The Happiest Place on Earth, Part II April 28, 2008

On my long runs, I’ve lately had a hint of side stitches around the last couple of miles. They go away after I straighten up and slow down for a couple of minutes, but it’s annoying when I’m in a groove and just want to charge forward. I did 11.5 yesterday, and finished with a strong last mile to get my body used to digging into its reserves after nearly two hours of running. I felt great, and am definitely ready for the 12 planned for this weekend. Today was a planned rest day, but after realizing I had clocked 28.1 for the week, I hopped on the treadmill and did an additional two. I have a new weekly PR of 30 miles!

I’ve been struggling on my tempos lately. The past few Wednesday (my speedwork days) have been windy, and I’ve pooped out from seeing my tempo miles through. Hopefully I’ll get back on track this week.

Here are the rest of the culinary indulgences from Florida!

Shrimp gumbo from Captain Henry Morgan’s Port Royal Caribbean Restaurant in Daytona Beach.  Spicy, warm, and hearty.

Perfectly seasoned fish tacos, rice and beans, plaintains, and Caribbean slaw.  Good fuel for surfing!

OK, we were trying to avoid any fast food and chain restaurants, but we’d just gotten back from a day of surfing, was starving, and every single other local restaurant either had bad reviews, were too pricey, or had an hour wait time.  We hit up Landry’s Seafood Restaurant, where I ate the best thing I have ever tasted in my entire life.

Stuffed Shrimp Enbrochette: bacon-wrapped jumbo shrimp, stuffed inside with crab and shrimp, Jack cheese, and Jalapenos, topped with mornay sauce.  It was like an explosion of pleasure and nirvana in my mouth.  When our waiter came to take our plates, he asked in disbelief, “Did you finish that all by yourself?!  Most people can’t finish it.”

We started our last day at Orlando with brunch at Cascades Restaurant in the Hyatt Resort in Lake Buena Vista.  I had their sticky bun french toast, with pecans and blueberries.  Genius!  And delicious.

We were hot and dehydrated after walking around Gatorland in 80 degree heat and unrelenting sun.  On the way to the airport, we spotted a giant twisty ice cream cone, which turned out to be an ice cream shop (duh).  I had an oh-so-fulfilling root beer float.  It was a great end to a great vacation.

Stuffing Your Face at the Happiest Place on Earth April 24, 2008

You know you’re a runner when you refer to your legs as completely separate entities. For example: I had a 6 mile tempo run scheduled today, but my legs were still asleep and refused to move, no matter how much I tried to coax them. It really felt like I was running 25-minute miles (I tried to make that pace improbable enough, but if there are 25-minute-milers, don’t send me hate mail!). Not a bad run, really, but…try, try again tomorrow.

In other news…I am back from Orlando! I only ran once, but there was so much to fit into the long weekend I was not at all concerned. I went to Disney World, baking in the sunny 80-degree heat, I danced the night away in downtown Orlando, I went to Gatorland and sat on a live alligator, I took a surfing lesson and rode the waves for the first time ever (and subsequently got so scratched and banged up that Boyfriend says I look like a heroine addict now). I really enjoyed lounging in my bikini, showing off my newly acquired runner’s legs, and just generally being sans pants everywhere I went.

Who wants to see food pictures?!  I have plenty!  This is Part I.

Trish and I started gorging before we even left Midway Airport.  I’d eaten breakfast, but she brought up a place called “Let Them Eat Cake” and I had to have second breakfast.  This is their white chocolate mousse cake – sooooo moist and yummy.

For our first night in Florida, we stumbled upon a little Cuban place in Cocoa Beach called Roberto’s Little Havana.  This is their Cuban version of surf & turf – solomillo (marinated flank steak) and camarones (shrimp in garlic sauce).  Served with rice, white beans, and sweet fried plantains.

I’m glad Boyfriend was not on this trip, and I did not have to kiss him with a mouth stinking of garlic.

Flan for dessert.

I know EVERYTHING in Disney World is overpriced, but I couldn’t pass up this banana bread pudding at their bakery on Main Street.  It was delicious.

Dinner was a little bit of a splurge at bluezoo in the Swan & Dolphin Resort.  We got the tempura haricot vert (green beans) as the appetizer, served with truffle aioli.  I love fried foods and I LOVE aioli.  This was absolute heaven.

