Saturday, May 9, 2015

Wildflower Adventure!

I don't know who talked me into doing the Wildflower Long Course.  ALL 70.3 miles of it.  I think it was mostly Jeff.  I outta...give him a huge hug and kiss!  Man!  What an experience.

That's the thing about Wildflower.  You don't get out of it with out the experience of it.  It's not just a race you show up to, race it, and go home with a shiny medal and a T-shirt.  You walk away with so many memories, not just of the race, but of the entire event and all that surrounds it.  Wildflower was one of the hardest races I have done, but it was also one of the best races I have been to.

Months ago, my sister Michelle had started raising money for me to do another big event.  Thanks to her, and some very generous donations I was able to sign up for Wildflower.  Jeff must have been feeling very generous, because he donated himself as well.  He signed up to do the Long Course too!  And then we were off to train!  It was a huge help that we were both training for it.  When I had done Ironman, it had strained our relationship some, as I was always gone training.  Everything had revolved around Ironman.  But with us BOTH doing it, we were able to support one another and share it every day.  We encouraged each other, we understood what the other was dealing with.  Overall, it really grew our relationship for the better.  Oh, and Easton.  He trained us both.  He ran with one of us almost every day.  He made me a better runner, for sure!

Coach Easton making sure I log those miles!

There were obstacles along the way.  I separated my shoulder in a bike crash.  I had no desire to ride outside for months.  Thankfully, Jeff was very supportive and helped ease me back into road riding, but it has been a journey, and I am still a total chicken downhill.  Along with the reluctance to ride outside, I also couldn't swim.  Going into Wildflower, I hadn't done more than 2000 meters, and even that was a struggle.  But what I have learned about myself is what I lack in physical ability I make up for in mental strength.  So I was really banking on some heart and courage out there!

Heading up to Wildflower, I was nervous but excited.  I am a real creature of habit, so it's hard for me to leave my home, my animals, my controlled environment.  But I was really looking forward to whatever Wildflower had in store for us!  Our friends had showed up on Wednesday, so we had a spot saved for us to camp right next to them.  Upon arrival, we realized that we had no idea how to set up our tent.  It was one we hadn't used before, and thanks to some help we did manage to get that beast up, but quickly discovered the door's zipper was broken!!  HA!  For the rest of our trip, we had to crawl out of the tent.  But when you get there, a lot of things just don't matter any more.  You are surrounded by all this beauty.  And the people we were with were just awesome.  In fact, everyone you meet up there is awesome.  I'm not sure how that works, but it's a true statement.

The day of the race, surprisingly, I was not that nervous.  I think I know that by the day of the race, all I needed to do(or needed to do and wasn't able to do), is done.  Now, all I can control is HOW I live the day.  I know I will struggle.  I know I will not give up.  So you just get in the water and you don't stop until you finish.  You break it off into small portions and that's how you get through it.  So, I got in the water, and despite my lack of training, I managed to pull off a 34 minute swim.  1.2 miles.  Not too shabby.  The lake was gorgeous.  I never got uncomfortable.  No one beat me up or swam over me.  And when someone grabbed my legs, I kicked.  Hey.  Don't grab my legs.  We all have a fear of drowning, on some level!  Out of the water, you run up a huge ramp and you get your shoes on to run to your bike transition.  It's a weird feeling, and it makes the race that much more challenging, but that's what Wildflower is about!

 Jeff and I pre race

I felt great getting on my bike.  I knew this would be my favorite part.  Cycling is my thing.  I LOVE it.  And I LOVE hills!!  Uphill, that is.  And Wildflower is known for being extremely challenging.  I was up for it.  Let it be known, that I have never, once, gone on to my small ring.  And, yes, I only have two in the front.  Big and small.  Never.  Not once.  I have done Great Western Loop on my big ring.  I have done Cabrillo, and Soledad, and Alpine, and Honey Springs, and Fury, and all those challenging hills in San Diego on my big ring.  And so I knew I was prepared.  But I was not.  Wildflower smacked me right across the face and handed me some of the biggest hills I have faced.  And I had no idea how to get into my small ring!  I had to pull over to the side of the road to figure it out!  But, thank G-d for that small ring!  I'm not telling you about the big ring to brag, I'm not.  I'm telling you so that you know exactly HOW hard that bike is.  It is a humbling, rewarding, challenging bike course.  If you don't have hair on your chest, you will grow some after that ride!  But it's really hard to feel like you are struggling with the beauty you are surrounded by.

