Goodbye February

February Stats:
Total Miles Ran:  188
Number of those miles that involved me holding a dog and a leash:  42
Number of those miles on trails:  10 (yikes!)
Songs with the most airtime on my mp3 player:  FloRida - Wild Ones and Lloyd - Dedication to My Ex. 
Number of Push-Ups:  410.  Thanks to Christine's 100x challenge.
Number of P90x or Jillian Michaels Workouts:  7


February is typically a miserable month.  It's usually bitterly cold and dreary which just leaves me in a bitter and cold mood.  This year, February was pretty sweet.  There were quite a few times where I ran outside in shorts and t-shirt instead of bundled up from head to toe.  I certainly didn't get in as much trail time as I had hoped but with two 20 milers in February, I'm still calling it a success.  

Other than the fact that my head was cut off, this was a pretty good picture!!

The 100x challenge motivated me to do some push-ups.  I was a weakling and could only do 10 push ups at time at the beginning of the month.  I'm happy to say I can now do 25 at a time and feel stronger so thanks for the challenge!

Freezer cooking is still going strong around here and I'm not sure I'll ever get tired of just pulling something out of the freezer each weeknight.  In case you are in the mood for some breakfast pizza, I posted a easy recipe for Southwest Breakfast Pizza at Once a Month Mom today.  

Second Chances

Going into this weekend, I had a mild freakout about the next 50K which is now less than a month away.  Mileage-wise, I feel OK.  Trail-experience wise, I'm still freaked out and know I need to get in more trail time.  I also have a new pair of trail shoes I want to try out.  They were a Valentines Day gift from my husband.  I could care less about flowers, chocolate or jewelry but a surprise gift of new running shoes is pretty sweet!

I wanted to try to get in some trail time on Saturday.  I couldn't find anyone to go with me.  Add in wind advisories and not being too keen on trail running alone, I chickened out and stayed close to home on my normal back roads.  I tried to make the best of it and decided to give a few things second chances this weekend.

Saturday morning, I went out for 10 miles.  The wind was awful but the running was wonderful.  It was one of those days where everything felt effortless.  Each song that came on the mp3 player was better than the last.  The wind reminded me of my first half marathon 2 years ago and reminded me of how far I've come.

The pace was good and if I wouldn't have had to stop for the 2 different sets of loose dogs that came after me (they were harmless but pretty sure anyone remotely afraid of dogs would have been freaked out by these guys and the way they charged), it would have been even better.  I was afraid all of them were going to get hit by a car.  The first group crossed a road that cars fly on and the second group were little tiny dogs.  Luckily, they seemed to all return home (not that any owners were even around that I could see) in one piece after they were determined I was harmless and not interesting.    

I decided to take a handheld water bottle with me.  I tried it quite some time ago - once.  I hated that thing so much that I considered just chucking it off the side of the road.  I didn't but the hand held has never left the cupboard since that one run so long ago.  This time, it was much better and think I may actual be able to use it again.  Good to know.

On Sunday, I headed out for 20 miles.  I spent the first two miles trying to determine where I wanted to run for the day.  I decided to try a new loop.  I didn't know how far it would be but was hoping it would be around 14 miles. It turned out to be a great loop with some great views but was only around 9 miles.  My outrageous fluorescent outfit scared a large group of cows on a farm I passed.  Normally, when I run past a farm with cows, they just stare intently.  Two different groups at this farm just started running away from me while looking back and watching as I passed.

On this run, I decided to give gels a second chance.  I'm pretty sure I don't need to give gels a third chance. They just don't work for me.  At least this brand (Hammer) didn't make me sick (like GU does) but I'll just stick with what's been working.  I wish I could say the 2nd half of this 20 miler was all rainbows and unicorns like the first half or Saturday's run, but it wasn't.  My legs felt OK but my mind was totally out of it and I was quite dazed and confused.  I'm actually quite surprised I found my way home.  Luckily, the foggy state went away after sitting down and eating.  Either way, another 20 miler complete and I now only have 3 more weekends between me and the next 50K...one of which has a half marathon - first race of the year!  

