Good morning!
Well, I did not accomplish my goal of staying off the computer last night…I was working until 11:45pm last night. Oops. Tonight will be lots of fun though. I have a fun outing planned and I can’t wait to tell you about it!
Don’t think you are a runner? Believing you can do it is half the battle…
Here is an uplifting story that a reader named Irene told me about and we thought you might be inspired too!
“Hi Angela! I left a message on your blog on June 5 saying that I felt inspired by your Acura 10-miler race recap and wanted to run the same race this year, but I doubted if I could handle it.
You emailed me back and said I could try – and I did.
I ran a PR of 2:10:26 at the 2010 Acura 10 Miler yesterday.
I’m super proud of myself. ;-) Before May this year, I had never even run 3km in my whole life and I’m in my 40’s. I feel much better about myself after I started running ;-)
Thank you!
Congrats Irene! You are amazing and will be an inspiration for so many people out there who also think they cannot run a certain distance. Thanks for allowing me to share your success story!
Onto breakfast…
Wake me up before you go go (I woke up with that song stuck in my head!)
For breakfast I had vegan overnight oats that I prepared last night before bed. I decided to make a bowl of it this morning and throw in some fun toppings!
Almond Butter and Blueberry Jam Vegan Overnight Oats
- using classic vegan overnight oats recipe
VOO Add in’s:
- 1/2 frozen banana, chopped
- 1 tsp Cacao nibs
- 1 tbsp Organic blueberry jam
- 1/2 tbsp Homemade raw almond butter
The plant tried to stick his finger in for a try!!!
For some reason I am not crazy about nut butter in my vegan overnight oats! Unless it is incorporated into the banana soft serve that is.
Back off plant!!
I really enjoyed the blueberry jam in this.
They were eying my breakfast too…
Health News Round Up
Here are some of my favourite health and fitness links over the past week. Enjoy!
- 5 Healthy Morning Must-dos – Fitsugar
- 6 tips to ward off post-vacation blues – Daily Spark
- How often should I switch up my fitness routine? – Thatsfit
- How to buy the right running shoes – Globe and Mail
- Beet recipes even a beet hater can love – NY Times
- How to pack healthy snacks for the beach – Huffington Post
- 5 awesome uses for aloe – Health.com
- Do you really need 100 SPF Sunscreen? – Fitsugar
- What exercise science doesn’t know about women – NY Times
- Top 100 girls names of 2010 – Huffington Post
- Your brain on exercise– NY Times
- My interview with Bizymoms – Bizymoms
- Check out this charity to raise money for cancer – Wannabe Athlete
Yummy food spottings:
- Cherry, Banana, & Coconut Butter Bread
- Strawberry VOO
- Healthy Spelt Pancakes For One and again with banana topping!
- Skinni-mini glo buns
- Vegan Garlic Scape pesto + 2 other pesto recipes
- Couscous and cheeze and here
- Energize Me Creamy Fruit Dip
- VOO!
- Vegan overnight oats in a gorgeous bowl presentation
- Nut Butter Crusted Parsnip Fries
- In A Jiffy Spelt Veggie Burgers
Git er done!
[But also remember- “You can do anything, but not everything.”~David Allen] :biggrin:
Congrats Irene!!
I ran the 10 miler on Sunday too! It was tough this year because of the humidity but I still feel great that I did it even though I ran much slower than last year!! Take every run as a fun and useful learning experience! I learned that 2 huge cups of coffee on race morning = bad times…couldn’t keep a steady pace, think I was too jittery!
Now everyone sign up for the Scotiabank and/or Goodlife marathons please!! :-)
I think I will do the half or 5k. Last year I ran both the scotia half and goodlife half back to back..it was insane
Yes I don’t think I could do 2 marathons back to back like that…would be too crazy!! I want to try the 1/2 for the Scotiabank, then the full for the Goodlife..even if I have to crawl to the finish!
Side note – do you ever have any foot/toe/toenail issues from running?? I think it would make an interesting blog post subject as you have a ton of readers that are runners. I lost a toenail last year from training (ew I know)…but it grew back :-) Have any foot care tips??
