It was a long, holiday weekend. YAY!! And, as is usual for me over the 4th of July…I was out of town. At a convention. In Indianapolis. Now, normally when I am up in Indy for this convention, my Saturday morning is spent running the Monon Trail. It’s gorgeous. Seriously. I always look forward to it. The past few years (last year I wasn’t able to run at all at this point), I have managed to get out there for my long run of 10-12 or so miles.
But, this past weekend, Saturday’s Monon Trail run wasn’t happening…
MEH.
SO…on Saturday morning, I was down in the fitness center at 6 am…and on a treadmill to do 12 miles that morning. I started easy and worked up a ladder to a comfortable speed and then took it back down. It was mind numbing, despite the music (and to think, I almost left my iPod in my room). But, my training run was done.
And if that wasn’t enough punishment, I got up on Sunday morning to do my shakeout run. I decided to do an easy run for an hour…getting 7.36 miles in during that time.
I was feeling it Saturday and I really felt it Sunday. I hate running on treadmills. They seem to do more damage to me than road running does. I was sore through Wednesday, honestly. I don’t know how people do long distances on these things on a regular basis. My body couldn’t handle it!
My runs have been suffering since those treadmill runs. The hip was not mad…but not happy either. MEH. Not enough foam rolling in the world. Of course…the epic humidity with air so thick you could cut it with a knife…isn’t helping either.
But, despite the humidity and the fatigue from late nights, I’ve been keeping up with my training runs. Which…is impressive for me. It’s not been easy to get out of bed to just go outside and melt…but…
…I’ve been getting it done. It hasn’t been pretty…and I’m not always happy with the results on my Garmin, but I’m doing what my body is currently capable of…so, there is that.
OH…and this past week, I got to play around with recipes that I created. I made 6 different recipes…2 pasta dishes, a fusion pizza, a rice dish, a sandwich, and a dessert. I was quite proud of the results…all based off of Peter Cincotti’s recently released EP, Exit 105. Check out these images of the completed dishes…
Top (L-R): Island Spell Pizza (song: Palermo) – Jerk seasoned tofu, topped with onion, bell pepper, pineapple, cheddar cheese, and a Jamaican jerk coleslaw; Missing Sara Sammie (song: What’s Sara Doing?) – sammie layered with sweet potato, hummus, avocado (or guacamole), and kale; Unexpected Beat Tagliatelle (song: Long Way From Home) – tagliatelle pasta in a bechemel sauce and topped with shredded beets, goat cheese, parsley, toasted pine nuts, and toasted bread crumbs
Botton (L-R): Roamin’ Skies Pasta (song: Roman Skies) – my take on the traditional Roman dish – Cacio e Pepe – pasta mixed with butter, black pepper, Pecorino and Parmesan cheeses; Exit 105 Rice-A-Roni (Album Title: Exit 105) – my version of the San Francisco Treat (after all, Exit 105 takes you to the Golden Gate Bridge)…and it has been dubbed my “best rice dish in the history of ever”; Sexy on the Beach Ice Cream (song: Sexy) – a vegan ice cream made from coconut cream, pureed raspberries, pureed pineapple, chambord and vodka…just like the drink Sex on the Beach…
I love getting chefy.
So, aside from a little bit of work stress…that’s what’s going on thus far. Stay tuned as this weekend is going to be amazing. I can tell.
Me after finishing the Geist Half Marathon – Fishers, IN
Race: Geist Half Marathon
Place: Fishers, Indiana
Date: May 21, 2016
Time:1:42:13
I’m not going to sugarcoat this in any way. A part of me is very, very happy with this race result; the other part of me is beyond disappointed.
I know…I know…I shouldn’t be so hard on myself, but it’s hard…when this race is, specifically, your PR half marathon. And I ran that PR 2 years ago…back when the course finished up a hill and around a corner. In fact…my blog from 2 years ago recounted said finish…
I had been hearing tales of the “hill at the end” and wasn’t sure what to expect.
It was…KILLER! I thought Chicago was evil for putting a hill at Mile 26 of the marathon. This was the half marathon equivalent. Not only do you climb this hill…you then round a corner and the finish line is right ahead. So, with legs screaming at me…I got up the incline and took the turn…and there it was…the finish.
Ah…the good old days when nothing ever hurt. I was able to run free without all the stretching and warm ups and cool downs and all that stuff that takes a lot of my time away from my morning routines. I shouldn’t grouse about it. I’m back to running. And I’m happy about that for sure.
To be honest, the week leading into this race was not my best. Back on Sunday, I went out to eat and ordered something off a “gluten sensitive” menu. I normally don’t risk any sort of “sensitive” menu when it comes to gluten…but I’d eaten here before, so I figured it would be safe. NEGATIVE. I was glutened. And it really altered my mood and my energy levels. Top it off with the nasty cold snap that came through and ALL. THE. RAIN. Seriously, I was getting really tired of running in the rain this week. My hip has been unhappy with the return of the cold weather and with the dampness too. BAH. HUMBUG! AND…sinuses! My God, this area is HORRIBLE when it comes to allergies. And it started to hit me last week…and…oh yeah…tying to breathe on runs has been less than stellar.
So…while I was looking forward to Geist…and the new half marathon route (no more finishing up a hill!)…I also wasn’t feeling my best leading into it. And that sort of had me down in the dumps. Even though I knew there would be no shining PR in this race, a part of me, deep down, was really hoping to pull something off.
It was not meant to be.
All that being said, Cathy and I made the drive up to Fishers, Indiana, on Friday. We left work about an hour and a half early and hopped in the car. This drive always takes forever. Seriously. It’s just north of Indianapolis, so navigating all the traffic to get there is…well…frustrating. But, we managed to get up there without too much of a delay, but were quite happy with the decision to leave early, as by the time we got to the expo, it was already almost 6 p.m. Damn rush hour traffic.
Regardless, we got to the hospital where the expo is held and stepped inside. Before anything else, we both made a dodge for the bathroom. That was a long trip, and we downed a bottle of PACt Cranberry Lemonade. Anyway, once that was taken care of, we stepped back out, looked up my bib number at one of the convenient stations, and rounded a corner so I could pick up said bib. I was number 1541. And there was a small line…and one guy working. There is always a line. It wasn’t too much of a wait with the few people ahead of me, and soon I was being handed a bib. I stepped out of the room where I was handed a black reusable bag and we meandered further into the reaches of the expo to find the shirt booth.
I picked up my long sleeve shirt and after that…we made the short trek through the expo. I kept expecting to see a running store represented…because the weather changed and now it was looking like rain at the start and I needed a visor or a hat. But…nope. There was one booth of headbands, and the rest were like…attorney offices, Orange Theory, and a Chiropractor. Not much for your race day shopping needs. I was a bit bummed out about that. Thankfully, there was a Dick’s Sporting Goods just up the street. So, after checking the race map and then giving one small glance around to make sure we didn’t miss anything…we were off to Dick’s.
Dick’s was a bit of a mess. Finding the hats/visors was a task in and of itself for one thing. Cathy finally tracked them down…on a little hanger thing. I picked up an Under Armor pink visor…that way my pigtails could still fly free. We went to check out and the cashier was the S-L-O-W-E-S-T human being in the face of retail. Seriously. This guy was in NO hurry to do anything.
Wow…I am really taking advantage of caps abuse on this blog. But, seriously, we were standing in line for about 15 minutes while he rang up 2 pairs of shoes and a jacket that a lady was purchasing. Seriously. SERIOUSLY!! And there was another person in front of me to go. Luckily another cashier opened. And I was starting to wonder how long it would take for him to ring up my visor. The answer…about 5 freakin’ minutes.
At this point, I’m hungry and we’re coming up on 6:45 pm. This is now about an hour later than I like to eat on the night before a race. MEH! We had, at the last moment, changed our mind on our restaurant of choice for gluten-free pizza, and went over to Brixx Wood Fired Pizza…mainly because they had vegan cheese…and Cathy never likes to assume a place that doesn’t have a build your own option would allow a build your own or a cheese-less option. I say…they would. But nonetheless. We got to the small shopping center that Brixx was located in…and there was not a parking spot to be found. Not in the lot and not in the parking deck. We turned around in the parking deck and went back out, tuned around, and suddenly, there were 4 spots. GO FIGURE! We parked…and walked over to Brixx. I checked in with the hostess station and they said it would be a 20 minute wait. That meant it would be about 7 pm by the time we were seated…and we still had to order and eat. UGH. Nothing stresses me out more than eating later than I like on the night before the race. They took my phone number and said they would text me when my table was ready. So, Cathy and I took a short walk up the street…and then we went and sat down outside until a spot cleared up in the lobby area inside. We moved in there…and not but 5 minutes or so later, I was texted. We were seated just around the corner from the hostess station.
Gratuitous picture of Brixx Wood Fired Gluten Free and Vegan Artichoke Pizza
And our waiter, BTW, was adorable. He had the cutest smile with dimples. He was dark and handsome and tall…for me…maybe not for Cathy. I wanted to steal him and take him home with me. Cathy and I had it narrowed down to two of the veggie pizzas…either the Wild Mushroom or the Artichoke. We asked Hot Waiter for his opinion, and he said Artichoke. So…Brixx Wood Fired Gluten Free and Vegan Artichoke Pizza….order in.
About 15 minutes or so later…the pizza was arriving. There was enough time to snap a picture of it before we both just sort of pounced our our half and devoured. I mean, we were starving at that point. The combination of the herb-marinated artichiokes, roasted red peppers, sundried tomatoes, basil pesto and the vegan cheese was just what we needed. Our waiter was right…it was amazing. And gone in record time. HA! We paid and left…dropped by a Kroger for post-race watermelon, pre-race bananas, and some water. Then, we finally went to the hotel to check in and settle in for the night. Normally, this is where we settle in and watch Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives on Food Network, but this hotel didn’t get Food Network. In the end, we ended up watching Say Yes to the Dress…which is as addictive as ever…and we stayed up way past the usual pre-race bedtime.
