Ready, Set, Go!

I am freeing myself from the deep-freeze blues.  I have officially signed up for the Maine Marathon in October.  I am reading books on sports nutrition and trying to really zero in on the fueling process this year.  It is something I definitely could pay more attention to- carb loading need not always be beer and vegan pizza:)  Sometimes, yes, but not as a norm.

I have also begun working with VegMe!  VegME! is a Maine-based nonprofit working to educate and support Mainers interested in plant-based eating.  VegME!’s efforts are focused on the benefits a plant-based (vegan) diet provides in four areas: hunger, nutrition, animals and environment.  Our mission is to put veg resource with veg need to serve Mainers.  I am having a grand time getting back into the game and hope that you will follow our efforts and join in some of the fun.  In the near future we have many events including a vegan meetup at Zen Chinese restaurant in Portland, 2013 MeatOut brunch at Pepperclub, Meatless Mainers day to name just a few.  Go to our page for more information on any of these.

Lastly, I am dreaming up a concept of a vegan running group.  Runs that end at a veg-friendly restaurant.  If anyone out there wants to take part, please contact me. 

Until next time, keep running, keep vegging, and keep making a difference in the lives of animals, people, and the environment!

All Work and No Run Makes Ange a Dull Gal

I haven't been skipping workouts.  Not at all.  I have actually been working harder than usual participating in some High Intensity Interval Training courtesy of Beachbody's Les Mills Combat.  It is actually pretty kick-ass; punches and kicks and burpees galore and with at least an hour 6 days a week. I am feeling more flexible and strong than I have in a while.  Check it out!

All of this said, I was beginning to feel increasingly grumpy.   Now, it is no surprise that I get a bit weird if I don't go for my runs for a long stretch of time but I didn't realize how much I needed that outside time until I spent a couple of weeks working out indoors and on the dreaded treadmill.  The holidays, the 5 hours of daylight a day, and the marvelous snow has forced me inside.  I recently read this great article in Outside magazine that explained some of the possible scientific reasons for this.  I highly recommend the article:  Nature as medicine.

So this morning I bundled up for my 1st run of 2013.  It was a good workout with sidewalks still quite snow-covered so there was some core work and my ankles are quite tender tonight.  It was grueling work and the wind was a bit raw and I was in the best mood I have been in days.  There is something more to it than getting a good sweat on.  I needed to be outside, for the sake of myself and the people around me who have to deal with my cranks.  I ended the morning with a smoothie from the Maine Squeeze- a GreenLight with mango, pineapple, dates, kale and ginger.  Perfection. 

So, if you are feeling less than thrilled about this new year, try heading outside for a wee bit.  You just might be smiling despite the bitter winter chill.

Things I've Had it With

Hello once again, my friends.  As you know if you live in Portland, this picture was taken during a more pleasant day.  I've quite had it with these days that don't really become light and I have had it with rain in mid-December.  Who wants to raise their hand and argue global warming with me?  Oh yeah, really?  Well, I will arm wrestle you for it. 

Actually, I've had it with quite a few things recently.  I've had it with people treating one another like shit during the holiday season- scowling at one another in busy stores and parking lots because they only care about the material things they don't have enough money to buy.  I've had it with people acting like animals are disposable objects for our pleasure and I've had it with people that treat me like I am some sort of extremist because I don't follow the mainstream diet.  I've had it with people that think I 'will change my mind' about bringing a child into this fucked up world.  I'm 35 people- the clock is not a-ticking.  I've had it with people who use their self-riteous attitudes to stroke their own ego- happy cows and cage free eggs and joyous salmon dancing in the fucking moonlight.  None of these are for the sake of the animals, but for the sake of people's conscience.  Speaking of ego, I've had it with 26.2 bumper stickers.  I've had it with people buying dogs from puppy mills and I've had it with the gutter-punk kids that put packs on their dogs.  Don't bring a dog into your begging when you don't know where your next meal will be and definitely don't have them carry your shit!  I've had it with people trying to convince me they need their 5 guns for protection.  I've had it with health care professionals that act like nutrition and diet is separate from health and I've had it with our inability to find a way to get less fortunate people balanced meals.  I've had it with the fact that the grain going to feed that fat cow for the rich people's bloody steak could have been fed to people instead of cows.  I've had it with people getting groceries and such in plastic bags- often just one or two items in each bag- and then throwing them out, unaware or uncaring about the islands of plastic growing in our ocean.  I've had it with people claiming to be environmentalists but opposing windmills.  I've had it with people claiming to be feminists throwing themselves at men desperately, using the excuse that they are 'owning their sexuality'.  I've had it with sexuality being the selling point for EVERYTHING.  And sex really does sell everything!  In that case, I gotta say, veganism in sexy.  Being strong is sexy.  Environmentalism is sexy.  Kindness is sexy.  Smiling at every goddam miserable looking shopper that you can is sexy.

