A cold, wet start for the Frankfort Trifecta racing series
So…tomorrow I go to run in Frankfort, Kentucky.
To run.
You know what that means?
It’s gotta rain. I have yet to run a race there where it didn’t rain on me or rain prior to or after a race. I. AM. NOT. JOKING.
So, it only seems fitting that the racing series (3 races) that Frankfort, Kentucky hosts each year kicks off with winter temperatures and rainy weather. Right?
GRRRR!
After enjoying a long run this morning in 60 degree temperatures and having the high hit around 71 degrees…the fact that it’s going to be low 30s tomorrow evening with lots of rain doesn’t make me eager to put on my running shoes and head to Frankfort to run. In fact, last year this race was run in beautiful weather. A little warm for my liking…but sunny. It stormed after I left…but at least the race saw nice weather.
Tomorrow is the first race of the series – The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K.
Short little race. But…a nice run, regardless. Runs in Frankfort are always nice. I always get rained on, but the city is gorgeous, the people are amazing, and I have to admit…I love running there. So…just under 2 miles tomorrow evening, at 6:30 p.m. Rain…is pretty much guaranteed. Cold weather…oh yeah…expect that too.
Me being unhappy…definitely expect that.
There is definitely something badass and enriching about running in the rain. But…I still have to leave Frankfort to come back to Louisville…and doing that soaking wet and cold doesn’t sound like fun. At all. And it’s not. Been there, done that…more times than I can count.
So, I’ll probably grouch around for much of tomorrow about the weather, try to figure out what to wear for this short little run, go and get my wintery, wet run of suck out of the way, then head back home.
And pray that the next two races see better temperatures and weather.
The Frankfort Trifecta series also includes the Pro.Active For Life 5K on May 17th and the Capital City Stampede 10K on June 15th. It makes the Run For The Gold the only race in this series to run in the same month as the Louisville Triple Crown of Running. And, thankfully, this year it isn’t running on the same day as one of the Louisville races. Last year, I ran the Rhodes City Run 10K in Louisville in the morning, then hopped over to Frankfort for the Run For The Gold 3K that evening. Crazy day, that one.
So…aside from miserable weather, all I want to do is run a good race and just have a good time. In the end, rain or shine, cold or heat, that’s what it’s all about. And, I do have a soft spot for this racing series. While some runners might shy away from the cold, wet run tomorrow…I will embrace it. Begrudgingly, of course…but I wouldn’t miss this for the world.
For the record…winter can go away now. I run better when I’m not cold or in layers.
Alright, Frankfort…bring on the rain…bring on the cold…bring on the run!
Cereal. It’s the most basic breakfast item out there. It’s also an easy go-to lunch, dinner, or midnight snack. Trust me…I have eaten it for every meal occasion out there. But…mostly for breakfast. Especially on race mornings or gym mornings. Why? Because it’s simple, easy, and not something that requires a lot of preparation or clean up.
I love the simplicity of a bowl of cereal. But cereal can either be good…or not so good. And sometimes…it can just be bad.
A couple days ago, I opened up a box of cereal I had never tried before. But I found it at my grocery store and decided to give it a go. After all, sometimes you need a different flavor, texture, brand, or just…something different to brighten up your mornings. So, instead of getting one of my Envirokidz cereals, I opted for Nature’s Path Gluten-Free Sunrise Crunchy Vanilla Cereal.
I would put this one in the second category. The Not So Good.
It’s not that this cereal is at all bad. In fact, nutritionally speaking, this is one of the better ones out there. Especially for the gluten-free crowd. Let’s take a look, shall we?
A serving of Nature’s Path Sunrise Crunchy Vanilla cereal is 2/3 cup. This serving will only set you back 110 calories (without milk…I use a splash of unsweetened almond milk, so I probably total 120 calories with mine). Not bad for a breakfast cereal. A serving only has 1 gram of fat, 6 grams of sugar, 3 grams of fiber, and 2 grams of protein. The Sunrise Crunchy Vanilla cereal also contains 12 grams of whole grains.
This cereal is chock-full of a variety of crunchy textures from flakes to puffs to crispies. So, at least it keeps the palate interested. But…stop right there. For me…depsite being lower in sugars for a breakfast cereal…I found this one WAY too sweet. Oh…wow…is it ever sweet!
Thank goodness I use unsweetened almond milk to top off my cereal because without it…this might be an big fail. It’s tolerable, flavor-wise…save for that vanilla sweetness that stings your taste buds and keeps on going from there. It just tastes off to me. Perhaps I’m used to milder flavors in the morning. This one definitely sucker-punches your taste buds with an abundance of vanilla flavor. It’s way too much for my liking and tends to take away from the otherwise pleasing textures of the cereal itself.
Oh, I was so disappointed with this one. As it isn’t offensive, I’m still eating it. Going to use it up and move on…never to purchase this one again. I think, in my mind, I was hoping it would be a lot like the Kay’s Naturals Gluten-Free cereal I tried last year. But this one was nowhere near that caliber of deliciousness. Like…completely went in the opposite direction.
While we all crave something sweet some mornings, this is just too much all at once. Thank you, Nature’s Path, for changing up the offerings for the gluten-free crowd…but this one just doesn’t suit me at all. Maybe take that vanilla sweetness down a notch. Then we’ll talk. Until then…back to Envirokidz.
Me sprinting to the finish line of The Leprechaun 2 Mile Run – Jeffersonville, Indiana
Race: The Leprechaun 2 Mile Run
Place: Jeffersonville, Indiana
Date: March 12, 2013
Time:14:42
Last year, this race was known as The Shamrock 2 Miler and if you will recall…it was a somewhat toasty 76 degrees at race time. I was reveling then in the beautiful evening. And cursing the heat after the race because…76 degrees is comfortable when you’re mulling about…but it warms up fast when you are running a race…especially a shorter one where you can give a little more sooner than you normally would.
