Good evening!
Today felt never-ending even though it was pretty much a typical day in the bakery.
My muscles felt progressively stiff as the day went on and I had lots of Glo Bars to make.
If yesterday was the running half marathon, today felt like the baking marathon.
I got it done, thankfully! I knew I had today to get caught up on all my orders today because tomorrow is a very special day in the bakery– (Gluten-free + Raw Glo Bars for sale at 9pm EST).
Around 7:30pm, I thought of you all.
I think of you a lot. Did you know that?
I think about what kinds of foods I can come up with to interest you. I was soooooo tempted to throw a stinkin’ veggie burger on the skillet and call it a night, but I wanted to create. I think if it wasn’t for this blog I would eat the same 3 meals everyday! :lol: Actually, I know I would because I totally used to.
I opened the fridge and I realized we had no vegetables to speak of except for 2 lone red peppers.
It was a sign.
This dinner was inspired by my wedding dinner on Saturday night which was a gorgeous curried rice stuffed pepper:
I love stuffed peppers.
It’s like Christmas morning when you cut one open. As Forest Gump said, You never know what you’re gonna get.’
Well, technically I knew, because I made this one, but we can pretend…
Easy & Delicious Stuffed Peppers
Ingredients:
- 2 red peppers
- 1.5 cups uncooked lentils (estimate only!)
- 1 cup pasta sauce
- 3-4 tbsp sweet BBQ sauce
- Sea salt, pepper to taste
Directions: Cook lentils according to package directions. While the lentils are cooking, preheat the oven to 350F. Cut top top of the peppers off and carefully remove the inner seeds to your liking. Pop the peppers onto a baking sheet and into the oven to pre-cook for about 20 minutes while the lentils are cooking. Remove the peppers from the oven and set aside. Rinse the lentils with a colander and rinse out the pot that you cooked the lentils in. Place the drained lentils back into the pot and add the pasta sauce, BBQ sauce, and seasonings. Stir well. Taste. Adjust sauce if necessary. Fill the two peppers with the lentil mixture and place them carefully onto the baking sheet. Place into the oven for another 15-30 minutes checking it every 10 minutes or so. Peppers are ready when they have some character to them.
Lentils are quite the superfood boasting approx. 19-25 grams of protein and 18-22 grams of fibre per cooked cup, depending on the type you use. They are also very high in folate, iron, Vitamin B1, copper, and tryptophan. Tryptophan is thought to enhance relaxation and sleep, soothes nerves and anxiety, and reduces carbohydrate cravings.
I was feeling mighty relaxed after this meal too!
Chef Eric prepared the side of raw carrots and hummus…(and they tasted better because he prepared them and not me). Score.
Christmas morning…!
Eric proclaimed this was the best stuffed pepper he has ever tasted! And then he said, ‘Well, I think I have only had two stuffed peppers in my life, but this one is good.’
I’ll take it. :lol:
Race Quirks
Do you ever wonder what I think about during my half marathons? No? Didn’t think so. I am going to tell you anyways.
Yesterday during my half, I thought about what my race quirks are and this is what I came up with…
1. I always have to scream ‘yawhoo’ when the gun/horn goes off at the start of the race. I’m a 10 yr old like that.
2. I have never used an on-course porta-potty, only before and after the race.
3. I play 3-5 ‘power songs’ over and over and over during the race. These power songs change each race. Ninety percent of the songs on my Shuffle are not worthy race songs, meaning that they don’t pump me up enough to even play. Apparently, I’m quite the race song connoisseur.
4. I always clap and yell ‘good job’ to the runners in the lead (that is, if the course is a loop or out-and-back and they pass by in the other direction). In yesterday’s race we saw the lead women heading back a couple times during the loops. I always cheered for them and I even gave one a ‘side-five’. In my defense, the girl ahead of me did it first.
