Of Lemon Trees and Coronavirus on Earth Day

My tree’s name is Lisa

When life gives you lemons, you grow trees out of them

Happy Earth Day! By now it’s the 50th anniversary. Earth Day is a reminder of steps and actions that we take in order to protect the environment. It’s a weird time right now, since the COVID-19 pandemic has the whole world on lockdown in order to stop the spread of the novel virus. While the pollution seems to have cleared up since we can’t really go anywhere, it’s still a dark time for many folks. If you want to liven up your quarantine a little bit, then consider sprouting a lemon tree from a seed. It’s a great way to celebrate Earth Day as well.

How to grow a lemon tree

Lockdown is hard for many. I find that nurturing plants with love and care makes it a little more bearable. You can easily do that with seeds from a lemon.

  1. Make sure the lemon is organic. If it’s non-organic, chances are that it has been genetically engineered to be a dud. Organic Meyer lemons are good to get seeds from.
  2. Wash the seed throughly to get all the sugar, juice, and pulp off. Keep it wet, and don’t let it dry.
  3. In a 3-inch pot with fertile soil, make a half-inch dent in with your finger. Drop the seed in and cover it with soil.
  4. Put plastic wrap over it and secure it with a rubber band. Poke holes with a pencil so that it ventilates.
  5. Keep the pot in a sunny spot.
  6. In a couple of weeks, a green sprout should emerge.
  7. Remove the plastic wrap and gently drip water on it to keep it moist.
  8. When it has grown enough, transfer to a bigger pot. I put it in a 5-inch pot before transferring again.
  9. Keep watering your new baby lemon tree, and make sure the soil is damp.
Grow, little lemon seed! Grow!

There are some precautions to take in order to protect your tree. Once the leaves sprout more, the tree doesn’t like too much direct sunlight. The leaves slowly turned into an unsightly pale green color, or even white in the sun. The answers online seemed to be conflicting on what it could be. My guess in this case was sunburn. I took the plant inside and kept out of direct light. It does seem to react well with a purple grow light, however. Other than that, the tree seems to be resistant to bugs and pests.

It’s also not clear if this tree will produce lemons of its own. From what I could gather, it takes a few years before it forms flowers.

This tree ended up growing 18 inches in a year! I was thrilled every time it sprouted a new set of leaves. Then it slowed down by quite a bit, probably because there’s no more room in the pot for the roots to keep growing. Pretty soon I’ll need to transfer it yet again.

Put figurines in your pots to liven them up

The young tree gives you more oxygen, and you get something nice to liven up your home. It’s a win-win situation. Let me know how growing a tree was for you!

Cooking with Karim

I had the pleasure of participating in a cooking class/dinner party with vegan chef, Karim Gwaduri.

Karim hails from Florida, where he studied fine dining and French cooking at Le Cordon Bleu. He has shown his cooking prowess at many kinds of bars and restaurants, as to broaden his perspective and knowledge–from sports bars to a stylish, David Bowie-themed bar called Life On Mars here in Seattle, where he prepares delectable vegan appetizers.

While he has a slender build, Karim’s affectionate nickname growing up was “Fat Boy.”

“There’s a fat kid inside me that wants to eat everything,” gushes Karim. “I just always want to eat and cook all of this good food. I don’t think I’ll ever leave the food industry. And, while I’m a frugal shopper for ingredients, some of the tools I use for cooking are on the higher end. I want to invest in good equipment to make higher quality food.”

His passion for food matches his zest for life, and he wants to share that with people. So, he invited a select group of friends to join him on a cooking adventure. I was honored to be one of his guests.

Italian food was the cuisine of choice at this dinner party. Italian can be considered “soul food,” because it’s often made with love and is embodied with richness. The Italians traditionally don’t follow recipes. Instead, they follow aromas and flavor profiles. It’s an art, a following of an internal culinary compass. You’ll know it when you put it together.

Course 1: Bruschetta

Bruschetta is an appetizer consisting of bread grilled with olive oil and topped with garlic, salt, basil, and crushed tomatoes. The basil was smacked in the hands in order to intensify the flavor, then sliced into thin ribbons. We let the tomatoes sit for 15 minutes, as the salt draws the water out of the tomatoes. Tomatoes are acidic, and while balsamic vinegar is another acid, it still cuts the acidity of the tomatoes. The salad catches the toppings that fall off the bread.

Course 2: Stuffed lasagna

We made our own sauces and cashew ricotta for the stuffed lasagna.