Soup's On

This past weekend, the local road runners club held a running seminar.  A friend, who is becoming a health coach, asked me to make one of the recipes for the healthy food sampling room and help with serving.  I was happy to oblige.  When she asked me to make this lentil soup, I said sure but never made it advance of the seminar.  The ingredients just sounded boring and bland.  I was quite surprised when I made it.  It's actually really good and has tons of flavor - plus it's super easy to throw together in the crock pot. 

While at the seminar, I learned something very important about myself.  When I graduated college 10 years ago, I must have turned off the switch that allows me to sit in a room and listen to people speak.  I was antsy during the presentations and could barely sit through them so I found myself in the food room eating the samples for much of the day.

Lentil Soup

adapted from CrockPot Lentil Soup

2 cups dried lentils, rinsed

8 cups water

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped carrots

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

2 cloves garlic, minced

2-1/2 tsp. sea salt

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/2 tsp. dried oregano

1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained

2 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

Place lentils in slow cooker and cover with water.  Add onion, celery, carrots, parsley, garlic, salt, pepper and oregano.  Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.  Add tomatoes and red wine vinegar.  Heat through for 15 minutes and serve.

If Lentil Soup isn't your thing - check out the Minestrone Soup I featured today over at Once a Month Mom.

Accountability

I'm setting my own next personal challenge - to clean up my diet.  My goal is to eat much better, through at least March 24th (HAT Run) and hopefully keep it that way beyond that (since I expect I'll feel a lot better and want to keep it up).  I eat fairly healthy throughout the week but it all goes to hell on the weekends.  I do not plan meals on the weekend which usually means getting something from a restaurant for every meal and at whatever random time we decide we are hungry.  It usually also involves lots of chocolate and sugar.

I run a lot more on the weekends as well.  This typically means I super hungry and just eat whatever I feel like whenever I feel like it.  Last weekend, this meant that after eating dinner out, my husband and I bought a pie and a loaf of bread from the bakery in the restaurant.  I ate the entire loaf of bread in a day (most in the form of cinnamon sugar toast with lots of butter)...oops!  I may or may not have made two batches of cake balls in the past two weeks as well.  Those are all gone as too.  

My breaking point was after the Mexican food this weekend.  Sunday afternoon, I woke up from a lazy Sunday afternoon nap and decided I was in the mood for Mexican food.  Yum!  After a bunch of Mexican food and cake (that I bought the previous day), I felt awful and was pretty sure I wouldn't make that mistake for awhile again.

Then, Monday came.  I had the day off work and things were going along wonderfully.  I was knocking out lots of chores and errands.  Then, it started going downhill with a trip to Jo-Ann fabrics.  I have no idea why everyone who lives in this town was buying fabric on President's day but it appears they were.  After waiting in the fabric cutting line for 20 minutes, I realized I needed something else that was sold by the yard.  I went and grabbed it and got back in an even longer line.  By the time I got up to the front of the line and told the lady I just wanted everything left on this bolt, I was informed that my hideous bright yellow denim was not $9.99/yd as it said on the tag (crossed out in black Sharpie) but that it was $12.99/yard.  It also wasn't 30% off  as the sign indicated because 'fashion denim' is apparently only 3 colors, not including this terrible yellow color that I picked up.  I didn't want to waste the hour I just spent waiting in the line so I said whatever and took the fabric.  $65 later I walked out of the store with all the supplies for what I thought was going to be a $15 project.

Not from Monday's run - this one was Saturday which was a great run, unlike Monday's!

I still had a few more errands to run and by the time I got home, I was starving and a bit pissed off.  My day off where I thought I was going to get a ton accomplished was flying by and I hadn't finished half of what I wanted to (so whiny!).  The leftover Mexican was calling my name.  I ate it and then felt terrible.  I made a few healthy meals for the week and the freezer and then set out for an easy run with the dogs.  The run was terrible due to Mexican food and chocolate sloshing around.  I'm pretty sure it's time to start eating better because I know I'll feel better in general.  Putting it out there to hold myself accountable.  Not that I won't eat a cookie if I want a cookie (that definitely doesn't work for me) but there's a better balance.   

