Thursday, December 28, 2017

Firsts of 2017

My amazing relay team!
It’s time once again to review my year and see what things I have experienced for the first time during the last twelve months. I’m a believer in lifelong learning. A look back helps me evaluate how I am doing in this lifelong quest. Here are a few of the things I learned from in 2017. Some were purposeful and one was a matter of survival!

  • Spied my first snowshoe hare in Wyoming and drove over Cheyenne Pass in a blizzard!
  • Discovered good Mexican food east of the Rockies in Stuart, Iowa.
  • First Power Point presentation at the ICAN Spring Writers' Conference.
  • Participated in my first Vale Fourth of July 5K. I'm going back.
  • First Spokane to Sandpoint Relay.
  • I splurged on my first gel manicure and I love it!
  • Visited the California Redwoods for the first time! Wow!
  • Saw a cranberry bog for the first time.
  • I endured the Winter of 2017 complete with the crashing down of my patio cover at midnight! I also shoveled snow off my roof and did finish work on my new patio pergola as a result of Winter of 2017.


Tell me about your year. What did you do or learn how to do for the first time?



Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!


Happy Running!
- Carol aka Running Granny Green
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Bust Your Bells Fun Run 2017 - The Report


We had another crisp day for Bust Your Bells Fun Run 2017. Runners are the toughest people I know! Last year the temperature was 6 degrees at race time. This year was a bit less cold, but still quite frigid. The sun broke through the inversion haze once again and off they ran on snow covered ground.
This small town event benefits the local food bank. Participants donated food items for their registration fee. Many finished with frosty eyebrows and eyelashes.
Like I said, runners are tough!

Another fun shirt design!
Here are the results from Bust Your Bells 2016! 


Women's 5K -


1st Place - Emma Strommen

Men's 5K - 


1st Place - Alex Peterson


10K -


1st Place Female - Becky Hawkins
1st Place Male  - Stetson Beus
And they're off!


Special thanks to Shu's Idaho Running Company for donating the timing clock and prizes. 

To view more photos and stay informed about future Bust Your Bells Fun Runs, follow our facebook page.
 Blue skies! The sun makes all the difference!
Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!
- Carol aka Running Granny Green
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram!

Thursday, December 7, 2017

99 Cent Book Price Promo - The Hard Run


It's that time of year when we bake cookies, purchase presents, wrap gifts and decorate our homes. We try extra hard to make it all perfect for ourselves, for those we love, and sometimes even for those we don't love very much. It can all become very daunting.

What happens when the perfection of the season is marred with illness, loss of loved ones, or loss of a job? Do we give up? Do we take the season off this year? Do we put on a happy face and act as if everything were just that - perfect? Perhaps we do a combination of all those things.

My book, The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny, takes a look at difficult things and explores when it's okay to take the season off and when it's best to put on a happy face and push through.

In respect for the challenges of the season, I'm offering The Hard Run on Kindle for $.99 December 8 thru December 15 (December 9 thru December 16 in the UK). Perhaps you know someone going through a difficult time who could use a little endurance perspective right about now. Perhaps that someone is you. Don't miss this opportunity to save on the Kindle version of The Hard Run: Painful Lessons from a Running Granny. Order the book, put your feet up, and munch on one of those special Christmas goodies you worked so hard to create.

Haven't made any goodies? It's okay, but if you need some ideas check out this blog post from seasons past. It has recipes for three of my favorite food gifts. 

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!

Carol - aka Running Granny Green
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Tuesday, November 21, 2017

Black Friday Book Bash!



I don’t know about you, but I’m not much for fighting crowds on Black Friday. I would rather stay home with family enjoying the company and leftovers. Perhaps I’m not really a shopper!

That’s why I’m offering 25% OFF all my book titles ALL WEEK LONG! Browse. Go eat another piece of pumpkin pie. Email me if you have questions. Shop some more. Purchase when it’s convenient for you. You can even use the coupon more than once. And there are no crowds to fight!

This offer is good now thru Cyber Monday in my Etsy shop or by contacting me personally. It is not valid on Amazon!

Use coupon code: BOOKBASH25

People on your Christmas List who might enjoy my books:

Kids

Country Folks

Fishermen

Quilters

Runners

Non-runners who wish to be runners

Readers with short attention spans

Readers who love life lessons

Writers
And the list goes on …

So, give the shop a visit when you have time between baking, eating, and recovering from that hectic Black Friday shopping trip! Remember the code: BOOKBASH25


Happy Thanksgiving and ...
Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Friday, October 27, 2017

Jalapeno Pepper Jelly



This Jalapeno Pepper Jelly recipe has been around for years! It's an old standby family recipe and I often have requests.  It's one of this Granny's favorite Recipes. It's not a secret guarded recipe, so I'm sharing it here for those that can't find their own copy. This picture shows a variation using orange bell peppers.

