Me just after crossing the finish line of the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic – Louisville, Kentucky
Race: Anthem 5K Fitness Classic
Place: Louisville, Kentucky
Date: March 9, 2013
Time:22:41
Make a note of that time! Please! Because I just ran my first sub-23 minute 5K. And that, my dearest friends, is something to celebrate!
This race was not easy. Well, technically, it was…for most runners. But most runners weren’t up past midnight the night before at a concert. Pink was in town and I wasn’t going to miss that show for anything. Knowing that I had the race that I needed to be up early for the following day meant, as I told my roommate, I was going to take this one easy. Run at a comfortable pace. Not worry about time.
And that was exactly what I did.
My alarm went off way too early for my liking on race morning. I mean, when you crawl into bed just before 1 a.m., the last thing you want to do is crawl back out of bed at 5 a.m. to get dressed and eat something before driving into Louisville to run. I mean, I love running more than a lot of things in this world…but I was not happy to be awake that early.
Oh…and my company decided they would sponsor me as a runner. Bought me some shiny new running clothes and everything with the company logo. I promised the company president that I would debut the uniform at the Anthem 5K. The problem was…while the afternoon was supposed to be in the 60s temperature-wise…the morning was in the low 30s. But, true to my word, I put on my compression socks, donned my new running skirt, and put on my new running t-shirt as well. I laced up, threw on some arm warmers, and chose a BondiBand for the occasion: “Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever.” It was painful being awake that early on so little sleep…which was why I chose it.
I managed to get just about everything done, including pulling my hair up and putting in my hair extensions, and then brewing some hot coffee, just before my roommate shambled out of bed about an hour later. Yeah…I was moving slowly. Hare I was not…totally tortoise.
Breakfast was simple. My cup of coffee and a little bit of water. And my gluten-free cereal with a bit of almond milk. I ate that slowly and carefully, not wanting to just cause an unhappy stomach by eating too quickly. I sipped on the coffee, got up, washed dishes and went to brush my teeth.
Getting my change of clothes together, I tossed it all in my run bag and threw on a pair of pants to wear over the running skirt so that my legs would be warm up until I really needed to stand at the start line. My roomie pinned on my bib and I threw on my jacket and grabbed some gloves. It was time to head out to the race.
Stepping outside I was already not fond of the fact that I was going to be running in a skirt and not something warmer…like my tights. But, it was time to suck it up (gluten-free) cupcake and be a real runner. LOL! Okay…real runners come in all sorts of weather tolerances…and I just happen to dislike being cold. I run in it…quite often…but it doesn’t mean I like to. And today…no layers. Last year, when I ran the Anthem 5K, I was in shorts and a long sleeve tech shirt with my running jacket over it. I know…shorts made no sense. I didn’t realize it was that cold. This year…no jacket. No long-sleeves. Arm warmers. I was all about the arm warmers.
Anyway, the drive to Louisville was easy. We took the exit to get to Slugger Field and paid $5.00 for a parking spot across the street. We threw a couple things in the trunk and then trudged into Slugger Field to find a spot out of the way and wait for the race to get close to starting. This was what we do with every race that starts there…because it is usually on colder mornings and it’s nice and warm inside. There were a lot of runners and walkers milling about, but I found a spot against the wall to stand and relax…and get some stretching in. I tried not to half-ass the stretching as I wasn’t out in the cold…and I knew with the cold air, getting those muscles warmed up was important. So, I did put some work into it.
I finally decided it was time to let the legs get a little acclimated to the air from the doors that were opening and closing that lead to the great outdoors. So, I shed the pants and handed them to Cathy…who tried to figure out what to do with them and then decided to use them as a scarf. Hey…it worked.
A little more stretching and we noticed more people were heading outside, so with about 15 minutes to start time…we headed that way too.
And ran into Kelsie! YAY! We gave hugs and stood around to chat for a little bit about the race and sunglasses and Disney. Kelsie is so awesome, so I was happy to have run into her in the sea of humanity over at Slugger Field. We wished each other luck, said to have fun, and went our separate ways.
There were a lot of people already lining up for the start of the race. There were even more people waiting in line at the port-a-potties…but that’s rather typical. Cathy and I started to maneuver through the crowd, working our way up to what might be a good place for me to stand while waiting on the official start of the race. I stopped a good distance back…but Cathy told me to move up more. LOL! I guess she was feeling more optimistic than I was. I ended up standing next to two older gentlemen who were some of the funniest people I met. They said that they were here to make the rest of the 8,998 runners look good. And they made jokes pretty much the entire time, save for when the National Anthem played, about 10 minutes before the official start.
I shed my fleece jacket…although not wanting to…and handed them over to Cathy. She gave me a hug and wished me luck. And then…she was gone. Swallowed up by the throng of people on the sidelines. We had discussed earlier that she would try to get a spot on the right hand side for the start and on the left for the finish…so I at least had an idea of where to look for her when I headed out and when I came in at the end.
I jogged in place, jumped up and down, did some butt kickers, and just did my best to keep those muscles in my legs loose and warmed up. They were not feeling the cold air that morning…at all.
Now, apparently we had a wheelchair racer, who didn’t get an official start…but they did send him off before everyone else started. And then…before I knew it…the countdown to the start of the 2013 Anthem 5K Fitness Classic was underway. A airhorn blast…and we were off.
It took me a minute or two to actually get up to the starting line. I started my Garmin as I crossed, noticed Cathy and gave a wave of a hand…and I was off.
Zen was the name of this race. Like I said…I was running (literally) on very little sleep. But, you know how it is with races…you just sort of get caught up in the moment. You get excited…because everyone is excited around you. There are people cheering on the sides, runners running at different paces, some talking, some blaring music in their ears, some just trying to keep up with the crowd.
And here I found myself zigging and zagging through all of these people for open spots. I was moving forward. Onward. Ever onward.
Before I knew it…Mile 1 reeled by. I was taking it easy…for me in a race. The clock on the mile marker told me that much at least. But I forgot that it took me about a minute or so to actually get to the start line and officially start. I don’t think of these things when I’m running. I used to focus on the music I listen to…but I’ve stopped wearing my iPod during races as well, finding that I actually do run better without music. Go figure.
One mile down…two more to go.
I was feeling good. I was still moving forward and even finding my little rabbits in the group of runners. My little game to get my feet moving. Find a runner…and tell myself I will pass them. Then make sure they don’t pass me again. This race was HUGE so there was no shortage of little rabbits for me to select. And I continued to push onward. I followed the crowd around corners, through the streets, and even up a tiny little hill, which didn’t even slow me down.
And soon…Mile 2 was behind me.
One more mile to go. And I could almost taste the finish. I’ve been working hard, while running, on strong finishes. No matter if it’s early in the morning or on my longer runs, I always try to finish strong, even on tired legs. Even on days I run twice. Even on the dreadmill. I do whatever I can to make sure my legs, when they are feeling the most tired, learn that on that last mile, I am going to work them harder than before. Because while I am not a sprinter and you won’t see me flailing towards the finish line, I love that rush when I push just a bit more than I thought I could and cross that finish line.
The last mile took us down Main Street and back towards Slugger Field. About halfway there I could hear the crowd…hear the music. I could taste that finish line. I headed under the overpass and I could see the finish line straight ahead. I pumped my feet hard, I pushed, and it came closer and closer…
And as I crossed it, I paused my Garmin…just feeling good about that run. Never once did I focus on time or pace. Not once did I even dwell on it. I ran this entire race by feel…and it felt amazing. It was only then that I glanced down at my Garmin and noted the time.
22:42 seconds. I double checked the miles…and my Garmin showed 3.14 miles. HOLY RUNNING COW!
Cathy was easy to spot with the sign. She was cheering and screaming at me. I hurried over to her…and showed her my Garmin. I was in shock. I felt awesome. I felt invincible. I struck my finisher’s pose right there in the finish line area. And then, we decided I should move through the crowd and get some water and a banana. Cathy would meet me in the recovery area.
Which she did…as I was staring at bananas, trying to find one with enough green to make me happy but not be under ripe. I am very picky about the state of ripeness of my bananas. Trust me. I asked Cathy for my phone, because I suddenly remembered that I signed up for runner tracking so I could get my official time just after finishing the race. I pulled up my text messages and there it was…
22:41. Twenty-two minutes and forty-one seconds.
Pardon the happy dance.
Me feeling strong and awesome after the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic
The Anthem 5K runs on a fast and relatively flat course. Despite the cold air and a tired body, I managed to pull off my fastest 5K time to date. And it was sub-23 minutes! I felt like I was on top of the world. A new PR…and I wasn’t even trying.
I don’t know if it’s because I love running so much and just forget, at times, that I am running. But I once again had some wings on my ankles Saturday morning and I pulled a race time off that I never would have dreamed was actually possible…for me.
So, the official results of the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic are that I finished in 22:41. Still shocked. I was 510/7800 finishers. WOOHOO! In addition, I was the 77/4,482 women finishers. And, I was 18/737 in my age division. I couldn’t be happier with these results. I couldn’t be prouder.
