The Look Back

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Total Movement Mileage: 1016.2 (running: 827.1; walking: 44.3; biking: 144.8) Money Found For Food Bank: $13.71

 

2,015 in 2015 Change Hounds progress: Nancy: 1016.2 Aaron: 766.4 (b: 674.6; w: 91.8)  Elly: 305.8 Total: 2088.4

Total miles in motion (run, walk, bike): 1016.2 (Goal: 1,000)

 

Total miles run: 827.1 (Goal: 900)

 

Likelihood of setting a running goal for 2016: 50/50

 

Likelihood of continuing regular running in 2016: 100%

 

Best run look of the year: This one -->

Money found and donated at Thanksgiving to Food Bank: $98.78

 

Money found since Thanksgiving donation day: $13.71

 

Most money found on a run: $3.17

 

Most intriguing find on a run:

I have no words. Or use.

Number of runs accomplished: 8 -- four 10Ks; two 5Ks and two Half Marathons

 

Number of runs accomplished that were virtual: 7 -- this virtual running thing rocks

 

Best virtual bling: There were so many good choices, but I landed on this lady:

"Oh darling, just run." she says.

Worst run: Yesterday's outing with Pit Crew #2. Nothing like a slick surface to keep you from getting any kind of speed going whatsoever. aka: Nothing like finishing and feeling like you never started.

 

Biggest running obstacle: Running with Pit Crew #3 because of the degree and frequency he makes me laugh.

Biggest personal accomplishment over which I had some semblance of control: April's Go STL Half Marathon where I PR'ed. That was sweet.

 

Biggest accomplishment over which I feel I had little or no control: Not falling down even once. BAM!

 

Best think-out-of-the-box moment: May's Go Girl Half Marathon that I completed on my own since I registered for the official run then made unchangeable plans on top of it. I had to come up with another plan; I was not going to be denied that medal the size of a dessert plate! 

Biggest running annoyance: Is there really a competition here? It's the shoes and how my toe likes to pop through most of the current models.

 

Best money found on a run: All of it. Wait ... the $5 bill ... wait ... all of it.

 

Best score at the Expo: The "World's Okayest Runner" sign. That's the best!!

Most concerning running moment: Encountering this family of geese -- 

Ever wonder just how territorial geese can get when protecting
their babies? No need to wonder ...

Most loyal running partners: Pit Crew #2 and Elly.

Best dressed runners: I think the winners are clear.

 

As you well know, running can be something of a pain. But, most of the time, it brings me a lot of joy, a lot of fun and a lot of peace. I'm so very thankful not just for the ability to do it but also for being able to share it with others. Especially with this Crew:

From my Crew to yours, a very Happy New Year!! Here's to more to come in 2016!!

Tricky

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Total Movement Mileage: 1012 (running: 822.9; walking: 44.3; biking: 144.8) Money Found For Food Bank: $13.69

 

2,015 in 2015 Change Hounds progress: Nancy: 1012 Aaron: 766.4 (b: 674.6; w: 91.8)  Elly: 305.8 Total: 2084.2

Hello, hello and Brrrrrrrr ... finally! You know I'm a fan of the cold weather especially for running! But, I am not a fan of ice. Unless I'm on skates. And, even then ... Anyway, with all of the rain lately, there's still a lot of run-off or water that just has nowhere else to go right now. So, the temps in the 20s overnight produced a bit of a treacherous outing this morning.

 

In fact, we weren't 30 feet from the door before I told Pit Crew #2 that I questioned the wisdom of our outing. Hoping for the best, we went anyway:

Pretty but slickery!

We managed to find just enough path along the way to keep everyone upright. That doesn't mean I didn't slip more than once -- because I did, and one of them kind of sucked -- but, we managed. It's a tricky proposition to run (um ... jog. Lightly.) when the 50-pound dog is part of the equation, too. Let's just say it's a good thing my balance is still really good!

 

It was good to get out together even though the run wasn't much to brag about. But, they all can't be pretty! Here's to one more to wrap up the year!! We'll check in tomorrow with the wrap up!

From Virtual Running To Real Visit!

What more perfect way could I have spent my Rest Day morning than seeing my virtual running partner extraordinaire, Mary Kate, IN PERSON?!?!?


