Hell Running Week, Happy Events Week :-D

Saturday: 18 miles--complete

Monday: 5 miles-- complete

Tuesday: 10 miles (Late)

*Wednesday: All you can eat lobster with Big Daws and Cruise Crew. Whooooohoooo!

*Thursday: 2 year Anni at Whispers :-D

Friday: 4 miles (Before we hang out with Laura, after work)

Saturday 20 miles (Christmas Eve--as early as possible, because then it's cooking Christmas Eve ham and gingerbread cookies!)

2 down, 3 to go!

Wicked Potato Soup

Simple, easy, flavorful. Perfect post-run, good pre-run lunch because of the carbs.

Start with 6 slices of applewood-smoked bacon. (I used maple with applewood spice sprinkled on top). Fry on medium until crispy, remove bacon, and place in paper towels to dry.

Chop up one onion and add to bacon juices. Let mingle for 7 minutes on medium high.

Add onions to a larger pot and toss in 2 minced garlic cloves and 1 teaspoon thyme. Stir, and let cook One minute.

Add 1 can of diced tomatoes in juice and let hang out until juice almost evaporates--about 2 minutes.

Add a sweet potato, 2 yukon gold potatoes, and 2 red-skinned potatoes, chopped to 1/3 inch slices. (Sweet potato was my favorite, by far.)

Add 4 cups reduced sodium/reduced fat chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Cover with lid slightly ajar and reduce to medium low. Let it cook like this for 10-12 minutes until potatoes are tender. Add 5-6 ounces of baby spinach and let wilt. Also add the bacon, which you crumble. Add salt and pepper to taste, and it's all done! (You can add more broth if you need to, but you probably won't.)

Delicious, and mostly healthy. I served this with shredded cheddar on top, and a crescent roll. (America's Choice, in a tube, and on sale. Flaky, buttery, and delicious!).

Buon Appetito!

9 Happy Miles

This week has been awful. Skipped the 5 miler on Monday because I could barely walk after the 16 miler on Sunday. Then, work-wise, I thought Tuesday was as bad as it could get, when I told my 6th period class that I was on strike due to poor working conditions, as NOWHERE in my contract does it say I'm allowed to be overtly disrespected. But then today happened. And today was bad because of adults. Sigh. Just a string of days in a row where things haven't gone right. Even the small things seem to go wrong. And no ugly sweater party to look forward to as a distraction :(

But, some positives. Got in a nice 9 mile run today up and around hills, so I feel really good about that. Plus, my leg held up nicely, so I'm totally stoked about that. Just got to get through the 18 miler this weekend... And then the 20 miler the following weekend (ah, Christmas Eve).

And, next week will be better. All-you-can-eat lobster dinner at the U with Big Daws and the Cruise Crew, 2 year anniversary dinner with mah boo, and then Friday at 3:05, the ultimate "Hell Yeah!" celebration. I need this vacation like whoa! Then Christmas, then Tennessee, then Cherry Hill New Years... If I can just make it to this Friday, I might make it to the vacation! And a game of horseshoes.

Why is tomorrow only Thursday?!?!

16 Miles

We outlasted the battery on my new iphone. In other words, we were still running, and the phone was not. Crazy. It took us an estimated 2 hours and 40 minutes. We ran from Yonkers to Ardsley up the South County Trail. And now my inner thigh is all twitched up. I'm desperately hoping that this will be okay tomorrow, because I'd be insanely upset if I managed an injury in the last few weeks of training. Boo! Major, Major, Major boo.

Holiday season quickly approaching. Next long run is up to 18. We're doing that early Saturday morning as we prepare for our ugly sweater party and pub crawl that evening. I'm just hoping I can get my miles in this week. So fingers crossed, pinkies up!

The 9 Mile HIll

Last night, after layering up and throwing on an old pair of Express leggings, Brad and I walked to the corner of Kimball and McLean, and hit start. We ran up the hill, down the hill, all the way to Bronxville.

But we didn't stop there. We kept going to Tuckahoe Rd. And then we ran down Tuckahoe past the Sprain, past 87, and finally made a left on Mile Square Road. Where we met THE HILL. My goodness, this thing would not quit. Around, and around, and around, and then up, up, up. We finally made it and made a left on Midland, a right on Smart, and straight on 'til morning. 9.24 miles my device said, and it took us an hour and forty minutes! But we did it!

And I forgot how amazing regular (non-wheat) pasta really is. Sigh.

Ikea today to finish making our apartment look like we actually live here.

16 Miler EARLY Saturday morning, (when it's supposed to be something ridiculous like 27 degrees. Gulp.) as Brad's mom is coming up for a true Christmas spectacular... Lunch, show involving kicking girls and Santa, afternoon tea at Saks, and Rockefeller Center tree. Sweet!

It's Friday! Also known as the Gang Fight song. If you don't know what I mean, check out badlipreading.com

Ba-de-ya, Running in December!

Our hearts were ringing
In the key that our souls were singing.
As we ran in the night,
Remember - how the stars stole the night away, yeah yeah yeah.

Hey hey hey,
Ba de ya - say do you remember
Ba de ya - running in December
Ba de ya - never was a cloudy day

Earth, Wind, and DEFINITELY Fire.

Uhmm, maybe global warming does exist? Last night's short run (5 miles, up hill), I wore a t-shirt and running shorts. And then, I was sweating! Insanity. I rarely sweat. And it was December 6th... A bit too much. Our tree is decorated, the Rockettes are kicking, ugly sweaters are frolicking through our minds, I smell fireplaces on a daily basis, candy canes are on sale, and I can't figure out why I'm not going surfing at the beach.

Anyone else weirded out?

Bradford and Jamie's Thanksgiving Tradition

Simple. Timeless. Elegant.

Plus, there's football.

Perfect.

Mashed Potatoes!

I did it! I made mashed potatoes! I always thought it was an extremely difficult undertaking, but actually, it was quite easy.

Recipe
First, Peel and cube 6 russet potatoes. Put them in a pot, cover with water, and then seal it with the lid. Bring to a boil, and then let cook for 25 minutes.

When the potatoes are done, add 1/4 cup melted butter, 1/2 cup warm milk, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and a dash of pepper. Mash with a potato masher, and Ta Da! Fluffy, hot, delicious mashed potatoes. Soooo good!

First Steps to the NYC Marathon, 2013!

Brad and I have registered for the Gridiron Classic in Central Park (an easy 4 miles superbowl Sunday (Feb. 5th), and then Coogan's famous Coogan's Salsa, Blues and Shamrocks 5K on March 4th. These are qualifiers for the 9+1 program NYRR members need to get automatic entry to the 2013 NYC marathon (yes, 2013 is not a typo, if we wanted to run 2012, we would have had to do this during this year...)

So let's hope the world doesn't end, yeah?

Oh, and I'm experimenting with my first foray into the mashed potato world for Brad and Jamie's delayed Thanksgiving tonight. Yes, it's a Thursday. Yes, we're only a week late. Yes, there's turkey and stuffing and gravy and cranberry sauce. And no, I have not decorated or put ornaments on our tree yet, so it's still kosher. I feel pretty good about this!

And yes, that is a giant Costco-sized package of paper towels. Don't hate.

First Donation!

Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding, Ding!

First donation!
$100! Whoooo! Keep it up, people :-D

Thanks so much. It's very appreciated by all.

In the Spirit of Christmas: Help End Childhood Obesity

Don't end up like this tired puppy! Get moving!

As you know, I'm all signed up to run my first marathon in a little more than a month. And I've been thinking about it; while I'm not specifically signed up to run it for a charity, I'd like to. And I have a cause that's close to my heart.