Friday Food - Cereal Bar Cookies

When I saw these cereal bar cookies posted, I knew I had to make them.  My first thought was they would be great to take as snacks fuel for a long run.  I'm not a fan of gels.  I like Shot Bloks or Chomps but have found I actually do well with granola bars, cereal bars, little PB&J squares, etc.  Last Friday evening, I decided to make them but try to add in some healthier ingredients I thought would work well with the types of things I normally eat while running.  I'd call them a success and can see making more tweaks in the future with them as well.

Cereal Bar Cookies
adapted from Once a Month Mom

1 cup applesauce
1-1/2 cups rolled oats, ground into flour
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup almonds, ground into flour
1/2 cup brown rice syrup
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup jam (I used strawberry-rasberry)

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix everything together except the jam.  Divide dough (will be sticky if you are using the above combination) in half.  Divide first half among greased muffin tins (should make 18).  Press down and press up sides of pan slightly to form a cup.  Top with jam.  Then, top with remaining dough and try to seal around the jam.  Bake 20-25 minutes.  Allow to cool 5-10 minutes and then remove from pan.

Makes 18.

Does Anyone Work Anymore?

Friday afternoon I left work a little early to tackle a bunch of errands.  About half way through, I wondered where in the world all these people came from - shouldn't they be at work?  I guess I miss a lot in all the hours during the week when I sit in front of a computer for work.  I thought grocery stores would be empty and it would be a breeze to get through town and tackle errands - I was wrong.  Even the dog grooming place where I buy the dog food was hopping.

In the end though, dog food was purchased, new running shoes were purchased, the car was washed and I went to three different grocery/specialty stores to get food for the week.

I planned on doing a 20 miler Saturday and wanted to get all my errands out of the way on Friday so my weekend was completely free.  My plans changed a bit though.  My husband's plans changed last minute and he wasn't going to be gone all day like we originally thought so we decided to hang out together and go look at property for sale.

I'm pretty sure I found another reason why I like running.  Instead of exploring back roads in a car, I can do so on foot.  If you are on foot, you do not get car sick.  The final two hours of our adventure were rather miserable.  I was hot and then cold, had a headache and on the verge of puking with every curve we drove around.  West Viriginia roads are like that.  Luckily, it quickly went away after we were back on the interstate.

So, no 20 miler on Saturday.  Instead, I just hit the treadmill for some miles in the evening because I was antsy for not running and being cooped up in a car.  

I woke up Sunday morning with the plans to get in the 20 miles.  I'm pretty sure between the new shoes and the Brooks Nightlife jacket I wore (which I won last year on a blog contest and still love), I looked like a complete tool.  No one should wear that much fluorescent clothing.  Most people would probably break in new shoes as well but I figure there was no better way to break them in with 20 miles.  I figured they were going to work and felt safe doing so.  I'm believe I was right!  First 20 miler of the year complete, despite it being fairly cold and windy.

An ironic thing from my Friday errands.  I spent an insane amount of money on the new shoes yet when I went to wash the car, I made sure to go to the car wash where the hand bays are $1.75 instead of $2.00.  And, I certainly wouldn't go through the expensive automatic one or the one where someone else actually washes it for you - far too expensive!

Friday Food - Chicken Pesto Shells

I admit that I have a lazy side to me at times.  Of course, it depends on what it is if I'm lazy or not but with cooking, I can definitely be a little lazy.  I tend to avoid anything that just seems like too much of a hassle and one pot meals are my favorite.  I found this recipe on Pinterest awhile back.  My husband was looking over my shoulder and said they looked good.  Stuffing the shells seemed like unnecessary work but I figured I'd give it a whirl...stuffing those shells...didn't take as long as I thought it would.  Since I'm on the whole freezer cooking kick, they were made in advance, frozen and then baked on a weeknight.  They are not very healthy but they're good!

Chicken Pesto Stuffed Shells

recipe adapted from What's Cookin, Chicago?

