Friday morning, I had the most AH MAZE ING massage! I went somewhere new because I had a gift card, and the masseuse must have had some experience with runners because she was able to work into my IT band and gluts like I’ve never had before. She also did some wonderful and much needed work to my low back. I planned the massage to fit in after my 20 miler and with some time before the big race. I’ve never done that before and it was well worth it! Although massages are supposed to be relaxing, this one had a few painful moments, and I loved every minute.
Afterwards, I didn’t have time to run Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
Oopps!
So I rescheduled this weekend’s 12 miler for Monday morning. Ahh!
Isn’t that a long start to a long day???
I packed up my water belt and hit the road just as the sun was rising. I had a little difficulty getting my Garmin going. Can I blame it…it is Monday morning?! However, it was super frustrating and I ended up starting my run before I loaded the satellites. Does this happen to anyone else? Any tips? It shouldn’t take 10 minutes…right?!
Since my watch wasn’t budging I decided I could stop and get a photo of the smoke coming off of the pond. I love this view on fall mornings when I drive past on my way to work before the morning’s get too dark, and I never get a picture.
My mom called around mile 6 and talked me through (on speaker phone) the next 3 miles. I’m not sure of my exact time, but somehow I completed all 12 miles this morning with just a few short minutes left to get ready for work. And then even more surprising, survived my work day : )
Total Weekly Mileage
(I counted today’s run even though it’s technically the next week)
27 miles
Countdown to Marathon
13 days!!!
So now that I am on Pinterest, I knew it would be the perfect place to search for something to do with my brown bananas. I have to say that I like searching Pinterest a little more than the internet when I know specifically what I’m looking for. I typed in ‘banana muffins’ and came up with hundreds of options.
And now I have a board full of fantastic looking banana muffin recipes. Including this one for Banana Maple Muffins!
I changed up the spices a bit (because I didn’t have any allspice in the pantry).
The cloves combined with the maple syrup sweetener make this muffin addictingly good!
Perhaps one of the best in town!
Although I may have to bake up some more Pinterest recipes just to confirm this!
Sounds like a fun challenge…huh?!
What is your favorite way to use Pinterest?
Banana Maple Muffins
Adapted from Emma’s Baking Addiction
Yield: 12 muffins
Ingredients
2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tbsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp cloves
1 cup mashed bananas (from about 2 large bananas)
3 Tbs vegetable oil
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a 12-tin muffin pan with paper liners or spray with baking spray. Set aside.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, vegetable oil, sugar, maple syrup, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and stir just until combined.
Scoop batter into prepared muffin tins, filling each cup about 2/3 of the way. Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until the tops of muffins bounce back when lightly touched and an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Luv What You Do 
Do you live in an area with high buildings? Like a condo or apt? Because that usually takes longer to get a satellite! I would put your watch outside for a few minutes before you are going to leave the house and it should catch one by the time you want to leave! 🙂
That’s a great idea! Nope I live in a townhouse so the fact that it is so inconsistent is crazy to me. I’ll try that this morning and let you know how it goes!
I like to just lose myself on pinterest-I can easily spend an hour looking at stuff and forget what I started with! I really like looking at the jewelery (a tiny hobby-trying to copy interesting pieces). Because pinterest can be such a time suck-I don’t do it very often. The muffins look amazing! I have 2 pie pumpking to bake tonight after work and am looking forward to the wonderful smell that the house will have and trying to decide (other than eating with cinnamon) what to do with them.
Oh yum! I love fresh pumpkin in my oatmeals and I think you can do a good smoothie with it too. I’m sure Pinterst would have some ideas. I avoided joining because I was afraid it would be a time suck but I definitely see the appeal!
Way to run on a Monday morning! I can’t believe how soon the marathon is now! How are your new shoes working?
I love that I don’t have to write out a recipe card for all recipes since lots are stored on Pinterest! However, I do write out my faves in case something happens to my account!
That is a smart way to back up. For years i have been printing and cutting recipes and storing them in binders. I may have to do the same with my faves too. I can’t believe it’s fall and the race is almost here either. It makes me think of my favorite poster I saw at the race two years ago….’this sounded like a good idea 6 months ago’ : )
GOOD LUCK on your marathon. You are going to NAIL it. Then come home and eat 30 of these muffins 😉
Great idea! I’m going to steal some extra bananas by the end of the race for tons of muffins and banana breads!
I love the idea of talking on the phone for 3 miles! HA! That also means you had a comfortable pace if you were able to chat! Good idea! AHH THE MARATHON IS SO CLOSE!
Oh great point! Yes I was pretty comfy and as I crossed one busy road, I got some funny looks! My mom laughs that I talk too much when I run with her but she loves all the info I share : )
So impressive that you ran 12 miles before work, WOW!
Thanks Emily! I”m still pretty surprised and impressed too! But also sore so I know that it happened : )
[…] And of course breakfast! Plus also, some brown bananas! One banana went into this recipe while the other two turned into these incredible muffins! […]
Stunning sunrise pics! No better way to star the day than that!
We peel ripe bananas and freeze them. They’re perfect for banana soft serve!
I love that…with some PB and dark choc chips. Yum!
One of the only benefit of these shorter days is the gorgeous sunrise and sunset views!
I am in awe of you for doing that run on a Monday morning. That is great determination! I have had the same issue with the GPS on a run in Ft. Lauderdale before. Right in front of our hotel must have been a dead spot. I didn’t realize it until after 4 minutes of running when it told me I had completed a mile! Yeah, I wish!! It ruined my whole run! The next day I walked a few yards away and ran in a different direction and didn’t have any issues. Extremely frustrating though!!
I totally agree because it is so inconsistent. This morning i set my watch outside and it was ready to go before I put it on the front mat. Crazy! I love/hate technology : )
[…] guessed it…crockpot. I was in a baking mood and had the bananas to use, so I made mini Banana Maple Muffins with […]