Thursday - Christmas Eve!

Morning workout - 6:00am
Run 10 miles

Breakfast -

Lunch -

Dinner -

Note:

Wednesday

Breakfast - 9:00am
1.5 cup Special K Vanilla Almond cereal w/ blueberries, slivered almonds and soymilk

Lunch - 12:00pm
1 toasted sandwich thin w/ PB and a banana

Snack - 3:00pm

Dinner - 7:00pm

Note: I just found out that I won a free entry for a 1/2 marathon. I am so happy and excited. I was really itching to run a race in January but I was taking my finances into consideration and this was such a great early Christmas gift. Thank you Danica!!

Tuesday - 3 days before Christmas!

Breakfast - 9:00am
1.5 cup Special K Vanilla Almond cereal w/ slivered almonds, blueberries and soymilk

Lunch - 1:00pm - Santouka
1 small bowl of shoyu ramen
2 plum rice ball

Snack - 3:00pm
1 cup french vanilla coffee
1 small cranberry and pistachio biscotti

Dinner - 9:00pm
1 bowl of Neoguri ramen
1 chocolate square
3 dried pineapple rings

Note:

Monday - let's start this again!

Morning Workout - 7:00am
Run 4.25 miles - easy

Breakfast - 9:00am
1/2 cup cooked rolled oatmeal w/ golden raisins, slivered almonds, and blueberries.

Lunch - 12:30pm
Quiznos torpedo sub w/ turkey, bacon, tomatoes, mayo and italian dressing.

Snack - 3:00pm
1 cup French Vanilla coffee
1 Ghiradelli milk chocolate & and caramel square

Dinner - 7:00pm - Tea Station
1 bowl of seseme noodles w/ carots, cucumber, corn and fried tofu skin
1 Ghiradelli milk chocolate & caramel square

Note: I am attempting to eat clean today and until the new year to make the transition back to clean eating easier. It probably won't be 100% but every little bit helps. I've been eating really badly with all the holiday parties lately.

On another note, I set out to run 14 miles this past Saturday, the morning after one of my holiday parties in which I got home really late and only got 4 hours of sleep. I was kicking butt with my pacing and only ended up doing 11.5 due to my running partner getting a leg cramp and having to walk the rest of the way home. I just walked with him since it was no big deal. I will probably be running alot this week anyways. I got up this morning with every intention to run 6 miles at pace but I was just not feeling it. I got a shin cramp again and that always takes me out of the game. I am hoping that my shin issue will improve over time but I've just always struggled with it. So this is a short week since Friday is Christmas. The holidays are always so stressful for me. Seeing all the people rushing around like crazy bats trying to buy crap for everyone just drives me crazy. I am hoping that next year, the year of organization, will help me cope with the stress of holidays. I've not been at my best these past couple of years with people's birthdays and holidays, on some occasions, I feel like I am just mailing it in. I think I need to do less but do it better.

Goodbye 2009, Hello 2010!

I was reading over my last post and noticed that the title of it was "I'm back", but I guess I lied because that was back on November 1. I have no excuse for not blogging except to say that I've been really busy. This year seemed long to me because I can remember almost everything I did since Jan. I did so much this year but there is also so much I did not accomplish. Overall, I think everything balanced out. This post is mainly my year in review.

Things on my "I did this" list:
1) Started posting more regularly on this blog
2) Tried out clean eating for 4 months...mostly successful. I will talk more about this maybe at the end of this post or in another post.
3) Won BBR in women's category - mostly because I did 53 pushups.
4) Started weight training more seriously - the story of how I gained and the lost my guns!
5) Marathon PR @ 4:01
6) Ran 2 marathons in the same month - 3 weeks apart
7) Survived a terrible cough/cold that lasted 2 months - after 3 prescription of antibiotics, 6 bottles of cough medicine, 2 box of Day and Nyqil, 3 boxes of cough drops and many hours of sleeping, I finally got better.
8) Traveled to San Francisco and Las Vegas for races - PR at LV @ 1:52 for Half Marathon
9) Actually took marathon training seriously for once
10) Had some amazing tasting food this year.
11) Got to know Sister K so much better! And she is a boat load of fun.
12) Completed California Dreaming Series
13) Learned to crochet

