Wow, this running weather is motivating! This morning was cool and crisp and made for a great 8 mile run. It motivated me to pull out my training log and start plotting my course (goal). It’s time to get back to work. I need to get my base mileage up again before the heat sets in…starting in mid-summer can be brutal. I signed up for the Runner’s World Challenge at the Philadelphia Marathon 2011. It will be my second official (jumped in with a friend once) time running this race. Philly was my first marathon ever so I was excited to learn that Runner’s World had chosen it for the fall. I missed the San Francisco RW Challenge last summer due to my husband donating his kidney that same weekend (the nerve:). I later met some of the runners on a Philly reunion run and then decided that I wanted to be a part of it for another race. Although it lacks the intrigue of a new destination, it provides close proximity and the added bonus of sleeping in my own bed. This has become for me, no small amenity. I have struggled at mastering the travel/sleep/race art. I look forward to meeting new runners (from both this area and otherwise) and gaining added insights/support on training/racing offered by Runner’s World. I am also hoping familiarity of the course and weather will serve me here. I promise to report on the whole Runner’s World Challenge experience for those entertaining the added expense for your next marathon.
[The Ultimate Granola--seen here with blueberries and milk]
There is wonderful irony in motherhood when your daughter navigates the kitchen at seventeen with an ease that you never mastered. My daughter effortlessly stirs up new variations on recipes I would never even attempt. It’s an art and I have total respect for her and those who create in the kitchen. For Mother’s Day on Sunday as her gift to me she made her variation of this granola recipe. It is so yummy! I have been eating it for breakfast (and as a snack) everyday so I thought I would share. The original recipe can also be found on All Recipes.com website.
Ingredients
5 cups rolled oats (2 cups of which were steel cut oats)
1 cup blanched slivered almonds
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sesame seeds
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup unsalted sunflower seeds
1 cup canola oil
1 1/2 cups honey
1 cup dried tart cherries from Trader Joe’s
Directions
1.Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C).
2.In a large bowl, stir together the oats, almonds, walnuts, pecans, sesame seeds, wheat germ, coconut and sunflower seeds. In a small pan over medium heat, stir together the oil and honey. Cook and stir until blended. You could also do this in a large measuring cup in the microwave, heating for about 2 minutes and 30 seconds. Pour over the oat mixture, and stir to coat evenly. Spread out in an even layer on two cookie sheets.
3.Bake for 20 minutes in the preheated oven, until the oats and nuts are toasted. Immediately after it comes out of the oven, stir in the raisins and dried cranberries. Let stand until cooled, and stir again to break up any large clusters. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks.
Enjoy!
I’m trying to keep up with Monica as now she’s supplementing her workouts with stretching and yoga. OK, she needs good music for that too, right? She tells me that they have the typical new age, mystical music that you would expect at a yoga studio. I decided to look into yoga music and I was amazed at how little variety there is to be found. I believe there are many alternative, indie, and jazz artists that record beautiful and inspirational songs that would provide the same calming effect while practicing yoga. I’ve been careful to avoid anything that is too upbeat (contrary to everything else I’ve ever posted here), or with moody or depressing lyrics. I know that yoga is an integral part of the Hindu religion and while there is not typical Hindu music here, I try to be mindful of it’s spirit, imagery, and calming effect. After the 40+ hours of upbeat music I’ve posted, it’s nice to mellow out a little here…
If you have a song that you love to use when doing yoga, please share (either comment below our thru twitter @boldpacemusic)! If it works with our goal of providing inspirational, calming, and meditative music, I’ll add to our next yoga playlist and link back to your site with a big thank you :)
Off and Running CD Tin Notecard Set (6 cards, 2 of each style for $15 at remanents.com)
Looking for a perfect gift for someone who loves yoga or fitness? Take some music below and slip it in with a CD tin notecard set from Remanents. These cards, gifts, and tees have been sold at Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Anthropologie, Nordstroms, Henri Bendel, Fortnum and Mason (London) and many other fine stores, however, you’ll find the largest selection at www.remanents.com. See more cards and tees along with beautiful Couture Fabric Holiday cards and Halloween cards too.
There are 21 yoga songs below with a total playtime of 1.4 hours. Enjoy…
Click below to play samples and/or download songs from amazon:
To get this music, just click on either itunes or amazon playlist above and download either entire the playlist or individual songs. Or see our Amazon store for the very best full albums by artists on the playlists.
Mt. Airy Road – George Benson: A instrumental start by one of the greatest guitarists in jazz history. “Airy” is a perfect description for this song.
Seven A.M. – The Blue Nile: One of my favorite bands when I want to listen to relaxing music. Their lush, ambient sound creates a wonderful atmosphere for introspection.
Do You Realize? – The Flaming Lips: Unlike the Blue Nile, you might not think of the Flaming Lips and yoga. But this song has such simple and poignant lyrics that it just seems to work. If you are curious about the Flaming Lips (they have put out some music that is very bizarre), the album with “Do You Realize?” is called “Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots” and it is amazing…a must have. Find it here:
Mykonos – Fleet Foxes: Love the transitions in this song and the infectious harmonies that sound like a Native American chant.
The First Days of Spring – Noah and the Whales: “Like a cut down tree, I will rise again and I’ll be bigger and stronger than ever before”.
Twin Peaks Theme – Angelo Badalamenti: Showing our age here, but Monica and I used to love this show. This is just such a cool song.
Shelter – The XX: Similar to the Blue Nile, everything by the XX just seems simple, atmospheric, captivating, and the embodiment of cool.
One Wish – Hiroshima: In a small nod to Japan, enjoy Hiroshima’s eastern-western fusion style with their musical masterpiece.
Swept Away – Spyro Gyra: While sometimes criticized as a “pop-jazz commercial” band, there is a reason they are one of the most successful jazz groups in the past 30 years. Here’s a good example…
Return to Innocence – Enigma: With lyrics like “Don’t be afraid to be weak, don’t be too proud to be strong” and “Don’t care what people say, just follow your own way” and another Native American sounding chant, you can feel the spirituality and peacefulness.
The Safest Place - Sade: Always smooth and peaceful, here Sade says “in my heart your love has found the safest hiding place, inside a field and trees and a lake…”
Such Great Heights – Iron and Wine: While overplayed (and over-covered), I love the lyrics and this minimalist Iron and Wine version highlights the lyrics…just picture your significant other telling you: “I am thinking it’s a sign that the freckles in our eyes are mirror images and when we kiss they’re perfectly aligned”.
Carries On – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros: With a 60′s good vibrations sound it’s easy to enjoy this indie rock band’s sound. “One love…one touch…one look…carries on”.
The Man With the Child in His Eyes – Kate Bush: One of my favorite artists, Kate Bush has a beautiful voice that shows on this light and simple tune. If you are interested in hearing more of Kate Bush, check out what I think is her best album–The Kick Inside. The Saxophone Song, Kite, Wuthering Heights, and The Kick Inside are all stand-outs. Listen here:
itunes