YAHOO!!! THERE SHE IS!!!

The only thing that would have made this encounter completely perfect (vs. perfect!) would have been to take a pic that included Pit Crew #2, too, seeing as she's run virtual races with us!! But, I was too terribly excited and selfishly wrapped up in my friend to remember such a detail!! DRAT!!

Next time, ladies ... next time ...

This virtual running thing rocks. Who wouldn't want yet another reason to bond?!! Oh, and, of course, we bonded this morning over bagels because that's what runners tend to do. Of course, they usually do so after actually running. Eh, whatever, it was awesome!!!

So, the last Rest Day of the year was perfect which is about to be followed by two more days of running -- both with my girl! I'm thinking we'll squeak in one more for Elly and one more for just the two of us! Sounds pretty perfect to me -- no matter what it looks or feels like!

Make your plans for the last days of 2015 as intentional as you can, and I'll check in after the morning run!

Elly's 2015 Milestone

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Total Movement Mileage: 1007.8 (running: 818.7; walking: 44.3; biking: 144.8) Money Found For Food Bank: $13.08

 

2,015 in 2015 Change Hounds progress: Nancy: 1007.8 Aaron: 751.4 (b: 659.6; w: 91.8)  Elly: 301.6 Total: 2060.8

Congratulations to Elly for turning her running odometer over the 300-mile mark for 2015!!

"Congratulations?! Thanks!! Um, for what?"

'Got it in just under the 2015 wire ... in the rain! But, we did it together!!

 

Congratulations, favorite canine running pal!! I wouldn't do what I do without you!!

Just To Move

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Total Movement Mileage: 1005.8 (running: 816.7; walking: 44.3; biking: 144.8) Money Found For Food Bank: $13.07

 

2,015 in 2015 Change Hounds progress: Nancy: 1005.8 Aaron: 751.4 (b: 659.6; w: 91.8)  Elly: 299.6 Total: 2056.8

While there was no rain (yet) when we got up this morning, neither Pit Crew #2 nor I were jazzed about the idea of running. Truth be told, it's just hard to want to go a day or two after Christmas because everything has been upheaved and out of order including regular eating. Even if meals are normal, they're not necessarily at a normal time. And, even though I made our traditional lasagna swapping out noodles for yellow squash (which I never, ever thought I'd do and never, ever believed would be yummy but IT WAS), my beloved pack of Hershey's Kisses with Almonds (with almonds is the key to yumminess) doesn't help the holiday fueling!

All of that being said, neither of us wanted to run, but both of us wanted to move. So, a walk was in order both yesterday and today! And, today's also included our favorite furry friend who was wayyyy more excited to get out than we were!

It felt really good to go out and move reminding me that a good walk now and then is just as refreshing and invigorating as a good run. We also talk more during a walk, and that's always a bonus. Today's topics included favorite moments from Christmas as well as deciphering weird family members. It's all good walking fodder. I do love walking and talking, and doing so with my girl certainly tops my list of favorite things to do.

The rain picked up for the afternoon and is supposed to go all night into the morning and on into the day, so I have no plans to run tomorrow. I'm willing to play it by ear once I get up if we get a lucky break in the weather, but I'm glad to not have to decide! Nothing else about the routine right now is normal; why make running different?

I know we are in a fortunate pocket of weather as compared to many -- thoughts, prayers and good vibes to those caught in it, and I promise to not complain about what it is we are or are not getting! Be safe, and I'll be checking in as this year winds down ...!

No Ado About Running

Merry Day After!! I'm not sure what it says about me that I looked at Pit Crew #2 earlier this evening and said, "Okay, so, yesterday was Christmas ... right?" It felt longer ago than that. I chalk it up to a really good day after and, probably, it being the first day of break that everything has felt normal. Is it the build up ... is it just that there are things to do ... I don't know what it is, but break, for me, starts after the presents are open!

That's not to say everything up to that point isn't pretty fantastic! As you know, we started Christmas Eve with a family run! Then, in the afternoon, we received a spontaneous Christmas carol recital from the kids:

We wrapped up the Eve with our traditional breakfast for dinner while the kids exchanged their gifts to each other and to me and Aaron! Breakfast for dinner on the Eve began very early on; you get breakfast out of the way at night so no one has to be bothered with it once Santa comes, duh!! Last year, I was smart enough to move it out of our kitchen and to a restaurant ... no one is working and all are enjoying at the same time! Everyone wins!!

