I always look forward to New Year's Day. It signifies an end to the craziness and laziness of the holiday season and the beginning of new possibilities. The year before us is a clean slate. The question is, how will we fill it?

Will we let the routine of life get in the way of accomplishing our dreams? Or will this be the year we step outside of our comfort zones and run those dreams down?

Two years ago I put "run a 50k" on my Decade To-Do List. As someone whot hates having open items on my list, I've decided that this is the year I'm going to mark that one as "completed". I know it's not going to be easy, especially after a December of limited running that makes 3 miles seem like a 50k right now, but when has "easy" ever been synonymous with "rewarding"?

There is something truly satisfying about working towards a goal and achieving milestones along the way. In fact, when you look back, it's the journey, with all the crazy, funny things that happen along the way, that is usually more fun and memorable than the finish. Though, it's the glory of the finish line that usually motivates me on those days when the journey seems a lot like work.

I invite you to join us this weekend as we formally celebrate beginning of our new journey in our expanded digs, as well as our 15th year of business. We are kicking the festivities off with a "Be the Movement" Fun Run/Walk open to all ages and abilities on Saturday at 9am.

The event is a tribute to all the local running groups (big and small - including "groups" of 1) and fitness clubs that help trample down the walls of a sedentary lifestyle, eradicate excuses and inspire people to move, live fit and realize their dreams. Joined together, we are unstoppable! 

Be Fit,

Steph

Icebreaker has arrived! This premium brand of apparel from New Zealand is made of luxurious pure merino wool sheared from sheep that live in the Southern Alps where winters are harsh and summer's scorching. Wool is an amazing performance fabric that keeps you warm in the cold, yet cool in the heat. It breathes well and eliminates odor (Icebreaker challenges you to make your clothes stink!). Best of all, it's completely natural, super-soft and never itchy.

Icebreaker numbers their fabric so you know how much wool (grams/square meter) the piece contains so you know which piece is best for particular weather conditions. The bigger the number, the warmer you'll be. Another perk of this fabulous clothing line, is that it is renewable, recyclable and biodegradable. You can even trace your product back to the farm and sheet where your wool came from, by simply typing your "Baacode" on Icebreaker's web site. www.icebreaker.com

Full- Zip Mid/Outter-Layer (Men & Women): Plush Perfection! These sharp looking tops are part of Icebreaker's super-insulating "RealFleece" line which will keep you warm in the coldest of cold. These tops/jackets feature interior zip guards, zippered front hand pockets and zippered stash sleeve pocket. The men's version has articulated raglan sleeves and the women's features a drop-tail hem and either a cute printed collar or a super-cute hood!

Half-Zip Tech Tops (Men & Women): These tops are some of Icebreaker's most popular garments. The tops made from Icebreaker's athletic 260 merino are built for movement. They feature zip-neck collars, thumb loops, dropped tails (so you can tuck them into your pants for added warmth) and gusseted sleeves for full range of motion. Wear it alone or as a layer when temperatures plummet. The men's top is particularly stylish with a charcoal and black design. Thumbs up!

Long Sleeve Crew (Men & Women): Schuyler Approved! These baselayers are high-performance and designed for speed! They are lightweight and super-breathable so they fight stink and dry quickly. The men's top feature eyelet panels in key heat zones to allow more air-flow and breathability in the places you need it most. Schuyler says, "This is my go-to base layer top since it pulls sweat off my skin and never feels too warm."

Oasis 200 Tops (Men & Women): Designed to be worn as a base layer or on its own, especially on a cold night. The V-neck for women and the crewneck for men make this striped shirt flattering and stylish. It's tough enough to take your workout sweat, but stylish enough to be worn as a casual shirt this winter.

BodyFit150 Tank: This feminine pink tank is the perfect sleeveless base layer. As part of the Nature line, this merino top is silky-soft. Most of the time I wear a sleeveless base layer for cold runs, and this tank is fantastic. It is super light, yet warming.

Flexi Chute (Men & Women): It's a gaiter. It's a scarf. It's a hat. This chute is the coolest, most versatile product around! Made from pure merino wool, it's warm too!

Bring in the new year with some green veggies! Clean eating and vegetables are more appealing after an extended period of snacking and sweets. Is 2012 the year you'll eat more vegetables or perhaps add new ones onto your plate?

Here is a recipe for beets and their tops. If beet greens are unavailable or are wilted, you can use spinach, watercress or arugula in its place

Beet Salad with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds Dressing:

  ●  3 Tablespoons olive oil

  ●  2 Tablespoons balsamic vinegar

  ●  ¾ teaspoon Dijon mustard

  ●  1 Tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil

  ●   Freshly ground pepper

Place all the dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well. Set aside.

Salad:

  ●  4 large beets with greens

  ●  ¼ cup pumpkin seeds

  ●  2 scallions, finely chopped

  ●  ¼ lb feta cheese

Remove greens from beets. Wash beets and place in a large pot covered with water. Bring to a boil. Lower the heat and simmer until the beets are tender (about an hour). Set aside to cool.

Toast pumpkin seeds by placing them in a dry skillet over medium heat. Keep moving the seeds around so they toast evenly and don't burn. When seeds begin to puff up and give off a nutty aroma they are ready. Set aside.

Chop up the beet greens. (In this recipe you will not use the beet stalks. You can save them for another recipe, like soup or a stir fry.)

Remove the beet skins with your fingers. Cut the beets into small cubes. Toss together the beets, greens, pumpkin seeds and scallions. Pour dressing over the salad and toss gently. Crumble feta on top. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Source: Lair, Cynthia Feeding the Whole Family

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