Day THIRTY

YAYYYYYYYYYYYYY!

Thirty days. I ran all but four. Well... ran  or played soccer or one night rode the bike :) Point is, I rocked it. I'm totally excited and much more fit than the beginning of the month. I haven't weighed, and with Thanksgiving last week I'm sure the scale hasn't moved that much, but otherwise I bet I would have dropped a couple of pounds. But Thanksgiving was verrrrrrrrrrrrry good to me this year :) And I pretty much did it.

Monday is soccer night. I was hoping to get picked up for a second game but I didn't, so just one game = 2 miles. Of course, I needed 2.25 miles to break 100 miles so when I got home I took a nice short jog up and down the road. A quarter of a mile later... success!

Today: Soccer + .25 mile run = 2.25 miles

Total: 100 MILES!!!!!

Day Twenty Nine

Almost done! Woo!

Meant to go for a long run today but got caught up with grad school apps, etc. "Etc" being watching football and being a lazy bum. Finally heaved myself out the door with only enough time for a few miles before sunset, but then it felt so good I ran in the dark. And tripped on the sidewalk, spraining my ankle. I'm a klutz. This is why I don't run after dark.

Today: 6 miles

Total: 97.75 miles!

Donate!

In two weeks I'm running another 10k. It is an annual Christmastime fundraiser for the Harvest Home, a homeless shelter that takes in pregnant women and their small children.

Website: http://www.theharvesthome.org/

If anyone is interested in donating, go to the website and click "Donate" Its a 501(c)3 org, so all donations are tax-deductible.

(And if you do donate, make sure to fill out the part that says "Sponsor a Runner" with my name)

Catch Up

Whew.

Whirlwind trip to AZ meant I really fell off the horse. Whoops :)

Wednesday I worked all day, jumped in the car with Boyf and seester, and sat in traffic. Gah. Didn't get into AZ til past midnight. No run. Oh well.

Thanksgiving was full of cooking and eating and spending time with friends and fam. No run. Again, oh well :)

Friday we went on a nice long hike, about 5 miles. I'll count it.

Saturday spent some time at the airport with my grams and drove back to CA. No run again! Oh well.

Today is Sunday and I will be running. I promise.



Last few days: 5 miles

Total: 91.75 miles

Day Twenty Five

Another Ugh day. I had a terrible day at work, got off late, sat in traffic for an hour. By the time I got home my brain felt fried but after a little time to recharge I picked myself up and headed to the gym. The complex's gym has 3 treadmills, which is usually more than enough for the number of people who want to run. But tonight TWO OF THEM WERE BROKEN. Gah. And I got there 5 minutes after another girl, who claimed the one working machine. It was too late and too cold to run outside so I jumped on the stationary bike... ew... and did enough for 200 calories. I'm undecided as to how to count that - its the same number of calories as running 2 miles but I didn't actually run it. But either way day 25 was somewhat successful and now its overrrrrrrr and I only have ONE MORE work-run day. Thank god for this long weekend.

Day Twenty Three

2 soccer games.

Today: 4 miles

Total: 84.75 miles

Day Twenty Two

Today was my worst run so far. Ugh, I swear it was unbearable. I felt so heavy the first three miles, felt good for like a mile and a half, and was so so tired for the last couple. Ugh. I was counting down the entire time... "ok, only like 3 and a half miles to go now!" But I got through it and I'm glad I did. It was a nice long run and now I don't have to go on another long one for a week! Yay!

Today: 11 miles

Total: 80.75 miles

Day Twenty One

So it hit me today that we are almost to December... which means I'm ALMOST DONE! So far I have only missed two days of running this month and I am so so excited about that. I've run a LOT and I have really enjoyed it - for the most part - and can certainly see myself continuting to run a lot (though not quite this much... I think that 4-5 days a week is a good middle ground here.)