I do so love tinkering with tradition to make it work! I love our gift exchange, too:

PC#3 getting beloved Pop Tarts from his
sister ...

... while he gave Aaron something very
specifically hand picked!

PC#2 took care of my nails and hands with lavender gloves
made to text while she loved her new Ice beverages from
her brother!

There is nothing not fun about this particular exchange!! The whole purpose of it is to be very thoughtful while not spending much money. It's truly one of my very favorite Christmas activities!!

The Eve exchange is always a surprise, but Santa tends to do something each year for each of us that takes us by surprise! He's magical like that, amiright? Don't worry, Elly was included in the magic with a very special treat. But, enough about her; this was my morning stash ...

... and, this is what was in the blue paper in back!!

It's a smaller version of the movie poster!!!!! I. LOVE. IT. and never saw it coming even though every time we passed a theater, I talked about the ramifications of just pulling one off the wall and/or out from under its protective frame. NEVER saw this coming! It's fabulous!

This last week has been so full of blessings -- I think I'm tired by Christmas simply from counting them all. Truly, it's overwhelming.

Soooo ... in other, everyday news, PC#2 just checked the weather and, just like this morning, it's supposed to be raining when we get up and for the duration of the day. And, that's the forecast for Monday, too. So, we'll be playing this running thing by ear! I'm pretty thankful for that kind of flexibility, too. All blessings, big and small, count!!

I hope the holiday and weekend bring you every bit of love and peace you are wanting! We'll be checking in ...

All In!

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Total Movement Mileage: 1002.7 (running: 812.5; walking: 41.2; biking: 144.8) Money Found For Food Bank: $12.96

 

2,015 in 2015 Change Hounds progress: Nancy: 1002.7 Aaron: 731.4 (b: 639.6; w: 85.8)  Elly: 297.6 Total: 2022.4

It's the Eve of the big day!! Yahoo!!! I am not only excited for Christmas, but I was already excited for a family gift I designed for my peeps: A virtual Family Run!! Wheeeeee!! With a window of time where no rain was predicted, I hopped on this morning to make it happen! Oh, and I sprang it on the young Crewers yesterday. Surprise!!

 

I had the idea to do this not only because we do like to occasionally make this running a family gig, but I also saw a great virtual medal for one of our family members come through my Facebook feed, and I wanted a reason to get it! So, instead of making a run for just two of us, why not all four?!

 

Remember this from yesterday?

This is what was inside!

That candy themed one? Yeah, it's HUGE. The description
did say it was 6", but there's something about reading it and
seeing it that is very different! It's fabulous! And, dangerous!

Aaron was already in the know about the run because I needed to ask him if he was down with going a 10K distance since that was the only option for the medal I wanted to get him. He immediately accepted and took the longer distance for the team this time (yay!). He's the only one who knew we were getting medals, but no one knew what they looked like until we were finished. It was really fun hunting for just the right ones for everyone!

 

So, ANYWAY!, we all agreed to get up earlier than any of us (except Aaron) would have otherwise planned, and we had a great morning! It was 33 degrees, but there was no wind making it rather comfortable for some of us. Aaron, however, was taking no chances:

He's in four layers on top plus a fleece hood/mask. He was
taking no chances in the oh-so-frigid temps!

We sent him on his way, then we drove to where our run both began and ended which was also Aaron's end point. SO SMART, I KNOW!

 

I had a blast with the young Crewers. Pit Crew #3 had us both laughing within our first quarter mile to the point I had to stop and catch my breath. Fortunately -- for keep-on-moving sake -- he turned it down just a smidge as we got nearer the first mile. I think some of his energy was redirected toward noting multiple, multiple times his hands were cold. PC#2 to the rescue as she gave him her gloves so he no longer had to run with his hands in his pockets! It was quite a site -- and one he didn't really want photographed!

 

This was my favorite part of the run and precisely why I chose this route:

Then I thought it would be a great idea to take an in-action selfie of all of us while running. Look at what a great job I did capturing our crew!!

