Awesome tacos

I have successfully ran a total of 10 miles over the course of this weekend. I think that's pretty good for someone like me who is basically just getting started. I ran 3 miles Friday, 3 yesterday, and a little over 4 today. I'm feeling pretty good about it. I might not be getting super skinny and losing tons of weight, but that's not my goal. My overall goal is to just get healthier...ok, and go out and win some races in the next year. I'm not very fast right now, but the fact that I ran so far today without any knee pain is an accomplishment in itself.

My other goal, in addition to maintaining this work out / running schedule, is to start eating a little healthier. However, I refuse to give up some of my favorite foods. I will eat unhealthy things in moderation, but for the most part, I want to make better choices. This can be difficult at times, based on the limited selection of foods that we have up at our grocery store here in town. But...I'm trying to save money by not driving to Walmart and spending $100s every trip. Plus I really do want to support a local business and I'm a little scared that the new Dollar General (awesome as it is) might put our grocery store in a world of hurt. That being said, I made a delicious and healthy supper entirely with ingredients that I purchased at the grocery store here in town. There is no excuse for not making this meal...and it tasted great.

Heart Healthy Tacos

Ingredients:

2 packages ground turkey (I bought the Festive brand in the side freezer section, it comes in 1lb. packs)

2 packages of taco seasoning mix (whatever kind you prefer)

1/2 an onion chopped

1 small tomato chopped

lettuce chopped (as much as you want)

3 jalapenos (sliced) - If you don't like spicy food, you can substitute green pepper

1/4 cup Crystal Farms shredded Mexican cheese (this is not healthy, so use sparingly)

Chi Chis hot salsa (as much as you want) - you can use any salsa, but the chi chis hot salsa is amazing

Chi Chis whole wheat tortillas (how ever many you need to eat to get full - I ate 2)

Directions:

Brown the turkey (it takes longer than hamburger) and drain off all the fat. Add the taco seasoning mix with the appropriate amount of water (it will be on the label) and let the mixture come to a boil. Let the mixture simmer for 2x as long as the package says, because it takes longer for the ground turkey to absorb the seasoning flavor. Heat up tortillas in microwave on high for 45 seconds. Put cheese in first, then add taco meat, then add veggies, then salsa on top.

This will be very messy to eat, but so so so so so so so so so so good and filling. I promise you that the ground turkey will taste just like ground beef tacos. I was amazed. If you make this recipe like I did, you will have leftovers for another couple of meals (if cooked for 1 person anyway).

Motivation

I am officially in training to run at least a 1/2 marathon by next year. So far so good. I'm currently doing my running outside in the cold, but luckily, I am going to be picking up a treadmill in a couple of weeks to get me through the winter months. As long as I can stay motivated, I know I can achieve this goal. The problem is...I have a hard time staying motivated. So, I decided to make a list of things that will keep me motivated to push myself and actually become the athlete I want to be.

1. Get the new ipod nano and fill it with fast-paced running music only.

2. Run in public as much as possible, because I hate taking the chance that people might see me give up and start walking.

3. Mix up the workout routine. I'm not going to run every single day. I'm going to take some days off, do some cardio workouts, mix in some strength training, and probably ride bike on other days.

4. Bookmark every website that has to do with eating right and working out / running so that when I don't feel like doing either one, I can at least read about it and hopefully change my mind.

5. I already subscribed to Runner's World magazine, which is supposed to come with some sort of running log to track my runs.

6. Sign up for as many 5 and 10Ks in the area as possible.

7. Reward myself with new running shoes as often as I feel like.

8. Watch ESPN and other sports as much as possible.

9. Let myself indulge in an Amigo's pizza and eagle bread every now and then :)

10. Finally buy scales so I can keep track of how much I weigh (until yesterday when I weighed myself at work I really had no idea).

That's my motivation list for right now. Good think my work has me on a sleep schedule where I wake up by 7am even on the weekends. I've already been up and running this morning and I plan on spending the whole rest of the day relaxing on the couch watching football :)

New direction.

So after doing some thinking, I have a few ideas as to how I should proceed with this blog. I feel like all I ever do on here is complain about work and tell everyone that I'm stressed and occasionally post a few updates about what's going on in my life. I feel like it's repetitive and boring and needs to be changed. Therefore, I'm coming up with a few new ideas as to how I can make a change and make it more interesting. I haven't made up my mind yet, but here are a couple of them:

- Just make this a straight-up "this is my opinion" blog where I just pick a topic that has sparked my interest and express my opinion on it. This has gotten me into trouble before, but opinions are opinions and our country has the freedom of speech for a reason.

- Keep and update of my progress toward my fitness/running goals. For example, track my progress toward running the 1/2 marathon next year and try to keep myself motivated by sharing how I'm doing exercise/diet wise.

- Become a "professional" sports analyst and make it a sports blog. If the guys from "Around the Horn" can be famous for all of the B.S. they talk about, I should be able to make myself extremely famous by sharing my sports insight. Besides, if ESPN is willing to hire Lou Holtz to commentate college football, I should be able to come up with a halfway decent sports blog that doesn't involve me spitting on anyone whenever I say my "S"s.

