Tuesday, July 08, 2008
Tuesdays With Dorie
Oh my gosh, it's already 1027 PM and I forgot to post my Tuesday with Dorie picture.
Busy day today. Drove home from the cabin, unpacked, baked a pie, another batch of pain la ancienne and a pasta salad for my UMTR board meeting. As I was driving home from St Paul just a minute ago, I was thinking about my coaching group tomorrow morning, realized it was Tuesday evening and that I hadn't yet posted my pie. Oops.
This pie is wonderful. I've never baked a blueberry pie before so I don't have one from which to compare. I have always used my Grandmother's 'Never Fail Pie Crust' with shortening, egg, milk and flour. I have never used butter in a crust. Boy oh boy, I don't think I'll use another pie crust other than this one from now on. It was light and so flavorful.
I used fine graham crackers to place on top of the bottom of the crust so the pie wouldn't become soggy. It worked very well.
I've never used an egg wash over a crust before as I did for this, nor have I sprinkled sugar on top of the crust before baking. I will from now on!
The lemon zest and juice in the pie was wonderful.
Amy from South In Your Mouth picked this weeks recipe. You will find the recipe there.
Busy day today. Drove home from the cabin, unpacked, baked a pie, another batch of pain la ancienne and a pasta salad for my UMTR board meeting. As I was driving home from St Paul just a minute ago, I was thinking about my coaching group tomorrow morning, realized it was Tuesday evening and that I hadn't yet posted my pie. Oops.
This pie is wonderful. I've never baked a blueberry pie before so I don't have one from which to compare. I have always used my Grandmother's 'Never Fail Pie Crust' with shortening, egg, milk and flour. I have never used butter in a crust. Boy oh boy, I don't think I'll use another pie crust other than this one from now on. It was light and so flavorful.
I used fine graham crackers to place on top of the bottom of the crust so the pie wouldn't become soggy. It worked very well.
I've never used an egg wash over a crust before as I did for this, nor have I sprinkled sugar on top of the crust before baking. I will from now on!
The lemon zest and juice in the pie was wonderful.
Amy from South In Your Mouth picked this weeks recipe. You will find the recipe there.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
One Of The Boys Is Not Like The Other..
One of these boys is not like the the other, one of these boys is just not quite the same. Can you tell which one is not like the other, before I tell you his name?Do you remember that song?
Fun Frolicking Through The Park
Oh yes. I did have fun. I did frolic. I had fun frolicking through the park. I had fabulous fun frolicking through the park. Say that 10 times!
The Afton 25K/50K race is absolutely top notch. 2008 brought a new race director to the race. John Storkamp. He did a wonderful job. He was (he looked and acted) calm, cool and collected. He didn't seem stressed, he seemed to have fun. Not only did he direct the race; he also created the awards. The medals around our necks (which volunteers helped to create) and the prints he created for the top finishers. Amazing. Kudos to John and Cheri, and to the volunteers that manned the start/finish and all of the aid stations.
Today promised to be Afton-esque. Hot and humid with a nice breeze which later became a stiff wind. Perfect. It reached 89F.
Hammer Nutrition again provided a zillion packets of gel for each station and HEED, as they did at the Superior 25K/50K. This just makes the race so much easier for me! I didn't have to carry anything but a bottle and I didn't need a drop bag for HEED. Awesome. I didn't eat any solids. I consumed 240 ounces of HEED and 6 gels, 24 oz of water.
I've never had so much to drink during any race before. Ever. The aid stations were 3 miles apart and I filled my bottle at every one, draining it before the next one. My clothing was very white and salty post race. My skin looked like a salt mine. I had NO swelling as I didn't take any E/SCaps. I seem to get enough salt from the HEED. Something else I have finally figured out this year.
