On the road again...well, the sidewalk, mostly.

So much for getting into that zone where I "forget that I'm running".  Yeah, this morning that seemed like a distant memory.  I went for my first Saturday morning outside run since...well, November, I guess.  I didn't have my neighbor-friend, Karen, with me so I was all by my lonesome out there.  (Poor me, having to run outside on a beautiful Saturday morning, right?  It's possible that there are worse things in the world.)

Turns out I'm not all that keen on running by myself outside.

I think I've been spoiled.

I missed having the company of my running pal.

Each step seemed like work today, and I was worried when I stopped that I'd only gone like three miles or something.  But, a quick drive of the route (aka "the ghetto Garmin method of measuring the distance of your run") showed that I ran exactly five.  Today's route was super hilly, and the wind kept messing with me too. Every time I thought it was at my back giving me a little boost, it would whip around and blast me in the face, just to remind me who was boss (hint: it wasn't me).  My average pace ended up being 9:18, which I'm okay with considering the hills and the wind.  Overall, not my best run ever, but I was happy to have the sun on my face.

As spring and summer approach and outdoor running becomes a reality again (for those of us who live in the frozen tundra, that is), I wanted to mention something that I never leave home without on my outdoor runs.  It's my RoadID band.  I'd never heard of them until my neighbor/friend/running pal told me about them last summer.  She had one and told me I should get one for myself.  If something should ever happen to me on the road, it's got my name, my birth year, my husband's first name and our home phone number.  There's also an online form that you fill out with any medical information you might want a paramedic to know that can be accessed by using the serial and pin number on the back of the ID band.  I thought it was a great idea, and for twenty bucks it's well worth the peace of mind it gives my husband (such a worrier, that man!).  So, here's what it looks like...

The serial and PIN # are on the back of the engraved ID plate.

 It has an adjustable nylon velcro band.

*****************************************************

Have I mentioned my newest obsession, Chobani yogurt?!

Realized this week that Costco carries it.  Booya! (Think we have enough yogurt in there?  And, yes, that's a 2 1/2 year old bottle of champagne in the back.)

*******************************************************

There was no dinner plan tonight (sorry to say, not uncommon for me) so I had to try to pull something together with what we had around (and Chobani yogurt was not an option.  boo.).  So we ended up having "The Green Meal".  I had a bag of baby spinach and some broccoli that needed to be used.  So I made Spinach Walnut Pesto.

It's so fast.  You just put everything in the food processor and turn it on.

Ta-da!!

To complete "The Green Meal" I cooked some pasta and steamed the broccoli and tossed it all together with the Spinach Walnut Pesto.  My daughter ate two bowls of it!  My son, not so much.  But he did scarf down about 74 blueberries.  I guess he had "The Blue Meal" in mind.

Spinach Walnut Pesto

2 1/2 cups baby spinach leaves

1/2 cup walnuts, toasted

1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese

3 garlic cloves

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/8 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper

Place all ingredients into food processor and process to a fine paste.  Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.  Transfer to a glass container and top with a thin coat of olive oil to prevent pesto from discoloring.  Keeps well for weeks in the refrigerator.

*******************************************************

Yeah!!  It was nice enough for the kids to swing outside in the back yard today!  My husband built that swingset himself.

Have I mentioned that he's really crafty?

Is there something you never leave home without when you head out for a run?

Any latest obsessions you'd like to share?



Hope you're having a great weekend!