Today I almost didn't run again. We had some errands to run, some shopping to do, etc in preparation for a fancy-pants wedding we have coming up in two weeks. I had to get my thrift store dress dry cleaned, D needs a bow tie (!) and we also won't be in town for the next two weekends so today was just a super busy day. We got home and I passed out on the couch - I love weekend afternoons - and woke up at 4:30. The sun goes down at 5. So I jetted out the door, still half asleep, for a quick run. I didn't get in nearly as much as I would have liked but I got my 3 miles and then some so I'm happy. Hopefully I'll get a long long run in tomorrow - maybe even double digets - but we'll see.

Today: 3.25 miles

Total: 69.75 miles

Day Twenty

Another no-run day. I worked late, sat in traffic, got home late and then was faced with the decision to run or go out for dinner. I like running, but we all know I like food way more :) Plus I got to spend lots of quality time with the Boyf, who I swear I feel like I never see anymore. Damn you, football season! When we got home we sat on the couch, ate ice cream, and watched several episodes of The Office/30 Rock/Parks and Rec/Community. It was beautiful.

Today: 0 miles

Total: 66.5 miles

Day Nineteen

Soccer Thursday! I'm giving myself three miles since we played OT/PK's, and also because we went out to the bar afterwards and I ate a second dinner. I need that mile.

Today: 3 miles

Total: 66.5 miles

Day Eighteen

Today was the first day I felt like "GAHHHHHHHH when will this month be over?!?" But then I started my run and then I felt like "ahhhhhhhh this feels nice." My runs feel so good.

Today: 3 miles

Total 63.5 miles

Day Seventeen

The nice thing about the "run every day thing" is that its a challenge, and I take it personally. So when things don't go right - for example, when I went to the gym tonight and it was closed (!) to be repainted - the way I reacted this month is not how I would react on any other given month. Usually I would say, "oh, too bad... well I guess its almost time for The Biggest Loser!" This month was, "oh crap! What can I do what can I do what can I do? Well, I guess I'm running outside tonight." And that's exactly what I did.

Today: 3 miles (and one less day on the treadmill, yay!)

Total: 60.5 miles

Day Sixteen

Officially OVER half way there :)

Played soccer today - love the "cross train" days, aka the days I don't have to die on a treadmill.

Today: 2 miles

Total: 57.5 miles

Day Fifteen

I've hit the halfway mark! I'm really satisfied so far with what I've done - in over 2 weeks I've only missed one day. Plus my mileage is above and beyond what I had been hoping. I've run my first race and I've made some good progress on half marathon training so all is well.

The reason I wanted to do this was because of something I learned in school a few years ago - the psychology of acts becoming habits. The brain loves to categorize, and the theory is that if you do something for about 21 days it becomes categorized as a habit rather than as a repeated single act. The number of days varies person to person and how extreme of an act; for example, (to generalize) it takes someone who is moderately active much less time to make exercise a habit than someone who has never been active. I was in a good routine of running a few days every week but I wanted to achieve two things: 1) run more often, and 2) make it less of an internal shoulder angel vs shoulder devil struggle to get my butt out the door. 21 days was kind of a random number, so I decided to go ahead and make it an honest month.

So, here's to another 15 days! It will get tricky around Thanksgiving - I'll have 2 travel days, ugh - but if I can go 14/15 I'll be more than satisfied. And here's to good habits!

Today I had a great day and a great run. My longest in a while and it felt sooooooooo good. My body feels good after this one, and after the first two weeks in general, so that's another big positive. I've certainly gotten a LOT stronger this month with so much less rest. My legs are getting closer and closer to soccer legs again! Which is both a blessing and a curse... I don't want to get to the point where I have to go up a jeans size because my quads get too big! And I'm starting to have the ever-so-slightest bit of definition in my abs. Six pack by this summer? Hope so!!!

So, today...

Today: 9 miles

Total: 55.5 miles

Day Fourteen

I love weekends. Not going to work is certainly nice, but I really really really love running outside. And I really really loathe the treadmill. I'm dreading Monday - not for a frantic 9 hour day at the office but for 30 minutes on that god-forsaken piece of gym equipment. Gahhhhhhh.

