Coconut Chicken

Happy Wednesday!

I hope you are all having a great week so far!

I had my first run post Ogden today. It felt great to get those legs moving again. I like to take a few days to recover after races until I feel 100% recovered. It was a great morning today and I couldn’t let it go to waste. I took it easy and did 7 miles at 8:30 pace.

Today I wanted to share a yummy recipe from the archives! This was a fave from 2013! From my friend Hilary.

Coconut Chicken

Recipe slightly adapted from: Budget Bytes

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breast
• 2 large eggs
• 1/4 cup coconut milk (you can substitute any milk really)
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• Sweet Chili Sauce for dipping

Directions:

1. Cut the chicken into strips, cutting diagonally os the ends are not too small.
2. Prepare three separate bowls for breading your chicken
   • 1st: Combine flour and salt
   • 2nd: Whisk eggs and milk together
   • 3rd: Stir panko bread crumbs and coconut together
3. Heat 1/4 cup of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium/high heat. It needs to be hot enough so the flour sizzles and bubbles when it comes in contact with the oil.
4. Coat chicken strips in the three bowls, in order (bowl 1, 2, 3...)
5. Place some of your chicken strips in the hot oil with about an inch between each. You can cook them for 2-3 minutes on each side until they are cooked through then place them on a plate with a paper towel to drain. Start your next batch. If needed, add more oil to the pan, allowing it to heat properly before frying the next batch

• I prefer to fry the chicken until they are golden brown on each side, place them on a paper towel to drain and once I'm done frying all the chicken strips I bake them for 10 minutes at 350 degrees (cooking time may very depending on how thick your strips are). This way also ensures that all your chicken strips are warm when served.

Serve immediately with chili sauce
The chicken is moist and melts in your mouth, and the coconut adds the perfect touch of sweetness.

Enjoy!

Ogden Half Marathon Re-cap

Wow! So much to say about this race! Let get started!

Friday afternoon, I took the kids up to Ogden to grab my packet from the expo! Ogden has such a fun expo, I wish I would have had more time to let the kids play and to shop around a bit. We had dance tryouts and a preschool program to get too, so it was a quick trip in and out. I did let them race through the inflatables outside a few times.

Finding my bib was a breeze. I didn’t have to wait in line and the volunteers were so helpful and kind. I had a few bibs to pick up and they were so organized and were able to get me everything I needed quickly.

We took a fun picture after getting everything. Huge thanks to Zions Bank for printing off two copies so each of my kids could have their own. Roen was there too, but was sound asleep in the stroller.

 

Baylee even got her hair colored while we were there. She just had to have PINK hair for her preschool program..

RACE day!

This was my first time doing the Ogden Half. I have only done the full marathon before so I was excited to just tackle the half since the weather didn’t look too promising for the day.

I set my alarm to go off at 4:30AM I woke up naturally at 4:17 AM.

Lucky me.

I had everything set out the night before ready for me to grab.

My Garmin, & I pod all charging, clothes in Bathroom, GU’s in Belt and my number was pinned to my belt. (I hate poking holes in my Lulu) -> I was set!

When I woke up I went straight downstairs because I had a weird feeling to check my garmin.. It DIDN’T CHARGE!! UGH.. I moved the charger around and got it actually charging. I could of sworn I did it right the night before. I’m just glad I caught it. It only got about 30 minutes of charging before I had to leave.

I got dressed and ready, then ran downstairs and made a slice of toast with peanut butter and honey and was out the door.

I met my dad and his fiance and he drove us to the starting line with a few of our friends too! It was SO nice to not have to take the bus and to sit in the nice warm car until it was GO time. It was also nice that my dad stopped at some porta potty’s up the road so we didn’t have to wait in the line at the start. (There were plenty of them though.) It was raining but just lightly as we were waiting in the car. We got out about 5 minutes before the gun went off.

I took ONE picture at the race..

