Sweating in the kitchen

Vegetable and brown rice paella.  Yummy!  I will not make this again until the hot weather is gone.  I was sweating bullets in my kitchen as I made the poor choice of cooking this a few weeks ago.  The recipe is from of all places Shape Magazine.  And I confess I tore it out of a magazine at work.  At least I left the magazine.

6 cups low sodium vegetable broth

1/8t saffron

1t paprika (add more)

1/4 t cayenne pepper (add more)

1/2 salt

1T olive oil

1 md onion, diced

1 red bell pepper, sliced

2 cloves of garlic, minced (i always add extra garlic)

2 medium tomatoes or 4 plum tomatoes or 1 14 ounce can of low-sodium diced tomatoes

1 1/2 cups short-grain brown rice

1 small bunch thin asparagus, cut into 2-inch lengths

6 canned artichoke hearts, halved

1 cup frozen peas

Nutrition: 

Serving: 1.5 cups

285 calories

4g fat

54g carbs

  7gm fiber

9g fiber

77mg calcium

3mg iron

511mg sodium

Why I don't and won't road race

Static Stats:
Running: 30 minutes
Still in love with running

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwcmSrBKvlc

This is a video of my cycling friend crashing yesterday. She's the one in the yellow who started the whole crash. Take the time to watch and discuss. The person who filmed the race has embedding disabled. Therefore, I am unable to post the video.

SERIOUSLY WATCH IT!

yummy!!

My new addiction is so pretty I had to share. Its gotten too hot to cook in my un-air conditioned kitchen. Last week L. and I started making smoothies for dinner, breakfast, lunch and everything in between. This was today's breakfast post bike ride.

8 ounces vanilla soy milk
1/2 cup frozen strawberries
1/2 banana
1/2 cup mixed frozen berries

POSER

Static Stats:
cycling: 18 recovery miles
running: yesterday 7+
loving: running

You may have noticed that recently I've been posing as a cyclist. The truth is that I am a runner. Sometimes I dabble with the idea of becoming a cyclist. I've even thought of joining a cycling team. While at the match sprint races at the track all I kept thinking in my head was "I'm a runner, what's wrong with these people." Don't get me wrong everyone I've met through cycling is super nice. Its just that they are super obsessed. Don't tell them that there is more to life than carbon and gear ratios. The endless chain of emails I receive about racing and training are enough to send me back to my solo runs. I will still wear my cycling disguise from time to time but its only that a disguise. I am a runner.

Getting schooled at the track (i'm in last place)

Blackberry Thumb

Static Stats:
Running: training for 1/2
Riding: staring in fear at my track bike

This week has brought about an interesting injury. Your gonna like this one. I have blackberry thumb. Basically its tendinitis in my thumb. Tendinitis is a result of overuse. I have been over using my thumb via text messaging and emailing using my blackberry. I have trouble opening things and my thumb actually hurts.

Initially I thought I had arthritis. I'm glad to know its not the case. I can't believe how old I've been feeling lately. It takes forever to recover from a hard effort on the bike or during a run. I think I'm beginning to feel the affects of having been relatively active all my 32 years.

An Olympian, a track and a lottery winner

Static Stats:

Running - 5 miles

Riding - Match sprints at Kissena Track

Today was such a great day!  I won the lottery!  Not the kind that gives you money, but the kind that allows you to pay and train to run the NYC 1/2 Marathon.  It was a great start to my day.  They haven't actually posted yet, but I was charged and my name says accepted beside it.  I really wanted to get into this one.  I was going to train for another 1/2, but it would mean traveling.  Its certainly fun to travel for races, but that takes winning a different kind of lottery.  Training begins now, as I have 8 weeks to get ready.  I can't wait!!!

Onto the Olympian.  There was an Olympic track star that raced with us today.  Her name is Liz Reap.  I'm not so sure why she raced with us.  She didn't even race with the men.  I had a hard time clapping and be excited for her as she won the women's match sprint.  Anyhow, she seemed super nice and man you should see her legs!

The part of this post you have all been waiting in for is the track report.  First off let be say I had so much fun while I was actually racing.  Secondly, there isn't much racing going on at a match sprint.  You sit around until its your turn to race.  I actually only raced 3x.  I was pretty close to being the slowest one out there.   I plan on going back tomorrow night.  I'll post pictures soon!