This year, however, it was 53 degrees when I arrived, but we had serious winds going on. Over 10 mph gusts (The Weather Channel said winds were gusting near 20 mph) were sweeping down the streets of Jeffersonville, sending my ponytails fluttering in its wake and driving a lot of the runners inside the 300 Spring building where packet pick-up was happening. Honestly, last year after I got my packet, I headed outside…walked around…enjoyed the weather. This year…I parked myself in a chair inside until it was close enough to race time to stretch. I got to say “HI” to Dawn and Matthew who ventured by, so that was nice. I love seeing friendly and familiar faces at the runs. I even saw Derek from BlueMile as well. I was still sitting and not stretching or warming up.
I’m not good about stretching when it’s cold. Or when I’m cold. Or both. Seriously.
Believe me…I was not looking forward to stepping outside, but race organizers made the announcements that runners needed to start heading toward the starting line as the race would begin in 15 minutes. Honestly, I need to get over being the ‘cold runner’ because there were people out there in way less clothing than me looking very comfortable and doing a few sprints to warm up. No kidding. Me…I was walking around with my arms crossed and shivering in the wind. I am such a wimp when it’s even slightly chilly out. I mean, I run in the cold pretty much every early morning I get up to do my training runs…but there is something about racing in the cold that just discourages me. I can’t put my finger on it.
Anyway…Cathy and I ventured outside. It was sunny and windy and I knew the start line was further up from the finish chutes that runners return to (women on the left, men on the right). But no one else was venturing that way. So I started heading there…and stopped…because I was by myself. The race organizers, the Fast Freddie people, came to announce where the start line was and that runners and walkers should move that way, with runners, children, strollers and pets toward the back of the pack giving runners the space they needed at the front.
And now…the pilgrimage of runners began. Heck, I could have beat them all there. As it was, I was one of the first to arrive at the start anyway…just behind a couple of track teams. Track teams are often encouraged to come out for this race as it is fast and flat. But, dang, they always win everything. LOL! The high schoolers dominated this year, for sure…but I am getting ahead of myself. As I was one of the first to arrive, I had a spot right on the green tape they placed across the road to signify where the race started. I felt out of place standing up there at the front. I normally avoid being up there because I am certainly not one of the fastest runners in this area and I never believe I rightfully belong there. Everyone else was hanging back, and I was boxed in right there…so regardless of whether I felt like I should be up there or not…I was now up there.
I finally shucked the hoodie…even though I didn’t want to. The wind was strong and chilly…but this was a 2 mile run, so at least I wouldn’t be cold for too long. As it was, I had on my green compression socks, my capri running pants and an orange tech shirt. I knew, being a St. Patrick’s Day themed race, that most people would be in green. I was right…so I sort of stuck out more than others did. We were told the race would start in about 5 minutes, so a few track members sprinted out away from the line to keep those muscles loose and warm. Me…I don’t think I ever really loosened up my muscles or got warm. But, that’s typical for me. The sad thing was…it wasn’t really even that cold. The wind just made it feel colder.
With everyone back behind the starting line, the race organizer got on the bullhorn and said that the race would begin with a “Runners ready…and then the blow of the whistle.” He gave the verbal cue and then…whistle blow.
And the track team left me in the dust. Honestly. I was coming into this race having run twice the day before and hitting up the gym for a hard cardio and strength training routine. So, tired legs…you betcha. But, I never really let that get me down…or slow me down too much. Not when it comes to racing. My own training runs…sure…I’ll take it easy and slow and not worry so much on time. But racing…no. That competitive nature…not really with others, but with myself, kicks in. Especially on races I have run previously…because I have a time I want to beat.
I admit, I pushed hard on this one. It’s not a difficult course at all. Basically, you run down the street until you get to the little island of trees, run around that, head back. Last year, with the weather being warmer, people were out mowing their lawns…and it made for a difficult push. This year…no lawn mower fumes or grass clippings to contend with. Just run with all your heart, round that island of trees and come back home. Simple. I was pushing myself for this. Why? Because I needed a good, hard run this week and I had been taking it rather easy on my training runs. My legs were tired, but I wanted to really challenge them.
The run out felt like it was over in a flash. I saw runners heading back the other way as I was coming up to the bend in the road to take me toward the island of trees. But there it was…the almost halfway point. I circled the trees and passed the Mile 1 marker…ignoring the clock. And that was when all of the runners had the fun (insert sarcasm) of running straight into that crazy wind. I mean, this wind was strong. And while we might have had it to our backs for the first half, we were taking it straight on now.
Me after finishing The Leprechaun 2 Mile Run. The medal is actually in my hand…I hadn’t taken it out of the bag to wear yet.
The last mile of the race was a battle between gusts of wind and those little calm moments. They were few and far between, but you work with what Mother Nature hurls at you, right? I was recognizing buildings from the start of the race, so that meant I was close to the finish. Up ahead, I could see the little glow of the red clock as it counted up the minutes each racer was taking. I tried to push, but the wind was laughing at me. Mocking me. So, it was then that you just let up and have some fun with it. I pushed as much as I could and ducked to the left to finish in the proper chute, crossing at the exact same time as one of the male entrants. I was handed a card and my medal for being in the top 100.
Cathy hurried over to me to tell me I was just flying at the end so she didn’t get the finish line shot. BUMMER! I hate not having that shot…even if I am blurry. I just want to see me at that line. No such luck this year. But, I did have an official new 2 mile PR…of 14:42. Which…is good. Yes. It is good. But I can’t help but wonder…if we had less wind…what I could have been capable of.
