1/2 Marathon Anyone?

Last week I ran 12 miles on Wed. 12 miles in a row. Nod, I know I can't believe it either. Only had 1 small blister. So looks like I *could* do a 1/2 marathon....

---going to do a blingo.com search and see when any 1/2 marathons are in Chicago---

Found one.
The Chicago Half Marathon, Sept 9th 7:30AM. Okay I better sign up it's 75% full already and they are capping it at 12,500 entries--can you believe there are that many crazy runners out there?

Alright I did it, I am all signed up for the big event...and now that my mind is working I am thinking that I will see if I can use my 2 night 3 day Get Away Your Way trip I earned from TS to get a hotel for me and the family for that wknd...and we could stay down there and they could watch me run and I wouldn't have to travel downtown that morning!

The night before a big race many runners load up on the carbs for quick energy the next day and what better way to carbload than a nice plate of pasta...

A recipe adapted from the Costco Connection to be healthier and include Tastefully Simple products....

Penne with Cauliflower
1/4 cup EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)
1-2 tsp Garlic Garlic
2 lbs of tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped if you have fresh tomatoes from the garden or from a farmers market OR just make life easy with 4 cups canned diced tomatoes
1 head of cauliflower, broken into florets
2 tbsp salt or 2 tbsp Italian Seasoning Blend (product from TS Fall/Winter Catalog) OPTIONAL
1 pound of whole wheat penne pasta
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
Fresh Ground Pepper
Optional Grated Parm Cheese for garnish (to keep fat content down very lightly garnish or skip.

In a large saute pan heat olive oil then add garlic garlic and topmatoes and cook until tomatoes begin to break down.

Add cauliflower and stir well. Add 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup very hot water, lower heat to med. and cook for 30 min or until cauliflower is tender.

While that is cooking bring 6 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot, add the 2 tbsp salt if desired. Add penne and cook until the penne is al dente.
4. Drain pasta and add to pan w/cauliflower, stir in parsley and black pepper to taste, toss for 1 minute, plate this delicious meal w/lots of flavor and fiber and cheese fans sprinkle on a bit of Parm.

Want it Vegan? Just skip the cheese.
Want it to have more protein? add diced chicken breast.
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Once I have accomplished this 1/2 marathon goal I will begin working toward participating in the Team in Training Leukemia program to run in the Nashville Marathon on April 18th in honor of Tonya Ross, Tastefully Simple Consultant and mom of 3 little ones who passed away father's day weekend because of Luekemia. Tonya Ross was only 32.

I will be posting frequently about the training and my fundraising efforts once 2008 begins.
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