I had alarms set as usual. The first alarm went off at 3:30 am. I got up and turned it off…went to take my medicine and use that bathroom. Then climbed right back into bed. The second alarm went off at 4:45 am. I hauled myself out of bed, turned it off again, and went to go get changed into my race clothes and slather on some sunscreen. Buy the time I was finished with that, I was making sure Cathy was getting out of her bed and getting herself ready to hit the road to get parked and to the start. This race starts at 7:00 am. Love an early start.
Oh…but guess what…that rain that was supposed to be out before start…was here. Pouring down rain. UGH. No wonder my hip was acting up that morning. I hadn’t bothered to look outside. At that point it was still dark. But, Cathy did look outside and grumbled about wet and rain and my spirits fell. I know some people don’t mind running in the rain, but I become a much more cautious runner when that pavement is wet. Last thing I want to do is slip and go down. Also, I don’t mind if it starts to rain on me when I’m out there, I just really hate starting a race in the rain. But, you can’t help what Mother Nature throws at you. Another rainy run. Um…yay? I think I had done my share of them leading up to this race. Regardless, I put the visor on and got my race bib pinned on. I threw on a jacket and we were out the door…banana in hand…fuel belt slung over my shoulder. Made a quick dash across the parking lot to the car and we were making the short 15-20 minute drive to the school to park the car and then hike…about a mile…to the start line. We were actually ahead of schedule on departing the hotel, so, I attempted to nap on the way…but that wasn’t working out. The trip was rainy and pouring and it just made my spirits fall and my hip hurt. MEH! Cathy parked, and we had about 30 minutes to start time. This left me a few minutes to once again attempt to nap. Still wasn’t happening. Instead, we looked around at everyone else sitting in their cars, hoping the rain would lighten up. It did…right as we needed to get of the car to make the hike to the start.
Me attempting, and failing, to nap before the race…and also avoiding getting out in the rain…
We were not alone. There were steams of runners and spectators making the long walk toward the start line staging area. I have made this exact hike every year that I have run Geist…even the 5K. They were not doing shuttles this year like they have in the past. Thankfully, the air was just a little damp with a mist…the rain had let up. We got to the start with very little time to spare. There was time for a start line picture, a hug, good luck wishes, and Cathy was off to find a spot just beyond the start gate and I was in the corrals, moving as far forward as I could manage. I ended up getting locked in in Corral B…near the 1:55 pace group. No sooner had I got locked into that spot, the race was off…and we were running. No time to stretch or do any of my dynamic warm-ups. That…was it.
So, I crossed the finish line, scanning the line of people for Cathy. Due to the weather, the sign was not with her, but I saw her, gave a wave, and continued into the first mile. This is the first time we run across the reservoir. There is a bit of an incline leading into the turn to hit the first mile, and a teenager said to his buddy, “This hill is going to kill me!” And then said, “There was one year they sent us up a hill to finish.” I pointed and said, “Yeah…2014. It was 2014.” See, they will never live that down. Never ever. I made the turn after Mile 1 and started in through the neighborhood tour. This is a short tour, and due to the wet weather, there weren’t too many people out on the driveways to cheer like in past years. That was kind of a bummer. I love having some crowd support. Ah well…it is what it is. These neighborhoods boast gorgeous homes and, when the weather is better, families that come out and cheer on the runners that invade their neighborhoods.
Before Mile 3, you are back out on a main road and heading across the reservoir once again. Just beyond the reservoir was the turnaround for the 10K. This is also where the race used to end back when I was doing the 5K. I did it twice, and this was the final turn toward the finish back then. So, that sort of made me smile as I ran past. I cheered on the 10K runners who were booking it back to the start to hopefully win the race. Exciting stuff. And then, the half marathoners were on their own.
This portion of the race is a combination of commercial and residential…and just gorgeous scenery. There are businesses…and more gorgeous neighborhoods, and people standing on the corners just to cheer people on. The race volunteers were positioned throughout the various points, so there was always a voice at some point calling out to you. I was exchanging spots with a guy wearing a Boston 2015 shirt…he would lead, then I would, then he would…this went on for the entire rest of the race. And after a climb, I had a runner catch up wearing a Marathon Maniac singlet. I called out, “HEY MANIAC!” He wasn’t too talkative with me though. He was with this nice older man who told me he had a beer riding on this race. He was running here and a friend of his was running in Colorado. HA! So, I made some friends along the route this time around. It was nice, especially when they were talkative, because it took my mind off of the hip…which was still not feeling this run one bit.
I do want to give a shout-out to the guy who was just beyond Mile 9. There was a steep hill ahead, and he was at the base, calling out every race bib number and telling that runner that they were doing great, looking great, and that there were less than 4 miles left. Seriously, he was amazing. What he was doing was something every runner needs, especially when the struggle is getting real.
Just before Mile 10, we make a turn out of the neighborhoods and are back on familiar turf. We are back near that old finish line area…right where we cross the reservoir. Mile 10 was just beyond where the turn around for the 10K was marked. I pressed on, the humidity from the rain and weather starting to really exhaust me. Turn a corner, and now we’re running the opposite way through that first neighborhood. There were some rolling hills through this, so we were hitting them again, just backwards. My legs were pretty much done with hills. They were slowing me down more than they should have, which only pissed me off. But now the hip wasn’t wanting to fire, so you just do what you can manage at that point. Mile 12 was at the corner before you round for that final trek toward the reservoir again.
Me crossing the finish line of the Geist Half Marathon – Fishers, IN
I picked it up because I saw a female ahead of me, and I was now playing games to get myself to that finish line. I passed her, and that was a good feeling. I told myself to keep going, and not let her sneak up and catch me. She never did. I could finally see the finish line…which was such an uplifting feeling. I tried to put on the afterburners to sprint in like so many people can…but it wasn’t happening. I just pushed as hard and moved as fast as my legs could manage at that point…and ran across that finish line. I could hear Cathy screaming at me. When I crossed, I received my medal and felt this wave of emotion wash over me. This race was an important one to me, and I had some expectations…some desires…and, sadly, the race wasn’t the way I envisioned or imagined it would go. That being said, after receiving my medal, I had one of the guys who had talked with me come over and high five me. Cathy came over and as I was about to take my victory shot, the guy in the Boston shirt came over and high fived me as well and said said that I kept him on an amazing pace for the race. That was a nice feeling.
Cathy took the picture and I changed into different shoes. I keep forgetting to pack extra socks again. D’oh! After the shoe change, we decided to hike over to the runner recovery area and see what was there. We were in search of the massage tent, and we found it. YAY! But, after standing in line for 10 minutes, we were told that we needed to fill out a form. So, a bunch of us runners went to fill out the paperwork and get back into line. It was another 50 minutes before they even got to me. At this point, I was cold and had Cathy pull my jacket back out. But, the wait for the massage was worth it. This massage was very thorough and felt amazing on my achy body. Amy was my massage therapist and she did a great job. While I was getting worked on, Cathy went to get my official race results…and after that…I called my mom and spoke with her on the long walk back to the car. The long, cold, walk back to the car.
After that, it was just a short drive back to the hotel, where I hopped into a hot shower and warmed up and cleaned up. I changed clothes, checked out, and we were off to grab food and then coffee. Then…the trip home.
So, my official results of the Geist Half Marathon is that I finished in 1:42:13, which was faster than my NYC Half Marathon, but slower than Derby and Indy. I was a little bummed out with my time here, but I had a lot to contend with going into this and during this race. That being said, I was 103/1601 finishers overall! Almost in the top 100…how about that??! I was the 20/557 women to cross the finish line. And I was 6/185 people in the 30-39 female division! Can’t argue with those status right?!
Please don’t get me wrong, I am very proud of my accomplishment and this finish. I think that it’s hard, when you return to your PR race, to not be a little disappointed when a new PR doesn’t happen. I was so close when I ran the 500 Festival a few weekends ago…so I had some hopes that this race would get me a PR that I’m searching for this year. It wasn’t meant to be…and that’s okay. It will happen. I don’t know when or where…but it is bound to happen. I just have to keep running safe and strong. It was just not meant to be this year. But…this is still my favorite half marathon. It’s beautiful and challenging and just…fun. And this year, I got to talk to and meet some of the people running it with me. Those are special friendships forged during the grind.
Will I be back? Of course. The race is one of the best…and that’s why I keep coming back. Hopefully next year, the circumstances will be better.
Me running toward the finish line of the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon (in the rain, but still smiling) – Louisville, KY
Race: Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon
Place: Louisville, Kentucky
Date: April 30, 2016
Time: 1:41:18
You know…the week and morning I had leading into the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon was one that pointed to not running it at all. On Monday morning, I had an unexpected Great Cat Chase with my neighbors cat, which I was catsitting while they were at the beach. I love this cat, but that morning I was running late to my spin class and she slipped outside and just took off. I ended up having to wake my roommate up to find her while I went to spin. Since she is not my cat, I felt horrible not having her back inside while I wasn’t home. She behaved the rest of the week though and we had good purr sessions. Tuesday…my coffeemaker died. MY COFFEEMAKER DIED!! Do you know what that means??!! It meant that I had NO caffeine fix that morning. And after hitting up the gym, I begged my roommate for some Starbucks. She came through, with a tall sugar free cafe misto with coconut milk for me. She saved the day. Then…on Thursday…my Garmin died. I woke up to it having a blank screen and not turning on. I went on my 4 mile run sans-Garmin running watch. I was feeling pretty hated by technology at that point. One of the race ambassadors, and a friend of mine, Melissa, said that she had purchased an extra Garmin watch and that I could have it if I wanted it. OMG…that was the sweetest thing anyone has done for me.
