Surrender

I recently read a post by a yoga blogger who was talking about surrender.  She discussed what it was in her life she was feeling the need to "surrender" to and it made me think about the term in relation to my own life.

The answer to the question didn't come to me until I was out on a run last week.  I need to surrender to the cold.  In one week I begin my training plan for my very first half marathon.  And all of my training will take place in the coldest winter months.  What in the world was I thinking????

It's been a little better since I made this decision.  I've quit checking the temperature on my phone before going for my morning run; I just take my dog out and let my body tell me what I think I need to put on.  I always put on my warmest running hat and gloves, knowing I can take them off if not needed.  And then I try not to think about it anymore, get out the door and GO, accepting that I will be cold until mile 2. 

This routine served me well one morning last week when I got up to take doggie out and discovered it was snowing! That wasn't in the forecast.  My immediate first thought was "treadmill", followed by "I could fall",  but I pushed those thoughts away and just thought about how pretty it was.  Came in, got dressed and headed back out.  It WAS pretty, so quiet, peaceful.  Beautiful.  When I got back and looked at my phone, it said temps were 15 with the wind chill. Had I looked at that before running, I would never have went.

I am also trying to surrender to "just being me"...at least in the context of running. I'm always just trying to be me, but with running I've been doing that horrible habit of comparison.  And it just doesn't work.  Mentally I know this, but was recently handed a huge serving of humility physically to make sure I get the point.

I went to a group run on Saturday that was sponsored by the half marathon I've signed up for.  It's a run on parts of the course that the race will be on, which is crazy hilly.  So I know I need to practice on the course.  But it's so hard to show up (for me) for runs where I know no one.  But it said there would be different routes (4, 7, 10) and different paces for all.  So I make myself go.  In the rain. 

And guess what? Only those damn hardcore runners show up in the rain.  15 people, including me.  Everybody wants to run 10 miles.  Except me.  Everybody wants to run a 9 minute pace.  Except me, can't.  So....they tell me I can go the 4 mile route, they will show me where to go when we split up.

I manage to stay at the back of the pack for the first half mile or so by running my fastest half mile ever, completely motivated by shame, but knowing that I can't keep it up.  The race director guy hangs back at first and tries to be nice, chats me up, tells me where to go for 4m loop, then he gets tired of running so slow and goes ahead. 

The pack keeps pulling further away and it makes me feel awful. A couple of runners go on the 4m loop with me to show me the way, but they have to keep doubling back to really talk to me.  It's humiliating.  I'm thinking things like "I'll never come to this training run again!" "Why in the world do I think I can run a half?" "Are these people laughing at me in front of my back?".  But then I get mad at myself for being so negative.  I can't help the pace I run at.  It's my pace.  It's the best I can do at this time.  Maybe I will get faster the longer I do this, maybe I won't.  But at least I'm doing it!  I think of one of my favorite bloggers, John Bingham, who writes about coming in LAST in many races, but still he ran.  He's ever written running manuals! His nickname is the Penguin because he is so slow!  But he runs, and he enjoys it. 

So, yes, I will go back to these training runs.  I will be the one at the back of the pack.  I will be the one yelling "car back" if a vehicle approaches from my direction.  I will be the one making everyone else feel good about their current pace.  I will be there in rain or snow.  (But not sleet)  And I will finish that damn race in as many hours as it takes and I'll have a medal around my neck just like those 9 min people!

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler !!!! (Let the Good Times Roll)

I've been battling a nice little cold all weekend, nothing horrible, just enough to make me not want to do anything.  I believe it may be my penance for having such a wonderful time last weekend!!

I spent 4 fantastic days in Louisiana, 2 of them on Bourbon St in the French Quarter, 2 of them on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain.  Started out on the North Shore, where I got in a sweet run along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain in 65 degree weather.  My body did not know what was going on.

Also got to experience a drive thru daiquiri shop at 10am.  What?! I'm on vacation!

Off to Bourbon St. on Friday.  Stayed at a very nice hotel right on the strip which had a fabulous balcony opening onto the courtyard.  Friday and Saturday were cloudy and rainy, but that did not deter the crowds in any way.  This place is cray cray.  I had some strange encounters with random people on the street each night, but I think you had to be there to get just how weird they were.  Let's just say that one man acted like he was going to bite my neck (?) and another guy threw a bag of trash at my feet while gesturing in angry ways with his arms and hands.  Neither of them said a word. ????????????????

