Triathlon Triumph!

1:28 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

It was a sunny Sunday morning as we drove from the city to Frenchman's Bar State Park in Vancouver. Andrew and I set the station to a Reggae beat and sipped coffee with the windows down. The parking lot was packed with cars and bikers and racers with wet suits slug over their shoulders. The nerves really kicked in!

After getting our bibs and chips we found our transition area and set up shop. Everything has to be "just so". Towel in front of bike. Bike faced toward the exit. Shoes with socks open. Shirt with bib hanging on handle bars. Helmet and sunshades open and ready to go. "Are we ready?!?!"

"Ready as we can be!"

After the openning ceremonies all the racers walked 1/2 down the beach to the swim start. Laughing and smiles were mixed with silence and bitten lips.

The water was cold at first but there's no time to dwell before "Ready, Set, Go!" ; splashing and kicking and arms and legs!

"Keep going, keep going..." ran over and over in my head. I thought for a few minutes I'd never reach the end! It felt like I was swimming forever. Finally, I ran up the beach chasing a women who finished the swim right before me. Into the transition area I focused only on getting out of my wetsuit and onto my bike. The first few pedal stokes feel like you're just learning to ride! What wobbly legs! This was my first race on my new bike. Clearly, I need to practice. I tucked and rode as hard as could. I passed a few riders and a few more passed me. Hoping off the bike and onto the 3 mile run my legs felt even wobblier! This time the cahnt "Go! Go! Go!" kept me moving forward as fast as I could go. I remember glancing down at my legs, seeing the muscles work and thinking what an amazing thing our bodies are. "Go body, Go legs, Go!"

As I ran through the finish line I saw my friend Kathy cheering and smiling. Thank you Kathy. After I caught my breath she said, "I think you won." The whole race I was hoping, I was wishing, I was wanting terribly to win. But, it's a mighty thing to win and I knew I'd have incredible competition. Like, Sherri, my boss:) I tried not to get my hopes too high while I loitered around the results board.

2nd Place. I'll take it!!! Just wait until next year!

As soon as I got home I openned my calender to schedule outdoor bike rides! This was my slowest leg! I was shocked. I ride my bike to work everyday, I teach and take several Spinning classes a week and I race mountain bikes! I've got to learn to go faster!

Andrew and I are going to race another Sprint Tri in August. I think he's hooked too:) Way to go, Dear, I'm soooo proud of you! (You're not gonna beat on the bike next time!)

Grilled Carrots

5:25 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

We grill out nearly every weekend and I've put nearly every veggie under the sun on the flames. But not carrots. So tonight I'm using cues from allrecipes.com. Boil sliced carrots until crisp tender, about 10 minutes. Slice lengthwise and coat lightly with olive oil and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Grill 'til it looks good:) I'm serving the carrots with sauteed kale from our garden mixed with spicy chicken sausage from Trader Joes. I love cooking kale and other greens with these sausages. It's healthy but tastes so down home!

Triathlon Training

5:17 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

I taught a great spin class on Monday focusing on sprint intervals up big hills. It was tougher than I thought! I intended to take it easy and give my legs a break in preparation for this weekend's Triathlon. But, I just can't! I love to work hard, especially in Spin class. Sprint Triathlons are shorter distances and require less intense training regimes than longer, Olympic or Ironman distances. Than being said training and preparation are very important. What works best for you? Last year I got a horrendous stomach flu the week before and was laid up and barely eating for the few days prior. Not the best way to taper! By race day I felt lighter but well rested and ready to go. This year, so far no flu. It's been a year and I think I'm in better shape. How could I not be, right!? I've been running and riding my bike for a whole year longer! So, I imagine if all goes well, my time should be faster than before. If I was training for an Ironwomen the extra five pounds I carry now could make a difference. I just refuse to imagine that those measly morsels will slow me down! Interesting stuff to think about though as I consider attempting my first Olympic distance this year. Tuesday I took a short 30 minute run and a 30 minute bike ride. Today I took a wonderful Hatha Yoga class taught by my friend and co-worker Alissa. I need to do that more often. Tonight, Andrew and I are taking a jog before heading out to dinner, drinks and a pool game or two. (Competitiveness runs in the family:) Tomorrow I'm planning a morning swim and maybe an short jog before work. Then...finally the rest days! I'm going to TRY to take Friday and Saturday OFF. Which means I'll most likely take a jog/walk or short ride at some point. I just need to move! We'll be attending a wedding on Saturday in Hood River so I'll have to refrain from boozing it up but I will enjoy the buffet! To training! Here goes~

Grilled Pork Chops with Two-Melon Salsa

6:11 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

Grilled Pork Chops with Two-Melon Salsa


Cover this quick and easy grilled pork recipe with a tasty salsa that uses summer's freshest fruits and flavors to round out the meal.

