Event – Page 12 – The Celiathlete

November 17, 2014

TCS New York City Marathon – New York, New York (November 2, 2014)

Me crossing the finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon - New York, New York — Me crossing the finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon – New York, New York

Race: TCS New York City Marathon

Place: New York, New York

Date: November 2, 2014

Time: 3:50:32

There is just something about New York City! I have always loved this city. Seriously. And that was only reaffirmed two weekends ago when I was there to participate in the TCS New York City Marathon! Talk about an exciting, overwhelming, and interesting adventure.

Interesting, you say? Well…yes. Because this adventure started off with quite a few hiccups. And the first one was the flight there. For one thing, without being told, our American Airlines flight was changed. Yep. Changed. In fact, it was now a USAirways flight. Which, for reasons dating back to Ireland 2010…pissed me off. But, I guess it was a good thing I sent my roomie over to their site to check us into our flight, or we would have been 2 full hours late to the airport. Instead of leaving at 6 p.m., our flight was changed to 4 p.m. I never got word of this change…so…thankfully we checked. YIKES!

Now having to leave work earlier for the airport, we had to tie up things at work sooner. But the fun didn’t stop there. Our flight was delayed. And when the call came through (at least they let me know this time!), we found out that now we couldn’t make our connecting flight at Charlotte to get to LaGuardia, where we’d be meeting up with Heather to get to the hotel together. UGH. Cathy got on the phone and finally got to talk to someone who managed to get us on a flight that would get into Newark. Now we needed to get from New Jersey to Manhattan. So…now Cathy had to call and hire a car. I was stressed out. Very much not a zen runner at this time. So, that afternoon, we left work earlier than planned to get to the Louisville airport. We arrived…checked my bag (I had to…I actually had foam rollers, water, and even a protein shake)…and got through security without a line. The TSA agent was cracking me up. He asked where I was traveling to and me, wearing my TCS New York City Marathon pullover said, “New York City.” And he did the old Pace Picante Sauce commercial where he said, “New York City?…Get a rope.” I giggled. At least TSA was in a good mood on Halloween.

Now, we had time to kill. So, Cathy and I began our endless meandering between the two terminals at the Louisville airport. And on one of our circuits, we ran into our boss from the office and her husband, who were supposed to have left earlier that morning for London. Turns out their flight got cancelled and they had to come back to catch a later one…which was also flying to Charlotte (like ours!), but it was the flight following us. I have never run into anyone I know at any airport, so this kind of made my day. We talked for a bit and then we went to charge my phone and wait on our plane.

Me with the Horse Head Guy at Charlotte Airport

It arrived late. We boarded. We got into Charlotte and noticed that one of the passengers on our flight (I said he looked like he was in the mafia), was now walking around with a horse mask on his head. It cracked me up for some reason. And the double takes he would get on the moving sidewalk was priceless. Seriously. When he paused to look at the connection screens, I went up and asked if I could get a photo with him. He kindly did so. God, I love Halloween.

Anyway, while at Charlotte we got something to eat. I devoured a protein bar and a fruit cup I went and bought at Starbucks. Cathy got Burger King, something she hasn’t had in awhile. I think it was a good choice for her. After we ate and relaxed, we headed over to our gate to fly out to Newark. We boarded, we took off, we landed. Cathy called the car people while I snagged my bag from baggage claim. And then…we were picked up and taken to The Manhattan Club in downtown Manhattan, our home away from home for the rest of the weekend.

Heather got there about 4 hours before we did. They were nice enough to let her check into the room. She went out exploring and to grab dinner while we were still on our way. But, we arrived. Cathy switched the credit card over to hers and Heather came down to take us up to our room. Second floor. No long elevator rides and the option to take the stairs if needed. We talked for a little bit, but it was very early and we needed some rest. We all got ready for bed and I set an alarm to wake us up so we could head over to the expo in a couple of hours.

The alarm went off too early for my liking, but I got up, shut it off, and we were got dressed and headed out into the windy, chilly, and damp New York City morning. The shuttle to the expo was picking up not too far from our hotel. We were early, and happened to stroll past a Fresh & Co. We noted the gluten-free and vegetarian offerings, so we ducked inside to eat some breakfast as the shuttle was about a 30 minute wait and we had the time. The breakfast was good. Not great. But good. And filling. And as I had no lunch plans, that was the important thing. I ended up getting the Zen Quinoa Bowl, which had 2 eggs over easy, with chickpeas, kale, portobello mushrooms, and onions. I topped it off with hot sauce and…yeah…it saw me through. Cathy got one of their breakfast wraps and Heather got a Nutella Croissant.

Now fortified and with the shuttle scheduled to arrive at any time…we headed out to hop aboard and get to the Javits Center and get our expo on! I had heard amazing things about this expo…and being New York City…you just know it’s going to be HUGE. I was hoping to have a chance to catch a couple of the elites, but it was the day before the race…so it wasn’t happening. It was nice, however, to get out of the rain for a little while. We arrived via shuttle bus and disembarked, heading inside and following the crowds to the escalators that took us up…to a camera/photography expo. Walk around to another set of escalators and BAM…marathon heaven. And immediately you see the official merchandise booth. I had to hit this up.

Me with my race bib...#11415 - Orange - Wave 1 - Corral C! — Me with my race bib…#11415 – Orange – Wave 1 – Corral C!

For one thing, I was dedicating my race to a very brave young lady battling her second bout of brain cancer. I wanted to get Cailin something from the expo and my friend (her mom), Joanne, said that she loves hats…and they would keep her head warm during the winter as she went through treatments. Perfect. So, I purchased a hat for her…then arm warmers, gloves, and a t-shirt for me. Done. On to the rest of the expo. Packet pickup. Smooth and easy. No problems at all. And no line! Back to exploring. No BondiBands…so no purchasing of those as is tradition. But I got to sample a few products and know (for 100% sure) that I want a Yonana machine. I avoided the Newton tent…because I knew I’d purchase shoes that I didn’t currently need (I have a pair in the box still!). I did purchase a couple flavors of GU for the marathon, as I was in need of fuel. Aside from that, we strolled the aisles, sampled things, and then…went upstairs to do the passport thing to get a free poster. I love race posters. So, we traveled through the different boroughs of New York via the expo, got this little booklet stamped at each one, took pictures, pretended to cross the finish line…and then…then…

I met a legend.

Kathrine Switzer.

If you do not know who Kathrine Switzer is…shame on you. In case you are living in shame…she is the first female to run the Boston Marathon as a registered number. Albeit, she was registered under the name of K. Switzer and race officials thought she was a man. When they saw her running, they tried to forcefully remove her from the race. She slipped from their grasps and went on to finish the race. What an inspiration to women everywhere. Especially women runners.

I wanted to meet her. So…I got into her line. Her time was running short, as she was about to go and give a talk, and we were warned that she might not get to us. But…we decided to at least try. And…we were the last people to get to talk to her. She was very kind, giving all three of us hugs. And as she called me over to sign a copy of her book…this man from Mexico came over and tried to talk to her. He said he didn’t understand English, but her assistant spoke Spanish. I don’t think he expected that. This kind of shit always happens to me. I was having a moment…and then…someone sort of…ruins it for me. Kathrine, being Kathrine, indulged him and signed his book and snapped a photo with him, but now she was feeling even more hurried. She apologized so many times. We took a picture and then she insisted that Cathy and Heather get in the shot too. It has always been a dream of mine to run under her Boson number: 261. She told me to “be fearless” and to have a great marathon. Such a wonderful woman.

