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A Parent/Child Relay Run Race - in the rain - to the benefits of Kids with Type 1 Diabetes. Read Cole's story (As written by Cole and his mom 4 weeks after diagnosis as part of a presentation to his 1st grade class.)
And some homemade Harvest Pumpkin Bread, with raisins and walnuts.
Mmmh... Delicioso! Delicious! Delicieux! Köstlich!
It was raining today but not it was not cold and the course was fairly flat. Conditions I like for running. The only bother was my Garmin that was out off charge - the device's screen was showing "Battery charging Complete" when I unpluged it...
Anyway. I ran this 5K in 25:08 minutes (average pace 8:07 min/mile) which placed me on 68th position out of 116 participants.
I was 2nd in my age group but only #1 of each age group was awarded.
#1 Lady in my age group finished in 22:59 minutes. Yikes! That is 2:09 minutes faster than my time! So no beautiful shiny medal for me today but looking at the results online I am amuzed to see that I would have been #3 Overall Female Masters if there was a classment for that division! Of course, lots of participants didn't show up because of the weather, but... still, I like the way that sounds... eh eh 
I was a bit tired because of a starting cold and I had taken some cold medication in the morning, which made me a bit drowsy and dehydrated. I was certainly not at my strongest physically talking but also mentally because of one of my Doctor's interdiction to run at all yesterday - in fact he only allowed me to swim, bike or walk for no more than 30 minutes a day... and so, for 6 weeks?!!!
My Garmin not working was actually a good thing since my Cardiologist has recommended me to not use it anymore, and to run stress free because my heart was reacting perfectly fine during the stress test I took last week!
Go figure... Two Doctors who cannot agree on my case, that tends to make me feel a bit confused and a tiny mini paranoid... LOL
Therefore, I didn't dare pushing too hard during the race. Besides, not knowing how my heart was doing during the race was a bit disturbing. I got so used to check on my device regularly during my runs.
Thankfully, I had my i-Pod's music to keep my mind busy and to pace me! 
After-race party was fun too. It was in a nearby hotel and there was a nice buffet with Pizza, Crackers and Cheese, Quesadillas, Tortilla Chips and dip, and... Vegetable soup which was very welcome after running in the rain!
First time I see soup being served as a post-race party and I like it!
So, I didn't make a new Personal Record but I feel good about my running today. Besides, the race was well organized, there was not too many people running (or walking) - therefore no long lines at the bathrooms' doors or porta-potties - and it was for a good cause!
This is my first Food Friday entry and I thought that was perfect opportunity to post about my first Candy Apples. I have been trying to find new ideas to make all those apples more appealing to my family, and I thought this recipe would make a hit chez les Tricotines. And it did!
Want to join this friday meme? Click here to learn the details
Photo Courtesy of David Colby Young - Maine Running Photographer.
Today was the last day of summer and what better way to celebrate than running a race? The weather was perfect (sunny and warm - 60 degrees F) and I ran the Portland Trails 10K in 54:37 minutes (net time). That is only 34 seconds less than my previous 10K time which means that if I had made up my mind to get into that race from the beginning and if I didn't run the first mile in 10 minutes yesterday I probably would have met my sub-54 goal...
Aaargh! 
According to Mister Tricotine's calculations, I would have finished around 53:20 minutes if I had kept the same pace for the whole race as I did the final 5.2 miles.
So, what happened? Because I hurt my back riding my bike last weekend and because my Chiropractor/Kinesiologist adviced me not to run but to walk that 10K, I showed at the starting line not knowing what I was going to do; walking, running slow and working at keeping my heart rate below 85%, or running my best and go for a sub-54 no matter what.
My indecision has cost me to not reach any of my goals in the end... 
Keeping in mind what my Doctor said yet wanting to enjoy the race a bit, I jogged the first mile at an average pace of 10 min/mile with the intention to be "reasonable", but at the first down-hill my legs irresistably speeded up. From there, and since I was not bothered by my pack pain at all, I decided to go for that sub-54 minutes... eh eh
| Lap (#) |
Time (m:s) |
Distance (mi) |
M Spd (mph) |
Energy (Cal) |
| 1 | 9:57 | 1.00 | 8.5 | 107 |
| 2 | 8:34 | 1.00 | 8.9 | 108 |
| 3 | 8:48 | 1.00 | 7.4 | 107 |
| 4 | 8:44 | 1.00 | 7.9 | 108 |
| 5 | 8:34 | 1.00 | 8.7 | 108 |
| 6 | 8:04 | 1.00 | 10.0 | 108 |
| 7 | 2:02 | 0.26 | 8.8 | 28 |
I finished 370th/769 participants (48.1%) - 25/83 (30.1%) in my age group.