Anyway…that was leading up to race day. I went to the race expo on Thursday night, and one of the first people I see is sweet Melissa. I gave her a hug and we lamented about the weather. I joked about carrying shampoo and body wash with me so as I head into the finish, I could just lather up, wash down, and look and smell immaculate at the finish. After chatting and wishing each other luck, I went over to the table to pick up my race packet.
Picking up my race bib from the nice volunteers at the expo! This was supposed to be posed, but Cathy snapped it candid.
This was funny…kinda. I listed off my bib number (937A) to the lady at the table. She asked for my ID…which I had to fish out. Cathy was poised with her camera to take a picture, which the nice volunteer noticed. So she had a plan to pose and everything, but before we could carry out the plan, Ninja Cathy already snapped the photo. The lady asked if she was ready to take the shot and Cathy said, “I already did.” We all laughed a little. I happily took my bib and the big plastic bag of stuff (including a full box of Cold-Eez) and went to retrieve the garishly bright yellow race shirt. I love bright shirts. What I don’t love on this shirt is the actual design. I loved the map route on the medal this year, but it didn’t transfer well over to the screen print on the shirt. Ah well. It’s another race/running shirt to add to my already full closet. I’ll take it. After that, we walked through the various booths at the expo. I was on the hunt for a Garmin at this point…but no one had any. I did purchase some new Bondi Bands (YAY!) and got to see my friend Daniel working at one of the booths. He was handing out free magnet things and I went to get one and he said, “Except for you…you have to pay for yours.” I love my friends. I also ran into my physical therapist, Katie, who was working an Alter-G treadmill. AH. I want to get on one of these SO bad. Needless to say, she messaged me after the race on Saturday morning and said I should come into the office and try it out. I’m SO taking her up on that. We wrapped up the expo and headed home for a late dinner and to settle in before the craziness of Friday at the office.
My delicious Gluten Free & Vegan Veggie Pizza from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe
Friday night is the night before the race…so I pulled a Gluten Free & Vegan Veggie Pizza from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe out of my freezer. I don’t risk anything the night before a race. I knew I’d be fine eating this. And it was delicious and amazing. I rested that night, foam rolled, and went to bed around 9:30 p.m. I set an early alarm to get up and do all my PT exercises, my dynamic warm-up and to get an early start on my mileage.
I was scheduled for 16 miles this weekend. Which was one reason I signed up for the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon. Why not run 13 miles with people and get a medal at the end of it, right? That being said, I went out that morning before the race and ran a slow, steady 3 miles. I came back home, ate my breakfast and got dressed into some (unflattering) running shorts, a light singlet, and my compression sleeves and running socks (I went with the Injinji toe socks to help prevent any blistering should rain kick in as scheduled). I had debated wearing my favorite running shoes (my Newton Distance III) and opted to wear my Nike Free RN Distance shoes, which I have never worn over a 10K mileage, but I’d rather let rain destroy those than my Newtons. So…I figured this would be interesting regardless. That being said and done, I brushed my teeth gathered up my change of clothes for afterwards, got all the running gear out and ready to go…and headed out the door.
This is what a runner who is running late to a race looks like. I’m trying to walk and snap on my hydration belt.
No joke, my roommate and I were down the road at a stoplight and I went…”I forgot to put on my wings anklet my mom gave me.” So…this is a thing now. Ever since I’ve returned to running, when I race, this anklet has been around my ankle. My mom got it for me because she said, “You don’t run, baby, you fly.” So, when I was finally able to get back out there to run and race…this anklet has been kept on my ankle. I feel like it’s carrying my mom’s words with me on each run. So, yeah…we turned around and I dashed back inside and grabbed the anklet. Back off we went…and I clasped the anklet on and felt better about life. We got back down the road to the stop light and Cathy started cussing and went to turn around. I was like, “WHAT??!” And she said, “We forgot the most important thing for today…” I was so confused. “What?” She said…”YOUR RACE BIB.” Oh…my…God. I felt like such a newbie, LOL!! We turned around and went back to the apartment. I was now a mess because we were running way late, still had to cross the bridge, still had to park, and had to get to the corrals for the start. I was supposed to meet up with my dear friend, Deana, to run with her, so I was texting her and telling her I had to go back to my apartment a few times and was just NOW getting underway. UGH. I was planning on napping on the way to the race, but it was now 7 a.m., 30 minutes before the start, and I now had to eat my banana. I was a mess now…feeling very stressed and rushed. I do NOT like getting to a race in this state. The parking garage Cathy wanted to park in was not accessible as they had closed the road getting to it. So, now we’re driving in circles looking for a place to park. She finally found a place…and paid only $5 to park there. We were shocked the price was so cheap! We got parked…and she grabbed the poncho I loaned her (it’s my super nice lined one from the NYC Marathon) and we headed down the stairs to the start. I tossed my banana peel and started to walk swiftly toward the start line. I got there with only moments to spare. No joke. We took a quick picture in front of the start line, I shed the poncho (it wasn’t raining yet) and ducked into my corral. I was so stressed and upset that I wasn’t going to be able to find Deana…and just as I found a place to stand…the gun went off…and we were off and running.
The morning was humid, but I felt good as I crossed the start line. I saw Cathy and gave a wave as I headed out for the first mile. I was determined to just keep it comfortable because I wasn’t here to race this half marathon. I was here just to run it. I fell into pace and headed down the long stretch of Main Street. It was crowded but I didn’t have to do too much bobbing and weaving, which is always appreciated. I felt good and blasted through the first 2 miles, making an easy turn onto 20th street. The pace remained relaxed for me, and I felt like I was pushing a little, but not hard, which I figured was fine for a girl who already ran 3 miles before the race. The course was a little less populated by spectators due to the impending weather. It was nice to have the scattered people out clapping and cheering though. At least this is a beautiful city to run, right?
Me heading out for the start of the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon – Louisville, KY
I ran the full marathon back in 2014, pacing a friend of mine, and somehow forgot about much of this course. For some reason, I thought we ran through Churchill Downs around mile 6, so I was really looking forward to that. At Mile 6, I was heading down Magnolia Avenue and turning back onto 4th street. Churchill Downs was nowhere in sight. I was so confused!! But, I just kept going. I knew my running buddy, Tammy, said she was going to be out near Churchill Downs, so I kept an eye out for her…because I was certain it was coming up. Two miles later, I saw Tammy and made the turn to run into Churchill Downs. 8 miles down and now was one of my favorite parts of the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and Mini Marathon…the lap through Churchill Downs. Down the tunnel and back up…and then it was time to run around the infield. Normally horses are out, but the weather was gearing up to start raining and none of the horses were out running or training. So, that was a bit of a bummer. Ah well…then…back out through a different tunnel…up…and out of Churchill Downs. Just up the way is the infamous split. Mini Marathon runners go left…and Marathon runners go right (and start making their way to the hills of Iroquois Park). I turned left this time…heading into the last 5 miles of the Mini Marathon. 9 miles down…and soon…came the rain.
I had been silently cussing the fact that I wore a hat (I hate wearing hats when I race) and my Nikes instead of my Newtons…until this point. The rain, at first, was a light drizzle. It actually felt good. It was around Mile 10 when my friend Dan came up beside me and said “Hi” to me. I asked how he was doing, and he said he was starting to hurt (he ran Boston), and I wished him luck as he pulled up ahead. With the new front of weather, the hip started to get tight and I was feeling it now. The rain picked up a little more as I made it to the 11th mile marker. Two more to go. That was my mantra. Just two more to go. The stretch of 3rd Street was lined with few spectators…up until we hit the downtown area. Around Mile 12…the crowds picked up. People were shouting encouragement. And I made the turn onto Market Street. I could hear the announcer at the finish line, so I knew I was getting close. But that small stretch before making the turn toward the finish line felt like it went on forever. But I finally made the turn and pushed it as much as my tired legs could manage to hit that finish line. I saw Cathy just before crossing and she was just screaming. I heard my name get announced and I threw up my arms in victory and was all smiles at the end. My friend Daniel, who headed up the training program I went out with every Saturday, was there and he came over to high five me. That was the best part of the finish, right there. That high five meant the world to me.
I kept moving through the chute, got my Mylar wrap and my medal. And then I continued on for some water. I got an official finish picture taken and then continued on toward the Family Reunion Area…where I spotted Cathy on the edge of the fence-line…just waiting for me. I came up to her and she gave me my official time. I took 2 minutes (somehow) off my NYC Half Marathon Time and actually turned in my 4th fastest half marathon. I was shocked. I passed off the snacks I snagged on the way to the meeting point and did a few leg swings to help loosen up the hip some. After that, I was ready to get out of my wet clothes, get some coffee, and grab some actual food. So we left and did just that.
16.17 miles done that day!! And 13.1 of them were done in racing conditions. I never really felt like I was racing though, which speaks highly of my fitness levels. Given that I had to take a forced year off, this makes me feel really good as I come back from this hip thing.
Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon…DONE! – Louisville, KY
So, the official results of the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini Marathon are that I finished in 1:41:18. I was 468/10,422 finishers overall. I was 95/6,209 female finishers. And I was 20/972 finishers in my division. I started this race under stress and a feeling more than a little flustered. I didn’t get to meet up with Deana as planned, but she and I texted pretty much most of the afternoon after she finished. We’re already making plans to train together for something bigger and better…and I couldn’t be more excited about this. My pace slowed at the end of this run, I think due to the weather and the fact that I ran ahead of the race. Next time, I’ll just count the race as my run. Regardless, this was my 17th half marathon I’ve run and my 4th fastest. Which…is super exciting given the challenges I have faced the past year. I am starting to not only regain confidence, but an easy, fast pace while racing too! I sort of needed this finish. I only wish I had felt stronger at the end of it.
