A little soup DIY

The days are growing shorter, the skies grayer, the forecast wetter.  I huddle by my space heater when I get dressed in the mornings.

It is soup weather.  Thank goodness McDougall's Right Foods sent me a wonderful box full of their ready-to-serve soups!  Wow:

I went for the vegetable soup first.  I'm super impressed by the ingredient list:

"a delicious blend of eight vegetables, lentils, and organic brown rice in a savory broth...

Best Ingredients: FILTERED WATER, VEGETABLES (TOMATOES, ONIONS, CARROTS, POTATOES, ZUCCHINI, CELERY, PEAS, GARLIC), LENTILS, ORGANIC BROWN RICE, NATURAL FLAVOR (NON ANIMAL SOURCE),POTATO STARCH, SPICES, YEAST EXTRACT, ORGANIC EVAPORATED CANE JUICE, SEA SALT, PARSLEY."

It tasted really good!  Like real, proper soup, if you know what I mean - not your average tinny, over-processed stuff.

But... I had a hankering for something a little heartier, a little spicier.  Nothing wrong with this soup -- but it was missing a little something, you know?

So the next night, I decided to do a little soup DIY...

Ta-da!  vegetable soup + braised red cabbage + a generous dash of pepper + hot sauce = AMAZING.

With new-to-me crackers as accompaniment:

Kathy's Krackers generously sent me a sampler pack of their raw, gluten-free, flaxseed crackers -- flavors from apple cinnamon to salsa!  

I had a side of apple cinnamon flaxseed cracker with my soup:

Hmm.  I'm not sure what to make of these just yet.  They have a very interesting flavor!  And texture - lots of bulk and texture with the flaxseeds, not-quite crunchy and not-quite bendy.  I enjoyed trying them, but I wouldn't call it love at first taste just yet!

But thick soup + hearty crackers = a perfect November dinner.

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P.S.  An addendum to my recent Chobani review:

"The verdict?  Tasty and filling, with very fresh fruit (as promised)... but I was taken aback when I took a look at the nutritional information.  20 grams of sugar in the blueberry flavor?!  19 grams in the peach?!  And not just from the fruit - from added sugar and other sweetening (the second-listed ingredient in the flavored yogurts)."  

Chobani's Shari took the time to follow up with me after I posted my review.

"Thank you so much for your participation in reviewing Chobani.  I want to clarify one thing about the sugar that is labeled on our container.  We do not add sugar any longer.  We are depleting the stock of labels from when we did add sugar.  We now only add evaporated cane juice which is all natural and unrefined to all the fruit flavors... Keep in mind that the sugar you find on the label isn’t solely from the evaporated cane juice.  Milk also contains sugar.  7 grams of sugar come from the milk that is used."

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Do you check the sugar content of your yogurts?  What is your favorite soup + crackers combination?

5k recap: I did it!!

 these shoes ran a 5k!

64/138                 22       32:20   10:25

64th out of 138 women in my age division; net time 32:20; pace 10:25.

The giddiness has worn off, but the pride and joy haven't!  On Sunday, I ran my very first road race

 - a 5k.  I didn't run fast, but I ran steadily, and I FINISHED!

Now, I know that might not seem like a lot to all of you who run marathons and triathlons and who

knows what other kinds of crazy things.  But as one very wise blogger (I'm afraid it's slipping my

memory who) wrote once, a 5k may be someone else's marathon.  That's how I felt!  I never, ever

thought I could be a runner.  I remember in the early stages of c25k when being able to run for

three minutes straight felt like a huge accomplishment.  

But I'm already looking ahead to bigger numbers, longer distances, steeper climbs... 

But first: a race recap.

my couch-to-5-k training plan + overall workout calendar, lovingly taped onto my wall, crossed off with every run (and other workout), and carefully annotated!

I felt great all the way through.  Unfortunately, since the event was both a half marathon and

a 5k, the course was mostly marked for the half marathon in terms of distance markers, and I had no

idea how far along I was.  Maybe that was a good thing this first time, though, since I was nervous

enough about being able to finish!  

Heeding everyone's recommendations, I started out slow.  Real slow.  To be honest, I don't think I 

really felt the first quarter of the race - I was too cold!  And too excited!  But as I got further along

and realized that hey, I can do this!, I started to build up a little more speed.  I am pretty sure I 

came out with negative splits - or at least pretty close - especially the last third of the race. 

When I was swimming or rowing, my favorite part of the race was always that last push, that last stretch when I poured everything I had into closing the distance.  I SPRINTED the last hundred yards!  And it felt AWESOME! 

It was fantastic.  I think I've caught the racing bug, as Meghann might say!

Guess what I've put on my wall now:

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Are you a runner?  Have you competed in races before?

First-ever race!!! (the night before)

I am so, so excited!!  And scared! 

I've been working my way steadily through the C25k training plan for some weeks now, and I'm running my first-ever race, a 5k, tomorrow morning. 

!!!!!!!

D-chip on shoes: check.  Bib on top: check.  iPod + headphones: check.  Sports bra: check.  T-shirt: check.  Socks: check.  Running pants: check.  Keys: check.  Watch: check.  Subway directions to race: check.  Two alarms set for the a.m.: check. 

I'm a little nervous about what to wear (the perpetual ladies' dilemma, I know) -- the race starts at 7:00 AM, and according to www.weather.com, it'll be around 45 degrees (sunny).  I hope what I've laid out is okay: lightweight tech T-shirt, tech-weave zipup top, and running pants that hit about mid-calf (thank you, City Sports bargain rack + Marshall's!).  I don't know.  I hope I won't be too warm.  But I figure this is my first race, and if it isn't perfect, it's okay!  All I can do is my best.  

I've worked out this week - cross-training and running - but I took it pretty easy the last couple days.  I've paid attention to food and fuel.  I've taken time to stretch in the evenings.  I've slept well.  I am ready!  I feel strong, fit, and ready to take this 5k down! 

Game.  On.