I guess, sometimes, the key to having your best run is not to focus at all on the act of running. Run with your heart. Because, if you truly love the sport…if you are doing it for selfless, not selfish reasons, then…you just sort of get caught up in it. And nothing else matters at that moment. You just feel it…with every stride, every breath, every bend in the road. The road truly does rise up to meet your feet. A simple push, some forward movement, and before you know it…it’s over. And it felt good. It felt really good.
This race should not have gone this well for me. But every moment of it…felt amazing.
There is something that is so awesome about your locally owned businesses. I love going to the local restaurants whenever possible and trying them out. Especially when they have something that a gluten-free vegetarian can eat. And, let me tell you, not everywhere is equipped to handle that kind of patron.
I, however, am that patron. And that is my life…from restaurant to restaurant.
I actually got quite upset with Taco Punk the day I was to go and eat there. My roomie decided that Taco Punk would be the place to eat before hitting up the Pink concert at the KFC Yum! Center that night. I mean…Taco…PUNK. Pink. Yeah…it just seemed to work. She had read in our local independent paper, LEO, about how Taco Punk had vegetarian/vegan options, as well as some gluten-free options as well. Knowing that I wouldn’t have to depend on a protein bar stashed in my purse was a nice plus.
HOWEVER…
This is where Taco Punk fell short. I pulled up the menu the morning of the show and browsed it, trying to get a feel for my options and what I might be able to try. Not sure what ingredients went into what, I went ahead and shot them an e-mail via the “CONTACT” button on their Web site. I explained my dietary needs and the reason I was contacting them…because with a concert to get to, I didn’t want to have to question everything and anyone at the counter prior to the show. Going in prepared puts me at ease and helps make everything run a bit more smoothly in the end.
But…no response ever came. No e-mail. Nothing. My inquiry was either ignored…or just not important enough to get back to me. Which, honestly, put a sour taste in my mouth when it came to dining there the night of the show. Especially since I was running in a road race the following morning and have to be more cautious than normal prior to races about what I eat. One smidgen of gluten and I could be down for the count, out of the race, and out the money I poured into the race, not to mention the time and energy I put into training for each one. So, yeah, I bitched rather loudly at my office about not hearing back. My roommate offered to go somewhere else to eat, but I told her I would just go ahead and now call Taco Punk and see if they could spare a moment to talk to me about my dietary needs.
So, I called. And a woman answered the phone and very gratiously explained that while the house-made tortillas are not gluten-free, they keep corn tortillas that are on hand. So any taco could be made with those. As for vegetarian, they offer a Seasonal Veggie Mole Taco and that the Black Beans they have are vegan. So…there were some options. With that taken care of, I hung up and prepared to head out of the office to get some dinner pre-concert.
Taco Punk is a local restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky, that offers quick service gourmet tacos. Yep. They pride themselves on using only the freshest, highest quality ingredients in their food, to make the dining experience that much more enjoyable and offering only the best flavors. The tortillas, fillings, salsas and toppings are all made by hand, every day, in their kitchen. They believe in using locally raised, all natural meats, sustainably caught seafood, and local produce while it is in season. They also biomass and recycle everything they possibly can. Which, I find to be exceptionally awesome when all is said and done. And who doesn’t like a gourmet taco, right?
Upon entering Taco Punk, the first thing I noticed was the set-up. You are guided toward the back of the shop where a counter is set up, sort of like at Q’doba or Moe’s. It’s like…Subway done by way of tacos. I let Cathy order first since I was the oddball gluten-free vegetarian. Cathy placed her order…deciding to try out one of their Grilled Adobo Chicken Taco ($3.95) as well as Chorizo and Potato Taco ($3.25) with a side of chips and salsa. The woman at the counter shouted back to the kitchen for the chicken to be cooked up and she went to starting the rest of the order for Cathy, grabbing two of the housemade tortillas and prepping them for the fillings. Then she took my order.
I decided to go with the two suggestions that are available to me…Gluten-Free Seasonal Veggie Mole Taco ($3.95) and the Gluten-Free Black Beans and Cheese Taco ($3.25). I just got that with the chips and salsa as well. The woman called back for the veggie order and then asked another employee to change his gloves and start working on my order. She explained that they always did a glove change to cut down on cross-contamination, which I totally appreciated and told her so. He pulled out four of the corn tortillas and put them on the grill behind the counter to warm. It looked like a separate grill used only for the corn tortillas. That also put my mind at ease.
Cathy’s order was filled and she got us fountain drinks and went to find somewhere to sit. There were plenty of places to choose from as the restaurant wasn’t that busy. My order was filled next, and I had both tacos filled with their main ingredients, then topped off with cabbage, jalapenos, and pickled onions. It just sounded yummy. As I was using corn tortillas, they doubled them up so they would hold up to the fillings and proteins. My chips were added and I was directed over to the salsa bar to choose between their house made salsas. I’m a spicy salsa girl, but I decided to do a little of their Hot Salsa Roja, which is a hotter version of their tomato salsa; the Pineapple Habenero Salsa, a sweet and spicy combination, and of course, the Salsa Verde, a mix of tomatillos and green chilies.
I tried the salsas first, just in case I wanted to add them to my tacos. The first one I tried was the Salsa Verde. And I loved it. It was definitely mild, but I love the sweetness of salsa verdes anyway, and this one hit the mark. The next one I tried was the Pineapple Habenero…which I detested. It was far too sweet for my liking. So this one just got pushed off to the side. The Hot Salsa Roja was next. Very tomato-y in flavor, with an undertone of heat. It was good. It was. I just expected a little more heat with it. Needless to say, I used them only for tortilla chip dipping and nothing more.
As for the tacos…they were…pretty good.
The first one I decided to eat was the Black Beans and Cheese Taco. I picked it up, and the weight of the filling was already tearing through both of the corn tortillas that it was wrapped up in. And, this one wasn’t even that full. Ah well, that’s why we have forks. I took a bite…and loved the flavor of the black beans. The sofrito black beans that they use are flavored really well. This could be a really bland taco…but it wasn’t. The cheese was sort of a non-entity. I couldn’t even tell it was on there. And I was glad I went with the cabbage for some crunch and the pickled onions for some acidity…and the jalapenos for a little heat. I think this taco would have suffered without those additions. While the beans were cooked perfectly and seasoned well, nothing really was a flavor punch to the taste buds. And, I definitely have made versions of this in my home…and it tasted just as good as what I got here.
The Seasonal Veggie Mole taco, however, I was very excited about. Mostly because I have made veggie tacos at home, but never in a mole. And this mole was a pumpkin seed mole. So, it was even something a little offbeat and different. Loved that. This taco was packed full of sauteed seasonal veggies that were swimming in a pumpkin seed mole. It looked almost like a curry thrown into the corn tortillas. Smelled like that too. I was intrigued. It was definitely different…and in a good way. I loved how the vegetables were seasoned and how the mole tasted. But…it wasn’t as enticing as it sounded on the menu board. I appreciate the effort and the inventiveness of this taco…but it just wasn’t as amazing, to me, as it looked and sounded.
As for what Cathy thought of her tacos…she said they were…okey-dokey. Which, when I asked her to elaborate, she said that they were good…but nothing that just knocked her over and really made her want to go back in the near future for more.
And, unfortunately, I couldn’t agree more. I hate to say something like that about a local business. Espeically one that is having a bit of trouble lately and might be on the verge of closing. I love my local businesses, I do. But they have to impress me. They have to draw me back time and time again. Most of them succeed. Sometimes my roommate and I have to decide where to eat on Saturday and/or Sunday because there are so many local places that we enjoy going to and frequenting. This time, we decided to try somewhere new. And while I am happy for the experience and appreciate their high standards and food safety…I regret not being as amazed by their food as I was the care they put into making everything.
Would I go back to Taco Punk? Probably. But it wouldn’t be at the top of my list, nor would it be somewhere I actively sought out to return to when there are other places I know I enjoy more.
The food wasn’t bad, though. Don’t get me wrong. It just wasn’t something that stood up against other local restaurants and their flavors and food and impressed me. I was okay with what I was eating…but I felt, for the most part, I could just have easily made all of this in the comfort of my own kitchen and had it turn out the same…if not even better. It was a let down. And it’s too bad because I’ve been eagerly looking forward to dining at Taco Punk since I first learned of it. It took me awhile to get there. And now…it might take awhile to get me back.
If you love tacos and varieties of tacos that you normally can’t get anywhere…I encourage you to at least go in and try some of the offerings from Taco Punk. They are at least worth a stop and a sample. And, perhaps I was just there on an off day.
But, if it is any consolation…I still haven’t received a response to my e-mail…and it is two days past the day I sent it now. And it bothers me, more than a little, that an inquiry about ingredients and their food, went unanswered.
