I stumbled upon this great post and sharing this to every runner out there! This is perfectly written and echoes my sentiments exactly. Sometimes, all we need is a little inspiration to keep rolling.
Thank you Amanda @Miles Gone By for posting this.
My aunt and uncle from Indiana invited me and my husband to come over to their place to spend the weekend with them. They told us about their plan of running 16 miles on Saturday with their running buddies and invited us to run with them. I am not ready to run that far (yet). I told them that I would be more than happy to join and run some of it with them.
As I was lying in bed about to sleep, I began to contemplate about running with them (gasp!). I know how fast they run. They were saying they’re just going to be slow, but their version of “easy” pace, 8:00 – 9:00 min/mile is “holy-crap-that-is-fast” pace for me. I’m not going to lie, I was tempted to bail, but then, I realized this would be a perfect (crazy-hard) challenge for me, since I usually run by myself.
So, the morning of Saturday, we met up with their running friends at 6:30 a.m at the trail.
I’m glad I didn’t bail. You never regret a run, right?! …especially a run with a group of nice people who share same interest.
My morning run definitely reminded me again why I love trail running.
We allowed ourselves to stop and look around, appreciate the beauty of the natural world. I found myself thankful whenever we do that. That means I could take a break. Lol! 🙂
The trail has steep hills which makes it more fun, not really a bad thing. 🙂
It’s more interesting than running on roads. I feel so engaged and aware on the trails without knowing how far we’ve already run.
I ran 7 miles with them while they continued to run and finished their 16 ++ miles. I wish I could have kept up with them, but I know my limits. I think 7 miles at what they call “easy” pace was about all I could handle. I was really happy to be done. 🙂
It was nice to run with a group and there’s no way I would have pushed myself like I did without them.
Thank you, Uncle Russ and Auntie Beni, for inviting us!
Sunday was a lot of fun! After church, we did a lot of crazy shopping and eating. My cousin baked cake for dessert. Oh, I love desserts and since I ran 7 miles, I ate that slice of cake with pride. Haha!
Hope you had a great weekend too!
XOXO.
With all the hype going around, I finally gave in. I finally found the inner will and guts to sign up for my first obstacle race ….in the mud.
I am not gonna lie, the idea of a mud race scares me. But…never say never, right? 🙂
I am doing the race with my husband. We thought we’d try something different this time for a change. I’ve never done this before, so honestly, I don’t know what to expect. So, I began researching about these types of races online. I’m glad that majority of the people who have done it say it’s doable and fun.
I added a Mud-stash race countdown widget at the left side of my blog page and it says 15 days to go as of today (Aug 24). Yikes! I am both nervous and excited.
I’ll keep you guys updated. Wish me luck (I definitely could use it)! 🙂
To all hardcore mudathletes out there, do you have any tips or advice for us newbies? 🙂
How do we prepare for it? What type of training do we need to do for mudruns? What should we wear?
Do we have to be totally nuts and goofy to enjoy it? 🙂
Today’s Meatless Monday dish is a simple recipe. I used vegetables that my husband and I would like to eat. You can use this as your template for whatever veggies you have in the fridge.
Grilled Veggie Pasta
Ingredients:
Directions:
1.) Lightly brush vegetables with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
2.) Place the vegetables on a stove grill. Cook on low-medium heat until vegetables are tender.
3.) While vegetables are cooking, cook pasta according to package directions.
4.) Once vegetables are cooked, remove them from the grill and allow to cool slightly. Cut the vegetables into 1/2 inch pieces.
5.) Toss vegetables with pasta in a large bowl, add the remaining oil, balsamic vinegar, salt and pepper; toss together.
Dinner is served. 🙂 YUM!
This is a perfect meal every time.
And I’m are so addicted to coconut water/juice. So refreshing
Goodnight!
Sunday is rest day. It means no working out. It’s church day, relax day, and time-for-some-vietnamese-food day! Yay!
My husband and I love all sorts of different cuisines! We are adventurous when it comes to food. 🙂 Vietnamese is one of our favorites. For me, it’s the freshest and healthiest of all the Asian cuisines.
