Shamrock the Ville 5K

My SIL, Amanda, and I recently ran the Shamrock the Ville 5K in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.  The day was gorgeous and it was Amanda's first 5K so we were both pretty excited.  The run started at 1:00, since I am typically a morning runner I wasn't sure if I should attempt to eat lunch early or wait until after, I decided to eat a mini-sized Cliff bar (100 calorie) at 11:00.  In hindsight I should have eaten a bit more, live and learn. 

Amanda had picked up a few fun accessories for the race.

Caution white legs ahead - I usually tan in the spring to prevent blindingly white legs, but well I am getting to the age where I am more concerned about wrinkles than white legs.  So sorry tanning industry, no more lovely warm beds for me :(

The most wonderful Amanda

Although it was windy, we had a great run, we finished in 32 minutes, and felt great!  Lunch and margarita's at Chili's followed by pedicures and frozen yogurt to celebrate!

And I discovered I really really like dressing up to run!  Going to have to find more theme races!

Broccoli ~ No Cheese Required

I have been making broccoli this way for awhile and just haven't gotten around to sharing the recipe with you.  It is so easy, and so delicious!  Plus with the high prices of tropically grown vegetables right now broccoli being grown in colder climates has maintained it's reasonable price.  I about cried the other day paying for a green pepper.  Geez, global warming, really?

First wash and chop up your fresh broccoli.

Into a hot skillet that has been sprayed with a little olive oil.

Stir fry for a few minutes.

Add 2 tablespoons of water with a little salt to the skillet and quickly put a lid on.

Let steam for 4-7 minutes depending on how tender you want your broccoli.

Enjoy, no cheese needed!

Half Marathon Training Update ~  

Yesterday's training run was an 8 miler, the wind was insane, but I managed to finish thanks to my wonderful SIL Amanda joining me for the last half.  The wind was brutal, 16 mph, and even when I wasn't running into the wind fighting the cross wind messed with my form, which has left me with a sore knee today.  I have had one major and one minor knee surgery, my meniscus (cartilage) had a bucket handled tear when I was 19, since I was young the surgeon opted to try and sew everything back together with the hopes that the cartilage would heal.  Cartilage is odd stuff, some people have cartilage that heals, I do not.   Three years later when I returned for another surgery the surgeon found nothing had healed and the wholes from the needle he used to sew everything together was still in the cartilage, this time he shaved off the offending cartilage and hoped that would help but warned I would most likely have issues with my knee from time to time.  Amazingly with running I haven't had nearly the problems one would have thought, I can actually run most of the time completely pain free, but I do have issues when trying to increase my mileage too quickly.  Luckily next weekend doesn't call for a long run, it calls for a 5K I was able to find one in Bartlesville, Shamrock the Ville.  The best part?  It doesn't start until 1:00 and their is beer for everyone after!   As a birthday present for my SIL Amanda I signed her up too, I know totally best SIL in the world material here!  :)  I was able to twist my friend Sarah's arm also, so totally fun girl's day!!

What's your plans for the day?

I am planning on doing some laundry and icing the knee.  I am still taking care of a sick kiddo, so nothing too exciting.

Are you currently training for a race?  How is it going?  

I am training for the Oz Half Marathon on April 16, and well it's going LOL.