RIP Vibrams - Time for a replacement?

Looks like they've developed some holes

Alas, I think it's time to say adieu to my first ever pair of Vibram Five Fingers. I purchased these (the Bikila model) back in September last year in hopes of correcting a shin splint I had, and to totally reconstruct the way that I ran (since I think I would be running for awhile). These shoes were probably the most valuable purchase I have ever made towards my fitness goals, and I am proud to say I have put many hundreds (maybe a thousand) miles in these, many including a couple half marathons, a full marathon and all the supplemental training.

Unfortunately, even minimalist shoes have an end to them. You would think even if minimalist shoes fall apart...hey it's more minimal and even close to being barefoot! Well, eventually my shoes developed a series of holes around the toes and odd formations in the seams and it produced some annoying rubs and attacks on my toes. Thus, I must move on to a shoe that still maintains the comfort of my feet as I run. If my feet don't feel good after 1 mile, I couldn't imagine how they would treat me after 20!

Luckily, I still have my trusty purple Vibram Komodosports to get me around. I don't particularly enjoy them as much as the Bikilas for long-distance running because they're a little thicker and stiffer on the feet (I love them for Crossfit) but they do a good job for now. Because they're thicker, my feet muscles work a little more and I tend to have a mild top-of-the-foot pain with these versus the Bikilas, so I can't run too many miles.

I went to CitySports (my favorite athletic store!) today to try out some of the other models. I've been particular interested in the Bikila LS model (mainly because the laces will be more forgiving to my wider-than-normal feet), and the Speeds (also with laces). They apparently also launched new Komodosport LS models in some neat purple and pink colors...but I already own Komodosport and am looking for a model to really mimic the thin feeling of the Bikilas.

Sadly, they only had a size 40 in the Bikila LS model, and the speeds weren't even in stock. I'm debating purchasing a Bikila LS model online....the new color for the season is Red/Gray (which isn't quite my cup of tea but will do) or waiting a couple weeks before they come into stores and hopefully City Sports will have a double-point purchase special by then.

While I couldn't try on the new vibrams, I did take the liberty to try on a new minimalist shoe that caught my eye: The Saucony Hattori. Normally when I see a lot of minimalist shoes...I think "What minimal? Really?" the soles are almost way too thick most of the time. This Hattori model was actually pretty light and flat...and really felt like a thin stretchy sock with a thin rubber sole. I tried on a 6.5, the smallest size they had and it surprisingly fit really well! Normally close-toed shoes are too narrow for my feet but I felt like my feet could breathe! It's a different feeling moving in shoes that are close-toed after having my toes feel so loose in Vibrams for so long, but I think I really enjoyed them. Not sure if I would use them for running long distances since my toes still felt a little captive, and after awhile they would need room to move from their cages or go crazy. They're also about $20 cheaper than the Vibrams.

Maybe if they were about $40-50 I would consider them as just a casual shoe (where I could drop my things and run off if I needed to at any moment). I also need to try the Merrell Trail Glove which I've heard also has the same glove-like feel.

What are your thoughts on minimalist shoes...do you like them? Too afraid to jump right into the Vibrams? I know they are still a growing phenomenon. You should at least make your way to a shoe store and try some on just for the experience of seeing how these feel. I could talk on and on about the benefits they bring to your running form (or posture overall compared to those "sketchers shape ups"...please! But I'll let you do some research (as I had to do).

Amazing Paleo Chili

I have to say my most favorite part of chili is definitely the ground meat. In other words, forget the beans, let's make some Paleo chili! I saw a few recipes (from Mark's Daily Apple, etc) for Paleo chili, but they all included giant chunks of meat. I really love the ground texture, so I had to modify an existing recipe. The original is "Ryder's Turkey Chili" by Guy Fieri off of www.foodnetwork.com...but here's my version:

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons bacon grease or butter
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 carrot, diced
1-2 tomatoes, diced
1 1/2 jalapeno peppers, minced, seeds removed
several cloves garlic, minced
2 small red onions, diced
2 1/2 pounds ground turkey/beef/pork
2 hotdog franks, sliced into small rounds
1 small can tomato paste
1 16oz can tomato sauce
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tbsp chili powder
2 tablespoons paprika
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (this really gives a kick!)
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Shredded cheddar cheese or sliced avocado, for garnish

yeah I probably could have kept the franks intact to make
"chili dogs" but I decided to include them.

Alright, I've got everything chopped up...let's begin!

Warm the grease/butter in a large pot over high heat. Add the bell peppers, jalapenos, garlic, onions and carrots, and cook until caramelized, about 8 minutes.

Mmm that's right...caramelize!

Next, all of the meat and gently stir, trying not to break up the meat too much but getting it to cook; cook until the ground meat is just no longer pink, about 5 minutes depending on the size of the pot.

simmering chili...looks so yummy! Will definitely have
leftovers for a few days...

Add the tomato paste and sauce and chopped tomatoes. Stir for 4 minutes, then add the chicken broth. Now add all your spices: chili powder, paprika, cumin, cayenne, *cinnamon* and a few cranks of the pepper mill. Let it simmer for about another 5-10 minutes to really let the flavors and spices soak in.

I love the texture of cool avocado with a warm chili

I really think this chili tastes its best as leftovers...after it's been sitting in the fridge overnight and all the flavors have melded together. But nevertheless it also tastes amazing right after it's done as well! Just make sure you cool it enough so you don't burn your tongue.

This isn't the pool anymore...

I'm totally psyched about recently joining the Triathlon Club of New England (TriNE) since now I won't need to bike or swim alone anymore! It's great to have a community of people to go to who schedule open-water swim sessions or bike time-trials where I can start getting used to each aspect of the triathlon (aside from running which I think I have down).

