Thus Noted...

I am repeating the same recipes and food thoughts of the day... mental note- must stop drinking and posting.

The picture is from Las Vegas at the casino NewYork NewYork. We went there our first night there.... and I lost my drivers licence. You know how I hate purses so I thought I would just put everything I needed into my pockets. In went cash, my licence, credit card, and my phone. Thus, as some point, I assume when I was paying for a drink,  out it went on to the floor never to be seen again.
 Good news- my identity has not been stolen yet. Really it was no big deal except for having to carry my passport everywhere cause you are carded constantly and the time when I thought I had lost my passport. That was bad.

Parsnip Soup

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The overwhelming question everyday, one to cause my children to either scream at me, or call me the best mommy ever is...'Whats for dinner?'

So how do I come up with the answer?
CSA newsletters
Foodgawker
Epicurious
Simply in season

 The problem is usually too much choice... but I am limited to what is in the house cause I hate making repetitive trips to the grocery. The thing is I can be creative if we do not have a particular ingredient... Luke, not so much. He thinks he can cook without a recipe and I,  who thinks I am better than the current average population,  can not do so yet. As well, many recipes call for meat and I do not want meat OR beans, and yep I forgot to soak them again. Regardless of the recipe- even if it is a simple meal I spend about a hour a day dealing with food- oh and I never clean up. 

Tonights dinner was:

Creamy Apple Parsnip Soup
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 large leek, (white and pale green part only), trimmed, halved lengthwise, washed well, and chopped fine ( I used two small )
• 1 pound parsnips, trimmed, peeled, and cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces ( I wanted to use all of ours up so it was like a pound and a half- Added- LOVE cooking with a food scale)• 3 medium apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 baking potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces ( I used two to make the soup go a little further)• 32 ounces of reduced sodium chicken stock
• 1/2 cup half-n-half
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg ( I used 1/2t)
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon (I used 1/2t)
• Salt and pepper
Directions
Heat butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add leeks; cook, stirring, for about 3 minutes.
Add parsnips, apples, potato, broth, and 2 cups water ( Didn't add the water cause my pot was too small). Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until vegetables are tender, 15-20 minutes.
Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth. ( I have an immersion blender- do not do blended soups unless you have one- JUST NOT WORTH IT) Return it to pot; stir in half-n-half. Season with nutmeg, cinnamon, salt and pepper. Ladle into bowls and enjoy!

Sunday Night Dinner

Celeriac and Potato Gratin
From the CSA newsletter

1 celeriac, peeled and cut into thin slices

1 large potato, peeled and cut into thin slices ( I added half a turnip and an extra potato)

2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

250ml chicken or vegetable stock

250ml cream or milk ( Used almond milk cause that is what was in the fridge)

1 tbsp plain flour

1/4 tsp dried red chilli flakes (optional) ( didn't use)

Salt & pepper, to taste

Start by pre-heating your oven to 375f.

Place your celeriac, garlic, chili, flour, salt and pepper in a large bowl and toss around with your hands until well combined.

Layer the celeriac and potato into a heatproof 8" x 8" dish. Don’t worry about being neat or about separating the celeriac / potato. Leave a couple of cm at the top of the dish so that the sauce doesn’t bubble over the sides.

Mix the chicken stock and cream together and then pour evenly over the gratin, then place into your oven for approximately 90 minutes or until golden brown and the celeriac is tender.

The last time I made this I used cream and the the hot pepper and it was better- but the cream is needed for the morning.

Easly Korean Spinach and Cabbage Salad

1/2 lb fresh spinach
1/2 head of cabbage, sliced thinly
toasted sesame seeds
4 teaspoons  soy sauce
2 teaspoon sesame oil
2 cloves garlic or 4 garlic scapes, minced
-I added hemp hearts

Blanch spinach in boiling water for 30 seconds. Using a slotted spoon, lift spinach from water, rinse well with cold water and squeeze dry. Add cabbage to spinach blanching water. Blanch for 1 minute. Drain cabbage. Cut spinach into bite-size pieces and toss in a bowl with cabbage.

Mix together soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic . Toss well with blanched spinach and cabbage.
Sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds. Serve!

Surprisingly yummy- but really anything with seasome oil you can't go wrong with.

And no my kids didn't eat much of this, they had filled themselves up with junk food at a party earlier.

Dreaming of someplace warm..

Life could be worse

Apparently there was some discussion about the contents of this blog and the food we eat in our house... and basically it was determined amongst some people that basically the worst thing in life could be eating they way we do..... well all I have to say is have fun in your fat pants.

