Sunday was my first planned race since May. NYRR does a series of Half-Marathons called the Grand Prix Series. There are a total of 5 half marathons, with one race in each boroughs. In May I completed the Brooklyn Half Marathon-with a PR of 2:11 and last Sunday was the Queens Half Marathon. My plan of attack was to keep a steady pace of 9:00 minute miles (totally doable) and finish in 1:59. Here is my story:

I woke up that morning at 4:30, just enough time to change into my running gear, grab my breakfast, coffee, and bag and head to the subway. Ahhhh, the MTA on a Sunday at 5am. Nothing like it. Why? Because it sucks. Trains barely run at that time-I paced around the station for a good 10 minutes. When there was still no sign of a train, I hopped out and hailed a cab to Grand Central to take the 7 to the very end- Flushing, Queens. NYRR would provide free shuttle buses to the start. So I thought no biggie. I waited at GC for 20 minutes with fellow runners. I figured if they were there at that time, then I wasn't running too, too late. I pop out of the subway at 6:30 am (total travel time so far: 1.5 hours) to a line that spanned around the entire block. The line barely moved for 20 minutes and at this time I realized there were about 3 buses that took the runners to the start. THREE. THREE!!!! 3!!!!!! What were they thinking? Even if I had arrived at the suggested 6:15 time (15 minutes prior) I would have still been in line and still missed the start of the race. FINALLY, at 7:10am, I got on a bus-what seemed like the longest bus ride in the world. At about 7:20, we reached the race course and the police would let the buses carrying the runners through. Notice I said buses. As in more than one. We were told we would need to walk to the start!! Wait, what? You want us to trek the 2 miles to the start when we are about to run 13.1 miles?????? Clearly, these people ARE NOT runners.
I angrily walked against all the runners, to the start to check my bag, grab my number and race chip, then to cross the start line to activate my chip. I think many people from my bus just jumped in the race where the bus let us off-at about mile 2.5. I could never do that, I would just feel terrible to the other runners and I would feel so guilty for cheating. Even though, the shuttle bus problem wasn't our fault, I could still never skip miles in a race. Anyway, back to me. I can say that I had the best first 7 miles of the race. My pace was steady at about a 8:50 minute mile, I sipped Gatorade at each station, I felt good. Then the effects of hill running kicked in. First with upper back muscle pain. Then my hips. Then my feet. I slowed to about a 10:00 mile for a mile, then I kept my pace right at 9:50.
I gooed at miles 5-7 (by taking a little goo at a time) then again from miles 10-11. Gooing slower allowed me to goo while in motion and to only add a tiny bit of fuel each time. When I take an entire goo, I feel like I tend to add bouts of sprints to the run because I suddenly feel so good, then I crash. This time I stayed level. Between miles 8-12, the race was particularly hard. I felt heavy and I had to go to the bathroom.
As soon as I spotted the park where the finish line was, I booked it. Sprinting all the way to the finish. I crossed the finish line at 2:09 (official) and I couldn't be happier!!!
After all the angry running and the 2 mile trek to the start, then the subway, bus debacle, I am completely satisfied. In 3 weeks, I have another Half, the Staten Island Half Marathon and this is the one I plan on conquering and beating that 2:00 hour mark.

My tail bone hurts today-ouchie.

Why do I crave ice?
I looked up the symptoms and it says something about being Iron deficient. I know that's not the case, because I'm not a vegetarian-I think I get plenty of iron in my diet. Plus, other symptoms are cold all the time and that is definitely not me.
Anyone??

Lab Rat part 1

So I am officially a lab rat. My department at school is doing a study on the Daniel Fast, and yours truly is a subject for it. The Daniel fast is a very popular religious fast, and is based on Daniel from the Bible. When Daniel and his crew were in prison, they refused to eat the "kings food" that the other prisoners were given. Daniel and co. ate only whole grains, fruits and veggies. Many churches and groups use this fast. You can eat unlimited calories, but NO added sweeteners ( natural or otherwise...even honey) NO alcohol, NO animal products ( completely vegan), No chemicals ( organic, and preservative free products only) and NO....wait for it....caffeine ( Yikes!)

The research question is how participating in this fast ( which is 21 days long by the way) will affect certain biomarkers, and other health considerations.

First of all, when my professor asked if I would participate in the study, I eagerly agreed. I thought, it would be easy for actually, because I eat really clean anyway, no problem eliminating a little sugar and animal product. Boy was I wrong. I always knew, in my head that tons of stuff had sugar in it, however until you grocery shop for 3 weeks worth of sugar-less food, you have NO IDEA!!! I feel like sugar is this little ninja that changes its name and appearance and sneaks into everything I eat!!!!

