Dodging Downpours and Walkers

I had quite an exciting run over the weekend dodging puddles and walkers.  Not walkers as in equipment for the elderly.  Walkers as in the 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk participants.  It was raining on and off for two entire days in San Diego.  Whoever says we have perfect weather is wrong!  We only have perfect weather 99% of the time. 

I planned out a 16 mile run that involved running through my neighborhood and down a bike path to the beach and back.  Nice and simple.  Due to the completely spectacular mass of women walking in pink clothing and tutus I had to take a detour.  I was completely motivated by the walkers because they had to endure 3 days of bad weather in San Diego for their entire walk.  To top it off, they are walking for a reason.  Many of these women walk in memory of a lost loved one from Breast Cancer or in honor of a survivor. I just felt lucky to be running at all.  I am healthy and lucky to be alive and thriving.  I can't take it for granted.

My excitement started to wear off as I continued running into the line of walkers on every route I tried to navigate.  I wound up doing several out-and-backs trying left and right to tack on extra miles here and there.  Accumulating 16 miles can be quite a challenge.  

I was out of Clif Bars so I had to get creative before I left the house.  After reading the ingredient list on a bag of Vegan Trail Mix Cookies, I was sold.  These insanely addicting cookies from Trader Joe's have nuts, seeds, raisins and brown rice syrup.  Perfect for mid-run.  I ate one at about mile 9.  It was the perfect pick-me-up to get me home. 

WARNING:

These cookies are great for a run but can be dangerous if left alone with them. 

You can potentially eat the entire bag.

As usual I ran the second half faster than the first, by about 20 seconds/mile.  This may have been due to the downpours I dealt with on the first half and the amount of puddles I had to leap over.

I usually do not feel completely wiped out after a run but this time I was done.  Toast.  My calf muscles were barking and I knew what I needed.  I was dreading it but it was the right thing to do.  I plopped my sweaty self into an ice-cold bath.  After a few seconds of uncontrollable shaking I was okay.  I can be a bit dramatic about cold temperatures, ask Ang.  But I stuck it out like a soldier and surprisingly it felt good!  I call it the torture tub. 

I ran 16 miles through rain, crowds, puddles and big bloody blisters.  Oh, for the love of running. :)  No wonder people think we're crazy.

In honor of Thanksgiving, today I am grateful for:
* Wintry Blend coffee from Trader Joe's.
* Petey, the dog we are sitting. He is quite the snuggler.
* My new pair of super sexy boots.
* A long weekend in the near future.
* The chance to run with Angela tonight.

I wish everyone a lot of love and delicious food!  Enjoy your time off and voice your gratitude, that's what it's all about.   

Our Thanksgiving Menu - yum yum!

This Thursday marks our second Thanksgiving in San Diego.  Again, it will be just the two of us.  As sad as that sounds, we really enjoy this day.  We love cooking together and having a whole day built around food and eating (and giving thanks of course).   Angela loves reflecting.  This is something I learned about her very quickly and it happens to be one of my favorite things about her.  She loves to play a little game called 'Roses & Thorns' on Sunday nights where we each choose our roses of the weekend (the good things) and our thorns (the not-so-good things).  It sounds very summer-camp but it's a nice little game of reflection.  I'm sure we'll play a gratitude version of this on Thursday. 

Here is a peak at our ALL VEGAN menu:  (which may change slightly by then.)

 

Wild Rice Stuffed Squash

Shepherd's Pie

Irish Mashed Potatoes & Kale (from Color Me Vegan)

Stuffing, of course!

Mmmm.  Pumpkin Pie.  Can't go without it!

Be Seen, Be Safe, Run Naked.

It's that time of year again.  5:00 pm rolls around and it's completely dark.  I still need to run so I change into my running gear and off I go into the night.  If you're like me and can't imagine wearing a bright orange reflective vest or a headlamp there is an alternative.  You can be safe and still look cute.  How, you ask?  Run Naked.  

Not literally (although that can be fun.)  To avoid a citation for indecent exposure I wear Run Naked clothing.  This is by far my favorite running gear (and NO I did not get paid to say that).   I rarely ever rave about products, so when I do, it means it must be damn good.  Run Naked Sports makes reflective running clothing that is both fashionable and comfortable. 

Last night on my run I felt all flattered because I thought someone was checking me out as they ran by.  Then I realized they were just reading RUN NAKED on my t-shirt.  Oh well.  A girl can pretend...

