Would You Run For This Wednesday

http://www.bakerella.com/baked-banana-french-toast/

Ok, runners, wanna-bes, and should-bes. Todays Would You Run For This Wednesday comes at you two days late...ahem, sorry. No really, I was gone on vacation with no power, and I could not send out my mouth blowing, gonna make your run post of this delicious Baked Banana French Toast!

The recipe is right under the picture posted as always, the only not so great thing, is the nutritional facts are not posted on their site...which means you can figure the calories and fat grams for yourself, or do what I do...Bake, Eat, Run.

The really great thing about the recipe is that there is step by step photos along with the directions for the yummy breakfast just to make sure you are able to move along the delicious path to massive running calories! The other really great thing about a breakfast like this one, is you can plan to make it after a nice long run, to re-fuel and replenish some of those depleted carbs...the trick is to out run your appetite.

I for one LOVE anything that has bananas in it! So, this Baked Banana French Toast is right up my alley.

I will definitely be running for this one! Tell me....Would You Run For This?

It Was A Dark Night...My Censored Thought On Aurora's Dark Night

Aurora, Colorado

My thoughts on such a tragic incident have really no bearing on what the families and the community of Aurora are thinking right now. But, I still have them. It sickens me to think that this incident was planned, thought out, and carried through. My thoughts on this, my true feelings, I will keep very censored in hopes to not offend, or disrespect anybody.

I am done entertaining the discussions and thoughts of what has transpired now. I will no longer visit that dark place of negative thoughts. I said my piece and said my prayer, now only the light and positivity can shine through.

Getting My Sexy Back, And Make It A Foursome!

Yup...Sexy

Getting my sexy back is going to take a lot more than just getting out the door and running, I realized this when trying to get out the door and running yesterday. My four month old was up and ready to go at 5:30 a.m. and that puts a halt on just going out the door. Once he fell back to sleep, the rest of the army rises and wants food, water, toys, and all the other demands children make. I soon realized the only way this was going to work in my favor, was if we made it a foursome.

With stroller in tow, my three sons and I made our way to the 200 meter indoor track. My two older boys (4 & 5) along with myself, are signed up for a 5K in August called the Color Run. Since we are doing a 5K in August, I figured I would show them exactly what they are in for. As a parent I am very excited to see them participate in their first run. As a runner....I am beyond the moon excited!

So, how did my boys do their first training day for their first 5K? They were ah-mazing! They did the whole 5K! Maybe running with my kiddos is just what I need to do to ensure I will have some sort of guaranteed  partners as I grow old. If anything, I can pass on my good, healthy habits to my kids rather than any bad ones. How did I do? Not bad. Honestly I felt great. I feel like I only took a few weeks off, rather then months. Not a bad start to getting back into the swing of things.

Would You Run For This Wednesday

Would You Run For This Wednesday

http://fakeginger.com/2011/10/02/bang-bang-shrimp/

If you have ever been to Bonefish Grill then you know how AH-mazing the Bang Bang Shrimp is. And if you have been to Bonefish Grill, and you LOVE the Bang Bang Shrimp, this recipe is so close to the original you would swear you were eating take-out from Bonefish.

If you have never been to Bonefish or there isn't one near your hometown, then this recipe will knock your socks off!! 

One bowl from Bonefish serves 4.....ok, pick your chin up off your lap, yes, I said 4.

One serving of the 4 is 337 calories, 13 grams of fat (not bad, unless you eat the bowl) 30 grams of carbs, and 25 grams of protein. The killer....600 grams of sodium...YIKES! 

So, if you're like me, and you could totally eat one bowl all by yourself here are your totals:

Calories: 1348

Fat: 52 grams

Carbs: 120 grams

Protein: 100

Sodium: 2400 grams (OMW!!!!)

Would I Run For This? OH HECK YES!! 

Would You Run For This? 

Quite honestly, if you eat this, you will need too! Especially if you eat it all alone.

*does eating count?

Whether it be small or large, do something each day, that makes you sweat...and no, eating does NOT count.

And so it begins, my training that is. I have NOT run since September 2011. It is suggested that you have a good base under your belt prior to starting your marathon training. A good base is running for 1-2 years with a minimum of 35-40 mpw. It is also very highly recommended to have some half marathons in there to, and other distances so you can get a feel for what your body does on race day.

OK. I have conquered all of these recommendations.

Prior to my 10 month hiatus I was averaging 65-75 mpw, I have 5 half marathons, 4 5K's, 2 10K's, and 1 marathon under my belt. But I have no clue how to approach my passion once agiain, like a beginner. Becasue that is exactly what it is going to be like. 

I knew this day would come, and I knew I would feel exactly the way I feel right now. I am feeling like I am going to start my routine once again and just really beat myself up. Both phusically and mentally. That first run, is going to kick my butt. My lungs are going to burn. My legs are going to be tight. My butt is going to jiggle....ugh. I loathe starting at the begining yet again. I do love that because of my history and my relationship with running, it will not take as long to get to my base as it did in the begining. I just know that I have not sweat like a runner in very long time. Maybe its also because I know where I was before and how hard I worked to get there, and that I have to do all that hard work again.

