I Won The Battle Of The Treadmill

My level of dedication is on par with the postal service.

No amount of snow, not even a negative reading on the thermometer can keep me from my long run. Even if it means the long run will occur indoors on a treadmill.

Saying I put on layers just to walk my way into the gym is an understatement. But hey, whatever keeps you warm.

Can we just admire my boots again for a minute before getting to my run? Aren’t they pretty? Thanks, I think so too.

So. I started mentally preparing for this morning’s long run on the treadmill a few days ago. I knew that the blizzard was going to cause some serious white stuff to take over my path and the thermometer dipping below zero is really too cold even for me to run outside – snow or no snow.

Between me and you, my treadmill run wasn’t half bad. I was ready. More than ready.

The positive side to the treadmill is that you are totally in control of making yourself move faster.

And, the faster you go, the faster the miles happen. 12 miles in just about 1:38, I will take it. Thank you very much.

Waiting for me when I arrived home was my most favorite steel-cut oats mixed with plain greek yogurt, berries and peanut butter piled into an almost empty peanut butter jar.

I have yet to leave my neighborhood since the snowstorm hit but I have every intention of being out and about shortly. Errands to run, Red Mango to eat…you know, the usual.

Before I go, today seems to be the day for birthdays:

Happy Birthday to my cousin Amy!

You may remember her as the cousin I convinced at the last-minute to run the Long Island Half Marathon instead of the 10k she originally registered for.

Happy Birthday Amanda who blogs over at Running With Spoons!

Happy Birthday D who blogs over at The Kosher Cave Girl!

With so many birthdays today, it would just be wrong of me not to have cake after my sushi tonight. Don’t you agree?

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

 

 

Running In The Snow And Snackin’ Muffins Recipe

 

The fact that it snowed all day into the evening Saturday is rather insignificant this morning.

Squeezing in 12 miles  BEFORE the snow started though is worth talking about.

It started flurrying around mile 5.

I was not heading inside for a flurry. Look at me getting all tough.

This coming from the girl who really doesn’t like the outdoors.

Trees make me sneeze. I have no use for hiking and I hate dirt.

You will never catch me sitting down in the grass or outside without shoes on my feet unless I am three steps from a swimming pool.

However, if you dress me appropriately, I will train like Rocky as if I am in frozen tundra of Russia.

During my super cold and slightly snowy run, I came to the conclusion without conducting further research that running in cold weather is as effective as botox for your face. As well as cheaper and less invasive.

Your face will freeze, you will be unable to form an expression thereby keeping yourself from causing any further creasing in your skin.

Anyway, I warmed up in the best way possible after my run.

But that was short-lived. The snow was just not severe enough to keep this girl from the mall, errands and fun of the weekend.

I utilize every opportunity to venture out in my favorite boots anyway. Why else do I have them?

Speaking of shoes, have you seen these new Uggs?

Why did they not have these rhinestone studded slippers a few months back when I bought mine? I love the sparkly rhinestones.

You know what else I love?

Even though the weather didn’t trap me inside over the weekend, I did have plans to bake so I decided to create and bake these cute muffins.

Great decision.

I cannot tell you how moist, dense, chewy and delicious these Snackin’ Muffins are. In fact, I labeled them Snackin’ Muffins because they are just that – perfect for snackin’…or, in my little world, perfect for breakfast or dessert. Or mashed into greek yogurt for lunch.

I know I mentioned on Friday that I had my sights set on trying a few new recipes – this always happens to me. I set out to bake something specific and then get all stubborn and like to do my own thing. I can’t help it, total only child syndrome.

So here’s the thing – the ingredients in these muffins are really my usual go-to list so I cannot understand or explain why these cuties are so tasty, so different and so above anything I have baked using the same combination.

Maybe it’s the KIND Healthy Grains Clusters? Maybe it’s the egg?

Or maybe, it’s the mini chocolate chips. I love baking with mini chips just because they distribute so beautifully leaving you with chocolate in every single bite.

Whatever it is, you need to make them. The only thing holding you off are your bananas. Make sure they are overripe and then you are ready to roll.