Third picture is of this great little open air jazz bar that was right across the street.  Several moments spent here.

We encountered an impromptu parade at one point when we were coming back from the French Market.

Did you know that Abita beer is made near New Orleans?  Nope, me either.

We almost made it in time for a tour of the brewery.  But then we didn't. :-)

The area around Jackson Square, on our way back from French Market.  We then took a street car over to the Garden District and toured a cemetery.

This last photo we jokingly referred to as the "Lone Rangers", perhaps those who didn't have a family crypt to be buried in.  This is where I would be. :-)

This is a random tree next to our stop to get back on the street car.  We just happen to look over and it's filled with beads!! Beads hanging on trees, light posts, power wires, damn things are everywhere!!

So, great trip, had a wonderful time.  My only complaint? Food!!! Let me just say, I was sooooo not a gegan girl on this trip.  I had trouble just being a vegan girl!!  It was so hard to find things I would eat. My friend was getting tired of the many adventures to find me some food, but I must say much patience was displayed.  My friend did point out that I have a habit of reading the label of anything I'm handed to eat that is packaged.  This is something I had not realized, but it's something I've had to do for so long. There was nothing on the main strip of Bourbon St., but as we started to venture out, there were some options.  Thank goodness for the app VegOut.  This thing saved me.  Helped me find some ethnic options that were ok, but my greatest find was this tiny little café in the French Market.  Meals From the Heart Café. 

 

This first pic of their vegan smoothie that just happened to probably be the only gegan thing I had the whole time I was there!  It was yummy and thick enough to need a spoon!  I wanted to hug and kiss these people. Seriously.

 

 

The photo below is of vegan pancakes!!!!! This is only the second time since I've been vegan that I've had pancakes unless I've made them at home.  Wanted to kiss them this time as well.

 



So basically, if you are a vegan in New Orleans, go to this café.  You and your belly will be so happy.

Ok, gotta go take another shot of medicinal bourbon now.  In honor of the trip that caused me to have this cold. 

Too Cold for Comfort

So I still consider myself to be a new runner. Very much so. January will be one year that I've been running consistently and seriously.  When I started in January of this year, I started on a treadmill.  I was so scared of running outside.  I still remember the first time I ran outside-- it was a disaster of epic proportions.  But, oh how things change!  I now despise running on a treadmill, but guess what? I did just that 2x this week.  Why?  Because it's COLD!!!!

Running in 20 degree temps is not something I'm familiar with.  It's not fun in any way.  And it's a little early for it to be so cold where I live.  So it's a nice little preview of what's to come when I have to be super serious about training for my first 1/2 marathon, starting in January.  What was I thinking?!  Oh, that's right, I'm a new runner and I don't know any better.  I just don't know how I'm going to do it.  I'm still running in the am, just works so much better for me, but running in the dark when it's 22 degrees outside?!?! Damn! It actually hurts. 

I've been ok with the 30's and 40's, getting pretty good at knowing how to dress (dress for mile 2!), but anything below that I'm just not ready for.  Mentally or physically.  Will this get better? Will I get lucky and start going thru menopause so the hot flashes will help me out? Will the fact that I have this huge race looming over me get my wimpy ass out the door?  We shall see, dear readers, we shall see........

She Said I Kicked Asphalt!!!!!!

This past weekend I ran in only my 3rd 10K.  This distance is still uncomfortable for me, but somehow I manage to get it done. 

This was the first race that I went to another town to complete.  And I learned a lot.  The weather reports keep changing all week, so I had to pack several options. But silly me didn't take anything to the race to put on immediately after, when I started to chill from being cold and wet.  It rained the entire race, with varying intensity and was quite windy.  I think the temp was around 52.  By mile 3 I could feel my feet squishing in my shoes.  Thanking the Lord I had my visor to keep most of the rain off my face; my Brooks arm warmers; and my Bandi belt for my phone, which, when placed on the inside of my shorts, somehow kept my phone dry!!!! Tunes in the rain!!!

