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I Don't Need Luck...

But I could use the following items:

-A new pair of muscular legs
-A new heart
-Brand new set of lungs
-Some thighs that WON'T chafe for 4 hours
and, hey, while we're at it:
-Abs

Not sure if the abs would help me run too much faster, but they're pretty. So yes please.

In all seriousness, if I'm not ready now, I never will be. Thanks to everyone who sent me good luck wishes over the last few days, I really appreciate it. Nice to know there's a few people out there who believe in me. Or at least like me enough to pretend they do, so thanks.

I distracted myself today by making a new recipe. Usually when it comes to baking, I need to have at least a guideline recipe. But I have been making lots of muffins lately, so I thought I could tackle this challenge alone. Enter: Sweet Potato and Apple Muffins. 






These really are moist and surprisingly sweet, even with low amounts of sugar. To top it off? They are under 80 calories apiece. Which means you get to eat 7, right? Something like that.


Stats for 1 Muffin

Have you guys ever tried this before? I entered all the ingredients into this calculator, as well as the number of servings, and it gave me a label of nutritional stats! Very cool in my book.


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Wet Ingredients:
1 cup skinless apple, diced finely
1 cup mashed skinless sweet potato
2 egg whites
1/4 cup greek yogurt, plain
1 teaspoon vanilla
Dry Ingredients:
1/2 cup whole wheat flour 
1/2 cup instant oats
1/4 cup brown sugar 
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. 

2. Mix apple, sweet potato, egg whites, yogurt and vanilla in a bowl. 

3. Mix all dry ingredients in a separate, large bowl. 

4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir gently. 

5. Divide the dough into muffin tins lined with muffins cups or lightly greased. 

6. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.

7. Eat. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.





Tomorrow morning I'll be running (and fingers crossed, completing) the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon. A few other ladies are taking on some races too:
-Katherine @ Neon Blonde Runner (Her first marathon)
-Suz @ Cows, Lasers and Everything in Between (Her first half marathon!)
-Victoria @ The District Chocoholic (Richmond Marathon!) 

As much as I love getting praise and attention, and believe me I do, head over to one of these blogs and wish these lovely ladies luck tomorrow!

Do you ever try baking without a recipe?
Very rarely! It usually ends up badly if I try to actually cook without a recipe. "Assembling" is more my style!


How do you distract yourself the night before something big - an event, race, test, etc.?
Cooking, reading, working are all my current plan. Lately I've been falling asleep with my face on a book so I plan to read something incredibly boring to send me to sleep early tonight. Up at 4:30 for the race!

Comments

  1. OK, so you are ready. And I'd lend you my muscular legs but I'M USING THEM TO RUN A MARATHON TOMORROW. Let's do a virtual race, OK? See who finishes earlier :).

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  2. You are so ready! When it was marathone ever for me I hung out with family, watched a ton of tv and played silly board games to stay distracted. And I had one beer in hopes it would help me get sleepy early. BEST OF LUCK!

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  3. You are totally gonna rock the race! You have trained hard and are definitely ready! Good luck lady!

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  4. I love that calculator! Well, maybe not when I made cookie dough brownies last week :/

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  5. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  6. The muffins look great. Have an awesome time at the marathon tomorrow!

    deleted the previous post due to a typo...

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  7. AWWW YOU are so sweet! thanks for the shout out.

    Good luck to you, we're going to both be marathoner people tomorrow hopefully! Can't wait to see how your race goes, you are going to be fantastic!!!!!

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  8. Good luck girl! You will do awesome. Have fun and I can't wait to read how it went :)

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  9. OK, a couple of things….first, those muffins sound REALLY good! Second, I am even more impressed because you came up with them on your own - I normally always use a recipe as a base, especially when baking! Third, I love the website where you can get nutritional info! And, finally, good luck tomorrow - you're going to do amazing!

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  10. Okay, I won't say Good Luck, I will just say I hope you have an awesome time. You are so well-prepared, I just know you are gonna be great!

    Have a blast!

    And your muffins look good, too.

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  11. LOVE those muffins - I have to make them!

    Best of luck tomorrow and enjoy!

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  12. You are going to kill this race. I hope you enjoy every moment... can't wait to read all about it. So if you feel yourself slowing down, think "Nope, I need to run fast so I can hurry home and post my recap for Kim." Let's not be selfish here Vanessa.

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  13. I do not attempt to bake something without a recipe, but I cook without them. Baking is just so much harder for me :)

    Good luck!

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  14. I so relate to the wish of 'thighs that don't chafe'.

