Is that Fall peeking out?

I was pleasantly surprised this morning to find a cool, crisp morning waiting for me. Of course, it was also 5 in the morning...


First day back on the road after two weeks of dealing with the consequences of running the Chupacabra 10k - pinched back nerve. I longingly watched my regular group continue on while I turned and ran with the half-marathon group for six miles. (I did notice how odd that was, to want to run 11 miles) Stranger than that, I wanted to hop out of my car and run some more upon seeing folks running around the neighborhood at home. It's in me now, no matter how hard I run. (ha!)


Also, some failed baking endeavors have not made it online. Lemon curd awaits some tasty scones in the morning (here's hoping). If that wasn't bad enough, I read four different versions of croissant recipes. After some more macarons, it's on. Like kong.

Gonna Fly Now

Today's daily "Kick in the butt" from Runnersworld.com was this:

Part of the challenge of the marathon is pushing past what you think is physically possible. You can do more than you think you can.

This week ends Week 8 of my marathon training. After Saturday's 12-mile run, I will have logged 20 miles this week. TWENTY! The closest week to this so far was last October at 16 miles. My long run that week was a training run to-and-from Eisenhauer Park, and I averaged 12m/mi. Which is what I'm at now. SO… when do I begin pushing for a better time?

Goal #1: Make the most of the next 6-week's speed and tempo workouts. This may mean sticking to the treadmill for those days, and trying to meet the SA Fit group on Tuesdays for speedwork training. End Date: 09/04/10

Food wise, something weird is happeneing in my brain. Either I'm burned out on meat or my brain is protesting time spent in the kitchen cooking. I'm finding my self eating smaller portions over all and shying away from animals. Monday: cous cous. Tuesday: Black bean tacos. Wednesday: Pasta with shrimp. Thursday: Watermelon salad*. We're going out to have Indian tonight, and I'm torn between Paneer Masala and Lamb Vindaloo. I may have to forgo the lamb as I feel it may cause a ruckus overnight and make for an interesting 4am wakeup. *sigh*

(*The recipe is on Runnersworld.com. I posted a picture on Facebook. It was REALLY really good.)

I've tried mapping out meal plans, but it's made complicated by having to feed The Boy and Major. Making 3 meals a night does not sound fun, and adding chicken or sausage to what I make and then feed it to Major seems like a cop out (only to me). Why are there no "family training meal plans" for those of us who have to fuel ourselves and feed others?

Goal #2: Identify 6 family friendly training meals to place in rotation. End date 07/31/10

 

Meal #1 – Pantry Couscous and Chicken

· A box of Near East plain couscous, cook as instructed · 4 green onions or chives, chopped or 1/4 c fresh parsley · ¼ c cooked lentils · ¼ c cheese of choice (goat, feta) that crumbles · ¼ c dried fruit of choice (fig, apricot, pomegranate, gold raisins) · 2 sliced, grilled chicken breasts · Single-serving of Green Giant frozen veggies

1. Mix cooked couscous and lentils. Serve ½ c. with chicken to picky child with a side of single-serve Green Giant frozen veggies. 2. Mix remaining ingredients and serve. **I passed on the chicken, which left enough for a lunch portion for the next day.

Time to start the mental preparation for tomorrow's 12-mile run. Is that Bill Conti's "Gonna Fly Now" that I hear in my head? Sure is.

Gobble Gobble

Thanksgiving rocked.
I had a freakish urge to get up at 6:15 and hit the grocery store for a couple of items. Not many there, bu learned the hard lesson that the store will not sell you wine before 7AM. LAME.

Inn any case, i spend the morning making:

Cranberry cornbread-sage stuffing, Orange-herb Turkey, Corn-leek pudding, Green Beans with caramelized red onions, herbed mashed potatoes and apple pie.




A good time was had by us all, this being the first of many with Major and my ever-growing extended family. Carla, Steve and Deanna joined us and we ended the evening with a wine-fuled bout of Trivial Pursuit - 80s.

Not a bad way to end the night...which for me was passing out at 8:30 on the couch. No black Friday for us today, Major is not up for walking around. XBox, here we come.