Our 5K went by really fast -- great entertainment with the company I kept certainly moved things along!! (And, I found a dollar bill on our last stretch! BOOM!!) We hit our end point in good time and only had a bit to wait until Aaron cruised up predictably soaked from his many layers!

I loved having this outing together, and it was also fun to surprise the kids with their medals!

This was a great way for our family to really kick off the countdown!! I hope you and yours are also doing exactly what you want today!! Above all, do what makes you peaceful with the ones you love!

Bringing It Forward

Just today, the excitement of Christmas hit me!! I've not not been looking forward to it, but I haven't really yet felt it. In part, that has to do with the fact that it's 60 degrees (yuck!!). And, it tends to take me a few of the first days of Christmas Break to unwind enough to realize it really is break! The feeling hit just in time, too, as it was the day I proclaimed we work together on the cookies!

There's one cookie recipe in particular we made every, single Christmas growing up, and it's the singular recipe I maintained and continued almost every year since being on my own. They're called Birds Nests. It was a recipe passed through my Dad's family and seemed to be the family Belle of the Cookie Ball.

Check out that boss wallpaper and my sweet nightgown threads.

That's me and my brother, 1978, decorating the Birds Nests. Every year, my brother asks me if I sent him any for Christmas. Too bad for him that I mailed his goods before we even thought about baking this year (more for us!).

Here's a batch of ours from last year as decorated by the young Crewers:

I have a confession to make: I do like these, but I don't love them. I'm more emotionally attached to them -- both from childhood and because our kids like them so much -- than I actually want to devour them. And, in truth, I'm not a huge sweets fan in general (Savory is where it's at. And, popcorn. Popcorn is the world's most perfect food. That and artichokes. YUM.). ANYWAY, given my mission to rid my environment of most white sugar, this presented an interesting situation this year ...

I did commit to two things for Christmas baking: (1) I will make Birds Nest proper as well as a round of them made with substituted ingredients; (2) Unless there's something in particular anyone wants in the sweet zone and was willing to help make, the buck would stop at Birds Nests. That not only sounded reasonable to me, but it was also accepted by the entire family. Whuuuuuuut?!

I did, in fact, make a hugely successful batch of Birds Nests swapping out the flour with Trim Healthy Mama's Baking Blend (1:1), and, instead of sugar, I swapped it with THM's Gentle Sweet Blend (using a conversion chart on their website). For the icing center, I ground some Gentle Sweet in a coffee grinder to make it more like powdered sugar, and I made a sugar-water icing like normal. It doesn't look quite as pretty, but it totally worked.

I was a bit stunned that they turned out so well! They totally scratch that "I wanna Birds Nest for absolutely no reason!" itch I get around Christmas! And, even better, I took some to my Dad (my original Birds Nest connoisseur), and he loved them. He ate every, single one I took him. I was thrilled. It's the little things.

In the meantime, I stumbled across a recipe for Buckeyes on this website, and I really wanted to try them, too. I do like Buckeyes, but I wasn't willing to make them this year given the sugar status. Pit Crew #2 and I took on the swapped-ingredient recipe the other day, and we finished them just a bit ago with the chocolate coating:

The peanut butter insides have been in the freezer for a few
days (because I didn't have a chance to get back to them, not
because they needed that long). The chocolate hardened almost
immediately after dipping. It was kind of like Magic Shell!

After dipping all of them, we went back and dipped again
because we had plenty of chocolate, and the first layer was a bit
thin. Don't they look fab?!

The result: I love them! They're the perfect little hit of peanut butter and chocolate, and I totally love 'em! Pit Crew #2 and Aaron like them but would prefer a more prominent peanut butter taste. I think that flavor gets muted a bit as the inside is oat fiber (which tends to mute a lot of recipes I've tried) and -- wait for it -- Great Northern Beans. It's true. And, it totally works! I actually forgot they were in there until I just reread the recipe. Oh, and don't get me wrong, I completely hear what they're saying about the peanut butter flavor. But, I am, personally, willing to make the swap of a little less peanut butter flavor for a zero on the sugar scale. I'm not sure if adding a bit more peanut butter would affect how well they stay together, but I am willing to give it a whirl.

More healthy buckeyes? OH DARN!! So, these are totally on my Christmas radar from now on!

