Heat Waves & Quinoa Salad

The past week has been incredibly hot in southern Ontario.  So hot in fact that I have only found the time to run twice in the past week.  Running only twice in a week typically happens when I'm on vacation were running isn't really feasible or if I've been really really sick.  But now that I'm off any sort of running schedule I'm finding it difficult to get back on.  I am looking for a fall half marathon to motivate myself for and I have something else in the works that I'll talk about in a bit.

In the meantime, I've been eating a lot of salads and things that don't require much cooking to heat up my kitchen.  This salad is perfect, because it has a good carb to protein ratio and fills you up without making you feel too full.



Black Bean Quinoa Salad

Salad

1 cup quinoa uncooked
1/2 can black beans drained and rinsed
1 red pepper chopped
1/2 cup carrots chopped
1/2 cucumber diced
1/4 finely chopped fresh parsley

Rinse and cook quinoa according to package directions and let cool.  Mix salad ingredients together.

Dressing

2  tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp lemon juice
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp dried oregano

Add all ingredients in a jar, seal jar and shake well.  Pour over salad and toss.  Let sit for about 1/2 hour for the flavours to combine.

The Reasons I Run

I have been having trouble finding motivation lately when it comes to running.  I don't have a goal race, I don't have a schedule and I feel a little lost.  I've also been feeling quiet tired and run down lately which explains the infrequent posts.  I think we all experience stress in our lives. Everyone runs out of motivation and the last thing anyone wants to do is go and read someone else's whining about feeling tired, stress or unmotivated.  Its right up there with those people who say I'm so fat.  I'm a firm believer in if you haven't got anything nice to say then shut the front door.

That being said - tonight I was smacked up side the head came to the realization as to why I have stuck with running for as long as I have.  Its because of the awesome people have run with.  (Tear - you had me at hello).  Not only did I get my aggression and frustrations I have been feeling out on the track in 30 degree temperatures without the humidex.  I also got free medical advice from Tracey, therapy from Katherine (boundaries - got it), cheerleading and enthusiasm from Gina and jokes and eye rolling from Rick and Simon.

As I biked home I felt sooooo much better.  I don't know why I when I feel blah I think taking a break will help.  Pound it out on a road, the track or wherever and preferably with a group of friends who will cheer you on and make you laugh.

Warrior Dash 2011

This weekend my running group and I completed the Warrior Dash in Horseshoe Valley.  It was just over 5k of obstacles and insane hills.  The obstacles weren't that difficult, but the hills were another story.  All in all this race was fun and that was our intention before starting.

We picked a theme... Snow White and the 7 dwarfs.  We only had six.... sorry I was counting.  

 Everyone who was a dwarf got to pick out their own dwarf name and character.  We had Smiley, G.I., Pimpy, Hobo, Sleezy and Papa Ratzi dwarf.  In the picture above, I am offering our very innocent Snow White an apple. 

After, victorious and quite muddy.  I still have my apple.  Snow White never did eat it.  Maybe its because I stuck it in my bra when I needed two hands.  Some people are so picky.

 All cleaned up and showing off our battle scars.

 The medal wasn't enough for Simon.

We rocked it and congrats to my husband who ran his first race!!!  

Check out our link on youtube.

Race Number 5.... oops Dundas Cactus Run

It appears I forgot a race.  Before I ran the Guelph Downtown Dash and Thanksgiving Day Race, I ran the Dundas Cactus Race.  I ran this race in an attempt to get over my disappointing time in the Highland Games race.  The race was the following Sunday.  My husband and I went to this race and then packed the kids up for a week at the beach.

I met up with Mike and Bob from Grand River Running at this race.  They both posted great times - first in the age groups. 

Me not so much.  Time-wise for this race... I should have left early for the beach.  This race boasts my worst time ever including my very first 5k - 29 min and change.  In my defense, it was hot and humid, but not that hot and humid. After this race, I realized part of the issue with my running races.  Vanity.  I know it seems really stupid.  But I had a horrible finish line picture after my first race. And to show his support, my husband was there at every finish line taking pictures and I didn't want to look that awful on film ever again.

Check out how great I look in the picture.  Nike should be contacting me shortly as a model now that I've released this image.  On the other hand... no fierceness.  Where is my inner warrior??

I've made a deal with the hubs after this race.  No pictures at the finish line and I would race with everything I had.  For the most part he has kept up his end of the deal.

In spite of the crappy time, this race was fun and I would do it again.  I think they have a kids fun run and the race starts and ends in a park which is a great place for families to play.  They other great thing about this race, free alcohol.  I know this isn't uncommon in the States.  But in Canada alcohol isn't offered very often.  You can't drink it in the park or on the way home.  But you do get to take it with you.  Super fun!

Off to Killarney

We kicked off the start of summer with a camping weekend in Killarney Provincial park with Dan's entire family minus his niece Alix who had to work.  The total number of campers was down to 16.  In all honesty leading up to this camping weekend I was feeling quite overwhelmed at the thought of packing up and driving for 5 hours to camp.  Work had been exceptionally crazy leading up to the weekend and I really wanted a quiet weekend at home.  But the kids were so excited to go and hang out with all of their cousins so we packed up and headed off.

I will say this now... I am so glad I went.  Our drive started like this

Perfect blue sky and not much traffic.  I forgot how I instantly feel better as soon as I see the Canadian Shield.

After we set up camp.  A bit of this happened

In addition to swimming and canoeing, I was able to squeeze in a 6k run which was also one of the better runs I've had in a while.

We went into the Town of Killarney for fireworks on Canada Day which was a pretty impressive show for a small town and was put on by their fire department.

On Saturday my husband, brother-in-law and father-in-law hiked a trail in Killarney called the Crack.  I have hiked this trail twice before this weekend both times with my kids so this was my first time doing this trail at grown up speed.  We were able to do this trail about two hours faster than with my kids.  The hike is pretty tough, but the view at the top is spectacular.

I really do love this park and with views like these its easy to see why.

Its 8:36 and I've unpacked and almost finished all of the laundry.  I'm ready to start my week.  I have a new yoga class on Thursday mornings I've signed up for and a class I'm teaching on Thursday night so I'm glad I had a chance to recharge my batteries.