5. I thank every single volunteer that cheers me on or hands me a cup of Gatorade. I also thank some of the spectators that cheer for me. Sometimes it is a thank-you or sometimes I am so tired I just mouth the words and crack a sad, sad smile, but either way I try my best to show my gratitude, especially in the last few km’s when I need those words of encouragement so badly. I also think that positivity breeds more energy. When I smile and say thank-you, a bit of my pain is taken away. I will never forget the elderly volunteer lady who told me I had a beautiful smile during my 10 mile race. It carried me several minutes to the finish.
6. If I see someone struggling on the course, I ask them if they are ok. I saw a girl yesterday who stopped to walk and looked like she may pass out. I stopped to see if she was ok. I would hope that others would do the same for me!
7. While I consider myself a ‘happy runner’ in races, internally, I swear and curse like a truck driver. If you were to hear some of my inner dialogue while running a half, it would be similar to the Jerry Springer show or a Pussycat Dolls video. I curse, I get angry, and I do the MAD FACE when I see a hill approaching. It ain’t pretty. Note- mad face –> :angry: I also made this face upon seeing creeper on bike.
8. However, I always ham it up for the on-course photographer. The on-course photographer serves one purpose- a few seconds of sheer entertainment where I am not thinking about how tired I am. I give a thumbs up and a smile. I realize this looks extremely nerdy, but I get stage fright and can’t come up with anything else. The thumbs up works, and I use it. During my first 10k race, I threw my arms over my head and cheered for the photographer, but this used up way too many energy reserves. Rookie mistake. A thumbs up is energy efficient and practical. I highly recommend it. However… my right arm is oddly sore today….
9. I slow down going downhill and speed up going uphill. I don’t understand it, so I don’t expect you to either.
10. I do not run and drink at the same time. Much like I do not run while carrying scissors, I don’t expect to drink fluids while gasping for air and running and survive. I tried it once and I almost coughed up a lung. [However, I highly recommend drinking while running if you are using a Camelbak!]
11. I wear the same OLD ‘lucky’ white Nike hat for each training run and race. I wash it occasionally and the dirt doesn’t come off. I wear it anyways. I got it 9 or 10 years ago. I have perfectly good hats sitting in my closet, but for some strange reason I do not wear them.
12. I sing. Out loud. If you ever see me on a race course and you see me singing to myself, you know I am in a very bad, bad place. I did this around mile 11 yesterday. It wasn’t pretty.
13. I talk to myself out loud. I repeat my mantra. I say random things like ‘strong, strong, strong, strong, strong’ and adopt obnoxious breathing patterns similar to those annoying guys in gym weight rooms.
Do you have race quirks or just exercise quirks in general? Do you have any systematic ways of doing things or superstitious beliefs?
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{ 102 comments… read them below or add one }
I do breathing patterns too, and every so often I take a deep breath and let it out really loudly! I also do a lot of mantras in my head like “go girl go!” and “You can do this!”. Totally helps! I speed up going uphill too! It helps get the hill over with. For me anyways… :)
hahaha #7 is so true for me as well. I rarely everrr curse so ya know somethings gotta be wrong when i do (like attempting to run in 100 degree weather and just to die you’re so tired )
This is terrible but I enjoy when I get a honk from a car when im running down the street. It is an ego booster that makes me wanna keep running! Ok now im embarrassed… time for bed lol
I haven’t actually done a race, but whenever I’m on the treadmill, I like to repeat any positive thoughts that will give me the energy to keep going (it varies each time). I like how you said saying “thank you” gives you a boost… I think I’ll use it as a new mantra and say it to myself as I’m running! When I’ve been going for a little while and I start thinking things like, “Oh man, another x minutes to go?!” I love to pretend that I’m just starting my run and I instantly (in most cases, anyway) feel refreshed and reenergized! :)
when I get in my running ‘zone’ I have a weird breathing pattern, I kinda cut both in and out breaths in half. I also start counting my footsteps. then when I become conscious of my counting, I start over. I’ve been doing both of these things for YEARS, they work for me. :)
congrats on another great run, Angela. I love reading your recaps. Good luck (and have FUN) to both you & Eric this weekend!