Check out that sweet reflection!

Call me vain but I don't want to sacrifice style for safety unless I have to.  That is why I LOVE this line.  It is comfortable and light so it's great for running and yoga.  No one can miss you in Run Naked gear because let's face it, it's too damn cute!  Even if you run indoors on the treadmill it's a must have and can be a great conversation starter at the gym.  (I'm just sayin'...)

There are Run Naked tanks and sweatshirts as well.  All of them are stylish, comfy and reflective.  You can buy everything online, just click here.

 Reflector on the back as well.

I am lucky enough to know Joan personally (the founder of Run Naked Sports) and she is as awesome as they come.  She is a runner herself so she understands the need for safe running clothes that are both comfortable and cute.  If you care about supporting small businesses this is one you can trust and love.  Before you buy more gear from Nike or New Balance, check out Run Naked Sports and get even better garb while supporting a female-run business.   Run Naked gear is a great holiday gift idea for all of your runner friends.  I would like a racer-back tank myself (hint, hint). 

Meet Joan!

How's that for a killer runner body?

As soon as they start making Run Naked pet gear,

Frida will be stylin' too.

Color Me Vegan

Happy Meatless Monday!  It is fabulous in San Diego today --sunny and in the 70s - surprise, surprise. :)  I have something even more fabulous to share with you today than the weather.

Colleen Patrick-Groudreau's brand new cookbook, Color Me Vegan has arrived!  I have been waiting for months.  If you don't know by now who Colleen is, then you must be new to my blog (because I love her!)  Check out her podcast Vegetarian Food for Thought or any of her many vegan cookbooks and your life will change, I promise.  She is the founder of Compassionate Cooks and she strives to empower people to make informed food choices while debunking myths about vegetarianism and animal rights.  Colleen is funny, witty and very well versed when it comes to anything vegan.  

Me in my Vegan Kitchen :)

                                    

Angela and I made lentil soup from Color Me Vegan just last night and it was to-die-for.  I know it wasn't the most colorful choice but it went with our Sunday theme.  We make some type of soup or stew every Sunday but this recipe takes the cake.  I think what made it so delicious was that it had the perfect consistency and texture.  It was creamy without having any cream - how fabulous is that?

The greatest thing about this cookbook is that it is incredibly informative.  If you strive to eat a more balanced diet and maximize your nutrient intake this is the perfect place to begin.  Color me Vegan is separated by color, hence the name.  Colleen breaks down each color and explains which nutrients are found in foods of that color.  She goes into great detail providing a clear understanding of why these things are important. 

This cookbook gives "taste the rainbow" a whole new meaning; one that encapsulates whole, plant-based foods.  Don't be fooled by the title, Color Me VEGAN.  This cookbook is for ANYONE that strives to improve their diet and increase their intake of whole, plant based foods.  You know, that good stuff from the earth, not a box. 

"With Color Me Vegan, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau takes veganism to a whole new level. This is exactly what people need to eat more compassionately, experience superior health, and enjoy out-of-this-world flavors. Get ready to taste the real rainbow!"


—Rory Freedman, author of #1 New York Times bestseller Skinny Bitch

The recipes are creative and simple.  They don't require crazy ingredients that you'll never be able to find at your local store.   There is an abundance of helpful tips throughout the book to make life easier, like how to buy a fresh onion.  Little things you may have never known.  

In my opinion, Color Me Vegan is a must have for any vegan and non-vegan alike.  I am already planning on buying several copies as holiday gifts (shhhh), that's how great it is. 

I Should Be in Malibu...

This is the weekend of what was supposed to be my very first marathon.  ::tear::  Unfortunately, I had to say good-bye to that awhile ago and have set my sights on the Surf City Marathon in February.


I considered running the half this Sunday but 2 things stopped me.

1. I had one of the hardest runs of my life last weekend and only finished 11 miles.  I don't think my body is quite up for it just yet.  How is it that just a few months ago I was running 16-18 miles and feeling great?  I have come to learn, fitness is lost very quickly.
2. A few days ago the balance in my checking account was 54 cents.  Gas money and a hotel are pretty much out of the picture.  

