Blogger fail! I completely left you all hanging with how my painful booby run went yesterday. Oops. I guess all the talk of stuffing my bra and hair falling out distracted me. And you probably clicked out of your browser faster than I would have managed to tell you about it anyways. So allow me to do a little victory dance tell you about it now. Deal?

I came. I ran. I conquered!!!!

I love speed runs!

I think yesterday’s run went so well because I took the pressure off myself. I have been following a training plan from the Smart Coach application on Runner’s World. I love it and the variety it gives my training…but sometimes don’t want to worry about the specific “plan” or pacing it gives me for a run.

Yesterday I wanted to do speed work, but I didn’t want to think about tempo miles or laps on the track. So, I just went out and ran –keeping my pace up along the way. And holy smokes..I ran the fastest pace I ever have besides in races. Love no pressure workouts!!! No pressure workouts always end up being the best ones, don’t they?

Yesterday’s run did bring up another running etiquette question though. Passing Other Runners – a protocol?

I ran on my favorite running path yesterday so had the joy of bonding with plenty of other runners, walkers, and bikers out to get their days started. I love the camaraderie you find in others out getting their sweat on as well. Pretty much every person you pass gives a smile, nod, or “good morning”.

While running merrily on my way, I came up on the back of this one dude. I would have to slow down my pace if I stayed behind him, ride his heels, or speed up and pass him. I chose to speed up momentarily to pass him and got to what I felt a comfortable distance ahead of him before settling back to my regular pace. Not two minutes later here comes the same man passing me by and giving me the most evil stink-eye I have ever seen. Well, besides from Makenzie. She does a pretty good one.

It made me wonder…is there any sort of protocol for passing other runners on running paths? Or was I just dealing with Cranky McCrankerson? Rude people drive me batty, so I want to make sure I’m not one of them!

And in case you were wondering how the cabbage chest played out during the run…

I beat them into submission 😉 RT @afoodiestaysfit: @TinaFFF nice job! How did the bobbies take it? 😉

August 31, 2011 8:06 am via HootSuiteReplyRetweetFavorite

@TinaFFF

Tina Reale

My “bobbies” (just noticed that) and I are so ready for this whole process to be over!

• Thoughts on passing during runs?
• When is the last time you got the “stink-eye” from someone?

Don't forget to enter the Luna Protein Giveaway. Last day to enter! FIVE chances to win! I will announce the winner tomorrow!

Last night for dinner I welcomed a few things back in my life.

Almost Meatless Sloppy Joes and asparagus! The Almost Meatless Sloppy Joes tend to show up pretty regularly around here. I love them. Peter loves them. Makenzie loves them. They are quick. They are easy. They make leftovers. Basically, they are family dinner gold. Plus a great way to balance out the “I-don’t-eat-beans” man and “I-adore-beans-maybe-too-much” woman relationship. I don’t know why they disappeared from our standard monthly meal rotation for awhile.

I welcomed that bad boy of a sandwich back with open arms. And what about the asparagus?

I had not allowed the green vegetable to touch my plate for a good five or six years after the first fitness competition I trained for way back when. The competition I hired “crazy coach” for and was told to eat tilapia and asparagus day in and day out. The competition I had to pull out of two weeks before show because I royally screwed my blood sugar and was passing out left and right. I learned my lesson and trained myself for the fitness competition I did enter, but still decided to take my hatred of that old training program out on tilapia and asparagus

Then, at the grocery store this past week the tall stalks caught my eye. I paused. I wondered. They looked pretty. They’re a vegetable. I like vegetables. Perhaps I had been too harsh on the little guys. So, I bought a bunch and steamed some up for our dinner.

Then, I took two bites, immediately gagged, and spit it right back out. Asparagus is the one vegetable I loathe. Perhaps even more than my general hatred for cottage cheese. Seriously. What is with that lumpy dairy mess? Give me Greek yogurt any day!

So, it’s official – asparagus = BLECH. Perhaps I should give it another try but with a different cooking method. I tend to prefer my vegetables either raw or roasted.

Raw Veggie Love

• carrots
• tomatoes
• cucumber
• bell peppers
• carrots
• broccoli
• spinach (although I guess that is more technically smoothie veggie love)

Roasted Veggie Love

• brussels
• potatoes
• squash
• zucchini
• eggplant
• cauliflower
• parsnips
• everything because it’s the tried and trued method to make veggies all the more delicious

Nope. I don’t even think roasting asparagus would help. I give up. No more asparagus for me! I’ll just load up on all my other veggie loves.

• Is there a food a certain experience made you just LOATHE it forever?
• Do you have certain veggies you prefer raw or cooked a certain way?