Running success

"I think when you run by someone and there's a thumbs up or encouragement, that's something that I really love. It's a brotherhood, a support and an appreciation for the effort we're all making. I think it's also about living well, living healthy, taking care of ourselves, getting in touch with ourselves, our bodies, our minds. It's a mind-body connection that running helps enhance." - Gene Baur.

I saw a lot of this runner comraderie this weekend on my 16-mile run on the Patuxtent Branch Trail. It's the 'in-the-know' head nod, like you both know why you're out there on a Saturday morning, spending hours running while your friends are still sleeping off their hangovers. It gives you a little boost of encouragement to keep pounding the pavement and finish strong...or at least finish!

I've realized though there are a couple factors that determine how your run is going to go. First, it's about 50 percent how much you've trained. I obviously didn't just decide to run 16 miles one morning, I worked my way up to it. Second, it's about 25 percent how you feel that day. Are you feeling sluggish and heavy and the heat and humidity is bringing you down, while your head feels like it weighs 100 pounds? Well, you're probably not going to be setting any records that day. Finally, it's about 25 percent how you fuel, both before and during the run. No matter how much you've trained or how good you feel when you start, if your body doesn't have the proper fuel to keep it going, you are going to crash. Hard.

I actually had these factors on my side for the most part this past weekend - I felt pretty good going into it, had a molten lava pancake for breakfast, a GU right before I started my run, and I had a Chunky Coconut Cherry Almond Butter Pocket Fuel about 6 miles into it to keep me going. Even though I did need to take walk breaks for the last 4 miles because the humidity was kicking my butt, I was okay with it because I still felt really strong.

It was so tasty, that I may have ripped it open to get every last bit

Afterward, I had a super tasty salad that was a twist on the traditional caprese. Instead of tomato, I used a sweet, juicy peach. Yep. A peach. So, it went like this: peach slice, mozzarella slice, basil leaf, repeat. Then drizzle just a bit of balsamic vinaigrette over the top. It was so tasty that I turned it into a sandwich the next day using Panera Bread Co. Asiago cheese bread. I highly recommend this.

Now, I've already had a bit of a rough start to my running week. I did not sleep well last night so when the alarm went off this morning at 4 a.m., I reset it for 6:30 and went back to sleep. So, I still have a 9-miler hanging over my head. And I'll be honest, I may not be able to fit it in tonight because it is HOT outside. I will do what I can!

 

Weekly mileage:

Monday - 9....ish...maybe

Tuesday - 8

Wednesday - 6

Thursday - 5

Friday - rest

Saturday - 20!

Sunday - 4

Recipe Redo

I haven't written much lately because we're in the process of moving to South Carolina, and hey, that's been pretty time consuming.

So, I've tried the Molten Lava Pancakes again every day since the first try and by now I am a pro.

I used 1/4 cup of Bisquick instead of 1/3 in the first try and kept a close eye on it while it was cooking and as soon as it started to bubble a bit in the middle, I flipped it. Then I waited the 20 seconds and 'poured' it onto my plate. It didn't come off smoothly the first time, because of the lava, but it was still tasty. And now, after about 4 attempts, it comes off looking like an actual pancake.

Molten Lava Pancake
(7 Weight Watchers points for 1 pancake)

-1/4 cup bisquick pancake mix
-1 scoop gourmet chocolate whey protein powder
-2 egg whites
-Dash of cinnamon

1. Blend all ingredients together

2. Pour onto a heated pan and cook just until the bottom is solid. When the center starts to have just a little bubble to it, it is time to flip

3. Flip it and only cook for 20-30 seconds longer so it is still runny in the middle (hence, lava)

Not as pretty, but there is lava. Each attempt looks better

Another great treat I tried is the Black Forest Milkshake that I got out of an issue of Runner's World. If you love cherries and chocolate, you will die for this:

Black Forest Milkshake

(4 Weight Watchers Points per serving, makes 2 servings)

-1 heaping cup of frozen cherries (make sure you get unsweetened with nothing added, otherwise it's 6 WW points just for the cherries!)

-1 frozen banana, cut up

-1 cup coconut milk

-4 tbsp Lite Hershey's Chocolate Syrup

-1/4 cup Greek yogurt

-1 tsp vanilla extract

1. Place all ingredients into a blender and give it a whirl until smooth

2. Pour it into two mugs and devour!

It is so tasty, you're not going to want to share, but remember it does make two servings

I've been on track with my running this week, even though yesterday's 3-miler about killed me. I was so unmotivated, but I still did it! And now I need to go to bed because I have my half-marathon in the morning! Wish me luck, I'm hoping for around 2:10.