And then…we were done with the expo. Just like that. We hopped back on a shuttle to head back to the Manhattan Club, after grabbing some Starbucks. Mmmm…much needed caffeine. Upon returning, we went to Walgreens to purchase umbrellas and some water to have in the room. Hydration is very important! Heather had plans to meet up with her cousin for lunch, so she hopped into a taxi and went to do that. Cathy and I decided to go exploring. I know…the day before the race is not the time to be on your feet, but my time in NYC was so limited as it was, I needed to get out there. Even if it was pouring rain on us and just windy and gross. Off we went. First stop…Times Square! And from there…wherever our feet took us. And we literally pounded that pavement for hours. We went up Broadway…and I spotted the Phantom of the Opera in a window of a theater showing…Phantom of the Opera. He waved…and I waved back. We hiked around to various stores, ducking in to wherever looked interesting. We took in some famous sites. Cathy went and got cannoli from The Cake Boss store…something she had been dying to do. And then, we reconnected with Heather, and went to Rockerfeller Center. The ice rink was up, but I couldn’t justify paying $30 to skate…and that was without the skate rental fee. We went to the Lego store. We grabbed chocolates at Teuscher Chocolates (to have as dessert that night). And then, we finally wrapped everything up and went back to the hotel room to drop things off and head off to dinner.

Night before a race means…gluten-free pizza!!

And we had originally planned to go to a place called Nizza. But, the only reservation slot available was 4 pm. WAY too early. So, around 6 p.m., we went down to Don Antonio by Starita, a few blocks down from our hotel, instead. They didn’t take reservations, but said that there was never more than a 45 minute wait, even on weekends. We took them at their word. Upon arriving, I went in to put my name on the list. I was told…45 minutes. So we waited. Inside. This tiny little restaurant. It. Was. Worth. It.

Cathy and Heather actually got their first sample of the food as, because of the number of people, a sample pizza was sliced up and sent out. Cathy was impressed by what she tried. And soon after, the very Italian man (whom we nicknamed the Italian Adam Levine) called out my name. And he could have said it a few more times and I would not have minded at all. *DROOL* We were seated and given menus to browse. Because it had no cheese on it at all…Cathy and I opted to split the Gluten Free Marinara Pizza. She also decided to try one of their famous fried dough balls…opting for the Montanarine Genovese, which is a fried dough puff topped with onion, pancetta and pecorino romano. Heather ordered a pizza as well (she needed meat and cheese and took half of it back to the hotel, although we never got back around to it) and also tried one of the fried dough balls. Order in. Order out. I actually had to look VERY closely at the pizza to make sure it was gluten free. It actually had a CRUST. No cracker crust here. This was a substantial, real pizza crust. The only difference between it and the regular crust was that this was obviously cooked in a pan as the edges were very clean. It was fantastic. And filling. And after eating…we returned to the hotel, ate our chocolates, rotated through showers, and got to bed.

Underneath that fashionable robe is a girl ready to run the streets of NYC

THANK GOD FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME. We fell back that night. Extra hour of sleep. Which was good, because the alarm at 4 a.m. for me to get up and get dressed for the race came earlier than I wanted. I turned it off, went into the bathroom and started to get ready. And then I heard the alarm go off again (appropriately it was “New York Groove” by Kiss). I had only hit snooze. Whoops. It did that twice more…so by the time Heather and Cathy were supposed to get up…they were already up. They went to get ready and soon I was pinned up, donning the toss-away bathrobe to keep me warm at the start for hours, and we were heading out of the room to make the walk to the subway to get to the New York Public Library where I would catch a shuttle bus to the start.

We stepped outside and were immediately battered by a strong wind gust. I mean, it practically knocked us over. Very high winds. As we headed to the subway I said, “And I’m supposed to run in this?!” It would be interesting if nothing else. The underground subway terminal was a nice reprieve from the wind and soon we found ourselves on a train with other runners heading to the same place. We got off the train and headed up to the street to the library. We were all guided into this little chute, which we walked until we hit the security checkpoint where only people with a race bib could enter. I gave hugs to Cathy and Heather, and sent them off to get their breakfast…a NYC bagel…while I got into the madness of the bus queue. Oh…wow…this was insanity. So many people…all trying to get on their shuttles. WOW. It was…an adventure to say the least. But I picked a line further up and climbed into the bus to make the drive from the library to the start camp at the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge. I only had with me a change of shoes (I heard the grass could get wet so I was ditching an old pair in my corral and putting on my race shoes then), a banana and some cereal. My fuel belt was around my waist…and that was it. I was bundled up in a robe and gloves…but it was no match for the bitter wind that morning.

Heather, me, and Cathy in the subway waiting on the train to get to the New York City Library shuttles. We are very sleep deprived.

The ride over was uneventful. It was super early…my shuttle departed at 6 a.m. Everyone was I think just…sleeping or dozing or looking out the window. I did a lot of looking out the window on the ride to the bridge. I was in a calm place. I thought I was going to be a nervous wreck, especially since I wouldn’t know anyone at the start line. But I was as zen as could be expected…because the unexpected awaited. I will remind everyone…my training for this race fell to pieces back in July…when what was thought to be the start of a stress fracture turned out to be…inflammation…that still is rearing its ugly head. So, I knew this race had the potential to be…really, really, really bad. But I was going into it with my foot feeling…okay…and a lot of support.

The bus parked on the side of the road with a long line of other buses. And here, we all disembarked. There were volunteers out, directing all runners toward the staging area of Fort Wadsworth…where I would now have a 3 hour wait before my wave and corral would be sent off. Three long, cold, and windy hours. It was during this slow procession to the staging area and start villages that I realized my banana had fallen out of my robe pocket on the bus. Now…all that I had with me to eat…was a serving size of my cereal. And my GU packets for the run. I knew the start villages were going to have some items for runners to enjoy, including coffee, tea, and bagels. I was hoping bananas or something gluten-free might be there as well.

But first…I had to contend with the security. All runners had to show their bibs as they entered the staging area. Then…metal detectors. I had my clear starting area bag with just my shoes in it (and in hindsight, should have put my snacks in there as well!) so I was ushered through. I handed my stuff off to one of the officers, went through the metal detector, and then proceeded to get wanded because I was wearing my long robe. Ah well. No biggie. The wind was already brutal. In fact, race officials had to reduce the number of tents at the staging area because of the strong wind gusts. This meant, when I made it to the orange start village…there was one tent…and a lot…A LOT of people.

Me sitting in the tent for the Orange Start Village before the TCS New York City Marathon...rocking the free Dunkin Donuts Hat. I was, honestly, freezing! — Me sitting in the tent for the Orange Start Village before the TCS New York City Marathon…rocking the free Dunkin Donuts Hat. I was, honestly, freezing!

Entering the staging area for my color was an experience. Lines of people were everywhere. But, by the grace of the running gods, Dunkin Donuts was there and they were passing out these hats to all the runners. Thank goodness, because the winds were not only gusting, but they were chilling. Down to the bone. And my head was cold. I immediately threw it onto my head (as so many others did as well) and made one circuit of the start village offerings. Tea, spring water, coffee (supplied by Dunkin Donuts), Gatorade Endurance products, bagels and PowerBars were all there were. I went up to the PowerBar people and asked if any of the bars were gluten-free. None of them were. I was about to have a mild panic attack. I had yet to eat something…because I didn’t want to eat too early…but I knew it would be impossible to go very far on just a serving of my gluten-free cereal. Yep. Panic. Not much I could do about it though…so taking the advice of my friend, Courtney, who ran New York City last year, I made my way to the one tent that they had up in my start village and ducked inside, spotting somewhere sort of near the middle and settled in. Maybe I could make friends. Maybe someone would have an extra banana. Maybe…

But…no one around me spoke English. No joke. Not very well, anyway. So, making friends was not going well for me. I finally just gave up, decided to eat bits of my cereal intermittently until I had to get to my corral, and just…try not to panic. I had one extra GU pack on me, which I would take 20 minutes before the run. It had to be good enough. So I began reading through Dean Koontz’s “Frankenstein” and would every now and again nibble on a bit of my cereal. My nerves were now way up.

