Wow…100 posts in my running blog. What a milestone. When I set out to write about my race experiences, my training, my injuries, my day-to-day struggles with running…I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. But, the fact is, I’ve quite enjoyed this journey. Since starting this blog, I have accomplished so much in my running. With 100 posts behind me…I am eagerly anticipating the rest of this year and seeing where my running shoes, my legs, and my spirit take me.
That being said…tonight after work, I am hopping a flight out of town (just as Kentucky Derby weekend kicks off, so this was amazing timing!) and heading up to Minneapolis, Minnesota. Why? Well…to visit my grandpa (yes…the man, the myth, the legend…my running hero and inspiration), my aunt, my cousins, and one of my besties (Heather!!), of course. But another reason is…to run in a half marathon that my grandpa has run.
That half marathon…
The Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon.
Grandpa and me in our race shirts in summer 2011 – his is a Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon shirt.
He talked a lot about this race when I was visiting him for his 90th birthday almost two years ago. In fact, he suggested we take pictures in race shirts, so I grabbed the one I had from my furthest distance race at that time (it was a 5 miler…I was recovering from injury at the time and heading into my first half marathon – Chicago – that September) and he grabbed his Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon race shirt. I don’t remember what year he ran it…but look for yourself at the picture. It makes me smile…just thinking that I’m actually following in his footsteps on this one. He talked a lot about this race. Raved about it…so I knew…I knew it had to be one of the ones I ran in Minnesota.
Of course, nothing is easy when it comes to traveling for a race. On May 1, 2013, Minnesota had snow dumped on it. Like…massive amounts of snow. SNOW! It’s MAY! So, with no clue how to even dress for this race I’m packing a little of everything and will make a game time decision on the official race attire.
As for now, I’m eagerly anticipating my packet pick-up tomorrow morning, seeing my grandpa, perhaps talking a little with him about the race. I looked at the elevation chart and their seems to be quite a few hills. That’s okay…I’m learning to embrace the torture of hills. My focus, of course, is on finishing. As it should be.
So…while most eyes in my town will be glued to the track at Churchill Downs, my feet are going to be carrying me from Wayzata, Minnesota down to Excelsior, Minnesota. I couldn’t be happier about it. I’m really looking forward to having a great time in Minnesota…with family…with friends…and with the runners who are taking on the Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon with me on Sunday.
I’m leaving tomorrow for a trip. Immediately following work. Which means, tonight will consist of me doing laundry, packing, and generally running around like a stressed out lunatic until I feel I have everything in order and where it needs to be.
Welcome to my life.
That being said, I needed dinner to be of the hassle-free variety this evening. And, thankfully, my previous journey to Minnesota (that’s where I’m heading) led me to the discovery of these little boxes of protein-packed, quinoa goodness. Yep…it was another meal-out-of-a-box night for my apartment, but, as long as the food that comes out of the box is good…it’s not a big deal.
This meal-in-a-box just happened to be another Easy Quinoa meal by Nature’s Earthly Choice. For those of you wondering…yes…I ate one last night too. But, when sell by dates approach and you are going insane trying to prepare for a trip…you do what you can with what you have. And I happen to have some stress-free stuff in my pantry. Every chef needs those from time-to-time…trust me.
Tonight’s flavor…Sundried Tomato Florentine. Sound intriguing? It should. Unlike the Garden Vegetable version that I had last night, I felt that the Sundried Tomato Florentine had a lot more flavor. It was definitely not as bland as I found the previous one. Thank goodness.
Nature’s Earthly Choice Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa is a good, healthy choice for a dinner. The ingredients are simple, yet packed with flavor, including quinoa (of course), dehydrated sundried tomatoes, potato starch, onion powder, dry milk, salt, yeast extract, garlic powder, spinach, paprika, and spices. Nothing that screams chemical. Nothing that is impossible to pronounce or recognize without looking it up online. Simple, natural ingredients. You have to love that. And without all the preservatives and chemicals, what you get in the end is an amazing clean flavor.
Quinoa and seasoning packets for Nature’s Earthly Choice Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa
I thoroughly enjoyed the rich tomato flavor that came with the small dehydrated sundried tomatoes. It really brightened up the quinoa. I told my roommate she’d probably really love it if I dropped pearls of fresh mozzarella cheese throughout it. She totally agreed. But, on its own, the Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa really, really tasted good. It had bolder flavors, and definitely felt like the seasoning was spot-on for this one.
Nutritionally speaking, not bad either. My roommate and I split the box as we were eating it as our entree (with a side of steamed broccoli with some lemon pepper dusted on top). Even doing that, our calorie total was under 270 calories each. How about that?! However, if you are going to go by the serving size, you get about 3.5 servings per box. Each serving (about a cup, cooked) will set you back 150 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. Awesome, yes? You get 3 grams of fiber and 6 grams of protein in each serving as well. This is a low sodium food, a serving only containing 230 mg. The Nature’s Earthly Choice Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa is cholesterol free, trans fat free, and saturated fat free. Loving it?
You should be. And, if you like a light, but rich tomato flavor…then this is a great way to get it without slaving over a stove. Two cups of water, the pouch of quinoa, then the seasoning. Boil, let it simmer until the water is absorbed. Serve. It took about 20 minutes on my stove top and while it was cooking, I was able to get a few other things done that needed to be done. On a night where multitasking is key…that was helpful.
I found that I truly enjoyed each spoonful of the Nature’s Earthly Choice Sundried Tomato Florentine Easy Quinoa. It wasn’t heavy…but it was filling. The tomato flavor complimented all the other spices and vegetables, without overpowering, but was definitely the star of the boxed meal itself. I devoured it in record time, partly because I was hungry, and partly because it tasted really, really good.
Find these boxed delights at your grocery store because they are certainly worth it. Especially on those nights where you’d rather do anything else than spend the night in the kitchen preparing dinner. Easy, fast, and delicious. Perfection.
I’m a sucker for quinoa. There…I said it. It’s not only a fantastic whole grain, but it is packed with protein that this runner girl needs. For real. But…sometimes I don’t feel like doing all the seasoning, flavoring, and pairing on my own. Not that it’s difficult…I just sometimes don’t want to do it.
Thankfully, quinoa is becoming one of those products that is exploding on the market place. While in Minnesota last year for a race, I was browsing the gluten-free selections at the local Cub Foods near my grandpa’s home. Lo and behold, I discovered four different flavors of this easy quinoa in a box-type meal. Sort of like Rice-A-Roni…but made with quinoa and better ingredients (you know…like real, recognizable ingredients and no partially hydrogenated oils…and no gluten…no gluten!).
I, honestly, have been wanting to crack these boxes open for awhile now, but I’ve got a bit of a backlog in my gluten-free pantry. But…tonight, that all changed. My original plan for tonight was going to be tofu nuggets with carrot fries. The problem was…my tofu was no longer good. Dang it. So, I had to go to Plan B. I had no Plan B. So it was either thaw some gluten-free bread and make a vegan grilled cheese sandwich, or…dig around a little.
I knew these were up on a shelf and coming close to their sell by date. That being said…I now had a new plan for dinner. Plan B was now cooking up a box of the Nature’s Earthly Choice Garden Vegetable Easy Quinoa.
Easy…is putting it mildly. This is basically a meal that prepares itself. Honestly.
Quinoa and seasoning packets for Nature’s Earthly Choice Garden Vegetable Easy Quinoa
Took cook on the stove top, simply put 2 cups of water and the quinoa from the pouch inside the bag into a medium saucepan. Bring the contents to a vigorous boil and then reduce the heat to a simmer. Open the other pouch, which contains the seasoning mix, and add it to the water. Stir well. Continue to let it cook until the quinoa is tender but still chewy, and white spiral-like threads appear around each grain. Usually this is when the water is completely absorbed. This took about 15-20 minutes for me. Remove the pan from the heat and fluff the quinoa with a fork. Good to serve.
I made a quick honey-chili dipping sauce for my carrot fries that I roasted in the oven, and dished up this quinoa dish for myself and my roomie to enjoy for dinner. It’s a good thing she’s used to me doing stuff like this. Needless to say…we settled in to dinner and tucked our spoons into our bowls for tasting purposes.