Candy Salad

Well I call this candy salad, from the CSA newsletter.

Easy and Delicious Chinese Cabbage Salad

This recipe is sort of like the candy of salads. A little bit sinful with the addition of crumbled ramen noodles and sweet. But, well, it’s sooo yummy!

1 (3 ounce) package ramen noodles, crushed ( I buy ramon noodles in bulk to I just used a bunch)

10 ounces cashew or peanut pieces

1/2 chinese cabbage, shredded or sliced very very thinly

1-2 carrots, rinsed and grated

1/2 red onion, minced

1/2 cup sugar or 1/4 cup honey ( I used maple syrup due to my minor honey allergy)

1/2 cup olive or safflower oil ( I used 1/4 cup)

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1 tablespoon soy sauce

2 tsp sesame oil
- I added some hemp hearts

In a preheated 350 degree F oven (175 degree C), toast the crushed noodles and nuts until golden brown.

In a large bowl, combine the coleslaw, green onions, toasted Ramon noodles and cashews.

To prepare the dressing, whisk together the sugar, oil, vinegar and soy sauce. Pour the dressing over the salad, toss and serve.


Random food thought- If you are not hungry enough to eat an apple than you are not hungry.



21:35

I really can't recall the last 5k race I did, but I do know my PB was 22:18.....and now I have lowered the bar to 21:35.  So basically 1:35 has to be taken off until I am happy.

Yesterday did the Groundhog jog in very un- February weather. 2010 was when I last did this race. 2010 was a bone chilling windy snowy weather. I actually think I got some frost bite on my face. 2012 saw the wearing of carpi's and short sleeves.

I should have done a bit of a warm up..but I was more concerned about my garmin finding satellites, and I knew if I had my garmin I could hand off my watch to somebody else who needed one. No chip timing here.  At the start line I was one of two female who wanted to be in the front- so I knew who my competition was..... and she passed me almost immediately. Which was fine, I'm good with second- it has become my new fourth, and it stayed that way until the end. Was watching my garmin hoping to stay under 4:30ks and really realized at 4:13k point I was going to beat my previous PB.... I was working and it hurt and I am thankful for the treadmill cause that is where I get my speed work done. I almost threw up at the end. But I did worse but I will keep the story to myself until I tell it to you when I am drunk.

Been sick since in bed. In bed now resting quietly for work in the night. Missed my LSD and really don't know when to fit it in this week. It is a good thing I am training for nothing.

Carb-0-lish-ous

I like to refer to Wednesday night dinners as
junk food dinners. It is the night Ever has a sleep over so it is just Luke, Maya and I.
So we usually have junk food or go out.
Tonight as Maya has been needing some special love as of late- well since she was born we had one of her favorites- Nachos.

This is Maya's plate. The rule was she has to have something green and the beans- then she can have whatever else she want else.



Luke always forgets to put the green, and I have just noticed no beans. So basically Luke had nothing good tonight. I swear if I wasn't around to mother him he would be 400lbs.

I over loaded my plate so half is in the fridge for later.
I had
-Multi grain chips- I don't even like the plain white ones anymore. I need the Na in them.
-Spinach
-Beans
-Pine river cheese
-Mexico out of season tomato's
-red peppers on sale
-onion
-saugeen country yogurt
-avocado.




Food thoughts
Tonight's dinner is the opposite of what I am about to say but...
Eat seasonally locally. Thus, think about the little label at the grocery store about where your food comes from. If you chose an Ontario apple over one produced in Washington State, you are keeping farmers in business at home. If you buy Pine river cheese or Gay lea butter, that farmer stays in business and has Luke service their computer. Spend the extra money if it local and ensure the farmer gets a fair price for their work. If you cherish Ontario strawberries in June they taste all the sweeter then. Don't try to eat strawberries in January- well unless they are from the freezer. Get to know what is in season locally when and ask at your local grocer for local produce. Or go direct to the farm. Learn about what keeps, and how to keep it. Join a winter CSA.

Stew Again!!

Food thought of the day...

If you are not hungry enough to eat an apple you are not hungry. North America is an overfed, under nourished population.
Credit i'm sure goes to Micheal Pollan of whom I love.




In the winter we eat alot of stews and soups. Mostly it is paired with bread saved in the freezer for such an occasion from the Big Dipper or the Bakery. If I am slumming it I will get Ace bakery bread from the grocery. On occasion, we pair i will tortilla chips- and tonight was that night.