After awhile, I started hearing some announcements over the loud speaker…but couldn’t make any of them out. I decided to risk losing my spot in the tent to step outside and see if I could get a clearer idea of what was being said. I am so glad I did. Because Wave 1 was being sent to their corrals and we had 20 minutes to make the walk there and get inside before we would be cut off and forced to start in the second wave instead. That was not going to happen to me. I made my way with the masses toward the corrals, now traipsing over a field with hay laid out on the ground. And I made it to the Orange Wave…Corral C. With only a few minutes to spare. Whew.

I admit…I think I was expecting something closer to the start corrals of the Chicago Marathon. But I was on a little side street, alleyway of some sort…with port-a-potties lining one entire side and the masses of runners in the Orange Wave Corral C all huddled together or in line to pee. It was…not glamorous at all. I made small talk with some people around me…a woman from Australia who commented on my dressing gown…a freezing guy who was dressed in shorts and a long sleeve shirt…not at all prepared for all the hours spent at the staging area in this kind of weather. And others. As the time got nearer, I changed my shoes and ditched the robe…to now freeze. Soon…the corral strings were dropped and we were all marched forward, up toward the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge.

The view of the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge from my corral on Staten Island

It is a beautiful bridge…but it is intimidating for sure. I saw a Marathon Maniac walking only a few steps ahead of me, so I called out to him and we were talking on the way up near the bridge. He asked where my Marathon Maniac gear was and I explained that my company sponsored me so I was wearing their uniform. Then, the loud speaker booted up again and we were hearing the names of the elite men (my wave started with them!) and we would all cheer. I mean…we were running with Wilson Kipsang, Geoffrey Mutai, and Meb Keflezighi. Legends. Then we were informed that was the dress rehearsal and the next time it would be live…so we were to cheer loudly again. HA. The magic of television.

They were announced. Again. And we cheered. Again. I removed the Dunkin Donuts hat and tucked it into my fuel belt. If it stayed…free hat. If not…eh…it was a free hat. The National Anthem was played and then…cannons. I knew that was how we were sent off…but it still scared the living daylights out of me. My heart skipped a beat, my feet began to move toward the start…and up we all started, crossing the first sensor pad at the start line…and taking the 3.6% grade of the Verrazano–Narrows Bridge. And that was when we got our first taste of the winds that we would be battling that morning. No joke, there were gusts that made me feel like my feet were going to come out from under me. We all put our heads down…our race bibs sounding like sails in hurricane force winds. The helicopters circled us overhead. The world was watching. And we must have looked like we were on the biggest treadmill in the wold.

The first mile is straight up the bridge and the second mile…you come back down and hit the streets. Everything is loud. After the bridge…it’s just people. So many people. And they are out there…cheering…and if you had your name on your shirt (I didn’t)…they would shout out your name. It was uplifting. It almost made you forget you were cold. And battling wind gusts between 40 mph and 60 mph. So, we left Staten Island and were immediately welcomed into…BROOKLYN!

I won’t lie…I had the Beastie Boys song “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” drumming through my mind. It was part of the music playlist I put together to get me excited for the NYC Marathon in the first place. We honestly rounded that corner and heard “WELCOME TO BROOKLYN!” Awesome.

The elite men on First Avenue around Mile 17.5. Meb is in the white arm warmers behind the second guy in orange.

Brooklyn is, honestly, the longest stretch of the five boroughs. Staten Island…we’re there for the start village and the bridge…then…up until the halfway point…honestly. And there was a lot going on for that first half. Rows of people lining the streets. Runners either pushing hard from the start or easing up to save it for the finish. I knew running the entire 26.2 miles wasn’t happening for me. I can’t run what I didn’t train for…but I was going to do my best. I dedicated this race to a brave young woman who was fighting the hardest battle of her life…and I was going to honor her as best I could. I was going to just give this race the best of me.

At mile 5…I ditched my gloves.

Brooklyn was interesting. It is also where, around Mile 10, we enter Bedford Avenue…Williamsburg…where the Orthodox Jews reside. While there were some scattered throughout this mile…watching…it was silent. No cheering. And hardly anyone out. It made Mile 10 one of the more challenging to get through in the race. The crowds carry you when you feel like you can’t take one more step. Here…you just had to get through. It was early though…and most of us still felt good. I did.

I hit the halfway point…and then…”WELCOME TO QUEENS!”

Pretty much every borough had someone that would scream a fantastic welcome to you as you ran through. LOVE. The Queensboro Bridge was ahead…and as I started to make my way inside…yes…we ran a lower deck…I saw many a male marathoner pull off to the side to pee. This was also the bridge where I lost my GPS signal for about .3 of a mile. I didn’t know it at the time, but it happened. I noticed as I came to Mile 16 and my watch didn’t beep. It did…a little later after I passed. I was now ahead of my watch. That is okay…I wear that as a backup for my time more than anything else. The zen runner does live on…sometimes. Exiting the bridge, which was just a cavern that echoed and amplified our breathing and footfalls, we were once again greeted by the masses. That rush you get when that crowd returns…when you get the shouting and the cowbells and the encouragement…it is the best feeling in the world. And it was what started to carry me.

Me waving to Heather and Cathy at Mile 17.5. Still smiling and feeling good!

Cathy and Heather had told me that they were going to try to catch me at Mile 17. As I crossed the Mile 17 marker, I began searching the crowd on the left for them. This was made even more challenging as we were now climbing another hill. I didn’t see them and had all but given up. The downside of the hill greeted me and as I crest it and begin my descent, there they are, screaming for me over the crowd. I run by, throwing them a huge smile and a wave. I love seeing my friends when I’m running. It is just…uplifting. It is.

I was running First Avenue now…and I remained on there through Mile 20 about. But before leaving this street…I still had to go over the Willis Avenue Bridge. The inclines were starting to get to my untrained legs, so I slowed a little. I hated to do it…but if I was going to make that last 10K, I had to. But I took the bridge like a champ, pushing myself through the strong headwinds and thinking of Cailin…wanting to finish this strong. I came off the bridge…

“WELCOME TO THE BRONX!”

We weren’t in The Bronx for long through…and soon the streets wound us through Harlem and the crowds were loud and it was exciting. I loved hearing people get called out. I loved hearing, “You’re looking strong, girl!” Even though I knew I looked anything but strong. It helped. A lot. This was around where runners hit the dreaded wall. With the strong wind gusts that day, I was battling this run harder than any other. I think this might be as close as I have ever gotten to hitting…”The Wall.” I fought it though…because I knew…I was close now. I was so close.

We make the turn onto Fifth Avenue and soon I hear the shout I’ve been waiting to hear…

“WELCOME BACK TO MANHATTAN!”

Love. I could see the city. I could hear the city. And here, the runners were pushing themselves toward Central Park. We get to duck inside the park around Mile 22, only to reemerge briefly. But when we return to the park…we are two miles away from glory. Just two miles. The crowds inside the park are amazing. They had to go through security checkpoints to be there. They were loud and giving us the “You’re so close! You’re almost there!” And you believe it…because it’s true. Two miles…

My selfie after crossing the finish line of the TCS New York City Marathon

The park is beautiful this time of year. Still green, but shading to those perfect fall colors. The wind…was brutal that day. And I focused more on pushing through those gusts. I could taste the finish line. I could almost feel it with each step I willed myself to take. I was on my way. I came up hill at Mile 25…and I knew…I was close. Pushing on, the crowds became louder. I could hear the announcer at the finish line. And there it was. These arching towers…those little blue mats at our feet. I pushed with what I could find left in my tank. I pushed. And I crossed that finish line feeling like I just won the damn thing. My time…was my third fastest, although I felt like this one beat me up the most. I was tired and drained…but I felt so alive. There were no tears at this finish line. Smiles. Just smiles. I did it! I took a moment…and snapped a selfie.

