I’m obsessed with U-pick farms.
Especially when
it comes to pumpkins. I’ve only actually chopped the pumpkin off
the vine once up in North Georgia, but it was enough to get me
hooked on gathering my own produce the “old fashioned way”.

Since then I’ve found great places (both local and
not so local) to pick apples, citrus fruits, pumpkins and, most
recently, blueberries.

Up in Northwest
Tampa lies a small little farm known as BlueYouth Berries. I happened
to stumble across their Facebook page one day, then
decided on a whim to head out there one Saturday last
year.

I. Was. Hooked.

And although we went late in the season, the
berries were still plump and a-plenty; perfect for our
first romp out in the fields.

I was totally
surprised to find out that blueberries grew on tall
bushes! For some reason I had envisioned low to
the ground, strawberry-like shrubs.

I was shocked
when I saw that very little bending was involved at all! Some of
the bushes were up to my shoulders in height, which completely made
the experience that much more enjoyable.

So why am I
blogging about this NOW?
Well, BlueYouth opens for the
2012 season THIS Saturday!
And guess what. Yup. I’ll be
there. With bells on.
Want to join us? We’ll be up there
by 8:45am, so google the address from the link above, then message
me here on the blog and I’ll be on the lookout for you!

PS- Children and
strollers ARE welcome (and even get their own little
bucket), but pets are not. Bring sunscreen, sunglasses and good
shoes. There’s some uneven areas of the farm, and some spots with
soft dirt/sand. Bring cash (berries are $6/lb) and clean out your
trunk in case you’d like to buy a blueberry plant to take home!

See you there!
Steph

3 weeks ago I was screaming at my feet, my hips, my legs, my brain for signing up for a15k race.
3 weeks ago I was saying there is NO way I was going to EVER do another race longer than a 5k.
3 weeks ago I thought I would never be able to walk another mile. (dramatic much?)

It’s true what they say- you have to forget your last long race (and triathlon too!) in order to sign up for your next long race.

Although I LOVE sprint triathlons, the swim portion is always my nemesis, and I truly have to forget about each prior swim training or race in order to get back into the water.

Being an athlete is all in the mind I tell ya.
Sure it helps to be strong, and have endurance, but in the end, it is truly a mental game.

I’m almost ready to tackle another long race. Almost. However, I’m definitely ready to sign up for another 5k for the month of April and I cannot wait for tri season to start full force.

While I have summertime goals set in my sights, I also have life goals that have taken the forefront of my thoughts.

A year ago we found out that my mother had breast cancer.
11 months ago we started our chemo journey.
8 months ago we survived chemo.
6 months ago we found out the cancer had spread to her brain.
5 months ago we endured radiation.
3 months ago we received the cancer free news.
2 months ago hair began to grow.
1 month ago life was becoming normal again.
1 week ago my heart broke. The cancer is back. It’s aggressive. It’s terminal.
12 months ago we had hope. Today we have hope. We will have hope tomorrow, and the next day, and the next day. Until our home is bursting at the seams with buckets of hope.

No matter what life brings, make space for extra time, happy experiences, cherished moments, personal goals, positive influences, silliness, uninterrupted talks, quiet times and healthy habits.
You never know when life will take an unexpected turn.

-Steph

If you know me well, then you know how much I love Fall! Once October rolls around, and the weather cools down, I’m in the kitchen baking so many delicious treats with aromas of cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, apple and pumpkin.

In honor of Pi Day (3.14), here’s a pie recipe I’ve faked that gives you all the warmth of Fall, without the warmth of new fat rolls!

Ingredients: Will yield 2 pies
2 pre-made 9-inch pie crusts (not graham cracker)
1 29oz can of 100% pure pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 cup agave syrup
4 large eggs
1 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1 12oz can of Fat Free Evaporated milk
1 jar of Smucker’s sugar free caramel topping (Usually found near the ice cream, where the ice cream toppings are)
2 cups of chopped pecans

