Cross Train

I was off work today due to the Canada Day holiday.  I went to the gym for some cross training.  I did 2.44miles on the elliptical.  I also visited my friend who happens to be a hairdresser and got my hair cut and highlighted in her kitchen.  I am currently cooking a Mac and Cheese Casserole. Hopefully it turns out alright!  Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons of butter

2 cups of elbow noodles

1 can of evaporated milk

1 egg

1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder

3 cups of shredded cheese

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Spray cooking dish with non stick cooking spray and set aside.

Bring pot of water to a boil; add salt and macaroni.

Cook until al dente.

Drain and return to pot.

Add butter and toss until pasta is coated and butter has melted.

Set aside.

In a medium bowl, whisk together evaporated milk, skim milk and egg.  

Add garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste; set aside.  

Place 1/3 of macaroni in an even layer in the bottom of prepared baking dish; cover evenly with 1/3 cheese.

Repeat with remaining macaroni and cheese mixture.

Pour milk mixture evenly over contents of baking dish.

Bake until top layer is lightly browned, 35-45mins.

Let stand for 10-25mins before serving.

Also, make sure you check out Falon Does Marathon for a giveaway!

Cross Train

Tonight I went to the gym and did 1/2 an hour on the elliptical.  I am off to a good start for the week!
I forgot to put up my schedule for this week so here it is:

Monday: Cross Train

Tuesday: 6K Run

Wednesday: Rest Day

Thursday: 7K Run

Friday: Rest Day

Saturday: 4K Pack Run

Sunday: Safe Harbour 5K Run

Happy Victoria Day!

Today I made it to the gym again!  I completed 1/2 an hour on the elliptical.  The gym was really hot for some reason.  Today is Victoria Day here in Canada, so I am off work.  It has been a very warm long week hitting 30 degree Celsius the last two days.  

Cross Train

Today I went to the gym for the first time since March.  I did 1/2 an hour on the elliptical.  Today was the first time I felt I could breathe long enough without having a coughing fit in a week.  Oh and did I mention that I had jury duty today and was not picked!  I have been worried for a month that I was going to get picked to serve on a jury for a trial.  This is my schedule for this week:

Monday: Cross Train

Tuesday: 7K Run

Wednesday: Rest Day

Thursday: 10K Run with the Running Group

Friday: Rest Day

Saturday: 6K Pack Run

Sunday: 14K Run with the Running Group or on my own

Cross Train

I took today off work, as I have some vacation days to use up before the end of March or I lose them.  I went to the gym and did 2miles on the elliptical.  I also went shopping at the Mountain Equipment Coop and bought a new pair or running pants, real running pants, not just yoga pants that I have been wearing.  I also bought a headlamp as I noticed the other night it being really dark on my run.  The headlamp is a Princeton Tec Bot.  I haven't read anything about it but it looked liked it would do what I need it to do.

Cross Train #9

Tonight I did 2.17miles on the elliptical.  I also picked up a Clif Bar, Chocolate Chip flavour to try, as they were on sale at the grocery store.  I will let you know what I think. 

Cross Train #7

Today I did 2miles on the elliptical.  It was just a short cross training session as I needed to go grocery shopping and still make it home in time to watch Anderson Cooper.  I think I finished Christmas shopping today, but I still have to go out to Walmart yet again tonight as the grocery store did not have the Christmas cookies I wanted to get my associates.

Cross Train and No Bake Energy Bites

Today I completed 2.1miles on the elliptical.  I am glad to start the week off with my cross training which I usually talk myself out of.
Yesterday I made some No Bake Energy Bites from a recipe I found on Smashed Peas and Carrots.

Recipe:
1 cup of oatmeal
1/2 cup of peanut butter
1/3 cup of honey
1/2 cup of ground flaxseed
1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips
1 tsp of vanilla
Mix everything above in a medium bowl until thoroughly incorporated.  Let chill in the refrigerator for 1/2 and hour.  Once chilled, roll into balls and enjoy!  Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Cross Train and Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Today I did 2.2miles on the elliptical .  I haven't had a cross training day in quite sometime so I am pretty impressed with myself that I made it to the gym after work.  Last night I made some Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies.  The recipe was from Run Eat Play.
Oatmeal Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies – Makes approx. 48 cookies
Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening, margarine, brown sugar, white sugar, and peanut butter until smooth. Beat in the eggs one at a time until well blended.
3. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt. Stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in the oats and chocolate chips until just combined. 

