Category: General ramblings

Pink porridge!

Evening all!

I enjoyed reading the comments from yesterday about things you have achieved that you never thought was possible. It seems I am not alone in my brain taking time to adjust my mindset.

Today started with pink porridge!

Ok, it looks weird. It was porridge with raspberries and a little bit of crunchy pb (that is all the funny coloured brown bits). I took inspiration from the dorset raspberries and cranberries porridge packets when I found seom frozen raspberries in the freezer. And I remembered they have a bit of iron in them, so bonus there too 🙂

After work I headed out for a run, again in the wonderful sunshine. Love it! I was due for either 6 or 7 miles, so I went for a 6 mile loop with a view that if I was feeling ok I would add the extra mile today, and if not I would do it on wednesday. Well, buy the 5 mile mark I was finding it tough, I was thirsty (despite lots of water at work and some right before I left) and my shins started hurting a bit. So I was sensible and came home. I think my legs can still remember the 14 miles from saturday. In fact I was pretty good- the 10k took me 64 minutes, and this included time to cross roads etc. I tried to pick up the speed once my legs were warmed up, and I think I managed it (have not uploaded my run yet) but I was pleased with the time anyway.

Dinner was some of the lentil and cannelini bean chilli that I made yesterday (it was tasty but so spicy) with some cheese oatcakes. I was too hungry to stop and take a picture-oops.

So, who was out enjoying the sunshine today? It was light ’til so late here today- the daffodils are all out and spring is on it’s way (even though I did have to defrost my car this morning, hmm).

14 miles

I think I am getting less and less creative with my post titles!

I am loving having muesli cooked as porridge (there is some pumpkin in there to explain the orange tint). Yummy seedy porridge.

The weather was so much better today- a bit cloudy but not too windy and not freezing, plus no rain. I went out 90 minutes after breakfast, and I think I could go out sooner than that. I was listening to marathon talk and they did a prize draw for their February challenge (Febulous)- all the people that took part went into the draw, and they drew out my name! I was so excited! I had to text Andy while I was running (along a wide empty pavement don’t worry) as I was not even ten minutes into my run and he was off to watch football so would be gone when I got back. I am so excited! What is funny is that I go to the website to download it, but never read the shownotes- if I had read them my name is actually there. But I am glad as I loked the surprise! (I have won an addidas mi-coach, not sure what that is but sounds exciting).

Anyway, the first 7 miles passed much quicker than last week (in my mind, not actually) and I was feeling good that I reached the half way point feeling fine. I had some shot bloks at 7, 10 and 12 miles, but from mile 10 the going got tough. There is a hill towards the end (the top of the hill means I have one mile to go until home) and that hill was awful today.

But anyway, I made it home, tummy grumbling and hips stiff, but having run all the way. It took me 2 hrs 47 minutes, but this has given me some hope. Over the bank holiday weekend me and Andy are going away (it is my 30th that weekend) and there is a 20 mile warm-up run, but there is a 4 hour cut off. Doing this run today (which I think was actually over 14 miles, maybe 14.5) has shown me that I would have over an hour to do another 6/5.5 miles, which I should be able to do- what do you guys think? Should I attempt it?

I have been stretching, foam rolling, wearing my compression socks, did a blast of cold water in the shower (I read that the reason this is supposed to work is because the cold constricts the blood vessels, and then when you warm up after the blood vessels dialate and encourage the blood flow to help recover etc), and also refuelling. Lots.

Strawberry soya (tasted like a kids drink- very sweet) and lovely nakd bar to get me through my shower!

Bean burger (I made these the other week so I defrosted one overnight) in a food doctor pitta with some roasted beetroot and caramelised onion chutney. This went in the oven while I showered.

How I love this! Nectarine cooked in the microwave, rice pudding with a few choc chips (they melt in) and some pb. Mmmmm.

My first try of Jasmine Green tea. I have no idea what it tastes like, but I liked it.

I also made some more bean burgers as I realised what a great lunch they make!

Yes I am cooking them in the tray that cooked the beetroot earlier- saves on washing up and maybe enhances the flavour?

Right, I am off for more tea and maybe another snack as we are off out for dinner later, much later, and I think I will be starving by then!

🙂

Peanut butter blondies

I made these the other week and forgot to post the pictures- whoops!

They are from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar , and they are delicious- make them now! It took about 5 minutes to make the batter and pour it into a pan.

It only had 5 ingredients- peanut butter (that is how my tub of meridian crunchy pb is already half empty!), rapeseed oil, brown sugar, milk (they do not specify which dairy free one to use) and flour (I used wholegrain spelt). Stuff that is normally in the cupboard anyway 🙂 Actually the recipe did say to sprinkle peanuts over the top, but I left this part off as I didn’t have any peanuts not in butter form.

I was pretty pleased that they looked fairly similar to the picture in the recipe book.

And a fancy stack picture, just for fun!

Normally blondies have white chocolate in them (you know, like brownies are made with dark chocolate) but these ones are soooo good, they don’t need chocolate. Although a few chocolate chips would surely complement the pb flavour…..

Onto other things, body pump was great last night. I was back to the higher weights for most of the back track (that is still my limit but glad to get back there) and I also managed the abs track without going to my knees for the last bit. I have no idea of the technical bit, (the first bit is sit ups on a block and reverse curls) but for the last half of the track you are in a plank position with wide legs, and you have to go onto one arm and reach the other arm out to 12’0clock and then 6 0’clock position, and then swap to the other arm (12 and then 9 o’clock) which is the hardest abs move. Even harder than the plank rolling forwards and backwards. Normally I managed the first set, and then have to go to my knees for the second bit but I made myself do it all. 🙂

Also the weather today was so beautiful again- I am keeping my fingers crossed that it is alright for me tomorrow as I feel like I have had so many long wet runs recently.