I started the fast last Friday, and that morning, I had to report to the lab in a completely 12 hour fasted state for my intake tests. I took a pregnancy test ( nerve wracking!), to make sure I could participate, and when 1 little line popped up, I was clear to fast! In the lab I had to answer a few general questions about my health, sleep habits, exercise habits, and energy levels. Then the lab techs ( aka, my fellow students) took my resting heart rate, blood pressure, height, weight, body fat percentage using skinfold calipers ( ouch!) and circumference measurements. All of that was done twice to ensure it was correct. Nothing like having your fat pinched by a guy who sits next to you in stats!

Next I got a DEXA scan. For those of you who don't know, a dexa scan can tell body composition, but is mostly used for bone density measurements. You lie on a table and get basically a full body xray! Very cool. Then you have all this awesome info that prints out, like the exact density of each major bone, where you fall in your age, race, and gender categories, and yet another measure of body fat. Here I am:

Don't I look pretty? :)

After the Dexa, I rested for 10 minutes on a table, while my professor drew blood from me to check my lipid panel, complete blood count, antioxidant levels, oxidative stress levels, and insulin sensitivity.

SO basically I was prodded inside and out, and every last inch of me was examined! I am very interested to see how all of that changes in 2 more weeks when I go back for my exit tests.

The thing that was the hardest so far, was caffeine withdrawal. I expected to have a headache, which I did and luckily that was gone by Saturday afternoon. The thing I did not expect was the severe joint and muscle pain!!! My legs and back hurt SO bad that I actually cried. Agh! Luckily that pretty much ended Monday, and now I feel pretty good! My energy levels are up and if I am being perfectly honest, its not THAT hard to follow the fast. I DO miss my Kashi cereal and sweet vanilla soymilk, and I think that will be the first thing I eat when this is all over!!!!

Have you ever been a lab rat? Or sacrificed in the name of science before? Ever done a fast?

I RAN WITH KARA GOUCHER!!! Part 2

I totally had a blonde moment and forgot to blog about my actual RUN with Kara!

The length of the run was 3 miles but included a warm up and stretching!

The run was divided into 7:00 pace and faster (not me), 8:00-9:00 pace (where I jumped in), and 9:00 beyond. The run was against the normal running traffic and was mostly UPHILL for the first 2.5 miles. I was sucking wind, but I did not stop until I had to tie my shoe.

Mr. Nike Triax timed me at 32:00 total and I was pissed when I looked at it. PISSED. That's like a 10:15 minute mile??? I haven't run like that in a looong time. I continued to be disappointed in myself until I LOOKED at my results and pace on Ms. Apple (my computer). Hello dummy, I we ran 3.6 miles (I'm guessing that's with the warm-up) and my pace was an average of 9:00 miles. WHEW! I was RELIEVED!!! Recap:

Distance: 3.6 miles

Time: 32:00

Pace: 9:00

Why are night runs so hard for me??? Why am I TERRIBLE at waking up early??? My goal by the end of this year (gasp!) is to become an EARILER riser.

And just so you remember my new BFF:

I RAN WITH KARA GOUCHER!!!

I can say that Fashion's Night Out was a SUCCESS! It's not everyday you get to meet your running idol! Let's recap, shall we!

I arrived at Niketown just slightly before 6pm. Checked my bags, looked over the running merchandise. Didn't buy anything (which I will cover later).

Waited around, met some runners, chatted about Kara, NYRR, the Nike Runs, NYC Marathon.

At the check-in table, if you wished, you could submit a question for Kara to answer. Of course, I had millions of questions, but what did I write down?

"Will you be my running bff?"

Kara arrives, the Nike head coach person, went over her recent results, talked about her training and she answered a few training questions.

Highlights:

• When she's training for a marathon she runs 120 miles per week


• Tempo runs are 16-18 miles varying between 5:10 and 5:30 minute miles


• New York Marathon is hard! (even for Kara)


• Writes a letter to her family before each race (cute)


• Is very emotional after a race, and although we may not see it on TV, she says she cries at EVERYTHING (even while talking about crying at everything after a marathon)


• She is taking the next few months off (I think she and her husband, Adam, are trying to have a baby-that's only my guess!)
  

This is how close I had to sit to Kara: (Not that I minded, but it was a weird angle)

She is TALL! And she is little, but she is also lean and strong. She is gorgeous and has a fantastic smile!