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookies sheets. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until light brown. Cool five minutes before moving to a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.

Also, check out Pain, Pride and Perseverance for a giveaway!

Cross Train #6

Tonight I went to the gym for about 1/2 hour on the elliptical.  I would have spent a little more time at the gym tonight but I was ticked off that the TVs on the elliptical machines were not working again.  I am not sure where our membership dues go but for some reason the TVs never seem to work on the barely year old machines.

Cross Train #5

I am back on track and completed 4.23miles on the elliptical today!  This week is starting out better both for my training and at work. Here is my training schedule for this week:

Monday: Cross Train

Tuesday: 10K Run

Wednesday: 8K Run

Thursday: Rest Day

Friday: Rest Day

Saturday: 3K Run

Sunday: 20K run to Port Stanley with the running group 

Also check out the giveaway for a Subway gift card at Shut up and Run http://www.shutupandrun.net/2011/08/10-subway-giveaway-parfait-review.html

Cross Train #4

Today I did 4.17miles on the elliptical.  A little bit faster then last week, so I am happy with that.  Yesterday I bought a Garmin Forerunner 205 off of Kijiji for $75.  It is in really good condition and came with everything. 

Isn't she pretty!

Yesterday I forgot to post my schedule for the week, so here it is:

Monday: Cross Train

Tuesday: 9K Run

Wednesday: 7K Run

Thursday: Rest Day

Friday: Friend's wedding in Owen Sound

Saturday: 4K Run

Sunday: 14K or 16K Run (I haven't decided yet) and NKOTBSB concert!

Cross Train #3

Tonight I did 4.13miles on the elliptical in 65mins.  I am happy with this as it was faster then my time 2 weeks ago and I also did not want to do anything when I got to the gym.  I also bought some GU Chomps, Clif Shot Bloks and Eload Ediscs.  I will be trying them all out on my runs this week and give a review. 

Cross Train #2

Today was a cross training day.  I had the day off work as I had to take Maggie to the vet for her annual check up and I had an eye doctor's appointment.

Maggie

Though I had the day off I was late getting to the gym and ended up cutting my work out to just 1.5miles on the elliptical.  I had made a veggie lasagna earlier in the day and did not want to end up eating at 9pm as the lasagna still had to cook for an hour after I arrived home.  Oh well, I guess I will make up for it tomorrow as I have a 8K run scheduled.

Peanut Butter Protein Bars

Today I did 4.07miles on the elliptical in 65mins.  I am happy with that as it is faster then last week!

Last night I made Peanut Butter Protein Bars.  I got the recipe from Blonde Ponytail @ http://www.blondeponytail.com/ .  They are pretty simple to make and you only need 4 ingredients:  Peanut Butter, Honey, Vanilla Protein Powder and Rolled Oats.

Start with  2 c. peanut butter and 1 3/4 c. of honey
Heat for 90 seconds in a microwave safe bowl, then stir
Add 2 1/4 c. vanilla protein powder
Mix completely, then add about 1 c. of rolled oats
Place the mixture in a pan and refrigerate
Cut up and store refrigerated    

The protein bars turned out pretty good.  I find them a little sweet but I think I will just cut them into smaller squares.  They will definitely make a good snack when I am looking for something sweet.

Heart Burn

Today was my cross training day and I completed 3 miles on the elliptical which took me about 49 minutes.  Again, I never said I was fast and my feet always seem to fall asleep on the elliptical! I thought about weight training and stretching while on the elliptical today, neither of which I do much of.  I have been lucky so far and have not had any major aches or pains from not stretching.  My problem is that I am not sure where or how to really stretch properly. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I was also talking to a friend in the gym today and he was asking what kind of weight training I had worked into my routine.  Well, I haven't really thought about that, what kind of weight routine should one be doing while training for a half marathon?  Any suggestions? 
I have had horrible heart burn all day and am thinking about turning in for the night even though it is only 8pm! Good night all!