Cashew ricotta

For the cashew ricotta, we added cashews, nutritional yeast, garlic, and salt. Cashews mimic the creamy texture of the fat content of dairy. We put all of the ingredients into a Ninja blender.

Sauce from scratch

With the sauce, we sautéd some veggies and tomatoes before blending them together. Then it was time to layer them onto the lasagna noodles and then roll them up. The dish was then topped with plant-based cheese.

Course 2.5: Palate cleanser

This drink is meant to clear the palate so that the flavors from the previous course aren’t lingering when dessert comes. This drink was made with lime juice, mint leaves, thinly sliced ginger, and seltzer water.

Karim’s techniques involved rolling the lime for a few minutes. This massages the pulp inside, which helps release more juices. The mint leaves are smacked in the hands some; this brings the flavor out more, just like the basil in the bruschetta.

Course 3: Banana Foster

This was a special treat.

Sometimes cooking is an experiment. The first time, Karim attempted to melt butter with the brown sugar to make a caramel sauce. It unfortunately heated too quickly and burned on the first attempt.

He had to start over, first using the rum for flavor. I don’t drink alcohol, but he assured me that it would be burnt off from the heat. He showed how to set the rum on fire. I have never handled flames while cooking before! We all got to handle the pan, and no one burned the house down.

The bananas were sliced on a bias. Doing so makes the biggest pieces, so that they take up more space. He added the sliced bananas, walnuts, and spices, and cooked until the bananas started to melt. It pairs very well with coconut-based vanilla ice cream.

Let’s do this again!

This dinner party/cooking class was highly informative and loads of fun! We learned new techniques that we’ve never tried before. There are talks about having another one. I cannot wait. It has been an honor being able to participate in something like this, while learning new things about food.

If you’re interested in getting to know Karim, follow him on Instagram: @plantpoweredfatboy

Portland, Seattle’s Sister City

Art by Lucid Rose

From Saturday morning to Sunday evening, I took a whirlwind trip to Seattle’s quirky sister city, Portland. There’s a lot you can do in a 40-hour visit. Sometimes you just need to get lost and find your way back.

I came down via the Bolt Bus. I was mostly exploring the city on my own. Since I was without a car, I went around using the Trimet bus system. As of today, for $2.50 you can purchase a bus ticket that’s valid for 2 ½ hours. For $5, a day bus pass has more value; it lasts all day and has unlimited uses.

The Lloyd District/East Portland

Where to stay

The mid century modern restaurant in KEX Hotel

If you don’t mind sharing sleeping space, hostels are a great place to stay if you’re on a budget. While I do enjoy staying at AirBnBs, there are a lot of hidden fees in the final price. With hostels, the prices are much more straightforward. Plus, I only use it to sleep, shower, and keep my belongings. This time I stayed at KEX Hotel in the Lloyd District. The location was within walking distance of Downtown, numerous hip bars and clubs, and that one vegan strip mall that I always visit.

The Vegan Strip Mall

I didn’t buy shoes this time.

I always make a stop at the vegan strip mall in the Lloyd District, which includes Sweetpea Baking Company, Herbivore Clothing Company, Food Fight! Grocery, and Scapegoat Tattoo. Herbivore Clothing is an adorable vegan lifestyle shop. That store has ethically-made clothes, soaps, accessories, books, and shoes. Everything is fair-trade and higher quality, so the prices might be higher to reflect that. I didn’t buy any vegan shoes this time, but I did pick up some soap, a pin, and another patch for my vest.

In case the message doesn’t come across clear enough.

The Lovecraft Bar

On Saturday night, I made a visit to the Lovecraft Bar, a horror-themed bar that draws an eclectic crowd. I don’t drink alcohol, but at least I can still have fun and dance the night away.

All the vegan food that you can handle

That Breakfast Curry Bowl hit the spot.

First thing was first–I was starving for brunch on Saturday morning. A friend and I met at Blossoming Lotus in the Lloyd District, where I had the flavorful Breakfast Curry Bowl.

It’s no secret that vegan pastries are my kryptonite. As a marathon runner, I rationalize that I can eat as many donuts as I desire–so as long as I dutifully follow the training schedule. I’ve been wanting to try vegan donuts from Doe Donuts for years, and made it a point to go over there and get some. They have their usual flavors, and then there are the seasonal ones.

