I do love it now though!
The trip to the mountains was also to run the half marathon portion of the WV Trilogy. Some crazy ultra runners, who will remain nameless, thought up this weekend of torture. On Friday there is a 50k, Saturday a 50 miler, then Sunday the half. They also have a 5k that Don and I ran last year when I was pregnant.
finish line of the trilogy
Once you get outside of Elkins, you have no cell service. I was driving dirt mountain roads with two young kids and no cell service. I was a little nervous. But, I had enough food and water for two days and I wasn't completely isolated, there were some homes along the way, and it was a beautiful fall weekend, so there were lots of people around checking out the leaves.
Thanks to Lara Lehman I was able to run the half without worry. We started at 9 am and I left the kids in her capable hands at the finish line. After our first little 2 mile loop around the Mountain Institute's property, we headed down a huge downhill to a creek which we had to cross not once, but twice. I managed to stay relatively dry, although my friend Pete did splash me as I came through the creek the second time. After heading down the creek for a bit, we started back into the trails for what seemed like forever uphill. This is where I stumbled a bit and may have broken my toe. I'm no doctor, but it hurts! I was about 5 miles in, so I just kept on running! Up and Up and Up we went until I'm pretty sure we were at the top of Spruce Knob (the highest point in WV). We finally got to turn around. We were on a road section of the course at this point, but I couldn't take full advantage of it because of my painful toe. We headed back the way we came, then headed down a different trail. This took us to an open field, at which point I lost the trail. I stood there for about a minute trying to figure where we were supposed to go when two guys came from behind me and we finally found the marker down the field. I was being blinded by the sun and couldn't see it before. We then headed back onto a trail which went through some fields at which point we had to jump some farm fences. I had heard talk about a fence the night before and I thought "surely they are joking", but no, they were not, and there was not just one, but four. I think. I lost count! While going over one of the fences I thought to myself "I can't believe I am 36 years old and I am jumping friggin fences!" Then I thought "Good for me!!"After all that we came out along the creek again. Almost home at this point, but not before we had to climb back up the huge hill we went down in the 3rd mile. I was happy to be at the finish line. But I must say, it was a fun race and a beautiful weekend for the second year in a row.
Eileen is a happy camper!
When I did get back to the finish (in first place), Eileen was playing on her blanket with her blocks and Travis was playing in the woods with some other kids. Neither seemed to be effected by my absence. After I showered and packed up our tent, they had a pig roast and awards. We were then on our way back home, another adventure into the wilderness, with my broken toe on the pedal!
Recipe of the Week
Pumpkin Turkey Chili
I tbsp Vegetable oil, 1 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup green bell peppers, 1/2 cup yellow peppers, 1 clove garlic minced, 1 lb. ground turkey (I used two), 1 can diced tomatoes (I used two), 2 cups pumpkin puree, 1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, 1 dash salt, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream. Cook up the oil, onions, peppers and garlic in a skillet. Add the ground turkey to brown. Throw it all in the crock pot with the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low for 4-5 hours and then add the cheese and sour cream.
I added Corn because I didn't have yellow peppers and I like corn in my chili. I also added a can of kidney beans. Right now this is cooking in my crock pot.
Picture of the Week
Leaving the Mountain Institute
Now, you may be sitting there saying, SO What! But for this Jersey Girl, it's kind of a big deal. I wasn't in girl scouts, my family didn't go camping, and I was only allowed to go to 4H camp one year. So until the age of 25 I had very little outdoorsy experience. I do love it now though!
The trip to the mountains was also to run the half marathon portion of the WV Trilogy. Some crazy ultra runners, who will remain nameless, thought up this weekend of torture. On Friday there is a 50k, Saturday a 50 miler, then Sunday the half. They also have a 5k that Don and I ran last year when I was pregnant.
Once you get outside of Elkins, you have no cell service. I was driving dirt mountain roads with two young kids and no cell service. I was a little nervous. But, I had enough food and water for two days and I wasn't completely isolated, there were some homes along the way, and it was a beautiful fall weekend, so there were lots of people around checking out the leaves.
