How To Love the Treadmill

Treadmill?  Or Dreadmill?  That poor guy is infamously hated by runners forced off the streets by ice, snow, and cold in general.  I'll admit, I used to dread the transition from the road to the gym every year.  I could barely stand my time spent on that awful machine.  It totally took the fun out of running.  I'd spend my time counting down the minutes till my treadmill session was over, and counting the days until Spring would come and I could return to the real world of running.

Then we were hit with a bajillion feet of never-ending snow last year.  Since I wanted to kick major booty in some Spring half-maries (which I did --> PR... Holla!) I was forced to get intimate with the treadmill.  And in doing so, I discovered some tricks to make my time more enjoyable.  Not only did I stop hating my trips to the gym, but I totally attribute my time on the treadmill with faster times and better overall fitness. 

So here are my ultra-secret, super effective tips for learning to love the treadmill:

• Go fast.  I love a challenge.  So cranking up the speed on the treadmill always makes things more interesting.  I love trying to beat my previous times, especially on long runs.  Honestly, I'd rather do a 10-mile fast run than a 3-mile slow run.  Running slow on that thing makes me feel like a crazy rat-on-a-wheel.  Another bonus of going fast?  Duh, you get your run done quicker.
• Go up.  Another way to challenge yourself on the 'mill is to crank up the incline.  I always hear that you should set the incline to 1% minimum to better replicate the outdoors.  Throughout a run I'll see how high I can bump it up or I'll knock the incline up and down for some "hill training".  Pushing buttons makes me happy. 
• Listen up.  I am nothing without my Ipod on the treadmill.  Her name's Rizzo.  She's a pink lady.  And she's packed with fast-paced chick music.  Female lead-singers get me super pumped up, way more than dudes.  And I try to make sure that all of the songs on my Ipod are songs that make me go, "I love this song!"  I don't really listen to music except while running, so my songs never really get old.  And some of them are old.  Some girly faves: Britney (duh), Rihanna, Glee, Missy Elliot (oh yeah), the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Florence & the Machine, and Miley Cyrus.  I didn't say I had good taste in music, but I know what works for me. :)
• Magazine Madness!  I always try to have a magazine with me at the gym... and its not because I'm one of the 1% of people who can actually read while on the treadmill.  Have you seen me run?  I've been told I'm bouncy... by strangers.  Yeah.  No, this is a trick I learned from Jess a long time ago when she lived here and we could go to the gym together and I didn't cry myself to sleep every night ---> magazines always have some hot-bodied person on the front.  Photoshopped?  Maybe.  But still... very motivating.  I like to put a Runner's World in front of me.  The cover model is always running... and it makes me think... "Hey, that person is smoking hot.  I bet if I run more on this horrible treadmill my abs will look just like hers."  Delusional?  Yes.  But it works like a charm. 
• Watch KSU basketball.  This is Brooke's trick.  She's lucky enough to have a treadmill in her basement with a TV right there in front.  Watching intense basketball games makes the time go by quickly and by running she's burning off the energy that might otherwise be used to yell curse-words at the TV.  Win-Win.  I guess you could pick a different team, but I'm not sure why you would.  I'm also pretty sure that if the fools at 24 Hour Fitness would turn Mean Girls or Glee on, I'd be more inclined to run longer.
• People watch.  People wear some weird shit to the gym.  And people do some weird stuff at the gym.  Watching the guy lifting 3 pound weights while ellipticalling helps make my treadmill time more entertaining.  I've also gotten really good at watching the trainers and am amazed at how 24 Hour Fitness must give them one exercise routine and tell them to use it for every single client.  I'm not kidding.  I used one of their trainers before and I did the same stuff three years ago that they're having all of their fit, fat, old, young, and anything in between clients do.  Maybe I should apply for a job.  I already know how to do everything.

So there you have it... the secrets to success... at least where indoor running is concerned.  Running on a treadmill will never be as glamorous as running outside... not that running through my neighborhood is glamorous per se, but you know what I mean.  You don't have to hate the treadmill, you just have to use a few tricks and find what works for you. 

Or, just start the count-down to Spring.  Only 4 more months to go...

Lentil Loves Glee

Finally! A Meatless Monday where I don't have to cook! And no, this isn't a post about Drew making Easy Mac in the microwave.

Last week* DeAnna AKA the Trophy Wife invited me over for vegan food. And she allowed me to show Glee. I'm appalled that someone I like so much can dislike Glee so much. I had to change that. And I had to try these enchiladas:

This recipe comes from a blog I've heard lots about, but don't actually read. For some reason I'm completely uninterested in kids I don't know. But I do like reading about food. So, if you like kids... or food... check out Mama Pea.