But the thing I was most thankful for was 2 wonderful friends that got up early, drove me to race, walked me to start line (all the while telling me, "It's not going to rain!"), held up 2 great signs ("Worst Parade Ever" and "You Kick Asphalt"), hung out in the rain while my slow ass ran 6.1 miles, and cheered me to the finish line.  I mean, seriously?!! I felt like royalty!  I've never had anyone at a race FOR ME.  Sometimes I know other people running in the race, but I don't see them once we start.  It was so nice knowing I was going to see familiar happy faces at the end and it made me want to do well so they would be proud of me.  It makes a difference, not going to lie.

That is the yin and the yang of running for me.  I think it is the sport that finally suits me because it can be a solitary adventure but it can also be so fantastic when it's shared with others. Running is good, it's bad, it hurts, it soothes, it challenges and it rewards.  My friend Mary asked me why I started running and I gave her a short, simple answer like "stress relief", but it made me think about it and if she asked me now my answer would be: I run because it's the only thing I've done thus far that makes me feel accomplished in my physical self, which is something I've never had before in my life. And that feeling of physical accomplishment affects my other "selves", sometimes without me even realizing it.  I bet she is glad she got the short answer.......

Thank you, thank you, thank you to my friends for making this latest physical accomplishment my best one yet.  Even in the rain and the wind. 

I'm Sorry My Food Has Faces In It!!!!!

I started to notice this past week that people apologize to me when they have food I do not eat.  And it strikes me as a very interesting phenomenon. 

It happened 3 times this past week: my manager at work placed leftover birthday cake on our conference room table close to where I was sitting and she looked at me and said "sorry"; someone brought dessert for a potluck and as she was walking by me with the dish she said "sorry, this has egg in it"; and then someone sat by me for lunch one day with tuna for their meal and they apologized for having it! 

I'm not sure why people feel the need to apologize to me for their food choices. On one hand, I guess it's a positive display of their knowledge of my eating habits and the fact that they are "sorry" that everyone can't partake in sharing their food? Maybe?  But on the other hand, it's kind of annoying, because it is constantly pointing out my out of the norm food life.  Do they think I'm going to mistakenly reach for a brownie or piece of birthday cake like it's accidently vegan? And I hate when they add the word "can't" to the mix, as in "I'm sorry you can't eat this".  Actually, I can eat it, but I'm choosing not to.  So there doesn't need to be an apology for providing food that I'm choosing not to eat; it's like you are apologizing for my choices.  It makes me uncomfortable.

Which brings me to the question: what is the proper response to these statements? My knee jerk Southern upbringing reaction is to quickly say "That's ok", or "No problem", but that doesn't really feel right. But I have no idea what response would be better. I'm still horrible at defending my food choices without sounding preachy, so it's usually better to keep my mouth shut, I've found. It happened the other day when someone made the classic statement, "But why can't you eat honey, that's why bees make it?".  (Can't word again!!) When I pointed out that bees don't make the honey for us and that some bees do die in the harvesting of honey, they started giving me the look so I just shut up. 

Any of this ever happened to other vegans reading this post? What do you say?

On a less whiny note, I started a 30 day ab challenge yesterday that looks pretty horrific; I'll post on the results of this as I go along.

I Want to Marry T. Colin Campbell

I'm going to try my best not to get back up on my soapbox for this post, but it's going to be hard.

I just finished reading Whole by T. Colin Campbell, the mastermind behind The China Study. This is another of those life changing books if you let the information in.

Oh, where to begin. There is SO much fantastic information in this book. Campbell has been researching nutrition for 50 years and at this point he is fully in the camp of eating a whole food, plant based diet (WFPB). Notice I didn't use the word vegan. Neither does Campbell. That isn't what he is proposing. His "aha" after years of research shows that when we eat foods as close to their natural state as possible, we get the greatest benefit from them. For example: Oranges have vitamin C. Vitamin C is good for us. So, lots of people take a vitamin C supplement. Or drink some OJ. But what Campbell's research has shown is that we are better off if we just eat the orange.  Why? Because our bodies are much smarter than we are. If we just give our bodies the vitamin c without all the other components of the orange, our bodies do not utilize it as efficiently. If we give our bodies the orange in it's natural state, our bodies will utilize what it needs at that moment in time.  Taking supplements for certain nutrients is all part of what Campbell terms the "reductionist" approach. It's huge in this country and it's a big problem for our health.