Directions:
1. Open the can of pumpkin and place into a large mixing bowl.
2. Add agave, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and salt. Stir to combine.
3. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs. Then add them to the pumpkin. Stir to combine.
4. Slowly add the evaporated milk into the pumpkin mixture, stirring as you add.
5. Continue to stir until smooth.
6. Divide the mixture between the two uncooked pie crusts.
7. Place in a 425 degree oven and bake for 15 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 325 and bake for an additional 40 minutes, or until fork test proves done!
8. Cool or refrigerate for an hour.
9. Remove caramel topping from a jar, and place in a microwave safe bowl. Place in microwave for about 25 seconds. Stir.
10. Using a spoon, drizzle caramel over each pie (1/2 bottle per pie), then sprinkle with chopped pecans (1 cup of pecans per pie)
11. Chill for 2-3 hours. Serve cold.
Enjoy!
-Steph

foodie_views_link_url = ‘http://fakedgoods.blogspot.com/2009/11/sugar-free-caramel-pecan-pumpkin-pie.html’;

It’s Spring Break around these parts. The time when teachers run amok and enjoy the time away from the little devils darlings.
It’s only Tuesday, but so far I’ve:

• done laundry
• cleaned house
• raked the backyard
• had lunch with a friend
• bought new running shoes (see below)
• was a featured blogger on Bloggers.com
• swam 1000 yards

Come again?
Yup, it’s early March and I swam 1000yds (sorry to my northern readers!)
My friend and triathlon trainer Deb has been posting group training Meetups held at a pool out in Brandon called Brandon Sports and Aquatics Center. I’m usually working when they’re scheduled, so I decided that Spring Break would be the perfect opportunity to check out this heated pool and get my first swim of the season in. Knowing that my pal Lindsey is off on Tuesdays, I asked her if she’d like to take a ride over and check the place out. She agreed and so we planned our trip!

I literally had to search for my tri suit, as I didn’t exactly remember were I had shoved placed it. Luckily, once I found it, it still fit (as a plus sized athlete, you always wonder what’s still going to fit after 5 months of no use!)

I must say the pool is a bit far for this Tampa girl, but to find an open, heated pool for $5 on your vacation is not an easy task, so it turned out to be completely worth the trip. After paying our entrance fee, we grabbed some kick boards (love those by the way, had never used them!) and jumped right in. The facilities were really nice- clean, organized, with timers all around the perimeter of the pool (in case you’re into timing yourself). There are life guards on duty, and big, spacious lanes. The pool was a little busy with the sounds of swim students and their coaches filling up most of the lanes. Lindsey and I shared lucky lane 7, and honestly, the workout wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be.

Of course I was tired (these were 50yd lanes). Of course my arms felt like Fruit Rollups. Of course I had to stop and rest when Lindsey (the awesome swimmer!) kept up a great pace. But when all was said and done, I completed a total of 1000 yards and felt pretty damn good as I climbed out of the pool. I really hope our local pools open up soon because swimming is my weakest sport and I desperately need to get back into the water on a regular basis.

So how are you getting ready for the upcoming tri season? Don’t forget- if you’re interested in training for YOUR very first triathlon (yes, you can do it!) please check out our Meetup page and come out for a training session! You’ll find people of all fitness levels, some riding mountain bikes, some that don’t run, just walk, some that are scared of deep water (me, remember my first post?). Believe me, you will find someone to bond with to start your adventure!

See ya soon,
Steph

Way back in once up a time time, I would ride with my grandmother to a little nutritional shop around the corner called Nature’s Harvest. She loved shopping for fresh produce, vitamins and other hard to find health items here. The strongest memories I have of going here as a kid are the smells. The entire store smelled like the inside of a vitamin C bottle. Now, of course, that’s not always a bad smell if you’re a health nut, but as a kid, it wasn’t always the most inviting of scents!

Nature’s Harvest has evolved quite a bit since then. Over the years we’ve seen a name change, expansions, and more offerings than ever before. Rollin’ Oats, as we all know it as now, is definitely the hidden Tampa gem in a world of farmer’s markets, chain “organic” stores, and local delis. There’s a great emphasis on providing locally produced groceries, items and baked goods. Customer service is prime with visible, knowledgeable staff in almost every aisle. The produce section has hard to find items and a classroom attached- where a variety of nutrition classes and demos are offered periodically throughout the year. There is a HUGE beer and wine section (with not so huge prices), a bakery with the MOST amazing jam dot cookies, muffins, vegan cakes and pies, and a recently updated cold and hot deli with daily specials (try their cauliflower, mac and cheese, vegan pot pie and weekend pizzas- YUM). You’ll find a very roomy, multi-table sitting area if you’d like to stay for lunch and enjoy anything from the hot foods area, or a wrap and a cup of soup with some juice or a smoothie from their juice bar.