The bacon-wrapped tuna with spinach, mushrooms, and herb potato puree.  I was so stuffed I couldn’t finish all of it, so I just peeled off the bacon and ate all of that.  I did, however, have room for dessert…go figure.

Red velvet mousse cake!  We danced it all off at Antigua, or at least that’s what I like to think.

I really liked the tempura haricot vert.  Can you tell?

Part II coming up…

9, 10, 11… April 13, 2008

I hit another mileage PR of 11.2 yesterday on my long run. I had planned for 11, but home was only a few blocks from the last mile marker, so I ran on for another 0.2, and ended up with an average 9:20 pace.

Minus that terrible McDonald’s bathroom snafu on Monday, it’s been a quality running week. I had an awesome tempo run on Wednesday (6 miles total, 3 tempo) and now am actually looking forward to my speed workouts. I usually feel like committing kamikaze by running straight into an oncoming car during, but I get excited beforehand and it feels great afterwards. Once you’re at the point where you can use the words “easy” and “6 miles” in the same sentence, running tempo or speed workouts really helps to shake things up and add some variety. Instead of the doing the same out-and-back route, I am now doing the same out-and-back route while maxing out my lungs! Sweet!

I feel like I’ve done some good work this week, so I don’t feel guilty about doing a cutback next week. I’ll be in Orlando/Cocoa Beach Thursday to Sunday with Tricia and will get a few runs in, but with all the beach-hopping, restaurant-hopping, and late-night dancing we plan on doing, they’ll probably max out at around 6 or 7 miles. Or, with the heat, more like 2.

* * *

You know what a girl needs sometimes?

Greasy Mexican takeout.  This is a chicharron tostada from “Super Burrito.”  Yes, I pigged out after my long run, so what else is new?

I pulled one of those lame recipe cards they have at groceries stores by the meat counter, and it turned out surprisingly flavorful.  It was Greek Pork Tenderloin Medallions (I used regular ol’ porkchops), and it’s a pretty easy recipe.

- 1 cup chicken broth

- 1 tsp. grated lemon peel

- 1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

- 1 tbsp. chopped fresh oregano OR 1/2 tsp. dired oregano

- 1 tsp. capers (optional)

- 2 tsp. cornstarch

- 1 clove garlic, minched (I threw in like 4, because I like to ward off vampires)

- a 1-lb. pork tenderloin (or just use a few porkchops like me)

- 2 tsp. olive oil

1.)  Mix together chicken broth, lemon peel, lemon juice, oregano, capers, cornstarch, and garlic.  Set aside.

2.)  Cut tenderloin into 1-inch thick slices.  Season loin or chops generously with salt and pepper.  (There’s not much salt in the sauce, so make sure you season well here.)

3.)  Heat oil in skillet over medium-high heat.  Saute pork 1-2 minutes per side, until slightly browned.  Remove, and set aside.

4.)  Reduce heat to medium.  Stir broth mixture, then add to skillet.  Cook and stir 1 minute.  Return pork to skillet.  Cook an additional 2 minutes (or more, if you have super thick meat pieces), turning once.  Spoon sauce over pork and serve.

Voila!

Run for Gold April 8, 2008

I had an easy 6.8 miles of recovery on my schedule this morning, and since I’d done 6.5 the previous Monday, didn’t think anything of the 0.3 mile increase.  Easy 6+ miler, Kai thinks arrogantly, lacing up her Mizunos, easy peasy for a girl who can now run 10, no problemo, in the bag, eyes closed, hands tied behind my back.

HAHAHAHA WRONG, says her body.  5 miles into the run, I get hit hard with the need to go to the bathroom.  HARD.  Like, this shit (literally) ain’t waitin’ for nobody, and there is at least a mile before any kind of bathroom facilities (gas stations, diners, etc.).  I know runners are notorious for having no shame and making discreet deposits in bushes, and it’s no big deal when you’re out hiking and camping in the wilderness or trails, but I live and run in an extremely residential area.  Defecate in the streets or on someone else’s lawn?  Hm, I think I’ll pass on both.

My stomach is cramping in waves, it’s getting excrutiating to run with a loaf in the oven, and finally FINALLY I see the Golden Arches.  I never thought McDonald’s would be my godsend, but there it is, a fully accessible bathroom waiting for me. (And what does it say about me that instead of cutting short my run and my mileage to go home, I kept running?)  