On the right you'll find a link to my fundraising page. As a high school teacher in the Bronx, I see first hand the effects of being overweight. My students lack energy, ambition, motivation, but more importantly confidence. Plus, major health issues that keep them out of school. And it's not always just their health issues. Sometimes it's their parents, their brothers, their sisters... And they don't have to look unhealthy to be unhealthy. In NYC, tomato paste is a vegetable. Most of my students don't even EAT lunch. They skip it entirely because the food offered is so lousy. So they're tired, irritable, and malnourished. Last year, I would share my vegetables with students at lunch, and many times my high school students would ask me what the vegetable was, because they had never seen it before. Something as simple as a bell pepper.

Help fix this. I've chosen Dean Karnazes' foundation, Karno's Kids, because I know they money will go directly to the cause. One dollar can buy you a cheeseburger, or it can help get a kid moving. Thanks!

Find out more: http://www.facebook.com/karnokids

Dark Chocolate Almond Milk & the 8 Mile Eminem Could Only Dream About

Before the Giants game, a very exhausted Bradford and I settled in for our 5 mile run. But the weather was nice. Really nice. And we felt good. Pretty good. And we had missed our 8 mile run this weekend... so we figured, hey, even though we just ran 2 miles uphill, let's see how far we can go. So we ran. To the seminary. Then to Toys R Us. Then to Sarah Lawrence. Then down Kimball to Yonkers Ave. Then across Yonkers Ave to home. All in all, about 8.14 miles. Sweet! Didn't even break a sweat. Came home and had a delicious salmon burger with cheese and onion, ketchup and olive oil-mayo with that delectable chickpea tomato soup I had made the other night. So good.

But, what I'm really digging these days is dark chocolate almond milk. Silk Pure Dark Chocolate Almond Milk to be more specific. Rich and thick, it drinks well alone (tastes almost exactly like chocolate milk) and really good in coffee in the morning. With more calcium than milk, it's better for you without the dairy. Plus, it's fortified with all sorts of good stuff. And no cholesterol or saturated fat. Only 120 calories per serving. Drink, ON!

(Picture from: http://www.foodservicedirect.com/product.cfm/p/1935317/All-Natural-Dark-Chocolate-Pure-Almond-Milk.htm)

Healthy Soups: Tomato Chickpea Pesto and Lentil and Black Bean

Since the weather is supposed to eventually get chilly (maybe), I'm sharing two soup recipes I found in Runner's World magazine that are absolutely fantastic, hearty, and a perfect light meal that seems heavier than it is. In other words, perfect for the holiday season when you don't want to pack on the Christmas ten.

First, the tomato chickpea pesto soup. (Doesn't the name just warm your heart?)

In a pot saute 1/2 a diced onion in 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat until soft. Then add one minced garlic clove and cook for 30 seconds. Very aromatic. Proceed to add 1/3 cup water and one 28 ounce can of fire roasted crushed tomatoes. (I used diced, and it was still awesome... make sure you actually find fire roasted. It makes all the difference for this soup.) Bring to a boil and then ad 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper to taste. You can puree the soup here, I didn't because I don't own a blender. Again, still awesome. I actually like texture in my soup anyway. Then add one 15 ounce drained can of chickpeas. Cover and simmer 10 minutes and then serve with a dollop of your favorite basil pesto.

Buono appetito!

Ok, for the second soup, again very simple. Lentil and Black Bean.

Start the same way: chop 1/2 an onion and saute in a pot on medium heat until soft. Then add the garlic clove. But this time, add 1/2 teaspoon chili powder, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, and 1/4 teaspoon paprika and let it saute for one minute.

Now add 2 cups of vegetable broth (I used chicken broth, still terrific) and 1 tablespoon of tomato paste. Bring this all to a boil and add 1/2 cup of red lentils. Cook approximately 25 minutes (when the lentils get nice and tender) and then mash 1 cup of trained black beans and add to soup with 1/4 teaspoon salt, juice of one lime, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Garnish with cilantro. I served it with reduced fat cheddar and a dollop of fat free sour cream. Awesome.

LaGrangeville, NY: 25K Turkey Trot

Bradford and I awoke at 6am this morning so we could drive an hour and twenty minutes north and endure a 15.53 MILE race in temperatures peaking at 28 degrees Fahrenheit at starting time (8:30 am). Armed with my hydration belt, race number, and my new long-sleeved awesome technical shirt locked securely in the car, we trudged to the back of Arlington H.S. to meet our fate.

And along the way, we overheard conversations of mid-40 year old women discussing their upcoming ultra (after completing 2 marathons in 7 weeks), we saw an approximately 11 year old kid toe the line, we read tons of "marathon" shirts, and most insanely, we saw a guy who intended to run the entire 15.53 miles BAREFOOT.

Right. I had sneaked a peak at the race results from last year, and everyone who ran had SICK times. My one goal was simply not to be last. I didn't want to be the person causing some volunteers to miss family time on Thanksgiving because of my slow-poke straggler ways.

We began. And quickly found ourselves at the very back. People took off. Crazy.

And then, the HILLS.

This "race" was almost entirely uphill. With sick, twisted, mountains at mile 6 and 8. Then, right after mile 12, came the steepest, most grueling, epic mountain road ever. It was the only time we walked. We were not alone. Everyone, except this one guy who looked about 70, walked. The 70 year old cruised straight on up. Kudos, man, kudos.

I ended up naming other participants along the way. We had Becky, Jess, and Bob. It kept me going. We ended up passing a bunch of people, but there were way more people ahead of us. Old man and old lady crushed us for sure, because we saw them pass us, and then kept them in the horizon. "Jess" annihilated us, we barely beat "Becky" and "Bob" was behind us, then ahead of us, and then finished about two minutes behind us in the end.

The last few miles were a blur of, hey, we've never run more than 13.1 before. High five. And then eventually, finally, we crossed the finish line, holding hands raised above our heads (Brad's idea) and smiling like we just cured cystic fibrosis.

They handed us a zip lock bag with a banana and two cookies, and a Poland spring. Then, without pomp and circumstance, we headed home. The shower was glorious.

Oh, and the time? Considering all the hills, I was very happily surprised with 2 hours and 31 minutes and about 34 seconds. Which looks like: 2h31:34

I for one cannot wait to demolish the turkey, squash, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, gravy, and pie that awaits. And sit and watch football. Ah, that's what I'm thankful for. New picture! This picture was taken at the very end of the run. As you can see, I'm smiling. This is why they say looks can be deceiving. ;)

Thanksgiving

Things I am thankful for:

*My horse



Just Kidding. In no particular order:

*Vacations

*My family

*My friends

*My puppy

*Having a job

*Being able to run/my health. Lagrangeville, NY 25K tomorrow morning! (15.53 miles!)



What are you thankful for?

Eating Out-Gaining a Yard, Quite Literally: The Yard House!

In New York, the law requires restaurants to put the caloric count on the menu next to the food item.

With that stated, tonight, Brad and I went to the Yard House, the very first one (and brand spankin' new) in NY, which is touted as a sports bar with over 100 beers ON TAP (over 200 at some older locations).

But wowee. It's amazing when you actually SEE the calories listed at restaurants. Restaurants who don't think twice about adding extra oil, or butter, or fat. Pretty much everything on the menu was over 1,000 calories per serving. Combine that with two beers, an appetizer, dessert, and you realize that ONE NIGHT, ONE MEAL of eating out provides you with ALL the calories (if not MORE) that you need in ONE DAY. Ahhhh! That's scary. Crazy America. And I also recently learned that one 8 oz filet mignon will also prove you with approximately 1,300 calories. Plain. Sigh.

Thank goodness for the side of broccoli!

