The best DIY Halloween Runner Costumes

It's dress up dash time of year!
Here are a few of my DIY Halloween costume favorites over the years...

As you can tell, I like a costume with a bit of irony, and I refuse to wear a costume that chafes on the run.

The "road runner"

Materials:

• Black or grey shirt
• Black or grey shorts or tights
• Yellow duct tape (Also white duct tape for sides, if you're feeling really creative.)
• Optional extras:
• Black and yellow mask
• Toy cars

The "runaway bride"

Materials:

• White top and tutu or an actual wedding dress
• Running shoes
• Bridal veil or tulle
• Optional extras:
• Race bib
• "Bouquet" made of energy gel packets

Jogging jack-o-lantern
(This is the ONLY time you may ever refer to me as a "jogger.")

Materials:

• Orange shirt
• Black duct tape cut into jack-o-lantern shapes
• Optional extras:
• Leaf and stem on your head
• Orange and black face paint

Cookie Monster

Materials:

• Blue clothes
• Fuzzy knee socks on arms and legs
• Bag of cookies
• Optional extras:
• Googly eyes t-shirt
• Googly eyes face paint

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

The good, the bad, the ugly (and the COLD!)

The Good:
Running to work when the temperature is a chilly 50 degrees.

The Bad:
Following that run with a COLD shower at work because the water heater broke.

The Ugly:
Having to shave while in a cold shower. Ouch!

Acing the pace!

I RAN A 7:53 MILE THIS MORNING!
And...
I followed it up with 3 more for an 8:07 overall pace!!!

I started to write this post as a long reflection on my return to running after having a kid... but screw it. The thing that has me walking on air (and will have me limping, sorely, tomorrow) is that MY LEGS ARE FAST AGAIN.

I felt like I was going to *die* while running the last mile.
But I feel like a rock star right now.

Apple cake tries to go Paleo

apple oatmeal bread

It is no secret that my favorite autumn treat is pumpkin oatmeal bread.

But... this year we went apple picking, and with two refrigerator drawers full of apples, I was inspired (cough: required) to modify the recipe to turn it into an apple cake.

I joke that the cake is "paleo." It's obviously not. But the recipe is packed with healthy omega-3s from the flax, plus it's low sugar, and 100% whole grain.

APPLE OATMEAL BREAD

Ingredients
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 mashed ripe banana or 1/2 cup prune puree
1/2 cup canola or walnut oil
2 whole eggs
1 cup shredded apple, squeezed
1 cup regular oats
1/2 cup milk
2 tbsp oat bran or wheat germ*
1 tbsp ground flax seed*
2 cups whole wheat flour (preferrably whole wheat baking flour)
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Cooking spray


Directions
Preheat oven to 350°.
Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl; mix well to ensure there are no undissolved bits of brown sugar. Combine apple, oats, and milk; add to sugar mixture, mixing well. Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir with a fork. Add to sugar mixture; mix just until moist. (Do not over mix the batter!)

Divide batter evenly into TWO 9 x 5-inch loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 45-50 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Last week / this week

Last week...
Sick baby
Work "issues"
Drainage problem in the basement that requires a very costly repair

This week...
Morning sunrise over the Potomac
4.5 mile run with my run group
Gelato with Hubby and Baby


(I think I liked this week better...)