So, you get off your bike and your legs are toast and then you are presented with a run.  And it's not a "run."  It's a trail run.  And after that bike, it's hot and you are depleted.  I decided to eat some pretzels while I walked out of transition.  Poor life decision.  And at that very moment I hear Bob Babbitt screaming, "Go Coeur!!"  And I am walking.  Major fail.  I got my butt in gear real quickly after that!  But despite the fact that I am a trail runner, not a road runner, I found myself walking up most of the hills.  I have never walked in a race.  But this is Wildflower, my friends!  I ran into a girl a couple miles in.  We chatted and then vowed to finish the race together.  She was a G-dsend.  We pushed one another, supported each other and we crossed that finish line together!  What a win for women in triathlon.  That's how you do it.  You stick together!!  And when we crossed that finish line, they put a nice cool towel on your back and they give you strawberries.  Best strawberries ever.  Ever.

When you finish Wildflower, if it doesn't finish you first, you are in a little blur.  Maybe it's part dehydration, and part disbelief of what you just accomplished, but I was just in my own little world for a bit.  Did that just happen?  How did I not die?  Is this a real thing?  Where am I?  Where's Jeff???  I wandered around the expo for a while where everyone you meet is your best friend, and then did manage to partially stumble/float my way to the finish line for the best part of the day: Jeff crossing the finish line!!  Proudest wife.  That man trained every day he planned to.  He was so determined and he is proof that if you set your mind and heart to something, you can do it!
After the race.  Wine never tasted so good!



My Coeur kit was awesome and I hardly notice it at all.  I was thankful for the pockets to carry my stuff and the material kept me cool(as cool as you could be on a hot day!)  There was no chafing and everything stayed put.  I have the tan lines to prove it!  Along with the Coeur kit, there was a great support system of Coeur girls!!!  They really are the best and you automatically feel like they are your sisters.  I used Picky Bars and my own homemade granola bars on the course, along with Osmo for hydration.  All in all, I was very happy with my race.  It was my first 70.3(I've done Sprints and an Ironman) and it was a distance I really enjoyed.  I finished in 6:37, and placed 19th in a group of about 65 women.  I am looking forward to doing it again, training appropriately, and kicking some Wildflower butt next year!!
 
Coeur kit was a huge part of ensuring a great race.  www.coeursports.com

 I'm seeing that this is turning into a novel, so let me wrap this up.  I could write so much more, because so much more happened.  I will say this, Wildflower is no joke.  Not for the faint of heart.  If you are physically a strong triathlete, this is a great challenge for you.  But what you need to pack a lot of is heart and courage.  You will need to be physically strong, but you will also need to be stubborn, relentless, and tough.  It will be one of the hardest tris you ever do, but you will walk away with great friends, great memories, and the experience of a lifetime.  Oh, and a sunburn.  You will walk away with an awful sunburn.  Wear your SPF!

Yes, I wore sunscreen.  No, it wasn't enough.
After a luxurious swim in the lake.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Ask, and you shall receive...A few of my FAVORITE recipes...

If you know me, you know I LOVE to bake.  But, I also love to cook.  The thing is, I am much less inclined to try challenging cooking recipes.  But, I have come a long way in both areas and now I get a lot of questions about recipes, both of the sweet stuff and the whole-food-good-for-you type.  Last year, my resolution was to make my own soups for lunch.  So I tried out a bunch of different kinds, and found a favorite.  I can eat it every day.  I also have become more adventurous with cooking.  The requirements for cooking is that it be easy, healthy and delicious.  The requirements for baking is that it be fun and amazing.  I wanted to extend some of my favorites to you.  The cooking recipes are, for the most part, whole foods only, nothing processed, gluten free, dairy free, sugar free and nutritious.  I hope you enjoy some of these!!

