Creamy Zucchini Farfalle

Wasn't super creamy.  Either that or I used to much pasta, which I don't think I did.  Didn't really care for this.

http://vegandad.blogspot.com/2011/07/creamy-zucchini-farfalle.html

Vegan Moroccan-Style Chickpeas

This was a great dish.  Not too spicy but good as a meal for leftovers the next day.

http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=5113

Spicy West African Braised Kale with Tofu

A+  Yum!  Very tasty.  The peanut butter gave it a good taste and helped with the texture.  The apple cider vinegar and veggie broth gave the kale a great flavor.  I'd make this again.

For the smoothie, I used apple, kale, lemon juice and carrots.  I also used beans and cucumbers from Michelle's garden.  Quite good.  I drank it in minutes.

http://www.carascravings.com/2011/01/spicy-west-african-braised-kale-tofu.html

Wholewheat Spaghetti with Fava Beans, Sweet Bell Pepper and Spicy Tofu Pieces

Yawn.  I found this recipe as I had my half marathon about a week later.  I am sure it was healthy but not much flavor.

http://www.vegalicious.org/2010/09/03/wholewheat-spaghetti-with-fava-beans-sweet-bell-pepper-and-spicy-tofu-pieces/

 

Spicy Asian Stir-fry with whole wheat pasta

Kind of bland.  I don't remember much about this.  Same with the juice.

http://www.recipe.com/spicy-asian-stir-fry-with-whole-wheat-linguine/

Chickpea Cauliflower & Kale Curry

Not bad, I think it could have used some spices.  Healthy combo.  Don't recall much about the juice, but I am sure it was healthy too.

http://innocentprimate.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/chickpea-cauliflower-and-kale-curry/

2012 Yonkers Half Marathon Race Report

Four half marathons and 4 PRs. No sub 2 but I think I did well. Just felt good for the whole race. Didn't listen to music at any point. My leg didn't bother me. I noted a lot of people pass me early on, though I did pass a fair amount of people near the end. I even saw a walker at like mile 5 and more later on. I even saw someone throwing up before mile two! There was a guy who loudly huffing and puffing starting around mile 4, which reminded me of myself running 5Ks.

I paid little attention to the time, with some exception. I noted my time at miles 6 and 10. At some points I wasn't sure where I was. I heard someone say we were at mile 9 when it was really mile 10 and at an aid station one person said it was mile 12 and another 11.5. I thought I started around 8:06 and I came to the finish at 10:10, so I assumed I didn't PR. I was very surprised to see the clock say 2:01 (or maybe 2:02 something, which is possible as my time is net time.) It was a blur.

Happy with training. I pushed myself and might be able to go sub 2 in the future. I even saw Louis G. near the start and Tim Leonard from the Waveny group.

Fuel: Pre race: egg whites and cheese, whole wheat toast, some coffee, 1 gel
Fuel: Race: 2 gels, some energy blasts. Water at 12 stops, Gaterade at maybe 1 or 2.

Splits: CardioTrainer didn't work but I noted my times at these mile markings (might not be accurate)
Mile 6-57:18/9:13 Pace overall
Mile 10-1:35:10-9:31 Pace overall

Rankings:
Overall 375/653 Bottom 42.6%
Division 87/119 Males 30-39 Bottom 26.9%

Runs from August 2012

152.65 Miles
27:56:41 Time
10:54 Pace

19 Runs
8.03 Miles Average Run

Full training at
http://www.dailymile.com/people/aronfromct

Runs from July 2012

114.43 Miles
20:07:33 Time
10:33 Pace

Full training at
http://www.dailymile.com/people/aronfromct

Runs from June 2012

95.65 Miles
15:43:48 Time
9:52 Pace

Full training at
http://www.dailymile.com/people/aronfromct

Runs from May 2012

94.4 Miles
15:40:01 Time
9:57 Pace

Full training at
http://www.dailymile.com/people/aronfromct

Spicy Kale and Chickpea Stew

A little too spicy with all the chili powder.  I'd probably opt for 2 teaspoons.  You didn't really need to soak the chickpeas overnight or cook them for an hour.  I just boiled them for 20 minutes.  I'd try again, just with less chili powder.

http://m.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Spicy-Kale-and-Chick-Pea-Stew-11641

Celebrate America Underwear Run Race Report

From July 6, 2012, Central Park, NYC

I suppose there are three ways to time it (I went with the second option, as I did last year)
1.83 Miles 13:33 7:27 Pace (CardioTrainer time and distance)
1.70 Miles 13:33 7:58 Pace (My time with the official 1.7 mile distance)
1.70 Miles 13:42 8:04 Pace (Unofficial gun time with the official 1.7 mile distance)

Regardless, I am pretty confident I went below 7 minutes for the first mile, which was my goal. Usually when CardioTrainer messes up it would show like 12.4 miles when it should be 8.2 miles and then my pace is high 5 to low 6 minute pace. First mile was 6:46 which seems believable. Last year CardioTrainer had it 13:43/1.79 miles, first mile 7:03.

