All the talk about the new Boston Marathon requirements on the intertubez the past few days only really makes me think of one thing. In seventh grade we had to give a 10 minute speech. Maybe it was 5. 13 year old me just knew it was a LONNNGGG time to be talking in front of the class with notecards. I can’t recall if we were able to pick any topic or we had to choose from a category. I am guessing the latter because I chose the Boston Marathon. Probably based on my interest in running since that was my first year in cross country. I remember my big poster board with the map of the route, photos of runners, and probably some terrible freehand block lettering with markers as was my style at the time. I refused to be confined by stencils.
Anyway, I have known about marathons for a long time and remember there not being very many back when I started running. Maybe my perception is wrong, but to me it seems running has really increased in popularity over the years. So to be honest, I don’t think the change in qualifying time is unfair. Maybe because I know I will never get there and have zero desire to go, I think an event with such prestige and history should uphold just that.
Before I get to the subject of this post’s title, lets talk food.
Today’s Food: I whipped up a little creation of my own today. I have had a package of whole wheat gnocchi staring me down from the pantry for weeks now. I was a bit perplexed on what to do with it. Most recipes seemed pretty bland and usually were for making it from scratch. So anyway…here ya go:
Gnocchi with Italian Sausage and Peppers
from Bees Knees Life
Ingredients
-1 package of store bought gnocchi (or be awesome and make your own)
-1 package fully cooked Italian style chicken sausage, 4 links cut into bite sized pieces (I used Archer Farms mild Italian, from SuperTarget)
-1 red pepper, cut into bite sized pieces or julienned, however you prefer
-1 medium yellow onion, also cut into bite sized pieces or julienned
-1 bunch of spinach….errr… about 2 cups stems removed
-1 Tbsp. olive oil
-1 clove garlic (I used Garlic Gold olive oil instead)
-1/4 cup white wine (I used chardonnay since that is what I had on hand)
-1 teas. Italian seasoning
-1 teas. oregano
-salt and pepper to taste
Directions
Start by cooking gnocchi following the directions on the package, which typically means boiling some water. At the same time, heat a medium skillet with the olive oil. Add garlic if using, then about 30 seconds later add peppers and onions. Cook on medium to medium low heat being careful not to cook too fast or burn the onion. About the time you add your gnocchi to boiling water, add the wine and the chicken sausage to the peppers and onions. Cook until sausage is heated through. After gnocchi is done, drain then add to the pan. Toss to combine. Next, add spinach again tossing to combine. Cook on medium-low until spinach has wilted. Serve it up – makes about 4-5 servings depending on how hungry you are.
Today’s Fitness: I had the most amazing 7 mile run tonight. I started out from work so that I knew I would have enough daylight left. Since I am not 100% confident about the new territory, I wanted to play it extra safe. It wasn’t my best time overall because of having to run a few 400 meter or so stretches on ice so I had to slow down, and once I turned back and headed North it was all wind. Oh Hai Wind! There you are. It just felt good. It was invigorating and confidence building. And, I passed a lot of other runners. I know they could be doing any sort of run that day, but still. I like passing rather then being passed. Here are some pics I snapped on the journey.
It made me wonder what my life would be like if I was all urban and lived in a swank condo that overlooked downtown and I walked everywhere. It would be fun, but at the end of the day, I like having my own little piece of first ring suburbia.
Today’s Fun: The run was fun. It rhymes and it’s true.
I also made some progress on a very frustrating part of my new job – learning new software. You see, I had been using AutoCad oh for about 7 years each and every day. New job dictates a different cad drafting program that is similar but oh so different. It’s really hard to break those habits. And I really don’t want to because AutoCad and me have had a great run. I plan on still firing it up from time to time to stay fresh. So if that makes me sound like a mega-nerd, so be it.
