Weekend Eats: Feasting on Giant Meatballs

On Monday, I finally made the decision to buy a GPS watch of my own, and ordered the Garmin 310XT from REI.com (it was on sale!). I also ordered a bike mount from Amazon, since it was out of stock at REI. They both arrived yesterday, which was perfect timing! I was so excited, and I used it for the...

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Foodie Pen Pals August Reveal

It's Foodie Pen Pals Reveal Day! This is my first time participating, and I am really glad I did! Don't know what Foodie Pen Pals is? Each month, you sign up and get paired with another foodie. You get to know them a little and what they like. Then you put together a little package filled with yummy...

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Friday's 5 Fun Things

Woohoo it's Friday! Yes, I pointed out a terribly obvious fact. You're welcome ;) For most of you, Friday is the last day of the work/school week, and the start of the weekend. I actually don't work on Fridays, but I do on the weekend, so today is my day off :) Five things I'm enjoying this Friday: 1....

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My Green Smoothie Formula

I started my day with a 7 mile run. I went pretty hard and fast for the first 4 miles, slowed down at mile 5, and picked it up for the last 1.2 miles to the 10k mark. The final 0.8 miles was a cool down. I still felt a bit fatigued today, and keeping an 8 minute pace was a bit of a struggle. Blergh,...

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The Art of Taking Rest Days

I have to admit, I am terrible at doing things in moderation. When it feel like it, I eat a lot, drink a lot, and umm...party a lot. Similarly, when I am training for races, I train a lot. This may be a good thing, since I usually don't have problem with motivation. If I could, I would be out there running and biking every single day. But I am not a running goddess, and my mortal self has its limits....

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Cinnamon Hazelnut Granola

Greek yogurt topped with granola and fresh fruit makes a great post-workout snack. I love granola, but I think it's pretty ridiculous to shell out $5+ for a bag of granola when it's so cheap and easy to make yourself. Oats are dirt-cheap, and more expensive ingredients, like nuts and dried fruits,...

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Weekend Eats- Hummus and Falafel

This past weekend, I checked out a small Lebanese restaurant in a shopping and dining center that I frequent. The area has many small restaurants, boutiques, yoga studios, Fleet Feet, 16 Handles, and most importantly, Whole Foods. As you can probably guess, I go there quite frequently. On Saturdays,...

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Training Log 8/18-8/24 and My Half Marathon Goal

Today, I decided to go on a 13.1 mile long run to gauge how I am doing on reaching my 5 minute PR goal for the Philly Rock n' Roll half marathon. I started out at a conservative 8:3x pace for the first mile or so. I ran some negative splits, the fastest at 7:30. I was surprised at myself for being able to run some sub-8 miles. My energy levels were great, so I just went with it. I slowed down some...

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Sausage and Spinach White Lasagna with Homemade Pasta

I was really craving lasagna on Friday, so I decided to throw one together. Since it was an impromptu decision, I didn't have lasagna noodles on hand. I had all the other ingredients for a white lasagna, so I made my own pasta. It was a bit of work, though it was fun making fresh pasta! YUM,...

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Riding to Sugarloaf Mountain

I had a wonderful 33 mile bike ride this morning and I am raving about it. There is a small (emphasis on small) mountain/natural area called Sugarloaf Mountain about 15 miles from where I live. I have been wanting to bike there all summer, and finally mapped out a route and rode it this morning! My...

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I Need Some Advice!

After using my brother's Garmin Forerunner for my last few runs, I am looking into buying one for myself. Maybe once I get my first paycheck, haha. This is what I am using right now. I can't keep stealing my brother's Garmin forever, though! I am looking for a GPS watch that I can also use as a...

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Three Weeks to get Fast!

Three more weeks until the Philly Rock n' Roll Half Marathon! I am really excited for it because I am aiming for a 5 minute PR. Since I have a time goal of 1:57, I have been working on my speed lately. Except for my long runs, I am trying to do every run faster than my comfortable pace of 8:30-8:45...