Well, I think I got all of that out of the way for a while.  This was supposed to be a blog about the dreary day and look what happened!  Just try to spread some cheer people.  I am going to try like hell to be as nice as possible despite all of these things that I've had it with.  Because anger doesn't change anything.  So, get your anger out by writing it down or by harnessing it all into your arm wrestling matches and give one another some kindness, patience, and understanding.

Back Again

I believe it may be time to get up and running again (no pun intended).  I have a couple of things up my sleeve, including another money raising marathon- charity to be announced.  Which means summer will be consumed again by runs and fundraising so I will need much love from my family and friends!

The other thing I will be working on is 'Ban the Bag Portland'.  I think we can convince Portland, Maine that eliminating plastic bags is possible and desirable.  I am hoping for volunteers to help me go to businesses to get them to pledge to go plastic bag free.  I am also hoping to find some local politicians to get on board with this idea.  To even introduce the idea of an anti-plastic bag law is going to seem extreme to a lot of folks and I am ready for their wrath.  What is extreme is the state of the oceans these days.  We are at a critical point and we need to all wake up and do whatever little bit we can.  This is my little bit at the moment.  Join me!

Militant Vegan

I was accused of being a militant vegan today. I must say I was a bit flattered. Being a passive, middle of the road person most of my life, the fact that I am seen as 'militant' about something is something I am proud of. Better than a half-assed vegan. Better than a 'do it because it is trendy now' vegan. Better than a 'well, I eat turkey at thanksgiving' vegan.

Definition of MILITANT
1
: engaged in warfare or combat : fighting
2
: aggressively active (as in a cause) : combative


Speaking of militant, I wish I was out on the ocean with the Sea Shepherd folks, risking life and limb for something so much bigger than the everyday bullshit society tells us we should care about. Fighting for the environment instead of fighting the 9:00 to 5:00 so that maybe I can buy that expensive pair of jeans so the world won't suspect I am eeking by from one paycheck to the next- drowning in debt from just a couple of Christmases trying to show people love with stuff. Fighting for whales instead of fighting against the idea that people have that I am flawed because I don't want children or a career or a marriage that might fail in five years. Fuck that shit. Militant? I hope I can be 'aggressively active', trying to change my world in even the smallest way that I can.

Silence is broken

Silence is Broken

I suppose I needed a break from everything after the marathon but now I am back, trying to get the body into shape before I begin training for the Maine Marathon again. I am hoping to qualify for Boston- need to shave about 20 minutes from last year's time. This means work. Please follow me as I write about my recipes, animal and conservation issues, and my training. I will need all the support I can get!

MY SEEDY OATS

Is your oatmeal seedy? Mine is!

1 cup water

1/2 cup oats (GrandyOats Maine Grown Rolled Oats are the best!)

2 tsp pumpkin pie spice

dash pure vanilla

Frozen Maine Wild Blueberries

1 Tbsp Chia Seeds

1 Tbsp Hemp Seeds

1 Tbsp Maple Syrup

Fruit of your choice

Do the oatmeal thing- boil water, add oats, simmer for about 10. Add frozen blueberries, spice, and vanilla when it is just about done. Put in a lovely bowl and sprinkle with seeds, maple syrup and fruit. I like to throw a banana in there for some potassium goodness.

Sit. Eat. Think about how bad ass you will be after all of that seedy goodness.