All around, I’d say that Nature’s Earthly Choice does a decent job with this quinoa blend. You get chunks of vegetables (which were dehydrated in the seasoning pouch and include sun-dried tomatoes, carrots, celery, spinach, dehydrated bell pepper) throughout the quinoa itself, giving it a little color and a bit more depth of flavor. Which…it needs. While this was certainly a tasty dish, I found it to be a little on the bland side. The fact that this is a low sodium choice is a good thing, but a little touch of salt would have probably benefited this flavor immensely.
That being said, it was tasty and very filling.
My roommate and I split the box in half and made a meal of it. Even doing that, the calorie count for each of us was still under 300 calories.
A serving size of Nature’s Earthly Choice Garden Vegetable Easy Quinoa is about a cup, cooked. This will set you back only 150 calories and 2.5 grams of fat. There are only 260 mg of sodium in a serving. And with that, you also get 3 grams of fiber, only 3 grams of sugar, and a whopping 6 grams of protein. Awesome. This product is completely gluten-free.
So, I wasn’t as blown away by it as I anticipated, but it was still really good. And, for people who are minding what they eat, or trying to add less sodium to their dishes, this is a great way to do it. Plus you get additional nutritional goodness in the process. I’d buy it again, sure…but I might toss some tofu or a sauce with it, just to liven it up a little.
But…on the whole…not a bad product at all. Quinoa is one of my favorite grains for a reason. It’s nice to change it up from rice every now and again, yes? Why not do it with the nutritional powerhouse that is quinoa. And, make it easy on yourself…let Nature’s Earthly Choice dress it up and flavor it for you. Just cook and serve. Easy…and yummy.
Ah…Dayton, Ohio. I have so many things to thank you for. First and foremost…Sinfully Gluten Free. I can’t go to Dayton and not stop in there for a treat, or lunch, or dinner. It is one of my favorite things in your city.
BUT…that’s not all. I also feel the need to thank you for this little grocery store chain called Dorothy Lane Market. If you are unfamiliar with Dorothy Lane Market, you are not alone. The only reason I took note was that, while driving through Dayton for a chocolate festival, we saw a few of them along the way. My friend Jenn and I were intrigued, and as lunch was not yet being served at Sinfully Gluten Free, we thought to drop in and check it out.
Dorothy Lane Market is a grocery store that sort of specializes in hard-to-find items and products. NICE!! I mean, it has your general produce and brands, but it had a lot of things I had never seen before. Evidence by the fact that I walked out of there with quite a few gluten-free goodies that were not available in my area. So much for just checking it out, right?
One very interesting fact was that they had this amazing gluten-free aisle. And while I was perusing it, an employee came over to talk about the gluten-free items and the fact that a gluten-free tasting fair was coming up. I would have loved to come back for it, but it happened on the weekend I was going to be running in Hershey, Pennsylvania. No good. But I was totally interested in some of the products she was highlighting.
Out in the asile, there was a tray of sample gluten-free bread. The one that happened to be cut up was the Cranberry Walnut Bread from Eban Bakery. She mentioned that Dorothy Lane Market often sells products from local businesses, and they had items from Sinfully Gluten Free as well as Tina’s Sweet Treats, among others. I was overjoyed with the fresh baked items from local bakeries…and ended up picking up a few items. Nothing from Sinfully Gluten Free, as I was going to do that when I got to the bakery itself. But, some Sub Rolls from Tina’s Sweet Treats and a loaf of the bread I sampled, Eban Bakery Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Bread, did make the cut.
With that purchase made, we headed out to eat at Sinfully Gluten Free, enjoy the chocolate festival, and then drive back to Columbus, Ohio.
When it came time to leave Ohio and head back to Indiana, I packed up the cooler with all the gluten-free goodness that I bought from Dorothy Lane Market and Sinfully Gluten Free. And it came home with me. And it got cozy…in my freezer. While the sub rolls were used rather quickly, a loaf of bread sometimes takes some getting around to eating. And, sadly, this one got buried under a lot of other stuff in my freezer. It happens.
Until I cleaned it the other day and organized it. And I knew immediately what to do with this bread.
French Toast.
Oh. Hell. Yes.
But first…it had been so long since I had sampled this bread, I needed to have it on its own. Just to see what all the hype was when I snagged it from the shelf.
Eban Bakery Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Bread is awesome. It is a bit dense and heavy, but a lot of gluten-free breads are. It is just something I have come to expect. However, slice it up, and the slices feel light. They are certainly filling. But the best part is the flavor. The bread is sweet, with the bits of cranberry scattered throughout. In addition, the walnuts bring a saltiness to it, as well as add something to the texture of the bread itself. It is delicious. And I knew it was going to make really amazing gluten-free French toast.
I sliced four pieces of the bread from the loaf and began to prep the egg with some vanilla and cinnamon. I even added a touch of nutmeg. I beat all of that together, then dipped the bread into the egg mixture. The great thing about this bread was that it absorbed the egg without becoming soggy and falling apart. Onto the griddle the slices of bread went to brown and crisp up like French toast should.
In the meantime, I warmed up some gluten-free real maple syrup and mixed together some cinnamon and sugar to dust over the top of the finished product. I flipped the bread over to toast the other side and before I knew it…breakfast was served. Maple syrup and cinnamon and sugar topped it all off.
I settled in with my roommate for breakfast. She was halfway through her French toast before I managed my first bite. She was raving about how yummy it was, so that was a good sign. She was right.
This bread worked fantastic as a base for French toast. Being that it was sturdier than regular sandwich bread, the egg wash didn’t make it crumble or become soggy. Instead it just absorbed it and made it toast up golden and beautiful. The flavor of the walnuts and cranberries took on a caramelized and toasted flavor which only elevated it to the next level. It was phenomenal.
On its own or dressed up, Eban Bakery really blew me away with the flavor, taste, and texture of their gluten-free bread. The Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Bread is definitely a welcome addition to my kitchen any day.
Eban Bakery is a gluten-free bakery based out of Ohio that specializes in breads, baked goods and sweet treats in small batches that use all natural and organic ingredients, free of gluten, preservatives, and additives. In other words…no bad stuff goes into their goods. Ever. And that is evident with how delicious and amazing their products taste. Love at first bite. When I next find myself anywhere with Eban Bakery goods, I’ll definitely purchase some more. Very impressed.
And thanks to Dorothy Lane Market…I now know of this otherwise unknown gluten-free bakery. Eban Bakery…you’ve definitely won the heart of this Indiana girl. When I next find myself in Ohio, I’m seeking out more of your products and going on a tasting frenzy. The Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Bread was certainly a great place to start.
French Toast made from Eban Bakery Gluten-Free Cranberry Walnut Bread
Restaurant: The Pfunky Griddle, Nashville, Tennessee
As a gluten-free vegetarian, sometimes eating while on the road can be a challenge. Fast food joints don’t work for me. And I’ve never been big on fast food regardless. This often means, especially when I travel to visit my family, that finding a restaurant to stop and eat is a priority. Thankfully…in this brave new world of smart phone apps, there is an app for that.
Find Me Gluten Free.
If you have not put this app on your phone…do so now and then continue reading this blog. I’ll wait.
…
Okay…congratulations! Your dining life just got a lot easier. Trust me.
The midway point between my home and my parents home is…Nashville, Tennessee. There is no shortage of places to eat in Nashville. There are also plenty of places that have gluten-free options. Normally, we’d probably make it easy and stop off at Taco Mamacita or even go to McCreary’s Pub in Franklin, Tennessee. But…while I know there are things I could eat at either one of those places (McCreary’s does not have a gluten-free menu, FYI, but Taco Mamacita does), I just wasn’t feeling the usual haunts. So this necessitated a search.
And naturally…I find a place that specializes is…breakfast and brunch.
When breakfast is your favorite meal of the day…this is one hell of a find. It had brilliant ratings on Find Me Gluten Free, so my roommate and I decided we would stop there on the way home and dine on some pancakes for lunch. Breakfast for lunch. Yep…my favorite way to eat.
The Pfunky Griddle is located on Bransford Avenue in Nashville, Tennessee. This is a quaint neighborhood with houses done up into businesses and offices. My kind of area. Parking, however, was a nightmare. We arrived sometime just after noon and there were already parties of people standing around outside. No parking was available in the lot, so Cathy dropped me off to go check on the wait time and she went to circle around and see if she could find somewhere to park. I ducked into the building and stood in a short line at the front where the coffee drinks were being made. I asked about wait time for a party of 2 and was told it would be about 25 to 30 minutes. That wasn’t unreasonable, so I put my name in and went to go see if I could find Cathy and tell her. She had just managed to find a parking spot, so we stood around outside for a moment before I asked if she’d like some coffee while we waited.