Of course, some of the traditional goods are happening around here, too. While PC#2 and I were putting together more Birds Nests, the boys were making some almond bark pretzels in between dancing to Christmas songs on the radio:

A quick break from the dance to get
something done ...!

I'm seriously stoked for these options -- they just made some of our Christmas traditions both doable and very enjoyable!!

And, tomorrow? I'll explain this ...!:

Slow and Steady ... In Everything

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Total Movement Mileage: 999.6 (running: 809.4; walking: 41.2; biking: 144.8) Money Found For Food Bank: $11.41

 

2,015 in 2015 Change Hounds progress: Nancy: 999.6 Aaron: 725.2 (b: 639.6; w: 79.6)  Elly: 297.6 Total: 2022.4

So, this sentiment is out there, today from Run the Edge but it's somewhere at any given time:

It makes me giggle. And, I've been there in terms of not stopping just short of a distance, and making sure my run gets to that certain mile (for sure during training times). On occasion, I run a distance just to get my personal odometer to a nice, round number rather than leaving just a smidge hanging.

 

Clearly, today was not that day.

 

I knew our route would take us to four-tenths of a mile under my 1,000-mile movement goal. I even knew how to easily stick in three-tenths of a mile. But, that last tenth required me to actually remap and rework the route. And, I chose simply not to. There are other days to run, and there were other things I wanted to do than map a run to hit a goal I'm going to hit the next time I go out.

 

So, there.

 

We had a great run, my girl and I ...

Physically speaking, we had a stellar first mile, which is highly unusual, and, then we settled in to our normal pace and actually enjoyed the rest of it! I, for one, could not have kept up our out-of-the-gate pace for the duration, but I went ahead with it because I hate that first mile and wanted it over with. We had to stop at a traffic signal right when it was complete, and we took that opportunity to hugely congratulate ourselves for our Olympian performances. And, then I told Pit Crew #2 that that was that for me in terms of notable achievement for the rest of the run.

She understands.

There has been a lot going on around here with the excitement of Christmas coming, but that doesn't mean everything is in order! I used that first mile to engage in my morning prayers -- most of which were centered around letting me see what needs to be done at a pace that retains its joy. That's all I really need. That and a run every other day!

Keep seeking peace first during the holidays, and I'll check in tomorrow!

Mission Complete

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Total Movement Mileage: 995.4 (running: 809.4; walking: 41.2; biking: 144.8) Money Found For Food Bank: $10.78

 

2,015 in 2015 Change Hounds progress: Nancy: 995.4 Aaron: 725.2 (b: 639.6; w: 79.6)  Elly: 297.6 Total: 2018.2

-- ZERO miles remain in our 2,015 in 2015 Challenge --

And, this morning ...

We finished!!

2,105 combined miles in 2015!

Buh-BAM!

Plans In Parts

It's not that I didn't want to serve my jury duty; it's that I didn't like the up-in-the-air part of it. Luck was on my side, though, and there were no, I repeat no, jury trials scheduled for Friday, December 18. (If you've called the number, you recognize that part of the recording. I would call it back to make sure I heard it correctly, so I really have that line pounded into my head!) So, I got to catch up on all kinds of Christmas today!! YAHOO!!

I was just finishing putting things together that need to be mailed when I looked to my right:

Speaks volumes, does it not?

Anyway, I had no plans to run today regardless of my jury status. Last night, Aaron and I made a plan to finish our 2015 Challenge together on Sunday, and, with that on the books, I let go any running thoughts so as to focus. It worked wonders to completely compartmentalize as this is not the time of year to have things just willy-nilly floating in my head (it's not good to have Mom floating around like that during finals for others, just sayin' ...).

I'm just glad to be here on Friday night with much of what I wanted to accomplish done so in a way that didn't make me flip my lid. NICE.

I'll check in on Sunday with the little celebration! Here's to a great start to the weekend!!

No Words

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Total Movement Mileage: 991.4 (running: 805.4; walking: 41.2; biking: 144.8) Money Found For Food Bank: $7.61

 

2,015 in 2015 Change Hounds progress: Nancy: 991.4 Aaron: 721.2 (b: 639.6; w: 79.6)  Elly: 293.6 Total: 2006.2

-- 8.8 miles remain in our 2,015 in 2015 Challenge --

I was all kinds of ready to report on how I've not yet been called in for jury duty and how amazingly productive I was yesterday with my freed-up time (productive in the real way, not in the sarcastic way) as well as how this morning's run went and the life lessons I pondered along the way ...