Taco Punk’s Black Beans & Cheese Taco and Seasonal Veggie Mole Taco with a side of chips and three house made salsas
While I have enjoyed all the previous three flavors in the Über line-up of sweet and salty fruit and nut bars, nothing has come close to matching the fantastic taste and flavor of your Bananas Foster version. I took one bite and died and went to heaven. This bar is so reminiscent of a delicious piece of banana bread that I hoovered the rest of it…savoring it as much as I could manage, but just wanting to eat more and more and more. It’s a good thing I left the box at home because I’d be tempted to eat all five bars. Calories be damned.
Seriously…where have you been all my life? And please…don’t ever leave me.
Love always,
Me
Lärabar Über Bananas Foster Snack Bar
OH. MY. GOD. IT. IS. SO. GOOD.
Okay…now that I have that out of my system, let me get down to the basics of this blog. A couple months ago, my local grocery store had every flavor of Lärabar Über on Manager’s Special. I could have grabbed so many more boxes than I did…and wish now that I had. But, being that, at the time, I was overladen with snacks and protein bars, I chose just to get one of each. After all, I had yet to try the Über line from Lärabar and wasn’t sure if I would like them or not. I actually had enjoyed, immensely, the previous three flavors: Cherry Cobbler, Apple Turnover, and the Roasted Nut Roll. The last in the line-up to near the expiration date was the box of Banana Foster bars.
Now…I love bananas because, well, I love them and I’m a runner…so therefore…I love them. Packing that flavor into an über delicious protein bar…SMART!! No…really. Because none of the other bars, for me, come close to rivaling this one in flavor. Immediately I know…banana. And, even better, the inclusion of the nuts and seasoning make it taste like an amazing slice of the best banana bread you have ever eaten. It was food porn in the best possible way. Snack time this coming week is going to be amazing.
So…here’s the basics…
The Lärabar Über Bananas Foster bar is completley gluten-free, non-GMO, and kosher. Awesome. But let’s not stop there. It is made up of a variety of fruit and nuts. So, if you have nut allergies, this bar may not be the best choice. If you, however, do not have an allergy to nuts…this bar is awesome. The Bananas Foster bar contains simple ingredients that you will immediatley recognize. These are walnuts, almonds, brown rice syrup, dates, dried bananas, pecans, honey sea salt, and cinnamon. That’s it. No funky chemicals and no added preservatives. Nothing that you have to google to know what it is…and no ingredients you can’t pronounce. 100% naturally good and good for you.
As for the nutrition facts, a serving size is 1 bar. This bar packs the most calories of all 4 varieties, clocking in at 230 calories per bar. Also, on a sad realization…this bar also packs 17 grams worth of fat. YIKES!! While I do love my desserts, I try to keep things lower on the fat scale when it comes to snacks. This bar is low in sodium (140 mg), lower(er) on the sugar scale (8 grams), and packs 4 grams of protein per bar, thanks to the inclusion of all those nut varieties.
So, while high in calories and high in fat (but, as most of this fat comes from nuts, it is at least the healthy fat), it actually is rather nutritious. And I can see this being something I could eat prior to a shorter race (I usually split them with my roommate anyway).
What I loved so much about this bar is that it actually tastes like a treat. It’s like eating a dessert. And, I do suppose some could argue that at that calorie count, it pretty much is a dessert. But imagine the amount of sugar you are taking out, as well as all the butter and cream. Like I said…healthy fats here. It’s decadent without being unhealthy or rich. It’s just one amazing bite after the next. It’s a struggle to NOT devour it without savoring the flavor. It really is that good. The Web site describes them as ‘bananamzaing.’ No kidding. This bar is bananas! And bananas…is good.
Product: Dr. Lucy’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies – $5.59+
So, if you recall, the other day I did a not-so-favorable review on Dr. Lucy’s Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies. I called them salty…and definitely found them to be more savory than sweet. I wasn’t impressed. In fact, my roommate and I figured that the only way we could get rid of that “beany, salty” flavor was to slap a piece of chocolate in between two cookies, add a little Marshmallow Fluff, toast it with the kitchen torch, and eat it like you would a S’more.
Don’t judge. You do what you can when you refuse to waste money and throw something away. The sugar cookies…were just not my thing.
As you can imagine, tonight when I was to bust open the remaining box of Dr. Lucy’s cookies that I got on sale at the store, I wasn’t feeling too good about it. At least I knew the texture to expect. Crunchy, crispy is how these cookies are described on the Web site and there is no better description for them. These cookies are about the size of a Chips Ahoy cookie. So, they are what I would consider a normal size cookie.
I’ll start with the background and work my way into what I made of this new flavor.
First of all, a serving of Dr. Lucy’s Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies is 3 cookies. Those three cookies will only set you back 130 calories and 5 grams of fat. A serving also contains 12 grams of sugar and 2 grams of protein. Not bad for three cookies, eh? Aside from that, the flour mix that is used is one that is composed of bean flours. I concluded that the addition of garbanzo and fava flours is what gave the sugar cookies that odd taste after taking a bite. I was nervous, then, that these would have the same problem.
Also of note, these cookies are vegan, gluten-free, and contain no peanuts, tree nuts, milk or eggs.
So, the moment of
truth arrived. Dessert time. And I popped these cookies out of the box and handed three to my roommate before heading off to retrieve my own. She took the first bite and I had to inquire if it was any good. She said that it tasted like the sugar cookies, but with chocolate. It was pretty good.
Oh, I dread those words coming from her. Sometimes ‘pretty good’ means it’s okay…sometimes it means ‘I don’t like it, but I’m not going to say that to you.’ And deciding what she means when she says something is ‘pretty good’ is nigh on impossible. I released a sigh and made a comment about how I was hoping it would taste better than the sugar cookies. I picked up my cookies and went to settle in and attempt to enjoy my dessert.
One bite…and I knew that by ‘pretty good’ she meant that these cookies were…okay. In fact…they were rather close to actually being just good. I mean, I’m not big on crunchy cookies, but this one is actually suited to it. I actually found that the vegan chocolate chips added a nice hint of sweetness to the cookie base, which is exactly what the sugar cookies were lacking, and why my roomie and I doctored ours up with things to make them sweeter and take away from that odd taste that the sugar cookies had. With the chocolate chip cookies…I don’t get that at all. Thank goodness for chocolate! It saved the day once more…and made me feel a lot better about my dessert.
Apparently, the Dr. Lucy Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies have taken top honors when compared to major gluten-free brands in an independent taste test. And a lot of that sweetness comes from their use of dark chocolate chips. I love, love, LOVE dark chocolate.
So, I guess I was going into this tasting with the wrong mindset, because after one bite, I was actually quite satisfied with these chocolate chip cookies. Dr. Lucy’s might have missed the mark with their sugar cookies, but the gluten-free chocolate chip ones are actually…pretty good. And that’s definitely a step in the right direction.
You know you love a race series when, after participating in it for the first time, you immediately declare, “I want to run this series next year!”
And that’s how it was for me last year when I participated in the Louisville Triple Crown of Running. If you are unfamiliar with the Triple Crown event, let me get you up to speed. The Louisville Triple Crown of Running is a three race series that takes place at various locations of Louisville throughout the month of March…and this year into April. This series of races is rather well-established and runs in varying distances, starting with the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic (3/9/13), the Rodes City Run 10K (3/23/13), and then the Papa John’s 10 Miler (4/6/13). Runners can participate in all three legs of the series or just pick and choose races from it. However, if you compete in all three races and finish, you do receive a race series t-shirt in addition to the individual race shirts you get for each race. And, as runners, we all know how much we love those race t-shirts.
This race series draws nearly 20,000 participants who run in at least one of the three events. Over 5,500 runners will complete the annual series and earn the Triple Crown t-shirt. (Yes…I was one of these people last year!) The first Triple Crown of Running occurred in 1984 and featured the Rodes City Run 10K, the Run for the Arts 15K, and the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon. But in 2003, Triple Crown Race Organizers announced the new series, which omitted the Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon and instead added the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic to the mix.
I am quite proud to be in the city that hosts this race series. It is very well organized, highly attended, and just a lot of fun!
Which is why I was so eager to sign up for it again and do it all over this year.
So, this Saturday, while the cold weather will still be here in the morning, I am going to head downtown to Slugger Field and run the first race of this year’s Triple Crown series – the Anthem 5K Fitness Classic. I have no goals for this race…not even to beat last year’s time. And here’s why. I’m going to be out late the night before. At the PINK concert at the KFC Yum! Center in downtown Louisville. So, I am going to be exhausted after rocking out, getting home late, and then getting up early to head downtown, park, and get ready to run. So…my goal is just to finish and finish strong. And that’s the best goal to set, I think. No pressure. No reason to push it. Just enjoy the run, soak it in, and maybe next year work on a new PR or something.
I am looking forward to picking up my race packet tomorrow at Slugger Field and, despite not really being at the top of my game on Saturday morning, running a hell of a good race. In the end…I can only do what I am capable of and try my best.