I dont have any toe issues except during half sometimes my nail will cut my toe if it rubs up against it. I try and cut my toenails VERY short during running season and it helps. If all else fails wrap the problem toe in moleskin :)
Thanks I’m going to get some moleskin!
Hmm I think for overnight oats I wouldn’t like nut butta either. :) But for hot oats it’s perfect.
Major congrats to Irene. Way to go girl! :D
I love all of your links! I can’t wait to go through them :)
Go Irene!
i know that this is really not accepted well in the food blogger world, but i really don’t like almond all that much…except on carrots! carrots + almond butter = LOVE FOREVER :)
I loved Irene’s story! It’s so timely too! I’m running my first 5k this Thursday and I’m so nervous! I’ve never thought I was a very good runner but it’s something I’ve always wanted to do. If Irene can do it, so can I :)
Irene’s story inspired me to finally post to your blog, which I’ve been following for a couple of weeks now (and I just had my first green monster this morning — my partner actually made them for us — he does the cooking and has modified several of your recipes lately!). I have never super loved running, but after reading your blog I thought I’d give it another try. And I was promptly reminded of why I quit exercising in the first place. When I exercise, I get these awful, embarrassing, itchy, insanity-inducing hives all over me, but especially on my legs. It makes it a little difficult to focus on the mental aspect of running when I can’t manage the physical aspect. I’ve tried antihistamines, which improve the condition, but don’t completely cure it. Doctors (multiple doctors!) tell me to just deal with it because there’s no cure. It is really frustrating, and I end up returning from a run quicker than I’d like and extremely upset and frustrated because of my condition. Any one else out there experienced this and/or have any tips for how to overcome this? I feel really stuck because I’m eating healthier but it doesn’t seem to do much good if I can’t be physically active. I don’t mean to be a complainer, but I’d love some tips from people on how to deal with this! Thanks!
Hi Jen!
Im so sorry you have to go through that. From what I have heard it is quite common. While Eric doesnt get hives he does get a rash from hard workouts and that is frustrating enough for him, so I can imagine how you feel.
I had a near-identical bowl of oats this morning, banana, almond butter, blueberries :) When I make overnight oats I like to mash up a banana and add it in to the mix to set overnight (different from how you do it) and I always mash it up with my nut butter, so it’s kind of like banana-nutbutter oats. So good.
Really inspiring story, thanks for sharing!! You *ARE* an inspiration!!
love the running inspiration story!
Awesome story! She SHOULD be proud of herself – and you should be proud too, Ange! You’re an inspiration to us all and don’t you forget it! :)
Wei-Wei
That’s pretty stinkin’ awesome Irene! Very inspiring!
Last summer I went to Chicago and we saw a classic movie in Griffith Park and it was so much fun. It’s a summer park film festival that runs all summer and hundreds of people come sit in the park and watch. Definitely check it out!
Just wondering…do you measure the nut butter and jam or do you just guess how much you use?
I dont measure my own portions for the most part
What a wonderful story!
Look forward to hearing about your outing!
Well done Irene!!! I like nut butter in everything!!
Very inspiring, Irene! I too, am a beginner runner and am just trying to find my groove as well. Ran a 4km in 25 minutes yesterday, a PR for me!
Angela, I’ve been curious to know what kind of sunscreen you use for outdoor running? I’ve tried quite a few myself but have never been completely happy with any one product. Either they’re gloopy, smelly or burn my sensitive skin. I would be grateful to hear others recommendations too!
I use Neutrogena…its ok…not wonderful or anything.
Congrats, Irene! That is so inspiring. It’s very true that you can really do anything if you just put your mind to it and are willing to put in the time.
Congrats to Irene! Her story really hits close to home. I’ve been running for almost 2 years but I still don’t think I’m capable of doing a race. Sometimes all it takes is believing in yourself and then taking the plunge and signing up to do it. Maybe I won’t be so hesitant next time I have an opportunity to do a race!!
I made blackberry banana softserve VOO yesterday, and they turned out PERFECTLY. Check out my blog for pretty pics!!!!
ha! love the plant trying to get your oats! :) I have the same problem, only the plant is a DOG. :)
that blueberry jam sounds awesome.
GREAT inspirational running story – for me especially, as I’ve been struggling with getting back to the endurance levels I used to have. getting there…