Sunday, March 31, 2013

Weekly Recap- March 25-31, 2013

No softball this week so just running.  I tried upping my straight run time at the beginning of each run by a minute.  I'm still finding myself so tired during the rest of the run, but I still want to try it.  In a couple of weeks, I'll try just running intervals again and see which one has a faster time.  And today's 5 miler pace was 2 seconds shorter than my 4 miler pace, yet it felt better.  Weird!

Tuesday-- 3 miles in 29 mins and 55 seconds (mile 1: 9:55, mile 2: 10:39, mile 3: 9:20, average pace: 9:58)
Thursday-- 4 miles in 40 mins and 40 seconds (mile 1: 9:37, mile 2: 10:14, mile 3: 10:49, mile 4: 10:04, aveage pace: 10:11)
Sunday-- 5 miles in 50:45 (mile 1: 10:04, mile 2: 10:10, mile 3: 10:25, mile 4: 10:11, mile 5: 9:56, average pace: 10:09)

Total miles this week: 12
Total miles in 2013: 120.93
Total miles: 550

Thursday, March 28, 2013

Recipe- Flank Steak with Peppercorn Cream Sauce

I love Pinterest!  Tonight I tried a recipe I found on there from the site, Gimme Some Oven.  I tried the Flank Steak with Peppercorn Cream Sauce.

Their picture looks so much prettier than mine.

Ingredients:
    Steak Ingredients:
     
  • 1 lb. flank steak
  • 1/4 cup canola or safflower oil
  • 2 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • freshly ground black pepper
 
    Peppercorn Cream Sauce Ingredients:
     
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1 tsp. cornstarch
  • 3 Tbsp. peppercorns (any color)
  • 1 Tbsp. finely-chopped fresh sage
  • 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
  • 4 oz. PHILADELPHIA brand cream cheese
 
Directions:
 
For The Steak:
 
1) Place the steak in a large zip top bag, and use a meat mallet to pound the steak to even thickness. (This can also be done with a rolling pin.)
 
2) In a separate bowl, whisk together olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic until well-combined. Pour the marinade into the zip top bag with the steak, seal, and then rub the marinade all around until it has evenly covered the steak. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or up to 24 hours. When you're ready to cook, remove steak from the refrigerator, and let rest until it reaches room temperature. Then season both sides with salt and pepper.
 
3a)To cook on the grill, preheat your grill to medium-high heat. Then place the steak on the grill, and cook about 6-7 minutes per side for medium doneness. (Cook about one minute more per side for medium-well, and one minute less per side for medium-rare.) Remove, and tent with aluminum foil to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Cut the steak against the grain when ready to serve, and top with peppercorn sauce.
 
or
 
3b)To cook on the stove, heat an extra 2 Tbsp. canola or safflower oil in a skillet (preferably cast-iron, but any will work) over high-heat. Add steak, and cook about 4-5 minutes per side for medium doneness. (Cook about one minute more per side for medium-well, and one minute less per side for medium-rare.) Remove steak, and tent with aluminum foil to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Cut the steak against the grain when ready to serve, and top with peppercorn sauce.
 
 
For The Peppercorn Cream Sauce:
 
In a small saucepan, whisk together (cold) beef broth and cornstarch. Turn heat to medium, and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in the peppercorns, sage, and garlic powder, and stir to combine. Then add in the PHILADELPHIA brand cream cheese, and break it up with a bit with your spoon. Continue stirring slowly until the cream cheese has fully melted, and sauce is smooth and well-combined. Season with extra salt if needed, and remove from heat. Serve immediately over steak.
 
 
 
I cooked the steak on the stove since we don't have a grill (oh how I can't wait until we have a house and can grill again!)  It turned out pretty well!  I served it with steamed green beans and a salad.  My one complaint is that even though the steak is wrapped in foil, it becomes cold.  But the hubby liked it so that's always good!

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Recipe- Crunchy Baked Tilapia

Tonight I decided to try a recipe from Live Better America.  I decided on Crunchy Baked Tilapia.

picture from Live Better America

Ingredients:

Fish:
~1 lb tilapia filets (3/4 inch thick)
~1 cup Fiber One cereal
~1 teaspoon dried basil leaves
~1/4 teaspoon salt
~1/8 teaspoon pepper
~1/4 cup fat-free (skim) milk
~1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

Sauce:
~1/3 cup Yoplait Greek plain yogurt (from 6-oz container)
~1 teaspoon prepared horseradish
~1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
~1 medium chopped green onion (1 tablespoon)

Directions:

1) Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Spray bottom of 13x9-inch pan with cooking spray.  Cut tilapia into 4 serving pieces.  Place cereal in resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag and finely crush with rolling pin or meat mallet (or finely crush in food processor).
2) In shallow blow, mix cereal, basil, salt and pepper.  In another shallow bowl, place milk.  Dip fish pieces into milk, then coat with cereal mixture; place in pan.  Drizzle oil evenly over fish.
3) Bake uncovered 10 to 15 minutes or until fish flakes evenly with fork.
4) Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix all sauce ingredients until blended.  Serve sauce with fish.  If desired, garnish with fresh basil leaves.