From here…the long walk ensued. We were funneled through the finishing area, our medals placed around our necks and mylar blankets wrapped around us. There were people out there who attached stickers to hold the mylar in place as we continued up through Central Park. Finisher’s photos were taken…and the food goodie bag was passed out. Water and Gatorade were offered. I took some water. I was in the group of runners that had a bracelet on because I didn’t check a bag. This meant I got a free TCS New York City Marathon poncho. But my trek there was long…I had to get to 77th Street. Here, volunteers would wrap and secure the lined and heavy-duty poncho around the runners and send us up toward 72nd Street. This…was where we were out of the race zone.

I had through I’d be going straight up 77th street to rendezvous with Heather, Cathy and my friend Marisa…but now I was 5 blocks down. I checked the printed map Cathy had given me and this worked out better. The hot dog place they were grabbing lunch at (Gray’s Papaya) was closer to 72nd Street. So, I headed up that way. I was handed some tea and congratulated. Many people who walked by congratulated all the runners making their way up there.

Marisa, me, and Heather after the TCS New York City Marathon

And then…there was Heather. She hurried over and gave me a hug. She said, “You finished in 3:50-something.” I was beaming. Then…Cathy and Marisa were there…hugs all around. I wanted to get back to the hotel to shower because we had some things to do before dinner that night, and our reservation was at 6 p.m. So, we made the short walk back to The Manhattan Club. We went up to the hotel room and I took a nice hot shower. Nothing in the world felt better than that. After I was changed and my hair was dried…I gave another attempt at consuming a protein shake post-marathon. It didn’t sit well. Not one bit. I ended up throwing it up. But I felt better. We headed out…to walk to Tiffany’s because I needed to get a pendant engraved and do a bit of shopping. On the way, Cathy ducked into the place we had breakfast on Saturday morning and snagged me a bottle of Sprite Zero to settle my stomach. It helped. A lot.

We had a great time at Tiffany’s…but it took longer than anticipated. Back to the hotel to change for dinner. Then a fantastic and

Me, with Cathy, in my fancy dress, compression socks, and heels...because this is how a marathoner dresses up for dinner! — Me, with Cathy, in my fancy dress, compression socks, and heels…because this is how a marathoner dresses up for dinner!

celebratory dinner at Red Rooster in Harlem. For any non-foodies…this is Marcus Samuelsson’s restaurant. Usually we do pubs…but I requested this. I think the most epic moment of the night was as we were heading down to the subway, some girls were just coming up the steps with their mylar wrapped around them. They looked at me and said…”She’s in heels. She just ran a marathon…and she’s in heels. With compression socks!” Their eyes met mine and they said…”You’re my hero!” It made me laugh. I tend to recover well and fast after a marathon. I hope it stays like that. So…dinner in Harlem and then…we parted. Marisa had to return to New Jersey and the three of us went to retire to the hotel. Heather and I decided to head back out (I move as much as possible after a marathon) and see Ground Zero. We saw the new tower, which was opening the following morning. It was still bitter cold out and we ended up having a snafu with one of our trains back to Manhattan. So, we got in really late…and had to all get up super early to get a taxi to the airport. But every moment of this trip was worth it.

My official time for the TCS New York City Marathon was 3:50:32. I was 9984 out of 50,875 finishers overall. I was the 1970/20,414 female to cross the finish line. And I was 403/3740 in my age division to finish. When I look at the overall results…I am beyond impressed with my performance. This still wasn’t the race I wanted. But the winds…they were relentless. I heard on the news that all but 6 miles of the marathon were with a headwind. I believe it. It sucked. A lot. But, you can’t change the weather…you just adapt. That’s what I did. I would LOVE to run this one again, believe it or not. Minus the wind trying to take my feet out from under me. As a side note, the wheelchair racers were started at Mile 3…due to the heavy winds on the bridge. The race officials were afraid they would be blown over or off. It was honestly that bad. I had a fantastic time and a fantastic race given the circumstances…and I was once again reminded of the many reasons that I always have and continue to love New York.

October 31, 2014

Time to get my “I Think I Can” on…

I am a bit behind on blogging these days…but it just seems everything is spiraling into chaos at the moment. I’ve been so busy. And the main reason is…

…THE NEW YORK CITY MARATHON IS ON SUNDAY!!

Granted, I’ve run a full marathon and a half marathon only since my injury in July. The foot did awful coming out of the marathon, but the half marathon…I felt great. I needed that. I didn’t race it…I ran with a friend…and I got to that finish line without having any issues with the foot.

PROGRESS!

That being said…no training has happened. I took a full 2 weeks off from any activity after I ran Twin Cities…and slowly began to resume gym machines, swimming, and some mild cardio. But not running. The foot was hurting. As it began to ease…I worked in a week of short 1 mile runs…

Then I was given a free entry into a local half marathon…so I decided if I ran easy and just focused on a run/walk plan…I could do it. Besides, I sort of needed a double-digit run before hitting the streets of New York, right? Well…it went well. I’ll write on that more next week…

For now…I’m packing…doing laundry…and just getting things together because tomorrow…I am flying out to New York City because on Sunday…I am going to be running through the 5 boroughs. I will also be taking pictures along the way. I can’t run what I didn’t train for…so time to just take in New York.

On an interesting note, the 1 millionth finisher is expected to cross the finish line this year…around 4:00-4:10. Hmmm…

Until then…THIS…is what keeps me super psyched. Check it out…because I’ve been watching it every day to get psyched to run, run, run!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8_DutsOGv4

Tell me that doesn’t make you want to run this marathon!!

GAH!! Better finish packing…

October 19, 2014

Restaurant Review: Moerlein Lager House, Cincinnati, Ohio

Restaurant: Moerlein Lager House, Cincinnati, Ohio

It had been a long day for me. No…really. And, while a part of me was super stoked that I was leaving right from work to drive up to Cincinnati, Ohio, with my roommate, for a concert, another part of me just wanted to curl up under a blanket on the sofa at home. But…there was music to be enjoyed. And she had purchased a set of tickets to see Bastille in Cincinnati awhile back to help cheer me up.

This foot injury has had me pretty down since July…and she thought a surprise and a band I love might just help lift my spirits. It did. but this was a crazy, intense week at work, and my brain was ready to shut down.

Thankfully, that mindset changes when you actually get on the road to an event that you are really looking forward to.

So, at 4 p.m., we departed the office and hit the road up to Cincinnati, Ohio. A couple of days prior, Cathy had made reservations with a place not to far from US Bank Arena (the venue for the show) due to some gluten-free options available on their menu. I love trying out new food places so…WOOHOO! Even better…it had fish and chips readily available for her. YAY! She made the reservations for 6:30 p.m., which would give us some time to hit traffic and get into the city, park, and get to the venue. The last-ditch food option would be Chipotle, if the traffic gods were not with us.

But they were…and we arrived in Cincinnati just before 6 p.m., having only hit some traffic in Covington, Kentucky, just before crossing into Ohio and hitting Cincinnati. We readily found parking and got out, making the short stroll from the parking garage (with it’s $20 event parking!) to the restaurant, which was literally one block up and then over…down toward the river walk. Beautiful night too. Perfect weather.

We walked up the stairs to Moerlein Lager House and stepped inside. There were a few people ahead of us, but most went right to the bar. We stepped up and Cathy mentioned that we were early, because traffic wasn’t as bad as we anticipated…and they were more than happy to sit us down early. Nice. We were shown to a very nice table, somewhere between the rowdy bar and the floor to ceiling windows, which offered a spectacular view of the riverfront. We were given our menus and a menu that had the specials on it, where if any item were ordered off that menu, a donation would go towards a charity. Tempting, but there really wasn’t anything on there for me…and Cathy had her heart set on fish and chips. Our waitress, Kelly, came over to see if we wanted something to drink. We started with water. And when she returned, she asked if we wanted any appetizers or had any questions on the menu. Cathy mentioned that I was a gluten-free vegetarian…and she came over. I think she missed the “vegetarian” part following gluten-free…because she highly recommended the crab cakes. But…hey…she tried. And…working in it’s favor – the restaurant labeled everything V for vegetarian and GF for gluten-free. And wouldn’t you know it…they had a dish that fit both requirements.