Today, I met up at Georgiaville Pond for my first ever long open-water swim with others. The longest I had swam in open water was actually 1/4 mile at the Goddard Sprint Triathlon (that I got 3rd in!), so it was definitely a new experience to see how I could sustain myself over a longer distance. I had swam totals of over 1.5 miles before...just in a pool where I would be kicking off a wall or stopping at the edge every now-and then. And the water would only be standing height.

Let's look at the vast differences of an open water swim:

1. The water is not crystal clear...you will not see ANYTHING except brown murkiness below.
Yeah, the water will get a bit deep and you won't be able to stand. I'm so used to the clear blue-ness of a pool, it's a bit intimidating at first to jump into a pond where you can't see anything in the water with your goggles.

2. Navigating is SO important
It's incredibly easy to just start swimming and be totally going in the wrong direction unless you up every few strokes to see where you're heading. Luckily the two people I was swimming with had bright orange and yellow caps, so I just glanced around to find them after every 10 strokes. It's definitely a skill to break out of your pool-swimming technique/rhythm, and be able to lift your head forward to look ahead of you to find your direction.

3. Just find an easy rhythm and pace.
It's tough starting right off the bat without a warmup to find the right pace. I always feel like I head out much faster than I need to and end up slowing down to a good rhythm later. But then again, it's a good feeling to get used to since I'll probably act that way in most triathlons.

4. Compared to running and cycling...swimming is S-L-O-W
I can't remember how many times today I stared ahead at the upcoming island or the beach and thought "hey, I'm not that far away!" Actually, I am and it does take a few minutes and patience to swim that distance. I would swim for a bit and realize I was almost as far away as I was before. Swimming only 1/2 mile is almost equivalent to running 2 miles and it's tough to think in those terms.

All in all, I was so excited I got a great swim in. I had to drag myself out of bed this morning because I was definitely not bouncing awake at 6:00am, or even 6:30. (I think I finally left by 6:45 thinking it would only take 13 minutes to get there, and I ended up getting lost and arriving at 7:15. But it was still a 20 minute drive...sheesh!). The temperature of the water was actually pretty nice (maybe around 70?) even though it was 65 degrees outside. The other two I swam with had wetsuits, but honestly I didn't think that was needed. I am totally buoyant enough. Perhaps next season, or in the fall when the temperature gets cooler, I'll look into getting a wet-suit.

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Ah, salads! I have found salads to be my fall-back dinner option whenever I am out to dinner and I can't particularly have a meal consisting of only meat and veggies. I am usually a sucker for any salad made elsewhere since I never feel like my own salads have a cohesive quality to them...they always feel plain. I've been super obsessed with Chop Salads lately, which consist of:

Lettuce, chopped tomatoes, bleu cheese, bacon, chicken, hard-boiled egg and avocado slices (if it's a good chopped salad). Usually any creamy dressing works well, though I've been staying on the more paleo end and using a thick balsamic vinegar I got at Sabatino & Co. in Boston...a nice specialty condiments store that has lots of yummy truffle oils, honeys, vinegars and dips of all kinds. Even some nice soaps. 

Here's a pick of my lovely salad compilation. The bowl isn't quite big enough to see the pile of mixed lettuce underneath, but all the ingredients are there.

Making one of these salads does take a lot of work! I had to cook the chicken, bacon and hard-boiled eggs in advance so I can just chop the veggies fresh when I need the salad. It takes about 10 minutes to get everything out and chop stuff to create my salad. (Those restaurants already have everything prepped and chopped out to make tons of salads, so no wonder it takes them a mere few minutes! Unfortunately I'm just making one salad, not mass producing 50 a day.) I did pre-cook about 3 servings worth of meat though so I saved some time.

With exception to the bleu cheese, this salad is definitely super Paleo and filled with plenty of protein  (chicken, eggs, bacon) and some healthy fats from the avocado. Pair with a nice glass of iced water to combat the summer heat and I'm all set! Now time to experiment with a different type of salad with comparable protein in it. Do you have any other salad ideas?

The Ups and Downs of days off, and JUICY PRIME RIB

This past week I've been traveling a bit and because of that, I haven't been able to keep up my normal gym schedule at all. Of course, I always try to stay as active as I can (walking around everywhere, getting in that morning jog even if it's only a couple miles, and renting some bikes), but really, my calorie burnage has been a little lacking lately.

Well, I finally got to the gym a couple days ago (luckily I was persuasive enough to get a free 7-day pass at Fitness Factory), and it felt AMAZING to be back into the weights...instead of feeling all down and out of shape, I really pushed some great maxes and definitely moved up a couple levels in my weight training. I'm almost a solid 135# on my working squat sets now, and I think I've graduated from the 85# bench to almost two 25lb plates...almost. Still hanging onto 90#. However, there is one slight downside after not working out for several days....

I Feel SO SORE. not THAT sore, but my quads were definitely feeling it (and they never do?!). After a couple runs and some lighter squats I am feeling pretty could though.

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Now onto todays amazing paleo-errific experience:









GIANT 32 OZ STEAK. But not just any steak.


This steak was melt-in-your-mouth medium rare, juicy, flavorful, best bloody steak I have ever had in my life (yes that was a bit English of me). Oh my god what a paleo eater's dream.

My boyfriend decided to surprise me as his belated anniversary present (mine being overloading him with wine, and his, overloading me with steak.) I could not have been happier. Kreis Steakhouse...definitely making another stop there when I have the money. Well, give me a year. You can only really have steak this amazing once in a long, long time.

I ended up only eating half of it....




what can I say...it's 32 oz of steak! Eating just half of it meant I gained a lb already...not including the extra wine, water and calamari appetizer. P.S. The Maitre 'D garlic butter sauce with it was spectacular.