The Pfunky Griddle’s Honey Child Latte with Almond Milk
Caffeine while on the road is never a bad thing. And…The Pfunky Griddle has almond milk. Could I love this place any more already? Is it possible? After giving it a little bit of thought, Cathy agreed that caffeine might be a good idea (DUH!) so I told her I would treat us to our café order. She went with a Peppermint Mocha with skim milk ($3.75). As for me…I went with something that I couldn’t get anywhere else. Not that I’m aware of, anyway. Stepping away from my order of a Cafe Au Lait for a moment, I opted for what they call a Honey Child Latte with almond milk ($3.75). The Honey Child Latte is a double shot of espresso, combined with honey, cinnamon, vanilla and your steamed milk of choice. Never heard of anything like it…but it sounded epically delicious. So, I had to have one. Besides, I can get cafe au laits anywhere. This was something I had only seen here. Why not go for it?
The coffee orders were backed up, so it took around five minutes to get our actual drinks. No worries though, Cathy and I weren’t in any hurry. And it gave both of us time to stand in line to use the bathroom before getting seated. Her peppermint mocha was up first, and she commented on how awesome it smelled when I passed it off to her. My Honey Child Latte was up next and when I received it…I couldn’t wait to try it. Photos first…then the taste test.
One sip and I was in love. The combination of the rich espresso worked so well with the spice from the cinnamon, the sweetness of the honey, and the smooth vanilla after tones. It all just meshed so well. Love at first sip. I even made Cathy try it and even she commented on how delicious it was. Smooth, dreamy, and sweet. Just how I like it!
Dedicated gluten-free griddle (placed over the one built into the table) at The Pfunky Griddle
I was about halfway through my latte when my name was called. We eagerly followed the hostess to our table in the back room near the window. The table was outfitted with a griddle in the middle because at the Pfunky Griddle…you flip your own pancakes, bitches! Sorry…but it’s a really, really awesome concept. As we were handed menus, I looked at Cathy and said, “I don’t know what they are going to do, but I need this hot griddle completely cleaned…or I can’t eat on it. Cross contamination.” She nodded and went back to the menu…and lo and behold…there at the bottom was a note that said if you were a Celiac, a special griddle would be provided for you.
I admit…I smiled. I smiled a lot. I was already feeling better about the situation. Our waitress came over to take out drink orders. As we both still were downing or pre-game coffee drinks, we opted for water. Cathy went ahead and told her that I was a Celiac…so the waitress said she would send someone out with a new griddle for us. A few moments later, one of the other employees was flipping off the griddle in the center of the table and putting a new griddle across our table. He had it wiped down and left it there. I felt a whole lot better.
And, when eating at The Pfunky Griddle…you get something you put on that griddle. Cathy and I already had our mind made up. They have an all-you-can-eat pancake deal going. So, we opted for that. We got the gluten-free pancakes ($6.99 per adult per person, including 1 topping each). Cathy chose chocolate chips for her included topping and added walnuts for another option ($0.75). For my included topping, I went with blueberries, then added bananas for an additional choice ($0.75). As we were really hungry, we each got a side with our pancake order. Cathy opted for the 2 biscuits ($1.00), which came with butter and jam. As for me, as it was labeled gluten-free, I stuck with the potatoes ($3.00). Order in.
I noted that our griddle wasn’t turned on, so I went ahead and turned it on, giving it some juice. I wasn’t sure how high to set it to cook, so I opted for around 300 degrees, because I didn’t want to burn anything, so I figured a little extra time on the griddle wouldn’t hurt anyone. Not one bit. Our waitress came out with a a bowl that had packets of ketchup and hot sauce in it. And soon…or food followed.
We received a pitcher of gluten-free pancake batter and little plastic containers that contained our toppings of choice. The waitress set this heaping bowl of potatoes down in front of me and told me to cook them for three minutes on each side. I could handle that. With that…we were left to our own devices to cook up our meal at our table. FUN!
Cathy poured her first pancake and went to sprinkle just her chocolate chips over the top. I would have thrown the nuts in too, but she kept them to just sprinkle over the top after her pancake was plated. I got a couple of spoonfuls of potato working on the griddle then poured my own pancake. I poured way more than I expected and had this monster to start off with. I went ahead and tossed some blueberries and banana slices onto it and let it sit to brown on the one side. The heat was definitely too low as both the pancakes and my potatoes were taking awhile to cook. Cathy went ahead and dived into eating her biscuits, really enjoying the flaky, lightness of them. I turned the heat up slightly, which helped. Soon I found myself flipping her pancake and my own because her first attempt was pretty much a fail. But, I cook pancakes on a griddle at home…so I’m sort of a master.
Gluten-Free pancakes and potatoes on the dedicated gluten-free griddle at The Pfunky Griddle
With the other side working, I went ahead and tried the potatoes.
Oh. My. GOD! No, these were honestly some of the most amazing breakfast potatoes ever. Laced with a delicious garlic flavor, these mashed up spuds were crispy from the griddle on the outside, soft on the inside…and really freakin’ fantastic. The flavor was awesome. I told Cathy she had to try some, and she said she intended to. She went ahead and scooped some up for herself to get it working on the griddle while I plated our first pancakes and poured more batter for our next round. We threw on toppings and then settled in for our first taste.
The batter cooks up beautifully. We each achieved this gorgeous golden color on our pancakes. My bananas even caramelized after I flipped my pancake over and the toppings began to work into the pancake itself. I love a light pancake. Nothing is worse than eating one pancake and feeling stuffed. And here, you can make them as big or as small as you want. You can add one topping, both, or more. Whatever your whim…it’s yours to create. And these pancakes really hit the spot. They were sweet, without being overly sweet. And thin. And light. And just plain delicious. The batter wasn’t heavy at all, making the pancakes almost as light as air when I removed them from the griddle and onto our respective plates. And those potatoes. Oh…hell yes!! Those potatoes were one of my favorite thing. Cathy and I both enjoyed them, getting them golden on each side then moving them to the plate. I added hot sauce to mine, just a dab, which only enhanced the amazing flavor. All together…a carby, delicous, amazing, happy dining experience. One of the best gluten-free pancakes I have ever tasted…and I eat a lot of gluten-free pancakes.
This may be a new go-to place in the near future when passing through Nashville. Very happy. I never felt like I needed to worry about my food. The spatulas were rubber, not the metal ones other tables got, so I am certain they were for gluten-free foods only. I felt completely safe, and completely satisfied with my experience there. I’d go back and stuff myself silly with more of their gluten-free pancakes and potatoes.
For the record, they also have gluten-free bread, so you could have one of their sandwiches, or even French toast if your little heart desired it. The point is…this is a business doing gluten-free right. And I am forever thankful for them. And I’m also glad we stopped in and ate here. On the way out, I even purchased a bag of their gluten-free pancake mix for $5.50. So now I can make some at home too.
My gluten-free joy knows no bounds. Doing flips over everything at The Pfunky Griddle.
Love in brunch form!
My Gluten-Free Blueberry and Banana Pancake with Gluten-Free Potatoes that I safely prepared at The Pfunky Griddle
Top 3 Finishers of the “Walk Me Home…To The Place I Belong” 5K Run and Walk for Foster Care: Jimmy Gilchrist (2nd), Nathan Byrd (1st), and me (3rd)
Race: “Walk Me Home…To The Place I Belong” 5K Run and Walk for Foster Care
Place: Veterans Park, Hoover, Alabama
Date: April 27, 2013
Time:23:01
Let me be completely candid with you, first of all, when it comes to this race. I was not happy about doing it. Nope. I don’t travel often for 5K races, even when it is where my family currently lives. It’s too expensive for that short of a distance. And this 5K race was $30.00. Albeit, it’s for a fantastic cause, but…I normally wouldn’t have entered it. Not under normal circumstances.