But my seared ahi tuna was delicious and perfectly cooked, and I had a side of plain broccoli instead of the French fries, because Brad and I split the truffle shoe string fries as an appetizer. Quite good. The tuna was cooked with vidalia onions, and placed on Rye bread with spinach, swiss cheese, a delicious sauce and tomatoes. I despise rye bread, so I took that off, but it was still incredibly tasty. Brad's turkey burger was quite flavorful as well. We both washed it down with a half yard (2 beers) of Sea Dog Blue Paw Wild Blueberry beer. Yum!

What About The Skinny People? (Running is Hard; Even if You're Not Obese)

So the other day I was skimming through my "Runner's World" magazine and I came across an article on Ben Davis. Ben admits he faced intense depression and obesity, and overcame it, chronicling it all not only on his blog, "BenDoesLife.com" (hosted at Tumblr), but also through an epic You-Tube video that got him national recognition, not just from regular, everyday people, but also celebrities. And nothing against Ben, for I do enjoy a good "inspirational" story, but combined with "The Biggest Loser", it got me wondering, what about the "skinny" people?



Let me explain. Basically, I can never go on The Biggest Loser. And granted, I hope I never have to face the health issues that those people face. And it's great that the people find some motivation to make themselves healthier, even if it is in the form of a game show that offers quite a nice purse, but what about those thousands of people who consistently stay healthy every day? Why don't they get more recognition? I'm not talking about professional athletes. I'm talking about ordinary Weekend Warriors. I can't put my life story to a Cold Play song to tug on the heart strings of America. See, Ben complained in one of his posts

(http://bendoeslife.tumblr.com/post/1127591097/meanwhile-at-the-runners-world-headquarters)

that the covers of Runner's World always depict blue skies with blonde haired girls merrily smiling as they run in their boy shorts and sports bras. I obviously get the point, and yes, runners come in all shapes and sizes and colors, but I have to wonder, isn't running about self control? Having discipline? And whether you find that when you're 400 pounds or a trim 140 pounds doesn't matter. It's not so much who is on the cover, it's who is not reading the magazine at all. Either way, it's hard. Really, REALLY hard.

I've only been running for 3 1/2 months consistently at this point. And I'm lucky; besides a semester of cheese and pastry eating in Italy, I've never even been remotely chubby. I've always been active, but I've never been a runner. Running was my sport's punishment. You missed foul shots, you ran. You missed lay-ups, you ran. So I dreaded running for most of my life. And here I am, training for a marathon. And it's NOT easy. But people think that because I'm thin, it must be easy for me. That I don't sweat. That I don't have to put as much effort into it. That I'm just athletic. That my achievements are practically expected because of my appearance. Well, that's just a crazy fallacy. Any one who is going from non-running to running is going to have pain. And icy hot. And Tylenol. And bags of ice stored in his/her freezer. And Bandaids. Lots of Bandaids. Even if you're tall and skinny and blonde. Nobody is underrepresented. Health itself is underrepresented. You can be thin and unhealthy, just as you can have a few more pounds than a magazine deems acceptable and be healthy. This is about HEALTH, not looks.

So let's agree on something. Let's agree that anyone who can inspire someone to run is awesome. Whether or not you started out thin or wide doesn't matter. America loves "overcoming the odds" stories. Well, I say kudos to those of you out there who never lost control in the first place. And kudos to those of you who regained control. And kudos to those of you out there that are going to regain control. But most of all, kudos to those of you out there who run. Because it's not easy for any of us. Big or small.

I AM A RUNNER

"You ran 15 miles on purpose?"



Hilarious.

'Nough said.

Manasquan Turkey Trot: New PR--Under 40 Min!

Beautiful sunny skies awaited Bradford, Ursula, and I as we toed the line for the 2011 Manasquan Turkey Trot. A slight nip in the November air didn't spoil our spirits as we mentally prepared ourselves for the next 5 miles. The long sleeved t-shirt this year features a running turkey, and the best costume of the day goes to a woman wearing an apron and carrying a cleaver chasing after her significant other who was wearing a turkey on his head. Kudos for creativity. The houses of Manasquan came alive, partying in their lawns as they cheered on the runners with free beer handouts, Rocky soundtracks, and Olympic slalom bells. Completely amazing.

It took Brad and I a while to get through the slog of people, and we still managed to reach the first mile marker in a respectable 8:20. We smoked the 2nd mile, reaching the time marker at 16:00 on the dot. We continued our negative split trend, finally finishing in approximately 39:09 (official times are not posted yet, so I'll update when it's more official). Amazing. We totally broke 40, which was a future goal for us. We didn't think we could do it yet, as we've been focused on slow, long runs, rather than fast speed workouts. But we did. Because we're awesome. So we grabbed some water, juice, birch beer, and an orange between us and headed back to cheer Ursula through the finish line alongside her husband. Ursula met her goal of finishing under an hour, which is amazing considering she contracted wicked shin splints around mile two. So kudos to EVERYONE today, just for accomplishing such a difficult task. Most people can't run one mile, let alone 5, so everyone who finished today is a winner!

Leggets had their famous BBQ and food, which we partook in for a bit, and then the cold finally got to us and we headed home, full, satisfied, and happy. Until next year, I LOVE THE MANASQUAN TURKEY TROT!

Treadmills and Turkey Trots, and Fartleks, hehe

Yesterday I attempted to run 8 miles on a treadmill.

(Pause for emphasis)

See, originally, I was going to do the Run-a-Thon at the school I work in. Sure, outside on a track isn't much better, but it's still better. But then it rained. And then it poured. And alas, I found myself at Powerhouse gym, sweating bullets whining about how miserable I was. So, I decided to turn it into a fartlek adventure. Fartleks are where you run fast for a short amount of time, simply for the joy of running. It's a Swedish word that means "speed play." But it's fun to say to an American who doesn't know a lot about running just to gauge their reaction. Hehe.

First, I ran 3 miles, normal speed, surprised to see that my old faithful 6.0 was too easy for me. Awesome. So I cranked it up to 7.0 and still felt great. Put the incline on 1.0, even though people debate whether that's useful or not I figured it couldn't hurt, and I started cruising.

But I had no music. And the ESPN sportscenter was soundless and repetitive.

So after 3 miles, I thought, hmm, maybe I'll jump on the bike. That lasted a minute, and I went back to the treadmill and ran another mile.

Good, halfway there.

But then my motivation totally crashed. I was done. Sweaty and sad, I got off the treadmill, went on the elliptical for a minute, felt frustrated, and then ran to a treadmill by the giant fan. Oh, relief.

For a second.

Then I felt crappy again. So here the fartleks start.

First, I ran for 3 minutes, then I walked for a bit, then I bumped it up to 8.0 and ran for a minute. Then, walk for two minutes. Repeat, this time, bumping it to 8.5. Then again, at 9.0. Then again at 9.5. Then one last time at 10.0

FINISHED!

It was awesome. Wow, my brain just wrote that. No joke. My subconscious is playing evil tricks on my soul. I meant, it was AWFUL. I do NOT recommend. NO NO NO.

But, my favorite race EVER is this weekend. Brad and I are running 7 Friday night (fingers crossed), after I whip up some chili for Melissa's Bachelorette Shindig. Then, Saturday at 11:00, I'll toe the line, probably not feeling rested, probably not peaked to PR, but happy. I cannnnnotttt wait! I love it, I love it, I love it! The included picture is from 2010's MTT. Let's get it, 2011!

Pioneer Woman's Make You Cry Pecan Pie

In the spirit of Thanksgiving being a week away, I decided to test run a pecan pie receipe I borrowed from thepioneerwoman.com. She promised that this would be the pie that would make me cry, so I just had to attempt it. I changed a few things around due to time constraints, ingredient availability, and health (I didn't want to go into 100% sugar shock. 99% seemed ok for me).