I want to thank everyone who I met through the Norton Training Group (those who were race ambassadors, helping to run the group, and the runners themselves)!! I have some new running and, hopefully, lifelong friends who went through a rigorous training regimen and ran hills and did speed work and gave up their Saturday mornings just to train hard for this day. To everyone who finished…and to those who couldn’t…I am proud of all of you and am so happy to have met you.
Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cream Cheeze
Product: Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze – $7.99+
Not surprisingly, one of the things I miss the most is real…actual…cheese. My lactose intolerance has not only gotten worse over the past year, but it makes indulging in things like cheese…virtually impossible anymore. The same goes for ice cream, but, I sometimes try and pray that the lactase enzyme supplements help (sometimes they do…more often than not…they don’t). But cheese and I don’t really get along at all these days.
Which sucks.
Mightily.
But then…by magical happenstance (perhaps rainbow unicorn pixie dust)…one day while “just browsing” at Whole Foods, I stumbled upon Heidi Ho Organics, which was apparently featured on Shark Tank and has really made a name for itself in the vegan cheese market. I figure there must be a vegan cheese markets. Vegans love cheese too…they just don’t eat it. But, obviously, they want to…because vegan cheese is made. And consumed. A lot.
Heidi Ho was created by Heidi K. Lovig, a fanatic about farm-to-table dining, sustainability, seasonal menus, and buying local. This vegan chef honed in on her skills during her time living on the Big Island of Hawaii in a sustainable community where she managed an eco hostel and farm. She trained with vegans and raw foodies from around the world, thus developing a deeper connection to the ingredients she uses in her cooking. Lovig moved to Portland a few years ago and began training at Le Cordon Bleu to obtain her degree in Culinary Arts. With a focus on local, organic, and sustainable practices, she turned her attention to the environmental issues humans have created due to food supply structures and our current system of distribution. At her side is Lyssa M. Story, “the Boss” at Heidi Ho. She runs the show and is the brains behind every facet of its operations. From HR to business plans and projections, to law, licensing, accounting, banking, money, organization, and keeping Chef Heidi on track. Story has an extensive background in the food and beverage industry, and attended the Western Culinary Institute Le Cordon Bleu, where she received an Associates degree in Occupational Studies – Hospitality and Restaurant Management. Story was raised on the standard American diet, which, over time, jeopardized her health. At the age of 22, she began a plant based and whole foods diet.
So, these two ladies set out to create delicious plant-based cheezes using ingredients that are healthier for their consumers…as well as the planet. Hedi Ho is the future of cheese – aiming to be the cheese that creates change. They take great pride in the values they uphold in their company and products. They sell cheeze that is superior in flavor and quality over the rest on the market.
Guess what…they succeed. The introduction of this plant-based comfort food is a game changer for vegans out there. They say on their Web site that their Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze is “a delicious live culture cashew cheeze made from simple plant-based ingredients. It’s like goat cheese without the goat.” In fact, Ne Chevre means “No Goat” in French. So…that’s really straight forward. HAHA!
Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze on a Sweet Note Gluten Free Tomato Basil Bagel
The Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Cultures Cashew Cheese is a fantastic spreadable cheese that would be perfect for crackers, or sprinkled over salads, or even just spread across a savory gluten-free bagel (which is what I did with it! Oh, and then later did it again, topping it with marinara and dried basil for bagel pizzas…oh yeah!). Who needs vegan cream cheese when you can spread a non-goat goat cheese over something packed with tomato and basil flavors, right? A great product to pair with white wines, grapes, walnuts and spicy jams, this is a versatile and crazy-good spread. I loved the texture (creamy, not gritty) and the wow-power of the flavor (not as strong as goat cheese, but bringing this powerful flavor that mimics goat cheese). Seriously, this would be good in just about anything. Maybe even subbing it for ricotta cheese in lasagnas or such. I know, for me, it upped my bagel game to 11. Heidi Ho Organics may have created the Spinal Tap of vegan cheese here. I honestly loved the sharp, tangy and creamy mouthfeel that came with each bite of this cheese. It had a bit of a salty flavor, but it didn’t distract from the flavor of the cheese itself. Beyond impressed!! No surprise though, as I fell in love first with the Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Lava Cheeze (which I thought I reviewed, but didn’t), and the Heidi Ho Organics Creamy Chia Cheeze Sauce and the Spicy Chia Cheeze Sauce (also didn’t review that one…what is wrong with me??!)
So…now that I’ve went on and on and on with how (honestly) fantastic the Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze is…let’s take a look at what makes it that way. I absolutely adore an ingredient list that has ingredients that I, not only recognize, but also can pronounce. The Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze is made from organic cashews, water, sea salt, organic lemon, live cultures, nutritional yeast, and citric acid. All Heidi Ho vegan cheeses are organic, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, low in sodium, and low in fat (although they taste like they are SO fattening…so you gotta love that little added bonus!).
Speaking of which, how about these nutritional facts?! A serving of the Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze is 1 ounce (28 grams…or about 1 tablespoon). This serving will provide you with 80 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 40 mg sodium, 4 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 1 gram sugars, and 3 grams of protein.
I have now tried (but apparently need to blog about two of them) the four (4) versions of Heidi Ho Organics products that my Whole Foods currently carries. And I am absolutely enamored with them. They are a bit pricey, but you do get what you pay for. Heidi Ho Organics definitely delivers a delicious, amazing, and high quality product. I’m beyond impressed.
I just got home from New York City. When you’re in New York, you eat bagels. It’s what you do. Fortunately for me, there are a lot of places that offer gluten-free bagels throughout the city. Most of the bagel shops use a store brand version (like the one I went to…Tompkins Square Bagels), but at least I got to indulge. BTW…if you go to Tompkins Square Bagels, they have a variety of tofu cream cheeses (for people like me who don’t handle dairy well), which makes the bagel experience that much more authentic. For the record, I got a plain gluten free bagel there which I had them load up with the tofu veggie cream cheese. It was mighty good.
But…you can tell when a bagel is a store brand.
Tompkins Square Bagels could really benefit from picking up bagels from a company that does New York-style bagels right!
You want to talk about an appropriate bagel…you look to these ladies (and gentleman).
What’s even more exciting is that Sweet Note has expanded their flavor profile on their bagels. While they are getting rid of the Sesame Bagels (due to allergen concerns with sesame seeds now), they have added 4 new varieties to their already sought-after, highly delicious, amazing bagel lineup.
I think I have stumbled upon my new favorite from their latest creations. Seriously…i should have ordered 10 packs of these…
While I have already reviewed their new Garlic & Herb Bagels a few weeks ago…today I stepped it up, reached into my freezer, and delivered to my oven the epitome of every gluten-free bagel out there. Seriously…no comparison…nothing could live up to the flavors, texture, and sheer awesomeness of every bite of the brand new…
…wait for it…
SWEET NOTE GLUTEN FREE TOMATO BASIL BAGEL!!!!!!
Before I begin to wax rhapsodic about this bagel…let’s start with the basics. Keep these frozen . Do NOT thaw them out to room temperature ahead of time. It’s on the instructions on the packaging and in the box they arrive in. Do not ever think you know best. Simply place in the microwave for a minute to begin to thaw bagel from frozen. I have found that if I start with 30 seconds, then completely flip the bagel over for the remaining 30, they thaw out evenly and perfectly. If you eat a bagel in true New York fashion…stop here. If you, like me (despite being a New Yorker), like to toast up that bagel a wee bit…then stick it in your toaster (or if you, like me, do not own a toaster, get that oven going at 350°F and place on a baking sheet…toasting for about 15-20 minutes or less). My roommate was awake at this point, so I let them toast lightly while I went to shower, since I had just returned from my Friday morning spin class.
Timing is everything…and that just seems to be the perfect toasting time for these bagels for me. I don’t get them to the crispy on the inside point, but do get a nice, light, golden color to them. My apartment smelled frickin’ awesome this morning while these were working.
Since Tomato Basil is a bit more of a savory flavor, I opted for something different than your standard cream cheese. Because…why do anything normally? This was a brand new, exciting, culinary adventure. LIVE IT UP! I had a container of Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze. I used that! I’ll review Heidi Ho in a little while..but this is some of the best plant-based cheese I have ever had!! Goat cheese without the goat!! OH HELL YES!! On a tomato basil bagel…now I’m just out of control!! Somebody stop me!!
Or don’t…because…
HOLY GARDEN OF EATING!! Let me just say…the Sweet Note Gluten Free Tomato Basil Bagels are like eating a pizza first thing in the morning. It’s a bagel..that tastes like pizza. In fact, if I wanted to make bagel pizzas like I used to…this bagel would be the ideal base. No joke…packed…just loaded…overloaded…full of flavors. It has this rich tomato flavor to it, but the herb-y nature of the basil keeps the flavor profile balanced and just…awesome. Yep. Awesome is now a flavor profile descriptor. There are no other words to describe how life changing just one bite of this bagel was. If you are into savory flavors…THIS bagel will blow your culinary mind! Your taste buds will applaud each and every bite you take…whether you savor it (I tried…I tried…) or mow it down on the go (I might have power ate mine…a little…). If you’re a pizza freak (she’s a pizza freak…pizza freak…so hot and cheesy)…like I am…this bagel is calling your name. Loud and proud, my friends. I am in total and absolute love and now needing to go and buy at least 5 more packs of these. I will not rest until my freezer is properly stocked. Just…WOW!! Wow-factor…off the scale…off the chart…OFF THE CHAIN!!! Pairing it with a more “cheezy” spread was a wise decision I think too. While regular cream cheese would work just fine…this…highly complimented every bite. It was…virtually…pizza for breakfast. Just like when I was in college…ah…those good ol’ days.