Dinner is cooking
 
I bought vanilla flavored Greek yogurt because at the store they were out of plain (or didn't carry it).  And this made the sauce way too sweet.  When I make the sauce for the leftovers, I'll be adding more Dijon mustard to it.  I also left out the green onions because neither of us like them.  I served it with Green Giant Seasoned Steamers, Mediterranean Blend.
 

 
 
Overall, it was okay.  There was nothing terrible about it, just not enough flavors overall.  I don't think I'll be keeping this recipe in my box.

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Race # 22-- Winter Park Road Race 10k-- March 23, 2013

Last year, this race was our very first 10k.  It's amazing to see what we've done in a year. 

We got up at 5:15am and headed out at 5:40.  We drove to downtown Winter Park, about a 40 minute drive.  Not too terrible.  Luckily it wasn't too cold outside like it had been the morning before.  We headed to the Panera's to make a quick bathroom stop and met up with a fellow teacher, Jennifer. 



Right before we left Panera, we looked outside and it was POURING!!!  There was a 2miler before our race that we had thought about doing because the only way to get a medal is to do both.  But I am so glad that we didn't.  We would have been running in the downpour.

With 5 minutes to spare, we headed out.  It was still pouring but we mainly stayed underneath overhangs.  I saw a couple of people that I had met the day before at the runDisney shoot. 

Right as we were walking into our pacing group, it took off.  I've never not stood in the corral for at least 10  minutes before the run started so it was a little weird immediately starting.  The rain stopped a few minutes in, thank goodness!  Unfortunately, there were big water puddles on the sides of the already small roads, so the running path was even narrower. 

My friend and I got into a good pattern.  I run faster than she does so instead of slowing down my pace, I would run normally and then on our walk breaks I would stop and wait for her. 

I forgot to turn off my Runkeeper for a minute at the end.  It says we ran 6.41 miles in 1:11:46 but our official time was 1:10:44.





At the end of the race, you got a wine glass (I wish they did in reverse where you got a medal for the 10k then a wine glass if you did the 10k and 2 miler)

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Weekly Recap- March 18-March 24, 2013

Life got in the way so I didn't run any during the week (I don't like running when it's dark).  Then I had the 10k yesterday.  And I think my knee injury is back.  I was completely fine during the half and then the 15k but for some reason, it's rearing its ugly head now.  I really  hope that the stretches I know to do at home and the foam rolling get rid of it.  I really don't want to have to go back to PT!

Monday--softball
Saturday--Winter Park Road Race 10k--6.41 miles in 1:10:44

Total miles this week: 6.41
Total miles in 2013: 108.93
Total miles: 538

Friday, March 22, 2013

Ready for the Race-Winter Park 10k

I'm all ready for the 2013 Winter Park Road Race 10k tomorrow morning.  I picked up my race packet yesterday at Track Shack.  The only good we got was our tech tee.  But I think it's much cute than last year (and I was able to get an extra small so it fits!!)

 
Bella had to be in the picture too
 
 
I got my outfit together tonight.  The socks don't quite match--they're a little bluer than the shirt and skirt but I can't find my white ones and I don't have gray ones.  And I'm excited to finally wear an outfit where my shoes don't clash!
 
 
 
The alarm is set for 5:15 and race time is 7:30!


RunDisney promo video

Well, I had a fun and exciting morning with runDisney!

Yesterday Kory forwarded me an email asking for 20 cast members to be in a photo shoot for runDisney today.  Since I started Spring Break today, I could do it!  So I called and got through at about 2pm and they were making the list.  So it was perfect timing!

I was up at 5:55 this morning ready to go.  I had to make sure that I had my cast ID, was wearing running shoes, and no clothing with big logos.  When I got in the van in the parking lot, it seemed like everyone knew at least a couple of other people there.  But they were all really friendly!

We drove into the Magic Kingdom and they passed out runDisney shirts.  We changed and then they explained what was going on.  There was going to be a new challenge and race during the Marathon weekend.  There would now be a Dopey challenge which included the 5k, a new 10k race, the half and the full.  For a total of 6 medals!  We were told that we couldn't tell anyone until 3pm.

