Author: Maria Runs

Sprinting with Sweatshop

Hey folks

So on Wednesday I was off to Sweatshop, and when I got there they had decided on the dreaded “Hill” route. It is not actually that bad, but the hill in the first mile is pretty steep and just that bit too long. Normally when we do this route the front runners head back after each roundabout and join at the back again, which is good as then when we get to the underpass in the town centre no-one is on their own (I hate the underpass). But although we said we would do this, the faster people must have decided against it while they were running. I got to the top of the hill and realised that the girl ahead of me (who was a bit unsure of the route having only done it once before) had gone straight ahead instead of turning left, and no-one had turned back. I decided that I really should go after her, as there was only one person behind me, and I would not want her being lost on my conscience. So even though I was out of breath after the hill I had to pick up the pace and was shouting “hey, come back, it’s this way”. My poor legs could not go any faster! The trouble was she was wearing headphones, and I didn’t know her name. Luckily when I had nearly caught up with her she stopped to cross a road and saw me. Phew. She said she would have just turned at the next road but I am not sure where that would have ended up anyway. We ran the rest of the way together, chatting at times and gasping for breath at others, and even added on the optional loop at the end. That route ended up being about 4 miles so including running there and back I was over 5 miles for the evening which I was pretty pleased with.

We bought some amazing coconut dark chocolate in France at Christmas, and I enjoyed a couple of piece with some tea after dinner.

Thursday was pump- my back was a bit sore last weekend so I didn’t go too high on the back track. I am going to have a moan also about people who are members so don’t book on. There were not enough steps for everyone, hardly any weights. Non-members have to pay and get a receipt to get through the barrier, but if you are a peak member then all classes are included, so loads of people just turn up without booking on. Grrrr. Anyway, why do the lunges never get any easier???? I find that generally after a while I can add to my squats weight (although I am nearly at my limit of lifting the bar off my shoulders at the end), but the lunges just burn my legs. I stood on a mat this week which really helped as the floor is quite slippery and often I worry I will slide over during that track.

Friday I went to see my Nan after work, and then we watched a film (Behind the Candelabra- weird) and then Gogglebox which I just love.

This morning after my run I tried out a recipe similar to this one, from memory as I think I saw it on Ffion’s blog a while back.

Basically after my run I had to pick up a parcel and just wanted to jump in the shower and not stand by the oven and cook pancakes, so I made a batter with some melted coconut oil, an egg, some soya milk, ground almonds, coconut flour and baking powder, and poured it into a greased dish and baked for 25 mins. When I looked on-line later I was pretty pleased that I had got it mostly right! I had it with some cherries (defrosted in a pan with a little coconut sugar) and lovely teapigs chocolate tea.

Tasted better than it looked! Although I prefer buckwheat flour to coconut flour- the coconut flour just seems really dry in things.

Well it is a gorgeous day here- I have some baking going on at the moment, then a trip to the shops, some work and hopefully some weeding at the allotment too- it’s going to be a busy Saturday!

Jantastic week 9

I had to check that I got the week number right!

So, how did this week go following on from the Bath half?

Monday- total rest day! I was having a bit of trouble walking. I was going to do some yoga in the evening but was pretty sore so opted for a bath with some salts in there instead.

Tuesday- Went for a little run after work- was going to go for about 3 miles and felt fine at the start, but after 2 miles I suddenly felt tired and my legs were very sore, so I went home and did a bit of yoga and some foam rolling.

Wednesday- Went to Sweatshop. I nearly turned around and ran by myself, but I had texted my brother so knew he was going. We ran together at the back but it was great to catch up and the miles sped by. When I got home I realised I had run 4.5 miles, so ran to the end of the road and back to top it up to 5.

Thursday- Pump. Ouch! I had missed 3 weeks so I was expecting it to be tough.

Friday- Rest. I was going to do yoga, and then some cleaning and bits when I got home, but I had a headache so just had a cup of tea and lay on the sofa with the TV on.

Saturday- Had a lovely walk to and from the shops in the sunshine.

Capris! No running tights! This was at about 8 in the morning and it was already gorgeous and sunny.