So I half-hobble, half-run in, and OF COURSE the bathroom is BEING CLEANED.  I can hear someone cleaning in one of the stalls, but at this point, I really could not care less.  I locked myself in, apologized silently to Mr. Cleaner Dude (doing his thankless job of cleaning bathrooms at 5 AM), and let loose.  I was also sniffly from my run in the cold morning, and I’m sure he thought I was a crack addict.  ::snort snort::FARRRTTTTTPOOP::snort snort::  There was a few minutes of post-explosive silence, and then he gingerly asked, “Um…is there someone in here?”

“Sorry, I couldn’t hold it anymore,” I replied weakly.

“Oh.  That’s…ok.  I’ll just…leave now.”

The pace at which I sprinted out of that McDonald’s, I think, was the fastest I’ve ever run in my entire life.

*   *   *

My potato hash is really quite simple, but Boyfriend swears by it and it gets me some nice carbs without having to eat brown rice or whole wheat pasta for the 500000 billionth time.  

1.)  Finely dice equal amounts of potato (I like reds best, and Yukon golds are the worst because they’re so creamy) and white or yellow onion.  

2.)  Coat skillet with a tablespoon or so of olive oil, heat over medium-high heat.  Saute onions and potatoes together.

3.)  Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste, and then paprika, cumin, and chives.  Stir occasionally, with heat on medium.  When the potato and onions start to brown, it’s time to stuff your face!  

(Best eaten with bacon.  But you knew that already.)

10 in the Bag April 6, 2008

Well, that’s it, guys. I’ve officially joined the I-Can-Run-Double-Digits-Nyeh-Nyeh Club. I did my first 10 miler yesterday, easy peasy. After burning out on my 9-miler last week, I ran slow, took my time, and refused to look at my watch until the very end. I paced out evenly with 9:29 miles, and had a great run in gorgeous, sunny, 55 degree weather. (Additional plus: no emergency bathroom stops, for the first time ever!) All winter, it was me running cloudy darkness alone but when the weather gets nice, everyone is out and I have much more to look at and distract me. For some reason, I also started doing derivatives in my head (don’t worry, I’m Asian). I have 11 planned for next week, and then a cut-back week when I go to Florida the week after. (Don’t hate.)

I stopped at Fleet Feet after work on Friday and got a new pair of Asics Gel-DS Trainer 13. You know you’re a runner when the Fleet Feet fitters ask what shoes you wear, and while the person next to you says, “Um, I think Reeboks?”, you respond, “I’m rotating right now between Nike Air Zoom Elite 3’s and the Mizuno Wave Elixir 3’s.” And you know exactly how many miles are on each pair. I picked up a Nathan fuel belt too for the upcoming summer, but I tried it jogging in place at home and I’m not sure how well I’ll adjust to that bounce. It’s just unavoidable with a full water bottle and, y’know, gravity.

I’ve been having some shin splints in my right leg, which I think is due to my 95%-healed-foot throwing off my gait in some way. It always goes away after I warm-up, but man, is it annoying. I’m going to double up on the leg-strengthening/balance exercises my physical therapist gave me a while back, and see if that helps. I’ve got a 6.5 easy recovery tomorrow, 6 on Wed. (with 2 or 3 tempo miles), and 4 (easy fartleks, maybe?) on Thursday. Mileage is crawling up…

* * *

In eating news this week, I went to Maza Friday night with Tricia and Steph. It’s a Lebanese/Middle Eastern restaurant in Lincoln Park, and like any other authentic, ethnic place, the food was great but the service was a bit shoddy. Their lentil soup is fantastic, as is the free orange-vanilla rice pudding with cashews we were given after our meal.

Beef Kellaya – beef, peppers, and onions simmered in a red sauce, with rice pilaf. Dim lighting in restaurants is really the bane of my existence.

Tricia also brought me a red velvet upcake from Swirlz. I knew there was a reason I was friends with her (besides the fact that she is also tiny and can eat her body weight in meat). Soooo rich and luscious.

After burning approximately 1000 calories Saturday morning, Boyfriend and I went to Miller’s Pub for some all-American bar food. I had their 10 oz. Helluvaburger with bacon, fries coleslaw. Mmm grease!

I made brunch this morning – eggs, potatoes, and bacon. Someday, I’ll have to post my recipe for amazing potato hash, but I was too lazy to slice and dice this morning, so I bought some pre-cut hash from the grocery store (blasphemy!). Having bacon twice in a week, however…that’s what I call a good week.