I made your Bean Dip stuffed pepper this weekend and I love it! I’m very excited about stuffed veggies now and I’ll have to try this one too.
I always think about how silly the things I think about while running are :-p So I appreciate this post!
I have lots of quirks, but I’m not thinking of any exercise-related offhand… perhaps they haven’t developed yet!
I love stuffed peppers! And red ones are my favorite! I usually make a version with jasmine rice, ground turkey, tomato sauce, and Parmesan- but I’ve been on the lookout for a vegetarian version! I’ll have to give this a try- I love lentils and normally top them with pickled bell peppers so this would probably appeal to my palate! :)
Ha! Thanks for always telling it like it is. This gave me one heck of a laugh, especially #12. Oh man, too good. :)
I definitely have weird ‘breathing’ quirks. I remember someone telling me that you lose less energy if you breathe in and out through your nose instead of your mouth when your tired, so I always try to do that in weird, long intervals. I have asthma, though, so I always end up sucking in gulps of air through my mouth anyway. Hahaha.
Those are great quirks! I laughed out loud reading them! I’ve been meaning to make “race” playlists on my iPod and I’ve been lazy. Great idea to pack it with power songs!
What a delicious and beautiful lunch!
I am the same way with the power songs. All I need is 5 songs to get me through however long a run!
I loved reading your “quirks” as well as the ones in the comments section. I absolutely love how we are all crazy in our own way. =)
When I get really tired in a run, I try to think of myself as light as a feather. Tiredness causes me to sink into the ground and start to pound the pavement (no good), so i start taking longer strides and jumping higher into the air so I have more hang time :). I count them too haha
Oh my – I have so many similar quirks! I too find myself singing out loud – and definitely ‘ham’ it up for the photographers (resulting in WAAAAY too many photos of me with a goofy smile and thumbs up!).
Having volunteered at races before I am ALWAYS sure to say a huge thankyou to the volunteers as I pass :)
Thank you for posting this, right here and right now. It couldn’t have come at a better time. O’m running my second half marathon this Saturday and feel way less prepared than I did the first time around. I tried not drinking any fluids at all the first time, and also tried to keep pace with my much more experienced friend. This time around it will be all on my pace and will include stopping for water. Thank you for all your tips. Do you have any pre-race meal tips?
oh yes water is crucial during a race! Good plan :) Pre-race meals tips are to keep it high car and very low fat and protein as they are said to have the potential to cause stomach cramps. Carbs digest quickly. My vegan overnight oats were perfect and I didnt feel any hunger during my half until about 1030am.
Though I’ve never done a half marathon I know I would definitely always say thank you and check to see if people are okay. I love when people are nice to me like that, and I always appreciate people checking in on me to make sure I’m not going to pass out (which I almost have numerous of times, so these checks are very beneficial)
I always tie and re-tie my shoes about 5 times while I’m standing waiting for the gun to go off… I can never get them to feel just right before a race!
I also spend a lot of time calculating times in my head, like “If I can finish this mile in 4 more minutes, and maintain a 10:30 pace from here on out, my time will be…” It takes a lot of concentration, because I usually can’t think too strait during a race :p so it gives me something to focus on besides the pain! lol
The peppers look great lady! I definitely wanna give them a try. I did make some of your banana soft serve overnight oats that I put on my bloggie today, they were delicious! I know what you mean about thinking about the readers and trying to create something more interesting than a veg burger. I can’t imagine posting every day though because I do just want to have them more often than I care to admit.
The running quirks are great and I have my fair share of them too…some like yours! I never rooted for other runners in high school or college cross country but now I really like to because the races are longer and would want someone to do the same for me.
bahaha angela your “mad face” emoticon cracked me up, i’m not gonna lie. :D
It’s great to hear about all the different sides to your personality – it’s one of the many reasons why we all love you and your blog so much :) Your such a sweetheart, but you still know how to curse like a trucker haha!