- All recipes. Random recipes of foods that I eat all the time and which ones work and which ones don't.

I am really bored (and I'm sure my whole 2 readers are too) of the direction this blog has taken, so any feedback is welcomed. Otherwise, I will just come up with a new focus on my own and begin with it the next time I post.

The bucket list

Good news this week, I have found a way to get a treadmill for free...The not so good news is that it's waiting for me in a storage unit in Wisconsin. Even so, I'll probably be making the trip in a few weeks to go pick it up, along with tons of other home gym equipment that is mine for the taking! :)

With that said, I've been thinking long and hard about my true "life's goals" and what I want to accomplish in my lifetime. I think I may have posted this before, but here is the new and improved "bucket list" that I currently have.

1. Read the entire Bible.

2. Run a full marathon (right now I'm training for a 1/2 marathon, but the goal of a lifetime is the full).

3. Write and publish a book.

4. Knit something that is worth wearing (or at least using) in public.

5. Golf 18 holes at less than 100.

6. Take a vacation to New York City and see the Yankee Stadium.

7. Go on a missions trip out of the country.

8. Learn how to paint and make it a hobby, even if I'm horrible at it.

9. Plant a garden and learn to can the vegetables that I grow from it.

10. Pay off my student loans in 10 years (that's how they are set up for repayment right now, just keeping the faith that I can stick with this repayment plan).

Now, I have to say that in my 28 years of living and the fact that I am doing it on my own, I'm pretty proud of where I'm at today and what I have accomplished. I may not have the finest things in life, but I've earned an education and have a job that I am proud of that has allowed me to own my own home. I'm making my own way in this world with the satisfaction of knowing that, at the end of the day, my job is to improve the lives of other people. As much as I complain about it, and as stressful as it has been, I really do love my job and I am so thankful for it. It's because of all the hard work I put in to get this job that I might actually be able to check these items off my bucket list.

Work and Running

Things are starting to return to somewhat normal at work. It's still a little crazy, with being short one therapist, but we are managing. The census had returned to an average level, although I shouldn't speak too quickly, because you never know when it might spike up again, but for now, I'll embrace it. I'm actually starting to enjoy getting up and going to work in the mornings again, so that's always a good sign.

Now that the 1/2 marathon is over, I feel like I'm being such a lazy bum at the end of the day. No more going out and walking for hours in the evenings. Now that it's getting dark so early, I feel like by the time I get home from work, it's time to take a shower and go to bed. That's not all bad, I am getting plenty of rest, but I'm feeling very lethargic. Therefore, I'm currently shopping around for a treadmill. Both to get myself up off the couch and to train for next year when I'll be running the 1/2 marathon in Columbus, instead of walking it. I've had some offers for used treadmills, but haven't made up my mind just yet. I don't think I'm really ready to buy a brand new one, because I have a hard time justifying spending $2000 on something that I'll only really need to use during the winter months. So I'm really basically looking for a used treadmill that goes fast enough that I can run on, for a decent price that won't break my bank account. Wish me luck. I am really motivated to get started.

Nothing is really new for me. As stressful as it's been the past couple of weeks, I can't help but be super thankful for my job and all that it has provided for me. I've been blessed with so much in life that I look back on previous posts where I have complained and just feel guilty. I may have days at work that are super stressful and busy, but at least I have a job and can pay my bills. I might have days at work where I am feeling frazzled and run down and sweating from head to toe from the sheer amount of physical labor involved, but at least I work with an amazing group of people who are always willing to help me out and are all people I would consider to be good friends. The group I work with is like a family, and I think that's pretty rare these days. I wouldn't change it for the world.

Ready to Run

After successfully completing a 1/2 marathon (walking it), I've found myself seriously considering the fact that I could probably run one of these someday soon..and should probably start training for it. It was seriously a lot of fun, even if I was ridiculously sore and could barely move the next day. The whole experience was one that I will never forget. It was such a huge accomplishment..and now I want to keep on doing it! So I've come to the conclusion that I will be training for another 1/2 marathon (to run this time) at some point in the near future. It might take me a while. The most I've ever raced is a 5K, but I think I can do it. I'm pretty motivated after the experience I had last weekend, so we shall see. I'm going to give it my best effort anyway.

Work is still crazy, but I'm surviving. I really can't complain. It has definitely been more stressful over the past couple of weeks, but we are all managing. I'm just trying to take it in stride and make a good impression. If I can get through these 9-10 hour days, I won't feel so bad someday when the census is low again and I get to leave early.

Racing adventures

Well I survived an insane week at work, not without some minor (ok maybe a bit of major) complaining, but I survived. It was stressful, but maybe it was a good opportunity for me to show that I am capable of handling that type of challenge and maybe someday that will pay off. Either way, I am still functioning.

Today is the day we leave for the Columbus marathon! The actual race is tomorrow, but we have to go today to pick up our packets and bib numbers. I'm pretty excited, even if I am only doing the half and just walking it...It should be a pretty amazing experience. I've never done anything like this before. I'm pretty sure the local 5Ks don't even compare. I'm just praying that I can actually finish the 13.1 miles!