Foodie Friday: Mid-Week Mystery Dinner

 

Published courtesy of JulieCat in the Kitchen’s blog

Tonight is one of those nights where things just happen to figure themselves out in the kitchen.  I bought groceries today, but I bought them in mind for a dinner I’m planning tomorrow.  So…what do we do tonight?  Cereal again sounded pretty sad (hey, cooking doesn’t always happen around here!).  I did what I usually do in this tiny kitchen of mine, I started throwing things together in hopes of a  “winner”.  I think it came pretty close to that tonight; hope you agree!

So, this is what I call a Greek-inspired hamburger helper.  I know, I’m really setting the bar high here with this description, but it’s the first thing that came to me.  Nothing fancy, but it’s tasty and super quick!  Here’s how it goes:

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7 Tips for Running Safety

Hello and Happy day to you!

Sadly, there has been a significant uptick in running related disappearances, injuries and murders lately.

This, unfortunately, is the world we live in, folks.

It is imperative that we are always prepared for any situation that my arise during a run.

I have a few helpful tips and tricks that you can use to protect yourself.

3 Tips to Help Deal with Pain During a Run

Hello and Happy day to you!

As endurance athletes, we deal with pain on a regular basis.

I mean come on!

Long runs can be challenging sometimes.

And speed work… THAT requires some serious mental toughness.

It is important to teach yourself how to become better at dealing with pain.

Otherwise running will probably be a bit challenging.

Learning to tolerate pain is definitely as much physical and it is mental.

Here are three of the most important things you can do to assist in pain tolerating process…

…And Take Names.

Hello and Happy day to you!

Every few months I feel like I write one of these posts…

The post where I realize I am slacking (no offense Fallon!), decide to pick myself up by the bootstraps and get my sh*t together.

Also known as this post, this post, this post and this post.

The post where I decide to start kicking a$$ and taking names.

This post is a little different though.

Why Do YOU Run?

Hello and Happy day to you!

Last week I challenged you to share with me the reasons why you do this crazy thing called running.

The response that I received was overwhelmingly awesome!

It was so cool to read everyone’s reasons, because they are all so different.

Looking for some motivation?

Read the stories below and I bet one of them will light a fire under your caboose.

I know it has for me!

So let’s get to it…

Napa to Sonoma Wine Country Half Marathon Race Review & Recap

Hello and Happy day to you!

Because I haven’t written a race review & recap in almost 2 months (Thanks again RnR San Diego), I am beyond excited to FINALLY have a race to talk about.

Goodness gracious, it’s been too long.

And seriously- how big of a mouthful is this blog post!?!?

Try saying that 10 times fast…

You can’t do it can you!?!?!

All jokes aside, this is race has been on my bucket list since I started running back in 2008.

Napa to Sonoma is Destination Races flagship event in their Wine Country Half Marathon Series.

Only 3,500 runners are allowed to run in this coveted race and it sells out in less than 30 minutes each year.

Seriously.

The question you are probably thinking to yourself…

Is it worth the hype?

What motivates you to run?

Hello and Happy day to you!

It’s no secret…

I have been completely MIA for the last few weeks.

Technically, it has been 18 days since my last blog post.

Whoops.

Where the heck have I been?

To be honest, I have been hiding under a rock.

Struggling with Doubt

Hello and Happy Day to you!

I hope things are well in your neck of the woods.

It has been pretty darn hot in San Luis Obispo, so I have been running late in the evening.

I really should just get up in the morning and run, but you know how I feel about mornings.

I think I can, I think I can…

Hello and Happy day to you!

As many of you know, I just (praise the Lord!) recovered from a minor hamstring injury that forced me to pull out of Rock n’ Roll San Diego.

Boo!

But! I am back running and haven’t had any problems with my hamstring since.

WOO WHOO!

I do, however, feel as though I have lost some fitness.

Or maybe it is in my head?

Who knows.

I am feeling a little off this week.

The Nicest Things You Can Say to a Runner

Hello and happy day to you.

After dropping a super depressing bomb on Friday, I thought I would lighten the mood today.

Because, you can only cry for so long right?

Right.

Anyway, I have been saving this blog post for the last 4 months for the perfect time…

And apparently, today is the day!