Gluten Free and Vegan Pizza Bagels made with Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Tomato Herb Bagels
And…if that wasn’t enough, I went back for more. YES…MORE!! I came home from work and toasted up another round of these bagels. This time, along with the Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Cheeze, I topped it with marinara and some dried basil…making bagel pizzas for dinner. And they were BEYOND fantastic. They were superbagelfragalisticexpizzalidocious! Blew me away. Pizza bagels…now that really did bring back some memories, LOL!! You’d think I was carb loading or something. But I’m not. I’m just LOVING these bagels.
If I don’t have your attention yet…then you’re not reading a thing I’ve written. But in case you need a little more…let’s talk about all the good things that go into the Sweet Note Gluten Free Tomato Basil Bagels, shall we? Real ingredients for starters. And it all starts with…LOVE. Yes…that’s an actual listed ingredient. Everything that makes these amazing New York-style, gluten-free bagels is listed here: Love, water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, brown sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, garlic, salt, tomato paste, and basil. Nothing fake or processed…just high quality, real products to make a high-quality real product. Eating a clean breakfast just got so much tastier. Sweet Note Gluten Free Tomato Basil Bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!! Vegan & Gluten Free bagels are now ready to be delivered right to your doorstep!
As far as nutrition goes, I LOVE that these bagels keep calories and fat in check. Honestly! A serving size is one (1) full bagel (not a half a bagel, but a full)…which is about 4.5 ounces (or 128 grams) of bagel-y goodness. Each pack of bagels comes with four (4) bagels inside. The Sweet Note Gluten Free Tomato Basil Bagel will deliver unto you…290 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 8 grams sugars, and 5 grams of protein. We are talking about the ultimate powerhouse of nutrients in a delicious carby package. Mmmm…carbs. With the high fiber and protein, you’ll feel full and satisfied long after your bagel is gone.
This flavor is not an online exclusive, but in case your local stores don’t carry Sweet Note Bagels or have yet to get their hands on the new flavor…you can order this (and go overboard, for real!) in their ONLINE STORE!
There is nothing better than taking your first bite of breakfast and being blown away by the intense, amazing flavors that touch your palate. This was the ideal way to start my Friday. Definitely sets the standard for the rest of what I consume today…which is in no way as interesting as my breakfast. For real. I mean, a gluten-free peanut butter & jelly sammie just isn’t the same as a gluten-free tomato basil bagel with a schmear of ne chevre cheeze. When you hear the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day…believe it…and make it epic.
Sweet Note Bagels will definitely take you above and beyond that epic level. Don’t wait any longer if you haven’t tried these yet. DO IT!!
Me after finishing the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
Race: United Airlines NYC Half Marathon
Place: New York, New York
Date: March 20, 2016
Time: 1:43:53
When I go into a race without any expectations or goals…I seem to do better than anticipated. While I had a semi-goal of being able to do my first half marathon distance after injury (for a year) in sub-2 hours, I wasn’t going to be too hard on myself if it didn’t happen.
Especially since the weather changed drastically the week of the race.
The weekend before the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon…the weather was gorgeous. Not just in Louisville (where I ran my first official race back…the Rodes City Run 10K), but up in New York too. I was hoping it would hold. I do better in nicer temperatures. But as the week went on…the gorgeous weather started to go away.
NOOOOOO!!
For much of the week, the forecast was calling for rain…cold…wind. Then snow…cold…wind. And then, on Friday night, it changed to just really flippin cold and really flippin’ windy.
UGH!! Now I was in a crisis. I had my outfit planned out for weeks…but the 30 degree temps and the strong winds (and the wind chill it would bring), meant I needed to reevaluate my wardrobe. With much reluctance, the running skirt went back into the closet and a pair of my (albeit bright) compression tights came out. Any of you who regularly read my running blog know…I…HATE…PANTS. So this frustrated me. I also packed a big turtleneck lined top and a windbreaker…and at the last minute, just before walking out the door early Saturday…I tossed in a long sleeve shirt…just in case, because I never ran in a windbreaker and I was nervous it would annoy me or just not work out…in which case, I’d rather brace against the cold in layers than anything.
So, Saturday morning was an early morning for me. I was up at 2 am to do all my physical therapy exercises. The stretches, the dynamic stuff outside, the plyometrics. I knew once I touched down in NYC…I was on the move…and these stretches were more important than anything else.
I admit, a little voice in my head said, “Go on…go do an easy mile or two for a shakeout before getting on the plane.” But, as tempting as it was, I quieted that voice. I knew I’d be on the go both at the airports and once I touched down in the city, the shakeout wasn’t important, and I didn’t need to do it. I’d be doing ample time on my feet just moving about NYC.
See what I have learned??!!
So, we (my roommate and I) walked out the door right at 5 am (giving us time to get a light breakfast in our stomachs and (SO VERY MUCH NEEDED) coffee into our system. We got to the Louisville airport in record time…parked…had to take a roundabout way to the Southwest Airlines counter due to renovations that are going on, and which I hope they finish up before Derby, or that airport is going to be a mess. Security was quick, although I ended up being randomly chosen for the hand swab, and my laptop (as always) had to be examined more closely…but it was quick, painless, and we were off and heading to our gate (which was behind a bunch of renovation boards). Like I said, the airport was sort of a mess.
Deciding that we weren’t ready to settle in yet, we took a little walk, as usual, through the airport crowds, and Cathy and I grabbed a Cool Lime Refresher at Starbucks (and she got a breakfast sammie as well) and we went back to the gate. I downed one of the new LUNA Bars (the Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond, which has only 5 grams of sugar and tasted like an amazing caffe mocha) and then…it was time to board. We were at the end of the A group…so it worked out perfectly.
Our flight had a small layover at Chicago Midway before we went on to NYC. So, we took the time to stretch our legs and walk the terminal. I was really craving something sweet, so we went on the “Great Fruit Cup Hunt of Midway,” finding that everywhere that normally had fruit cups were sold out. With 5 minutes to boarding, we finally found something at one of the food court restaurants. It was a large fruit cup with honeydew melon, pineapple, grapes and strawberries in it. I carried it onto our flight into Laguardia Airport and ate it while still sitting on the runway.
The flight into Laguardia was uneventful, save for the funny flight crew. The lead flight
Me with the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon logo – New York, New York
attendant was in her 50s and just…SO funny. Love that. It also helps calm my nerves when the flight crew is loosey-goosey like that. I was drinking my water to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and we landed in Laguardia early. Taxied to the jetway…disembarked…and went to baggage claim. My bag was the 2nd one off the belt. Cathy’s wasn’t too far behind. With bags in hand, we called the hired car company and they had a car out to fetch us in about 5 or so minutes. Luggage went into the trunk and we were now on our way into Manhattan…staying at a different hotel this time (which was totally our fault because we originally had the race pegged for the weekend before this one and it wasn’t until about a month before that I realized the date of the race was for the week after…in my defense, it ran a week earlier last year!)…but the traffic situation wasn’t bad and our driver was really aggressive once he got into the city blocks, LOL! We were dropped off at the door of The Distrikt Hotel on W 40th Street and went to check in.
We were much earlier than anticipated, so our room wasn’t ready yet. We did go ahead and leave our bags and went to go buy a Metrocard and take the subway to get to the United Airlines NYC Half Experience (the expo), which was taking place at the Metropolitan Pavilion. We headed into the Expo, which was a madhouse! Seriously…at some points, I felt like salmon swimming upstream. I had the registration sheet with me so I went over to where my numbers were to pick up my bib. From there, it was through the store and over to get my official bag with my t-shirt and stuff in it. I haven’t really looked through what else was in there. I made one circuit of the expo before returning to the official store. There was a great t-shirt in there, pink and purple, that I had my eye on. But, to no surprise, my size was gone. Disappointing for sure. Ah well. Except, Cathy and I realized almost all official merchandise for women had nothing left in small. Now I remember why I order things online ahead of this. She did manage to find me an official finisher’s t-shirt and I grabbed a Sparkly Soul headband that had the event name on it. Purchases made. Back into the expo.
I actually thought there would be more vendors there and more to see and lots more places to shop. But, for the best, there wasn’t. I walked through the line of charities…I got in line to have my picture taken in front of the logo…Cathy made a couple signs (which never got used due to the 21 mph gusts of wind on race morning)…and we settled in for a moment at a table where I could charge my phone and we could catch our breath.
Me and my awesome friend Ellen at the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon Experience
My friend, Ellen, who got in on lottery this year (I deferred last year so had automatic entry…except I had to repay the $127 registration fee), turned up to meet up with me, and brought me a nice salad to boot. YAY for friends. YAY for food! We discussed what we were planning on wearing, food, and…all the crazy shit (hehehe…get it Ellen?) that runners rely on and need to have happen prior to a run. It was fun. I even did a Snapchat video for her giving a running tip. She calls me her inspiration…but I think she’s mine. She needed to get back to the charity event she was attending, and I needed to get back to the hotel to get into the room. The travel capris I was wearing weren’t very warm against the already chilly wind of NYC. So, we returned to the hotel, got our room, gathered our bags, and went upstairs. We flopped for a moment before changing into jeans and heading back out…this time just to explore. We didn’t want to stop in for dinner until at least 5 p.m. So, we had a couple of hours to just explore. That’s what we did, too.