Cathy ordered her Fish and Chips ($18.00), which was cod that was battered with their house beer, Hudelphol, and served with a jalapeno tartar sauce, coleslaw, and fries…and decided she’d live dangerously with a non-alcoholic beer (I agree with some friends of mine on this…what’s the point??!), Einbecker ($7.00) to have with her entree.

As for me…I happily placed an order for the Crispy Balsamic Tofu ($17.00). YES! You read that right. This entree was served with a spinach basil risotto and roasted tomatoes, cipoline onions, and wild mushrooms, topped with shaved asparagus and preserved lemon salad. It had actually been a toss-up between that entree, or ordering a few sides and dining on that. Cathy pointed out I could get those sides offered virtually anywhere…but the tofu dish was an original. I agreed…and that’s what I ordered.

Moerlein Lager House's Crispy Balsamic Tofu — Moerlein Lager House’s Crispy Balsamic Tofu

While we waited for food, we discussed the concert…the music…my upcoming marathon…my foot (which to this day still bothers me!)…and the restaurant itself. And, when our food arrived, we were both certainly ready to dive in and devour.

My dish looked beautiful. It was a true culinary work of art. The tofu was sliced on the diagonal, making perfect triangles that had this great crispy coating on the outside. It was all set over this mound of perfectly creamy risotto with the vegetables framing the outside of the dish. Shaves asparagus topped it all off and there was this gorgeous balsamic reduction that was drizzled over the plate. I felt bad slicing into it…but I was hungry, so that moment only lasted briefly.

One bite was all I needed to realize how much I loved this meal. The tofu had this great crispy outside, but inside it was still rich and soft. It was glazed perfectly with the balsamic reduction and the hit of lemon just made it shine. The shaved asparagus was cooked to a perfect al dente and used as not only a garnish, but as a great addition to the roasted vegetables on the plate. The onions were spectacular and the tomatoes were soft and juicy. But the star…the absolute star of this entree was the spinach basil risotto. It was phenomenal. Creamy and rich and packed with great earthy and herby flavors. I was already telling Cathy after one bite that I wanted to recreate this dish at home. She sampled the risotto and understood why. I also had her try the tofu…and she really liked that as well. This dish hit on everything I liked. It had a nice tang to it, but the flavors were simple and real. And I ate the entire thing…possibly in record time.

A dessert menu was brought to our table and after a bit of discussion…and the mention of a Chocolate Creme Brulee ($7.00), Cathy and I decided that we could treat ourselves and split the dessert. Cathy checked with Kelly to make sure the Creme Brulee was gluten-free. She said she thought it was, but would check. It was…and after a small wait, the delicious looking dessert was arriving at our table with two spoons. Holy Moses! This was one spectacular and rich dessert. The burnt sugar on top was fun to crack through, but what it gave way to was this rich and decadent chocolate cream. Cathy described it as high-class pudding. HA! And that’s what it tasted like. It was amazing. And I think once we set the spoons down, Cathy might have licked the bowl a little bit.

Honestly, the service was amazing and I didn’t feel nervous about eating here. The clearly labeled items on the menu helped make it very easy to navigate and to make sure I got what I needed and wanted. And what would be safe for me. Cathy loved her meal, and even enjoyed the jalapeno tartar sauce. She said it was her second favorite tartar sauce she’s had yet. That’s something. The food was outstanding. I mean…it’s not every day I can get a vegetarian dish that is also gluten-free at a restaurant without it being…a salad. So, this was a nice treat, indeed. And one day, when I run the Flying Pig Marathon…you better believe this is the place I’ll be hitting up for dinner.

Thank you, Moerlein Lager House…you exceeded my expectations!

Moerlein Lager House's Chocolate Creme Brulee — Moerlein Lager House’s Chocolate Creme Brulee

October 12, 2014

Restaurant Review: The Liffey Irish Pub, St. Paul, Minnesota

Restaurant: The Liffey Irish Pub, St. Paul, Minnesota

I finished. I ran. I walked. I crossed the finish line of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. And after all the hullabaloo at the finish line…the gathering of essentials like finisher’s medal, finisher’s shirt, banana, water, photos, chocolate milk, salty snacks, and so on…I met up with my adoring public…Heather and Cathy. They were at the designated spot at the runner reunion area. And the night before we had made noises of checking out a pub after my run.

It has sort of become a thing…we either do a pub or Mexican food after I run a marathon.

You don’t mess with a thing.

Bad things happen when you mess with…a thing.

So, it just so happened that a great Irish pub in St. Paul, called The Liffey Irish Pub, wasn’t but a couple of blocks away from the finish area. While I was getting some compressions socks on and a different pair of shoes, Heather called ahead to see what the wait would be like. It turned out we were in between the rushes. So, after I stretched for a moment, we decided to pack up and make the hike to the pub. It was a slow hike…my foot, my ankle, my legs were killing me. I had never felt like this after a marathon…but I’d been injured (still was) and couldn’t train. It sucked, but my friends were more than willing to work with me.

Our good friend, Paul, whom we met through the big U2 summer of concert madness a couple years ago, met us there. He had been one of the group at Mile 17 and had said he could join us for lunch. I stepped inside and immediately was given a hug. We were immediately seated by the hostess, but before hitting up the table, Cathy and I ducked into the bathroom so I could get out of my running clothes and into something more comfortable (yoga pants and a t-shirt!). We found the table where Paul and Heather were seated and I started looking at the menu.

Usually it takes me awhile to be hungry, but at this point, I was hungry. Amazingly enough. And, also a plus, we knew from the Internet search, that The Liffey had a gluten-free menu. And when our drink orders were taken (water for starters and then Heather and Paul got drinks with their food), we were given the opportunity to think about what to eat. Easy here. For the non-vegetarian and gluten-free (my dining compatriots), it seemed that Fish and Chips (Heather & Paul got the North Atlantic Cod – $14.00; Cathy got the Canadian Walleye – $15.00) was the pub grub of choice (naturally!). For me…the Quinoa Salad ($9.75) sounded like the meal of choice. Ideal for recovery too!

Orders in…and we started talking about everything we had been up to…and U2 stuff…and all that jazz. In fact, we were so busy talking that it took us a moment to realize that the tray that came in a little later had our food on it! I think we were all ready to eat. Paul actually got his fish and chips with a Guinness and Heather got hers with a delicious Strongbow cider. Mmmm. I was feeling dehydrated so it was water only for me with my meal…this time.

The Liffey Irish Pub's Quinoa Salad — The Liffey Irish Pub’s Quinoa Salad

The Quinoa Salad was a fantastic bed of spinach that contained quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, capers, basil, and avocado. All these amazing vegetables and grains were tossed with a fantastic, and highly delicious lime vinaigrette. The quinoa and spinach were great protein for after the run. And I loved the flavor. I didn’t actually expect the sweet potatoes to be cold, but didn’t mind it in this salad. While I’m not a huge fan of capers, the salty and vinagery flavor complimented the lime vinaigrette and the earthy vegetables in the salad. I enjoyed this salad down to the last bite. Amazing. And it takes a lot to amaze me when it comes to salad. This one hit all the right notes…and was like no other salad I’ve had before.

I like different.

I also like being able to enjoy a dessert when I go out to eat. And there happened to be a few that I could indulge in here at The Liffey Irish Pub. Oh, St. Paul…you’re winning me over with this gem of an Irish pub. A fruit cup was an option. Or the local Izzy’s Ice Cream (flavors unknown). But the one that interested me was the gluten-free version of their S’more Pot du Crème. We asked for four spoons.

The Gluten Free S’more ($5.50) was a rich chocolate custard with Izzy’s Vanilla Bean ice cream. All of this was topped off with a fantastic marshmallow fluff brûlée. It sounded beyond delicious. And when it came out…all four of us dove in. Seriously. Four spoons dipped into the toasted marshmallow top, through that layer of vanilla ice cream and touching that decadent chocolate custard.

BEST. DESSERT. EVER.