My run today was glorious. Late afternoon, sun going down. There's one part of my route that brings me up along a high cliff and on clear days like today I could see everything - the Pacific, the coastline alllllllllllll the way up to Malibu, the Santa Monica Mountains, the entire marina, LMU, downtown LA, Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood sign - pretty much the entire north part of the city. I don't usually stop here, but today the view was just so picture perfect that I took five minutes to stretch and take it all in. By the way, I LOVE this place. I never want to leave. I would live in this tiny little crappy apartment (which I very much dislike) for the rest of my life if it meant I could stay in Playa.

Now, getting to the good stuff

Today: 4.75 miles

Total: 46.5 miles

Tomorrow: the 50 mile mark!

Day Thirteen

Fail. I threw up a big fat 0 today, but for a night out with Boyfriend it was totally worth it.

Back on track tomorrow :)

Day Twelve

Just a soccer game today. My team got into a fight. It was absurd.

Today: 2 miles

Total: 41.75 miles

GASP

Hello readers. All two of you :)

I don't know where you guys stand politically, which issues push your buttons. But since this is my blog, and you're reading it, I'm sure you know mine. I'm a big proponent of marriage equality, and as someone employed in health care I am certainly, definitely, 100% behind the idea of health care reform.

I don't know how I feel about Obama's plan. I don't know what the answers are, but I do know that SOMETHING needs to change.

Like this:

2008 Salary of CEO of United Health Group: $124.8 million
2008 Salary of CEO of Aetna: $57 million
2008 Salary of CEO of Cigna: $42 million
--------------------------------------------
Number of Americans without health insurance in 2008: 47 million
Number of Americans who died because they were refused medical service due to a lack of health insurance: 22,000
 
I think we can all agree - democrat and republican, liberal and conservative, old and young, rich and poor, etc etc etc - that these numbers are staggering. And wrong. And that something needs to change.

Day Eleven

Busy day today! Only had time for the quickest run between walking in from work and walking out to a movie. We had the chance to see a special screening of The Blind Side, a movie about an NFL player who used to be homeless. Good movie - GREAT story.

Today: 1 mile

Total: 39.75 miles

Day Ten

One third of the way there! And on pace for over 116 miles. I know I'll slow down here as the month goes on, but so far I am verrrrrrrry pleased.


Today: 3.25 miles

Total: 38.75 miles

Day Nine

Today: 2.3 miles

Total: 35.5 miles

Updated Race Results

The official results were released today. I'd mentioned that I wouldn't make the official list because of my late registration and some other issues, but I was wrong! My name is not there - I'm "A Bandit" - but its me crossing the finish line!

I finished a little worse than originally thought - 74th place in a time of 54:20. The cool thing? I finished in 3rd place for my age group! The other cool thing? My pace was 8:45. Aweeeeeeeeesome.

Results here

Day Eight and an Awesome Weekend

Today was the race! It was my first race ever, and though I was a little bummed D couldn't be here (we had originally planned to do the 5k together) I had a GREAT experience. There were a ton of people all out there for a great cause and it was really neat to play a small part in the whole thing.

I finished my 6.2 miles in 54:14, which was good enough for 72nd place overall (men and women). Unfortunately because of the circumstances (last second registration, etc) I don't show up on the official finisher's list. Boo! But either way I was really really happy with my time - since it was my first race I was looking first to just finish, and second to do it in under an hour. Done and done! I have another 10k coming up in about a month and I'm looking forward to training for it and hopefully improving on my time!

As far as the rest of the weekend went, it was incredible. D was out of town, which was a bummer, but I kept myself occupied :) It was so fantastic you are going to get the play-by-play.

Saturday
Sleep in until 9! Was not woken up by neighbor's yippy little dog.

Santa Monica Farmer's Market. Pick up some yummies, do a little shopping, generally enjoy the beautiful day.

Happen into Express. Realize the dress I've been lusting after for MONTHS is finally on sale.

Go to TJ Maxx. Make a return. Do not buy anything. Impressive self control.