Campbell addresses the protein myth and our fascination with it in our country. I mean, what vegetarian or vegan has NOT been asked "But where do you get your protein?". Did you know that spinach and kale have about twice as much protein, per calorie, as a lean cut of beef? Did you know that animal protein has been linked to increased cancer rates in rats? A link has also been shown between cancer growth and the protein found in cow's milk.

We have been fed the line so much in this country that we MUST have animal protein to grow and maintain muscle mass.  But Campbell points us to chimps, gorillas, elephants and hippos, all of whom eat a 100% plant based diet and don't seem to be all that weak or scrawny.

Campbell also gets into the sticky subjects of our reductionist medical system, where we treat the symptoms but don't really do anything to prevent them in the first place. Why is this? Because our medical system is driven by profit and profit is reduced by preventive medicine. Campbell states, "...health information is controlled, and has been for a long time, by interests that are not in alignment with the common good--industries that care much more about their profit than our health. And those industries feel deeply threatened by the possibility of mass adoption of a plant-based diet". What are these industries? The medical, pharmaceutical and supplement industries. Scary information about the power these industries have over our food information and choices.

Campbell goes into our food choices and how they affect the planet. How the production of so much meat affects fossil fuel use, water consumption, deforestation, and global warming. 

And of course Campbell also goes into the hell that is factory farming. As he states, "Choosing plant-based foods over animal-based foods reduces pain in so many ways. It alleviates our bodily pain. It minimizes the pain animals experience by reducing CAFO farming. It also reduces human suffering associated with global poverty and hunger".

I've only hit a few high points in this review. The point I really want to come across is that the information presented in this book is valuable for all of us. It is not an easy read for many reasons. It makes us confront long held beliefs that just aren't true. It shows us how discerning and skeptical we have to be with information that is presented to us about our health, which is scary. There are parts of the book that are a little too scientific for me, as in, my eyes glazed over a bit when I tried to read about certain studies that were a little too detailed for my non-scientific mind. But do not let that deter you. Skim it, move on and get this valuable information.

This man is on a mission. He has fought against our current thinking on nutrition for many years. I can only hope that his message will be the catalyst this county needs to change our current unsustainable path.

And, unfortunately, Mr. Campbell is already happily married.

I May Be Standing on an Elevated Surface Known as a Soapbox.......

I don't get super serious in my posts usually. And I don't usually talk about why I choose a plant based diet (ok, there was that one time). And I certainly am not THAT person who tells others why they shouldn't be eating the standard American diet (SAD).( Although I do look at some of my co-workers lunches at times and judge the hell out of them in my head). But I don't say anything. But in this post, I'm going to say some stuff. Get ready.

Warning!!!! To my friend Robin, probably the only regular reader of this blog; you may want to stop here. It's going to get ugly. Ok, really, just skip the part about the chickens.

I just finished the book, Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer. Powerful stuff friends. This book isn't new, originally published in 2009. The information in it isn't new, I already knew or had a general idea of most of the stuff he writes about. But Foer spent 3 years of his life with this subject as he was trying to decide whether to be a vegetarian, and I'm in love with the way he presents his facts. He doesn't really argue for or against eating animals: he presents the facts as they now exist and lets you make up your own mind. He also discusses the environmental aspect of eating animals, something most people don't even consider.

Americans choose to eat less than .25% of the known edible food on the planet
-Foer

America is a nation of carnivores, where meat is eaten, on average, 3x per day, every day, without a second thought. It is usually the star of the meal that everything else revolves around, the "side dishes".  I mean, we gotta get our protein, right? This country is obsessed with protein, which apparently is more important to our survival than water.

Foer gets into the uncomfortable subject of why we eat some animals and not others. Why is it "ok" to eat a pig and not a dog? Both are meat. Dogs are plentiful, local and we euthanize millions of them each year. And look out: the euthanized dogs are then made into feed for the animals that are eaten. As the author points out, "why not just eliminate the inefficient and bizarre middle step".  Why? Because these are our companion animals that share our homes, beds, lives. We would consider this crazy. But how is it really any different than eating any other animal?

Foer states: Eating animals has an invisible quality. Thinking about dogs, and their relationship to the animals we eat, is one way of looking askance and making something invisible visible.