Here’s what we had today at our favorite little hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese restaurant.
For lunch:
Fried Spring Rolls… yum!!!
I had spicy beef and meatball Pho (soup). My favorite!
The portion was huge. I couldn’t finish it and had to take the rest home.
My husband had Beef Vermicelli bowl.
Then, we took home Banh mi sandwiches for our dinner tonight.
Do you love Vietnamese food too? What’s your absolute favorite cuisine?I 🙂
How did you spend your weekend?
Hope you had a wonderful one!
I always look forward to trail running every Saturday. But before heading to the trails, my husband and I stopped by first at our local Farmer’s Market to get some fresh fruits and veggies. Yay, I’m ready again for another Meatless Monday! Stay tuned.
And, here I go, ready to hit the trails.
I ran 7 miles this morning. I actually didn’t feel like I went that far because my mind wandered at the beautiful scenery. I love how the scenery changes from mile to mile. I appreciate all variations of running under shaded trees, to open fields, to views of rivers and streams. Air is definitely cleaner and so refreshing. Unlike when running on the roads, I sometimes cough when I smell fumes from passing cars. What could be more relaxing than being enveloped in trees and nature? There’s a connection to the earth that you just can’t get on the roads.
Plus the ground is softer (than roads) which is a lot easier on the joints.
It’s a chance for me to enjoy nature.
I encourage everyone to run the trails once in a while. Get closer to nature. It’s really good for the soul. 🙂
Yep, I ran 3 miles in the rain today. When I woke up this morning, I heard rain. I peeped through our window and it was foggy, wet and rainy. I didn’t think twice. I changed into my running outfit, wore my cap, went out and did my (scheduled) run today… in the rain 🙂
It was trash day today. I had to hurdle on some trash bins along the way.
Who knows, maybe someday I’ll have to run a race in the rain. I just kept thinking, “this is way better than snow!” – which I have yet to experience. Yikes!
I love this running quote. So true.
(source: http://fitbie.msn.com/)
I had this picture as my iPad cover photo. So that every time my iPad alarm goes off in the morning, I would see it. This photo is my motivation to get up and get moving. 🙂
My iPad’s cover photo.
My run today was really exciting! It wasn’t raining too hard, just enough to keep me cool. I loved every minute of it! I love the feeling of the cool mist on my face. It was so refreshing. It made me feel like a kid splashing through the puddles. My shoes were soaked. It was definitely a new experience for me, since I never ran, danced or played in the rain before. My husband would sometimes joke about how fun-deprived I was growing up. Lol! But seriously, running in the rain today felt good. 🙂
I didn’t take any pictures during my run. I didn’t bring my camera because it is not waterproof. I am not sure about my watch though.
Are Garmin Forerunner watches waterproof?
For my post-running meal/breakfast, I had overnight oats topped with fresh cherries, cinnamon powder and sliced almonds. Yum! 🙂
How about you? Do you like running in the rain? Feel free to share your experiences below. 🙂
My breakfast today had been waiting for me in the fridge since I prepped it last night. I call this my “overnight oats”. This is how I made it.
BTW, Lily’s is my favorite brand of peanut butter.
You can make this too in a Tupperware or bowl if you like. I just happened to finish a jar of peanut butter yesterday and thought of this as a better way to (really) finish off the few remaining bits of peanut butter in the jar.
The night before, mix
top with:
YUM!!! 🙂
Cover and let the mix sit in the fridge over night and enjoy it the next day for breakfast.
This would be great too when you’re in a hurry for work in the morning and have no time to prepare breakfast. You can just grab the jar from the fridge and take it out with you.
So, what are you waiting for? You’ll never know what you’re missing until you try this! 🙂
This is my first time getting this… thank you Alyssa of TrainLean.ThinkClean for nominating me! 🙂 I learn a lot from your blog and I really love reading your posts!
I talked a little about myself in my About me page and here’s more…
11 Random Things About Me.
1.) I don’t have sense of direction. North? South? East? West? Whatever. They’re all Greek to me. I can read maps just fine. If I have to navigate for someone else, I have to orient myself first then do a good job for them. BUT, if I have to rely on intuition, landmarks, general knowledge of directions, I’d be screwed. Even with a GPS, I get lost. Lol!