The beginning…

Look how amazing that rainbow is! I actually took this as a sign in the car that the rain  was actually going to stop..

Silly me.

As soon as the gun went off everyone started to walk through the start line. It was a bit crowded as usual but I was able to weave my way in and out to find my way through. In that first mile the rain started to POUR! This was about the time I wish I would’ve worn my poncho..

I wore crops, sports bra, tank, arm warmers, a Lulu Run swiftly and gloves with hand warmers in them.

Things I wish I would’ve had.. ( a poncho and a hat.)

I felt physically felt great. I actually do love running in the rain. It keeps you cool while your running so you don’t overheat, your lips never get dry and its more motivation to get to the finish right? 

Unfortunately, I had one problem… When I started the race, I came to discover that the girly thing that happens each month but hasn’t happened to me in over a year (pregnant+nursing…) had happened…

Yep. Awesome right?! Sorry boys.. It just HAD to be on race day…

I had nothing ladies.. nothing.. figured it was raining and glad I wore black. I knew it would be 2 hours max. Just. Run. Fast.

Glad I got you laughing..

Lets go through my thoughts each mile along with pace.

NOTE: I do not stop my garmin during potty breaks. Main reason: I couldn’t feel my fingers to touch even stop it.. 

Mile 1 8:52 “move, excuse me, move.. comin’ through.” A HILL.

Mile 2  8:32 Feeling good. Time to work.

Mile 3 8:49 It’s Cold. Only 10 more miles.

Mile 4 8:59 Drank Powerade, Potty Break.

Mile 5 8:04 Great down hill. Missing my poncho right about now.

Mile 6 8:38 Took one GU -> Salted Carmel. psst. its delicious! Drank a bit of water with it.

Mile 7 8:54 Potty Break, WET clothes suck… I’m Getting tired..

Mile 8 8:33 Oh friends!! Talked and sang in the rain.

Mile 9 8:13 Second wind! (a little late if you ask me..) Feeling good! Almost there!

Mile 10 8:23 Stepped in one giant puddle running under a bridge.. That was so fun! Crap.. I have a lake in my shoe now..

Mile 11 8:42 Drank Powerade. I’m freezing.. I can’t stop. Just finish..

Mile 12 9:15 - oh crap..  potty break. Swore a little..

Mile 13 8:35 There it is!! I see the finish line. Lets finish this. CAR HEATER!!

Official time 1:54

A little frustrated because I had to stop so much, but very happy to sub 2 when I didn’t think I’d make it due to certain issues and self doubt.. yolo right?

Brent had come to the finish line and had all the kids. I missed seeing them on the side line and they didn’t see me!! I had a nice volunteer take my phone out of my belt (which I also had in a plastic bag) and call Brent because my fingers would not work and my phone wasn’t even sensing my cold hands!

I immediately found them and got to the car as fast as we could! I didn’t even take a finisher picture there! I wanted too so bad, but I needed warmth and bathroom more.

End of story. .TMI about my experience eh? YOLO

My first race post partum is in the books!

This race is one of my favorites. The scenery is beautiful and the waterfall at mile 9 is my favorite part of the race. There is something about that canyon that I just love. Ogden Marathon was my actual FIRST Full Marathon so it holds a little special place in my heart.

There is a reason this is one is in the top 10 of the best Marathons to run.

The Scenery is great, you run around one of my favorite lakes and then down a beautiful canyon, through a park and the final stretch is on one of the most historic road in Ogden, Utah.

The volunteers at all the aid stations are amazing! They even opened my GU for me since I couldn’t quite get my fingers to work.. They are prepared and ready to hand you water/powerade/trays of bananas and oranges, swedish fish, Clif shots, and even cool towels! (Which actually were DRY towels this year.. ha!)

This is one race I look forward to every year, RAIN or SHINE!

GET OUT AND LIVE.

