The year is coming to a close. Everybody seems to be wrapped up in the Christmas frenzy. Although I have been living in Dubai for 10 years, and have spent 9 Christmasses (is that the right plural form?) in warm weather, I still find it hard getting into the festive mood.At least the tree is up. Two weeks ago, my daughter had the great idea of putting it up on the day I got up at 4:30 in the morning to run a half marathon. You may imagine that putting up Christmas trees after such morning activities is not very high on your priority list. Nevertheless, we did it and I am glad we did.
Last week, my daughter (she is 5 years old, btw) had the great idea of making a gingerbread house from scratch. Off I went at 8am to buy missing ingredients. She lost interest after about 45 minutes. I finished around 2pm. I don’t regret it though. I love the smell of gingerbread. No-one is allowed to eat it yet.
I mentioned in previous years that December coincides with the toughest training weeks for the Dubai marathon. On top of that, in December we have the world’s most beautiful half marathon on in Dubai. A must for every runner in Dubai. It’s not a fast course. And December mornings can still be warm and humid. I had a 1:30:00 time in mind. Conditions were anything but ideal, so I threw my target times overboard and stopped looking at my Garmin all the time. That was deliberating. I just went at paces that FELT right. Despite the warm temperatures and humidity I managed a time of 1:32:57, a PB by two seconds (a PB is a PB, isn’t it), and finished 6th lady overall out of about 500, and 2nd in my age group for which I got a trophy.
In the week following the half marathon I ran two more races, the above mentioned 5k race and another 7k fun race, while continuing to hitting high mileages as required by the marathon training program. After the 7k fun race, which was a disaster time-wise (not a surprise really), I was finished. My legs were heavy as lead and running no fun anymore. I am glad I came out of these 10 days without injury, as it would have been the perfect recipe.
Rest was all I needed. I didn’t even go to the gym for strength training. I needed energy for the upcoming 32k and 35k runs as part of my marathon training. Those 30+k runs are very important both mentally and physically. They’d give me the confidence that I could run the 42k in a months time.
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| Me and my trophy |
Even after having successfully run four marathons in the past three years which obviously proves that I am able to run the distance, I need these 30+k training runs to have the confidence once again. I would not be happy with just doing a couple of 29k runs. Funny isn’t it?
The 32k run is in the bag since yesterday. I signed up for the Dubai Marathon afterwards. The 35k are planned for Boxing Day. Probably just what I need after Christmas lunch. If I get these 35k done without falling sick or injuring myself, it will be my first uninterrupted marathon training in two years. That is a very motivating thought. And yes, I do believe I can do my 3:10:00 this time. It’s my second try after all. In Dubai I will not have to squeeze my way through the streets with tens of thousands of other runners like I did in Berlin.
In a nutshell, it’s all coming together nicely at the end of the year. With the Christmas tree up and a Gingerbread House made from scratch, a half marathon and 5k PB in the bag, and the crucial part of the marathon training coming to an successful end, I thought I have to share all those news with a healthy treat. Who celebrates with Tabouli? No-one!! I will pester you with the really healthy stuff only in the New Year.
Today’s recipe are Grain Free Sweet Potato Brownies. I have baked them several times in the past few week. I shouldn’t call it a snack, but it has become my favorite one in the afternoon before my evening runs. Serve them warm with some vanilla ice cream and they are a killer dessert!
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GRAIN FREE SWEET POTATO BROWNIES
1 cup cold sweet potato puree
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 eggs
1/4 cup coconut flour
1/4 cup tapioca starch
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup cocoa powder
Yields 16
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Preheat oven to 180C/350F. Line a 20x20cm baking tray with parchment paper.
In a bowl, sift together coconut and tapioca flour, baking soda and cocoa powder. Set aside.
Add sweet potato puree, apple sauce, coconut oil, honey and vanilla extract to the bowl of a food processor. Blend until smooth. Add one egg at a time and pulse until incorporated. Combine dry and wet ingredients and mix until just combined. Transfer batter to prepared baking tray and bake for about 40 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.
Will try the sweet potato brownies! Having had a very decent crop of sweet potatoes this year :O) I am good to go on that ingredient :O).
Congratulations to you on all your running accomplishments! You did super on that half marathon! :O) . I agree your schedule was wicked following that race, I would have for sure had an injury. I have to really pay close attention to the intensity of my running and workouts or boom, I wound up with an injury.. arghhhhh
I am not a marathon runner as of yet… 13.5 miles is my longest run to date. Not a race but I felt a huge sense of accomplishment making that distance never the less. I have run 5ks and won my age group.
I have been a slacker a bit in the last few months. But am back in the saddle erm running shoes now :O). I would love to run a half marathon by the time I hit 50, that gives me one year to achieve that. :O).
Thanks for the recipe and good luck to you on your up coming marathon!!!
What a great recipe!! Thanks for sharing:) I’ll pin this and have to make them sometime soon:)
I tried this recipe and I loved it! I plan to make it often and I especially love the ingredients used! Great recipe!
Nadia
What a creative recipe!! Totally love this idea. Trying it this weekend đ
I totally love this recipe , my whole family is addicted to these brownies now .Thank you đ
I made these in a 9 inch cake pan and sliced them like cake. They are delicious and I will definitely be making them again.