Spaghetti Squash, My Favorite Side Dish!

I am pretty much obsessed with this yellow squash!

I cannot even remember the last time I used gluten free pasta because I have been using spaghetti squash for so long now!

It just is quick, easy and versatile. I take a spaghetti squash, and microwave it for a few minutes whole. This softens the skin enough to cut it. I slice it in half and place it face down on a baking sheet. I bake it for 30-45 minutes depending on the size of the squash. The trick is to not over cook it a fork should go through fairly easy.

Once it is done I scoop out the seeds and then am left with squash that is the stringy texture of spaghetti! I love it.

I use it in place of pasta. I am big fan of sauteing some chicken or ground turkey with vegetables and stewed tomatoes and tossing it over the squash. For me, it is simple and quick, I cook the squash on Sundays and it keeps well all week long in the fridge.

This is chicken breast cooked with some spinach, crushed tomatoes and a teaspoon of olive oil. I tossed that over some squash last night.

What is really amazing?

1 cup of cooked squash has 42 calories and 1 gram of protein no fat and 10g of carbs!
1 cup of cooked pasta? has 220 calories and 43 grams of carbs!!!!

Clearly the better option is the squash!

My All time favorite recipe with the Spaghetti Squash is to make the Italian Pie with it!

What do you swap out for pasta?

The End of the Training Cycle and My Fall Plans!

This has been quite a training cycle.

Last fall I trained for my first marathon. It was epic. I loved it.

This fall I have trained for my first 50 mile race and I am sneaking 2 fall marathons in the mix. It has been dare I say, fun, frustrating, hard, amazing, epic, tiring..... All of the above?!?

Training for an ultra marathon over the 50k distance has had me doing back to back weekend runs, those have taught me what it feels like to run on tired achy legs. It has brought me to doing more hill repeats and less speed work. This has made me stronger and able to endure longer.

Training for the ultra has made me look at the marathon distance and make it seem like a training run. Did I ever imagine I would feel that way about running 26.2 miles? Nope. What is even crazier? During this cycle I have run 31 miles as long training runs twice! I never thought 31 miles would be a training run, a long run I knock out on the weekend.

But I know I am the end of the cycle because I feel a little run down. I feel a little sick. But I am ok. I am used to that feeling. Like everything is just done, and I am ready to complete my races. 

This weekend I ran only 10 speedy miles on Sunday. I am hoping to run Baystate Marathon fast on Sunday and this will require me to taper this week.

Tapering for me has always been a source of frustration. I love running, it keeps me sane in my crazy world. I look forward to my long runs. But I also have learned that rest does a body good. Rest allows the body to recover and prepare for the next challenge.

I know I have neared the end of a training cycle and I am very excited. My fall plans are:

Baystate Marathon on October 21
Stonecat 50 Miler on November 3
Philadelphia Marathon on November 18

I am looking forward to all the races. It gives me a chance to celebrate all of my hard work throughout the season!!!!

Let me know if you are going to be at any of those races too so I can say hi :)