Good to the last bite at Off The Griddle

On Sunday morning, the other brunch place that I was eager to visit was Off The Griddle, which is an adorable 1950’s-themed vegetarian diner. I had the “Awesome Plate,” which is scrambled tofu, tempeh bacon, and half a pumpkin waffle.

A cupcake so adorable, I almost didn’t want to eat it. CHOMP.

Later in the day, I visited Back to Eden Bakery, which serves vegan and gluten-free desserts and pastries. Some of these cupcakes were so beautiful, I almost didn’t want to eat them.

I love cupcakes!

For my last meal, I made a quick stop to Vtopia, a restaurant that specializes in all-vegan cheese. It’s a compact space that seats maybe up to 15 people. I wasn’t going to have enough time to sit down and eat, so I ordered a mac & cheese sandwich to go. When I have more time, I’d like to come back.

I run marathons; this is totally justified. 😉

The quirky and evocative art of Portlandia

Mural by Adam Brock Ciresi

Portland seems to have more colorful murals and vegan food than Seattle does; it’s a wonder why I haven’t moved here instead. I took many walks and a 14-mile long run in this city, and found these purely by accident.

Places to visit

The Portland Art Museum also has an expansive collection of classic and contemporary art. It was my first time there. Currently, they have exhibitions on Mount St. Helens (before and after the 1980 eruption), and the controversial yet intriguing work of Robert Colescott.

My favorite piece at Fernie Brae

On Hawthorne, I visited Fernie Brae, a cozy fantasy-themed art gallery. It’s such a magical space.

Redd Walitzki “Strange Aeons” at Antler

Antler and Talon Galleries, which are connected to each other, offer nature-themed pop surrealist artwork.

Street art throughout Rose City

Another one by Lucid Rose
Mural by Rather Severe

The murals you’ll find throughout Portland are serendipitous. It’s a surprise on many corners and alleyways. Here are some of my favorites from this weekend. Some of these I’m unsure on who the artist is, so if you know, feel free to leave a comment.

It’s worth slowing down once in a while because you might find stuff like this.

And finally, will you look at this mini art installation! This teeny, tiny diorama was spotted in an alley. It’s the little things like that that give Portland its special charm.

The Psychology section

I made a stop in Powell’s Books. One thing that makes me a little sad is that there will never be enough time in this life to read all of the books on the ever-growing reading list. I picked up a book about Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which I’m doing a great job recovering from.

Until next time, Portland

I returned to Seattle on Sunday before midnight, a little winded, but very happy.

My Better Half Marathon

The sweetest race you’ll run!

A half-marathon is a 13.1-mile race, which is a friendly distance. It doesn’t require as much time and commitment as a full marathon, and I think that most people in good health can finish one of these. With many perks such as race photos, treats, and a blingin’ finisher’s medal, a half-marathon can be quite enjoyable.

Orca Running knows what’s up

After taking a couple months off from running seriously, I ran My Better Half Marathon yesterday, hosted by Orca Running. This local running organization puts on super-fun races throughout the year, while using sustainable practices for these events. They often have treats that a participant wouldn’t normally encounter elsewhere, such as taco bars, homemade cookies, or an oatmeal bar (as in, you get a bowl of oatmeal and put on whatever toppings you like).

With this particular race, participants can run in 4 categories: Bromance (two male friends), Besties (two female friends), Lovers (romantically involved) and Lonely Hearts (awwww). I felt that the last category could have been worded better. “Lonely Hearts?!” I am my own best friend, thank you very much. 😉

Mt. Rainier in the distance

Yesterday I woke up before the sun and went over to the starting line in Seward Park. It has rained in Seattle nearly every day for over a month, and we haven’t seen the sun for so long that we all forgot that it exists. That morning, the sky was a vibrant orange fading into a pastel blue.

The course

Source: My Better Half Marathon

The half-marathon course was very scenic; it went a few loops around Seward Park along Lake Washington. This race had no mile posts, so no one knew how far along we were. I thought that was unusual. If someone wants to know their split time, they wouldn’t know unless they had a smart watch.

Filled with candy and electrolyte drinks

But who needs to know what mile they’re on, when they can indulge on candy washed down with electrolyte drinks in the Tunnel of Love? There were more Red Vines and hard candy than you could shake a stick at! At that point, I’m beginning to think that maybe having fun is the whole point instead of worrying about mile splits.

Howdy!

