Summer Sizzle 2014 and the Father’s Day Blue Cheese Burger

This gruesome pair ran a 5 mile race this Father’s Day.  The Summer Sizzle, a Utica Road Runners Grand Prix event.

Ted’s making that pained look that I had on my face all FIVE MILES of this hilly run.

The course was changed from the previous year due to construction at SUNY so we ran out of Deerfield Wilderness Park.  It was scenic but the hills were much more challenging than at SUNY. 

Zoey and I ran a 2 mile warm up.  Ted and I left for the race, got lost, finally found the event with plenty of time to spare.  We signed up as husband/wife team but ran our own races.

The course left the park on a very short incline, descended for a short time then up we went, and up, up some more, down a little then up again to the turn around right before hitting the 2 mile point.  Made the best of the down hills allowing gravity to do it’s thing without pushing it and SUCKED IT (my motto of the day) while climbing every hill.  At mile 3, I checked my Garmin and was on a 5K pace. No wonder my breath was burning!.  At mile 4 I thought if this were a 10K run, I’d never make it.   Crossed the finish line in 38:24.  Good enough for a first place in my age group and 6th woman o/a.  It was also a PR!  YAY!  Average pace per mile, 7:37.

Winning trophy = Summer Sizzle Mug and a Six Pack.

As for the husband/wife team, we placed third.  Oh well…next year.

After our race and awards, we drove home and finished off with a 4 mile cool down run which was no choice of mine but Ted has two weeks until his half iron man so had more training to do.  Being it was Father’s Day, I thought I’d go along with him for conversation.

Total miles today:  11.21 miles of Boilermaker Training in the books (Utica Boilermaker is July 13th). 

Father’s Day Blue Cheese Burger:  A recipe for a REAL MAN.

Makes 4 burgers

Preheat the outside grill to high heat.  Rub oil on grill with a paper towel to prepare for grilling.  *No need to tell you, but I will:  Rub the Oil BEFORE the grill gets hot!

You will need:

• 1 1/2 lb 90% ground beef
• 1 large egg, slightly beaten
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 TBS dried minced onion
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Just a pinch of salt
• A pinch of pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup quick oats – uncooked
• 1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
• 1 TBS ketchup
• 1/2 TBS prepared mustard
• about 6 oz blue cheese crumbles
• *Optional: 4 slices Provolone cheese
• 4 Hamburger buns

Mix the beef with the egg.  Stir in the garlic, onion, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.

Add the oats, Worcestershire, ketchup, mustard.  Mix well.

Form into 8 patties.  Top 4 of the patties with blue cheese – place in the center of the meat. Top with a patty that has no cheese.

Form to seal in the cheese.  Rub both sides of the patty with a little salt and place directly on prepared grill.  Grill on high for about 5 minutes per side.  DO NOT PRESS DOWN WHILE COOKING.   

Grill buns if you would like and top with Provolone cheese.  Make sure Dad enjoys his burger!

*Ted had a Pretzel bun with his patty.  I’ll never buy those again because I can’t leave them alone.  So Good!

How did you celebrate Father’s Day?