My First Run with My Six Year Old, a Thankful Friday Things and Running Playlist

I hadn't really planned on being able to get a run in on Thanksgiving, much less have this first outing with my son.  But, the stars aligned and I had some time in the morning to sneak out for my own personal 5K turkey trot.  The weather could not have been more glorious in Seattle, sunny and in the low 40s.  My son asked if he could come with, which he does on occasion.  This time I came back to get him to turn right back around and go for another mile.  It was the most HILARIOUS mile of my life.  

After I took him through a few dynamic stretches, we talked about the rules of the trail: staying to the right, letting bikers go past, saying 'on your left' if we were passing, etc.  So, as we passed people, he would say "Hi! I'm going for a run with my mom!  My dad and my sister are at the park over there!  Stay on the right! Watch out for bikes!"  Basically, trying to have a full-on conversation with every person out there.  It was like running with Buddy the Elf, and it was awesome.  I might have mentioned before that my boy is rather outspoken, and this doesn't change while he's running, apparently.  We came across three different dogs, and stopped to pet each one while he regaled the owners with the tale of our day and wished them all a Happy Thanksgiving.  As we'd start back up again, he'd do a few leaping jumps almost exactly like Phoebe Buffay.  No joke.  A husband and wife doing a ten miler caught up to us and we had a chatty little foursome for about a quarter of a mile.  I think he was the highlight of their run and I couldn't have been more proud.  The smile on my face must have been ridiculously huge.  He did a half mile out and back (one mile total at about a 10-11min/mile pace) with time to spare at the playground, never losing steam.  I was prepared for whining, 'are we done,yet?' and the like.  Needless to say, I'm already scheming our first 5K together and so thankful for being able to share these experiences with him.

I hope everyone had a wonderful a Thanksgiving Day.  Thank you all for the positive thoughts put out into the universe last week.  My friend's little boy is out of the woods at Children's and I'm so, so thankful.  The cancer my mom is facing now is treatable, and not in her brain.  For that, I am thankful, and for all of life's blessings.  

Thanksgiving internet fun:

• Thanksgiving As a Kid vs. Thanksgiving as an Adult via Buzzfeed
• Even funnier, The Oatmeal's version
• America's Thanksgiving food preferences by Region
• Really cool piece from Thought Catalog: 16 People On Things They Couldn't Believe About America Until They Lived Here
• British folks trying to label all our states!
• Lastly, I really hope that everyone takes this article to heart: How to Get Enough Food at Holiday Parties.  Because really, I do not care to read any article on how to save calories over the holidays.  That. Is. Not. The. Point.

Okay, it's got Bieber in it, but I really do love #Thatpower by Will.I.Am.  It came on during my run yesterday and I couldn't help just being thankful to be outside on a beautiful day, being healthy, just being alive.  

"And oh, I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive
And oh, I can fly, I can fly, I can fly"

Uh oh, am I getting all spiritual up in here?  Well, on that note, happy Friday and happy holidays!

2013 Playlist

September by Earth Wind and Fire 

Move Your Feet by Junior Senior
Black Sheep by Metric
Still Into You by Paramore
Stay the Night by Zedd, featuring Hayley Williams
This is What it Feels Like by Armin vanBuuren
Pompeii by Bastille
Out of the Blue by System F
The Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi (Remixed by Steve Aoki)
Lose My Mind by Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso
Better Off Alone by Alice Deejay
Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes

Mirrors  by Justin Timberlake

Wake Me Up by Avicii and Aloe Blacc

Hey Now by Martin Solveig

We Come Running by Youngblood Hawke

Take You Higher by Goodwill and Hook N Sling

Justice and Independence by John Mellencamp

Glowing by Nikki Williams

Easy  by Porter Robinson (and Matt Zo).

