I Run for Tailgating and Crack Brownies

Latest Workouts: 

Between the Hedges at Sanford Stadium.
Student section is behind me.
1.5 hours before the game.

Thursday: 6.01 mi/56:03
Friday: 3.52 mi/35:32
Sunday: 9.0 mi/1:31:32

My knee is feeling so much better. Anyone with runner's knee will tell you that your knee feels great when you are running, but is incredibly painful when you're just sitting around. I've had a lot of success with Advil 3x a day for the past week, ice 3 to 4x a day, wearing my knee strap on all runs, wrapping my knee in an ace bandage post run for about 3 hours, elevating, stretching and finally rolling.

KC and I enjoyed an awesome Saturday at the University of Georgia to see the Dawgs play the Vols. I love a good tailgate. In fact, I probably like it more than the football game itself. When you live in SEC country football Saturday is an event. The game might not start until 3:30, but you are in a parking lot with your e-z up tent set up, chairs out, tables full and a drink in your hand (bourbon preferably) by 8:30a.

Women of all ages worry about their cute game outfit all week. The boys continue to debate the best set up of the travel DirecTV dish and television that someone sets up so you can watch all the other games while you prepare for your own.

Oh, and the food. I find that it is best to select a tailgate theme. It helps to make sure your tables aren't just covered with chips and dips and no actual food to help soak up some of that bourbon you've been enjoying since 9a. Without a theme you end up with an outdoor version of the Golden Corral. We did BBQ this past weekend. It is traditional. Most Southerners like it. You can dress it up with fixin's like slaw and the sides are easy to make, transport and serve without worrying about giving someone food poisoning by the fourth quarter.

First two layers

And don't forget to plan for the post-game tailgate. Who wants to sit in traffic when you can kick back, have some supper while you watch all the crazy people fight to get out of the parking lot. Wait an hour and you'll have no problem making it out of town - with a full belly.

This week's dessert of the week is my Crack Brownies. You can't eat just one - or two - or three, for that matter. I get requests for these on a regular basis, but I only make them when we will be with more than six people to avoid any left overs coming home with me.

Dessert of the Week: Crack Brownies

Ingredients
1 package of refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
1 package of Double Stuf Oreos
1 brownie mix - prepare following either the fudge or cake directions. I like fudge, personally.

Directions
Pre-heat the oven to 350ºF

Finished product

Spray baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. I use the disposable cake pans because I am always taking these to events and I got tired of losing my plastic wear.
Layer 1: Press in the cookie dough to make the crust. I just flatten it out by hand as even as I can.
Layer 2: Line up the Oreos on top
Layer 3: Pour prepared brownie batter over the top of all of that
Bake based on your brownie mix's instructions.
Cool and cut.

This is a pretty popular Pinterest recipe, but I've tried my own variations on it layering the following together:
Peanut butter cookie dough
Marshmallow cream
Nutter butter cookies
Brownie Mix

Sugar cookie dough
Peppermint Patties
Brownie Mix

Really any cookie dough flavor and just about any candy or cookie would work as the second layer. I've not tried subbing out the brownie mix for a cake mix, but its on my list to try. The key part of this recipe is save yourself one or two because they go that fast! Now go run a few miles so you can have seconds.

Runner's Knee Sucks

Latest Workouts
Sunday - 6.09/59:51
Tuesday - 3.63/32:56

Yep, runner's knee sucks. I guess the best part is it doesn't hurt when you're running. It only hurts when you're sitting still. I backed off my mileage a lot last week with only 9 miles for the whole week. I think that hurt more than my knee. The constant icing, the Advil, the knee brace and a new pair of insoles have seemed to help and I'm not dying this week. I plan to run Thursday and Friday. My long runs are going to be on Sunday until mid-November due to weekend commitments.

I'm getting ready for the Las Vegas Glow Run on October 7th. It's an un-timed 7k with full costumes, beer and craziness. The best part - I'll be running it with my best friend. We've known each other since 8th grade and she lives in Vegas with her handsome Air Force hubby. I'm so psyched!

We are going to dress like Wonder Woman so I'm in full costume preparation mode. The first part of any awesome running costume (IMHO) are fabulous socks. And these Wonder Woman socks - complete with capes - are the perfect foundation for our take on my personal childhood cartoon hero.

As the pieces of our costumes come together, I'll post them here.

I Run For Apple Crisp

Latest Workout:
Monday: 3.5 miles/ 33:10

Apple Dump Crisp

Well, it's official. I have runner's knee. I don't know if my "fat knee" was just the start of it or if my fall 10 days ago jarred my knee off track. Maybe it was both. But, despite me wanting to get up and run the last two mornings, I haven't. Not because it hurts when I run, but it burns like hell-fire when I sit with it bent or go down stairs. Crap.

I've been icing like crazy for the last two days and taking Advil like it is going out of style. The burning has eased off quite a bit, so of course I'm going to try and run tomorrow. I wanted to do six miles tomorrow, but it isn't going to happen. I must think long-term. I'll do three and see what happens. I have a new brace and I got new insoles for my shoes to give a bit more support. Fingers and toes crossed.

Dessert of the Week: Apple Dump Crisp

It's called a dump cake because that's all you do - dump it in the plate and put it in the oven. I took this recipe and added a bit more spice to it because you know I'm spicy and all.

Ingredients
1 box yellow cake mix
2 (21 oz) cans apple pie filling
1/2 cup of butter, cut into 1/2 Tbsp slices
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter melted

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF
2. Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray
3. Pour both cans of apple pie filling into the dish
4. Spread the dry cake mix on top of the pie filling. Try to get this as even as possible.
5. Evenly place the butter cubes on top of the pie filling. This is important to avoid a lot of dry cake mix in the finished product.
6. Sprinkle cinnamon and nutmeg on top of the butter.
7. In a bowl combine the oats, brown sugar and melted butter and sprinkle on top of the cake
8. Bake for approximately 50 minutes. It should be bubbly and golden.
9. Cool on a wire rack.