For the race I had a few goals going through my brain. First goal: A PR. My fastest Afton 50K time is 609. I wanted to run 608 for sure. Second goal: Break 6 hours. I thought I could. Third goal: PR Superior 50K time of 557. I wasn't sure of this. It's strange, but in the past I have run Superior 50K faster than Afton 50K and Superior is a tougher course. As I was running today I realized it must be because for Superior I am post McNaughton 3 weeks and have had a few days of light recovery running, then heavy training. For Afton I am deep into training for a summer 100 so I am tired. I use both of these runs as training runs so I don't taper. Well, my finish today didn't live up to that idea. Goal 4: AWARD. I wanted one of John's prints. How wonderful it would look on my wall of fame. Ha on the fame.
I did something I haven't done before. I looked at the entrants to see how many women over 40 were running. Hey, I wanted to see if I could win a print! There were 11 of us listed in the 40-49 age group for the Masters award. I knew John was giving 1, 2 and 3. I also knew that Eve Rembleski (ROCK ON EVE!) would win the woman's and as there were no doubling of awards the first master woman was still up for grabs. I figured I'd come in 4th in the batch which was too bad because 4 didn't get an award. Oh well. Onto Goal 1-3.
My god, people near my home shot off fireworks all freaking night. I went to bed at 11 and woke up every 35 minutes to boom boom boom. Topaz was a nervous wreck, Toffee was sleeping on my head, it wasn't a good night. 400 came too early.
I made it to Afton in plenty of time to get my packet from Tom and Nancy, my awesome Marmot shirt and had some time to visit with Deb, Maria, Pierre and many others. We lined up near the back and listened to John's go.
I wanted to really blast the downhills. I'm lacking in this area and with Leadville approaching, I figured this is a great place to do it. I had great success with the hills. I wore my Garmin 50 and saw that the downhills were sometimes a sub 7 minute mile pace. Granted, they only lasted a short time, but I'll take what I can get!
First loop I ran a bit with Pierre and Doug, talking Leadville. Doug has paced out there and Pierre has run it. I love listening to other's stories. Eventually I ran off and never really ran with anyone through the rest of the race. I didn't listen to my ipod until the last half of the last loop. I was just enjoying the warm air, all of the volunteers, the beautiful scenery that the Afton State Park offers.
I came into the 25K mark at 248. E Fisher Drew gave me a gentle pat and a 'go' to get out and get running. Thanks E! I needed that. I realized I could PR and break 6 hours. I felt fine, nothing hurt, I wasn't tired at all. I thought maybe I should have gone faster.
Second loop I had to go pee for the first time which is crazy in itself. I usually pee at least once an hour. As I walked into the bushes I fell! I tripped over a stump and cut my knee. I couldn't believe it. It was only bleeding a bit, but still. Fall while walking.
I walked up some of the huge monster hills, but otherwise I ran the race the best I could. When I didn't see anyone in front or in back of me I decided to play my ipod for a while. Nobody every came up on me. I began to pass some men but never saw any women out there. I began to wonder where I was in the field of girls.
As I came into the final aid station I gave Jefferey a quick hug and asked Tom for the time. I asked him if I was going to break 6 hours. Isn't that ridiculous. Me who is running the race, asking Tom, who is working the aid station if I am going to break 6 hours. How silly of me. Nancy yelled YES you can, go!
I went. I ran as fast as I could that last section. It is the most difficult section for me. It's the snowshoe trail and rooty and rocky. I need to watch where I am placing my feet. Most of the Afton course is runnable, but this section is a slow runnable for me. I still hadn't looked at my watch. I just wanted to run hard and break 6 hours. I didn't know if I could or not but I knew if I looked at my watch and thought I could, then I would let up. I didn't want to let up.
I finally heard some female voices in back of me. They turned out to be Pam and Kami. I asked Kami if she was from Monticello, as I recalled seeing her listed as a finisher last year, and Monticello is only a few miles from where I live in Big Lake. Yes, it was Kami from Monticello. We chatted and grinded to the finish line. I crossed the line in 5:50
I reached all four goals. I PR'd my Afton time, I broke 6 hours, I PR'd my Superior 50K time and I won an award: First Master Woman. I love it!
After I ran into the finish line it was time to catch up with everyone. I sat with Eve and Wynn. Eve BROKE her woman's course record set last year again. She finished in 413! Get this. She forgot to take today off, she is working right now. Yeah. After running a 413 50K!!
