group runs

they are not for everyone...

I recently started running in a group. The people I run with are all super nice. Super friendly. I enjoy socializing with them, but when I'm running, I don't want to talk to others. I want to listen to my music, zone out, and go. What am I missing that everyone else loves so much?

pinterest adventures: greek yogurt pancakes

This morning I made Greek Yogurt Pancakes. I like my fruit on the side, so I made these sans blueberry, and I also changed the flour from white to wheat. Note: the recipe says to use 1/4 of the batter to make the pancake, I think this is too much. I think you could easily get 6-8 pancakes out of the recipe, not 4.



Overall Flavor Rating: A - Oh my god, these were delicious! They tasted almost exactly like regular home-made pancakes.
Time/Prep-Rating - A+ - Super easy. It took about 3-5 minutes to mix everything, then just normal pancake cook time.
Things to change for next time: nothing! YUM!

adventures in pinterest recipes

The adventure continues! For dinner I made crockpot teriyaki chicken and spicy, garlicky, green beans, served over quinoa.

Overall Flavor Rating: A -- Delicious! 

Time/Prep Rating:  A+  --Super easy. I threw the teriyaki in the crockpot to slow cook while I watched some T.V. and went for a run. When I got back, I made my green beans while the quinoa was cooking, and viola! Dinner. 

Things to change next time: use pre-minced garlic to save time. I would also throw the mushrooms in the crock instead of cooking w/ the green beans, and throw in some peppers as well to get this up to an A+ rating for flavor.

Crockpot teriyaki:

1 lb of chicken

1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup soy/teriyaki sauce
1/3 cup brown sugar
3 minced garlic cloves

I modified the recipe because I made my own teriyaki sauce, and as such felt no need to add more sugar and garlic (my home-made had plenty). So, I threw the chicken, 1/2 cup chicken broth, and 1 cup home-made teriyaki in the crock pot on low. It smelled divine.

A word about teriyaki sauce. I have found every store-bought bottle I've ever made to be complete and utter crap, so a friend of mine gave me her family's recipe. I don't give out family recipes, but I've perused on-line and have found several that are comparable (example). It took no time at all - or it would have taken no time if I'd bought minced garlic instead of mincing my own. If you have an extra 45 seconds when making dinner, I HIGHLY recommend making your own sauce instead of buying it.

Spicy, Garlicky, Green Beans:

I love green beans. In fact, I love them raw, but they can get boring. This recipe gave me the added pizzazz I've needed. I followed the cooking directions but added some mushrooms that needed to get eaten, and I could not be happier with the results. The beans were crisp and flavorful (it was spicy!), and complimented my main dish fabulously.

after months of hoarding recipes on pinterest, i'm actually trying one out

Today I tried out The Burlap Bag's oat banana cookies as seen on Pinterest.

Ingredients:

2 bananas

1 cup quick oats.

Optional: ch. chips, nuts, etc...

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Mix ingredients (mashing up banana), put on cookie sheet in cookie form, and bake for 15 minutes.

I had one banana and rolled oats (which are the same as quick oats, only not crushed up), so I made a half order. In the comments several people said to add vanilla. Yes, of course that will make these better, but  I added the chocolate chips (yes, I had to), I opted not to add more calories and sugar that (hopefully) isn't necessary. 

Oh my god, these are baking right now, and the smell so freaking good!

They are out of the oven, and cooled & tasted!  I would give this a solid C+ rating, but think it could be an A with alterations.

Overall, this is a super easy and quick way to use up those bananas (I always seem to have one I can't get to in time) that is less of a production than baking bread & doesn't use flour. The flavor was appealing, but the consistency was a bit of a turn-off. Because I used rolled oats, I think the banana mush had too little to mix with & as a result these are a big ball of mush and oats. If I chopped the oats, I don't think I would have this problem. Additionally, the chocolate chips did nothing for me. Next time, I would skip those and just add a pinch of cinnamon (maybe a dash of vanilla).  If you like walnuts (I don't), they would compliment this well. 

Next Up: Greek yogurt pancakes & crock-pot chicken teriyaki

highs and lows

This morning's high:  I started a meet up for runners who run closer to my pace & the first meet up was today. The gal who came was super nice (even though I still felt bad for slowing her down), and I have 5 people signed up for a run later this week. YAY!

This morning's low: I reverted back to my ultra slow-poke running. I don't really mind (I'm cool with slow), but I guess I thought once I started running 12/13 min miles, I'd sustain that. Apparently not. Not today, anyway.

Another high: I feel great & had a good work out and feel like my body was pushed to a good limit.

it's official!

I registered for my first half last night, so I guess there is no turning back!

What's even better is that when I mentioned to two friends I was going to do it, they immediately jumped on board (they both done 1/2s before; one has run a marathon) and registered as well. YAY! Running buddies. :)

few things

Few things make my dog happier than a new collar.

half-marathon training: the rest day

Today is my 1st rest day since beginning the training. My biggest fear is that I will loose my momentum with this rest day. That I will remember how wonderful lazy days can be.

i remember at time...

when "thong" mean "flip-flop."

It was a simpler time.

the year of the tick

That is what this year is shaping up to be, at least in Missouri.  After a camping trip wherein I recieved 4 tick bits, I decided to re-evaluate my position on Deet before my sister and I headed out on our hiking trip Sunday. I've gotten to the point where I am now more worried about lyme disease than I am about having 3 headed babies. So, covered in head-to toe clothing, tucked into my socks, I sprayed (me and the cloths) with bug-spray containing deet. Spray was reapplied during the hike and my sister and I conducted tick-checks every 20 minutes or so. Although I have no tick bites, I did have 4 ticks on me, one of which I found after I got home. That little bugger was moments from sucking my blood and giving me lyme disease, I just know it!

Ugh. Ticks. I have a bit of a phobia regarding them, and I don't ever remember them being this bad. :(

half-marathon training, part 2: feet meet pavement

Half Marathon Date: Oct 27, 2013

Training Day 1: June 1, 2013

I've decided to go back to the run/walk method because it's been over a year since I could run even a mile without walking. So really, it wasn't a choice, but I think it is a good strategy all the same. The point of today's training was two fold:

1. to actually start running again rather than just talk about running again.
2. to get a realistic idea of where my starting point actually is.

Luckily I already have good running clothes and my shoes are still in good condition (and are the ones I had fitted for me when I was running).  With those things working for me, I set out on my run. I'm calling day 1 an amazing success because:

1. I actually did it, even though the weather was kind of bad.
2. Holy crap! By running and walking, not only did I complete a 5K (something I thought I'd have to re-work up to), but I did it with my personal best time!

Now I know what you are tsk-tsking... did I over train? Push myself too hard in an over-zealous attempt to prove myself? No, I really did not. I never felt like I was over-doing it, and I did let my body taper off towards the end to cool down and do some stretches.

Despite looking like this, I felt good!

Stats:

Mile 1- 11:52

Mile 2- 12:57

Mile 3-  13.37

Pace- 13:17

Type- run/walk combo

Terrain- neighborhood/pavement

**I used the running app "Map My Run" to keep track of this information. I love it. It tracks your route, tells you climb, speed, etc. It cuts into my music every mile to update me on distance and pace. Very cool. I highly recommend it.