Things on my "oops, maybe next year" list:
1) Did not run marathon under 4 hours or BQ
2) Did not continue with clean eating after sister's wedding
3) Did not try to make new friends
4) Did not organize my living room
5) Did not neuter my dog
6) Did not manage my finances
7) Did not take any classes for personal development
8) Did not find time to volunteer at animal shelter
9) Did not do any international traveling
10) Did not read any books
11) Did not go to the desert to see the stars

Since October, I really haven't been on any sort of plans for myself. My eating habit has been sporadic, I've been running just when I feel like but luckily that has been often, I started drinking coffee as a trade off to not taking "peppy" pills, I am not drinking as much water or eating as much fruits and veggies as I would like. My sleeping pattern ranges from too much to too little due to events and happenings. I've basically been eating, sleeping, working and running. I have big plans for myself for the new year. I just want to get more organize mostly.

Resolution: (first round)
1) Get more organized with work and home
2) Make effort to make friends - don't know how I will do this yet - maybe I need to smile more
3) Establish better eating habits - start posting on this blog again so I am accountable
4) Focus on marathon training plan and goals - follow plan more closely
5) Stay off peppy pills and coffee
6) Sleep more regular hours
7) Run 2010 miles in 2010
8) Run marathon under 4 hours or BQ
9) Spend more time with my family
10) Travel to someplace new
11) Get better at my job

That's all I have for now. I will revise that list come New Years Eve.

2009 Las Vegas Half Marathon - Race Recap

Date: December 6, 2009
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Time: 1:52:25

Commentary (2/9/2011): Back posting again. I seem to remember that this was the first year that RocknRoll took over this marathon. They changed the course from previous years when it use to be owned by the Devine Race Management company, which also use to run the LA Marathon.

I ran the half marathon course which was an out and back on the famous Vegas strip. The marathon course started out on the strip but then went into residential parts of Vegas and returned through the back parking lots of some of the hotels and back to Mandalay Bay. I guess I had not taken any other photos on this Vegas trip because I can't seem to find any. We stayed at the host hotel, the Mandalay Bay Hotel. This was great because the starting line was just right outside the hotel.

It was a very cold year for this race. I remember it was 30 degrees on race morning. Brrrr! Check out all the clothes I wore to run. I was still cold the entire time. 

I'm back...

Yes, just when it seems like I've abandoned my blog, I'm back from the black hole. Sometimes my job really gets in the way of my blogging..go figure! >_< So I spent much of this week holed-up in a hotel conference room from day to night..and then repeat the next day. It was pretty draining to have to sit still for that long. To add insults to injuries, I also had to stay out most of those nights because I was in charge of after meeting entertainment. If you are sitting there saying something like..."so"? Well, I am just not that hardy to begin with and you will mostly find me in bed by 10pm on most nights so staying out til 10pm on any night is hard for me. I don't deal with stress very well. So I spent most of this week eating. Yes eating really bad for you foods that tastes so good in order to cope with the stress of meetings and organizing things. To say that I was feeling crappy is an understatement. It makes me realize why I try to workout and eat right most days of the year because eating all that rich food and not exercising is really bad for you. Today was the first day I felt "right" again. I'm glad I only have to do that once a year because it is just too much for me to handle. I was thinking to myself on the third day how if it had lasted 2 more days, I would have lost it. Yeah I'm brittle like that.

Below is a collage of stuff I found on my camera when I uploaded the photos from this past week. You will noticed one meal in there that I was not embarass to post that I ate this week. The rest is something that only my fork and plate will ever know. I baked some cupcakes...I am going to stop baking for a while...I might start up again in January or February. That bowling scene is from Strike in the Tustin Shopping Center. Those macarons are from B. Louie in LA when the sisters and I went to eat at Soi 7. Such yummy veggie pad thai. I could die! I had a weird sticky rice and mango craving last night and it reminded me of the pad thai! Haha. Finally, since I was not home much this week, not much has been happening on the crocheting front. I am dying to make some stuff. Luckily, I am taking all of next week off to relax. Going to Vegas early December to run LV RnR Half. I'm pretty excited, I've been running pretty good so I am looking to PR maybe! :D

Review of my Weekend

Well I must say that my weekend was rather unproductive. I mainly relaxed and cleaned my place a bit. I got in a 10 miler on Sunday morning. Good pace so I was happy about that and was done by 8am, really happy about that. I baked more cookies and made more crochet friends. I went to get ramen at my beloved Santoka and an oniguri at the stall next to it. I was a happy girl. I need to eat more salad...hahaha.

