January 2015 ~ TRAILMOMMA

January 26, 2015April 21, 2015

NOW WHAT?

It’s official! I finished my six month online plant-based cooking course withÂ Rouxbe. The ending was some what bitter sweet for me. When I started this course last August, I really didn’t know exactly what to expect. I’ve been plant-based for over 20 years so what more could I possibly learn throughout this course?

Well, as I came to realize (about mid-way through the course), is that this program was very much geared towards ME becoming a professional CHEF! Ya I know, the course title alone (Plant-Based Professional Certification Course) should have been a major clue but I was curious and of course I can’t forget that generous offer by Joe Girard, the CEO of Rouxbe too. Read about that here.

I would be lying if I said I did not struggle some during my certification. For me, the hardest and biggest obstacle of all was time. Finding the time. Making the time. Having the time. It was difficult and I was often challenged quite a bit by either throwing things together at the last minute or not really focusing well on my assignments.

I admit that I did not do quite a few of the practice dishes that I wasÂ supposed to do before each unit exam. It was not that I was challenged by the course content so much, it was 100% the lack of quality time for me to devote fully to the course. That doesn’t mean I didn’t love it and that I didn’t learn anything. I definitely picked up quite a few tips and tricks along the way. I also came to realize that presentation is huge when presenting a meal (just maybe not so much at home).

With all that said and done, I would recommend this course to anyone. It doesn’t have to just be for the chef in that restaurant who is curious about expanding their menu more with plant-based meals (although I truly hope restaurants and chefs consider this program for that reason alone). No, this program could benefit stay-at-home moms who do want to learn how to cook plant-based meals for their family, or for someone who is retired and wants to better their health or who just may like to cook or perhaps someone who has a part-time job and is just not entirely sure where their life is headed.

I truly think Rouxbe’s program couldÂ benefit someone who is very curious about plant-based living and who does not know where to even start. The support and content within the program is great and they will help and guide you. Those who work in hospitals or nursing homes, should be required to take this course just to expand and broaden their knowledge and to SEE how food does impact your overall health and well being.

So, I am happy that I signed up for the program. I am proud that I finished. I am proof that you can never know too much about one thing. 20 years of eating plants and I am proud to say that I have a certificate from Rouxbe and a certificate from T. Collin Campell’s eCornell plant-based nutrition program.

I am very passionate about plant-based living (just ask anyone who knows me). I do not shove my knowledge in your face and I never judge what is on your plate, but if you ask me for advice, I will give it to you 100%. My passion for nutrition and beliefs fall in line with those of T. Collin Campbell, Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, Rip Esselstyn and the Engine2 group. I am a strong believer that food is fuel and that food can heal.

Which is why when my mother-in-law and father-in-law came down with some medical issues recently, I jumped at the chance to make them a few meals for the week to help them get by. It was super easy too because one of my presents to myself upon completing the Rouxbe course was an Instant Pot.

Chickpeas, homemade veggie broth and oat bran.

Yes, I just learned how to make these elaborate meals and garnishes through Rouxbe and what do I do? I buy a pressure cooker/steamer/crockpot where I basically can make one pot meals super fast. 🙂 The Instant Pot ROCKS. I have to say. It has transformed my life.

In less than 30 minutes (usually) I have been making all kinds of beans from scratch, not from a can. I have been using all kinds of new veggies and throwing the scraps into a baggy so that I can make my own veggie broth (in 5 minutes I might add). I have made broth before but the process was always so time consuming. Not anymore. I love my Instant Pot (or instapot as I call it).

It is fabulous and I really enjoy making these meals for people to consume. So with my new certification, I may not become a chef in a restaurant but I have become the plant-based doctor of our family so to speak. 🙂 Although I am still working on getting my girls to eat new things. Baby steps.

So now that Rouxbe is over and my instapot is creating more time for me, what exactly am I doing with all this “free” time? All kinds of things! In my first full week done with Rouxbe, I enjoyed some quality time with my family.

We hit the skate park with some friends. — We hit the skate park.