I Could be the One by Avicii featuring Nicky Romero

Pair of Dice by Tiesto

Ain't No Stoppin' by Ferry Corsten (featuring Ben Hague)

Come and Get It by Selena Gomez
Apollo by Hardwell featuring Amba Shepherd

This Head I Hold by Electric Guest

Castles in the Sky by Ian Van Dahl

Feel this Moment by Pitbull, featuring Christina Aguilera

Into Your Arms by the Lemonheads

Just Give me a Reason by Pink

I Love It by Icona Pop

Little Secrets Passion Pit

Sovereign Light Cafe by Keane, remixed by Afrojack

Clarity by Zedd

Years by Alesso

Something Good Can Work by Two Door Cinema Club
She Wolf by David Guetta, featuring Sia
Alive by Krewella
Illmerica by Wolfgang Garnter
Drowning by Armin van Buren
Give Me Your Hand by The Ready Set
Language by Porter Robinson
Cry for You by September
You Are My Diamond by Tiesto - featuring Kianna
Arguru - Deadmau5
We Are by Jus Jack & Oza, featuring Aeone

Run to Race or Race to Run? (and my 'Off-Season' Plans)

When I was at the Mustache Dache, I was chatting with a friend and asked if her husband (also a runner) was at the race.  Alas, he was not.  She told me that he loves to race, but he hates the training.  This week, in an email exchange regarding the Seattle Half, another friend said something like running isn't really fun, or as fun, until race day.  On the other hand, in a Q&A section of the most recent Runner's World, a reader asked whether you could set running goals without racing.  These exchanges got me to thinking about whether most people race just so that they can do the running, or do the running just so that they can race.

Depending upon the circumstances, there are times that I can vacillate between feeling one way or the other.  But overall, as much as I do love race day, I think I like it best once it's over!  Don't get me wrong, I fell in 'run-love' while training for a race and set most of my running goals with races.  But all the effort that goes into a goal race comes down to just one day - one morning with so many variables that are out of your control.  The early hour, the nerves, the anticipation, getting into the pain-place to hit those goals isn't the fun part.  

Ah, always fun to break out this old pic! But, this was my half marathon PR race - gotta get into that pain-place.  

But, racing IS fun, too!  Obviously, or I wouldn't do it all the time.  I think this was a 10K PR at the time I ran it, and have since improved upon that time.

For me, the fun part is when it's over and I can look back and hopefully enjoy the awesome feeling of a PR, a race well run, or to learn from my mistakes and start planning my next training cycle.  A cycle that includes a Saturday long run, a really confidence boosting interval workout, or just an easy couple of miles to shake off the stress of the day.  To quote Kara Goucher:

"That's the thing about running: the greatest runs are rarely measured by Racing success.  They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is."

So I would answer that Runner's World reader question with a resounding YES (as did RW), there are other ways to set running goals without having to race.  You can do a running streak and try to work on consistency: set a goal of days run per week or per month.  The same can be done with mileage goals.  Or train to try new things, like a relay or a trail run.

I'm really hoping to add more trail running to the schedule next year.

Which brings me to current goals and 'off-season' plans.  I use quotation marks because in Seattle, I could race all year 'round and would love to have a goal race (a 5K PR is nigh) for early next year.  But, my wonky hamstring is acting up and I don't want to spend the first quarter of the year fixing it like I did last year.  So!  The idea of running the Seattle Half as a Thanksgiving weekend tradition is off the table for this year.  Right now I'm still running, but taking it easy on mileage and speed and focusing on getting back to being a bootcamp regular.  I've analyzed my last couple of half marathons over and over, as they've all been a bit of a bust in some way since my PR almost TWO YEARS AGO.  And what's crazy is that I set that PR by following a Hal Higdon training plan - no tempos, no speedwork, just mileage buildup.  I realized that, at the time, I was consistently hitting my bootcamp class twice a week.  Over the last two years, I've been focused on more complex training plans: getting in a tempo, speed, long run, etc. which has resulted in going to class about once a week.  While my hamstring is working itself out (and I get a little work done on it), I'm hitting up the classes at the Y like a BOSS.  I've gone to a new strength and cardio class a few times, I'm hoping to try the new Barre class and they're offering some TRX now, too.  Once I feel like I'm in racing shape, I'll channel my old Higdon/bootcamp training self, with maaaybe a bit of tempo and speedwork thrown in...

Salami Stacks and This Week's Eats Thanksgiving 2013 Edition!

