Have you thanked a Soldier today?

Living in a "military" town sheds a different light on the way one looks at the military, the war, family, and life. I have become acutely aware of the trials these families face and while some people can turn a blind eye to the situation overseas, military life can be an eye opener for others. Yesterday I had the privilege of running the Soldier Half Marathon in Fort Benning. It was an emotional, inspiring day and a great one to have the day after Veterans Day. I wasn't sure if I was going to run in it, deciding about two weeks ago to participate. Friday afternoon a friend and I made the trip to the army base so she could pick up her race packet and I could register.

Saturday morning was dark and unusually cold but packed with an uplifting, wonderfully energetic crowd. There were two races: a marathon (26.2 miles) and a half marathon (13.1 miles). The gun went off and the runners began to pound the pavement, running the first leg of the race through the army base and the rest along the river. I was able to race with runners who were missing limbs and racing in wheelchairs. There were racers that carried pictures of loved ones lost and messages of hope to inspire others. Soldiers lined the streets with cheers and good wishes. They worked aid stations and handed out drinks to the runners racing by.

New to the race this year was the Fallen Hero Program. Runners wore two race bibs: one on the front with their number on it and another on their back with the name of a fallen soldier. I watched a friend, whose husband is deployed, painstakingly decide who she should run in honor of having lost many friends in the war. It opened my eyes and made me realize how naive and fortunate I am to have lost no one to the fighting overseas. I ran in honor of Army Captain Orlando Bonilla, who was killed in a helicopter accident in Iraq in 2005. He was 27 years old and married to a woman who lost her father in Iraq the year before.

I stressed in the days leading to the race, not sure how I would run with such little training. When crossing the finish line I received congratulations from so many soldiers who told me what a wonderful job I did. Really? It is them we need to thank...always...

Have you thanked a soldier today?

Rachel :)

10 Miles From youknowwhere and More...

I would sit here and say, "What a week..." but I'm pretty sure I said that last week. And the week before. And maybe the week before that. You get the picture. If you are keeping up, things in Shan's family room are looking great. Really great. I wish I could sit here and say it was finished, but little things (that turn big) keep popping up, so it will probably be another week or two...yikes!

The super fun deck that I worked on a few weeks ago was featured yesterday by Michelle from Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust. Thanks Michelle!! You can check out her Fabulous Friday Favorites here!

It not so fun news, I've maybe, kinda, halfway decided to maybe run a half marathon next weekend. I decided this...oh...8 days ago, giving me about 14 days to train. Not fun. At all. Yesterday my little running crew ran 10 miles (yes...10) and it stunk. Like poo. I don't know if it was the weather, the wind, or the lack of sun, but it was a looooooooong 10 mile run. If you've ever run a race, feel free to through some inspiration my way. I'm not really feeling it these days.

This was my first half marathon at mile 13. While I was smiling in this picture, by the time I got to mile 13.1, I was in tears and the old man in the blue jacket passed me before the finish line. You can't really tell from this picture, but I'm pretty sure he was at least 112 years old or something like that...just saying...this is what I felt like yesterday...



I didn't look as cool as her, but I was feeling a bit like this...argh!!!

Rachel :)

Apple-Cream Cheese Cake

Last week, the husband of a dear friend of mine deployed overseas. In trying to keep her upbeat, busy, and happy, I dragged her out this morning for a 5 mile run in the rain. Actually, the run was her idea, the rain was out of our control, and the 5 miles were my idea. I tricked her into thinking a long loop was a short loop and 5 miles later we were soaking wet and she had a few choice words for me. There were four of us that ran together on this dreadful Monday morning, but the miles flew by with great friends and great conversation. I'll admit that when it was over we all felt a little (maybe a lot) tougher, stronger, and despite the weather...happier.

   

When I got home I saw a Southern Living magazine (September 2011) on the kitchen counter that she had been flipping through a few days prior. While looking through, she told me that for her birthday she wanted me to make the Apple-Cream Cheese Bundt Cake that was featured on the cover. Great...I'm all in...but her birthday is not until March. Seriously. So, on this rainy afternoon I found myself thinking why wait until March!?! Life is short...lets eat cake! I sent her a text and invited her and her three adorable kids over for dinner and cake. Because what can be better on a cool, rainy, fall night than friends and cake!

and here's the picture from Southern Living...because mine wasn't quite as pretty, but it was so good I'm sure my stomach didn't notice...

