Many of you will be relieved to know that I’m not going to talk about the election for a while. It’s not that I don’t care (I do), or that I’m not still sad (I AM). I just feel like it’s time to lighten up a little. Life goes on, right?
Tobia has started a Cool Bloggers Autumn Soup Challenge, and luckily I made one recently that fits perfectly. It’s the Cozy Curry Noodle Soup from Minimalist Baker.
It’s cozy! It has noodles! And curry! What’s not to love? If you look at the photo on the website you’ll laugh, because my soup looks nothing like hers. I made it with tofu, and used broccoli instead of bok choy. Also, she knows how to take great food photos and I obviously don’t. But this was delicious, and I’ll make it again.
In other news- I’m getting excited about my race on Saturday! To review: last May I recklessly signed up for a 12 hour race. The format is, you run a 4.3 mile loop on a trail, as many times as you can/want to for 12 hours. I had some big hopes and dreams- THEN, I spent the summer battling a mysterious and frustrating calf injury. Sigh.
So, I won’t be running for 12 hours. But that’s okay! Here are my new goals for this race:
- SHOW UP AND HAVE FUN. I should be able to achieve this one.
- PUSH MYSELF. I’m not going to stop just because it’s hot, or I’m tired. 20 miles seems like a reasonable distance to shoot for. BUT…
- HAVE THE COMMON SENSE TO STOP IF SOMETHING HURTS. This might be the hardest one. I know I won’t want to stop early- but the last thing I need is another injury.
Today I stopped at REI for some race fuel, and I got one of these:
I’ve never tried this flavor! I feel like it could be super gross, but I just had to get it and see for myself. I AM still the Crazy Pumpkin Lady (although… the December flavors and scents are starting to seem awfully appealing!)
Do you have anything fun planned for the weekend?
Top photo by Sebastien Gabriel on Unsplash
39 Responses
So, it’s not recommended to just do the 4.3 mile loop once and then stop? 😅 Cuz that’s probably what I would I do. lol!! Haha just kidding…. Good luck! Sounds like you have a smart plan! Excited to hear how it goes.
Actually Kae, it’s funny you say that. On the website it says anyone who completes at least one loop gets a medal! So you could totally show up and do that, ha ha.
Good luck. I hope you exceed your expectations and stay uninjured. This weekend I am going to a regional restaurant with my parents and siblings which should be good, I will try to get walk/run in beforehand but my back has been a bit tight for the last few days so I’ll have to see how it goes.
Oh, I hope your back is okay. As a massage therapist, I tell people to move as much as possible to help with back pain. But of course I don’t know your exact situation. Enjoy your meal out with family!
Good luck for your race on Saturday! I may go to the opening of the holiday lights at a local shopping area. I need some light in my life and the display from last year looked amazing.
Meike, holiday lights will help! I’ve been seeing some up already and it’s very cheering.
We are going out with friends Saturday night and I am really looking forward to because they are not bringing kids – dont get me wrong I like her kids one is my godchild but being in a restaurant and having adult conversations isn’t bad either.
By the way, the soup challenge was started by Julie but I had the same idea just for later in the year. Dont want to take away from Julie genius to do it now which works much better.
All the best with your race tomorrow. And I can see why the last one is the hardest one.
Ha, Tobia, if I’m eating in a restaurant, 99 times out of 100 I would prefer it to be without kids!
All the best with your race tomorrow, Jenny! I’m looking forward to the recap!
Thank you Catrina!
Have so much fun at your race tomorrow! I can’t wait to hear more about it!
I personally did not like that Gu, but I’m not a Gu person. I’ve only tried one other flavor (salted watermelon), which I thought was ok, I just don’t love the texture of those gels. My go-to for gels is the Huma brand!
I’m going to be sweeping at a local trail race tomorrow, and then I have Monday off work, so a nice long weekend. I also found out that they rescheduled the road work that was supposed to happen in front of our office this week to next Tuesday, so I get another work from home day!
Ooh! You have a super long weekend! And- I pretty much like all gels. Some of the flavors I like better than others, but I can get them all down and they don’t bother my stomach. I’ll report back on this one though!
I love pumpkin Gu.
Good luck. Have fun.
You got this.
Thank you Darlene! And, now I’m excited to try this Gu. : )
OMG I MUST have that soup ASAP. Yes, if you would get professional lighting, a pro level camera, prepare all of your food in the morning light, and Photoshop you too could take pictures like that…but I prefer “real” pictures when it comes to food. For those of us who are real people eating real dinners, November – February dinner pix are always the worst since we’re eating in the dark.
I had to giggle at the pumpkin spice gel. You are brave! But also how can you not try it? Especially on race day!!! I predict a fun race.
I know… how could I NOT try it? I like your prediction- I want it to be fun, overall.