So, for all of you who are running the Triple Crown this year in Louisville…I’ll see you at the start and hopefully the finish lines of each race. And good luck. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun.
Product: Dr. Lucy’s Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies – $5.59+
For the two years I have been gluten-free, I have been hearing and reading about the cookies from Dr. Lucy’s. I see advertisements for them in certain magazines. I pass them on the shelves at the grocery market. In a word…I knew about them, I just hadn’t taken the time to try them. And why not?
Because I have so many cookies in my pantry (remember…living gluten-free cookie monster here) and these were a bit on the pricier side when it came to gluten-free cookies. And, until recently, no flavors really stood out. You had your basics and the ones that pretty much every gluten-free cookie company shells out to the marketplace. Sure, I had read amazing things about Dr. Lucy’s cookies…but I wasn’t ready to spend that kind of money on them. I do, after all, have to budget my grocery bill each week.
That being said, my local grocery store had a mega closeout on their gluten-free section. Enough to throw me into panic mode and grab at least one of everything I desperately wanted to try…just in case it was gone for good. In that mix was a box of Dr. Lucy’s Gluten-Free Sugar Cookies. And last night…these just happened to be up next for dessert. So, after eating dinner, I opened up the pantry and dug out the Sugar Cookies, which were the first of the two boxes to be used. I checked for the serving size…three cookies!!…and then pulled out a serving for both my roommate and myself.
At first glance, these cookies look like your every day, run-of-the-mill sugar cookies. They are crispy. I could tell that before even biting into one. If you, like me, prefer a soft cookie, this brand may not be for you. But if you don’t mind some crunch (and I don’t…I just prefer soft cookies in the long run)…then go ahead and try these out for size. They are a light golden color and the tops are dusted with sugar crystals. Yep…almost like homemade…just without the hassle.
My roommate was the first to bite into these treats last night, and when I asked how they were, she said…”Pretty good.” Which usually means…they are edible…but we’ve had better. So, after I took a picture for the blog, I settled in for my own taste.
And yeah…they are “pretty good.” After visiting Dr. Lucy’s Web site, I have discovered that the main flours that are used to make these cookies are bean flours. Yep…bean flours. And I think that’s why, to me, at least, these cookies tasted more salty than sweet. They were definitely more of a savory treat as opposed to what I think of as a dessert. And that really threw me off. For real. I mean, when you think SUGAR COOKIE…you think…sweetness, a bit of gritty texture, and sugar. And…while there was a hint of sweetness at first, it sort of changed the more you chewed and took on a more salty aspect. It sort of threw my taste buds for a loop and they weren’t quite sure what to do with that.
The Web site does describe the cookies as “crispy, crunchy” and that is completely on par with the cookies I was eating. These cookies are also all produced in a dedicated facility so that there is no risk of cross-contamination. While these cookies are definitely crispy and crunchy (seriously…nothing chewy or soft about these), they don’t crumble and fall apart when you take a bite out of them either. On the contrary, they hold together really well, so no need to throw them on that dessert plate. You can nip at these and hot have the crumbles land in your lap.
That being said, when it comes to flavor, you’ll probably either love these or loath these. I’m still on the fence. I wanted sweet…something to cleanse the palate after I ate…and I sort of get that…but not quite. I just don’t find this to be a successful execution of gluten-free cookies. They aren’t bad…but they are…weird. The flavor just was off for me…and I’m pretty certain it has to do with the bean flours that are used to produce the base of the cookie.
While not bad…I’d probably choose a different gluten-free sugar cookie on the market before buying a box of these again.
Product: Rao’s Homemade Tomato Marinara with Basil Sauce – $8.99+
Oh yeah…Rao’s pasta sauce is expensive. VERY expensive.
So, what am I doing buying it? Well…it was on sale for half off…meaning I only paid about $5.00 for a 24 ounce jar. That’s not too shabby, right? *looks around innocently*
The fact of the matter is, no matter what food magazine or awards you might be looking through, when it comes to jarred pasta sauces, Rao’s always comes out on top. And I have been dying to try some of their sauce for…ever. No…really. Forever.
When a sale hit a local natural food store I shop at, I couldn’t help but snatch up one of the more basic sauces. Start basic…and if they nail that…then go bigger. That’s how I like to look at it. So, it came down between the regular marinara sauce or the tomato basil sauce. And…being the flavor fiend that I am, I decided to throw the whole basil aspect into the pot and see how that works. So, at half the cost, I purchased my first jar of Rao’s pasta sauce – Rao’s Homemade Tomato Basil Marinara Sauce with Basil.
And, with the urge to make stuffed shells and the gluten-free pasta shells and filling to do it with…it was as though the fates aligned to make this a reality. This sauce didn’t sit in my pantry for long at all. I was definitely eager to give it a taste. Last night, after a long day at the office, I went ahead with plans to make my gluten-free and vegan stuffed shells. I cooked up the noodles, stuffed them with my own variety of a filling, and then laid them in a thin layer of sauce before topping them off with the remainder of the jar.
From the moment I popped the lid and took a small taste…I knew there was going to be something magic about this sauce. No doubt about it. From just one little swipe at the top of the lid, I could sense the flavor explosion this sauce was going to lend to my dish. And I couldn’t be happier about it. Fact of the matter was, however, I needed to get my stuffed shells in the oven to cook and then I would really see how the sauce was, on its own and with the pasta and stuffing. So, into the oven it went…and for 30 minutes…I sat in wild anticipation.
Okay…really I did yoga…but I thought a lot about the casserole cooking up in my oven. Thirty minutes later, I was rolling up my yoga mat and pulling my pasta out of the oven. It smelled divine. My roommate even said that if it tasted as good as it smelled…we were lucky girls tonight.
Luck had nothing to do with it. A really amazing pasta sauce did, however.
Let’s start with the nitty-gritty. Rao’s Homemade Tomato Marinara Sauce with Basil is definitely a low calorie option for topping off pasta. A serving is 1/2 cup, and a jar will serve 6 people. In this serving, you will only set yourself back 60 calories…so if you are a sauce fiend, you won’t feel too bad about indulging a little. A serving contains 5 grams of fat, mostly from the olive oil (a healthy fat) as well. In addition, it is low in sodium (only 340 mg) and contains no cholesterol.
Enough of that technical stuff though…
Rao’s Homemade Tomato Marinara with Basil Sauce tastes like I just cooked it up that same night and poured it over the pasta. It really does taste the fresh. The ingredients are cooked and quickly jarred by Rao’s…so they retain all their flavor and don’t sacrifice quality as well. I mean, this sauce is all natural, containing tomatoes, Italian olive oil, onion, garlic and basil. Simple, clean flavors..that just explode with each taste. Most jarred pasta sauces taste like jarred pasta sauce. Not this one. It honestly tasted like I just made it…except better than my homemade sauce. It was light, chunky, and just simply amazing. All those food awards and reader surveys can’t be wrong and they weren’t. Fresh tomatoes and fresh basil…it tastes like it’s fresh from farm to table. I was beyond impressed.
Yeah…I know…I balk at the price of this pasta sauce too, but after tasting it…I would be reluctant to go back to any other jarred sauce out there. This one was beyond impressive. And now I hope to try the other flavors in the massive Rao’s sauce lineup. If you can find a jar that you can work into your budget, I encourage you to do so…immediately. Trust me…the taste alone is worth every dollar.
Gluten-Free & Vegan Stuffed Shells topped with Rao’s Homemade Tomato Marinara with Basil Sauce
Product: Tinkyáda Brown Rice Grand Shells – $3.39+
You know…I do have to give major props to Tinkyáda as a whole when it comes to gluten-free pasta options that are out on the market today. They definitely have the best variety when it comes to options. Normally the grocery store will have your basic fusilli, penne, spaghetti…but Tinkyáda actually has a couple of different options out there. For that, I am beyond appreciative.
One such option that is difficult to find, but worth the search or possibly the Internet order…is Tinkyáda’s Brown Rice Grand Shells.
In other words…a gluten-free option for anyone who has been craving stuffed shells.
Like I had been.
For…like…ever!
And on a whim one day while out at the grocery store, I spotted some Tofutti Better Than Ricotta Cheese in the vegan/vegetarian refrigerated section and bought it. Why? I have no idea. I wanted to try it. Tofutti makes the best vegan sour cream and a really great vegan cream cheese…so why not give the vegan ricotta cheese a try, yes?
I’m a chef in my own mind…the answer to that is always…a resounding, “YES!”
So, I purchased it. And took it home. I popped it into my refrigerator.
And then…it just…sat.
But it donned on me this past weekend while out grocery shopping…that I had purchased a box of Tinkyáda Brown Rice Grand Shells this past summer while in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for a race. I stopped by the Gluten-Free Trading Company and made a point to purchase a box of those. Why? Because my friend Jenn and I ended up ordering some on the Internet awhile back and we still haven’t used them. So…I now got to be the guinea pig.
