Monthly Archives: April 2012

April Race Recap: Race For The Cure

Milestones and Benchmarks

Originally, my plan called for a the 500 Festival 15k this month.  Unfortunately, I was sick that weekend and couldn’t race, despite how much I wanted to make it to the 15k this year.

I wasn’t feeling well the night before, took some medicine in hopes of feeling better, but was doubled over the next morning after trying to get ready for the race and it was clear I wasn’t going to make it happen.  I was really bummed.

So, I had to find a new April race.  Work had gotten pretty crazy and that coupled with being sick landed me with almost 2 weeks of no workouts at all thanks to working nearly every waking hour to get ready for Opening Night.  It was hard enough to find time to eat and sleep, there was no time at all for working out. So, I knew I needed to wait until we got through our first homestand to pick up a race.

That led me to this past weekend to choose a race.  I contemplated picking up the 8k in Carmel, but changed my mind after a really tough long run this past Wednesday.  As soon as I was reminded the Race for the Cure was on Saturday, there was no doubt that’s the one I needed to run this month.

Race for the Cure was the first 5k I ever ran, as a sophomore in high school.  I ran it with my high school softball team.  We ran it again the next year.  I remember a few things about running those races, but most of all I remember the pride I felt when they were over.  Without running those races in high school, I’m not sure I would have had the courage to start running last year.

So, I picked up the race this year, forgetting a little bit about how unlike any other race this is.  It’s unlike any other race because, for better or worse, it’s not typically runners.  That means a lot of really excited newbies and just a few crankies (of all ages… there was a 15 year old who could use a lesson in manners).  It meant tripping over walkers we lined up at the front, and mix-ups in timing tags and non-timing tags.

But, more inspiring, it meant seeing thousands and thousands of people walking for a common cause, for individuals and for themselves.

This year’s race was another milestone and another benchmark.

The last time I ran a 5k the entire way through was in high school, for the Race for the Cure.  This weekend, I ran the entire thing all the way through again.  It wasn’t the fastest 5k I’ve ever ran, in fact last month was quicker.   What it was, was a mental breakthrough.  I broke through the mental wall that I couldn’t keep running – that my body wasn’t capable of just running, that I had to take walk breaks.  Instead, I just kept running.

And, I can’t think of a better race to have broken through that wall.

April Race
3.1 Miles
11:46 pace
36:31 total time

Free Run

I was knock down, pass out exhausted today.

After pushing so hard the past few weeks to do everything, I hit my limit today. I could have fallen asleep while walking down the hall.

Just a reminder that you can’t do anything if you don’t take care of yourself.

But, with a 15k planned for this Saturday, I was overdue for a training run. Exhausted as I was, I hit the pavement for my first “free run” in probably a year. No watch, no heart rate monitor, not even any water. Just lacing up and running out.

It wasn’t a fast run by any means, nor was it a long run. But it was nice to zone out and listen to my feet, legs and the rest of me instead of watching the clock.

Dessert So Nice, I Made It Twice

Peanut Butter Bars: DELICIOUS!

This is anther Pinterest recipe courtesy of Six Sisters’ Stuff blog.

Five reasons I love this recipe:

1) These are no-bake.
2) No eggs means licking the batter spoon with no guilt.
3) Simple ingredients means no time at the store searching.
4) Not too rich, not too bland.  Just the right amount for dessert.
5) Chocolate + peanut butter… what’s NOT to love?

I made these on Wednesday night after I got home from my 8-mile run.  No, I’m not superwoman, these are just that easy to make.  They were demolished over the weekend with my in-laws in town and I promptly made another batch on Sunday night.  (Because when you have the 2 cups of graham cracker crumbs, there really is no excuse not to make more of these.)

No more selling, just make these.  They are fantastic.

Ingredients Needed:

1 cup peanut butter (I used Peter Pan Creamy)
1/4 cup peanut butter
2 cups graham cracker crumbs (I used boxed)
1 cup butter, melted
2 cups powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups milk chocolate chips
1 foil baking pan (I used 9 x 13)

Directions:

1) In a mixing bowl, combine 1 cup peanut butter, 1 cup melted butter, 2 cups graham cracker crumbs and 2 cups powdered sugar.  I mixed with my KitchenAid mixer.  Mix until well blended.

2) Press mixture in bottom on ungreased foil baking pan.

3) In a microwave safe bowl, melt chocolate chips and 1/4 cup peanut butter in microwave, stirring every 30 seconds.

4) Pour melted mixture on top of mixture already in pan.

5) Place in the fridge.  (I do this overnight.)

6) The next morning I pop the entire mixture in one sheet onto a cutting board.  The foil pan helps to pop the sheet out in one piece.  I cut into squares and put back in the baking pan.

**Note, keep these in the fridge to make sure they don’t melt again.  I made the mistake of keeping a few in my purse until dropping them off at my husband’s work at lunch and they were melted by that time.  He assured me the tasted fantastic after an hour in the fridge, but still… I’d keep them in the fridge next time.

Enjoy!