Green and Red Lentil Enchiladas


Ingredients

• 1/4 c. chopped onions
• 2 T. chopped cilantro
• 1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
• 1 c. red lentils, rinsed
• 3 c. of water or vegetable broth, or combination of the two
• salt, to taste
• 8-10 corn tortillas
• 30 oz. green enchilada sauce
• 1 can sliced olives
• grated cheese, vegan or organic, if desired
• sour cream, vegan or organic, if desired
• salsa
• chopped cilantro

Method

• Preheat oven to 350.
• Bring water or broth to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add salt to taste. Add 1 c. of red lentils and cook until lentils are al dente, approximately 10 minutes.
• Drain lentils and set aside.
• Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and place over medium high heat. Saute onions, cilantro and jalapeno until softened, approximately four minutes.
• When the vegetables are done, add in your lentils and approximately a cup of the green enchilada sauce. Heat through.
• Meanwhile, wrap 8-10 corn tortillas in damp paper towels and microwave for approximately 30 seconds to soften.
• Pour another cup of green enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 13×9 baking dish.
• Put several spoonfuls of the lentil mixture into each corn tortilla and roll, placing the tortilla seam-side down in the prepared pan.
• Repeat until your pan is full and your lentils are gone.
• Pour remaining cup of green enchilada sauce over rolled tortillas, and top with cheese of your liking, if desired and sliced olives.
• Bake enchiladas for 20-25 minutes.
• Top with sour cream, salsa and cilantro, if desired.
  

Lentils, baby.

Oh yeah, Jana and Cade came over too. Its never to early to start kids on Glee.

These enchiladas were fabulous! I can't attest to whether or not they were easy since I didn't make them, but the recipe seems easy enough.

Thanks for dinner T-Dub! Now, who wants to cook for me this week?

*Friendly reminder: Meatless Monday only means recipes are posted on Monday, not necessarily eaten on Monday. I know that's a hard concept to grasp... Bryan.

Baby It's Cold Outside.

I hadn't planned on caring whether or not it was freezing in Kansas City today.  I hadn't planned on being beside myself at the sight of flurries. 

I'd planned on spending a lovely day checking out Harry Potter Land in my flip flops.  Alas, our Florida trip was cancelled last minute when the hubster came down with a yucky illness.  Darn you Winter!

So rather than pout (please, you know I did my share!), I decided to look on the bright side.  So without further ado, here's my top 10 favorite things about Winter:

1. Hot Chocolate with Baileys.  Forget the marshmallows, I'm all about the booze!
2. Hot Chocolate with Kahlua.  Did you know you can buy White Russians in a bottle?  Yeah, they taste delicious right in there with the hot chocolate.
3. Coffee with Baileys.  What?  I'm on break, its never too early for Baileys.  Don't judge me.
4. Sweater Tights.  Sweaters for your legs?  Yes please!  These take me back to my Catholic School days with plaid jumpers, white sweater tights, and saddle shoes. 
5. Knee socks.  Just another way to keep my calves warm.  They come in such pretty colors and sit nicely under my boots.  And over my sweater tights.
6. The bucks.  I'm not usually a big Starbucks gal.  But something about the chilly weather and holiday flavors makes a latte seem essential.  Too bad they won't add Baileys.
7. Baking.  You know I love to bake, but sometimes it seems a bit silly to turn on the oven when its super hot outside.  When its cold out, it just seems smart.  Especially when the result is cookies, banana bread, granola, or pie.  'Tis the season for carb loading!
8. Crazy Christmas-ness.  When it comes to decorating, I'm a less is more kind of gal.  Our house is decked out in simple white lights.  Same with our tree.  That doesn't mean I don't find great pleasure in seeing the Christmas Crazies with their eight inflatable Santas and animated reindeer.  There's a house on our way to Drew's parents' house that is out of control.  Every time we drive by we try to count the inflatables, but never get them all.  There are a lot.
9. Scarves.  I've never been a great accessorizer.  That's why I mainly stick with pearls.  But scarves are so easy!  And functional.  More layers = more warmth.  Love.
10. Couch marathons.  We've spent the entire day on the couch watching "America: The Story of Us" on the History Channel.  I only got up to make cookies.  Best. Day. Ever.  Eat your heart out Harry Potter.

Note, this list will only get me through mid-January.  All the Baileys in the world couldn't make me love Winter.  By February I'll be making threats and giving ultimatums about moving to Texas.  I really don't like the cold.