With no plan, we just wandered through some of the area, stopping into shops that drew our attention. We went and got our chocolate from Teuscher (I got a mini champagne, dark mocha, and dark salted caramel…and Cathy got a limoncello, almond, and chocolate orange truffle), which is a requirement, and ducked into the Hard Rock Café for a shotglass and a pin. Back out and seeing the city until we decided to hike over to our pre-race dinner spot of choice, Don Antonio by Starita on W 50th Street. They have a fantastic gluten-free pizza menu, and while they have a couple of GF and Vegan options, I stuck with the one I knew I loved and wouldn’t give me too much. The Marinara Pizza Senza Glutine. OMG…this is my 2nd favorite gluten-free pizza crust in the world (the first being Annie May’s Sweet Café). I love when there is a real and actual crust on a gluten-free pizza, and not just a cracker crust. We devoured dinner and then hiked back to the hotel to cycle through showers, giving me time to foam roll, and to eat some chocolate. HA! It was an early to bed night…and by 9 pm…we were turning out the lights.
I set the alarm on my phone for the first one to wake me up at 4 a.m. It went off and I got up to use the bathroom, take my medicine, and then crawled back into bed for another 50 minutes. The second alarm was the 5 a.m. one, and I got up and started to get changed into my running gear for the race. Cathy was up at 5:15 to get dressed and ready. And while I felt good all day prior to this morning, I felt tired, but in good shape for the actual race. I was not happy that I had to wear pants to run a half marathon, but the windchill was a factor and I under-dressed once before for a full and have been nervous about doing that again ever since (hypothermia is NOT fun, my friends). I decided to wear a long sleeve tech shirt under my warmer top with the big turtleneck top, figuring it would be good against the wind, without me trying to get used to running in a windbreaker on the fly. I got my number pinned on, threw on the hoodie I was going to leave behind, filled up my water bottles and we were off.
We took the subway to Columbus Circle and disembarked, climbing the stairs and being
Me at then entrance of Central Park, Times Square behind me, on the morning of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
greeted with some of the coldest wind. I don’t know how the dude in front of us was handling being in short running shorts, because I would have been dying. I think he was. But…to each their own, right?! We walked over to the checkpoint at Central Park where Cathy had to go her own way and I had to show my bib number and enter. We took a picture of me with Times Square behind me and then I went in. I walked with a bunch of runners who were just talking about some of the most random stuff. One was talking about Scott Jurek on Instagram and it was kind of amusing to me. We went through the medal detectors and then continued on the path to the corrals. There was a line of port-o-potties without lines and many of the people I was walking with went to take advantage of them…and I kept on trekking. I made my way to the line of corrals, working my way up to the one for 10000-10999. I did a few of my dynamic warm-up moves from physical therapy, but the air temperature was enough to make me not want to do it anymore. I did one set of each, then hunkered down and shivered for a good half hour more. It was really, really cold. When the corrals opened for the start of the wheelchair race, I stepped inside and did a few static stretches just to loosen up. From the onslaught of the cold wind, my hip was already not loving me. It began to ache during the easy walk from security to the corals. Seriously, my body and cold weather never got along, but it really doesn’t get along with it these days.
The wheelchair racers, hand crank racers, and elite women were all sent off by 7:15 a.m. It was awesome standing in the corral and being able to see each group take off. When the elite women took up, I cheered loudly for Molly Huddle, who is from Elmira, NY…my hometown area. She’s amazing. She’s fast. She set a new course record that morning and it came down to an eighth of a second…it was THAT close. The elite men went off with Wave 1 at 7:30 a.m.. Then my wave…Wave 2…were shuffled forward for our 7:45 a.m. start. It was really exciting. When the airhorn blew to send us off, I began the walk toward the official start, and started my Garmin as I crossed. The first step already had my hip screaming at me. I struggled through the final mile of a 10K the weekend prior…and I just started a half marathon. I really just made a point go focus on my form and my breathing, and just finding a comfortable pace to run at. As I said, I had no goals or expectations…just to have fun and to finish what I start. Well…I started. I now had to finish.
Me running through the 10K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
The 6 miles through Central Park are beautiful and quiet. There were pockets of spectators out there, but mostly it was runners, our feet, and our breathing. Being the start of the race, I would catch snatches of conversations people were having as they ran the race with friends or running partners. It keeps me amused. Some people were tucked into their earbuds, their music propelling them forward. There was a couple running together, and on the back of his shirt was a sign that said “Baby on Board” and an arrow pointing to his wife who was running right next to him. The people inside the park were loud and awesome and the little loop we do outside the park to turn around and head back in…was packed, crowded and loud. I love a good crowd. The hills of Central Park are respectable, but my hill repeats have been more intense than those, so while they slowed me down slightly, they didn’t have me huffing and puffing. I’m learning to love to hate to love those hill repeat sessions more and more. I didn’t check my pace on my watch at any point, but I hit the 5K mark and felt like I was coming along well for someone who was fighting hip pain twinges since the start. With the hills now behind us, the runners exit Central Park onto 7th Avenue. Cathy said she’d be outside the park to see me there, so I got to the left per her instructions and headed up 7th Avenue. She was tucked into the pocket of the turn, but I heard her shouting and screaming and I gave a wave at her as I ran past. It lifted my spirits, for sure. And it was on to run down 7th Avenue and into Times Square.
I think Times Square was my favorite part of this race. The crowd was intense. There was so much noise. All the screens were lit up. The Kids Mile was running through there. There was so much energy there…that it just pulsed through you. I loved every stretch of this portion of the race. And it is the part I remember the most. I love a good crowd.
And with the extreme winds we were getting, it was a great way to start off the last stretch of the race. This portion is pretty flat, save for just after the 20K mark. So, it was nice to easily pick up the pace a little here. Miles 8-12 really just have you fighting the windtunnels that are 42nd Street. Here you make a U-Turn and head down the West Side Highway. Wind. Lots of wind. Thankfully there was music blasting at various stages throughout this stretch of the run. The crowds were sparse, but there were some spectators out there to cheer. But without the bands, this might have been a tough slog through these 4 miles. However, as the miles tick down, One World Trade Center/Freedom Tower keep getting closer and closer. It’s gorgeous. I can’t tell you how long I just kept my eyes on that building, minding each time I drew up my right leg, making sure I wasn’t overcompensating due to the hip pain. This was…uplifting.
Mile 12 takes runners through the Battery Park Underpass. This…was fun. Seriously. You are underground for a long while. Runners scream and shout and let out whoops as they run through the dark, spooky tunnel. I loved it. I even left my sunglasses on. Just powered on through. Running through tunnels is fun. For some reason, I always smile more in them. The 20K mark was just as we were let out to run up a hill.
Me coming out of the Battery Park Underpass at the 20K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
This is where Cathy was situated to see me before I hit the finish line. LOVED this little uplift right at the end. I waived and smiled as she shouted, “YOU REALLY ARE ALMOST THERE!” And so, I burst up the hill and got hit by one hell of a headwind. NYC has this way of always being super windy when I run there. So…I battled the headwind and just ran…ran…ran…rounding a corner…passing up a pace group….rounding another turn and seeing that finish line. As I ran this race rather conservatively, I still had some go in the tank and so…I powered up, powered through, and crossed that finish line.
I stopped my Garmin…and the tears just started going. I didn’t know my official time. I didn’t check the Garmin. I competed and finished my first half marathon since my hip labrum tear over a year ago. And I could still move. No limping. Just a small ache. I had done what I thought I wouldn’t be able to do…and it turns out I did it well.
We were filtered through the finisher’s area where we had medals hung around our necks and mylar sheets wrapped around us to keep us warm. We were given these nice bags filled with snacks, Gatorade and water, and then shuttled out toward Battery Park. At the exit, Cathy was waiting. I hurried over and got a hug and she said, “YOU KILLED IT!! Do you want to know your time?” Of course I did. She told me…and I started crying. Not only was it better than I anticipated, it was better than I could have dreamed of doing, given the circumstances.
Our bodies find ways of surprising us. And I think not having a specific goal or pace I wanted to hit helped.
So, the official results of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon are that I finished in 1:43:53. I was 3318/20,149 finishers overall. I was 786/10,556 female finishers. And I was 132/1706 finishers in my division. I, honestly, couldn’t have run this any better. Since the cold weather made me sore from just shivering at the start, I just took this race one step at a time…one mile at a time. And I LOVED it. I loved this race. It was…probably….one of my favorite half marathons I have ever run. Even in the cold…and the wind…and the suck…it was just…fun. And I had fun running it. It was a struggle at times…but I finished it and I felt good at the end.
Afterwards, we hopped the subway back to the hotel where I showered and changed.
Cathy, Me and Marisa after a great evening of celebration at Red Rooster Harlem.
Cathy and I went to Empire Coffee & Tea House where I got a Pumpkin Spice Latte (dairy free…made with almond milk…and YUMMY!). Then we ended up hiking around NYC the rest of the day with Cathy and my friend Marisa, who I have known since high school. We stopped in at bakeries (I bought 3 cookies from By The Way (BTW) Bakery) and a tea shop (where I had the Energitea…an amazing green blend). We settled in for a bit at the hotel before getting ready to head to dinner at Red Rooster Harlem. You might recall, Red Rooster is where I celebrated my NYC Marathon finish…so I wanted to go back for this. And it was amazing. Once again, the chef created a dish to fit my dietary needs…and I was SO impressed. I even had dessert. And fun. We sat and talked over mint tea and listened to the live jazz music in the bar before calling it a night and making the trek back from Harlem to Midtown. We said goodbye to Marisa and settled in for the night.
Overall…I’m already ready to come back to NYC…even if I don’t have a race. There is always so much to see and do. But…this time…for me…the highlight was getting through the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon…after having to defer it last year. It was just the boost I needed.