There were even designated selfie spots! It really is a beautiful place–how could you not want a photo in this setting? After snapping this photo, I kept running. My mind zoned out, similar to what happens when driving. It was quite a peaceful race. And sometimes that’s all you need.

The finish line

It was very filling and delicious

After crossing the finish line, everyone got a bowl of hot oatmeal. After running 13.1 miles, this was a very welcome treat. There was a full oatmeal bar, complete with fresh fruit, nuts, and other toppings for a delicious porridge. I love oatmeal.

I’m just happy to finish

Usually I breeze through half-marathons, but this one felt slower. I wasn’t training much, and it’s been weeks since I had run this far. I don’t mind that yesterday’s finishing time was 2:13:05, my slowest time yet. We all have slow races sometimes; there will be other faster races.

It’s a sweet looking medal

This is a race that I might like to try again. If you want a casual, fun race, this one is right for you. It was a beautiful course, and the race amenities and finisher’s medal could make anyone happy.

Marathon #7: Seattle Marathon (again)

I made it!

Yesterday I completed my fourth and final marathon of the year at the Seattle Marathon. My time was 4:19:12, which is 18 seconds slower than my fastest time. Lately, I’ve been working 65-70 hours a week while sleeping 4 hours most nights. All things considered, this was a very good race.

img_1889-1
The course map

Earlier this year, I was riding the runner’s high from the Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon. I was making such excellent progress with healing from my Complex PTSD, that an ambitious goal of running 4 1/2 marathons in six months seemed like a great idea. Of course, five minutes after signing up for all of those races, the weight of everything sank in and terror washed over me. Maybe I was in over my head. What kind of mad person does something like that?

Slowly, the fear turned into excitement. I get to run another marathon!

UNADJUSTEDNONRAW_thumb_38df.jpg
Excited AF!!

Seattle Marathon’s 50th anniversary

The Seattle Marathon was my last marathon. This race is known to be a tough course–it’s cold, dark, wet, and hilly. Training for it was much easier this time, however. Instead of building up the mileage, I was maintaining it through the other three races.

The marathon went quite smoothly, despite how overwhelming things have been. I glided through the course, occasionally throwing back shots of water and slurping energy gels. I don’t remember some of the course, because my mind often goes on auto-pilot, similar to driving. My favorite part was going through Gasworks Park, a public park that is reminiscent of the Victorian-inspired steampunk genre (at least, for me).

There weren’t as many memorable hills this time. I do recall a long hill slowing me down around Mile 23, but that was quickly forgotten about. The course very gently sloped downhill, and I sprinted the last .2 miles towards the finish line.

This medal is huge!

Treat yo’self

Running a marathon burns 2,500-3,000 calories, so my best friend and I went to Araya’s Place for their all-you-can-eat vegan Thai buffet.

I had two platefuls before calling it good.

This was followed by a Lush bath bomb. These are like an alka seltzer for your tub.

It looks like a butt and smells better than one

One thing at a time

The secret to doing this many marathons was to focus on one race at a time. If I had paid more attention to how many more I had left to do, then it would been overwhelming. All of that energy would have been lost from worrying about how much more there was to do. The best I could do was stay very present and focus on the race at hand. This also translates when running a marathon. Instead of seeing how many miles there were left to run, I only focused on the next mile. This made it much easier to handle.

My seventh marathon was a success!

Earlier this year, I thought that I was in over my head about running several full marathons in a short amount of time, but now… Now I finally reached the last one. Everything else was put on pause, because this goal was important to me. Something like this requires a tremendous amount of faith, which is so important when it comes to healing from C-PTSD. In the past, something like this seemed impossible. But I made it. And I totally took this last race on.

Gluten-free Acorn Squash Soup

Delicious and wholesome

Another change in the lifestyle

Recently I’ve adopted the mostly gluten-free diet, in addition to the vegan lifestyle. In some people, gluten inhibits serotonin absorption in the gut, which is where 90% of the neurotransmitter is made. This can slow someone’s mental process down, since serotonin is a key factor in mood regulation. Considering that I manage depression daily, I decided to see if cutting out gluten actually works. My head has cleared up some, and I feel more centered. This is something I will continue.

However, maintaining a gluten-free diet along with being vegan can be challenging, so a nice compromise is that I won’t seek it out. This means that if someone lovingly prepares vegan food with gluten, I will eat it. If there are no gluten-free options, I will eat it. If I‘m traveling and know that I don’t need to work that day (it impacts my mental process), I can have it. Overall, it has been cut out by 90% and I’m feeling pretty good about it.

