Just breathe...

Last Saturday I went for a 8.08km run and it felt GREAT!

I'd been pretty relaxed all day, and had been watching the last episode of Winners & Losers so I thought "Lets get this butt of the couch and moving!"

So I pulled on my skins and my runners and went outside in the glorious (almost spring) sunshine and ran my old run down to the Geelong waterfront, along it to Rippleside and back to Newtown.

It was my first long run (over 5km anyway) since my injury and boy was great to get out there. I felt a little tired at the start, but I was just enjoying the sunshine, being outside and breathing...

Then I got a little tired just before I turned around (the 4km mark). And then once I had, on my way back I started to work on my technique, swinging my arms, trying to run more on the balls of my feet and just concentrating on my breathing (and enjoying Lifehouse on my iphone)... Then I checked my laps when I drove home and found I actually got faster on my way back! :)

Sometimes all it takes is a few breathes to just focus and relax to make a difference! :)

Lunch: Bean, Spinach & Corn Warm Quinoa Salad

Bean, Spinach & Corn Warm Quinoa Salad

I always seem to experiment with my lunches for work. I need something that's tasty, won't get too boring, will keep me full for a few hours and keeps well in the fridge for around four days.

Recently I'd just been eating 4 Bean Mix, a small tin of tuna and some avocado for lunch and thought what else can I add to beef this meal up?... Quinoa! 

Ingredients:

1 cup dry quinoa - cooked in vegetable stock (for flavour)

1 small red (spanish) onion

1 can 5 Bean mix

1 small can of tinned corn

2 handfulls of fresh spinach

Morrocan Seasoning

Method:

Serves 4.

1.Cook quinoa according to directions.

2. While it's cooking drain your corn and bean mix and dice your onion.

3. Once quinoa is cooked stir through the spinach to wilt it a little. 

4. Stir through onion, corn and bean mix and season to taste.

Enjoy for lunch topped with a small tin of salmon or tuna!

See below stats - for what mine works out to be (with a can of salmon)

Variations of this recipe include using brown rice, cous cous or even wholemeal pasta.

She & He: July

 
She ran 25.8km over 5 runs

She visited her chiropracter and physio trying to help her back/foot issues.

She and He visited his parents house on the farm.

She got her hair cut/coloured.

She enjoyed Vietnamese for dinner with Skye and Div.

She and He spent time travelling between Geelong and Melbourne.

She got stuck into her work more with more responsibility.

The ultimate long weekend....

Sometimes it takes just a few days of sunshine, laughter, family, friends (new and old) and a sleep in to  breathe a little light back into your soul...

That few days was spent in Darwin with the BF celebrating his counsin's 21st. We celebrated by:

- running

- sleeping in

- joking around and laughing

- drinking good beer and cider

- grazing all day

- eating as many crepes and ice-cream at markets and about town (Jac and I were the main culprits)

- watching the sunset at the Mindil Markets

- walking along the beach

- playing tourist

- cooling off in the pool

- dressing up for a night out

- shopping (again Jac and I in Lorna Jane)

- visiting Litchfield National Park

- Getting (a little) sunburt and swimming till we were wrinkly in waterfalls....

Sometimes all it takes is a little sun. :)

How about you - what's your ultimate long weekend?

around here lately...

02.08.2011

Drinking cups of milky, sugary tea. thinking about the loss of a dear friend. wishing the day would go faster. wishing I had more time in Geelong. dreaming about European holidays and beach holidays in Thailand. Realising how lucky I am to have a supportive boyfriend. Enjoying a touch of early spring air. Wondering what the 'something else' is that's floating around out there that I feel is missing. Looking forward to four whole days in the splendour of sunshine in Darwin. Wanting to scrapbook but having no time. Thinking of writing a journal as well as a diary.

Loving snack chocolate. Dreaming of renovation ideas from watching The Block. Eating homemade Lemon Meringue Pie (my favourite). Falling in love with apricot chicken again (thanks mum!) Marveling at how healthy my hair looks and feels right now. Thinking I am going to be one busy girl tomorrow...

+Photo taken 30 July by me+