Then we watched some of the taping.  Poor Snow White.  She kept counting the Dwarfs but only had 6.  Where was Dopey?  He wanted to be in the race too so he followed us out of the castle! 

It was a beautiful day outside but FREEZING (it was about 48 degrees so cold for me)!  I was wearing a skirt, the short sleeved shirt and a jacket.  But we warmed up some once we started running.


The race sounds really exciting!  I wish I was ready for that kind of challenge.  But I'm still debating doing the full.  Should I do it?  I have a feeling that I need to decide now because when Marathon weekend events open up for registration on April 9th, they're going to sell out fast!


Visit runDisney's blog to see the video about it! (or click below)

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Recipe- Cream of Mushroom Pork Chops

I've recently started trying some of the recipes I grew up with.  Some have been epic failures.  Luckily, this one fared pretty well.

Cream of Mushroom Pork Chops

Ingredients:
4 Pork Chops
Break crumbs
Egg, mixed with a little water
Can of Cream of Mushroom soup, mixed with milk to your desired consistency
2 Tbsp oil

Directions:
1) Heat oil in pan
2)Put pork chops in bread crumbs, then egg mixture, then back into bread crumbs
3) Brow each side in oil for about 3-4 minutes per side
4) Remove pork chops to plate and clean out pan
5) Put pork chops back in and cover with soup mixture
6) Simmer for about 25 minutes

I served it with mashed potatoes and corn.  Easy and yummy!

Sunday, March 17, 2013

Weekly Recap- March 11 to March 17, 2013

This week was pretty relaxed.  I take it easy the week before and after a big race so I only did one run.  I did, however, hurt my finger during softball on Monday.  I hope it's just sprained or jammed, not broken!  I also learned that my body is just not made for running straight through.  Last time I ran 4 miles, I did my 2/1 intervals.  This time I ran straight for the first mile then started 3/1s.  I was so tired that I had to drop down to 2/1s for the last 2 miles.  It was the first mile that did me in.  And I was a minute and 8 seconds slower this time too!

Oh!  And on Thursday, we booked a Disney Cruise.  One of the things I'm most excited about is running the Castaway Cay 5k.  Another Disney run to add to the list!

Monday--softball
Saturday-- 4 miles in 41 mins and 52 seconds (mile 1: 9:28, mile 2: 10:37, mile 3: 10:41, mile 4: 11:07, average pace: 10:28)

Total miles this week: 4
Total miles in 2013: 102.52
Total miles: 532

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Recipes-- Country Fried Steak and Chicken Tortilla Soup

On several of the blogs I follow, they post the recipes that they've made.  So I thought I'd follow suit.  I actually cooked two nights in a row *gasp*.  Please be warned though.  I am not a good cook, although I try.  And I hate to admit it, but I'm not such a healthy eater.  Maybe once we have a family I will be but for now I just like the taste of food (and thankfully running helps keep those bad calories off). 

Yesterday I made a Publix Aprons Recipe (I always love these...they're pretty simple and quick to make.)  I've made this one before
 
Country Fried Steak, Southern Green Beans and Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

Country Fried Steak:
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/2 cup egg substitute (or 2 large eggs, beaten)
2/3 cup plain bread crumbs
4 cubed steaks (about 1 1/2 lb)
3 tablespoons canola oil
1 packet sausage gravy mix (about 2 1/2 oz)
1 (12-oz) can evaporated milk
1 cup water 

Southern Green Beans:
12 oz fresh green beans
2 cups water
1 tablespoon cooked bacon pieces
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper 

24 oz container of mashed potatoes.

Directions:

Country Fried Steak

  1. Combine flour and seasoned salt in shallow bowl. Place eggs in second bowl and bread crumbs in third bowl. Preheat large sauté pan on medium 1–2 minutes.
  2. Dredge each steak in flour. Dip into eggs; let excess drip off. Dredge in bread crumbs (wash hands). Place oil in pan and then add steaks; cook 3–4 minutes on each side or until golden. Remove from pan; cover to keep warm.
  3. Stir in gravy mix and gradually add milk and water, stirring continually, until gravy is smooth. Reduce heat to low; cook and stir 2–3 minutes until hot. Serve gravy over steaks.
Country Green Beans

  1. Bring beans and water to a boil on high; cook and stir 7 minutes or until beans begin to soften.
  2. Drain; stir in remaining ingredients and cover. Reduce heat to low; cook and stir 8–10 minutes or until tender. Serve
Microwave mashed potatoes according to directions on packet.


