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It was a wonderful day this morning at the 2012 Bellin Run!

My wife and I arrived at the race on time and bumped into a friend and his children. It was nice to see a familiar face in the sea of humanity that filled the area. A total of 15,137 participants crossed the finish line this year. It wasn’t a record but it was a lot of people! The announcer reported that this run is the fifth largest 10K road race in the US.

This year the run was organized into “corrals” based on anticipated pace. When I signed up, I projected an 11 minute mile pace, but that was before my knees decided to create a new obstacle. I was originally assigned to corral 4, but moved back to the last corral because I knew that I would be only walking. And that was fine, because I was still going to finish the event. (The naproxen that I took before leaving home and the braces on both knees helped.)

In the corral system, when the starter’s gun sounds, all corrals begin to move forward to the starting line, and the timing chip that we wear records the moment we actually begin the race. It takes a LONG time for corrals to move through the start. So long in fact that about 1 minute before Tammy and I walked over the chip sensor, the winning runner crossed the finish line (with a time of 29:04.)

But at 8:30 we crossed the start line and officially started the run/walk. The path meanders up and down a main thoroughfare, with racers filling the road (two lanes in each direction) for miles. The weather was nearly ideal, with a start temp in the mid-70’s and a humidity at about 33%. The sky was blue without a cloud, and the breeze was refreshing at about 10 mph. As we left the main street and turned into the residential part of the race the community was present, sitting along the path, cheering everyone toward the finish line. Many homeowners stood at the roadside, with their garden hoses spraying through the walking masses, providing a brief cool shower. Kids stood spraying walkers with their supersoakers. And music was everywhere. Local radio stations were broadcasting from different points of the course, and where their wasn’t a radio station mobile unit, residents filled the gap with their own music. Also three man polka band played polka favorites (seriously, there are people that really get into that music!) and at another spot a gentleman was playing his banjo and singing a simple ditty to the tune “Camptown Races” (only one verse, endlessly repeated.)

Two related thoughts. I really wish that I had remembered to bring a camera (even just the one in my phone) with me. There were several points along the route that a picture showing nothing but walkers from curb to curb and the length of the road as it climbs a hill would have been incredible to post here. And I really, REALLY wish that I hadn’t left my phone on the dashboard of my car in the hot sun, because now I need to buy a new one.

Tammy and I started the race at 8:30am and we finished it at 10:27am. From there, we walked to the car, picking up a food bag packed for the runners. The banana and granola bar we were given were among the tastiest food we have ever eaten. The bag also included a plain bagel and some pretzels. We opted to not eat those, because we went to Lox, Stock and Bagels for a great bagel. I had a spinach-Parmesan sour dough bagel with green olive cream cheese (full fat!) and coffee. Then we stopped at a greenhouse that was on the walk route and advertised two free plants to any participants. After the race, the place was full of customers getting their free plants–and many other plants, too. (Great marketing idea!)

This is what my result look like:

We had a constant speed of 3.17 mph, which included several inclines. My Fitbit reports that from the time our corral started walking, we walked 13,611 steps and with the hills on the course, climbed the equivalent of 10 flights of steps. In just over two hours I burned 1033 calories.

I have calories to spend and tonight we are attending a friend’s wedding reception. I think I will have a drink or two, as well as some wedding cake!

Next year, Tammy and I will walk it again. Keep your schedule open for the date: June 8, 2013!

I mentioned in the last post that Tammy took some nice photos of wildflowers as we walked in the “wild forest” of eastern Wisconsin. Here are a few of them. I know the last one is a lilac, but if anyone knows what the other two are, please comment.

It was a wonderful short weekend camping. It was short because we only stayed at the campground for Friday and Saturday, so that we could get home for the neighborhood gathering on Sunday night.

The weather? Well, at least it didn’t snow! It rained Friday night while sleeping until breakfast, so that was fine. Then the rain came back at about 5pm, and rained off and on all evening, finishing at about 4am with a tremendous lightning storm. It was incredible to observe that from our camper.

