learning to run again

I am a treadmill junkie, I admit it.  My latest goal : re-learn the joys of outdoor running.

I used to run outdoors - a lot.  In elementary and high school I ran with the track team - long distance, short distance, didn't really matter the distance!  Went off to college, then working life started and 17 years later, any running I do has been relegated to the treadmill.

I'm comfortable on the treadmill; I don't have to worry about weather conditions, air quality or any of that nonsense.  I can  throw on my shoes, some shorts and a tank top and jump onto the treadmill, plug in the ear buds and tune out to (or into, depending on the day) the likes of Florence & The Machine (my new big time favourite is their song Breath of Life - wicked for running!). 

And here's my biggest reason for staying on the treadmill - I have a mild form of asthma - exercise induced asthma to be specific.  Wheezing, coughing and frustration ensues when I get off the treadmill and head outside to run.  I end up walking more than running and end up disappointed; nothing more motivating than repeated failure, right?!   It can be because of poor air quality, cold weather, windy weather or I'm just trying to run too darn fast (which is an oxymoron in and of itself, since I am not fast... at all).  In this Canadian climate, winter and blustery days are my enemy.  Oh, and did I mention I live along a river?  Yes, the wind coming off that baby on days like today is a tad unpleasant.  

Today marks the start of a new journey - learning to run outside again.  Today was day 1.   A lovely group of ladies arrived down in the park along the river.  Our coach is Corey Turnbull - marathoner, 50km runner, triathlete and all around great guy who loves running and wants nothing more than to share that passion with others.  Couldn't ask for a better coach!  This past week has been pretty nice temperature-wise : 10 - 12 degrees (50F) each and every day this week.  Today?   0C with a windchill that put it at about -4 degrees (about 24F).   YIKES!!!!   Seriously, what a day to start.  

But you know what?  It was awesome, all of it.  Ok, the wind off the water, not so pleasant actually, I won't lie.  But the rest of it?  Just fine and actually fairly comfortable.  4 laps around the loop for a total of 4.4km.  

So off we go for the next 8 weeks!  Wish me luck - I know there will be days I'll need it!  

local food from our local farmer

Ok, so most of you know already that we participate in a Community Support Agriculture (CSA) program with a local farmer.  I wanted to give you a little insight to who that farmer is and how, as consumers, we are managing the seasonal nature of a year round CSA program (some days are easier than others!). 

Angie Peladeau and her family own and run Heritage Harvest Farm, a small local farm about 15 minutes from where we live.  They have tons of garden space, lots of open area for the animals to roam and munch and they take immense pride in what they do and how they do it.  I highly encourage you to check out their website and learn a little about their world and how it makes ours a better (and much yummier) one!  PS - she makes a killer sourdough-type bread that is to die for and surprisingly, doesn't seem to have the same negative impact on gluten-sensitive little old me... more research to do on that front!

We have been getting produce, eggs and meat from Angie for a couple of years now and this past spring we embarked on a bit of an experiment alongside them to participate in a year-round CSA program.  The reality of Canadian winters means most of our food from fall through spring came from the grocery stores (and therefore, the USA, Mexico, China, etc).   Long treks for a lot of that produce and while still healthy choices, less than ideal in terms of the impact on the environment. 

We have now entered that late fall season where the niceties of summer such as fresh herbs, zucchini and gorgeous tomatoes (oh, and hubby's fav - hot peppers) have vanished.  In their place though, we're discovering some goodies we've never had before - kohlrabi and different varieties of squash for example (and seriously, how did I not know about the magic of spaghetti squash before now?!)   Then there are the standbys - potatoes, beets, carrots, onions - lots of those this time of year!   

So, how are we managing the seasonal produce world?  Pretty well so far, though I'm trying to be creative, especially with potatoes - you can only have mashed taters so often before even I tire of them! Trips to the grocery store are few and far between and mostly to pick up things like lemons, limes, avocados and mushrooms - those don't do so well in our Canadian winters!  We'll see what the dead of winter brings and I'll discover how creative I can get.  Until then, here's a recipe with my new favourite veggie - spaghetti squash!

Herb Infused Spaghetti Squash

• 1 spaghetti squash, cut lengthwise
• fresh herbs of your choice and as much as you'd like (I particularly like thyme, basil, oregano)
• garlic, as much as you'd like, raw or roasted
• sea salt and pepper
• olive oil or butter (if it's butter, keep it organic)

Lightly oil a baking dish and place the squash, cut sides down.  Throw it in the oven at 350 degrees for 30 - 40 minutes (or until tender).   Remove it from the oven and let it cool a little so you can handle it; using a fork, scrape the squash out of the shell into a mixing bowl (this is where the magic happens - it is amazingly just like spaghetti!!)   The rest is easy - just add the ingredients of your choosing and toss with your squash!  This is fantastic as a side dish or light lunch. 

So many variations with spaghetti squash - treat it just like spaghetti and top with marinara sauce; prepare as above and add veggies of your choosing to make it a meal - hot OR cold! 

it's about practice

Practice, practice, practice!  It's something we all probably heard as youngsters - "practice makes perfect".  But there's something about that cliche that doesn't sit well with me - "perfect".  

Through our yoga practice, we strive not for perfection.  Our practice is our journey.  Some days our practice is full of a sense of joy, accomplishment; other days bring frustration and impatience.  The 2 experiences are equally valuable: those practices that come with ease teach us the wonder of joy, happiness, acceptance; those that bring frustration serve to remind us to be patient with ourselves, to examine the source of frustration and then let it go. 

Our practice is not about perfection; that is elusive.  Our practice can be our opportunity for growth, for introspection, for celebration, to cultivate patience and acceptance.  But only if we let it :-)

What do you embrace about your practice?