Jalapeno Pepper Jelly

3 Medium Bell Peppers (You can use green, yellow, orange, or red)
2 Jalapeno Peppers (2 inches long. I've substituted habanero peppers for a HOT variation)
1 1/2 Cup White Vinegar
5 1/2 Cups White Sugar
1 tsp Ground Cayenne Pepper
6 ounces liquid pectin

Chop peppers and puree in a blender. Add 1 cup of vinegar and blend well. Combine pureed mixture with sugar, cayenne, and the rest of the vinegar in a large saucepan. Blend well.
Bring to a full rolling boil.
Stir in pectin and boil 1 more minute.
Remove from heat and skim off foam.
Seal in jars. Recipe fills 8 jelly jars.


*Note: This jelly can take up to two weeks to set up.

Serve with crackers and cream cheese to mellow the hot flavor of this recipe.








Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Get Away to the Oregon Coast


Arch Rock near Gold Beach
This trip to the Oregon Coast and California Redwoods was long overdue! Gratefully, things like Giant Sequoias, Coastal Redwoods, ancient Myrtle trees, and the rocky Oregon coastline endure so tardy travelers like us can enjoy them whenever we get around to visiting. The sights and sounds of the trip did not disappoint, even with snow, wind, and rain!



Our drive took us along US-199 north of Crater Lake (we didn’t stop as the snow and low clouds promised a poor view) and through Prospect, OR where we took a side trip to view a natural bridge on the Rogue River. I recommend taking time for this short hike – rain or shine.


We stopped in Crescent City, CA and asked the volunteers at the Park Headquarters Information Center where our best views would be given the rainy conditions. Following their advice, we drove US-101 south, stopping at the Klamath River Overlook and then on to Exit 765 where we followed the Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway.
It was amazing! Humongous trees, lush undergrowth, drizzling rain, and an occasional yellow Banana Slug made for an eerie experience for this high desert dweller. I could almost imagine Sasquatch residing amongst the moss and ferns – if I believed in Sasquatch!

I think Sasquatch lives here ...
... or maybe here!

We chose Gold Beach as our headquarters for the next couple of days and wandered north as far as Coos Bay and south again to Brookings. Gold Beach is small and quiet, just like we like our towns!

The cranberry bogs near Bandon intrigued us and we resisted the temptation to trespass. We would have loved to get our hands on one of those plants to learn more about their tart fruit.


Gold Beach
Whaleshead Beach
The weather cleared on our last day and we enjoyed some beach time, a hike to an ancient Myrtle tree, and beautiful scenery along the water. I especially appreciated the rock formations! I guess it’s in my genes.



As the climate transitioned from coastal to high desert on our drive home, I was once again struck by the beauty of the open skies of Eastern Oregon and Idaho. I loved the visit to the Oregon coast with its greenery and crashing waves, but I still love my Idaho skies and the open vistas of the desert. After all, I’m not that crazy about slugs.
And ... no, I didn't go for a run all weekend!

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

If you need to be humbled, run long!



You might know that I’ve been training for a relay race coming up in August. I was feeling rather pleased with my efforts. In fact, on July 4th I ran a 5K and finished with my best time yet! I’m almost 57 and I’ve been running for 10 years. I’ve been thinking, “I’m faster! I’m faster!”
As the summer wore on, four miles became a “good run.” Four miles with hills was a little more challenging, but not exhausting. I’ve been thinking, “I’m stronger. I’m stronger!”
My training partner and I jumped from four to six miles a couple weeks ago for our long runs. Still, we held a steady pace and did not die at the end. I’ve been thinking, “I’m prepared. I’m prepared.”
Then I remembered that my longest run on the relay is 6.6 miles. I’ve been thinking, “I need to run longer. I need to run longer!”
Enter the seven-mile long run. Perhaps I wasn’t hydrated and fueled enough. It’s hard to fuel before a morning run. I like to get as many minutes of sleep as I can! It had to be a morning run because, well – it’s hot out there! Water? Why didn’t I plant a water bottle somewhere along the route? Yes, I bonked! I couldn’t make it up a hill at mile 5.5 without taking a walk break. We finished the seven miles, but it wasn’t pretty on my part. I wandered home, drank some water, stretched, drank some electrolytes, ate breakfast, puttered around, ate some lunch and downed more fluids, puttered some more, and complained about my aching muscles. By evening, I finally felt like myself again.
What’s my take away? I know how to prepare, but I was feeling confident enough that I didn’t prepare properly. I paid a price today for my pride. I am humbled. I’ve got a few long runs prior to relay weekend and you can bet I will anticipate them more carefully by fueling and hydrating better the day and hours before.  I might even plant a water bottle along the route.
That’s why we train – so we can learn about our weaknesses. When we know where the weak spots are, we can reinforce them and make them strong.

