Sorry for the site being down! My host deactivated the account because it was getting too many hits (!!) and was creating a traffic jam. All should be fixed now but I was worried for a second!
I decided to run on the Greenway near our house. No music – just me, the path and the woods (and the dogs, moms and strollers I shared it with 🙂 ) I realized during the first mile that the path was marked each quarter mile, so I decided to challenge myself to get faster with each mile while not burning out too early. Using my HRM as my timer, here’s the results:
Mile 1 – 9:20
Mile 2 – 8:42
Mile 3 – 8:13
Mile 4 – 7:58
Total – 34:13
I think the 4th mile is a personal record for regular running! The fastest I have ever ran a mile was 7:26, and that was on a treadmill so I don’t know if it counts. When I played soccer in high school, we had timed miles and my best time was 8:01. So it seems I’ve gotten faster!
And then, I broke another record! There were some pull-up bars near the end of the trail and I decided to see how many real pull-ups I could do now that I’ve been practicing on the assisted pull-up machine for a few months now. When I started, I could do 1.5. Today…..4!! The first one was a piece of cake, the second pretty easy and 3 + 4 were very hard. I almost couldn’t do the 4th.
Italian Harmony
I had an eggplant to eat for lunch today and came up this delicious combo of flavors. I made 2 servings so the husband has one for lunch tomorrow.
Here’s what was in my bowl:
- 1/2 a medium eggplant
- 1/2 a can of diced tomatoes
- Big handful baby spinach
- Splash balsamic vinegar
- Splash dry sherry (optional)
- About 7 chopped kalamata olives from a jar
- 1 tbsp capers
- 1 tbsp cilantro pesto
- About 1/2 an ounce of soft crumbled goat’s cheese
- Fresh chopped oregano for garnish
- 2 oz cooked orzo
I sauteed the eggplant in some olive oil until browned and then added the can of tomatoes, slightly drained, and spinach along with a splash of balsamic and sherry. When the spinach was wilted and the mixture hot, I poured it over the orzo and topped with pesto, olives, capers, cheese and oregano.
On the patio with seltzer –
Afternoon Cocktails
I am picking up my good friend from high school Lydia from the airport for her 1.5 hour layover on her way to move to California! I’m taking her to a wine bar that serves 2 oz pours, so it looks like I have a fun snack planned!
Since I’ll miss my 4:30 dinner hour while I’m out and will have to speed straight to class, I packed a lunchy dinner and had a dinner for lunch. I’m taking it in a cooler in my trunk. I just hope I don’t have to eat and drive – I hate that. But I can’t be 1 minute late for class or I’ll get yelled at!
VeggieGirl says
Congratulations on your new running records!! That’s FABULOUS news!!
I LOVE the mix of flavors in your lunch meal – yum!
Have fun with your friend, and good luck with your grueling class tonight!! Hang in there!!
Kelly T says
congrats on the pullups- they are a lot harder than people think.
I think its because when you were a kid you had to do them in PE. but thats when everyone weighed like 15 pounds, so it was easier back then.
dont be tardy! you might get detention and have to clap erasers!
BethT says
Congrats! I recently was able to do real pushups for the first time in my life. I’ve made it up to 3 sets of 12, hurrah! Pullups are my next goal…
Where is your friend moving in CA?
laurabars says
Yeah for your record! I have trouble running without music, but it is mostly because I need the motivation after tiring out for a while.
The eggplant looks YUMMY!
Katie says
Wow, those times are AWESOME! I had never been able to run until a couple of years ago, and donly did it for weight mgmt purposes. This year I’m really trying to start competing with myself for times. This is so inspiring. Thank you!
Stacy says
Great times! You’re making me inspired to try to go faster than my usual slow jog today.
hk says
very impressed with your 4 pull-ups! these are TOUGH!!
lunch bowls are the best, have fun tonight with your friend!!
bcgirl says
Right, so I just wanted to say that I was almost on the verge of a nervous breakdown when your site was down. I was constantly hitting the refresh button to no avail, but alas, here it is. *breathes sigh of relief*
Ok, can you tell that I’m super bored at work?!? haha. Seriously though, I love this site and check it at least a few times a day. Congrats on all the hits, you deserve it!
j says
oooh-rah! kath! (that’s marines for ya. my little bro could power through those suckers when he was training for basic – like 20 at a clip.)
i’m a lousy runner, i admire people who can best their milage. good for you.
i’m more of a muscle/strength person. i rock climb (tearing up 5.6s at the moment and ready for 5.7s) and weight train. i can do seated leg press at 195#, squat 60#, and bench ~65-70#. not bad for a 104# 4’10” girlie. but running. oh man. i’m happy when i get 2+ miles in 30 minutes. i’m sloooow.
Korin says
Hey… treadmill counts!
Blaire says
Great job on your run! You should be so proud of yourself! And to have your last mile be the fastest! Good for you!
Erin says
bcgirl,
I’m the same way! Checking out Kath’s blog really keeps me in check – health-wise. I am sometimes tempted to be lured back to my old crash diet ways (followed by the inevitable weight gain)! Kath’s blog helps me remember to be realistic in my expectations – have to remind myself that it’s a marathon, not a sprint! Thanks, Kath!
Becca says
Great job on running! I have no idea how fast I go, but I’m thinking I’m pretty slow.
Mm lunch is making me crave eggplant now…
Diana says
I rarely comment, but I’m so inspired by your mile times and pull-ups. You are so fit! I’ve found the same thing– that I’m faster now (in mid-20s) than I was in high school (when I actually trained for races). Maybe it’s the healthy diet? Or is there any biological reason for this? Anyone know?
