Motivation Monday

I’m lucky enough to be out of school today for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day so I thought he and his fight are definitely motivating.  I did my 4-weeks-to-the-race long run this morning with two friends – motivated by the approaching deadline as well as this quote by Mr. King.

Keep moving forward.

Do something today to move you closer to your goal.  Whether it’s a long run, a cross-training session, a good stretch or roll out on the foam roller.  Eat well, hydrate, sweat.  However small, just move forward.

Have a great day!

Foodie Friday: Authentic Mexican Dinner

It’s authentic because I ate it in Mexico.  And I wanted to share it because it was fabulous.  Last night Emilie and Larry took me, the guest who would never leave (but temporary passport finally arrived!!  First flight they can get me on is Monday afternoon…), back to a restaurant we went to in the first days of my visit.  I loved it so much – food and atmosphere – that I requested we go back, and they happily consented.

Henry’s is set up sort of like the Austin food trucks.  It’s just down the road from the condo I’ve been living in and is set up literally on the side of the main road, under a tent.  It’s owned by Henry, a happy Mexican man who comes to the table and takes your order himself, asking how the holidays were and then takes the orders back to the “kitchen” where his wife and her team of brothers prepare the meals.

The Kitchen

The menu is fairly small and simple – meats include chicken, steak and shrimp served in a variety of Mexican fashions – taco (hard or soft, flour or maiz), papas, vampire, quesadilla, chorriadas etc. – and hangs from the sides of the tents.

Menus hang from the sides of the tent

Not long after seating ourselves at our own mesa, drink orders are placed and appetizers appear.  Henry’s goes way beyond regular chips and salsa.  First of all, their chips are delicious.  I’m not sure how to compare them to our traditional tortilla chips and the only word I can think of to describe them is better (I know, not much help).  With the chips comes salsa, fresh pico de gallo, avocado sauce and pickled onions.  Limes come in a separate bowl with sliced cucumbers, something I’ve never been served in America at a Mexican restaurant.  The limes are for the beer, the cucumbers for munching.

Appetizer spread.

Just before you’ve consumed one chip too many, the next course arrives – bean soup.  Simple and delicious — simply delicious.  And apparently it’s some sort of secret combination of water, Mexican beans, salt and 12 hours of simmering (might have to work on that one in ATX).  I followed the lead of my aunt and uncle, spooning avocado sauce and pico into the simple soup (although I was quite content eating it plain).

Simple Bean Soup

For dinner I ordered vampiro de pollo or a hard taco shell with chicken, tomato sauce, cheese and cabbage.  I chose it because I’ve never heard of vampire tacos and thought I would take a chance.  It came to me looking like a mini pizza and was also fabulous.  Crunchy bottom, crispy cabbage and flavorful chicken with just the right amount of cheese.

Vampiro de Pollo

I finished everything, and it was just the perfect amount of food.  If you’re ever in Mazatlan, Mexico you must hunt down this little tent on the side of the road.  Reasonable prices and the best Mexican food you may ever eat!

 

Congrats, My Virtual Runners!

I have compiled the photos of people who ran either the last day of 2012 or the first day of 2013 (or both!)

Monday, December 31, 2012

I did not take a picture but yours truly squeezed in a 5k on the treadmill right before the party started!

My lovely friend Kalli donned earwarmers and gloves for a neighborhood run through Memphis!  She’s training for the 2013 St. Jude Half – right Kalli?!

Get it girl!

My dad and his group braved the snow and 31 degrees for a 6.5 K (according to one of their European runners) in Zionsville, Indiana (my hometown).

No excuses from the boys!

Good friends Linda and Randy did their 5k trot around Lake Keowee in Salem, South Carolina.

Linda and Randy in SC!

Memphis friends Jen (training for New Orleans Mardi Gras Half), Becca and Amanda (whom I’ve never met!) also braved the cold for a 5 miler on the Greenline!

Scarves and headbands…must be chilly!

January 1, 2013

I received this photo from Cynthia Donovan (from Colorado!) who ran her first 5k “in a while”, and she said it was muddy, and I believe her!

Gotta love the mud runs

This group from YogaFest in Collierville, TN did 5 miles!

Prize for the biggest group!

Gretchen (just getting back into running) said this about her run on Facebook “I did the walk/run method by blocks not minutes. I would walk 2 blocks then run two blocks. I got a little tired by the end so the ending numbers went like this…14 blocks run/18 blocks walked…32 blocks total. I am pleased since this is only my 4th outing in 12 years. :-0)”

Gretchen gets back!

The Memphis girls got back out there on Tuesday!

2 days in a row!

A bigger group in Zionsville running off the New Year’s Eve tequila shots!  Still snowy!  (Pops you look a little sleepy….Not pictured: 2 pups).

Yea Boys! 24 degrees…feels like 14!

Close by in Indianapolis, a friend from high school, Ashley, ran 3.5 miles!  She’s training for the 2013 Indy Mini (a great race by the way!)

Worked up a sweat!

Another Memphis runner, and blogging friend, Sharon, took her girl Ashok for a 5 miler!  She’s training for the February Austin Livestrong Half Marathon.

Sharon and Ashok, in Memphis!

And then there was me!  I did a hilly 5k on the treadmill here in Mexico!

Sweaty treadmill time!

Thank you to all the boys and girls and dogs who participated – I wish you happy trails (warmer and drier ones too!) and many healthy miles in 2013.  Stay in touch with your training!