I went on a beautiful run through the fog in Auburn. — I went on a beautiful run through the fog in Auburn with friends.

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Watched my girls so Vans could ride and take these awesome photos. — Watched my girls so Vans could ride with the guys and take these awesome photos.

And of course I continued to cook some amazing meals (our fridge is looking a little crazy at the moment).

Peanut Butter Banana Cookies (for my runs - and well every minute in-between) — Peanut Butter Banana Cookies (for my long runs – and well every minute in-between)

Life has been good. I know it won’t be long before I get some kind itch to try something new or take on another adventure but for now, I am content to just enjoy my family, continue to experiment with plant-based dishes and of course run. Speaking of running, my training has been going really well. I feel strong when I am out there on the trails each weekend. Weekdays I may drag but once I step foot on the dusty trail, I explode with energy and excitement. I am looking forward to my 50k in February.

And of course coming home to these two beauties and not having to complete an assignment or take a test is just icing on the (plant-based) cake. 🙂

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

January 17, 2015April 21, 2015

KEEP ON KEEPING ON

The end is near for my Rouxbe online cooking course. Very near. As in a few days. All that I have left to do is take a final. A TWO HOUR final but still, that’s all that stands in my way right now. It has been a great, educational and sometimes stressful six months for sure. I have learned quite a bit along the way. Some of it probably more than necessary. A lot of it, I already knew (healthy benefit wise) but regardless, this course brought my girls into the kitchen with me. Especially Squeaker. She had a blast “helping” in the kitchen, especially near the end … when I was doing my final practical exam.

In between cooking, chopping, dicing and sautÃ©ing, I have also been trying to maintain a training program. The Salmon Falls 50k is on February 28th and I wanted to feel better and run better which in turn means better training.

To date, I have had some good runs lately on the course. Last weekend I ran with Stonegate and Burning Girl. While I wasn’t feeling 100% we conquered 16 miles and saw some amazing sights.

Then it was a week of work where crazy things happen and I feel absolutely drained by Monday evening. The energy picks up a little during the week and then Friday comes and I canont wait to get back out on the trails only this time, Pigeon was joining us!

I haven’t run with Pigeon in two weeks and I really miss her when she’s not with us. Her wife is 39 weeks pregnant and due any day now. Still, she gave Pigeon the “ok” to run long with us today provided she carried her cell phone.

Today we were scheduled to bust out 20 miles. Apparently I mentioned something about not running up all the hills before started but really have no memory of even saying that! I think Pigeon thought I said it but I didn’t. Clearly, since every time we hit a hill, I’d just keep running. I was feeling 10 times better than I had felt last weekend which was nice. No tired legs. My back has been stiff, but it loosened up nicely.

It was chilly but still a pretty beautiful morning. Nothing to complain about. We ran the same course we did last weekend (to show Pigeon how awesome it is) and as odd as it sounds, the views looked different because it was a bit more overcast. Still gorgeous, just different.

Yet the same obstacles were still in the way. Namely, this giant tree. I was in the lead and pretty much hopped over it only to see Pigeon standing there with a look on her face like “what the?!” So that meant I needed to whip out my camera … you know, just in case we had a situation. 🙂

Both of them made it over. It may not have been graceful, but they made it. Pigeon has never run on these trails so she was relying on Stonegate and I to lead the way. Some how that translated into me being the lead runner. I am okay being the lead, until a bird enters the picture and in this case, these birds were turkey vultures!

So remember when I said that Pigeon’s wife is 39 weeks pregnant and that I was required to carry my phone? I always carry my phone but I generally leave it in the “off” position or airplane mode. Today I left it as it normally is as we ran. At some point we here the distinct chime of a text message “CHOO CHOO” (that’s my distinct sound). I stop dead in my tracks and I look at Pigeon. The agreement was that I would have my phone just in case Missouri couldn’t reach Pigeon on HER phone since her cell service was spotty in this area. I took my phone out of my pack and realized it was just a text from a friend, and not an emergency. I asked Pigeon to put my phone back into my pack since I was having a hard time putting it back.