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” – Ether 12:27 

What weak things have you changed into strengths?
Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

I could hardly walk and now I run!


My amazing relay team!
The human body is an amazing creation. It’s ability to endure injury and repair itself is nothing short of miraculous. Even while sporting scarring evidence of pain and imperfection, it often grows stronger as it heals the wound. What other things in nature can claim the same?

Twenty-three years ago today I could hardly walk. My mid-section had just been sliced open to deliver my third child – a little boy with stick up hair and long feet. He still has stick up hair and long feet. As I stood and willed my legs to move, I recognized the familiar sensation that my insides might actually fall out in front of me. I expressed that feeling to a physician once and he replied, “Just walk backwards and you won’t step on anything!” I’m quite certain I held my breath for the first few steps.

Over the following several days my walks grew longer and quicker as my incision healed and I regained my strength. I soon resumed normal activity. The limitations of those first few days faded and life carried on.

My boys
A few years ago, ten to be exact, I once again found myself facing a physical challenge. I began to run. I thought I was too old, but a friend encouraged me and so I tried. I have since participated in many races with half marathons being my longest. I even coach middle school cross country runners. I don’t know that I will ever attempt a marathon. My favorite race is a relay (about 200 miles) with my team of twelve. I enjoy the comradery and shared misery unique to an overnight endurance challenge. I rejoice that my body will allow me to participate.

Walking seemed almost insurmountable when I was younger and had just given birth with the aid of a surgeon. Now I run, because I can. Yes, it seemed insurmountable at first. No, it isn’t easy and it isn’t always fun, but my body can do it. This body that has years and miles, wounds and scars, heartaches and joys, can run! I think that is miraculous and I am grateful that I am so blessed! I bet you are, too.



What can your body do that once seemed insurmountable? I would love to hear about it.

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Monday, July 24, 2017

Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bites



I’m currently training for a relay race, Spokane to Sandpoint 2017. Part of the prepping for race weekend is preparing food, or fuel, for the race. I’ve learned that it is unwise to add too many new foods to your diet right before or during any race. Race day is not a good time to learn that your insides don’t appreciate the foods you are giving them!
These protein bites, or energy bites, are one of my go to fuels for race weekend or anytime I need something quick and power packed. I keep a few in my refrigerator and often grab a couple 30-60 minutes before my morning run. They give me just enough protein and carbs to keep me going without being heavy or unkind to my digestive tract. And … they taste good!

Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Bites

¾ C creamy peanut butter
1/3 C honey
1 ½ C old fashioned oats (I like to grind them into a course flour for this recipe)
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1/3 C semi-sweet chocolate pieces



Combine the peanut butter and honey in a mixer. Add the protein powder and beat well. Add the oats and chocolate chips until evenly combined. Form into balls – about 1.5 tablespoons. Store in a zipper bag in the refrigerator or freezer.


These ingredients are my favorite, but don’t be afraid to experiment with different kinds of grains and seeds or protein powder flavors. Just be sure to test them out before race day. Chia and flax seeds, although great for fueling, can be a little aggressive, so do your experimenting well before race weekend.

You might also like this Chocolate Berry Breakfast Smoothie recipe.


More recipes from Running Granny Green.

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

That is Why I Write


I write because putting thoughts on paper makes room in my head for more thoughts. I also write because I want to share little pieces of wisdom and great lessons I have learned throughout the years. Often, the simple act of writing brings satisfaction enough. Book sales are rewarding, too. The greatest reward, however, is when someone takes what they have read from your writing, puts it into practice, and thanks you for helping them grow. That is why I write.

My friend, JoEllen, decided to do just that. She recognized a need to improve her health through activity. She honored me by trusting my experience as a mature runner to help her in her fitness goal. She purchased my book, Run at Any Age: A Beginner's Guide for Adults, and began putting the things I share into practice. Each time she shares her experiences in a Facebook post, blog post, or personal text message, it warms my heart. That is why I write.

As we discussed a discomfort she was experiencing, she indicated that she knew it was temporary. If she endured it for the first mile, it went away. I reminded her of one of the lessons regarding pain one must endure in, The Hard Run, which she has also read. She replied, "That's right. It makes so much more sense now!" That is why I write.

Each time a reader comments, "I can hear your voice when I read your work," or "I get it. That is exactly what I needed to hear," I am encouraged. My most recent favorite comes from JoEllen, "I was going to underline the important stuff, but I would have to underline the whole book!" That is why I write!

If you are looking for words of encouragement and practical advice - and if you are a little bit brave and wish to begin running - Run at Any Age can help. Get over your fears and put one foot in front of the other. I want you to be around and able to play with your grandchildren - that's why I run. I want you to be able to be successful at any age.

That is why I write.


Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green
Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.