I had fabulous fun frolicking through the park.
The Afton 25K/50K race is absolutely top notch. 2008 brought a new race director to the race. John Storkamp. He did a wonderful job. He was (he looked and acted) calm, cool and collected. He didn't seem stressed, he seemed to have fun. Not only did he direct the race; he also created the awards. The medals around our necks (which volunteers helped to create) and the prints he created for the top finishers. Amazing. Kudos to John and Cheri, and to the volunteers that manned the start/finish and all of the aid stations.
Today promised to be Afton-esque. Hot and humid with a nice breeze which later became a stiff wind. Perfect. It reached 89F.
Hammer Nutrition again provided a zillion packets of gel for each station and HEED, as they did at the Superior 25K/50K. This just makes the race so much easier for me! I didn't have to carry anything but a bottle and I didn't need a drop bag for HEED. Awesome. I didn't eat any solids. I consumed 240 ounces of HEED and 6 gels, 24 oz of water.
I've never had so much to drink during any race before. Ever. The aid stations were 3 miles apart and I filled my bottle at every one, draining it before the next one. My clothing was very white and salty post race. My skin looked like a salt mine. I had NO swelling as I didn't take any E/SCaps. I seem to get enough salt from the HEED. Something else I have finally figured out this year.
For the race I had a few goals going through my brain. First goal: A PR. My fastest Afton 50K time is 609. I wanted to run 608 for sure. Second goal: Break 6 hours. I thought I could. Third goal: PR Superior 50K time of 557. I wasn't sure of this. It's strange, but in the past I have run Superior 50K faster than Afton 50K and Superior is a tougher course. As I was running today I realized it must be because for Superior I am post McNaughton 3 weeks and have had a few days of light recovery running, then heavy training. For Afton I am deep into training for a summer 100 so I am tired. I use both of these runs as training runs so I don't taper. Well, my finish today didn't live up to that idea. Goal 4: AWARD. I wanted one of John's prints. How wonderful it would look on my wall of fame. Ha on the fame.
I did something I haven't done before. I looked at the entrants to see how many women over 40 were running. Hey, I wanted to see if I could win a print! There were 11 of us listed in the 40-49 age group for the Masters award. I knew John was giving 1, 2 and 3. I also knew that Eve Rembleski (ROCK ON EVE!) would win the woman's and as there were no doubling of awards the first master woman was still up for grabs. I figured I'd come in 4th in the batch which was too bad because 4 didn't get an award. Oh well. Onto Goal 1-3.
My god, people near my home shot off fireworks all freaking night. I went to bed at 11 and woke up every 35 minutes to boom boom boom. Topaz was a nervous wreck, Toffee was sleeping on my head, it wasn't a good night. 400 came too early.
I made it to Afton in plenty of time to get my packet from Tom and Nancy, my awesome Marmot shirt and had some time to visit with Deb, Maria, Pierre and many others. We lined up near the back and listened to John's go.
I wanted to really blast the downhills. I'm lacking in this area and with Leadville approaching, I figured this is a great place to do it. I had great success with the hills. I wore my Garmin 50 and saw that the downhills were sometimes a sub 7 minute mile pace. Granted, they only lasted a short time, but I'll take what I can get!
First loop I ran a bit with Pierre and Doug, talking Leadville. Doug has paced out there and Pierre has run it. I love listening to other's stories. Eventually I ran off and never really ran with anyone through the rest of the race. I didn't listen to my ipod until the last half of the last loop. I was just enjoying the warm air, all of the volunteers, the beautiful scenery that the Afton State Park offers.
I came into the 25K mark at 248. E Fisher Drew gave me a gentle pat and a 'go' to get out and get running. Thanks E! I needed that. I realized I could PR and break 6 hours. I felt fine, nothing hurt, I wasn't tired at all. I thought maybe I should have gone faster.