But someone I used to work with wanted to run her first 5K. Originally, this weekend was going to be the Making Tracks for Celiacs 5K race, but that was pushed back to next weekend, and I just happen to be in Minneapolis, Minnesota for a half marathon that weekend. So, with the race rescheduled, I set out to find us another one.
And I did. This race. I signed up. I thought she had signed up. Turns out she didn’t…and wasn’t going to. That news was dropped on me on Friday afternoon. Saturday morning was the race and I was driving straight through from Louisville to Birmingham that night after work to get there, get a couple hours of sleep, and then run.
Alone.
Which, did sort of upset me. The whole reason I originally joined this race was to run with her in her first 5K ever. And now…I was sort of left to my own devices, making a very long car trip for 3.1 miles. Yeah…not a happy runner. Not one bit.
That being said, I got in just before 10 p.m. that evening. My dad came out and helped Cathy and I unload the car. And I left most of my stuff to sit so I could spend a little time with my parents before calling it a night. We sat up and talked for a little while, but then we decided that we best get some sleep. After all, I checked the race page on my way out at work and it indicated a 7:00 a.m. race start. EARLY! So, off to bed I went, setting my alarm for 5:20 a.m., which would hopefully give me enough time to get dressed in my running clothes, eat some cereal and a banana, and then head on out to Veterans Park with Cathy and my parents.
The alarm went off way too early for my liking that morning. But, I shut it off and hopped out of bed. I changed into my race clothes – a bright orange shirt, one of my running skirts, and my green compression socks. Why not? For my BondiBand…I was in Birmingham, Alabama. Nothing but my War Eagle band would do. Trust me. I put purple and orange extensions in my hair, and then finished up by getting my old running shoes out and onto my feet. Why old running shoes? At that point, rain was still a high possibility, so I figured…better to be safe than sorry. I’d leave my new pair dry and at home.
I went to wake up Cathy, and then headed downstairs to make up some breakfast. I intended to take a gluten-free bagel with vegan cream cheese with me to the race to eat afterwards, since my 3 year old nephew, Chace, had a tee ball game that morning. But that wasn’t until 10:15 a.m. And if the race started at 7:00 a.m., that would mean I’d have plenty of time to run and then hop into the car, come home, and eat some breakfast before heading out for the day. That being decided, I poured a bowl of Cinnamon Chex for Cathy and for me, got us each a banana, and warmed her up an Udi’s Gluten-Free Lemon Muffin, per her request.
My parents, Cathy, and I all scarfed down breakfast and I hurried to brush my teeth and get my Garmin and Road ID on. Then…we were packing into my parents vehicle and heading out to Hoover, Alabama.
I ran Veterans Park last year when I was down for the Making Tracks for Celiacs race. I had an idea of what this course was going to entail. For one thing, it’s the cross country course…so much of it is made up of loose gravel. Once you officially head out of the park and over toward the school campus, the path gets even trickier. HILLS. Dangerous hills with loose gravel so you can’t really fly down them and you have to watch your step and footing running up them as well. Yeah…this is a challenging course, with a monster hill right at the end. But, at least I knew that this time. When I was down here last year for Making Tracks for Celiacs…no clue.
We actually were some of the first to arrive. In fact, as we drove in, Cathy pointed out that all the signage for this particular race showed that it started at 8:00 a.m. Not 7:00 a.m. like the Web site told me. Great. So, now we were an hour early…which might mean I could be starving halfway into this race. I have a fast metabolism, so when I run I plan my meals and snacks and fuel accordingly. I didn’t bring anything with me, assuming that this would kick off at 7:00 a.m.
When I get there, I head over to the table that looks like where registration would be. No one is really manning it, so I ask the woman standing there if this is where I pick up my race packet. She seemed a bit lost, because, here I was, showing up way early, before all the volunteers were there, and before anyone was really ready. She asked for my name and went and plucked a bag out from a box. The volunteer handed me a waver notice that I had to sign for the City of Hoover. So I did. The bag was a nice reusable canvas bag from Birmingham’s running store The Trak Shak, and inside was my race t-shirt, a blue bracelet, a pin, and some gift certificates and cards for Sonic. I gave those to my dad, as I really can’t eat anything at Sonic and our location closed anyway. I did, however, note that there was no race bib with a number included. I found that odd. And I sort of got all grumpy and upset over the fact that I wasn’t going to have a number for this race. I even told my mom I’d rather just go home, forget I spent the $30.00, and run my 10 mile long run while it wasn’t raining, as it was supposed to be pouring when I was to put in my 10 mile run on Sunday. She said it was my call. I grumped and groaned about it to Cathy and she hurtfully said, “Well, we can just list this as a DNS (Did Not Start).” Oh, you should have heard me when she said that. No runner wants a DNS or a DNF (Did Not Finish). And honestly, just forgetting I even signed up for this race was what I was going for. The fact that she was going to hold me to it…give me a frickin’ DNS if I didn’t run it hurt me. It stung. I let her know that I didn’t like that at all. She just shrugged. And I pretended like I didn’t want to punch her for a moment.
But then…things started to get a little better…
More volunteers arrived. And soon a sign appeared on one of the tables that had race numbers on it. I allowed the girls manning that table a moment to get situated before heading up there to inquire about my race bib. Sure enough…my preregistered number was there. I was 716. The two girls handed it over along with two safety pins. I went over to where Cathy was seated and handed them to her. She hates just having two pins, so after declaring her dissatisfaction with that, my dad went over to the table and snagged two more for her. She pinned me up, and more racers arrived and got signed in to run.
A zumba dance thing was happening on the stage that was in the park. We watched that, briefly, and then a few announcements were made. Race time, 8:00 a.m., was fast approaching now, and I noticed a lot of the runners making their way away from the pavilion and toward the start/finish line. I didn’t line up yet, but as announcements and some information about the race and the charity that it benefited were given. We had a nice blessing over the race and then we all started to line up.
I was near the front, but not right up front. There were some cross country runners here, and quite a few native race veterans from the chatter I heard. Two ladies behind me were talking about their friend up at the front, saying how she always wins…so that was interesting. We were all just anxious to get started, so finally the announcer counted us down…and sent us off.
And so…I hit that loose gravel path running as much as I dared. I wanted to be careful and take this race easy. After all, I didn’t want to risk injury before my upcoming half marathon. That being said, early on I found myself passing quite a few people that had been closer to the front. I just kept moving, kept going, focusing on the path ahead.
Good thing too. About a quarter mile or so into the race, there was this huge gap in the course. It was at least, at least two feet wide with water running through it. Apparently, off to the side was a pedestrian bridge, but there were no volunteers to point the runners that way. I did what the guys in front of me did…and took a leap of faith. This fault line of sorts was nearly the death of me. I have short legs, and I barely landed on my toes on the other side, leaning forward in an attempt to not fall into the giant opening in the Earth. That was close. And it really rattled me. But, I just kept moving.
Signs and volunteers, many of them Boy Scouts, were along the path to guide runners (and later the walkers) in the right direction. I scurried around the little lake, dodging a fly fisherman as he worked his fishing pole, and continued on. I was hoping, as we rounded the lake and headed back toward the park that I wouldn’t have to leap over the fault again. Thankfully…I didn’t have to. Whew.
Heading back toward the park, we were diverted away from the finish area to head around the tennis courts. As I made the turn, Cathy peaked her head out to cheer me on. And one of the volunteers applauded and said, “First lady!”
Really? I was the first female?
That was new.
From there, we made our way across the road and toward the school campus. A water station was there, but I bypassed it and kept my momentum for the hill I had to climb. Not easy. I made it up and started down, realizing again that I needed to be careful of my footing on those steep downhills, which meant, leaning back and not allowing gravity to take over.
There were three men ahead of me, that much I knew. I was now entering the shady wooded area of the race, where the trees offered brilliant shade. But it was quiet. I could see flashes of the pink shirt of the guy ahead of me, so I pressed on, winding through the wooded path, watching my footing on the hills, until I finally caught up to him as he approached the last giant hill. He slowed to a stop, much like the guy ahead of me at Making Tracks for Celiacs the previous time I ran there. But, just as I did last year, I pressed on and took on the hill. It slowed me down, but I’ve trained on hills. This one was certainly steeper than the ones I normally run on, and made up of roots, gravel and mud, but I got up it and found my momentum again.