So, here's the scoop: to see the original recipe and awesome pictures, check out

ThePioneerWoman.Com 's link:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/the-pie-thatll-make-you-cry/


My ingredients:
1 reduced fat graham cracker crust premade and on sale at the grocery store
1 cup White Sugar
3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 cup Corn Syrup (I used light, mostly because that was the only option)
3/4 teaspoons Vanilla
1/3 cup Melted Butter (salted)
3 whole Eggs Beaten
1 cup (heaping) Chopped Pecans

--Now, I did have extra sauce, so I'm wondering if all that butter is necessary. The Paula Deen in me wants to scream, "OF COURSE!" but my brain is not entirely convinced.

Anyway, mix everything together except the pecans.

Spill the pecans into the empty pie crust. Pour the liquid over.

I baked it for 30 minutes covered in foil, then 20 minutes uncovered, and then another 20 minutes covered again, all at 350 degrees. Came out PERFECT. It should not jiggle when you take it out of the oven. Let it set for a bit, and then prepare for an awesome sugar rush! Or, do as I did, and take it to work to share with the co-workers. Happy Thanksgiving! Now go run a turkey trot!

Muscle Maker Grill: Healthy Fast Food Alternative From the Dirty Jerz

So last night, after our 12 mile run, Brad and I headed to the MUSCLE MAKER GRILL in Wall, NJ for some post-run fuel. Grrr. Argh. Ahhh. Sorry, had to throw in some juicehead grunts. However, I was pleasantly surprised with my rather large "healthy" meal. I got the MMG Signature Wrap which is chicken, turkey bacon, romaine, red onions, tomatoes, and their 0 carb signature sauce (I'm thinking mayo with olive oil, sugar-free ketchup, a little bit of dry mustard... something along those lines). Plus, we both chose to get the steamed broccoli (nothing on it) on the side. The wrap was delicious, albeit a tad spicy for Brad, but I loved it. And they also have salads, whole wheat pastas, and protein-packed ice cream and smoothies.

Can't you just see my bulging biceps and tremendous triceps?

Anyway, food was delicious, they substitute all the right ingredients (romaine for iceberg, low fat cheese instead of American, whole wheat/brown vs white, low fat sour cream...) and you don't feel disgusting when you leave. Even if you imbibe a chocolate muscle maker shake (which I loved). Plus, you choose whether you're going for low carb, heavy protein, or just low calorie. All options are available depending on your dietary needs/beliefs.

musclemakergrill.com

So check it out, work out fanatics! It's Jersey Born and Jersey Strong.

Image c/o: itsalifestylefitness.com

Marathon Boy

HBO has a special documentary this month about Bhudia Singh, a small 4 year old boy in India who ran 42 miles in 7 hours and 2 minutes and earned the heart of his country. Until child wellfare took it all away--Bhudia, whose own mother sold him for 800 rupees, was eventually put in the care of "Sir" a man who believed in social justice and fed, sheltered, and clothed orphans. Bhudia became a runner for Sir, running all sorts of distances and stunts, until child wellfare thought it best that he be returned to his real mother and head back to the slums. Chaos breaks out, and eventually Sir is murdered. Quite a story. Check it out if you have some time. Worth a view.

Which adds to my "Why YOU can run a marathon!" If a 4 year old can do it, so can you!

Picure c/o http://withfriendship.com/user/gjsenthil/bhudia-singh.php

Raceless Weekend

Raceless weekend. One of the only few in the next month... but that doesn't mean no running...

Though I will admit, the races are what keeps me motivated. Without them, I probably would give in to the pull of the couch, sweatpants, and mindless television viewing.

Today: 7 miles and yoga, Saturday: 12 miles (whoo Manasquan reservoir), then 5 on Monday and 8 on Wednesday (including the Run-A-Thon here at school!) and 12 next weekend as well... Plus Turkey Trot 5 miler. Mileage is getting rather high, and the continuous icing is ok as long as it doesn't transform itself into during-the-day pain.
But uber excited about a 3 day weekend!

What keeps you motivated?

(Image from: http://www.activevegetarian.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/no_motivation.jpg)

Moroccan Delicious Healthy-ness

Felt like trying something a bit different tonight. Found a recipe on skinnygourmet.blogspot.com for a Moroccan stew. Thought, "Ok, let's give it a whirl."

Flavor sensation!

Pretty simple. In a pot, boil 1 1/4 cup water. Add some salt if you feel frisky.
Add 1 cup cous cous (I prefer the whole wheat pearl variety: a bit more substantial)
Cook for about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Meanwhile, in a big pot, simmer some oil with 1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tsp chili powder, and 1 tsp cumin and a bit of salt.
After about 1 minute, add a chopped onion.
Let the onion simmer until it starts to get translucent. Then add 1 zucchini (or 2 smalls, since that's what I could find).

Let that all hang out for a minute or two, and then add 1 can of diced tomatoes (you pay for what you get. I always get the Italian variety. This time I went with TuttoRosso) and 1 can chick peas (Go Goya!). I also added chicken that I seasoned with cinnamon, chili powder, and cumin. Let it all mingle for about 5-10 minutes.

Serve the stew over the cous cous and enjoy the flavor sensation in your mouth. It's like pop rocks.

*Recommended with some wine. "Some" being a loose definition.

Mid-Hudson Runners: 25K -- RU YO Represent!

Signed up for another race today... figured it might be good to have a distance race between the half and the marathon in January...

So Thanksgiving morning, we'll be driving an hour and a half upstate so we can run a 25K.

That's 15.5 miles for those of you that don't drive in kilometers.

And, yes, we paid for this. But there's a long sleeve technical shirt in it for us, and then as MUCH TURKEY AS WE CAN DEVOUR! And mashed potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy... et cetera et cetera et cetera! No guilt. Now, that's something to be thankful for!

So get your eating pants (elastic waist bands) ready!

If you want to run with the big guns, join in the fun:

Picture courtesy of the Mid-Hudson Runners Facebook site:

Why YOU can be a Marathoner

I've been thinking about marathoning a lot lately. Here are some reasons to run when you think you can't...

1) Amazing article in the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/27/sports/27marathon.html?adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1320768838-DbwLIVifBY%2FuolsWDDkfBw. Summary: In 1977,8 year old Wesley Paul ran the NYC marathon in 3:00 and 31 seconds. He wasn't even five feet tall. A few older guys, (9 year olds) ran it as well until they finally initiated an age requirement in the 1981 (16 is the youngest age). You don't have to do it in 3:00, but if a little kid could do it, so can you.

2) That 100 year old turbaned-tornado guy that I posted about previously. If a 100 year old man can do it, so can you.

3) The Biggest Loser contestants will run a marathon at the end of the show. If they can do it, so can you.

4) People who have lost their leg(s). http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/twenty-six-miles-along-recoverys-road/ If they can do it, you can do it.

5) Over 47,000 people in New York alone can't be wrong.

(Picture from: http://www.google.com/imgres?start=80&num=10&hl=en&biw=1279&bih=613&tbm=isch&tbnid=5AVqV8fmxMqMfM:&imgrefurl=http://www.utalkmarketing.com/Pages/CreativeShowcase.aspx%3FArticleID%3D1813%26Filter%3D0%26Keywords%3D%26Order%3DLATEST%26Page%3D263%26Title%3DFlora_London_Marathon_press_ad&docid=Jst8-PBLEHi7AM&imgurl=http://www.utalkmarketing.com/UTMImages/Old/633129415370156250.JPG&w=452&h=578&ei=S8S5ToyuEYPqtger4JXaBw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=368&vpy=67&dur=1103&hovh=254&hovw=198&tx=116&ty=150&sig=107597999257245419870&sqi=2&page=5&tbnh=127&tbnw=109&ndsp=21&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:80)

Red Mill Instant Oatmeal: The Best Way to Fuel Your Morning

So my Keurig has made me lazy. It's true. Instead of going through the trouble of picking out the right roast, finding a way to grind it, not spilling it somehow between the coffee bag and the filter, and then cleaning everything at the end (or more likely the next morning when I have to because I want to use it again), I now pop a canister into the stated location, close the lid, and wait thirty seconds as I read about how my union wants me to occupy Wall Street. Crazy world. So why not settle down with some steaming, perfectly brewed love. I'm crushing on the caramel apple pie and the gingerbread varieties right now; they really make a work morning a little bit brighter.