We had a late start (this was the first camping we did since the summer of 2010) so I was a bit rusty at preparing the gear. By the time we got to camp and were set up, I decided that cooking a meal just wasn’t an option. I walked to a nearby restaurant and ordered a 12 inch veggie pizza and some onion rings. Yeah. Pizza AND onion rings! My wife was able to exert self control and ate a proper portion of the pizza (about 1/4) and a couple onion rings. I, on the other hand, ate as if the concept of leftovers was forbidden by law. (The aftermath of that meal was swollen hands and feet from the sodium.) But it tasted pretty good.

Saturday, I cooked a simple breakfast of scrambled eggs (I made two servings, using three whole eggs and three egg whites) with sauteed onions, crimini mushrooms and green bell pepper, topped with some sharp cheddar cheese, and served with an orange and a piece of my homemade bread (beautifully plated on a paper plate!) Nothing fancy, but really tasty. I used an electric skillet, cooking under the awning to stay dry, and that skillet made sauteing the veggies simple.

Lunch was a simple meal of hummus and vegetables (bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers and celery) along with some sweet Bing cherries. After lunch, we found a very relaxing path through the woods, and the three of us walked about 90 minutes enjoying the quiet of the trees. Tammy took some pictures of local wildflowers and when I get them off her camera, I will post some. We have no idea what most of the flowers were, just that they were part of a beautiful hike.

Dinner was burgers (equal parts ground venison and 80% lean ground beef), again cooked in the skillet, again under the awning because the rain had started. Nice symmetry to the day! I went back to the restaurant and ordered a basket of deep fried veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, mushrooms, onion rings, and that Wisconsin standby, breaded cheese curds.) These were not as good as I had hoped for. Maybe by that point I was starting to feel bad about eating all that grease-soaked food (which is really not my usual diet.)

The evening was spent playing cards with Tammy (and getting my ass handed to me! She was on fire!) because it rained constantly.  Ozzy spent the evening in a drug-induced haze, because he really does not tolerate thunder.

Don’t worry. He was his normal self by the time the really loud thunder started at 4am!

Sunday was spent in the neighbor’s backyard. It was a “bring your own meat and a dish to pass” party. We brought Grilled Pepper Poppers for everyone, and Cheese-Stuffed Portabella Caps for us (recipe to follow.) I never made that exact recipe (sort of combined a few ideas into one meal) but it was a keeper!

We’ll be camping again in two weeks. Hopefully I will have more exciting food pictures from that adventure.

A few days ago I was getting the camper ready for the weekend and found that the taillights of the camper didn’t work. Subsequent investigation found that the wires under the van were corroded and broken. Yesterday (two days before a holiday weekend!) I was able to get my van in to the RV repair center. (Thank you, Van Boxtel RV!) In about 90 minutes, they found and repaired the problem. And to my surprise, for less than $60!

While they were working on the van, I took a walk. I strolled the neighborhood for almost an hour. I really enjoy walking. It is good exercise, relaxing, and it gives you the chance to look around at more things than you can see when driving inside a care. I was in the western part of Green Bay, well inside the city limits, but with some nice green areas with untamed grasses and trees. In other words, land that was previously farmland that has not yet been sold to a developer. And as I walked, I saw this.

That is a mama wild turkey and her poults (babies.) I was across the street from them, and took the picture with my camera. Being a curious devil, I crossed over to get closer.

I’m about 10 yards away at this point. Mama is taking them back to the tall grass, not in a hurry, but moving faster than the poults (See the homes in the background.)

I’m as close as 10 feet at this point when she suddenly stopped, turned and looked directly at me. She stands about 3 feet tall. Probably weighing about 10 pounds, she can fly at up to 50 mph when needed. I decided that curiosity was suddenly not as important as not being chased by an angry turkey, so I back away. Still, it was fun to see the animals.