SNACKIN’  MUFFINS:

• 1 1/2 cups oats
• 2 mashed overripe bananas
• 1/2  cup granola ( I used KIND Healthy Grains Clusters)
• 1/3 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg
• Pinch of baking powder
• Mini chocolate chips (the more the merrier)

*As always with my recipes, you can play around with your ingredients, use your choice of nut butter, add in raisins, cranberries, nuts or any other mix-in you wish.

**Recipe easily doubles

Mash bananas in bowl, add in the rest of the ingredients and mix.

Lightly spray muffin pan preferably with coconut oil spray and fill…You can fill each muffin as high or as low as you want – they shouldn’t overflow. I was able to fill 9 muffins but you may get less or more depending upon how high or low you fill.

Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the tops start to get a bit crispy and spring back to the touch.

See that sprinkle bowl in the back? I added my snackin’ muffin to a bowl of plain greek yogurt and topped it off with more chocolate chips and peanut butter.

Stick with me. I know what’s good.

**********************************

I NEED TO KNOW:

Did you run outside over the weekend?

Bake or cook anything good?

Favorite kind of muffin? I always loved a chocolate chip muffin from Dunkin Donuts.

 

 

Long Run, Rest Day, Chinese Food, Sushi and a Cold Stone Sundae

Weekends are best recapped in food, don’t you think?

Let’s start with my little boy’s Chinese food craving that hit as soon as he got out of school on Friday.

He walked out of school with an extreme, out of nowhere Chinese food craving and since I never deny the boy an Asian meal, Chinese food it was.

It was a bit early in the evening, but since he wasn’t heading off to his dad’s so fast and since I wasn’t going out until much later, it was all good.

Or shall I say yum. I just love steamed vegetable dumplings.

As well as steamed shrimp and mixed veggies, heaving on the water chestnuts.

The little boy likes chicken and broccoli, although he never eats the broccoli. Hey, at least he allows it on his plate. It is a step in the right direction.

I must admit, I really do miss boneless spare ribs. It may be the only food I truly miss as a vegetarian. They were my favorite.

I quickly got over my longing for the Chinese spare rib as soon as I had my favorite sundae. Nothing beats the chocolate dipped waffle bowl from Cold Stone Creamery.

Chinese food and chocolate dipped waffle bowls should have provided me with adequate fuel for my long run Saturday morning, don’t you think?

Taking my sneakers off after running 12 miles = happiness.

My run was just OK. Mentally I was totally there, my legs were another story. They weren’t in total protest, they didn’t have picket signs to rally against the run or anything but they were tired.

The jelly beans I carry in my pocket didn’t help much. But they made me smile since they matched my shirt.

Since none of my miles came in under 9:00/mile, I knew I was due for a rest day.

But I just couldn’t rest on Saturday after the run. Oh no. Too much to do.

Besides getting a manicure and my hair attended to, I really needed some new boots. And shoes.

Let’s call this love at first sight. They had me at the pink bottom. I now can’t wait for the cold, rainy, messy weather.

And these may just have to be worn immediately.

Something to ponder: I recently canceled a race registration and hotel reservation for a particular race weekend. That money was now used to buy myself these awesome boots and shoes.

Don’t get me wrong – I love a good race and the traveling involved with a race weekend but when you are able to spend that same amount of money on apparel…..hmmm. You decide.

Let’s discuss Saturday night’s dinner. I have decided that the sushi chef at one of my favorite restaurants may indeed have a crush on me.

Please take note of the heart-shaped sushi roll which appeared on the  plate once again.

Turns out, it isn’t any specific roll that is made in a heart- any roll can be made that way and the chef randomly decides when he does it.

I am so glad he decides to roll out sushi in hearts for me. Makes me feel special.

Anyway, I gave myself a full day of rest yesterday which I really don’t do often enough. My body sincerely thanks me by feeling refreshed and ready for a run this morning.

The little boy is off from school today for Columbus Day and I kinda wish it was Thanksgiving here as it is for my Canadian friends up in Canada. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday- for the food of course.

To all of my Canadian friends, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and please eat extra stuffing and sweet potatoes and pie for me!

*********************************************************************************

I NEED TO KNOW:

If you are a vegetarian, are there any foods you miss or feel you miss out on? I don’t crave anything that I used to eat but I do miss those spare ribs!

Run any races this weekend? How did it go?

Celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving today? What’s on the menu?