So, because I've been so lazy with my coffee, I also find myself lazy with breakfast. Granola bar and out the door. So I decided to try a little teensy-bit harder, and I purchased the Red Mill instant oats. (When I'm ready for a real breakfast, I'll do non-instant. Baby steps, people.)

Simply 1/2 cup of oats + 1 cup water + microwave for 1:45. That simple.

And they taste creamy! First time in a long time I ate all my oatmeal. Warm, slightly sweet, and satisfying. The stuff you expected when your mom told you it would stick to your ribs on a cold November morning, and then fed you watery slush that made you gag (or at least in my family...). I've already reviewed Bob's Red Mill before, but everything I buy from this company exceeds my ever growing expectations. I highly recommended all of it--I can't wait to try the waffle flour and other amazing varieties. These oats are gluten free, wheat free, diary free, 100% whole grain, and delicious. 180 calories per serving, 0mg sodium, 5g fiber, and 7g protein. Now that will fuel a long run!

http://www.bobsredmill.com

Breakfast for Dinner: Delicious Waffles

Can't run today. Slightly reinjured inner thigh, and I definitely do NOT want to completely reinjure it. I want to run! So, I decided that waffles for dinner sounded uber terrific. (After having a bunch of wasa crackers with guacamole and salsa earlier). Now, I've made waffles before, but this particular waffle was so light, so melt-in-your-mouth delicious, that I just HAD to post the recipe and the picture. So, here's what I did...

Mostly, I followed the golden malt directions. Golden Malt is the brand they use at the ski resorts in Vermont. That is comprised of 4 tbsp butter, 1 1/4 cups water, 2 cups golden malted mix, and 2 eggs. Then, I added about 1 tsp of pure vanilla extract, 2 tsp cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup. Mix it up all good, set your waffle maker to 4, and voila. Golden Malted amazingness. Sigh.

NYRR: Win Non-Complimentary Entrance to NYC Marathon 2012

On NYRR.org:

Win Guaranteed Entry to the 2012 Marathon
Special opportunity: On November 6 & 7, tell us you’re interested in running the ING New York City Marathon 2012 , and we’ll contact you as soon as the application opens. Plus, you’ll be automatically entered into a sweepstakes for a chance to win one of 43 non-complimentary guaranteed entries to the marathon’s 43rd running; 10 of those winners will also receive a Grand Prize of non-complimentary guaranteed entry to the 2012 NYC Half and a free NYRR training program. [Learn more and enter the sweepstakes]

This would be amazing... Unfortunately, their little Monday quest where you take a picture of yourself holding a specific marathon-approved item in the pavilion in Central Park is a little difficult when you're a teacher and you have an actual job and you only have from 9:00 AM 'til 1:00 PM... But I did submit a reason, so you never know...


As stated via e-mail:

Marathon Monday Mania is coming to town, and you don't want to miss it. Enter our special sweepstakes in New York on Monday, November 7, and you could win non-complimentary guaranteed entry to the ING New York City Marathon 2012.

Show us that you're the ultimate ING New York City Marathon runner by following our contest rules to win:

• Take a photo of yourself holding a special marathon item at the Marathon Pavilion (67th Street and Central Park West) on Monday between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.; check out the eligible items on our site.

• Show that photo—yes, it can be on your camera or on your phone—to an NYRR representative in front of the Marathon Pavilion to receive a copy of the full contest rules and a contest form. You can also "Like" us on Facebook, and then post the photo for the world to see.

• Fill out that form with your e-mail address, so we can enter you into our database to receive notification when the ING New York City Marathon 2012 non-guaranteed entry application launches.

• Hand the completed form back to an NYRR representative in front of the Marathon Pavilion by 1:00 p.m. or bring it to our 9 East 89th Street headquarters and give it to our reception desk by 7:00 p.m. (on Monday) to be entered into this sweepstakes to win a non-complimentary guaranteed entry to the ING New York City Marathon on November 4, 2012.

This is your chance to win a guaranteed spot before other runners can even apply for the non-guaranteed entry drawing. Two winners will be chosen in a random drawing on Tuesday, November 8, and posted on our site and our Facebook page.


Marathon Monday Mania Sweepstakes
On Marathon Monday—November 7, 2011—you have a special opportunity to
enter a contest to win a very exciting prize: one guaranteed entry* for the
ING New York City Marathon 2012 on November 4, 2012!

Rules of Sweepstakes

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
On Monday, November 7, between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., take a photo of yourself holding one of the following items in front of the Marathon Pavilion (adjacent to the marathon finish in Central Park):

• Your finisher medal

• Your marathon race bib

• A bottle of Poland Spring water

• An article of ASICS clothing showing their brand mark

• A Timex watch

• A United Airlines ticket showing their brand mark

• A photo of Mario Lopez
• A packet of Emerald Nuts

• A copy of the New York Times showing Monday's Marathon results page

• A Subway sandwich in its branded wrapper

• A cup of Dunkin' Donuts coffee showing their brand mark

• A Team for Kids shirt

• A pair of Yurbuds or a face painting by Yurbuds


Show your photo to the NYRR representative on site and you will receive a copy of the contest rules and a print application that you must complete and return to the representative there by 1:00 p.m. or to the reception desk at NYRR, 9 East 89th Street, by 7:00 pm on November 7, 2011, to be entered for your chance to win one of two (2) two guaranteed entries* to the ING New York City Marathon 2012.

The e-mail address you provide on your contest application will be used to automatically enter you in the notification database for the opening of the ING New York City Marathon 2012 non-guaranteed entry application process.

Be sure to go to Facebook.com/INGNYCM, "Like" the page, and upload your photo for others to see!

Winners will be posted on NYRR's Facebook and websites and via e-mail on Tuesday, November 8, 2011

*Picture is from their email.

YONKERSRUNNER.COM

So, to make my quest easier to find and read and share with friends, I have created the very simple web URL:

YONKERSRUNNER.COM!

Facebook it, tweet it, share it with someone who likes running and food, or just read it. Either way. :-D

Charleston, SC: Official Marathon Transactions

As I sit here icing my strained inner thigh (again), I can officially state that Bradford and I have signed up for our first marathon! We switched from the half to the full, so on Saturday, Jan. 14, we will toe the line for our longest run EVER! Totally hoping the leg stands up to the training beat down. Fingers crossed. Plane tickets have been purchased as well ($170! Awesome price!)

So fly on down to Charles' Town MLK weekend and cheer for us as we embark on this life altering journey. All before Brad (and I) turn 30. What what!

http://www.charlestonmarathon.com

NYC Marathon, Dean Karnazes, and Apple-Spiced Muffins from Kat

Brad, Kat, Kat's friend Kyle, and I headed down to 110th and 5th Ave today to watch the marathon. Before spectating, Brad and I ran 10 miles on the newly opened South County Trail. Awesome run, though freezing, as demonstrated by the white layer of frost covering all vegetation and vehicles this morning. Then, we showered, hopped on the 1, and proceeded to Kat's apartment to be fed apple-cinnamon-raisin-walnut muffin amazingness (ala Kat) and bottomless coffee.

