Running All The Miles + Paleo Sloppy Joes YUM!

Running
Day 1...Loopty Loop
So it's the start of a new week and my legs are still sore from sharing 200 wall balls on Saturday from my workout.  And wall balls are one of my favorites (complete sarcasm).  But it's time to stop wishing I was magically a better runner and actually work for it after not running for two weeks.  It was a hot day Monday but it was more humid than anything.  With the weather suppose to reach almost 90 degrees that day I had a feeling I was going to regret running that afternoon, and almost decided to forego it.  But I knew it needed to be done and would also help with leg recovery. Yes I could run later in the evening when it wasn't so warm outside but running an out and back near my apartment ha gotten old and I can't stand all the traffic and once I leave work and head home I'm not coming back in the same direction, wastes gas.
The worst thing you can do when you're sore is just rest until you feel better.  So running was my answer to solve that problem.  I headed to the gym after work and changed my clothes and decided to repeat an old route I had taken with Fidget before. I want to make him proud for some reason but more make myself proud for sticking with it even though most days I don't want to run.  Running around post is peaceful, there's not too many cars around and the beauty of idea behind that place when you think about it was amazing.  I'm surround my men and women and their families who protect our country.  I don't know if anything could be more peaceful than that thought.  So off I went for a good mile and a half of semi flat surfaces besides jumping on and off sidewalks and then heading through a small neighborhood to make one last turn before hitting two long gradual hills and finish off right by the track. 
My legs started out aching but I can't remember when that feeling just left from my mind, maybe when I started wondering how long it was going to be until my first left turn because I knew exactly where I was at in my run at that point.  But once that feeling escaped my mind my run felt good.  I felt like I was holding a decent pace even though I wasn't sure exactly what it was.  I didn't want to use my run app, partially because I'm almost out of data for the month, and also because I didn't want to be disappointed at my pace not being where it use to be.  The focus was my current run and getting better, not the runner I use to be.
After my 2.5mi run I went back into the gym to redo the push presses that I thought I had messed up that morning. 
Push press (5x5 @ 75%)  my max currently is 52kg/115# giving me a 75% of 38kg.  Well for some reason after doing them I thought that it was suppose to be 75% of my 1RM split jerk (64kg) so I did them again giving me a 75% of 48kg/105#.  My was able to get the first two sets unbroken and then had to back up the last three; 4/1-4/1-3/2.  I knew my arms were pretty worn out from that morning so I couldn't be to upset with it and the fact that I was doing the wrong thing when I had done it correctly that morning.  I'm not sure what my mind was thinking after I finished up this morning.  But the fact that I went back into the gym to correct something I thought I had messed up even though I wanted to go home was an accomplishment in itself!
As of right now the debate is whether to run Thursday morning and lift in the afternoon or vice versa?  Decisions Decisions....

Day 2....Pike Field Trail

A view from the top.  Yes that small dirt road
is still my trail, more hills!

So I was dreading day two all week!  It was a trail run and I had packed everything I needed the night before constantly telling myself I was going to go.  At first I was concerned it was going to be too hot to run.   Then I was worried about it raining, but if it rained at least it would cool off a little bit.  Part of me was wishing it would rain when I left work so that I could postpone my run.  I had thought about just going ahead and postponing until Friday but after strength work that morning my body needed an active rest day and then a nap afterwork on Friday.  So after school I headed to the gym to change, taking my sweet time to get out of my car because I was still debating heading home and saying screw it all.  I was not looking forward to running it by myself especially after the first run.  It was horrible only for the simple fact that it was my first time running 4 miles in I don't know how long and running on a trail!  I wasn't looking forward to heading out and up that hill, especially solo.  But it turns out the run didn't feel that bad. I actually felt faster.  Along the way, before I hit the longest hill ever, some guys were out there in their truck having some fun slinging mud and dirt around.  Last time I wrote a blog after running that trail I said that I would take a picture looking like Rocky at the top once I did it again solo.  I wanted to make Fidget proud that I accomplished this the 2nd time without him!  

