Here’s why I’ve been so busy:

• Type: Run
• Date: 04/05/2008
• Time: 14:00:00
• Total Time: 1:56:00.00
• Distance: 13.2 miles
• Average Pace: 8:47.09/mile

So happy to have run my 13.1 (.2 actually, accidentally) on Saturday!

Because I couldn’t sign up for the race in time, and had trained so hard  - it was very depressing knowing I wouldn’t be running it.

SO (see prev. post) on Saturday, Mom and I went down to the canal… she biked and I ran, and I timed 116 minutes for the whole thing, including water and bathroom breaks and a detour (jogging) looking for the bathrooms (couldn’t find them at the rest stop!) … I’m VERY pleased with that time. I thought I would be so much slower! (that’s about an 8:50 per mile).

 It was very funny having her call out my times to me - the first mile I ran under 8, the second was a 9:10, the next was an 8:10, and then a 7:50… I wasn’t very consistent until I got past the first 5 or 6 miles.

It was PERFECT weather (sunny, no humidity, slight breeze, and about 60 degrees with firm, soft dirt to run on rather than pavement)… I am very pleased with the run and look forward to training on the C&O some more for the Marine Corps Marathon in October.

Hooray!

A recipe from a friend:

Jenny’s Banana Nut Muffins/Bread
Ingredients:
2 cups almond flour
1/2 cup honey or agave nectar
1/2 cup of ground flaxseed
3 eggs
1 mashed banana
Only a little bit of baking soda (dash)
Little bit of salt
2 Dates

Instructions:

1. Mix ingredients in food processor

2. Line pan with wax paper and pour ingredients in (or into lined muffin tins)

3. Bake: 30mins for muffins and an hour for bread at 350 degrees

*You can also put a little bit of cinnamon on top… or any topping of your choice

Cheesecake Pudding

Ingredients:

1 cup raw cashew butter

1/3 cup agave or honey

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1/3 cup lemon juice

4 dates

1/2 tsp. celtic sea salt

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients until smooth

2.  Top with almond powder (ground) if desired, and/or swirl in some melted dark chocolate!

Makes 2 cups

Lemon-Almond Cake

Ingredients:

1 1/2 C blanched slivered almonds

4 eggs, separated

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

4 Tbsp agave nectar

5 tsp lemon peel

pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375

2. Grease/flour (with gluten-free flour) 9×15 cake pan and line with wax paper

3. Finely grind almonds with 1 Tbsp agave in food processor

4. Combine yolks, 1 Tbsp honey, lemon peel, cinnamon, and salt

5. Beat mixtrue until thick/smooth

6. Stir in almond mixture

7. Beat egg whites in large bowl (until soft peaks)

8. Fold in egg whites by spoonful to the rest of the mix

9. Transfer to pan and bake about 35 minutes

10. “Toothpick test” the cake (to make sure it comes out clean); remove and let cool

Bon appetite!

But due to a lack of foresight, I didn’t register in time, and was left high and dry a few weeks ago with my very sad reflections on how much effort I had put into training.

Luckily, it isn’t all wasted, because I am still going to run the Marine Corps in October - so prepping for a Half in the meantime will pay off.

In addition, I’ve decided that (weather permitting) I will be running the distance tomorrow just to feel the sense of accomplishment. It looks like my mom will be accompanying me on the C&O near our house - she will ride (for safety and to keep me company and carry water) next to or ahead of me, and I’ll run - we will do 7 out and 7 back. I’m nervous, for many reasons.

First off, it’s been pouring today, which means the canal may be a muddy mess - unfortunately its one of the only long, flat places to run out here. I’m hoping it may dry off a bit overnight. I don’t feel like running 14 miles on the treadmill tomorrow!

Secondly, I’m going to be running/pacing with someone on a “vehicle”… I’m so competetive, I know I’ll want to go too fast, which could injure me in the long run (no pun intended -haha) because I need to pace around a 9 to finish.

Lastly, I’m awful at running in humid/wet weather, and with all the rain and the density in the air right now along with tomorrow’s forecast of upper 60’s, I might find breathing/allergies to make it a tougher run than normal.

I have to gear myself up mentally for it, and hope for the best!

Here’s to hopes for a successful, dry, fun personal Half Marathon tomorrow!!!