Super Sunny Sunday

It is sun-shining here-  I know to some this may seem like no big deal, but here it is absolutely amazing because normally it is permanently gloomy from now until the end of March.  That is what my husband and I have nick named this time of year "Permagloom".  So, this is a totally unexpected thing.  I don't know about you but the sunshine just gets me going. 

Got my long run in- yippee 9 miles!!  Wow, that felt nice!! I haven't ran that far in a long time.  I was actually dreading it;  until I got going.  The first few miles were kind of rough- but once I got in the grove I felt GREAT.  I finished and I still had energy left,  that is always a nice feeling.  I know that probably means that I need to run faster but I am training for a marathon, so trying to keep the pace at an even kilt.  9 miles in 85:42.  This week complete- all 4 runs for a total of 19 miles. 

This weekend I feel as though I have lived in the kitchen ( I do spend ALOT of time there).   I have just been baking / cooking away.  Here is what we had

Friday: Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwiches on left over Quinoa Bread and a HUGE bowl of apples.  I kid you not my kids ate all the apples before the sandwiches and asked for more. I said "Can you eat the sandwiches first?"    Keeping apples in this house is a major accomplishment-  I buy at  least 10lbs a week.  CRAZY     I also made a double batch of homemade bagels.  Still trying to perfect these,  but I figure they have to be better than the store bought kind.   I did mix them half and half- whole wheat flour and all purpose flour.   I froze half the batch right off

Saturday -  We made some Oatmeal Raisin cookies-  oh my they were so good!!   We just followed the recipe on the Oatmeal box with a few alterations.  Did you know that you can substitution 3/4 of the shortening for applesauce? We did that, with some homemade applesauce.  Also, you can substitute 1/4 of the sugar for dried milk,  did that too.  And of course I substitute half whole wheat flour and half all purpose flour.   For dinner we had Pizza ( our normal Saturday movie and pizza with kids)-  we make homemade pizza.  We make our own dough ;  I do mix half whole wheat and half all purpose flour and the other thing I do is add in 3 Tablespoons of Flax-seed. We used our own homemade pizza sauce , some cheese and pepperoni.  Normally I make a supreme pizza for my husband and I but didnt have all the ingredients for that.   I also made ( which I haven't in a long time) made some Garlic Bread sticks ( of course I mixed flour and added flax seed)

Sunday-  Today made a triple batch of waffles ( lots to be eaten throughout the week) .  Tonight for dinner we are having sloppy joe / with some sort of veggie.  But the best part of my sloppy joe is all it is this- 1.5 lbs of ground meat, tomato soup , pureed zucchini and spices.  

Have a Super Sunday!!!

Three Things Thursday

1)  Cross training has been pretty nill-  unless you count pulling my boys to the bus stop everyday.  Does pulling and pushing them up and down small hills count?  How about throwing ice balls at the trees?   I really need to get back to my core workouts but so far I have been a no go in that area. 

2) My training plan has me run 4 days a week.  This week thus far I have gotten 2 runs in-  so half way there.  Thank goodness last year we took the plunge and purchased a treadmill, it has been such a time savior.  Time savior?? Yes, as in it gives me the availability to run whenever I want, despite the cold or hot weather that we may be having.  Last year I either had to wait to run outside or head off to the gym.  Now whenever-  so this week  3 miles on Tuesday 27:41  4 miles today  37:48
3 and a 9 miler left.
I have so been lacking motivation lately (to run) .  But you know what is funny, as soon as I found the motivation to actually get my run in,  it has boosted the rest of my day and I am just moving along. 

3)  If you followed my blog from the beginning you would remember that my family had a HUGE garden that we canned and or froze.  Eating healthy is a big deal to us.  Dont get me wrong we do indulge every now and then but we try not to do often.  As I have been cruising around bloggy land I noticed that alot of people have been talking about food and what they eat .  So I thought I would start a new section, recipes/ meals that we eat.  One of my kids new years resolutions was to try new foods this year-  so far we have tried Rutabaga,  Dried Apricots, Prunes,  Kiwi, Guacamole and Quinoa.    We have had mixed reviews on the above mentioned.    I made Honey Quinoa Bread the other day-  WOW, was it amazing, everyone really likes it. 
We do make alot of things from scratch and in bulk (so that we can freeze them to be used later).  Right now I have a double batch of Cinnamon rolls  going .  This recipe I altered a little and mixed it half white flour and half wheat flour ( no one can tell the difference).  I am making and freezing most them to be pulled out one at a time.  But to make them a little more healthier I dont put on the icing ( I know that is the best part, but I think that they are sweet enough)

This is only half of what was made- the other half never even got cooked, they went directly in the freezer.

