Getting Ready

Does anyone else hate packing as much as I do?  I used to love to pack; it was the excitement of traveling.  Now I find it difficult to pack up my life into a suitcase.  I can never decide what I want to wear in advance and therefore want to pack everything!  It is so hard to limit my choices and I put off packing as long as possible.  I am leaving at noon today and I still haven't packed!

What I have done is whip up a batch of Diana's delicious Coconut Macaroons in my dehydrator.  I also made a batch of my friend Melisa's amazing treats.  It was so simple and easy to make and they end up tasting like Peanut Almond Butter and Jelly Sandwiches!  They are pretty healthy and packed full of protein.  You should definitely whip up a batch of these pronto! 

I have no name to describe these Almond Butter Treats

3 cups oats
3/4 cups wheat bran
1 cup goodies (cranberries, choc chips, etc.)
1/2 cup Brown Rice Syrup
1/4 cup Agave Nectar
1 cup almond butter

Mix altogether and press into 9x13 dish for thin bars or a smaller dish for thick bars (like I did)

I am also roasting chickpeas in the oven for a crispy savory treat while traveling.  You just rinse a can or chickpeas and mix with a tad olive oil, some seasonings- I used chili powder and cumin- and roast in a 425* oven for 30 minutes.

(Ha ha, as we speak, I just burnt the chickpeas in the oven!  I think there are a few I can salvage! I really need to learn to set a timer because even writing about my dishes can't stop me from burning them!)

Altogether, here are the treats I'm bringing on the plane with me today for lunch and dinner:

I always travel with my own tea bags so I can hop into Starbucks and get hot water and have plenty to drink for FREE!  I love apples and bananas with Peanut Butter, and my new addiction is this Justin's nut butters.  I also am loving clementines right now.  And yes those little yellow things are baby carrots.  Gotta get some veggies in!

Alright, alright, to the real topic of the day: marathon running.  You must know that this has never been far from my mind the last few weeks, and this week it seems to be all I can think about.  I can't believe it is already here and I am super excited to finish this goal!  My training hasn't been perfect, but I feel as prepared as I could be.  I am looking forward to traveling with some of my best friends today, and I just got an email from a childhood friend who lives in Phoenix now and we are having lunch tomorrow!  There are so many good things going on this week in Arizona including the Girls on the Run Summit that I just can't help but grin from ear-to-ear.  Even if it does include a 26.2 mile run somewhere in the mix. 

I'm so excited that I think I may just go start packing!  Catch up with all my marathon training through these posts!

This free-runner is all plugged-in {Garmin Forerunner 305}
Successful Twelve
Finish Line
Rainy Wednesday Morning
Beautiful
Ice Pain
Fuel
The Freaking Fourteen
Seven before Seven
Running 
Peas on Knees
Aqua Jogging
20 Miles...Done and Done 
New Year's Eve Run
The Last Training Run
Finish Line Part 2

Guess what?!  I also have another raffle coming up soon!  Check in later today for more information!