Bowl of Berries

* 29 Run a half marathon-COMPLETED March 28, 2009

I didn’t think I would actually complete this goal but this past Saturday, Scottie and I both accomplished this fantastic feat!

The morning started off  early, 6am the alarm went off and I opened my eyes and my heart instantly started pumping fast.  It was almost like Christmas or Prom (for girls), you wait so long for one day…you prepare and plan and the morning of that event you just wake up excited.  I quietly crept downstairs so as to not wake up Mom and Dad.  I toasted up an english muffin, slathered it in almond butter and grabbed a banana and a glass of water.  I sat down and realized there is nothing on at 8am on Saturday monring.  After numerous infomercials I ended up on CNN where I became an expert on the floods in North Dakota.  At 6:45 I woke Mom and Dad up with cups and coffee and got ready.  I had packed up my gym bag with extra clothes, Larabars and my race number. At 7:15 we were out the door to pick up Scottie.  We were right on scheudle, or so I thought.  Somehow the drive to downtown took much longer then anticipated and as the clock crept closer to 8am, Scottie and I pnned our numbers on, adjusted our knee vraces and got ready to bolt out the car.  Mom and Dad parked the car and Scottie and I raced to the hotel to get our timing chip.  My hands were shaking because I was nervous, excited/ freaking out because we were going to be late!  We ran to the start line and I had just enough time for a porta-potty break and push our way into the crowd of people.  It was at this point that I realized I left my Shot Bloks in the car, I started to freak as I knew I would need that calorie boost about half way through.   I tried not to think about it and instead had to make a point to get some Gatorade at the water stations. No less then 2 minutes later the gun went off, thought it took up about 30 seconds to cross the starting line.

I was in such a state of excitement that I could literally feel the adrenaline pumping and my heart rate racing, and sure enough 1/2 mile into it I had a horrible side cramp.  Of all things to go wrong first, not my knees, it was a side stitch that got me.  So I knew I had to calm myself down and get into a good rythym.  I lost Scottie pretty quickly as we did the first couple miles downtown.  I saw Mom and Dad at about 1.5 miles and waved and smiled to them.  I think that was the end of the smiling for me until the end.

After leaving downtown we ran up Hillsborough Street, passing NC State then running near the fairgrounds, this is where I saw my firest mile marker, 6 miles down 7 more to go…not quite halfway.  I started to feel some blisters form which was not good but it wasn’t painful so I tried to block it out.  At mile 8 I hit a weird bliss state.  I got really happy and calm.  We were running througharound the Art Museum and there was a drum circle which really ampted me up.  Then came the evil hills.  About a mile’s worth of hills, I could have killed someone…but I channeled my inner cross country running and barreled up the hills.  I was not going to stop!  The miles after this were a bit of a blur.  I started bargaining in my head that the last 2 miles was simply a run from my house to Scottie’s house and that it woudl be no problem.  I started thinking about food and the massive breakfast I would have after the run, then I got all excited to see Mom and Dad at the finish lne and was trying to figure out how I would be at the finish.  Would I collapse, cry, keep running?  As I made the final turn I see Scottie, I looked for his finishing medal but he was without it, I almost started to cry as he told me he was waiting to finish with me.  This was our goal to finish and we were going to finish together.  I don’t want to think about how long he actually waited but I am so thankful he did.  The last 100 meters were the longest ever but I picked up speed somehow as we approached the finish.

The faces of utter relief

We finished at 2 hours and 20 minutes, 1094 and 1095 out of 1514 finishers.  The time didn’t matter to me I was just happy to be done.  My hips started to bother me near the end so that is something I need to research and work to strengthen.  I inhaled 3 orange slices, a banana and 1.5 Gatorades at the finish.  We met up with my Parents and Scottie’s Mom, who was apparently at the Art museum, but I totally missed her and her pom poms, I was in the zone I suppose.  We chatted for a bit before heading out to the Flying Biscuit for a delicious post race meal.