We missed the front runners of the women, but we saw the men, and boy were they cooking. Mutai had a new world record for the course on this perfect November day, so it was super cool to see the course record shattered by 2 minutes! We were right before mile 23, so they were definitely in the home stretch.

Kat is a master cheer-er, getting smiles, thumbs up, thanks, and nods. Meanwhile, I spotted Dean Karnazes. I said, "That's Dean Karnazes!" and then hollered "GO DEAN!" He turned around, smiled, and fist-pumped. Total awesomeness. He wasn't wearing his name or anything to identify him as a "celebrity" so it was really cool that I recognized him.

Also saw Apolo Ohno, the Olympic speed skater, who was running for Team Subway and charity.

We left after the 3:40 pace crew came through. Tired, hungry, and ready for some football. But definitely worth checking out if you ever happen to be in NYC for the marathon. Completely and utterly inspirational.

Beauty and the Beach

On a blustery November morning, Ursula and I trekked out to Long Branch for the 5 mile Beauty and the Beach all-women run. Ursula was supported by HER HUSBAND, and both of us were supported by Beebe and Shea-dog.

The night before we picked up our packets, surprised to find bags awaiting us. An awesome long-sleeved technical t-shirt, a water bottle, gu, gu chomps, a luna bar, various papers, et cetera. Ursula purchased a running belt and some more gu, 'cause nothing beats a little gu when you're feeling down! We said our goodbyes, and each went our separate ways, to indulge in pasta and wine pre-race dinners. (Ursula: whole wheat pasta and marinara, Jamie, chicken pad thai from Bamboo Leaf. Delicious happiness!)

So this morning as we lined up for the race, goosebumps and all, we jumped around to the sounds of the DJ for warmth and shared training tips. Then, we ran off into the horizon, looped around, headed back, waved at Beebe, Shea, and THE HUSBAND, got our picture taken, and kept running. We looped around again, head down to purport to avoid the driving gale forces, and smiled again for Shea, Beebe, and THE HUSBAND, finally crossing the line in a very respectable 56:46! (By very respectable I mean totally awesome!) We picked up some grub and water, and basked in the glory of running 5 miles on a frigid November morn. A good time with a great friend!

New Name!

So, this is now found under yonkersrunner.blogspot.com

Mostly because I'm writing less about restaurants and more about running and cooking.

So there you have it. Yonkersrunner. That's me!

Girls on the Run

Beauty and the Beach on Saturday!

Very excited.

I ran 7 miles twice this week already, and also hitting the gym for some strength training. Marathon expo tomorrow with Kat, and then yoga in Bronxville with Beebe. Friday night, heading down the shore, and picking up race essentials, and then running 5 miles with the girls (and picking up my 3rd place in the Dog Trot!) on Saturday. Sunday, running 10 and then heading to the "real" Bronx to watch some of the marathon. Hoping for good weather, lots of smiles, and getting through this work week!

Awesome, healthy chili for dinner, which will last through the week, so I won't have to worry about Brad since he's working late for the next 3 days. Also managed to make banana bread and pumpkin-brownies this week. And, we saw Rum Diaries last night (dinner and a movie Tuesdays!). Movie was ok, made me want a tan, rum, a tan, to be warm, to be in the Caribbean, and a tan really badly. Not nearly as wild as Fear and Loathing, and a little odd--not a comedy, not a drama, but I don't totally regret seeing it. Plus, the inexpensive salmon dinner at the theater (Studio 3) with a nice Sam can't be beat. Yardhouse is open, so we'll hit that up next Tuesday. Crazy week already. Trust me, I'm baffled at the amount I've managed to jam pack into this week already.

Power Outage Pumpkin Carving and Pie Making: Merry Christmas! Or, Happy Halloween, rather

So, last night, powerless, I decided to prep pumpkin pie while I waited for the power to come back on. Unfortunately, the power never came back on. So now, I'm over at my parents house, watching football, baking said pumpkin pie. But this is what my kitchen looked like last night...

Then, since the power didn't come back on, we decided to take pumpkins to the next level and carve ours from Hinck's Turkey Farm down the shore. It was not easy to carve the pumpkins by candlelight, but they turned out ok. Can you guess Bradford's from Jamie's? Hehe.

So, if you want to make the best pumpkin pie recipe ever, c/o Martha Stewarts wholeliving.com, I'm including the directions. Very simple, simple enough to make on a snowy October night when you have absolutely no power.

As the website states:
"Pure maple syrup, rather than sugar, sweetens this holiday favorite. Canned pumpkin puree is quick and easy to use. Don't substitute fresh pumpkin puree; it will be too watery.

Per serving: 265 calories; 5 g protein; 12 g fat; 35 g carb.

Prep: 30 minutes
Total: 4 hours 30 minutes
Ingredients

Makes 8 servings

CRUST
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup whole-wheat flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold butter, cut into pieces
2 teaspoons cider vinegar
2 tablespoons ice water
FILLING
1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin-pie filling)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
TOPPING (OPTIONAL)
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
4 teaspoons to 2 tablespoons sugar

Directions

To make the crust, in a medium bowl, stir together flours, sugar, and salt until combined. With a pastry blender or two knives, cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse meal with a few pea-size pieces remaining. Stir in vinegar and ice water until mixture just comes together (add more water if necessary). Wrap in plastic; refrigerate 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 375. On a lightly floured surface, roll dough out to a 12-inch round and fit into a 9-inch pie plate, making a fluted edge. Place on a rimmed baking sheet.
In a large bowl, combine pumpkin puree, eggs, maple syrup, milk, vanilla, and salt. Pour into unbaked pie shell. Bake about 50 minutes or until set, checking pie after 30 minutes and tenting edges if browning too quickly. Transfer pie to a wire rack to cool for an hour before transferring to refrigerator to cool completely.
To serve, in a small bowl stir together sour cream and sugar to taste. Serve pie with a dollop of cream, if desired."

GTL

Gym, Tempo, Long

That's the story of our lives right now. I'm reading the most famous Marathon book in the game right now, which is "Marathon" by Hal Higdon. This is the 4th edition, and I picked it up at B&N the other day (along with Nancy Clark's "Marathon Nutrition") while I was attending a PD on Thursday (yes, on parent-teacher conference day). It's fascinating, informative, and motivational, although I think we're going to stick with Runners' World's training plan for now since that's what we used for the half and we felt really good about it. So, long runs on Saturday or Sunday (depending on weather and when we can fit them in). Short runs on Mondays, and longer midweek runs on Wednesdays (peaking at 10 miles). Then, gym on Tues and Thurs, with chest, tris, and shoulders on Tues (the worst!) and back, bis and legs on Thursday. And there's some scattered races on Saturdays which we'll add in for extra mileage.

The book has some great tips though, for half marathoning and marathoning, and makes you want to go the distance. It's interesting because it actually explains reasons behind things that other magazines/articles/novels just tell you to do. Now I know WHY. Plus, running will add 6-9 years to my life. And I love life. I would have read more, but I managed to cut my eye (again) and the pain has been too much to stand. Being at work was awful, as light makes it worse and all I wanted to do was put on a pirate eye patch and an ice pack. Only me. Sigh. Though, I have my follow up appointment today and it should be all better with the stinging antibiotics I've been dropping into my eyes every 4 hours. Which is awesome, because running with glasses in "wintery mix" and on trails with rocks and twigs is NOT fun. Imagine! Snow in October! Trick or Treat?