This appetizer may look a little, well, strange.  But, I assure you, they are the most addictive and heavenly tasting holiday treat.  My mom has been making them since I was a kid, and our family looked forward to her bringing massive quantities every Thanksgiving, along with the Chex Mix (dubbed Nuts n' Bolts).  I have kept up the Salami Stack making tradition in our household, whipping up a batch just before Thanksgiving.  I stash them in the freezer to eat throughout the holidays.  After bringing them to many a get-together over the years, I've yet to meet someone who didn't love them - unless they're a vegetarian!  Here's the 'secret' family recipe:

Salami Stacks

Ingredients:

- 1 pound of hard salami (NOT Genoa, NOT with peppercorns) sliced thick, but not too thick (my local Safeway deli counter said the slicer was set to 1.5 when she gave me the perfect consistency).  
- 1 8oz package of light cream cheese
- 1 8oz package blue cheese (HIGHLY recommend Trader Joe's brand, you haven't tasted blue cheese if you haven't had their's)
- 1/4 cup minced yellow onion
- dash of lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Directions:

Put all ingredients, except salami, in a food processor.

 and blend until smooth, scraping down the bowl a few times. 

Spread a thin layer of cheese mixture on a slice of salami.

Cover with another slice and repeat the process until you have about 6-7 slices stacked, ending with a piece of salami.  

I usually end up with about 8 stacks.  Wrap in foil and refrigerate for at least an hour, or freeze and let thaw overnight in the refrigerator when you're ready to eat.  Slice into wedges, like a pizza.  Serve with toothpicks and your favorite appetizers.  My husband sometimes puts them on top of a cracker.  When I was a kid, I'd sometimes peel off the layers one by one and eat them that way.  I may or may not still do that...

  

We're doing our usual menu for Thanksgiving and the day after (aka, tree decorating day) that we've done every year for nearly ten years.  Yep, we like ritual and tradition.

• Monday - Pizza
• Tuesday - Italian Beef Stew (had half of this Cooking Light recipe leftover in the freezer)
• Wednesday - Satay Chicken with Peanut Sauce and Roasted Broccoli
• THANKSGIVING
• roast turkey breast (we buy a 5lb breast and use Alton Brown's brine recipe with great success)
• classing New England style stuffing with sausage and chestnuts, I also add granny smith apples to this recipe 
• hash brown potato casserole - this Cooking Light version has been a staple of ours for many years
• mixed greens salad with Trader Joe's spicy/sweet pecans, apples, red onion, dried cranberries, blue cheese and homemade vinaigrette (olive oil, red wine vinegar, dash of Dijon, dash of honey, salt and pepper)
• cranberry sauce in the crockpot  
• pumpkin pie - I just pick one up from the store as the kids are really the ones who eat it and they're not very particular about their pie
• Friday - Annual Bridesmaid Pumpkin Soup Dinner with Leftovers (while we decorate our tree)
• Saturday - Penne with Vodka Sauce (old Rachael Ray favorite)
• Sunday - Crockpot Jalapeno Popper Chili (this recipe from Everyday Reading got pushed back from last week, as I ended up having plans for dinner out with friends!)

 I'm linking up with Org Junkie, Mommy Run Fast and Jill Conyers, be sure to check out all the great weekly menus!

October 2013 in Pictures

Whoops...  I forgot to put together all of my October pictures this month.  Although, doing a daily selfie took up a lot of my picture taking time.  But, this monthly post has been really helpful to keep me accountable on organizing my photos every month.  So here goes...

  

Hard to see in this pic, but I came across dozens of spiderwebs along my running trail and they looked super cool in the sunlight

Post teacher conference froyo

Mommy take a picture of my pretty leaves!

Another fun soccer Saturday

Batons!

