So to start this off, I’m very disappointed and upset about this race so I’m sorry if this isn’t my normal peppy upbeat post. I just have to share with you guys and then I hope to never think of it again. I know I can’t keep beating myself up about it, but I literally cried about it yesterday. Sitting at my computer desk, tears rolling down my face, crying. It was bizarre, but I felt like it was a good cry and that helped me to not be so hard on myself. After that little preface, read on!

So the night before the race we had a little forum encounter from the Runners World Forums. It’s incredibly motivating to me to meet more runners and hear more stories. Everyone was so nice and it was a blast to meet more people that I ‘talk’ to daily on the forums.

So I realized today that I’m posting my 97th post… My 100th post is going to knock your socks off, but I don’t know if it will be my race report from this weekend, next Monday, which is an amazing 100 post in itself, but I just wanted to let you all know that I’m having a SICK giveaway for this milestone. It might not be mentioned in my 100th post specifically but right around then get ready to get the best book ever that just came out that I’m obsessed with already. So that is just a little hook to keep you all coming back for more, and of course I’ll post a race report complete with horrible pictures of myself and others. I’m planning on making that shirt tonight or tomorrow as well. I’m going to also get paint thinner today on my lunch break because guess what! Paint doesn’t come off with just water. My hands are covered in white paint right now and I don’t know how my co-workers would feel about that during the production meeting later today. :) That was maybe the most random paragraph I’ve ever written. You understand, I know.

Of course I have some Thursday finds to lighten up your wallet a little bit as well.

The Women’s Asics Reflective Short Sleeve Tee in White (Sorry girls, they only have a Medium left) This elite running t-shirt offers 50+ UPF protection, protecting you on bright, sunny days. There is binding at the neckline, an exclusive Hali reflective graphic and an ASICS® reflective logo. It was $24.99, but is now only $14.99.

Get yours here!

Then there’s the The Reebok® Mission women’s Tee that has a lot of sizes left and comes in Black, White and Aviator Blue. It’s crafted using PlayDry®, Reebok®’s moisture-wicking performance fabric that draws sweat away from your skin to help keep you cool and dry at all times. The forward side seams help prevent uncomfortable abrasion against your skin. It’s cute and looks like it would fit well and is a steal because normally it’s listed at $17.99, and now is on sale for $9.97.

Get yours here!

Then this is the DEAL OF THE DAY! Show your support the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer with the Reebok® women’s Avon Pink Ribbon Tee. Super cute for working out, or just wearing as a tee. This cotton tee features the pink ribbon logo printed on the front. Normally $19.99, now only $4.97.

Get yours here!

If you are a beginning runner, or starting training for a 5k or 10k, Check out OZ Runner’s Blog. He’s a Kansas guy and just started running 6 months ago, but this list that he posted can speak to any runner, especially beginners. I would just straight copy it, but then I would feel like I was stealing, so check it out. It has so many great tips and insights and it’s very encouraging.

I’m so ready for the race to be here already! I haven’t done much running this week, but I will get in around eight miles tomorrow and Saturday to make sure I’m ready. I feel ready and have been overloading on sleep and pastas, so that should be good for Sunday as well.

xoxo

If I have to watch one more commercial with Obama taking stabs at McCain, or vice versa, I might, might just pass out! Seriously. One more commercial with chickens being cooped up in a cage, or yes or no on eight, AGH! I can’t take it anymore. Take down all the signs littering my running pathway, clean up the streets again! I can’t take looking at last names for this position, or vote this for this anymore! I feel like this!

Anyways, with election day tomorrow, there are some sick free deals to be had, and many restaurants are taking advantage of them. Hey, the economy’s down, go big and give away free stuff to win people back. I’m a believer. Keep your coveted, “I voted” sticker all day, and get freebies all day long! Long Live Democracy!

Anyways, for all you java junkies, Starbucks is giving away one tall coffee to anyone who votes. I assume this is when you are wearing the ‘I voted’ sticker. Want to read more, click here.

Anyone else running in the morning? This gives you free reign to celebrate or drown your sorrows in either delicious ice-cream, or donuts, or both!

Krispy Kreme Donuts is giving away a star shaped patriotic sprinkled original flavored donut to everyone with the “I voted” sticker. Looks super tasty! To find your nearest Krispy Kreme go here.

So tonight I will be supporting my boy’s football team for the big game. Any injuries, and he’s on the field! Way to go Athletic Trainers! Tomorrow we might go to a party, but we’ll see. I have been caught down with another little cold, and I’m trying to get better as quickly as possible. You see I’ve never been one to be really great with the whole snot rocket thing while running. Not that I have a problem with the idea, or even doing it, I just can’t do it properly, (believe me I’ve tried quite a few times) and always just end up with snot all over my face, shoulder, shirt, etc. Enough with the goriness… but hey it’s Halloween right?

