A couple weeks ago, I made the British Pub-styled pickled eggs that are listed here, and today they were finally ready to crack open and try, after having sat in the back of our fridge for a couple weeks. I am happy to say that they are absolutely delicious, and am looking forward to making more of them in the future!
Seriously, these are wonderful, and especially enjoyable if you've grown tired of eating plain hard boiled eggs like I have.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Tacoma and Olympia
Yesterday was the Sound to Narrows race here in Tacoma, the results for which I have listed below. We were lucky to have absolutely perfect weather, with temperatures in the low 60s at the race start, getting up near 70 by its end. I am also quite pleased to say that running in a crowd had a excellent effect on my performance, as I pushed myself much harder than I had planned on, and managed to complete the race in under and hour. At the beginning of the race I even started to freak out a bit because I was pushing such a fast pace (due to the first mile and half being all downhill), I was a little worried that I wouldn't make it through the park. Fortunately, my hill training paid off, and I even managed to pass a few people on the uphill segments since I didn't have to reduce my speed too greatly.
Official Race Time
Monitored Race Time
To top it all off, there were a number of sponsors offering freebies at the end, one of which is my local favorite, Roman Meal, who happened to be handing out packets of their new hot cereal. I'm sure I've mentioned what high esteem I hold RM bread in, but I'll wax on it once more if no one minds. Whenever I come across a loaf at the store, I always incorporate it into my running diet (nothing quite like an almond butter sandwich before a run). Sadly, locating RM bread is getting to be a harder and harder endeavor. These days I only occasionally come across a loaf at Metro Market, and while I've been told that they sell their bread through other licenses such as Sara Lees, I simply won't accept it if it doesn't have the RM logo. They're about the only bread I'll buy that isn't organic, so forgive me if I'm a bit picky. Oh yes, Bear Naked Granola was also represented at StN, but I'm less pleased about their offering, so I'll say nothing about it.
Since my parents were nice enough to make the trip down from Enumclaw for the race, we all took the opportunity to go to the Farmer's Market down in Olympia afterwards. While there I came across several growers that were offering tomato starts, so I finally got my hands on the Brandywine that I have been talking about growing for a couple years now. Hopefully I'll actually turn out to have a green thumb at it, and can have a nice tomato supply in the fall. Actually, given the fact that my wife seems to abhor tomatoes, I'll probably have more than I can eat, so if anyone is interested in a few, check back with my in a few months.
While on the subject of growing and food, Kami and I watched the documentary Food, Inc. today, and while I was personally horrified by most of what I saw, most of that probably stems from my general aversion to meat. However, I would recommend this movie to anyone wanting to know more about where the food most of us eat comes from. I am definitely going to have to increase the amount of product that I get from local farmers markets though, meat or otherwise.
Finally, I have been reading through a great deal of that Step Beyond book, and I must say that it is a treasure trove of knowledge about running, ultra or otherwise. Many of the sections do only apply for running distances greater than about 25 miles, true, but much of the book has to do with general physiology, about proper diet and recovery techniques, or just fun stories to get you in the running mood. I look forwards to getting through the whole book, just so I can start back at the beginning again! Not often I come across a book like that.
Alright, this has been a very successful weekend. Hopefully the rest of the week will continue to be so as well!
Official Race Time
Monitored Race Time
To top it all off, there were a number of sponsors offering freebies at the end, one of which is my local favorite, Roman Meal, who happened to be handing out packets of their new hot cereal. I'm sure I've mentioned what high esteem I hold RM bread in, but I'll wax on it once more if no one minds. Whenever I come across a loaf at the store, I always incorporate it into my running diet (nothing quite like an almond butter sandwich before a run). Sadly, locating RM bread is getting to be a harder and harder endeavor. These days I only occasionally come across a loaf at Metro Market, and while I've been told that they sell their bread through other licenses such as Sara Lees, I simply won't accept it if it doesn't have the RM logo. They're about the only bread I'll buy that isn't organic, so forgive me if I'm a bit picky. Oh yes, Bear Naked Granola was also represented at StN, but I'm less pleased about their offering, so I'll say nothing about it.
Since my parents were nice enough to make the trip down from Enumclaw for the race, we all took the opportunity to go to the Farmer's Market down in Olympia afterwards. While there I came across several growers that were offering tomato starts, so I finally got my hands on the Brandywine that I have been talking about growing for a couple years now. Hopefully I'll actually turn out to have a green thumb at it, and can have a nice tomato supply in the fall. Actually, given the fact that my wife seems to abhor tomatoes, I'll probably have more than I can eat, so if anyone is interested in a few, check back with my in a few months.
While on the subject of growing and food, Kami and I watched the documentary Food, Inc. today, and while I was personally horrified by most of what I saw, most of that probably stems from my general aversion to meat. However, I would recommend this movie to anyone wanting to know more about where the food most of us eat comes from. I am definitely going to have to increase the amount of product that I get from local farmers markets though, meat or otherwise.
Finally, I have been reading through a great deal of that Step Beyond book, and I must say that it is a treasure trove of knowledge about running, ultra or otherwise. Many of the sections do only apply for running distances greater than about 25 miles, true, but much of the book has to do with general physiology, about proper diet and recovery techniques, or just fun stories to get you in the running mood. I look forwards to getting through the whole book, just so I can start back at the beginning again! Not often I come across a book like that.
Alright, this has been a very successful weekend. Hopefully the rest of the week will continue to be so as well!