Red Rock Relay 2015 And Some Happenings

Red Rock Relay this year did not disapoint! This is one of my favorite races of the year with these girls! For those of you who are not familiar with Red Rock, It is a relay race done with a team of 6 people. Moab Red Rock is just ONE day! You cover 68 miles and call it a day.

This year we went down to Moab on Thursday night, slept in and spent ALL day Friday hiking all around Arches National Park. We did the same last year and I totally recommend it.

Delicate Arch is the obligatory hike of the trip.

This year it was SUPER windy! We literally may of almost fell off that cliff. Picture was worth it right? I did lose my sunglasses in the process..

Saturday was race day and I was runner #1. My wave started at 5:40. We woke up at 4:45 and I got dressed and ate my honey stinger waffle about 20 minutes before the run.

My first leg was almost 6 miles but ended up being almost 7 because there was a detour due to the city forgetting to open up a fence for us to go through..  it was off to a rocky start but once I got back to the road I made a phone call to let my friend (race director) know what was up. The leg was mostly up hill along the colorado river which was beautiful.

My second leg was the kind of run that makes you go to a dark place and really dig deep. It was only 3 miles but it is STRAIGHT UP HILL with lots of fun switch backs. Too top it off it was snowing! I was not super prepared for that, and ended up wearing socks on my hands to keep my fingers from freezing off. I only brought one jacket for the whole trip so took it off once it got bad again to keep it somewhat dry so I would have something to keep me warm later.

Once we got out of the La salle Mountains the Moab sun came back out and we had great weather for the rest of the race.

We only had 5 people on our team, everyone did amazing and I love these girls like sisters.

After the race we went and ate and then packed up and headed home.

The Happenings:

Sunday for mothers day, we had dinner at my Mother In-laws and we all just hung out, made s’mores, and enjoyed having the boys do everything for us.

Today’s run was done in two different runs.

This morning I hit my snooze 5 too many times.. it was a rough night with my baby (teething is sooo fun.) So I’m totally justifying my snooze button.

I was able to get just over 3 miles before I had to head home for my husband to get to work by 8.

Then tonight I headed back to finish it.

5 miles in 38:26 I was playing with the speed the whole time while talking with my sister. I mostly listened because I get a side ache if I talk and run. weird I know.

SO Ogden Marathon is this WEEKEND! I am just doing the half and I am so excited for it. Although, I checked the weather yesterday and it supposed to RAIN! Ugh. Not what I wanted to see on the forecast.It rained during the race 2 years ago and it was absolutely miserable. I’m hoping that the weather is wrong and it will be beautiful. We have 3 days, C’mon mister sun!

I wanted to get 8 miles in today and I’ll do a 4 miler Thursday and rest Friday. I’m hoping I feel good Saturday. This will be my first race post baby. I haven’t ran more than 7 miles at time for the last 3 weeks.. One day I will have time to train in real life. Mom/fitness instructor life makes that hard sometimes. Miles 11,12 &13 should be fun. Wish me luck!

Workout Wednesday!

We are half way through the week and it is time for another workout Wednesday!

Today’s workout as always can be modified to FIT YOU!

To do this workout you will need:

• Jump rope
• Kettle Bell (You choose a weight that challenges you)
• 2 Dumb bells (Again, you pick your weight)
• Box/step/even a cooler for box jumps.

Video Demos:

High Sumo

Press jacks

Kb Swings

Conditioning bicep curls

Switch Lunges

Nothing to it but to do it!

Let me know how you like it in comments!

The Happenings:

Ashley MOVED this week! She is still close to me, but has been ultra busy unpacking and all that jazz. I am getting ready to run RED ROCK RELAY in MOAB this weekend and teaching my little heart out this week.

I’m running the OGDEN 1/2 Marathon in 10 days.

Favorite go to dinner lately!

Black pepper Quinoa—> from Costco (in frozen section!)

Grilled Chicken

Green beans!

Quick and EASY!

How about you?

Anyone training for a race right now? What do you have coming up?

What is your easy go to meal lately?