This week, I plan to run more and get in a couple of blog entries if at all possible. Gotta get ingredients together soon to make everyone's favorite no bake pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. I feel like such a slacker each year as this is the only thing I am responsible for making...haha. I will get some decor for the house as well.

Sister S's birthday is coming up and I am working on a surprise for her. Lots of holiday events also coming up at the workplace so I have to brace for that...well it's a good thing!

Lions and Cookies and Clean Eating...Oh My!

I've been so bad with blogging lately but I've had a busy week. Anyways, I was looking through some of my old clean eating logs and miss the days when I use to be so discipline about my diet. For the most part, I've been eating decent but I think starting next week, I am ready to clean up my diet again. In the meantime, I baked cookies last night and looked who helped me! I feel like I haven't accomplished much this week. Mostly, I feel like I've been at work too much. I think I may take the whole week of Thanksgiving off. I hope these cookies disppear quickly as I want to bake up a batch of red velvet cupcakes soon.

In running related news, the first week of POTM is almost over and I only have 2-3 runs to show for it. I am planning to go into the gym today and see how many I can crank out. I did a weird calculation that if I want to be in the top tier, I would have to run at least 6.5 miles a day. This is taking into consideration all my long runs and days off. So on the days I am to run, I need to do at least 6.5. If I do more one day, I can do less the next day. Yeah, this is just a plan, it isn't going as planned..hahaha.

POTM, the holidays and more crocheting.

I just sign up for the Pile on the Miles Challenge over here or you can also go here. This challenge runs between Nov 1 to the day after Thanksgiving. It is a runner specific challenge to see who can log the most miles running or walking. The two ladies at the above link are jointly hosting this event. I can't remember if I signed up last year or not but since I cannot remember maybe I didn't. I don't know how many miles I will be able to log but I will try my best. I think last year's record was 137 something miles, that's crazy! Anyways, Halloween is this coming weekend and it is the start of the holiday flood. My sisters and I are having a Superhero and Villians themed party on Saturday which will be so much fun. Not much to say about that for now but photos will follow next week. In crocheting news, I am still at it, hahaha...I should have something new to show soon. Went to the craft store today and picked up some cute surprises. Stay tuned for that.

In regards to clean eating, I haven't gotten back on the wagon yet. I hope to do so shortly but with the holidays, my activities have increased and not leave me with much time to cook and plan my meals as efficiently as soon. I am mostly eating healthy so I am not feeling so bad.

Recovery, Crocheting, Marathon Training and Some Minor Baking!

Wow, where have I been? Doesn't matter because here I am now. So this past week I spent recovering from the Long Beach Marathon, figuring out my Los Angeles Marathon training plan, crocheting up a storm and I even found a bit of time to bake. I feel like my life is just out of control lately. Well, more like just unorganized and I hate that feeling. I need to get my ducks in a row. So my ultimate goal for the LA is of course to BQ (yes I will chase that until it is done). My more attainable goal is to come in under 4 hours, which will be nice because LA 2010 will be the 5th time I've ran that race and I want to get that special colored bib reserved for those who run a sub-4 in 2011. I want to be one of those people. So I will try hard. I will once again be training with D and the Team Margarita. I did better training with them than with ICR. Well in their defense I did miss a couple of important long runs which I think messed up my training and tapered too soon and slacked a bit towards the end. Not to mention I was sick the first 2 months of the training program. Overall, I know where all my failures were which is a good thing so I know not to repeat it again. I have a really good feeling that sub-4 will be mine soon! Muhahaha. Anyways, next up for me is the Las Vegas 1/2 Marathon, which will be super fun if only that it is not a marathon...don't think I can run anymore of those this year...too much! I am still thinking about doing the Mission Inn 1/2 Marathon in early November since it is my old stomping grounds and I love the Mission Inn. It is the cutest place ever. Rustic and reminds me of my college days. I have some options for some 1/2 Marathons in January that I have not committed to yet and then Surf City in February and then it all just starts to ramp up from there. Full year of running which is great. I am looking forward to it all. Hopefully I get to travel to someplace new next year to run. Ok, too long, gotta go!