It won't fit in there! — It won’t fit in there! Photo courtesy: Stonegate

Boy did we start cracking up. Pigeon couldn’t get my phone to fit in, Stonegate was cracking up because Pigeon asked me to bend over and I was just laughing at the situation. The jokes here were ENDLESS. Oh how I love a good trail run.

The trails were busy with hikers, other runners and even some horses. On our way back, Pigeon’s energy picked up massively and she seemed to be having a blast bombing some of the down hills and making fun of me. 🙂

She laughed a lot, until she came to that tree again. 🙂

Climbing back over was way easier than before but it was still fun to capture it all on camera. 🙂

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P1060531 — The sun came out on our way back!

The 10 miles back seemed to take longer than on the way out but it also was full of laughter, a few pit stops and some photos. Â Stonegate rocked with the cell phone photos today.

One of my favorites from the day. Courtesy of Stonegate

Next week our miles dip down a bit before a big two week build. I am happy that I felt so well on today’s run. I needed a “good” run under my belt after a few icky days.

Also, Pigeon is about to embark on life’s biggest ultra, parenthood. I am looking forward to meeting this new little bundle and addition to the trail family.

But first, I need to get to taking that final Rouxbe exam. Wish me luck!

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

January 3, 2015April 21, 2015

WHAT COULD HAPPEN?

Happy New Year everyone! It is hard to believe that 2015 is already upon us and that 2014 is over. I, for one, am looking forward to a new year. Not that 2014 was terrible, I just felt like it wasn’t really a memorable year. Running wise I guess it was. I ran Way Too Cool 50k, The American River 50 Miler, Miners Revenge Marathon,Â Mt. Tam 50K and CIM and quite a handful of other neat races. I survived the year with no injuries which for any runner, pretty much means it was a successful year.

Still, I want different things for 2015. While I don’t typically list out new year resolutions, I do have some internal goals and aspirations in my mind and heart. This year, they are not running focused. I have a few races on the calendar but running wise, I am looking forward to just sitting back and enjoying the trails while maintaining a solid base so that I can pace Pigeon later this summer on her next 100 mile race.

Although 2015 did start off on a sour note running wise for me. New Years Day I met Pigeon for what was supposed to be an easy 10 mile run. What could happen? Apparently, a lot. 🙂

Within 5 minutes of starting our run my toe caught a rock and I went flying. I thought I was going to be able to correct myself and avoid a very rocky tumble, but my hand got cut on a rock and it pretty much weakened my support and down I went. I tumbled pretty hard and almost fell off a little cliff on the trail. The ground was frozen solid since it was still early so the impact was pretty harsh on my legs and right side. Pigeon and I started cracking up instantly. She did ask if I was okay. But overall, we laughed for probably the next 20 minutes replaying the fall in our heads.

The rest of the run was pretty humorous too. At one point I heard something falling from the trees above. I thought for sure it was a tree coming down on my head (we just had a big storm that had weakened a lot of trees). I stopped and started screaming with my hands on my head. Pigeon started screaming “what?! what?!” as she turned around to see what the heck was going on with me.

When I looked up to see if the tree was still coming down, I saw a squirrel jumping from branch to branch. That little bugger! “Oh, it’s just a squirrel.” I said. Cue laughter.

Needles to say, with my legs gushing blood, an uneasy tummy and very muddy conditions this was a tough run for me. Happy New Years Day!

For days after that run, I was quite sore. More sore than I have been after any race. The cuts on my knees are deep and require being covered by bandages constantly as they keep, oozing and leaking (sorry – too much sharing?). Still, I agreed to meet Pigeon for a 14 mile run two days later.

Hobbling out of my car, I was thinking I was ready to run. In reality, it probably took me about two miles before I even felt nearly comfortable. It took the first 7 miles (aka our turn around) before I didn’t feel pain every time I took a step. Mind you, not the type of pain that is serious, more the dried up stretched out skin kind of pain (again, too much sharing?).