Second loop I had to go pee for the first time which is crazy in itself. I usually pee at least once an hour. As I walked into the bushes I fell! I tripped over a stump and cut my knee. I couldn't believe it. It was only bleeding a bit, but still. Fall while walking.
I walked up some of the huge monster hills, but otherwise I ran the race the best I could. When I didn't see anyone in front or in back of me I decided to play my ipod for a while. Nobody every came up on me. I began to pass some men but never saw any women out there. I began to wonder where I was in the field of girls.
As I came into the final aid station I gave Jefferey a quick hug and asked Tom for the time. I asked him if I was going to break 6 hours. Isn't that ridiculous. Me who is running the race, asking Tom, who is working the aid station if I am going to break 6 hours. How silly of me. Nancy yelled YES you can, go!
I went. I ran as fast as I could that last section. It is the most difficult section for me. It's the snowshoe trail and rooty and rocky. I need to watch where I am placing my feet. Most of the Afton course is runnable, but this section is a slow runnable for me. I still hadn't looked at my watch. I just wanted to run hard and break 6 hours. I didn't know if I could or not but I knew if I looked at my watch and thought I could, then I would let up. I didn't want to let up.
I finally heard some female voices in back of me. They turned out to be Pam and Kami. I asked Kami if she was from Monticello, as I recalled seeing her listed as a finisher last year, and Monticello is only a few miles from where I live in Big Lake. Yes, it was Kami from Monticello. We chatted and grinded to the finish line. I crossed the line in 5:50
I reached all four goals. I PR'd my Afton time, I broke 6 hours, I PR'd my Superior 50K time and I won an award: First Master Woman. I love it!
After I ran into the finish line it was time to catch up with everyone. I sat with Eve and Wynn. Eve BROKE her woman's course record set last year again. She finished in 413! Get this. She forgot to take today off, she is working right now. Yeah. After running a 413 50K!!
I had fabulous fun frolicking through the park.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Summer Road Trip(s)
A few weeks ago I asked Steve and the boys if they had any interest in accompanying me to Colorado in August to run the Leadville 100 Trail Race. The boys were lukewarm to the idea and Steve was very interested as long as he had the vacation time. He checked with his employer and even after taking next week off for the 4th of July he still has plenty of vacation this year to burn.
I guess I'm planning another road trip! I'm glad they are going to come along. We haven't taken a drive vacation in quite some time. It's been years since we drove out to CA - a three week drive trip - we are overdue. We'll drive to Rapid City for night one, I better get out an atlas and begin to make reservations and create a plan. We'll probably take 10 days, I'll have plenty of time to acclimate and hike the peaks out there. What a great adventure :)
I'm making a few mini road trips in the next weeks. Up to the cabin on Lake Vermilion, back home to run Afton 50K, back to the lake, up to the Superior Hiking Trail for the Third Annual BETA run. Great fun.
Today's Beginning Run Group was wonderful. The gals walked 6 minutes, ran 4 minutes x 3 with a long walk for a cool down. They are doing fantastic. Next week we'll do a 5/5 with a longer finish walk. By walking longer at the end the bodies will be stressed and then recovered to a longer exercise session for when we are running more than walking and then lengthening our sessions. The all want to continue this through the fall and are asking about winter running. A good sign, isn't it! They are enjoying it as much as I.
I am trying Bread Bakers Apprentice Pain la Ancienne - a cold ferment baguette. My first try, I'm anxious to see how it turns out. While I bake this baby I spray water into the oven, creating a steam for a nicer crust. Learning learning learning..
I guess I'm planning another road trip! I'm glad they are going to come along. We haven't taken a drive vacation in quite some time. It's been years since we drove out to CA - a three week drive trip - we are overdue. We'll drive to Rapid City for night one, I better get out an atlas and begin to make reservations and create a plan. We'll probably take 10 days, I'll have plenty of time to acclimate and hike the peaks out there. What a great adventure :)
I'm making a few mini road trips in the next weeks. Up to the cabin on Lake Vermilion, back home to run Afton 50K, back to the lake, up to the Superior Hiking Trail for the Third Annual BETA run. Great fun.