2009 Long Beach Marathon - Race Recap

Date: October 11, 2009
Location: Long Beach, CA
Finish: 4:12:58

It was the most perfect day for running. Cool and overcast. I did not beat my PR. I developed a blister around mile 15 that made me cry...literally. This was the first time I trained with a running group, ICR Beach Runners. I was sick for two months during the training cycle. I had high expectations but not high hopes. I was running well until said blister reared it's ugly head. It was a noobie sock mistake. I wore new socks to a marathon. That's just plain stupid. I had done this one other time at a LA Marathon running. Basically, it was a combo of running and walking the rest of the way to the finish line from mile 15. It was slow and painful. Let's remember this lesson in the future shall we?

Sister K (thank you for waking up early, braving the cold morning and coming out to cheer me on), M and even Teddy came out to cheer me on. It was still dark when we arrived.

Teddy keeping himself warm while he waited for me to cross the finish line.

Wow, I sure did get a lot of camera time at the Long Beach Marathon. But this is one of few in which I am actually smiling while running a marathon. It's like an oxymoron! Maybe I'm the moron for running that much!

Final stretch!

Lastly, I finally finished the California Dreamin' Series and got my jacket (wearing it in the photo above with Teddy) and big ol' medal that weighs a ton and a half. I actually have time to complete the series once more before it ends next year at the Long Beach Marathon. I hear that they are dreaming up a new series and I cannot wait.

Let's hope I get a better time next race so that I can write an amazing glowing review and finally cross out some of the items on my fitness goal list.

??

Amigurumi

So I've been blogging about everything else but clean eating or fitness. Yeah, those 2 things have totally gone to the wayside. Next week is my official return to clean eating and training. I've been feeling pretty terrible these past couple weeks since I've been mostly slacking off and being lazy. You would think that doing mostly nothing would make me feel good but it doesn't. There is nothing worse than the feeling of getting nothing done. I either need to find a balance, learn to enjoy my lazy times or just try not to get into this kind of funk.

Anyways, I haven't really been doing nothing. I mean I still go to work everyday and cook and do laundry. Which reminds me that I really really need to spend some time cleaning my apt. Back to what I was saying, so my new hobby as of late is crocheting. Actually, I've been in amigurumi which is a Japanese word for crochet/knit toys. I've been a knitter for a couple of years. I think I started in high school and knitted on and off over the years. I'm not the best knitter. I think I would be better if I did it continously but I get bored quickly so I have lots of unfinished products. My sisters make fun of me alot about my problem with starting up something and then not finishing it. Here are a few things I've knitted in the past: striped vest, multi-colored square blanket, chunky knit throw, a couple of scarves, couple of bunnies, baby blanket, baby booties, and countless other semi finished stuff. :s

So recently I was on the internet and came upon some really cute crochet toys and wished that I knew how to crochet so that I could make them. So one day a couple of weeks ago, I pulled out my yarn and started up an online video and crocheted along. In about an hour, I was able to crochet...yay! It helped that I already knew how to knit. Which in my opinion is alot harder than crocheting. Anyways, so these past couple of weeks, I've been crocheting toys. I should have some photos soon of some finished products. Yeah can you believe that, I actually finished some stuff. I use to have a gallery of stuff that I've knitted but I can't seem to remember where those photos are. Maybe they are lost forever. So keep on eye out on my finish stuff soon. Currently I am just making these toys for family members and maybe friends. They are pretty fast to complete but they still take time and patience. I would like to donate some of these this holiday if I have any extra stuff by then. Either that or I really should get a move on crochet more. Making these toys makes me happy. They are so adorable just sitting around my bedroom!

Moeben sleeves

Yeah, since I am not doing my normal blogging this week, I decided to just go around blog land reading other people's blog in detail. I went to Run to Finish's site and she is giving away Moeben sleeves here. Seriously I want to win this so badly. I had a chance to try these on at the LA Marathon last year and was in love with them but they were expensive ($30/pair). I was too cheap to folk over the money but that didn't mean that I wanted them any less. So I hope I win.

Birthday, Marathon and Starting Over!

So yesterday was my birthday. I can't even remember how old I am. Wait, yes I can but I rather not. I had a wonderful birthday. My sisters took me to afternoon tea over the weekend at the Tea Rose Garden and my puppy threw me a surprise party when I got home last night. He was dressed in a clown outfit and all! Hahaha!

I think I am getting to that age where you dread when your birthday comes around but I still love sharing my special day with all those close to me.

In other news, I am running my sixth marathon this coming Sunday at Long Beach! I was training really hard for it for a while but have been slacking a bit these past few weeks. I'm sure that will be detrimental to my success on race day but I am hopeful.

