They say that when you train for a marathon you will have injuries. I got my first one 6 weeks into training. I was doing footwork drills like butt kicks and high knee lifts. Then I did some side to side shuffles when I stumbled and pulled my gracilis muscle on Wednesday. Now I am to rest up to 3 weeks!!! So I went to the gym Friday and did situps and weight lifting as cross training. Woke up Saturday morning and I'm limping every time I walk! I guess I need total rest. This sucks!!!

Oh well, could be worse. The marathon could be in a few days instead of months away so I should count my blessings!

Theron, from the Savannah Striders, is right..."Just run, leave that fancy stuff alone!"

Savannah Marathon Tip #2: The course for the Rock and Roll Marathon in Savannah has very few hills! Just a few overpass and on/off ramp kinds of hills for the most part. Mostly asphalt with some concrete will make this a good course for beginners and those running with injuries.

Here is the course map web site: here

Here are the turn by turn directions for the marathon: here

Keep running!!! Keep it simple!!!

I guess I'll just sit here and rest!

I will be back soon!

Why a Marathon Now?

I just turned 44 last month. 2 days later I found out that a Major Marathon is coming to Savannah!! I could never forgive myself if I didn't run a marathon that was in my own backyard! So I did it. I signed up. Paid the entry fee and on November 5th I will be running my first marathon at the Inaugural Rock and Roll Marathon here in Savannah, GA!!!

I have alot of fears and concerns. I'm 44. I last ran over 20 years ago and I got hit by a car which damaged my right knee. I am a Type 1, insulin dependant diabetic. So I've got alot of questions and concerns about my bodies ability to handle the stresses and endurance. I am a Vegan/Vegetarian who has been without caffeine for almost 4 years now so food is a part of my mix as well! Alot of "sports" drinks and gels have caffeine! Choices Choices Choices

I started reading every book I could get my hands on about Marathon running. I love my library. I've read almost every book on running and training that they have plus magazines like Runners World.

I've spent the last 3 weeks working out at the gym to see about keeping my knee strong. I've been doing alot of cross training with weights, circuit equipment (the inner and outer thigh master especially) to strengthen my quads and hip abductors. I also used the cycle and elliptical machines to save wear and tear on my knees.

Last Saturday I ran, for the first time on the road for 3.2 miles!! My knee feels great!! This Saturday I will be running at Lake Meyer Park with the Savannah Striders running club for the first time!! I guess there is a race this Saturday too so some of the runners will be there at 5:30am instead of the usual 6:30am time. Go figure.

If you or someone you know is coming to Savannah for the Rock and Roll Marathon let me know! I will help if I can.

Racing tip for Savannah, GA #1: Bring allergy medicine! This is the South and November is still allergy season for people like me with outdoor allergies!

May 2010 Sorrel-Weed House Ghost Tour

We finally went on a Ghost Tour in Savannah! We took the Paranormal Tour inside the Sorrel-Weed House. We learned about the Hamilton Inn and the hangings that took place in the original Jail of Savannah (which is now office space!!) and the 10,000 people buried in the Colonial Cemetery that only has around 600 headstones, which begs the question of where are the other 9,400 other dead bodies? The answer is pretty creepy!!!. Anyways we had a good time, learned a lot of history and would take another tour any time. I would take a night time tour next time since during the day time we didn't have anything really happen. P.S. we found a Gellato place that makes Vegan Gellato!! It is called Mr. Koolz and it is where the tour starts so come down and enjoy a Haunted History Tour and a cool and tasty Gellato!! P.S. wear the Penguin suit for 20 minutes and get a free Gellato! ( of course I will post the video on you tube to preserve the event forever!)

Vegan Red Velvet Cake

Happy Easter 2010!!

The batteries died in our camera! Sorry, no video for this one. We love this cake so I will film it later and add the video at a later date.

Not everything vegan is healthy but since most chocolate and Peeps are not vegan we had to do something!! This tastes great and is not too sweet or too rich. I had to play with a few recipes to get it right. A quick shout to Savannah Magazine Jan/Feb 2010 for having the best cake recipe to work with. Karen's grandmother gave the frosting recipe to her.

This is NOT healthy but it tastes oh so good!!

Red Velvet Cake

2 1/2 Cups All purpose flour

1 1/2 Cups sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 Tbsp. Cocoa powder

3 tsp. Energ Egg Replacer

Sift dry ingredients into a large bowl.

1 1/2 cups canola oil

1 cup almond milk

2 tsp. white vinegar

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 ounce red food coloring

Blend all liquid ingrediants together then add to dry.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray your cake pan with vegetable cooking spray, then add 1 Tbsp of flour and tap the pans until all surfaces are covered with flour. Divide the batter evenly between the pans ( or just put in a 13x9 pan like me!). Bake between 25-28 min.

Butter Cream Frosting

1/2 cup Crisco all-vegetable shorting (read the labels the cheaper ones have beef tallow!)

1/2 cup vegan butter

1 cup sugar

add very slowly 3/4 cup almond milk and beat until well blended.

Please frost your cake now and eat!!!

Recipe requests

Thank you all for the wonderful time that you've allowed to have with you all. The recipes from the videos are mostly from the Vegetarian Times November 2009 issue and also a magazine that Karen likes called All You. The recipe for the Brussels Sprouts with Champagne Vinagrette is from the All You magazine November 2009 issue. Here it is:

3 pkgs (10oz. each) Brussels sprouts, trimmed, halved lengthwise

3/4 # Shallots cut into 1/2" thick wedges

6 Tbsp. Olive oil

3 Tbsp. Champagne vinegar

1 Tbsp. Honey

1 1/2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

Preheat over to 425F. In large bowl, toss Brussels sprouts, shallots and 2 Tbsp. oil. Spread mixture on ungreased jellyroll pan. Roast until tender and lightly browned, 20 min.

Meanwhile, whisk together vinegar, honey, thyme, salt, pepper and remaining 4 Tbsp. oil until blended. In large serving bowl, toss warm Brussels sprouts mixture with cranberries and vinaigrette mixture. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Serves 8, Calories 194, Protein 4g, fat 11g (1 g saturated), Trans fat 0g, Chol 0mg, Carbs 25g, Sodium 175 mg, Fiber 4g, Sugar 11g, Kitchen time 20min. Total time 40 min.

 

The Feast

Sorry, Here is the food all laid out.

Vegan Thanksgiving 2009

Having a very hard time with this film editing stuff!!! Can't be more than 10 minutes...doesn't recognize the file...tried emailing but the video is too big. Saw "The National Tree" on the Hallmark network and the kid was blogging so I figured why not?  This is not professional but at least my family can share Thanksgiving with us in a round about way.  See you in a few weeks face to face!!!

This is our First VEGAN Thanksgiving!!  We started going mostly vegetarian as another way to control my Type I Diabetes several months ago. My meal time insulin use is about half of what it used to be. The biggest difference in my eating is a reduction in carbohydrates. If I eat carbs they are complex carbs i.e. wholegrains etc. I cut out meats for another reason. My blood pressure is borderline now that I'm over 40 and I don't like that since I'm more likely to have a heart attack just because of my diabetes.

A month ago I started practicing yoga to get some exercise. I signed out a few dvd's from the library to try a few different types and I found I really enjoyed it. My balance improved and my ability to focus has improved and I'm alot more..relaxed(?) about things...i still get upset just not so much as I used too. Anyways with what I've learned about the milk industry, meat and poultry industries and that cholesterol is mostly from animal products we have gone completely vegan since this video has been made.

Love to all!!!

-Us