Pumpkin carving day at school

School pictures: thing 1

School pictures: thing 2

Fantastic birthday party on a cold and cloudy day

Fantastic park day on a crisp and sunny day

More soccer fun and snuggles

First Sounders game, first professional sports outing

Requisite pumpkin patch outing

One of my favorite Oiselfies

First sushi outing

Halloween

On Religion, a Bit of a Melancholy Friday Things and Running Playlist

Religious is definitely not a word you'd use to describe me.  I think Miss Zoot did a fantastic post on summing up my beliefs, for the most part.  I suppose I'm a Humanist or Atheist, NOT a Gnostic Atheist.  I was baptized. I'm technically Protestant (Episcopalian to be precise).  And I do love going to churches, especially all of the older ones back home, made of stained glass and stone.  The church we were married in has Tiffany stained glass windows, and I loved being in there, surrounded by the history and beauty.  My sorority was around the corner from a Catholic church, and I loved going with my Catholic friends to do church aerobics (stand up, sit down, kneel) and the ritual of the services, the ethereal sound of the choir.  And, yes, this time of year I enjoy the rituals of Christmas and try to educate my kids on what it's all about so that they may learn and make their own decisions about what they believe.  I would not claim to believe there is no Deity, just that I'm not sure.  I think there's a certain sense of spirituality in the not knowing, the mystery of life.  Despite my lack of faith in one, as of late, I am finding myself quite literally praying to 'God.'  It's been a tough week.  My mom's facing some more battles, and a boy from my son's old playgroup is fighting for his life at Children's right now.  A sweet boy my son's age, just one day he's totally fine, and the next?  A random virus is attacking his heart.  Every parent I know is putting themselves in his mom and dad's shoes, and it's terrifying.  I find it especially horrific, and humbling, given that I walked those halls full of worry for a week straight this summer.  That stint seems to pale so starkly in comparison to what this family is going through.  I try to tell myself my own personal mantra that everything happens for a reason and everything will work out the way it's supposed to.  But when things are really pretty darn shitty, it's hard to see the forest for the trees.  

Mount Rainier is one of the most awe inspiring places.  Being on a hike can be a very spiritual experience, especially one that makes me feel so small (yes, I'm in the picture - can you find me?) and yet a part of something so much bigger than myself. 

If you are of the praying variety, please do send some good vibes toward Seattle Children's, and the vicinity of Chicago please.  Hey, and maybe towards my left hamstring while you're at it?  (LEVITY!)

OK, more levity and good internet finds this week:

• Ways to make your day better is always helpful.  I might have to put a piece of bread on my dog's head..
• I love any and all Friend's trivia
• OMG, this Joe Boxer Christmas ad!
• Yeah, being 66% right-brained was not a surprise to me (well, I'm surprised that percentage wasn't higher...) fun test
• Just in case you missed it, the puppy who naps with a toddler every day.
• If you've got a turtle, time to get them a Stegosaurus cozy.
• This Jon Stewart bit is gettin' me excited to get our annual shipment of Malnatis pizza

I'm adding Sepetember by Earth Wind and Fire to the playlist in honor of RunEMZ today.  I totally agree with her that it's a FANTASTIC pump-up song.  If you haven't listened to her podcast with Another Mother Runner on her 100 mile treadmill runs for charity, you should get on that - inspiring stuff.

Happy weekend, hug your loved ones close and say a wish or a prayer for those who are in need.

2013 Playlist
Move Your Feet by Junior Senior
Black Sheep by Metric
Still Into You by Paramore
Stay the Night by Zedd, featuring Hayley Williams
This is What it Feels Like by Armin vanBuuren
Pompeii by Bastille
Out of the Blue by System F
The Pursuit of Happiness by Kid Cudi (Remixed by Steve Aoki)
Lose My Mind by Sebastian Ingrosso & Alesso
Better Off Alone by Alice Deejay
Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes

Mirrors  by Justin Timberlake

Wake Me Up by Avicii and Aloe Blacc

Hey Now by Martin Solveig

We Come Running by Youngblood Hawke

Take You Higher by Goodwill and Hook N Sling

Justice and Independence by John Mellencamp

Glowing by Nikki Williams

Easy  by Porter Robinson (and Matt Zo).

