TBT: Copley Square and Boston Common

I decided to do a 'throw-back Thursday' post today because I was looking through some of my photos from earlier in the year and came across these photos of Copley Square and the Boston Common which is just lovely during the spring when I was there. I have such amazing memories of how I was feeling on that day and looking at these photos just takes me back there.

This is Trinity Church nestled amongst modern buildings and tall skyscrapers at Copley Square. Just beautiful!

I took a nice stroll through the Boston Common which is like a teeny tiny version of Central Park in New York. It was a beautiful crisp Spring day and you could feel the excitement in the air.

Running in Unfamiliar Places

I've been blogging from my parents' home the last couple of days since I'm visiting them for the long holiday weekend. It's been quite some time since I've spent more than a day here so it's been nice to hang out with them. They love to feed me and you know me...I can't say no to delicious food. I think I mentioned this before but my parents are amazing cooks. That's why I'm such a good little eater.

During the summer, I can eat snow ice everyday! If you've never had snow ice, it's like the love-child of froyo and shaved ice. So good!

With all the eating I've been doing these past couple of days I knew it would be a bad idea to blow off my long run this weekend. Believe me, I wanted to. It's so hot outside! But I didn't. I went to bed early last night and managed to get up before sunrise to beat the heat. I was only 75% successful because now I'm a few shades darker than when left my parents' house this morning.

I have to say that living in the OC has spoiled me when it comes to having access to nicely maintained running paths with very minimal traffic lights or stops required. The cities surrounding my parents' place is not exactly runner friendly. You are basically running on concrete sidewalks the whole time along busy streets that require waiting at traffic lights to cross every ten minutes or so. Can you imagine how fun that can get over a two to three hour run? Not! I thought about driving to Long Beach or Santa Monica to run on the bike path but decided that was just a waste of gas. There is a bike path nearby (the Rio Hondo Bike Path) that runs all the way to Seal Beach but I question the safety of said path so I decided to be safe than sorry and skip it.

So this is what I had to do yesterday to ensure that I got my long run in today or as I like to call it...how to plan a long ass run in the middle of a busy ass city. I know, I'm so eloquent.

1) Google the area for trails and paths that other runners have already scoped out, no need to create anything new if something is already there. Then Google a couple of different sources/forums to see if the path is safe and if there are lots of other runners on it. If this fails, go to the next step.

2) Go to MapMyRun and map out a course according to the desire distance you want to run. Then, use the street-view feature at a couple of different points along the course on the map to check out what it will look like when you actually get there.

3) If you have the time or opportunity, drive the route the night before. This is extremely helpful. If there are sections that looks unsafe, questionable or if there is construction, make a mental note to reroute to another street. Also, it is helpful to note which side of the street you want to run on because one side may be flatter or have smoother pavement than the other side.

4) If you are unfamiliar with the area, having someone to run or bike with you is priceless. If not, be mindful of your surroundings and run without music. Just leave your iPod at home. I ran the whole time without mine today because I was busy looking out for cars, cyclists and people popping out onto the sidewalk out of nowhere.

5) Be safe! I guess this applies to running anywhere but I felt more aware of it today because I was running in unfamiliar territories. Wear lots of sunscreen, carry a cellphone, ID bracelet, pepper spray, fuel belt/handheld bottle/hydration vest and money to purchase more liquid when you run out because there may or may not be any water fountains on your route. I saw one water fountain on my run this morning and it was not working. Boo. Remember to mention to a family member or friend about your run and course info so someone knows where you are and may be able to come and get you if something happens.

I ran by Cal Tech today!

I was thankful that my little sister agreed to bike along with me today to keep me company during the early morning hours. We made this into a little adventure and it was one of the more interesting long runs I've done in a long time. I'm super impressed that she was able to bike that far since she has not biked in years and I think she told me that the furthest she has rode was 5 miles. On top of that, the first half of the run was all uphill with over 500 ft of elevation gain. She is such a trooper! Quitters need not apply. :0) We got lost a couple of times and it was hot as heck out there but we managed to complete 17 miles running through five different cities. What a day!

2013 YMCA Run In The Parks - Race Recap

Date: July 4, 2013

Location: Laguna Niguel Family YMCA
Start: 7:30am
Finish: 10K // 00:46:47 (10th F OA // 2nd AG)

This was another race I signed up for on a whim with not a whole lot of arm twisting from friend Darren. We were supposed to sign up for the 5K but while I was filling out my registration form I decided to click the box that said 10K instead. This last minute change was due to the fact that I've already ran a couple of 5Ks this past year and I don't seem to be getting any faster at that distance. So I decided to try something new. Well not technically new because I've ran many 10Ks before but I think it's been something like 5 years since I've officially signed up for one. To think of it, I don't think I've ran a 10K since I started running marathons. Needless to say I don't think I have to leap very high to get over my previous PR bar. Low hanging fruit...that's what I'm all about these days.