Struggling 20-something?  I think so.  :) 

Despite Sunday's run from hell my body allowed me 3 pretty great runs this week, so far.  The best of my runs being Thursday's treadmill run.  I ran 6 miles on hardly any sleep and a slight hangover from one too many glasses of Sangria.   I managed to hit my tempo pace for 3 miles and felt great!  I guess sometimes alcohol and sleep deprivation can do the body good.  Maybe once in a millennium.

Running Fuel?

Best of luck to everyone racing this weekend!  Especially Miss. Zippy who is facing a sinus infection on the week of her marathon.  She will still kick a**, I am certain of this.  

Gettin' My Vote On!

I think of most politicians as sleazy, dirty and dishonest.  Generally speaking, that is.  I feel that I don't have much in common with politicians.  I am honest, compassionate and true to my word.

But as runners we all have something in common with politicians. 

We run for our health and happiness.
They run for political office.

We race 5ks, 10ks and marathons.
They race against each other for positions of power.

REMEMBER - We decide who wins the race!

So...did you get out and VOTE today?

I try to vote for the most compassionate candidates.  Those that stand up for human rights and believe in peaceful resolution and the progress of our nation as a whole.  

I think I did okay.  :)  

Here are just a few votes you'll find on my ballot:

* Jerry Brown

* Barbara Boxer

* Kamala Harris

* "Yes" on Proposition 19

* "No" on Proposition 23

I thought I would include some of my favorite signs from Jon Stewart's 'Rally to Restore Sanity (and/or Fear)'.  I wish I could have been there.

Happy Voting!!

So, where do YOU get your protein?

When I start to think the low-carb, high-protein fad has ended it seems to pop up in conversation somewhere.  Usually it’s coming from someone that is on a mission to lose weight.  I try not to go on a rant about how unhealthy and dangerous these types of diets are.  Instead, I offer my small bits of "wisdom" and then blog about it.  :) 


With all do respect Mr. Atkins (he’s dead, right?) the whole “low-carb, tons of fatty, cholesterol-laden protein diet” is such a load of crap (literally).  Protein is an essential nutrient, just as carbohydrates are.  ESSENTIAL.  There is no reason to practically eliminate carbohydrates (or any nutrient).  With that being said, increasing protein consumption and reducing carbohydrates in one’s diet is a difficult and unsustainable way to shed pounds.  Yes, some people lose weight with these diets but it has more to do with calorie reduction than cutting carbs.  By taking out breads, pasta, cereals, sweets and even fruits we are reducing our daily caloric intake by a significant amount.  Bingo!  It all goes back to calories in vs. calories out.  People, please don’t buy this bologna (or any bologna for that matter).  Carbohydrates are not evil.  We could get into the nitty gritty about complex carbohydrates and simple sugars, etc, but I am speaking very generally here.   

Being vegan, one of the most common questions I get is “If you don't eat meat then where do you get your protein?”   Everyone seems so concerned about my health but let me tell you, our country as a whole is not at risk for protein deficiency.  In fact, most Americans eat too much protein.

Excess protein provides all sorts of health risks:

• Kidney Disease: When people eat too much protein, they take in more nitrogen than they need. This places a strain on the kidneys, which must expel the extra nitrogen through urine. People with kidney disease are encouraged to eat low-protein diets. Such a diet reduces the excess levels of nitrogen and can also help prevent kidney disease.
• Cancer: Although fat is the dietary substance most often singled out for increasing cancer risk, protein also plays a role. Populations who eat meat regularly are at increased risk for colon cancer, and researchers believe that the fat, protein, natural carcinogens, and absence of fiber in meat all play roles. The 1997 report of the World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research, Food, Nutrition, and the Prevention of Cancer, noted that meaty, high-protein diets were linked with some types of cancer.
• Osteoporosis and Kidney Stones: Diets that are rich in animal protein cause people to excrete more calcium than normal through their kidneys and increase the risk of osteoporosis. Countries with lower-protein diets have lower rates of osteoporosis and hip fractures.

-Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

The answer to that ever-so-common question of where I get my protein is simple: beans, lentils, grains, and vegetables.  Tonight, for example I am making chili.  Check out all that PROTEIN.  

While most omnivores get their protein from meat and dairy sources it is important to recognize that animal products are not the only sources of protein.  There are varying amounts found in most foods. 

I snapped a picture of the green grass and blue sky before I started my run tonight.  

The weather in San Diego has been to-die-for!

San Diego Harbor

Crappy cell phone pictures do not do justice!