By the way….those peppers? They look delicious! And I just so happen to have 2 ripe peppers in my fridge. Guess I know what’s for dinner tomorrow!!
Hahaha, I love this list! You’d be an entertaining running buddy!
I JUST took a batch of your Peanut Butter and Jam Glo Bites out of the oven, and they are AMAZING! I think I ate three in under a minute. YUM. :-D
On the menu this week: You’re So Cheezy Savoury Oats!
This made me laugh out loud hahaha. I definitely thank every volunteer and sigh realllly loudly if I’m struggling. I think I take that away from yoga when they make us sigh it out. It really helps, but probably freaks people out! I do the same with the hills – slowing down stops me from tumbling down it haha. I also zig zag when going down, it helps with the knees!!
I am going to have to give your recipe for the stuffed peppers a try! I live in Hungary and I learned how to make stuff peppers recently, but to make their kind it takes a lot of prep time and ingredients. Plus I recently discovered my love of lentil so I’m interested to give your recipe a go!
I’ve always wondered – when you cook stuffed bell peppers, what does the texture of the peppers become like? Do they become fork-soft, or slightly crunchy, like if they were roasted?
Your race quirks are too cute. <3
Wei-Wei
They get ‘character’ as I like to call it ;) They become wrinkly and blackened in spots. Very soft texture. No crunch.
Oh, antoher one who sing out loud while running! How awesome! :) I also repeat mantra and keep telling myself: “You are so great doing this, you’ve come this far, I know you can do it” and things like that. And I smile. Whenever a great song starts playing in my iPod, I simle and it gives me a lot of energy, beacuse is harder feeling tired and down when I smile. :)
I found you’re blog about a week ago, and I love it! A made my first green monster today, and it was great! Thank you for all the inspiration!
I love the smiling to a good song tip..I agree that it is hard to feel tired when you smile. They have actually done research that found that just by smiling (even when you are unhappy) perks up your mood.
#7 is spot on for me haha. I loved this!
Haha! I love your list. I usually start repeating the phrase “Running is just like walking, only faster” in my head. I think it helps me overcome the struggle because I walk all the time and always have, hahaha. I also use a few songs to get me pumped up too. Right now “Let It Rock” is my go-to when its getting tough out there.
I love this ‘Running is just like walking, only faster’ hahahah soooo stealing that one!
Well, I’m not a runner so no race quirks to share. I do however talk to myself and sing out loud when on the treadmill. Sometimes apparently quite loud. Hubby could hear me singing outside at the opposite end of the yard a few times. I can only imagine what the neighbors think..LOL.
That stuffed pepper looks soooo good!!!
I don’t run, but I always play a few power songs over and over again, too!
I don’t sing aloud, but I do lip-sync to my music! I can only imagine what it must look like. Glad to know I’m not the only one! I definitely make angry faces during a race too.
Great post! Those peppers look fabulous and I love the race quirks…especially about the cursing. That doesn’t quite apply to me with running, but definitely whilst driving and dealing with traffic, haha :)
I have never raced, so i have no quirks, yet…
However, this post is cracking me up because the other day I tried to run with water and the first swig I took, it took went down the wrong pipe and i was coughing and choking like an idiot. I am sure people around the park were like..uh ok.
Those stuffed peppers look SOOO good! I always love all your vegan recipes!
My race quirks are that I make a huge playlist and also that I love to color coordinate my outfit. I also am sure to smile at ALL the photographers!
You are too cute! Ha!
I think my biggest race quirk is air guitaring. I tend to listen to a lot of classic rock and ’80’s rock like Guns ‘n’ Roses, AC/DC, The Who, etc. so I do have a habit of pulling out the ol’ air guitar during a race. It also helps to get me out of tough spots because I simply cannot air guitar without having a smile on my face!
I’m training for a race right now, so when I go on my long runs I definitely listen to the same 5 songs over and over. I pick songs with the perfect beat and then just loop the playlist on my iPod! It seems to get me through some of the tough patches.
