Squirrely Tail Twail Run Race Report

This morning I ran my third official trail half marathon.  It was held at Gifford Pinchot state park, which isn't too far from my house, and one of the places we do run fairly frequently.  Last year we missed this race because our whole household got hit with a nasty stomach virus so I was pretty excited to run it this year. Another bonus was that so many people we know were running it that it felt like just another run in the park.  Unfortunately, the hubby didn't get to run it this year either.  He got stuck working all weekend to help pay for our trip out west and while I appreciated his efforts tremendously, I felt bad for him that he wasn't able to run it.

My friend, Michele, and I were running this one together and I was super excited.  Usually on a trail race I end up alone at some point.  I don't mind being alone, but when you're tired, sore or whatever, being alone can sometimes be hard to manage.  You start focusing on the things that are hurting the worst and it's hard to talk yourself back up.  Having a friend to run with keeps both of you moving, one foot in front of the other and makes the miles and the time go faster.  Last weekend, we ran this course with the race director and I took a nasty fall not even a mile in.  I was determined that was not happening this time.  And it didn't.  Instead, I waited a full 5 miles before I got sideswiped by some ice on the trail and went down on the same knee I scraped and bruised up last week.  Sigh.  I got up, brushed myself off, and we set off again.  We were headed out on a decent pace after finishing up our mile or so on the horse trails.  Horse trails that are usually muddy but then flood and freeze are no joke to run on.  Your feet just ache from being twisted and pushed around the ruts from the horse's hooves.  Fun times for sure.

Michele and I were feeling pretty good running through the parts of the trail that are usually muddy and slippery and managing a decent pace.  Then, after being so, so careful across a bridge that is notoriously slippery in good weather, I took another tumble on the ground.  This fall was really the worse of the two.  It just knocked the wind out of me and beat up the opposite knee, not to mention the fact that my hip and upper thigh had come down hard on a root jutting out.  Ouch doesn't begin to describe what I was thinking.  After a few moments, I collected myself and we headed out again.  Last hill to climb felt really long and we talked each other up it, and then, before we knew it, we were out of the woods (literally) and running toward the finish.  Michele's husband and children were waiting to cheer us in!  That was a great feeling...actually we'd had so many cheerleaders at all the turns from volunteers.  It was a really well organized, and fun race.

I was glad when we rounded the last corner and saw the clock was 2:55 because Michele had really, really wanted to beat 3 hours.  And we did!  It was her first trail race and she did amazing.   We're doing another race together in May and I can't wait.

So, tonight I've been taking it easy on my body, letting my wounds heal a bit.  I'm all scraped up but I'm sure I'll be back to running in a day or two.  I made a simple potato hash for dinner with some kale added in and put an egg on top.  I haven't craved an egg in about a year so I must have really, really needed it.  Then, I made apple fritters for dessert.  Those were way too delicious but I figured a few fritters is probably okay every now and then.  Right?

Have a wonderful evening!

Sheri

Saturdays are Made for Running...and Chores.

Anyone else exhausted out there?  This was my first full week of working since Christmas break and it just seemed like the week and my to-do list were never ending.  I'm so glad I was able to get out and run several times this week, and even allowed myself a full rest day on Friday to recoup.  Then, this morning, I celebrated that week with an awesome trail run with some friends on the trails we'll be hitting next month for the first race of the year, a trail half marathon near our house, the Squirrelly Tail Twail Run.  We missed it last year and we better all be healthy and running it this year!  So we did 12 or so miles on the trails trudging through mud that sucked at your shoes, wet runoff streams and then just squishy mud and trails in general.  It was a blast!  I felt so strong the whole run and love and appreciate those runs so much.  I sometimes still feel surprised when I head out to run that I can accomplish all that I can.  Having friends to run and chat with always makes the miles go faster though.  I'm thankful for great running friends!!  And finishing a run with shoes looking like this makes you feel like you really accomplished something!