If I wasn't already committed to not eating animals out of compassion, reading about the horrific conditions of factory farming,(the cruelty, the drugs, the genetic modifications made to these animals), would turn me off meat completely. And the current fact is that we get 99% of our meat in this county from factory farms.  The problem is that people have a large disconnect to how we get the meat. Right now, the meat industry in this country is horrifying. I don't know how else to describe it. Once you have this knowledge, I don't know how anyone can not be affected by it and make radical changes to their diet based on it.

As one former factory worker writes in the book: "Factory farms calculate how close to death they can keep the animals without killing them.  That's the business model. How quickly can they be made to grow, how tightly can they be packed, how much or little can they eat, how sick can they get without dying".

Let's just take one animal as an example.  Did you know there are only 2 kinds of chickens now? One that is genetically modified to be raised as a broiler and another to be a layer. There used to be dozens of different chicken breeds in America. Now we have 2.

In a factory farm situation, the chicken will be lucky to have 8/10's of a square foot to live in. That's about the size of a piece of printer paper. Now imagine this full grown bird on this space, then imagine 33,000 of these sheets of paper in a grid. This grid will be enclosed with windowless walls and a ceiling.

The chickens are engineered to grow big and fast on as little feed as possible, which leads to deformities and disease. The birds become overstressed. They are jammed together in their own filth. 95% become infected with E.coli. 8% will have salmonella. The birds must be given a chlorine bath to remove slime, odor and bacteria when killed, but not to worry, to counteract all the nastiness and lingering bad taste, the birds will be injected or "plumped up" with broths and salty solutions to give them the chicken look, smell and taste that consumers demand.

I won't even go into the processing of the chickens, expect to say that chicken slaughter is exempt from the USDA's Humane Methods of Slaughter (?) and that turnover rates at slaughter house's are 100%. But you need to read about this, to know what these animals must go through, all so this country can have cheap, plentiful meat at all times.

Let me say it best in Foer's own words:

What we do know, is that if you eat meat today, your typical choice is between animals raised with either more (chicken, turkey, fish, and pork) or less (beef) cruelty. Why do so many of us feel we have to choose between such options? What would render such utilitarian calculations of the least horrible option beside the point? At what moment would the absurd choices readily available today give way to the simplicity of a firmly drawn line: this is unacceptable? Just how destructive does a culinary preference have to be before we decide to eat something else? If contributing to the suffering of billions of animals that live miserable lives and (quite often) die in horrific ways isn't motivating, what would be?  If being the number one contributor to the most serious threat facing the planet (global warming) isn't enough, what is? And if you are tempted to put off these questions of conscience, to say 'not now', then when?

I'm blaming this post on Jonathan Safran Foer. I guess I just needed to say some of the stuff I don't have time to say when someone asks me why I'm vegan. Or when someone tells me we are supposed to eat animals.  Or when someone just has zero understanding of why a plant based diet is a viable alternative and not insane!  All the above words are really just a small part of why I'm vegan, but I used Foer's words because he says it much better than I ever could. And I'm not expecting everyone to immediately stop eating meat.  I know that will never happen.  But I do think we need to end the disconnect and make conscious choices about what we put in our bodies and about what companies and their practices we want to support with our money. Because as long as the demand is there, these practices will continue. 

I will leave you with these words from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., writing about a time when "one must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular". Sometimes we simply have to make a decision because "one's conscience tells one that it is right". (Foer, pg 259)

Read the book friends. And let your conscience be your guide.

Stepping off the box now.........

Art, Art, Everywhere

Hit up a local art fair this weekend that is within walking distance of my home. It seems to have doubled in size from last year.  SO good for people watching, one of my fav activities. This year also appeared to be good for dog watching, as everyone seemed to bring theirs. Except me.

All areas of art were covered: fabrics, paints, glass, metal, wood, jewelry, pottery. I was only tempted by pottery and jewelry this year, but walked away from any purchase when I was tempted. I'm so weird this way: some times I spend money without a second thought; other times it's like that $5 is coming out of my very soul. Anyone else?

It was fun to talk to some of the artists, see how far they traveled to get here (Chicago won), and compliment them on their work. Some will allow pictures to be taken of their work, others will not, so I always asked.

This was one of my favorite things, had to walk by it twice before I even noticed it. Nice that they are honoring and showing the tree some love, but I'm sad it's going to be cut down soon. I HATE when trees are cut down. I'm talking to you dad........