How do you buy your lentils, for the life of me I cannot figure out how to cook them! every time I try it’s always an epic fail.
For races I wear the same sports bra (i ended up buying it actually at my first half marathon because I got all the way to philadelphia for the weekend and realized I forgot my bra) and I wear the same old ass new balance spandex capris. I’ve had them since I was 14 but I’ll be damned if I throw them away.
Mmm, that stuffed pepper looks great. What a fabulous, simple recipe!
Hmm, my race quirks…
I never use porta-pottys on the course, either!
I play a certain number of songs as well, ALWAYS upbeat. They keep me pumped!!
I always smile at/cheer for the leaders too, they deserve it!
I wear the same old, black dirty (although most often times CLEAN) adidas hat, every race. It just happens… oh, and I feel funny NOT wearing it. ;)
I always push as hard as I can up the hills… it goes by faster!
As much as I TRY not too… I always end up competing a little bit! ;)
xo
K
Oh those peppers look delicious!
Love that pepper! and your race quirks! Many of them are so positive! I’m sure they not only do wonders for the people you’re cheering for but for yourself as well.
Mm, those peppers look good. I never make stuffed peppers because I never know what to stuff them with. Congrats on the race!
I love stuffed peppers, good choice with the lentils.
Good Morning Angela!
Drinking my tea + Reading your quirky post = Great start to my day! :)
I run 5k 3x per week with a group, but not a 5k race yet. It’s a beautiful trail where I run, so I can distract myself with that. But on the days it’s stinkin’ hot, I think I need to borrow your mantra!! Sometimes if I’m struggling I play a mental trick on myself. I imagine I have to run all the way home (another 5 minutes) instead of to the end of the trail. Then when I do make it to the end of the trail it seems not so far! Haha, tricky, eh??
I would love to hear what your playlist is of your 5 power songs. I need to add a few more!
And if any of your readers have suggestions, I would like to hear those too!
My best song is this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJpirySSKHA
It’s an amazing dance song by George Michael with motivational lyrics that make you feel great! and energized! (Except there are a few bad words in there…!) I think it has a great running beat.
He has a few other songs too, that I love running to.
Those red peppers look delish!! I have a couple in the crisper right now and might whip up something similar for dinner tonight!
Ciao for now – Enjoy your day!! :)
I love those mind tricks! They seem to silly but they do work most of the time.
Love stuffed bell peppers, that was one of my favorites growing up cooked by mom.
I usually talk to myself or sing to myself, but I try to keep all upbeat songs on my Nano for long training runs or big races. I have a special playlist made up for that. When I ran my first marathon, I made bracelet, handwritten with all of my favorite motivational sayings typed on it from over the years and I had it laminated.
Can’t wait to try the GF Raw Glo Bars…gotta order running bars….gotta order running bars….gotta order running bars. I start with my new running group this Sat. coming up! Woohoo!
BTW, it’s going to be 102 degrees this Sat. in good ol’ Texas! Ahhhhh! Thank God for early morning runs!
wow that is craaaazy hot!
I haven’t done any racing, but I do have some workout quirks. All of the songs on my iPod are super upbeat, and many of them are kind of sexy too. Because when I do my cardio I like to imagine myself at a club dancing in a super hot dress. The energy I put into dancing is always just as intense as the energy I use when I’m doing cardio, so it’s no stretch to imagine I’m dancing instead of running/elipticking. Plus, I find visualinzing myself in a hot outfit, approaching a good looking man gives me the added motivation to push through those last few minutes working out. No funny weight-lifting quirks to speak of, except that my music changes to angry rock/punk/hip hop and I walk around the gym with determination and laser-beam focus haha. Scary.
Lol…I love your race quirks!!!
I can’t believe you only play 3-5 songs on repeat!!! I would get so bored of them I think! Although…maybe not, if they were good enough songs!
