Readjusting My Focus

Yesterday, Raquel asked me how I used to stay so focused on my running when we first started dating, and why it seems like my focus has shifted since then. After giving her the initial quizzical "duh" stare, I told her the truth. It may seem like my focus has shifted since we started dating, but that's because I was better at masking my real priorities back then. Besides, what better way to impress a girl than being in shape and showing some dedication to fitness? After you get the girl, you tend to be less worried about impressing her. Unfortunately. And in all honesty, my weekly running mileage decreased by about a half after we met.

Naturally, that begged the question of how I stayed so focused before we met. Of course, I did touch on my early motivation that I share with most of my friends, but this time Raquel was the one asking. And I believe in full disclosure when it comes to my girlfriend. So she helped me realize something while I was being honest with her. My best running performance was fueled by anger and bitterness from a previous breakup. It's true. I'm sad to say that the peak of my running career occurred between my previous relationship and Raquel. It explains everything about my running style during that time: balled-fisted, teeth-gritting, angry music pavement pounding (that was probably grammatically wrong, but you get the point).

In essence, I think I was literally running away from my own fears: fear that I handled the relationship badly, fear of my own sexuality, and fear that my career was going nowhere after years of schooling. Hey, some people have therapy, and I guess I had running, which allotted me miles of sweating and quiet reflection. At least it was free and not to mention the beneficial side effect of getting in shape. After 856 miles (according to my Nike+ account), I'd like to think that I've sorted out those issues and more. I'm not saying that running is going to be a magical remedy for everyone, but it does work for some.

So where am I going from here? Well, I now know that running will always be there to help me sort through my problems. But, I don't want it to be associated with negative emotions. And maybe it's time to use it as an expression of how happy I am that I've found someone who's perfect for me. I'm not going to run away from my fears anymore. Instead, I'm going to run towards a dazzingly bright future, that I never thought was possible or deserved. It's just a matter of seeing where my feet take me.

Valentine's Day Breakfasts: Banana Pecan Buttermilk Pancakes, Blueberry Strawberry Scones

I was trying my best to figure out two good breakfasts to cook for our Valentine's Day Weekend. And I came up with Banana Pecan Buttermilk Pancakes for one day, and Blueberry Strawberry Scones for the second day. They were both a hit! Especially topped with fresh strawberries and blueberries. I can't say they were the most healthy recipes, considering we could have probably had fruits and oatmeal. But, it was our Valentine's Day celebration and I wanted to splurge a little. Plus, Raquel completely loved it, so it was worth it. Hopefully, we worked it off with the hike we took afterwards.

Chocolate Haupia Pie

At the moment, this is what love looks like for us. Sure, it may not be Ted's Chocolate Haupia Pie. But, it was made with love for a very specific person. Raquel and I decided not to celebrate Valentine's Day on the actual day, because it would be impossible to go anywhere and do something fun with the crowds. So, we're celebrating this weekend and this was my first gift to her: my own home-made Chocolate Haupia Pie. And, the huge smile that she gave me when she first saw the pie in the fridge is worth every calorie that we're going to consume. Happy Valentine's Day everybody!

Mac and Cheese with Bacon

You gotta love home-made Mac and Cheese. Lately, I've been on this kick to cook unhealthy, all-american, comfort food. And after last week's jalapeno burgers, I was in the mood for something warm and satisfying. So, I tried out Tyler Florence's Mac and Cheese with Bacon. Now, I'm actually a huge fan of Tyler Florence, because I just love his style. He lives in Nor-Cal and it shows in his cooking. Plus, you can never go wrong with bacon. But, it's me folks... I needed balance it out somehow. So, I substituted turkey bacon for the real bacon, and added in two diced red bell peppers. Also, I left out 1.5 cups of cheese and used skim milk. But, it still hit the spot! It's great training fuel and carb-a-rific.

Rosemary Chicken, Roasted Rosemary Potatoes, and Wilted Spinach Salad

So, what do you do when you have a surplus in herbs? Well, for me it becomes Iron Chef time! And the secret ingredient for this meal was rosemary. But, honestly I didn't feel very creative, so I got some inspiration from Rachel Ray with her Rosemary Chicken and Wilted Spinach Salad. I also added some Rosemary Roasted Potatoes for some good carbs. I've got to say that's a killer chicken recipe, it was so moist! Give it a try folks.

Roast Beef Tenderloin and Roasted Vegetables

Raquel and I have moved to a new place! So, I wanted our first meal in our new place to be special and healthy. I finally narrowed the menu down to Roast Beef Tenderloin in a Chocolate Red Wine Sauce, Roasted Vegetables, and Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Orange Essence. Thanks Ellie Krieger. I love how she puts all of her nutritional information alongside all of her recipes. The down-side to this meal was that I got the stomach flu after it. And let me just say that I probably won't ever cook this again after that experience.