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October 2010 archive

My First Post-Injury Run!

I wasn’t going to post a Tuesday Blag today since I shared my Project Tasteless, Naked Chef Challenge with you all late Sunday night. Being naked on the internet is a scary thing, but it was a thing I had to do. I didn’t win or even get an honorable mention, but I had fun and got to tell lots of boys that I was naked.

I am riding a pretty big high right now and since I already did most of the writing on dailymile, I might as well tell you. I ran for the first time since my October 3 half marathon, for the first time since I found out I sprained my ankle!

Some back story: I went on an awesome hike in August and landed funny on my ankle, slightly twisting it. I was concerned because I was smack in the middle of half marathon training, but my ankle did not bother me at all while walking or running. Just some slight weirdness while sitting at my desk at work. Strange. I continued with my training, completing many long runs — right up to a 12 miler — with no pain.

Then I ran the Divas Half Marathon and PR’d with a 2:14:44 time. After 6 miles, both my knees were hurting badly. Shortly after, my ankle started hurting too. The pain was intense throughout the rest of my race. After the race I could barely walk and the pain was emanating from my foot so badly I could not even pinpoint the location of the injury.

I was in pain but I was happy!

Divas Half

Once the entire foot stopped hurting, the ankle pain remained and now I knew exactly where the pain was. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with a sprain. I had sprained that ankle when I was 10 and it felt pretty much the same, so I had a feeling that was the case. He prescribed this lace-up ankle brace:

It is both practical AND sexy! Try to hold yourselves back, boys.

I also iced and attempted to go to physical therapy only to find that my old company does not believe in in-network physical therapy coverage. As the days went on, my ankle started to feel better.

This morning, after an amazing Core Fusion Yoga class with Janna and my friend Melissa, I felt energized. The sun was shining, it was unseasonably warm, I just wanted to do more. And I wanted to do it outside. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to wear a tank top and shorts, my ankle felt great and I was ready to attempt a run. I have a 5 mile race this weekend and wanted to test the waters to make sure I would be able to do it.

This was my first run since the half marathon. My first run since spraining my ankle. My plan was to take it easy and gauge how my ankle was feeling. I wasn’t going to try to run fast. In fact, I decided not to look at my Garmin at all and just do what felt right.

It was amazing. I felt so great! At the first few steps my ankle did a weird adjustment thing, I guess to get used to the fact that it was running, but it went right back to normal within a second. The first two miles of this run were the easiest, best miles I have ever run in my life. I couldn’t stop smiling and it just felt effortless. I felt like I was floating! My music was awesome and that helped too. The sun was shining and the East River was gorgeous.

My plan was 3 or 4 miles depending on how my ankle felt. When I got to mile 2 I looked down at my Garmin in time to see that I ran that mile in 8:39. A little fast for me. It is hard to realize your speed when you feel that good.

Right after I finished that mile, my left knee started hurting. Exactly the same pain I had during my half marathon. It hit me that I spent so much time and effort attending to my injured ankle that I totally forgot my knee had been really bad during the race. With all the ankle icing I’ve been doing, it never occurred to me to ice my knee.

The pain wouldn’t let up so I headed back in the direction of home. Suddenly the run was not so effortless anymore. This last mile and a half was a struggle.

I know, I know. Way too fast. I always do that at my first mile too! It is hard to realize how fast I am going when I am feeling good. Also, the rest of my body wasn’t injured, so it probably felt like it had a nice 3-week rest and that is why I felt so comfortable running at such a fast pace.

After mile 2 when I finally looked at my Garmin, I actually thought I did slow down. It sure felt that way with the knee pain. But, um, I guess not. Now I know I need to rely on my Garmin when I am trying to go slow. I have this fancy, expensive tool so I might as well use it to my advantage. Lesson learned.

I will ice my knee every day and I will take it slooooow during my 5 mile race on Sunday. But I am happy. I CAN RUN. My ankle does not hurt! I will continue to take care of it too. I AM BACK!