After a long, hectic day at the office, I got home and immediately put a pot of water on the stove to bring to a boil. I retrieved this pasta from the pantry and popped it open to take a look. If you, like me, were expecting “normal” sized jumbo shells…like the “real” stuff you can buy at the store if you can eat the regular stuff…you will be disappointed. I sort of was.
Tinkyáda Brown Rice Grand Shells (cooked)
These Grand Shells…are definitely much smaller than the average shell you would use to make stuffed shells. So, I did feel my heart drop a little upon opening up the box. I checked the serving size…and it said that the box held 4 servings. So I counted out the shells and found I had 28 of them. Awesome. I always allow for pasta rippage and general carnage when using larger noodles. You might recall my unfortunate incident with the Tinkyáda Lasagna Noodles…and how they stuck together and then promptly fell apart into pieces, making my lasagna…a little interesting to put together. So…I dumped the entire box into the boiling water and cooked it for about 18 minutes, just so that it was al dente.
While the noodles cooked, I said a prayer to the gluten-free pasta gods for a little luck when it came to the shells. Maybe, just maybe enough of them would be useable. If not…I’d have to get really creative with my stuffed shell meal. So, with the shells boiling away, I set to prepping my filling for the shells.
I totally made this up. All I knew was that I wanted to use the Tofutti Better Than Ricotta Cheese. So, I scooped out a cup of it and put it in a bowl. From there…it needed to be seasoned. So I grabbed some dried herbs from my spice rack and just started eyeballing things. In went the parsley, sage, thyme, basil, and oregano. Then, a little garlic salt, some crushed red pepper flakes, a touch of cayenne pepper, and a little garlic powder. I mixed it all together. Then, I grabbed the green onions I had from my CSA bin and chopped those up, both parts…the white and the green, and threw them into a pan to sautee in a little olive oil. Out of the fridge came the vegan and gluten-free chorizo that I got at Trader Joes. I added it to the pan after the onions had softened and just allowed it to heat through. Finally, I threw in some minced garlic, let that heat for about 30 seconds until it was fragrant…then took it off the heat. I let it sit for a few minutes, then emptied that into my ricotta cheese mixture and folded it all together.
At that point, my shells were just about ready. I set up the colander to drain them, and picked up the large pot of noodles. Holding my breath, I poured the contents into the colander, expecting torn bits of these grand shells to tumble out. But, for the most part, the shells were completely intact. Color me impressed! I gave the shells a rinse in cold water and then shook them carefully out to get most of the water out. I brought them over to my work station and prepped my casserole dish with some tomato sauce and a sprinkling of Daiya mozzarella shreds.
Tinkyáda Brown Rice Grand Shells (stuffed)
Then…the exciting part. Stuffing the shells.
I handled each shell carefully at first, afraid that one single wrong move would cause the shell to tear or fall apart. Let’s face it…rice noodles have this reputation of getting mushy. And they have that reputation because…it happens. One tablespoon of filling went into each of the “grand” shells, because that gave them the perfect stuffed appearance. As these shells don’t fold over like normal shells, I laid them in the pan face up, instead of down, because I didn’t want my stuffing to fall out into the pan. The entire point of having stuffed shells is that they are…stuffed. Only a few shells didn’t make the cut. And the rest I had leftover were tossed only because I ran out of stuffing. It happens. Next time…more stuffing.
So now, the shells had survived boiling, draining, rinsing, and stuffing. And they were still holding their form. Still impressed. So, I took the remainder of my tomato sauce and poured it over top the shells. A sprinkling of Daiya mozzarella shreds went over the top. Then, into the oven at 350°F for about 30 minutes it went.
And I managed to squeeze in some time with my yoga mat while it baked away. I uncovered the dish for the last 5 minutes of baking and hoped for the best.
Out of the oven they came and I took a moment to marvel at how amazing the pasta still looked. The big test now was how they would hold up as I transferred them from the casserole dish to the plate.
The Tinkyáda Brown Rice Grand Shells passed with flying colors. I scooped up each shell in the cradle of a spoon and carefully deposited a serving on a plate. They didn’t fall apart at all. I was SO impressed. Now it came down to taste.
My roommate and I settled in with our dinner and she took the first bite. She raved about the filling. And then said that the noodles were actually really good. She loved how they were like regular ones in that you slice into them, and they squish down and the filling fills up the fork. I couldn’t agree more. Some of the shells were still a little too al dente…but the sauce and filling helped with that. Of course, the true test will come tonight when I reheat the shells and see if they still hold up as well after spending the night in the fridge.
As far as brown rice pasta goes, Tinkyáda is one of my go-to brands. I haven’t met a noodle I didn’t like from them. Honestly. The box of Tinkyáda Brown Rice Grand Shells has 4 servings in it. That’s actually a lot of shells…so you can probably squeeze out more to be honest. Even if they are smaller than the average pasta shell. A serving as 210 calories, which is right there with regular shells, so that’s a plus. The serving has only 2 grams of fat and 43 grams of carbohydrates for all you gluten-free athletes out there. Oh…and 4 grams of protein as well. Loving that. What’s even better is that the ingredients couldn’t be more basic: stone-ground brown rice, rice bran and water. Yep…I love ingredients that I recognize and can tell you exactly what they are. Love that this has nothing questionable in it.
So, all-in-all…a great showing for Tinkyáda when it comes to these “jumbo” (I use the term loosely) shells. I won’t complain. They did the job. And, as far as I have seen, Tinkyáda is currently the only gluten-free pasta company that offers something remotely close to the jumbo pasta shells out on the market. So, there is definitely a niche there and one that I am happy they filled.
Much love, Tinkyáda…and appreciation. Because my stuffed shell craving has been satisfied. Now…if only my local stores would start carrying these in their inventory…
Gluten-Free and Vegan Stuffed Shells made with Tinkyáda Brown Rice Grand Shells
As you may very well know by now…I love soup. Absolutely LOVE soup. If I have the time and ingredients, I will make any soup from scratch, freeze it, and eat it whenever the urge to slurp something hot and filling on a cold (or sometimes warm) day strikes. This winter has been particularly good for soup. Except my time hasn’t been as free as I wish it were at times, so a from-scratch soup doesn’t happen as often as I would like. That being the case, I stocked up on a couple gluten-free and low-sodium cans of soup to grab if the need to warm up and have a quick meal should strike.
This was the case last night. Over a week ago, my office moved buildings. And, unfortunately, the temperature control is…not the best. The building is old…but I still like to be able to feel my toes when I’m at the office. Just sayin’.
Needless to say…I was freezing pretty much the entire day. Which made me really not want to go on my fun run. It was not bad outside last night, actually. Somewhere in the low 40s, which is great running weather. But, after being chilled to the bone all day, the last thing I really wanted to do was step outside, on purpose, and go for a 30 minute run in Louisville.
BUT…on the way home, my roommate talked me back into it. After all, I had already had it in my head to prepare an easy meal prior to going (soup with a gluten-free and vegan grilled cheese sammie), that wouldn’t be too heavy, but will still power me through my run. So, I agreed that I was being a wuss and said that when we got home, I’d warm up the soup and get the sandwiches cooking before changing and heading over the river to run with my running group.
Upon walking through the door to the apartment, I shed my jacket and immediately went to the kitchen to pull out a pot to warm the soup in. The only can of soup left in my pantry (mental note made: buy more soup!) was Amy’s Organic Low Fat Black Bean Vegetable Soup. My roommate retrieved the can for me while I turned on the stove and got out the vegan cheese and other such items for the sandwiches. I left the bread in plastic bags to thaw while we were at work.
I opened the can and poured it into the pan, setting it over a medium heat so that it gave me time to get the sandwiches assembled and into the skillet. At first…it looked…rather disgusting. This thin brown broth followed by chunks of vegetables and this thick black bean puree. Yeah…it smelled okay…but it didn’t look very good. I managed to give it a good stir and get all the ingredients incorporated together. This thickened up the broth and made it look much better overall. I mean, it’s black bean soup…of course it’s not going to be beautiful. But…it needs to at least look appetizing.
It heated while I got to making the gluten-free and vegan grilled cheese, and they did finish up at the same time. Miracle of miracles. So, I plated the sammies and then grabbed a couple of bowls from my cabinet to ladle the soup into. It wasn’t as thick as most black bean soups tend to be, but I loved being able to see the variety of vegetables that were included in this soup, so it wasn’t just beans and spices. That was a nice touch. And yes…it smelled amazing. I will definitely concede to that fact. I walked the bowl out to my roommate then went to put water in the pot to soak while I went to eat before getting ready to head out to my running group’s Monday run.
I asked her as I was getting my food together what she thought of the soup. She said that it reminded her a lot of chili, which she has been craving, so that was a good thing. And if the roommate likes it…that’s also a good thing. She can be quite picky about certain things. And, human nature deems that all of us prefer different flavors and textures. I love a lot of spice in my food, so I found this rather unimpressive in that category, while she thought there was some heat to it. I found it mild, she found it sort of spicy. See what I mean?