I Could be the One by Avicii featuring Nicky Romero

Pair of Dice by Tiesto

Ain't No Stoppin' by Ferry Corsten (featuring Ben Hague)

Come and Get It by Selena Gomez
Apollo by Hardwell featuring Amba Shepherd

This Head I Hold by Electric Guest

Castles in the Sky by Ian Van Dahl

Feel this Moment by Pitbull, featuring Christina Aguilera

Into Your Arms by the Lemonheads

Just Give me a Reason by Pink

I Love It by Icona Pop

Little Secrets Passion Pit

Sovereign Light Cafe by Keane, remixed by Afrojack

Clarity by Zedd

Years by Alesso

Something Good Can Work by Two Door Cinema Club
She Wolf by David Guetta, featuring Sia
Alive by Krewella
Illmerica by Wolfgang Garnter
Drowning by Armin van Buren
Give Me Your Hand by The Ready Set
Language by Porter Robinson
Cry for You by September
You Are My Diamond by Tiesto - featuring Kianna
Arguru - Deadmau5
We Are by Jus Jack & Oza, featuring Aeone

Mustache Dache 5K Race Report

Just like last year, I was on the fence about running this race.  I wasn't sure how it would fit in with the Chicago Hot Chocolate 15K and the Seattle Half (last year it was the Snohomish River Run and Seattle Half, with the same hamstring acting up, too!)  Luckily, the awesome folks at Gametiime provided me an opportunity to win an entry!  Score!  Although I'm pretty sure that next year I will not hesitate to pony up for men's health and run the Mustache Dache, as it's been a fantastic race two years running.

For those of us who live in the 'burbs on Seattle's Eastside, it can be a real pain to get into the city for packet pickups.  I was so very appreciative that our bibs and shirts were available at the Road Runner store in Bellevue.  Apparently lots of folks were happy about this opportunity, as there was a long line already forming 10 minutes before packet pickup was supposed to start.  

Really awesome simple and cool shirts.  I went with the mens (pic from the Mustache Dache website above) to have a good tee for sleeping in, and the fabric did not disappoint/isn't cardboard stiff.  The women's tee was the same logo on red fabric.

One of the (many) cool things about this race is the start time.  I really love me some sleep, and I lose my day to sleep in when I race.  Wah.  The Mustache Dache starts at 10am!  I rolled outta bed around 8am - unheard of for race day.  Additionally, there is plenty of parking at Magnuson park - also unheard of on race day.  The parking lot closest to the start did fill up crazy fast this year, but I only had to drive a 5 minute walk away to the next closest lot.  

I utilized that walk to do a couple of strides and attempted to warm up my hamstring.  Boy, I was feeling SLOW.  But the sun was shining, I had a good night's sleep and was looking forward to seeing lots of familiar faces.  So many running peeps come out for this race: friends from Oiselle team, Nuun, Twitter, my local Y - it's a big party.  After making a quick lap around the sponsor tents to find and say hi to friends, I lined up in the start corral just between the 8 and 9min mile paces (which is exactly what I ran) and spotted Bethany, who I met at Ragnar (again, peeps everywhere).  It was so great to have someone to chat with and diffuse any race day nerves.  

Pretty soon the air horn sounded and we slowly made our way to crossing the timing mats.  As we moved up, we realized that there was a ton of folks merging into the designated start corrals from the side towards the front.  Thus, the beginning of the race was pretty crowded.  I had to do quite a bit of slowing down and strategizing to find some holes.  However, once I got into a groove with people going my pace, the course opened up considerably.  I spoke with the race director afterwards and they did indeed change the course from last year where there was a total bottleneck situation.  It's nice and flat, with a few of twists and turns going in a sort of circle around the park's playing fields and beach path.

ANOTHER great thing about this race? FREE PHOTOS - courtesy of Woodinville Bicycle.

No, I didn't wear a stache; last year it sweated off within a quarter of a mile and I didn't have enough time to get one drawn on beforehand.  Maybe I'll draw my own next year...  As per my usual with a 5K, I started out kind of fast in the first mile, felt like giving up/lost steam/prayed for death in the following mile and a half, then kicked it up a notch for the final half mile or so.  This was all exacerbated by the fact that my hamstring felt about an inch long and my lungs are still getting rid of yet another bug from the kids.  So, yeah, I was rather pleasantly surprised that I was within a minute of my PR (25:29) - clocking in at 26:18.  Of course my first thought on learning my time was, "I want to find a small/less crowded out-and-back course to run ASAP for a PR!"  Maaaybe I should wait until my leg is feeling better though...