We moved back inside the building to fill out my card with my official time and information. These would later be used for the door prizes…which we stuck around for this year, and of course my name wasn’t drawn. If I leave…it’s always picked, LOL! But it was fun. I was coveting the Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt…but had no money with me to buy one. But now I was craving. Damn late runs when I don’t get dessert. So, we stuck it out for the door prizes, then took leave. I said goodbye to Dawn and Matthew and congratulated them as well on great racing.
Official results of The Leprechaun 2 Mile Run is that I was finished in 14:42. I was 37/171 finishers. I was also 7/105 women to cross the finish line. That…is awesome. And I love doing this little run. It’s a nice, short race that allows you to really push without having to pace yourself. Can’t wait to do it again next year!
In addition to apples and oranges this week, my CSA bin decided to shake things up a little bit and offer some organic blueberries. I. LOVE. BLUEBERRIES. For real. Not only that, they are little antioxidant powerhouses on top of just being really, really delicious.
The thing is…the oranges are great for gym mornings…portable and easy to handle. The apples…perfect for home…where I can slice them, dice them, caramlized them, top them with nut butter…do whatever I want with them. So, I had everything covered. What to do with the blueberries?
Then I recalled a recipe that Runner’s World put up a long, long time ago. I had been meaning to make it…and I finally had a reason. The original recipe, from the Closet Cooking blog, uses red quinoa and pecans, but I had just regular quinoa in my pantry and walnuts. It’s quinoa. It’s nuts. It will work. And this is one easy breakfast to throw together. The original recipe says this serves one. But my roommate and I split it because it really, really makes a lot. So, I would say it makes 2 servings in all reality. Unless you are running a marathon. Then it may just serve one.
That being said…the normal human being would get two servings out of this.
Recipe: Quinoa Porridge with Blueberries and Walnuts
Quinoa Porridge with Blueberries and Walnuts
Servings: 2
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 15 minutes
Ingredients:
1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed
1-1/2 cup milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 dash cinnamon
1 tablespoon maple syrup
1/4 cup blueberries
1 tablespoon walnuts, toasted and roughly chopped
Directions:
Bring the quinoa, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and maple syrup to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer, covered until tender, about 15 minutes.
Mix in the blueberries, add more milk to taste and top with the pecans.
~*~*~
Super easy! Now, my roommate and I both agreed that the quinoa was a wee bit bland, so I gave each of our bowls a small sprinkling of sugar and a dash more of cinnamon to mix in. It made a world of difference. This was really filling and so full of good for you protein, antioxidants, and other such nutrients. It is definitely a powerhouse breakfast. I loved how the texture of the quinoa mixed so well with the sweet blueberries and the crunchy nuts. And toasting the nuts really does bring out more flavor, so do not skip that step. It’s important.
If you need a healthy, nutritious, hearty, warm breakfast…give this one a try.
KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa
Product: KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa – $4.99+
Here is a tale of my typical Saturday. After I run, either in a race or for training, my roommate and I usually get some food (breakfast/brunch) and then start our usual routine of grocery shopping. And, in case you were wondering, yes…this is pretty much an all-day adventure. With my dietary needs, there are certain stores in the area that carry certain staples or items that I need or use or just want. And I can’t get them at the usual suspects when it comes to grocery stores. So, it means a drive to Louisville to hit up the wide array of natural food stores and organic grocery stores that they have. Thank goodness for that.
Where am I going with this?
Well, I was lax this past week in my duties of creating a grocery list of items I needed as we ran low or out of them. I was just…busy…stressed…or whatever. That being the case, after I raced on Saturday morning and we grabbed brunch at a local restaurant, we headed out to accomplish our grocery shopping from the list I randomly threw together while we noshed…hoping that I didn’t leave anything out.
As we came back over to our side of the river, to finish up on products available everywhere but cheaper at certain grocery stores…there were still a number of things on the list. And as we stood in the refrigerated section with all the yogurt, and I piled our cart full of Chobani Greek Yogurt…it didn’t even dawn on me that…we used up the last of the granola last week. Well, that was until we ducked into the cereal aisle and that knowledge hit me like a ton of bricks. DUH!
Normally, I adorn the breakfast parfait I whip up (which consists of granola, vanilla Greek yogurt, and fresh fruit) with Love Grown Foods granola. But this particular grocery store didn’t have that brand and after being at a dozen other stores that day…I just wanted to finish up and go home. So, I scanned…just to see what they might have that is gluten-free. And what did I spy with my weary grocery shopping eyes?
KIND Healthy Grains.
GLUTEN-FREE! Yep. I am in love with most of the KIND bars I have been eating, so I figured…why not use this for my granola this time around. Branch out. Try something new. They had about five different flavors to choose from, so I called my roommate over to select one. I would have been happy with any of them. She, however, can be a bit pickier…so it’s best to let her choose at times. She scanned the flavor varieties for a moment and reached out to grab…the KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa.
Not the one I expected her to grab. So, that was a surprise.
KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa
Today was the big day. Instead of regular cereal, on non-gym days I have a bit more time in the kitchen, so I usually whip up a nice warm breakfast along with a breakfast fruit, yogurt and granola parfait. Today’s combination…caramelized apples with vanilla Greek yogurt and topped off with KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters. I’m a pro at the apples part, so I got those working in a pan on the stove. Then, I opened up the bag of Maple Walnut Clusters.
First appearances…awesome. Big clusters, little clusters, and individual oats are literally throughout this bag. It makes for great texture and great combination. With the variety of cluster sizes, it definitely makes scattering them throughout the parfait a little more exciting. I reached into the bag and snagged one of the bigger clusters…because if I was going to blog on these, I needed to taste them on their own. I popped it in my mouth and slowly began to chew.
Really, really good. I mean…wow. The maple flavor lends the right amount of sweetness an the walnuts gives it that balance that you look for in a granola. I thought the texture was awesome and it had a great crunch to it. And, this would definitely pair well with caramelized apples, for sure. So, I was pretty stoked about the new granola. I placed some in the bottom of the two bowls, topped it with some of the vanilla Greek yogurt, then hit it up with some apples…repeated the layers…then gave the top a light sprinkling of the Maple Walnut Clusters and called it a breakfast masterpiece.