And, then, I saw this picture from after our run ...

... and, words simply escaped me.

I love that girl.

Just Keep Thinking ... Just Keep Thinking ... Just Keep Thinking, Thinking, Thinking ... What Do You Do, You Think ...

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Total Movement Mileage: 987.4 (running: 801.4; walking: 41.2; biking: 144.8) Money Found For Food Bank: $6.33

 

2,015 in 2015 Change Hounds progress: Nancy: 987.4 Aaron: 721.2 (b: 639.6; w: 79.6)  Elly: 289.6 Total: 1998.2

-- 16.8 miles remain in our 2,015 in 2015 Challenge --

I just zipped through my Facebook feed and caught a post from one of the running pages I've liked asking what goals we've made for 2016 ...

Right now, my biggest goal for 2016 is to just get there. I'll figure the rest out when the calendar page turns.

I don't think that's the response the moderator is looking for. But, it's true. Frankly, his post darn-near made me hyperventilate. I don't think he was after that response, either, if I were to guess!

It's quite possible that post hit me smack in the face for a few reasons. First, the entire week remains up in the air with jury duty not just lingering, but I know if there's another trial this week, I'm getting the call based on my number. And, it being only Tuesday, I'm kind of just waiting and seeing which day, not if. And, second, for whatever reason, I was very focused on my mileage goal while I was out running this morning. I was really absorbing that I just hit 800 miles this morning when my year-end goal was 900.

I wasn't as much bothered by it as just getting totally on board. The fact is, had we had weather allowing me to run outside every day I wanted to do so, I would have hit the running goal (bike miles: running miles = 3:1). However, I would not have hit the combined movement mile of 1,000. So, either way you look at it, I came up short. I do know I did everything I could when I could which included making my life as a whole balanced. I can't substantiate every day or every run (and, why would I want to do such a tedious thing?), but I can see the bigger picture of this year. I admit, though, that I don't tend to make goals I don't end up achieving, so there was definitely a much bigger message in all of this that, should I learn it, it will mean way more than hitting that arbitrary number ever would.

And, that's why I keep thinking about it. It's not in any way to beat myself up or question my efforts; it's much more about what I can get out of -- what can be learned from -- the fact that it didn't happen. I know I can overthink things, but I really like what I ultimately uncover. I know my life is richer for it, so I'll keep scraping away until I get it. Numbers, themselves, be damned.

A lot of cool milestones are coming, though, not to mention actually rolling that running mileage of mile to 800 today (yay!). That's not anything to sneeze at, so I should really at give it at least a little attention. Then, Elly is about to turn hers to 300 (bam!), and the Change Hounds are within days of hitting our combined movement goal (wahoo!). AND, before the end of the year, the family is doing one more virtual challenge, and I'm pretty stoked about it! Frankly, I'm more excited about that than any of the rest of these numbers! I'll reveal the incentives once everyone around here finds out about it!

In the meantime, before you think I only look to the ground while running (which, in fairness, is the majority of where I look), I do look around enough to eventually spot something new. Like this:

I've gone by that tree, literally, hundreds of times and never noticed how wonky the spots are where the limbs have been pruned. It makes for the perfect climbing wall for those squirrels, one of which is not only visible there in the middle, but it was also standing its ground incessantly chirping at me and Elly. (Wow ... be tough, little squirrel, 20 feet in the air with two beings who aren't even close to you.) It was a cool little visual; I thought I'd share!
So, tomorrow: I have no idea. I'll either be running or performing my civic duty, so I'll check in with the outcome! In the meantime, take a minute to two to reflect and see what you might otherwise miss with a cursory glance. You might be amazed at what you uncover about yourself ...