I was quite sore the rest of the afternoon, but I was able to walk around with Mom that afternoon and stay away for most of the night before crasshing at 10pm.  I soaked in hot salt water which really seemed to help the soreness.  I also need to reserach  and develop a post race plan so I can combat some of the sorness.  Sunday I was still tight but we walked to dogs for about 2 miles which helped alot.  Today I am almost back to normal and even started a new workout DVD this morning (more on that to come.)

Overall, I am beyond proud of our accomplishment.  It’s funny, I don’t really rememebr all of the pain I was in while running those last few miles and am already looking forward to the next race to train for.  Don’t they say childbirth is like that?  You forget all of the pain and focus on the reward?  I do think I will research training plans for a marathon this fall, I will need to decide soon because 26 miles is quite a challenge as compared to 13 miles,  both mentally and physically.  But I am in probably the best shape of my life and I want to keep it up!

Let this also be a lesson that you really can do whatever you want to if you put your mind to it.  Running it just as much mental as it is physical and you really have to believe that you can do it!

Tomorrow is the big day!  After what seems like forever, the half marathon will take place tomorrow morning at 8am!  That is if the thunderstorms hold off,!  I am reserved to the fact that we will probably be running in the rain, which is fine at least it will be about 60 degrees,  much better then the 45 degrees Scottie and I ran in 2 weeks ago.  Today is going to be the longest day ever!  I am excited and nervous at the same time.  I haven’t run all week to try and rest my legs after feeling weird last Saturday.  I am a bit anxious about that but I am trying to visualize a steady run without pain.

My parents drive in tonight and I am super excited that they will be here for this!  I have maps for them so they can walk around downtown while I am pounding the pavement.  I have a nice baked pasta with roasted veggies planned tonight- a far cry from the mounds of spaghetti and canned sauce I used to eat before cross country races in high school!  The again my metabolism is slightly slower then when I was 15

Saturday marks the three month mark from when I first weighed and measured myself and resolved to make some lifestyle changes.  I am proud to say I have lost 10 pounds, almost 4 inches from my belly, 2 from my waist and 2 from my thighs! Woooohooo!  I am quite proud of myself and am excited to take on some new and different activities after this race like mountain biking, tennis, rock climbing and swimming.  Trouble is now I need new pants- it’s a terrible dilemma to have but luckily Mom is coming and can help me find some new clothes.

Tomorrow I will upload pics from the great race! Wish me luck!

So apparently people have been trying to make comments on my blog and the blog has not been cooperating, I just thought no one was reading!  But Scottie fixed it last night.  Thank you Scottie!  So feel free to comment away!  Makes me feel loved

If you are on any sort of diet- you need to look away.  Please.  Don’t blame me for eating something unhealthy  and ruining any sort of diet or plan you are following because I promise you this is not on any “ok” list and I don’t think there are enough points to cover it.  But this may be one of the best cakes I have ever tasted and I am not just saying that because I made it

My friend Kristen finished her PhD on Friday and had a little party to celebarte so ofcourse I offered to make the cake.  Scottie thought I should make a tiered cake but I wanted to go for quality over quantity.  Not that my cakes aren’t all quality but I wanted something special- I mean she just spent like 19 years on her PhD so I felt it warranted an extravagent cake.

Although there are a few steps for this cake it is actually quite easy to make.  I made the cake portion Thursday night and ran home and made the frosting, frosted the cake and made the ganache in about an hour on Friday.  The key is to freeze the layers before you frost them as this is a softer cake and needs to be a bit sturdier for the icing to stay and avoid the whole thing falling apart.  I baked this cake in 2 9-inch pans and then torted them for 4 total layers.  The recipe calls for baking it in 3 pans but I didn’t want to wash another pan.  It wasn’t the easiest thing to torte but I made it work

The cake was amazing.  It was certainly rich and you only need a sliver but the flavor was awesome.  It also has quite the “wow” factor which is always nice for parties like these.  I need another excuse to make and eat this because I do not trust myself with this cake in my house!