And it was. I thought the texture and flavors meshed so well with the fruit and yogurt combination this morning. In fact, if anything, it added a hint of sweetness to the finished product. I kept going back for more. The clusters didn’t get soggy in the yogurt, even when I had to let mine sit for a moment while I finished preparing the quinoa breakfast porridge with blueberries and toasted walnuts. I had a lot working in the kitchen today…so my attention was divided between different dishes I was making…and making sure I was getting myself fed before heading out the door. So, KIND totally hit the nail on the head with its KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa. Seriously good eats.
As for any nutritional information, the KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa contains a heart-healthy blend of walnuts, chia, and whole grains amaranth, quinoa, oats, millet, and buckwheat. They are sweetened with a hint of maple syrup. And, as a bonus, these clusters contain 300 mg of Omega-3 fatty acids and provide 17 grams of whole grains per serving. And how much is a serving? 1/3 cup. Yep. That’s really good for a granola. Trust me!
This 1/3 cup of KIND Healthy Grains will also provide your body with 130 calories and 3.5 grams of fat . Not too shabby. Not at all. Even better, these clusters are not littered with excess sugars. In fact, the sugar content is quite low, standing at 6 grams per serving. LOVE that. A LOT! And, thanks to the addition of chia and quinoa, each serving provides 3 grams of protein. It’s nice to have a healthier granola option out on the market. Also, KIND Healthy Grains are all gluten-free, cholesterol free, low in sodium, and all natural.
What’s not to love about that?
I hope to try some more varieties of the KIND Healthy Grains line in the very near future. My breakfast parfaits depend on it!
Breakfast Parfait with caramelized apples, vanilla Greek yogurt, and KIND Healthy Grains Maple Walnut Clusters with Chia and Quinoa
Do you know what happens when I forget that I have a certain item from my CSA bin in my crisper drawer until the day the new bin is to arrive and I’m attempting to make room for it? I’ll tell you what happens…I start to panic and then think up, as quickly as possible, one of the most efficient ways to use up said ingredient.
Normally with snap peas, I would totally stir-fry them. But I had just polished off a stir-fry and wasn’t feeling it this week. So, instead, I decided to make a risotto.
I have more than a lot of rice in my pantry…and two large bags of Arborio rice. So…why not? Everything that got added to this risotto was something I already had in my pantry or fridge or freezer from previous bins or the current one…
And, since it’s been awhile since my last recipe post…I figured it was time to shake things up in the kitchen.
Heat about half the olive oil in a medium pan on medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms and the onions to the pan. Don’t stir for a moment. Add a pinch of salt and allow to cook. Give the onions and mushrooms a stir every now and again, allowing the onions to soften and the mushrooms to brown slightly. Remove the mushrooms and oions from the pan, reserving in a dish.
Add the remainder of the olive oil to the pan. Pour in 1 cup of rice. Stir for 3-4 minutes, coating the rice with oil. Add one cup of the warm veggie stock and stir until absorbed. Continue to add broth, one ladleful at a time. While the rice is cooking, put the broccoli, snap peas, and green peas into a bowl and cover with a plate. Place in the microwave for about 4-5 minutes and allow to steam and soften. Carefully remove.
Once risotto has achieved a soupy, creamy consistency and the rice is cooked, toss in the snap peas, green peas, broccoli, onions, mushrooms, scallions and Parmesan stir to incorporate throughout the rice. Season with salt and pepper and give it one final stir.
Serve immediately with a little more Parmesan if desired.
~*~*~
I am a huge fan of risottos and I loved the way this one came out. The vegetables were a nice touch, and each with different textures…it all just fit in with the starchiness of the Arborio rice. It was filling and highly nutritious being that much of the serving was vegetables as opposed to the rice. I really love a good veggie risotto and this was was rather good. Any vegetable can be substituted for your favorite veggie or what you have on hand, of course.
I’d make this again in a heartbeat though. Yes, risottos are tricky and do mean a lot of standing over the stove and stirring…but I always love the end product.
ENJOY!
Me just after crossing the finish line of the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic – Louisville, Kentucky
Race: Anthem 5K Fitness Classic
Place: Louisville, Kentucky
Date: March 9, 2013
Time:22:41
Make a note of that time! Please! Because I just ran my first sub-23 minute 5K. And that, my dearest friends, is something to celebrate!
This race was not easy. Well, technically, it was…for most runners. But most runners weren’t up past midnight the night before at a concert. Pink was in town and I wasn’t going to miss that show for anything. Knowing that I had the race that I needed to be up early for the following day meant, as I told my roommate, I was going to take this one easy. Run at a comfortable pace. Not worry about time.
And that was exactly what I did.
My alarm went off way too early for my liking on race morning. I mean, when you crawl into bed just before 1 a.m., the last thing you want to do is crawl back out of bed at 5 a.m. to get dressed and eat something before driving into Louisville to run. I mean, I love running more than a lot of things in this world…but I was not happy to be awake that early.
Oh…and my company decided they would sponsor me as a runner. Bought me some shiny new running clothes and everything with the company logo. I promised the company president that I would debut the uniform at the Anthem 5K. The problem was…while the afternoon was supposed to be in the 60s temperature-wise…the morning was in the low 30s. But, true to my word, I put on my compression socks, donned my new running skirt, and put on my new running t-shirt as well. I laced up, threw on some arm warmers, and chose a BondiBand for the occasion: “Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever.” It was painful being awake that early on so little sleep…which was why I chose it.
I managed to get just about everything done, including pulling my hair up and putting in my hair extensions, and then brewing some hot coffee, just before my roommate shambled out of bed about an hour later. Yeah…I was moving slowly. Hare I was not…totally tortoise.