It didn't look too far off from the Publix picture and was really yummy!  This one is staying in my recipe box.

__________________________________________________

Tonight I made this one from The Crockin' Girls
 
Creamy Chicken Tortilla Soup

Ingredients:
  • 1 1/2 to 2 Pounds Chicken Breast, trimmed (can be frozen)
  • 1 Can Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup 
  • 1 Can Campbell's Cream of Celery Soup                    
  • 1 Can Campbell's Fiesta Nacho Soup
  • 2 Cans Rotel Tomatoes W/Cilantro & Lime Juice (or any rotel tomatoes will work)
  • 2 Cups Chicken Broth
  • 1 Tablespoon Cilantro
  • 1 Teaspoon Cumin
  • 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Chili Powder
  • shredded cheddar cheese and corn tortilla chips for topping
Directions:

1) Combine all ingredients except the chicken breast, shredded cheddar, and corn tortilla chips in crockpot and mix well.
2) Add chicken breast. Cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours.
3)Once chicken breast is done remove and shred it with a fork, return it to the slow cooker and stir.
4)Dish soup into bowls and top with shredded cheddar cheese, crushed corn tortilla chips and fresh chopped tomato and enjoy!

Here's a before picture:



And after:


I do have to admit that this is very spicy.  I tasted it 3/4 of the way through cooking and it was too spicy so I added another can of cream of chicken soup.  This helped some.  But halfway through eating it, I added a spoonful of sour cream.  This really helped.  Kory really enjoyed it and went back for seconds!

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Weekly Recap- March 4 to March 10, 2013

I borrowed this idea from Running at Disney and hope to do it every Sunday!  I think I'll post the days I ran and stats according to my Runkeeper.

Since this was a week before the race, I didn't run (I've learned I do best on fresh legs so the last time I ran was the previous Saturday).

Monday--softball
Saturday-- Gate River Run--9.56 miles in 1:41:42

Total miles this week: 9.56
Total miles in 2013: 98.52
Total miles: 528

Race #21--Gate River Run--March 9, 2013

On Friday night, Kory and I drove up to  my parents house so I could run in the Gate River Run, my first 15K,  the next morning.  This would be the first race that I would run by myself, and the first distance over 6 miles that I would run by myself so I was a little nervous.

We stopped by my friend Kristin's house to pick up my race packet since she was so nice to get it for me.  The goody bag was full of fun things!  It had a mesh bag, a bag of Powerbar energy chews, 2 Powerbar Performance Energy Bars (I've never seen these before..they feel like taffy!), a water bottle, a pint glass, a reflective bracelet, and our tech shirt.  (next time I will try to remember to take a picture of the goodies! but here's a picture of the tech shirt!)


I set my alarm for 5:40, which seems early but since I'm used to getting up at 3 for the Disney Half races, this didn't seem too terrible. My parents and Kory were coming to watch me so they drove.  We picked up Kristin on the way.

The race didn't start until 8:30 so we walked around a little until about 8:00.  It was so cold!  I had packed a skirt, a tank top, and a long sleeve shirt.  We decided to wear our long sleeve shirts.  And funny thing, our shirts were the same ones, just different colors (mine was a little more purple than hers)!  Cori and I dress alike when we race so this made me laugh that Kristin and I did it unintentionally.  I also threw on a pair of my mom's pants under the skirt to wear just until we got into the corrals.


Kristin and I were in the second wave.  We thought it was interesting that although there were almost 17,000 people running, there were only four waves.  I'm used to there being around eight at Disney.  And honestly, you could feel the difference.  There race path was so crowded since so many people were starting at the same time.  On one hand, it bugged me because it was hard to get past people, but on the other hand I love people watching so it kept me entertained.  Either way, it didn't stop me from enjoying the race.

Anyways, I am a Galloway runner so I do intervals of 2min run/1 min walk on longer runs.  And during races, we usually run the first mile so we don't get run over.  But I knew Kristin runs the whole thing so I wanted to run with her a little bit.  I ended up running 29 mins (which I've only ever done once before!)  It was almost to the 3 mile mark but not quite.  Then I started up my intervals.  My legs could definitely feel the 29 minutes! 

I don't remember what mile it was at, but I remember seeing some runners talking to a news reporter.  I remember thinking how weird it was that people would stop running to talk.  It turns out that the runners being interviewed were actually news reporters from that station.  Anyways, if you look closely in the picture below, you can see me on the right in between a person wearing a yellow shirt and a person wearing a blue shirt. Random, I know! (Kristin's mom said she was watching the coverage on the news and she saw us run by after the first bridge).