I’ll drive but don’t ask me for directions.
2.) I studied in an all-girls Catholic school from Kindergarten to College (pre-med). It was a challenge (at first) to be enrolled in a co-ed school for Medicine but personally, it was more fun. I’m glad I enrolled to that school because it is where I met my husband.
3.) I am not a horror movie fan. I can’t stand them. I’m talking about the really sadistic, hardcore horror movies. Examples are Saw, Texas Chainsaw Massacre…etc. I can’t understand the appeal in watching the immense suffering and torture of people in the movie. I’m not a fan of blood and gore which is what most horror films are all about now. Oh, please don’t invite me to watch them with you.
4.) I love coffee. I just have to say it out loud! I know it’s such a cliche’ but I really do love Starbucks! My usual order is – Iced Grande Caramel Macchiato with non-fat milk and sugar-free vanilla. I really don’t know what magical power is in it but, I embrace my coffee addiction! If coffee is considered a vice…bring it on! I can’t live without it.
5.) I don’t drink soda. I grew up without having soda in our house. My family doesn’t like it. My parents don’t buy them (due to health reasons) so, we don’t drink it. Sometimes, I would have them when I don’t have a choice, like when I’m in a party and those are the only drinks available (ugh!). I hate the way they make me feel bloated and burpy. The carbonation is painful on my throat and I don’t get how people can chug that stuff. Brain freeze arhhh I hate that feeling. For me, nothing quenches my thirst like water (I like juice and tea too).
6.) I like spicy foods. I am tingled by the spices which gives me a good challenge in eating. I love Thai, Indian and Vietnamese food. I order the spiciest green curry on the menu or ask for their highest spice level. Learn to love spicy food. Your metabolism will thank you. There are studies now that consuming capsaicin (thermogenic agent) which is found in peppers, increases metabolic activity, thus, in turn, helps burn calories.
7.) I can’t sleep alone without a night light. I’m a wuss when it comes to sleeping alone at night. When my husband is on call and he has to stay in the hospital for the night, I will usually have the night light on for me to have a good night sleep. 🙂
8.) I never learned how to cook until I moved here in the U.S. Growing up, we had someone to prepare our food for our family so, I never really had the chance to explore the kitchen. I love cooking now and serving healthy food for my husband. How I wish I had learned it earlier. I really enjoy cooking.
My first “real” cooking experience. I cooked beef stew.
Of course, I had to document it. 🙂
9.) I love winter and snow. My husband and I love snowboarding. A lot of people hate winter, hate the cold, fear the cold, curse shoveling the snow. But if you just focus on the beauty and stillness that surrounds you during winter, and the wonderful wintertime activities like sledding, snowshoeing, skiing, you will appreciate the season so much.
10.) I love the Project Runway show. I am a huge fan of the show. I love the ideas, the art, and the challenges. My favorite designer is Christian Siriano (season 4 winner) and I got to meet him last 2009 when I visited NYC. How cool is that?! He is so nice and I love him!
11.) I love scrabble. I admit, I’m competitive at this game. I am proud of my excellent wordsmithing skills. :p And no, I don’t consider myself a nerd. You just have to learn some strategies in order to point the luck in your favor. 🙂
—————————————————
11 Questions Alyssa asked me
1. Starbucks or Dunkin Doughnuts? – Starbucks because they have more variety of coffee.
2. What is your occupation? – I am currently studying for my U.S. Medical Board Exam (USMLE). During my breaks, I workout and blog! 🙂
3. What is your favorite season? – I love Winter (refer to #9 above for my Random Things About Me). I love Fall season too (not just because of my birthday) because of the fall foliage and the beautiful colors.
4. What is your favorite meal to entertain? – I usually make lasagna and flan (Leche flan) for dessert. I can never go wrong with my Leche flan. This is what I usually bring to parties. It’s easy to make and an absolute hit every time i serve it.
