Author: Maria Runs

Kind of what I ate!

Hello all

First up- I went to body pump last night! Yay!

I was feeling quite nervous, in case the heavy weights brought out any niggles. I did not go as heavy as I can for the squats, and during the lunges my hamstring felt a little tight, so I eased off, but I did tell myself that normally if I felt like that I would have carried on as usual. I did find it so hard though (the room was hot), but was great and I was pleased to see all the regulars too (have not seem them since my marathon). Next week we have the lovely sub instructor, and it may be the new release. I made sure I really enjoyed the triceps track (I am all about the cheese) in case it was the last time!

I keep seeing the What I Ate Wednesday posts, and I never take pictures of everything. But I did take a lot (but on Thursday), mostly because I love my lunchbox! So I missed off breakfast and my morning snack (porridge and nakd bar I think), but I did do the rest.

Food Doctor pitta, roasted pepper and some pesto (I have had variations this week with roasted courgette, and the almond and basil pesto). And I love the lunchbox! 🙂 (I did also have a pear but you all know what they look like and it was in a boring lunch box pot)

I made some chai tea with the last of the Rice milk (yummy) and an apple with the last of my crunchy pb. Sadly Tesco’s do not seem to stock PB and co any more 🙁  Although they only did the most boring flavour so I suppose I should not be too annoyed by it! I was hoping it would sell so well that they would start selling the other amazing flavours. I will have to load up my suitcase when I go on holiday!

For dinner I had the last of the homemade pesto with some pasta and pepper (and Andy also added some sweetcorn to the pasta while it was cooking so it was a very yellow dinner!). I am excited about the possibilities of making other types of pesto.

Then post body pump I had some rice pudding with strawberries and a few chocolate chips. Delish.

Today I had intentions of going for a run after work, just a short one. But then I had to get my battery checked (and replaced) on my car, and it was chucking it down with rain, and so I had a cup of tea instead. I am going for one tomorrow. I ended up reasoning with myself- I am not training for anything, I have had 2 runs this week already, and I just didn’t fancy it. I think I am still have slight post marathon blues.  I have been trying to be a bit cautious for the weeks following it, and the Great South Run seems a long way away. Anyway, I am going to investigate the Audiofuel podcasts this weekend, and maybe treat myself to them.  I have seen a few people on WLR having success with them- has anyone used them here?

Right, off to make some bread.

Laters dudes 🙂

Another run- exciting stuff!

Hello!

I had another run today, yay!

Yesterday I had a late staff meeting, and loads of work, so I did not get home in time for aerobics, although I did manage a short walk after dinner.

Today I was planning a run- I was not sure how my hamstring would be on a slightly longer run, so I did a 2 mile loop to see how I felt- I felt fine so then I carried on with a 2.6 mile route. It was all fine. I actually managed to pick up the pace a little, and did 3 of the miles at 10.23 pace. I was out for 50 mins (some crossing roads coz of rush hour meant it took longer than it should.

But I am pleased that I feel fine after. Last weekend it was sore after a few miles (maybe 3/ 3.5) so I know it is better now.

After that I had some work to do and had to wait for my chilli to cook, so I decided to make a chai latte. Or something like that. Not sure what they are called.

I made some chai tea (breaking into the massive Whitards stash) and left it to cool while I had a shower. Then I mixed that with some almond and hazelnut rice milk, some ice and a bit of agave.

Yum! I am pretty sure the rice milk made it delicious, and I think I should have left the agave out as it was quite sweet (the rice milk is sweetened). I did feel weird drinking cold tea (although it was a nice spicy flavour that it added)- I think my brain needs to get around that! I am sure the caffeine helped me work super fast too!

Is that a chai latte? Having never had one from Starbucks or anything I have no idea- do they normally have coffee in them too?

Night 🙂

Pesto for lunch

I had some of my yummy almond and basil pesto in a pitta today, with some roasted courgette, as a tasty lunch.

(The jar is still pretty full though!)

After work I went for a short run (I did some lunges and stuff for a bit of a warm up first)- I ran for 29 mins and did about 2.7 miles or something like that. And actually my hamstring was feeling fine. But I did not need to go any further. When I got home I did the yoga for runners (which says 20 mins, but really takes nearly 30 mins I think).

With the run next weekend, I am going to be helping out at the school area, so that will be fun as all the kids get to do a 1.5 mile fun run (and last year I missed it as I was doing the half marathon). So I can still support the school, but I do not have to worry about pushing myself too hard or anything.

And I am super excited as I got an email from the lovely Jemma who is organising a bloggie food swap! I have a US partner 🙂 Yay! So, UK people, what would you miss if you lived in the US? What would you send to someone in America? 🙂

Night

Tahini cookies and a run!

So yesterday I mentioned my obsession with tahini (and Alison, I love the idea of having it with dark chocolate, and Shaman love the honey idea too mmmm). In my Vegan cookies invade your cookie jar book, there was a recipe for Tahini lime cookies. Well, it seemed rude not to!

Well, I didn’t have cornstarch, so subbed in some ground flax instead. They are yummy! The lime flavour really comes through (from the lime zest) and the sesame flavour is also lovely (it used 1/2 cup tahini). They have a lovely texture too, kind of chewy and crisp, like a good pb cookie. Another recipe that should be made again!