Sending you all the good thoughts for your race tomorrow, Jenny! It’s such a cool format – I can’t wait to hear about your loops!
I have today off, so I’m going to drive to a slightly farther away than normal bookstore and get a fun coffee. Tonight and tomorrow, Lil Momma has rehearsal and then we are planning out our Thanksgiving food plan (which is fun to us haha – wild times up here)!
Oh yeah… I have to think about Thanksgiving!
A bookstore and a fun coffee sounds like an amazing day. I hope you enjoy it!
I’m getting excited for my Sunday hike and “communal scream” with some girlfriends…
We’re going to figure out how we’re going to move forward after we scream our hearts out into the lake.
I’ve never heard of a race format like your Saturday race before and am sending you best energies and look forward to hearing how things went!
Thank you Maya!
I’m laughing at the “communal scream.” Maybe we should have a “communal blog scream.” On Wednesday we should have all just posted “AAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGHHHHHHH!”
Good luck tomorrow!!. I’m so excited and while I know it’s not the race experience you were hoping for, I feel like you will make the best of the situation and still have a great time. I’m proud of you for sticking with this goal despite so much trouble from the nagging injury. You’re an inspiration, Jenny <3
I love pumpkin pie, but what I'm really waiting for the chocolate peppermint Silk creamer for my coffee. I'm a bit grumpy it hasn't been released yet. Last year, after Christmas, it went on a deep sale (like 99c a carton) and I bought 6 of them! They have a long fridge life if kept cool, so I stretched my peppermint goodness well into February.
Thank you Elisabeth- those are kind words.
I got some peppermint mocha creamer- it’s the Nut pods brand and unsweetened. I’m sure it’s not as good as the Silk, but my daughter tried it and she likes it!
Good luck tomorrow! My (unsolicited!!) advice would be to just walk for a while any time you are tired, but to keep going. It is sometimes fun to push yourself past tired to see how far you can go, but you definitely need to listen to your injury. However, most ultras are completed because of mental strength, and I would say most of the time, I would love to quit around the halfway point. However, pushing on (safely) can really give you more mental preparation for the next one (because there will be a next one!) And…that Gu sounds…interesting! I am not really a Gu person in general, but one year they did give out IPA/hops flavored ones at a race and I took one home but was never brave enough to try it. I will be interested to hear what you think.
That is some GREAT advice. So when I’m tired and want to quit, I’ll tell myself that I’m at the halfway point. I will definitely walk as needed, but keep moving forward.
Ooookay- IPA flavored gels? I MIGHT have to draw the line at that one (although now I’m curious to know what it’s like, ha.)
That soup looks and sounds amazing. Thank you for sharing! Good luck this weekend! Your ability to say “20 miles seems fine” is crazy to me. Having said that, I would also worry most about my ability to stop if something came up. I’ll be thinking of you on Sunday!!!
Thank you Noemi! Maybe 20 miles will seem crazy to me as well- we’ll find out.
We do not have anything fun planned for the weekend, but I can still plan something! It’s the first weekend in a while that we both will be feeling well, so I feel like we need an excursion so that we can take our minds of *gesticulates wildly* what’s going on in our lives right now.
An excursion would be good. Look at it this way- in addition to everything else, you don’t want Trump to take away all the joy in your life. Hmm, I feel like we should have a nickname for him so I don’t have to keep typing that name. I’ll think about this.
Good luck on the race, Jenny, I’m sure the pumpkin spice thingie will give you lots of fun energy! Also – YES PLEASE STOP IF SOMETHING HURTS! I can’t believe your race is this weekend! I don’t know when I thought it was, but I’m weirdly surprised. Ah well, I’m in a bit of a time warp.
Ha, I’m weirdly surprised as well. I think we’re all in a time warp this week. I hope the fact that I see a comment from you means you’re back! We’ve missed you!
Good luck and have fun out there! Please do listen to your body, though! You don’t want to end up with another injury! I hope the weather cooperates and you have a fun morning out there!
Well let’s see. There’s not going to ba a hurricane, so I guess you could say the weather is “cooperating.” But it’s going to be 85 degrees, grr. Anyway thank you!
Sounds like a great plan for your race- fun to be out there competing and pushing yourself after so many months with that calf debacle! Good luck!
Thank you Sophie! Yes, it will feel good to be back out there.
did you finish the race or still running? can’t wait to hear the recap. enjoy!
Good luck! (Or maybe it’s over and I’m very late) I hope it was/is a good experience overall.
I’m *finally* getting a haircut this weekend and I am so excited about it. It’s been far too long!
That’s an interesting race format. How did it go? (I am commenting late so I will probably find out in one of your more recent posts ;)). Did you like the pumpkin-flavored GU?