Running with a broken heart.

My eyes filled with tears as I stepped out the door to run yesterday evening.

I wiped them away and checked my appearance in the mirror.

“My eyes are so puffy” I thought to myself, “I really need to get it together”.

I took a deep breath and headed out.

Let me back up.

Allow me to explain why I this post is so very different from every other post I have written.

It’s Fine. I Ran Today.

Hello and Happy day to you!

I very seriously need this shirt.

Like very, very seriously.

It totally encapsulates how I have been feeling the last few days.

As many of you know, I tweaked my hamstring during the 5K at Rock n Roll San Diego, a week and a half ago.

So, I spent all of last week foam rolling, stretching, and trying to rest my hamstring.

Although my coach gave me permission to run on Friday, I was UBER paranoid about returning before my leg was fully healed.

A running injury is not the end of the world.

Hello and Happy Day to you!

If you read my blog post from Tuesday, you already know that Rock n’ Roll San Diego did not go as planned.

I tweaked my hamstring during the 5K and was unable to run the half marathon on Sunday.

It was a major bummer.

San Diego Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon: The Race That Wasn’t.

 

Hello and Happy day to you!

As you can tell from the title of this blog post, Rock n’ Roll San Diego didn’t exactly go according to plan.

But more on that later…

Heather (sloluckyruns.com) and I left SLO around 8:30 am on Friday.

We stopped in LA at Lemonade for lunch and unfortunately hit traffic.

Like major traffic.

My Crazy Running Rituals

Hello and happy day to you!

As I prepare for the Rock n’ Roll San Diego Half Marathon and 5k this weekend…

I have realized HOW MANY running rituals I have.

I have talked about how weird runners are in the past, and I am no different.

I am a total weirdo.

I definitely have my own set of running rituals and I do them religiously.

Who knows, you might as well!

 Let’s dive in to this topic, shall we?

Let’s!

First up issssss……..

#FlatRunner to the Max.

Funktown: Population Me

I am currently in a bit of a running funk.

Ever since I achieved my sub 2 half marathon goal at the OC Half Marathon…

I have NOT felt like running.

Although I have had a few races after the OC,

2 specifically…

I still haven’t gotten my MOJO back.

I am still running well, and feel good when I run…

I just don’t feel like doing it.

Whoops.

I actually emailed my coach a few weeks ago and admitted that I was in a funk.

She said that my feelings were totally normal.

Which I knew, but it was definitely nice to hear it from my coach.

And If I am being honest…

This isn’t the first time this has happened.

I actually fell into two or three funks last year.

But I made it through.

Tips for Saving Money on Racecations

Hello and Happy day to you!

They say that “Running is cheaper than therapy”…

Which is totally false.

Running is NOT a cheap sport.

It is freaking expensive!

Running shoes,

running clothes,

electrolytes,

protein powder,

GU gels,

Things That (As A Runner) I Can’t Stand!

Hello and Happy day to you!

As a runner, there are certain things that really piss me off!

I am sure most people don’t understand, but maybe you (being a fellow runner) will agree with me…

1. When some moron sprints ahead and then stops in front of me in the middle of a race.

Pull your head out of your ass, man! I mean come on! It’s called peripheral vision, use it and check out your surroundings before you come to a complete freakin’ stop. I understand that you are tired, but really?

Foodie Friday: Roasted Veggie & Quinoa Salad

Hello and Happy Foodie Friday to you!

After taking a few days off of running and getting some much needed rest, I am ready to rock the Santa Barbara Wine Country Half this weekend.

But! Not before sharing with you a delicious meal that I made last night.

It is no secret that I have a slight obsession with quinoa.

It is the perfect blend of carbs and protein.

And it is so good for you!

So, without further adieu!

I give you… Roasted Veggie & Quinoa Salad!

Why I’m thankful for my running injury.

 Hello and Happy day to you!

As many of you know, I ran the OC Half Marathon on Sunday.

Going into the race, I had set a pretty lofty goal for myself.

If you read my blog post last Thursday, you already know what I was scared sh*tless that I would not be able to achieve that goal.

Running a sub 2 half marathon was something that I had been dreaming about for the last few years.

I had done it once in my life.

Exactly once.