I haven't been writing much because, well, I don't feel like I have much to write. Run. bike. swim. repeat. Nothing too interesting there. Actually, my running has been taking a hit with biking and swimming competing with it.
This weekend I went for a nice, long bike ride through Brooklyn. Nothing too fast. But I can definitely tell that spin class has made a difference. Last year, I would go for a 15 mile ride and feel a bit sore after. This time? No problem. Except I realize that my bike seat is a tad too low (another thing I learned in spin class).
Hairy Spaz was back at swim class this week. Again, he still hasn't learned when to stop swimming. He just keeps on swimming laps when the rest of us have already completed them. He must have been an English major, because counting is not for him.
Well, that is all I have to report. Boring, I know. But it is what it is.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Monday, March 23, 2009
King of Pain
Can I tell you why I haven't ran (or biked) since Thursday? Well, it is because I got the worst. charlie horse. ever. on Thursday night. Thursday nights are swim nights. It was a good night, because Hairy Spaz was not there flapping around and running us all over. At the very end of practice, the coach had us swim down to one end and then back, each time counting our strokes. As I pushed off the wall to swim back down the pool, I gave myself a mondo charlie horse in my right calf muscle. I am talking about the worse charlie horse of my life. I have gotten charlie horses plenty of times before, but I must say this was the all time worst. I immediately stopped swimming (luckily no one was behind me - I think) and managed to get out of the pool, whereby I could not put an ounce of pressure on my right leg. I hobbled on one leg to the hot tub, hoping the hot water would release the giant knot that had seized up in my calf muscle. And it did help. But stupid me, as I go to get out, I put pressure on the leg and it seized up again. So back into the hot tub I went.
I managed to hobble my way home that night, but the pain in the calf muscle did not go away. Seriously, it lasted for a whole 4 days! Never have I had charlie horse pain last that long - usually the muscle seizes up in the middle of the night when I am sleeping, I rub it out as I yelp in pain, and then I go back to bed with no traces of the charlie horse the next morning. But not this time. Even my trusty, orange foam roller didn't help.
Thus, I thought it wise that I not run until the pain went away. And I can't say I felt TOO bad about not running or biking this weekend. No, not so bad at all. But with the pain in my calf muscle gone, I am back out tonight for (hopefully) a 4 miler.
Here's hoping to no more charlie horses!
I managed to hobble my way home that night, but the pain in the calf muscle did not go away. Seriously, it lasted for a whole 4 days! Never have I had charlie horse pain last that long - usually the muscle seizes up in the middle of the night when I am sleeping, I rub it out as I yelp in pain, and then I go back to bed with no traces of the charlie horse the next morning. But not this time. Even my trusty, orange foam roller didn't help.
Thus, I thought it wise that I not run until the pain went away. And I can't say I felt TOO bad about not running or biking this weekend. No, not so bad at all. But with the pain in my calf muscle gone, I am back out tonight for (hopefully) a 4 miler.
Here's hoping to no more charlie horses!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Adventures in Swimland
Whew, this has been an excellent week. Work was normal pace. And I also took some time to "play," which made all the difference. Sunday was my off day, so no working out that day. Sunday night we had a snowstorm so Monday night was no good for running outside unless you were looking to break a leg. I was not in the mood to go to the gym and run on the treadmill, so I said "eh, f-it" and I did NOTHING. Oh whoops, I meant I "played." Ok, not play in the typical sense of the word. More like I put a pair of really old flannel pjs on (it was cold in my apartment people) at 8:00 p.m. after my 7:30 p.m. shower and laid in bed and read a book.
Then, on Tuesday, I had every intention of going to spin class after work. But while I was on the subway, almost to the gym, I realized I had left my gym bag at work. Argh. So I turned around and went all the way back, because I thought, "well, I will just do a quick two miles outside tonight then, and I need my running sneakers." Well, I came home and it was cold out again and I said, "eh f-it" and I "played" again. Now you would think I was doing something uber-luxurious, like bathing in liquid 14 carat gold. But no, a book and some flannel pjs and the mere fact that I don't have to do ANYTHING was so thrilling to me (I am easy to please).
On Wednesday, I finally did a four mile run after work and I felt so much better. Three days off, and my legs were no longer super tight. I wasn't dead tired. And mentally, I was ready for the run. Sweet!
Now this brings me to Thursday, swim practice night. I am in the slow lane of the beginners group and hey, I am fine with that. It's not a competition. But hairy spaz was back again. Yes, that is my name for him and while it may not be politically correct, he is both hairy and a spaz so I feel like it is an appropriate name. (On a side note, if I have to wear a swim cap to avoid clogging the filter with my hair, shouldn't hairy spaz have to wear a body cap to prevent his copious amounts of back hair, chest hair, arm hair and leg hair from clogging the filter? - just a thought).