Then came time for the submitted questions! My question was the first one asked, and besides saying "Yes!", she laughed. It lightened the mood and I think I asked the question that everyone was thinking.

Me and my new BFF Kara!

YIPPEE FOR NIKE!!

Now, Fashion's Night Out was all around Manhattan (Tiffany rolled out a BLUE Carpet) and this was the exit from Bergdorfs:

Madness I tell you, madness! But the overall mood was excellent and the weather was PERFECT! I couldn't ask for a better night! (Only I wish Anna was there!)

Fashion's Night Out

In honor of Fashion Week in NYC, Random Celebrities will be at random venues doing secret random things. Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen will be at Bloomingdale's Restaurant Bartending; Justin Timberlake and Robin (aka Trace Ayala) will be at Saks announcing something (that he's marrying me), and more.


Today at 1:00pm EST, in my Facebook inbox, I received the best news of all the celebrities:

KARA GOUCHER WILL BE RUNNING TOMORROW AT NIKETOWN!!!

WTF, how excited am I? So!!!!! So excited!!!! I cannot wait. My mind is racing: I need a new running outfit; should I wear my running skirt (TBD)? What color looks best on me (blues, pinks, black, white); Should I spray tan myself (TBD)? How should I wear my hair (up); What time should I get there (6am); Should I do a run prior (yes); what should I eat for lunch (omg, who knows, maybe a Larabar?); and I need a real camera. Plus, I need to practice my picture taking skills- not my skills, my learning to be more photogenic and less idiotic.


Girl's got a lot on her mind. It's not everyday you get to meet your running superhero.


I will probably not sleep tonight.


I need a list of questions to ask her... More than likely I will end up looking like a deer in headlights, but with a huge grin slapped on my face!

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG

Happy Labor Day!

Hey there! Miss me?

School started back this week, so my life is upside down and inside out! I am hoping to find more time to blog as my schedule settles a bit. This is a super-duper quickie, and I promise there is more coming, but I wanted to forward this AWESOME tool on the all of you! Any runners out there, please clicky:

Most excellent running website

Whew! It's Been a While!

I will do a quick synopsis of the past weekish:

Sushi Night at Sekisui in Memphis with my mom, Anna, Sister and Brother in Law:

Anna and I went for a 7 mile run that included 3 uphill sprints. We post run refueled with GM's of course, and with curly straws!

Post run photo op:

Saturday, I went to Little Rock, Arkansas (my old stomping grounds) for Carol's Bachelorette Party and boy was it a wild time! Here are a few pictures!

Bride and Maid of Honor (me)

Carol, Ashley, Myself, Rebecca (my sister)

Seductive poses in front of the fan

Before heading into Disco aka Dirty

FINALLY, Live In and I got our table and chairs and we have enjoyed dinner there almost every night (with the expection of going out to dinner). YIPEE!!

I whipped up baked tofu, baked squash, and couscous, topped with what else, ARUGULA!!

I read from cover to cover on the plane back to NYC: Jillian Michael's Master Your Metabolism-which is mostly a Whole Foods type of diet, which I already follow. However, the education on the endocrine system is what I needed. Because with all this working out and not losing weight is just plain ridiculous. Not that I am TRYING to lose a ton of weight, but I want to cut out some fat and it's just not budging. UGH! This book totally makes sense-I'm taking Spirnolactone for my Acne Cysts (which I get maybe once or twice a year) and the doc put me on the highest dose possible. This medication decreases my testosterone levels, almost to zero, and DUH! I need the testosterone to lose weight! So I have cut my dose by 75% and I am only taking it every 2-3 days. Next week I will get a metabolic panel, just in case!

My $13 salad bar lunch- I ate EVERY BITE! Fruit, Baked Chickem, Spoonful Mac and Cheese, Tomato & Mozzarella Salad. Avocado Salad (Just Avocado, really)

I hope everyone has had a nice last week of summer! :(

My buddies Tish and Stacey are here this weekend, so Wednesday (when I am back at work again), I will recap our adventures!

Happy Labor Day Everyone!

Fantastico!

I've somehow managed to wake up early and run twice this week! That's exactly 2 more times than normal! Suh. Weet!




I've been scrambling around getting ready to head to Memphis this afternoon, then to Little Rock Saturday for Carol's bachelorette party. I'M SOOOO FRIGGIN' EXCITED! We've had some damn good memories come from Little Rock and I am certain that Carol's Bachelorette party will top the list! Being Maid of Honor, I've whipped up a nice goody bag for everyone this week. In midst of all that, I miraculously made a homemade, healthy dinner in less than an hour. WHAT? Let me share.