So Delicious Diary Free Mac & Cheese Pizza FlavorProduct: So Delicious Dairy Free Mac & Cheese Pizza Flavor – $2.99+
It was in a recent issue of Gluten Free & More that Erica Dermer (aka: Celiac & The Beast) brought to my attention the fact that So Delicious Dairy Free was coming out with a new product. Two (yes…TWO) versions of a boxed mac & cheese.
Gluten free and dairy free…perfect for this girl. I figured it would take an eternity to find in Louisville, but…a couple of weeks ago, it was out on the shelves of the local Whole Foods. So both flavors (Pizza and Cheddar) came home with me. And this week was an ideal week to try one of them as my endless quest to clear out the pantry continues (I know…if I’d stop buying things it would be so much easier!).
I know, I had a vegan mac and cheese on Monday…but who says comfort food can only happen once a week, right? Besides…this was a different mac and cheese. This one came in a box. HAHA! And since today was my (allergen-free) Soft Pretzel Wednesday lunch tradition, and I bought an amazing (allergen-free) Confetti Cupcake from my local bakery, Annie May’s Sweet Café, I figured, why not go for broke? Have some mac & cheese! Thanks to the (not-so-expensive) splurge at Whole Foods…this was possible.
Nothing could be easier to make. Simply bring a pot of water to a boil and pour the noodles in. Allow them to cook for about 8-9 minutes. Drain. Once drained, return noodles to the pot and add in 1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut milk (I used unsweetened cashew milk) and 2 tablespoons of a dairy-free buttery spread (I used Earth Balance). Add in the packet of powder-like-cheesy-stuff and stir until mixed well. Serve.
So, my roommate opted to have the Pizza Flavored Mac & Cheese from So Delicious first before the Cheddar. I think she’s having a hankering for pizza. Well, she said it’s because I made “regular” mac & cheese on Monday. Whatever. Regardless, we started off with the odd-flavored one! (That’s odd as in…not a normal flavor you would find). I served it with a slice of vegan garlic bread (from Annie May’s Sweet Café)…and dinner was super-easy, super-quick, and hopefully super-yum!
As far as boxed mac & cheese goes, this ranks up there. I thought the gluten free noodles were amazing. They didn’t get gummy or fall apart. They held up to draining and constant mixing when everything was added in. That really was a high point for me, since so often these boxed gluten-free pastas just fall apart. So…YAY! As for the flavor…it…kind of tastes like pizza. There is a hint of tomato flavor in the sauce, for sure. And the sauce is darker than the orange boxed powder stuff that people are used to eating. It didn’t punch me in the tastebuds and make me think I was eating pizza instead of pasta. Like I said, it had more of a rich tomato flavor than anything. What I did love most, however, was that it didn’t have a weird tangy fake cheese flavor to it. No plastic residue. Nothing that can be such a turn off (for me, anyway) when it comes to vegan cheese products. The sauce was creamy and cheesy (without the cheese!)…and for that I am happy. I think I liked it best when I was scooping it up with my garlic bread though. More powerful flavors there than on its own. That being said, I wasn’t disappointed in the least, and will probably end up keeping a box of the So Delicious Dairy Free Mac & Cheese in my pantry for nights where I need something quick and easy…and delicious.
All that being said, let’s talk about what goes into the So Delicious Dairy Free Mac & Cheese Pizza Flavor. This product is made up of organic gluten free pasta (organic white rice flour, organic green lentil flour, organic corn flour), algal protein, veggie blend (carrot, tomato), sea salt, natural flavor, coconut oil powder (maltodextrin, organic coconut oil, rice starch, natural flavor), guar gum, pizza seasoning (spices, garlic, salt, onion), mustard (seed), annatto, and lactic acid. This product us Kosher Parve, Certified Gluten Free, and Certified Vegan.
As for nutrition, a serving of the So Delicious Dairy Free Mac & Cheese Pizza Flavor is 2.5 ounces (71 grams…or about 1 cup prepared) and there are about 2.5 servings per box. My roommate and I just split it in half. An actual serving (as packaged, not prepared), will give you 260 calories, 2 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 500 mg sodium, 50 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 2 grams sugars, and 10 grams of protein! LOOK at that protein!! It is definitely filling.
No worries…I still ate the cupcake afterwards!
Anyway…while the So Delicious Dairy Free Mac & Cheese Pizza Flavor was a nice way to have a stress-free night of cooking, I still felt that it was lacking somewhat in flavor. That being said, the texture, taste, and creaminess were right up to par…especially for a powder-base. I was impressed and surprised that I liked it that much. And that’s a good thing, for sure. But, I sure was glad I picked up that garlic bread today…
Bottom line…it was good. Not outstanding. But good. And different. I have yet to find another gluten free and/or vegan pizza mac and cheese on the market.
My life is a roller coaster these days. Good days. Bad days. Highs and lows. There are days I feel unstoppable and days that stop me cold. There are days where I feel on top of the world, and days where the tears just won’t stop.
There are pain-free days…and days where it hurts just getting out of bed.
This is my life…and has been since February 16, 2015.
Almost a year.
Still not better. Still fighting. Still not where I imagined I’d be.
I’m going to be honest, I came out of the weekend, despite the slip and fall on ice, feeling good. My pain levels were down. I was moving without problems. And then…Tuesday hill repeats. UGH! JUST UGH!! I did fine, but when I stop that’s when the problems start. And despite a round of stretches my physical therapist assigned me, I was still feeling it yesterday and this morning when I worked in my training runs.
All that being said, I’ve powered through a lot, and despite my demanding work/training/recovery schedule…I’ve done some pretty amazing things so far this week. I thought I’d share!
1. THEMED SPIN CLASSES
I think I have the perfect (always colorful) tights for a Disco-themed spin class, yes?
Rocking perfect tights for a disco-themed spin class, yes?
My amazing and inspiring friend, Deana, is a very fun spin instructor. It’s always a mixed bag with her. And when you attend one of her classes, you are going to walk out of there a sweaty mess. She’s in training for her first Half Ironman, and we’re in training with her, in a way. At least on the stationary bike in the safety of the walls of the YMCA. HA!
Anyway, this week, Deana has had themed spin classes. And I am loving it. Monday morning, my 5:30 a.m. class was treated to Spinning to the ’90s. All the music was songs straight out of the 1990s…and I knew and even sang along with every single one of them. Not loudly, because, I wouldn’t put anyone through the torture of hearing me sing, but it really takes your mind off of that hill climb and definitely brought a lot of hoots and hollers from the class. And Friday morning, we’re getting a disco ball and having our own Disco Inferno all up in the spin room. And I am already working on what I intend to wear for said Disco day. There might even be a lava lamp. Regardless, I’ll be ready to work hard to the tune of the best disco songs.
Themed spin classes…who knew?!
2. HILL REPEATS
Bright colors, bright lights, and loving that I’m DONE with hill repeats.
Love them or hate them…hill repeats are real. In fact, hill repeats are what my physical therapist currently wants me doing. So, every Tuesday, I’m out at either Cherokee Park or Iroquois Park here in Louisville…running me some major hill repeats. The past two weeks, I’ve knocked out 4 miles of hill repeats each Tuesday night. 4 freakin’ miles. To this point, that is the furthest I have run since…the stress fracture in my leg back in August.
I won’t lie…a little part of me panics every time I go out there for these. Hills do make you a stronger runner…but they hurt. In my case, they really hurt. But, I feel strong while doing them, and after some plyometric exercises and stretches…and a little TLC from my foam roller…I’m usually back in the game the next day. So yeah…hills. YAY!
I don’t worry about my time or how long I’m out there or even my speed. What’s important to me is that I am actually out and running again. Not completely pain-free…but being out there is SO much better than where I have been. I’ll take every chance I can get to attempt to get stronger again.
3. CHILI COOK OFF
Hawaiian Chili (with a bit of Gluten Free Corn Spoon Bread and Gluten Free Breton Original with Flax Crackers)
So, yesterday was the annual chili cook off at my office. Now, I have never actually submitted a chili to this cook off because, prior to this year, the co-owner (who has since retired) used to always tell me not to bother with bringing in a vegetarian chili, since his wife was making one. I just never argued the fact. With this year being wide open, I got a little carried away and ended up making 2 chilies and 1 batch of my gluten free corn spoon bread recipe that I’ve killed every time I’ve made it. Meaning, it’s extremely awesome. When it comes to cooking, especially in a quasi-competitive manner, I can be pretty indecisive on what chili to make. So, I did what any chef would do…
…I made both.
Pizza Chili (which I figured would be my star) and Hawaiian Chili.
I realized I was splitting my odds at winning, but…I love both of these chilies and they were both very different. VERY different. Even from the other chilies (there were 7 entries…2 of which were mine) that were entered into the annual cook off.
And, shocking me (and probably the rest of the office who doesn’t always want to venture into my plant-based, gluten-free goodies)…I won. With…Hawaiian Chili. So not the chili that I expected to win. I was seriously surprised. Of the two I brought in, I thought Pizza Chili would be the more popular one. And it was a very near thing with the runner-up, a Mexican Beer Chili. The winning chili is pictured above with the corn spoon bread.
I am so happy. This is the first time a vegan/vegetarian chili has won. And it’s the first time I have won anything at work. So…YAY!!
I’ve had many requests for this recipe, so I will leave it here. Do try it. It’s amazing.
Recipe: Hawaiian Chili Makes 4 very large servings
Ingredients:
1 small onion, diced
2 garlic clove, minced
2 bell pepper, seeded & diced
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
2 (15 oz) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
3 cups pineapple, diced
2 (15 oz) cans tomato sauce
Crackers (optional…to serve on the side)
Directions:
Line a large pot with vegetable broth.
Sauté onions, garlic, and bell pepper until onions are translucent and bell peppers are soft.
Add spices, stir to coat vegetables.
Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 20-30 minutes.
Serve with crackers
~*~*~
Seriously…make this stuff.