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Racoon
Just a quick note- I was out doing a tempo run around the neighborhood this morning, and a raccoon fell out of a tree right in front of me! Quite surprising, apparently as much for him as for me, since he immediately raced towards the nearest bushes.
Beats running into a possum I suppose.
Beats running into a possum I suppose.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Returning to my Old Routine
Someday I am going be brave enough to attempt one of my runs in the opposite direction than I normally go, but I don't foresee that day being any time soon. Even my short runs during the week are always the same direction. I really am a creature of habit.
I finally returned to one of the runs that had become a personal favorite of mine last year. Its a basic loop that follows one of the country roads between Tacoma and Puyallup, and is typically very quiet other than a few angry dogs (fortunately all behind fences. There are a few spots where several MINUTES can go by before I see a car, and that is truly blissful.
...
Yeah, I really need to start leaving the city for a few of my longer runs, but I don't like having to drive back home when I'm all sweaty. Still, the temptation to head over near Enumclaw and do some back roads there, or even some trails up near Greenwater, is getting hard to resist. Perhaps in a few weekends from now.
Not this coming weekend however, as I bit the bullet and signed up to do the Sound to Narrows. That's only a 12k race, but it should be excitement enough to fill my Saturday. I really would prefer to be doing a race that doesn't number its participants in the thousands, but I suppose it doesn't hurt to be sociable to the running community once in a while. Of course, if I wanted to be less of a recluse when it comes to fellow runners, I could always pony up and join the Interurban Runners Club or the Tacoma Runners, but I'm just not sure I'm ready for that yet. Maybe in a year or two.
I also had a chance to go scout out Fleet Feet today. I was very impressed with the variety of goods they offered (probably because they bill themselves as a "sports" store rather than a running store), but was still saddened by the small selection of different brands. Still, clerks were helpful, and they have a 10% return program (spend $150, get $15 back), which is definitely a big incentive. Saw a couple potentials replacements for my current running shoe, which I'll probably do after the Sound to Narrows. Still gotta check out those two locations I mentioned earlier first though. So much to do.
Alright, that's all I've got going on at the moment. A little more training this week, and then the race!
New Twist Run
New Twist Map
I finally returned to one of the runs that had become a personal favorite of mine last year. Its a basic loop that follows one of the country roads between Tacoma and Puyallup, and is typically very quiet other than a few angry dogs (fortunately all behind fences. There are a few spots where several MINUTES can go by before I see a car, and that is truly blissful.
...
Yeah, I really need to start leaving the city for a few of my longer runs, but I don't like having to drive back home when I'm all sweaty. Still, the temptation to head over near Enumclaw and do some back roads there, or even some trails up near Greenwater, is getting hard to resist. Perhaps in a few weekends from now.
Not this coming weekend however, as I bit the bullet and signed up to do the Sound to Narrows. That's only a 12k race, but it should be excitement enough to fill my Saturday. I really would prefer to be doing a race that doesn't number its participants in the thousands, but I suppose it doesn't hurt to be sociable to the running community once in a while. Of course, if I wanted to be less of a recluse when it comes to fellow runners, I could always pony up and join the Interurban Runners Club or the Tacoma Runners, but I'm just not sure I'm ready for that yet. Maybe in a year or two.
I also had a chance to go scout out Fleet Feet today. I was very impressed with the variety of goods they offered (probably because they bill themselves as a "sports" store rather than a running store), but was still saddened by the small selection of different brands. Still, clerks were helpful, and they have a 10% return program (spend $150, get $15 back), which is definitely a big incentive. Saw a couple potentials replacements for my current running shoe, which I'll probably do after the Sound to Narrows. Still gotta check out those two locations I mentioned earlier first though. So much to do.
Alright, that's all I've got going on at the moment. A little more training this week, and then the race!
New Twist Run
New Twist Map
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Mid-Week Update
I read about two other running stores in the area that I am going to have to go check out sometime. One of them is The Balanced Athlete up in Kent (near Fry's Electronics apparently, how did I miss that?), and the other is Route 16 over in Gig Harbor. Might have to combine a trip to that one with a run, get my money's worth out of the toll across the Narrows.
I'm thinking about signing up for a last minute race the weekend after next. I've been pondering over either the Sound to Narrows 12k here in Tacoma, or the Beach to Chowder 10k Challenge down at Long Beach. I like the idea of finally doing the StN, given that I've heard so much about it from my dad, and it also has the advantage of not having to travel very far, but I'm rather put off by the sheer number of people that I'm told participate. Something like this Chowder Challenge sounds a lot more low profile, but Long Beach isn't exactly close to Tacoma, and would mean a very early morning drive...well, both have their disadvantages, but either is sure to be fun. I'm trying to talk my wife into doing the 5k version of one of the races too, so that might be a deciding factor. Have to figure out which in the next 48 hours though, or I'm more likely than not to sign up for neither.
I'm thinking about signing up for a last minute race the weekend after next. I've been pondering over either the Sound to Narrows 12k here in Tacoma, or the Beach to Chowder 10k Challenge down at Long Beach. I like the idea of finally doing the StN, given that I've heard so much about it from my dad, and it also has the advantage of not having to travel very far, but I'm rather put off by the sheer number of people that I'm told participate. Something like this Chowder Challenge sounds a lot more low profile, but Long Beach isn't exactly close to Tacoma, and would mean a very early morning drive...well, both have their disadvantages, but either is sure to be fun. I'm trying to talk my wife into doing the 5k version of one of the races too, so that might be a deciding factor. Have to figure out which in the next 48 hours though, or I'm more likely than not to sign up for neither.
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