JennC says
anyone- what is the best way to make Sweet Potato fries?
Kristie says
Congrats on the new records! I haven’t done pull ups in ages but I doubt I’d even be able to do one!
That eggplant dish looks sooo delicious.
Good luck with the evil chem teacher tonight!
nicole r. says
jenn c.
honestly, if you have a trader joe’s by you go there immediately and get a bag of the precut sweet potato spears. then, spray a baking sheet with cooking spray, throw the spears on the sheet, more cooking spray, salt, pepper, and any spices you like (i usually do rosemary and cinnamon or oregano), then bake at 400 for aroundd 20 min i think?
if you cant get to trader’s, just slice up some sweet potatoes into spears (first cut in half so you have two long halves, then slice the long halves into narrower fry-like strips), and bake using the same directions as above.
enjoy! i love sweet potato fries!
Justy2003 says
JennC-
Kath did a video post on sweet potato fries:
https://www.katheats.com/?p=883
Sooo yummy 🙂
Serena says
So Kath or anyone else, I am constantly baffled by pasta portions. I only sort of estimate calories and more often than not don’t count or estimate at all, but I do like to make sure that my portions are in check for things like pasta. So for 2 oz cooked orzo, what is that dry? And what does 2 oz of dry pasta come out to cooked (I guess I could just make that and weigh it myself, but does anyone happen to know)? Thanks!!
bcgirl says
The sweet potato fries link isn’t working for me. 🙁
Justy2003 says
bcgirl-
Hmmm…worked when I used it. But you can go on the right-hand side of the page, then go to “Videos” under “Post Categories” and find it. Or use the search thing at the top!
Ally says
Wow, those are some fantastic times Kath!
I’m glad you’re enjoying the Greenway, I am taking my dog there sometime this week!
I’ve been reading but not commenting (I finally have time to comment now!) so I just wanted to wish you some luck with this crazy summer school schedule!
Take care!
Monica says
Great run!
Romina says
Congrats on the new record!!!
Allison says
Serena,
It was 2 oz. of dry orzo and then she cooked it.
Nick says
Congrats on the mile! By “real” pull-ups, do you mean the ones with your hands in the overgrip or undergrip position? Overgrip being the grip with your palms facing away from you. Very impressive though, keep it up!
Kelly T says
I can run really fast, too. but i can only do it for about 5 minutes at a time.
beat THAT.
BethT says
Serena, typically many pastas double in size when cooked. So 1/2 cup dry yields 1 cup cooked, etc. The nutritional info on the pkg is usually for the portion uncooked. MyPyramid.gov has good info on standard portion sizes; I think 1/2 cup of cooked pasta is one serving.
Allison K. says
I’ve been dying to eat try cooking egg plant, I never have before. Did you have to do anything else to it other than wash and cut before you sauteed?
Thanks!
Oh, and I am so impressed with your pullups…I would love to just do one!
Serena says
Thanks, Allison and Beth T – very helpful info!
linds says
Look at miss popular here, creating traffic jams… 😉 Congrats on your run times, those are definitely something to be proud of!
Allyson says
Your lunch looks right up my alley! Def something I would make for myself, maybe I will! Congrats on the traffic jam and breaking your own records!
Kelly T-you’re too funny! 🙂
Kelly T says
QUESTION!
So i just went to the store and needed some peanut butter.
i compared the Safeway brand to Adam’s all natural peanut butter and they are exactly the same.
so whats the difference? Why should i pay $2 extra for the natural?
oatmeal says
Congrats on beating your record! That’s amazing 😀
And what a yummy lunch! Eggplants are so delicious in pasta
Yikes~sounds like a hectic afternoon for you! Hope you managed to get to class on time!
Suzanne says
Great job, Kath! 🙂
Kiala says
Kelly T –
You should not pay extra. Screw that.
I like to help.
Kelly T says
sweet.
Because I bought the cheap shit anyway.
I mean “stuff.”
Sidi says
Wow, this is just great! Your records, I mean. How was your debut , how many miles and in how much time were you doing it at the beginning?
mel says
hey guys- thanks for the trader joe comments the other day! I’m behind on reading comments! haha!
Justy- I’m from Lexington, Kentucky and just graduated from the University of KY a couple of weeks ago- I’m going to the University of Dayton in August for law school. I don’t know anyone there so if y’all live nearby be my friend! haha! the TJ’s is in Kettering where my new apartment is!
thanks again!
MoniMoni says
WOW – I know everyone else has said it but I just can’t resist. That lunch looks amazing! It’ll be the first thing I cook this weekend.
Kath says
BethT ,
3 sets of 12 – wow!! Lydia is moving to the big world of Los Angeles!
Erin ,
That’s so nice to hear – thanks!
Serena ,
Pasta is tricky because of all the shapes and sizes, which is why I use a food scale to measure rather than volume measuring cups. The orzo was about 1/4 per 2 oz – whereas pastas like penne are closer to 1/2 a cup or more per serving. I’d suggest buying a cheap food scale (you can get the needle kind for $5ish) and using that so you’ll never have to guess and can eat all the shapes. Or just continue to ballpark. Or just measure a cup cooked (which is still a little tricky and messy).
Nick ,
I use undergrip. Which are “true” pull-ups?
Allison K,
I’ve given up on salting eggplant. I think it’s unnecessary. Maybe just for a delicate dish or something. I just chopped and sauteed!
Sidi ,
I don’t have a formal comparison, but when I was in high school I ran a 5K in 27 minutes and did one in 24:30 last year, so I think I’ve just improved overall.
Kath