I got this recipe originally from Smitten Kitchen.

Sour Cream-Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze
Sky High: Irresistable Triple-Layer Cakes

This cake is INTENSE. Serve it in the thinnest slices possible, and keep a glass of milk handy.

Makes an 8-inch triple-layer cake; serves 12 to 16 (the book says, I say a heck of a lot more)

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch process
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup neutral vegetable oil, such as canola, soybean or vegetable blend
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs

1/2 cup coarsely chopped peanut brittle (I skipped this)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the bottoms and sides of three 8-inch round cakepans. Line the bottom of each pan with a round of parchment or waxed paper and butter the paper.

2. Sift the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Whisk to combine them well. Add the oil and sour cream and whisk to blend. Gradually beat in the water. Blend in the vinegar and vanilla. Whisk in the eggs and beat until well blended. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and be sure the batter is well mixed. Divide among the 3 prepared cake pans.

3. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a cake tester or wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. Let cool in the pans for about 20 minutes. Invert onto wire racks, carefully peel off the paper liners, and let cool completely. Once cooled, wrap each layer in plastic wrap and freeze for a couple hours or overnight.

4. To frost the cake, place one layer, flat side up, on a cake stand or large serving plate. Spread 2/3 cup cup of the Peanut Butter Frosting evenly over the top. Repeat with the next layer. Place the last layer on top and frost the top and sides of the cake with the remaining frosting.  Once the cake is fully frosting, it helps to chill it again and let it firm up. The cooler and more set the peanut butter frosting is, the better drip effect you’ll get from the Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze.

5. To decorate with the Chocolate–Peanut Butter Glaze, put the cake plate on a large baking sheet to catch any drips. Simply pour the glaze over the top of the cake, and using an offset spatula, spread it evenly over the top just to the edges so that it runs down the sides of the cake in long drips. Refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes to allow the glaze and frosting to set completely. Remove about 1 hour before serving. Decorate the top with chopped peanut brittle.

Peanut Butter Frosting
Makes about 5 cups

10 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2/3 cup smooth peanut butter, preferably a commercial brand (because oil doesn’t separate out)

1. In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Gradually add the confectioners’ sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing thoroughly after each addition and scraping down the sides of the bowl often. Continue to beat on medium speed until light and fluffy, 3 to 4 minutes.

2. Add the peanut butter and beat until thoroughly blended.

Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze
Makes about 1 1/2 cups

8 ounces seimsweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
3 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 cup half-and-half

1. In the top of d double boiler or in a bowl set over simmering water, combine the chocolate, peanut butter, and corn syrup. Cook, whisking often, until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.

2. Remove from the heat and whisk in the half-and-half, beating until smooth. Use while still warm.

1. See above my new obsession: kale salad.  I got it off of the Whole Foods salad bar last week, then went back this week for a small container of it (glad it’s light- only cost $1.20!) and I am going to attempt to re-create it this weekend.  It can’t be that hard as the ingredients listed are kale, pine nuts, dried cranberries, olive oil, lemon, salt and pepper.

2.  I am going back and forth about whether I should run this weekend.  I would like to do an easy 6 miles or so but I have been having a bit of shin pain this week and think it may be smart to take it easy.  Maybe we can just go for a long hike.  No rain this weekend yey!  Though they are calling for rain next weekend, 13.1 miles in the rain are going to suck!

3. Tonight my friend Kristen will be celebrating the culmination of years of hard PhD work, I am bringing a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting topped with a peanut butter chocolate ganache- I hope no one has a peanut allergy!

4.  Wiggs is going to help me get perfect bikini abs with her killer swimmer ab workout.  I did these last night and was taken back to high school cross country practice where we were forced to do hundreds of crunches and push-ups!  And I had to roll out of bed as my abs were not working.

5.  I got a pink Blackberry Pearl last weekend and it is officially my Crackberry- I am in love with it!  I now understand everyone’s obsession.