We licked that bowl clean. While I was glad there were four of us going after this dessert, I probably could have eaten the entire thing by myself without feeling any regrets. It was so good. The rich custard with the cold ice cream and the warm, fluffy nature of the fluff was the perfect combination. It felt like I was eating a delicious s’more at a campfire. But better. This was just…the best campground treat elevated to restaurant quality. High class. Amazing. I was wishing for one more bite once we polished it off.

It was unanimous, really.

BEST. DESSERT. EVER.

Should I say it again?

BEST. DESSERT. EVER.

I was way beyond satisfied when I shuffled out of their with my friends. We each said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. Paul one way, Heather to take us to our car and then meet up with us at my grandpa’s house so I could shower and then we could keep me moving by walking the Mall of America.

Where I bought a fantastic dress…

But, that’s of no consequence. What is, however, is the fact that, without hesitation, without any doubt, I would eagerly return to eat at The Liffey, in St. Paul, Minnesota, whenever I happened to be in the area. Forget any other pubs that might be more convenient to where I am in Minneapolis. This one blew me away. And, I of course would have to get another taste of the…BEST. DESSERT. EVER.

Yep…I’ll be back. Count on it!

The Liffey's Gluten-Free S'more (aka: BEST. DESSERT. EVER.) — The Liffey’s Gluten-Free S’more (aka: BEST. DESSERT. EVER.)

September 20, 2014

Birthday & Boston

It’s September 19…and you know what that means?

It’s International Talk Like A Pirate Day, mateys!!

But…it also means that it’s my birthday. I didn’t have anything planned for the occasion…except having my friend Jenn come down for the weekend. Which is awesome, because she’s one of my favorite peeps. Travel buddy…race spectator…professional cheer section! WOOT!

And it was a good day. After work, we all went out for Indian food at Shalimar (my favorite!) and then to the mall. Cathy bought me a new wallet and some socks for an upcoming race outfit. The socks…the wallet is for everyday use, obviously.

And then, we came back to the apartment…stuffed ourselves with slices of my gluten-free and vegan birthday cake, made by Annie May’s Sweet Café, in Louisville, Kentucky. And we settled in for a little while to chat, get caught up, watch some crazy stuff on television, and then get some rest. Long day for the traveler and an early morning in the works for the morning.

I couldn’t have asked for a better day. This morning, I was gifted with a gift card to purchase either the Frozen Soundtrack or Sherlock Series 3 on Blu-Ray. I got some great new running gear from Amanda. I went to work with goodies for the office and they were devoured. Cathy’s mom brought me balloons and roses and a watermelon! Then, home for food. The waiter at Shalimar was taking our order, and I got my favorite, the Broccoli Masala. And he said, “It’s your birthday…you should do something different!” But I said it was my favorite…so that is what I wanted. After the meal, they brought out complimentary rice pudding for the three of us. I love that place SO much. As you can tell…I go there often! Then shopping. Then cake. Now relaxing. Oh yeah…good day!!

Speaking of cake…check out what Cathy and Annie May’s Sweet Café worked up for me:

Which brings me to the next order of business…

On September 12, 2014, at exactly 10:00 a.m., I was able to register for my chance to run the Boston Marathon. On Sunday night…I was pulling up my e-mail on my phone and…there it was…

Boston Marathon Confirmation of Entry Acceptance

OFFICIAL!!

I am so excited. And with the recent injury, I am really just focusing on recovery, regaining strength, and just getting myself to Boston in perfect marathon shape and form. I know it can happen. I have to break some of the habits I have fallen into since the injury. When this e-mail came over, I would have jumped up and down…if I could. But my foot wouldn’t allow that. So, I did this happy dance thing, and Cathy just ignored me. Law & Order was on. I finally said, “Ask me why I’m dancing…just ask me why I’m dancing.” Much screaming and excitement followed.

I still feel that way. So, for now…my plan for NYC is to take in the experience, but not race it. I just can’t. Not with that amount of time off. Not with my foot still bugging me when I take a step. My podiatrist changed up my prescription today…so hopefully something will get better.

But…there it is…

Birthday Bash and Boston Bound!! LOVE!!

August 26, 2014

Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest – Indianapolis, Indiana – August 23, 2014

GF Jules and me at the Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest in Indianapolis, Indiana!

This past Saturday, I had the honor of being able to attend the Gluten Free Food Allergy Fest up in Indianapolis, Indiana. I love going to gluten-free expos and events and Indianapolis seems to always have one at some point during any calendar year. This year was no exception, and I was thrilled to read about the new location for this year’s event – the Indian State Fairgrounds. With all the vendors and exhibitors I saw listed, I knew this year’s event was going to be HUGE! I was not let down at all.One of the magazines I currently subscribe to, Gluten Free & More (formerly Living Without), was putting on the Living Without Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest in various cities this year as a way to show those with food allergies and/or sensitivities that we can live life without deprivation and missing out on delicious food. It was a coming together of the magazine, as well as over a hundred of their favorite exhibitors to celebrate living well. And it was open to anyone who wanted to stop in.

Tickets went on sale and, as a subscriber, I received a free entry, and then received a discount code for another ticket…so I had Cathy taken care of as well. So, on Saturday morning, we ate a light breakfast before climbing into the car and hauling up to Indianapolis. We timed it perfectly because we burned through our breakfast just as we got up there, about 30 minutes after it officially opened.

And…there was already a line waiting to get in.

Oh…that made me happy, indeed.

It was a hot summer day already and standing outside in the blazing sun didn’t sound like too much fun…but it wasn’t going to be a long wait. Just about 5 minutes, at the most. And while standing in line, I got to listen to people who have done expos like this before (like me) describe the events and how things work to the first timers. I even got to geek out over favorite products and the like for a few moments. I love making gluten-free friends!

Before we knew it, we were inside the doors, in the air conditioning, and getting the tickets scanned. We were given blue wristbands to wear (for re-entry purposes and to show we paid!). Cathy and I put them on and headed into the expo proper. We were greeted at the door by people passing out reusable shopping bags from Glutino (a personal favorite!). Perfect for all the samples and products you are bound to pick up and buy.

Trust me, you don’t walk out of these events empty-handed.

Cathy and I decided that we were going to be systematic about our approach to each table/vendor/aisle. We’d start on one side and then work our way up, then come back down the other side. This was a good plan in theory, and we decided to start in the middle aisle to avoid the congestion of the end aisles. We soon found out…no matter what…it was just hopping and congested. People were surrounding tables, getting free samples, trying products, trying local baked goods, and the like. So, we ditched our original systematic plan for the…let’s just see what there is and wriggle into open areas when we can.

We’re pros. HA!

That being said, we began our Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest at the Glutino/Udi’s/Earth Balance booth, which was giving out samples of Udi’s Gluten-Free Salted Caramel Cashew Cookies as well as Glutino’s Gluten-Free Multigrain English Muffins, schmeared with Earth Balance Creamy Coconut and Peanut Spread. It was all crazy, crazy delicious. I actually have the Glutino English Muffins in my freezer, I just haven’t tried them yet. Now…I know buying them wasn’t a mistake at all. They were delicious. And that Earth Balance Creamy Coconut and Peanut Spread…out-of-this-world good!

And from there…it only got better. We made a point to stop by each vendor’s table and talk to them about their products, if we had tried them. If we hadn’t…we would ask all about them. I made a point of raving to the Pamela’s Product people about the Figgies & Jammies. Because they are awesome and worthy of praise. I talked to the Hodgson Mills representative and when I mentioned being a food blogger he said to reach out to the Hodgson Mills team anytime. I was told the same thing by various other vendors as well. And one local vendor who was selling the most amazing bar-b-que sauce and seasoning (which we purchased) said to tag her on Facebook when I use their products so they can read my blog. I was having a great time.