Tonight's dinner, is Stuffed Pasta shells (using leftover chicken , ricotta cheese , Parmesan cheese) topped with homemade spaghetti sauce.

If anyone has any healthy recipes, I would love to try them.

Have a Thankful Thursday.

Two things Tuesday

1) First marathon training fail.  I didnt get my "long run" (5 miles) in this weekend.  I probably could have squeezed it in somewhere but I didnt.  Instead I enjoyed a nice relaxing fun weekend with my family, watching movies, making homemade food, sewing up crafts, shopping etc...   Why does missing a run mess with you so bad? I have missed runs before and I know it is ok.  I first started stressing about it and then I said "Nope-  Family, fun, flexible".  Family comes first- and it did.  I really enjoyed seeing the smiles on everyone's faces this weekend. 

2) Got a 3 mile run this morning. (27:41)   It felt nice. Nothing to fancy,  just me and the treadmill. Is it spring yet, because I am getting tired of the treadmill?  I know I could go outside but I just get cold thinking about it. 


Have a teriffic Tuesday!!! 

Five Things Friday

Wow- is it really Friday !!!

1)  Marathon training so far going good.  I have gotten 3 runs in this week, 3,4,3 with a 5 mile run lined up for later this weekend.  I am not braving the cold / icy weather so indoors on the treadmill it has been.  But for me that is great-  I can stare out the window at the subzero cold temperatures and enjoy the nice warmth of my house.

2)  Today's run was supposed to be 3 miles, but I added a .1 to it so that I could participate in the SUCK IT UP, BUTTERCUP virtual 5K race.  It was a perfect day for the race today, as I had no motivation going on.   I just repeatedly had to tell myself - SUCK IT UP and run!!!  3.1 miles in 28:12,  not my fastest but not my slowest by a long shot.

3)  I am a music listener while I run and I swear that there are underlying song tracks underneath the actual music.  There are few songs that I listen to and every time I hear them, I always think I can hear "Mom"  ,  or the kids calling me.  It is the craziest thing.  Or maybe it is just because I have mom radar going on.  I will figure out what songs they are and put them on here- to see if you can hear them or if I am just losing my mind. 

4) So it was a year ago this week that I met with a personal trainer at the gym.  After running solid for 2 years my body was getting used to running and I actually was starting to gain weight (did not want that).  When I went to the gym last year my goal was to lose 20 lbs with cross training and proper diet, while still training for a marathon.   Guess what ,  I DID IT!!!  I reached my 20 lb goal in June and have held it off ever since then!!!!  So very excited!!!! 

5) I should post this next week but I am thinking about right now, Feb 1st of 2008 was the first time I laced up shoes and started running.  At that time I couldn't even run 1/8 mile without dying.  Crazy  to see how far I have come.   I just ran a virtual 5K in 28:12-  long cry from my 1st 5K which took me almost 36 minutes.    In 3 years, I have come from no running to now having run 4 half marathons and 2 full marathons-  who would have thought.    All I know is if I can do it, so can you !!!!  Believe in yourself!!!!

Have a fantastic Friday!!!!!

Christa

7 mile Sunday

Got her done-  7 miles!!!  66:22       Week 3 of Marathon Training finished- total of 16 miles!!    

Now time to complete my dinner that is cooking,  homemade bread and Elegant Pork Lion!!!  My house smells so gooood. 


Have a great rest of the weekend!!!

Few things Friday

• Wow- where did this week go.  I feel like a slacker in the fact that I have not  blogged all week long but that is because I am the farthest thing from being a slacker in the real world.  What a crazy week it has been.  

• I have gotten 3 out of my 4 runs done for the week ( 3,3,3 ) with a 7 miler left for Sunday.  I have been really thinking this week,  wow marathon training is hard.  I should know this, hello this is my 3rd one but man it is hard.  Maybe this one just seems harder because it is in the spring, so most of my training is indoors ( because I am not an outdoor winter runner) or is it just the winter duldrums.   Also,  add to the marathon training that I am a mom to 4 wonderful kids-  that is even harder.  This is a great shout out to all the wonderful moms fitting in your training because I personally know how hard it is.    Some times,  you can try all you want but things don't go as smooth as you planned.  Recently, a big ol bucket of playdoh has been my running savior.  I get that out and it entertains my boys for the amount of time that is needed-  but not this week.  Every single time that I got the playdoh out the boys said, NO-  so I would different toys out.  I got out all the Rescue Heroes, their ships, airplanes, etc...  and asked my boys are you all set ? (  I even put in the rescue hero movie so that they could play right with movie).  They said "We are good".  I got on the treadmill and I swear I wasnt more than .25 mile in, "Mom, the plane broke can you fix it?". Being the good mom that I am, I fixed it.   Then another .25 mile in something else broke.    When I was at about 1.5 miles they came in and asked if they could move everything upstairs- I said "Ok, but you will have to bring it back down later"-  Up stairs everything went ( guess who brought it all back down later???  ME)   But hey you have to do what you have to do in order to get your runs in.  Right????