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Flying through Clouds

Happy hump day! Though for me, not really, because I don't work on Fridays, but work half a day on Saturdays. I am settling into my new work schedule, though when school starts next week, it'll be changed around again. I work at an academic enrichment center, so once the summer is over, I get to start...

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Fartlek means Speed Play

This morning, I decided to do some unstructured speed work. I borrowed my brother's Garmin Forerunner 305. This was my first run with a GPS watch! I liked being able to see my instantaneous speed, which is helpful during a fartlek. For the first two miles, I ran at a 6 to 7 min/mile pace for 60-90...

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Rosemary Currant Whole Wheat Crackers

These crackers are inspired by Trader Joe's Raisin Rosemary Crisps. Those things are dang addictive; I almost ate a whole box in one sitting. I made this homemade version using whole wheat flour and currants instead of raisins. You can use raisins or any other dried fruit that you want. Just chop up...

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Training Log 8/11- 8/17 and a Personal Distance Record!

The forecast today said rain all morning and into the afternoon. Uh oh. I usually avoid running in the rain, because I absolutely hate being soaking wet and hate wet feet even more. But Sundays are my long run days, and I had to get it done. It was raining very lightly when I was getting ready to go out, but as I stepped out, wearing capris, cap, and a light jacket, it stopped raining! I was...

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Biking to Old Town Alexandria

My dad and I have been going on Saturday bike trips throughout the summer. We usually head towards DC and over the Potomac River into Virginia. Virginia has some great bike paths and we have explored the Custis Trial, Four Mile Run, and the Washington and Old Dominion (W&OD) Trail. Today, I wanted...

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Your Limits are in your Head

This morning, I ran 9 miles in 71 minutes, pushing just under an 8 min/mile pace. After today's and Wednesday's run I discovered that I am capable of running faster and sustaining a less comfortable pace for longer distances. I realized that I hold back too much when I run, and I finish with too...

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Is it Fall Yet?

Is it really mid-August? It sure didn't feel like it this morning. It was 55 degrees and I was planning on going for a bike ride. Since I dress for about 5 degrees colder because of windchill, I layered up with running capris and a long sleeve under my bike jersey. Going out at first is like jumping...

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Running Out of My Comfort Zone

This morning was a chilly 55 degrees with wind chill, so I decided to go for a run instead of freezing my ass off on my bike. I started at a speedy pace to warm up, in the low 7's, and decided to make it a 10k tempo run. I challenged myself to keep my pace under 8 min/mile. It felt pretty hard, but...

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It's Raining Sweat

Rainy morning today. I was totally not expecting that and I was hoping to go cycling. It wasn't raining that hard, so I contemplated running instead. Then it started raining harder, and I was a wuss and decided to work out indoors instead of getting soaked. I decided to do Insanity Plyometric Cardio...

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BBQ, Beer, Bread Pudding

Yesterday, I went to DC with my brother and two friends for dinner. I found a TravelZoo deal for a HUGE feast at Hill Country. Hill Country first opened in New York City, and now expanded to DC. I love good BBQ (especially after living in St. Louis for four years), and it's pretty hard to find...

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Training Log: 8/4-8/10

This week, I decided to cross train more since my knees were feeling a little wonky after that hilly half marathon last Sunday. I did my first trail run on Monday evening with my running club, and I loved it! We did a 6 mile mixed surface run that included a loop around a small lake. The pace was a bit aggressive, but manageable, and we really picked it up near the end. I kept my eyes fixed 3 feet...

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Tutorial: How to Make Sushi

Sushi is a great runner's food. It's nutritious with minerals from the nori (seaweed), protein from fish/eggs, healthy fats from avocado, energy-rich carbs from the rice, and vitamins from the veggies. It's a complete meal all rolled up in a neat package! Making sushi at home isn't hard. It...