I think, though, the best moment had to come at the Freedom Foods table. Because, as many of you are aware, Freedom Foods only makes my favorite gluten-free cereal, Tropic-O’s. NOM NOM! I can’t find this cereal here anymore, since my Whole Foods stopped carrying it, so my parents ship it to me from Birmingham, Alabama. We have a system down. But, recently, they put out a gluten-free, dairy-free, and not-free version of Nutella…which I fell in love with. My local Kroger is the only place that had it…and I bought the last jar of it a few weeks ago. It has never been restocked. So…I stocked up on some Quinoa Pancake Mix, lots of “Smudge” (that’s the Nutella stuff!), and a few other products to try, all the time raving about how much I love their products and how they honestly care about what ingredients go into all of their stuff. It didn’t hurt that the guy at the table had a New Zealand/Australian accent. HELLO! I actually ended up going back to the table before leaving that day and buying 4 more jars of Smudge. I hadn’t opened the one I had at home for fear I would never find it again. Now…it’s on!

I was able to sample some of the best gluten-free Snickerdoodles I have ever eaten. And this pasta that was made from lentils that tasted exactly like regular pasta…but I couldn’t afford the hefty price tag on it. Unfortunately. It was nice to sample it, however. At the very back of the building, for those over 21, was the gluten-free cider/beer tasting area. There was so much food and samples…so I was glad we ate light. And Cathy and I have a system down…where we split a sample so we aren’t filling up on our own. It always works at these events.

However, I have to say the greatest moment ever was when I finally got to meet GF Jules in person. GF Jules (formerly Jules Gluten Free) was one of the first Celiac/Gluten-Free bloggers/recipe makers/amazing people I started to follow on social media after my diagnosis. While I have been to events where she has been present, I have never been able to actually meet her. That changed. We discovered that we were food allergy soul sisters, both of us being vegetarian Celiacs who also can’t handle dairy. Go figure. She was so nice and just so easy to talk with. I picked up one of her cookbooks, which she signed, and she was kind enough to take a picture with me. I might have geeked out a little bit. Or a lot. You know how it goes…

And soon, after a couple hours of tasting, testing, buying, talking, and exploring, our time at the expo drew to a close. We were going to meet our friend, Greg, for lunch that day, so we bid adieu to the fantastic event and made our way out to the car.

This event was probably the best one I have attended so far. Great people, great vendors, great information all around. And I came home with samples and products to try in the very near future. Can’t argue with that, right? Right!

I hope they return next year. I’m already making plans to attend. If one of these events happens near you…I definitely encourage you to go!

September 29, 2013May 11, 2015

Going local for a “Sweet” and a “Savory” birthday

September 19th.

It’s an important day. And not just because it’s International Talk Like A Pirate Day.

It’s important…because it’s my birthday.

And this year I was turning the big double 3. Yes. I don’t mind my birthday or getting older. It’s one of my favorite days…even though most of the time I do nothing really to commemorate it. But this year…I decided to enjoy the delicious offerings of two of my favorite, local, gluten-free businesses, both of whom went above and beyond to make the occasion more than special.

It all started on the day before my birthday when my roommate and I took a longer lunch from the office and headed down to Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky to pick up the birthday cake we ordered from Annie May’s Sweet Café. Now…by now most of you know that my local running store nicknamed me Wonder Woman last year. It’s stuck. And I mean…stuck! I get called Wonder Woman more than I care to admit. It’s flattering. I love it. Wouldn’t change it for the world.

Well, back when Annie May’s Sweet Café started showing off some of their custom cakes they were making, I told them they were definitely doing a special cake for my birthday this year. They replied on their Facebook page…”How about a Wonder Woman cake?” (See…my reputation precedes me). I was totally all about it. They actually made a simple birthday cake for me last year too (strawberry cake with a vegan chocolate ganache), which is how I found out about them…and how they won me over in the first place (that and the apple cider donuts we bought when we picked up the cake…just sayin’.). The cake was amazing. So, naturally, as it is my belief that no matter how much you love to cook and bake…you should never have to make your own birthday cake…we hit them up again this year. And, per their suggestion via their Facebook page months and months ago…I thought…I think I should have a Wonder Woman cake.

As we are in Annie May’s Sweet Café every Saturday morning if we are in town for their delicious breakfast offerings…that Saturday we went ahead and placed the cake order (and a soft pretzel order for Soft Pretzel Wednesday) to pick up on Wednesday around lunch time. My roommate asked what kind of cake I wanted. I’m not big on cake…and I like simple. So…this year I went with a vegan vanilla cake with vegan vanilla icing. And yes…WONDER WOMAN!

On Wednesday, when we showed up to pick it up, I was blown away. Kenna does the cake decorating and she did fantastic. I made sure I told Annie May that whenever possible (and I told Kenna when I saw her the following Saturday morning!). Seriously…I couldn’t have been happier with the way it turned out. The Wonder Woman logo was PERFECTION!! I mean, Kenna nailed it!! And the cake…SO delicious. The flavors were vibrant. The icing was sweet and meshed well with the vegan vanilla cake layers. Four layers…of cake-y goodness. And this from a girl who isn’t big on frosting or cake. How about that? I was SO happy with this cake. It was a 6-inch round cake that we got 12 good-sized portions from. I was in sugar-rush heaven. And happy to devour it all. Well, I had some help from Cathy (the roomie), Harry, and Laura.

But…here is the cake in all it’s gluten-free and vegan wonder (woman):

Wonder Woman Birthday Cake from Annie May's Sweet Cafe (vegan vanilla w/ vegan vanilla icing) — Wonder Woman Birthday Cake from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe (vegan vanilla w/ vegan vanilla icing)

Honestly…I have yet to have anything I didn’t like from Annie May’s Sweet Café. So…even if you don’t have food allergies…get over there. My friend Greg (not food allergic at all) would definitely direct you to their gluten-free Double Fudge Brownies. Me? I say…their allergen-free Chocolate Chip Cookies. Or…honestly…EVERYTHING!! Support local businesses!! I will continue to support this one.

HUGE thanks going out to Annie May, Kenna, and the rest of the staff who continue to show the world (or at least the Louisville area) just how good and delicious gluten-free can be!!

But…the birthday celebrations didn’t stop with a cake. Nope. Not for 33. Not ever.

Very randomly, about two weeks out from my birthday, I went over to the Facebook page of my favorite local (and gluten-free) food truck, Sweet ‘N’ Savory, and commented that I would love them forever if around my birthday, at one of their outings, if they could offer a Crepe Suzette, as it has always been one of my favorite types of crepes. I was told that they would be happy to cater a private event for me, featuring a 3-course meal, for only $20/person. I needed to make sure that I would have a decent enough crowd for them, and started asking my closest friends if anyone was interested. Most everyone I knew was free on the Sunday, September 22, and said they would be happy to come and celebrate with good eats. I was thrilled. And I went ahead and set it up with Richard and Ashley, the fantastic owners of the food truck.

They found a location, at Louisville’s The Beer Store in NULU. This turned out to be a perfect setting as they had a patio for seating and the side door was opened so we could trek out to the food truck to place our orders, return our plates, and all that good stuff. Guests could also imbibe in beers of any kind (SO MANY) or sodas or water…or whatever else they could find inside. It was a hit. I ended up having 10 of the 12 guests show up to the shindig, so that wasn’t bad at all. Very pleased. Although totally missed the ones who were unable to make it.

It was a very diverse crowd, but they all came hungry and they all socialized and blended well. YAY!!

So, what did Sweet ‘N’ Savory cook up for my special day? An amazing menu that every guest raved about and devoured. No one left hungry. In fact, we were all completely stuffed. But it was a good kind of stuffed. Trust me.

The menu, as I mentioned, was 3 courses: appetizer, entree, dessert (like Chopped…but without the surprise basket of ingredients!).