After I got home and got cleaned up, it was time to get busy running errands and getting the to-do list shortened.  First up?  Lunch.  :)  I cheated.  We went and picked up some burritos from our new go-to place that is much closer.  And, after a morning of running, those burritos were yummy!  See, while I was out sloshing around on the trails with the girls, the hubby was doing a 20 miler on the roads.  I couldn't believe he beat me back home.  He's amazing.  So, we were both pretty happy to just have some tasty food.  Then we headed out to take a movie back that we rented for the daycare's Friday movie day, Ice Age Continental Drift,  (Don't bother.  It wasn't that great.), get gas in the car and then, after five long days with no coffee, we headed to Starbucks.  Oh my, that mocha was heavenly.  I paid a little for it with some heartburn and nausea but it was so, so good.  I didn't even care.  If I can only have it once a week, I can live with that but it will be a real latte.  Well, except it's soy.  And with no whip.  But it was good.  I can reset until next week again now.  :)

So, after all that fun, it was home to do chores.  Chores.  Blech.  Fun things like picking up all of the dog poop out of the yard.  We have three big dogs...it's been 2 weeks since we cleaned the yard.  Yeah, that was fun.  And then I washed the dogs while the hubby washed the car (seems like a fair trade) and then I started in on laundry.  Never. Ending. Housework.  Seriously, when do you ever get caught up????

So, dinner time came and I wanted to do something different.  One of the hubby's favorite meals we get out is cheesy grits and I've never tried it.  I don't know why because it was super easy.  Granted, I did use quick grits because, for some reason, there was a container in the pantry.  I used 2 T butter, 2 cups raw milk, 1 cup grits, 5 oz of raw goat cheddar cheese, and a few shakes of old bay.  Brought it to a boil while I whisked it and then let it simmer for about 10 minutes.  While that was simmering, I made some sauteed kale with mushroom and onion and a few splashes of red wine vinegar.  Perfect!

Of course, there had be a dessert!  I made some red velvet cupcakes yesterday and that seemed like just the thing.  Not the healthiest, except I am super skimpy on my icing, but they were a great end to a great meal.  I followed Hershey's recipe pretty exactly to make the cupcakes and the icing was just organic cream cheese and sugar.



All in all, I think our Saturday was pretty productive and the lazy Friday night of doing nothing made it possible!  We have to allow ourselves to recover and regroup sometimes.  That was our Friday night but we sure made up for it on Saturday!

So, I wonder what we can do tomorrow...

Pretzel Stromboli...and a Great Day!

Yesterday started off pretty average for a vacation day around here.  I couldn't sleep so I was up around 4 am, and decided to do my review of my 2012 goals.  Who knew that admitting that I didn't hit my goal of 1000 likes on HSH's Facebook page would spur my bloggy friends into action.  But it did.  Cooking from a SAHM who has guest posted here a few times, sprang into action and before I knew it, I had all kinds of new friends to talk to!  By the time the hubby and I headed out for our trail run, I was at almost 1000 likes.  Seven miles and about an hour later, I had 1032!  Thanks to Lysska for her support.  I am blessed with so many wonderful people in my life.

Speaking of our trail run...it wasn't our easiest run because I think we're fighting some type of head stuffiness, but it felt awesome to be out on the trails in the sunshine, snow crunching under our feet as we ran and just breathing that crisp air.  I didn't appreciate stepping in a wet puddle of snow only a 1/2 mile in but it wasn't terrible so, I kept on running and before I knew it, that foot was warm and toasty again.

We did stop to appreciate the day at our turn around spot..and captured some nice shots.



Doesn't that look like a fun morning out?  And, then, we came home and did some shopping for some much needed grocery supplies (like goat cheese!) and while the hubby was taking a nap, I made this...



A pretzel stromboli!  I was soooo excited.  It was pretty tasty too.  One of the best tasting doughs I've ever made.  I used a King Arthur pretzel dough recipe and then rolled it out, filled it and brushed the baking soda/water combo that gives the brown crust to a pretzel.  Usually you'd dip a pretzel, but I had to improvise for a stromboli.  It's filled with kale, mushrooms, onions, peppers and provolone and fontina cheeses.  Delicious!!

I hope you all had a fantastic day too!!

Sheri