March 24, 2014

8 Miles of Sore Legs, Cramps and Lost Glove

As of yesterday I have 6 weeks left before my second ever half-marathon.

Last year around this time I was running 4-5 days a week.

This time?

Two.

I am what you call a weekend warrior.   Running during the week just doesn’t work for me.  I teach 6-8 fitness classes a week.  In order to keep my energy levels high for my classes, I fore-go running during the week day.

We will see what that does to my Half-marathon goal time.  It is an interesting test, that’s for sure!

Today’s run was Brutal.

Straight. Up. Awful.

Last weeks 7 miler felt like a cake walk.  Today’s 8 I knew was going to be ROUGH before I had even hit 1/4 mile.

But, I set my mind to it.  I wasn’t taking walking as my answer.  So what that I hurt?  So what that I was already winded?  So what that it was cold?  So what that my pace was slow as molasses?  So what?

You set a goal.  You do it.  No excuses. 

Let me take you through my little joggy-jog.

Mile 1 was rough.  Just straight brutal. Worst mile time I have had in probably over a year.

Mile 1.1– stepped into the grass to tuck my Under Armour shirt in.  How annoying when it starts riding up.  UGH!  Thought maybe the 30 second rest would rejuvenate me.

Ya, nope.

Mile 2 wasn’t much better.  And I got passed.

I wanted to think “bastards“.

I made myself think “motivation to keep up”.

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Mile 3- Construction zone.  Please no cops.  I sure don’t need a ticket for trespassing during this stupid run.  COME ON, Omaha.  Let’s get this Pacific street bridge finished already.  There is a whole other stretch of the trail that I want to see!

Mile 3.2– Back through the construction zone thanks to missing sidewalks.  Guess they actually meant it when they placed those signs saying ‘No Access’

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Mile 4– Ok, feeling good.  Legs are looser.  Feeling a little warm.  Removing gloves and putting in pocket.   Met this friendly lady who smiled and said something to me.  Music is loud my friend, no idea what you just said to me, so I just smile and wave.

Mile 4.5 – WIND!  COLD WIND!  Hands are freezing.  Reach for gloves.

DANGIT!   Lost one.

I wonder if that’s what the lady was telling me….

Turn around and head back looking for lost glove.

Mile 5– Found my glove!

Mile 5.5– CRAMPS.  OH THE CRAMPS!

Mile 6– Deep breaths, stretch the torso.  Seriously cramps… you need to make a swift exit, stat.

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Mile 6.5– Thank the Lord, no more cramps.

Mile 7– Ya,  I can do one more mile!  NO problem.   I’ve GOT THIS!

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Mile 7.5– That was the worst idea EVER!

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Mile 8–  I see my Jeep!  Oh thank heavens!  IT’S OVER!

I love my Jeep, I love my Jeep, I Love my Jeep.

Must stretch.

NO, do not sit!

Stretch.

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So, as you can tell… I had many times where I could have just thrown in the towel.  But, I didn’t.  I stuck to it and finished.  My split times were the highest they’ve been in a long time, but that’s ok.  It wasn’t a race today.  I knew it wasn’t going to be a PR kind of day from the get-go, so throwing my goal pace out the window was necessary.

I finished.  That was the goal. 

So, set your goals for the day and achieve them, friends.

Then come back here and tell me alllll about it!

Cheers!

March 18, 2014

Oh, You Ride a Motorcycle?

We’ve all been there.  We meet someone new and we attempt to start a conversation.  Often the conversation starters default to career choice or the weather.  Other times the topic might be connected to something more personal, like what the person is wearing or what they are driving.

And then you have the conversations revolving around the fact you ride a motorcycle.

While I  respect the attempt at striking up a conversation, there are just some things better left unsaid.

In the spirit of keeping this lighthearted, take my opinions with a grain of salt

and a shot of tequila.

Keep Talking

Top Annoying Questions to Ask A Biker

1. Can I Sit on It?

Checking out motorcycles is what we do.  Whether at the store, outside a restaurant, bike night or a rally; bikers walk around, look at others rides, dream, take mental notes, make wish-lists and maybe even snap a few pictures.  Guaranteed you will find someone making lovey-dovey looks at another persons bike.

