I confess:  When I’m feeling low and the clouds are falling, the first person on my call list is my mom.  Dad’s a good “ear to chew” as well but he is less sympathetic and usually offers more logical sense than sympathy.  Sometimes when you just want to gush with emotion, it’s Mom who knows how to listen. 

Earlier this week when the flu bug was hanging on and I was feeling sorry for my self, I called my Mom.   First I apologized for calling her just to cry then proceeded to cry about my worries, about other peoples worries.  I cried about things that have nothing to do with my life such as Charlie Sheen, The Oscar losers.   I also found enough tears to cry about crying.  Once again, I confess:   I’m a big baby who still cries to Mom and Dad.  

Did you know that it’s healthy to cry?  It’s never good to stifle your emotions as the pressure builds inside and very often results in high blood pressure and other stress related issues. 

Who do you go to when you need a shoulder to cry on?   

America’s Greatest Heart Run and Walk – It’s this weekend!   Are you ready?  There is an activity for everyone, no matter whether you like to walk inside or outside, or go for a short run or a super long run, the Heart Run and Walk offers fun events for all. 

The Health Expo is held, once again, at Utica College on Friday, March 4th.  The purpose of the weekend is first to build a healthier community, better educated in the ways to live a healthy and productive life through awareness of coronary heart disease and prevention.  Second, the weekend is filled with fun events and donations are collected to raise money in support of the work, research, and services provided by the American Heart Association.  

I have participated in the 3 mile walk, the 3 mile run, the 5 mile run, and the 10 mile run.  This year, I go for “gold” and will run the 30K (18.6 miles).  It should be fun.  It’s not a race but simply a good way to get in a long training run with a lot of other people.  I’m not even sure if there are any aid stations? I’ll wear my hydration belt with some energy gels, snacks for fuel (*very necessary since my eating is still a delicate situation from the bug) and warm clothes.  I’ll start with my 2 mile warm up with Shane. Run the 18.6 miles then I hope to add a mile or two as I run towards home and meet up with Ted.  Ted is running the 5 mile and not looking forward to it.   It should be a great day!

WWT Cookies! Great treats to celebrate a BIG PARTY!

When’s Mardi Gras?  Isn’t it March …. (looking it up…)  8th!   It falls the day before Ash Wednesday, always on a Tuesday.  What’s this post got to do with Mardi Gras?  Absolutely nothing.  It’s just that I stuck a mask behind my cookies when taking the photo and it reminded me of that fun filled celebration populating the streets of New Orleans next week.  My head is still a little messed up from the flu bug so please excuse the nonsense.

Whole Wheat Treat Cookies

• 1/2 cup Healthy Heart Promise Margarine (keep it “heart healthy” with ZERO trans fat)
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg (I always use Egglands Best Eggs)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/3 cup Lite Sour Cream
• 1/3 cup sliced almonds
• 1/3 cup chopped dates (not dried) – about 10 pitted dates
• 1/3 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Cream the Promise and the sugar.  Add the egg and the vanilla. Add the sour cream.

In the middle of the sour cream mix, add the flour, baking powder, soda, salt. Now stir it all together until well incorporated. 

Stir in the almonds, dates, and chips.

Drop by tablespoons on cookie sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake 12 – 15 minutes.

So good. Sweet treat. Whole grains and delicious!

Moist. Lots of flavor. Great for a party!

Have you ever been to Mardi Gras?

I’ve been a lax-blogger.  Didn’t have the energy which is very out of sorts for this “energizer bunny”.  Both my sister and I were bitten by the bug in Myrtle Beach and I’m still struggling with it. Nauseous, deep chest cough, the occasional sneeze, I’m not used to being sick.  In fact, I can’t even remember the last time I was this ill. We’re talking years.  It’s not fun.

What happens to the training schedule when your sick?  I guess it should go on hold but try telling that to the Boston Marathon obsessed.  I’ve made some really questionable choices this week.  

• Tried to run on Thursday and got 3.1 miles in plus a weight workout, that was at 4 am.  Stupid move on my part.  Spent the rest of the day in bed. 
• Friday, got up AGAIN at 4 and decided to double my run since I felt a little better.  6.5 miles with Shane.  Can’t say that did me any good either.  At least I made it through the work day.
• AND…getting even MORE STUPID!   I didn’t want to miss the most important run of the week, the long run.  My goal was 20 miles. I started on the treadmill because we were hit with tons of snow yesterday and the roads weren’t clear enough for my leg to tolerate long miles comfortably.  15 miles on the treadmill..  They were slow miles due to frequent stops (still nauseous), heavy legs, etc. It was a relief to get off that machine and I thought I’d enjoy getting outside to finish up my miles.  My legs would barely move. I eked out 3 slow, sluggish miles, finishing with 18.  Now I’m sipping Diet Ginger Ale because it’s the only thing my stomach will tolerate.  Nutrition after exercise is so important, but for the first time ever, I can’t choke anything down.  Not good.