I also made some fresh mint tea 🙂 Ffion you were right- super easy!

A load of fresh mint (I have a few types in my garden, one might be spearmint possibly) and boiling water. I let it brew for a while, and voila!

It was tasty and I got 2 cups of it! It was not as sweet as the teabags, but maybe I should have used smaller leaves.

And finally the run;

I went out this morning, for a gentle run. My 6.7 mile route was calling to me! I ran past the Race for Life in Welwyn, which meant I spent a lot of the run reminiscing- that was my first race a few years ago, and the reason I started running. On the day I was so nervous as the most I had run for was 15 mins (then a min walk, then another 15 mins) but I really wanted to run the whole way. I was so worried and apprehensive, and I was also so proud when I crossed that line (and I did run it, in 35 mins). I love the whole ethos of the race, that everyone is welcome, and the messages people have on their backs of who they are running for, and of course the amount they raise for charity.

Anyway, I digress.

During the run my left hamstring started feeling tight again. It was sore after the marathon, but the sports massage really helped, and on Saturday I was fine walking. But I suppose I am still not fully recovered (I did not expect to be). Anyway, I just took it super slow (it took me 80 mins), and felt fine when I finished. I have decided I am not going to do the 5k next weekend. I think I would have to run it slowly, and I think I would be a bot disheartened if it took me a long time. So I will see if they need any helpers instead.

Anything else I can do with tahini?

🙂

Shopping mistake! and kitchen tales

Hey

How is Saturday here already? I cannot believe that the marathon was a whole week away! Strange.

Anyway, I have been on half term, so have had more time to potter about! I went to get my hair cut the other day and sadly the bookshop next door was closing down- it did mean everything was super cheap so I picked up a couple of bargains. The Raw book has loads of recipes in it, and the Food Doctor book has a little bit of info about keeping blood sugar levels stable and then a lot of recipes too.

Exciting! I was off to a BBQ on Friday so I decided to use my food processor (still a novelty) and make some pesto for a salad (a recipe from the raw book). I had to soak the almonds overnight, and then blitz them with tomato, olive oil and basil leaves.

I cooked some quinoa and roasted some veggies and then mixed it all up.

It went down pretty well- a couple of my friends were brave to try it and they both liked it too!

I have a lot of the pesto left over, and apparently it will keep for a week if you seal it with more olive oil.

I had some today on some rye bread for lunch and it was delicious 🙂

I am looking forward to having this for lunch this week yum 🙂

OK, onto the mistake.

I was most excited when I went to the Galleria (shopping centre) to see that the Julian Graves is now a Holland and Barrett! And it has buy one get one half price on everything (permanently according to the member of staff I spoke to), so I got a few things I had had my eye on for ages.

Wheatgrass and Spirulina to add to smoothies and stuff (getting a bit carried away with the old green smoothie possibly) and some flavoured rice milk. I have read a few times that those things are good for smoothies- the Spirulina is about 50% protein, plus lots of other vitamins, so seemed a good idea to give foods a little boost. I liked the plain rice milk but those flavours sounded so good I had decided already I would try them if they were on offer.

Well, I was hot and tired when I got home, and so I decided to make a smoothie- 1/2 frozen banana, cherries, the nutty milk and 1 tsp (yes, teaspoon) of spirulina.

It was a very very dark colour indeed. And it was so salty, and smelled sort of fishy. I got a bit paranoid and had to read and re-read the packet- yes it was vegetarian and vegan, no it did not contain fish or fish oils or anything. Anyway, I could not finish it and spent the rest of the day feeling like I had swallowed seawater. I did eat quite a bit of milk chocolate, but that did not take the taste away. So, any ideas on how to disguise it will be gratefully received!

The rice milk was lovely (I tried some on it’s own, also in an attempt to get the taste of the sea out of my mouth), but then I also had it in porridge and found it too sweet.

I also got a bargain when shopping! Hooray that Whitards were having some kind of crazy 3 for 2 deal, with a load of stuff also 25% off.

Tea pyramid! I got some Chai, Spice Imperial (black tea with orange and spices), Mango black tea and vanilla black tea. Plus some freebies- all for £7! Wow!

As for exercise, yesterday I did some yoga before breakfast (I am still rubbish at it, but I can see that it will help build strength too), and then had a little walk.

Today I went into London to meet some friends (I managed to get very lost outside Kings Cross Station- they are doing loads of building work and I came out of a different exit and walked for about 15 mins in totally the wrong direction before I rang Andy and got re-directed!)- I also walked back from the station and it was so hot outside- by the time I got home I was tired! Anyway, I was thinking of having a run this afternoon, but I run worse in the afternoon anyway, and it is warm, so I am going to go out tomorrow after breakfast. Fingers crossed. Anyway, with all the walking today my legs feel fine- the tightness in my ankles/ calves/ shins/ whatever it was has completely gone, so I am thinking it will be OK tomorrow.

I am also getting a bit obsessed with tahini! This was my lunch from the other day- some roasted veggies (the ones that did not go in the BBQ salad) and tahini on rye bread. Sooooo good 🙂

So, any ideas on how to disguise the salty fishy taste?

And have you ever bought something you had seen (on TV/ adverts/ blogs etc) and regretted it right away?

I must learn by my own mistakes I suppose!