I am so glad that friday is here- anyone have any nice plans at the weekend? I am going out for dinner on saturday with some friends- I am hoping that I will be not so worn out from my run that I am rubbish company! Perhaps I will be a good listener instead!

Miles after work

Evening all

Thanks for all the comments yesterday- in particular Alison reminding me to take it easy going back to work (and with the jump in mileage) and Jessica suggesting I look into why I am tired more on some days than others.

With the mileage I am going to be careful with the midweek runs, and cut them shorter or change harder sessions for gentler ones. I also think that I am more tired when I exercise in the evenings- I have always been an early bird so my ideal day is to get up, let breakfast go down a bit and then do some exercise. But in the week this is not practical, and my next best time is right after work but before dinner. I think that is why I am often tired at aerobics, as the class starts later (6.30,  so not that late) and I don’t have dinner until after, so perhaps I need to look at how to fuel this better.

Anyway, today was down for an 8 mile run. When I woke up I was a little stiff (not much, I could walk normally and everything but I could feel in certain movements that I had run a long way at the weekend) but by lunchtime I was feeling fine. After work I had a seed stacked flapjack (which I was excited to find for 59p each in Asda or something like that- bargain!!)- love these ! I left work fairly quickly, changed and headed out. At that point it was not actually raining, but that soon changed. The rain came down, the wind blew the icy rain into my face, my glasses fogged up a few times, and in the end I did about 7.6 miles or something like that. That was enough before the seed power ran out!

I was so hungry, and so had some cheese oatcakes to accompany my chickpea stew.

This was a tasty addition- and each time I have this stew I love it even more 🙂 Plus freezer meals are just the best- heat up in a pan while I have a shower- you can’t get easier than that! Anyway, now my legs are alright, tired, but not too stiff or anything, which I am relieved about as after runnnig that distance before I needed more time off running than one day.

I also had a pumpkin cookie and am happy to report that they taste amazing! Just like pumpkin pie, only in cookie form! Which is not a surprise as they have the same spices and such, but still, I am impressed.

Anyway, I am off to foam roll and enjoy more tea- night 🙂

Maria’s review of the week

(To be sung to the Harry Hill song- eg TV highlight of the week/ longest pig wee wee of the week/ TV expert of the week etc).

But first- my breakfast;

Heavenly! One packet of Dorset cranberry porridge made with coconut milk, and a sprinkling of dessicated coconut. Added in one peach which had been chopped up and microwaved, and a blob of pb. Amazing. I need to add peaches in to my porridge more often.

Hey guys!

Guess what- this review of the week is going to be brilliant!

I was totally prepared to make my runs shorter if I was feeling bad, but I also had an idea in my head of the ideal distance, and I managed them!

Monday- 6 mile steady run. Felt good- only planned to do a 5k but kept going.

Tuesday- Aerobics- took it a little easier but still managed most of the highest impact stuff.

Wednesday- 7.5 mile run- was going to do 6 miles at the most, but felt good so kept on going.

Thursday- Body pump- stayed away from the heavy weights during the back track, and struggled (more than usual) in the shoulders track, but enjoyed it. I had a walk that day too as my legs were stiff from the run the day before.

Friday- Originally was considering a short run, but decided to be sensible and rest to up my chances for the saturday run. Had a walk instead.

Saturday- 13 miles! I did it! I am still excited about this today. It was hard work (but I was expecting that),but I was so glad to complete it, psychologically as well as physically.

Sunday- rest day! And a nice walk.

This week has been a bit leap in terms of total miles- 27 miles run. My longest week before this was 22.5 miles, and that was a while back. So on reflection it was more important that I did not run on friday, but gave me legs a little rest.

I kept my compression socks on all night too, and my calves feel alright today. My hips were stiff on the walk, but not unbearable- I was worried I would be joining the ministry of silly walks, but I must be saving that for after the longer runs.

Today I have continued to get my bake on!

Yesterday I made pumpkin pie from my beloved Hummingbird book, and I had some pastry off cuts (I do not make pastry normally, sorry) so made a mini one too, which I tried, for quality control purposes of course.

Yummy- I totally love pumpkin pie and I don’t think it should be confined to autumn.

I had pumpkin left over, which meant one thing (mainly because I keep on forgetting to put it in my porridge)- cookies!

Pumpkin cookies from Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar . Reducing the pumpkin puree was a bit of a faff, but once that was done, the dough took 5 minuites to get together. Fab. The recipe calls for oat flour, but I could not be bothered to get out the mini chopper and so I used normal oats, and also it required corn starch (corn flour) which I did not have, so I left it out, but they seem fine. Also pretty low cal- 72 cals per cookie, as they have hardly any margerine in them.

I also had some evaporated milk left over (again from the pumpkin pie) and was searching the web for something to use it up in. Peanut butter fudge kept coming up, only the recipes required marshmallow fluff as an ingredient. Anyway, once this idea was in my head, I went for it.

In a pan went 2 cups sugar, 3/4 cup evaporated milk and 2tbs golden syrup, which I heated it up until it got to the soft ball stage on the sugar thermometer. Then I stirred in 4tbs smooth peanut butter, and 1tsp vanilla. I stirred it about a bit, then poured into a pan that I lined with greaseproof paper. It didn’t need long to cool (maybe 30 mins) so it is already cut up and in a tin.

It is not as crumbly as the fudge I normally make, and the peanut flavour is very strong, so I would perhaps reduce the amount I added in if I made it again. But anyway, a pretty good way to use up the leftovers.

So in keeping with my positive theme- what happened to you this week that was brilliant?

🙂