May29

Vegan Starter Kit

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Vegan Starter Kit

The other day, a friend of mine posted this on my facebook page:

Melissa! I have a couple of questions for you. 1) Do you know of any good vegan cookbooks and 2) Do you know of any blogs or other resources? I’m playing with the idea of going vegan but definitely need more resources to help me feel confident in my food choices, etc. Thanks! and how’s life? 

It probably goes without saying that I was giddy with excitement when I saw this message.   I decided to put a little starter kit together for her and for anyone else who might be teetering on the edge of a plant based life style.

Before I dive into some of my favorite resources, let me reassure you–if you eat a variety of plants (fruits, veggies, greens, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds) throughout your day/week, you WILL get enough protein as well as all the other beautiful nutrients your gorgeous bodies needs to thrive!  Have fun!
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May20

Dates with Pistachio and Coconuts

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Dates with Pistachio and Coconuts

When I was a kiddo, I was obsessed with a recipe I nabbed out of a Sesame Street book my neighbor gave me.  Peanut Butter balls were IT–peanut butter and powdered sugar all mixed up, rolled into balls, and refrigerated for an hour or so.  To.Die.For.

I sometimes get cravings for the peanut butter balls of my childhood.  While I don’t think its horrible to give into those cravings from time to time, eating peanut butter and sugar balls on a regular basis is less than ideal for my health…this is why I was THRILLED when I discovered a healthier treat that reminds of the gooey goodness of peanut butter balls.  I realize that my replacement seems nothing like the original, but the sweetness and nuttiness combined with the gooey texture hits the spot!

This is great for dessert as well as a pre-run snack.  Yummers.

Ingredients:

  • pitted medjool dates
  • pistachios (I used salted, if you use raw-unsalted, add a pinch of salt to the recipe)
  • dried coconut

Directions:

  • place shelled pistachios in food processor and process for about 5 minutes
  • slice dates down the center length-wise
  • spoon pistachio mix into dates
  • sprinkle coconut on top
  • Enjoy!

Happy Eating!

May10

Two Oceans Ultra

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Two Oceans Ultra

Wow!  Did I drop the ball or what?  I had intentions of writing while in Cape Town but unfortunately, I just couldn’t seem to plant myself in front of the computer and get ‘er done!  I am a little overwhelmed at the task of writing about the whirl wind of exciting events in the past month.  I’ll try to stick to my running activities and what I learned through them.

I was pleased to quickly recover from my jet lag upon arriving in Cape Town.  The morning after arriving, Emily and I headed out for a lovely hilly run on one of my old routes.  It was sunny and warm and it felt so good to move our bodies after our long journey.  I think my body is getting better at traveling—no sickness, no insane jet lag, just exhaustion that can easily be treated with sleep and healthy foods.

The week leading up to the Two Oceans ultra-marathon was packed full of excitement—day trips around the Cape, reuniting with friends, and meetings to discuss my project.  We kicked off the race weekend with registration on Thursday and then the International Friendship Run on Friday morning.
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Mar29

To the Mother City we go!

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To the Mother City we go!

Its almost here. Tomorrow night, I am picking my friend Emily up from the airport and we are leaving on our grand adventure the following afternoon!  Life has been slightly crazy as I’ve been working long hours most days and trying to stay on top of getting ready for the trip.  I keep reminding myself it’s only a month–its not like we’re moving overseas again…but none-the-less I go into crazed lady mode.

I’ve noticed some major tightness in my neck and shoulders and my body has felt pretty tried on runs lately.  The race is a week from Saturday so the name of the game is staying healthy, getting as much rest as possible (ha–not so easy to do when you’ve got a 30 hour journey!!!), and keeping calm.

While in South Africa, I’m going to be working on several projects, running, and enjoying my friends that I’ve missed so much these past 2 years! While living in South Africa, there were a few friends that really became like family to me.  So, my heart is ready to explode from the anticipation of hugging them for the first time in a couple years!  I just may squeeze the air right out of them!

As for packing, I’m pretty much done.  Here’s a general list of what I’m brining (other than some cute-as-pie summer clothes for relaxing):

Food:

They have amazing food in Cape Town but there area  few things I won’t be able to get there.

