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!

Gorgeous run

Evening all

I was so excited when I saw the weather forecast for today- no rain yippee!

Yesterday I had aerobics and I had my normal amount of energy- I appreciated the comments from the other day (pumpkin cookies all round I feel) and do think I need to make sure I eat a bit more in the day to fuel the workouts and so before aerobics I had a stoats blueberry flapjack with some fruit, and also some green tea with lemon.

This (I think) was my first try of green tea, and I quite liked it. I think it kind of tasted like normal tea, but a bit lighter. It did not taste like grass cuttings (as some of my colleagues helpfull informed me!). Anyway the extra seemed to help, and I felt like I was back to my normal self. I was worried that the long run on Monday would make it harder, but I was fine. I have also been foam rolling each evening (got out of the habit when I was ill) and I really think it helps.

On to today. I had time out the classroom this afternoon, so I took a few snacks with me- some extra fruit and nuts (and another lemon green tea). Then after the staff meeting I had a trek cocoa brownie (thanks nakd freebie fairy/ pixie) before heading home.

My run was lovely 🙂 The weather was perfect- it was still sunny when I left home at about 5.20, and the sun was behind some buildings so it wasn’t blinding me. The air was cold, which was refreshing, and although by the end it was dark, it was not too chilly. I even left the gloves at home! 6.2 miles took me 64 minutes- I attempted a sort of fartlek style run in the middle- never sure if this ends up slowing me down as I slow down more to recover! Anyway, I really enjoyed the run and it made me think again- when I did the half marathon in the summer (learning lessons from the previous one where I carried on with my normal routine after and almost collapsed on a 10 mile run the following weekend) I did not go to aerobics, and on the wednesday I tried a gentle run. I know I took the 13 miles slower at the weekend but I am pleased that I managed to keep up with the routine- it was one of the things I was most nervous about when starting marathon training as I have needed time to recover from long runs before. So I am being positive 🙂

I had my courgette lentil lasagne for dinner with some cheese- could not be bothered to get the grater out I am afraid! (it does not look that appetising)

But I promise you, it tasted lovely. The courgette stayed crunchy, and the tomato quinoa was tasty. I do think that some kind of tofu tomato layer would make it amazing, so next time I make it I will attempt some kind of concoction.

I also must share another tasty snack (I have been a bit snap happy this week it seems)

Yummy coconut and cherry cereal (check out the most enormous dried cherries ever!!!!) with chocolate alpro. Yummilicious.

Question- Favourite running weather?

I think mine would be those sunny but cool autumn/ spring days. I find the heat saps my energy and the cold makes my legs stiff (am I fussy or what?) but the days where you go out and warm up, but the air is cool enough so you don’t get too hot, I just love. And of course the sunshine is very important too- got to get me some vitamin D.

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?

🙂

13 miles and ways to recover

But first a pic of my pudding last night- a brownie cupcake- still gooey in the centre- perfect!

So 13 miles was the plan. Well, actually the plan was for 13 miles last week, and 10 miles this week, but I decided that I would push the 13 miles back to this week (the 10 mile weeks are “recovery” weeks I suppose, so not as important).

I was so so nervous about this run. I planned a route last night (www.mapometer.co.uk) which was similar to a route I did when training for my half marathon last year. I have only run this distance twice before, on each half, as I never got up to that distance in training. I was also nervous, as although I have been feeling loads better, I still have a little bit of a dull ache in my side (only when I need the toilet now) but I was worried about making things worse. Plus the weather was horrible- normal rain alternating with heavy rain- not the most motivating of runs.

So- it went like this- 8.30 up, wake up, get dressed, do some jobs and eat my porridge. Drink water. Wait for Andy to get back from his 10 miles. 11am- head out. For the first 6 miles, I convinced myself that I was dying for the loo. My route heads close to home about half way through, so I got through by convincing myself that I would stop at home, but then I realised that actually I was dripping wet and once I got inside I most probably would not carry on. So, the next 4 miles were ok, but my stomach was growling! I think I left it too long! I had 2 clif shot bloks with me, so had those, and that seemed to give me a bit more energy. But coming up to the 10 mile mark there is a horrible hill. To give myself more energy I had a packet of nakd lemon raisins (found at the back of the cupboard, best before October 2010 but they tasted fine)- sugary carbs mmmm. The last 3 miles were hard work- I had to focus a lot on lifting my feet off the ground so as to not trip over. My poor trainers were muddy (I risked the lake as part of my route which on the plus side is out of the way of cars splashing, but abundant with muddy puddles), I was soggy and tired. But by that point there is no way of cutting the run short, and I focused on the feeling of acomplishment I would get when I finished, as oppose to my ever stiffening hips.

Well, I made it. I got home at half 1, my run totalling 2 hours 33 minutes. This is slower than my previous long slow runs, but it is at the pace I should be aiming for. Mainly I was totally extactic to be home and to have completed the miles.

Now, how to recover? Normally I have a snack and wander around a bit, then shower, dry my hair and have lunch, but as it was already lunch time, I quickly had a little apple pie nakd bar and water, and then headed to the shower. I braved a long blast of cold water on my poor legs, and then stretched (lots of hip stretches) while Andy heated up some soup. I have also been trying out a new purchase of some compression socks.

I feel with the orange they look a lot like football socks! They even have a handy L and R to show which foot they go on (although Andy pointed out that this would not help me much haha!). In fact I was listening to marathon talk today (come on, I have not mentioned this in a few posts) and they were talking about recovery and a few people recommended compression gear.

The tips were; Refuel, rehydrate, stretch, keep moving, and possibly use compression gear.

I feel I refuelled ok- sometimes I lose my appetite, or I leave it too long and then have a bit of a blood sugar rollercoaster by compensating with sugary foods. Today I had a pitta and pb with the soup, plus a pear, clementine and some nuts. Later in the afternoon I had some cherries and a rice pudding with warmed up peach, a few chocolate chips and a bit of homemade choc pb.

This is so delicious. I love peaches with anything creamy (eg custard, yoghurt, soya yoghurt) and then adding in the choc chips and pb so they melted was amazing.

I have been trying to keep moving too- I made a pumpkin pie for tomorrow, and although I sat down to watch some TV after that, I kept wandering about (plus if you drink a lot of water you have to keep walking to the bathroom anyway- good tip). I also laid on the sofa with my feet up on the arm rest (shhh don’t tell)- trying to help the recovery.

At the moment I feel loads better than when I walked through the front door, and I have a nice day of rest planned for tomorrow (perhaps a walk in the mix) I am hoping I will be alright for my run on Monday.

I was also feeling quite emotional when I got home- 13 miles is such a long way and it marks the movement over to unknown territory. Until now, I knew I could complete my training runs as I have run those distances before, but from now on the miles are going up, and without the adrenaline and support from races. Plus the times that I ran those half marathons it took a while to recover from, as that was the end of the path, whereas now I am only half way to my end goal.

But anyway, I am focusing on one week (and one run) at a time. Now I am off for some dinner- a lovely mexican bean wrap and salad- mmmm.

So, how do you recover from your runs? How do you priotitise what to do first? Seriously as soon as I get through the door I need to collapse, stretch, shower, go to the bathroom, eat and drink! Too much to do!!