Archive for April, 2010

Mile Marker Musings Part 5

{ April 30, 2010 @ 7:27 am } · { Running }
{ Leave a Comment }

A couple of quick running thoughts this beautiful Friday morning…

I need to find a way to schedule in running time in my schedule.  This week has been crazy with my second job and grad school and I simply haven’t had as much time for running as I would like.  If ayone has suggestions for fitting in training runs I would love to hear those!

And the Broad Street Run is coming in just two days!  I’m excited for race day and feel like although we’ve already run two races this is our first really big race.  What does 30,000 racers look like?  How do 30,000 racers start a race at the same time and not trip all over each other?  At the end of the race how do you find the friends that also ran the race?  How early before the race do you need to get there?  So many questions about the big day.

Have a great Friday and I’ll be posting a Broad Street Run review and photos early next week!  And stay tuned next week for some more fun posts!

Yikes!

{ April 29, 2010 @ 7:00 am } · { Uncategorized }
{ Leave a Comment }

One of the reasons for the name of the blog is that I often feel like I am running reckless through life.  Some nights when I fall into bed I don’t even remember everything that I did (or sometimes did not) accomplish that day.  And this week has been one of those weeks…hence the lack of posts.  Here are a couple more pictures from our Come Unity Run courtesy of http://www.ajja.nu/

The Countdown is On!

{ April 26, 2010 @ 7:00 am } · { Running }
{ Comments (1) }

Well, the Broad Street Run is now officially less than a week away and so the final preparations are now underway…

1. Get bib number.

Check. I am bib number 12411

2. Run final long run of 8 miles.

Check. Kim and I did our 8 mile run last Thursday.

3. Select race day outfit.

Check. I figured out which outfit I run comfortably in and since I’ve already learned my lesson about running in a new outfit I’m sticking with something I know works for me.  (See my post on A Hot Mess on how I learned that lesson!)

4. Pick up race packet at the Runners Expo.

Heading down there Friday afternoon.

4. Eat pre-race pasta dinner.

Still trying to figure this one out…

The plan this week is to do a couple of short runs, nothing over four miles, and start mentally preparing for race day…I can do it.  I can do it.  I can do it.

Mile Marker Musings Part 4

{ April 23, 2010 @ 7:00 am } · { Uncategorized }
{ Comments (1) }

I didn’t get to do near as much running as I had hoped this past week due to the Bake Sale, our race last weekend and some rainy weather, but we are now just about one week away from the Broad Street Run and I have to admit I’m feeling nervous. I know we’ve been training for this for months but in the back of my mind there is this little feeling that I when push comes to shove I won’t be able to do it.  I need to shake this feeling because the truth is we’ve done the training…and we’re ready.

Yesterday was an 8-mile run and on a scale of 1-10…

1 being I would rather curl up on my bed and take a nap

10 being I’ve been counting down the minutes all day until we could start this run

I was at about a -3!

And that is when I remember all of these girls I’ve been training with the last several months.  I may not want to run but they push me to get out there when I don’t want to and today I was so grateful for that because we did it…we did the whole 8 miles!

And now up for debate…

As Kim and I approached mile 6 we realized our running path was going to collide right into a 5K race…and so when we hit their turnaround point we jumped in and started running.  We didn’t run as fast as many of the racers (but then again they were on miles 2 and 3 while we were on miles 7 and 8 ) but we did cross the finish line…so does this count as a completed race?!?

In other thoughts, Cecily shared this after a recent run and wanted to pass her musings along…

My biggest thing is mental like I said before.  I really noticed especially recently that my day and how I feel emotionally and spiritually will directly affect how my running goes.  Even if I tell myself I can do it, if I’m already drained from the events before that all I can do is walk or stop.  So being healthy on all ends is necessary to achieve goals.  I can run through the pain usually and I can run through tiredness but being drained is a whole different story because it’s not physical tiredness is emotional, mental, and spiritual.

Come Unity 6K Run

{ April 21, 2010 @ 7:00 am } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: , , , , } · { Leave a Comment }

This past weekend we ran in our second race this year.  We participated in the Come Unity 6K Run for water.  The facts we learned at the race about the need for clean water in Africa were startling and it was eye-opening to fully comprehend that the distance we ran today is the distance that many women and children in Africa walk on a daily basis to get clean water for the families.  Money raised from the race helps to fund the building of new water wells in Africa.

