These guys aren't aliens or a different sub-species...they're normal, regular human beings...who can run really fast.
We made the trek to Beantown this past weekend to watch one of my brothers-in-law make his Boston Marathon debut (read Eric's blog here). Sidenote: what I think I love most about my husband's family is the complete unwavering support they have for every single family member - even though it was during a "work day", there were 14 of us and 2 other "Loudmouths" who went up on Sunday, slept over and chased him throughout the course on Monday. Some of us were merely adrenaline inducers on the sidelines, others (those who can actually keep up with Eric) supported him by running some mileage on the course with him. **Although, I have to say I think my own adrenaline was at an all time high when it was just my sister-in-law, myself and my 3 kids in a big boat of a car...AND we had to "pick up" my husband at mile 22...but the directions that were left for us included closed roads (My poor sister-in-law has seen me at my worst...I hope she's not too traumatized). Thank God brother-in-law #3 went to Boston College not too long ago and could "talk us down"...(anyone who knows me knows that I was born with a defunct internal compass and am about as useless as matches on the moon when it comes to navigating).
Anyway, being out on the course watching the participants, I couldn't help myself but think how ridiculously cool it was to have some of these runners going out of their way to give my four year old son a hi-five on the sidelines and grinning all the while. Obviously we're not talking about the front runners, but they were still moving incredibly fast nonetheless. I love that my kids have been (and will continue to be) exposed to people who push themselves physically and accomplish amazing things. I'd love for them to grow up thinking "why not", rather than "no way" - and see a challenge as something to take on, rather than shy away from. So if you're feeling pumped and are wondering what to eat the night before a big race, here's a great recipe:
Fresh Tomato, Basil, and Garlic Sauce over Angel Hair Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ripe tomatoes
- 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 red onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 oregano sprig
- Pinch chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 pound dried angel hair pasta
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for garnish
- 1/4 cup chiffonade basil, plus whole sprigs for garnish
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and prepare an ice water bath. Cut a small "x" on the bottom of each tomato. In batches, place the tomatoes in the boiling water and blanch them for about 30 seconds to 1 minute, or until the skins are easy to peel away. Remove and immediately plunge into the ice bath. Peel the tomatoes and halve horizontally. Squeeze out the seeds, using your fingers to get them all. Roughly chop the peeled and seeded tomatoes. Set aside. (You can also use whole peeled canned tomatoes. Simply drain them, seed, and roughly chop).
Heat a large saute pan over medium high heat. Add the olive oil and heat. When the oil is hot, add the onions and garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Add the thyme leaves, oregano sprig, and chili flakes and saute until the garlic begins to turn golden brown. Add the tomatoes and the sugar and stir well. Lower the heat and cook slowly until the mixture is fairly dry, about 15 minutes.
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