Breakfast was simple. My cup of coffee and a little bit of water. And my gluten-free cereal with a bit of almond milk. I ate that slowly and carefully, not wanting to just cause an unhappy stomach by eating too quickly. I sipped on the coffee, got up, washed dishes and went to brush my teeth.
Getting my change of clothes together, I tossed it all in my run bag and threw on a pair of pants to wear over the running skirt so that my legs would be warm up until I really needed to stand at the start line. My roomie pinned on my bib and I threw on my jacket and grabbed some gloves. It was time to head out to the race.
Stepping outside I was already not fond of the fact that I was going to be running in a skirt and not something warmer…like my tights. But, it was time to suck it up (gluten-free) cupcake and be a real runner. LOL! Okay…real runners come in all sorts of weather tolerances…and I just happen to dislike being cold. I run in it…quite often…but it doesn’t mean I like to. And today…no layers. Last year, when I ran the Anthem 5K, I was in shorts and a long sleeve tech shirt with my running jacket over it. I know…shorts made no sense. I didn’t realize it was that cold. This year…no jacket. No long-sleeves. Arm warmers. I was all about the arm warmers.
Anyway, the drive to Louisville was easy. We took the exit to get to Slugger Field and paid $5.00 for a parking spot across the street. We threw a couple things in the trunk and then trudged into Slugger Field to find a spot out of the way and wait for the race to get close to starting. This was what we do with every race that starts there…because it is usually on colder mornings and it’s nice and warm inside. There were a lot of runners and walkers milling about, but I found a spot against the wall to stand and relax…and get some stretching in. I tried not to half-ass the stretching as I wasn’t out in the cold…and I knew with the cold air, getting those muscles warmed up was important. So, I did put some work into it.
I finally decided it was time to let the legs get a little acclimated to the air from the doors that were opening and closing that lead to the great outdoors. So, I shed the pants and handed them to Cathy…who tried to figure out what to do with them and then decided to use them as a scarf. Hey…it worked.
A little more stretching and we noticed more people were heading outside, so with about 15 minutes to start time…we headed that way too.
And ran into Kelsie! YAY! We gave hugs and stood around to chat for a little bit about the race and sunglasses and Disney. Kelsie is so awesome, so I was happy to have run into her in the sea of humanity over at Slugger Field. We wished each other luck, said to have fun, and went our separate ways.
There were a lot of people already lining up for the start of the race. There were even more people waiting in line at the port-a-potties…but that’s rather typical. Cathy and I started to maneuver through the crowd, working our way up to what might be a good place for me to stand while waiting on the official start of the race. I stopped a good distance back…but Cathy told me to move up more. LOL! I guess she was feeling more optimistic than I was. I ended up standing next to two older gentlemen who were some of the funniest people I met. They said that they were here to make the rest of the 8,998 runners look good. And they made jokes pretty much the entire time, save for when the National Anthem played, about 10 minutes before the official start.
I shed my fleece jacket…although not wanting to…and handed them over to Cathy. She gave me a hug and wished me luck. And then…she was gone. Swallowed up by the throng of people on the sidelines. We had discussed earlier that she would try to get a spot on the right hand side for the start and on the left for the finish…so I at least had an idea of where to look for her when I headed out and when I came in at the end.
I jogged in place, jumped up and down, did some butt kickers, and just did my best to keep those muscles in my legs loose and warmed up. They were not feeling the cold air that morning…at all.
Now, apparently we had a wheelchair racer, who didn’t get an official start…but they did send him off before everyone else started. And then…before I knew it…the countdown to the start of the 2013 Anthem 5K Fitness Classic was underway. A airhorn blast…and we were off.
It took me a minute or two to actually get up to the starting line. I started my Garmin as I crossed, noticed Cathy and gave a wave of a hand…and I was off.
Zen was the name of this race. Like I said…I was running (literally) on very little sleep. But, you know how it is with races…you just sort of get caught up in the moment. You get excited…because everyone is excited around you. There are people cheering on the sides, runners running at different paces, some talking, some blaring music in their ears, some just trying to keep up with the crowd.
And here I found myself zigging and zagging through all of these people for open spots. I was moving forward. Onward. Ever onward.
Before I knew it…Mile 1 reeled by. I was taking it easy…for me in a race. The clock on the mile marker told me that much at least. But I forgot that it took me about a minute or so to actually get to the start line and officially start. I don’t think of these things when I’m running. I used to focus on the music I listen to…but I’ve stopped wearing my iPod during races as well, finding that I actually do run better without music. Go figure.
One mile down…two more to go.
I was feeling good. I was still moving forward and even finding my little rabbits in the group of runners. My little game to get my feet moving. Find a runner…and tell myself I will pass them. Then make sure they don’t pass me again. This race was HUGE so there was no shortage of little rabbits for me to select. And I continued to push onward. I followed the crowd around corners, through the streets, and even up a tiny little hill, which didn’t even slow me down.
And soon…Mile 2 was behind me.
One more mile to go. And I could almost taste the finish. I’ve been working hard, while running, on strong finishes. No matter if it’s early in the morning or on my longer runs, I always try to finish strong, even on tired legs. Even on days I run twice. Even on the dreadmill. I do whatever I can to make sure my legs, when they are feeling the most tired, learn that on that last mile, I am going to work them harder than before. Because while I am not a sprinter and you won’t see me flailing towards the finish line, I love that rush when I push just a bit more than I thought I could and cross that finish line.
The last mile took us down Main Street and back towards Slugger Field. About halfway there I could hear the crowd…hear the music. I could taste that finish line. I headed under the overpass and I could see the finish line straight ahead. I pumped my feet hard, I pushed, and it came closer and closer…
And as I crossed it, I paused my Garmin…just feeling good about that run. Never once did I focus on time or pace. Not once did I even dwell on it. I ran this entire race by feel…and it felt amazing. It was only then that I glanced down at my Garmin and noted the time.