Anyhow, I was not able to find an elevation profile for this course so I duplicated the course with MapMyRun (shown below at the end of post). Doesn't look too bad.

Friend Darren and I carpooled to the race which was held at the Laguna Niguel YMCA. We got there pretty early so we got a chance to walk around a bit and use the YMCA restrooms a couple of times before the start of the race. Real restrooms are always appreciated. Bib pickup was located in the indoor basketball court building. We got a cotton race shirt and some nice goodies in a drawstring bag.

The post race festivities was held on the soccer field which they were setting up when we got there. The start line was decorated with red, white and blue balloons and they provided trays of bagels and cut fruit and lots of bottled waters. There was even more food provided after the finish. I was not hungry but I saw large chocolate chip cookies, some nice looking sandwiches, bagels with cream cheese and fruit. I really love small local races. This race had about maybe ~900 participants and is currently in it's 35th year.

This event is very family friendly. They even have a contest for the most patriotic pup. Plus lots of fun things for kids.

There was also a kids' race with age specific heats...even a diaper dash.

I wasn't feeling very confident when I arrived at the race that morning and even though I managed to place in my age group for the 10K I felt like I had not given it my all. I might run another 10K in a couple of weeks to try to shave off a couple more minutes because I feel like I have it in me to do so if I focus a bit more.

Congrats to Darren for placing third in his age group for the 5K! His training lately has really picked up speed. :0)

I really liked this race because it is organized and there is something for everyone. There is even a pancake breakfast with all the fixings which is included in the price of registration. The course is nice and as the name suggests it is a run in the park. It is mostly flat but with enough ups and downs to make it interesting. I would definitely do this race again.

Elevation:

I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day! I spent mine surrounded by friends and family and of course BBQ.

...and cake!

Stir-fry Shrimp and Pork Rice Noodles

Stir-fry Shrimp and Pork Rice Noodles (Serves 4-6)

16 oz package of dry flat rice noodle
2 cups bean sprouts, washed w/ tails removed
Small bunch of leek sprouts, washed
3 stalks scallions, washed
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
1/4 lb small shrimp, remove shell and de-veined
1/4 lb pork
1 large egg, beaten
Chicken bouillon powder
Ground pepper
Vegetable oil
1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1-2 tsp water

1) Soak the rice noodle in water for 1 hour to soften.

2) Cut leek sprouts into 2 inch segments.

3) Cut scallions into 2 inch segments. Then turn the thicker parts of the scallion lengthwise and julienne.

4) Julienne pork into 2-3 inch slivers.

5) To make the egg omelette topping, start by heating 2-3 tsp of oil in a pan on medium to high heat. Before pouring the beaten egg mixture into the pan, add a couple of dashes of chicken bouillon powder and mix in. Then pour egg mixture into the heated pan and cook 1 minute. Then flip to the other side and cook for another minute. Make sure egg is not runny (completely cooked) before removing from heat and set aside. Julienne the omelette when cooled.

6) Finally we can start to make the actually dish. If you do not have a large wok, make this is two batches to avoid overcrowding in the pan. Start by heating 2 tsp of oil in a wok or large pan on medium to high heat. When oil is hot throw in the minced garlic and stir around for 5-10 seconds until slightly brown. Be careful not to burn the garlic. Add pork into the pan and stir around until it is brown (about a minute), then add the shrimp and stir around until the shrimp is pink.

7) Add the rice noodles, followed by the oyster sauce, soy sauce, scallions, 1/2 tsp of chicken bouillon powder and 1/2 tsp pepper. At this point, you may want to use a pair of tongs to integrate all the ingredients with the noodles in the pan. Make sure you keep moving the noodles around to avoid burning the noodles or having it stick to the pan. Do this for a minute or so.

8) Add leeks and bean sprouts to the pan last and continue to move the noodles around with the tongs for another minute or so. If you prefer your noodles less al dente, add 1-2 tbsp of water to create a steaming action to soften the noodles. Stir around for another minute and then plate. Top with the julienne egg pieces.

9) Serve with fish sauce (recipe below) and enjoy!

Fish Sauce Recipe (Nuoc Mam Cham)

4-5 tbsp sugar
4-5 tbsp fish sauce
3 medium or large cloves of garlic, minced
1 lime
1 cup water. room temperature
chili garlic sauce (if desired)

This recipe is not an exact science. Everyone makes it a little bit different based on their own taste buds. Some people like it sweeter while others may like it more tart. Start conservatively with each ingredient and add as needed.