This morning I was going to get up and go for a jog, but it was raining, and I didn’t want to make myself more sick than I already was. I did look outside, and though I complain a lot about living in the people infested area that I do, this was just gorgeous…

So I am by no means a chef or cook of any kind. I can barely make cupcakes, out of the box, none the less frost them. So when I decide to make dinner, it’s quite a feat for me. I wanted to share a few of my favorite, “lower calorie” meals that I love to fuel up on.

First is a Broccoli Chicken Mush. There is no other way to describe it, than a mush, I guess you can call it a bake, but it looks like a mushy pile of gooey goodness. Looks aren’t everything though, especially down in the tum! It’s super easy and quick to make too. After a run I usually throw the ingredients together, throw it in the oven and hop in the shower. When I get out, it’s time to take it out! I know, I’m into multi-tasking. So here it is.

(that isn’t my picture, but it looks like that!)
Broccoli Chicken Mush
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (thawed)
1 pound broccoli florets, cooked
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 can water
1 cup brown rice

First preheat the oven to 350 degrees, put the rice on the bottom of a 3 quart baking dish, put the chicken on top of it and then pour in the soup and water. It looks like a ton of water, but the rice absorbs it, don’t worry. Put the broccoli into the pan. You can add some cheese on top of it, but if you want to cut calories, skip the cheese and use the Campbell’s 98% fat free Cream of Mushroom soup. It doesn’t mess with the taste at all, and there are only 70 calories in it. Then put it in the oven for 25-35 minutes. I usually like my broccoli super well done, so I leave mine in for around 35-40 minutes. It’s delicious!

I also made these the other day, and though mine didn’t come out right, (mine were like little weird lumpy biscuts) I know if I wouldn’t have used the wrong ingredients they would have been just delicious as well. These are my favorite cupcakes in the entire world!

(that isn’t my picture)
Red Velvet Cupcakes
1/2 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1 fluid ounce red food coloring
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease two 12 cup muffin pans or line with 20 paper baking cups. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Mix in the eggs, buttermilk, red food coloring and vanilla. Stir in the baking soda and vinegar.

Combine the flour, cocoa powder and salt; stir into the batter just until blended. Spoon the batter into the prepared cups, dividing evenly. Bake in the preheated oven until the tops spring back when lightly pressed, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in the pan set over a wire rack. When cool, arrange the cupcakes on a serving platter and frost with desired frosting.

Pretty basic but oh so delicious! :) Especially if you have never made or had red velvet cupcakes, you are missing out!

Also this is my new FAVORITE website, Fast Food Maven, it’s mostly for the Orange County area, but a lot of chains are also talked about on this blog, and it’s so helpful. This is where I found out about the Wendy’s Halloween Deal! It’s not talked about on their website at all, but Wendy’s has come up with a great alternative to handing out Halloween candy: a free Jr. Frosty.
Wendy’s is selling booklets that contain a coupon good for one free Frosty Jr., which is six ounces and contains 150 calories. You can find it’s nutritional info here. Each booklet cost $1 and contains 10 coupons, but some Wendy’s are selling 5 coupons for a $1. Either way, what a fun, cheap treat, I think I’ll just buy a book for myself :) A little reward during the work day!

And for all you candy fiends like myself, I have been doing some research about Halloween Candy. I have this problem, that if candy is around, I mow through it, but if it’s not around, I never eat it. So I’ve been poking through some resources to find the best candy out there, since I seem to indulge way too much. I found that Twizzlers, individually wrapped – 40 calories aren’t too bad, but make sure they are individually wrapped vines because that is the KEY here! They are good too! For suckers, Caramel Apple Pops – 60 calories, and are INCREDIBLE. Dum Dum Pops – 25 calories, are tiny, but do last a while and are pretty tasty. A personal favorite, Blow Pops – 60 calories are good too, and the bubblegum in the middle is a little extra special treat, as long as it’s flavor lasts which is about two minutes.

(that isn’t my picture, but I love this aisle! I’m like a bug to the light…)
Also chocolate, if you have to keep it around, try to go for the minis. The fun sizes, are not fun once you have to work off all the extra calories. Milky Way Minis – 38 calories, per mini while 2 fun sizes are 154 calories. Musketeers Minis – 24 calories, while 2 fun-sized Musketeers is 120 calories. Tootsie Roll Midgees – 23 calories, which are a personal favorite! Yea, sorry for just ruining all your candy dreams right there. One fun sized package of Skittles is 83 calories alone!

The overall outcome has lead me to believe that the smaller, the better. I’ve also tried to select candy that offers sugar-free options. Another thing I learned was to avoid the candy corn – it stays in molars and causes dental havoc. I’m working on learning to like dark chocolate. It’s healthy and has less sugar. Dove and Hershey offer small dark chocolates.

Also if any of you are on linked in, I recently joined the Orange County Running Professionals Group, and I want to encourage you to, if you are in my area, join the Group, or start up your own running professional club by you! :) It’s always nice to interact with other runners around the community.

Remember to sign up for my giveaway! You can go to the link here! You can sign up until Sunday, November 2! The winner will be annouced Monday morning. Have a wonderful, delicious day, and as for me, I’m trying to keep my hands from the candy bowl.