1,2,3,4 Running Mantra

First, I can't believe it's June!  What happened to May? 

We hit the road for a few trips last month and returned last night from our latest adventure.  But trip information will come later.  Now, I'd like to share my half marathon story.  :-) 

The hubs and brother pressured me into registering.  In other words, signed me up.  They are my "trainers."

Two weeks before the big day, I ran 13.5 miles.  It was hard.  I was cursing my husband (since he did the actual registering).  My longest run prior to this was 8 miles.  Those 8 miles were not planned, they just kind of happened.  And they happened years ago!  I survived.  I knew I could complete the half.  I wasn't going to set any records or win any prizes, but I knew I could finish. 

I kept my usual running and in-home workout routine going up until the day before.  Normally when nerves hit, I go for a run.  I work out.  I had all this energy and desire, but listened to my "trainers" and took the day off.  It was a LONG Saturday. 

Sunday morning.  Race day.  T was full of energy, excitement, and coffee.  He was pumped.  We loaded up the car and headed out arriving with plenty of time to spare before the 7:00 am start.  The weather was perfect.  Chilly if you weren't running.  I was ready to get it over with!  The majority of the run was on bridle trails and the rest on a paved greenway.  There were climbs.  It was out and back.  At first, I hated the mile markers.  Tiny reminders of my snail pace.  Especially when I've barely passed mile 4 and runners are approaching in the opposite direction.  Then, I learned the turn around was not half way!  I stopped at the porta potty at the turn around, but caught up with those I was keeping pace with.  By mile 9, I was done.  Not cooked.  Not tired.  Done.  I wanted it to be over.  I picked up the pace.  Started counting steps and watching my form (which I should have done from the beginning).

I thought of Lil'T.  I thought of T.  I thought of my brother.  I wondered it Lil'T was eating for Daddy.  Was he playing?  Was he crying?  His new thing is crying whenever I leave the room.  Eek!

Anyway.  I finished.  2:01.  Yay!  Should have skipped that potty break! ;-)

Post Race - Still Smiling

All I wanted to do was change my clothes.  Lil'T was ready to eat and nap, so we didn't stick around.  There were lines for post race goodies.  Luckily, I brought my own.  On the way home, we stopped in for bagels.  I also had chocolate milk and coffee. 

Lil'T decided against napping that day.  Refused.  We tried walking him in the stroller.  Yes.  I kept moving.  I felt fine.  I even felt good the day after. 

I'd like to add more distance to my regular running schedule.  Since the race, I haven't ran more than 4.25 miles.  Sad.  Traveling will do that to you, I suppose. 

Do you have a running mantra?  What do you think about?

Road trip lessons

-pee pee in the car seat less than an hour from the house

-Christmas CDs. Since lil'T arrived 17 months ago, I have added two children's CDs to the changer. The other four disks are the same.

-4 books is not enough


I need new music and car seat liners. Children's books are really short.

Book worm

Salad Challenge!

Instead of completely squandering away today's nap time perusing WIAW posts, I thought I would post my own.  I'm not ready to link up to the blog party just yet.  Maybe one day when our schedules are not so erratic, I develop a knack for this stuff, and the stars magically align.  Or, when I stop chickening out.  :-)

A week of soups was a breeze.  A week of salads, yes please.  Thank you delicious, giant garden salad I had for lunch for reminding me. 

Here's what we ate:

Warm Confetti Rice Salad with Tofu (usually its corn and black beans - this is carrots and pinto)

Spinach Cherry Quinoa Salad

Egg Salad with Turkey Bacon (well done...eek!) and Roasted Broccoli

Pizza Pasta Salad

Not pictured:  Garden Salad.

We kicked it old school with the egg salad and turkey bacon.  Took it back to the bagel shop days.  The menu featured an egg salad sandwich with bacon and lettuce called the Cuckoo's Nest.  Oh man, I hope we have a sandwich week soon!

Soup Challenge!

A week of soups.  We could not ask for better timing, since a  few days of winter weather settled in.  

Why stop at just 5 days?  Yes, we enjoyed 6 days of soups and/or chillies.  Seven, if you count the leftovers.

Here's what we ate:

White Bean and Hominy Chicken Chili

Cream of Veggie (Bob's Red Mill soup mix)

Sausage, Spinach & Bean Soup with...

Garlic spirals!

Chipotle Sweet Potato Soup with Roasted Okra

Red Bean Chicken Curry (also Bob's Red Mill - pic of the leftovers)

Two Bean and Beef Chili

The soup challenge was far easier than the tortilla challenge.  And far more satisfying.  Next up, Salads!

My Little Helper

This chair needs some fixin'

Now, I think it looks better over here.

Tortilla Challenge!

Challenge?  Sure, I’ll give it a shot!

Previously, T challenged me with single ingredients for single meals like radishes or sardines.  This past week, he challenged me to a week (5 days) of quesadillas.  I argued for ‘tortillas’ instead of ‘quesadillas,’ knowing I would tire of cheese.   

Here’s what we ate for the Tortilla Challenge:

Pizza Dipper - Broccoli, Tomato, & Cheese

Classic? - Black beans, Egg, Tomato, Avocado, and Cheese

Buffalo Chicken!  (T had Blue Cheese)

Um...Sweet Baby Ray's Buffalo Sauce was HOT!

Ham Wrap with Butternut Squash Soup (I skipped the Cheese)

Asian - Tofu, Sauteed Broccoli Slaw & Avocado

I switched to whole wheat tortillas at day two.  By Friday, neither of us wanted to see another tortilla.  Overall, I would rate this challenge a 3.  Next time, I try to find a variety of cheeses and tortillas. 

 

Do you have any food challenge suggestions?  Ingredients or otherwise?  I could not convince T to challenge me to a week of pizza or ‘burgers.’  What gives?  Next up…SOUPS (& Chili)! 

Lil'T joined us in the tortilla challenge, but tortillas are a little difficult for him to eat.  He mainly ate the fillings.  Poor Lil' guy has been sick.  We overcame one cold, and then another one set in.  He had no idea this was on his face:

Snot = Glue (yes I threw the snotty Cheerio away)

I'm a walker now!