Tip: this is not a necessary step but if you want to make sure that all the sugar granules are dissolved, you can add 2-3 tbsp of hot water to the sugar to dissolve it before adding the other ingredients.

This is the color and look you want. If you like it spicy, you can add some chili garlic paste in here. That's the sauce with chili seeds in it or you can add fresh minced red/green chili if you have that on hand.

2013 LA Street Food Fest

This past Saturday I went to my first LA Street Food Fest held at the Rose Bowl and boy was it hot. I mean it was literally 100 degrees. Luckily, the event organizers were prepared but it was still hot as Hades out there. This event is outdoors so come prepare with sunscreen and a large brim hat. The lines can be long and at some stands very slow moving so wear comfortable shoes. I saw people bring in trays like the ones from cafeteria lines. I wish I would have thought of that. The trays were helpful because you can then collect a bunch of samples and head to a shady spot to enjoy sitting down while everyone else has to eat their samples right away in order to free up their hands to get more. You might also want to bring wet wipes because food will get everywhere. I mean you are there to pig out, not look like a pig.

I've only ever been to the Rose Bowl to run races so this was a complete 360. Hold on, I take that back. This event is kind of like a race in that it is a game of how well you can pace yourself when faced with more food than your stomach can possibly hold. Sure, you can try to strategize and plot your plan of attack and many do but you won't win because it's mathematically impossible with over 100 vendors. Needless to say, this event had me beat half an hour into the eating fest. By the end of the second hour I couldn't even stand to look at another piece of food. Oh but what a day it was!

Dante Fried Chicken (Sock-It-To-Me Fried Chicken) - served w/ a tiny little biscuit covered in honey. There was a lot of hype about Dante's since they were a vendor from last year and many food bloggers said that they were a must-try, so it was on my short list of pit stops but it was just okay for me. I went back to try to get another sample but they ran out pretty quick.

(left) Starry Kitchen (Singaporean Chili Crab Gumbo w/ Buttermilk Beer Beignets) - this was one of my favorites. The buttermilk beer beignet was rich and fluffy and I could have eaten a million of them.

(right) Short Order (Mini Pork Belly BLTs) - this sandwich had a very good flavor with one slice of bread smeared with an avocado cream and the other with BBQ sauce.

Then we entered The Taste of Mexico Area. Fasten your seat belts because it is about to get even more caliente!

La Casita Mexicana  (Green Ceviche & Ceviche Nayarit-style) - the green ceviche was made with a white fish, while the other one was made with shrimp. Both were excellent! Nice lime flavor.

Ceviche Project...oh boy was the line for this ever so long! I think we waited about 30 minutes to get a sample. The chef was very meticulous with prepping each sample, which explains why the line was moving so slow.

Tuna Tiradito w/ Spiced Plantain Chips - the tuna tiradito was amazing! It was topped with sorbet. Unique! The shrimp ceviche was not as good. The shrimp tasted weird, it had a mucky taste that I didn't care for. Maybe some of the uni sauce got on it by accident. I don't do uni, I don't care how unsophisticated that makes me sound. It is just a taste that I never got accustomed to and I eat Japanese food pretty regularly.

The master at work.

John Sedlar/Rivera - Tortilla Florales Tacos

Look at the neat edible flowers pressed right into the tortilla topped with a sweet Habanero jelly. So good!

Badmaash (Badass Butter Chicken) - I love Indian food and this is one of the reasons why. I could have eaten an entire plate of this stuff.

Fred 62  (Slow Smoked Pork Belly w/ Rojas con Crema Macaroni & Cheese) - what's not to like about a fried mac n' cheese ball stuffed with smoked pork belly? Absolutely nothing. This was another vendor on my short list and I'm glad I got a chance to taste this. They also put out these tiny pop-tarts later in the evening that I unfortunately forgot to take a photo of that were pretty tasty.

Dang Brothers Pizza

Mariscos el Mazateno (Tijuana, Mexico) - Taco de Camaron Enchilado - this vendor came all the way from Tijuana to take part in this event and let me tell you...this taco ranked very high with me. I'm pretty sad that they are so far away.

A collage of all the amazing foods that never made it into my belly.

Ice Cream Social Area - did someone say dessert? So many dessert...no...too many dessert is more like it...so little stomach space.

The Donut Snob - what can I say, they were worth the 50 miles I'm going to have to run this week in order to burn off all this food.

Cupcakes from the Cupcake Vineyards truck - this is what it looks like when two cupcakes kiss.

Later that day, I passed out on the field of the Rose Bowl in a food coma. The grass is so well cared for that it is amazingly soft and feels just like carpet. Yeah it's just like passing out in your living room floor but better because it's the Rose Bowl and how often can you even do that.

What a day! See you next year!