5. What is your favorite food? – I love Pad Thai!
This is me splurging on Pad Thai when I visited Bangkok. 🙂
6. What is your favorite physical activity? – I love running, snowboarding, biking, and playing volleyball. I love them all equally. 🙂
7. What is your favorite movie of all time? – I have tons of favorite movies – Beautiful Mind, Karate Kid, The 3 Ninjas, …etc.
8. Would you rather read a book or watch a movie? – If time allows me to, I’ll read the book first then watch the movie.
9. Where is your “happy place”? – Outlet Malls. 🙂
10. Where do you see yourself in the next five years? – Vacationing in the Carribeans with my husband and kids. 🙂 #daydreaming
11. Describe yourself with five words. -1.) asian 🙂 2.) immigrant 🙂 3.) outdoorsy, 4.)adventurous, 5.) adaptable, 6.) rule-breaker 🙂
Now, your turn guys!
Nominees I would love to know more about:
My questions for you:
*** Tag 11 blogs and link them to your post. Tell us 11 random things about yourself. Answer the questions that the person who tagged you asks. Create 11 new questions for the people you tag.
Just want to say to the bloggers I nominated that I love reading your blog, your adventures, recipes and I look forward to all your posts!
THANKS and have a good day!!! 🙂
Mostly on weekdays, I get to eat with my husband only at dinner time. That’s when I actually cook something special for both of us. During the day, I’ll have anything that is available and easy to prepare. Don’t worry, I don’t cheat on Meatless Mondays. 🙂 This morning I had my usual warm oatmeal, with cinnamon powder, banana and peanut butter. For lunch, I only had a piece of orange fruit. 🙂
So, most of the time, I can only have one recipe to post for Meatless Mondays. It’s usually what my husband and I had for dinner. 🙂
For dinner tonight, we had Garden Vegetable Stir-Fry served over rice noodles.
Ingredients
Directions:
1.) Boil your rice noodles according to package directions.
2.) While your noodles are cooking, whisk rice wine, water, brown sugar, lime juice, hoisin, cornstarch and salt in a small bowl.
2.) In a large non-stick pan, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium-high heat. Add package of Smart Strips® Chick’n Style Strips; cook it according to package directions.
3.) Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil, peanuts and ginger. Cook and stirring often about 1 minute.
4.) Add carrots and bell peppers, and cook, stirring constantly, about 1 minute.
5.) Add your rice wine mixture to the pan and stir to coat. Cook until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the sauce is thickened, about 5-6 minutes.
6.) Once vegetables are cooked, stir in cilantro.
It is now ready to serve over rice noodles.
It turned out so good! My husband wants me to make this again even on “non-meatless” days. 🙂
If you try this recipe, let me know what you think
P.S. Thanks @meatless_monday_recipes for featuring my recipe last Monday on their page today. 🙂
Running got me to start this blog and today marks my one two three four five six seven months of blogging!!!
I am enjoying it so far. I am having fun sharing my everyday journey to the world and reading all your comments and emails. 🙂 It gives me so much happiness when I meet people who loves the sport too.
I am asked what is it about running that I love so much. I am never really able to give an answer right away.
…I just do.
I run for my sanity.
I find inner peace in running. You can talk to yourself and figure out your thoughts. It is when I do some of my best thinking…. really! Sometimes I would find myself narrating in my mind the process of Glycolysis and Krebs Cycle when I’m running. 🙂 Seriously!
I remember the day that hooked me to running. I know I talked about it a little in my About me page the reason why I started. It was because I was packing it on…the pounds that is. I started to feel the urge to become active and healthy. I signed up for 5Ks and eventually for a half marathon last May. The pounds started to drop off slowly, and then I started feeling good about myself. I feel lighter, healthier and more alert everyday. Once I realized running was my ticket to weight loss, and then maintaining it, there was no turning back. My passion for running grew so quickly that I continued to train to improve myself.
My first Half Marathon – May 2012
I know I lost only a small amount of weight and you might think this is just nothing compared to other people’s 100+ pound weight loss success stories. But like most of them, losing weight was never easy for me. I certainly had ups and downs too during the process. This may not please everyone, but I am not here to please everyone. At first it was just about losing the extra weight, which is a good thing, but then NOW, it is actually becoming strong and healthy. I am sharing this to give you the motivation that anyone can start doing this. You don’t have to wait until the scale says a certain number and become overweight before you start living healthy. Yes, I have a lot more to learn, I do admit. I strive to learn as much as I possibly can each day.