Since I went to Whole Foods on Sunday and purchased an on sale! eggplant ($1.00), I've been dreaming of Eggplant Parmigiana. This is my mother's favorite dish-we even lugged ourselves to EVERY restaurant in Little Italy to find some authentic Eggplant Parmigiana, and had no luck. I digress, so I googled the basics to "baked eggplant Parmesan" and then I followed my own ideas. And, I used homemade breadcrumbs. Ok, I already had those on hand, but still. Homemade breadcrumbs.





Baked Eggplant Parmesan

• 1 eggplant cut into thick slices
• 1 egg
• whole wheat bread crumbs and a few tablespoons of panko mixed in (3/4 cup? I suck at measurements.)
• salt
• pepper
• red pepper flakes
• dried basil
• Italian seasoning

Preheat oven to 350. In one bowl, crack open egg into and beat. In another bowl, combine breadcrumbs, panko, spices (to taste). Mix around with fingers. Dip eggplant into egg, then into bread crumb mixture. Place onto foil lined baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes one side, 5 the other, then crank the oven to 400 and add slices of fresh mozzarella cheese. When the cheese begin to bubble, they are done. Remove and top with Vodka sauce (follows) and what else ARUGULA and fresh Parmesan!!!!

Almost Homemade Vodka Sauce

• 1 jar of your favorite marinara/tomato sauce (I use Classico's Spicy Tomato and Basil and I also eat it by the spoonful)
• 3/4 cup vodka
• about 3/4 cup light cream

In a saucepan, simmer jar of sauce and vodka together for about 20 minutes. Slowly add cream to sauce. (I always add to taste.) I think I used about 3/4 cup. Maybe. Always taste. Remove from heat and dump over eggplant. Scarf down.
I also made a quick salad of spinach, fresh mozzarella, onion, tomato and spicy olives with a little drizzle of olive oil and freshly ground pepper. And we also enjoyed some crispy green beans.

Cheap and Fancy aren't oxymorons in our house!!!

Happy Friday All!

Really.

Welp, I guess we better all stop running immediately. Can't have people feeling good, that wouldn't be right.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32573781/ns/health-fitness/

Weekend of Glutton Part Tres

In continuation of the weekend foodie theme and also in light of my new arugula theme, Sunday night Live In and I made the most delicious meal, probably ever. No joke.

Angle 1:

Everybody say YUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!

Blackened Chicken on top of Spaghetti with sauteed spinach, onions and asparagus, topped with fresh arugula and shaved parmesan.

View 2:

It was just so darn good and also very easy to make!


Sauteed Veggies

• Sauteed 1/2 onion
• 2 garlic cloves
• spinach (1 package of frozen spinach)
• 1.5 tbsp of olive oil.

Add chopped asparagus in the last 2 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. You can also leave the onion out or not.



Blackened Chicken
Coat lightly oiled chicken breasts with a mixture of the following (about 1/4 to 1/2 tsp each)

• White pepper
• Cajun seasoning
• Cumin
• Salt
• Cayenne Pepper
  Smoked Paprika
• Onion Powder

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a cast iron skillet with 2 tbsp of butter. When hot, add chicken and cook for about 2 minutes each side.

Throw in the oven until chicken is done (internal temp of 160)
We also throw a pat of butter on each breast in the last five minutes of cooking.


Spaghetti (Whole Wheat)
Follow the directions on the box


Mix sauteed vegetables in with spaghetti and add more olive oil, if your little heart desires.



After plated, top with handful of arugula and shaved parmesan. Your taste buds will thank me. I don't lie.



Whew! All that cooking makes one sleepy little puppy!

Night Night

Happy Tummy

Tonight I feel like this:

Because I FINALLY got on a real shoe and was able to spin! I almost barfed. I love it. My heart was happy too. When I got home I was in the mood for some serious comfort food.

Bob's Scottish oats with vanilla soymilk, white chocolate peanut butter, and about 1/3 of a mushed up nanner. Happy happy tummy.

I did a little back to school shopping today:

I am teaching Pilates this semester, so I HAD to be prepared, duh. What kind of teacher would I be if I didn't have a good (pink) mat and (baby blue) no-slip towel?

All my happiness was short-lived however, when I took a look at my planner for the week.

Yowza! makes me feel like this:

*note: please do not judge sweaty post spin class pics.

Now I am headed to the shower, and the bed for a LOOOOONNNGG day tomorrow. Nitey-nite!

Say it aint so

In light of Morgan's awesome rocking female athlete bod post ( which I love) I decided to eat 2 cookies and appriciate my own athletic bod for the evening!