I have been stumped for new recipes but I happened upon this idea through some random recipe searches.  I am trying to branch out into new cuisines with Indian being at the top of the list.  I even mentioned to Scottie that I wanted to go an Indian restaurant.  (hint hint) I have not had this type of dish before so I don’t have anything to compare it to but I really like the flavors going on.  The cayenne definitely lends a major kick  but the sauce does tone down the heat.  You could certainly reduce the cayenne to suit your taste.  I simmered about half the chicken in the sauce for Scottie (he likes sauce a lot!) and left the other half plain for me (saves some calories.)  I didn’t feel at all deprived though because the chicken has amazing flavor and was wonderful in a wrap for lunch today! I also didn’t use all of the heavy cream because I felt a whole cup would dilute the tomato spice flavor.

The recipe was super simple to prepare and I actually prepped it in stages.  Chicken cut up and spices mixed in the morning.  After work I threw the spices and yogurt in with the chicken to marinate while I got my hair cut and worked out.  After the gym, Scottie fired up the grill while I started the rice and the sauce.  By the time the chicken was cooked through the sauce , rice and sauteed spinach were done.  Easy and fast week night dinner!

Chicken Tikka Masala

Ingredients:
1 cup yogurt
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
long skewers, soaked in water so they don’t disintegrate on the grill

1 tablespoon butter
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, finely chopped
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 cup heavy cream (I used just under half a cup)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

In a large bowl, combine yogurt, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, ginger, and 4 teaspoons salt. Stir in chicken, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat a grill for high heat.

Lightly oil the grill grate. Thread chicken onto skewers, and discard marinade. Grill until juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side.

Melt butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat. Saute garlic and jalapeno for 1 minute. Season with 2 teaspoons cumin, paprika, and 3 teaspoons salt. Stir in tomato sauce and cream. Simmer on low heat until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Add grilled chicken, and simmer for 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter, and garnish with fresh cilantro.

*Everyone get your head out of the gutter!

This seriously is my new favorite thing in the whole wide world.  Known simply as The Stick this tool has helped both Scottie and I recover from the pain and strain resulting from Sunday rainy 12 mile run.  I have not been that sore in a very long time and I sort of freaked that I had injured myself.  With 10 days left until the big day I am in super maintenance mode and trying to avoid possible injury and/or sickness (hello- why is everyone in my office getting sick!  I need to be quarantined!)  I had seen The Stick in the running stores and have heard people talk about how great it was but I had serious doubts that it was make THAT big of a difference.

So Scottie and I discussed it and figured we might as well try it, so he ran by Raleigh Running Outfitters to pick one up.  He messaged me later and said The Stick was the best thing ever.  I really couldn’t wait to try it and had to wait until almost 9pm but OH it was so worth it.  It is such a simple concept and one of those “why didn’t I think of it” things but wow, I am glad to have this thing in my life.  The little roller really roll out all of the bad stuff built up in your muscles and it did wonders on my super tight calves.  This morning I felt like 100 bucks.  So I will be using this after each run and even hard weight lifting sessions to help recover quicker and reduce the chance for injury.  And for under $30 it’s well worth a trip to your local running store to pick up!

Smoothie in a Stella glass with a paper towel backdrop- classy!

I started the day of green with some GREENS!

Angela over at Oh She Glows makes these “Green Monsters” which I just had to try.  I made it once with spinach and carrot and had a hard time choking it down but this morning I used some leftover baby kale (about 3 big handfuls), a couple small carrots, a cup or so of milk, a tablespoon of flax seeds, some ice cubes and about 1/2 cup of pineapple!  Pineapple was the key as it takes away some of the bitterness of the greens and made it much more palatable for me.  I have made a green smoothie before using less greens and adding in pear and orange juice but I like that the green monsters have less sugar and more greens!  I am surprised that I am still not hungry even with just a smoothie for breakfast.

We are taking the day off from exercise with 12 miles on Sunday and 3 very painful miles last night I think the bodies need a rest!  So I am watching what I eat today as I know there is a Guinness and Onion Soup on the menu tonight!