Anywho, hairy spaz was back and we had a new addition to the lane, a lady in her 60s (go her!) who I will call "the nagger." Instead of going first, like he should, hairy spaz goes somewhere the middle of our five person line-up, does not ensure adequate spacing, and proceeds to start running people over again. So we suggested he lead the group, and he was reluctant. Leading the group does not require a lot of skill. All you must do is start swimming first (hard, I know) and then count the number of laps you have swam (this is what got hairy spaz). Hairy spaz could NOT count the number of laps properly. I suppose math is not his strong point. He always did an extra lap when the rest of us had already stopped. Then he would say, "wasn't that five?", to which we would answer, "no, you did six." And really, he was always surprised, every. single. time.
Now for the nagger. The nagger was never happy. First, she is complaining that we are stopping and standing at each end of the pool. Now, I know this is not the correct thing to do, but every lane was doing it and we do that to ensure proper spacing, because (a) there are five people in a lane; and (b) the pool is mad small. Ultimately our coach called us out on it and prohibited us from standing.
Next, the nagger started complaining that we weren't permitting her to finish her lap. Our coach gave us these drills to do that required 20 seconds of rest in between. Well, there are five of us in a lane and we would get backed up. So, at times there were three of us standing in front of the wall, thereby preventing the nagger from touching her precious wall and "finishing" her lap. But, seriously, get over it lady. You are in the slow lane of the beginners group in a tiny pool with five other people. Deal with it.
Finally, the nagger started complaining that the girl in front of her kept slowing down. She replied that she was slowing down because she caught up with the girl in front of her. To which the nagger replies, "so pass her!" Well, maybe that is easy to do in an open water swim, but when you are in a tiny pool with five people and you've got hairy spaz coming at you about to mow you over, well it is a little hard to pass people.
Now, do I need this kvetching after a long day at work? No. Swim practice is supposed to be fun. And relaxing. It is not a race. Nor is it a competition. I was about to tell the nagger that she needed to relax (maybe take a Valium before? no, that wouldn't be too safe) and the hairy spaz that he needed to be more careful, but then I thought, "well, these are supposed to be my teammates and I probably shouldn't be a bitch to them because then they will all hate me and I will be known as the bitchy girl in the slow lane of the beginners practice." So next time I will settle for telling hairy spaz and the nagger that they must go first and second, respectively, in the line-up. Actually, I think it would be quite funny if the nagger went first, and hairy spaz went second and hairy spaz ran over the nagger. Then she could kvetch at him and maybe he would stop being so spastic.
Also, a very exciting swim night last night at swim class. I finally figured out how to "pull" in the water with my arms! For the past couple of months, I have been, for the most part, using my legs to propel me in the water, which has resulted in tight muscles and sore legs. My co-worker who does triathlons told me that is no good, because my legs will be shredded before I even get to the biking and running parts. But last night, we did drills to practice using our arms to propel us, and it worked! I didn't have to use my legs as much. Today they feel so much better too.
Now, if I could only get the smell of chlorine off of my skin....
Then, on Tuesday, I had every intention of going to spin class after work. But while I was on the subway, almost to the gym, I realized I had left my gym bag at work. Argh. So I turned around and went all the way back, because I thought, "well, I will just do a quick two miles outside tonight then, and I need my running sneakers." Well, I came home and it was cold out again and I said, "eh f-it" and I "played" again. Now you would think I was doing something uber-luxurious, like bathing in liquid 14 carat gold. But no, a book and some flannel pjs and the mere fact that I don't have to do ANYTHING was so thrilling to me (I am easy to please).
On Wednesday, I finally did a four mile run after work and I felt so much better. Three days off, and my legs were no longer super tight. I wasn't dead tired. And mentally, I was ready for the run. Sweet!
Now this brings me to Thursday, swim practice night. I am in the slow lane of the beginners group and hey, I am fine with that. It's not a competition. But hairy spaz was back again. Yes, that is my name for him and while it may not be politically correct, he is both hairy and a spaz so I feel like it is an appropriate name. (On a side note, if I have to wear a swim cap to avoid clogging the filter with my hair, shouldn't hairy spaz have to wear a body cap to prevent his copious amounts of back hair, chest hair, arm hair and leg hair from clogging the filter? - just a thought).
Anywho, hairy spaz was back and we had a new addition to the lane, a lady in her 60s (go her!) who I will call "the nagger." Instead of going first, like he should, hairy spaz goes somewhere the middle of our five person line-up, does not ensure adequate spacing, and proceeds to start running people over again. So we suggested he lead the group, and he was reluctant. Leading the group does not require a lot of skill. All you must do is start swimming first (hard, I know) and then count the number of laps you have swam (this is what got hairy spaz). Hairy spaz could NOT count the number of laps properly. I suppose math is not his strong point. He always did an extra lap when the rest of us had already stopped. Then he would say, "wasn't that five?", to which we would answer, "no, you did six." And really, he was always surprised, every. single. time.
