2012 Pajama 5K Recap

The Pajama Run  has is my favorite race in Charleston, and this year was my third year to run. The race fundraises for cancers below the waist: colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, etc. It starts at The Joe Riley stadium, loops around Hampton Park, and then ends with a pajama party.

This year we were sponsored by The Charleston Pickle Company! Amanda, Nikki, Kaye, Ashley, and Nikki’s baby Liam all donned CPC shirts for the run:

So many pickles and pickle juice shots for recovery.

This year’s race was special not only because of our awesome sponsorship, but because I really wanted to beat my PR. Last year I PR’d and got 2nd place in my age group with a time of 24:54. Since I have been running so much more lately, I was absolutely determined to shave off at least a minute.

Amanda and I started off pretty fast – much faster than I anticipated to run my first mile, but the energy of the crowd really helped. We both use the Nike + app that lets us know as we pass each mile. When we hit mile 1, we both looked at each other, smiled, and then suddenly our mouths just dropped. We had run it in 7:36, which is pretty damn fast for us. We sped up a tiny bit for the next 2.1 miles and BOTH finished with a new PR – 22:52 for me and 22:55 for her. We were psyched.

Even better, we won 2nd and 3rd place in our age group. Yay for medals!

DJ Natty Heavy also made his 3rd appearance at the Pajama Run after party. Look at that smile!

After the race, we were glowing with pride…and starving. To refuel, Amanda and I went to Sesame for lunch. Of course we started our meal with a celebratory drink. I had a Mandrin Mule: absolut mandrin, goslings ginger beer and fresh squeezed lime.

We split The Napa Valley chicken sandwich (fig & bacon jam, blue cheese, red wine reduction) and the Southwestern black bean burger (guacamole and chipotle sour cream). Sesame has a really great black bean burger and it’s huge!

The race was a lot of fun, I got to run with my best friends, and I’m so excited about my new PR. Great day all around!

**Huge thanks to Nathan/The Charleston Pickle Company for sponsoring us. We love your pickles and your support!!**

What’s your favorite race that you’ve run?

Are you signed up for any upcoming races? I’m currently signed up to for the Charleston 1/2 Marathon in January, the Color Me Rad Run in March, and will soon sign up for the Cooper River Bridge Run in April.

Charleston Half Marathon–I’m In!

Over the weekend I made a serious life decision: I am going to run the Charleston 1/2 marathon in January. I’m doing it, I’m doing it, I’m doing it.

And I’m going to do it right. With the proper nutrition and training plans, I’m sure to succeed. As you may remember, I really wanted to run the Clemson 1/2 this Spring, but hurt myself on a random long run. Without having run more than 3ish miles, I randomly ran 10 and hurt my IT band. I’m now running more often than I was back then, and can easily run 6-10 miles on any given day. That said, I’m still going to stick to a training plan so I don’t hurt myself.

Charleston Marathon Weekend, January 18-20, 2013:

• You choice of a 5K, 1/2 Marathon,  Marathon, or bike ride
• Health and fitness expo on Friday
• Pre-race dinner and entertainment on Friday night
• Local music and performance groups along the course
• Medals for all finishers (!)
• Post-race celebration
• Views of beautiful downtown Charleston

The race is in 72 days. I’m excited. Really excited! My girl Sierra is contemplating on coming to Charleston and running with me. Tell her she should!

This evening I picked up some books from the library so I can be fully prepared.

I have a million questions and I know you guys have answers...

Those of you have run 1/2 or full marathons before, give me your best advice! Tell me what to eat/not eat, what running gear I might need, other books I should read, or any other tips for the next 72 days. I’m all ears. Thank you!

Super Hero 5k and My Rosh Hashanah Teddy Bear Challah

Saturday morning, a few of us participated in the Super Hero 5k at the West Ashley Greenway to support Yoga Benefits Kids. I had made a pretty cool “Super Xteeny” shirt, but took it off because it felt like 90 degrees outside…which is why Boding is topless.

Though I didn’t break my PR, my time was 25:58 and Mary Legare and I won the same awards we won in the 2011 Pajama 5k. Mary Legare got 2nd place overall for females, and I got 2nd place in my age group. 2 for 2!

(Please note that is my cell phone in my tank top; I do not have deformed boobies.)

That afternoon, I made a Pumpkin Spicy Teddy Bear Challah. First, let me say this: baking bread is not an easy task. It took a long time, flour got everywhere, my manicure was ruined, and my kitchen was a disaster. But it was so worth it. Using the Pumpkin Challah recipe from The Shiksa’s blog, I shaped the dough into two teddy bears and used M&M's for eyes and buttons.

Did you know? You’ve probably seen braided challah, but for Rosh Hashanah, challah is made into rounds or spirals to symbolize the circle of life and the cycle of a new year.

I made the first teddy bear to bring over to a friend’s house Saturday evening. The Jew Crew was there so I had them judge my first one. Is this not the cutest thing EVER? I named him Elijah Orstein. All night long I kept wanting to say “Holla! For my challah!” but I controlled my urges.

The first teddy bear came out really dense because I did not let the dough rise long enough. Luckily, my second teddy bear that I was making for Rosh Hashanah dinner at Sean’s house came out great. It was soft, cinnamony, sweet, and delicious with drizzled honey. I was so proud I did not disappoint my Jewish family!

Thank you to the Lynches for having me over for another holiday dinner. I’m inspired to make babka next. : )

For which holiday do you enjoy baking/cooking?

What traditional foods do you make?

