Training starts for reals

I couldn't let a sluggish spring season stop me from running outside this week. Treadmils are miles off my interest bulls eye right now.

Early in the week I got lucky with two warmer days for 5ks. And then today, which was not warm at all. Managed the needed 16k (bolstered by an updated playlist) and then I was happy to thaw in a hot bath. Today's run was chilly and rather windy. A scarf would have been helpful so it couldn't have been that bad.

After my core temperature had returned to normal, I cooked up a fry pan of blackened tilapia and ate the double serving too quickly to take pics.

Weekly total = 26k.

Lighter fare

:: Cuke slices, beans & carrots, baked tofu and buckwheat noodles ::

Ran 10k hamster-style, then came home to satisfy a craving for vegetables.

Isn't it weird that someone of the vegetarian persuasion could crave vegetables? It happens, trust me. (Wait until July when the truly weird craving begin: juicy steaks following 20+ km runs.)

Veggie craving over with, my mind considers the following joke: a two scoops of ice cream and a bag of choco chips walk into my mouth...

Weekly total

It's been a busy week! I wish I had more to offer than this:

Today: 15 km

Weekly total: 7 + 9 + 15 = 31 km

Birthday karaoke - coming soon

Skating in the sun

I woke up surrounded by sunlight. Dark and heavy curtains were still drawn from the night before, but they were clearly no match for the sunshine. My plants love it. To be honest, so do I.

Pumpkin maple oatmeal muffin
(with text)

I haven't decided against a southern holiday next month. The offer is still there. For now, I get my vitamin D kicks in cold weather excursions outdoors. This morning I revelled in the beauty of strong sunlight, blue sky and clear ice. The cold spell will break soon. This could be my final skate of the season!

Still February. Still freezing.

Goal set! I have set my heart on a fall marathon. Yay! Only thing left to do is train through the summer heat. Nothing to it...yeeeaaaah.

This morning I fumbled through a run on the treadmill. In these temperatures it's a blessing to be able to run indoors...but we are charged mentally for the service. I'm sure I've complained before (repeatedly) about this aspect of treadmill training. It just means you have to make your own fun, even if said fun amounts to what I am about to describe.

Today, I listened to podcasts and watched life unfold on the other side of the floor-to-ceiling windows of the gym. I saw people walking their dogs, and a tiny dog scramble frantically across the top of a snowbank. Noticed a mother and child playfully hide from each other behind snowbanks as though it weren't minus kajillion degrees outside.

I thought I deserved a break and also something fresh, so for dinner I cooked a potful of Pasta with Creamy Pumpkin Sauce. Added a bunch of broccoli. Danced a little jig in my head because I was able to hold back from eating it all, thereby reserving a portion to enjoy for lunch tomorrow. 

Plus, I accidentally threw too much garlic into the dish, which will make my breath grossly irritating to those around me. Such serendipity. Could life possibly provide more than two thumbs up?

Today: 15 km

Total weekly mileage: 33 km

A pressing issue

Fish tacos are insanely delicious. The two I enjoyed tonite were assembled from Sunday's leftovers. Both fish and wraps had to be reheated. Added some mashed avo, coleslaw and white pepper. Lime squeeze for a drippy layer of tang. Insane.

 

I've discovered a machine at my gym that is going to be my new bf - the seated shoulder press. It's a twist on the regular seated press in that the hard metal bars are gone, replaced with plastic handles like skipping rope, the plastic kind. The handles make the pressing up motion more difficult because they're wicked unstable. I haven't done presses in forever so I'm also weak! Could barely lurch through the first set of 10 lbs! I want to see that measley number grow.

Ran for about 7km, then some machines including the presses. Three sets of 8. It was the final stop for me for the evening and I could do no more. Tender shoulders tomorrow.

Blueberry muffins

Who doesn't love a blueberry muffin hot from the oven? 

Whether you need a healthy snack or a delicious one, blueberry muffins are pretty great. Indulgent but not hedonistic unless you're into the butter scene (like me).

I had to use up some bran, so I rounded up frozen berries and milled flax, threw it in the oven and called it a day. 

Actually I called it dinner!  And then went for a skate. Brrr.