Project Tasteless, Naked Chef Challenge: My Pasta

A few weeks ago, Rachel’s clothes were all in the laundry and she was forced to cook naked. She posted a picture of herself wearing nothing but her apron. It was a hot picture and a lot of us went a little nuts over it. This is how I learned that side boob is the new cleavage.

Frustrated with the typical contests in the blogworld that don’t recognize creativity or humor, Rach decided to hold a blog contest of her own. One that any of us would have a shot at winning. And so Project Tasteless was born. Challenge #1? The Naked Chef Challenge. Because her own nude cooking was so wildly successful and, well, sexy.

And I had to participate. Being naked except for an apron sounded like exactly where I wanted to be.

Project Tasteless

First things first, I had to borrow an apron. I do not own an apron and really, I have no reason to. I turned to the Twitters with a request for an apron and my good friend Erica responded! She had an apron for me. One caveat — it said “Erica” on it.

That made it even better and funnier.

Okay so I had the apron, now I just needed a recipe and someone to cook for/assist me in taking the photos. Since I was going to be wearing nothing but an apron, I figured it was only fitting to ask a boy to come over. I started texting all the boys I know to find out who wanted me to cook naked for them.

No one did.

I could not find a single person willing to let me cook naked for him. Why are things like this so easy for women on TV? Why is it so hard for me? I decided to open the field up a bit and I turned to the Twitters, where I asked the world at large.

No one responded. I asked again. Nothing. Except for one guy who told me “I’m not that fat.” I think he was trying to make me feel better about no one wanting to see me naked. Uh, thanks. Block.

Then I tried on the apron and took a picture of myself in the mirror, which I proceeded to sext to the same guys who already shot me down. No one took the bait.

Luckily my roommate, who is rarely home, was spending the night in the apartment so I had someone to cook for and help me! Relieved, I could focus on the next pressing task: the recipe.

I am not a chef. I rarely order takeout, but the food I make for myself every day is very basic and very quick. I considered making my Magnolia Banana Pudding which is SO GOOD, but remembered a comment Rachel made once about how her boyfriend, one of Project Tasteless judges, does not like banana pudding. I thought hard about any other recipe I would be comfortable enough with to make nude. After all, you can’t just make a brand new recipe when you’re naked and anything can go wrong. Better to be familiar with the potential hazards. But I don’t really make anything. I eat pretty basic meals. I didn’t think I could dip bread in hummus and submit it for a contest. Then it hit me.

MY PASTA!

My Pasta is this really delicious pasta dish that my mom used to make for me starting in high school. Then I started making it myself. It is so good and so easy and delicious. My Pasta was the perfect recipe for this challenge. And yes, My Pasta is the official name. If my mom would ask what I was having for dinner and I responded with “My Pasta” she knew exactly what I meant.

When I tell you what is in my pasta, it will sound weird. The ingredients don’t seem like they should be in pasta and it might be hard to imagine them together. But I promise you — it tastes great and it really just works. My roommate agrees.

Ingredients:

  • One bag extra wide egg noodles
    *Today though, I used one bag wide whole wheat egg white noodles to healthify it
  • One can pineapple chunks in its own juice
  • Cinnamon
  • One container 1% cottage cheese (not whipped)

Directions:

  • Cook entire bag of noodles per instructions in large pot (larger than one shown, which was too small)

  • While waiting for pasta to cook, drain juice from pineapple chunks (unpictured)
  • If nude, pose seductively

  • And drink wine

  • Strain pasta when it is finished cooking and then pour it back in the pot

  • But make sure you get your potholder down from on top of the cabinet

  • Stir in container of cottage cheese right away, while pasta is very warm

  • Stir in entire can of pineapples

  • Stir in cinnamon, to taste (I use a lot)

  • Repeat as needed

  • Serve and eat

That was fun! And even better, a boy DID end up coming over. Sadly for all involved, I was fully dressed by that time. I found Project Tasteless Naked Chef Challenge to be a fun bonding experience with my roommate, who I have known for 10 years now. My recipe might not be the most creative or especially complicated, but it is easy and delicious and healthy. Cook it naked, and it is also fun.

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