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.