1 box jumbo pasta shells

8 oz. light cream cheese, softened

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan plus 1/4 cup for topping

7 Tbsp. prepared pesto (I used a whole jar but it was a very small jar so this is a guess!)

4 cups finely diced/shredded cooked chicken

3 cloves garlic, minced

Cook pasta shells according to the package directions for al dente.  While cooking, combine remaining ingredients in a large bowl.  Drain shells, cool slightly until you can handle them.  Stuff shells and divide between two 8x8" pans.  Top with reserved 1/4 cup cheese.  Cover and freeze for later use.  To bake, thaw.  Bake, covered at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.  Serve with a separate sauce if desired (I liked them plain but my husband needed sauce since they are a little dry plain).  

Changing Seasons

Today, I ran on my lunch break and was completely comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt.  I was also perfectly comfortable in the backyard in shorts and a t-shirt during a vigorous game of fetch.  But, snow is in the forecast for tomorrow.  Last week, I ran in shorts as well, no problem.  However, when I met up with a group of running buddies to run trails this past Sunday, I was bundled up and we made our way through trails with snow covered trees.  I don't mind the confused seasons since it just equals a fairly mild winter.  I'm just hoping it's not snowing come April!

photo stolen from friend off FB of our beautiful Sunday run

Last Saturday I managed to squeeze out a long, slow 16 miles.  I felt fine during it but admit I was getting a little bored in the last couple of miles and not overly peppy.  I was thrown off my normal early morning run routine and being a creature of habit, that is hard.  I started late morning after going out to breakfast.  For those looking for advice, this is not a good order to do things.  I knew not to eat a large breakfast but still found myself burping during the first half.  Nice.  By the time I was nearing the end, I was just thinking about what else I needed to complete errand and chore-wise for the day.  I'll be sticking to my early morning runs as much as possible.

With that 16 miles, I ended the week at 50 miles which I believe is my highest mileage week ever.  After Saturday's 16, I met up with the group for 10 miles on the trails and that was all after doing P90X Plyometrics on Friday which has been leaving my calves a bit sore, but I love the feeling sore in different muscles feeling!  I feel like I'm accomplishing something and hopefully cranking out those miles and picking that up will help me actually be able to finish the races I have coming up in the next few months and if I'm lucky, maybe not even come in last!

With all the talk about Google Friend Connect going away, I set up a Facebook page for this blog...not that I really have any plans on doing anything with it...but feel free to add it -- there's a little box on the right of the page if you follow things that way.

Friday Food

The UPS man dropped off a big box yesterday.  A big box...must be something really exciting.  Probably expensive or fun...right?

Inside the big box...a bunch of Gladware!  Sorry to disappoint.  I couldn't find the OvenWare at any stores (OK, I only looked at two but I hate shopping) and figured it was just cheaper to order online anyway.  I only have a few and can't remember where I got them from in the first place.  They kind of come in large quantities when you order this way...

You may notice there's a new button on the right side of the blog.  I'm sure the 10 people who read this blog  look over frequently.  If you don't want to click off your reader to load the page, I'll just tell you what it is...

The new button goes to the Once a Month Mom website.  At the top, it says contributor.  I raved about this site awhile back.  It's freezer cooking and once a month cooking organization on crack.  I pretty much love it.  Love it so much that when the were taking applicants for new contributors, I applied.  Loved it so much that my over the top application landed me a spot.  I'm not a Mom and I'm not on a diet but starting with the April menu, and posts beginning in March, I'm the new contributor for the Diet (basically healthy/lower calorie/fat, not diet in a bad way) menu at Once a Month Mom.  There's an insane amount of planning that goes into it so even though I won't be visible for awhile, I'm already working away.  

Running updates are rather boring these days unless a race is involved.  My life isn't really very interesting either but I might be experimenting a bit more in the kitchen while keeping my freezer fully stocked for stress-free, easy and healthy (sometimes) weeknight meals...so, it seems like a good plan to attempt a Friday Food post.  I found a few from the past to post.  Now that I'm stocked up on my favorite containers that stack well in the freezer, are reusable and can go in the oven, I'm ready to go.  

I'm already getting back into the swing of things with regards to taking pictures of food.  My husband will have to sit through me stealing his dinner plate to take a picture before he starts eating again (his always looks better than mine for some reason).  He had to put up with it for a year when I did a cookbook for the family so he is used to it.  I promise there won't be posts on here every single day showing the oatmeal and apple that I ate though.