• Shortly before Christmas, we had a speaker at the MOPS group that I attend .  She had mentioned that the holidays (and life) should be about Family, Fun and Flexibility.  That is my motto for the year-  FAMILY, FUN and FLEXIBILITY.  I just have to keep repeating that to myself when things don't quite go as we planned.    I mention this because with the flexibility comes my running-  I am just being really flexible with my schedule this marathon.  I am doing the training but I am not letting it take over my life,  just being flexible- fitting it in when I can.

• With the New Year here,  I thought I would give you a sneak peak on what reviews (possible giveaways) I will be working on this year  ( ok I will give credit where it is due, this was my husbands idea,  but I love it!!!) .    So coming up in the near future there will be reviews on 
• Sports Detergent Comparison Review
• Running Socks Comparison Review
• Compression socks/ sleeves
• Cherry Flex products
• Reflect Sports products

I am still  reviewing these products, if there is anything that you would specifically like to know about them while I am testing,  let me know and I will make sure that I incorporate that into my testing/research.

Have a wonderful weekend-  stay warm (as it is mighty cold here). 

Christa

Splendid Saturday

It was a very productive Saturday.  Lots of household things done and then I figured my as well get my long run done.  So I DID!!!  6 miles in,  on the treadmill, not battling the snow nor the cold temperatures.   6 miles 56:57    Week 2 of Marathon training complete, total mileage for the week 15 miles.

What a splendid Saturday-  with my run done I can sit back and enjoy the rest of my weekend. 

Three Things Thrusday

Here we go for the week- wow, is it already Thursday.  I am such a slacker havent blogged since Sunday- sorry.

1)  Marathon training so far on par.  This week calls for a repeat of last week 3,3,3,6.  On Tuesday I only had time for a 2 mile run ,18:20 ( I thought that was better than none).  Today I made up for my lost mile on Tuesday with a  4 mile run (37:26).  2 more runs left for the week-  I think that is doable. 

2)  I tallied up my miles for 2010- I ran 838.5 miles!!!   Wow, that number sounds crazy but when you break it down it really isnt that many a month. My goal was a 1000; sadly did not achieve it.  I was on par but then I got sick shortly after the Chicago Marathon, so that messed things up. Oh well, always a new goal for the New Year.

3)  Speaking of 1000 miles- I joined in Tall Mom on the Run 1000 mile challenge for 2011.  I figure the more people I tell the better chance I have of achieving it.    Now I just have to figure out how to hyperlink the club logo to my page we will be all set.  Maybe this year I can achieve 1000 miles,  really that is only 83.3 miles a month ( I am 12 miles in). 


Have a wonderful day-  hopefully everyone is staying warm and dry.  It is mighty cold here and just snowing away!!!! 

Six Mile Sunday

So excited that I got my long run done.  Six miles in today, 56:29.  I was too busy on the nice 50 degree days that we had here in MI, and of course waited until it started snowing again and the temperature dropped to 27.  No venturing outside for me,  6 miles on the treadmill.  Week one done of training-  4 runs in (15 miles) and one brief cross training day.

I had a very interesting observation today though.  I do not normally watch football but that was what was on the TV when I turned on the treadmill (if I wanted to change the channel it I would have had to run through the house and adjusted our bedroom tv),  so I opted to put my MP3 player on and watch the football game (at least it gave me somthing to look at.)   I know that football takes a lot time to play;  but this was ridiculous.  When I started running the time clock said 11:30 left in the game.  Do you know that it took them 55 minutes to play that 11:30.  CRAZY.   Well, it kept me entertained-  but it was a very interesting observation.

  I know I should have all my resoultions made by now but I am still not sure.  There is one I know for sure and it is this:


Finish the Kalamazoo Marathon under 4:30.  The Kalamazoo Marathon lands on Mothers Day so I figure that would be great gift to myself!!!!! 


Have a wonderful Sunday and a Happy New Year.