22:42 seconds. I double checked the miles…and my Garmin showed 3.14 miles. HOLY RUNNING COW!
Cathy was easy to spot with the sign. She was cheering and screaming at me. I hurried over to her…and showed her my Garmin. I was in shock. I felt awesome. I felt invincible. I struck my finisher’s pose right there in the finish line area. And then, we decided I should move through the crowd and get some water and a banana. Cathy would meet me in the recovery area.
Which she did…as I was staring at bananas, trying to find one with enough green to make me happy but not be under ripe. I am very picky about the state of ripeness of my bananas. Trust me. I asked Cathy for my phone, because I suddenly remembered that I signed up for runner tracking so I could get my official time just after finishing the race. I pulled up my text messages and there it was…
22:41. Twenty-two minutes and forty-one seconds.
Pardon the happy dance.
Me feeling strong and awesome after the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic
The Anthem 5K runs on a fast and relatively flat course. Despite the cold air and a tired body, I managed to pull off my fastest 5K time to date. And it was sub-23 minutes! I felt like I was on top of the world. A new PR…and I wasn’t even trying.
I don’t know if it’s because I love running so much and just forget, at times, that I am running. But I once again had some wings on my ankles Saturday morning and I pulled a race time off that I never would have dreamed was actually possible…for me.
So, the official results of the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic are that I finished in 22:41. Still shocked. I was 510/7800 finishers. WOOHOO! In addition, I was the 77/4,482 women finishers. And, I was 18/737 in my age division. I couldn’t be happier with these results. I couldn’t be prouder.
I guess, sometimes, the key to having your best run is not to focus at all on the act of running. Run with your heart. Because, if you truly love the sport…if you are doing it for selfless, not selfish reasons, then…you just sort of get caught up in it. And nothing else matters at that moment. You just feel it…with every stride, every breath, every bend in the road. The road truly does rise up to meet your feet. A simple push, some forward movement, and before you know it…it’s over. And it felt good. It felt really good.
This race should not have gone this well for me. But every moment of it…felt amazing.
There is something that is so awesome about your locally owned businesses. I love going to the local restaurants whenever possible and trying them out. Especially when they have something that a gluten-free vegetarian can eat. And, let me tell you, not everywhere is equipped to handle that kind of patron.
I, however, am that patron. And that is my life…from restaurant to restaurant.
I actually got quite upset with Taco Punk the day I was to go and eat there. My roomie decided that Taco Punk would be the place to eat before hitting up the Pink concert at the KFC Yum! Center that night. I mean…Taco…PUNK. Pink. Yeah…it just seemed to work. She had read in our local independent paper, LEO, about how Taco Punk had vegetarian/vegan options, as well as some gluten-free options as well. Knowing that I wouldn’t have to depend on a protein bar stashed in my purse was a nice plus.
HOWEVER…
This is where Taco Punk fell short. I pulled up the menu the morning of the show and browsed it, trying to get a feel for my options and what I might be able to try. Not sure what ingredients went into what, I went ahead and shot them an e-mail via the “CONTACT” button on their Web site. I explained my dietary needs and the reason I was contacting them…because with a concert to get to, I didn’t want to have to question everything and anyone at the counter prior to the show. Going in prepared puts me at ease and helps make everything run a bit more smoothly in the end.
But…no response ever came. No e-mail. Nothing. My inquiry was either ignored…or just not important enough to get back to me. Which, honestly, put a sour taste in my mouth when it came to dining there the night of the show. Especially since I was running in a road race the following morning and have to be more cautious than normal prior to races about what I eat. One smidgen of gluten and I could be down for the count, out of the race, and out the money I poured into the race, not to mention the time and energy I put into training for each one. So, yeah, I bitched rather loudly at my office about not hearing back. My roommate offered to go somewhere else to eat, but I told her I would just go ahead and now call Taco Punk and see if they could spare a moment to talk to me about my dietary needs.
So, I called. And a woman answered the phone and very gratiously explained that while the house-made tortillas are not gluten-free, they keep corn tortillas that are on hand. So any taco could be made with those. As for vegetarian, they offer a Seasonal Veggie Mole Taco and that the Black Beans they have are vegan. So…there were some options. With that taken care of, I hung up and prepared to head out of the office to get some dinner pre-concert.
Taco Punk is a local restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, that offers quick service gourmet tacos. Yep. They pride themselves on using only the freshest, highest quality ingredients in their food, to make the dining experience that much more enjoyable and offering only the best flavors. The tortillas, fillings, salsas and toppings are all made by hand, every day, in their kitchen. They believe in using locally raised, all natural meats, sustainably caught seafood, and local produce while it is in season. They also biomass and recycle everything they possibly can. Which, I find to be exceptionally awesome when all is said and done. And who doesn’t like a gourmet taco, right?
Upon entering Taco Punk, the first thing I noticed was the set-up. You are guided toward the back of the shop where a counter is set up, sort of like at Q’doba or Moe’s. It’s like…Subway done by way of tacos. I let Cathy order first since I was the oddball gluten-free vegetarian. Cathy placed her order…deciding to try out one of their Grilled Adobo Chicken Taco ($3.95) as well as Chorizo and Potato Taco ($3.25) with a side of chips and salsa. The woman at the counter shouted back to the kitchen for the chicken to be cooked up and she went to starting the rest of the order for Cathy, grabbing two of the housemade tortillas and prepping them for the fillings. Then she took my order.