I sing when I run, but only when I trail run and I’m by myself, lol. It keeps the bears away, right?! :-)
That stuffed pepper looks great. Stuffed peppers was one of my favorite meals growing up, but I’ve never made them myself. Perhaps I will need to give it a try!
What a great idea- lentil stuffed peppers! SMART!!
I am the same way with my songs when I run. I take lots of time before the race to plan out my song choices. What are your songs of choice?
Mostly top 40 pop type stuff…Christina A’s new song is fun ‘not myself tonight’ and that wedding song I posted the other day I think it si called ‘do you remember’ (can’t remember it now!)
haha I could relate to a lot of yor running quirks. Especially the drinking while running one…how can people do that and not get stomach cramps?!
Because I don’t listen to music during my race, I rely on singing to myself in my head. The last two halfs that I ran, I hummed “just keep running….” in the same tune that Doris sings “just keep swimming” in Nemo. Strange, I know! Especially when that’s really the only line I remember from that song so it continuously loops in my head throughout most of the race! :D
I am definitely going to have to “program” new songs in my head when I run the marathon this fall – I can’t imagine chanting that in my head for 4+ hours!
-Alison
Hi Angela! I love your blog and reading it has inspired me start running, even though I always thought I could never be a runner! (It also inspired me to buy chia seeds :) ) I’m starting off with much more modest distances than a half marathon, but yesterday I made myself break my own record by thinking of you and your race that I had just read about! I also have a few great songs and like to repeat (in my head) that I’m strong, etc. and have realized that most of what was holding me back from running was psychological.
Now this might be weird and maybe not healthy, but when all positive reserves of energy have been exhausted, I sometimes channel a little anger by thinking of something past or present that really upset me. It relieves stress though!
I totally do #9 too! I just want to get the hills out of my way so I pound those bad boys out!! That’s kinda funny that you do it as well lol
So what songs were on your playlist this race?
I will try to post the songs at some point! :)
First, I want to say thanks for the dinner idea! I have a lot of black beans and lentils I need to use up right now. I also happen to have some bell peppers! I’m totally going to make stuffed peppers tonight!
Also, I too have a white Nike hat that goes with me on every single run and race even though I have other hats. My Nike sign is no longer black, the hat is not very white anymore either but its the one I always wear!
you are seriously too cute :) i don’t race, but i can imagine that if i did i would be pretty quirky too! i like that you thank people though…that kind of spirit is really hard to find in people these days (where did manners go?!) and i think it’s something to be celebrated!
I’ve just read the comments of this post and I understand why you keep on blogging. Those readers are all amazing! Positive, fun, all so nice.
Those red peppers look delish!! I’ll try your cheesy savoury oats tonight :)
Your race thoughts were hilarious!!! This post just made my day : )
I love reading your quirks!!! Back when I was running, I didn’t have quirks persay but I’d always repeat mantras to myself to keep me going. And I would always try to think about how far I’ve come instead of how far I had to go.. or break down long runs into smaller runs like if I had a 9 mile run, I would just think of it as 3 3 mile runs that I would do every day and seemed like nothing to me, it really helped!
Ha!! I do so many of these things!! Especially the breathing patterns (always!!!) and the singing when I am really dying. Yay for exercise quirks! lol :P
I give myself goofy pep talks. “This first part is going to hurt but after that you’ll be good.” “Time to get shit done!” “No worries, girlfriend, you’ll get there.” “Feeling good, just keep this pace.”
Whenever I start hurting, I try to figure out why. Am I low on fuel? Am I hurting in one particular area or just generally fatigued? I have had good experiences with brief walk breaks helping my legs feel better without hurting my time so I’ll stop and walk for 45 sec. or a minute and that usually helps me recharge.
I did a 10 miler with a 1-min. walk break after each mile. For most of the race I stayed neck-in-neck with several other racers who didn’t stop to walk. I’d catch up with them after each walk break. Around mile 7 or 8 I passed them and increased my lead, finishing several minutes ahead of them because I had that extra oomph left.