They Had Me At Okra

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Total Movement Mileage: 982.8 (running: 796.8; walking: 41.2; biking: 144.8) Money Found For Food Bank: $5.28

 

2,015 in 2015 Change Hounds progress: Nancy: 982.8 Aaron: 721.2 (b: 639.6; w: 79.6)  Elly: 285 Total: 1989

-- 26 miles remain in our 2,015 in 2015 Challenge --

I am pleased to report I fulfilled my day's desire by actually sleeping past 7 a.m. this morning. Ta-Da!! I remember when 7 a.m. was beyond a dreaded time; how'd it become so common?! I savor those mornings I actually sleep past it ... even if it's like this morning when I saw the clock at 7:10 a.m. Every minute counts! And, those extra 10 minutes were fantastic!

I had a lot of thoughts of what I wanted to accomplish today. Here at the end of the day, I can't even remember what most of them were, and those I can remember, well, they didn't happen! It was fun and productive nonetheless. So, here I sit: Satisfied.

One of the things I hoped to do was try out a new recipe in the kitchen in the baking realm. It was a gray, rainy day, and it seemed to call for that. Um ... it didn't call loudly enough because I never got around to it BUT I seized an opportunity at dinner to try out a speedy side dish:

Oh, yes, that's fried okra ... but, of the Trim Healthy Mama kind!

You know they already lured me in to their new cookbook with their new brownie recipe featuring okra. Well, with my beloved okra on hand (and making a fast comeback into my family), I wanted to give frying it a whirl using the THM Baking Blend! If you're interested, the baking blend is, what I would call, their answer to white flour -- but not in a 1:1 way. It's made from ingredients including oat flour, almond flour and flax; there are a handful of recipes for it on the Web, or it can be gotten off the THM site ... which is precisely where I have bought it and will continue to do so until I have enough time to focus and even consider making it myself. Even then ... The big deal about it is that it doesn't mess with nor otherwise spike sugar levels the way white flour does. Therefore, whenever possible: I'm in.

So, I did what you would expect to make this pile of awesome: I dipped my thawed okra (oh, yes, I used the frozen variety vs. cutting up my own ... if it's even sold fresh now? Sheesh, I seriously have no idea.) in some lightly beaten egg whites, and I rolled them around in a bowl of the Baking Blend. From there, my little okra friends went into a pot of hot coconut oil where they sat for 5 minutes before I flipped them for another 5. My oil only went half way up the pieces, so the flipping was required.

As soon as they were out of the oil, I put them in a pan lined with paper napkins, lightly salted it (very required) and stuck them in a 250 degree oven to keep them warm while I made all of the batches.

And, they were delicious. And, GONE.

I was pleasantly surprised by two particular things. First, I was totally happy with how well everything coated and stuck; whatever didn't stick is what I pulled off by accident in the transfer or cooking process. Second, and this was a big one for me, it didn't pop all over the place while cooking. Therefore, it wasn't a mess to clean up, and I didn't have to avoid kitchen artillery from the oil popping at me. Both of these issues make for a recipe that I will make again. Either existing usually means tossing that recipe out never to be seen again.

This is definitely going in our rotation. It was excellent!

Okra is pretty fiber-riffic, so it's probably best tomorrow has turned out to be a Rest Day, Just sayin'. It's going to be quite a week as everything is up in the air because I have jury duty! I already know I don't have to go tomorrow, but that also means moving something later in the week to tomorrow just in case, not to mention I ended up working today in case another day is monopolized. So, I'll be playing it by ear (my favorite ... not!!) and will check in with the week's progress as I can! Start your week off just right, and I'll see you as I can ...!

The Cupcake Run

Today’s Numbers: Nancy's Total Movement Mileage: 982.8 (running: 796.8; walking: 41.2; biking: 144.8) Money Found For Food Bank: $5.28

 

2,015 in 2015 Change Hounds progress: Nancy: 982.8 Aaron: 701.2 (b: 619.6; w: 79.6)  Elly: 285 Total: 1969

-- 46 miles remain in our 2,015 in 2015 Challenge --

It would have been totally cool had our total mileage landed on 1968 today since that's when I was born! Just sayin' ...!

So, WAHOO!!! I do so love my birthday!! And, what better way to start it off than with a run?! Okay, in truth, I would have been super happy sleeping in, too, but I really wanted to do this virtual Cupcake Run with Pit Crew #2 and virtual running partner extraordinaire, Mary Kate, so this was a huge winner, too!

Look what we were running for!!