In other other news, I will be doing a week of super clean eating next week. Or at least I will be trying to again. Sister K and I recently saw someone else' diet sheet and was so impressed with how clean their diet was that we felt that it was something we could take on for a week. I am actually kinda nervous about it since for the most part I haven't been eating clean. I've basically been eating whatever I wanted in small portions. That is my secret for not clean eating but maintaining my weight. Anyways, we will have to see how the marathon goes this weekend. I hope it will not leave me feeling defeated and not want to take on this eating challenge. I want to start eating better again. Not to sure that I've been eating badly but I think I let one too many treats sneak by too easily.

So here is to another year older, another marathon medal on the wall (hopefully) and cleaning up my diet. How bad can that be?

Day 39 - Thursday

Breakfast - 10:30am - Mimi's Cafe
1 Buttermilk Spice muffin
1 broiled turkey patty

Lunch

Snack

Snack

Dinner - 7:00pm

Note:

Day 37 - Tuesday

Breakfast - 9:30am
1 cup Basic 4 cereal w/ soymilk
1/2 cup mixed fruit
1/2 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB

Snack - 11:30am
1/2 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB
1/2 cup mixed fruit

Lunch - 2:00pm
Vegetarian indian food w/ 1/4 piece of naan bread

Snack - 4:30pm
1 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB
1 large banana

Run Practice - 6:30pm
Run 6.75 miles

Dinner - 9:00pm
3 oz of chicken meat w/ sauteed french green beans and brown rice
Baby tomato halves

Note: It felt like such a long day today. I was really tempted to skip run practice today but am so glad that I went. I felt so great afterwards. Hopefully I won't miss any more runs after this Saturday. Somehow I am going to have to make up the 14 mile run. I might run it on Monday.

Day 36 - Monday

Breakfast - 9:30am
1 cup Basic 4 cereal w/ soy milk
1/2 cup mixed fruit
1/2 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB

Snack - 11:30am
1/2 fruit cup
1/2 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB

Lunch - 2:00pm
1/2 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB

Snack - 4:00pm
1 small red delicious apple

Dinner - 7:00pm - Santouka
1 bowl of shoyu ramen
1 pickled plum riceball

Note: This past weekend was spent helping Sister K move back into her dorm. I love the way her school has organized the moving in process. It is just one of those things I can go very wrong if a system was not in place. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me the whole weekend so I was not able to capture all the fun times. After we moved Sister K's stuff in, we all went to have a snack at her dining hall. Sister K stayed over at my place on Saturday and we hang out and than we had breakfast on Sunday morning, hit up Target for last min buys and than it was back to school. I spent Sunday helping Sister K unpack but mostly I was just hanging out pretending to be a student again. At my old age that seems like a stretch. I had a really fun time hanging out with Sister K at her dorm. Kinda made me miss my student life. It is awesome that she has her own digs this year so maybe I will come and hang out more if I have time.

Day 34 - Saturday

Breakfast - 5:30am
1 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB
1 banana

Run Practice - 7:00am
Run 20 miles

Snack - 11:00am
1 Ultragen recovery drink mixed w/ cold water
3-4 Accel gels
1 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB
1 small Gatorade

Lunch - 1:00pm

Dinner - 5:30pm

Note: Today is Sister K.'s move in day. It's another school year!

Day 33 - TGIF!

Breakfast - 9:30am
3/4 cup frosted shredded wheat w/ slivered almonds and soy milk
1/2 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB
1 cup hot green tea

Snack - 11:00am
1 cup mixed fruit cup

Midday workout - 12:00pm
Indoor spin bike - 45 mins (this could be the start of my tri training right here..hahaha)

Lunch - 2:00pm
Protein sushi roll w/ tuna, crab meat and cucumber, bit of lite soy sauce
1 cup hot green ginger candy tea

Snack - 4:00pm

1/2 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB

1/2 green coconut pandan waffle

10 mini cheddar flavored ricecakes

Dinner - 7:30pm - Banh Mi & Che Cali
1/2 fried egg and cha sandwich on french baguette

1 pennyworth drink

(Going to get some yummy banh mi's for dinner and have a fun night-in watching anime..hehe. Gotta get to bed early tonight so no late night anime obsession..boohoo!)