But I have some bad news....

1. You may have noticed no pics recently. That's becasue my camera is on the fritz! Ew. Electronics. I swear I would be happy with everything in my world being Flinstone-style. I am a technology grandma.

2. School starts...well, now ish. I did go buy a ( unpictured) load of school supplies, and a shiny new pink binder which will most assuredly make me smarter. I also bought a pack of the new multi colored sharpie pens, Yay for school supplies. This week is crazy with faculty meetings, GA meetings, and a department cookout. I am interested to see how healthy the "Health and Sports Sciences" department cookout is. Look out for a blog on that. My classes start next week. I will be taking an Exercise Physiology/ muscle morphology class, a research design and writing class, and a statistics class, so I can understand all of this research I will be desiging and writing about. I am teaching pilates. I am actually very excited in a nerdy way to impart wisdom on young minds! Hopefully my students will be engaged and actually care about this class. I would, pilates rocks. Can I wear a running skirt to teach in? Hmm.....

3. My training has been crappy these last couple of weeks! Although, ( silver lining up ahead) my lovely staph infection is MUCH better, and I actually put on a real shoe today, with laces and everything! Now if this huge scab would just magically dissappear overnight, I would be one happy camper.

4. I am already stressed about school starting back, but what I am most worried about is ( duh) nutrition when classes start back. On Tuesdays and Thursdays I will be teaching 3 hours of pilates, followed by an hour of spin that evening. What's a girl to eat?

What are some of your fave on the go foods? Help me out here people, I need a game plan!

Weekend of Glutton-Part Deux

Saturday, I wanted to have another adventure in the city, umfortunely, Hurricane Bill didn't want us to ride bikes.  I decided I wanted to try out Brooklyn: Park Slope and Clinton Hill/Ft. Greene and then have some pizza and wine at the wonderful Graziella's.  Brooklyn did not disappoint-Park Slope, Clinton Hill and Ft. Greene are the cutest little pockets in Brooklyn.

Now on to Graziella's.  Dear. Lord.  It's the best pizza ever.  No lie.  Hands down, the arugula parmesan pizza is the best I've ever had.  I'll be back in 2 weeks, Graziella's!  (This photo does not do this pizza justice!)

The rooftop dining area only adds the awesome factor to this secret pizza joint!

Sweating it out on the subway in my 2008 Final 4 T-Shirt

New Running Skirt, by Nike.  (do not look above my waist.  Don't.  I know you just did.  Avert your eyes!!)

I'm still not sure how I feel about a running skirt.  I feel a tad bit like a fraud.  But yet, oh so girly!  I also bought some Blue Nike Shorts and a Fall Sweatshirt (for Running!!)

Ok, Fall, bring it on.  I'm ready!

Weekend of Glutton-Part One

I love a weekend of good food!

The weekend started out with a trip to The Mermaid Inn for a fantastic seafood dinner.  We started out with Shrimp Cocktail and ordered a bottle of Verdejo (a Spanish white wine) Paso y Paso- a first for me to have more than a sip of white wine.

For dinner, I ordered Spaghetti and a Salad-different, but fantastic.  The dish was spaghetti, olive oil, steamed clams and littleneckes (a first) with arugula and shaved parmesan on top!  The taste and texture was out of this world-I think I have a new favorite dish idea!

  

There really wasn't enough protein for me, but I went with it.  A first for me to let loose with my food!

Side of sauteed spinach-

Live in ordered the Lobster Roll-

Nom Nom Nom

Desert was a chocolate pudding and a Fortune Fish!

The air was too stagnant outside for our fortune fish, so I saved him for another day!

Too be continued!

Fat Day

Everybody has those so called "fat days".

After looking at my tree stumps (aka, legs) in the gym mirror and deciding I should probably cut out all pasta type foods, wheat, anything over 100 calories, etc, I get an nice compliment from a fellow gym-goer. Muscle lifter said (in his opinion) I have "the perfect athletic body". I really did thank him because I was having a low self esteem body day. (Of course I realize men are always trying to get in girls' pants, so I said "thanks" and moved on).

But why am I posting this: because it goes to show that a. women CAN have athletic bodies and look fantastic and 2. because so many women are down on themselves and their appearance-it's ok to receive a compliment and TAKE IT!!!