BLACK BEAN + BUTTERNUT SOUP
 1 Tbsp. coconut or extra virgin olive oil Coconut if you have it- smells divine.
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 a small head of cabbage, chopped (heaping 2 cups)
3 cups cubed butternut squash (sweet potato would be good too)
3 cups low sodium vegetable broth
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. cocoa powder Apparently I am out so I used some 60% dark chocolate bar. I think the cocoa would be a reall2w1y nice contrast to the hot peppers- too bad I didn't have any. pinch of chipotle powder or cayenne pepper I used some dried hot pepper from the CSA
2 cups cooked, black beans (about one can, rinsed and drained)
salt to taste


In a heavy bottomed pot, warm the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and saute until just beginning to brown, about 6-8 minutes. Add the garlic, cabbage, squash and broth. Turn the heat down to a gentle simmer, cover the pot and cook for about 15-20 minutes for the vegetables to cook. I shut if off for an hour at this point to take Maya to dance. Add the spices and the beans and stir. Let everything continue to cook another ten minutes for the flavors to blend. Salt to taste. At this point, I did a few pulses with my immersion blender through the soup, because I wanted to thicken up the broth a bit. This is optional, but makes it seem a bit thicker. You could alternatively, run just a bit of the soup through a blender or food processor, and add it back in to the pot. OR a sprinkle of cornmeal will help thicken it as well.
I used the immersion blender for the count of 10

Dinner Tonight!!

Food thought of the day....
You put your money in what you value. I value what I put in the only body I am going to get soo I spend lots of money on food. There is no food budget.
Thus, if it is healthy and good for me I really don't care what the cost is.  That goes for chocolate as well- cause really cheap chocolate is disgusting, as is cheap food.

1. Fresh from the CSA greenhouse spinach- just cause I wanted something green on my plate.

2. Leftover salad from a potluck.  I didn't have any pistachio nuts cause Luke ate them. Didn't have any fresh herbs to add so I didn't. So instead I added sea weed cause I found it in the cupboard and hemp hearts cause I like them.

3. Celeriac and Potato Gratin- From the CSA newsletter
-1 celeriac -Peeled and sliced thin
-1 large potato-Peeled and sliced thin
-2 cloves glaric minced
-250ml each chicken or veggie stock and milk or cream
-1Tflour
- Na and pepper to taste

Mix it all up and cook for 90min in 375 oven. 8x8 dish uncovered.
I used half a celeriac and instead used rutabaga cause I love them.

Food

I kinda get the picture that people don't really know how to cook. I have read that the cure for childhood obesity isn't gym class but home economics class.

Nor do people really know what to eat, especially not involving meat. When I am in conversation with people it comes up that we don't eat really alot of dead animals but at the time I can never really convey what we eat, so I thought I might just blog about it.

Anyways,  here is dinner tonight.
Main Course
It was 5:15 before I even thought about dinner sooo it was a quirky thrown together from fridge contents.
$5 for 500g spinach and cheese ravioli
'Sause'
-CSA onion
-CSA spinach
-50% off red pepper for a minor blemish
-75% mushroom cause they looked slightly off

Saute with olive oil and white wine vinegar. Would have used real white wine but I didn't have any.


Muffins
From The Loonyspoon Cookbook gifted by Robi. Page 287 -Pumpkin Spice Muffins

1 1/4c flour
1/2 Whole wheat flour ( I used a bit of spelt, white, and coconut  to make 1 3/4c total)
2 t pumpkin pie spice ( I used a little of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger)
1 1/2t  baking powder
1t soda
1/2t salt
1c pumpkin ( We had cooked squash on hand so we used that)
1/2c yogurt
1/2c maple syrup
1/4c melted butter
1 egg
1t vanilla
1c grated carrots
1/2c  mini chocolate chips ( We had some high quality chocolate orange chocolate that Maya was desperate to use)
1/2c walnuts ( Used those or pecans)

Mix wet and dry separate then mix. Add in carrots, chocolate chips and nuts. Bake 20-22min.  at 375. Makes around 12.

Song of Delight

So in love with this song, if I was a singer I would sing it with anguish from failed past relationship, but alas Luke is my only love and we all know what kind of a singer I am.
Actually, being a bad singer hasn't stoped me yet.. again apologies all round for those you have to listen.

Sale

There was a sale last week at the grocery.

$1 for a 113gram box of Crunch N' Munch.

That wasn't a good thing.

The Help

Recently read The Help and watched the movie tonight with Maya.

Well that was a teachable moment.