I also saw my Daily Mile friend Ciara S. who is now is I believe my 3rd Daily Mile friend I met in real life. She was easy to see as Catwoman and we talked running before the race. She said she was going to take it easy and do it as a fun run, but despite me gunning it, she crossed the finish very shortly after I did.

Notice if the 6:46 is the first mile, it took me 6:47 to go the last .83 miles, or 8:10 pace. I wasn't trying to be consistent today, but I find it interesting.

Obstacle Apocalypse Race Report

From June 9, 2012

3.1 Miles
40:25 Time
13:04 Pace

215/411 Overall Bottom 47.7%
137/221 Men Bottom 38.0%
58/94 Men 30-39 Bottom 38.3%

Median Time/Pace 40:02/12:55

Fun obstacle course race. The weather wasn't too bad either, some light rain. I took a slam when I slipped on the second log from the bottom coming down the "Under/Over" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXiTH8l3stA but it didn't hurt, as I landed on my shoulder. I signed up with friends back in November when this was on sale.

 

Hope In Motion 5K Race Report

From June 3, 2012

3.1 Miles
23:42 Time
7:39 Pace

110/823 Overall Top 13.4%
86/370 Men Top 23.2%
32/105 Men 30-39 Top 30.5%

Average Time/Pace 30:15/9:45
Median Time Pace 31:31/10:10

I spoke to my friend Ron before the race and he said he was trying to beat 21 minutes. 3 minutes into the race, I saw him and said it looks like you won't be running it in 21 minutes because we aren't going sub 7 pace. He looked at his watch and said "oh yeah, this is 6:36 pace." Though about 3 minutes later I lost site of him, and was passed by a fair amount of people. He said he finished 20:10. My phone couldn't get a signal so I don't know my splits.

I also saw my neighbor who I had never spoke to but had seen running around, and chatted with her for the first time. I started very close to the start, as I didn't see any starting mat so I though they might be using gun time, not net time. This was more of a charity event, and it seemed to be more geared for the walk event than the run event. I wore my Backyard Humanitarian shirt, a group I have volunteered with and other members of the group did the walk.

Spicy Pasta With Kale and Almonds

I found this recipe while searching "spicy kale pasta."  It was decent, though my girl Michelle felt it was too spicy.  I actually found hot and spicy bread crumbs.  I think pasta dishes are tough cause its easy to add too much pasta.

http://www.cookforyourlife.org/recipes/mains/131-spicy-pasta-with-kale-and-almonds

Chickpea And Swiss Chard Curry

Fantastic recipe from the Canadian Living: The Vegetarian Collection Cook book.  I kept telling people "I cooked with rhubarb" and then telling people, "oh, I mean Swiss chard."  Garam marsala was even included in the recipe, so it had lots of flavor.

http://www.amazon.ca/Canadian-Living-Vegetarian-Collection-Meat-Free/dp/0981393802

Ratatouille

Another recipe from my the Global Vegetarian Cookbook I got.  This one was healthy, but not super tasty.  I guess there really isn't anything with a lot of flavor in it.

http://www.newint.org/books/food/global-vegetarian-kitchen/

Butternut Squash Curry

Decent recipe.  First time cooking with butternut squash.  The curry paste had a nice curry flavor without being strong.  I don't think it would be a problem if I ate this work, as the aroma isn't too intense.  Another sweet potato recipe.  The first recipe I made from the Global Vegetarian Kitchen, a book I just got.

http://www.newint.org/books/food/global-vegetarian-kitchen/

Sweet Potato Stir Fry

This one is about 3 weeks old and I never posted it, so I forget how it came out.  I just remember Michelle likes her sweet potatoes.

http://www.vegetariantimes.com/recipe/sweet-potato-stir-fry/