Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Round-up

For some reason (possibly distracted by the brilliant weather) we have been neglecting the blog. So as I write this quick round up of Wednesday to Friday, Jo is busying herself with our fun-packed Saturday which includes Deli Markets, Vindaloos and beer.

In continuation of our healthy eating, Wednesday's dinner was pan fried turkey breast with a zingy carrot and sultana salad that went perfectly with the balmy evening that we had in Leeds.

Carrot and Sultana Salad

My plate including turkey and brown rice

On Thursday Jo made our first ever non meat stew - a non meat stew you say!? CRAZY! It was really good and I didn't miss the meat at all as the mushrooms gave a hearty meaty punch! We will definitely be having this again.

Mushroom Stew and Cous Cous

I am running a marathon in 2 months and I am scared! I am desperately trying to get my mileage up so I took an afternoon half days annual leave on Friday and jumped on the train to Crossflatts, which is the station past Bingley. The run I attempted was 17 miles down the canal back to Leeds which was okay for the first 13 or so and then I began to struggle as my recurring injuries of a stiff left knee and sore left groin kicked in....unfortunately I had to walk the last 2 miles as I was in disappointing agony! If I make it round 26.2 miles in my target time of under 4 hours then it will be a miracle (well not quite but it will be bloody hard work!)

If you want to support my marathon attempt and Breast Cancer Care, then you can sponsor me here. Trust me, the more motivation I can get the better!!

A marker along the canal

PS. I am in a mutual sponsorship deal with James Macsween of Macsween Haggis fame - the guardians of Scotland's national dish! So if you are feeling generous and would like to sponsor him too then his page is here.

My reward for the aborted run was a spit roast chicken from M&S with chips and garlic bread - Jo was out on the sauce, so there was not a vegetable in sight - Boom! Jo came home a little worse for wear and she was delighted that there was still half a chicken left which she demolished! Good work (she also added some green stuff and didn't have chips - fanny).

My plate

Jo's plate

Sunday Curry (by Jo Girl)

Despite some of my apprehensions, on Sunday morning Joe did drag himself to Stockport to do the 10 mile run.  Fuelled on my best porridge and battling the elements, Joe managed the run in a very respectable 1 hour and 17 minutes - under 8 minutes per mile!  I still struggle comprehending how he runs that fast, it would take me about 2 hours, but ho hum...  He returned home a little tired, very damp, but pleased. 

And what better way to warm up than a yummy Southern Indian fish curry with tamarind and chick peas.  It might have taken a few hours to make, but it was all good - hot, slightly sweet and sour, with brown rice and chapattis.  Given we had supported Judd Trump through his semi final at the Crucible last Spring, it was an awesome Sunday night dinner followed by Judd triumphing in the Snooker finals - what could be better?!

Haddock, chick pea and tamarind curry

The finished product

Wednesday - Riverford Halloumi with Roasted Vegetables

Since the winter has kicked in my running has gone to sh*t! Luckily I have Jo to keep me motivated, and she dragged me out for a jog tonight kicking and screaming! (well almost).....we went for a quick half an hour and it was good to get out, pleasant almost!.....I have a 10m run in the diary in December so hopefully I will be able to keep up the running so I can drag myself around before Christmas feasting kicks in.

Before we left, Jo put the vegetables in the oven and was able knock together the below with lovely halloumi and a minimum of fuss.........

Tuesday - Little post exercise snacks (well almost)

Ok, well maybe not quite a snack for me...I left work a little later than I had hoped so I went for a quick (ish) 10k home (52 mins which was more of a struggle that I was hoping for!) with a smoothie when I got in. I put milk, chocolate protein, a few strawberries, some oats and whizzed them up until it looked like this;

It tasted better than it looked

Even though this was more than it enough, it didn't feel like I was eating a proper meal so I also had this about half an hour after.....fatty Joe!!

Cheese and ham toastie with salad

Jo was much more refined in her choice and put together a lovely looking bloody mary prawn salad (without the vodka) with a brown pitta - I wasn't a bit jealous!