Two Weeks With No Running = Sign Up for Races

So 2 weeks ago I decide to take a break from running to heal my legs. After my half marathon I was getting a pain in my calf every time I ran so I bit the bullet and took some time off. What did I do in the meantime? Well I biked more and did some aerobic-body-pump style workout dvds. I also watched other runners on the pathway with extreme jealousy, and oh right, I signed up for three more 10 km races! My justification was that signing up for them will give me the motivation to heal.....sure that makes sense [insert sarcasm]. Truthfully, my legs are feeling much better, so it's probably o.k. to do some races. It all started with me stumbling across information for a night time race:

The Energizer Night Race (link)

It's a night time race and you wear a headlamp. How could I not sign up for it?!

Then I decided I needed to train for this race (which is in August) by signing up for a race in June.

The Bowness Centennial Race (link)

I don't know anything about this race besides that it's 10 km and in June. The course looks neat and it's a part of the city I don't know much about.

And finally I signed up for a race at the end of August, which I was planning to do all along.

The Calgary Women's Run (link)

I'm still trying to convince my mum to run it with me since we can sign up as a team. For those of you who don't know, my mum is a super fast runner, so my plan is to get her on my team so I can actually win some hardware for once.

Here's to hoping I'm healed in time!

I bake weird $hit....but it's healthy!

I like to experiment in the kitchen. This is great except that I pretty much never make anything the "normal" way. As the husband like to say I make weird $hit. Let me explain:

Cookies are not made with butter and flour. These bad boys contain zucchini. Just making sure you get your 5-7.

Pudding from a powder where you just add milk...ummm no way. Try an avocado with a dash of honey and cocoa powder.

And the grand finale, granola bars held together by mounds of honey, yeah that just doesn't fly with me. These use dates, bananas, carrots, and spinach ground to a paste. Told you I make weird $hit. Even the man on the plate thinks so.

Bike Commuting

For 6 months of the year I bike to work. As soon as the snow melts, I give up on the bus and use my bike to get around. My favorite part is that I get in a workout while accomplishing something that I have to do everyday. If you ever want to get into bike commuting, here are a few tips I have picked up so far:

Bike: get a good quality but cheap bike. Your bike should be nice enough to ride but not nice enough to be stolen. I use a Kona city bike which is a light weight commuter. The components are what make it cheap, so it has plastic pedals and the cheapest brakes and de-railers you can get. My plan is to upgrade these parts as they break.

Backpack: join the cool kids and get a backpack. In it I have a spare tire, patch kit and basic bike tools. Plus I haul my clothes, makeup, shoes and lunch for the day in it.

Backpack Raincover: This will make your backpack even cooler but you'll love it on the rainy days.

Helmet: Wear it! You will likely bike on roads and cars are not careful around cyclists.

Pump, spare tire, patch kit: City streets are full of glass and junk that can destroy your tires so be prepared to get a flat. I also recommend taking a basic bike maintenance course.

Bike commuting is quite easy to get into so there really isn't any excuse not to (well unless you live in the boonies). If you do live close enough, I highly recommend you try it out!

Cross Training

My shins are sore. Ever since my half marathon where it snowed, I get a pain in my legs when I run. It's tough to accept but I have decided to tone down the running so I can prevent a long term injury. Since I can't sit still, I have started some cross training to keep me in shape. Here are a some exercises I've substituted for the running, on top of icing every day:

Biking

5 days a week. I started biking to work everyday, which is about 20min each way. I have to get to work somehow, so why not get a workout out of it.

Aerobic DVDs

2-3 times per week. I prefer DVDs that have a good blend of cardio and weight training. My favorite DVDs are from the Get Ripped series. They last around 1 hour and boy do you get a good burn from them.

What We Ate: week of May 2

The slow cooker was my best friend this week! Here is what we ate:

[Monday] Salmon with Rice and Asparagus

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 F. Spread 1 tbsp of lemon juice and 1 tsp of dill on to the salmon. Put in oven and cook through until salmon flakes (about 15-20 min).

Mix asparagus spears with 1 tsp olive oil and salt and pepper. Place in oven and cook for 10-15 min.

[Tuesday and Thursday] Turkey Rice Soup
Directions:

In the slow cooker add: leftover turkey, 1 cup chicken stock, 2 cups mixed vegetables (we buy the frozen peas, corn and carrots), 1/4 c rice, 1 tsp italian seasoning, 1 tsp thyme, 2 bay leaves. Heat on high for 5-6 hours.

[Wednesday] Chicken Quesadillas
Directions:

In the slow cooker add: 2 chicken breasts, 500g of mixed frozen pepper strips, 3/4 c salsa. Add around 1 c water until the chicken is covered. Cook on high for 6-7 hours.

Preheat oven to 400F. Using a slotted spoon, dish out chicken and pepper mix on to a tortilla shell. Cover with grated cheese. Top with another tortilla shell. Bake until cheese melts, around 5-10 min.

[Friday] Chorizo Stirfry
Same as last Thursday but I used sauteed mushrooms instead of onion and I served it with rice instead of a bun.

What We Ate: week of April 25

Here is what we ate last week:

[Monday] Steak with Caramelized Onions

Directions:

BBQ steak, 4 min per sideOn med heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil, let it heat up, add sliced onion, cook until translucent.

[Tuesday] Penne with homemade pasta sauce

Cook pasta add homemade sauce. Easy Peasy. (That piece of broccoli sure took center stage. Noted: I need photography classes)

[Wednesday] Tortellini Soup

Bill's grandma made this for us, so I don't have a recipe for it. Try cooking your favorite soup and add in some cooked tortellini.

[Thursday] Chorizo and Caramelized Onion Stirfry

* This is an easy dinner for 1

Directions:

Caramelize 1/4 of an onion (instructions above on Monday's meal). Slice a chorizo sausage and add to fry pan with onions in it. Cook through. Add sliced cherry tomatoes and cook until they shrivel up, about 2-3 min. Serve on toast.

[Friday] Chicken with Parmesan and Asparagus, Quinoa side dish

*This is another easy dinner for 1

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 F. Slice 1 chicken breast in half lengthwise. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 10 min. Take out chicken and flip. Add 2 asparagus spears, 1 tbsp grated parmesan cheese and 1 tsp crushed red pepper to one side of chicken. Place other half of chicken on top and cook for another 10 min. Make sure chicken is cooked through.

Quinoa: Boil 1/2c water, add 1/4c quinoa. Cook for 15 min on low-med. Add 1 tsp maple syrup, 1 tsp coconut, a few sliced cherry tomatoes and heat for around 2-3 minutes. (makes enough for 2 servings so I had leftovers for when the hubs came home).

**Disclaimer: if you can't tell by now, I don't really measure, time, or pay attention to temperatures. This is probably a kitchen faux-pas but I don't care. It's how I roll.