Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Are You Afraid of the Dark? & Pumpkin Protein Pancakes

Do you guys remember that show as a kid?? I used to watch it with my brothers and sisters ALL the time. We loved turning all the lights off and just waiting to get scared! Ha. Good times.
 
But let's talk about running.
 
 I used to be a fearless runner, much to the protest of my boyfriend and family. I'd run in the dark because it's when I had the time. (How else are you going to fit in 15 miles before you have to be somewhere at 9 AM?) I know that there are stories about runners (especially female) having terrible things happen to them, but terrible things happen everywhere.
 
I'm not going to stop doing what I love to do because there are sick people out there.
 
I have made an effort to be better prepared though. I've been running with my mace (day or night) and I've also started to take my headphones off when it's dark, so I'm more aware of my surroundings.
 
Yeah, terrible idea. Apparently, I am in fact, afraid of the dark.
 
 
Do you know how many animals there are in these woods?? Deers, rabbits, squirrels, raccoons, mice.....They are everywhere! Dancing along in the leaves just to scare the shit out of me.


 
 
They obviously did a good job.  I took my headphones off at the beginning of mile 3 and started booking it......Never in my life did I think I'd actually run faster without music.
 
It felt GREAT though. I should try "running away" from things more often.
 
Today, I'm running mid-day though. What a weekday treat! My daughter had a teacher-workday so I had to stay home with her. (She loves biking beside me while I run)
 
I fueled up with this delicious bowl of oats.
 
 
I don't know who I am these days, because I usually despise frozen fruit, but frozen mango is totally doing it for me;-)
 
and just because breakfast is the best meal of the day.

 
I made these pumpkin protein pancakes last week. I modified the original recipe a bit:
 
1/4 c. nonfat, plain greek yogurt
1/4 c. pumpkin puree
2/3 c. old fashioned oats
1 egg
1 egg white
TONS of cinnamon
A dash of nutmeg
A sprinkle of chia seeds
 
I let mine sit for about 10 minutes after I mixed it up, just to let the oats soak.
 
Topped with Sunbutter and bananas. Seriously good!

5 comments:

  1. I'm totally afraid of the dark, as we've discussed previously. And while running last week my last two miles were about a minute faster (~7:30) because I heard/imagined a noise in the woods while running. Sheesh. =p

    I may have to try those pumpkin pancakes this weekend... =)

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  2. I don't mind at all running in the dark, as long as I have a headlamp with me. The other morning I went out without a headlamp and it was too dark to be on any non-lit road (there are a lot around here) and it was so dark that I made myself just go a bit and turn around.

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    Replies
    1. I feel like a headlamp would be so bulky.....no?

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  3. I got scared by an armadillo the other day when i was running in the dark....

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    Replies
    1. An armadillo?? That is so funny. Where do you live?

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