Running introduced me to do other workouts, like kickboxing and pilates which became my favorite now. I learned that it is important to incorporate other exercises to your training plans to workout other muscle groups of your body.
Lastly, running makes me feel good.There is not a run that I “regret” doing. It’s not always easy and it’s not always enjoyable especially when it’s 100+ degrees outside. But, I have never returned home from a run sad.
I love this running quote.
source
If you have ever thought about running, I encourage you to give it a try. What you can accomplish may surprise you. 🙂
There you go, now it’s your turn! I’d love to hear your thoughts on what you love most about running?
I did it today! I think that’s why I’m having a hard time typing this. I’m shattered! I’ve been doing interval training the past few weeks to improve my time and pace. My goal was to finish 3 miles in 30 minutes. I was able to do it in 32:10 minutes last time. Today, I did it in 30:50! 🙂 Well… almost! 🙂 Almost there! 🙂 Few more practice and I will eventually hit the goal.
To many of you fast runners, this is nothing, but for someone like me who just started serious running this year, I’m happy with my progress and I am hoping to improve more as I continue my training.
To run 3.00 miles in 30:00 minutes (using the 3/1 run/walk technique), I have to be in walking pace of 15:00 per mile and my running phase pace should be 9:00 minutes per mile.
I tried! 🙂 
At split 16, my pace turned out to be like that because I was trying to figure out how to end my watch timer. 🙂 Next time, I will set my watch properly.
By the way, I injured my feet yesterday but this did not stop me from running today and attend kickboxing class yesterday.
I accidentally hit my right foot at the corner of our computer chair. It hurts a little when it rubs against my rubbershoe but I’m okay, pain is bearable. 🙂
Good night everyone! 🙂
* For breakfast:
Oops, I had to use Tupperware. All our bowls and plates were in the dishwasher. :p
* For lunch:
* For dinner: my version of Spicy Thai Noodles
Directions:
1.) Combine 2 tablespoons crushed red pepper, 1/8 cup of sesame oil and, 1/4 cup of olive oil. Cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
Adjust your red peppers according to your taste. 2 tablespoons of red peppers will be really spicy (my husband and I like it spicy!). So, if you’re not tough enough, you can use 1 tablespoon or less. Your choice too if you want to omit olive oil and use pure sesame oil instead.
2.) After heating, strain out peppers reserving oil.
3.) Add 3 tablespoons of soy sauce and 3 tablespoons of maple syrup to the reserved oil
4.) Boil your pasta according to package directions. I only used half of the 13.5 oz. package of pasta (serves 2 adults with a little left over for my lunch the next day 🙂 ). We used Barilla whole grain thin spaghetti.
I found this idea on Pinterest that if you place a wooden spoon over a pot of boiling water, it prevents water from boiling over. It worked for me! 🙂
5.) While pasta is cooking, stir fry chopped green peppers, green onions, pine nuts, sesame seeds and cilantro in a pan until the pine nuts and sesame seeds are toasted.
5.) After pasta has cooked, drain the pasta and put it in a large dish or bowl. Pour oil mixture on noodles, toss until noodles are well coated.
Do not drain the excess oil mixture. Noodles will be served on a separate plate, anyway.
6.) Serve noodles in a separate plate and sprinkle with the chopped ingredients on top.
I ate it with my left over salad (from lunch) on the side.
Yes, that’s our snowflake plate. It’s August and I miss snowboarding season already. :p
If you try this recipe, let me know what you think. You can add chicken or shrimp (like how they serve in Thai Restaurants) but for the sake of Meatless Mondays, I had to pass on those. Maybe next time. 🙂
Having grown up and lived in a tropical country, Philippines, I always make sure to put on some kind of SPF everyday (usually recommended by my Dermatologist). We have 2 seasons in the Philippines: summer and rainy. From March to May, the days would be hot and humid. By June to November, it would be rainy and wet. It is usually cooler by December to February but still hot, just not as much as March to May. So, all my life, I grew up where it was hot and sunny and using sunscreen has always been a habit and a must-have for me.