Today's Beginning Run Group was wonderful. The gals walked 6 minutes, ran 4 minutes x 3 with a long walk for a cool down. They are doing fantastic. Next week we'll do a 5/5 with a longer finish walk. By walking longer at the end the bodies will be stressed and then recovered to a longer exercise session for when we are running more than walking and then lengthening our sessions. The all want to continue this through the fall and are asking about winter running. A good sign, isn't it! They are enjoying it as much as I.
I am trying Bread Bakers Apprentice Pain la Ancienne - a cold ferment baguette. My first try, I'm anxious to see how it turns out. While I bake this baby I spray water into the oven, creating a steam for a nicer crust. Learning learning learning..
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Tuesdays With Dorie
As most of you readers know, I love to bake. I love to bake cakes, sweet rolls, brownies, cookies and most recently slowly fermented breads.
I had been looking at a fabulous cookbook: Baking From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan. It is a huge hardcover beautiful book full of desserts to bake. After a search online I found a whole group of people baking to Dorie. I jumped on the bandwagon. Each Tuesday a different member of the group chooses recipe to bake.
Today Apple Cheddar Scones was the recipe to create. Now, I am not a scone girl. I have never baked a scone nor have I ever purchased one or tasted one. Give me ooey gooey chocolate and loads of sugar instead, please!
I really didn't know what to expect. They were very simple to create. 10 minutes in the kitchen and I was done. I did sub the dried apples for one whole fresh apple. Instead of cutting into 12 I cut into 8 because I like things big and chunky. Instead of finely diced dried apple I used big hunks and big hunks of cheddar instead of shredded.
They turned out beautifully. They are light and fluffy. Troy ate his with butter; Tyler ate his with apple preserves. I tasted Troy's but it just isn't anything I would want to 'waste' calories on.
I do look forward to baking through this book and creating something new each week.
Next Tuesday: Double Crusted Blueberry Pie. Troy's favorite pie is Blueberry :)
I had been looking at a fabulous cookbook: Baking From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan. It is a huge hardcover beautiful book full of desserts to bake. After a search online I found a whole group of people baking to Dorie. I jumped on the bandwagon. Each Tuesday a different member of the group chooses recipe to bake.
Today Apple Cheddar Scones was the recipe to create. Now, I am not a scone girl. I have never baked a scone nor have I ever purchased one or tasted one. Give me ooey gooey chocolate and loads of sugar instead, please!
I really didn't know what to expect. They were very simple to create. 10 minutes in the kitchen and I was done. I did sub the dried apples for one whole fresh apple. Instead of cutting into 12 I cut into 8 because I like things big and chunky. Instead of finely diced dried apple I used big hunks and big hunks of cheddar instead of shredded.
They turned out beautifully. They are light and fluffy. Troy ate his with butter; Tyler ate his with apple preserves. I tasted Troy's but it just isn't anything I would want to 'waste' calories on.
I do look forward to baking through this book and creating something new each week.
Next Tuesday: Double Crusted Blueberry Pie. Troy's favorite pie is Blueberry :)
Monday, June 30, 2008
Turtle Brownies
Because Steve and I celebrated our 24th Anniversary yesterday I asked him to pick out a dessert to go with the grilled 2" thick pork chops, strawberry-spinach salad and warm, homemade whole wheat bread I was making for dinner. He and Troy settled on Turtle Brownies.
They give my Oreo Crunch Brownies a run for the the best brownie ever. Troy told me that I will have to make both of them at the same time so he can taste test to see which brownies earns the best honor. In due time!
Today on the baking list: Apple Cheddar Scones
They give my Oreo Crunch Brownies a run for the the best brownie ever. Troy told me that I will have to make both of them at the same time so he can taste test to see which brownies earns the best honor. In due time!
Today on the baking list: Apple Cheddar Scones
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Just a Few Hills..at Hyland
On Monday I drove over to Powder Ridge in Kimball to get in another session of hill repeats. It wasn't meant to be. The ski area was closed due to a resurface project. Reseeding grass or something.