Why put myself through such torture instead of letting the body recover from the flu bug?  It’s called “Mental Training” (some of you are still calling it “Stupid”).  You see a big part of completing endurance competitions such as the marathon is the mental ability to push through discomfort.  That’s what I did this week.  As few miles as the 3.1 on Thurs. to the long run of 18 on Saturday took all I had to complete.  I didn’t fuel for those runs because I could barely eat anything so muscle glycogen levels were depleted.  The Heart Run is next weekend and I’m signing up for 18 miles PLUS plan on running home afterwards (20 – 24 mile long run).  I needed to get some miles in before that event.  Fingers crossed, I’ll be able to get back on schedule Monday. 

In the meantime, HEALTHY COOKIES!  Low fat and OATMEAL.

A healthy way to get calm your snack attack.  Approximately 90 calories, 16 grams of carbs, 3 grams of protein and only 1 little iota of fat.

Makes 15 small cookies.

• 1 cup quick cooking oats
• 1/4 cup 100% whole wheat flour
• 1 very ripe small banana – mashed
• 3TBS brown sugar*
• 1 TBS honey
• 1 egg white
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• 1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.

Drop on a cookie sheet you have sprayed with non-stick spray and bake for 12 – 15 minutes.

* If you prefer, replace the brown sugar with 5 packets of Splenda and you might substitute Brown Rice Syrup for honey as well.

Enjoy!

To the tune of “Do-Re-Mi” :

Let’s start at the very beginning
A very good place to start
When you read you begin with… A B C….

Registration for the 10 mile race is the beginning.  The race is the end, but you’ll have to wait for that one until tomorrow.

There was no hesitation about whether I should really do the 10 mile (my longest road race yet….oh yeah, not technically a race) or opt for a shorter mileage such as the 5 mile.  I walked right up, handed in my registration, got my shirt, and proceeded over to the Utica Road Runners Table.

I couldn’t help but notice some bountiful treats along the way…healthy right?

By the way, I had to grab a bag because I snagged 4 Chobani (Oh SO GOOD!) and a Fage plus ..see that Feta cheese pkg?  I swiped that as well.     Did you know that FAGE has a facility right here in New York State? 

In February 2005, FAGE USA Dairy Inc. was established in order to build a state-of-the-art production facility for FAGE Total in New York State.

The Plant is located in Johnstown Industrial Park, 200 miles north of New York City in an area of 22 acres and the building is 120,000 sq. ft. The Company has invested $100 million in order to manufacture FAGE Total in this highly automated, state-of-the-art plant.

Once at the Road Runners table, I met my friend Jim Moragne, the contact for Utica Road Runners membership should you want to join.  Every time I speak to Jim, he offers super information and somehow helps to take the edge off an up coming run.  We talked about the 10 mile Heart Run. I felt better. Then we discussed marathons.  He offered information about my desire to do the Flying Pig and then suggested some local marathons around New York State which might be an even better place to start marathon running.  I really felt great about running ANYTHING after our conversation.  THANKS JIM!

I continued on with my wandering about the Fitness Expo, remembering that I was playing hooky  from work so I was kind of “grabbing and going”.       

Biofreeze…you never know.  I sampled the Heidelberg French Peasant loaf.  I truly enjoy all Heidelberg breads. They are so soft and fresh and the flavor is like no other bread.  My favorite is the sunflower seed and raisin.  Unfortunately, the kind lady handing out samples had just finished handing out that loaf. 

Even a giveaway for coffee.  I so wanted to win a basket full of K-cups.  Oh well, I had to leave and they were just setting up for the raffle so I missed that one.

The popcorn was being consumed by about every other person I walked past.  Don’t you just LOVE the smell of popcorn?!

Even good old Hannaford’s had a table with their recipe filled magazines and information on “Guiding stars”. 

This year an organization was offering CPR training. There was blood pressure and cholesterol screening.  The Fitness Expo was so informative and interactive, it is a great place to get motivated to begin a healthy life style change. 

Now I’m excited. I’m looking forward to the challenge of this run.  I can’t wait to look back on this and scoff at myself thinking “how could I have been so concerned about such a SHORT run?”.  Wonder if that will ever happen?  Wonder if I’ll ever run that marathon?  I’m pretty sure I’ll complete a half marathon or two or more this year.  Food and running …does life get any better?

