30 During 30's List

Alrighty, so more than a month after turning 30, I have finally finished the 30 During 30's list that I promised.  To view the list, click the link above!  I'll update as I finish each item.  Note that this list is to be completed during this entire decade.  My 30's are proving be both awesome and crazy busy and there is no way I can do all this in 1 year!

New Kicks

When I started trekking longer distances back in January, I also started getting major blisters on the bottoms of my three outer toes on both feet.  At the urging of some very wise people, I went to be fitted for shoes and was told that I slightly underpronate (which means my poor outer toes are getting the major work of walking).  Since my pronation issues are not that horrible, I don't get blisters at lower mileage (and can wear regular shoes).  However, it does present enough of a problem to cause major blisters at higher mileage (8+ miles). 

I was fitted for shoes and went through a giant pile before attempting to make a decision of going between two stability shoes - New Balance 860v2 or Brooks Adrenaline.  I went with New Balance as the Brooks cut into the top of my big toe (no matter what size I tried on this happened - the toe box just doesn't work for me). 

While I have loved a lot of things about my NB training shoes - they broke in easily, I have not had one blister with them, they are lightweight and breathable, very comfortable - they broke down unbelievably fast!  I literally wore through the sole. 

Now, yes, I have been doing more miles at this point in my life than I ever have (I've completed over 30 miles  in the last 5 days), I still expected that they would have lasted longer.  I needed to replace these shoes before my half on May 20th.  I really didn't have a choice seeing as my knees and hips were starting to register the impact of wearing the worn out shoes.

I made the decision to buy one more pair of the NB 860v2 shoes simply because my half is in just over 3 weeks and I didn't think it would be a good idea to switch brands and shoes completely.  Plus, these shoes break in so quickly that I don't think it will be a problem.  I am disappointed with the current quality of New Balance though.  They used to be my go-to brand with decent arch support and quality levels but this just isn't the case anymore.  Case in point:

Shoe on the right = old trainers.  Shoe on the left = new trainers (only worn 5 miles).

Oh well, live and learn, right?  The goal of having no blisters was successfully met, so I don't have anything to complain about!  The new trainers should be fully broken in just in time for my half.  Although I like the new blue, I do kind of miss the orange.  Guess that what going to grad school at University of Tennessee and teaching at a school whose colors are blue and orange will get you...and affinity for orange.

So, while we are on the subject of new kicks and breaking in shoes, check out these bad boys:

New hikers!  I have had the same hiking shoes (Merrells) for the past 8-9 years.  They made it through countless miles of hiking, camping, field work, and crazy mud messes.  They always looked new, the tread never wore, and they were 100% water proof (my new ones are not but I will be hiking in the desert mostly).  During the last field course I worked on (1.5 years ago), I started to feel their age.  I could feel every stick, stone, and pebble through the bottoms of the shoes.

Despite the good run with those, I knew I had to get new hikers before the next field course that I start on May 20th (yes, you read that date correctly, I fly out the day of my half marathon).  I went with Merrells again since I had such a great experience the last time.  These hikers are going to take me to the bottom of the Grand Canyon (and then back up again!).  Well, that is if they are broken in on time. 

Since I will be doing so much hiking, I will likely take my old Merrells along just in case I need a switch or I start getting blisters.  I do need to pick up some pronation correcting inserts for these though. 

So with all that foot talk, I leave you to have an amazing evening!  If you have suggestions of great brands of trainers that are of fantastic quality (beyond Brooks), let me know!  I'll likely be looking for different shoes around mid-summer.

Pineapple Pancakes

Looking for something a little different for breakfast?  Do you have summer-fever and/or the Monday blues?  Then this breakfast may be just what you are looking for!

Whole pineapples were on sale for $1.99 on Friday and I just couldn't pass it up!  However, I hate cleaning them up and I ended up leaving it on the counter until it developed a soft spot.  I cut it up this morning and was going to throw some in my yogurt this morning but decided to make pancakes instead!  I am attempting to use up as many pantry items as possible over the next month and a half before I move so getting rid of pancake mix was on my mind.

Therefore, I present to you:

Pineapple Pancakes with Coconut Greek Yogurt

Makes 5 medium-sized pancakes, enough for about 1.5 large servings
Ingredients:
Pancakes:
1/2 cup (~100g) fresh or frozen/thawed pineapple, chopped
1.5 servings pancake mix (I used a combo of Bisquick GF and Bob's Red Mills GF)
1 egg white
1/3 cup milk of choice
1/8 cup rolled oats
Cinnamon (optional)

Topping:
2 oz plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp honey
1 Tbsp unsweetened coconut

Preheat skillet over medium-low.  Meanwhile, mix the pancake ingredients, the batter will be thin and lumpy.  Pour batter into hot skillet in 1/4 cup servings.  Cook on the first side until the edges are dry.  Flip.  Cook for another couple minutes (until golden brown).  Mix all topping ingredients together and top the pancakes with the coconut-yogurt mixture.  Enjoy your trip to the tropics!

