Rando

The term "rando" generally refers to a random person.  Like "Some rando tried to buy me a green smoothie at the bar last night".  I wish, sorta...but that's totally besides the point.  Today "rando" describes my morning.

For instance, Shane's schedule.  "Totally rando babe, I don't have to go into work until 11 but I won't be home until late."  

So rando (and fantastic!) that we actually got to enjoy b-fast together.  Today I halved my oatmeal/granola so I could enjoy a fabulous whole grain bagel from the Farmer's Market, as well as some Strawberry Rhubarb Jam Shane's sister-in-law made!  Twas quite delicious.

After Shane left I got down to the tedious task of applying for jobs.

 How rando is my makeshift "workstation"?  We've got a kitchen table with the mac, hooked up to a TV and my baby laptop.  Well, it gets the job done!

Today has been a roller coaster of emotions.  After Shane left I got so discouraged about the job hunt.  Sometimes it seems like all I do is apply and never hear back.  I know eventually my hard work will pay off, but in the moment sometimes it can get a bit overwhelming.  Plus I know each school must have hundred's of applicants for one position, so they can't respond to everyone.

I ended up finding a couple of job postings that I'm really excited about, so my frown was turned upside down!  And now my attitude has once again turned into hopefulness!

Job hunting is hard work, so of course I needed a snack.  And since I woke up with a slightly scratchy throat (so rando for mid-June!), my body was craving greens.

Swiss chard seemed like the perfect option since it's packed with anti-oxidants, Vitamins A, K, and C, Iron and a whole bunch of other good stuff.

Seems normal, right?  Well my snack took a turn for rando-ville when I was simultaneously craving potassium rich nanners and some healthy fats via nut butter.

Just roll it up wrap style!  I'll be the first to admit this snack doesn't sound very good.  And it's not very photogenic. But the ooey gooey mushy banana and PB are contrasted so nicely by the crisp crunch of the chard leaf!

Now what in the world do I do with all the stems?  Right now they're rinsed and packed in the fridge, but if I don't figure something out they will be trash.  And I strongly dislike wasting my veggies!

Rando fact of the day!  Isn't this cutting board just lovely?  My very talented boyfriend made it!  He builds/repairs guitars and as you can see is quite crafty in other areas as well.  Maybe I'll see if I can get a giveaway going since the plan is to start selling these bad boys on Etsy!

It's now 2 pm, I'm done applying for the day, I'm still wearing my PJ's and slippers, and I have some books on my summer reading list to get to.  I also have the feeling a green monster will be making an appearance and then disappearing into my belly shortly thereafter!

Enjoy the rest of your Thursday!

Any rando recipes for swiss chard stems?  

Tell me one rando thing that's happened to you today.

WIAW 2

 It's that time again...

!!

My morning started off with a banana and 1/2 cup of Chocolate Glazed Donut Coffee.  Another unpictured banana.  Woops!  Today I set out for 2 miles, but I wanted to push myself and I knew I would perform and feel better having some fuel in my body.  I did!  My first mile was ran at an 8:56 pace and my second mile was ran at a....7.39 pace!  I am sans Garmin and track my distance on Dailymile.com then plug in my stopwatch time, so that's the accuracy you're getting, but I'll take it!

Doesn't my breakfast look so patriotic?

1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup unsweetened soy milk

1/4 cup Whole Foods bulk bin honey granola

a lot of cinnamon

big handful blubes

And the other 1/2 of my coffee...iced!

  

For lunch I baked good old plain tofu and some tofu with this Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette from TJ's.  I let the tofu marinate over night and boy oh boy did that flavor shine through.  I highly recommend it!

 

Lunch was a TJ's whole grain flour tortilla with:

mashed up chick peas with a fork

(out of hummus, avocado wasn't ripe enough, and too lazy find food processor in a kitchen box that is still taped up)

sliced *jersey* tomatoes

plain baked tofu

spinach

mustard

We interupt this WIAW to bring you... 

DUCKS!  

So I happen to love ducks.  They were one of my first words, duckah duckah, and my stocking from when I was a baby has a duck on it...