I mean, really, there was no way I was passing up earning that!! And, PC#2, our very own cupcake queen, was totally ready to get out of bed for this one! I can't speak for Mary Kate's genuine level of interest in getting up for it (sounds like someone else I know ... oh, wait ... that's me ...), but I can speak to her enthusiasm for our continued trio adventures, so she was all in! Besides, as soon as she answered the phone when I called for our start, she did so with a lovely round of "Happy Birthday," so it was a great way to get this run rolling!

 

There we all are ready to go!



I'd warned PC#2 that we would be taking it really quite easy which is not something she's a fan of hearing. She tends to want to run harder than I do, but we've definitely found a mutual groove that works for both of us. But, to be warned that we needed to take it easy indicated we might be taking our normal pace down a notch, and I knew that she wasn't too excited about that. That's when I told her to trust me, that the additional mile and a half we're adding today from what we usually run together would make a big difference at the end. That, and she hasn't run in two weeks. That's not the best combo for any kind of running much less jumping into a 10K! Regardless, we were off!!

Can I just say today was not birthday weather? When you're born in December, you don't expect it to be 55 degrees at 8 a.m. and it feeling a little balmy! This was much more of a Spring-like morning than almost Winter, but whadda ya do. Mary Kate had 70 degrees surrounding her; yuck!

So, there we were plodding along just after the first mile when I found my long-sleeved shirt choice somewhat regrettable, and, out of the corner of my eye, I was catching PC#2 pull at her running jacket. She said she was going to take it off, and, because I assumed she would need to stop and tie it around her waist, I called out, "Save it for a hill! Save it for a hill!" One needs to learn to never stop on a straight away or down hill if an up hill is a possibility, amiright? She said she didn't need to stop to take care of it. But, right at mile two, we did need to make an unexpected one:

Just after our little detour, we were back on the route and facing my most hated hill of the whole thing. PC#2 has finally deemed it the worst on the route, too. It's three quarters of a mile steadily up hill. And, it sucks. Singing to myself for distraction helps quite a bit. High fiving each other at the top doesn't hurt, either! The vast majority of this particular route is up hill; I'm not quite sure why I ever think it's a good idea to use ...

I did know this was out there, though:

I'm gonna get you, penny! FINALLY!

It's been sitting in its intersection for weeks, and I see it when we drive by. This penny is precisely why I knew we'd use this route. Well, that and the fact that I know exactly where 6.2 miles is, and I don't have to spend time mapping it out. Win. Win. Add that penny to the other 17 cents we found, and I call that a banner day seeing as this is far from a target-rich stretch.

On and on we went finally to a point where we could hold fun conversation and not just grunt about another hill ...

And, then there was this time we had to stop when I got a rock in my shoe (drat!) as well as pause for just a brief moment when the boys drove by, and we waved them down to retrieve the aforementioned jacket PC#2 had been carrying:

THAT is some Pit Crew SERVICE!

When we got to the last mile, I was ready to be finished, but PC#2 was really ready. She never complains about running and certainly did not this time. But, I could see it in her face that the last mile caught up to her. How could it not?! She was a trooper, though, even the time I had us cross when traffic was completely clear but I picked a place that was more steep than probably any other spot to do so. It was one of those super-short-super-painful inclines. My eye was on the finish just ahead and not on the street. I earned the groan from both of us there!

But, the reward was worth it!

Of course, we had our end-of-race call with our teammate:

She's looking at me.

It's always fun to have those wrap-up calls where we can debrief and share any highlights. It's fun to know someone else is out there with you! Thanks again, Mary Kate!!!

I looked closer at our medal ribbons and noticed they have "5K" on them which is when I said out loud, "Huh. I wonder if I signed us up for a 5K ..." which is when PC#2 bugged her eyes out and stared straight ahead. I'm glad she wasn't looking at me at that moment, just sayin'!

So, that wrapped that part of the morning up, but there was some walking to do after breakfast because there's a certain puppy who was none too happy about being left behind. I knew a walk would do the trick:

"No run and no presents for me. You're darn-tootin' I get a walk!
Thanks for it, by the way. SLURP!!"

And, that's a wrap on the main event for the day! Truly, it was great, but I'm taking myself up on the idea of sleeping in tomorrow!!

Enjoy every part of the rest of your Saturday, and I'll be checking in!!