Of course, gluten-free breads and the like have fillers, which can still cause brain fog. They’re also so much more expensive—one can expect to pay $2-3 more than a standard vegan loaf. I’m slowly cutting those out, too. That part is a little difficult, because who doesn’t love bread?

A good autumn dish

But I can manage. It’s been surprisingly easy to be gluten-free. Here’s a acorn squash soup that I made this morning. No fillers, just a few simple ingredients and a blender.

You will need:

  • 4 halves of acorn squash, roasted (this is 2 whole squash)
  • 2 Tablespoons of Better Than Boullion vegetable stock base
  • 1 Tablespoon of cinnamon
  • 1/2 Tablespoon of cumin
  • 2 cups of boiled water (adjust accordingly to how thick you like your soup)

Toppings such as pumpkin seeds or coconut spreads (optional)

This vegetable stock base is a godsend

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Cut the 2 acorn squashes in half, and scoop the seeds and guts out. Brush the insides with olive oil. Put it in a baking dish, the insides facing up, with 1 inch of water in the dish. Roast in the oven for 1 hour. Let it cool for at least half an hour.

Scoop the acorn squash from the skin and into the blender. Add the veggie stock base and the spices.

Boil the water in a kettle, and then pour into a blender. Blend all ingredients until smooth.

Add toppings if you want.

It’s such a wonderful autumn dish, and it’s easy peasy! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Let me know what you think!

Warm your soul up with something delicious

Vegan Pumpkin Chili

Fall is the best season

Happy Halloween! It’s that time of year again when the leaves are changing colors, and we break out our warm coats and gloves. The days are now shorter than the nights, and we switch on the heat in our cozy homes. Our bodies are once again craving heavier foods, and with the holidays on the horizon, what better way to spend an autumn day than to savor a warm bowl of chili?

Pumpkin Spice Everything…even chili

Pumpkin Spice can be a controversial flavor—it’s either revered or disregarded. I personally love it, but only in the fall. It throws off my equilibrium any other time. The delicate balance of the sweet, cinnamon-y pumpkin mixed with the savory chili is a great combination to warm your heart up with. Plus, you can sprinkle on some dairy-free cheese.

An excellent dish providing flavor, protein, and fiber, this pumpkin chili is sure to keep you full and energized during the colder days.

You will need:

  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 small head of garlic, crushed
  • 2 15-ounce cans of black beans
  • 2 15-ounce cans of kidney beans
  • 2 15-ounce cans of corn kernels
  • 2 15-ounce cans of pumpkin purée
  • 2 6-ounce cans of tomato paste
  • 4 tablespoons of chili powder
  • 2 tablespoons of cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons of pure vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons of oregano
  • 2 teaspoons of parsley
  • 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes
  • 1 tablespoon of veggie broth paste (I used Better than Bouillon Vegetable Base)
  • Juice of 2 small limes (or 1 large one)

Throw all ingredients in a crock pot and stir until everything is mixed together. Let the chili cook for at least 4 hours. The longer it cooks, the more the flavors absorb.

It goes really well with pumpkin spice chips (a seasonal item from Trader Joe’s) or regular tortilla chips. I hope this dish keeps you warm and full during this advancing winter. Bon appétit!

Punk Vest

It only took 19 years

When I was 13, I began to dabble into goth. The music, the aesthetic, and my natural curiosity led me to a beautiful, yet mysterious and unfamiliar, genre. When you get into a music scene, you also might be interested in the roots of that scene. That’s where punk comes in. I feel that in order to appreciate goth, punk should also get recognition because that’s where it originates.

I slowly started getting into punk more, even going to local shows. I’ve always admired everyone’s altered vests with their numerous patches, buttons, and metal studs. But it seemed like quite a time commitment, not to mention all that patience it would require to make one of those vests. Besides, I was more of a painter.

So, I dropped the idea.

Nick and Doug of BUGS

Recently however, I’ve been dipping my toes a little bit in punk again. It may not be my cup of tea 100 percent, but I still enjoy the enthusiasm and spirit of the community. When I befriended Doug, the frontman of the local Seattle punk band BUGS, it renewed my appreciation of the scene. Doug also has an altered vest, which reignited a desire to make one of my own.

The elusive black denim vest

I found the one.

I went to Goodwill and chose the denim jacket that spoke to me the most. It fits well, and there are lots of pockets. But it wasn’t really the kind I wanted. I still searched for one with notched lapels throughout the city, but those proved to be surprisingly hard to find.