Note: 20-miler is tomorrow! *Gasp* I hope for cool weather and a speedy run with no incidents. Is that too much to ask for? I'm going into the gym at lunch and despite it being "Run @ Work" day, I am going to warm up my legs for tomorrow by riding the spin bike. Have to make sure that I drink lots of water today and get in a good dinner with some good carb since I might not have any appetite tomorrow morning. I wish I was more hungry in the morning but when I wake up earlier than I normally do, I cannot eat anything and I never want to force myself to eat.

Ginger

About 2 months ago I was shopping at Mother's Market preparing for my drive to to SF for the half marathon and saw these ginger chews (Royal Pacific Foods - The Ginger People). I gotta say that ginger is not one of my favorite things. Accidently biting into a piece of raw ginger is like death to me. I like the taste of ginger just not in it's raw form I guess. However, I do love the properties of ginger...especially the one that allivates nausea and motion sickness. I am no stranger to these two ailments so I decided to pick up a pack since the drive to SF is long (being in a moving car for many hours is not a good thing for me). I think I first saw or learned of this product on Run to Finish's site. I think she was giving some away. I remember thinking to myself...yuck..who would want that. Apparently, I would! These things are so yummy and addictive. They are chewy, warm tasting and the bag says that you can throw a couple of pieces into boiling water to make a ginger tea. If you do use it to make tea, you will need to throw in at least 3 pieces. I find it better if you make a cup of tea and then pop one of these into your mouth for that ginger flavor. Otherwise the flavor tends to be too weak unless you use a couple of pieces and they are 40 calories per 2 piece. I have a bag of this stuff at my desk at work because for no apparent reason, every once in a while, I would get nausea just sitting in front of my computer. Maybe it is the radiation from the monitor or something (that's a terrible thought). Anyways, I try to limit myself to 2 pieces at most at any one time but they are just so addictive.

Day 32 - Thursday

Breakfast - 9:30am
1 cup frosted shredded wheat w/ slivered almonds and soy milk
1 iced soy latte
1/2 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB
1/2 cup of mixed fruit

Midday workout - 12:00pm
Run 6 miles on treadmill

Snack - 1:30pm
1/2 cup mixed fruit
1/2 toasted mini whole wheat bagel w/ PB

Lunch - 2:00pm
Brown rice, sauteed french green beans and roasted chicken meat

Dinner - 7:00pm - Lee's Sandwiches
1 vegetarian sandwich at Lee's
1/4 piece of green coconut waffle
1/2 bartlett pear

Note: I've been getting to bed way too late at night and as a result have failed to wake up early enough to workout in the morning. I will try to get to bed earlier today. This saturday is the big 20 miler run. The longest we will have to run this training period. I am a bit concerned since I missed out on the 18 miler last week but I think that only adds to the fun of not knowing if I can finish it...hahaha. Yeah I still have those fears. Since I am not ready to BQ this time around, I can enjoy myself a bit while still trying to come in under 4. So in the aftermath of Nautica, I've been toying with the idea of training for a sprint tri. I was looking at the Pasadena Tri next year but it falls on the saturday right before the LA Marathon so that isn't a good idea. CSLBU Tri club also holds a pool swim tri that I am also interested in. Ultimately, I want to train enough to complete either the sprint or olympic distance tri at the Nautica next year. I don't know if this is a realistic goal. I will really need to get my act together and train hard and perhaps have my bike souped up a bit. Just a fun idea to think about this winter.

Day 31 - Wednesday

Breakfast - 10:30am
Small burrito w/ 1 fried egg and turkey deli slice w/ salsa
Sliced pineapple and strawberries
1 mini chocolate chip corn muffin

Lunch - 2:00pm
1/2 cup cooked rolled oatmeal w/ wheatberries, seedy nut mix and PB
1 toasted mini whole wheat bagel from Thomas'

Snack - 4:00pm
4 mini caramel ricecakes w/ PB

Dinner - 7:00pm
1 bowl ramen w/ choy, egg and ground pork
1 cup iced passion fruit green tea w/ boba

Note: Don't think I am going to be able to get my workout in today. I will try to do another 8.5 mile run to work tomorrow morning.

Didn't get my run in today as there was a large meeting at work that I had to attend to.

Day 30 - Tuesday - Biggest Loser Premiere!!