Ingredients

• CREAM CHEESE FILLING:
• 1 (8-oz.) package cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• APPLE CAKE BATTER:
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 3/4 cup canola oil
• 3/4 cup applesauce
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups peeled and finely chopped Gala apples (about 1 1/2 lb.)
• PRALINE FROSTING:
• 1/2 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Preparation

• 1. Prepare Filling: Beat first 3 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended and smooth. Add egg, flour, and vanilla; beat just until blended.
• 2. Prepare Batter: Preheat oven to 350º. Bake pecans in a shallow pan 8 to 10 minutes or until toasted and fragrant, stirring halfway through. Stir together 3 cups flour and next 7 ingredients in a large bowl; stir in eggs and next 3 ingredients, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in apples and pecans.
• 3. Spoon two-thirds of apple mixture into a greased and floured 14-cup Bundt pan. Spoon Cream Cheese Filling over apple mixture, leaving a 1-inch border around edges of pan. Swirl filling through apple mixture using a paring knife. Spoon remaining apple mixture over Cream Cheese Filling.
• 4. Bake at 350º for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool cake in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack, and cool completely (about 2 hours).
• 5. Prepare Frosting: Bring 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/4 cup butter, and 3 Tbsp. milk to a boil in a 2-qt. saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly; boil 1 minute, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Gradually whisk in powdered sugar until smooth; stir gently 3 to 5 minutes or until mixture begins to cool and thickens slightly. Pour immediately over cooled cake.

Don't let the directions and ingredient list intimidate you. Most everything I had in the pantry. It did however, take some time...the cake took about an hour to make. Confession...I didn't peel the apples. It baked for 75 minutes and cooled for two hours. The Praline Frosting was so easy and went on great. This should be a must bake for everyone this fall! Enjoy!

Rachel :)

Saturday Feature

It's Saturday!! Time to be lazy, hang out at the house, and spend time with the family. Kuddos to my Brainy Smurf who finished his first Triathlon today! He rocked it in 27 minutes with a 100 meter swim, 3 mile bike ride, and 1 mile run! Go Brainy!!

Many thanks go out to A Lived in Home who gave us a shout out today in her Weekend Feature. Go check her out! Have a great weekend!!

Rachel :)

True Story

Here is an example of a daily conversation with Marlene...

M: what did you do this morning?

R: cleaned the kitchen, did some laundry, went for a bike ride...

M: oh!!! I found a bike I want to buy. It it so great and it will look so cute with a basket on the front!

R: you do know that a bike is an exercise tool and NOT an accessory...right?

M: but a basket would look great on it!!!

And our bike choices clearly define who we are...

via Martha Stewart

Rocket Girl Blog

What kind of bike do you ride?

Rachel :)



Resolution Update

Around the time the year was changing from 2010 to 2011 I wrote this post about new year resolutions. I had some lofty ones that at times seemed unattainable. Five weeks ago I started a Master Swim class that starts at 5am (yes...that's AM) four mornings a week. I started getting up at 4am, I'm a breakfast kind of gal, so i could leave the house by 4:45 to make it to swim on time. What do you know...I really, really enjoy it. I guess one would have to in order to get up at that ungodly hour.

Last weekend, I ran in a 5k. I know it's not an incredibly long distance but one of my goals was to finish one in under 25 minutes. I have run three previous 5ks and my times have been 29:30, 27:27, and 26:12. I'm typically a turtle that putts along at about a ten minute pace. Turns out all this swimming I've been doing has put a little power in these legs. I finished the race in 24:23 and came in third overall!! It's kinda fun when you run faster than all the teenagers and twenty-somethings.

Here's a quote from one of my favorite running blogs:

Running the the 6.2 mile run of my first triathlon, I thought I was surely going to die. I am a not an athlete. What the hell am I doing out here? These are crazy 'fit people'. I am not one of them. I am the girl that drives 2 blocks to the convenience store to get a Hostess pie. Just as I thought, "Screw this! I need to walk again" I looked into the crowd and saw a girl holding a sign that said 'Run Bitch Run' and I laughed. I was running AND laughing. Hmmm, maybe these are my people after all. And so I did. I ran, bitch, I ran.

La'Chaim!