  • Vega Powder–to replace the smoothie mix I usually make home–saves me having to bring like 8 different things and ensures I get all the nutrients I need!
  • Emergen-C:  Like steroids for my immune system while traveling
  • Yerba Mate tea:  for race day AM and to get a bit of caffeine during the race
  • Vegan Chocolate Chips (to help celebrate Easter)
  • Chia seeds
  • nutritional yeast (to sprinkle on my food for vitamin B12)

Running:

  • Two pairs of running shoes (just in case)
  • several pairs of running shorts
  • two pairs of yoga tights that can double as running tights if need be
  • a handful of sleeveless running tops (Hell yeah!  It’s warm in Cape Town!)
  • 1 light weight long sleeve running top
  • fuel belt
  • 4 10 oz fuel belt bottles
  • A few of my favorite gels for race day to supplement homemade goodness
  • watch

Other things in my bag:

  • yoga mat
  • mini-foam roller
  • gifts galore (including a few Washington wines)
  • cycling shoes–just incase I find someone willing to loan me a road bike for a day or two
  • The China Study (I’m working my way through it–its pretty profound)
  • ipod for plane–memorizing South Africa anthem so I can sing it on race morning
  • audio recorder for interviews
  • My research project from 2010 to review!

We are flying Emirates to Dubai, where we get to relax in a complementary hotel room for a chunk of the night before heading back to the airport at 2 AM for our flight to Cape Town. Josh and I did this last time we flew Emirates to Cape Town.  It’s wonderful to have a shower and a place to rest (although it was so air conditioned in our room we spend the night huddled together in a single bed to stay warm. I’m planning on trying to sleep as much as possible, drinking loads of water, and getting to Cape Town feeling as rested as possible (ha–I never arrive in Cape Town feeling rested, but she’s worth it!).

Thursday we’ll go to the race Expo (YEAH!) where we will be treated like VIP because we are awesome…or because we’re international participants.  Good Friday, Emily and I will run in the International Friendship 5k in the city with the rest of the international kids.  Saturday, Emily will run her first ever half marathon in the most beautiful place on earth while I work it in the Ultra–known as the “World’s Most Beautiful Marathon.”  Its not just the gorgeous scenery that makes it so beautiful but the people who participate are some of the coolest, kindest, and genuine people I’ve ever met!

I am not taking a computer on the trip but will have access to one so I will do my best to write while I’m there.  I will also try to write at MJ and a Sea of Stories!

Send us restful and healthy travel thoughts!

 

 

 

 

Mar18

The Swamp Land of the Soul

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The Swamp Land of the Soul

Saturday, I was supposed to do a 21 mile training run.  It began with me trying to find some dry running clothes–its been a wet week and all my warm running clothes were WET.  Sigh, I slipped on some cropped running tights, layered up a few lightweight long sleeve tops and set off in the wet muckiness.  Within 2 miles, snow began to mix with the rain.  By mile 5, my hands HURT like CRAZY.

In 2004, I climbed Mt. Rainier with a group of people from my university.  We had to stop for longer than intended to switch up the rope teams as some people decided to turn back down to camp.  We sat there for a good 40 minutes and by the time we were ready to move out, I was sick to my stomach because my hands were so cold.   As I tackled the first hill at Point Defiance Park, I felt that same sick feeling coming over me.  I felt a lump growing in my throat–I was fighting back tears.  I thought, “Surely I am going to die!”  For the next 4 miles I went back and forth, “Come on, be tough and finish the 21 miles.” and then, “Melissa, you don’t have to prove anything!  16 is sufficient!”  and then, “You can work out inside this afternoon!” and then “What the hell is wrong with you!  16 miles! You don’t need to work out again this afternoon!” Sigh, and so it went over and over again.
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Mar10

World Peace Inside You.

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World Peace Inside You.

This week I’ve been thinking a lot about injustice, human rights, and peace.  The Kony2012 campaign sparked it toward the beginning of the week.  Here’s a really brief overview of the ordeal if you aren’t aware– there’s guy named Joseph Kony in Central Africa that has been leading the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) for the past 2.5 decades.  The LRA is responsible for kidnapping  children and forcing them to be child soldiers and sex slaves.  They drug these children and have them do incredibly horrendous things–mutilate, rape,  and kill their own families.  It is difficult to imagine the horror.
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Mar4

What I take on my long runs (both in my fuel belt and in my heart/mind)

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What I take on my long runs (both in my fuel belt and in my heart/mind)

Photo by Steve Bisig--SteveBisig.com

It was a strange week.  After I got hit with that cold, I thought I would have to reschedule my 4:20 long run for the next weekend and keep it real with an easy 15 miler this weekend. But the tables turned, I was feeling better and really wanted to get my last super long run done so I can start a nice little taper for 2Oceans.