After crossing the finish line, I was immediately handed my super-awesome-I-don't-care-if-it's-only-for-a-5K medal:

From the Mustache Dache website

My only complaint with the race, and it wasn't a HUGE deal, was that the water was hard to find at the finish.  There was some Muscle Milk (which I do like, but not right away) and some kind of carbonated energy drink, which usually upsets my stomach.  It was only a short walk to get the water, again - not a huge deal, but it wasn't immediately apparent and people were getting upset.  Also, I'm much more a fan of bottled water (easy to recycle, transport, dispense) than coolers with cups.  Just keepin' it real.  Once I downed about five cups of water, I partook in some of the lovely spread of cookies, muffins, bananas, chips, etc.  There were also lots of good samples: Clif bars, Builders Bars Vita Coco coconut water, among other things I'm sure I missed.  There was also a plethora of cool food trucks and Iron Horse Brewery beer.  But, I gathered with running buddies for smoothies and breakfast sandwiches at the Cloud City Coffee outpost in the park's Tennis Center - easy peasy hidden gem right across the street from the start.  Six of us were able to sit down together right away to eat and chat.

Being a bit too literal about where the stache should be placed on my face...  With Rebecca and Becky.

If you're in any of the cities on the Dache's ever expanding list, I highly recommend giving it a go.  It's a great race for a great cause.

Pioneer Woman Style Chicken Chili in the Crockpot & This Week's Eats 11.17.13

We do love a lot of Pioneer Woman's recipes, and her white chicken chili is no exception.  I always thought it was unnecessarily complicated with the whole fryer chicken and we started making it on the stove with chicken breasts cooked in the broth to save on cleanup and time.  We also add a can of tomatoes, as I can't reconcile chili without any tomatoes - even white chili.  Eventually, I figured it could taste just as good in the crockpot - and it does!

Pioneer Woman Style White Chicken Chili

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 whole medium onion, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 8 oz can chopped green chiles
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 1 whole jalapeno, seeded and diced
• 1 lb dry white beans rinsed (we sometimes use 1/2 lb to make it more like a chowder than chili)
• 1-1/2 Tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
•  salt to taste
•  pepper, to taste
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1.5 Tablespoons masa (corn Flour) or cornmeal (we use Jiffy corn muffin mix)
• 1 14 oz can petite diced tomatoes
•  grated Monterey Jack, to taste
•  sour cream, cilantro, avocado and chopped scallions for garnish

Preparation Instructions

Put first 12 ingredients (through pepper) into the crockpot and cook on high 6-7 hours or on low for 8-10 hours.  About 2/3 of the way into the cooking process, take out the chicken breasts and shred them.  Mix the milk with masa (or cornmeal) and pour into the chili along with the tomatoes and shredded chicken.  Stir and finish the last third of the cook time.

Before serving, add some Monterey Jack cheese to the pot and stir to melt.

We like to garnish with cilantro, sour cream, extra cheese, scallions and diced avocado. Mmmmmm... 

Before I get into this week's eats, I must mention that Cookin' Canuck's Chicken Hoisin Rice Bowls from last week were a big hit!  We're definitely adding them to the regular rotation.

• Monday - Pizza
• Tuesday - Chicken and Veggies with Trader Joe's Red Curry Sauce
• Wednesday - Pesto Pasta with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Roasted Asparagus (very popular Pinterest recipe we're gonna try)
• Thursday - Chicken with Artichokes, Tomato and Mozzarella (a favorite old Emeril dish)
• Friday - Turkey and Black Bean Enchiladas (I bought a ton of ground turkey on sale recently; this Skinnytaste recipe looks like a good one to try out while freeing up some space in our freezer.)
• Saturday - Spinach and Blue Cheese Meatloaf with Salad and Scalloped Potatoes with Leeks
• Sunday - Crockpot Jalapeno Popper Chili (Another new recipe that I pinned from Everyday Reading and has been re-pinned like CRAZY.  So, I've gotta try it.)

I'm linking up with Org Junkie, Mommy Run Fast and Jill Conyers, be sure to check out all the great weekly menus!