Running through the neighborhoods was fun!  There were lots of people out watching.  They went all out.  They had chairs set up and were grilling food and drinking drinks.  A couple of people even had goodies for the runners.  I saw (but was on the wrong side for) candy, rice krispie treats, little sausages, and orange slices.  I did get a little cup of beer (I saw 3 different houses handing it out but only stopped one) and an ice pop.  The ice pop was perfect and I stopped for the beer just to say I had but it actually hit the spot! 

We ran over two bridges:  One at the beginning and one at the end.  The one at the beginning wasn't bad at all.  But the one at the end..I can see why they call it the Big Green Monster.  It was huge!  I honestly stopped my intervals once I got part way up the bridge.  I made a deal with myself that I could walk to the top as long as I ran the whole way down the bridge and the ramp.  So I did (running down was fun! I liked the momentum.)  And right after the ramp was the finish line. 

I was definitely tired.  My legs could feel the straight running from the beginning of the race but I knew I could do it.  I knew my family was watching me from somewhere at the end, but I didn't see them.  I usually speed up a lot towards the end and I had to concentrate on not running into anyone!

The end of the race was horrible.  You had to take this part off your bib and hand it to people and go through these chutes to get your medal.  The line took a good 5 minutes.  Not what I wanted to be waiting in right after I ran.  I just wanted to find my parents, Kory, and Kristin.  I'm not sure if that's normally how it is, but I'm used to Disney where they have tons of volunteer just standing at the finish to hang the medals over you with no wait.

My final time on my Runkeeper was 1hr 41 mins 42 seconds.  It was a little slower than I wanted.  I wanted to be under 1:40 but it was so hard to run around people after my walking intervals since it was so packed.

I finally found my family and met up with Kristin.  She had finished 4 mins 42 seconds before me.  We headed to the after party but it was packed.  My dad bought me a beer (which tasted so good!) and then we headed home.


My official time matched my Runkeeper: 1:41:42 with a pace of 10:56.  I ended up placing 8469 overall (out of 15569 total)  and 667 from my gender/age group ( out 1378 total) so not quite in top half overall but in top half for gender/age.

My Runkeeper app said I ran 9.56 miles so my pace was better on there.



Overall, it was lots of fun and I'd do it again!!







Thursday, March 7, 2013

A Few of My Favorite Things

I have a few things that I am addicted to while running.

  • I love Raw Threads.  I can't even tell you how many items I have by them.  I think its 2 skirts and 12ish shirts?  They're just too cute! 
  • When I'm running, I have to have a Sweaty Band in my hair.  They're adorable and keep my frizziness away!
  • On my feet, I have to be wearing Brooks running shoes.  These are so comfy!
  • And I love my Beecause Charms.  I have 5 (and need to get a 6th to make it even!)  I have a Gator one, a Cinderella carriage one, a princess running shoe one, the words "live, love, laugh", and a picture of my puppy, Bella.


A few random facts:

  • I prefer running in skirts.  Back when we signed up for our first 5k, the Princess one, Cori wasn't thrilled that I wanted her to wear a tiara.  But she did it.  And she found a running skirt that she loved but I just didn't understand the idea of wearing a skirt while running.  But since we wanted to dress alike and she was wearing a tiara for me, I wore a skirt for her.  And loved it!  Not only is it cute but its functional!
  • On my long runs, I always have to drink chocolate Zico water before the race, take a gel about 45 mins in, Gu Peach Tea Chomps about 1:30 in and finish with a Stinger Waffle at about 2:15.
  • I've had 2 injuries.  Back when I first started running, I got shin splints.  But I rested, got fitted for real running shoes (my love for Brooks started) and they went away.  Then this past fall, I ran 16 miles and hurt my knee.  It never went away and was pretty severe so I saw a doctor and went to physical therapy.  They thought I had ITBand syndrome but I disagreed with them (I could roll my ITBand all day and it never hurt) and finally they figured out that I had Fibular Head Tendonitis.  Since then, no knee pain!  But I've learned to ice, stretch, wear calf compression sleeves, and foam roll!
  • I used to say that I wouldn't run if a bear was chasing me, much less run a 5k.  Then it turned into that I had no interested in running a Half. Then no interest in running a Full.  And now, well that Full doesn't seem so terrible!
  • I love getting new outfits for races.  And I'm one of the people who do what they say not to:  I don't try out my new outfit before a race.  So far, I haven't had any issues.  Let's hope that doesn't come back to bite me!