As for the running aspect of the race…this race felt a lot better in terms of endurance than the race a month ago.  Even in just a month I can tell that I am able to run longer distances.  HOWEVER, one incredibly difficult aspect of the race were the hills on the course! The course started off with a big hill and then were several more smaller hills throughout the remainder of the course.

So lesson learned today…check out the race course before race day!

Race stats…
6K – 34:08 minutes – 25th place overall

Also, on a positive note…I think we’ve added a new member to the group…welcome Juli!  Glad you could run with us today

My Bake Sale Contribution

{ April 20, 2010 @ 7:00 am } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: , , , , } · { Comments (1) }

Yesterday was an overall recap of the Bake Sale but today I wanted to share with you the item that I made for the sale.  A couple of months ago I purchased several purse cookie cuttters and have been waiting for the right time to try them out…and this seemed like the perfect opportunity!  I have also been motivated lately to experiment with making my own fondant, so this seemed like a great time to try it again.

The first step was to bake the cookies.  I used a basic sugar cookie recipe and cut out the purse shapes before baking the cookies.  After the cookies had cooled completely I began the decorating process.

I made the frosting but I have found that it helps to wait to frost each cookie until I am ready to put the fondant on the cookie.  So before frosting the cookies I made and colored the fondant and cut out my circles.

To make the fondant, I microwaved 4 cups of marshmallows and 2 tablespoons of water for about a minute until the marshmallows were all puffy.  I then stirred the marshmallows until they were smooth and then began to slowly add 4 cups of powdered sugar.  I stirred until the mixture became too difficult to stir and then transfered the mixture to a counter space dusted with powdered sugar.  Finally, I kneaded the mixture until it was no longer sticky, needing to add some powdered sugar to reach the smooth, non-sticky consistency. I divided up the fondant mixture so that I could make several different colors.

Before I show you the finished product I have to admit that I did not come up with these designs on my own.  I am a Thirty-One Gifts consultant and so I designed the cookies to look like two of the bags that I sell.  I have to say they look pretty close!

Bake Sale a Success!

{ April 19, 2010 @ 7:00 am } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: , , , } · { Comments (2) }

Well the first Philadelphia Food Bloggers Great American Bake Sale is over and the event was a huge success!  The rain predicted for Saturday came on Friday night and was gone by Saturday morning so we stayed dry for the sale.  I made the mistake of not eating breakfast before arriving to set up the sale so as bloggers began arriving with all of their amazing baked treats I got hungrier and hungrier!  We had a great mix of sweet, savory, Vegan and Gluten-free offerings and all of our customers walked away with a smile on their face!

We raised close to $900 (the exact amount is coming soon!) for Share Our Strength.  The great news about that money is that the money raised at our sale will go towards programs right here in Pennsylvania that fight to end childhood hunger in America.

I wanted to give a couple of thank you’s to all those who helped make this sale such a success…

A Full Plate and their resident baker E…this was a great location and so a big thank you to A Full Plate for letting us hold the sale at their restaurant

To all who helped volunteer the day of the event…Allison, Anna, Colleen, E, Jessica P, Kim, Lindsay, Livia and Stefan!

And last but not least, a huge thank you to all of the bakers you contributed to the event!  Without you none of this would have been possible!

Albert from Missy and Picky donated Chocolate Chip, Sour Cherry and Sea Salt Cookies

Allison from The Sunday Flog made Margarita Cupcakes with Lime Glaze

Amy from Apples and Cheese, Please brought Whole Grain Apple Pie Pockets

Angela from Brave New Baker made Oreo Cupcakes

Anna from Anna’s Cakery donated a variety of Sugar Cookies

Colleen from Sweet Swallows baked Carbomb Cupcakes and Casbah Cupcakes

E from Foodaphilia brought Cookies & Cream Whoopie Pies, Elvis Cake and Cinnamon Rolls

Eric from Goodbye Texas, Hello PA contributed Vegan Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and Raw Macaroons

Gretchen and Akyrah from my work donated Chocolate Chip Cookies, Pretzels and Brownies