Other Time: 30 minutes minutes
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 pork chop and 1/2 cup salsa)


Salsa:
1 cup chopped seedless watermelon
1 cup chopped honeydew melon
3 tablespoons finely chopped sweet onion
1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeño pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1/8 teaspoon salt

Pork chops:
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 (4-ounce) boneless center-cut pork chops, trimmed
Cooking spray

1. To prepare salsa, combine the first 7 ingredients; set aside.

2. To prepare pork chops, heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Combine oil and next 4 ingredients (through black pepper) in a small bowl. Rub oil mixture over both sides of pork chops. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add pork to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Serve with salsa.


CALORIES 256 ; FAT 13.5g (sat 4.3g,mono 6.4g,poly 1.6g); CHOLESTEROL 70mg; CALCIUM 37mg; CARBOHYDRATE 8.7g; SODIUM 458mg; PROTEIN 25g; FIBER 0.9g; IRON 0.9mg

Cooking Light, JULY 2010

This was a wonderfully light and delicious meal. The salsa was so good, and got better over night, I made another batch to use as a bfast side and salad topper. Sooo GOOD!

A Week of New Recipes - Healthy and Cheap!

3:14 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 2 Comments

Sunday Night BBQ: Surf and Turf!

I can't remember the last time I had a hunk of steak! Yum, what a treat. We always grill out on Sunday night in the Summer - or at least we try to. What we grill most often depends on what's on sale at the market. This week we found -- Shrimp skewers for a dollar a piece -- "We'll take 5!" And one steak kabob with veggies for under $4 per pound. Looks like Surf and Turf to me! We grilled peppers, onions and mushrooms along side and cracked a $ 5 dollar bottle of red for a delicious meal that cost about $13!!

Monday Night: More grilled veggies with Pacific Cod and yogurt sauce. This time served with a yogurt-tahini sauce I came across in a recent edition of Cooking Light. I never use Tahini and found this a bit expensive. But, the sauce was delicious with raddiccio, mushrooms, onion and zucchini. The main course was baked cod (on sale) with a lime-yogurt sauce. The idea here is to use just a few different ingredients with different spices to vary flavor and keep cost and prep time minimal. We bought just enough couscous in the bulk aisle to serve two and finished last night bottle of wine. So, dinner would have cost about $8 plus the $7 bottle of Tahini.

What else can you do with Tahini? I'd love some suggestions.

Tonight: Grilled Pork chops with Two-Melon Salsa and Garlic Toast

Pimp My Bike

2:52 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

Last year my bike was stolen one week before my first Triathalon. Big Bummer. I'd been riding my Trek mountain bike for at least 10 years and was sorry to see it go. But, I guess it was time for an upgrade. Not being super flush at the time, after a lot of test riding, I settled on an affordable and cool looking Gray Fisher Wingra. The bike felt considerably quicker than my Trek and I loved how smooth it felt on the road. On race day I was lucky to have faster swim and run splits because I got creamed on the bike! My time was good enough to score me a 3rd place finish in the Women's race -- but, also left plenty of room for improvement.

It' been one year and the Girlfriends and Dudes Triathalon is once again upon us! I am still riding the "Wings" and don't anticipate pulling out the credit card for a new bike this time around. After a year of almost daily riding, thrice weekly Spin Classes and a season of Mountain bike races I'm far more comfortable and strong on any bike.

Knowing I need to cut a chunk of time off my bike split to better my finish I decided to get the Wings in the best shape possible to compete. I slimmed down the tires, installed toe clips and streamlined the front handle bars with a set of aerobars. Wow. I've never ridden a road bike, let alone a tricked out, hunched over hybrid trying to be a Tri-bike. This is going to be a trip. ( Just hopefully not one straight over the handle bars!) I've got two weeks to practice. A couple of wonderful members at Northwest Women's Fitness Club have generously offered me the use of their fancy road bikes. I'd love to ride a super fast bike and increase my chance to smoke last years time -- but the Wings and I are bonded. We will hit the pavement with determination and pride! Super Wings, as I call her in this new form, deserves the chance to show her stuff!

I'm going to try to post a photo of this beast:) My bike looks like an alien black tarantula.

Go Wings!