Besides, I couldn’t let the pink shirted guy beat me to the finish line. He was wearing western boots, not running shoes. It was a matter of pride and principle.
I dug in, scurrying back along the path, coming out of the trees. I ducked back under the bridge and emerged to run, once again, back toward the park. This time, however, I knew it was to the finish line. I also knew that there was a runner not too far behind me, pink shirt and western boots aside, he was still a contender. So, I just ran as hard as I could. His buddies started screaming at him as I started in toward the finish line.
I could see my parents right at the finish. My mom was holding up three fingers, shouting, “Come on, KJ! Come on, baby!” I crossed the finish line, paused my Garmin, and was handed a blue ribbon to go tie onto the Blue Ribbon Tree. Cathy hurried over and said, “THIRD OVERALL! FIRST FEMALE.”
Holy crap!! I wasn’t aware of being the third one in, but as no women passed me, I knew I was first female in.
Let me say this again.
THIRD. OVERALL.
Prior to the race, Cathy said as long as I wasn’t in the top three racers in, then I we could leave right after the race. Turns out…I was in the top three racers. But, no one fussed about that at all. The problem now was I needed to find out when awards would be given out.
First thing was first, however. Cathy pointed out the two guys who came in ahead of me and I went over to see if I could get a picture with them. They were happy to oblige. Nathan was our first place finisher and Jim was our second place finisher. Both were very nice guys and very good runners. We talked a bit about upcoming races, and then we all sort of split off and did our own thing until awards were given. Right…awards I needed to find out about those. So, I approached the same volunteer I first talked to that morning and she handed me a piece of paper with that information. Awards were going to be done at 9:30 a.m. This almost gave me enough time to go home, get my camera (for the baseball games that afternoon), change, and, most important, grab something to eat. I was starving.
My dad said that we would be cutting it close by going all the way home. So, my mom was going to send him, and I started rattling off everything I would need. He wasn’t sure he could remember it all, so my mom said she would go with him and Cathy and I could stay at the park and wait for them…and for the start of the awards. She said as long as they didn’t get stopped by a train, they should be back just in time. We saw them off and then went to sit down in the pavilion.
No sooner had we settled in, my mom texted to say a train had them stopped. Naturally. Contact went silent after that, and I was just hoping it was a short train and they were getting everything I had asked for them to grab, toast my gluten-free bagel, slap it with vegan cream cheese, and then make it back in time.
My dad and my mom all smiles after I received my Third Overall medal and gift card prizes. They were so proud of me.
Unfortunately, they were stopped by a train on the way back too. And with the walkers having been sent off after a very, very long prayer, the time for awards was almost there. Cathy and I stood up and made our way toward the stage area. I stopped walking, glancing over toward the parking lot, hoping that my parents would get back in time. No sign of them. So here they were able to see me place in the top three for the first time ever…but they were going to miss the awards.
I was frustrated, and very sad.
But luck was with me again. They just happened to start with awards for the men first, not the overall winners, as most races do. So, this bought some time. They were just at the Men 20 – 29, when I saw my dad heading my way with my bagel and my mom a few steps behind him with my change of clothes. YAY! They made it.
I downed the bagel as they went through the awards, realizing that overall awards were going to be given at the end. I had fun cheering and clapping for those who stuck around to get their awards. I love seeing award ceremonies, even if I don’t win. And then…overall awards were given.
I was the first up, being that I was the third overall finisher. My award was a beautiful bronze medal and an envelope stuffed with gift cards for local Birmingham businesses and restaurants worth $116.00. So awesome. When my name was called, Cathy, mom, and dad all cheered loudly. I love my cheering section.
The awards for first and second overall were also awarded, to Jim and Nathan, whom I had spoken to soon after my finish and got my picture with afterwards as well. And then, I scurried off to change and head off to get the rest of the day underway. I had nephews to cheer for at the ballpark after all.
So, while this race got off to a rocky (literally) start, in the end, it was totally worth the drive. I had a good time running this challenging course and I was thrilled my parents were attending the first race I ever placed as an overall winner. It was a very proud moment…and they continued to let me know how very proud they were of me. Yeah…totally worth it.
No new PR this time…but one amazing run in the presence of the two people who mean the world to me. So glad my parents were there to encourage me and motivate me to push all the way to the end…to one of my best finishes yet. Not bad for a rocky, hilly, treacherous course, yes? Sometimes races have a way of making us stronger. I definitely found my strong in Birmingham.
It has become quite evident as of late that shortbread is totally in. Totally. Why? Because I have been eating a lot of it recently. Oh, nothing is better than that slight crunch, that buttery flavor, that sweetness that sort of hits on the light side of savory. Yeah…shortbread is pretty amazing.
Gluten-free shortbread can go either way. I’ve had some that have impressed, and I have had some that have fallen short of all expectations. I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I picked up a bag of Simply Shari’s Gluten-Free & Fabulous Almond Shortbread Bite Size Cookies…but it was a risk I was, apparently, willing to take. I had previously only tried one other product from Simply Shari…a frozen pizza…and I fell in love with it. I think that was where my confidence in this product came. That and the fact that I really am a cookie monster…and where there are gluten-free cookies…you will find me.
Simply Shari’s Gluten-Free & Fabulous Almond Shortbread Bite Size Cookies are a simple blend of recognizable and common ingredients: sugar, unsalted butter, rice flour, brown rice flour, sweet rice flour, tapioca flour, cornstarch, potato starch, xanthum gum, water, baking soda, and modified corn starch. Basic, key ingredients to any shortbread, yes? Even better…the products that Simply Shari’s produces are all made in a dedicated gluten-free facility. It definitely takes some of the guess work out of what you are eating…even if it is simply a cookie (or three).
Given that these are almond shortbread cookies, be assured that almonds are a prevalent and important part of the flavor and texture in this flavor of shortbread. This particular flavor has almond slivers throughout the crumbly, buttery cookies. And that…honestly…is what sets it apart from other gluten-free shortbread.
Let me first start by saying…this is, hands down, one of the better gluten-free shortbread cookies out on the market. The almond flavor really meshes well with the buttery, sweet flavor of the shortbread itself. In fact, these are so reminiscent of homemade shortbread cookies. Honestly. The sweetness is just the right amount to make it feel like a dessert. It definitely cleanses the palate. And it has that wonderful shortbread crunch, coupled with the taste and smell of almonds…it’s right at shortbread perfection.
And…even better…is that these cookies aren’t loaded down with calories and fat either. When it comes to other gluten-free treats on the market, these will definitely fit into your diet plan, for sure. There might be a little guilt, but nothing a good yoga session won’t burn off.
A serving of these cookies is 3 bite-size cookies. Yep. Three. These cookies are about the width of a quarter and stand about a half an inch tall. So, they are just the right amount of dessert at the right time. Three cookies will only set you back 120 calories and 6 grams of fat. That’s not bad for a cookie, as I said before. Additionally, you will take in only 80 mg sodium, 1 gram of protein, and a scant (for cookies) 7 grams of sugar. Loving it? I am.
I’m so very impressed with these cookies that I’m looking forward to opening my next bag of them…which just happens to be the Lemon Shortbread variety. Lemon + Shortbread…two of my most favorite dessert flavors in one? With Simply Shari’s…I bet they are beyond simply delicious.
As for Simply Shari’s Gluten-Free & Fabulous Almond Shortbread Bite Size Cookies…delicious doesn’t even begin to cover the amazing flavor, texture, and lightness that are all pulled together in this fine product. Spectacular snacking and sweet treat potential. And I’m loving every serving of them.
Special Delivery of Udi’s Gluten-Free Goodies – including brand new products!
A couple of weeks ago, I was the proud recipient of a box of goodies from Udi’s Gluten-Free, one of the first gluten-free companies to really wow me with their products. This two year journey into the gluten-free world was a struggle at first, and then…I discovered the wonder of Udi’s. First bread I liked. First cinnamon rolls I had after going gluten-free. First muffins that tasted like they were fresh out of the oven at a corner bakery. Yep…I had a deep love affair with Udi’s, which continues to this very day. I have yet to meet one of their products that I don’t love.
Case in point…
Last week, my mornings were hectic and stressful. I was pulling extra hours at the office, trying to fit in my training runs, and still make it to the gym every other day. It meant that cooking something for breakfast was near impossible. I didn’t have time for that. At all. Thankfully, this box came along at the perfect time…and with it…brought perfect breakfast bliss.