Now for the nagger. The nagger was never happy. First, she is complaining that we are stopping and standing at each end of the pool. Now, I know this is not the correct thing to do, but every lane was doing it and we do that to ensure proper spacing, because (a) there are five people in a lane; and (b) the pool is mad small. Ultimately our coach called us out on it and prohibited us from standing.
Next, the nagger started complaining that we weren't permitting her to finish her lap. Our coach gave us these drills to do that required 20 seconds of rest in between. Well, there are five of us in a lane and we would get backed up. So, at times there were three of us standing in front of the wall, thereby preventing the nagger from touching her precious wall and "finishing" her lap. But, seriously, get over it lady. You are in the slow lane of the beginners group in a tiny pool with five other people. Deal with it.
Finally, the nagger started complaining that the girl in front of her kept slowing down. She replied that she was slowing down because she caught up with the girl in front of her. To which the nagger replies, "so pass her!" Well, maybe that is easy to do in an open water swim, but when you are in a tiny pool with five people and you've got hairy spaz coming at you about to mow you over, well it is a little hard to pass people.
Now, do I need this kvetching after a long day at work? No. Swim practice is supposed to be fun. And relaxing. It is not a race. Nor is it a competition. I was about to tell the nagger that she needed to relax (maybe take a Valium before? no, that wouldn't be too safe) and the hairy spaz that he needed to be more careful, but then I thought, "well, these are supposed to be my teammates and I probably shouldn't be a bitch to them because then they will all hate me and I will be known as the bitchy girl in the slow lane of the beginners practice." So next time I will settle for telling hairy spaz and the nagger that they must go first and second, respectively, in the line-up. Actually, I think it would be quite funny if the nagger went first, and hairy spaz went second and hairy spaz ran over the nagger. Then she could kvetch at him and maybe he would stop being so spastic.
Also, a very exciting swim night last night at swim class. I finally figured out how to "pull" in the water with my arms! For the past couple of months, I have been, for the most part, using my legs to propel me in the water, which has resulted in tight muscles and sore legs. My co-worker who does triathlons told me that is no good, because my legs will be shredded before I even get to the biking and running parts. But last night, we did drills to practice using our arms to propel us, and it worked! I didn't have to use my legs as much. Today they feel so much better too.
Now, if I could only get the smell of chlorine off of my skin....
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Recipe: Turkey Paprikash
A while ago I said I was going to start posting some recipes that I have enjoyed making, but uh, well, I seemed to have gotten side tracked. One recipe I made and enjoyed not too long ago was Turkey Paprikash, a Hungarian stew, so named for its main ingredient - paprika. I found this recipe in Everyday Food (seriously, the best little cooking magazine ever), which is a much healthier version of the traditional recipe. Although this recipe uses turkey, I just used chicken, because it was cheaper and easier to find. And not only is this recipe healthy, but it only calls for a few ingredients and you can make it in no time at all.
Turkey Paprikash
Yield: 4 Servings
Course salt and ground pepper
8 ounces whole-wheat egg noodles
1 small boneless, skinless turkey breast half (about 2 pounds), cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
2 tbsps. sweet paprika
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (14.5 oz) whole peeled tomatoes in juice
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1. Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Then drain. In a bowl, toss turkey with 1 tbsp. paprika and season with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium. Working in batches, brown the turkey (about 3 to 5 minutes). Transfer turkey to a plate. Then add the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring, until tender (about 4 to 6 minutes).
2. Return turkey to skillet (along with any juices) and add tomatoes with their juices, 1 tbsp. paprika, and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook, breaking up tomatoes with a wooden spoon, until turkey is opaque throughout (about 2 to 4 minutes).
3. Remove from heat, and stir in sour cream; season with salt and pepper. Serve paprikash over noodles.
Turkey Paprikash
Yield: 4 Servings
Course salt and ground pepper
8 ounces whole-wheat egg noodles
1 small boneless, skinless turkey breast half (about 2 pounds), cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
2 tbsps. sweet paprika
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (14.5 oz) whole peeled tomatoes in juice
1/2 cup reduced-fat sour cream
1. Cook noodles in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Then drain. In a bowl, toss turkey with 1 tbsp. paprika and season with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the oil over medium. Working in batches, brown the turkey (about 3 to 5 minutes). Transfer turkey to a plate. Then add the onion to the skillet and cook, stirring, until tender (about 4 to 6 minutes).
2. Return turkey to skillet (along with any juices) and add tomatoes with their juices, 1 tbsp. paprika, and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cook, breaking up tomatoes with a wooden spoon, until turkey is opaque throughout (about 2 to 4 minutes).
3. Remove from heat, and stir in sour cream; season with salt and pepper. Serve paprikash over noodles.
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