QUEEN ZIP & KathyG - CLOSED (Page 32)

Not sure if anyone is interested but Ive started putting up some pictures from the race yesterday here: http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid=10500&useralbum=20768

There will be more to come but if you want to have a look there they are!

To quickly summarise I came 30/127 in the swim but really struggled in the heat on the ride and run... I may have also psyched myself out pre prace and sent the preceeding 5 hours pre race running around in the heat with the girls... whoops!

BUT... I had the BEST time... and it was amazing to share the experience with so many people... I really love these girls so it was such a delight to spend so much time with them!

I could do a month+ worth of them. I'm a bit of a bike jersey junkie. I have a whole lot of them.

I made the marinated veggie salad and it won approval from my husband (he does not share my love of healthy food and activities...he looks like the Pillsbury dough boy but he's mine) Anyway, I'm sharing the recipe here:

2 cups cauliflower pieces

1/2 lb fresh green beans , trim ends and cut in half

Steam these forabout 5 minutes until crisp tender.  Rinse in cool water and drain.

Add 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

thinly sliced sun dried tomatoes

stuffed olives--I bought a small jar and drained them

can of drained and rinsed chick peas

Mix all together in a bowl with light Italian dressing and chill at least 4 hrs to serve.

So I am proposing the following challenges for next week (running Mon-next Sun):

1.  Try a new vegetable or an old veggie in a new way and report on it in the thread.

2.  Leave an inspire for all members of the mentor group at least twice during the week.

3.  Try a new exercise/stretch or piece of equipment and report back.  This could be just a new strength move, it doesn't have to be fancy.

4. Post your favorite motivating song or just your favorite piece of music. Something that either gets you moving or helps you relax.

Lets all give it a try and have FUN!

Are we supposed to do ALL of these next week or pick one or what?   Actually the hardest one for me would be the vegetable one and I eat lots and lots of vegetables.

As for other things to do with avocados ... cut them in half take the pit out and scoop the flesh out in one piece. Drizzle with lemon juice and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill pit side down for 2-3 minutes or until charred. Fill with shrimp or crab salad and serve with toasted bread. 

Used smashed avocado in place of mayo.

Place sliced avocado on sandwiches, or in omelets.

Add a quarter of an avocado to a smoothie for a dose of added healthy fat.

Cube avocado and mix with chopped pineapple, mango and cilantro (salt and pepper) serve over fish or chicken.

Thanks everyone for all the support in the lead up to the race. Ive just written the race report here:http://beginnertriathlete.com/discussion/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=146054&posts=2#M1940625

Will check in properly tomorrow and get all caught up on the things Ive missed!

For the week's challenges, do as many as you wish with the goal being to do them all.

I suddenly have a hankering for avocado!

Ooh, a Chinatown trip is a great idea, Helen!  I'm having a hard time thinking of stuff that I haven't tried - at our last dinner party my foodie friends brought over rambutan, which was a first for me - but I bet I could find something else new.

I love U2 while I'm working out. Beautiful Day or anything off the Joshua Tree album. It gets the blood pumping at Turbo.

My new favorite workout son. "Hang me up to dry" By the Cold War Kids. Great for climbing drills on the trainer.

Love it!  Johnny's version totally kicks the original's a$$.  Listening to it again for the first time in a while-- the finish/chorus part has a really prominent rhythm there that would be great for a run or uphill climb.

This one that my boyfriend put on a New Year's run-playlist for me helped me run-in the finish this weekend after walking a bunch of the 5k.  It's a very triumphant, gonna-kick-some-butt-in-2009 song without being fast or over-powering that I couldn't listen to it when taking an easy jog or stroll.  It's a nice sappy love song, too

The Zombies - This Will Be Our Year

I lvoe the idea of a challenge very motivating

Just made the run part. A bit short on bike just a tad short on the swim