My official time (chip time) was 54:37 minutes -- avg pace 8:48 min/mile
According to my Garmin, my average moving speed was 6.5 mph and my maximum moving speed 11 mph.
Elevation Gain (ft) +429 / -418
Knowing the course well was certainly a plus (I train there often with my running group) because I knew where up-hills and down-hills were and it helped me to manage my energy.
Obviously, my heart rate was not as well managed as I had planned to initially but I didn't go completely crazy either. Unlike my other races where my HR jumped up to 110% of my maximum heart rate, I tried to not let it go over 100%, except for the last mile and the sprint to the finish line. Then, it went up to 105%.
For the whole race my HR average heart rate was 96% of my maximum heart rate, and 105% at the highest. It was in the recommended aerobic zone for only 1:09 minute... [uh hum]
Oh well, as Jeff Galloway says: "There are no health benefits for running faster. It’s only for the ego... but there's nothing wrong with a weekly ego boost."
HA! I should print that out for my Doctor.
After the race, Pizza and Beer were available to all racers but I personally prefered a Banana and my favorite post-run "fixing fix" (Dried Apricots, Walnuts, Almonds, Pecans and Dark Chocolate Chips) that I brought with me from home + some Coconut Water (rich in natural electrolytes).
The coolest part of the race was that I got to run for a while with my Sparky Friend Tika, and to spend a little time with her - unfortunately not enough to catch up but I know we will meet again.
Fresh Mint, Chives, Oregano and Tarragon from my garden.
100% Organic. I like to use fresh herbs in my salads and omelettes.
In order to have fresh and ready to use herbs all year round, I wash, finely cut and freeze them in airtight containers or bags. Very convenient, local and cheaper than fresh herbs from who knows where that are sold at the store off season.
For the ones I rather use dry such as Mint for my tisanes, or Oregano for my Pizzas or my Special Tomato Sauce, I lay them flat within two clean cotton cloths and let them air dry. Then I store them in airtight containers just like any other spices.
Saturday, I participated to my first bike ride ever, the "Maine Lighthouse Ride" to benefit the Eastern Trail Alliance, an organization dedicated to building a 60-mile off-road greenway from Kittery to South Portland, Maine. The trail will be part of an even bigger dream - the East Coast Greenway connecting Key West, Florida with Calais, Maine.
I chose to do the 25 miles ride along the Spectacular Maine Coastline and to see 7 lighthouses on the way. The weather was perfect. After rain the day and night before, the sun was showing again.
At the starting line, my bike ready to go.
Rest Stop, at mile 14.4.
Well appreciated energizing food, drinks, and amazing scenery!
As I was snapshoting around, someone kindly offered to take my photo.
Portland Head Light, in Cape Elizabeth.
After the ride, a great lunch buffet with the veggiburger option! 
I might sign up for the 40 miles ride next year...
Today, Sunday, was my weekly long run day and I did 14 miles in the rain in the morning; then we took the kids to the movies in the afternoon.
My little one just wanted to make sure I wouldn't be too sad without him at lunch time, so he got the idea to use that paper representation of himself he made at Art Class to keep me company until he gets back home.
A little while ago, I was invited to "WHAT A MESS!" Thanks Rachel!
At first, I had no idea what to post about - no seriously - but today I immediately thought of that new Meme when I saw this. That cardboard box containing our cardboard recycling just couldn't take it anymore and broke open!
This is what happens when the person in charge of the recycling (I won't mention any name but I am sure that person will know who I am talking about) proscratinates thinks that playing computer games is more fun recycling can wait once a month is way enough...
Or maybe that person was concerned that I wouldn't know what to do
at home while kids were in shcool... Mmmh?
... Myself and I, completely childless for the first time in years, and we don't know what to do with that hour on our hands... LOL
I remember Myself saying that she couldn't wait for the kids to both be in school so I could have more time for myself but now that this time has come we don't even feel like doing anything that is on my list. Going to the gym, going for a run or a ride with the bike, taking Yoga or Cardio or Cooking class, reading magazines or just taking a nap does not seem so important anymore...
I am not use to the house being so quiet. Too quiet...