Well I didn't exactly do that but I was super proud of myself for making it to the top of this hill at what felt like a faster pace than my first attempt after trudging through soft sand I never stopped running either.  I always tell myself no matter how much it hurts or how tired your legs are it doesn't matter how fast you go, you could be feeling like you're moving like a grandma, just keep running.  I don't care if someone could walk the same pace as you're running because it's that slow.  Don't stop that running pace with your feet.  It only gets better from there.  After posing for a selfie accomplishment at the top of the hill I started back down.  Ahh down hill, passing the guys in their truck again.  Only this time they were trying to dig themselves out of a hole haha
As soon as I hit the water bridge I knew I was almost back to where I started and I couldn't wait.  Even though I was dreading this run today I was super excited I made myself go do it and that I did it solo.  It feels great pushing though those mental barriers.  I can't tell you how hard it was this week to make myself go run after work this week instead of going straight home!





Paleo Sloppy Joes
I've thought about making these several times over the past couple month and I'm honestly not sure why I hadn't tried to make them before.  I remember sloppy joes as a kid and at first when I was younger I didn't like them just off the fact that they didn't look good.  Yes, I was weird like that but I still have my weird things when I comes to food.  It's a nice quick meal to make, maybe taking only about 30min to cook the meat and other ingredients together.  Use what you like for the bun but every since I tried large portobello mushroom caps for a bun in replace of bread I've never looked back.

Sloppy Joe Mix
Cook time: 30min
Ingredients
1-2tbsp olive oil (I just poured some in my pan)
1lb ground turkey (use what you like but I stick with white meats)
1 small red pepper chopped
1 small onion chopped
2tsp garlic powder
1tsp chili powder
1tbsp yellow mustard
1 can tomato paste (6oz)
5-6tbsp apple cider vinegar
pepper to taste


Directions
1.  Chop/dice red pepper and onion.  Place in pan and sautee until slightly translucent
2.  Add in meat and cook thoroughly (completely browned), breaking up large chunks of the meat.
3.  Add remaining ingredients and mix until well combined then let simmer for 5-10min until sauce is thick (mine already was thick after adding all ingredients) but this also allows the flavors to really come together.

For the Bun:
1. preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. 2 large portobello mushroom caps
3. flip stem up and remove (I cut mine out with a knife)
4. over baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray
5. place portobello mushrooms stem side down
6. Cook for 15min

The recipe I used as a guideline also calls for 1/2c beef stock, 1/2tsp liquid smoke.  I forgot about the beef stock (I would have bought chicken though), and didn't want to buy liquid smoke for just one recipe.  That is way see 5-6tbsp of apple cider vinegar.
Let me tell you, reliving this childhood classic was delicious and fun!  This is just a fun dinner to eat because we all know the meat won't stay in the sandwich.   Kind of like tacos, how the meat slides out of the shell and you get more on your plate to eat after and can make another taco haha.  I'm actually very happy about how these turned out if you can't tell.  The meat didn't turn out took thick or too runny, just right.  
With the mushroom caps, make sure to bring plenty of napkins/paper towels because mushrooms hold a lot of water so you will have juice running town your arms.  Mine actually wasn't as bad as when I use them for burgers.  But a great alternative to an actual hamburger bun.



~Side Note
So one of the good parts about living in a military town is when you're friends come back from deployments.  It's always great to see them return especially when they didn't tell you they were leaving.  I had one friend show up last week that I hadn't seen in months.  It was still warm last year (I think) when I saw him last.  I have one more person I'm hoping is deployed to come back and that he didn't PCS without tell me.  I hate when people I am close to don't tell me they are getting deployed or when training starts and I don't know if I can contact them or not.  It worries me when I can't get ahold of them or don't know they're leaving.
So here's to hoping one returns soon and then other is in training and can't be reached.  Either way I hope they are both safe.

My body is still completely exhausted by mid week with changing up my training schedule days.  Since I've had to switch my active rest day to Fridays I'm using the afternoon for naps.  This is the first week I've gotten one.  And let me tell you my body needed it.  I slept for 2 hours!  If only I had more time to take naps during the week.  Why couldn't we like naps as children.

~God Bless

"Training strength and endurance mentally, physically, and spiritually."