Race Schedule and Results

Monday, February 7, 2011

Slugging through...

First, thank you all so much for the birthday wishes.  I had a fabulous weekend and it made me so happy to see you all writing such great things!!!

Workout wise, eh, I wasn't feeling it this past week.  I didn't get in the pool once.  BAD TRIATHLETE! I went to the pool with the intention of swimming, but once I got there, I just couldn't do it.  Weird for me.  I did an amazing speed workout with Tom on Tuesday (when I played soccer we used to bitch and moan at Indian runs - where the last person in the line has to sprint to the front while the line keeps running), but it was kind of like that.  We jogged the track and then one of us would take off and sprint the laps until we caught the jogger.  It took me more laps to catch Tom than it did for him to catch me.  And although I whined about it after the first interval because I hate feeling like I was chasing him, it ended up being great.  It's way harder than it seems and we ended up getting 7 miles in altogether.  Wednesday we did intervals on the bike.  And then it all caught up to me.  I literally had no legs for the next few days.  I couldn't get through my long run on Saturday (it was my b-day after all and I still managed a 1:45 run/elliptical workout) and shortened my long ride yesterday to an hour.  I'm taking today off.  I'm hoping that I feel better tomorrow.

Tom's running a trail marathon in 5 weeks and his long run is 20 miles this weekend.  I've tried to be a trooper and do some of the long runs with him (because after all, I am not the one that signed up for a spring marathon - been there, done that and NEVER doing that again... winter in Ohio is too unpredictable!).  In any event, I haven't run over 10 miles at a time this year.  Tom decided he wanted to try to find an organized race/run that he could use for training this weekend so that he didn't have to go out alone.  Just so happens that there's a 15 mile race about 40 minutes from us. Perfect for him, but what would I do?  They had a 3 mile option (too short) and a 7.5 mile option (again, too short), so I did what any supportive wife would do.  I'm looking to just finish the 15 miles - maybe at around a 9 minute mile. Eh, maybe slower. Whatever. Nothing like jumping in with both feet.  My friend Meredith is racing the 15 and I'm so excited for her.  I know she's going to rock it! Her marathon training has been spot on for at least another BQ, if not a PR! And hopefully she won't be in a huge rush on Sunday and can stay warm in the middle school until my slow butt finishes (Tom will probably have to run 5 more when I'm done and I'm a good wife, but I'm not that good!)

Two favors...I need oatmeal ideas.  I just can't eat the stuff, unless it's in this form:
What can I add to it to make it not taste like paste? I've tried sugar free syrup, splenda, walnuts, but it's just not cutting it.  Can I cook it with milk? Should I add fruit? I really know that I'd benefit from eating it in the morning (I'm so not a breakfast person... I ALWAYS eat something for breakfast, but it's generally not enough to fuel me for the day).

Second favor - can you vote (HERE) for Bailey (Mandy's adorable little guy).  He's in a contest to be the face of Barkwheat dog treats.  He's a doll and totally deserves to win.  I mean, look at his face...

31 comments:

Relentless Forward Commotion said...

mmmm coooookies!!

I like my oatmeal with a TON of cinnamon, banana, strawberry, or diced apple. It's one of those tastes you grow accustomed to !

Teamarcia said...

Sorry I'm no help on the oatmeal front. It's cookies or nothing for me as well. Bailey is dog treat box cover material for sure!

Lexie said...

My daughters mix applesauce, any fruit, a little cinnamon or even yogurt into their oatmeal. They are 2 and 5 and don't seem to mind! I actually like it with just a dash of sugar or sugar substitute. Also one likes hers really creamy so I have to cook it a bit longer.
And I have no clue how I ended up here, but YOU GO GIRL!

Caroline said...

He got my vote! I LOVE dogs! I got one and I am trying to convince my husband to get another one!

oatmeal...apple sauce for me also.

Unknown said...

you most definitely can make it with milk, it's the only way I will eat it. I have turned to steel cuts oats, especially this recipe http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/steel-cut-oatmeal-recipe/index.html from Alton Brown. They come out nutty and delicious! I add in almonds or almond/peanut butter, dried cranberries and maybe something else but I can't remember. It's really yummy and keeps me full the way no other oatmeal will! Good Luck!

Kacie Darden said...

Hey! I also make mine into muffins or bars without flour. 2 cups thick cut oats, 6 egg whites, sweetener (truvia/honey/brown sugar), raisins, and a little baking powder. I just made a batch of bars (350 for 30 minites) and I added a few chocolate chips (not a ton, but enough to make eating them enticing!). I just made it up, though, so you might want to experiment!

Molly said...

I planned on posting about how I love oatmeal this week, so I'll tell you how I make it in advance (wink wink). Get a good brand of oats, I think it makes a difference. cook it on the stovetop, with water, it gets gross if you do it in the microwave. I add dried cherries for sweetness, slivered almonds, and a bunch of cinnamon.

Kristin Bradfield said...

I used to make oatmeal cookies with half the flour swapped for whole wheat, flax added for omega 3 and half the fat switched for PB. Very nice pre-workout. I eat my oatmeal savory, with a little salt and a poached egg on top. I love it that way!

Pahla said...

Try cooking the oatmeal a little less, so it's not so gooey and gross. I actually like mine to still have a little crunch to it. I also dump a boatload of brown sugar and cinnamon on mine, so it might as well be cookies - ha, ha!! Slivered almonds and honey on top are super yummy, too.

Chris K said...

Every single Saturday morning before my long runs I eat oatmeal with 2 tablespoons of crunchy peanut butter in it. The p.b. is burned very slowly and it staves off the hunger for at least 4 hours.