"The journey isn't always perfect, but always worth taking," - Kara Goucher

Recipe Corner

So, I've tried all kinds of new recipes the last couple days.

First, were these zucchini protein brownies. I wasn't too impressed with them, so I won't go into detail on how they were made. They didn't keep very well overnight, so the consistency wasn't very appetizing after my run today. You can check out the original post if you're curious.

Then, I made the cauliflower crust pizza which is my absolute favorite! For half the pizza crust, it's only 3 points. That's less than one slice of pizza with regular dough! I topped it with mozzarella cheese and meatless pepperonis. Between that and the tempeh 'wings' I was in heaven.

Next, was a 'molten lava pancake,' at least it was supposed to be a 'molten lava pancake.' I cooked it for too long and it was just a chocolate pancake. It was soooo good though, that I will definitely try it again and just flip it sooner: I got the original recipe out of an issue of Runner's World magazine as Ryan Hall's go-to breakfast. If it's good enough for Ryan Hall, then it's good enough for me.

'Molten Lava' Pancake
(8 Weight Watchers points for 1 pancake. It is very filling though)

-1/3 cup bisquick pancake mix
-1 scoop gourmet chocolate whey protein powder
-2 egg whites
-Dash of cinnamon

1. Blend all ingredients together

2. Pour onto a heated pan and cook just until the bottom is solid (this is where I went wrong)

3. Flip it and only cook for 20-30 seconds longer so it is still runny in the middle (hence, lava)

Notice the picture of what it is supposed to look like

Then came the nacho bites. They were a disaster to make, but still tasted delish. They were definitely sodium laden, but it was so good after my 9-mile run this morning. Don't let Weight Watchers fool you into thinking it's so easy to 'gently twist them into a firecracker shape.' As usual, I didn't follow the original recipe.

Nacho Bites
(9 WW points for 8 of them w/the dip. Makes 2 servings)

-16 Nasoya Won Ton Wraps
-2/3 cup Morningstar Farms Veggie Crumbles
-1 can Campbell's Cheddar Cheese Soup
-Salsa

1. Cook up the veggie crumbles with a little bit of spices and about a third of the can of cheddar cheese soup

2. Put a dollop of the crumble, cheese mixture into each won ton wrapper and (according to WW)  Moisten edges of wrapper with wet fingers, fold over to cover filling, press down firmly to seal and then gently twist ends to form a “firecracker” shape (mine turned more into just folding it till it was mostly closed)

3. Lay all the wrapped up won tons on a baking sheet covered in foil and cook at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes. Keep your eye on them though because they will burn easily

4. While the won tons are cooking, make the dip. Use whatever is leftover from the filling and add the rest of the cheddar cheese soup and a little bit of water. Stir is up over medium heat until it starts to melt down a bit

5. Add the salsa and give it all a good stir. Transfer it to a bowl to dip the won tons in

Finally, broiled grapefruit. Oh. My. OOOH. MY. This is the only way I will ever eat a grapefruit ever again. I got this gem originally posted by Birchbox, but here's the blog they got it from. The only thing I didn't do from the original post was add the agave. I don't think it's needed.

Broiled Grapefruit

-Grapefruit
-Cinnamon

1. Wash the grapefruit and cut it in half. Use a small paring knife to cut around the outside of the grapefruit. 

I cut mine the wrong way, but same concept

2. Top each half with cinnamon.

3. Broil for 3-5 minutes, or until grapefruit is warm and caramelized in places. Serve warm.

broil it till it starts to look like this

It was so juicy and warm. I dove right in and devoured both halves

On top of all this food, I have done pretty good with my running, too!

Yesterday, I logged 3 miles which was easier said than done since I was still recovering from the 8+ miles from Sunday. Then today, me and a friend ran a 9-miler that my entire body is paying for right now. The hills around my house are so intense! I know it's only making me stronger, but I HATE hills.

The running plan for the rest of the week looks like:

Wednesday - 5 miles
Thursday - 3 miles
Friday - 3 miles
Saturday - rest
Sunday - Alexandria Running Festival Half Marathon

Oh yeah, and a friend talked me into signing up for another half marathon a week later - Run For the Dream Half Marathon in Williamsburg, Va. I'm so happy to be excited for running right now! I have to take advantage of it while I can.