Home. Relax. Make cookie dough and get seester's care package together.

Decide to go on a short run. Head out, but quickly abandon in favor of a walk on the beach. Watch the sun set. Take the long way home and stroll through the adorable neighborhoods.

Whip up delicious dinner. Do a little shopping. Buy multiple of aforementioned Express dress.

Bed nice and early.

Sunday
Up! Early!

Race!

Home. Feel very satisfied. Cards and Pats games are both on TV. It's officially a good day.

Lunch. Sunday nap.

MLS playoffs on TV too!

Take a bike ride through Westchester. Wish I could afford any of the cute little houses. Imagine future life. Little Shawna, big dreams.

Dinner. Bake cookies for seester. Wind down. Laundry. Etc etc etc.

I wish every weekend could be this good.


And now, the talley.

Today: 6.2 miles

Total: 33.2 miles

Day Seven

Today: 1.5 miles, ish

Total: 27.0 miles.

Rockin'. More later on why this was my favorite day EVER.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

As the weather has been cooling down here in Southern California... wait... no, that can't be right. It was 70 here today. I love where I live :)

Despite the temperate climate, there's no doubt in my mind that its officially fall. Thanksgiving is coming, then Christmas - I LOVE Christmas - and this really is the most wonderful time of the year. Its also the time of year for soup! Yum.

On one of our Friday night dates, D and I ventured to this little hispanic place. It was an interesting combo of Mexican classics - tacos and such - and El Salvadorian meals. We had an order of arepas, which were quite delicious, and shared a big bowl of chicken tortilla soup. Since that night I'd wanted to recreate the fresh simple flavors of that soup at home, and here it is.

This is, as usual, a mish mash of a few recipies tweaked to suit my tastes. I like soups with a lot of stuff in them - this soup is a meal in and of itself. Each time I make it I play around with the ingredients based on the season and what I have in my crisper - I'll add potatoes in the winter, tomatoes in the summer, etc. Its never quite the same but always delicious.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Olive Oil
1 lb chicken breast
2 onions
Minced garlic
2 peppers of any color
3 carrots
2 zucchini
16 oz chicken stock
16 oz peeled crushed tomatoes
2 limes
1 bunch cilantro
salt and pepper
dash cumin
red pepper, to taste
spicy peppers, to taste (I use a big can of green chiles)
Monterey Jack Cheese
Avocado
Tortilla Chips

Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a stockpot. Brown chicken breasts - I usually cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise to ensure nice even cooking. Don't worry about cooking the chicken all the way through, it will simmer later. Remove from pan.

In the same pan, saute chopped onions and minced garlic until onions are soft. Add peppers, carrots and saute until soft. Add chicken stock and crushed tomatoes. Add remaining veggies; season to taste.

Shred chicken into bite sized bits and return to soup. Add juice of 2 lemons and lots of chopped cilantro. Let simmer until flavors blend and chicken is cooked through.

Serve topped with cheese, avocado, and crushed tortilla chips.

Day Six

A nice, easy day.

Today: 2 miles

Total: 25.5 miles

Day Five

Today I was bad. The thing with this running business is that its just as bad to do too much as it is to not do enough. And today I did too much. I had a nice relaxing run early this afternoon and had a 7v7 game at 8, which would have been more than plenty. After the game I'm taking off my cleats and cooling down when the team getting ready for the next game asked if any girls wanted to play with them. I can't say no to more soccer! So I played a second game. Now my muscles are achey and I honestly do not want to get up tomorrow morning... and I haven't even gone to bed yet :) Whoops.

I'll be taking it nice and easy on Friday and Saturday in preparation for Sunday's 10k. Woooooo!

The Tally

Today: 5.5 run + 2 small-sided soccer games: about 9.5 miles

Total: 23.5 miles

Days Off are Bad News

Seriously.

Let's look at the things I do on days off:

Last year - registered for GRE with less than 6 weeks to go. Thank goodness that turned out ok.

Last month - got a haircut. Regretted it as soon as I walked out of the place.

