Day 1 of 365 - January 1, 2012

Really looking forward to 2012, new job, new outlook on working out, new carpet.  I signed up for 2 Nike Plus Challenges; and 2 Nike+ Goals:

365 Miles in 365 Days - 62 challengers; Day 1, 18th place with 2.65 miles today.  Too bad the 4.01 miles yesterday were 4 hours too early to count. 

Zodiac Challenge - Libra currently in 6th place.  (Again too bad that 4 miles yesterday was a couple hours early)

January Goal:  30 miles in 30 days:  8.16 miles completed.  21.84 to go by 1/25.  Thankfully, yesterday DID count on this one! 

January Goal:  Run 12 times by 1/25.  3 runs completed.  .89 runs ahead of my goal.  

I signed up for a 10k Race on 2/11/12, I have never run 6 miles before.  Longest run ever has been 5.3 miles and that was YEARS ago when I was running five days a week.  It's good motivation.  I've been doing the 4 mile run/walk combo and I feel good, not too much pain.  In fact, the legs are not giving out, it's the lungs - need to get the cardio endurance back.  But, the great thing about the human body ..... it does come back.  Quickly.   The race will be fantastic, it's on a route that I already run regularly, so it will be an easy race mentally.  It's flat and fast.  I think this will be a good first venture into 10k.  

Downloaded the Ease into 10k app (formerly Couch to 10k C210K) ... and jumped straight into week 2 which is 5 minute walking warm up, 4 minute run/1 minute walk, repeat 5 times, 5 minute walking cool down.  I had no problem with the 4 minutes, provided I stuck to a 12 minute mile.  Speed is not my friend right now ... burns me out too quickly.  Slow and steady and 4 miles will be mine pretty easily.  

On another note, Christmas decorations have been taken down and moved upstairs.  Tomorrow's task will be putting all of the ornaments back in boxes, and replacing everything else into the attic.  Packers won a nail biter against the Lions; which put the Falcons as 5th seed and now playing the winner of Dallas/Giants; Lions will be playing the Saints next week.  We NEED to root for the Lions, because we KNOW we can win against them in Lambeau ... the Saints will be a tougher competitor.  Come on Super Bowl!  

Maggie & Tyler sleeping in on New Years Day

 Thankfully, Tyler is back to normal; he's letting me pet him again and he's started sleeping in my bed every night (yes, I swore I would never let him do this ...) I think the pain of the 3 ticks that he had over Thanksgiving have been removed from his short term memory.  He's really the best dog anyone could ask for - and he has really done so much for helping to socialize Maggie too.  Good dogs all around.  The loves of my life.  

I have really enjoyed being off for the last two weeks; it's been so nice spending so much time with the pups.  But, as all good things come to an end, so does vacation and back to 5am mornings and a new routine for the dogs.  

Off to drink more water before bed.  

Small goals for this year:  

Team Fitness 3 days per week.  

Run 3 days per week.  

100 oz of water per day.  

Take vitamins every day.  

More cooking at home, less eating out.  

Enjoy the new job. 

Recipe for today:  Homemade Veggie Burgers 

• 2 medium red bell peppers , cut in one inch pieces 
• 1 portabella mushroom, cut into one inch slices
• 1 8oz can of sliced beets 
• 1 medium onion , cut in wedges
• 8 garlic cloves , peeled and roughly chopped
• 4 cups black beans , cooked, rinsed and well drained (preferably homemade)
• 1 1/2 cups brown rice , cooked
• 1 1/2 cups carrots , grated
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 teaspoons hot sauce , like Cholula, Tapatio, Franks Red Hot, Sirachi (NO Tabasco!!)
• 1/2-3/4 cup breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. In a food processor, place red pepper, onion, mushroom, beets and garlic. Pulse until chopped in small pieces, but not finely ground. Put mixture in a strainer to remove excess water, gently pushing veggie mixture down with hands. Put mixture into large mixing bowl.
2. Place the well drained black beans in the food processor and pulse lightly until beans are mashed but not ground up. You should still see some semi-whole beans. Mixture will be somewhat dry. Scrape mashed beans into mixing bowl and stir into the veggie mixture.
3. Add brown rice and grated carrot, stir well. Season with salt and pepper to taste, making it a wee tad salty because the bread crumbs will tone it down.
4. In a small bowl, beat the eggs, cumin and hot sauce with a fork. Add to the bean mixture, mixing well.
5. Add bread crumbs, ¼ cup at a time until mixture holds together well. It should not be runny, and it should not be crumbly.
6. Optional: To ensure proper seasoning and to make sure burgers will hold together, make a small 2 inch patty and fry in a small pan. Adjust seasoning if necessary.
7. With hands, form patties and fry in a small amount of olive or vegetable oil, approximately three minutes per side until nicely browned and crisp and hot throughout.
8. Because of the cumin, these make awesome Tex-Mex burgers. Serve on a toasted bun with lettuce, tomato, onion and guacamole or chipotle mayo. NOTE: I make these burgers for a restaurant, so I freeze the uncooked patties on a cookie sheet, then transfer to a freezer container or individual baggies. This will add slightly to the cooking time, but they cook up great. You can also grill them on a well-oiled grill basket.

I make these this week, cooked up one ... the flavor was DELICIOUS, the consistency isn't perfect yet.  I think it might need more breadcrumbs?  It made 14 patties, can't wait for some good vegetarian lunches this week!