Rosemary Chicken and Red Potatoes

 2.5 lbs Chicken Breast
2 tbsp Olive Oil
Rosemary
1 tbsp Garlic
Salt or alternate seasoning
1 tbsp Paprika
1 tsp Pepper
3-4 Red Potatoes

Heat oven to 425
Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.  Toss chicken and potatoes to coat.  Place in a glass cooking dish, separating potatoes in one and chicken in another.  The potatoes go in first and cook for 15 mn.  Then, add chicken and cook for another 35 mn, or until potatoes are soft and chicken is cooked thoroughly.

This is a delicious dinner, super easy and saves well if you have leftovers.  You can also pair it with rice, add to a salad or pasta.  You can play with the seasonings to your personal taste.  I LOVE garlic and paprika so I add more.



Black Bean Sweet Potato Soup

1 Carton Veggie Broth, or Chicken Broth.  Low sodium preferred
1 Large Can of Diced Tomatoes.  Fire roasted works well.
1-2 cans of Black Bean.  Low sodium preferred.
1 Sweet Potato, roughly peeled and diced
1 Green or Red pepper, chopped to your liking
1 tbsp minced garlic
1/2 Red Onion, diced to your preference
Cilantro, chopped.  As much or as little as you want!
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Cumin
1 tbsp Taco seasoning, or whatever seasonings you like.  I sometimes use Chili Pepper, Cayenne, paprika...


In a large pot, add olive oil and and onion and cook down for about 5 minutes, then add garlic for another minute.
Add sweet potato and green pepper for and cook for 5 minutes.
Add balck beans, tomatoes, broth and seasonings.  Simmer for about 30 minutes, or until sweet potatoes are soft.  Add cilantro towards the end.

Super easy, very satisfying and makes enough for 1-2 weeks worth of soup!!  I have also added kale, carrots, and different kinds of beans, or even chicken!  Make it your own!



Homemade Granola Bars

1 2/3 cups rolled oats
1/3 c wheat pastry flour, or use gluten free flour if desired
1/3 c raw honey
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 c coconut oil
1/2 of a chocolate bar roughly chopped
1/2 cup nuts
1/2 cup dried fruit.  I love dried cranberries!

Heat oven to 350.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
Mix coconut oil and honey together.  Add in oats and flour.
Fold in chocolate bar, nuts and dried fruit.
Spread mixture onto baking sheet.  I only use about half of the baking sheet, so the granola bars are thicker.
Bake for about 20 minutes, or until desired texture is reached.  I prefer mine softer.

I play with this one a lot!  Sometimes I just get trail mix from Sprout's and use that.  As long as it is about a cup, use whatever excites you!!  I eat these as a snack, or as fuel on long rides or runs.  If you make them crispy, you can break them up and use them as cereal or a topping for yogurt, fruit, etc.

PERFECT Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt.  I use Kosher.
2 sticks real butter, softened.  Important!  Use REAL butter!
2 eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 cups chocolate chips.  Semi-sweet, milk chocolate, butterscotch, white chocolate.  Whatever you like!

Heat oven to 350.
Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  Add eggs, vanilla and beat until completely smooth.
Mix in flour and baking soda until combined.  Do not over mix.
Fold in chocolate chips.
Drop about 1 tbsp of dough, about 1-2 inches apart onto cookie sheets.  Each cookie sheet will hold about 12 cookies.
Bake for about 10 minutes, until cookies begin to look golden on the bottom.  Take them out before they are too brown.

I have played with so many different cookie recipes, until I finally figured this one out!  It makes the perfect soft and chewy cookie.  It really doesn't get much better then a fresh cookie, out of the oven, all soft and chewy and PERFECT!

....And now.  If you have come this far...I am about to disclose two recipes that I receive a lot of compliments on.  The Fruit Crisp, and the Pumpkin Cheesecake.  I was reluctant to share, but I think that you should be able to enjoy these with out me, if you want.  Or, feel free to bake them and bring me your version.  I promise I wouldn't mind!!!