Back in January of last year, I blogged on the epic tastiness that are Udi’s Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins. What I said back then still applies today. And let me tell you, I have devoured the blueberry muffins on more than one occasion. My mom tends to buy some sort of muffin from Udi’s lineup when I come home for Christmas to visit. This past holiday…blueberry. Yep. Love. Every morning was full of blueberry love. A simple warming in the microwave and it was like it was hot out of the oven. They are soft and moist, and you would never, ever guess that they were frozen or refrigerated prior to consumption. That’s how good Udi’s is with these products. That’s how much care they put into their food. It doesn’t taste manufactured. My favorite part of the blueberry muffins, aside from the sweet berries and moist cakey muffin part…is the crystal sugar that is dusted over the top. It puts a little crunch into the product, which is already flavored with lemon and vanilla. Blueberry muffin bliss…every time. These have never disappointed. And, as long as Udi’s keeps this tradition alive…they never will.
In my mind then…nothing could ever top the Udi’s Gluten-Free Blueberry Muffins.
What might this product be? Well…muffins for starters, duh!
But, these were nothing like what I expected.
Enter…Udi’s Gluten-Free Harvest Crunch Muffins.
What in the world are Harvest Crunch Muffins? Well, I can elaborate for you.
Udi’s Gluten-Free Harvest Crunch Muffins are everything you want a muffin to be…and then some. Not only do they pack a nutritious punch with each muffin, being that they are filled with healthy ingredients that are rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals…but they are just sheer awesomeness baked in muffin form. Allow me to elaborate.
Harvest Crunch Muffins are a Udi’s take on a more savory, yet still sweet, muffin, making these ideal for any time…but I devoured mine at breakfast. And when I say devour…I mean devour. What made them so nom-worthy? Well, for one thing, they combine the sweetness of cranberries, with the salty (and texture-giving) pepitas (pumpkin seeds), along with sweet potato and quinoa flour. What emerges is this rich, sweet and savory flavor that is so satisfying to the palate, you’ll find yourself digging in for more. I hope my area gets these muffins soon (we tend to run a year behind on new products in the gluten-free market), because these were crazy-good. Stupid-good. Amazing.
And, as I mentioned a bit earlier…nutritious too.
A serving is one muffin. These come in a pack of four. And with one muffin, you are served 250 calories and 10 grams of fat. That’s really, really good when it comes to muffins. Regular muffins can sometimes be twice that for an entire muffin. I am SO impressed. In addition, you get 4 grams of fiber and 3 grams of protein in each serving. LOVING it. These are also low in sodium as well. And I love that the ingredients are all real food that I recognize and don’t need to hit up a dictionary to know what it is I am consuming.
Blueberry muffins will always be one of my favorites, but I really think Udi’s outdid itself with the texture, flavor, taste, and just sheer awesome nutritiounal powerhouse with those Harvest Crunch Muffins. Look for them. Buy them. DEVOUR!! Trust me…you won’t just eat them…you honestly will devour them.
But that’s okay…
Gluten-free goodness can still be hard to come by. Thanks to Udi’s…it’s a given.
I have to admit…when I saw the news coming out of Expo West from Bakery On Main, touting two brand new oatmeal flavors. Two very delicious brand new oatmeal flavors. In fact, the flavors just happened to be two of my most favorite treats in the world…which I usually only get if I make them, due to being gluten-free. What might these new flavors be?
Carrot Cake and Blueberry Scone.
Go ahead and read those again. Your eyes are not deceiving you.
Now, back when I was first getting used to my gluten-free diet, I was looking for something I could eat at work that wouldn’t cost me an arm and a leg and would be quick and easy to make…as well as eat at my desk. The answer: gluten-free oatmeal.
I tried numerous brands, but absolutely fell in love with Bakery On Main. Nothing has come close to the flavor profiles that they weave into their oatmeal. It took a lot of gluten-free oatmeal sampling…but I have become dedicated to this particular company when it comes to oatmeal. It is the best out on the market, and I will forever say that. I should know…I eat it every day for lunch.
Yep. Every. Single. Day.
It makes the anticipation leading into lunch even greater…knowing that I’ll soon have a piping hot bowl of oatmeal to eat and enjoy…and savor. Because I love to savor this oatmeal.
Well, soon after Expo West, I was sent sleeves of each flavor oatmeal they try. I have been eating, enjoying, and growing even more in love with their Strawberry Shortcake, their Apple Pie, and their Maple Multigrain Muffin (which since that post, I have eaten more and more of, and love just as much as the others. Honestly…I should do a blog redux on that flavor. It has earned my respect and the respect of my oatmeal-craving palate). Already I knew their oatmeal was epic. But…there were three flavors I had yet to try. And now…they were in my possession.
Product: Bakery On Main Gluten-Free Traditional Flavor Instant Oatmeal – $5.99+
Bakery On Main Gluten-Free Traditional Flavor Instant Oatmeal
The first one, actually, had been out on the market for awhile. It’s simple. It’s basic. It’s Bakery On Main’s Gluten-Free Traditional Flavor Oatmeal. It doesn’t get much more basic than that. Simple. And sometimes that can be a bad thing. But that is not the case here. In fact, this was the oatmeal I was least enthusiastic about trying. I even brought some fruit to throw into it. Guess what? It didn’t need anything to touch it up. Not in the slightest. While I have never been a fan of just plain oatmeal…I am a fan of this one. A huge fan. I actually incorporated the fruit and then was sorry that I did, because the oatmeal was much more amazing without it. Lesson learned.
This is no ordinary traditional oatmeal. This is traditional taken to the next level. The flavor was amazing. It didn’t lack any sweetness. And the texture…as with the other flavors I have been eating for…over a year now…fantastic. Just amazing. Warm. Rich. Filling. This, once again, proves how amazing Bakery On Main is when it comes to their products. They ensure the quality and flavor of their products. And that means they work hard to achieve flavor perfection. This…is perfection.
Nutritionally speaking, the Traditional Flavor Oatmeal from Bakery on Main is 200 calories per serving and 4 grams of fat. Not too shabby. And just right for a light lunch. Trust me. But the amazing nutritional worth doesn’t stop there. Nope. Let me continue. You see, Bakery on Main has achieved oatmeal perfection with their tried-and-true blend of certified gluten-free oats, chia seeds, flax meal, quinoa, and amaranth. What this does is boost that nutrition profile a little, giving each serving of this oatmeal 8 grams of protein per bowl and 6 grams of fiber. This flavor has no sodium, no cholesterol, no trans-fat, and is sugar-free as well. LOVING that.
Oh…did I mention that it is amazing? Even if you don’t think you like plain oats…you’ll love this one. If I did…I can guarantee that you will too. Trust me, leave the fruit at home. You won’t need it and you’ll only ruin perfection.
Product: Bakery On Main Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Flavor Instant Oatmeal – $5.99+
Bakery On Main Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Flavor Instant Oatmeal
The newest flavors were what I was looking at trying first. And the first one selected:
Carrot Cake.
Yep. Bakery On Main Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Flavor Oatmeal. Sounds like dessert for breakfast, yes? Oh…trust me…it is so much more. I am a huge lover of carrot cake. Honestly. It doesn’t get much better than a delicious slice of carrot cake. In fact, I’ve created quite a few carrot cake flavored things (pancakes, scones, etc.) just because I love the taste of carrot cake so very much. It’s one of my guilty pleasures. And I am unashamed.
That being said, when I set about preparing this oatmeal just as I have all the rest of Bakery On Main’s oatmeal. I poured out the contents of the packet, which, as always is a base of certified gluten free oats, amaranth, chia seeds, flax meal, and quinoa, making even a dessert-y oatmeal a great source of whole grains. Love it. I added 2/3 cup of water and tossed it into the microwave for 90 seconds. While it was cooking…oh my gluten-free god…it smelled fantastic. I might have drooled more than a little. When it was done cooking, I gave it a stir…and went to take my first bite.
Yep. Dessert for breakfast (or in my case lunch, but really…it’s carrot cake…it’s good anytime!). No doubt about it.