Rachel :)

Accountability

Like Rachel, I love to exercise.  I thought it was something that I was pressured (by my mother, media, society) to do, but I realized that whenever the I come home and the kids are gone, the first thing I do is exercise.  I enjoy running, strength training, and ballet.  My problem is that when J is on a trip, exercise becomes nearly impossible.  My two year old thinks me doing push-ups is an invitation to climb on my back.  There is also the issue of me having to do EVERYTHING-cook dinner, make sure homework gets done, feed our two mangy dogs, one very furry cat, and two frogs, bathe the boys, do the laundry, go to work.  Well, you get the idea.  Exercise becomes very last on the list. 

I do know something about myself, though. If I pay money to do something it serves as encouragement.  I met Katie Scharf yesterday at MOPS and she is a personal trainer who will come to your home.  She specializes in prenatal and postpartum women.  I told her I was VERY postpartum but still short on time, a mom, and a woman.  She agreed to work with me because I guess in the end, I am a woman/mom willing to pay her.  I can't afford to have a trainer every week or even really begin to schedule with one because as our friends and family know, we can't make plans even 24 hours in advance because of J's job.  Katie offers a 75 minute consultation and will create a workout plan for you to follow.  I like this idea because it's inexpensive (she quoted me $50) and I can meet with her every couple of months or so and refresh my workout so I don't get bored. 

I think having someone to touch base with like this will keep me in line and keep me motivated.  She said she checks in with her clients and also encourages them to have a goal, a 5k race for instance.  I know that if she is looking over my shoulder, even periodically, I will force myself to follow the plan. 

I guess in the end, it's about finding your motivation...is it weight loss, health issues, or the simple fact that you are spending money and don't want to waste it?  Whatever it is, use it to your advantage! 

http://www.strengthinmoms.com/Strength_in_Moms/Home.html

Marlene

Lofty Expectations

Many times in life our expectations far exceed the outcomes. This realization slapped me in the face today when I realized January is over and February is here. I had three running goals last month: to run 16 times, finish 65 miles, and have four runs with my average mile under 9:30. So here I sit, and yes, I didn't accomplish one of these goals. Maybe I should stop checking my email, get off facebook, quit texting, finish cleaning...or simply get off my butt and go. Seriously, these are not the real reason I didn't meet my goals this month. Things happen and while I am clearly a walnut, sometimes life gets in the way and you cannot accomplish what you set out to.

So, it's a new dawn, a new day, a new month. I set the same goals this month as I did last month. I'll try to meet them but if I don't I will give it another shot in March. I ran yesterday with a pace of 8:53. A great start to February. I now have one run down and one run under a 9:30 pace. Today I am at home with a sick Brainy Smurf. He need lots of love and I am going to enjoy a day home with my little man. There is always tomorrow...

Rachel :)

The New Year Resolution

It's that time of year again...we all want to better ourselves: lose weight, eat better, sleep better, exercise more, spend less, find that perfect job, the list can go on and on. Every year I make the same resolution, to do one load of laundry a day so I stay caught up. Seriously. Last year I also had some exercise resolutions that didn't happen but I try not to dwell on them.

In keeping with this, I went back to the gym today. It was too cold to run outside so I got in three miles on the dreadmill. Ugh. When I was done, I came home to eat, drink, and be merry and instead found myself making my own sports drink. See, I love Gatorade. I drink tons of it when I am training, from the time I wake up until I go to bed. My stomach loves it. It helps me to not get run down when I am halfway through my runs. It also helps me avoid runners gut which can be miserable. Here's what I don't love about it: high fructose corn syrup, sucrose, dextrose, citric acid, artificial flavor, monopotassium phosphate, calcium silicate, food starch, artificial color. Cal me crazy but I am not thrilled about eating or drinking a bunch of stuff I can't pronounce.

So I brewed my own concoction this afternoon. It has five ingredients: water, organic salt, organic sugar, fresh squeezed orange and lemon juice. I know exactly what I am putting into my body which I like. An 8 ounce serving has 50 calories, 110 mg of sodium, and about 12 grams of carbohydrates. Just what I need to keep me moving. My resolution will be the same as always...to stay on top of laundry! I would also like to:

Run a half marathon in under two hours

Run a rock-n-roll half marathon somewhere great (San Antonio, Nashville, or Philly)

Run a 5k in under 25 minutes

Run a 10k in under 50 minutes

Finish 2 sprint triathlons in a decent time

Guess I need to get off the computer and get to working out! Good luck on keeping your resolutions!

Rachel :)