Fruit Crisp

6 cups of fruit.  Apples are my go-to, but berries, peaches, or any other fruit can work too!  Apple and cranberry is a great combo, and so is strawberry blueberry!
1/2 cup sugar.  If you use apples, try brown sugar.
1 tbsp Cornstarch
1 tsp Lemon Juice.  Meyer lemons are perfect if you can find them.
1 tbsp Cinnamon if using apples

3/4 c flour.  For gluten free, use gluten free flour.  Cup For Cup is a great one.
1/2 c Rolled Oats
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 tbsp butter
1/3 cup sugar

Preheat oven to 375.
For the filling: Mix fruit, lemon juice, sugar and transfer to an 8" baking dish.
For the topping: Cream softened butter and sugar.  Add in oats, flour, baking powder and salt. Mixture will be a rough texture.
Sprinkle the topping onto the fruit.  You can make little clumps so it's kind of a streussel topping.
Bake until bubbling in the center, about 1 hour.

This is super-easy, and not as high-calorie as a pie with a crust.  It's easy to serve, and if you add ice cream, everyone will remember you until the end of time!

Okay...here it is.  I have been making this for years now.  It started as a recipe I stole from a doctor at work.  Then, I got adventurous and started playing with it.  I think I have perfected it.  It now stands alone amongst any dish.  When Thanksgiving arrives, we all start talking about it.  When you eat it, you just melt.  I have never seen so much love for a cheesecake, as this one.  It is worth the time, and the energy, to see people eat this.  I swear I have more friends now, just because of this cheesecake.  You might think, "It's just a cheesecake."  No.  It's not.  It's pure magic, I promise.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Graham Cracker Crust:
2 cups graham cracker crumbs.  Don't buy the already crushed crumbs.  Go big.  Buy the graham crackers and crush them yourself.  More love, more flavor and more fun to crush them!
1 stick melted butter
3 tbsp sugar.  Brown sugar brings more flavor and makes it chewier.  If you like a crispier crust, use white
Cinnamon, to taste.  You don't HAVE to, but come on...

Crush crumbs, add sugar and cinnamon.  Mix in melted butter and combine.  Press into a cheesecake pan, making sure to come up on the sides.  I dump it all in the pan, get my hands wet, and work my way out.  Set pan aside.  Move onto the magic.

Pumpkin Cheesecake:
1 1/4 lbs of cream cheese(about 3 boxes) softened to room temp(leave out of the fridge for about 4 hours to soften)
1 1/4 cup sugar.  I use about 1 cup of brown and 1/4 white.
1 tbsp flour
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp Allspice
Nutmeg, if desired
1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup sour cream
4 large eggs
1 cup pumpkin

Preheat oven to 350.
Place cream cheese in large bowl and beat with a mixer for 1 minute.  Use a spatula to scrape down the sides.
Add sugar and mix for another minute.
Add in flour and spices and beat for 1 minute.
Add in vanilla and sour cream and mix until incorporated.
Beat eggs in a separate bowl, then slowly beat into the mix.
Add pumpkin last and mix until combined.
Pour into the cheesecake pan and put in the oven, on a baking sheet, in the middle rack.
Bake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour, until the middle looks set, and not liquid.  Then, turn oven off and leave the cheesecake in the oven for another 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes, open oven door, and let sit for another 15 minutes.  Remove and let cool.  Refrigerate for at least four hours, to over night.  The longer you let it cool in the fridge, the more "set" the cheese cake will become.  Ideally, it's the best when refrigerated over night.

There it is!!!  In all it's glory.  The best cheesecake.  Ever.  The original recipe calls for heavy whipping cream instead of sour cream.  I prefer the sour cream because it gives the cheesecake more of a sour, tangy flavor, while the heavy whipping cream seems flat.  Also, the brown sugar is a recent change, because the molasses of the brown sugar really gives it a nice, rich flavor and pairs really well with the pumpkin.  The original recipe called for ginger and cloves, but I find these spices really overtook the cheesecake and made it taste too much like a cookie, and less like a cheesecake, so I prefer cinnamon, Allspice and sometimes a dash of nutmeg.  But, play with it to find what you like.  I sometimes add a whipped topping, mixing heavy whipping cream white sugar, and cinnamon.  You don't need it, but it sure is good!

Well, phew!  There it is!  A few of my favorite recipes.  As you can probably tell, I'm all about balance in life.  I eat pretty well, but I also believe in enjoying the sweet things in life on occasion.  I really hope you can try some of these, and share them with your loved ones, friends, and family.  Let me know how it goes for you!!!!  And if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask!  Enjoy!