Ever since I became active this summer, I went on the hunt for the best sweat-proof sunblock to use when I do my runs. I normally use Shiseido Ultimate Sun Protection Lotion so I thought maybe I could use this too when I do my runs in the summer heat.
pre-running essentials.
I tried it but, I would end up sweating the lotion off. It is not sweat-proof. On a daily basis or at the beach this is really a good product! I love this sunscreen, and for me, this is the best. I use it on my face and body. It is light, absorbs quickly and smells great. It’s not greasy and when you apply your make up over it, it stays matte. My skin usually burns very fast and when I used this during my vacation with my family in Boracay, Philippines, we were under the sun in the beach for hours all day, my skin did not burn.
But for running and sweating, I don’t think this is the product for it. So, I went to Wal-mart yesterday and grabbed one of these.
Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Sunblock Spray SPF 100+. I tried it on for the first time when I did my run this morning. I sprayed it on my arms, legs and rubbed it on my hands, put it on my face. I like how easy it is to apply. 🙂 I’m pleased, so far. It’s great and I am happy with it. It isn’t as heavy and greasy as some of the other sport sunscreens I used before. It has a nice scent though I’m not sure if that’s going to attract bugs when I run in the trails. I am not sure too how long it can stay on to protect me because I only did a 30-minute run (3 miles) this morning. I’ll update you guys in the comments section below when I use it for my longer runs.
Since we are already talking about sunscreen/sunblock, let me tell you about the other products that I normally use everyday.
It’s really important to always apply sunscreen everyday, even in cloudy days or when staying indoors as UVA rays can still penetrate through clouds and glass. Dermatologists confirmed that exposure to the sun can definitely accelerate premature aging and putting you at risk of skin cancer. It won’t happen overnight, especially when you’re young but will evidently occur later in life if you don’t do something about it. In my case, I make it as part of my daily morning routine to apply sunblock lotion after I take a shower.
For the face, I use Obagi Sunblock along with the other Obagi stuff that was prescribed to me by my Dermatologist.
You need a doctor’s prescription to use the Obagi product line. You need to set an appointment with your dermatologist and ask about this if this is the right product for you. This product was recommended to me for daily use under make-up by my dermatologist and I absolutely love it. It is light and not greasy. The only negative I can think of is, it’s a little on the pricey side, but a little goes a long way.
Other products that I use too:
1.) Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Defense Moisture Lotion – SPF 30
I am pretty active during winter season too. I love to go snowboarding and this is what I use during winter months. I tend to have dry skin on those months and this moisturizes my skin as well. This comes in heavy thick lotion but blends into my skin nicely. I have used this in the summer when my skin becomes oily and this lotion does not cause an increase in oiliness. It’s lightweight and non-greasy and feels great on skin.
As I was looking for my sweat-proof sunblock yesterday, I also grabbed one of these
2.) Aveeno Continuous Protection Sunblock Lotion SPF 30
I tried it on yesterday and it felt very light. It’s not greasy and my powder foundation looked smoother. It absorbs quickly on your skin and not sticky.
and one of these 3.) Neutrogena Age Shield Sunblock SPF 70
I wore it the whole day today. At first, I find it a little sticky and heavy (compared to Aveeno), but then it sinks in to your skin within minutes of putting it on and has a silky feel. It was easy to put makeup on over it.
4.) Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25
I’m so addicted to this stuff. It is moisturizing and lasts for a long time on my lips. I have the lemon and chamomile, which smells so great. It cools your lips leaving it nice and soft.
Do you always wear sunscreen? What products do you recommend?
If you have questions feel free to post them below at the comment section.
Thanks! That’s it for now! I’m off to my Pilates Class! 🙂 See yah later!
Quick breakfast that never fails…
Warm oatmeal with peanut butter and banana. 🙂
and for a change (instead of my usual coffee), a cup of hot Apple Cider. 🙂
Good Morning everyone! I’m off to meet my friends at the park for a picnic date.
See yah later!
Ja on the RUN 