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Sunday, February 27, 2011

Save the Boobies 5k

I finished the Steps for the Chest (aka Save the Boobies) 5k this morning with a record time of 24:22. My Runkeeper time was 26 something since I forgot to hit stop but I corrected it when I got home.

It was an easy flat run but scattered with snow and slush. I am sure I would have broke 24 minutes if it was dry. For the first run of the year I was happy with how I felt during the race. Some of the longer runs I've been doing certainly helped out.

I'm really excited about next weekend now. The Shamrock Shuffle should be warmer and dry hopefully. With any luck I'll break my 24 minute mark and a celebration will ensue =/

Woot, second in my age group!

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Mixed Berry Whole-Grain Coffee Cake

I've been looking for a good healthy coffee cake I can safely leave on the counter and snack on for days. Most cakes don't qualify as healthy especially when they come from your mom or grandmother's recipes. I hunted this one down online and hope to try it out this weekend.

From Green Mountain at Fox Run.

This coffee cake makes a great centerpiece for your Easter brunch. Made with whole-grains and berries --both good sources of disease-fighting antioxidants - it's not only amazingly delicious, it's incredibly good for you, too! Enjoy!
 
3 tablespoons butter
1 cups quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup whole-wheat flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup skim milk
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg, slightly beaten
1 (12-ounce) bag frozen, unsweetened mixed berries, thawed and drained
(about 1 1/2-2cups frozen or 2 cups fresh berries)
1/4 cup chopped walnuts

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9-inch round cake or springform pan or 9 x 9 square pan. Mix butter, oats, 1/4 cup flour and brown sugar in small bowl with fork or pastry cutter until crumbly. Set aside. Combine flours, sugar, oil, milk, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and egg in large bowl. Beat mixture with wire whip or mixer 1- 2 minutes, until well blended. Stir in mixed berries. Spread half of the batter in pan and sprinkle ½ of oat mixture on top. Add remaining batter and sprinkle with remaining oat mixture and chopped walnuts. Bake 40-45 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve warm.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Coffee Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

It seems to be baked goods week here at work. This one came in today and I had to get the recipe.

Coffee Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

Cake:
3 blocks of soften cream cheese (leave them on the counter all day)
3 Eggs
1 Can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 tbs vanilla

Crust:
18 oreo cookies (I use double stuff)
2 tbls melted butter

Goodies:
1 cup of chocolate chips
2 tbs flour

I use a 2” deep 12” round spring form pan, and a 3” deep 9” round spring form pan.

Mix the cake stuff until smooth.  This make take five to ten minutes.

Smash the cookies, spread in a spring form pan, stir in melted butter, and pat down.   I sometimes add instant coffee to the butter for flavor.  I have also used mint flavored cookies.

Coat chips in flour, and then stir them into the cake mix.  Pour cake mix into the spring form pan.

Bake for 55 to 60 minutes at 350.  Bake until brown on the edges and the middle does not sag or giggle.  Cool overnight.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Runner's High

Found a nice article about the Runner's High (thanks RunLawrence). Funny thing was that I was just saying to a friend last week how I never seemed to "feel it" until I ran at least 5 or 6 miles. That goes right along with what the article says.
In a groundbreaking 2003 experiment, scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology found that 50 minutes of hard running on a treadmill or riding a stationary bicycle significantly increased blood levels of endocannabinoid molecules in a group of college students.
I guess that makes perfect sense to me now. I wondered why I never felt that way after running a 5k on the treadmill or on the road but seem to feel it after running the trails or a long run on the weekends.

Martin Park Loop

Mapped out the Martin Park Loop with my phone and Runkeeper during lunch. Nice run even if it wasn't sunny. There was a pretty good south wind and and an overcast 50 degrees. Still nice for February. It's supposed to be above 70 tomorrow so maybe I'll run two days in a row =P

Monday, February 14, 2011

North Shore Run

Managed to snap some pictures on my run this weekend. I decided to check out the Clinton trails since it was a sunny 55 degrees. It was a little slushy in places but nothing too bad. Most of the trail was packed snow. I could have skied most of it. It did bring back memories of cold-weather training.

Flickr Shots
Runkeeper Event