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My Running Gear: The Essentials

Mizuno EVO Cursoris This is a great zero-drop shoe for someone looking for a more minimalist ride. I love how lightweight they feel, yet they still provide some cushioning. I am a neutral runner with a mid-foot strike, so these are perfect for me. I got these about a month ago and wear them on my...

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5 Tips on Staying Motivated with Marathon Training

The fall racing season is approaching fast, and if you have a marathon or two planned this fall, you are probably in the middle of training. You are building up speed with interval training, those long runs are getting longer, and your weekly mileage is quite impressive. You avoid junk food and alcohol,...

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French Toast!

"I'd rather have boring plain toast instead of French toast," said nobody, ever. I love French toast. There's just something magical that happens when you dip a piece of bread in an eggy-cinnamon-y batter and pan-fry it until the edges get all crispy. And top it with a little drizzle of syrup for...

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No-Bake Blackberry Yogurt Pie

I still had some blackberries left over from last Tuesday's blackberry-picking adventure. I had about a pint left, so I decided to make a no-bake yogurt pie. The crust is made from almonds, oats, and dates, and can be made gluten free by using gluten-free oats. The filling is made with Greek yogurt...

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Yoga and Trails

Rainy day today :\ I wanted to go for a bike ride this morning, but I'm not too fond of getting soaked. Instead, I opted to do some yoga in my basement. The only yoga DVD I have is P90X and P90X2 yoga, so I do that sometimes on rest days. I prefer the P90X2, since it's about 30 minutes shorter. It's...

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Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I love sweet potato fries. If I have a choice between sweet potato fries or regular fries, I would choose sweet potato fries 99% of the time. I just love that sweet and salty combination, especially when they are well-cooked, crispy with the sugar all caramelized. I like to dip them in honey mustard,...

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Training Log 7/28-8/3

I didn't run much this week because of Riley's Rumble Half Marathon today, so I mostly crosstrained. 7/28 Sunday- ran 9 mi easy 7/29 Monday- biked 20.4 avg 14.5 mph 7/30 Tuesday- ran 5.6 mi tempo 7/31 Wednesday- biked 23.5 mi avg 15.2 mph 8/1 Thursday- Insanity Core Cardio and Balance + 2.5 mi easy run 8/2 Friday- biked 22 mi avg 15.3 mph 8/3 Saturday- biked 15.5 mi Totals: Ran- 17.1 mi Biked-...

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Riley's Rumble Half Marathon Race Recap

This morning I ran the Riley's Rumble Half Marathon, part of the low-key race series put on by the Montgomery County Road Runner Club. I joined the club last Monday, and this is the first event that I've attended. I am looking forward to training with them and running more local races! Riley's Rumble...

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How to Stay Safe Running or Riding Alone

Almost all of my training is done solo, and early in the morning. My runs are mostly in my neighborhood, which feels really safe (hello, I'm in the middle of suburbia). There's a soccerplex near my house with nice paths with plenty of walkers, runners, and bikers during the later hours of the morning...

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Weekend plans

Happy Friday! Who's excited for the weekend? This girl! Tomorrow, I am going on a bike ride in DC, touring the National Arboretum and the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. I joined a cycling Meetup group, and am finally going to a Meetup! I've been browsing meetup.com for years, but never went to any events. I dunno, I guess meeting strangers isn't my thing. I really want to meet some cycling...

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GoPro? More like NoPro

I made a little video for you on my morning ride through the country roads. I'm not fancy enough to have a GoPro, so I used a ghetto-ass way of taking a video by using the front-facing camera of my iPhone strapped to my left arm. The quality is terrible. I apologize for my lack of video-taking technology. LMAO it's super-dee-duper crooked! I tried. And a super shaky video going through my...

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Chinese chive turnovers

Last weekend, I made a bunch of dumplings, wontons, and Chinese chive turnovers with my mom. It took a few hours of our Sunday afternoon. Quite productive :)  Chinese chive turnovers are called jiu cai he zi in Chinese, which literally translates to chive "boxes". As you can see, they kinda...

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