I am currently encouraging her to form a resistance movement against all the 'safety' rules on the playground at school that are designed to crush imagination, proselytize compliance, and fatten all the children up.

Fail

So Luke when did you last change the Furnace filter?

And yet another job falls on Anne.


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Coffee

This morning I woke to Luke telling me we were out of coffee filter. I moaned and said "What am I going to do.' Luke just shrugged and replied that he was busy today.

I hope he enjoyed his Tim Horton's. As for myself, I retrieved yesterdays coffee filter from the garbage rinsing off unknown debris and re used it.

Maya's mind

As thought up by Anne . -candy -fashion -not sleeping -'want to watch something' -'I'm relaxing, just let me finnish my Archie comics'


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Anne's mind

As thought of by maya. -heathy food -tidying up -running -sleep -'you have to be productive' - Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Run4rKids

Cause I have no self control and and a sucker for peer pressure and really am nuts I ran around a 232metre track for six hours.
Thats 227 times. fro 52k.  I should mention I have not done any distance since October. It hurt alot. In fact it was easier birthing Ever.

But I did it. I am stronger for it.
I sang alot- public apology here for me being obnoxiously loud. I have really good lung capacity.
Feels good to have done it, on no training, Like I have a base in there somewhere, and I know now that 50 miles will not be that hard.
Monday... feel fine. Guess I am getting a hang of this going long.

Writings

i just wrote this to Evers teacher and thought it was funny... enjoy.


Yes to the sound book and library book. Not to the report card. I am sure it somewhere but it has fallen victim to too much paperitis.
As well the plastic zip locks are not welcome in this house as they always end up out of  the back pack and someplace where I have to put them away. Thus is due to the inability of people in my house to close zippers.  Thus I am simplifying my life and getting rid of what I hate. I can sew a fabric catch all if required but really I would rather if the endless papers just get crushed up in the backpack, seemed to work fine in my childhood.

I just took some cold medication thus rambling. Hope you enjoyed.
Thanks,
Anne

Christmas Drama

So I really don't go to church much. Mostly cause I have a job that feeds us that requires me to work many Sundays. And sometimes I go races on Sundays and some days I just go running instead. Hence a certain disconnect with the church as a community. I do try. I read the bulletin online, make an effort to chat when I am there but well. You know when you are the odd person out.

One way to connect is to be involved. And again I try. We were involved in a small group that folded.  I had hopes for the kitchen ministry team. Been called once, couldn't make it. Honestly, I am loud, and  have way to many opinions. Sometimes people don't want me there.  To be honest I hate kids ministry so I don't do that even though people have looked down on me. I do like drama and as I wasn't working Christmas this year I wanted to be involved with whatever the church was doing for Christmas. So I read the bulletin in hopes of reading a call for volunteers for those who wanted to be involved in the Christmas production.

Long story short, there was no call. Luke mentioned to somebody I wanted to be involved and thus I played a role in the walk through Bethlehem. Mainly, I was cast for my personalty. I was glad to be involved but what about everybody else?
What about the newcomer who has no connection? Are they stuck being always an observer because they are shy? Because nothing was in the bulletin.

I have made another observation. As Luke is on ministry counsel I do hear him say that there is a lack of people being involved and it is hard to get volunteers for things. The people I saw also at the drama were the usual crew. What I am thinking is it is the same people are  always being asked to do things and then those people are the people who are getting burnt out and then quiting but there is not another crew of people coming up.

I thought being part of a community is sharing the jobs that have to be done. Making connections. I know i don't fit in. I don't know how to fix it. Really I am just about at the point where I don't want to try anymore. Maybe the church is too big, maybe I am to be someplace else.  A friend told me of her grandparents who through out their lives attended different churches, doesn't sound pleasant but where I am at isn't pleasant either.

I think more communication equals more belonging, and thus community which most everybody wants, and other than that I don't know.

The thing is I feel I am getting community, I have a great crew of running friends whom I have shared many good/bad times. But I do feel a void, lack of spiritual connection with those who share the same Christian values i have.

A little heavy for non emotional me. Well aware.

Thoughts, perhaps from a person south of me?

Oh the picture is Christmas related. Our tree from the sketchy tree farm out of town. A handy long term investment if you got a bit of land I think. The bike was Maya's Christmas from Kijiji.

Resolutions 2012

First a check up on 2011....