I could still hear the purchased blue denim jacket whisper from my closet, “why don’t you want me? You liked me before. Am I not good enough for you?”

Upon thinking of it more, I decided it really was a good jacket to make a vest from. I would then make the alterations: first, by cutting off the sleeves; then, by dyeing it black. I remembered what a perfect fit it is.

I cut off the sleeves.
…And dyed it black.

Patch it up

Collected in Seattle over the years

These patches were gifted to me, or bought from indie organizations or artists.

It’s an art.

I hand-stitched all of those patches onto my new vest.

I tend to stick to pins and patches that have messages, rather than ones from music bands. Things others might be able to relate to. I no longer have a favorite band, and these little messages seem more effective in conveying me as a person.

Nothing is ever really done evolving

“I love you because you’re not like everybody else.”

Right now this vest is a work in progress. I still would like to add more, but I only select patches and mementos that speak to my soul, which I feel is the essence of a punk vest.

I can’t tell if anyone’s vest is ever really finished. Some people remove patches or pins to reposition then, or they make way for new ones. Others have a set product. Then others, like me, are still letting their vests evolve especially after getting started. I’ve always felt that something as personal as a punk vest doesn’t have to stop evolving—much like the person who wears it.

Marathon #6: Portland Marathon

My first race-cation

A.K.A. Rose City

This past weekend I went down to Portland to run another marathon. It’s the first race I have traveled out of state for, so I turned it into a little race-cation.

Where I stayed

The lobby sitting area/cafe of The Society Hotel

I stayed at the Society Hotel in Chinatown, which wasn’t far from the starting line of the race. That hotel dates from the late 1800s, and it has an interesting history. It used to host sailors back in the day, before turning into a hospital. Then it turned into a hotel again in the hands of Japanese owners before they were sent to an internment camp around WWII. Next, it became a meeting place for Chinese-Americans, and cycled through many other communities and businesses from all walks of life. Just a few years ago, it became the beautiful hotel that’s around today. I know where I’m staying next time.

The beautiful view from the rooftop deck

Vegan serendipity at its finest

I went to the Oregon Convention Center to pick up my race packet (my bib number and other fun marathon swag) at the Portland Marathon race expo, where I accidentally found out that VegFest (a vegan festival) was happening in the exact same building just down the hall! I had no idea that event was going on, so of course, I was going to pick up my race packet later.

Nectar Cafe had gluten-free and vegan waffles that were perfect for carb-loading

The day before a big race like a marathon, carb-loading is essential for the muscles to store glycogen. This is used as fuel for the long haul. Of course, the bulk of nutrients should come from carbs for energy. VegFest had excellent food vendors to satisfy that need.

Ready to knock ‘em dead!

I eventually made it to the race expo. I’ve always liked those, since they’re like mini-festivals for runners. Vendors usually set up their wares and events, hoping to entice runners to try their products, or run marathons in other parts of the country.

On running a marathon on very little sleep

On Instagram, I’ve been open about my Complex PTSD, which can cause sleep problems in some people. I don’t always have sleep problems, but when I do, they seem to visit at the most inopportune nights. I can’t say that it was from race jitters this time, since I’m an experienced runner at this point. Maybe it was too warm in the room; maybe I’m sleeping in a bed that’s not actually mine. Whatever it was, I only got two hours of sleep, which would impact my performance.

It was still a beautiful course. It went through many leafy neighborhoods, trees ablaze with vibrant oranges and fiery reds. It took us though the charming Pearl District, and even ran along the scenic water at times.

I tried to force myself to run a little faster, but my body just wasn’t having it. Upon seeing the finish line, however, everything else fell away as my focus sharpened to that single focus, driving me to pick my legs up faster and faster. And I flew right through it.

I did it!

Because this was a flat course, it’s probably fitting for someone who is new to marathons. Of course, running a marathon is always challenging in its own rite! That being said, I wish my time were better. I ended up finishing at 4:46:19, one of my slower times. Nonetheless, this is a race I would enjoy doing again, hopefully more rested next time.

A medal, a rose, and a sprinkled vegan donut for all finishers

At least I got to enjoy a vegan donut from the iconic Portland donut shop, Voodoo Donuts. The rest of the post-race food wasn’t vegan, so I kept those tickets.

