Trail Race #1!

I can't believe it's already started, but I had my first trail race of the season last night!

This is part of the Lifetime Fitness Trail Series -- it runs every other Thursday for 5 events.  This one was 4.58 miles in Hyland Park Reserve.  The weather was a little on the muggy side, and I was having a hard time with needing my sunglasses for the blazing sun, but being blinded by them in the more wooded areas -- but all in all it was a success!  My goal was to finish in a hour, and I got in at 1:03:38.  Not too shabby at all!

(I think I could have made it.  I didn't push myself tooooo hard.)

The only bummers were that there was no water at the second water stop, and then no water at the finish line.  (Or Gatorade!)

But I'm excited for the next one... or I was, until I just saw that it's 5.4 miles.

Erk.

A really good number!!  Except that I didn't win any prizes.

Warrior Dash!!!

My recommendations to you, if you wish to participate in Warrior Dash:

1. Actually train.  No, seriously.  Running. Pushups. Situps. Hill drills.  Seriously.
2. Do it with friends!
3. Get more than 4 hours of sleep the night before.
4. Don't fly in from anywhere the same morning.

In spite of not following any of my own recommendations, I survived.

Yes, survived.  The thing about having the race at a ski hill is that you've got to run up the hill.  And down.  And up.  There was not a lot of flat.  (And therefore, there was not a lot of running on my part.)
The obstacles were fun to tackle -- I did bow out of two of them, but I think I would give them a tray next time.  There was a length of trail that was really (shoe-sucking) muddy, and that was unfortunate... but I made it across the finish line and got my medal!

The socks got trashed, and the shoes got donated.

WARRIOR HELMET! ...and a medal.

A Real February Follow-Up

I finally got around to reconciling my computer register with my February bank statement.  I only missed 18 out of a total of 42 transactions... Which sounds abysmal at 33%.  However, 8 of those transactions were online bill pay, which doesn't automatically generate a paper receipt.  SO I just need to figure out some kind of process to keep track of that.

Taking that into account, my missing receipt rate drops to around 15% and I think that's pretty darn good.

I'm trying again in March!

Banana LOAF!

Finally! I have made a banana bread product in a loaf shape. (Thanks to a dear friend's noble sacrifice. She has doomed herself to a loaf-free existence... for me! *sniff*)

It's really tasty! I was going to bring it in to work, because I didn't think I could trust myself to have it in the house... but I think it will be okay!

More Photos!

I finally acquired a picture ledge from IKEA, and now the no-man's land above my TV is full of photos! Hooray! I also FINALLY got a frame for the 5x7 cat prints I bought after Christmas. Finally my pictures are getting off hard-drives and out of boxes, and onto shelves and walls where I can appreciate them!

All I have left to square away is the BIG print I bought. One of these days I'll take it out to get it framed. It's just a bit more effort and planning!

Delicious Cheesecake Noms.

I have tried making cheesecake before... (Maple Cheesecake with Baked Pears) It was lovely, and delicious, but these cheesecakes were SO GOOD. Thanks again, Everyday Food. The recipe called for ginger cookies, but I already had Nilla wafers (and can't follow a recipe to save my life) so I used those. My crust pressing could definitely use some work, and I promise to do better next time. The filling was almond-flavored and tasty! "Unfortunately" the recipe only makes 10 cakes, and I had some filling left over -- so I had to eat it. Off the spatula. My life is hard.

They went over great, and I even got to eat one of the final product! I will be making these again.

Falling off the wagon...

I've just been eating a lot of crap lately.

And no one to blame... just because there are treats at work doesn't mean I need to eat them.

I've also not gone running for a week -- and I can't blame it all on Sunday's "snow event," either. (Though shoveling 15" of snow is a workout in itself, for sure.)

To compound it all, what did I do this afternoon after work?

I baked cheesecakes.

Seriously, I am off the wagon and being dragged behind by the reins.

...