Thanks to Lara Lehman I was able to run the half without worry. We started at 9 am and I left the kids in her capable hands at the finish line. After our first little 2 mile loop around the Mountain Institute's property, we headed down a huge downhill to a creek which we had to cross not once, but twice. I managed to stay relatively dry, although my friend Pete did splash me as I came through the creek the second time. After heading down the creek for a bit, we started back into the trails for what seemed like forever uphill. This is where I stumbled a bit and may have broken my toe. I'm no doctor, but it hurts! I was about 5 miles in, so I just kept on running! Up and Up and Up we went until I'm pretty sure we were at the top of Spruce Knob (the highest point in WV). We finally got to turn around. We were on a road section of the course at this point, but I couldn't take full advantage of it because of my painful toe. We headed back the way we came, then headed down a different trail. This took us to an open field, at which point I lost the trail. I stood there for about a minute trying to figure where we were supposed to go when two guys came from behind me and we finally found the marker down the field. I was being blinded by the sun and couldn't see it before. We then headed back onto a trail which went through some fields at which point we had to jump some farm fences. I had heard talk about a fence the night before and I thought "surely they are joking", but no, they were not, and there was not just one, but four. I think. I lost count! While going over one of the fences I thought to myself "I can't believe I am 36 years old and I am jumping friggin fences!" Then I thought "Good for me!!"After all that we came out along the creek again. Almost home at this point, but not before we had to climb back up the huge hill we went down in the 3rd mile. I was happy to be at the finish line. But I must say, it was a fun race and a beautiful weekend for the second year in a row.
When I did get back to the finish (in first place), Eileen was playing on her blanket with her blocks and Travis was playing in the woods with some other kids. Neither seemed to be effected by my absence. After I showered and packed up our tent, they had a pig roast and awards. We were then on our way back home, another adventure into the wilderness, with my broken toe on the pedal!
Recipe of the Week
Pumpkin Turkey Chili
I tbsp Vegetable oil, 1 cup chopped onion, 1/2 cup green bell peppers, 1/2 cup yellow peppers, 1 clove garlic minced, 1 lb. ground turkey (I used two), 1 can diced tomatoes (I used two), 2 cups pumpkin puree, 1 1/2 Tbsp chili powder, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, 1 dash salt, 1/2 cup shredded cheese, 1/2 cup sour cream. Cook up the oil, onions, peppers and garlic in a skillet. Add the ground turkey to brown. Throw it all in the crock pot with the rest of the ingredients. Cook on low for 4-5 hours and then add the cheese and sour cream.
I added Corn because I didn't have yellow peppers and I like corn in my chili. I also added a can of kidney beans. Right now this is cooking in my crock pot.
Picture of the Week
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Baby Joggin!
Lately I've been doing a lot of my running while pushing the kids in the Baby Jogger. I am fortunate enough to have a couple of hand-me-down baby joggers. The one that I am currently using is probably 10 years old and comes from my sister. So far it's working just fine and both the kids seem to enjoy trucking along in it, as long as it's a nice day.
Along with my awesome baby jogger, I am fortunate enough to have easy access to rail trails. This is nice because it is the only flat place in West Virginia to push 2 kids for 8 miles. My favorite new spot is the Cheat Lake Rail Trail which also has a nice park for Travis to play after we are done running. I do often take the kids up to Big Bear and push them there, but it is hillier and I don't like to do that more than a couple of times a week.
It would be very hard for me to push the kids from here at home since we only have about 1200 meters of paved road, and it would be difficult to get out of the way of any on coming cars.
I also have a treadmill in the basement, but I save this for winter. I really like to wait until the last possible moment to have to get on the "dreadmill" and run. I think a big part of what I love about running is being outside, so getting on the treadmill just is not appealing to me at all!
Race Recap!
Since my last post I have run 3 races. Two of those races were in one day. I really don't know what I was thinking!? I had planned on running the Scottdale Fall Festival 10k all along, hoping to win and get some cash. But then there was also the September Stride 5k in Morgantown that I always run and also had money. The 5k was at 9 am and the 10k was at 2:30pm, so I talked myself into doing both.