• Drive less Ongoing- see below.
• Surf the Internet less Fail miserabley
• Spend more time at work doing work related reading/ note taking. 50/50 Success/fail
• Attend more concerts Somewhat a success. Attended more plays. Actually didn't go to any concerts. I need more friend to go with. Friends??
• Clean and organize the basement 100% Fail.
• Blog more Really I don't know what more I have to say.
• Run 2011km in 2011 Success!
• Run with people more Success, but always room for more improvement.
• Volunteer at races Fail
• Don't do races that I really don't feel the love for/ have done really well at before. Win
• Become a OAT Triathlon coach Fail

2012

• Be more generous.
• Be really intentional about the races I do. Think before I register. Think in advance so I don't have to pay last minute fees.
• Drive less. try to do more walking/running to the store. Don't let the nagging kids get to me with their laziness.
• Run more frequently- even if it is even for 2k- just get out and do it. Don't be afraid to drive to a location if I know I will get a good run in.
• Be more intentional about doing good to the earth. Consume less. Really try to concentrate on what I already have prier to new purchases. Ie. fabric.
• Read more.
• Less Internet. The iphone isn't helping this at all. Maybe there is an app for this.
• Blog more- I am sure I will think of something.
• Volunteer at races.. maybe at the races I don't want to do.
• Clean, organize and save for renovating the basement. Marry a handy second husband for success.

Skiing

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Sewing

Most people know that I can sew. I call myself a beginner...and really I am. I get alot of help from a co-worker when I am working on specific projects but honestly I could use a few good home ec classes.
I also have serger envy, soo many projects would just look better if I had a serger.

These jammies are the kids Christmas jammers. Minor problem with the neck. In fact and to use my little ripper friend for their heads to go in. Think I might have to completely re -do the tops as related to non- stretch properties of flannel.

Lusting over at the years best Burda sewing.
Shirt
Top
Dress
Party Dress

Motivation

Admittedly I have some problems getting anything physical done this time of year. Thus I am in the first third of a 30day running streak. Basically I must do a run every single day -no breaks. Ok it doesn't have to be a long run, in fact the shortest distance can be 2km. That's the standard I set for myself. Not always easy but at least it is something.

Oh and I thought of a great trail running quote they other day...

..If I can see where I'm going, I don't want to go there.

Happy Hanukhah

And here is our family photo in front of the Christmas tree. One really should notice the phallic looking pig angel ornament. Ever has his cape around his neck. Luke refused to take the picture when we had people over to take the photo so the camera was balanced on a pillow and a book on top of a rolling chair. Meanwhile, Maya was crying cause she wanted to to be in charge of the whole operation and pose us in artful positions. Luke's goatee is getting greyer by the day. AND if the bags under my eyes and the craters around my mouth get any bigger the locum Doctor that's does 'restorative' medicine on the side will do me pro bono.

For those who love me last minute... yes all one of you.

• Sexy new jogging pants.
• Cookbooks- Looneyspoons Collection, Fresh, Canadian Living International

China

I am always telling Maya of the evils of things produced in China, and how the Dollar store is the pit of all evil as everything there is produced in china.

Thus I hastily peel of a sticker of  a present purchased not in a dollar store but an upscale store that bears the mark of the beast... MADE IN CHINA.



Secret Santa

Over at Runners Mania there is a Secret Santa operation that I love to participate in. I think there is to be a $20- 25 limit but generally I go over. Super fun stocking your person to find out miner details to expand upon.

The other day I received mine in the mail. I had asked for running music play lists and boy did I get them! Current favorite playlist, cds of all time favorites, and even an itunes gift card. Apple will not know what to think of me, buying stuff...Unheard of!!! Also got a lifetime of Christmas letters (my kinda person!) Chocolate- long gone, a buff ( which I really needed.) And a head warmer- re gifted item. (LOVE re-purposed stuff)

Now all I gotta do is send mine out...after I get it organized...after I stock my person some more.

Strip at Night- Las Vegas Half 2011

There is a group of us who run training runs together, start races together, and some random chatter came from someone who thought it would be fun to run the strip at night, and it actually happened cause somebody was organized enough to see that it wasn't just random chatter. Sooo if I was going to Vegas, I didn't want to go without Luke and if Luke wanted wanted to go, he had to run a race while he was there. Initially, I wanted to run the full marathon but as they only allotted 6000spots for the full,  it sold out back in September. Thus, I was running the half with Luke. I committed to running the entire 21k with him.