So, motivational quote of the day, "Tough times don't last but tough people do."
A.C. Green

Doogie Howser, M.D. End of Episode Message

Cue: Blinking Cursor

So, today I learned something about myself. I am not fast. Brad and I challenged ourselves to run with the Bronxville Running Company Wednesday night groups, knowing that these young men would be much, MUCH faster than we are. They all qualified for the NYC marathon, legitimately. Like, by time. But, I had no idea that the people who attend this group were insanely fast as well. The lead pack dipped down to 6 minute miles at one point, and an old guy seriously called himself a straggler because he was running 7:23 minute miles. (This was a 5 mile run). Meanwhile, Brad and I were desperately trying to keep this just-under-50-years-old guy in our sights so we didn't get completely lost (since we had no clue where we were going). And then that guy, a very nice guy named Norm, told us that he was the last of the "slow pack." Right. I think we ran that in 40 minutes or less. And there were crazy, CRAZY hills. But, don't fret, Brad and I will be back next Wednesday, pushing ourselves to be stronger, faster, better. Plus, I found out they go out to dinner afterwards and split the bill. Maybe we'll make some new friends. And we may even attend the Sunday hour and a half run at the Rocky's at 8am with the Bronxville Running Co. Because how else do you get faster than by running with people who can blow you out of the water?

(Pause, cue blinking cursor again).

It was a good day, because I learned a lot about myself and my goals. And I will meet them.

Trick or Trot: A New PR

Down in Long Branch, NJ, Brad and I ran our first 5k since the Woodlawn one on Sept. 17th. Beautiful day, helpful volunteers, and high hopes. After partying like it was 1999 the entire day before, we still had a positive attitude and expected to do well. I was aiming for 26 minutes. Well, we crushed that, coming in at 23:56 according to the clock, and we didn't cross the start line for at least 15 seconds (which brings our time down even farther). I was the 4th costumed female to cross the finish line (I was a jester), and I also found out later that I came in 3rd in my division (20-29 year olds). Holy crap! I'm hoping that JSRC can send me my award since I couldn't stay for the ceremony due to Melissa's bridal shower. But awesome! 2 awards! I'm going to need a new room for trophies. Even cooler, Brad came in 6th in his division (we finished together, as per usual) which is major-league impressive, and we were 38 and 39th overall out of a field of over 300. Boo-ya!!!

Fingers Crossed; I know it's cheesy, but I want my 3rd place kudos!

Planet Fitness and the Inability to Wash My Hair

So Brad and I are taking a few days off from running this week to recoup from our awesome half. But we're not taking time off from exercise! Instead, we're back in the gym lifting 2 days a week in between our "Marathon" training Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sat/Sundays. Instead of the manly 3 days, we're doing shoulders, tris and chest and then biceps, back, and legs on Tues and Thurs respectively. Plus, my Thursday yoga. And long runs up to 20 miles eventually (like Christmas Eve!). Ah!

Therefore, my arms are so sore I can't even lift them. Running starts again Sunday. Oh boy oh boy! I'm already exhausted just thinking about this. And typing hurts!

Bradford's Fat Tuesday Celebration

For some reason, television loves makeover shows on Tuesday nights. MTV's "I Used to Be Fat" coupled with "The Biggest Loser" make for some quality inspirational viewing. Last week, we saw this recipe on the Biggest Loser, and Brad thought it looked good, even though it had peppers and onions in it. So tonight, he made it. And it was delicious! I'm so proud.

Ingredients
Olive oil spray
1/2 cup minced onion
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1.25 pounds of extra-lean ground turkey
Salt to taste
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup low-sodium tomato sauce
1 cup fat-free low-sodium chicken broth, divided
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro or parsley
3 large sweet red bell peppers, washed
1/4 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly coat a large nonstick skillet with olive oil cooking spray; heat over medium heat. Add onion and garlic to the pan. Saute about 2 minutes, or until softened. Add extra-lean ground turkey to the pan. Season to taste with salt, then add garlic powder and ground cumin. Break meat apart and cook over medium heat for 10 - 12 minutes or until lightly browned, no longer pink, juices are clear and meat reaches an internal temperature of 165° F. Add 1/4 cup of tomato sauce and 1/2 cup chicken broth to the pan. Reduce heat and simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes. Add chopped fresh cilantro or parsley to the turkey mixture. There will be about 2 cups of turkey mixture.

Cut bell peppers in half lengthwise and remove seeds and stem. Put in baking dish and spoon about 1/3 cup of the turkey mixture into each pepper half. Place all stuffed peppers on a baking dish and pour the rest of the chicken broth in the bottom of the pan. Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. When done, sprinkle with cheese before serving.

Nutritional information (per serving)
Calories 140
Fat calories 20
Total fat 2.5 grams
Saturated fat .5 grams
Cholesterol 35 milligrams
Sodium 150 milligrams
Total carbohydrates 10 grams
Fiber 2 grams
Sugars 5 grams

(From: http://www.nbc.com/the-biggest-loser/exclusives/nutrition/contestant-recipes/hannahs-turkey-stuffed-peppers/ )

A Guaranteed Way to Win Your Age Group: Turbaned Tornado's The MAN

Just had to share this story.... What have YOU done today?

Runners' World comment by Mark Remy:

100-Year-Old Finishes Marathon, Makes Me Feel Like a Lazy Bum
October 16, 2011 8:38 pm

I was supposed to run 18 miles Sunday. Instead, I ran zero.

Why? Because I woke up feeling groggy and "kind of nauseous."

So I was already feeling pretty pathetic when I rolled out of bed and wound up reading this:

(Article from )

100-year-old marathoner sets record in Toronto
Fauja Singh finishes in 8 hours to become oldest person to complete full marathon
The Associated Press
Posted: Oct 16, 2011 7:44 PM ET

'Turbaned Tornado' sets sights on age record

Play icon100-year-old Fauja Singh finishes Toronto's waterfront marathon in 8 hours, 11 minutes and 5.9 seconds and sets a world record. Turbaned Tornado sets record0:00
Beginning of Story Content

Fauja Singh secured a spot in the Guiness World Book of Records on Sunday at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.

The 100-year-old accomplished an amazing feat, completing the gruelling 42.195-kilometre marathon and becoming the oldest person ever to complete a full-distance marathon.

It took Singh over eight hours to cross the finish line — more than six hours after Kenya's Kenneth Mungara won the event for the fourth straight year — and he was the last competitor to complete the course. But his time wasn't nearly remarkable as the accomplishment itself.

"Beating his original prediction, he's overjoyed," said coach and translator Harmander Singh. "Earlier, just before we came around the [final] corner, he said, 'Achieving this will be like getting married again.'

"He's absolutely overjoyed, he's achieved his life-long wish."

Although event workers dismantled the barricades along the finish line and took down sponsor banners even as Fauja Singh made his way up the final few hundred metres of the race, a throng of media, family, friends and supporters were there when Fauja Singh made marathon history.

And Fauja Singh, who only speaks Punjabi, also surprised himself. Through his interpreter, he said he had set a goal of finishing the race in about nine hours.

"He said he achieved this through the help of God but even God must be getting fed up of helping him," Harmander Singh said, drawing chuckles from assembled media after the race.

Sunday's run was Fauja Singh's eighth marathon — he ran his first at the tender age of 89 — and wasn't the first time he set a record. In the 2003 Toronto event, he set the mark in the 90-plus category, finishing the race in five hours 40 minutes and one second.

And on Thursday in Toronto, Fauja Singh — whose first name means soldier — broke world records for runners older than 100 in eight different distances ranging from 100 metres to 5,000 metres.

Fauja Singh, a five-foot-eight, 115-pound British citizen and vegetarian, looked tired and spent following the race and organizers gingerly assisted him to the post-event news conference. After receiving gentle massages to his legs and calf muscles as well as cups of water from members of his entourage, Singh leaned back on a couch and spoke little to start the news conference.

But a short time into it, he began looking remarkably relaxed and fresh with his hands clasped behind his head. Then, he abruptly sat up straight and with a smile, motioned for the microphone, obviously getting his second wind.