This time around I feel way more prepared. I know what to wear (to prevent chub-rub). I know what to do when my IT band gets tight. I know what I need, when I need it. In that respect I feel very good about this. What freaks me out, feeling like a failure. You know that from reading my past posts, wow, this is still so sad to admit, but in my past I would rather have quit then fail. Now, I have to just accept that I am going to fail a few things getting back, and hell, thats ok.
How in the world will I go out there and NOT compare myself to the old self? I am so competitive with myself that this week will either be a very irritating and self loathing week, or I may just surprise myseslf. Here's hoping for the latter. Here's hoping that failure of NOT being my former self will just propel me into a more improved version of her.

So, those of you who are facing tomorrow and you are on the brink of starting something this week, let this be your motto :

"GO DO SOMETHING THAT MAKES YOU SWEAT."

Do it each day. Big or small. Easy or hard. Just sweat. Sweat out the frustrations. Sweat out the irritations. Sweat out the pain. Sweat out the complications. Once you have done that, fill yourself back up with motivation, and inspiration to wake up and do it all over again.

Heres to a week of sweat...oye vay.

Would You Run For This Wednesday

http://cookingtheamazing.blogspot.com/2010/01/classic-baking-carrot-cake.html

Would You Run For This Wednesday

So, I thought a good way to stay connected to my readers is by connecting life with food. But not just any ordinary food. Food that makes you run harder, faster, longer. Good tasting...no. Great tasting...no. Mind blowing...no. Taste bud blowing food! Yes, that sounds right. 

So, 'Would You Run For This Wednesday' will be dedicated to a food that I find delectable, tasty, sinful, and most of all worth running for.  I will provide the link/blog to the recipe and you can let us know if you made it, ate it, and what you thought of it.

Ok, I for one WOULD run for this food! I LOVE carrot cake...especially with cream cheese frosting. Of course we are talking adding a mile or two, maybe a couple fartleks...but SO SO SO worth this food.

Would You Run For This? 

This....and a whole lot more.

After such a long hiatus, it is time again to record, ramble, and vent the doings of how Mother Runner is going to get her stride back. 

JUST GO.

But, is it really that simple? Can one just open the door and go?

Can one just lace up, in my case velcro my Vibrams, and go? 

Is getting out the door truly the hardest part?

What does it take for a Mother Runner to gain strength, confidence, and fantastic paces again? Let alone fantastic legs?

Well, one things for sure...it is not just getting out the door, it is this and a whole lot more.

So for the non-runner, yes, you have been lied to. Many times. Running is not just you and a pair of your favorite Nikes. It is not the cheapest workout, at least not once you get good at it. It is not all love, peace, and buds in your ears.

For the beginner runner, you are either just realizing that you need so much more than your sneaks for your new hobby. Wait one tic, did she just call running a hobby? Oh, you betcha! You beginner runners must approach running as your new hobby if you want to progress in any fashion. Your running needs to be come a passion that unfolds and reveals new obstacles and challenges that you want to conquer. You will have no desire to conquer such feats with a workout. With a duty. But with a hobby, that you have a passion for, that is where the battle of conquering is won.

For the vets, you are reading this and chuckling along reminiscing about the days when getting out the front door was hard. When taking to long of a hiatus was the LAST thing you did in your running career, only to find unless a dog has chewed the foot off your leg, you would never stop running for any period of time unless that hiatus included Dr. orders of RICE.

So, getting out the door is hard. But it is on a long list of hard.

Motivation...HARD

Burning in chest...HARD

Chub rub...HARD

Sweat, everywhere...HARD

Sore legs...HARD

Time management...HARD

Lack of sleep...HARD

Planning...HARD

Training...HARD

Where will you start Crystal? You ask. For me, it all begins with a pencil and my running log book.

I will scour the beginning pages of my running log, looking for clues on how hard I should push myself that first week out. I will look for past experience to guide my jiggly, post-partum, drooping butt out that front door.

Yes, post partum. I wouldn't have taken such a long break from the one thing in life that brings me clarity, sanity, pleasure, pain, and great satisfaction for just anything, or anyone. But for that little guy, pictured oh so sweetly above, I would do anything. Including, but not limited too, gaining weight and putting my hobby on the back burner. I had visions of my pregnancy as a runner. A lean, pregnant runner. One of those runners you have no idea is pregnant until I turned sideways. Well, life can throw you a few curve balls here and there. In my pregnant adventure, I was sick. My last long run as a pregger  was 10 miles at 8 weeks pregnant, and I just had to throw in the towel (or throw it up) until 15 weeks along, where I felt great and decided to go for a run. Mid run, I did not end up feeling so great. My pace went from 9 mpm to 12...in just  few weeks. I was winded. I was tired. I was sore. I was not "that" pregnant runner I had always envisioned myself to be. So, I decided to grow a human instead.

Now, here I sit planning and considering my time management as I begin my running journey again, with one more mouth to feed. With one more time consumer. With one more distraction.

No one said it would be easy. In fact many said it would be hard. Thats ok. I embrace every detail in it. Hell, I'M IN!! And for those who do not know what that means, it mean I'm in the ING NYC Marathon 2013...theres motivation in that...at least I know it will get me out the front door...for now. Then, it will be my desire to remain sane, clear, happy, and of course sporting nice legs that will keep me crossing over the threshold.

I'm baaaaack! New weekly posts, updates on my crazy year off running, and the latest random craziness from a mother runner!!