Me, a name I call myself
Far, a long, long way to run

See my info blog at EXAMINER on the Expo.

Tonight had to be a meal that was ready and cleaned up by 7pm because Ted had a work “thing” and couldn’t be dilly dallying with dinner dishes. 

We had fish last night. He had beef the night before and was also eating pork left overs from the weekend throughout the week.  That means it’s an EGG night!  Yahoo! Love eggs (well, ‘Beaters that is).

We had an EggBeater Frittata with fresh vegetables such as green onions, sliced grape tomatoes, and broccoli.  The cheese was a mixture of goat with basil and garlic, Feta, and herbed Mozzarella.  Our side was grilled yellow squash “logs” and snap peas.  Interested? Read on …

FRITTATA

• 4 green onions, chopped
• 3/4 cup broccoli florets (rinsed well in really hot water)
• 1 pint sliced grape tomatoes (tedious – but you have to do it)
• 1 cup Egg Beaters
• 2 whole eggs (or use 2 cups of EB’s and omit the real eggs and whites)
• 2 egg whites
• 2 oz Goat cheese with basil and garlic
• 2 oz Feta Cheese
• 1/4 cup herbed mozzarella (a mix of basil and rosemary in grated mozzie)
• fresh rosemary and salt, pepper to taste

 Preheat oven to 400 F.  Saute the green onions in EVOO  over medium high heat, 2 minutes. Add the broccoli for 2 minutes. Add 1/2 of the tomatoes for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and add about 1/2 tsp of chopped rosemary and salt and pepper to taste – stir around.  Beat together the eggs and goat cheese.  Spoon the veggies into a ceramic baking dish sprayed with non-stick spray and top with egg mixture.  Sprinkle on top the other 1/2 of your sliced tomatoes, the feta and finally the Mozzarella.  Bake for 25-30 minutes.

The Grilled Yellow Squash with Snap Peas:

• 1 medium size yellow squash.  Slice in thirds.  Take the thin end and slice  in 1/2 length wise.  The thicker pieces, quarter lengthwise.
• 6 oz Snap Peas

Preheat oven to 325 F. Heat 1 TBS EVOO on an indoor grill pan over high heat. Add squash slices and grill 3 min. then turn to grill other cut side for 3 minutes. The thin pieces that you only cut in 1/2, simply move to the side of the pan – away from the direct heat center.  Add the snap peas when you turn your squash for the 2nd 3 minutes.   Remove from heat, and put into a ceramic baking dish, sprayed with non stick or brushed with butter (you can salt and pepper to taste as well as add a little chopped rosemary before going into the oven) and roast 30-40 minutes.

 Friday morning, I am helping at the Utica Road Runner table for the Heart Run and Walk Expo from 9AM – 11AM.  Any of you Uticans who plan on attending, please come and say hello. I’m the only female working the table during those hours as far as I know.  Still haven’t decided on the 3M/5M run or the 3M walk.   The weather looks like it’s going to be pretty nice though. 

Hope you have nice weather tomorrow.  Enjoy your night!

Happy hour special at Ted & Jo’s:  Jacob’s Creek Shiraz.

Friday, as always, was non stop at work.  But I did take an extra 15 at lunch time to p/u some of my holiday baking goods.  If I get a chance, I’ll get started this weekend:

I’m also going to make another attempt at bagels, hence the big block of yeast and whole wheat flour. The butter mints are for a peppermint pie. The nuts and M&M’s are for cookies, bars, and other yummy yums.

The Utica Heart Run and Walk app. came in the mail but I already signed up on line. If you would be so kind as to make a contribution to the American Heart Association, you can do so by checking out the “Helpful Links” on the right and clicking on “Heart Run & Walk”.  I’ll have C-Flex as a sponsor as well as a personal donation, but a $1.00 from anyone goes along way to a very reputable organizaton.  If I can get Ted to do it, he might… maybe he’ll do the 3 mile walk with Shane. This is one of the few events that allow dogs. 

As for other plans, we are out to dinner tonight then again on Sunday. The Gents. from the UK and Sweden are arriving and Ted is being nice enough to accompany me on a business dinner at Dominique Chesterfield’s Sunday eve. Even though (I always stick a “t” at the end of my ”though”‘s!!!- it’s sooo annoying!)  it will be a bit late for us, it should be…ummmm…eventful?!

So that’s all…keep your fingers crossed that Shane and I don’t encounter any lose dogs on our run tomorrow. I think I’ll go through the Switchbacks just to be save. At least those dogs are on leashes!  Have a great night and enjoy your Happy Hour.. and then some!