365 Fresh Starts

A Blog About Life

We've been conditioned to expect things to be all or nothing. We make dramatic resolutions on December 31st that we break by January 2, and then feel terrible about ourselves. We think that we can't change at all because our annual, dramatic attempts at change just don't work.

We get 365 fresh starts each year.

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What Would Betty Do Logo Training: Boots, Hips and Long Runs

Written on September 25, 2011 by Alisa.

This is a milestone weekend for me. Not only was it the weekend of the last long training run before Nike (3 weeks to go!), but it marks one year since I broke my foot. I’ll break this post down into three parts to hit the highlights of the week. Long Runs Yesterday, I ran a […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Creamy Black Beans

Written on September 23, 2011 by Alisa.

Creamy Black Beans I love black beans. Take me out to a Mexican or Cuban restaurant and you’ll notice that they’re the centerpiece of everything I order. And yet somehow the process of cooking black beans from scratch has eluded me for eons. Sure, I can do a quick canned version, but they never have […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Betty Says: Why Run?

Written on September 21, 2011 by Alisa.

Today’s question comes all the way from Canada (hello, Canada!) and asks the ever-important question: Dear Betty, What made you decide to start running? Why do you stick with it? – Curious in Calgary Hi Curious, I have no doubt that all of the high school friends who’ve reconnected with me on Facebook are a […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Try Something New: The $5 Challenge

Written on September 19, 2011 by Alisa.

A few weeks ago, Jim of Muddy Dog Coffee posted a link on my Facebook page: the $5 Challenge from Slow Food USA. The idea was to create a home cooked meal for less than $5 per person, the average price of a fast food value meal, to dispel the myth that ordinary people can’t […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Try Something New: Roast Bison

Written on by Alisa.

We would go to Betty’s for dinner every Sunday night. The meal was always the same: roast beef. Every. Single. Week. A few weeks ago, I was chatting with my friendly local butcher about the general absence of bison. He explained that it didn’t typically sell well, but that he’d give it another go and […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Training: Delusions and Small Victories

Written on September 18, 2011 by Alisa.

I had a good long, slow run last Saturday. I followed that up with a good, kind of fast tempo run on Tuesday: no lead legs, and slightly faster 2nd half of the tempo portion. It was fantastic, really. How often can I pull of long and slow and short and quick in the same week? […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Polenta with Roasted Vegetables

Written on September 16, 2011 by Alisa.

Polenta is an excellent base for all kinds of foods, but particularly rich, savory flavors. I’ve paired it with short ribs and beef stews, but it wasn’t until I faced a glut of soon-to-be-expiring farmer’s market veggies in my crisper drawer that it occurred to me to roast them and serve over a base of […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Betty Says: You’re Asking Me About Dating?

Written on September 14, 2011 by Alisa.

Here’s one that’s a bit out of Betty’s league, but we’ll give it a shot anyway. I’m getting back into dating–okay, truth be told I’ve never “dated” just had serious, long term relationships with people I was friends with first. So, I’m interested in trying out dating (YES, Betty, I’m 42, but I’m a late […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo How to Cook: Polenta

Written on September 12, 2011 by Alisa.

Good grief, people! How have I managed to go so long without sharing how to make polenta? Really, it’s inexcusable. I know you’ve probably been buying that polenta-in-a-tube at the store. I’ve stood in line behind many people who’ve purchased the polenta log. “Making it at home takes so much time,” they tell me. “You […] Read More

What Would Betty Do Logo Training: Is There Such a Thing as Too Much Stretching?

Written on September 11, 2011 by Alisa.

I’ve noticed that as the weeks pass and the mileage requirements grow, I’ve become increasingly obsessed with stretching. I’m not just talking about giving the quads and achilles the old once-over after a run. I’m talking about long, deep stretches, as much as I can handle. With the holiday, I didn’t make it to the […] Read More