Chris and Amy said...

I call mine yoatmeal. Half cup oatmeal with one cup water, microwave for 3 minutes (cooking times can vary). Then I add frozen fruit, a little honey, Greek yogurt, and some nuts (pecans, almonds, whatever). Sometimes I make it tropical - frozen pineapple and coconut. Yummy!

Unknown said...

Either in muffins for whole oats, or using honey or agave nectar to sweeten regular oatmeal. Good luck! I can't stomach it very often either :)

Meredith said...

Thanks for the nice words! I wondered if you were going to run the 7.5 option. Heck yeah I'll wait around. First of all, I'm hoping to pick up an award. :) But secondly, and most importantly, there's supposed to be good food!!!

Jon said...

I really like my banana oatmeal recipe:
1/2 cup oats
2/3 cup water
combine, cover, and nuke for 90 secs
2 spoonfulls of white sugar
dusting cinnamon
cutup banana

Have fun @ the 15 miler!

Big Daddy Diesel said...

That reminded of the Death March we use to do in football, same thing as the Indian run, but man it takes a long time when there are 80+ people on the team

What race? I am freaking stir crazy and have extreme cabin fever right now

Last night the Polaris pool felt freezing like the Powell pool, I wasnt happy

Christi said...

You are a great wife! I hope ya'all have a great run and that the weather cooperates!

tri like mary said...

Men's Health suggested adding chopped apple, brown sugar, a little cinnamon, and chopped almonds. Tastes like apple pie.

That dog is certainly getting my vote. What a cutie!

Anne-Marie said...

I'm soooooooooo behind in blog reading, but just wanted to say belated Happy Birthday!!

As for the oatmeal... one of my friends sent this recipe to me and it looks really tasty but I haven't had a chance to try yet!
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2867?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Unknown said...

Going to have to try those Indian Runs -- sounds brutal. My buddies are going to hate it!!!

Heidi Austin, PT, DPT said...

sooo cute i love bailey! happy belated bday! and yum for oatmeal cookies :)

Betsy said...

I skipped swims this weekend too and I had to force my self to get into the pool yesterday. I'm blaming winter!!!

Oatmeal is best in the form of cookies for sure...but you can cook with milk! Also try adjusting the oats to milk/water ratio...use a little less oat or a little mroe liquid. It's also really good topped with some greek yogurt, cinnamon and nutmeg!

Matty O said...

I am a glutton for punishment... NEVER did an indian run but realllly like the thought of it. Wish we did them in XC.

As for oatmeal. I can only eat it if I am in the mood. My wife would take a scoop of frozen blueberries and put them in.

The natural sugars from the fruit sweetened it and since they were frozen, it would thin the oatmeal a bit so you aren't choking down paste.

I love cookies :)

Unknown said...

I couldn't do oatmeal at all while pregnant, and it has taken me a while to get back into it. I used to do the pre-flavored packets, but those don't fit with the "diet" anymore. What I have been doing is this:
dice 1 apple, 1/2 cup regular oats, 1tbsp cinnamon, a couple heaping tsp of splenda, and 1 cup water. Microwave on high for 1 min, stir, repeat. Putting the apples in before you cook it have been key for me to get it down without adding brown sugar or real maple syrup. If you cook it for too long at once, it will overflow everywhere on high power. You can make it with milk, but my nutritionist took dairy out of my diet entirely, and I haven't tried it with soy milk. That seemed a bit scary to me. Good luck! Also, just got some siagon cinnamon which is way stronger than the other stuff we had, and 1 tbsp of that was way too much, I had to add more oatmeal to get it down without tasting like red hots.

Aimee said...

Easy oatmeal: Mix 1/2C rolled oats, cinnamon, raisins, banana slices, and a tad of sugar with soy milk into a bowl. Microwave for about 1min. 20sec. Then, you can add 1Tbl. of PB to it and mix it all together! Yum!

Matthew Smith said...

Colleen! I love that method of doing speed work. That sounds like such a great idea. I really wanted to try it today, but my running partners weren't available. I put a link to your post and blog on my latest post. I hope that's cool. Good luck to you as you train!

Iron H said...

I am a first time visitor and I really like your blog and style of writing. Sorry..no ideas for oatmeal.

Unknown said...

oh you are such a good wife! That race will be fun for you because your not really racing, ya know?
Stay warm!
LC

Mark said...

Yeah, I've never actually gotten to the pool and said "nah." Once I am there, I figure "what they heck... why don't I suck it up and hope I don't drown."

If the pool is really cold, I just have to jump in right away too. Because I am a wussie.

The cookies look dangerously delicious.

Jim ... 50after40 said...

You might try honey and cinnamon ... might take the "horse-food" edge off.

N.D. said...

I think I eat oatmeal every morning! I make "cookies", waffles, pancakes. For pancakes, I grind it up in the food processor. Then I add about 1 T maple syrup, 1 T flaxseed, 1/2 c of almond milk, protein powder and almond butter. I can definitely just eat it like that heated or cold, or make it into pancakes and add 1 tsp baking powder. Waffles I do the same but maybe add a little more or less milk. And for cookies I just make them into little blobs and cook them. 15 miles sounds like a fun distance. : ) And the indian runs would be a nice way to get through the distance quickly!

Beth said...

Good luck with your 15 miler this weekend, I can't wait to hear how it goes! I like breakfast so I am not sure if this will help but I really like Quakers "Weight Control" instant oatmeal. I make it with water then add craisins and a little soy milk. It is really filling and easy to make.

I also sometimes make steel cut oats, this takes a little more work since they have to sit overnight but it's also really good. I will try to post the recipe we use soon.