Fall 2012 Bucket List

First off, I’d like to give a shout out to Jane, one of my favorite bloggers, who writes In The Pink & Green. She’s got an awesome blog, writes well, has a great sense of style and seems like such a sweetheart. I hope to meet her one day! Yesterday she posted a Fall 2012 bucket list and inspired me to make my own.

Food

• Bake at least 1 new recipe with pumpkin
• Bake at least 1 new recipe with apples
• Make 1 new recipe per week using my CSA produce
• Use the double waffle iron I won on The Shiksa’s blog

Fitness/Health

• Run at least one registered 5k – the Pajama Run and/or the Reindeer Run
• Reduce sugar intake during the week, feel less guilty about indulging on the weekends
• Continue doing 30 pushups and/or 1 minute planks every hour at work with Dane

Education

• Attend a cooking class
• Read at least one book a week (I know, I’m crazy.)
• Go to the 30th Annual That BIG Book Sale
• Attend a Wine Awesomeness Wine School class

Fun

• Have a girls’ beach house weekend on IOP using the gift certificate Amanda & I won from the Bacardi contest
• Celebrate my baby brother’s 16th birthday – ahh!
• See Breaking Dawn Part II on November 16th…at midnight, of course
• Halloween!!

Travel

• Go to at least 1 college football game this  year
• Visit my family in Massachusetts
• Visit my grandparents in North Carolina

Fall officially starts September 22nd and ends December 21st. I have plenty of time to cross everything off!

What’s on your Fall bucket list?

What’s your favorite thing about Fall? I bet 50% of you are going to say PSLs….

The Friday Five: Fifty Shades, Bieber, i5K!

1. What I’m Reading: As I said last week, I’ve started Fifty Shades Darker. The second book is much more eventful.  I didn’t think it could be more dramatic.

Who’s started book #2? I’d love to hear what you think.

2. What I’m Listening to: Much later than most hormonal teenagers, I caught the Bieber fever. This song is catchy! Rachel described it perfectly: that Summer song that you want to listen to in the car with your windows rolled down.

3. What I’m Pinning:

4. Where I’m Running: Thursday evening, Steve and I ran the i5K downtown. Night runs are my favorite because it’s much cooler outside. Though it rained the entire race, I was happy with my time. My timer said 25:27 and the official race time said 25:35.  The speed demon to my right finished in 22:44!

Before the race:

I think the Twitpic sticker somebody slapped on me made me speedy.

Oh, and then there was a squirrel at the after party.

I also met two blog readers! Hi to Sarah and Moffett – thanks for introducing yourselves!

5. What I’m Eating: After the race, we went to La Pizzeria. Who doesn’t crave pizza and beer after a run? That crazy boy doesn’t eat crust! I, on the other hand, eat crust first and always request extra red sauce to dip it in. When the server asked if I wanted my leftovers in a box, Steve jokingly told him I loved crust and I might want to save his leftover crust too. The server took him seriously…

HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Southwest Meatloaf and Half Marathon Plans

Don’t be scared when you see a meatloaf recipe. Chances are, it’s not like the meatloaf you shuddered at in the cafeteria line. There are so many variations to this classic dish that you’d be surprised to find a modern-day recipe that’s anything like what those hairnet-donning women were serving you in grade school. Did you just shudder? I did.

Southwest Meatloaf

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. angus ground beef, 96/4 extra lean
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels
• 1 4 oz. can fire-roasted diced green chiles
• 1/4 cup skim milk
• 2 large egg whites
• 1 tsp. ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp. chili powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground pepper
• 1 oz. goat cheese, crumbled

Preheat oven to 350*. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, mixing lightly. Add meat mixture to a greased loaf pan and press down to smooth top. Crumble goat cheese atop loaf. Bake for 55 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165*. Let rest for 20 minutes until slicing. Makes 4 servings.

Black Bean Salsa

Ingredients:

• 1 14.5 oz. can of diced tomatoes with green chilies, drained
• 1 15.5 oz. can of no salt added black beans, drained
• 1 clove of garlic, finely minced
• 1/2 tsp. ground cumin
• juice of 1/2 a lime
• chopped cilantro, if desired

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, mixing well. Serve along with meatloaf.

Hot damn, that did not photograph well. But let me tell you, it was delicious! If you make this, be sure to let it rest before slicing or else you will make a huge mess. I wonder who did that? Hmmmm.

…

In my very first post of the year, I mentioned that 2012 is the year I complete a half marathon. My grandfather immediately suggested that he and I run the Clemson Easter Bunny Run in April. Racing around Clemson in bunny ears? Sure! The course starts at the South Carolina Botanical gardens and goes around the University with views of Lake Hartwell and the surrounding community.

With that said, I looked up some training courses and found a 12-week schedule. This meant I had to start, like, today. I took one look at the schedule and found it extremely boring. Instead of following the schedule, I set out to run in the gorgeous 70 degree weather to see what I could handle.

10 miles later it was dark and I had to stop. Apparently I can run almost a half without training. Who knew?

It may not have been my smartest move to run that far, but as I do run on a regular basis, my body wasn’t going to go in complete shock, right? Or maybe I am just Superwoman.

Needless to say, when I got home, I wanted to eat everything in sight. I refueled with coconut water, almonds, walnuts, cranberries, Greek yogurt, and a big bowl of vegetables. Honest to goodness, I don’t even know what I’m doing, so if you have any tips, let me know. Just please don’t tell me that I’m going to break my body or something because that will make me sad.

I know I have to be smart, so I will follow the rest of the “schedule”, but the competitive side of me took over during that 10-mile run. I couldn’t help it.

Tips on running your first half marathon – give them to me! Seriously, tell me everything you know. Write me a book in the comment section, send me an email, sing me a song. Goooooooooo!