Training Season is Here!

     It's that time of year again! It's time to dust off your running shoes and hit the ground running...literally. I was lazy over the winter when it came to running. It's just too hard for me to find the motivation to run outside when I'd much rather be in a warm environment. I didn't slack off completely though. I was weight training in the gym 3-4 days a week so luckily I haven't felt too out of shape when I restarted my daily runs. 

     Over the next few months I'll be posting about my running progress and I will also keep you updated on the races I plan to run this year. I've already signed up for the Warrior Dash and the 2012 Lead Strong Half-Marathon will be held in May. Speaking of Lead Strong, guess who was chosen to be featured on this year's promotional flyer. Yours truly! I was really honored by this especially since the photo on the flyer was taken during last year's race and my first ever half-marathon. I'm really looking forward to a great year and I really hope to complete my first ever full length marathon by year's end. Until then....

Take care of yourself and each other...

     

Tasty Tuesday!

"Real Winner" Vegan Super Bowl Chili

     I have very few traditions in my life. I don't really celebrate the holidays, I don't go on family summer vacations to a house by the lake, and I never like discussing the topic of my arranged marriage with my closest confidant, Semmi, during our morning workout. Is that joke too inside? It's from the movie "Coming to America" if you didn't get it.

     Anyway, I have only but one real tradition, an annual Super Bowl Chili Cook Off. It's a tradition that I have kept alive for 5 or 6 years now and it's a great excuse to stuff your face while watching the Super Bowl, which I have never found that interesting.

     Unfortunately, I have yet to win a single chili cook off! I've been snubbed each year by voters with discriminating tastes. I felt that this was going to be my year. This was a new chili recipe and arguably my best. But, alas, that wasn't enough to sway voter opinion and I lost yet again. It's all politics I guess. The system is corrupt! I call Shenanigans! Sure, my chili didn't win the title of Best in Show this year but I'm pretty confident that I had the better chili. People like winners. AND THAT'S WHAT I AM, MAN. A WINNER!

     The recipe is as follows. Make it yourself. Let me know what you think. It's easy and super fast. You don't need to let the chili simmer all day nor do you need a slow cooker to make it. I hope you like it.

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 medium onions, diced
• 5 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 3 28 ounce cans of beans, drained. I used pinto, pink, and black beans.
• 1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes, including the liquid
• 1 16 ounce can of tomato sauce
• 1 7 ounce can of chipotle peppers in adobo, chopped. (or substitute 2 jalapenos, seeded and minced)
• 1 tablespoon of Mexican style chili power (but any chili powder will do)
• 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 teaspoons of dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons of cumin
• Salt and Pepper to taste.

1. Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and saute until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a simmer, then cover, and simmer for 30 minutes. You may need to reduce the heat. Stir occasionally.
2. Adjust the seasonings to your preference.

This recipe was adapted from Vegan Holiday Kitchen by Nava Atlas

Take care of yourself and each other...

I Ate Pavement....and I Liked It!

New Year's Resolution #1: Take up a new hobby.

     I decided that this new hobby would be longboarding. Longboarding is a perfectly reasonable thing for a 28 year old to take up, right? I got really tired of seeing people fly by me on really cool looking skateboards and seemingly having the times of their lives. Longboarding looked so cool! I had to buy one!

     About 3 weeks ago, I did just that. I have to admit, longboarding was a lot easier than I imagined. True, I wasn't doing any sweet tricks but I was immediately balancing myself and moving at a reasonable speed. I felt great! Longboarding was as much fun as I imagined. I even used my longboard as an effective means of getting around the hallways of my University (see below). So, day to day, I would skate around the neighborhood, sticking to side streets, stumbling occasionally but never going fast enough to actually fall. Until two days ago.....

     I was exploring a new area of my neighborhood. The roads were relatively flat and were in much better condition than the streets closer to my home. One side street was a moderate slope that didn't seem too bad and I was feeling brave. "I'm doing this", I said to myself. So off I went, picking up speed, faster, faster. "This is no problem", I said. "This is GREA........."

     Next thing I know, the board is way in front of me, I'm running but can't keep my balance, my arms are above my head, about 1 second before I lost my balance I notice a dime in the street. "Oh, there's a dime", BAM! SMACK!


     I was on the pavement face down and my longboard was still hauling ass towards a neighborhood intersection. In a split second I was up and running after my board. I eventually I caught up to it, picked it up, and started walking back up the hill. That's when I looked down at my right hand and noticed an area of skin that was missing. I looked over at my left elbow and I had a bad scrape. My left leg was a little sore and I had a small hole in my jeans. I hurt a little but not too bad. I began the slow walk back home but after walking back to the top of the hill, I decided to skate back instead. I wasn't being brave, I just didn't want to be seen carrying a skateboard. It looks weird. And, I never did find that stupid dime.

      As I was going back home I started to wonder. When was the last time I scraped my elbow? It's probably been more than a decade. Maybe 15 years. I had to of been in my early teens. I began to laugh. I was actually doing something that could result in a scraped elbow. I felt that I was actually living. I felt that I was finally doing something moderately reckless and I haven't felt that way in a really long time. I felt really good. 


     Still, the "responsible" adult side of me kicked in when I got home and put antibiotic ointment and bandages on my wounds. I had a good story and very rarely are my days "story worthy". So, New Year's Resolution #2: Do something story worthy every day. 


     After I cleaned my scrapes I went back outside and rode my longboard some more. For the time being I'm staying away from that hill but after a little more practice I'll be back.

Have you taken up any new hobbies? Got anything story worthy you would like to share. Let's hear it.


Take care of yourself and each other...