Today - signed up for not 1, not 2, but 3 races in the next 2 months.

That's right. 3 races.

This weekend is the 2nd Annual Race for Research, a 10k raising money for brain tumor research and awareness.

December 12th is the 32nd Annual Santa Monica Christmas Run, another 10k benefitting a shelter for homeless pregnant women and children.

Then, January 17th is the big one... the PF Chang's Rock n' Roll Marathon, of which I will be doing half.

Wish me luck!!!!!


PS - both of the 10k races have lots of info about volunteering and donating. I'll post info soon for those of you who are interested.

Day Four

Today: 4 miles

Total: 14 miles

RULES

I realized, I need rules. Structure. For this month - o - fun.

So here it goes. Editing will follow.

Thursdays (and some Saturdays) I play soccer. There's NO FREAKIN WAY I'm running and playing soccer after a day of work... hello, I'm not THAT crazy... so I decided for 45 minutes of play (1 full Thursday game, half a Saturday game) I get 2 miles. Except for this Thursday, which I have off work, and on which I get to run on the beeeeeeeeach during the day. Then play soccer at night! So it's going to be a good day for the ole mileage factor.

Ummmmmmm I can't think of anything else right now. But I will.

Also, I feel compelled... Kids. Don't try this at home. Unless you can. Then do it.

Day Three

So far, so good!

Today's Run: 3.5 miles

Monthly Total: 10 miles!

NaRuALoMo

Natural Ruins Are Lovely Messes.

No, that's not it.

Name Rural A Lotta Money

What?

National Run A Lot Month. Aha!

In honor of NaBl/Wr/Si/Ae/wahtever month, I'm doing something too.

Running. A Lot.

2 days in I've logged 2 runs for 6.5 miles. I'd like to run 30/30 days, and at 3 miles a day (at least) that means 90 miles. At least.

HOLY CRAP DID I DO THAT MATH RIGHT???

Wish me luck!

The Long-Awaited Chocolate Yogurt Cake with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting and Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache

The Cake.

The Death-by-Chocolate-and-Peanut-Butter Cake.

The Gain-Five-Pounds-by-Reading-the-Recipe Cake.

Yum.

I've become the office baker. Birthdays are my domain. In September a girl I am close with celebrated her birthday, and requested a cake with chocolate and peanut butter... a girl after my own heart. I had bookmarked this recipe so so long ago, and was just itching for an excuse to make it. It was so so good, sinful and rich and moist and delicious. I've made it twice since then, once for another birthday and once because, well, why the hell not? (Reason why not: unhealthy BMI!) Enjoy.

Chocolate Yogurt Cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache

Adapted from Smitten Kitchen, adapted from Irresistable Triple Layer Cakes



Chocolate Yogurt Cake

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably Dutch process
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup neutral vegetable oil, such as canola, soybean or vegetable blend
1 cup plain yogurt
1 1/2 cups water
2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 F. Butter the bottoms and sides of three 8-inch cakepans.

Sift flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl; combine them well. Add the oil and yogurt and blend. Slowly beat in the water, then the vinegar and vanilla. Whisk in eggs and beat until well incorporated.
Bake 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out almost clean. Let cool completely in fridge.
Frost and top with ganache. Refrigerate to allow cake to set. Remove 1 hour before serving.



Peanut Butter Frosting
(I usually double this)

10 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 stick (4 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
5 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
2/3 cup smooth peanut butter, preferably a commercial brand (because oil doesn’t separate out)

Beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add the confectioners’ sugar 1 cup at a time, mixing thoroughly. After all sugar is incorporated, beat on medium speed until fluffy, about 3 to 4 minutes.

Add peanut butter and mix until blended.


Chocolate-Peanut Butter Glaze

8 ounces seimsweet chocolate, chopped
4 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup half-and-half

Melt the chocolate and peanut butter over a double boiler, stirring often. Remove from heat, whisk in half-and-half, and beat until smooth.

Tuesday Wednesday Break My Heart