I'm Back/Whole Wheat Gnocchi with Mushroom Sauce

Ok, so it's been a couple weeks since I posted. Had a nice relaxing week after the Flying Pig. Spent the following week out in Washington and Oregon. Didn't get as much running in out there as I had hoped to do, but had a great time. Spent a day in Seattle, went to Astoria Oregon (Goonies) and Long Beach Peninsula. My dad and I also did a couple day hikes one to Ape cave which was formed by St Helen's lava flows and we did a 12 miler to Tunnel Falls.

Pike Place Market

Tunnel Falls

I was planing on doing my first ultra on November 6th. It's a 30 mile road race and I turn 30 the following day. The more I've thought about it though I would prefer my first ultra to be a trail race so I'm doing a 50k on October 24. Can't wait to see how my body responds to the training for this. I will also be doing my annual State to State Half in September and a few 5 and 10k's along the way. Guess I had better start hitting the pavement on a regular basis again here soon.

Ok, now it's time for the good stuff.....Food

INGREDIENTS:

16oz Whole wheat Gnocchi

2Tbs butter

2Tbs Extra Virgin olive oil

12oz fresh mushrooms, stemmed, sliced (Porcini, Portobello, and,or Shitake)

1/2 cup diced shallots

1 3/4 cups chicken stock

1Tbs chopped fresh sage

1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

Bring water to a boil in a 4qrt pot add gnocchi and cook for 3-4 minutes or until gnocchi float to the top. Drain in colander. Cook butter and olive oil in heavy large skillet over medium heat until butter begins to brown, about 2 minutes. Add mushrooms and shallots and saute until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add stock and sage; simmer until liquid is slightly reduced, about 8 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Add hot gnocchi to sauce in skillet and toss to coat. Serve with cheese sprinkled on top

Flying Pig Marathon (part 2)

It's now been just over 48 hours since I finished the Flying Pig. Still a little stiff in the quads and hamstrings but over all feeling really good. Sunday was a warm stormy morning. Lighting was flashing in the sky as thousands of people took to the streets of Cincinnati waiting for the race to begin. Our feet were squishing in our shoes before the gun even went off.

As the sun started to rise the rain tapered off a bit coming and going as the miles added up. It didn't take long before I realized I had lined up way to far back in the corral. I was weaving back and fourth across the the roads trying to gain ground for the first few miles. I was finally able to pass the 4 hour pacer around mile 8. Things were looking good. I felt great, I had conquered THE HILL with ease. Then suddenly it happened without notice. Both of my hamstrings cramped up. I stooped for a minute and tried to stretch them out several times but couldn't shake them. I kept on pushing but knew I wasn't going to be able to keep my sub 4 pace.

Somewhere around mile 16 the 4 hour pacer caught back up with me. I insisted on sticking with them as long as I could but eventually I could no longer see them. Somewhere around mile 21 or 22 the 4:15 group caught up with me and that's when my heart dropped. I really wanted to hit the goal of a sub 4. At this point I knew it wasn't going to happen so I went to a run walk routine.

In the end I finished with a time of 4:15:55. Despite the rain, cramps, 4 hours of sleep, and a hilly ass coarse I was still able to set a new PR by 38 minutes. Kim and Spen were awesome also, cheering me on at several different locations along the coarse. Can't wait to try again next year.

Flying Pig Marathon (part 1)

16 hours away from the start of the 2010 Cincinnati Flying Pig Marathon. I've had a calm excitement over me the past week or two. This race has been 3 years in the making for me, due to injury or lack of training.

The 5k and 10k was this morning. The women's first place finisher (Shari Klarfeld) collapsed 3 times, just feet in front of the finish line. The second place woman (Amy Schoenfeld), helped her up and made sure she crossed the line before her. (Awesome sportsmanship)

Looks like we will be running in the wind and rain tomorrow. Maybe even a few thunderstorms with 1-2 inches of rain expected. Figure if I was able to run through the snowiest February on record in the middle of blizzard like conditions this should be a walk in the park.

I've got the gear laid out and ready to go for the morning. Bib is pinned on. Timing chip is attached to my shoes. Camelbak is filled and stocked with a few other goodies. Body Glide and Nipple guards are waiting on the sink.

"Racing teaches us to challenge ourselves. It teaches us to push beyond where we thought we could go. It helps us to find out what we are made of. This is what we do. This is what it's all about." -PattiSue Plumer, U.S. Olympian