Happy Monday!

Good morning, folks!  Ok, ok I'm writing this post Sunday evening.  I have a long run tomorrow morning and I won't have time to blog after I walk the pups.

This weekend was an epic weekend for little dogs.  On Saturday we had to go get our mandatory vet check from the Animal Medical Center of NYC staff.  They had to ensure that Bear was fit and healthy to run.  We also picked up our sweet race swag - a doggy t-shirt (which Bear will wear approx. 1 time - when I put it on him when we got home and swooned over his adorable-ness), a NYC triathlon T shirt for me (which feels silly to wear since I didn't do a triathlon), a water bowl with Bear's name on it, poo bags, and doggie froyo.  The vet check/briefing took place at the Hilton on the Avenue of the Americas.  It was CRAZY because it was also where all of the people participating in the NYC triathlon were picking up their race information/bibs/getting de-briefed.  It was loud as hell in the dog room because every dog was making a ruckus (except Bear - he wasn't a fan - he was nervous).

After that, we went to agility class where we worked on weave poles.  It was a little hot - pups weren't into it.

For dinner I made vegetarian recipe #14: Moroccan Black Bean and Lentil burgers:

This was my first attempt at home-made veggie (vegan) burgers.  I am usually scared away from them because they have like 900 different ingredients and "ain't nobody got time for that."  This recipe was really, really simple though.  I really liked them and ate 2 with salad, however Brian and Sarah thought they tasted like cardboard.  They hated them and refused to eat them.  I fully endorse them (but I also really like the taste of lentils).  They're also great because you can have them around all week for lunch when your friends refuse to eat them. 

1 cup of lentils - you can use whatever you've got around - I used a mixture of French Puy, brown, and red.  *Using different types adds some texture.  Red lentils are very soft, but french are quite hard and almost crunchy. 
1 can of black beans (or whatever bean fits your fancy)
1.5 thinly sliced dried red chilis (makes for a spicy burger - reduce this if you don't love heat)
1 clove garlic - minced
1 small onion - chopped very thin
1 tablespoon coriander seed
1.5 tablespoons cumin
1/2 tablespoon yellow curry
salt
pepper

Boil your lentils for 20 minutes or until they're quite soft.  While they're cooking, wash your black beans in a colander in cold water.  When the lentils are done, strain them in the same colander with the black beans, running cold water over them to cool them.  Sauté your onion, garlic, spices, and chili peppers in a big stir-fry pan or wok.  When they are quite tender, turn off the heat, and mash them with a potato masher (put your back into it!). Then add your lentils and beans.  Mash to the texture you like.  When it's cool enough, form the mixture into patties (I got 6).  Cool them in the fridge for ~1 hour.  Fry them in a bit of oil - Note - they don't stay together all that well and are not suited for a bun.  They are an "eat alone" type of burger.  Top with a bit of tzatziki or some tahini and lemon (I did). 

Today we also competed in the Doggy Dash!  We woke up at 5:30am this morning to get to the Tavern on the Green by 6:30am.  The race didn't start until 7:30 but we wanted to socialize and hydrate.  It was really fun and everybody was taking our picture.  I'll send you guys the website when the pictures are up.  The NYC Triathlon was also running this morning so the Park had an incredible atmosphere - fans and volunteers everywhere.  Camera crews galore.  It was very exciting.  Just as the last of the elite athletes entered the Park, our race started.  We ran on the same course as the triathletes, which was a little strange but ok because it wasn't very crowded. The course took us around the Park, up Harlem Hill in reverse, and then back on the East side.  We finished down Cat Hill and then wrapped around to finish at the same finish line as the triathletes (which seemed silly but was awesome because we were getting cheered for like we were famous).  I wet Bear down so that he would be cool and there was a mandatory 5 minute break at mile 2.5 where we sponged ice water on to the dogs and they had their temps checked by the vets to make sure they weren't over-heated.  Bear was fine - not even close whereas a lot of other dogs required longer than 5 minutes to continue on.

We came in 6th place overall and I was the second female finisher (out of about 30).  I was not running hard but I thought I was completely alone in terms of women.  At the last 0.5 miles, some girl and her german shepherd just came flying by us.  I wanted to be first female, but I wanted my little man to have fun and not get too hot, so I just let her fly by and finished in second.  At the end of the race, there was more doggy swimming pools, a medal for me and for Bear, doggy froyo, and off-leash playtime in the corral.  It was BY FAR the most fun race I've ever done.  Since the triathlon is such a big deal, you really got the feeling like you were doing some big important race.  The cheering and spectators made it really exciting.

At the end, all the dogs were still playing with each other - playing tug, chasing, wrestling - they were not tired at all.  I played fetch with Bear for a solid hour after we finished.  CHAMP!  I finished my race experience with a ridiculous amount of froyo topped with butterfingers and iced animal crackers.  BEAR GOT SOME - WHY CAN'T I???

Brian has prepared an excellent dinner for tonight.  Eggplant Parmesan for me and Chicken Parmesan for Sarah and him.  Also some home-made calimari with lemon as an appetizer - so lucky. 


Sorry for rambling on and on and on.  Hope you didn't get too bored!!!

Have a great start to your week!  This will be my last week of posting before I'm gone in New Mexico for 3.5 weeks, so I'll try to keep things interesting.  Next week may be some guest blogging from Brian and also some from me - too - so you guys can catch up with the Santa Fe sunrises :-)

Peace!

J