Running and Recipe

Although my running mileage the last few months has been pathetic, this morning I had a run that reminded me just why I used to enjoy running. The weather was perfect, perfect I say! About 50 degrees the sun was shinning and it was a beautiful fall day. I felt good and hope that there will be plenty more perfect Colorado days to run in the near future! Hoping to go for a ride tomorrow as it's suppose to be nice then too.

And now for the recipe...I said that I loved cranberries and the other day I decided to combine them with butternut squash and apple...can you say killer!!!! I'm drooling just thinking about it!



1 large butternut squash
4 granny smith apples (pealed/cored chopped) I only used 1 1/2 and I had on hand a Honeycrisp (which I love by the way)
1/2 c. sugar (I used splenda)
2 c cranberries
1/2 c. butter ( didn't use that much)

Cut squash in 1/2 and cook at 350 deg. for about an hour. (mine ended up a little over cooked, or at least I think i would have liked it a little firmer) Cut in chunks.

Combine apple and 1/4c. sugar over medium heat, cook until juices evaporate. About 12 minutes.

Combine cranberries and 1/4 c sugar cook until juices evaporate about 4 minutes. (I just combined the apples and cranberries and cooked them)

Combine in 12 x 9 pan and pour butter over it. Bake for about 10 minutes.

Yummy!!!!

One week off

No it wasn't intentional. I just didn't get anything done. Between 1 1/2 feet of snow this week and just being plain lazy the only day I worked out was today. It was a good day though. My oldest son went with me to the rec center and we both did about 30 minutes on the spin bike followed up by an easy 2 mile run and some strength training. I can already feel the upper body strength training. I'm so weak. I haven't swam in like 2 weeks and really need to get my self to the pool on a regular basis.

Things have been uneventful. Doesn't look like Julie is getting what she wanted but she sure appreciates all good wishes that I would. Sometimes you just have to figure that if it was meant to be it will.

I'm sure I've said it before but....November is going to be a better month workout and food wise!

Cranberries are back!!!

I can not tell you how much I love cranberries! They have become a real favorite in the last few years and I get so excited the first time I see them in the stores for the year. I stock up knowing that they will soon be gone for another season. It is beyond me why they don't sell them frozen! They freeze fantastically. This morning I am having my first bowl of oatmeal with cranberries, yogurt and walnuts in it...oh my god...it's heaven....

Woke up to a call at 5:30 saying that schools were closed due to snow....I look out side...hmmm there isn't any out there to speak of....lets see if the weathermen get it right and we end up with a bunch, right now I'm not sure it's even snowing....it's going to be a long ass winter at this rate.

Oh and did anyone watch Biggest Loser last night? I am in awe of Abby. She is an amazing and inspirational woman. I loved her speech at the end. You can choose to change. You can choose differently.

2010? What will it be

So I've been looking at my totals for the year and comparing them to last year...they are just not looking so good. I'm not surprised though. Last year (2008) was just a really good year for me. I trained really hard for my first tri, because well I had no idea that I could actually do it. This year I knew I could I do it and thus just really didn't try that hard. Plus I just didn't do the riding with friends this year that I did last year. My swim totals are more which is great, that would be because of the swimming I did with the team. So the question I'm facing here is what to do for the next year. In the back of my mind is still the Bike Across Nebraska. I think that could be a fantastic experience. I know I will do some sprint tri's and I still would like to accomplish an oly. I'm fairly certain that is the longest distance I will do....and then there is the 1/2 marathon...part of me would like to give that another try. 2007 I started running and did my first race, 2008 my first tri and 2009 my first 1/2 marathon....2010?
Run
2009 309.5 Mi
2008 500.1 Mi
2007 83.1 Mi
Bike
2009 470.9 Mi
2008 770.5 Mi
Swim
2009 30.3 Mi
2008 20.9 Mi

Recovery

I don't know if any of you have ever read PostSecret http://postsecret.blogspot.com/ But this kind of hit home today.

Time for a change

Just though I would change things up a little around here. Still possibly under construction. Not sure That I'm completely happy with what I've got. I also think as I approach my 100th post that I will change the "attitude" of my blog a little. I've mostly blogged about exercise but think I will start to bring a little more of life into it. My struggles with weight loss, being single (which I've been doing nothing to change) and other adventures in my life. We will see how it goes. Right now I'm hoping for a very exciting change which I'm reluctant to say anything about as I don't want to put a curse on myself, but feel free to send any good mojo feelings that "Julie will get what she wishes for". And now I really must get my butt up and exercise! The ever changing weather here in Denver is presenting us with a fantabulous weekend! While the highs last weekend were in the 20's this week.....HIGH 70'S AND MAYBE EVEN 80! I love Colorado!

Off season? Lazy?

I just had a call from a Charity asking me to donate some of my clothes to the starving people throughout the world. Do you know what I told them??

Absolutely not!!



Anybody who fits into my clothes isn't starving!


Pretty much says it all about my eating and training these days...but it's been a good week and I'm hoping I've finally pulled my head out for good.