There were seven of us running the race, one volunteer and one spectator. We all went to the expo on Saturday morning. Us and about 30 000 other. I had been looking forward to seeing some products that are hard to come by in Canada, and was hoping for a few American prices, but it was crazy insane time. I did manage a desperately needed new bra and met the author of this book, made an idiot of myself and bought a signed copy.
Was hoping for a fully stocked swag bag....umm not to much. There was a cheapo headlamp and we were lucky and actually got a shirt, as I hear they ran out later in the day.

So Sunday evening came, and we suited up in our matching caveman/ flint stone/ Tarzan and Jane costumes. I knew it was going to be a little busy when at 2:30 there were a ton of people already at the race site. Due to a little logistical nightmare that almost ended our marriage we were trying to park our car at the race site- North end of the strip and could not get a spot, nor could we get a spot at ANY parking lot. All casinos and parking lots were closed and locked tight. ...and thus begins the problems we experienced at the race.

We arrive back at the race site a couple hours later and for this little country gal from Bruce County... I have never seen so many people, and I have been to a Billy Graham Crusade. Between the half and the full there are around 44000 people.  Of course we have to pee, and actually have no trouble finding a portapotti- we just looked for the non obvious location and there wasn't even a line . Felt sorry for the poor suckers waiting 20deep.

This race had an honer system of corrals at the start line. Basically when you registered you indicated your expected finishing time and you were assigned  to a corresponding corral. I had put down a 1:45 time thus was to be in the fourth corral. Luke had put around 2hours and was to be in the 13th. However as a group from Hanover we all wanted to start together so we all seeded ourselves in the slowest of the group 2:30 or the 22nd corral.... and that was our mistake.  The main issue was we were soooo cold waiting for the waves to go off. I had not thought at all about throw away clothes and I like to run almost naked so it was pretty cold huddling in 5degree weather in shorts. I was desperate and  I called out to anybody wanting to get rid of mitts I would be happy to take them. A fellow in front of me gave a hot pocket and I was in bliss. Eventually we started moving towards the start line and I had a practically wrestle a volunteer for a jacket thrown on the ground they were cleaning up so fast.

Once we crossed the start line I thought things would open up a bit, ummm nope, once we went 5k I thought things would open up a bit, ummm nope, once we were past 10k...ummm nope. It was ridiculous. I mean we were supposed to be around 2:30- there has to be  running at that pace! Sure there can be 5-10:1 but there has to be some running!!! Unfortunately,  the  majority  of the race we were surrounded by walkers. It was ridiculous, walkers from the get go right in front of us. And the sure mass of people. I am sorry but the race course just simply could not have handled anymore. We were packed in their like sardines. It was so crazy, I just wanted Luke to be able to open up and run- instead he was on the defensive the entire race trying to go in between people and not lose each other. Sure we should have started in a higher corral but all over people are saying that even in the upper corrals there were walkers from the get go.  Luke's time ended up being 2:31:19- which is dramatically slower than what he is capable of doing. I think in an open course he could have done 2:05- 10.
We started slow and finished fast, at the end Luke was doing 5:15ks and we were flying by people....and I was along for the ride. I ran ahead to get water for Luke and bring it to him. I told him when to take gels. Just as an after thought I brought some. Thank goodness I did as there was no sugar drink on course- apparently they ran out. Nothing new on race day eh, why not try a untested gel.  Anyways, I also was the comic relief. Made a  race out of the port a potty visit. 14 seconds. Seriously what are people doing in there???? Yelled out random stuff, "All right mile 8, whatever that means," "Yippee,it is a tattoo parlor beside the Lily of the valley wedding chapel
Now I know lots of people got sick from the water, we were fine but my major issue had to due with the lack of music on course. That's right, a rock in roll marathon was stone cold quiet. Luke even wished he had his ipod! Honestly there were not that many bands, and when we did see a set up nobody was playing.

We cross the finish line,  immediately grind to a stop. We did manage to get medals apparently they ran out, and I took over for Miss Alabama and put Luke's medal on myself. Then there was anger, Luke started yelling cause he couldn't move, and cause I had temporary put my iphone in my bra. I am trying to calm him down while possibly holding up the line cause 'gasp' I wanted a space blanket and a green banana. Was so intensely cold and desperately trying to hold on to stuff, and to keep Luke from freaking out. Apparently, when I finish races I am quiet and frustrated and Luke is loud and angry.
We didn't even think of going into the host Hotel where all the drama happen, we just wanted to get back to our hotel....which was 3.5k away...and it started raining...It was raining in the desert and we were there for it.  Less than ideal for Luke's first half marathon, notice I didn't say last. He wants to try again, but maybe not in Vegas.