Glamour Magazine (September 2009) did a month long story on a woman and how she felt daily about her body-and took pictures each day in the same bathing suit, in the same pose. The pictures were to prove that she looked the same each day to other people, even if she felt like like a giant walrus.
I also think body image has a lot to do with the food we eat. I know when I eat like crap, I feel like crap, thus making me have a low body image. I don't like to feel bad or look bad so this is why I eat healthy and work out. Plus I am uber competitive and I like to compete with mostly, myself.

I am posting my favorite strong, female athletes. And they also just so happen to be hot!

Who is your favorite female athlete?
(PS: I don't consider Nascar [driving] a sport therefore Danica Patrick will not be on my list])

Jennie Finch and Kara Goucher

Brandy Chastain

Various Awesome Blogs

Yesterday, I stumbled upon awesome blog after awesome blog and I thought I would share. Because that's what I do.

Eat, Live, Run: written by Jenna-I've been reading hers for a while (my first blog to read!!). She has easy lunch and dinner ideas. Also, she's a pastry chef. Saywhat? We'll be right over, Jenna!
http://eatliverun.com/

Healthy Tipping Point: written by Caitlin-I read about 75 pages yesterday. Me likey. Very positive and motivational!
http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/

No Meat Athlete: written by Matt, a marathoner, vegetarian! Yipee for no meat marathons! Also nice to have a male's point of view.
http://www.nomeatathlete.com/

The Runner's Kitchen: written by Megan-a runner since high school (and she's fast, people!). Also fellow New Yorker. I like to see where her NYC adventures take her!
http://runnerskitchen.wordpress.com/

Fitnessista: One of Anna's fave's. I like her recipes! Healthy and they look delicious!
http://www.fitnessista.com/


Things to do While Unemployed: And of course, one of my besties, Stacey Logan. Hers is foul and funny, kinda like a married version of Tucker Max. SO really, nothing like Tucker Max, 'cept writing styles.
http://thingstodowhileunemployed.blogspot.com/

I hope these keep you busy, yanno for a rainy day!

Deuces!

Things I have learned this summer

Sigh. I am in my last week of summer vacation. I realize most 29 year olds don't get summer vacation, but since I am a grad student, I do. And I needed it. During the semester I am a full on crazy person, stressed out to the max, and exhausted and cranky. This summer break has been great.....but i didn't totally turn my brain off! I learned some things. Some I learned through research, or my awesome job, some I learned the hard way ( which is evidently my fave way to learn.) So without further adue ( how do you spell that word?)

Top 10 Things I learned This Summer

10. Shaq is really good at alot of sports.

9. I am a pretty smart cookie. I believe my education is sticking. Good.

8. I am even more obsessed with peanut butter than I originally thought.

7. Gall Bladder surgery is serious business.

6. My husband is an excellent ceiling fan installer.

5. Time magazine is ridiculously ignorant.

4. If you treat your body nice, it will return the favor. It is your Temple. Respect it.

3. Fire ants are black....who knew?

2. Pei Wei's veggie and tofu substitution for meat in their dishes is unbelievable. So Super Duper Yummy

And the #1 thing I learned this summer:

ANT BITES SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Caution:

I Hate You, Spin Class

Memba that time when I was so mad during spin class, I cried? Yeah, I do. I hadn't taken a spin class in ohh, about 8 months because it makes my vaginal area hurt. Bad. More on that later.

*WARNING EXPLICIT BLOG AHEAD*

Let's start from 10am.....(play the dream sequence sounds in your head)

My boss calls me to say she was "slammed" from a superior because I asked a question to someone in the legal department. Just a simple question to keep the ball rolling on an agreement while my boss was on vacation. But apparently our department isn't supposed to "talk to her". WTF? Seriously?! Is this lady the Queen of England? Ugh. I felt so bad for my boss, even though she is more on the side of "fuck it", but still. I guess that's what happens when I try and keep things moving along.
Anyway, after those shenanigans, I had a pretty normal day. Busy, which I like. And yesterday, my package from Target came. Of course, UPS did not leave it, so I called the number. The lady on the phone says it's at the UPS pick up center (which is located damn near in New Jersey) and I can pick it up. Sweet! Forty-five minutes later (2 bus rides and 10 minutes of waiting for a subway that never came) I get there. Man scans the bar code. Ma'am, your package is on the truck for delivery-they attempted to deliver it at 1:32pm. AAAAHHHHHHHHH! If at this point I could have blown fire out of my mouth like a kick ass dragon, then I would have. For sure. UPS man gives me the "manager's" phone number. I call and I don't lose my cool, but I am straight forward with this manager about my inconvenience. I say "LEAVE THE PACKAGE TOMORROW". Click.