In the 5k I placed 3rd. There is always stiff competition there! I knew I wasn't going to have a great race because Eileen didn't let me sleep much the night before, so I felt tired from the get go. But then I took a nap in the car on the way up to Scottdale and I felt much better for the 10k, which I won. Although I don't recommend doing 2 races in one day, I feel I am better off having done it, simply because I am partly trying to race myself into shape, so running two hard efforts in one day is good marathon training.
Yesterday I ran the Great Allegany Run 15k. This race in Cumberland, Maryland is slightly downhill for 10k and then a flat 5k on the end. I've run this many times before and knew what I was in for, I also knew my competition. After 2 miles I struck out on my own and tried to run a hard, even pace and finish strong. I wound up running 6:19 pace and getting the win. I was hoping for a bit faster, but I ran by myself for a while.
I now have 7 weeks until the Philadelphia Marathon, and who knows what will happen there!
Recipes of the week
Today was the 3rd in a series of blustery, cold, rainy days here. October has brought an early threat of snow to our little mountain. So I was thinking, after Don's request, that a chicken pot pie would be a good Sunday dinner. I got some mixed stew veggies and some chicken, low fat cream of chicken soup, some all spice, and mixed it all up in a casserole dish. Then I whipped up some low fat biscuit mix and poured it on top. Pop it in the oven at 400 degrees. The recipe says 30 minutes, but this wasn't long enough to cook the chicken and veggies, so it wound up in the oven for an hour. It was delish!!
I also made a homemade apple pie with apples from our own apple tree! I used a frozen pie crust for the bottom and then made a pie crust from scratch for the top. Remembering our old neighbor Bea, I made a "healthy" crust using canola oil! It too was delish and probably the best pie that I've made. I've had better, but hey, this pie cost me about $2!
Pic of the Week!
Travis at the Buckwheat Festival
It would be very hard for me to push the kids from here at home since we only have about 1200 meters of paved road, and it would be difficult to get out of the way of any on coming cars.
I also have a treadmill in the basement, but I save this for winter. I really like to wait until the last possible moment to have to get on the "dreadmill" and run. I think a big part of what I love about running is being outside, so getting on the treadmill just is not appealing to me at all!
Race Recap!
Since my last post I have run 3 races. Two of those races were in one day. I really don't know what I was thinking!? I had planned on running the Scottdale Fall Festival 10k all along, hoping to win and get some cash. But then there was also the September Stride 5k in Morgantown that I always run and also had money. The 5k was at 9 am and the 10k was at 2:30pm, so I talked myself into doing both.
In the 5k I placed 3rd. There is always stiff competition there! I knew I wasn't going to have a great race because Eileen didn't let me sleep much the night before, so I felt tired from the get go. But then I took a nap in the car on the way up to Scottdale and I felt much better for the 10k, which I won. Although I don't recommend doing 2 races in one day, I feel I am better off having done it, simply because I am partly trying to race myself into shape, so running two hard efforts in one day is good marathon training.
Yesterday I ran the Great Allegany Run 15k. This race in Cumberland, Maryland is slightly downhill for 10k and then a flat 5k on the end. I've run this many times before and knew what I was in for, I also knew my competition. After 2 miles I struck out on my own and tried to run a hard, even pace and finish strong. I wound up running 6:19 pace and getting the win. I was hoping for a bit faster, but I ran by myself for a while.
I now have 7 weeks until the Philadelphia Marathon, and who knows what will happen there!
Recipes of the week
Today was the 3rd in a series of blustery, cold, rainy days here. October has brought an early threat of snow to our little mountain. So I was thinking, after Don's request, that a chicken pot pie would be a good Sunday dinner. I got some mixed stew veggies and some chicken, low fat cream of chicken soup, some all spice, and mixed it all up in a casserole dish. Then I whipped up some low fat biscuit mix and poured it on top. Pop it in the oven at 400 degrees. The recipe says 30 minutes, but this wasn't long enough to cook the chicken and veggies, so it wound up in the oven for an hour. It was delish!!
I also made a homemade apple pie with apples from our own apple tree! I used a frozen pie crust for the bottom and then made a pie crust from scratch for the top. Remembering our old neighbor Bea, I made a "healthy" crust using canola oil! It too was delish and probably the best pie that I've made. I've had better, but hey, this pie cost me about $2!
Pic of the Week!
Travis at the Buckwheat Festival
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