Sunday- 6ish mile run in the morning (spent a lot of it mucking about on the fields looking at maps and birds and things), then around a 3 mile walk around the lakes in the afternoon. Loved the sunshine!

Muddy trainers are also very happy (I was taking photos of the fields and things and so took a picture of my shoes too, as you do).

At one point there was a red kite swooping so low, it’s markings were so clear, but of course in the photo it looks like a tiny dot.

I found a new bit of field too, although the new path further on was far too boggy so I retraced my steps. A lot of stopping and starting of my Garmin (when I remembered). It was so fun to just be out wandering about, not worrying about time or pace or anything else, just being outside. That is what I love most about running.

After my run I was pretty thirsty and so had a drink and an apple, as we were going to go to breakfast. We showered and headed out but when we got to the Waffle House the car park was full and the queue was out the door, so we came home again and had pancakes.

Later on I got my car washed (what a treat) and while we were waiting for that we went for a cold drink in a fairly new coffee shop as we had been walking around the lakes in the sunshine. Well, we weren’t that impressed- several things were not right including the barista asking me how to make the drink as she had not had training yet! (I don’t blame her but I do think they should have training! Or at least a sheet that tells them how to make all the drinks). Anyway I have emailed them because I was charged for the wrong size (but didn’t realised until we were leaving) and a few other things- it has been open for at least a month so it is not as if it was their first weekend.

Anyway, I have got sidetracked. Jantastic week 9 done- 3 runs complete, distance target complete, no attempt at my time trial yet.

How did you enjoy the sunshine this weekend?

Fellow Jantasticans- we are on to double figures! The end of the challenge is in sight! Give yourself a pat on the back and tell me what you have been proud of achieving over these past two months.

Red Velvet Cake

Hey folks, I hope your weekends are going well and you have been enjoying this gorgeous weather.

So this weekend I had decided to make a red velvet cake. I have never eaten one before, or made one, but I saw one in the window of a bakery last weekend in Bath, and it looked pretty. Andy had some red velvet fro-yo one holiday and loved it, so I thought I would give it a go.

I had a lot of recipes in various books, but in the end I went for this recipe, mainly because I was doing the shopping online and it was easier to check ingredients online also.

I think the original point of red velvet is that you make a chocolate cake with buttermilk, and somehow the chemical reaction between the cocoa and buttermilk turns it slightly red. But that may be an urban myth. All the recipes now call for plenty of red food colouring.

This one you mixed the food colouring with greek yoghurt and then add it to the cake mix.

I cooked it in two pans instead of one, as I can’t cut straight to save my life. Plus it meant the cooking time was much reduced. I also made an additional cake to take to work.

It doesn’t look too red here, but that is just the light.

Then I made the cream cheese icing- this recipe made loads! I suppose it is meant to be 3 tiers but I had a thick filling, a thick topping and then a thick topping for the cake for work too.

The icing has a little lemon juice in there which I really love- I think the lemon flavour lifts the cake and makes it more interesting somehow.

I might add some chocolate curls or something. I can’t decide.

After baking I gave the house a major spring clean before heading out. I parked away from town, walked in, picked some bits up and walked out. When I got home I had a slice of the cake for work (can’t really take the other cake around tomorrow for tea with a slice taken out!)- I think it is quite nice, but I don’t think I would make it again. I am not a massive fan of chocolate cake and when I make it I usually use recipes that contain melted chocolate. The cream cheese icing was really good though and I would use that again for different cakes.

Are you a fan of red velvet cake? 

Topping up the distance

Hey peeps, I hope you are all well.

After having a rest on Monday I went for a little run on Tuesday. I was going to go for about 3 miles and at first I was feeling fine. As it was still almost light I went to the fields near my house and did out and back laps a couple of times- I think running on the fields was good as the ground is softer, plus I run slower anyway so wasn’t tempted to try and go at my normal speed. After doing this a couple of times (2 miles) I suddenly felt really tired, so came home and did some yoga and foam rolling instead.