Overall, however, it did it’s job. It was a satisfying meal that provided plenty of nutrients, protein, and wasn’t overkill on the calories and sodium like a lot of soups can be. Especially when they involve heavier ingredients like beans.
In fact, a serving size of this soup is half the can. And that will only set you back 140 calories and 1.5 grams of fat. How awesome is that?! A serving does contain 620 mg of sodium, which is higher than I like…but lower than a lot of soups on the market. So, we went with it. And, thanks to the black beans, one serving packs 6 grams of protein to your diet. That’s amazing.
So, while I would have liked a little more spice, this soup is a safe, gluten-free and dairy free soup. No cholesterol. And, most importantly, filling and delicious. If you like a little more flavor…add some of your own spices or a dash of hot sauce. I might do that next time. This soup is rich and filling and was the perfect way to warm up before going for a chilly run.
Another delicious product from Amy’s Kitchen.
A bowl of Amy’s Organic Low Fat Black Bean Vegetable Soup
Me after crossing the finish line of the Disney Princess Half Marathon – Orlando, Florida
Race: Disney Princess Half Marathon
Place: Walt Disney World, Orlando, Florida
Date: February 24, 2013
Time:1:45:06
Just to get ahead of myself for a moment…let me start this blog off by saying that it seems the more the odds are stacked against me, the more I doubt my abilities, the better I do. I don’t know what it is…but let this race be a testament to this statement. Why? Because I didn’t have any sort of expectations about this race. I was at Disney World for the first time in my life. No one honestly runs Disney for time. And I knew my legs would be tired from all the fun stuff I would be doing in the days leading up to the race. All that being said…I set a new half marathon PR at Disney World during this race and I couldn’t have thought of a better place to do it…and not kill myself trying to do it.
Now…onto the race report.
I was already in my happy place coming into this race. Why? Well, as mentioned before…I had never been to Disney World (or Disneyland, for that matter) before. Coming in with this fresh take on everything meant I was ready to drink everything up and just absorb it all like a sponge. So, upon touching down at the Orlando airport, we got a ride to our resort (Port Orleans Riverside), checked in, then immediately headed out to see what we could of Animal Kingdom in the remainder of the day before we had to be at the Animal Kingdom Lodge that night for our dinner reservation.
I had a blast that first day…ate really well at dinner…went back to the resort that night and turned in.
The following morning, I woke up early to get in a 2 mile run? Why? Because I had come from the winter wonderland of Indiana, and it was in the mid-60s outside at my resort as the sun was coming up. Humidity was around 93%. So, I knew I had to adjust myself to the temperature difference by working in small, easy runs on what should have been rest days leading up to the race. Keeping them easy and not pushing would not use up energy and tire out my legs, but it would allow me to acclimate myself…which, to me, was more important at the moment. After my run, my roommate and I ate some breakfast, packed up our bags, and headed out to catch a bus to Animal Kingdom. From there, we jumped onto a bus to take us to the race expo, located inside the sprawling Coronado Springs Resort.
Here, Cathy and I were going to meet up with Indy, who flew in from California to run in this race. I adore Indy and was so excited to get to see her. She was staying at the expo hotel, so she was already through registration (which she texted and said was ‘a breeze’) while I was still on the transport bus heading toward the resort. Upon arriving at the resort, we now had to figure out how to, in fact, get to the actual expo. Once we got into the resort itself, it was a matter of following the signs and people who were dressed up like runners. Trust me…it seemed everyone felt the need to dress up like a runner to attend the expo. And there I was…in my usual jeans and t-shirt. I don’t know…I am a runner…so I just never feel the need to broadcast it.
As we neared the expo hall, I got out my signed waiver and proceeded to the very first booth of packet pick-up. Awesome. I was number 685, which meant I was in the first corral to be sent off, right behind the elites, which had only 31 runners who fit that description. Getting my packet really was a breeze. I told them my number, turned over my waiver, and handed them my photo ID. Yep. That was all there was to it. They, in turn, handed me me my bib, gave me back my photo ID, and handed me a plastic bag with race info in it. They told me that my t-shirt pickup was happening on the other end of the expo hall…so after getting my bib, I stepped out of the way, texted Indy, and let her know where I was. She said she was standing in the midst of the chaos and madness of the Official Merchandise, so I went to go grab my race shirt and see what mayhem was waiting in the Official Merchandise booth.
Getting my t-shirt was easy. A little tag on the bottom of my bib was taken off and I was handed the corresponding t-shirt size. I loved this t-shirt. It was a beautiful royal purple with Cinderella’s Castle on the front and the name of the race…and the fact that this was the 5th year it ran. Seriously…the shirt was gorgeous. But, as a superstitious athlete…I put it in my bag and carried it around. You should never wear a race shirt before you actually run the race. It’s bad mojo. Trust me.
With my t-shirt now in hand I was able to check out the madness of the Official Merchandise booth. Indy wasn’t kidding. There was no rhyme or reason to the way things were moving in that booth. People were everywhere. Moving slowly. Lines were scattered. People were wondering where to get in line to check out, while other people were just trying to get to the official merchandise to look at it. After fighting to get through a small portion of the booth, Cathy and I stepped aside…and that was when we spotted Indy. We waived her over and gave hugs and commented on the extreme chaos. I had wanted to get an official race pin…but the lines were crazy and nothing was organized. Indy said to come back at night or on Saturday and it would be better. She ran the Disneyland Half Marathon last year, so I figured she knew what she was talking about…so that was the plan of action. We decided to head on out and check out the rest of the expo for a bit.
This expo was HUGE. That isn’t an understatement either. If it has to do with running or physical fitness…it was here. I was in search of a couple things. I needed (note, I said need, not want) a new fuel belt. I had bought one prior to coming to Florida, but was only able to run with it on a dry run (no liquid in it). That morning, when I went on my short 2 mile run, I put water in it and it flopped and I hated every moment of wearing it. So, I needed something that would maybe stay put while I was on my 13.1 mile run on Sunday morning. Also, I needed fuel…Sports Beans and GU. And I knew the expo would be the place to find it. I was very successful in finding a fuel belt. The iFitness booth was there and I got one like the belt I wear on my runs around town, that doesn’t have a place for hydration bottles. This one had two 6 ounce bottles on each hip…and promised a no bounce, no slide ride. Without water in it…it definitely stayed put. And since I liked the regular belt so much, I took a gamble and bought it. That was $40 I hadn’t intended to spend…but it was necessary. Cathy found a booth that had both Sports Beans and GU, and I stayed neutral with the Mandarin Orange flavors. Yes…for both. Because if there is one thing I learned over the course of learning what my stomach can handle while running…I do NOT mix flavors. That is no good.
With all those purchase made, the rest of the expo was a lot of me pointing at cute things I wanted…staring longlingly at the Sparkle Skirts. Really coveting some running shoes, socks, shirts, etc. Wishing I were a millionaire. Oh…and coveting more great running gadgets and gizmos. I even went and got a small slice of Luna Protein bar because…it was free. Definitely not a flavor I would normally get…but again…free.
At some point, we lost Indy…but she met back up with us and we finished up our winding path through the rest of the expo. Then, we stepped out of the madness and into the hallway of the resort. Two handsome men were dressed up like princes’ for photo ops, but the line was long and Cathy and I were scheduled to hit up Magic Kingdom that day and I was raring and ready to go. So…we skipped out on that and Indy decided she would take advantage of it and wait in the line. I had never done anything Disney so the park was priority for me. We made arrangements to meet up with Indy and to Epcot with her the following day…and we parted ways for the day.
It was now 11 a.m. and a good chunk of the day was already gone. So, Magic Kingdom was a whirlwind, but we rode the required rides, ate Dole Whip, and then hit up Downtown Disney for our dinner reservation that night at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant. After we ate, we wandered Downtown Disney for a bit, then headed back to the resort. Where I collapsed in a tired mass and set an alarm to get up and run…to test out the new fuel belt early in the morning.
My alarm went off at 6:15 a.m., giving me ample time to get up, get dressed, get ready, put water in the fuel belt and head out to try it out. Well…it was better than the one I brought with me, but it still jostled and moved and slipped up over my belly. But…like I said…this one fit better and held better where I wanted it…and bothered me less…so therefore…it won. Despite today definitely being a rest day…I knew that would not be happening. I put in an easy two miles to see how the fuel belt would do, returned to the resort to eat breakfast, change, and then get to Epcot. There would be no REST at all today. NONE!
But…I wasn’t intending to take this trip easy on account of the race.
