Ready to Run

I've really been missing my morning run lately. For a few months I would wake up every morning, go to the gym, and just go on the treadmill for about 30 minutes. Of course, not all of that time was completely running. I did the run/walk thing and I felt really good.

Running the Fallen Heroes of Georgia 5K in April felt incredible. I felt like super woman at the end of that race.

Then for some reason, my morning exercise tapered off to non-existance. I miss it.

As part of my 101 in 1001 I decided to run another 5K in the hopes that another event to train for will get me back into my previous routine. After browsing active.com, I have two strong contenders:

• 2010 Enmark Savannah Bridge Run - the course takes you across the main bridge spanning the Savannah River. It's the most difficult bridge run in the south as the entire course is at a 5.5% grade incline. Definitely a challenge for me considering I'm definitely a beginner. However, part of me wants to do this because I feel that running across that bridge will help me get closure on all of the issues I've had to deal with since moving here. I heard about this race when they did it last year and I was first starting the c25k program. I remember thinking I'd never be able to do it and then getting annoyed with myself for thinking that.
  
• Chateau Elan Vineyard Run for Hope 5K - A run through the vineyard to benefit the Gwinnett County Children's Shelter. If you know me at all, you know how much I love kids. All kids. I'll do pretty much anything to help out a kid and I've got the experiences to back up that statement. If running a few miles will benefit not just kids, but kids in the community where I grew up? I'm there.

The bridge race is in early December and the vineyard race is right around Thanksgiving. I'd have plenty of time to prepare for either of them... or both. Who knows. We'll see how training goes. I might even get Finn to come with me.

Chicken Souvlaki

Tonight I attempted the first of the new recipes from my post below. I had never made any sort of Greek food and, although we had both had similar foods at Great Wraps, this meal had some new territory for both Steve and I. He had never had feta cheese and I had never had calamata olives. He wasn't completely jazzed about the onion and I wasn't so sure about the dill/cucumber/yogurt sauce.

In the end, it came out REALLY good! Both of us were sort of suprised at how much we enjoyed it. The combination of flavors was completely different than anything I would normally eat, but it was a welcome change.

The recipe is one I found in the Real Simple recipe index under "meals made easy".

Chicken Souvlaki

.Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 25m
Total Time: 30m (this time estimate is very accurate)

Ingredients
4 pieces flat bread or pitas
2 tomatoes, cut into wedges
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
3/4 cup crumbled Feta
1/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into pieces
1/2 cup plain yogurt (I used Fage brand greek yogurt)
1 small cucumber, diced
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh dill

Directions
1.Heat oven to 200° F. Wrap the bread in foil and place in oven.
2.In a medium bowl, combine the tomatoes, onion, Feta, and olives.
3.In a large bowl, combine the oregano, thyme, pepper, 1 1/2 teaspoons of the vinegar, and the lemon juice. Slowly add 4 tablespoons of the oil in a steady stream, whisking constantly until incorporated.
4.Pour 2 1/2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette over the tomato mixture, toss, and set aside. Add the chicken to the remaining vinaigrette, toss, and set aside.
5.Heat the remaining oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Transfer the chicken but not the liquid to the skillet and heat, turning occasionally, until cooked through, about 5 minutes.
6.Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the yogurt, cucumber, dill, and the remaining vinegar. Spread the bread with some of the yogurt sauce and top with the chicken. Add the tomato salad and fold.

This is how it looks on the plate:

We are definitely going to include this into our dinner rotation for when we need something relatively light and easy. I'm already planning on using the leftovers mixed with some romaine lettuce as my lunch tomorrow. YUM!

101 in 1001

I'm sure most of you have heard of a "bucket List" or the idea of making a list of things to do before you kick the bucket. 101 in 1001 is a very similar idea. It's essentially a list of goals you hope to accomplish in the next 1001 days.

Why 1001 days? It's a firm deadline. It gives you enough time to make accomodations for financial aspects of big goals, and really work on each item without being so long that you procrastinate or forget about the list completely. The number itself also looks catchy. :)

Why now? It's an extention of the feeling that finally led me to decide to go back to school full time... I want to find joy in my day to day routine again. I've spent months being miserable, so now I plan to spend the next 1001 days doing things that I've either never done, or that I like to do but don't make time for. I'm hoping that after the 1001 days I'll be able to look in the mirror and see the happy, healthy person I remember being.

The deadline: April 27, 2013

The complete list of items I hope to accomplish by that date can be found HERE and you can go back and see my progress at any time by clicking the 101 in 1001 icon on the left.