With all that cooking going on day in and day out, let’s just say the aromas you catch a whiff of upon entering won’t remind you of something out of a bottle.

In addition to all of this you will find a vast selection of frozen foods, snacks, spices, groceries, dry goods, pet products, cleaning and beauty supplies and just about any type of vitamin or supplement you could possibly need. It really is a one-stop shop.

So the next time you’re in the area, make sure you check out Rollin’ Oats. It’s close to the corner of MacDill and Cypress, in a shopping center on the right if you’re traveling north. Here’s the information:

1021 N. MacDill Ave.
Tampa, FL 33607
813-873-7428
Monday-Friday: 9 AM-8 PM
Saturday: 9 AM-7 PM
Sunday: 10 AM-7 PM
http://rollinoatstampa.com/

See you there!
-Steph

*The opinions expressed in this posting are soley mine. I was not compensated for any of these opinions or thoughts.

It’s Sundays like today that make accepting the the hour I
lost last night due to daylight saving time a little easier to
swallow. My friend Monica is a natural born
entertainer. Her get togethers are always warm and
inviting- filled with scrumptious smells, delicious drinks
and of course her cozy home. When she sent out an
invite for a brunch with the chicas, I knew this event would be no
less than amazing. You see, it’s not about gourmet foods, fancy
china or expensive decor that make a foodie get together memorable.
And Monica knows that. It’s the little things- the conversation,
soft cloth napkins, rustic self-serve dishes and Rufus (we’ll get
to that in a second) that make a get together worth carving out
time for.

My new best friend Pinterest led
me to what I thought would be a fun and easy dish to bring to
share: baked eggs in bread bowls.

It’s pretty easy to pull together. I wasn’t sure
what kind of bread to use, but finally decided on these:

After proofing
for about 4 hours,

Here is the recipe once again if you’d like to try
it out for yourself! Make sure to comment on this post with your
own versions of these baked eggs!

As for the
rest of the brunch? Well there were other scrumptious dishes:
quiche, hashbrown casserole, spinach dip, pull apart lemon bread
and homemade peach bellini’s (I had four. Don’t judge).

Running.
Jogging.
Shoes.
Hydration.
Nutrition.
Socks.
Strides.

It’s all Greek to me.
Seriously.

I’m a total rookie. Although I did my first 5k over 2 years ago, and have completed over 10 additional 5ks since. Plus 2 sprint triathlons and now a 15k, I don’t have a freakin’ clue what I’m doing and have basically survived this adventure through many episodes of trial and error.

To be completely honest, I have never, ever felt as badly after last week’s 15k compared to any other races I’ve participated in. Including the triathlons (I felt AMAZING after those). Not only did I feel emotionally defeated, but I was exhausted, dehydrated the next day, and developed a ridiculously painful foot blister that kept me off my feet and home on Monday after a walk-in clinic visit. I finally went on my first jaunt since the race last night and could barely complete a mile without feeling the inflammed blister pain on the sole of my foot. I’m telling you, it has NOT been fun!

Like I said in my previous post, competing in races alone is difficult. I mean it’s one thing to have other athletes around you, but when the nearest runner or walker is 2 football fields ahead or behind you, you truly are completely solo. To put it bluntly, it just wasn’t fun. I guess I wasn’t used to the feeling because during tris and 5ks you’ve always got walkers, bikes flying by, and lots of spectators cheering you on and making you feel like you want to finish for them. Until the last .25 mile of the 15k, it was a quiet, lonely road that I’m not sure I want to do again.

Maybe I’ll feel differently in a few months. Maybe I’ll feel differently when I put my feet into my new BROOKS! (yippee!)

Either way, I think I’ll stick to tris and fives for the time being, until I get more weight off and work on the mental and nutritional aspect of what it takes to be a “runner”.

Wow. What a day.
I can now say I’ve completed a 15k. AND, get this. I wasn’t last! In fact I finished with 5 participants still on my tail. Way on my tail. I finished in 2:48, 12 minutes ahead of the very last finisher. Now for some this may be a ridiculously slow time, BUT, it’s a PR for me because it was my first attempt at this distance! It can only get better from here.