I made the descision yesterday afternoon.  It usually takes me a little longer than 15 hours to prepare myself mentally for a run of that length but I think having less time to think about it might have actually been a good thing.  Here’s how I prepared and executed, both physically and mentally:
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Feb28

Cold Season Fights Dirty. So should we.

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Cold Season Fights Dirty. So should we.

Last week I started coughing.  It was a painful cough that started in my chest and then tickled me right up through my throat.  ”NO, NO, NO!” I grumbled, “I CAN’T GET SICK!” But I did.  I felt deflated as I backed off running for the weekend and even more weary as I went into a 12 hour work day on Monday, knowing I wasn’t resting but I also wasn’t running.

One of the reasons I despise being sick is that it forces me to think about, “WHY?” The answer that comes to mind most often is stress.  Stress comes in many forms–poor diet, lack of sleep, heavy training, difficult life situations, expectations that are too high, worry, etc.  Stress weakens our immune system and leaves us vulnerable to germs.
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Feb26

My friend Emily and the other MJ.

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My friend Emily and the other MJ.

Wow! Its been a while since my last post and I feel like a little piece of me is missing.  It hit me hard on Friday when I was subbing in a 4th grade classroom that was straight up gangsta’ and I thought, “HOLY SMOKES!  I would so rather be writing right now!”  I was instructed to hit the emergency panic button if there were any fights or a kid “bolted”.  I hit it about 5 times during the day!  I was feeling sort of horrible, like I have no classroom management skills but as it turns out, this was a day just like any other day in that class!  The poor teacher, bless her heart, is at her end.

Anyway, its been busier than normal since I started subbing to complement the income I’m making from tutoring.  I’m squeezing my runs and workouts in and preparing meals in record time so I still have time to sleep and play with the people I moved all the way back across the world to be near!

Meanwhile, February is FLYING by and March begins next week and then its the home stretch to South Africa and 2Oceans!  Speaking of which, I came down with a little chest cold this week and I’m super paranoid about where it may go (last time I got a chest cold in Korea it spiraled out of control into several months of bronchitis, lots of missed runs, and a marathon that nearly killed me.  I am bound and determined to not let it happen this time!

This morning, I was supposed to do a 15 miler.  I woke up after 12 hours of sleep (recovering from my day worrying about getting shanked by 10 year olds +a cold) and was feeling less than wonderful.  I looked outside and saw a the trees blowin’ and thought, “I will certainly drop dead if I run outside today.”  Yes, a little dramatic but I have horrible flash backs to a run I did in Korea that ushered in the months of sickness, the last mile I walked and was coughing so hard I thought my lungs would come up–all the Koreans put on their masks when I passed (talk about embarrassing).

I subjected Josh to my self-talk, reassuring myself I was making the right choice–”I have the endurance, I’m fit now, right?  All I need to do is stay healthy and maintain my current fitness and I’ll be hundreds (South African for kick ass) at 2Oceans, right?  I shouldn’t subject my body to too much stress when I’m not feeling good, right? I can always hop on the treadmill at my parents this afternoon if I’m feeling up to it, right”  Notice how I ended every sentence with “right?” looking for reassurance.

Not only do we share a love for running but also for drinking red wine out of funny Korean cups...and taking breaks with nature.

A while later I got a text from my friend Emily.  She started running last spring and will be traveling to South Africa with me and running the half marathon at 2Oceans.  Her text said, “13!” It was her longest run yet, and the the distance she will be racing in South Africa in April.  Her text not only filled me with joy for her (I LOVE when the people I love fall in love with running–that’s a lot of love), but it also inspired me.  It gave me the little bit of added energy I needed to get on the treadmill and get an easy 90 minute jaunt in.  I wore shorts and a tank top and pretended that the sun coming through the window was actually warm while I listened to Michael Jackson rock, “I’m bad, I’m bad, I know I’m really bad…” and told myself over and over how much of a bad ass I am.

MJ (not me, the other MJ) taught me something last week on my long run.  He taught me that its just as important to believe you’re a bad ass as it is to be humble.  Equal parts of both will take you where ya want to go.  I even caught myself giving myself the “You’re a bad ass” talk on the way to my first day of subbing in a high school math class.  I’m telling you, it totally works.

I know I’ve been taking a few bunny trails today, but what I’m trying to say is: 1)  Know when to rest and be okay with changing your training plans, and 2)Believe in yourself.  Have the humility to say, “Dang, this is hard…” but the confidence to say,  “but that’s what makes me such a bad ass because I’m going for it (whatever “it” may be–it could be a nap)”.