I decided to hook up with Paul over at Hyland this morning. We were to begin at 5 AM. I woke bright and early..well not bright..it was 330 AM. A couple of cups of Caribou Mocha Java from my French Press and I was good to go.
Luckily Paul sent me detailed directions as where to go once in the parking lot. I jogged along the dark, woodsy trail, hauling my cooler in one hand and looking at the detailed directions in the other. I found the hill and set up shop. Something must have come up because I never did see Paul.
This hill isn't a long as Buck or Powder Ridge. I began at 445 AM, running the dirt trail loop around the hill 3 times for a warm up, then ran 20 repeats, 3 more dirt trail loops, 20 repeats, 3 more dirt trail loops, 20 more repeats and one final dirt trail loop.
By the time I finished 20 repeats I was becoming bored with the hill and bored with myself. Luckily Carl Gammon spotted me and came over for a chat. He was meeting a friend at 730 at the visitor center, I was hoping they would be back to visit some more. Pretty soon, Carl and Deb Robinson showed up. I've known Deb for a few years; I think we first met at FANS, where I usually see her each year, as well as Afton 50K. She's a nice gal. Carl has talked her into pacing him at Superior 100. About an hour or so after Carl and Deb left, Kurt Decker arrived. We ran a few repeats, he broke up the tedium for me. We talked about Leadville, as Kurt is running too. Kurt left and right away Maynard Legace showed up. Maynard has run Leadville before and had some great stories and good advice to share. We laugh the whole time we run. We ran quite a few repeats together. I was getting tired. Just as I was near 60 repeats Steve Quick showed up. He was going to run hill repeats, too. As I reached 60 I told Maynard and Steve I was calling it a wrap. Maynard and I ran the final dirt loop where I packed up and hauled my cooler out. Maynard offered to carry it and I wouldn't have it. By the time we were half way to the lot he put out his arm to carry it for me. I gave it to him, no problem! I was tired!! 5:15 hours was good enough for me. Next hill session will be 6 hours.
Thanks for the company, boys.
I decided to hook up with Paul over at Hyland this morning. We were to begin at 5 AM. I woke bright and early..well not bright..it was 330 AM. A couple of cups of Caribou Mocha Java from my French Press and I was good to go.
Luckily Paul sent me detailed directions as where to go once in the parking lot. I jogged along the dark, woodsy trail, hauling my cooler in one hand and looking at the detailed directions in the other. I found the hill and set up shop. Something must have come up because I never did see Paul.
This hill isn't a long as Buck or Powder Ridge. I began at 445 AM, running the dirt trail loop around the hill 3 times for a warm up, then ran 20 repeats, 3 more dirt trail loops, 20 repeats, 3 more dirt trail loops, 20 more repeats and one final dirt trail loop.
By the time I finished 20 repeats I was becoming bored with the hill and bored with myself. Luckily Carl Gammon spotted me and came over for a chat. He was meeting a friend at 730 at the visitor center, I was hoping they would be back to visit some more. Pretty soon, Carl and Deb Robinson showed up. I've known Deb for a few years; I think we first met at FANS, where I usually see her each year, as well as Afton 50K. She's a nice gal. Carl has talked her into pacing him at Superior 100. About an hour or so after Carl and Deb left, Kurt Decker arrived. We ran a few repeats, he broke up the tedium for me. We talked about Leadville, as Kurt is running too. Kurt left and right away Maynard Legace showed up. Maynard has run Leadville before and had some great stories and good advice to share. We laugh the whole time we run. We ran quite a few repeats together. I was getting tired. Just as I was near 60 repeats Steve Quick showed up. He was going to run hill repeats, too. As I reached 60 I told Maynard and Steve I was calling it a wrap. Maynard and I ran the final dirt loop where I packed up and hauled my cooler out. Maynard offered to carry it and I wouldn't have it. By the time we were half way to the lot he put out his arm to carry it for me. I gave it to him, no problem! I was tired!! 5:15 hours was good enough for me. Next hill session will be 6 hours.
Thanks for the company, boys.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
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