Well anyways, I was laying out at the lake listening to podcasts and reading magazines when this little guy flew over.  He was later joined by a friend!

The video is literally this little ducky and his friend doing duck like things.  Only 30 seconds, check it out if you like super cutie, webbed feet, patooties.

After I got back from the lake I was craving cold, fresh fruit.  And you know what makes fresh fruit taste even better?  

Your boyfriend's childhood Ninja Turtles bowl of course!

This combo of a juicy pear and blueberries hit the spot after being out in the hot sun!

Dinner was pretty fabulous if I do say so myself.  I actually made this last night (minus the tofu), so it was left overs but shhhhh, tasted just as good tonight!

kale + chick peas sauteed in TJ's Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette
lots of quinoa
baked tofu marinated in TJ's Vinaigrette

See you next Wednesday!

 

There's Nothing Like...

an awesome run

to put you in a good mood!

This is "runner's high clip art" from Google Images, I'm that random.  (source)

I don't know what it is, but lately my runs have not been giving me that amazing, accomplished, I'm awesome feeling.  Of course not every run is going to do that, but I've been in a bit of a rut, having a bunch of these so-so runs for the past couple weeks.

It's not fair, I just want to go for a decent run!!!  (source)

Let me back up a little bit.  I have some ideas of what could be contributing to my lack luster runs.  Numero uno being NJ humidity and heat!  I am so not used to these running conditions.  By the end of a 5 mile run I'm all sweated out, with no energy left to give.  Not a good feeling when I was going out for easy 10-milers at the beach the last few weeks I was in San Diego!

Lovely, just lovely. (source)

Number two would be not fueling properly.  I'm on a new schedule, currently unemployed and I'm not about to wake up at 5 a.m. if I don't have to.  So if I eat dinner at 7, go to bed and wake up at 7 (I actually wake up later!)  that's 12 hours with no food and although I may have some glycogen stores in my body, it's not enough if I'm planning longer than a 2 mile run.  No wonder I'm hitting a "wall" at the end of a 5 mile run and cutting runs short!

Everything I've ever learned about fueling properly, I learned from this book. It gives you the science of how to fuel your body, must read! ::wink, wink::  (source)

And finally, I'm playing on a co-ed softball league with Shane and some friends.  Although it's not the MOST physically demanding, I know my body just isn't used to that all out short running to bases with little warm up and softball in general.  And I got knocked in the shin with a bouncy ball, ow!


Okay so now that I've identified possible problem areas, let's fast forward to Monday's run.  

(source)

Serious awesome-sauce!  It was like everything was just right.  It actually started off with me being lazy.  I was so discouraged with my past few runs I didn't even want to go outside and attempt another one.  So I made myself my usual b-fast, made some coffee and chilled out for about 45 minutes.  But then I started to get antsy and bargained with myself to go for an easy paced 4.5 miles.

As I stepped outside I noticed something was missing.  The humidity!  It was a gorgeous day, not too hot, and it didn't feel like I was wearing a wet blanket!  Well I started out along my usual route and after about a mile I really started to find my running groove.  I felt rested, fueled, and wasn't a sweaty mess!


As I approached the turn around spot for 4.5 miles I told myself, "Go ahead.  Go a little further today.  What's up this road anyway?"  As this is my boyfriend's neck of the woods (we're literally in the woods) I genuinely didn't know what was beyond my turn-around.  So I went for it.  And it was fantastic!  It was a great route with lots of tree cover and flat, flat, flat!


I payed attention to time, knowing I shouldn't go more than 8 miles since I didn't want to increase my mileage too fast.  So I headed for home and even had the energy to sprint as soon as the house was in sight.

Ahhh, running bliss.  Monday's run truly boosted back my confidence and I'm looking forward to getting out and hitting the road.  I  have some races in mind for fall and a running goal that I want to share so I push myself to achieve it.  I'm not officially in training mode yet, right now I'm just running and building a base for when training begins in a few weeks!


Have you ever found yourself in a running (or any type of workout) funk?  What did it take to get you out of it?

When do you run?  Do you always eat a pre-workout meal or snack?