Cooking
Fitness
Health
Reduce Risk of Heart Disease with Tea, Coffee
“People who drink a lot of tea or drink coffee in moderation are less likely to die of heart disease than coffee and tea abstainers, new research suggests.” As a bit of an iced tea obsessive, this news from WebMD made me very happy, and it was probably something that Betty already knew. After all, she […] Read More
Injuries
The article in Runner’s World came at just the right time. The nagging tightness and discomfort in my twisted ankle wasn’t going away, in spite of warming up thoroughly, stopping to stretch it, and trying to ignore it completely. Injury fact: denial never makes an injury go away. With the words of the article rattling […] Read More
Training: Faster Than Expected, Week 12
After struggling to do my long run by myself last Saturday, I decided to do my long run with the team this week. Not only did it make the run easier psychologically, but my per-mile time was almost a minute faster than what I’d anticipated at that distance. The Plan Monday, 8/9: Mandatory rest Tuesday, […] Read More
Cherry Tomato Sauce
Yes, I have four tomato plants, each churning out tomatoes at the rate of 1-2 per day. So why did I buy two pints of cherry tomatoes at the farmer’s market? Partly because of my obsession with tomatoes, and partly because they were only $1 per pint. If they’re going to practically give me tomatoes, […] Read More
Best Sunscreens
Like Betty, I have freckles. Most of my workouts occur outdoors. This combination could prove disastrous without the proper sunscreen. After all, I just don’t have the sort of skin that should ever be exposed to sunlight. Now, you can read every sunscreen review that’s out there, but here’s a sunscreen tip for you: the […] Read More
Fitness Fix: Running, Part 2
Part 1 of this article can be found here. After my 27-year break from running (if you can call it that), I started seriously running in 2007 at age 33. Lesson #1: I love to be outside. After years in the gym or Pilates studio, it came as a pleasant surprise to realize that I […] Read More
Training: Long, Lonely Runs, Week 11
I hadn’t realized that the days were getting so much shorter until I went out for Saturday’s long run. Setting my alarm for 5:30, I managed to drive the 20 miles south to Milpitas before the cloudy sky even began to glow. The Plan Monday, 8/2: 30 minute easy run Tuesday, 8/3: Tempo runs with […] Read More
Chicken and Stone Fruit Salad
This is a variation on a salad that was served on the specials board at the Nordstrom Cafe last month. It might not be an exact replica — I’ve seen several different “authentic” Nordstrom recipes online, all slightly different — but it’s colorful, flavorful and one of the best main dish salads that I’ve ever […] Read More
Can Wine Keep You Young?
When I saw the headline on WebMD, “Is Drinking Wine a Key to Antiaging?” I had to admit that my first response was that I hoped not. For those of us with allergies to sulfites — the preservative used in wine, some vinegars and dried fruits — all of this news about the wonders of […] Read More
Fitness Fix: Pilates
There seem to be two camps regarding Pilates. The first is filled with people who write it off as some ridiculous celebrity trend. The second is filled with devotees who think that Joseph Pilates was on to something. I fall into the latter camp. Developed by boxer Joseph Pilates in the early 20th century, Pilates […] Read More