In true Indy fashion, upon meeting up with her at Club Cool, where Cathy and I were trying out the various types of sodas from different countries (China’s Watermelon Coke is AWESOME!)…and from there…we were on our amazing guided tour of all of Epcot that we could get through in the select amount of time we had. After all, with race morning being early (I’ll get to that momentarily), we all had plans to turn in early and get some much needed rest (or at least try to…as I never sleep well the night before a race…no matter what distance it is). So, we hit the ground running and got on as many things as we could from rides to little adventures. And then…we decided it was time to eat something. It’s the day before the race. Carbs are a runner’s friend. Unfortunately…the World Showcase at Epcot had very little for me. But, this worked out for both Indy and Cathy. Cathy stopped in Morocco and got the Lamb Schwarma Platter for lunch. Indy went to Japan for sushi. No gluten-free options for me, so we trekked it back to the main building where I hunted around Sunshine Seasons for some options for me. I ended up getting the Roasted Beet and Goat Cheese Salad (definitely not ideal for a runner needing some carbs…but you go with what you have. And beets are supposedly very good for runners, so that worked out in the end), which I ate as swiftly as possible so we could continue on our World Showcase adventure. Indy said that if we got through America, then Cathy and I could finish up when we came back. So, we had a goal. And we reached it. And around 5 p.m., we were saying goodbye and heading to our separate resorts to prepare for the early wake up call for race morning.
The gluten-free cheese pizza the chef at the food court cooked up for my pre-race dinner so I could keep tradition alive and put my superstitious mind to rest.
And then, the superstitious athlete in me stepped up and had a moment of panic. Let’s put it this way…tomorrow morning I was going to run 13.1 miles and all I had for food was my gluten-free pastries that morning and a goat cheese and beet salad. NOT what I needed for sustainability for a long run. As we all know, my usual go-to pre-race food is a gluten-free pizza or something of that nature. In a pinch, gluten-free pasta will do. But pizza…that’s my magic pre-race food. And here I was…almost back to my resort and none of the places on site with gluten-free pizza really in a distance to go and pick it up. In fact, it was getting rather late at this point…and I was getting more and more bummed out and obsessed with the fact that I needed my gluten-free pizza. I knew salad wasn’t enough. I knew that much.
Once we returned to Port Orleans Riverside, Cathy went to go speak to the concierge…a nice guy by the name of Will…who she explained the situation to. He understood and made a call down to the food court attached to resort and was told to send us down and ask for a chef. We thanked him profusely and headed down that way. We spoke to someone training one of the cashiers and he went to retrieve the chef for us. Chef Wes appeared from the kitchens and Cathy explained that I was running in the race tomorrow and usually would have a gluten-free pizza or pasta the night before. Chef Wes said he could do either, and I asked if I could get a gluten-free cheese pizza made up. He said he could certainly do up an individual size pizza and then walk it out to me. To make it easy, Cathy just asked for the same thing instead of hunting around the food court for something to dine on. With our orders in and Chef Wes working on my pre-race meal…I headed back to the room to shower and relax while Cathy waited on the food. I had just settled in when she returned to the room with two pizzas in hand. They weren’t your top-of-the-line, or best gluten-free pizza I ever ate…but it was a gluten-free pizza and at that moment, it was the best thing I had eaten all day.
With my gluten-free pizza consumed, I prepared to turn in later than planned, but earlier than I had been on previous nights. Just before I settled in, my text message went off. It was Jenn…YAY! She was just texting me to wish me luck, tell me that the power of Dean compels me, and not to pants my poop. It’s tradition. It had to happen. And that, believe me, put a lot of my nerves at ease. It’s the little things…like jokes about runner’s trots…really. Then, I proceeded to have a restless night. My alarm…went off at 2:15 a.m.
Cathy with the two signs we brought (and I made) for the Disney Princess Half Marathon. The one on the left says, “How Am I Supposed to PR in Glass Slippers?” and the one on the right reads, “Run Like It’s Almost Midnight…”
Why so early? Because the Disney Princess Half Marathon kicks off at 5:30 a.m. with the hopes that everyone will be through the parks by the time the parks are scheduled to open. So…this was the set time and I was up and preparing to get ready to head out to the transport to take me to the starting line. First thing was first, however. Being that it had been so humid out, I went over to the door and pulled it open, finding the air to be heavy and moist. High humidity. Blech. This meant I ditched the singlet I was planning on wearing and went with just donning my baby blue sports bra. The color is important, my friends, because I was dressed up like Cinderella, complete with baby blue Sparkle Skirt and a baby blue BondiBand. On went my compression socks, my running shoes, my Garmin, my Road ID…and then I began filling the water bottles on my fuel belt. Once I had all of that done, I finally settled in long enough to eat my mostly frozen Greek yogurt (Chobani Banana, in case you were wondering). I normally have cereal, but that wasn’t an option today. Greek yogurt…good source of protein. Couldn’t do any harm…despite having never eaten it before a race like this. I prayed it wouldn’t upset my tummy. With that, I put on the fuel belt, was lit up by two glow bracelets, put on my hoodie, and headed out the door with my pre-race banana to eat an hour before the race started.
Cathy and I made the trek from our room to the main building. There was a small line to get on the race day transport bus. Lots of tutus and lots of costumes were all around. Some were really well done and clever. The bus arrived about 5 minutes later and we all got on and filled it. The line was much longer now, and we left a good number of people waiting on the next bus. From there, we were taken to the starting point, a short bus ride toward Epcot. The bus got us there and dropped us off…and from there we basically followed the sea of humanity as we moved toward the staging area of the race.
It was near the entrance of the staging area that the race organizers set up these beautiful stained glass backdrops for runners to take pictures in front of. While they had Cinderella’s glass slipper, I wanted my picture taken with the castle. So, I shrugged out of the hoodie and Cathy very kindly snapped the pic for me. I think I look a little demented in it…but it was about 3:30 a.m. I’m allowed.
From there, we began to shuffle forward just to find a place to settle for a moment. As we were walking that way, one of the race volunteers was reading off some of the signs he could see. Cathy held up the one I made that said, “Run Like It’s Almost Midnight…” He read that one aloud. Then she held up the other one that I made that said, “How Am I Supposed To PR In Glass Slippers?” He laughed and said we should have taken that up with Nike. Ironically…I wear Nike shoes. Even more ironic…New Balance was the sponsor for this race. Whoops.
Me in front of the Cinderella’s Castle stained glass backdrop before the race.
We briefly made our way to one of the gates, which for some reason Cathy wanted to stop at to “get situated.” At this point, I’m in race mode and I just want to get inside the staging area and mingle and…maybe find Indy. Indy texted (or maybe she called…it was really early…) right as we were finally getting into the heart of the area and asked where we were. I told her I was standing outside the entrance of the corrals and she said she was on the other side of one of the tents (in the VIP runner tent or something…) and would be right over. Lo and behold…a few moments later, the crowds parted and there was my friend…dressed as Belle and ready to run this thing. We hugged, carefully, as she was drinking some pre-race coffee. (Proven fact: Having coffee an hour before a run can enhance your performance. Might have to try that…). I checked my watch and was still not quite at the hour before the run mark to eat my banana. So we stood around and talked about anything and everything. She talked about her breakdown the night before when she went to iron her costume and the iron melted part of the shirt.
Now…take note here…I still do not know how Indy was not dying during this race. Running in 95% humidity sucks. And I did it in a skirt and sports bra. She was in a long sleeve shirt with a jumper over it. I would have been stripping by Mile 1. I’ll get to that momentarily…not stripping…but the actual race…but needless to say…with that sort of humidity, much like with the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon…I was drenched by Mile 1. Not good…nor fun. So, raising a glass of Powerade to my dear Indy for making it through the race in an outfit I would have collapsed in.
That being said, as the one hour mark was nearing, I hear an announcement that they were going to start loading my corral. I was stationed in Corral A (the starting corral) due to my estimated finishing time. So, now I had to eat my banana ahead of schedule…and not savor it…nope…I had to pretty much mash it down my throat and hope I managed to swallow because death by banana is definitely less dignified than death by dehydration due to bad outfit choices. I gave Indy a hug, and wished her luck. This would be the last time I would see her on this trip. Then, I gave Cathy a hug and began to make my way to the entrance of the corral. The volunteers checked my bib and let me through.
Me (as Cinderella) and Indy (as Belle) at the Disney Princess Half Marathon
Beyond the tent, there was a sea of port-a-potties…all of which were getting hit up hard. I am a princess…and I. DO. NOT. DO. PORT-A-POTTIES. There. I said it. So…onward, ever onward with the crowd, up the way and the dark street toward where the corrals were set up. There was a huge back-up near the corral area where another set of port-a-potties were set up…but we just sort of off roaded and went around. And then…I walked up the line of corrals to the first one. Corral A. I stepped inside and began to meander about…trying to figure out about where I needed to position myself. I finally just stopped moving and took up residence near the center, in the front third of Corral A…where some ladies were stretching…some were sitting to conserve energy…and some were dancing along with the Radio Disney guy who was leading a bunch of people in the Tootsie Roll, Gangnam Style, and so on. I at least did the YMCA. That is one dance I know I can handle. But, mostly I stood around and drank in the happiness of the runners, the atmosphere…and realized that I was 5 feet away from Sean Astin.