That happened to me too! I would pass walkers and then they would pass me, etc etc. It was kinda funny. You gotta do what works for you! after I walk I find it harder to get going again at times.
Those stuffed peppers look amazing! I’m actually thinking about making stuffed peppers tonight, so reading your post was meant to be!
I get so MAD when I’m running and approaching a hill. Like they designed the course just to annoy me, ha!
I love all your quirks! They sound a lot like things I would do. I also love that many of your quirks show just how kind and genuine a person you are. Love that.
I like the idea of having a few power songs throughout the race. And stuffed peppers are awesome!
I love your quirks! And I love that we all have them…if you say you don’t, you totally do! You just haven’t acknowledged them publicly yet. :)
I focus alot of my breathing actually. I have learned the power of breathing so my internal monologue is cursing and breathing techniques meshed together. I also get giddy and excited so me jumping up and down and yelling yahoo is pretty common. Even if it’s in my living room as I begin another Insanity workout. :)
Dude, not using the portapotties during a race ISNT a quirk- it’s the luckiest thing ever and I’m so jealous if you!! I ALWAYS need to use one at least once during a race, so annoying!
I know what you mean about creating interesting meals just for the blog! I’ve only had it a few weeks and it’s already changed my eating abits for the better. I actually did eat the same stuff every.day. Oh, and the fact you curse in your head during races made me laugh. I’ll do the same thing everytime I come up on a hill or ice or something. The people who make out the trail have no idea how mach they’re hated at times ;)
Ha! I have some of those same quirks.
I do have one mantra I say when I want to stop-Feet don’t fail me now!!
This recipe looks delicious!! I love to recreate the foods that you post on here. I was wondering what brand of BBQ sauce you purchase? I know that some have high sugar contents in them and was just wondering if there is a particular one you prefer. Thanks and congrats on your race!!!
RIght now I think I have president’s choice brand, but I am going to make some homemade stuff soon. I think it should be rather easy!
I have done some serious coughing in a race while trying to run and drink at the same time. I just can’t ever seem to force myself to stop. I think the funniest thing is that you sing and talk out loud to yourself. I’m really not sure what I would think if I passed someone doing that. ;-)
Did you mean to have one quirk for each mile of your half?! Love that! :D
why yesssssssssss, yes I did. LOL (not really)
Yummm your stuffed pepper looks great! I haven’t had lentils in ages but I think I’m going to use them in a recipe soon. Love your race quirks – I have a few power songs as well that I tend to throw into my playlists to keep me going (especially when I’m getting towards the mid-end of the race and need an extra boost!)
Angela,
I’ve been reading your blog for weeks and must say your enthusiasm is contagious. I’m currently training for my first ever triathlon. In fact I’m doing a Sprint Tri the day before your Try-a-Tri. I can’t wait to compare notes!
I defiantly have similar quirks. I have also never used an on-course porta-potty, only before and after the race. I also consider myself a ‘happy competitor’ in races, but I to swear and curse like a truck driver in my mind. I most defiantly talk to myself out loud. Except when I am doing the swim portion of my race because that would be bad! I repeat my chosen mantra for my race. Which for some reason always ends up to the cadence of Dory’s just keep swimming, just keep swimming from Finding Nemo.
My own personal swimming quirk I usually count one, two, three, one, two, three the whole time. It’s how I remind myself to breath!
Congrats on signing up for your sprint tri!!! That is amazing. I am sure you will do wonderfully. I am starting to feel a bit nervous- more so on the transition parts than anything!
You just gave me an idea for dinner! The bf will love those stuffed red peppers. :)
I don’t have any racing quirks because I haven’t been in a race yet. But! My first 5k is this Sunday! I have noticed that when I run, I start talking to myself. “You can do this, Eunice. Come on. You can do this!!” Sometimes it helps, sometimes it just makes me more out of breath. Haha.