If you live in the area…come to tomorrow’s 5:30 a.m. spin class at the YMCA of Southern Indiana in New Albany and let Deana bring the funk and disco back…disco ball included.
It was a long day of driving, shopping, and some exploring. There was even beach time and some wading into the water. It was a good day, filled with a few minor bumps in the road. But…there comes a time when you suddenly realize that the crepe you ate for breakfast has completely worn off and that protein bar you consumed as a snack…even though you weren’t really hungry but you knew dinner was still a ways off…wears off.
That was yesterday.
And with me not being able to run the Kauai Marathon…dinner plans were sort of up in the air. Original plan was to get gluten-free pizza from this local chain (they have 4 locations on the island) called Brick Oven Pizza. From the reviews on Find Me Gluten Free, they did a good job with avoiding cross-contamination as much as possible. BUT…pizza was a pre-race thing and I was definitely not prepping for a race now. Before leaving for Hawaii, I had noted this to Cathy and she did a bit of poking around, finding a little spot called Caffe Coco, also in Kapaa, that serves up dishes made from island-grown produce, fresh fish, and organic chickens, wanting to support local farmers as much as possible. They specialize in vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.
We were sort of…not really sure what we wanted for dinner, but after looking and re-looking at menus, we decided to just go for it and get a pizza. Between the three of us, we could eat a small (8 slices) gluten-free pizza and not overdo it and kill ourselves trying to polish it off. So…Brick Oven Pizza won out.
We piled into the rental car and headed that way. It’s a very short drive from our resort, and we pulled into the parking lot and made our way inside. We were seated by the hostess near the back of the restaurant and given the menu to look over. We already knew that we were doing a gluten-free pizza. The thing is…I am not able to handle much dairy and Jenn and Cathy are cheese-lovers. I am a vegetarian and Jenn is not a not a huge fan of vegetables. So…the thought was to do a half-and-half pizza and Cathy (who can eat either way) can share on each end. BRILLIANT!
Our waitress wasn’t sure that one gluten-free pizza would be enough for the three of us, but we decided we’d grab dessert if we were still hungry (we heard about a place on the radio that had vegan ice cream)…so we convinced her that we wouldn’t starve with it just being one pizza between the three of us. So, we put in our special order, with one half of the pizza having mushrooms and pineapple with no cheese, and the other half having cheese and the house-made Italian sausage. This is how we do it!
It was quite a wait for the pizza to be made, which is fine. They did explain that the gluten-free pizzas take a little bit longer, and with a dairy-free vegetarian getting half of a pizza that has dairy and meat on it, they were just trying to be a little more diligent with the cooking and the slicing process. So, I’ll take that as a good sign. But when the pizza did arrive, we paused long enough to take pictures and then…it was time to devour.
And it did meet with a messy, messy death.
The crust itself was your typical cracker crust, which is not my favorite, but when you are gluten-free and want pizza…you get what you get. And, while it’s a thin and crispy crust, it means that it isn’t quite as filling and you don’t feel as guilty devouring it. That being said, three of us were consuming 8 little pieces of pizza. So, it was actually the perfect light pizza meal as far as we were concerned.
My carnivorous cheese-loving traveling partners really raved about the sausage on their half of the pizza, saying how full of flavor it was. They loved the cheese, and even topped off their slices with the Parmesan cheese from the shaker. The odd piece out was split between them.
My un-cheesy, pineapple and mushroom topped side was delicious. The red sauce wasn’t too heavy, but it had good tomato flavor to it. I loved the way the mushrooms were cooked in, giving them that meaty texture. And the pineapple was juicy and amazing. I really enjoyed this pizza…healthy as a pizza could be with it still being…pizza. It was easy for me to digest, which was the important part. Delicious! I was satisfied when I split the odd-ball extra piece with Cathy and we considered our dinner…done.
The waitress tried to entice us with more, but we said we were done. She happily delivered our check…our Gluten Free Half Mushroom/Pineapple Half Cheese/Italian Sausage Pizza ($18.95) was a hit, for sure. And, for a gluten-free pizza…affordable. Brick Oven Pizza does charge an extra $3.50 for a gluten-free pizza…so there was that. In the end, what we had delivered what all of us wanted in the pizza. And thank goodness they could do half and half so that we all got something that we wanted/needed with the actual pizza.
For a local chain offering a gluten-free crust, I was happy with the pizza I received. It was just enough to allow us to go to that ice cream spot we heard about and indulge a little in some local ice cream. And that…was a nice bonus. If you are in the market for a safe gluten-free pizza…try out Brick Oven in Kapaa. I’ll go back next year before the marathon for sure!
Brick Oven Pizza Gluten Free Half Mushroom/Pineapple (no cheese) and Half Cheese and Italian Sausage Pizza
Color me charmed. For real. A couple of weeks ago, I took a chance and tried a new product I discovered (exclusively) at my local Whole Foods. In fact, all of the products from this particular brand are only available at Whole Foods…currently. They are a little pricey, but as I’ve been discovering…they are totally worth it.
Kite Hill was started due to a vision for a plant-based food that would have all the qualities we love in the best artisan dairy cheeses. Using simple ingredients and using traditional methods, Kite Hill has created artisan cheeses, yogurts, and cream cheeses that can all be incorporated into entrées and desserts. Created by a dedicated team with deep culinary, cheese-making, and scientific expertise, including Tal Ronnen, Monte Casino, Jean Prevot, Pat Brown, and Matthew Sade, Kite Hill has stepped up to the challenge to create a non-dairy cheese that met their high standards for quality. So often, vegan cheese tastes fake or plastic-like. After years of recipe testing and countless trials and errors to develop the perfect nut milk, cultures, and enzymes needed to create a worthy product, Kite Hill emerged on the market place.
Kite Hill Ricotta
You will recall that I have already given a raving review for the Kite Hill Plain Cream Cheese Style Spread. Well, I had pasta on my mind this past week. Really. And I had gluten free lasagna noodles in my pantry. And ramekin dishes in my cupboard. See where this is headed? Yep…individual mini lasagnas…all made possible by the introduction of Kite Hill’s Ricotta – which is completely soy free, vegan, gluten free and dairy free.
Let me tell you, I was beyond blown away by this product. It surprised me. It really, really did. The Kite Hill Ricotta is light and fluffy right off the bat. It looked just like real ricotta…the stuff I am incapable of consuming anymore. Damn lactose intolerance. But let me say this, if Kite Hill continues to produce their version of ricotta cheese, then I will never miss it again. I know that tofu can be substituted in pasta dishes for ricotta…as can Tofutti’s Better Than Ricotta…and I have actually used both in successful recipes. But…it wasn’t the same. The texture was different. The flavor was different.
Not with Kite Hill. My roommate and I both tried some of the Kite Hill Ricotta on its own before I blended it with some herbs for the actual meal. Oh. My. God. I probably could have eaten the entire tub on my own, with just a spoon. There is that much amazing flavor in this cheese. The texture is light, but with a bit of heft to it. So, it mimics that of real ricotta. Oh…this was already looking good for my mini lasagnas. I just had to keep myself from eating all the cheese out of the container and to use it, instead, in the actual recipe.
No easy task.
But I did end up blending it with my herbs and some Daiya Mozzerella Shreds to complete the cheesy filling of the lasagna, which would also include sautéed onion and kale with some garlic. YUMMY!! The noodles were cooked, cooled, and put into the dishes. The ricotta & cheese filling was added, and layered with the vegetables…and of course an amazing sauce from Rao to top it all off. Into the oven for 40 minutes and…viola…we’re in business! The mini-lasagnas came out of the oven bubbling hot with cheese and sauce and a whole lot of goodness. I eased them out of the ramekins and dinner was served.
Oh. My. God. This was the best ricotta cheese substitute I have tried yet. Not only was this flavorful, mimicing both ricotta and/or mascarpone cheese, but it didn’t make the dish heavy at all. The ricotta has a slight tanginess to it, making it a nice addition not just to pastas, but also to desserts. This product is ridiculously tasty. I want to make ricotta pancakes now. And I think I might just do that…maybe tomorrow. We’ll see. I have some left over to do just that. And I have all these fresh local blueberries to use as well. Oh yes…I sense an epic gluten-free and dairy free pancake breakfast. It’s the best ricotta substitute I have ever stumbled upon. It’s made from almond milk, so if you have a nut allergy, it’s not for you, but it’s nice to have a soy-free alternative.
So, now let’s talk about the ingredients. Nothing beats real, wholesome ingredients. What’s even better, the Kite Hill Ricotta only has 5 ingredients in it. Yep. Just five! These include: almond milk (water, almonds), salt, enzyme, tartaric acid, and cultures. This product, as mentioned before, is gluten-free, soy free, dairy free and vegan. It also contains no cholesterol, no saturated fat, and no trans fats!
And with that in mind, this is the best time to discuss Kite Hill Roctta nutritional facts, yes? A serving of the Kite Hill Ricotta is 1 ounce (28 grams…or about 2 tablespoons). This serving will provide you with 70 calories, 6 grams of fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 90 mg sodium, 2 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams dietary fiber, 0 grams sugars, and 3 grams of protein. Are you loving it? I’m loving it!
Seriously, you won’t find anything better than Kite Hill Ricotta. It’s so versatile. Pastas, pizza toppings, desserts, or even in hot chocolate, this will do it all. And the taste, oh my God, the taste is fantastic. I am hooked. I’ll pay the price to have a good tasting, good quality product. And Kite Hill totally makes it worth it. If you live near a Whole Foods, I encourage you and highly recommend that you check out the Kite Hill lineup of vegan artisan cheese.
Mini Vegan Kale Lasagna (made with Kite Hill Ricotta)
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The Celiathlete 