Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Random Thoughts

Let me start with running stuff....afterall, this is supposed to be a running blog! I've had 2 runs since the super duper sucky run on Friday and I am confident that it was just one of those days. On Sunday, I ran 4 miles around the 'hood. I'd love to tell you my pace and time, but my Garmin crapped out on me after only 9 minutes. In those 9 minutes, my average pace was 10:27 though. I don't know what's up with the Garmin. I tried to turn it on again once I was home and it would come on for a second and then turn itself off. The next day, I tried turning it on again and it stayed on for 3 hours. This Garmin stuff is becoming really annoying! I think that means I need a 405, hehehe! My hubby would probably disagree.

On Monday, I was doomed to run on the dreadmill. Since I haven't received this week's schedule from "the coach", I decided to follow last week's schedule again. I did the same 3 min hard/1 min easy (x10) workout as last week, but this time I increased the incline on the treadmill to 2.0. My final results - 1/2 mile warm-up, 4 miles at a 10:18 pace, followed a 1 mile cool down. Definitely slower than last weeks 10:04 pace, but maybe that was due to the extra effort required by increasing the incline. Regardless, it felt great!



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You might remember when I posted my version of the "green monster" protein shake here. Well, I quickly grew tired of that shake and found a couple of interesting recipes in the hubby's "Ab Diet" book. Since I didn't have all the ingredients for the ones that sounded good to me, I combined a couple of recipes and came up with this:

1 cup skim milk
1 teaspoon chocolate syrup (you can use 1 cup of pre-made chocolate milk instead of these two ingredients)
1 teaspoon instant coffee
1 1/2 cups spinach (fresh, not frozen)
1 banana
1 teaspoon chopped almonds (I use a 1/2 teaspoon of almond butter instead)
1/2 scoop of chocolate flavored protein powder
2 tablespoons of vanilla yogurt
ice (the recipes only call for 6 cubes, but I like to use a lot more!)

If you like the Starbucks Mocha Light Frappacino, you will like this! You can also use a packet of Swiss Miss diet hot chocolate instead of the chocolate syrup if you want fewer calories and sugar. I actually look forward to drinking this in the morning, it's sooo yummy!



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Aerosmith's Joe Perry announced that Steven Tyler has quit the band. So what's gonna happen now? Joe Perry and the band are looking for a replacement lead singer. Aerosmith with no Steven Tyler? After 30 years - with Steven Tyler?

I.don't.think.so.

So glad I had the chance to see them live before this happened! Didn't think a Runner Mom could be a fan, did you?


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Speaking of being a fan, I saved the best for last....I have been a HUGE Rockets fan for over 2 decades. I love basketball and it's really the only sport I can tolerate watching on TV. Naturally, a huge part of the Rockets for most of the time I've been a fan was #34 - Hakeem Olajuwon. I *heart* Hakeem and was heartbroken when he was traded to the Toronto Raptors late in his career. While the hubby is not much of a NBA fan, he was a UH fan in the days of Phi Slama Jama and is still a fan of Hakeem. I still remember watching the Rockets play the Celtics in the NBA finals in '86...and of course, there were the back-to-back championships in '94 and '95! Ahhhh, the good old days! So this weekend, while attending the wedding of a friend, you can only imagine how excited I was to see #34 himself! I was super stoked!


6 comments:

saroy said...

Hakeem! That is so cool!

Stephanie said...

MMM. . . that sounds yummy. I actually make a shake with a Carnation Instant Breakfast (no sugar added) every morning, but I never thought to add spinach - I will now! Thanks.

Tara said...

That is soooo cool! I don't know who he is since I'm a football fan not a basketball fan, but that is so cool! I know how excited I would be if I met one of my favorite NFL players.

Unknown said...

Great picture! What a fun thing to have happen at a wedding! I need to try the protein shake, yum!

Junie B said...

you buy that 405 and i will kick your ass! the 310 is what you need...its for triathletes ... and just runners too...MUCH BETTER AND EASIER than that stupid 405!! you will hate that thing!

oh and yeah, i am reading blogs again :)

TX Runner Mom said...

Yay Junie B, so glad to have you reading again. I do want that 310! But, the budget may only allow for a new 305 anyway. Ho hum.