In fact, as I was eating it, my roommate stopped by my desk and asked what smelled so good. I let her have a taste. She’s not a fan of oatmeal at all and she can take or leave (but mostly leave) carrot cake…but she was blown away by this one. Now that’s saying something. I didn’t have any nutrition information on these, but I’m guessing that the calories fall around where the other flavors do, about 200 per sleeve of oatmeal. Remember…these are brand new to the market…as in they hit shelves just recently. But, what I do know from Bakery On Main’s Web site is that this particular flavor was adapted from an actual carrot cake recipe. No wonder it tastes so good. If you like a little bit of dessert in your life without a lot of calories, fat and sugar…give Bakery On Main’s Gluten-Free Carrot Cake Flavor Instant Oatmeal a try.
Product: Bakery On Main Gluten-Free Blueberry Scone Flavor Instant Oatmeal – $5.99+
Bakery On Main Gluten-Free Blueberry Scone Flavor Instant Oatmeal
Lastly, but certainly not least is the other brand new flavor from Bakery On Main in their instant oatmeal lineup.
Blueberry Scone.
Mmmm…scones. We all know that I bake plenty of scones pretty much every week. They are portable, delicious, and guaranteed to be gluten-free when I make them. Among my favorites…blueberry. So, when an oatmeal is given the flavor of one of my favorite breakfast treats, you better believe that I’m anticipating each and every spoonful.
I first fell in love with scones when I visited Europe back in 2003. Every time I’ve gone back, I’ve devoured one or more somewhere…normally at a local café for an on-the-fly snack. But, then I had to go gluten-free…and now scones have to be made by me if I’m going to eat them at all. No problem. But…here…Bakery On Main takes this classic coffee house treat and turns it into a bowl of oatmeal. Not only are pieces of real blueberries incorporated into the mix, but the normal blend of certified gluten-free oats, chia seeds, flax meal, amaranth and quinoa…all providing the perfect nutritional balance to this sweet oatmeal treat.
Let me tell you…not only does this oatmeal smell fantastic as it warmed and cooked in the microwave, it tasted beyond fantastic as well. Just like a blueberry scone. A soft, mushy scone…like the dough before it bakes, warmed through. Yep…nailed it, Bakery on Main. This one totally took me by surprise. I am a huge fan. LOVING each and every spoonful.
Again, this is a brand new flavor and currently there is no nutrition information up on the Web site…but again I anticipate it to fall around 200 calories per serving, with low fat, low sodium, and high in protein with a good dose of your daily fiber. Nutrition while feasting on something that tastes like a treat. It doesn’t get much better than that. YUM!
Total oatmeal love going out to Bakery On Main once again. They won me over with their first three flavors, and they totally went above and beyond all expectations with the release of their new flavors. From Traditonal to Carrot Cake to Blueberry Scone…Bakery On Main is totally making over oatmeal for the better. And all of this gluten-free goodness is hitting shelves in your area…soon. If it hasn’t already. Go seek. Go find. Go enjoy. These flavors are totally worth it.
Satisfy your cravings for a coffee house scone with a savory bowl of Bakery On Main’s Blueberry Scone Instant Oatmeal. This breakfast treat won’t let you down with pieces of real blueberries, chia seeds and our favorite ancient grains, Amaranth and Quinoa.
Me starting off on the 8 mile bike portion of the Floyd County YMCA Tri-At-The-Y Super Sprint Triathlon
Race: Tri-at-the-Y Super Sprint Triathlon
Place:Floyd County YMCA, New Albany, Indiana
Date: April 21, 2013
Overall Time: 1:04:03
I can now officially call myself a triathlete. For real. No indoor triathlon this time. Nope. The triathlon that I participated in two weekends ago was an official Super Sprint Triathlon, which did not happen indoors on gym equipment this time. If you recall, my last triathlon was an Indoor Triathlon, and I wasn’t too keen on it. Besides, it wasn’t a true triathlon. No measured distance to run or pedal, just set times on a treadmill and stationary bike. Then a certain time in the pool. Done.
NOT. THIS. TIME.
And I couldn’t have been happier about it either.
Granted, when I signed up for this, I had no clue what I was getting myself into. I’m just going to be honest. I am a good swimmer, but I’m not a fast swimmer. I can bike, but I’ve never done so in competition form. And the weather had been so cold leading into this race, that the only practice I was getting on the bike was on the stationary bike at the gym. Definitely not the same as getting out onto the road and tackling some real hills. But, you make do with what you’ve got, yes?
As a runner, I knew I would have that part down. It was the bike and swim that were making me nervous. As I got on the stationary bike on every gym day leading up to the triathlon, I was feeling a bit better about the bike portion…but that swim portion still seemed a bit daunting. Granted, it was a simple 300 meters in the pool, but that was six laps (down and back) in each lane of the pool at the YMCA. I got in one morning of swimming in the pool prior to this event…and it took me 20 minutes to do the required 6 down and back laps. I was not feeling confident at all about that part of this triathlon.
Running is my passion. I have yet to find that same passion in any other sport. I run a lot, I run often, I run without forcing myself to do so. It’s just something I love to do. Early, late, it doesn’t matter. I’ll lace up those shoes and just go, go, go whenever I want. I run slow, I run fast, I run long. I run…pretty much every day. At most 6 out of 7 days a week…runs of varying lengths. But, I know that cross training is also important to building up better skills as a runner. A triathlon is a great way to get a sample of cross training with two very different sports from running – biking and swimming. Throwing in two consecutive and challenging sports with a run was a good introduction to other options out there, that’s for sure.
A Super Sprint Triathlon is a great introduction to triathlons. I’m so glad I did it, although I had a nervous respect for what I was getting myself into. I didn’t mention it to anyone because I wasn’t completely sure I could do it. Or do it well. And that just means…to my own high standards I place on myself when I compete.
A Super Sprint Triathlon consists of an 8 mile bike, a 2 mile run, and a 300 meter swim.
Small…but daunting to someone who really just runs. I think I took it on like a champ though.
The day before the triathlon, I had gone out for a quick 5 mile run, and then later met up with my friend Nikky for her last long run (10 miles) to pace her as she prepped for her mini marathon the following Saturday. So, I was going into this with some tired legs as it was. But…I’ve never really let that slow me down (much) when it comes to races. What I didn’t know was what to expect when the triathlon kicked off. I was…really clueless going in. That was evident by the fact that I was going to be doing the biking portion of the race on a mountain bike…not a road bike. Even better…the bike didn’t quite fit into the trunk of my Toyota Corolla, despite lowering the seats. So, much of the drive to the YMCA was cautious, hoping that the trunk didn’t pop open in the process as it couldn’t be shut.
I also had to think about what I was going to wear. It was required that all participants wear their bathing suits under their clothes for the triathlon. I had to do that with the indoor triathlon I did last March, so that wasn’t an issue. The issue was…it was flippin’ cold that morning. For real. Like 40 degrees cold. So, I had some decisions to make when it came to wardrobe. When I got up that morning, the bathing suit went on…because I knew that much was a given. I finally decided to just brave it and wear the swim suit bottoms as my shorts throughout the entire triathlon. I put on some compression socks and my running shoes. My original thought was to just throw on arm warmers and do the entire thing in my bathing suit, but the weather deterred me from that line of thinking. I ended up throwing on my Earth Fare Athlete Ambassador shirt with the arm warmers and calling it done. One BondiBand later and one ponytail (no pigtails as I had to wear a helmet for the bike portion) later, I was ready to get to the Floyd County YMCA (also known as…my gym).
So, with my bike wedged into my little Toyota Corolla, my roommate dropped me off with my bike and then headed back to the apartment as her mom was coming over. She was going to cheer me on too and then we were all heading out for her belated birthday lunch at North End Café in Louisville, Kentucky. So…I knew a delicious gluten-free pancake was in my future…I just had to get through the triathlon first. As she drove off, I started to walk my bike toward the YMCA, and was told by a fellow triathlete that I might as well just take it up and over the flood wall and get it racked before checking in. I glanced over a the stairs leading up and over the train tracks, then the flood wall, and thanked him. So, I rolled my bike that way, then picked it up and carried it all the way up the steps, resting at the top, before carrying it down the steps toward the amphitheater, and over to the bike racks. As mine was a mountain bike, among a sea of racing road bikes), I didn’t hang mine up by the seat. I just kicked it into place with the kickstand and left it there while I hauled myself back up the steps, over the flood wall, and back toward the YMCA to get checked in. This involved getting my t-shirt, my race number, my timing chip (which fit around my ankle), and had to strip out of my hoodie, roll down my arm warmers, and roll up my sleeves to get the required triathlete bib number scrawled on my upper right in Sharpie marker. I felt pretty official after that.