There is just something about a bonsai tree......

 

 

Lots of food trucks this year and 2 beer gardens! That's right, 2! Each one sponsored by a local brewery. So, to be fair and supportive of each local establishment, I had a brew from each. Not gegan, but good. Don't judge. This is when I cheat--craft beer. And if I keep it in moderation, I feel ok. Plus it's not an everyday thing. Thank goodness there was one place that had some great vegan/gegan options.



 

 

 

 

And sorry, I couldn't resist. Blame it on the beer gardens. 

And I didn't buy one piece of art. Not one.

Scenes from a Run

I haven't written in a while because I've been in a bit of a funk. I won't bore you with most of the reasons, but one of them was due to a strained muscle in my left leg that made running, hell, even walking, an unpleasant experience. So after running in pain for a week, I took a week off, did yoga, iced, taped and rested. It helped. Got back on the horse this week and it's rough. I'm still so new to this that taking a break throws me completely off. I felt my motivation wane, had those thoughts of "who do I think I am, trying to be a runner!", or "you can't be a runner, you are always hurting yourself", or any other negative thought you may want to insert.

It's as I've said before, running is so mental! Your head will SO try and talk your body out of doing the run. You wouldn't believe the number of reasons my brain can spew out at 4:30am as to why I should not get up and go for a run. It's amazing. You just have to go on autopilot, put your clothes on and just not think about it. My new favorite quote about this is: Commitment is more important than mood. You ain't kidding.

So I just got up this morning and did it. Tried to get out of my own head. It was threatening to rain the entire time, but I got in 30mins. And it felt decent. And I was glad I was out there. And here are some things I saw along the way.....

 

 

 

 

"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit".

 

 



 



Product Review!!!!!

You know I love to try new food things. One of my friends that used to live next door to me always said he loved this about me, because he got to try them too :-) I have reviewed new food products before, but this is my first review of a product sent to me FOR FREE by the company! Does this make me a real blogger?? It's the little things in life that excite me, don't judge.

So, I was sent a giant jar of Tropical Traditions Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil to try.

So far, I'm loving this stuff. Coconut oil is so versatile. I have used it for:

*Baking
*Sautéing
*As ingredient in my homemade facial scrub and body wash
*Drizzling on top of my dog's food once per day (he loves it!)
*Conditioner for hair

It's crazy how much you can do with this stuff. Don't believe me? Here's a link to prove it:

How to Use Coconut Oil: There are hundreds of uses for coconut oil!

If you can incorporate some coconut oil into your everyday life, please give it a try. Be sure to use a virgin or unrefined product for your best health.


Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.

THANKS

It's not easy to run a 10K, at least not for me. So I want to give a shout out to the things that made today's second 10K a little easier to endure....

*The thoughtful party people located just before mile 3. Thank you for gathering many of your friends so early in the morning and blasting high energy tunes from your porch. I couldn't run with my music this race because it was raining. I've NEVER ran without music and it was really hard for me. My music is what motivates me at times. The music from this house really helped. And luckily, that part of the course looped back, so I got to hear it a second time.

*The people that took the time to make stupid funny signs that were around mile 4. Some examples: "I trained 6 months to hold this sign", "Yes, your butt does look fast in those shorts", and my favorite "No, you aren't close to the finish".  Thanks for making me smile.

*The 4 man brass band standing out in the rain playing patriotic tunes at the turn around point, which put us into the home stretch. They were all of an advanced age and were wearing the cutest red striped vests. Thank you for braving the rain to keep us motivated.

*The people dressed up as superheroes that popped up at the beginning and end of the race. I believe I saw the entire Avenger clan, The Incredible Hulk, Snow White, Batman. Thanks for putting on silly outfits so early on this rainy day and cheering us on.

*The family handing out small bottles of Gatorade between miles 5 and 6. Everything on me was so wet I couldn't get the thing open and I had to put it down on the sidewalk, but I totally appreciate the thought.

*Any and all people that gave me a high five from the side of the course. Isn't it great to high five complete strangers?

*All the people at the mile markers who yelled out our times and told us to keep it up.

*The 2 fireman running in full gear!!! Whew! Made me feel bad for being tired. Amazing!!!!

