Half-Marathon Results and Baking

First, I completed the Purdue Half Marathon on Saturday October 21 with a time of 1 hour 40 minutes and 48 seconds, but it was disappointing. I started the race off way too fast and ran the first mile at like 7 minutes 18 seconds and then somewhere around the halfway mark really started dying. The last four miles were very sad and in the last mile and a half I was passed by the 1 hour 40 minute pacer and his group. That is how well I started that it took them over 11.5 miles to catch me, but also telling about how much I died. I was hoping to PR, but that did not happen obviously. I think considering that I had COVID like two weeks before and that cut into my training, I should be okay with this.

My next goal is to try to run a marathon next year. I have entered into the random drawing for the Chicago marathon next October and if I do not get in will have to try to run the Indianapolis marathon to get a qualifying time.

Moving on to baking, on Saturday we had some people over and I decided to do make some treats. I ened up making an apple cranberry pie with orange zest and some spices. I even decided to make the crust from scratch, which I have not attempted since college. I thought it was a bit thick and biscuity, but people liked it and said it was good. I also thought it was a bit dry and need to figure out how to make it a bit juicier. Also, in the picture is a delicious rosemary shortbread I made with fresh rosemary.

This next picture is of two types of cookies that I made. First, was lemon balm sugar cookies with a bit of juniper berry sugar in them and an orange flavored icing.. The second type are Chocolate Crinkle cookies. Finally, there are some candied cranberries that are sweet with a pop of zing or sourness with them. So, nothing was completely perfect but all tasted okay I think and that is all I can ask for.

The weather has turned cold and I am still working on knitting a blanket that I hope to have finished by Christmas. I am continuing to find inner rest and peace and that has been so nice! I finally even wrote a short prose today in my notebook of writings on smells after more than a month, so that felt good!