At this point, I wanted to go to a bar and drink. But I didn't, because I was really looking forward to spin class. Plus, I had a reservation with Mr. Schwinn, bike 12.
I rush to class and barely make it by 6:30. People are already warming up as I walk in. I look at Mr. 12, BROKEN. Shoe holder thingy is on the floor, not attached to the pedal. Knob is missing from the seat adjustment part. My water bottle is too big to fit into the holder. And my ass/giny area already hurts. I adjust my seat, reattach my pedal shoe thingy as the instructor watches (not helping), sit in the seat, ow, readjust the seat, sit, ow. Deal with it. Ok, this will be fine.
When we start doing hills, I imagine I'm in France with Lance Armstrong and we are riding the Tour de France course together, cheering each other on over the hills. I also imagine the guy in front of me is Lance, although twas not. People in class are "hooting and hollerin' and woo-hooing". Yeah, this is gonna be good! Ass hurts, but ok.
I need to tighten my shoe thingy. RIP. I break the metal piece. Way to go dummy, but I think it's no big deal, I'm a pedalin'. Instructor says "Pick up the pace, let's go! Double time!! Double time!!" Cycle, Cycle, Cycle, Slip. F&$K! My left foot slips out of the pedal, no big deal, it wasn't bad. I slip my foot back in the broken pedal and realize I can't go too fast without my foot falling out. Fine.
I crank up the resistance and pedal. Woo, I'm pedaling like I'm in the friggin Olympics. Faster and faster then BAM. My left foot comes out and now is dangling while my right foot is still attached and the bike is still spinning. Up and down, up and down I go. My giny bangs the seat a few times. F@*K, OUCH. The instructor comes over and says "Are you ok?". I reply with a "Yes and the pedal thing is broken." He doesn't care. "PEDAL FASTER, LET'S GO!!!!!!!"

Now I am so angry by the hazing I have received from this fucking bike that I contemplate getting off, shoving it, flipping off the class and then walking the f out.
I'm putting my left foot back in the broken pedal, again and I'm angry. And what happens to Morgan Beene when she gets angry, she cries. Yes, I cried in spin class. Not real tears cry, but a pissed off cry. No tears.
I tell myself to suck it up-this totally merits a new bottle of wine for dinner. Meanwhile, I am trying my best and Mr. Awesome Teacher is pointing out the star spinners of the class giving a thumbs up. Fuck off.
Finally 45 minutes later, class is over and I Usain Bolt the fark outta there.

I want to love spin class, I really do. It's a great cardio workout and plus it's friggin' awesome cross training for running. But it's almost as if spin class doesn't want to like me. Terd. Next week I will try it again (somewhere embedded in my bones is perseverance-also embedded: competitiveness). I will need to a. not reserve a jacked up bike, and 2. wear 35 depends on my ass for cushion.

Mr. Schwinn, I will conquer you. Mark. My. Words. I'm coming after you.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things!

Anna and I were gchatting about our top 5 foods and if we were stranded on a deserted island, what would the 5 foods be?

Morgan:
1. Avocadoes-duh
2. Coconut Milk (for drinking and also for making ice cream)
3. MiMi Roll from Sekisui-except I would change the imitation crab to Prime Tuna-yanno, for the health factor
4. Sweet potatoes-to make sweet potato fries, baked, mashed, smashed, tempura-ed, and sweet potato hash
5. Cheese-again, duh.

Oh! But I need to get wine on that list too! Hmmmmm. Well, I cannot get rid of ANY of those items! Maybe I can get rid of the cheese. Nooooo, I will need that for protein. Ok, I've decided to get rid of GULP, sweet potatoes. Sad, yes! Goodbye! But hello Red Grapes and Wine!

Then I decided I would need 2 condiments, which are very necessary:
1. Agave Nectar
2. Olive Oil infused with Salt, pepper, and crushed red peppers

This list could change tomorrow-who knows. I might want to add spinach, but no, not really. I'm on a deserted island, so obviously, my deserted island is a tropical one and if Anna and I are stranded together, then, well, she can pick 5 other items and we can share!

What are your top 5 foods?

ANT BITES GO AWAY!!!!!

See this? This is what happens when you step in an ant hill. I know I destroyed their home, but geeze! It was an accident! Those little jerks climbed inside my shoe and bit me repeatedly. this was over a week ago, and they are STILL itching so bad it keeps me up at night. Ugh!