*The group of men running with a pretty large American flag. They took turns carrying it the entire race. Reminded us all of what this day means.

It takes a lot of volunteers to set up a race like this and it means so much to the runners to have complete strangers line the course and give support. It really does help and I hope they know how much. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Eating my way through Nashville

I spent the past weekend in Nashville with great friends and great food. And because I am a food nerd, I must share the greatness of this food with you.

On Saturday we had a late lunch/early dinner at a place called Wild Cow. Very small, local restaurant. So many vegan/gegan options it was hard to choose. Luckily, we all ordered something different and everyone was willing to share :-)

The appetizer was chips with vegan cheese and a very unique salsa. It had a sweet taste to it that we all thought was cinnamon, but our server informed us it was coriander. Very tasty. Sorry I didn't get the pic earlier, but we were hungry.

We each ordered a bowl that consisted of a protein, kale, veggies, sauce over your choice of quinoa or brown rice. My bowl contained a lentil mixture with veggies, with added steamed kale over brown rice with garlic aioli. So very good.

One of my friends got this delicious bowl that had tofu, kale, some veggies over quinoa with a peanut flavored sauce. The table voted this bowl to be the best. And prettiest.

Even though we were pretty full, we could not pass up taking some of these with us--gegan cupcakes!!!!!

Never dreaming that this meal could be topped, we got up the next day and I verbalized the dream of being able to go out to breakfast and have a gegan pancake, knowing it was just a wild dream. Well guess what? Not in Nashville, my friends.

Let me introduce you to the Pfunky Griddle.

This place is pure genius. Each table has it's own built in griddle in the middle. You order the type of pancake batter you want (whole grain, regular, vegan or gegan), add in your toppings (mine was blueberries) and whatever side you want (we got potatoes to share). 

Here is one of my friends showing her love for the griddle.

Gearing up

We had to stand up to ensure a good flip

The aftermath

It was fantastic. I haven't had a gegan pancake since dropping gluten and I've never had a vegan pancake that I haven't made myself since I became vegan. Well, okay, I technically made this one too, but only the cooking part! No prep, no clean up! We were some happy people when we left that place, let me tell you.

Both places highly recommended. Check them out.

The First 10K

It's done, it's in the books and I accomplished my goal of not being last.

Pre-race view of the capital building, it was such a beautiful morning.

I lined up back in the 12min pace group with the 3 friends I was with, knowing that it was the last time I would see them until the finish :-) And then we were off.

It's so different running with a large group of people. Since I always run alone when training and have no one to challenge me, I find that I run much faster in race situations. I guess the my competitive spirit kicks in. I felt pretty good throughout the race, even on the hills, but don't worry, there was an 80 year old man running near me that kept me humble. The only time I got ahead of him was at one of the water stations and then he passed me at the end, about a quarter mile before the finish. He kicked my butt. I hope I can do that to some young thing when I'm 80......

The vegan with Ronald McDonald. Pretty random. At least it wasn't the Chik-Fil A cow......

All in all a great first 10K, finished in 1hr and 6min, which is much better than I expected. Thinking my next will be July 4th, the race is downtown, practically at my front door, how can I not run it????? But I do dread the heat.

So what will happen dear readers? Will I beat my time of first 10K? Will I find another random restaurant character to take my pic with? Will I run through sprinklers in people's yards to cool down and then fall down because my feet are wet? Stay tuned.......

Spirit of the Marathon. Or the Half-Marathon. Or Maybe Just the 10K

Last night I took myself to the one night only showing of Spirit of the Marathon II, looking for motivation for my upcoming 10K this Saturday.

It was an amazing documentary that followed 6 people running the Rome marathon. For some it was their first, for others their 16th!  Men and women, all ages, many different reasons.

This movie makes you want to go out and run a marathon! Or at least a half-marathon!  It did inspire me to go out Saturday and just try my best, have fun and pay attention to the experience.

This movie also highlights the work of Team World Vision, an organization that raises money for and awareness of the need for clean, accessible drinking water for people in other countries. Amazing! I wanted to run a marathon just to raise money for this work. Or maybe a half-marathon. Please visit their website for more info  www.teamworldvision.org

Gotta go work on my playlist for Saturday. I'll report back after.

Product Reviews

Here are some things that I am loving right now, and you should too.....

