Another Good Recipe -- Pasta Fagioli slow cooker crock pot version

Pasta Fagioli slow cooker crock pot version

2 lbs ground turkey
1 onion, chopped
3 carrots, chopped
4 stalks celery, chopped
2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (16 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
1 (16 ounce) can white kidney beans, drained
3 (10 ounce) cans beef stock
3 teaspoons oregano
2 teaspoons pepper
5 teaspoons parsley
1 teaspoon Tabasco sauce (optional)
1 (20 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
8 ounces pasta
Directions:

1 Brown turkey in a skillet.
2 add cooked ground turkey to crock pot with everything except pasta.
3 Cook on low 7-8 hours or high 4-5 hours.
4 During last 30 min on high or 1 hour on low, add pasta.

Nothing at all to do with Running

Recipe for the most fabulous Instant Mocha Coffee in the world ... adapted from my Dad's instant hot chocolate....

1 8QT box of powdered instant milk
1 16oz jar of instant coffee (you choose the brand and whether caffeinated or decaf)
1 1 lb box of Nestle Quik (I use the no sugar added type)
1 16 (or 15) oz jar of Non-Dairy Creamer
Stevia in the Raw (that powdered Stevia stuff) to taste ... depends on how sweet you like your coffee ... I like my coffee sweet and used about 1/3 of a bag (the giant baking bag of Stevia in the Raw)

Mix all of these ingredients together and store in air-tight containers.

Use 1/4 cup of the mix with hot water and ENJOY

Ok, this figures out to approximately 128 servings and I know I'm always heartbroken when it's all gone!
PER SERVING:
73 Calories - 12 Carbs - 1g Fat - 5g Protein - 0g Fiber - 101g Sodium

The Finished Product:  (I use a giant lock-n-lock container - intended for dry cereal and the overflow goes into the Coffee jar and the Quik Box).  VERY Easy to share with friends as gifts too!

Some Great Crossfit Style Circuit Workouts

CIRCUIT 1:






CIRCUIT 2
These two workouts are not meant to be done at the same time, or even on the same day - unless you're completely crazy that way.

Lost

I don't know where to start to find my legs again.  I've become one of those people who has a full bag of excuses and I'm starting to really detest myself for it.

On my board at work I have the phrase "Change one thing" and I can't seem to manage to get that done either.

I miss the me that felt like a runner.

Running without training

Tomorrow I will attempt the Plaza 10K and I've only run that distance once since June . . Should be interesting.

Struggling, but stronger?

I have been following the triathlon training designed for me by a multi-sport coach, designed at building my swimming strength, and improving my overall triathlon performance - unfortunately, what I feel has suffered is my running confidence.  The heat lately has really caused me to choose the easy run, on the treadmill, and they have typically been short, unsatisfying runs.  I haven't run longer than 4 miles at a time since Hospital Hill Half Marathon - and that is SERIOUSLY messing with my head.  I realize that the triathlons I'm competing in this summer are all Sprint distance, with none of them having a run longer than a 5K, but - I never intended to loose my distance preparedness for a half marathon.  I feel like I will have to start from scratch to build up to a half marathon distance, tackling a 10K in September (The Plaza 10K), and a half marathon in October. 

On a good note, however, I do feel like the amount of swimming I've done in this training has significantly improved my swimming confidence (although not necessarily my swimming speed) - only time will tell if it has truly improved my triathlon swim time ... 5 days till WIN for KC Triathlon.

Another negative for me is the disappointments in my weight - I can't seem to break this pattern and get back on a loosing track - could also be what is messing with my running confidence (elephants don't run very fast).

Anywho - stay tuned, if you're out there ... but I'll keep swimming, biking, and running even if you're not :)

Hospital Hill Run 2012 In The Books

It is done - finis - over ... for 363 more days - the craziness which is Hospital Hill Run.  I know other runners who do marathons at the drop of a hat, or ultra run distances, or other challenging events will pshah at the idea of Hospital Hill - but to me, this is 'that race' that I love to hate.  It challenges me, it rewards me, it's a great party, it's a menace, it is - Hospital Hill Run.

I started with the 5K at Hospital Hill in 2010.  I thought I was going to die.  It was hot, humid, and had to be 100 miles long, not 3.1 - I was wrong.  I didn't die, I was sore, but felt an amazing sense of accomplishment.  I soaked my hot swollen feet in the fountains of Crown Center with my running friends - and we vowed to do it all over again - we wanted to shoot for the 10K in 2011.  Something happened after that conversation.  We all lost our minds.

We moved up to the half marathon distance in 2011 - we had to - there was a series of 3 medals for the 38th, 39th, and 40th anniversary years - we've been bit by the bling bug - we had to have it.  I had done a half marathon previously in October 2010 - and again thought I was going to die and never wanted to do that again.  I was wrong.  I'm now an official Half Fanatic - and proud of it.  I really feel like this is my favorite distance race - but I haven't done a marathon yet - I reserve the right to change my mind (what of it is left).

The 2011 Hospital Hill Run Half Marathon was brutal.  It was 78 degrees at the start of the race - and the temperatures and humidity climbed ridiculously in the 3:43:34 that I was out in the sun, trudging up the hills - experienced laughter, tears, frustration, pride, and exhaustion.  My legs cramped up in the last quarter mile to the point I wasn't sure I could still move.  My 'jog' across the finish line in 2011 was a pain-filled, tree-trunk steppin trudge.  But I finished.  I immediately sucked in some water and gatorade, and relieved the cramping in my legs.  I was ready to head home, but not before a fantastic group picture with my growing group of running friends.  It was official - we were hooked on the half.

And here I am, the day following Hospital Hill Run Half Marathon 2012 - yes, I'm still wearing my compression sleeves on my legs, but heck I like wearing them for no particular reason at home, even if my legs weren't sore.  My goal for HHR 2012 was to finish in 3:10 ... I did that, by 13 seconds - official time was 3:09:47.  There were moments coming up Broadway where I wasn't sure it was going to happen, but I never let myself give up the dream.  The pacers we had for 3:10 were awesome, and nearly everyone who started with the 3:10 pace group finished together.  Once again my fabulous running friends grew this year - even more of us out there doing the Hill - Bill, Lori, Tim, Karen, Shannon, Jer, and many many more - you keep me moving forward, and for that I am eternally grateful. 

My glutes and quads are a little tender today, but not to the point that I'm immoble.  I've got things to do today, and will be doing them - moving around, and looking forward to tomorrow's workout - it's a whole new training schedule to face the summer triathlons and fall half marathons - and I'm more excited than ever to register for the Little Rock Marathon next March.

Progress is amazing, life-giving, liberating, and sometimes disguised as pain and frustration.  March On!