I tried to do a 5 mile run yesterday for the first time since I had the cold, then got the bites. It has been painful/ itchy to put a shoe on that foot, because, like I said, the tiny jerks climbed in my shoe and bit me repeatedly. It was a very HOT HUMID and ITCHY run. Kind of like torture. It was 94˚ and about 96% humidity. And noon. I confess that was bad planning on my part, but I wanted to run SO bad! I ended up having to take several walk breaks, which I don't usually do anymore, but I had to reattach the duct tape and Band-Aids I had covering the bites ( I was trying to prevent rubbing because rubbing = itching like crazy) and hydrate. I ended up with a slow 3 miles, but hey.....better than no run, right?

BTDub....why did I just now try the little individual powder packs of G2?! Economical, portable, and refreshing!

I had an awesome salad for lunch today:

It was comprised of leftovers from my grilling and veggie roasting extravaganza this weekend!

mmm....sweet taters.

The combo of the warm sweet potatoes and roasted squash and zucchini over the cool spinach was divine. I also had a little feta under there that softened under the heat. YYYUUUUMMMEERRRSSS!

I love the hot/ cold combo. Like ice cream on a hot brownie or warm apple pie. Cold daiquiri on the hot sand.......HAHA!! What are some of your favorite hot/ cold combos?

Comfort Food

Tonight I made my first whole roasted chicken and I used Ina Garten's recipe called The Perfect Roasted Chicken. I've been hearing how easy this recipe is and how it's foolproof and it's also A-MAZE-ING! I've been craving roasted chicken and potatoes and vegetables lately and this HIT the spot! The recipe is simple and you need only a few ingredients!

courtesy of the Food Network and Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients

1 (5 to 6 pound) roasting chicken (Organic Free Range)
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large bunch fresh thyme, plus 20 sprigs
1 lemon, halved
1 head garlic, cut in half crosswise
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter, melted
1 large yellow onion, thickly sliced
4 carrots cut into 2-inch chunks
1 bulb of fennel, tops removed, and cut into wedges
Olive oil

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
Remove the chicken giblets. Rinse the chicken inside and out. Remove any excess fat and leftover pin feathers and pat the outside dry. Liberally salt and pepper the inside of the chicken. Stuff the cavity with the bunch of thyme, both halves of lemon, and all the garlic. Brush the outside of the chicken with the butter and sprinkle again with salt and pepper. Tie the legs together with kitchen string and tuck the wing tips under the body of the chicken. Place the onions, carrots, and fennel in a roasting pan. Toss with salt, pepper, 20 sprigs of thyme, and olive oil. Spread around the bottom of the roasting pan and place the chicken on top.
Roast the chicken for 1 1/2 hours, or until the juices run clear when you cut between a leg and thigh. Remove the chicken and vegetables to a platter and cover with aluminum foil for about 20 minutes. Slice the chicken onto a platter and serve it with the vegetables.

Chopped Vegetables and Potatoes in my beautiful cast iron pot (that I lugged around for 3 blocks)

• I followed the recipe to a T. Well, almost. Here are some changes I would make:


• Add more vegetables, I like a ton of veggies with it and I would add an entire bag of carrots and also another onion.
  
• Less salt. I was mega liberal with the salt and it was just a tad too salty


• More Thyme inside


• Whole Garlic Cloves with the veggies


• I added Red Roasting Potatoes to the veggies too-turned out awesome

Here, after carving and with the jus from the bottom of the pot:

It was just a tad salty (which was my fault) but OMG the juiciness of the chicken and the taste, oh the taste! Is it lunchtime yet-I'm excited to eat these leftovers!

The health factor of this dish-well its already healthy. There isn't anything to substitute. Probably the butter, but it's only a tablespoon-ish on the skin to make it crispy, and you can remove that.

As a side I made Smoked Pimiento and Cheese Grits. Hello new favorite dish! When it's tweaked a little better, I will post the recipe! (and sorry for the blurry picture, Joey was bumping my arm-she went CRAZY for the chicken!)

And I couldn't complete a meal without dessert!!

Array of mini desserts from Whole Foods: Petite Vanilla Cheesecake, Petite Fruit Tart, Carrot Cake, Cannoli, Mini Vanilla Cupcake (perfect size!)

Now, get to cooking people!!

Live-in and I spent Saturday biking around NYC and Staten Island (don't go) and it was just amazing-like I was a kid again! NYC Summer Streets is here every Saturday where Park Avenue was closed from 72nd to the Brooklyn Bridge from 7am-1pm. It's refreshing to see all the bikers, runners, walkers, skaters instead of cars!

See: (yes, I took this picture while riding and it was hard!)

This is the bike I want! Jamis Commuter 2 in Pacific Blue, just in case!!

Get out there and get busy!