Homemade Larabars and HM Training Updates

Good evening and happy Easter!  I have been traveling so much lately that I decided not to head up to my parent's house for Easter this year so my super awesome parents came down to see me! 


After eating out, my parents were good sports and climbed up the "M" (i.e. the world's largest M painted on a hillside that is located at the edge of the town I live in):

When you get to the top, you are rewarded with a great view of SW Wisconsin:

And your mom makes you pose for photos:

As you can see, it was very windy!  My feet were blown out from under me quite a few times! 

Moving along, my half training has been going pretty well and I walked a 12.1-miler yesterday in 2 hours, 39 mins, 17 seconds.  I have 6 weeks until my Half so I would say that I'm in pretty good shape!  :)

I purposely trained early for several reasons.  First, I wanted the extra time in case I got sick or injured.  Second, I wanted the extra time in case it took a little longer for me personally to work up to the distance.  Third, I wanted to be confident that I could complete the distance relatively easily.  And finally, fourth, this spring is absolutely insane.  There's no other way to put it.  It's crazy. 

I can't disclose all the details yet (hopefully soon!), but let's just say that I don't want to worry about intense training when I stressed to the max.  Some things I can share are: the week before my half, I am moving.  The night of my half, I am flying to Denver to join in on teaching a field course that will already be 2 days underway.  A few days after my half, I have every plan to hike a good distance at Arches NP, Zion NP, and then down and then back up the Grand Canyon.  This will be followed up by many hikes throughout the nearly three weeks of the field course.  Oh yes, I will do it!  Hopefully.  :)

Needless to say, building endurance, sleep, and proper nutrition will be needed over the next 6 weeks which is why I'm so grateful to be this far along in my half training!

While earlier today, thanks to having the stomach flu this weekend (or dehydration followed by water logging - still not sure which), I didn't feel like cooking.  I am feeling much better tonight and decided to work on the nutrition part!  First, I made Super Granola to help me fuel up!  I have a tendency to take the easy way out and just eat raw oatmeal on my yogurt in the morning (try it - it is so good!  Just don't use instant or steel-cut oats).  However, I like the benefits that the quinoa, flax, and chias provide.

I also thought I'd try my hand at homemade Lara Bars!  I enjoy these bars but to be honest, they are pretty pricey and many of them are made with almonds (I'm allergic).  I found this recipe that helped me get a good idea of where to start.  I decided to make a few small changes - including swapping out cashews for the almonds.  As this is my first time making these, I went with the banana bread flavor first and then decided to make the chocolate coconut chew!  I have found a huge amount of recipes (just Google 'homemade larabars' and you'll see what I mean) that I am itching to try.  Should have boughten more dates...

Homemade Mini-Banana Larabars

Makes 8 bars, 98 calories each
Ingredients:
1 banana, sliced and dehydrated or baked for 2 hours on 200F in the oven, flipping half way through* 
6 Medjool dates, pitted and roughly chopped
1/4 cup raw cashews
Cinnamon

Combine banana chips, dates, and cinnamon in a food processor and grind until finely chopped.  Remove and empty into a bowl.  Add cashews to food processor and grind until finely chopped.  Add to the date mixture.  Mix thoroughly and press into bars.  Wrap individually and refrigerate.

*As per the recipe I based this off of, make sure you place the bananas on parchment paper or at least spray the pan before baking to avoid major sticking!


Homemade Mini-Chocolate Coconut Larabar

Makes 10 balls, 95 calories each
Ingredients:
5 Medjool dates, pitted and roughly chopped
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 cup raw cashews

Combine dates, coconut, and cocoa powder in a food processor and process until finely ground.  Empty into a bowl.  Add the cashews to the food processor and process until finely chopped.  Add to the date mixture.  Stir well and press into 10 balls.  Wrap and refrigerate.
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Note - these are not the cutest of foods but both had an intensely amazing flavor!  On the downside, they are very high in calories and I made a colossal mess out of my kitchen making the chocolate-coconut ones (I think I needed more dates to hold the coconut and cocoa powder together better and/or a regular sized food processor - not the baby one that I got for $7 at Target - thus why these are balls instead of bars).  The chocolate ones will be headed to the freezer to eat on special occasions or chocolate cravings!  The banana mini's are headed to the fridge for after work/preworkout snacks.