The race started at 7:05am, so I set a very early alarm. Luckily we went to bed at a relatively reasonable time, so it wasn’t too bad hopping out of bed at a dark 4:30 (although the man may beg to differ!). We grabbed some breakfast, picked up my friend and tri training partner Lindsey, and before we knew it, we were standing at the starting line. The guy had signed up for the 5k (a man after my own heart!), but unfortunately his race didn’t begin until 9:30, so he had to hang out and waste some time while Lindsey and I set off on the 15.

The starting line was near the Gasparilla Pirate Ship on the bay. As the gun went off, I immediately lost Lindsey because I went off onto the sidelines to let the faster athletes pass. I crossed the start line about 6 minutes into the race, and had no sight of her, so I figured I’d be going at this solo. Racing alone is a difficult task. I did it at my last triathlon, so I definitely know the challenges a runner faces when you’re fighting the mental aspect of the race alone.

I started off walking at a pretty good pace. By the time I passed mile 1, I was maintaining a 16 minute mile. Unfortunately, I didn’t warm up very well, and my shins were on fire all the way until I reached mile 2. I’ve walked Bayshore dozens of times, so I appreciated the familiar sights to help me gauge my progress on the way towards the turnaround spot by Ballast Point Elementary, south of Gandy Blvd. I had tons of people still around me as I approached mile 3, but the noise level was definitely decreasing, aside from the public cheerers along the sidelines. I always appreciate the efforts people make to come out and cheer on participants. Just when you think you’re ready to give up and call a cab, someone says an encouraging “keep it up, you’re doing great” and you reevaluate your quitting mentality.

As I approached mile 4, I set my sights on people I was determined to either keep up with or pass. I had been trailing a group of men in their mid-50’s, maybe early 60’s. They were keeping up a great pace, even in their khaki shorts! They. Were. Hilarious. Saying things like “where are we gonna go after this. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be at Tampa General”. And I lol’d when one of the guys told his pal that their names and finishing times will be in the paper the next day. One of them responded with “hopefully not in the obituaries!”. Forget the champion pacing teams. These guys were my own personal pacers and entertainment until I passed them rounding mile 5.

Heading back down Bayshore towards downtown became increasingly difficult with every step. At this point I had 5 people behind me, and I wasn’t going to let them pass. As I headed back to Bay to Bay, I could feel some blistering at the bottom of my left foot. Additionally, the shade from the southbound lanes of Bayshore was no longer a luxury. The sun was beating down on me full force, and I could feel my energy draining. Although I had snacks and stayed hydrated along the course, there is nothing that can prepare you for the feeling of how your body responds to blaring, blinding heat.

By the time I reached mile 7, I had already built it up in my head that there was NO way I was quitting, with just a little over 2 miles left of the race. My feet were still moving, a nice breeze had begun, and I was still ahead of those 5 runners, and I was determined to keep that “lead”. By this time the 5k race had begun, so I entertained myself through mile 8 and 9 by watching the 15 minute 5kers rocket by me in obscenely fast speeds. I’m still blown away by their agility and power. To finish 3.1 miles in less than the time it takes me to finish 1 mile is amazing.

With just about .2 of a mile left, I caught a glimpse of the finish line. Although I could hear my tri trainer Deb yelling out “finish strong, run!”, I looked like someone out of Night of the Living Dead as I Thriller dragged my legs across the finish line and up to the area were the medals were given out. As the 5k finishers medals were handed to the heroes, I was almost given one when I had to speak up and say, “Hey, I’m a 15k finisher! Did you save a medal for the last 6 of us!?” Not to worry, I got mine. And I’ve never been so proud to own something that says “15k” on it.

I was also never so proud of my guy for finishing his THIRD 5k in less than 6 months!

I’m so happy to have him by my side on race days and at the finish line to share these awesome moments with. I couldn’t ask for a better boyfriend, honestly.

So what’s next? Well, tri season is coming up, so I’ll probably sign up for a sprint within the next month or so. Which I’m excited about because let me tell you, this 15k race was SO much harder than both of the sprint tris I’ve completed. Much, MUCH harder. So for now, I think I’ll skip long distance runs and get back into my first love- 5ks and sprint triathlons. But who knows what the future holds. I’d love to put a half marathon in my sights sometime in 2013. Although I’m sore, my hip muscles ache, and I took a 3 hour nap, I don’t regret signing up for the 15k at all. The folks at Gasparilla always aim for runner success, comfort and happiness. They aim to please and do a great job at putting on a well oiled race.