Then it was the waiting game. I was waiting on Cathy to return with her mom. I needed to eat my pre-race fuel of a banana in enough time to let it digest. When she did arrive…she had forgotten the banana. I was afraid no fuel since my cereal at breakfast and my Lärabar I ate with it would mean I would be starving during the triathlon. A hungry athlete is an unhappy athlete. Trust me. So, she ditched her belongings and took off to the local gas station, knowing they usually have some bananas in a basket. She succeeded, and returned, and I devoured the banana on the walk toward the bike rack area. We had about 30 minutes to the start of the triathlon and a mandatory meeting in the bike area was about to start.
The mandatory meeting basically went over the course and how the triathlon would work. They told us where we would be biking, and how many loops we’d have to do for the required miles. They told us about transitioning from bike to running, and where we needed to run, turn around, and head up the hill, down some stairs (YIKES) and into the back of the YMCA to transition to the swim. Then…the dreaded swim would take place. They also went on to say that our participation in the event that morning was sending a message to people like the Boston Marathon bombers that we, as athletes, would not be bullied. It was a touching speech and I nearly cried. And then, we were told to get our bikes, put the more experienced up front, and get ready to start.
I decided to follow instructions and lined up with my bike toward the back. After all, the fewer people passing me meant the better I would feel about myself, right? Except…this was a loop, so those who started ahead of me were going to whip by me regardless. Ah well…being that I don’t bike much outside (this needs to change!), I wasn’t sure what to expect. Nor was I completely familiar with my bike…especially on really steep hills and the like, which I didn’t know I’d have to tackle until I was peddling up one. The bikers were sent off one at a time. And after about 10 minutes, it was my turn at the starting line. I was told to go whenever I was ready. Putting my feet on the pedals…I was off.
8 Mile Bike Time: 34:21
Biking 8 miles on a stationary bike, even with varying resistances, didn’t come close to preparing me for the bike portion of the triathlon. I started, as instructed, with my bike in the lowest gear, which would ensure a quick start. That was pretty much all I had right at the start. From there it was a matter of learning when I needed to be in a higher gear, when I needed to shift back down to an easier one, navigating pot holes, standing up so my bootie didn’t get bruised as I cruised over a makeshift bridge that covered a large hole in the course. The bike was HARD!
No joke. I thought, when I signed up, that because I could manage higher resistance on the stationary bike going 8 miles in 25 minutes would be simple. HAHAHA!! WRONG. I didn’t account for fatigue…or hills…or just…not knowing what I was doing. It’s not as easy as jumping on a bike and peddling. You have to put a lot of work into your legs to get that bike going and up to speed. And when I hit that steep incline the first time, I faltered more than a little. I slowed to a crawl. But I got up it…and learned a few lessons about my bike in the process.
First of all, my friend Will, who was also doing this (but has done a triathlon before) had those clip-in shoes for his pedals, which he said really do make all the difference. I sort of laughed it on, but my feet were sliding off my pedals at times. I could now see his point. I envied everyone who had those shoes for their bikes. They would definitely have an easier time. Secondly, I now knew that higher gears worked better on flat surfaces, and shifting to an easier gear for hills was ideal. On my second loop of the course, I was starting to get this down. And by the third and final loop, while my legs were screaming at me because they were tired of peddling the heavy mountain bike up the hill, I did better this time. And before I knew it, I was peddling into the transition area, hopping off my bike, and running it across the line to stop my timing chip. This gave me time to rack my bike and start to prep for the run.
Me having just transitioned from the bike to the run at the Floyd County YMCA Tri-At-The-Y Super Sprint Triathlon
2 Mile Run Time:15:52
No one told me how much my quads would hurt as I transitioned from biking to running. It took a moment for me to convince them that they needed to move. And this was the part of the race I felt most confident in. Here I was, feeling like a complete rookie because now my legs were hurting from pushing it on the bike. But, I finally got moving and managed to shake it all out the more I ran. I had walked originally toward the starting line, but Cathy began screaming at me to move it…so I jogged, hit the starting line, and took off.
I immediately passed the person who started running a few moments ahead of me. I knew that this was my portion and that I could do this well. I had to look beyond the pain and fatigue in my legs and push…dig deep…find my strong…and conquer the run. I also knew that at the very end of the run was a hill that would take us up to the flood wall. So, I was mentally preparing for that too. The rest of the run was flat, although pock marked with pot holes. I was just really careful where I planted my feet and kept on moving. I passed more people. I saw Will heading the other way. He waved at me. And then…I found the turn around point, made my turn and headed back toward the amphitheater. I passed Will. I headed up the hill…and I did so with some actual speed. My legs were feeling good. I was comfortable. I was running. I was doing my thing.
Then…the stairs.
UGH. Those brought my stride to a stop as running down them was not safe. I tried…and decided it was not a good idea. So, I walked them…quickly…and then picked up the run at the bottom, where I followed the path marked by orange cones toward the back of the YMCA. I passed over the mat that would stop the timing and began the swim transition. This was the part I wasn’t looking forward to doing.
300 Yard Swim Time:8:44
How I managed to swim 300 yards in under 9 minutes is still a mystery to me, as it took me 20 minutes when I practiced it the week before. Go figure. I’m still perplexed and slightly awed by my finish time for the swim. Going into this, I knew my legs would be tired, I would be tired, and it was my weakest link in the triathlon as it was. But, when I sign up for something…I get it done. Even if I do it slowly.
The transition from running to swimming took me 4 minutes to accomplish. Why? Well…I had to peel off my shirt and arm warmers, get rid of my Garmin and Nike Fuel Band. Then I had to take off my shoes, and strip out of the compression socks. Compression socks, if they are doing their job properly, are not easy to just peel off and go. I had to fight a little with them, but I finally managed to get them off so I could make my way over to the pool. I stepped across the start line, lowered myself into the water, and took off.
I did the crawl stroke for the first few lanes, but decided, as I slowed down and struggled, that the backstroke was going to be necessary if I was going to get through this. I felt like such a newbie, heading down the lane in a full on backstroke, then coming back in the crawl stroke. But, you do what you have to do to finish as best you can, right? I kicked, I flailed my hands and arms, I ripped through the water, up and down each lane, until I made it to the final lane. I knew I was almost there, and all my energy was fading fast. But I was so close now. I backstroked down, flipped over, and made my final swim back in to hoist myself out of the water and get across the finish line, stopping my chip time.
I’m not going to lie…this was difficult for me. The entire experience, from the weather, to the transitions, to the three sports involved all challenged me in different ways. They challenged my body. They made me work hard, push hard, and made me understand that proper training is important.
That being said, my overall finish time was 1:04:03. I was 81/128 overall. Not bad for a first triathlon. I finished 2/5 in my age division. As for the separate events, I as far as age division went, I was 3/5 on the bike portion; 1/5 on the run portion; and I was 4/5 in the swim portion. About what I expected. I didn’t come in last in my age division on anything…but if I had, I figured it would have been the swim. I was close. LOL!
Would I do another triathlon? Maybe a longer one? Maybe another Super Sprint? Sure. I’d love to. I actually had a really good time, despite the aches and pains I put my body through on the bike and swim. It was a really good time. And the YMCA did a fantastic job with enthusiastic volunteers and organization. This was a great way to be introduced to the endurance events of triathlons. And if I can ever afford a road bike, I’d like to pursue them further. But I will never again participate on a heavy mountain bike. Or, if I must, I’ll at least get out on the roads with it more this spring and fall and get to the gear shirts and using it on hills and flat terrain. If nothing else, the cross training will only help me improve as a runner, right?
As for swimming, I’m vowing now to be better about hitting the pool at the gym. Weekends, especially Sunday mornings, might be dedicated to that. In order to get better, I have to get stronger. And in order to do that, I have to practice, practice, practice.
But hey…I’m officially a triathlete!
Me having just finished the 300 yard swim and completing the Floyd County Tri-At-The-Y Super Sprint Triathlon
The Celiathlete 