Love me some Google

Today's workout (meaning Tuesday when I actually wrote this blog): 3 Easy Miles (Week 1/20 - 138 days left to marathon #3)

Does spinach make your teeth feel weird?  My feel kind of squeakier after I eat the stuff.  Not the good, squeaky clean you get when you’ve just left the dentist, but a really odd squeaky type of squeak.  Anyone?  That’s what I thought.  I challenged myself to eat a whole bag of spinach in a week. 

And I diiiiiiidddd!  Usually I open a bag and shamefully let uhh, well too much of it go to waste. 

 I’ve been adding a heaping handful to my can of soup each day.  It’s the light version, and not the healthiest option out there, but it’s working for me for now.  Aka, speed and convenience.

Check it!  Recycled picture.

Well, well, well...and this is why I LOVE me some google! (Found this at FitSugar) 

 It is caused by the high quantities of oxalic acid found in spinach, not iron like many spinach lovers might think. The oxalate crystals leak out as you chew, and even more, when you cook spinach and these crystals coat the teeth. Drinking milk with spinach can exacerbate the chalky sensation. Rhubarb, beets, kale and chocolate are high in oxalic acid as well. People with kidney problems should not eat large quantities of spinach or any food high in this acid since it can lead to because of the increased risk of producing oxalate stones in the kidneys.

Oh and in case you missed it on Facebook or Dailymile, I am a total ding-dong.  I headed out for my run this morning and locked the door behind me with my key.  When I got back home, the same key just wouldn’t unlock the door for me.  I called my husband about a jillion times with no luck.  This made me mad as he’s my “in case of emergency” call…my backup, my husband that never turns his ringer off and has been known to answer many a call in the wee hours of the night.  I sat out on the stoop for about 10 minutes and alternated between calling my husband, trying my key again, and contemplating whether or not to knock and/or ring the doorbell.  I tried calling my children too and finally got through to the sleepyheadest of them all.  She came downstairs, and I’m certain she wasn’t happy about it, and she unlocked the door.  The door to the LEFT (this is key!) swung open, and this happened:

Me: “OMG. I am an idiot.”

Her: (turns her back and heads back up the stairs.)

I have no good reason as to why I didn’t even think to try the other door and lock.  The side I was trying to unlock is just there for looks.  When I confessed my stupidity later to my hubs, he softened the blow by saying that I’m not a “front door person” since I always come in through the garage.  Awww…

Even though I’m stupid, he’s still not off the hook for not answering his phone.

To make up for the riveting pictures of spinach bags in stages of full and empty...and my bowl of soup, I give you the best coconut water that I have tasted yet.  And it's DARK CHOCOLATE FLAVOR!  Can life get any better?  It definitely would if this water would start pouring out of my kitchen faucet.  Geesh!  $2.79 at the gas station.  Surely it would be cheaper at the grocery store.  $2.99 Nope!  But they didn't have the chocolate kind...otherwise, last night, I would have been drinking a $2.99 bottle of this stuff.

Here's the scoop on the nutritional stats from ZICO's website.  Ackk!  I used their product finder and they have it at Safeway...must check prices and get on my knees and pray.

Random super exciting stuff

Ok, maybe with that title I lied just a teensy bit.

What I’ve been eating each day for lunch…canned soup with a handful of spinach thrown in.  Minus the pretzels and jalapeno jack cheese stick.

This is the best blurry salad ever…or was, until a few days later I had the new and improved best salad ever.  This one is pork loin, cilantro dressing,  cucumber and avocado.  The new best one?  I ate before I took a picture.  That one was chicken marinated in a teriyaki sauce, with cucumber, strawberries and a shitaki sesame dressing.

One of my coworkers that went to his “happy place.”

My new kicks!  Or newer as I have had them about a month.  It will be a sad day the first time these have to see the inside of a porta potty.  I will feel sorry for them. 

Lastly, I take pictures of recipes on my lap top cuz I’m too lazy to make a shopping list I’m cool like that.  These Turkey Meatloaf Muffins are in my freezer and are an awesome go to meal when there’s nothing else around to eat.

And for reals lastly, I laughed out loud when I saw this.

Do you drink coffee?

How do you drink your coffee?

Black, with no flavorings whatsoever for me!

How many cups a day for ya? 

Me? just two.

Did you know that spell checker knew how to spell cilantro but not teriyaki?  Hmmmmm......

Running from bears

I just can’t seem to bring myself to blog.  Part of me has been waiting for the perfect time to write the perfect blog.  I do have a few brain cells and I know that time nor that perfect blog will come.  Then part of me thinks that I really haven’t been doing anything fabulous or noteworthy enough to share.  And while the part of “fabulous or noteworthy” is true, it’s rather negative to think it doesn’t need to be shared.  And really, I’ve been quite selfish in not sharing all the mundane that has been going on in my life.  I ask for your forgiveness.  Please and thank you. J

I have been whining for a long time about wanting to join a running group. The one group that runs weekly here as part of our local running/walking group…well it was always at a time that didn’t work for me.  Then there was the day when I discovered that the pace they run is ridiculously faster than what I run, unless I’m trying to prevent myself from getting eaten by a bear.   Not that I’ve had to run under that kind of duress, but I do think I could out run a bear…a small bear, with three legs, and the bear is blind, and has lost it’s sense of smell.  Yes, I have thought this out.  And no, keep your phone number for the therapist you were going to recommend.  Do not want.

Finally, a glimmer of running light appeared when there was mention of starting another slower paced running group.  We met for the first time a week ago and then last night.  My 12 year old daughter, who has been showing more of an interest in running (TRY NOT TO GET TOO EXCITED MOM!) tagged along too.  We got out of the car the first night and approached the small group of runners gathered.  First thing out of my mouth was, “Hey, I recognize you guys and you are NOT the slower runners!”  They were there to meet and greet and take us around the 2.6 mile trail.  They had already run 13 miles or so, ran three to meet us, and would run 21 miles back to their cars.  Or something like that.  No big deal.  One other lady showed up and I was soooo happy to see her.  I hope I didn’t scare her when I pleadingly asked if she was going to come next week.  My hopes for this running group are purely social as I will still be getting in my 4-5 three miles in the morning.  I’m excited.  More people will come.  I’m sure of it!

So um, to sum things up, I have been running and doing stuff.  I can’t believe May is here.  I should be counting the times I hear today, “I can’t believe May is already here!”  Can you believe it?  This month is my last month before I officially start my marathon training plan.  My focus this month is to beef up the weights in hopes to shed a few pounds before June.  I just don’t like cutting calories during marathon training.

236 days left until Christmas.

You are welcome!

Yeah, this is more like it for me.