This stuff is so good over red lentils and basmati rice. And I'm sure there are many other uses I haven't even thought of yet. Give me some ideas....

Like being "regular"? You know what I mean! We all need good bacteria in our guts for optimum digestion and fermented foods are a great way to keep things moving. Wildbrine has fermented sauerkraut in 4 different flavors that are delicious! These are the only 2 I have tried......so far

New flavors of Larabars! Love these things. So many of them are gegan and I so love the fact that the ingredients are so simple, usually 5 or less, and you will recognize all of them. I swear! These are great to keep in your car, purse, at work, for when you need a quick, fairly healthy option.

Gegan sour cream that actually tastes like sour cream! Finally! I've tried other brands and honestly had not even bought sour cream for over a year because I had given up. But this one is a keeper.

Now...... go shopping. I gotta go pick up this week's CSA.

It Was Only a Matter of Time..........

Such a beautiful morning. Great morning for a run. Decided to do a 50 minute run this am since I'm off work and would not have to rush to get it in. I start out, the sun is just up, perfect temp, not a lot of traffic. I'm 2miles in, running through a residential section that is so pretty and I remember looking up at some of the trees and thinking how lucky I am to be out and about this wonderful morning. And then I fell flat on my face.

I remember my right shoe catching on an uneven part of the sidewalk and before I could even form another thought I was lying facedown on the pavement. At an intersection. With cars waiting for the light to change. Super. My first thought is "Damn, why couldn't I have fallen about 10 yards back where there was no traffic?" and my second thought was "Damn, this really hurts!". Also felt like I was going to throw up for about a minute, not sure why, but managed to hold that back.

I get up, inspect my hands, which are scraped and burning, and then my knees, which feel the same. And there's some blood. Nothing appears broken, so I start walking it off, trying my best not to hobble. Walked for about a quarter of a mile and decide to see if I can run again. Oh, no, no, had to stop that craziness immediately. So I just keep walking. Other runners start passing me. An 80 year old man walks by like I'm standing still. Just keep walking, have no other choice. But at least the blood isn't dripping off my knee, so that is good. I wanted to scream at all these people passing me, "Hey, I'm injured! I don't always move this slow!", but I managed to hold that back as well.

Got home and hauled out the ice. Hate ice on my body.

Pretty, yes? This is after cleaning, antibacterial goo. Also kinesiotaped both knees to help with swelling.

Does this happen to other runners? Or is it just because I'm a klutzy, poser runner?

Anyway, I hope these puppies heal fast, cause I'm signed up for 10K in 3 weeks! I have training to do!

The bright spots of this am adventure:

*At least I wasn't wearing my Lululemon capris. I was wearing my Ellie ones and I ripped a hole in the left knee. If I had ripped a hole in my Lulu's, I would have thrown up. Hey, Ellie, want to send me a replacement pair?????

*My iphone escaped unharmed, somehow. It was in my Bandi belt, right on my stomach, had to land right on it??????

*Nothing broken!

The dark spots of this am adventure:

*I fell. In public. Mortification.

*I added more scars to my knees, as if I didn't have enough already. What, you think this is the first time I've fallen in public?! Not by a long shot.....

*I've probably set my training back, who knows how much just yet.

I'm going to get up and walk around now, can't let the knees get too stiff. Happy Memorial Day everyone!!!!!!!

CSA Day

It's CSA Tuesday, so I thought I'd better brag tell you guys about this weeks haul.......

Hello giant head of romaine lettuce! Pleased to meet you super sized bok choy! Big bag of spinach? Yes please. Join the party radishes and asparagus. My own little box of strawberries?! Love!!!!!!!

This has to be the best one yet, mainly due to the strawberries. So stinking good. And that much green leafy goodness makes me so very happy. Anywho...

Still running in the morning like a madwoman and loving it. Even ran in the rain Saturday, ON PURPOSE, which of course made me feel super hardcore. To be fair, it wasn't a hard rain, just a nice little mist that kept me cool. Hard rain might be another story altogether.

Memorial Day weekend is coming up and I'm excited to be traveling to spend it with 2 amazing women. We shall eat fantastic food, drink adult beverages and sit in the sun/shade. I will take secret photos of them after adult beverages and post them on this blog.......

Bye for now....