I’m off to enjoy dinner on the couch with my honey. He’s picking up Carraba’s as our celebrating meal for today’s great feat. So I’m going to go pop 3 Tylenol rapid release tablets, eat my lobster mac and cheese, and contemplate my next great adventure!

-Ste
ph 🙂

With less than 24 hours before the start of my very first 15k, I’m trying not to freak out staying calm, relaxed and keeping my head in the right frame of mind. I’m certainly not as worried as I am typically before a triathlon (damn you swim!), but nevertheless, the butterflies will be there whether it’s your 1st race or 100th.

As I mentally get my mind in shape, I’m also beginning to lay out everything I’ll need for tomorrow. The gun goes off at 7:05am, so it’s going to be an early wake up call, no doubt. Like any big event, if you’re prepared the night before, it’ll make for a smooth morning (and some extra snooze button hits!).

Now it’s no surprise I’m plus sized at the moment, and with that comes some extra challenges both pre, during and post race. I’ve learned lots of lessons over the past 3 years in how to accommodate for and work with my curves in a way to make racing comfortable. After all, if it were a painful, uncomfortable experience, I probably would have quit a long time ago.

Here are some of my tried and true tips for race success.

Shoes
The shoes you wear on race day should be the shoes that you have been training with. The worst thing you could possibly do is buy a new pair of shoes for race day (or even as soon as a month before!). Make sure you have clocked in plenty of miles in your race day footwear. You’ll save yourself from chaffing, blisters, achy soles and toes. Remember, we’re aiming for comfort. Don’t even think about throwing your race shoes in the wash anytime before an upcoming race. You don’t want to alter the shape or feel of the shoes- and that goes for the soles as well. If you’re really concerned about the condition of your shoe (remember, it’s a race, not speed dating) then throw some new laces on and wipe a magic eraser on them to give them that “new” appearance.

Clothes
Same rules apply. Going out and buying a whole new outfit for race day is just plain nuts. Whatever you’ve been training in is what you should be donning on race day. A few years ago I stumbled upon some yoga capris at Wal-mart. They’re knee-length and have a high waistband that you can either fold down or not. I carry a lot of my extra pounds in my mid-section, so many times regular workout shorts (even from the plus sized clothing section) will roll down past my midriff as I workout. I love these yoga pants because I can keep them unrolled and they stay put. If you can’t find pants like these, try using maternity workout pants (hey, nobody has to know!). They have that same extra large band that will hopefully solve the rolling down problem. Oh, and as for your unmentionables? Again, nothing brand new. Bust out those comfy cotton panties that are just the right size and worn in. You wouldn’t want photographers to catch you reaching for a wedgie!

Head
If you usually don’t run with a hat, don’t decide to wear one now (even if one came in your goodie bag). There’s nothing worse than hat headache. Do, however, have a plan for tying back your hair. I just bought myself the highly recommended Bondi Band to not only keep the hair out of my eyes (and believe me, I have unruly hair), but also the sweat. Speaking of sweat- it is NOT a good idea to apply sunscreen anywhere above the eyes. Once the sweat begins, and the sunscreen starts piercing your eyes with burning flames, you WILL regret it. Use the Bondi band to both keep your hair back and protect your precious forehead skin. Nonslip, ouchless rubber bands are also a good thing to keep handy (and will prevent you from looking like a lion if you have thick, curly hair like I do).

There’s no way that 3 years ago I would be sitting here,
typing this post- just 1 day away from racing in my first 15k race.

That Stephanie would have called this Stephanie
“nuts”.

But here I am, with just under 2
months worth of training, ready to tackle this distance, and place
a 15k medal in my collection. I’m VERY excited about this race.
After all, the Gasparilla Distance Classic was my first real
attempt at competitive 5ks. And when I say “competitive”, I’m most
definitely talking about the competition with myself: replacing my
old self with a new and improved self. Gasparilla holds dear to my
heart. I was over 300lbs when I participated in that first 5k, and
I’ll never forget the feeling that my best friend Kristin and I
felt when we crossed the finish line. I was hooked, and I wanted to
do more. Our official finish time, 49:37.

3 months later, I completed
my second 5k race: PanCan’s Purplestride, shaving 2 minutes off my
Gasparilla time.

And then, the cycle continued. More Gasparilla,
2nd triathlon, more Purplestride, and turkey trotting with my
guy.