new adventures

I've decided to expand my blog beyond the running stuff. The reality is that running, while important, is only one of many interests to me. I think that's why my posts are so far and few between lately. I like it. It's a part of me. But there are a lot of other parts too. I had a moment of clarity during my run this morning (which often happens in the cool quiet of the early morning) that I've grown a lot as a person this last almost 2 years and that includes the big things like accepting myself and nurturing good relationships and the smaller things like running and making really awesome martinis. So, while I'm not going to stray completely from training talk, I'm going to share other things too.

In that spirit, I wanted to share what I did last night! Pete and I have gotten into the habit of eating dinner at the dining room table to dedicate some real "face time" to each other every night. I've also gotten in the habit of having a cocktail with dinner a few nights a week. The combination makes our meals feel special even if we're sitting in our sweats. Anyway, I created (I'm sure it's been done before but it was the first time that I made a cocktail without a recipe.) a rosemary martini that I've dubbed a Holy Rosemary!. It was inspired by the Herbed Goat Cheese and Pine Nut Crusted Salmon we made from one of my favorite food blogs, Cara's Cravings. I wanted to use up the rest of the rosemary in a timely manner since there aren't too many things I use it in the summer.

Anyway, the smell of rosemary reminded me of the smell of Bombay Sapphire. I'm usually more of a vodka fan, but gin seemed like a more natural fit. We had very little gin left, so I had to use half gin and half vodka. I added muddled rosemary, lime juice and sugar which I shook and strained into a martini glass that I rinsed with dry vermouth (you get a hint of the flavor without adding it to the cocktail). I finished by garnishing with a rosemary sprig.

Pete, who's not really a martini guy, thought it was very smooth and tasty. It also complemented the salmon well. Overall, I was very pleased with this meal. It was incredibly easy, but looked and tasted like it took so much longer. I'm very proud of how far I've come in my cooking. It seems like just yesterday I was cooking ramen every night...

venison in the morning

I’m really getting tired of almost being killed daily. It’s not even because people aren’t being considerate of runners. They simply break traffic rules and are surprised to see me right in front of their hood, looking like a deer in… well, you know the expression.

Yesterday, a woman zoomed up to the intersection with total disregard to where the crosswalk was. There was a bush very close to the intersection which blocks a driver’s vision until the last second. You must stop at the crosswalk and creep forward or wait for the light to change. If I had taken one or two longer strides, I would have gotten hit. I mean, I was right at her window when she hastily pulled away.
I also had another driver (during the same run) decide to try to make a left turn even though the left turn arrow had disappeared and the walk sign had come on. I was midway through the intersection before his tires almost met my toes.

I admit that I’m no saint. I don’t always following the drivers’ manual exactly, but I don’t push limits to where it’s dangerous for those around me. Maybe I do that because I am a pedestrian more times than most. I always wonder if they drive like that all the time or if that was their first offense. Life is too precious to compromise those around you (and yourself). I hope the next time that they’re irritated about a runner crossing their path and slowing them down, they will put themselves in my shoes – or better yet, their own pair of running shoes and try life on the slower side.

the poser

I’m such a running poser. I realize that as soon as I open my Runner’s World every month. Don’t get me wrong. I try to eat healthily and workout regularly, and most of the time I’m successful. BUT I read these articles about people that eat these perfectly portioned meals (30/20/30 – which numbers represent carbs, protein or fat I can never remember) and fartlek and strength train every week without fail make it very apparent that I’m not in that league.

I terribly want to be, but waking up in the mornings to fit in a run seems to be a triumph in and of itself most days (I’m not a morning person – I HATE mornings – but I have to in order to fit it into my day). I also seem to fail every time I plan to cut back on sugars (I can’t resist ice cream in the summer… or winter… ok, I just can’t resist it!) or try to increase the days I strength train (honestly, those days are getting to be farther and farther in between). Not that I was fooling anyone but myself. I have these secret dreams of qualifying for Boston and running marathons all over the globe. And while I still secretly hope they come true, I have come to accept that I’m not the best runner, nor am I near the top of the mediocre runners. But that’s ok.

I run because I love it. I love the healthy glow I get afterward and the feeling of exhaustion and accomplishment. I’m stronger (inside and out) because of it. While I tend to be a perfectionist in the rest of my life (well, excluding this blog which I neglect updating and proofreading), this is the one area where it’s ok for me to not be the best. My only competition is with myself. I don’t have anyone else to beat, nor do I want that responsibility. I run because it’s free and freeing. What can be better than that?

How my puppy jumpstarted my training

So, there haven’t been many blog updates because, in short, I’ve been a slacker. I’ve mostly used the weather as my excuse. I have gotten in a few runs and began taking Pilates, but it’s hard to convince your body it’s a good idea to run when it’s 7 degrees... or freezing rain is falling... or when no one within a 3 mile radius has shoveled their sidewalks, leaving you to dodge salt trucks in the road.

Anyway, this has caused me to begin worrying more and more about my performance in the upcoming Pittsburgh marathon. I needed to get back on track, despite the gloomy Pittsburgh winter.

The solution came in a pretty little spunky package - the sweetest little puppy in the entire world named Daisy. Surprisingly, she would be the key to kicking my butt back into full training gear.

How my Daisy has begun training me:

No matter how cold it is at 6 a.m., it’s always warmer than it was at 2 a.m. when I took the dog outside in just my robe and slippers.

A puppy means that I can no longer hit the snooze 10 times before actually waking up. After getting out of bed, feeding and walking the dog, why bother going back to bed? It’s easier to just start my day.

In order to feed her breakfast, I wake up early enough to eat breakfast myself.

Running in the morning means that I have the huge reward of snuggling with my puppy after work. She greets me as if to say, “You did good today!” and I get to enjoy her puppy kisses all evening.