For the appetizer round, Sweet ‘N’ Savory prepared two of my favorite gluten-free vegetarian crepes: Caprese and Veggie Caponata. You could either get one large one of your choice, or one of each in a mini-crepe form. I totally forgot to take a picture of mine, but I went with one of each in the mini-form. What a way to start out. Everyone raved about them…especially the Veggie Caponata. That seemed to be the crowd favorite (and mine as well!!). It was the perfect way to start off the feast that day. We were given plates and a ticket and when we were done with the appetizer, all we needed to do was walk the plates and ticket back out to the truck, hand them over, and they would get to work on the entree.

The entree…is super special. Awhile back, Sweet ‘N’ Savory took part in a food truck event called Cluster Trucked. Each truck served up food that wasn’t their normal fare. For the event, Sweet ‘N’ Savory did gluten-free ravioli. And I fell in love with them all over again. For my event, they were dishing up two different varieties of ravoili. Once again, you could either get a full serving of one version, or split the difference and try both. The options: Butternut Squash, Ricotta, and Sage Ravioli topped with a Brown-Butter Sage Sauce or Four-Cheese Ravioli topped with a Red-Pepper Cream Sauce. When I was at Cluster Trucked, I had the Four-Cheese with Red Pepper Cream Sauce. I am in LOVE with that red-pepper cream sauce. I want to beg for the recipe. Seriously. But at my party, I was all about the Butternut Squash, Ricotta and Sage Ravioli with the Brown-Butter Sage Sauce. They had told me all about this one prior to the event and that was all I wanted. Observe:

Sweet 'N' Savory's Gluten-Free Butternut Squash, Ricotta and Sage Ravioli with a Brown Butter Sage Sauce — Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Gluten-Free Butternut Squash, Ricotta and Sage Ravioli with a Brown Butter Sage Sauce

I made a fantastic choice. The ravioli was so rich and creamy. The pasta itself was melt-in-your-mouth good. The sauce…so much flavor. The filling…it doesn’t get better than butternut squash (a personal favorite) with ricotta and sage. Honestly. I fell in love with the way this entire dish just danced across my taste buds. Savory. Rich. Delicious. I was in food heaven. I think I might have hoovered this up and licked the plate. It’s possible. For real. For being a gluten-free crepe food truck, they totally rock the ravioli. That is NO joke!

Following the dinner portion of the meal…naturally is something that hits that sweet tooth. And, per my request, Sweet ‘N’ Savory offered up a Crepe Suzette. What is a Crepe Suzette? It’s a crepe with sugar that has Grand Marnier poured over it, and then is ignited. Flaming food! The alcohol in the liqueur evaporates and what emerges is a thick, caramelized sauce. I first had a Crepe Suzette in Denver, Colorado a couple years back and I fell in love with it. So it was nice that they took an extra step to provide this for me at my request. Along with the crepe, they offered some of their famous and delicious gluten-free gelato…either (my personal favorite) Salted Caramel or Vanilla.

They attempted to light the crepes tableside, but the wind wasn’t cooperating. Points for trying!! That being said…CREPE SUZETTE FTW!! There is a reason this is one of my favorite sweet crepes to devour…er…eat. It’s sweet…it has brilliant flavor to it…and it’s still light. So it isn’t too much. I, naturally, paired mine with the Salted Caramel gelato. Best choice ever!! It paired so well with the Crepe Suzette. So, while this is not something that usually graces their menu, I was so glad when they offered this just for my little event. Heaven was in the form an amazing dessert crepe that day. Topped off with delicious gelato. YUM!

Sweet 'N' Savory's Gluten-Free Crepe Suzette — Sweet ‘N’ Savory’s Gluten-Free Crepe Suzette

I am eternally grateful for both Annie May’s Sweet Café and Sweet ‘N’ Savory Food Truck for helping to make my birthday so special this year. Everything they gave me was awesome. And no one would have guessed any of it was gluten-free. Because these places make food that is just that amazing. No one was disappointed and everyone commented on how good everything was.

Birthday win. Done with a little local flair.

And check out these beautiful people who came out to celebrate and enjoy good food, good conversation, and good times. I love them all!

Me & My Gang (from left and looping around to right): Kelsie, Cathy, Harry, Howard, Michael, Judi, Natalie, Me, Justin (Not pictured: Greg (he's taking the photo) and Maureen (who hid from the camera)) — Me & My Gang (from left and looping around to right): Kelsie, Cathy, Harry, Harold, Michael, Judi, Natalie, Me, Justin (Not pictured: Greg (he’s taking the photo) and Maureen (who hid from the camera))

July 17, 2013May 11, 2015

Morels The Vegan Butcher dices up spicy goodness with Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Vegan Jerky

Product: Morels The Vegan Butcher Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Vegan Jerky – $6.50+

Vegan jerky?

Yep…you read that right. And my roommate and I were just fortunate enough to stumble across this at a little fair in Louisville that highlighted local businesses. One of the businesses participating was Morels The Vegan Butcher. And on their table they had these little pouches that caught my eye. Yep…I spotted them. I also noticed that not only were they labeled vegan, but they were also gluten-free.

Now you really had my attention.

Morels the Vegan Butcher began as a food truck in 2011 and quickly expanded across the country when they developed their line of vegan jerky in 2012. Only using premium ingredients, this Louisville, Kentucky company handcrafts their jerky in small batches. What this does is ensure that the texture and taste remain up to standard. Morels focuses on providing nutritious on-the-go products for people looking to keep meat and dairy out of their diets. This is definitely a product that spoke to me. Trust me…I was ready to try one of the samples.

So…I did…and that was all it took. A pouch of Morels The Vegan Butcher’s Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky came home with me that day. I purchased it at the buy local fair and never looked back. After buying it, I commented to my roomie that it would be the perfect snack to take in the car as we travel up to Utica, New York. I was running up there and we were driving a long way to get to that race. Healthy snacks in the car are always a welcome thing. Always!

So, when the stomach rumblies hit us too late for lunch but too early for dinner (we were eating out for dinner), I reached into the little red duffel of snacks and good stuff and removed the silver pouch that held Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky.

I already knew I was going to like it. No, it wasn’t based off of the fact that it was spicy. This was the version I sampled at the fair. So, I knew what I was doing when I bought it.

Morels vegan jerky is crated using a base that begins with marinated soy curls. By marinating these soy curls, they achieve tender, chewy, and flavorful snacks. All they do is season them up for the flavor of jerky they are creating. In the case of Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky, in addition to soy curls, you have water, Braggs liquid aminos, brown sugar, olive oil, lime juice, lemon juice ketchup (no high fructose corn syrup), vinegar, liquid smoke, garlic powder, chipotle powder, ancho powder, onion powder, pepper, cloves and nutmeg. Nothing fake. And…these snacks are gluten-free and loaded with protein…making them a fantastic choice for a gluten-free, vegetarian athlete like me.

But…how can something that is created by marinating soy curls taste? How about really damn good! Oh yes…this jerky is spicy and addictive. The blend of chipotle and ancho chile powders really get a nice heat going with each bite that you take. Nothing that overpowers, mind you, but just adds a little flavor and a little heat to each bite. I loved the chewy, soft texture of this jerky. And the flavor was smokey and spicy and just amazing. Honestly. I was diving in for more. My roommate and I were splitting the pouch…and we were only going to have a little…but soon we were polishing it off regardless.

Morels hit a high note with this one. The spiciness keeps each bite interesting and the taste and texture is dead-on…super good.

So, let’s talk nutrition. A pouch of Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky from Morels The Vegan Butcher serves 2.5. In one serving (28 grams/1 ounce), you are served 50 calories and 2 grams of fat. This vegan jerky contains no saturated fat, no trans fat, no cholesterol. It has 370 mg of sodium per serving and only 2 grams of sugar. Each serving provides 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Loving it.

The Ned’s Spicy Chipotle Jerky variety from Morels The Vegan Butcher brings the right amount of heat to each bite without overpowering and killing off the flavor in the vegan jerky itself. I went wild for this. I wish I had purchased more. But, they are a local company, so it shouldn’t be too hard to dig up another pouch of this amazing snack food.

Easy to travel with…and super delicious. Loved every handful.