The back roads were covered in snow and the challenge of running through car tire tracks resulting in uneven, packed, sometimes slushy snow got the better of me.  The Parkway wasn’t safe since the side walks weren’t cleared.  Shane and I were out early trying to cover as many of the 15 scheduled miles as we could.  We eked out 9 miles, and by mile 8 my legs were calling it quits.  We got home, Shane was packed with icy sludge on his belly.  He was cleaned up, my clothes were traded from long winter leggings to shorts, we went downstairs and I hit the treadmill to finish 6 more miles while Shane napped close by.  *Try taking a photo with your cell phone while running on the treadmill.  You get blurrrrrr…..

On days like today, when my pace is barely under 10 min per mile for the total run, I wonder if I actually got anything out of it. 

• It was a tough run due to the road conditions and I ran so much slower than any of my goal paces.

• Justification:  I had to work harder.

• Justification:  I pushed through to complete the total miles for this weeks long run.

• Justification:  I ran slow, an easy run so I can get in 5 or so more recovery miles (maybe finishing with strides) tomorrow.

Do you try to justify a bad run or just feel rotten about it and beat yourself up for not pushing harder?

UNMATCHED

I really need to get my eyes corrected.  Half way through Friday morning at work, I discovered my underwear were inside-out.  Not that anyone saw (obviously!) but still, it wasn’t right.  No telling what other faux pas I’m making.

This had nothing to do with not being able to see, but I randomly pulled shorts and a tank from the closet for running.  The top was blue the shorts had orange stripes

There was no color match to be found in that outfit.  I was going to put top or bottom back and grab something that went together more appropriately then I thought why?!   Why would I need a matching outfit to run by myself, on the treadmill.  I don’t even look at myself in the mirror on those lonely workout mornings, so why did I need to match shorts and top?!   I thought “if it turns out to be a ridiculously bad run, I will have to attribute it to the mismatched clothes”.  

Do you need to wear matching top and bottoms when you workout?

FRENCH TOAST

Remember this?  Panettone Chocolate Chip French Toast.

Well, here is round two:  The fruit version of French toast using Panettone Fruit Specialty Cake. 

Makes 6 to 8  servings

• 1 Panettone Specialty Cake
• 4 TBS butter (or a healthy oleo alternative such as “SmartBalance”)
• 6 large whole eggs, beaten
• 4 TBS 2% milk
• Your favorite topping:  maple syrup, honey, peanut butter, or simply butter.

Slice the Panettone into 6 – 8 equal slices.  Cut to a thickness that will not break apart.

The slices may seem thick but it’s a delicate bread/cake and will break apart. You can cut these in half after cooking.

Using a large frying pan, heat, medium high heat,  1 TBS of butter (or a healthy alternative) per batch of French toast.  The number of batches will depend on pan size. You don’t want to over crowd.  I used a 13” round pan and cooked in three batches. 

Beat the eggs with the milk. 

Dip each piece of Panettone in the egg-milk mix and allow to drip off before adding the slice to the heated pan.

Allow to cook 2 – 3 minutes or until browned then flip over and cook the other side.  Remove to plate and keep warm.

Add more butter to the pan  and allow to melt prior to cooking the next batch.

Top with your favorite topping and serve. 

Seriously Good!

Tell me about the best French toast you ever tasted.  Did you make it yourself?

Today was my 13 mile run.  It began at a nice easy pace since I was going to tackle some hills in the planned route.  Just over 5 miles and I turned up Mallory Road.  Mallory is fun to ride down on your bike since it offers quite a nice decline.  Of course that also means, taken in the different direction, it offers quite a challenging incline.  I took the “tough guy” route and decided to run up Mallory.  It wasn’t a run.  I had to walk parts and tried doing some speed plays to make up the slow pace.  Mallory sure doesn’t seem as long when you’re in the car!

As I approached the top of Mallory and turned onto Mohawk, another incline but more gentle, my tail bone started aching.  It was a high pressure deep and intense ache which lasted about a quarter mile.  It brought me to a slow walk and I even tried calling Ted to pick me up.  He wasn’t home so I soldiered on.  The pain faded into a shadow of it’s beginning intensity so I pushed through the remaining miles.  13.1 miles today at a disappointing pace of 9:41. What a pain in the butt!

