After Thanksgiving Comeback

I was able to keep up my workout routine through my week off for Thanksgiving but my eating from Thanksgiving through the weekend was horrible. Seems the unifying ingredient for anything tasty, rich, and yummy is BUTTER, and I feel like I may have eaten a pound of it! But by Sunday I was craving salad. Weird how your body knows what it needs...sometimes we just need to listen. I did all my workouts last week:

Monday: Yoga and Strength Training
Tuesday: Since I was off, skipped Taebo and went on a long bike ride that was so beautiful my 30 minute workout turned into an hour
Wednesday: 3 mile run on my fave gravel road
Thursday: Supposed to be a day off, but I knew what I was about to eat, so I did a turkey trot with my dogs around the field at the farm
Friday: 2 mile run around field at farm
Saturday: Thankfully was a day of rest
Sunday: 4.5 mi LSR (Long Slow Run...for those of you who may not know)

My long run on Sunday seemed excruciatingly LONG. It was very humid and that tires me out quickly. I had to take several walking breaks and thought about turning back before I got to the 2.25 mile mark but I pushed through it and made all the mileage. I think the long bike ride on Tuesday did a lot of damage to my legs and they have been trying to recover all week because during all my runs after that, they felt like concrete pillars.

This Saturday Ean and I will be doing the Enmark Bridge Run. Doubt we’ll run much because Ean hasn’t done the proper training, but maybe it will inspire him to sign up for another and really train for it ahead of time. I’m just looking forward to the electricity of the crowd of 6,000 runners and walkers and to taking some great pics!

Deer Chili is Da Bomb

We had a healthy supper tonight that even my 2 guys loved, deer chili. You see, they don't realize how much better deer or venison,if you want to sound fancy, is for you compared to beef. But I read this article so I do. What also makes it taste so great is knowing that many of the ingredients such as the deer, tomatoes, and peppers were all home grown on our farm.
These are the ingredients: Ground deer, onions, pickled cayenne peppers from our garden, home canned tomatoes from our garden, large can of tomato paste, Carol Shelby's Chili Kit (contains chili powder, mesa flour, ground cayenne, and salt), a can of pinto beans, and a can of dark red kidney beans.


This is the finished product with some crispy baked cornbread.

Scenery from a Bike Ride

A GORGEOUS day for a bike ride. This is also the same place I do my running. I enjoy the rural views and quiet landscape. I have seen deer, turkeys, and wild hogs on runs and bike rides on this road.







This is a killer hill to run up and bike up...which may have killed our little friend below. :(


Remains of a opossum

almost done now...I can see my little blue truck in the distance


NOTE: These pics were not taken with my DSLR. They were taken with my little point and shoot Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX12 that only has 7.2 megapixels. My mom gave it to me a few years ago---THANKS MOM!!! It's easier to transport and takes fabulous landscape pics. I love the way the sky looks in the pics above. I'll be using this little camera when Ean and I do the Bridge Run in December.

Pre and Post Workout Snacks

So this is what I've been eating before and after my workouts lately. I generally don't drink a protein shake unless I have a really hard workout and I think I need some good stuff to repair the damage I've done to my muscles. Today I went on a long--60 minute, hard--lots of hills, 6.5 mile bike ride. This is what I ate before leaving to give me the energy to make it: toasted one of these...which I LOVE for all kinds of sammiches...from peanut butter to chicken to burgers! I smeared a little apple butter on them, just because it's so cinnamony good. Then when I got back, I took these items: Scoop protein powder, tbsp flaxseed meal, sprinkle of cinnamon and nutmeg, and a whole pre-baked sweet potato blended together with a cup of skim milk. I call it my sweet potato pie protein shake. YUMMIO!

Favorite song right now

Absolutely the BEST song out right now. You cannot be still when this is playing! I drive my hubby CRAZY dancing around to this! Also makes you run really fast...with a smile on your face!

New Running Music

Downloaded the new Coldplay album yesterday before my long run.

I felt like I was in "para para paradise" and "up with the birds". It made those 4.5 miles fly by!

Check out my new blog site

http://cliftonfarmadventures.blogspot.com/

Here you will find pictures of the farm and the adventures we have there. I will do my best to update it at least monthly.