13.1 Miles + Easy BBQ Chicken

Good Evening!

Hope everyone had a fun, relaxing weekend. Mine was full of running...just the way I like it! Sunday I ran the Route 66 Half Marathon. It wasn't my best race but it certainly wasn't my worst. I was hoping to set a PR and when I didn't achieve that goal, I'll admit I was disappointed. I came in at 1:56 and that is certainly something to be proud of. Heck, just running 13.1 miles is something to be proud of. I think when we get so focused on racing and setting PRs, we forget what an amazing accomplishment it is to simply finish. The fact that we get out there and push ourselves is wonderful. No matter how far the distance, be it 1 block or 26.2 miles, we must remember to give ourselves a pat on the back for a job well done.

I was flying the first 10 miles of this race, cruising along at about an 8:20/mile pace. I was certain I was going to nail my PR. This was a hilly course. Rolling hills almost every half mile for the first 9 miles. Up and down, up and down. Those hills were eventually my demise. Around the 10 mile mark, my legs decided they had had enough of the 8:20 pace. They had had enough of the hills. They were really hurting. My legs hadn't felt like that during a half in foreevvvver. They just wouldn't go fast anymore and slowly but surely, my pace dropped to around 9:45/mile. Ugh. When the finish line was in sight and I saw my time, I was angry. Disappointed. I am sure there are some sweet race photos of me crossing that finish line with a truly pissed off look on my face. It's alright though. Not every race can be a PR. I know I will achieve my goal next time and like I said above, I still have a whole lot to be proud of!

Post race I wallowed around all day in my PJS, limped my way through the grocery store to get our weekly haul, then promptly passed out on the couch at about 6:00 pm only to wake up about an hour later, shove some pizza in my face, then go back to sleep. The post long run/race laziness is the best thing ever, I do believe.

I also ate some ice cream. If there is one thing you need to know about me, it's that ice cream is possibly my favorite thing of all time. It is definitely my treat after hard runs. Yesterday amongst the wallowing/eating/sleeping, I tried out Organicville's Dark Chocolate Ice Cream.

I had a coupon to use up and figured yesterday was the perfect day to take advantage of it. 

It was creamy with just the right amount of chocolate flavor. Even better it is made with skim milk, slashing some unnecessary calories and fat. Best of all, it is obviously organic. Delicious and organic. Perfect. 

Moving on to something a bit more savory, I wanted to share with you a chicken dinner I pieced together the other night. This meal is nothing unique or creative and it certainly isn't some culinary masterpiece but dang it, it was good and I want you to know about it. 

Before work the other morning, I randomly threw some chicken breasts and bbq sauce into the crock pot, not knowing exactly what I wanted to do with it. My bbq sauce is easy and way better than any of the bottled stuff with high fructose corn syrup. I simply mix together 1 cup ketchup (make sure it is HFCS free!), 1/3 cup maple syrup or honey (maple syrup will give you a thinner sauce, while honey creates a thicker consistency), 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar, and garlic and onion powder to taste.

Once home from work, I stir fried some green beans in the wok with a bit of Earth Balance, nutritional yeast, and pumpkin seeds. 

I then shredded the chicken and heated up some left over brown rice cous cous. Pilled it all together and called it a meal. 

You've got your whole grains with the cous cous, protein with the chicken, and a kick of vitamins with the green beans and nutritional yeast (which apparently I put on everything?). If you are not a fan of the meat, you could easily sub in some tofu or tempeh or even beans and still get your protein. 

On that note, I'm exhausted. That race is still taking its toll on me. I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends. I'll be snapping away and documenting every moment of mine and I look forward to sharing it all with you soon. 

Be Weal Well (I honestly just typed that...must go to sleep).

Ashleigh