What WAS that pain?  Here is a site that explains some of the causes:  Beginner Triathlete.   In my case, it was most likely caused by the bike workout Ted and I did on Thursday night for 40 minutes. Even though I was on the trainer, I was working hard and rocking a bit in the saddle.  A bruised coccyx?  Here’s hoping it’s that minor.

JUMP BACK…

For yesterday’s breakfast enjoyment, our eyes were engaged by some wonderful wildlife scenery outside our window. 

Brave little lady.  She got a little closer then heard Shane barking out “GET OFF MY FRISBEE COURT!”

Surprise, surprise!  All that barking brought two of momma deer’s little ones out from the woods

They’re a “Pain in the Butt” in many ways, but it’s still nice to see them visit once in a while.

NEW DOO!

Just foolin’ around after my shower today, I came up with a new 2012 hair style

With the Chakra earrings, it looks just spiffy!

Not fit for work or going out in public but for putting away holiday decorations and cleaning up the kitchen, PERFECTO!

Runners POST Run Breakfast:  The Hungry Gal Egg-Mash

Did she eat it all?  Oh yes she certainly did.

1. A little olive oil

2.  Going toast and cheese-less, the players are:

a.  2 cooked slices of tofu

b. 2 TBS chopped onion

c.  4 TBS chopped asparagus

d.  1/4 of a cooked sweet potato, chopped

3.  That much Eggbeaters and some salsa on the side.

It’s a MASH!

But don’t forget the most important component of ANY post run breakfast (for some, it’s a pre-run component)

JAVA!  Cup-O-Joe!  Coffee, by any other name.

Satisfying and filling.  I missed the cheese (opted for Tofu instead) and I missed the toast (opted for the sweet potato) but felt fulfilled with all things good for me.

Oink! Oink!

What did you have for breakfast today?

On the radio the other day, the interviewer asked the guest “If you named your life right now as a chapter in a book, what would that chapter be called?” I looked at Ted as we drove along and said “Amazing”. He said “excuse me?”  I said, “I’d name the chapter of my life right now “Amazing”.

A wonderful husband.  A loyal dog and running partner.  My 2nd marathon, The 115th Boston Marathon in 3:47 (who could have imagined?!?)

The California Raisin Bread Contest winner.

The popularity of my award winning mini loaf.   The benefits and fun of using and selling Arbonne.

AND… one of the most important, the success of my company.

What a year!  What a life! Talk about being blessed.  Because my parents instilled in me the fortitude to act on my dreams and my goals without fear of failure, I’m able to move forward and reach for the stars. 

If you were to name your life right now as a chapter in a book, what would you name it?

To whom would you attribute that chapter ?

A Simple Recipe:  APPLE PEAN-OLA

This recipe was taken from Food Network Magazine, Apple Moons.  It’s easy. It’s healthy. It’s a perfect way to get your kids to enjoy a healthy snack.

To serve 1

1 apple, cut into sections

2 TBS natural peanut butter

2 TBS Low Fat Granola

Spread the peanut butter on the apple slices and top with granola.

What’s the easiest, healthiest snack you know of that would be popular with kids?

My first share for Saturday:  Congratulations Monet! You won the $100 AMEX Dinner at 6 Giveaway!  Let’s hear it for Monet and make sure to send some love because she broke her arm recently.  That hurts all of us since Monet always offers the best baked goody recipes and now we’ll have to wait until she heals.  Head on over to her site and give her some love.

My second share for Saturday: 

Congratulations!!!

New District Manager in Qualification

Joanne Willcox (NY)  - Hey Guys! That’s ME!

Sponsored by Kathy Rutherford (NY) –If it wasn’t for Kathy, I wouldn’t have made it. She’s terrific!

Great job, Joanne !!! This is just the beginning!!!

I know you and Kathy have had a blast this month…now imagine every month being this fun?

Well, that’s ARBONNE girl!!! Welcome aboard!

Can’t wait to meet you and watch you create a team of die hard runners and health gurus!!!