Another post that has nothing to do with weight loss, just about what you can see and experience when you get out and walk around with your eyes open and ears alert.

I can’t claim this meal. I ate this at a local vegetarian restaurant in Green Bay. Kavarna has been around since 1999 when they opened in a small storefront less than two blocks from our home. We got to know their food, coffees and teas very well. At the time, I worked half time as a registered nurse at a local hospital, and took care of our sons the rest of the time. We walked a lot (generally they rode in a wagon that I pulled) and we made Kavarna a frequent stop. I got a good cup of coffee, and they both learned that Canada Dry Ginger Ale is a wimpy example of that type of ginger ale because they grew to love Reed’s Ginger Brews.

But this post is not about soda, coffee or tea. (Their coffee is fair trade coffee from Alterra, based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Really good coffee!) This post is about one of their vegetarian sandwiches. I can’t give the exact recipe, but based on the menu description this is close.

Kavarna’s Black Bean Burger

1 soft whole wheat bagel
1 spice black bean veggie burger
1 slice pepper jack cheese
1 tablespoon herbed cream cheese
1 slice tomato
Red onion rings
Leaf lettuce blend

The bagel is not toasted, but the cheese is melted onto the black bean burger. I know they grill the burger and then let the cheese melt before assembling the sandwich. They won’t tell me if they make the burger or buy them.  I have eaten them many times and the patties are always perfectly round and the same thickness. I think they are premade frozen patties, unless they are really fussy about production.

Approximate nutritional data, based on educated guesses:
Calories:    493
Fat:          15.5g
Sat fat:       7.3g
Chol:          36mg
Sodium:    889mg
Carbs:      73.7g
Fiber:         8.7g
Protein:    20.4g

The sodium content is high in the sandwich and is nearly unavoidable. I don’t eat here often, so I consider this a special “splurge” meal. On the other hands, I anticipated this meal and ate accordingly, and still have a sodium intake of 1940mg for the day (which is less than half of the normal US diet.)

This is representative of my snacks while hiking. Logan Bread, roasted almonds (unsalted) and dried banana chips.

Logan Bread
Note: this recipe makes a LOT (24 pieces, each about 2.5 inches x 2.5 inches)

In a large bowl, add all the dry ingredients and whisk together until well mixed:
5 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup rye flour
1 cup milled flax seed
1 cup dried fruit of your choice (raisins, craisin, dried berries, etc. I used dried apples)
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup instant dried milk (nonfat)
1/2 cup chopped nuts of your choice (I used walnuts)
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp table salt

In a separate bowl, combine:
2 cups water
3/4 melted butter (I used unsalted)
3/4 honey
3/4 molasses (I used black strap)

1.  Preheat oven to 300F.
2.  Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir until thoroughly mixed. This is a STIFF dough.
3.  Grease a 11×17 inch pan. Pack the dough into it. It will be approximately one inch thick
4.  Bake at 300F for one hour.
5.  After an hour, reduce the oven heat to 200F and open the door enough that it stays open a little. Continue to bake for another two hours. (The idea is to dry the bread as much as possible.)
6.  Remove from oven and cut while warm (easier to cut.)
7.  Pack in Ziploc bags. 

This bread is dense, both in weight and calories. It is very tough, and was in and out of my pack repeatedly and none of the bars broke or crumbled. Yet it remains moist enough to bite and chew. The taste is reminiscent of a spiced fruitcake (sort of). I think it is delicious. It certainly was enough to support me while hiking (along with some nuts and dried fruit.)

At home, it is especially good if warmed in the microwave a bit, and then topped with peanut butter or Nutella.

Nutritional data (one piece, no additional toppings):
Calories:    304
Fat:            9.5g
Sat fat:          4g
Chol:           15mg
Sodium:       91mg
Carbs:       50.5g
Fiber:          5.8g
Protein:          6g

When I next make this recipe, I am going to substitute protein powder for the dried milk.