We saw a family of deer on our run. We ran through mud and puddles. It was so awesome and it was NOT technical at all which is exactly what my body needed.

We ran, we talked and we took a lot of photos. I don’t have much to write about other than what you see in the photo. It was a beautifully chilly day. We ran into a duathlon happening along the trails but it didn’t inhibit our run much at all. We even cheered for some of the runners along the way.

Back in the day, Pigeon and I used to joke around with all my photo taking during a run. We used to pretend that we were posing for the JC Penny catalog. If you have no idea what the JC Penny catalog is, than you are WAY younger than me. 🙂 Just know that the photos in it were hilarious and painfully forced.

We only had to run 7 miles out before we turned around but in that last mile, I have to say, a lot happened. As we were running, Pigeon yelled out “There’s a hoe” … and clearly she meant it.

That was kind of odd to find sitting along side a trail, but later we realized why it was there. Someone is building some off shoot trails that lead down to the lake and this “hoe” which I think they feel is hidden, is helping them.

At our turn around spot, Pigeon and I had a little fun with the camera trying to get some decent shots. These are the kinds of runs I enjoy where we can laugh, have a little fun and still run pretty hard.

Hmm, here Pigeon comes up the hill - must have been a camera hand off? — Hmm, here Pigeon comes up the hill – must have been a camera hand off?

I think our action shots look pretty nice no? 🙂 We are just plain silly sometimes out there. If you can’t have fun, what can you do?

Our mileage back was at a pretty good pace. We did have some photos stops along the way which kind of make me laugh.

Pigeon kept asking me if I had seen the stripper pole on our way out. I had to ask her what she said, because I thought for a minute she said stripper pole. Oh wait, she did. So on our way back she made sure to point out this “pole” to me.

Clearly I was not nor have I ever been, nor will I ever BE a stripper as that photo above is about as stripper as I can get. Seriously, why is that pole even out on the trail!?

Soon we came to the overlook spot again and we paused, as we always do to enjoy the view, have some fuel and just well, take in an unexpected selfie.

Our mileage back was pretty fast. We had some good clips of just running hard with very little walking. We both agreed these types of runs are great confidence boosters. Both of us has had some hard runs the last two times we ran together, so we needed this good boost of running strong (even if it was flat) to reinforce that we are in shape.

Stopped only for the puddling jumping — Stopped only for the puddleÂ jumping

In case you are wondering, she made it across the above puddle. We both did. Neither one of us felt like getting wet on this run so we skilled ourselves at getting clever at jumping and dancing around these types of puddles. It was pretty funny too.

Overall, we accomplished 14 miles. It felt good to bust out a decent 14 mile run despite the aches I’ve had lately. I still can’t move much let alone bend a knee and kneel on something, but run? That I can do. These cuts that I have are pretty deep and with the cold weather, it is hard to wear anything but long pants which requires a band-aid so as not to ruin any more of my favorite jeans. 🙂

However, I can’t complain. It has been a pretty good start to 2015. I am almost done with my Rouxbe Plant Based Cooking course which I am quite excited about.

It has taken a lot of hard work and a lot of my time to manage this course. I am excited by what I have learned. It has also made me realize a few things about cooking and cooking for people, that I would like to improve upon.

The girls are having a blast during their break from school. Too much in fact. A lot of bike riding has happened lately.
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Not to mention, quite a few trips to the park where the Peanut is excelling at doing the monkey bars.

It really has been a great end of 2014 and a wonderful start to 2015. I am really hoping to manage a lot this coming year but in an entirely different way. 2014 had a lot of saying ‘yes’ in it despite what that meant or what affect it would have on my family. 2015, I am hoping will be a bit different. Let’s see where this crazy year will take me.

What New Year resolutions do you have? Â Please feel free to share in the comments. I am curious. 🙂

2015 will also be about sleep — 2015 will also be about more sleep

Happy Trails!

~Trailmomma

(warning – no proof reading, sorry)

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