I had to stop at the shops on the way home so picked up some tulips, and Andy bought some daffodils too- I hope spring is set in now.

On Wednesday I was off to Sweatshop. My brother went too, and so we ran at the back and chatted.as we hadn’t seen each other for a few weeks. It was good to catch up, and also lovely to run at that easier pace. We did one of our normal routes in reverse which was harder- it seemed uphill all the way! I only used to start my Garmin at the start of the group run, but since I have been logging my miles on Daily mile I have been starting and finishing it at home (as I run there and back too)- I glanced down as I got to the end of my road and saw 4.5 miles, and decided to make it up to 5, so I ran to the end of our estate and back. I managed to pick up the pace a little at the end and was feeling pretty good.

I was so thirsty when I got home so had this coconut water- I had bought it to have after Bath and then forgot to take it with me.

Last night I went to Pump and it was tough! I have missed 3 weeks due to various things, so I knew it would be hard work and did drop my weights for the squats, back and lunges and they were still just as hard!

As we had been away for the weekend we didn’t have much in the house for lunches, so on Monday I stopped to get a few bits, and these sweet potato falafels caught my eye. I have been having them for lunch with a bit of salad and some hummus, plus a little sprinkling of pine nuts. Very tasty indeed.

Favourite spring flower? 

Favourite easy lunch?

Weekend plans? I am going to make a red velvet cake!

Jantastic week 8 (Pancake-tastic?)

Does that work?

I feel like there is a better rhyme there but I can’t find it.

Anyway, first up thanks for all the comments on my last post. I feel I must explain something; I always used to have breakfast, wait a couple of hours and then go on my long runs. But that ate into my day and I found that I could run better before breakfast as so many things I eat normally don’t agree with me before I run. So I started going out before breakfast, and having a few dates before longer runs (say 8 miles and over) for a little boost. That has all been fine (and for my 12 miles a few weeks ago that was what I did). I also used to have something to eat during a half marathon- most recently jelly beans but then I stopped finding them good- I ended up with a stomach ache and also that horrible sugary feeling in my mouth. Anyway, I do realise that I should find some source of fuel that agrees with me while I run- I am happy for suggestions! (I did try a few gels when marathon training but they made me feel very sick indeed so I am not sure if I fancy trying any more).

OK, pancakes first.

Yummy coconut flour pancakes for breakfast on Saturday, along with a cooked apple, flaked almonds and some nutella.

They even looked like real pancakes when they were cooking!

Today I had some pancakes for dinner. I used half wholegrain spelt and half plain flour, egg and milk for the batter, and then topped (filled?) with sundried tomato pesto, avocado and a little bit of lime juice.

I am going to make sweet pancakes later on once my marking is done, because if you can’t have double pancakes on Shrove Tuesday then when can you?

And now for the review:

Monday- I ran up to Tesco’s in the pouring rain to get some bits for dinner. 3 miles (and a bit).

Tuesday- Rest day.

Wednesday- Run with Sweatshop. Think I ended up doing about 4.5 miles, with the middle 3 miles a bit faster.

Thursday- Pump was off so had a walk when I got home and decided to embrace the extra rest.

Friday- Yoga. This was just what I needed after a busy week.

Saturday- Walking around shops/ to and from car/ football ground.

Sunday- Bath half marathon.

Another successful week- 3 runs completed, mileage target hit.

And so now we are on to March. For those of you who have not signed up for it, in March you say how many runs per week you will do, the length of your longest run for each week, and then a target time for any distance of your choosing. I panicked and filled mine out without much thought, as I have no races now.

Last year I had a shocker when I predicted I would do 27 hours instead of 27 minutes for a 5k- that knocked my score right down! This time you had to fill in with the hours:mins:seconds so I couldn’t make that mistake again.

I have chosen a 5k again, mainly because I miss going to parkruns and it is easy to find out my time for that distance. I did find a fairly local 10 mile run, but have not signed up to it yet so didn’t choose that. But I have chosen a rather optimistic time (and if our local parkrun doesn’t get off the cross country route then I stand no chance)- but anyway it is just for fun after all.

Who enjoyed pancakes today?