Overall, this race was very well put-together. I also really liked the color scheme of deep navy blue and light silver, and the contemporary design of the brand was tightly rendered.

A perfect excuse for an eating contest

Another victory donut from Sweet Pea Baking

Running a marathon burns about 2,500 calories—give or take. This is on top of the 2,000 calories needed for daily bodily functions. So, about 4,500 calories are burned during race day. You can probably guess where I’m going with this.

Homegrown Smoker does not mess around

With so many vegan eateries in Portland, it’s so easy to practically have an eating contest after running a marathon. Homegrown Smoker was calling my name, even though it was a 40-minute bus ride from my hotel. Pictured above is their Buff Burrito, which is stuffed with vegan mac & cheese, vegan BBQ meat, and salad. I ate what I could and saved the rest for later.

Last morning in Rose City

I ended up going to bed early that night and slept peacefully this time. In the morning bright and early, I met my friend Dania for the first time!

Dania y yo

We’ve been following each other for over two years on Instagram, and we finally met up for coffee! She gave me a hat that she knitted herself, along with some vegan-themed stickers. I always thought that she was rad, and I liked her even more in person! It was the perfect ending to this race-cation.

‘Till we meet again, Portland!

Now I am back in Seattle. There’s one more marathon left in the year, but right now I’m still recovering from the weekend before I can focus on the next thing. I really enjoyed my time in Portland. It was exactly what I needed, and I truly missed that city.

I can’t wait to come back.

Marathon #5: Beating the Blerch

Source: The Oatmeal

The Oatmeal hosts the Beat the Blerch marathon every year. If you’re familiar with the work of The Oatmeal and its humor, then you might have an idea of the kind of race Beat the Blerch is.

Something we all relate to in a race

The “blerch” is the kind of inner critic that many of us are familiar with. It’s the voice that lures us to eat cake instead of vegetables, to take it easy when we should put in more effort, and to give up when keep going would serve us best. The blerch is portrayed as a white blob-like figure with wings and follows you like a shadow while filling your head with negative thoughts; hence, why this race is called “Beat the Blerch.”

Don’t do it… don’t do it!
The blerch made me sit down. 😉

In the race, the aid stations have cake and Nutella sandwiches. (They are not vegan; I checked.) The white costumed blerches shout insults at runners or lure them to sit on the couches at the aid stations—all in good fun, of course. They try and convince you to have more cake, because after all, a runner needs their energy and rest. It’s that kind of race.

…Where are we going?

While the race was loads of fun, the course could have been marked better. Within the first five minutes of starting, we marathoners became confused on where the course led. We encountered a dead end, turned around and eventually found our way back.

At around Mile 15, a volunteer told me where the turnaround arrow would be, but I never saw it. I kept going straight, keeping my eyes peeled. Eventually, the trail narrowed to the point where the vegetation made it impassable. So, I turned around. Soon I passed the arrow (rendered in chalk!) where I should have turned around in the first place. The stampede of runners before me had faded it, so that is why I had missed it.

Past Mile 21, there was another fork in the trail, but it still wasn’t clear where to turn. I ran straight again for another mile before wondering where everyone was. You could imagine my vexation when I realized my mistake. Time to turn around again.

The heat wasn’t something many of us were used to either, despite how much water we drank. At Mile 24, there was an aid station. I drank my water, and the kind volunteer refilled my cup. I thanked him and told him he’s an angel.

“Yes, I know,” was his cheeky reply. I love it.

I finished the marathon at 5:02:35, one of my slowest times yet. Getting lost for three miles slowed my time by about half an hour. Instead of the standard 26.2 miles, I ran 29 miles that day. (Technically, that is an ultramarathon distance.) I have never run that far in my entire life.

The biggest prize past the finish line

Trying to resist taking this one home!
There’s something about the gray ones…
OMG.

But I’m still happy that I did it. What really made everything worth it in the end were the cutest kittens past the finish line. Holding a kitten while soaring on an endorphin high put me on Cloud 9.

Post-marathon self-care

The Veggie Combo from East African Imports really hit the spot!
I deserved this, especially.

I ate a ton of vegan Ethiopian food when I got home, followed by dropping a Lush bath bomb into a tub of water. When you run more than what you’re supposed to, spoiling yourself is justified.

While the race could have had better signage, this is one I’ll do again in the future. It could have gone more smoothly, but that itself could be symbolic on how I handled my own “blerches” in my head. For now, I can rest on the fact that I ran 29 miles in one day.