That is where the admiration ends.  Don’t be that guy and ask:

“Can I sit on your bike?”

Maybe next time I get that question I should answer with —>  “Sure you can sit on it!  Can I have the keys to your car as well?  I’d love to get in it, maybe take a few selfies behind the wheel, turn the radio on, roll the windows down… you know”.

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2. Did You Ride Today?

Maybe a few coworkers know you ride.  Or, you’re at the grocery store and you have some Harley-Davidson gear on.   Outside, it is noticeably miserable and not ideal riding weather.    Naturally, someone will ask

“Did you ride today”

…..as they chuckle and give you a little elbow nudge.

Yep, buddy.  Sure did!

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3. “YOU know how to ride THAT?”

Oh, no, no, no.  Don’t be silly!   It has this cute little button that when I push it, the bike magically goes VROOM down the interstate in the direction I want it to go.

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4. A little too much power for a woman, don’t you think?

What does that even mean?

Please, let me introduce you to these lovely ladies, who, as a matter of fact ride their own machines.

Now, what was that question, again?

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5.  So You’re An Organ Donor.

I don’t know how many times I have heard “You know that doctors and nurses call bikers organ donors don’t you?”

Great!  But, please tell me how riding a motorcycle makes me any more of an organ donor then a runner, or a cyclist, or a person walking across a major intersection, or a person changing their tire on the side of the road?   At any time freak accidents happen.  Aren’t we all essentially walking organ donors?

But, thanks for the heads-up on what other people say about us.  I was very concerned.

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6. Don’t Crash

Well shit… There goes my plan for the evening.

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And Lastly:

7. What About All the Bugs That Hit You?

They Die.

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Trying to find a way to strike up a conversation with a biker?  Perhaps, when did you start riding, might be a good place to start.

Or even better… Why do you ride?

We may stick around to tell you all about it!

 

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Your Turn!

Have any you’d add to the list?

March 17, 2014

Brownie Bites with Mint Buttercream Frosting

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In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I made a couple batches of these little beauties to take into work tomorrow.   I cheated and used a boxed brownie mix, but the frosting was all made from scratch, so hopefully I redeemed myself.

Enjoy!

Step 1:  Make your brownie batter whether using a box, or from scratch.   Using a mini ice cream scoop, fill mini muffin tins about 1/2-3/4 of the way full.

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Step 2: Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.  Do NOT over-bake.  Crunchy brownie bites aren’t that appealing.  Remove from pan and with your thumb create a small indentation to fill with frosting later.

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Step 3:  Make the frosting.  Hands down the best part if you ask me!   🙂  I have this handy tool from Pampered Chef to assist in the frosting business.  Helps me look like I know what I’m doing!  Fancy!

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Step 4:  Start filling those babies up!

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Step 5:  Sprinkle with a few Andes Mints and you’re good to go!   Bite sized, minty fun.  Just don’t eat too many.  Defeats the purpose of portion control.

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Brownie Bites and Mint Buttercream Frosting

March 15, 2014

Portabella Pizzas

Sometimes I get a serious craving for pizza but am not interested in the overall unhealthiness that it tends to be loaded with.  My favorite pizza has always been mushroom and black olive, so the creation of a healthier pizza made with mushrooms as the primary ingredient was a no-brainer!

Using Portabella mushroom caps as the base, you can create endless pizzas that won’t kill the waistline.

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For this particular recipe I used mushroom caps, spaghetti sauce (because I didn’t have any pizza sauce), black olives, mozzarella cheese, turkey pepperoni and egg whites —-> The egg whites help bind the cheese and add an extra punch of protein!

 

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First, wash and pat dry the mushroom caps, spray with a little olive oil, place in a baking dish, cover and bake for 15 minutes at 350 to soften them up.

 

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Remove from oven and begin layering your ingredients.   First: spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce.  Normally I choose pizza sauce, but I didn’t have any so spaghetti sauce it was!

 

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Top with an equal mixture of egg white and mozzarella cheese (mix together in a small bowl first) and any other toppings you choose.

 

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Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes, let cool slightly and enjoy!

 

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