    I am seriously considering having my legs placed wider apart - but then I may end up walking like a bowlegged sailor...

    It is all about the choices in life:-)

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  15. Stay warm! Good luck, I have some running buddies running chickamunga too! You are more than ready!

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  16. Since I don't think you need luck either, I'm just going to send you well wishes. You'll do great I just know it, I'll be thinking about you. Those muscles won't fail you, they are strong and solid and can conquor anything.

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  17. I know you will do fantastic, and I can't wait to hear all about it! Will be sending your strong, speedy leg vibes tomorrow :)

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  18. Woo hooo!!
    You will kill this marathon (NOT the other way round!)
    Pain is temporary, quitting is forever.
    Have the most awesome day.
    The hard part is the training, race day is for pleasure - and achievement.
    Can't wait to hear.
    xx

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  19. you will do great!!!!
    all the best to you!
    looking forward to seeing the pics and reading the race report!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  20. I'm gonna try these and I'm for sure gonna use that calculator! :D

    ps: I would love to have everything you mentioned on your list....especially some abs! lol

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  21. I can never bake without a recipe! To me, baking is a science and I need precise instructions.

    Cooking, on the other hand, is an artform and I use cooking recipes as guidelines and then throw them to the wind and add my own flare.

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  22. Well . . . I am signed up to be an organ donor, but . . . I'm not exactly done with them yet so . . I'll just have to offer you up a cyber high 5 and tell you to kick butt and to have a fun, safe, and awesome race. You're ready - you've got this! One step in front of the other. Some quotes that have helped me: "You are capable of more than you realize" (Molly @ I'mbasleeperbaker), "Think BIG, Be strong, Run HARD!" and from Prefontaine "It only hurts up until a certain point and then it doesn't hurt any more!" One step in front of the other - keep repeating. Good luck - have fun! Enjoy the experience that you've worked so hard for!

    Can I say that you have nesting measuring cups that look like those little Russian dolls - REALLY? How perfectly cute are you?!?! Alright there Betty Crocker - keep up the delicious muffin making! I didn't know about that "make your own nutrition label" site, but it's really cool!!!!

    Good luck tomorrow!!

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  23. Good luck Vanessa! I am running my 3rd half marathon tomorrow!

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  24. You are going to do so great tomorrow Vanessa! I can't wait to read all about it!! I usually distract myself by reading and hanging out with my kids.

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  25. GOOD LUCK tomorrow! It will be the greatest thing you have ever done!!!

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  26. good luck!!! i know u'll do awesome, but no matter the time i kno u'll put in ur best effort and that's all u have to do to be proud!!! have a blast and have confidence in all the hard work u've put in thus far!!
    PS- if u find success in wishing for abs, lemme kno, mmmk? ;)

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  27. GOOD LUCK TOMORROW! You better beat Oprah's time;)

    Kiley @ DVF

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  28. You are gonna kick Oprah and Katie's booties tomorrow!!! Have FUN!!

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  29. Yum! These look great! Sorry I'm getting to this so late...was hanging with Julia earlier :)

    Good luck tomorrow (even though you don't need it)! You are going to rock it. I am soooo looking forward to your recap!!

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  30. Have a great race tomorrow!!! Soon you'll be a MARATHONER!!!!

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  31. Good luck. I'm scared too and I'm only doing a 10k...help. Definitely not ready for it and my quads are killing tonight. Oye!

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  32. Those muffins look awesome. I'm definitely going to try them! Can't wait to read your race recap. You're going to kick butt.

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  33. yay!! your marathon is soooo close!! you are going to do GREAT! I cant wait to hear how it was!!

    yummy muffins too!

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  34. The fact that you have been dedicating yourself this long and working towards this amazing goal is enough for praise. Good luck! I am going to have to try this recipe! Sounds/looks amazing. Maybe it would be better with a side of pickles?!

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  35. I'm also going to copy Wells L and give you one of my favorite quotes "Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body" Whenever my muscles are burning I think of this and it helps me push through to the end.

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  36. Good luck today!!! I can't wait to hear how it goes!

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  37. I thought it was on Sunday so I didn't know I was late wishing you not luck but abs! You can definitely do this!! I can't wait for the race report!

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  38. you will ROCK :)

    Mmmm, those look so yummy!!!

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  39. Good Luck! You are going to do great!

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  40. Love the wishlist. Sign me up too please1 Can't wait to hear how amazing your race is! I have faith in you!

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  41. Very cool nutrition calculator. Definitely going to bookmark that.

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  42. Thanks for the shout out Vanessa! I'm so excited to read your recap that it's all I can do not to skip ahead!

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