I decided to go with the two suggestions that are available to me…Gluten-Free Seasonal Veggie Mole Taco ($3.95) and the Gluten-Free Black Beans and Cheese Taco ($3.25). I just got that with the chips and salsa as well. The woman called back for the veggie order and then asked another employee to change his gloves and start working on my order. She explained that they always did a glove change to cut down on cross-contamination, which I totally appreciated and told her so. He pulled out four of the corn tortillas and put them on the grill behind the counter to warm. It looked like a separate grill used only for the corn tortillas. That also put my mind at ease.
Cathy’s order was filled and she got us fountain drinks and went to find somewhere to sit. There were plenty of places to choose from as the restaurant wasn’t that busy. My order was filled next, and I had both tacos filled with their main ingredients, then topped off with cabbage, jalapenos, and pickled onions. It just sounded yummy. As I was using corn tortillas, they doubled them up so they would hold up to the fillings and proteins. My chips were added and I was directed over to the salsa bar to choose between their house made salsas. I’m a spicy salsa girl, but I decided to do a little of their Hot Salsa Roja, which is a hotter version of their tomato salsa; the Pineapple Habenero Salsa, a sweet and spicy combination, and of course, the Salsa Verde, a mix of tomatillos and green chilies.
I tried the salsas first, just in case I wanted to add them to my tacos. The first one I tried was the Salsa Verde. And I loved it. It was definitely mild, but I love the sweetness of salsa verdes anyway, and this one hit the mark. The next one I tried was the Pineapple Habenero…which I detested. It was far too sweet for my liking. So this one just got pushed off to the side. The Hot Salsa Roja was next. Very tomato-y in flavor, with an undertone of heat. It was good. It was. I just expected a little more heat with it. Needless to say, I used them only for tortilla chip dipping and nothing more.
As for the tacos…they were…pretty good.
The first one I decided to eat was the Black Beans and Cheese Taco. I picked it up, and the weight of the filling was already tearing through both of the corn tortillas that it was wrapped up in. And, this one wasn’t even that full. Ah well, that’s why we have forks. I took a bite…and loved the flavor of the black beans. The sofrito black beans that they use are flavored really well. This could be a really bland taco…but it wasn’t. The cheese was sort of a non-entity. I couldn’t even tell it was on there. And I was glad I went with the cabbage for some crunch and the pickled onions for some acidity…and the jalapenos for a little heat. I think this taco would have suffered without those additions. While the beans were cooked perfectly and seasoned well, nothing really was a flavor punch to the taste buds. And, I definitely have made versions of this in my home…and it tasted just as good as what I got here.
The Seasonal Veggie Mole taco, however, I was very excited about. Mostly because I have made veggie tacos at home, but never in a mole. And this mole was a pumpkin seed mole. So, it was even something a little offbeat and different. Loved that. This taco was packed full of sauteed seasonal veggies that were swimming in a pumpkin seed mole. It looked almost like a curry thrown into the corn tortillas. Smelled like that too. I was intrigued. It was definitely different…and in a good way. I loved how the vegetables were seasoned and how the mole tasted. But…it wasn’t as enticing as it sounded on the menu board. I appreciate the effort and the inventiveness of this taco…but it just wasn’t as amazing, to me, as it looked and sounded.
As for what Cathy thought of her tacos…she said they were…okey-dokey. Which, when I asked her to elaborate, she said that they were good…but nothing that just knocked her over and really made her want to go back in the near future for more.
And, unfortunately, I couldn’t agree more. I hate to say something like that about a local business. Espeically one that is having a bit of trouble lately and might be on the verge of closing. I love my local businesses, I do. But they have to impress me. They have to draw me back time and time again. Most of them succeed. Sometimes my roommate and I have to decide where to eat on Saturday and/or Sunday because there are so many local places that we enjoy going to and frequenting. This time, we decided to try somewhere new. And while I am happy for the experience and appreciate their high standards and food safety…I regret not being as amazed by their food as I was the care they put into making everything.
Would I go back to Taco Punk? Probably. But it wouldn’t be at the top of my list, nor would it be somewhere I actively sought out to return to when there are other places I know I enjoy more.
The food wasn’t bad, though. Don’t get me wrong. It just wasn’t something that stood up against other local restaurants and their flavors and food and impressed me. I was okay with what I was eating…but I felt, for the most part, I could just have easily made all of this in the comfort of my own kitchen and had it turn out the same…if not even better. It was a let down. And it’s too bad because I’ve been eagerly looking forward to dining at Taco Punk since I first learned of it. It took me awhile to get there. And now…it might take awhile to get me back.
If you love tacos and varieties of tacos that you normally can’t get anywhere…I encourage you to at least go in and try some of the offerings from Taco Punk. They are at least worth a stop and a sample. And, perhaps I was just there on an off day.
But, if it is any consolation…I still haven’t received a response to my e-mail…and it is two days past the day I sent it now. And it bothers me, more than a little, that an inquiry about ingredients and their food, went unanswered.
Taco Punk’s Black Beans & Cheese Taco and Seasonal Veggie Mole Taco with a side of chips and three house made salsas
While I have enjoyed all the previous three flavors in the Über line-up of sweet and salty fruit and nut bars, nothing has come close to matching the fantastic taste and flavor of your Bananas Foster version. I took one bite and died and went to heaven. This bar is so reminiscent of a delicious piece of banana bread that I hoovered the rest of it…savoring it as much as I could manage, but just wanting to eat more and more and more. It’s a good thing I left the box at home because I’d be tempted to eat all five bars. Calories be damned.
Seriously…where have you been all my life? And please…don’t ever leave me.
Love always,
Me
Lärabar Über Bananas Foster Snack Bar
OH. MY. GOD. IT. IS. SO. GOOD.
Okay…now that I have that out of my system, let me get down to the basics of this blog. A couple months ago, my local grocery store had every flavor of Lärabar Über on Manager’s Special. I could have grabbed so many more boxes than I did…and wish now that I had. But, being that, at the time, I was overladen with snacks and protein bars, I chose just to get one of each. After all, I had yet to try the Über line from Lärabar and wasn’t sure if I would like them or not. I actually had enjoyed, immensely, the previous three flavors: Cherry Cobbler, Apple Turnover, and the Roasted Nut Roll. The last in the line-up to near the expiration date was the box of Banana Foster bars.
