On the Run: Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon 2013

This is the 3rd year of the Rock CF Rivers race on Grosse Ile and I've run it every year.  I love it!  It's so well-organized in all respects, the shirts are great, it's not crowded, I can keep warm in the high school before the race starts, and there are plenty of bathrooms (mostly real inside bathrooms with actual soap and sinks!).  It also raises a lot of money for cystic fibrosis, which is really cool.  What's the downside?  No post-race bananas!!!  Wah-wah!  Ah well, I can't have it all.

It was a little chilly this morning - around 27 degrees - but thankfully there wasn't too much wind.  And honestly, it was pretty much perfect once I got going.  This is such a nice course.  There are long stretches along the water, spots that take you by gorgeous homes, and at one point you even run through the Naval Air Station hangar.  Everyone along the course is super friendly and supportive.  My favorite was the guy in the full Spider-Man suit encouraging me on around the relay exchange point! 

I wish I felt better about my race.  I should, considering I ran it almost 7 minutes faster than the same race last year.  However, I had a lot of negative self-talk going through my mind as I ran (started too fast, uneven pace, why did I sign up for a full marathon??)  Then when I was done and saw my time, I was frustrated that it wasn't a new half marathon PR for me.  I placed 5th in my age group and had hoped for better.

BUT, not every race can be a PR, right?  Or put me in the top 3 in my age group.  And maybe every race isn't going to be the best one ever.  On the bright side, I improved from last year's time on this race, I kept pushing myself when my mind was telling me to slow down, AND I chicked a lot of dudes.  Oh yeah, and I got to see Spider-Man.  That, my friends, is not your everyday occurrence.  

Time 

1:33:20

Pace 

7:07/mile

Fuel 

Vanilla Chia Pudding (this recipe, minus the cocoa), banana

Tunes

Off to the Races / Lana del Rey 
It Gets Better / fun. 
The Man That Never Was / Rick Springfield 
 Paris (Ooh La La) / Grace Potter & The Nocturnals 
Get Ready / Mayer Hawthorne 
Back in Your Head / Tegan and Sara 
Babel / Mumford & Sons 
Run Right Back / The Black Keys 
Sixteen Saltines / Jack White 
Never Go Back / Grace Potter & The Nocturnals 
We Found Love / Rihanna 
Ain't Messin 'Round / Gary Clarke Jr. 
Work Around It / Them Swoops 
I Will Wait / Mumford & Sons 
Can't Hold Us / Macklemore & Ryan Lewis 
Heart Attack / Raphael Saadiq 
Better Left Unsaid / Otto Vector 
In My Head / No Doubt 
Blue Orchid / The White Stripes 
Runaway Baby / Bruno Mars 
Young Blood / The Naked & Famous 
Back & Forth / Foo Fighters 
Blood for Poppies / Garbage 
We Come Running / Youngblood Hawke 
Where Have You Been / Rihanna 
So Good / B.o.B. 
The Antidote / St. Vincent

 Next race: Martian Invasion of Races, Half Marathon - April 13th

On the Run: ShamRock 'n' Roll 10K 2013

The morning of my second race of the season dawned much darker, colder, and windier than that of my race a few weeks ago.  Thankfully the streets were cleared from the snow the day before but the windchill made it feel well below 20 degrees.  It was ch-ch-chilly!  That's okay, though, because once I got going I was felt great and didn't get too hot.  Although this race was sold out it wasn't too crowded.  Either it was capped at a low number, they did well with the 2-wave organization, or not everyone showed up due to the cold.  Whatever the reason I was happy with it because I despise crowded races!

I placed 2nd in my age group and was awarded a nice beer mug.  On top of that I was the 4th woman to finish over all.  Alas, it was no PR for me but I'm just getting warmed up, baby!

I don't drink beer but I can put a lot of wine in this!  Ha ha!