"He says he's recovered now so he's going to talk," his translator said, again drawing laughter.

Fauja Singh, affectionately dubbed the Turbaned Tornado, began running roughly 20 years ago after losing his wife and child. The five-foot-eight centenarian said he's happy to see more minorities taking part in such marathon events and is hopeful his next project will be participating in the torch relay for the 2012 London Summer Games.

Fauja Singh carried the torch during the relay for the 2004 Athens Games.

Race director Alan Brookes struggled to find the right words to describe Fauja Singh's remarkable accomplishment.

"I'm speechless," he said. "Fauja Singh is a remarkable human being."

Seaside Half Marathon

Fist-Pumping Half Marathon, and Jose's After-Run Glory

Brad and I ran the Seaside Half today in glorious weather and a glorious time. Surprising even ourselves, we finished in under 2 hours, and that's without an "official" starting time, because we were towards the back of the pack and it took a while to cross the starting line. Plus, we ran negative splits, which means we ran the second half much faster than the first half of the race. And to top it off, after, this guy came over and told us we had a great race and he was trying to stay with us the entire time because we had such a great stride. He did end up passing (flying by, really) us in the last quarter mile, but for all of us it was our first half and it was cool that he thought we were experienced and had run a ton of these. We passed a ton of people on the back stretch, which was a real confidence boost, and the Honey Stinger/Sport Bean combo was a perfect breakfast--no cramps, and plenty of energy. The gu didn't help too much, but the volunteers had gatorade and water at every station, so that was nice. Definitely got some sun.

Afterwards, where else would we head to refuel than Jose's??? Me: shrimp and vegetable burrito. Bradford: chicken chimichangas. Love Jose's. My burrito had a lot of popcorn size shrimp, carrots, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, and celery along with the standard rice and refried beans. And thank goodness, plenty of ooey-gooey cheesy goodness. Brad's chimichangas were golden and covered in cheese, with refried beans and rice on the side and a little tomato/lettuce/salsa on top. Love it!

YUM. Would have taken a picture, but too hungry. Sorry! Will be posting half marathon pictures eventually.

Ursula's Dish on Dish

By: Ursula T-C

To celebrate my birthday, my husband, Kevin, and I decided to try a new (to us) restaurant called DISH in Red Bank, NJ. After a short walk from our apartment to the place, we walked in to the cozy restaurant that was filled with amazing aromas and a very comfortable feel. As soon as we sat at a cute little 2-top against the wall, a bottle of my favorite champagne, Veuve Clicquot, showed up courtesy of my wonderful husband. Because DISH is a BYOB, he had stopped by earlier in the day to drop off the surprise...a very happy little surprise :0)

I had already checked out the menu online before we went as I do with most restaurants, the happy burden of a true foodie. The menu is short and sweet but satisfies all tastes. On Tuesday and Wednesday nights, DISH actually offers a prefixe menu which includes an appetizer (either a soup, salad or app), an entree (3 to choose from) and chef's choice on dessert all for only $25!

Since I had already read the menu online, I had basically picked what I wanted until I heard the specials...I heard blue cheese, lobster, and salmon and I was sold. I chose the wedge of lettuce with fresh, homemade blue cheese dressing with bacon bits and the lobster encrusted salmon with rosemary potatoes and asparagus and carrots specials while my husband chose shrimp wrapped in bacon and, as always, a meat dish - stout braised beef short ribs. My mouth is watering again even as I type this.

As we waited for our appetizers and enjoyed our champagne, I took a look around the restaurant. Its cozy, only about 15 tables, plates used as decoration on the wall. The restaurant looks like a store front from the outside with a huge show-window up front. Not too loud. Intimate enough for a romantic couple dinner but also feel comfortable with a bigger group of people..

Our appetizers came. My salad ended up being about 10 leaves of fresh, crispy lettuce with a TON of the homemade blue cheese dressing poured over it with bacon chunks sprinkled on top. Don't get me wrong, I love me some blue cheese dressing but the amount was obscene. I scraped off most of the dressing and still enjoyed the salad but wish there wasn't so much. I had such a big a pile of leftover dressing on the plate that when the waitress came to pick it up, she actually took my salad fork and poked in the blob to ensure there wasn't anything left in there! Hopefully they don't waste so much in the future.

On the other hand, Kevin's appetizer was glorious. The shrimp were each a very good size and perfectly wrapped in bacon. On the bottom of the plate there was a wonderful surprise...cheese grits. On the menu it is written quite small below the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp wording so it was forgotten until the plate showed up. Kevin is not very adventure and though he tried a small bite, I was the receiver of this deliciousness. The cheese grits tasted like Italian polenta but a cheesy version instead of a potato undertone...and it was wonderful. There was only a small amount and I savored every bite.

Next came out entrees, lobster encrusted salmon dish was beautifully presented while Kevin's short ribs were a splendid pile of meat. We dug right in and didn't speak for a good five minutes other than groans of delight. My salmon was great, the encrusted lobster actually ended up being kind of a lobster cream with chunks of lobster in it that was a layer on top of the salmon piece. I think it could have stayed in the oven about 5 minutes longer and it would have been perfection but it was extremely good otherwise - and a large portion as well. The potatoes and veggies weren't anything to write home about but a good side addition.

Now Kevin's dish needs its own paragraph. These short ribs were magnificent. Only a hair behind our amazing short ribs at Mama's Fishhouse in Maui. The food on the plate was a big mash-up but with every, bite you wouldn't wait to get another forkful in your mouth. The meat was perfectly tender and melt in your mouth good. The sauce had small cubes of beets in it so they sucked up the juices of the meat and the sauce. When you took a bite, they burst in your mouth creating pure joy. THEN when you add in the maple sweet potato mashed puree, you pretty much could say I died and went to Heaven tasting this dish. Amazing. It was so sweet and so wonderful. I actually took some of my rosemary potatoes and dipped them onto his plate to soak up some more of these amazing flavors.

After we thought there was no room, the waitress and Kevin convinced me to have dessert...I thought the Veuve was dessert the whole time! :0) I took a gander at the desserts and immediately saw Crème Brûlée. Any time this or flan is on the menu, I order it. So I did. The dessert was ok, I've had better. But it was good. It could have been heated or torched more. I still enjoyed it.

After my 3-course meal and bottle of champagne, I rubbed my belly and we very happily walked home to our apartment a few blocks away. I recommend a walk afterwards because its a lot of food, but absolutely amazingly delicious nonetheless. Go. To. DISH.

Image# 0389 - short ribs - blurry because the plate was steaming!
Image # 0390 - lobster encrusted salmon
Image # 0392 - creme brulee

Thursday Night Yogurt

Ok, so I really mean yoga, but Bradford insists on calling it yogurt. For the past few Thursdays, I've been attending yoga at the Bronxville adult school. The lady who runs the beginner class is older and calm, and it's great because it is a true beginner class, full of people who are as inflexible as I am! Having once upon a time done ballet and acrobatics (gymnastics with a ballet slowness/twist), it's super, uber frustrating to stretch in poses I used to do no problem and now find myself hoping will end because I can barely purport to do them. But, it is more relaxing than I thought it would be.

So this Thursday, Brad and I have advanced screening tickets to the new Jack Black/Owen Wilson flick, so I can't go to yoga. So I Netflixed it tonight and did the Crunch candlelight on demand yoga. And demanding it was, much more so than the class. And it's even more frustrating because you see these people do the poses the way they were meant to be done--bent in half like pretzels. But if you can get over your ego, it's actually a very nice stretching video and rather relaxing in the end. Hoping it will help my running, since dynamic stretching got me all injured, and static stretching is more for after running rather than before... So go gurt!