Jessica, sister of Allison, brought Gluten-Free Cupcakes

Jessica R from Fries with that Shake made Snickerdoodles

Julia from Tastebuds and Tidbits donated Hazelnut Anise Biscotti with Tangerine Zest

Kelly from Living on the Vedge baked Vegan Peanut Butter Cinnamon Frosted Blondies

Lindsey from For the Love of Oats brought Lemon Sugar Cookies and Peanut Butter Cookies

Livia from No Counterspace made Black Cocoa & Orange Zest Brownies

Marc from Burgatory donated Mini Burger Cookies

Marisa from Food in Jars brought Homemade Granola in Pint Jars

Meg from The Smart Set contributed Lithuanian Easter Cake

Nate from Tastebuds and Tidbits made Savory Cheese Crackers

Sabrina from RhodeyGirl Tests donated Chocolate Dipped Pretzels

Stefan from They Say That Bread is Life brought Soft Pretzels

Taylor from Mac & Cheese made Gluten-Free Double Chocolate Nut Cookies

Terez brought Vegan Cupcakes and decorated cupcakes and cookies

Here are some pictures from the event…

The Bake Sale is Here!

{ April 17, 2010 @ 7:33 am } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: , , , , } · { Leave a Comment }

After weeks of planning the Philadelphia Food Bloggers Great American Bake Sale is here!  Stop by today between 10am-3pm at A Full Plate in Northern Liberties to purchase some yummy treats!

And as a small preview, even though I write a running blog I do enjoy baking and figured I should make a contribution to the sale even though I am not a food blogger.  So I thought I should somehow incorporate one of my loves…Thirty-One Gifts…and make cookies that match the purses!

Hope to see many of you today!

Julie

Mile Marker Musings Part 3

{ April 16, 2010 @ 7:00 am } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: , , , , , } · { Comments (1) }

I know that I am not a meteorologist…BUT I had always assumed that if you set off running west and the wind is blowing at you head on, then when you turn back for the second half of your run and run east then the wind should be blowing from behind propelling you forward…NOT SO!!!  I would like to hear from a real meteorologist why this is so but I all I know is that one particularly windy run last week the run blew at us head on, both ways…in my opinion this is strange, very strange.

I need to invest in a running water bottle.  I don’t know if it’s because I’m blonde, but I CAN NOT unscrew a water bottle AND run at the same time… I just can’t.  So my choices are either run dehydrated or invest in a running water bottle…I think I’ll shell out the money and stay hydrated.

Coming this weekend…

Saturday, April 17th  – Philadelphia Food Bloggers Great American Bake Sale…this event is going to be amazing!  The list of food bloggers participating continues to grow and all of the food sounds delicious!  Stop by and support Share Our Strength by buying a baked treat between 10am-3pm at A Full Plate in Northern Liberties

Sunday, April 18th – Come Unity 6K Run – We are running to raise awareness for the need for water wells in Africa.  Women there walk a 6K each day to get water for their households, so we are running the 6K to represent that distance.

A run without an Ipod

{ April 14, 2010 @ 7:00 am } · { Uncategorized }
{ Tags: , , } · { Comments (1) }

This weekend we were scheduled to do a 7-mile run.  We are just three short weeks away from the Broad Street Run so we are slowly working our way towards running those 10-miles.  Kim, Sara and I met up to go running and after we were at the trail and ready to run I was suddenly struck by a terrible thought…I had left my Ipod at home.  The thought of running 7-miles without an Ipod was similar to how I feel when it’s time to give blood…absolute and utter dread.  How would I possibly run that far without music?  Only listening to the sound of my breathing, the cars passing by and my feet pounding the pavement.

Well, not only did I survive but we ran 7-1/2 miles.  And even better…it was AMAZING!  I finished that run and I was struck by how much I really enjoy running.  My life is crazy busy…grad school, two jobs, volunteering, the list goes on, but when I lace up my shoes and set out on a run I get a break from it all.  Granted when I get back the emails and texts have piled up, but while I’m out there I don’t have to try and multi-task like I do the rest of my day…for that hour I get to simply run.  And it is for that reason that my run without the ipod was my best run in months.

Side note…trying to figure out if P90X would be a good investment…

« Previous entries
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.