A Runner’s World – Week 1

July 20, 2008

1 bowl of oatmeal, milk, 1 yummy quesadilla , FUZE drink, celery-I don’t think this has satisfied my biological food pyramid.

biked: about 30 min? I was going to bike for 16 miles, but I got paranoid because my new spedometer wasn’t working.

Thoughts: I’m frustrated with life. Sometimes I wonder why I keep myself so busy. It is so hard to sit down and read or write because I have so many other things on my mind. Maybe I should just start writing down my current thoughts more often so that I will be less frustrated… Then, hopefully, I can sit down to read or write in *peace*.

What should I do differently in my life to read more? Although I am an English major, I feel as if I’m lacking in this area. And I KNOW it’s not because I don’t like reading. It’s because I can’t enjoy it with everything else going on.

Like running for instance. If life seems to get busy, I stop running. But the key word here is *seem.* Sometimes my life *seems* to get busy when I am trying to run away from everything in my life, including God. I know that when I have made decisions that are not part of His plan, I start avoiding Him and everything else in my life. I just try to keep extra busy so that I don’t have to think about it.

I am looking for guidance on how to change this cycle. For one, I need to turn to God’s word. Second, I need to list my *priorities.* I get so disappointed in myself when I get everything done for the day except for what I really wanted to get done-homework, studying, reading-all of which I used to enjoy, but now it just seems like another thing to cross of my list, as if it was not suppose to be enjoyable.

Well, there you have it. Any thoughts on how to prioritize/plan life, and enjoy it at the same time?

 

21 July 2008

Food: celery, tortilla, california burgers (in tortillas), LOTS of potato salad, orange and white tea FUZE drinks–I still need to eat more… maybe I just need to get grocery shopping figured out.

Biked: 16 miles (yay!) in 1 hour and 40 minutes, averaging 9.6 mph and a max of 17.1 mph… I went way too slow–mainly because I had to keep stopping (it was very dark and I was stopping between lights/blocks). I need to start using the bike path. The only problem is, I don’t think I can ride there in the dark (there are no lights). I should also start in the morning so that I can be energized for the day, and not have to worry about pesky misquitos!!! :[ My goal for tomorrow morning is to bike 15 miles in less than an hour. I’m pretty sure I can do this because I won’t have to keep stopping. After I bike, I hope to run 3 miles, in less than 30 minutes (if I can find my stop watch )… Furthermore, I realized why I’ve been so frustrated today. I will post a blog about this later in the week, as I feel like I need to think about it more and find some inspiring words. So check back for further updates.

 

22 July 2008

Food: Special K w/ strawberries, milk, apple juice, California burgers-again, FUZE drink, chocolate rice crispy bar… hmm, is this healthy? I just feel like I need something more. Any suggestions on how to have a healthier diet?

Biked: 15 miles in 1 hour and 5 minutes (SO close to my goal), averaging 13 mph and a max of 17.9 mph. Today went so much better. I was able to *see* on the bike path and I did not have to stop as often. Not sure if tomorrow is going to be a good day (I have lots of homework). I think I’ll just run a mile tomorrow morning and call it good.

23 July 2008

Food: Special K w/ strawberries, milk, apple juice, 2 chicken Sammies, and being waffle cone Wednesday, I couldn’t pass up a white chocolate ice-cream cone… oh yes, and a green tea FUZE drink- I’m not sure if I have a good diet, but I definitely feel as if I’m eating enough (even though I feel I should eat more). However, It feels like there’s no variety. Hmmm. I guess I’ll have go grocery shopping again.

Ran: 1 mile in a measly 11 minutes. Not only was I sore and tired, but I had trouble breathing. Maybe I should start taking my inhaler before exercising from now on. Actually, I think my acid reflux has something to do with my breathing problems, so I’ll have to set up another doctor’s appointment before school starts. My goal for tomorrow is to run 3 miles in less than 30 minutes. Wish me luck!

 

24 July 2008

Food: LOTS of flax cereal, milk, apple juice, turkey and cheese sandwich; sausage, egg, and cheese sandwich; raspberry julius (yum )… I feel like I ate a lot today, but I probably needed it.

Exercise:

12 Pushups (in a row-I have a long ways to go ^_^)

Ran: 3 miles in 30 min and 57 seconds (SO close to my goal). I still had trouble breathing today. I was trying really hard to run it under 30 minutes, but I was wheezing very heavily the whole time. I need to remember to use my inhaler *before* exercising. But I also want to get my acid reflux under control since my throat burns so often. Hopefully, I can set one up tomorrow. Not sure why my breathing has been so out of whack lately. I guess it could be a multitude of things-allergies, asthma, acid reflux, and possibly being out of shape. :/

P.S. I’m running a triathlon on the 27th! So hopefully I can breathe during the race.

 

25 July 2008

Food: Okay, today wasn’t so great. Mainly because I was tired and there wasn’t much to eat. I ate oatmeal, applejuice, and LOTS of banana bread… Oh well, I’ll do better tomorrow.

Exercise: 20 pushups (much better!) and 55 crunches (yay!)

Note: I rested my aching muscles today so I wouldn’t be so sore for my race on Sunday.

The Elvis Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwich

 As I looked for new recipes, I thought, why not try the King’s favorites? It turns out, Elvis Presley’s favorite food was actually the peanut butter and banana sandwich, also known as “The King” during the Great Depression. Who knew? Of course, I’ve made this sandwich before, but here’s the King’s recipe:

 

 Recipe

2 tbsp. peanut butter (preferably smooth)
2 slices sandwich bread
1 small ripe banana, mashed with a fork (about 1/4 cup)
2 tbsp. butter

1. Spread peanut butter evenly on 1 slice of bread, then spread mashed banana on other slice, leaving a 1/4-inch border around edge. Close sandwich, gently pressing bread slices together.

2. Heat butter in an 8- to 10-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until foam subsides, then fry sandwich, turning over once, until golden brown, about 2 minutes total.

3. Eat immediately with a knife and fork

After eating “The King,” I realized that Elvis has good taste. You should try some of his other favorites.

 

Works Cited

Brenda Arlene Butler. Are You Hungry Tonight? Elvis’ Favorite Recipes. New York: Bluewood, 1992.

Easy Cinnamon Rolls

Here is an easy recipe for cinnamon rolls… yum. I recently made them for my Bible study group. It only has 6 ingredients and one of them is store-bought crescent rolls.

 

 

INGREDIENTS:
1 – 8 ounce tube crescent rolls
1/4 cup butter, melted, divided
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk

 
PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Butter 8 or 9-inch round cake pan. Open crescent rolls can. Pinch seams together to make large rectangle. Brush 1/2 of melted butter over dough. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll tightly from long end of rectangle. With serrated knife, cut into 8 rolls. Place in prepared pan. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until tops are lightly browned. Stir together remaining butter, powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons milk to make icing. Spoon icing over rolls just out of oven. Serve cinnamon rolls warm.

I highly recommend these rolls if you are serving a large group. They’re easy to make and unbelievably yummy!