Now…I love bananas because, well, I love them and I’m a runner…so therefore…I love them. Packing that flavor into an über delicious protein bar…SMART!! No…really. Because none of the other bars, for me, come close to rivaling this one in flavor. Immediately I know…banana. And, even better, the inclusion of the nuts and seasoning make it taste like an amazing slice of the best banana bread you have ever eaten. It was food porn in the best possible way. Snack time this coming week is going to be amazing.
So…here’s the basics…
The Lärabar Über Bananas Foster bar is completley gluten-free, non-GMO, and kosher. Awesome. But let’s not stop there. It is made up of a variety of fruit and nuts. So, if you have nut allergies, this bar may not be the best choice. If you, however, do not have an allergy to nuts…this bar is awesome. The Bananas Foster bar contains simple ingredients that you will immediatley recognize. These are walnuts, almonds, brown rice syrup, dates, dried bananas, pecans, honey sea salt, and cinnamon. That’s it. No funky chemicals and no added preservatives. Nothing that you have to google to know what it is…and no ingredients you can’t pronounce. 100% naturally good and good for you.
As for the nutrition facts, a serving size is 1 bar. This bar packs the most calories of all 4 varieties, clocking in at 230 calories per bar. Also, on a sad realization…this bar also packs 17 grams worth of fat. YIKES!! While I do love my desserts, I try to keep things lower on the fat scale when it comes to snacks. This bar is low in sodium (140 mg), lower(er) on the sugar scale (8 grams), and packs 4 grams of protein per bar, thanks to the inclusion of all those nut varieties.
So, while high in calories and high in fat (but, as most of this fat comes from nuts, it is at least the healthy fat), it actually is rather nutritious. And I can see this being something I could eat prior to a shorter race (I usually split them with my roommate anyway).
What I loved so much about this bar is that it actually tastes like a treat. It’s like eating a dessert. And, I do suppose some could argue that at that calorie count, it pretty much is a dessert. But imagine the amount of sugar you are taking out, as well as all the butter and cream. Like I said…healthy fats here. It’s decadent without being unhealthy or rich. It’s just one amazing bite after the next. It’s a struggle to NOT devour it without savoring the flavor. It really is that good. The Web site describes them as ‘bananamzaing.’ No kidding. This bar is bananas! And bananas…is good.
Product: Dr. Lucy’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies – $5.59+
So, if you recall, the other day I did a not-so-favorable review on Dr. Lucy’s Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies. I called them salty…and definitely found them to be more savory than sweet. I wasn’t impressed. In fact, my roommate and I figured that the only way we could get rid of that “beany, salty” flavor was to slap a piece of chocolate in between two cookies, add a little Marshmallow Fluff, toast it with the kitchen torch, and eat it like you would a S’more.
Don’t judge. You do what you can when you refuse to waste money and throw something away. The sugar cookies…were just not my thing.
As you can imagine, tonight when I was to bust open the remaining box of Dr. Lucy’s cookies that I got on sale at the store, I wasn’t feeling too good about it. At least I knew the texture to expect. Crunchy, crispy is how these cookies are described on the Web site and there is no better description for them. These cookies are about the size of a Chips Ahoy cookie. So, they are what I would consider a normal size cookie.
I’ll start with the background and work my way into what I made of this new flavor.
First of all, a serving of Dr. Lucy’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies is 3 cookies. Those three cookies will only set you back 130 calories and 5 grams of fat. A serving also contains 12 grams of sugar and 2 grams of protein. Not bad for three cookies, eh? Aside from that, the flour mix that is used is one that is composed of bean flours. I concluded that the addition of garbanzo and fava flours is what gave the sugar cookies that odd taste after taking a bite. I was nervous, then, that these would have the same problem.
Also of note, these cookies are vegan, gluten-free, and contain no peanuts, tree nuts, milk or eggs.
So, the moment of
truth arrived. Dessert time. And I popped these cookies out of the box and handed three to my roommate before heading off to retrieve my own. She took the first bite and I had to inquire if it was any good. She said that it tasted like the sugar cookies, but with chocolate. It was pretty good.
Oh, I dread those words coming from her. Sometimes ‘pretty good’ means it’s okay…sometimes it means ‘I don’t like it, but I’m not going to say that to you.’ And deciding what she means when she says something is ‘pretty good’ is nigh on impossible. I released a sigh and made a comment about how I was hoping it would taste better than the sugar cookies. I picked up my cookies and went to settle in and attempt to enjoy my dessert.
One bite…and I knew that by ‘pretty good’ she meant that these cookies were…okay. In fact…they were rather close to actually being just good. I mean, I’m not big on crunchy cookies, but this one is actually suited to it. I actually found that the vegan chocolate chips added a nice hint of sweetness to the cookie base, which is exactly what the sugar cookies were lacking, and why my roomie and I doctored ours up with things to make them sweeter and take away from that odd taste that the sugar cookies had. With the chocolate chip cookies…I don’t get that at all. Thank goodness for chocolate! It saved the day once more…and made me feel a lot better about my dessert.
Apparently, the Dr. Lucy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies have taken top honors when compared to major gluten-free brands in an independent taste test. And a lot of that sweetness comes from their use of dark chocolate chips. I love, love, LOVE dark chocolate.
So, I guess I was going into this tasting with the wrong mindset, because after one bite, I was actually quite satisfied with these chocolate chip cookies. Dr. Lucy’s might have missed the mark with their sugar cookies, but the gluten-free chocolate chip ones are actually…pretty good. And that’s definitely a step in the right direction.
The Celiathlete 