You know it’s gonna be a rough run when…

your sunglasses are broken…

and this happens to your socks…

on both feet!  Please excuse the bad socks (they were the last pair in the drawer) and my narly-in-desperate-need-of-a-pedicure-but-will-have-to-wait-til-spring feet  :0

I was psyched to run outside because it was sunny and 40 degrees, but on the trail there were quite a few icy patches that I had to jump over.  Then, I got to a stretch that was just complete ice and I was nervous about falling on my arse.  I tried to run on the grass a little, but that was really muddy.  Huff.  So, I walked in those spots until I got to the cleared trail.  That was sucky.  I don’t like having to stop during a run.  I lose my momentum in a nanosecond and it disturbs the flow of the run for me.

At the start of mile 2, the socks bunched.  I had already stopped to walk through the ice patch, so I really didn’t want to stop to unbunch the socks!  I was getting peeved and decided that I would just finish up this mile and be done with it.  I wasn’t enjoying this run at all.  But, at the end of the second mile, I said to myself, “These little frigger socks are not gonna get me!”  So, I trudged on.  Lumpy socks, icy trail and all!  I was pretty thrilled that it was all over when I finished the 3 miles

I went straight home for a well deserved breakfast!  I baked up some Pumpkin Oat Bran Muffins last night and was looking forward to having one this morning…

PUMPKIN OAT BRAN MUFFINS
(adapted from Quaker Oat Bran Cereal box)

• 2 cups oat bran
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
• 2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree
• 2 egg whites, beaten slightly
• 1 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1 tbsp. canola oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/4 cup Special K granola or other lowfat granola (optional)

Combine dry ingredients and mix well.  Add combined pumpkin, egg, milk, honey, oil and vanilla.  Stir until incorporated.

Spray a 12 cup muffin tin with cooking spray.  Fill muffin cups about 3/4 full.  Sprinkle each with granola, if using.  Bake in a 425 degree oven for 15 minutes.

Nutritional info per muffin (including granola topping):  107 calories, 2.4 grams fat and 2.8 grams fiber. 
2 POINTS per muffin. 
(nutritional info calculated using www.calorieking.com)

Of course, I had to kick it up a notch with some PB2…

and a cup of joe with half and half…

The muffins are nice!  Hearty, but with a light and moist texture.  The pumpkin flavor was very mild.  Next time, I might pump up the spice a bit!

I ran some errands and came back for a low-key leftover lunch.  I heated up the remaining serving of Progresso Chicken and Barley soup with a handful of shredded baby spinach.  The result was delicious and the addition of the fresh spinach made it taste more like homemade…

Along with that, I heated up the last of my Taco Bean and Cheese Burger  and served it on an Arnold Sandwich Thin with more baby spinach and salsa…

Later in the afternoon, I snacked on a Chobani Pomegranate yogurt topped with a funky fruit bar that I picked up at Target…

It was like a plump fruit leather – kinda chewy and rubbery.

Dinner was BBQ Meatloaf (using 96% lean ground beef) with sides of broccoli rabe and roasted butternut squash…

I heart butternut!

GTG – Day 7:  Total – 21 POINTS

Do you walk during a run?  Do you feel it disturbs the flow of your run?

I’ll be back later with the winner of the Souper Giveaway!

Have a great day, everyone!