Yeah. Sean Astin. The Hobbit. Goonies. That guy. They were about to interview him, and he was positioned on the rail of my corral (he was not in my corral…but they needed him there for interview purposes. Best part…he was wearing a tiara. AWESOME. Even better than that, when all was said and done on camera, he was more than happy to pose with people for pictures and the like. I don’t carry anything with me on race day. Only the necessities…which are hydration belt and my GU/Sports Beans. No camera. No iPod. Nothing. Minimalist. That’s me. But I did pump a fist in the air and shout, “GOONIES NEVER SAY DIE!”
Fangirl moment over.
Disney also brought up to the stage one of the runners who was doing the Princess Half Marathon…who was the last to finish at the Tinkerbell Half Marathon in January at Disneyland. Her story just made me cry. There is this love of the sport that runners share, but even more…there is this appreciation for the sport itself. And she really made me appreciate what it is that drives me to run. She’s an inspiration…and I hope she surprised herself at this the Disney Princess Half Marathon.
Soon, the Fairy Godmother from Cinderella was brought up onto the stage and she set off the lone wheel chair racer. It was as simple as Bibbity Bobbity Boo. Fireworks went off and he was off and rolling. NOT in a racing chair, mind you. I know this only because I passed him on the course. Amazing!
Five minutes passed and Corral A was ready to run. The Fairy Godmother gave a wave of her wand and said the magic words. More fireworks…and the corral was moving forward. I shuffled those first few steps and then…over the start line I went. I hit the button on my Garmin and took off with the lead corral, reminding myself to pace myself over the first half of the race. While I’ve done quite a few half marathons by now…going out too fast is something even professionals do at times. I wanted to run this one smart…because it was humid. But…I also told myself to just go and have some fun.
It is a Disney race. And, as I said before, no one really runs Disney for time. Or…at least they shouldn’t. Because they would miss out on a lot.
I really loved how organized this race was. We were very spread out at the start, which was nice. Big races can be a bit of a challenge with everyone jockeying for some sort of position. I later heard some people complain about the crowded start…but in Corral A…you really don’t have to share the road with anyone else…but those you were corralled with. That being said, Disney had a system that would alert runners when the course would narrow ahead. This way you could adjust your position with other runners around you and continue on. No big deal.
As I mentioned before…it was a really humid morning. I was very glad I opted just for the bra top…because any more fabric and I might have been stripping it off and tossing it aside. I hit Mile 1, not even looking at the pace time, because…I was doing this for fun. My body was tired from being a first time visitor to Disney and wanted to do as much as I could whenever I could. So, I wasn’t setting a goal. Just to finish. Just to have fun. Just to soak it all in. And speaking of soaking…the humidity was already hitting me hard. My hair was drenched by Mile 1 and I could feel the beads of sweat on my skin. Blech. High humidity is awful to run in. It just saps your energy faster than you can even imagine.
Here is one of the best parts of a Disney race. Throughout the stretches of the course, there are characters out that you can get your picture taken with. This is why a lot of people carry cameras with them on these races. I gave a wave to each character I passed…but I did not have a camera on me. Onward…ever onward. Just…make a note…if you love photo ops…these races are full of them.
Much of this run is done on the highway, which they close for the race. That is a lot of nothingness except pavement. That’s where these character spotting sites come in handy. It keeps things interesting. Race officials had put up on the Web site that they preferred for people to not run with headsets on…and I’ve come to find out I actually run races better without my iPod. I’ve started leaving it behind. A year ago, I was bitching about not being able to listen to music…now…I choose not to. Funny how things change.
Around Mile 3 there was our second water stop. I took this opportunity to reach down and grab one of the bottles from my hydration belt. I took a sip and went to tuck it back in…and dropped it. Crap. So, this now meant I had to go get it. And I did. Ah well…stuff like that happens. You just roll with it. I also want to mention that this belt didn’t want to stay around my hips either…but it wasn’t as annoying as the other belt I used. And I’d every now and again push it down…only to have it ride back up around my waist. I finally just got tired of fighting with it and left it up there.
The next couple of miles ticked off easily. I was actually feeling good. I think I was still smiling. I was having a blast. And the best part was now ahead of me. Literally. I was entering the Magic Kingdom. And here, we make a circuit of the park and then run through…yes THROUGHCinderella’s Castle. That was the part I was really looking forward to on this race. And as I rounded the corner I went into the back gate…and got to see all the fantastic murals. This was my favorite moment, for sure. The crowds around Magic Kingdom were so enthusiastic and just really got you going. And as you came out of the castle…flashbulb after flashbulb after flashbulb was going off, making you feel like some sort of real princess or celebrity as the official race photographers captured your departure from the iconic castle, which was very quickly followed by an exit out of Magic Kingdom.
Back out onto the long, quiet highway to make my way back to the finish line, which was at Epcot. At Mile 7, I drank some more of my water and really stopped fussing with my fuel belt. I smiled at the characters I was passing. It was still kind of dark at this point, but all of us who were running were happy to be doing it. Darkness, solitude, and this amazing bond that runners share, no matter the race. It was awesome.
Mile 10 ticked off and brought us to the exit ramp. At this point, there was some daylight starting to make an appearance. Finally. I took the exit ramp as I do the hills I train on…fiercely. At this point I knew all I had remaining was a 5K race. And that really helps get you through to the finish line sometimes.
And sometimes it’s a Toy Soldier from Toy Story telling you that this is the last hill before the finish line. All we had to do was get over it. And could he get an “OORAH!” Which…I did shout back at him as I rounded the corner. That hill wasn’t bad. But there was a steeper one just a ways up the road. I took that one with the same power I put into the steepest hill around here when I run…and I passed up Pocahontas…finally. I had been trailing her for a good portion of the run and in my mind…my goal was to get past her. I managed. Now I just had to keep her there.
Around Mile 12, we came to this little turn around where some Disney hosts were out talking to the runners, asking where they were from, commenting on costumes. It was fun. It was just what runners need at that stage of the race. But I could also see that we were about to enter Epcot…and into the park we went. I was trailing a woman dressed as Princess Leia from Star Wars (now a Disney princess) so I used her as my new rabbit. Through the chute we went and into the park. She was still just ahead of me and I wasn’t looking at my watch so I had no idea how much further I had to go. But…I knew I was in the last mile, so I put a little more effort into it. We ran around the giant Epcot ball…and that was about where I finally managed to pass her. I could hear the finish line announcer. So, I was close. But it seemed every time I rounded a corner there was just more road ahead.
Finally though…there it was…the FINISH LINE! I could hear Leia catching back up to me, so I decided to give it all I had. I pushed. I kicked. And then…I crossed the finish line…just ahead of her. I took a moment…paused my Garmin…and spotted Cathy up in the stands with the signs. I pumped my fists in victory…the smile never leaving my face.
And here’s the kicker…
I wasn’t running for time…I was running on tired legs…for fun.
And I set a new half marathon PR.
In fact, I shaved two minutes off my previous best time for a half marathon.
Perhaps it was from running in the happiest place on Earth. Or maybe it was Disney magic…or pixie dust. Or maybe it was my dear friend Sandy, who passed away from cancer a couple weeks before…who I dedicated the race too. Maybe she loaned me her wings for a while. Because this finish was a huge surprise for me. And I was just a wave of emotions as I meandered through the recovery area, getting my medal…then my box of gluten-free goodies…and some water, of course.
I made my way out of the finisher’s chute and toward the Race Retreat area, where I was to meet up with Cathy. She was already there by the time I emerged and ran over to give me a big hug. I finally stopped long enough to check the time on my Garmin. And…if it was right…I ran one hell of a race.
Let me tell you this…when the results were posted later that day…my Garmin was exactly on as far as my time.
So…as it stands…my new Half Marathon PR was set at the Disney Princess Half Marathon at Disney World. I ran the course in 1:45:06!!! I still can’t believe that time. But it’s in black and white on my race results and recorded on my Garmin. Holy moley! I was 152/22,721 finishers overall. I was the 121/21,222 women to cross the finish line. And I was the 22/3381 person in my division. You do not even know how shocked I am with these results. It still feels like a dream. Disney magic indeed.
But I was running for fun…and sometimes that makes all the difference.
I had such a blast running at Disney World. I already am anticipating running at Disneyland for the Disneyland Half Marathon in September. And, now I’m totally hooked and just want to hit up every Disney race I possibly can. But that will have to happen on a ‘what can I afford?’ sort of budget plan.
For now…I can’t stop smiling and thinking back on this race…on how good it felt to run it…despite the humidity. And how amazing the volunteers and organizers were throughout the race. I loved the energy from the cheering sections and the crowds along the course. And I’ll never stop thinking of my run through Cinderella’s Castle. If any moment was more magic than the rest…that was it. That was my moment. And then, of course, that spectacular finish.
Disney…you gave me one hell of a welcome…and one hell of a great race. Thank you! I promise…I will be back.
Me striking a pose for a strong finish and a new PR at the Disney Princess Half Marathon
The Celiathlete 