Time 

43:35

Pace 

7:02/mile

Fuel 

Vanilla Chia Pudding (this recipe, minus the cocoa), banana

Tunes

(all Irish bands for St. Patty's Day) 

Something Good Can Work / Two Door Cinema

Salty Dog / Flogging Molly

Salvation / The Cranberries

Barroom Hero / Dropkick Murphys

Girl From Mars / Ash

Vertigo / U2 

Don't Shut 'Em Down / Flogging Molly

The Great Defector / Bell X1

Devil's Dance Floor / Flogging Molly

I Just Shot John Lennon / The Cranberries

Good Rats / Dropkick Murphys

Selfish Man / Flogging Molly

All Because of You / U2

Someday / Two Door Cinema Club

Next race: Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon - March 24th

On the Run: Riverview Winterfest 4-Mile Run 2013

I kicked off the 2013 race season last Sunday with a 4-mile run in Riverview.  Although this is a shorter distance than my usual Sunday run, I was super pumped to do a race - my first since October!  This one has a nice flat course, it's small and organized, and everyone is very friendly.  Conditions were ideal for February in Michigan - 28 degrees at race time, minimal wind, and dry roads.  What more can a girl ask for?

Two years ago when I ran this race I came in 4th in my age group.  The top 3 finishers get awards, so that was my goal this year.  Ideally I wanted to finish 1st or 2nd.  I ended up coming in 2nd in my age group, 7th female overall.  I won a cool mug to show for it.   

When I was given my award, I was told that with my speed and young looks, I could run on the high school track team.  HA!

Time 

28:02

Pace 

7:01/mile

Fuel 

Banana

Tunes

New Day / Alicia Keys  

Change / Churchill

We Come Running / Youngblood Hawke 

Everybody Talks / Neon Trees

One More Night / Maroon 5

I Knew You Were Trouble / Taylor Swift  

I Will Wait / Mumford & Sons

Something Good Can Work / Two Door Cinema Club

Next race: ShamRock 'n' Roll Run 10K - March 17th 

Silk Nog Baked French Toast

Brian and I have a tradition that every year we make a special breakfast on Christmas morning.  It's always some kind of sweet dish like pancakes, waffles, or French toast paired with a vegan meat - usually Gimme Lean sausage.  We try to come up with a new recipe each year to keep it interesting.  

This year we were down to the wire.  It was the actually Christmas Eve before I finalized my plans.  I knew I wanted to do some kind of French toast and had 3 recipes laid out in front of me but just wasn't sure which one I wanted to use.  In the end I took ideas from all 3 recipes and wrote my own.  I also have a new vegan egg substitute - The Vegg - that I've been wanting to try so I worked that into it, as well.

The result?  THE best baked French toast.  PERIOD.  

Silk Nog Baked French Toast
(printable recipe)

Ingredients:

16 slices cinnamon-raisin bread (I used Aunt Millie's and needed more than 1 loaf)
2 cups Silk nog
1 tsp. Vegg blended with 1/4 cup water OR 1/4 cup blended silken tofu
1 tsp. ground nutmeg
1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Maple syrup

Directions:

1. Spray a 9x11 inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
2. Cut the crusts off the bread.  Make 2 layers of 8 slices each in the pan, making sure all slices are touching.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together the nog, Vegg or tofu, nutmeg, and cinnamon.  Pour over the bread, covering evenly.  Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
 4. In the morning, preheat oven to 400 degrees F.  Bake uncovered for 30-35 minutes or until the bread is dry to the touch.  Serve with maple syrup.

Makes 4 servings.

What did you enjoy for breakfast on Christmas Day?

Christmas Realization

There is a group of 3 guys that run in my neighborhood and for the past several years I've just so happened to look out my window on Christmas morning as they've been running down my street.  Each time I've marveled aloud to Brian about their dedication and commitment to running both in the wintry conditions and on Christmas day.  And I pretty much thought they were crazy.

About halfway through my Christmas morning run, I realized that I am now one of those runners.  I didn't think twice about getting out there in the snow.  Sure it was slippery but I was more careful that usual.  Yes it was cold but I dressed appropriately and warmed up quickly.  And although it was Christmas it wasn't too busy to fit in a run.  It was quiet and peaceful and relaxing.  Merry Christmas to me!

That's what I did for myself this Christmas.  I hope you were able to take a little time out for yourself, as well.