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Many would say crazy but I see it as dedication, Scottie and I ran 12 miles yesterday in the rain.  Not just a sprinkle but a constant rain including some periods of very heavy rain.  It rained all weekend starting Friday night so I had to mentally prepare myself for it because I knew the weather would not break until Tuesday of this week.  Talk about depressing!  Scottie tried to talk me into leaving work a bit early this week to do it but I decided we needed to run in the rain in case it rained on race day.  And I know feel I can accomplish anything after the run yesterday!

We decided to run in Durham on the American Tobacco Trail, which is an old railroad line that has been paved, it runs about 22 miles or so and it is FLAT!  The one positive of the run!  So we put our layers on, including rain coats, running tights, necessary braces (we are getting old), iPods and  fuel belts and we were off.  It was a tad cold but the more I ran the more I settled in to the temperature.  The flatness was weird for me because I am used to hills to keep my mild occupied so it took some time for me to chill out and not focus on every 1/4 mile that was painted on the pavement.  We stopped at 6 miles for some water and gels then turned around and ran back.  I was feeling good the entire time and my hips got a bit sore just at the last mile or so, which was awesome.  I didn’t feel out of breathe, I felt strong and confident.  After the run I immediately got cold and unfortunately we did not think to bring a towel or a change of clothes- terrible planning!  So we cranked up the heat and sat in the car while chugging water and inhaling Shot Bloks and Larabars.

The ride home was probably the most miserable part of it all because we were both completely soaked and I could just not warm up.  I kept thinking about how warm the shower would be!  So as soon as we parked the car I ran in and stripped off the top layer to dry off by the fire and ran for the shower.  I could have stayed in there all night, it was fantastic!

Our stats were pretty impressive, we burned about 1500 calories, and ran 12 miles in about 2 hours and 3 minutes.  Not too shabby!  So now I feel more the ready for the real thing in 2 weeks.  Now it is time to chill out a bit and try and stay healthy.  Ofcourse people in the office are sick so I am pounding the water, green tea and Airborne!  The last thing I need is to be sick for this!

I am also excited because my parents are coming from Virginia for the race!  It will be like my cross country days, but a much longer run.  I am already thinking about where I want to eat after the race

Friday night Scottie and I needed to work on our kilts for the St. Patty’s Run so I figured it would be a great time to make pizzas at home!  I wanted to try a whole wheat crust and Joe’s crust looked perfect!  The mix of both all purpose and whole wheat flour lightened it up a bit but still provided the nutritional benefit of the wheat.  I have not made dough of any sort in the food processor but I tried it this time because Joe always raves about how easy is it.  Not only was it easy but it look less then 5 minutes to put the dough together.  I was thrilled.  I hand kneaded it a bit and it had a perfectly smooth texture.  Plopped it in a  bowl and let it rise for about an hour and we were ready to make pizzas!

Scottie covered his in cheese and pepperoni and I went the veggie route with sauteed spinach, some cremini mushrooms and mozzerella. I was really happy with the final product.  We baked these on a baking sheet but I think I need to get another pizza stone to add a nice crispy crust.

We may be continuing the pizza night trend because it is so much cheaper then delivery and tastes so much better.  You must try this even if you have never made dough before, it really is quite easy!

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough (Adapted from Eating Well)
From Joe’s site

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all purpose flour
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon sugar
3/4 cup warm water
1 tablespoon olive oil

Combine flours, yeast, salt, and sugar in a food processor; pulse to mix. Combine warm water and oil in a measuring cup. With the motor running, gradually pour in enough of the liquid until the mixture forms a sticky ball. The dough should be quite soft. If it seems dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of warm water; if too sticky, add 1 to 2 tablespoons flour. Process until the dough forms a ball, then process for 1 minute to knead.

Lightly coat a large bowl with cooking spray. Place dough inside, turning to coat. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let rise about an hour, or until doubled in size. Punch down and let the dough rest for about 10 minutes before rolling.