Breakfast - 9:30am
1/2 cup cooked rolled oatmeal w/ wheatberries, seedy nut mix and PB
1/4 cup large red grapes

Snack - 11:00am
1/2 bartlett pear

Lunch - 1:00pm
Brown rice w/ sauteed french green beans and 1 roasted chicken drumstick
1 large honey green tea w/ boba and rainbow jelly from T.E.

Dinner - 6:30pm - Santouka
1 bowl of shoyu ramen
1 pickled plum rice ball

Note: Yes...Biggest Loser is back and I am so happy! I did not go to run practice today because my thighs are so sore from doing legs yesterday in the weight room. I guess it has been a while since I've worked out my legs. :( So weak!

2009 Nautica Triathlon Olympic Distance (Relay Race) - Race Recap

Date: September 12, 2009
Location: Zuma Beach, Malibu CA
Finish: 10K - 50:11

This past Saturday a couple of teams from my company went out to Malibu to compete in the Nautica Triathlon Olympic distance relay race. It was such a great time. Special thanks to Sister K for being my cheering section at this event. Sister K was so nice to accompany me on this trip and she really kept my spirits up. She is such a trooper to wake up at 4:30am and go with me to the starting area at Zuma beach even before the sun is out. Our team did ok but we could definitely improve. I did my 6.2 mile run in 50:11, missed a PR by a couple of seconds. I am not happy about it as I had wanted to come in under 50. I actually feel very disappointed in my performance but I had so much fun doing this that the time is secondary to the experience. Lots of crazy things happened out on the course. The weather was really nice. It was cool in the morning but not cold and it was overcast the entire time of the event. It was ideal. The event really inspired alot of people who had never been a part of an event like this. This is speaking for myself as well as I had always wanted to witness a tri race. I hope one day that I can do one of these all by myself. One day! It was just amazing. I hope we get to do this again next year.

We arrived at Zuma Beach on a Friday afternoon to pick up out bibs and goodie bag.

We checked out the course maps.

I checked out the starting line for the running portion.

Here I am on race morning. Too early even for me.

The swimmers started around 7:30am for our division. Then our relay biker took off. I didn't end up running until almost about 10am.

Seriously, I think I was cross-eyed in all my running photos for this race. I think my sister also caught me in a photo with my eyes crossed..haha.

Here I am crossing the finish line for our team. That clock time is incorrect for our team since that clock is based on when the first wave of swimmers departed.

I got to keep the Nautica tri medal at the end of the relay since I was the runner. How would I share this medal with my other teammates...ahhh another reason why I need to just get my own next year...haha.

The male and female Olympic distance winners. I believe they are husband and wife. Such a fit family!

Everyone from our corporate team was invited to a catered champagne brunch at a nearby restaurant. 

The food was okay. 

Day 28 - Sunday

Breakfast - 9:00am
1 belgian waffle w/ syrup
1 cup of OJ

Lunch - 1:00pm
3/4 belgian waffle

Snack - 3:00pm
1/2 belgian waffle

Dinner - 5:00pm
1 grilled hotdog on a sesame bun w/ ketchup, mustard and baked beans

Snack - 8:00pm
1/2 cup green grapes

Note: Needless to say that my diet today was just awful! It's like I'm on the Belgian waffle diet. :(

Day 27 - Saturday

Event - 9:00am - Nautica Malibu Tri - relay
Run 6.2 miles

Brunch - 11:00am
Scrambled eggs, 2 mini blueberry muffins, 1 mini bagel w/ jam, red and green grapes
1 cup OJ

Dinner - 6:00pm - Brodard
Shared a bowl of blood cube congee and 1 bowl of bun bo hue with Sister K
1 shrimp paste roll w/ dipping sauce

Note: My meals today are just terrible. Good thing I don't eat like this everyday. Terrible!

Day 26 - Friday

Breakfast - 10:00am - Mimi's Cafe
1 buttermilk spice muffin
4 slices of watermelon
1 cup of coffee w/ sugar

Lunch - 1:00pm - Terri's Cafe
1/2 of a 1/2 lb burger w/ mushrooms, tomato, lettuce
Sweet potato fries

Dinner - 7:00pm - Gissini's Italian
Fresh tri-colored spagetti w/ arrabbiata sauce
Foccascia flat bread & crispy thin bread sticks

Note: Today I will be traveling to the the Nautica event area to check into my hotel, pick up my packet and maybe tour the route with the other team members. Tomorrow is the big day. I might not get a chance to fill in my food for today so I might do it tomorrow or the next day if I can remember everything that I eat.