I don't want to point fingers, but I do suspect its due to an unusual amount of turmoil in my life right now. I need to reign in the snacking and what-not and get some more structure in my schedule. I will do these things.

(Though I confess I've been thinking I can wait until March 1st -- or at least February 28th, since it's a Monday.)

:)

34 degrees and sunny!

I could NOT resist a run today!

Apparently today is the first day of the New Year above freezing. I was totally living it up.

I have confirmed that I am solar powered.

I also learned that I need to carry enough tissues to be able to blow my nose about every half mile.

(Probably an unnecessary anecdote, but hey -- it's my blog.)

It's going to be warm again tomorrow, but cloudy. We'll see if I can get myself out again, (I checked and I'm only averaging 1 workout per week. A far cry from my resolution to average 3 per week for the year!)

New Recipe!

I really thought this was another recipe from my Everyday Foods light magazine... but now I can't seem to find it anywhere! Anyway, here's a link to almost exactly the same recipe from the Martha Stewart website: Pasta e Fagioli.

The only difference with mine was that I didn't use any parmesean initially (but will probably add some) and I threw in some Morningstar Sausage at the end because it just needed a little more substance to stand alone as a lunch food. Oh, and the recipe I looked at only specified "small pasta" which I wasn't really sure what to do with -- so I used small shells. I thought about doing ring pasta, but that just brings me right back to church picnics and tuna salad.

No new foods or methods this time (well, I'd never used the meatless sausage before -- tasty!) but it was pretty quick to throw together and I was glad the pasta cooked IN the broth so I didn't have to boil/drain it separately.

Who knew that 28 degrees is warm?

...I felt like I would be "wasting" nice weather if I didn't run outside yesterday. (That, compounded by the fact I'd been sitting in a chair at the court house all day... and also that I've been a workout slacker lately.)

It actually was pretty pleasant. I didn't cross paths with any other runners, but the walkers of dogs were out in force! (Again, very thankful that I have cats that don't demand I take them outside. Ever.) I surprised myself by electing to go the long route and run the full 5k... Usually I have a hard time committing to starting the run around the lake, because then I have to finish it. My neighborhood route can always be cut short at any time.

I'm not sure if I will be as compelled today, since it will be a bit cooler... But since I don't see myself doing any calisthenics in the Jury Selection Room today, I predict I'll feel like I have to do something.

OMG!

...I forgot about the most important UFO of all!!

ME!

Yesterday I went back to the gym. I ran. It felt great! I felt great!

Let's all remember that we are all a work in progress, and anything you do for yourself is a good thing! I am re-committed to me!

Roasting! And Scallions!

For my most recent "new recipe" I chose Roasted Beef and Mushroom Soup -- another selection from Martha Stewart's "Everyday Foods" magazine. I was excited about it because (A) it involves roasting, and (B) I bought scallions for it! (There is also a fairly long and drawn out drama about trying to find Barley... but all that matters is that I DID find it.)

In hindsight, I think I would like to invest in a roasting pan. I was concerned that I'd get singing or something because I couldn't "toss" everything in the olive oil very well. (Though my cats would have certainly helped me clean up if anything ended up on the floor.)

I'm also thinking that my oven is hotter than it should be. The dial is set correctly, and my thermometer reads the right temp... but these roasted about 8 minutes quicker than they were supposed to, and the last time I made pizza I only left it in about 2/3 of the prescribed time.

Anyway. Yum.

A Resolution!

Okay, so this isn't about a UFO, but it is about one of my New Year's Resolutions: cooking a new recipe once a month.

This month's recipe is from my Everyday Foods magazine... I just got their "light" issue and thought the Sweet and Sour Chicken with Peppers and Green Beans sounded nummy! (The link is for the non-light version... but it was the only one I could find on the website.)

I think it will be really delicious for lunch this week. I have a tendency to get tired of things that are too sweet -- I hope this isn't one of those things.