Soooo glad to have you on the team!!! Keep sharing& having fun!!! See YOU at the top!!!

xoxo, Nadia

My third share is this one of a kind, completely sinful, 100% satisfying Panettone French Toast.

After an 18 mile run, an apple and an Arbonne shake, I was STILL hungry.  I stood in the kitchen, my legs aching from the run, looking at the two boxes of Bauducco Panettone that arrived yesterday from the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program.  Did I have the energy to stand over a stove and make the French toast recipe suggested in the paperwork?  Ted decided for me.  “The chocolate chip French Toast sounds good.” 

If you’ve been good all week.  You’ve chosen all healthy options for your meals, you’ve done all your scheduled workouts, and you’ve “loved thy neighbor”, then I suggest you treat yourself to a little slice of heaven and make the French toast using Bauducco’s famous Panettone Specialty Cake:  Thick, sweet, moist, and a perfect balance between a moist bread and a sweet cake. 

Panettone French Toast

• (2) 3/4 inch slices of Bauducco Panettone
• (2) large eggs
• (1) heaping TBS sour cream (I used fat free for all the good it did – see my next comment by the milk)
• (2) TBS milk (no milk in the house, I used heavy cream. If you’re going to cheat, go all the way, right?!)
• Butter ( I used Healthy Heart Promise.  What a case of contradiction!)

Beat the eggs, sour cream and milk heavy cream in a shallow, flat bottomed dish.  Place bread slice in the dish and flip over to soak both sides.  Heat the skillet over medium heat and add the butter Healthy Heart Promise to melt.  Add the saturated Panettone to the heated skillet and cook for 3 – 4 minutes per side for a firm center. Top with butter or margarine, drizzle with syrup or use powdered sugar.

I can tell, after eating this, and not stopping after one HUGE slice, I’m going to have to get out there for another 18 miles!  No, I take that back.  I deserve this delicious meal so I’m going to thoroughly enjoy every moist, sweet, chocolate, sinful bite.  I might even just put my feet up and take a nap.  Sometimes you just have to reward yourself for all the hard work. It feels so NICE!

What about it guys? What are you going to do today to reward yourself for all your hard work?

I read an article by Jen Van Allen in the October 2011 issue of Running Times Magazine. It was absolutely perfect in regards to what I’ve been feeling lately. The gist of it is, don’t lose the point of why you run and run for yourself, not for others.   To read more, please go HERE

I took somewhat of a break from my running this week, suffering a little burn out.  You know how you can tell you’re burned out? 

1. Tired
2. Grumpy
3. Loss of appetite
4. Feeling sore and achy all the time
5. and running/working out isn’t fun anymore.

When that happens, it’s time to let the body rest until you’re ready to run again. 

The end result for this week:   took it easy and did what I felt like doing.  It amounted to just under 45 miles total running miles with my first long 20 miler since Boston last April.  I took that long run slow, walking in spots.  There will be more to come where I can push a little harder.  First, I need to get over this burn out stage.  I can already feel it fading! YAY! 

Want a Breakfast Corn Muffin?

Total heaven when warm. Down right delicious any other time. 

A total of 45 minutes from mixing bowl to your breakfast plate.

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup thick cut rolled oats
• 3/4 cups yellow cornmeal
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 beaten large egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 12 oz fat free evaporated milk
• 2/3 cup canola oil
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 1/2 tsp molasses
• 1/2 cup golden raisins
• Optional topping:  1/4 cup toasted rolled oats and 3 TBS honey to top muffins

Preheat oven to 400 F. Line muffin cups with paper liners or spray with non stick.

Stir together the flour, oats, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt.  Make a well in the center and add the egg, vanilla, milk, oil, maple syrup, and molasses.  Stir only until just mixed. It will be lumpy.  Add the raisins only to blend.

Bake for 25 minutes (check for doneness with a knife, should come clean when inserted in muffin center). Makes 12 – 16 muffins depending on size of muffin cups.

*Best eaten within a couple of days or freeze to warm up later.

At first, I thought the texture was going to be, you know, funny but then I took a bite…Perfect!  Texture, taste, sweetness, it was all just right for an early morning “break of the fast”.

I think this just might have triggered a muffin addiction.