Day 25 - Thursday

Breakfast - 9:30am
1/2 cup cooked rolled oatmeal w/ wheatberries, seedy nut mix and PB
1 tall OJ
1 cup mixed fruit cup

Lunch - 1:00pm
Salad (mixed greens, carrots, heirloom tomato, roquefort cheese, cucumber, balsamic vinegar)
1/2 cup capellini pomodoro

Snack - 3:00pm
1 cup green grapes
Small piece of banana bread w/ PB

Dinner - 7:00pm - Pho Bac
1 bowl of rare steak and tendon pho

4 fried shrimp appetizer

Note: I am currently into this:


Note2: So I haven't been working out as much this week since the Nautica event is this Saturday but the real reason is because I hurt the ball of my right foot at run practice this week. Must have been when I was ripping up those hills. Yeah, note to self to not do that anymore. I felt great during the run but was hurtin' the next day. So here I am resting and letting it heal. Thank goodness it is getting less and less painful everyday. I am itching to go out and run but I must rest my foot. So I've been watching alot of anime after work. On another note, I will be missing my 18 miler this weekend due to the Nautica so I hope I am feeling ok on Sunday so I can do a 14-16 miler to make up for it. I really need to get that in so I will make it a priority to do so. Next weekend is my big 20 miler. We are only doing one 20 miler so I wonder how this will compare to when I did three 20+ milers with my other running group. Come October we will know.


Note3: Come next pay period and these will be mine...all mine...muhahaha! Haha...the funny thing about these lunch boxes is that they are not that large so they are perfect for packing normal size lunch and snack portions. I think they are so cute!

Roquefort Cheese

I've been eating quite a bit of roquefort cheese lately so I thought I would post some info on it. I remember my first encounter with this cheese was when I was in my early 20s. I remember going to the market with a friend of mine and getting schooled on cheese appreciation. I think to this day my love/hate of cheese came from my early encounter and knowledge of it. I can say that I love most cheeses. I especially love what people call "stinky" cheeses. I love the full body complex flavor and it always makes me feel like I am having a special meal if I have a little bit with my food. One of my favorite stinky cheese is roquefort from French. To say that I adore this cheese would be the understatement of the century. When I eat this cheese it takes me to another time and place and turns any old salad into something amazing. Despite the fact that I am lactose intolerant, I can eat a little bit of aged goat's cheese and some aged cow's cheese. I can only have a little bit but it is a little bit of heaven. I found the below link on the different varieties of Roquefort and some info on this amazing cheese. Roquefort was in the news recently because the Bush Administration had imposed a 300% tax on this cheese. Yeah, that makes me mad! I still eat it when I can find it and I am a hound when it comes to Roquefort. I love it in salads, with preserves, fruits, some nuts. It is just good eats!

http://www.slashfood.com/2009/08/11/five-different-kinds-of-roquefort-le-cheese-course/

Day 24 - Wednesday

Breakfast - 9:00am
1/2 cup cooked rolled oatmeal w/ wheatberries, seedy nut mix and PB
1/4 cup green grapes

Snack - 11:00am
1 mini toasted ww bagel w/ PB

Lunch - 1:00pm
Salad (mixed greens, heirloom tomato, carrots, roquetfort cheese, 2 kho egg, balsamic vinegar)
1 cup capellini pomodoro

Snack - 4:00pm
1 large peach
2/3 large chocolate chip cookie (what?!)

Dinner - 7:00pm - Fukada
1 bowl of sensai hot udon noodle soup (yay!)
1/3 chocolate chip cookie from earlier
some green grapes

Note:

Day 23 - Tuesday

Breakfast - 9:00am
1/2 cup cooked rolled oatmeal w/ wheatberries, seedy nut mix and PB

Lunch - 12:00pm - Santouka
1 bowl regular shoyu ramen
1 large honey green tea w/ boba and rainbow jelly (half sweet)
(I don't know what came over me to eat this sort of lunch but I had a moment of weakness.)

Snack - 4:30pm
1 medium nectarine

Run Practice - 6:30pm
Run 7.5 miles - interval

Dinner - 8:30pm
Salad (mixed greens, carrots, heirloom tomato, roquetfort cheese, cucmber, 2 kho eggs)
1 small slice of Red Baron pizza

Note: I had such a lazy weekend, I am kinda glad to be back to my routine. I was mostly laying around and eating but it was nice!