#5 for me! I make sure to thank every single sign holder, water passer, police traffic stopper, and spectator cheerer that’s out there! I figure they probably like to be appreciated!
I totally agree that saying thank you gives you a boost! I try to always say thank your or give a little wave to volunteers, police/traffic controllers, and spectators. During my marathon, there were lots of spectators in the last few miles…but you could tell they were tired – probably from having been there for so long! The people they saw were worn out, zoned out, and in pain. I found that if I cheered a little bit, the whole spectator group would give a good roar. Kind of like “we’ve got a live one here!” It took a little effort on my part, but it was so contagious that it kept me going!
I agree! I cheered for a spectator/photog at the very end of the race and then everyone else cheered it was fun. And I had a big smile on my face going to the finish.
i concentrate on my breathing so much that the noise can sometimes become deafoning. i feel sorry for anyone by me because i know they can hear my loud inhales and exhales but if i dont concentrate on inhaling and exhaling then my mind turns negative. not good. love the yawhoooooooooos, ill have to try that next time! :) I also think its uber important to thank everyone for helping out at the aid stations and the spectators….i know i wouldn’t be able to race w/o them! love the quirks
haha I know I think I scared someone walking when they heard my breathing approaching them!
Great job on the run! Your quirks are so funny to read about! =)
Hehehehe Angela, I loved reading your quirks, they made me laugh out loud! Your blog has inspired me to run, so yesterday I was struggling through a 2 mile run I thought of you running the half marathon and told myself, “If Angela can do it, so can I!!” Yeah, I know there’s a difference between running a half and running 2 miles, but still :P
Wow great job! 2 miles is 2 miles. And it is also over 10, 400 feet! That is a lot!
Hahah, I loved this list of quirks. Alot of them apply to me as well – particularly #7 – happy on the outside, cursing the running gods on the inside, lol :P
I’m afraid I may have contributed to your muscle stiffness while in the Glo Bakery. I just received my yummy order of Glo Bars today and I can’t wait to try them out! Thanks for throwing in the Raw & Gluten- Free bar, I will let you know my thoughts. Thank you! :)
Congrats on a great Half! It’s so good to hear of other runners who don’t use the porta-pots, can’t drink and run, play mind games to get through the final miles and thank the volunteers. I simply love running and going to races is a great motivator and a positive place to meet new people and encourage other runners.
Keep up your positive work Angela. You are making a difference in other’s lives.
I posted earlier but just read the rest of the comments and wanted to agree with another poster that your readers are such nice people! These comments are very encouraging.
I agree!
I made the stuffed red peppers tonight and they were awesome!! I hadn’t tried lentils before and I substituted some mexican chorizo for the BBQ sauce and we both loved it. Do you think you could freeze these? It would be super easy to make 4 or even 6 and have some meals in your back pocket for a rainy day. Thanks!!
I froze the peppers and it worked out great! It takes around 7-10 mins to defrost them in the microwave.
Those peppers look awesome. I do understand the temptation of cooking the same meals every day. After all, we’re creatures of habit, right?
I definitely do #7 and #13. I will swear at upcoming hills even though every sensible part of me knows it won’t help anything…And repeating mantras really helps out when I’m enduring hard climbs on the bike.
Amanda
amandaonfoot.blogspot.com
Loved this post – was really cool to read your running quirks!
Wow Angela! I tried the stuffed bell peppers, and they are delicious! Even my meat loving brother walked by as I was cooking them and commented on how delicious they smell! I used mostly lentils, but I ran out so I compensated using split peas. Also I ended up using double (or maybe even more) pasta sauce because 1 cup definately was not enough for me. Then I condensed the bean mixture to get it less liquidy. When it came time to fill the peppers I had enough bean mixture to fill 4 peppers plus a few bites of beans left over! It was probably because of the extra sauce, or the amount of beans I used was too much (1.5 cups), but left overs are never a bad thing! Thanks so much for the recipe and congrats on the race! You are such an awesome athlete!