The Celiathlete

February 10, 2013

Snowman Shuffle – Louisville, KY (February 9, 2013)

Me crossing the finish line of the Snowman Shuffle - Louisville, Kentucky — Me crossing the finish line of the Snowman Shuffle – Louisville, Kentucky

Race: Snowman Shuffle

Place: Louisville, KY

Date: February 9, 2013

Time: 27:00*

Yes. That’s another asterisk. Another proud moment that was made…a little less proud…by the simple fact that the race course was measured wrong. I’m not saying I’m not proud of my accomplishment(s) in this race. Not at all. But it just seems a little…less…amazing when someone says, “Whoops…that wasn’t quite 4 miles.”

But, at least the race sponsors and those who put it on are being honest. The course was to be the 4 mile course of the Snowman Shuffle, part of the Polar Bear Grand Prix, in Louisville, Kentucky. This is the last of the three-part race series and it runs over the hills of Cherokee Park. The scenic loop at Cherokee can be intimidating on its own, tack on just under 2 more miles to it…and it can seem like a huge challenge.

And, if you read my post prior to this one, you’ll know that…I was not feeling too good about this race. Nor was I even looking forward to running it.

(*INSERT WHINY RUNNER MOMENT HERE, COMPLETE WITH FOOT STOMP*)

It doesn’t make it any easier to get out of bed on race morning when you really don’t feel like running in that race. And I’m still not certain what brought on that mentality or that feeling, but, come race morning, I pried my sorry runner’s butt out of bed and started to get dressed for the race. I knew it was going to be chilly out…but I really didn’t want to mess with layers. So, I got out my red Nike fleece top that I bought before the Louisville Sports Commission Half Marathon and donned that, along with my compression tights and some nice wool running socks to keep my feet warm. I chose some rainbow hair extensions to wear in an attempt to brighten my mood…and then, after trying to choose what headband to wear…I finally went with the one my roommate suggested the night before but I flat out turned down. It reads: Vanquish the weak. Hurdle the dead. Arrive TRIUMPHANT. I don’t know why I decided to go with it…but I did.

Now dressed, I spent my morning getting the rest of the stuff prepped for the day. As with most Saturdays, it was going to be a busy one before and after the race. So, I put dishes away, got my change of clothes and shoes together, got breakfast ready, started a pot of coffee, and opened the front door to step outside and confirm that it was, indeed, face-numbing cold out there.

My roommate’s alarm clock actually went off 5 minutes earlier than she told me it was going to, so I wasn’t prepared. This meant I now scurried back to the kitchen to get her cup of coffee poured, because she has to drink everything at room temperature. Too cold, she hates it. Too hot, she hates it. So…yeah. Picky does not even begin to describe her when it comes to a temperature level on her food. I pick on her all the time about it. I got the vitamins for the day sorted and placed on the table. Then got milk into her cereal and almond milk into my gluten-free cereal. And I settled in for a quick nibble on brekkies. And I mean quick. The goal was to get to Cherokee Park by 8 a.m. And I was going to run the garbage down to the dumpster before leaving, still had to brush my teeth, and needed to drink my own coffee (which I prefer hot…thank you very much). So…I managed to do all of that while she finished up her coffee. Including running the sack of garbage down, to which I realized that my car had frost on the window.

UGH!

Kicking it into high gear, I hurried back into my room to use the bathroom and brush my teeth. I swished mouthwash around while I zipped up the bag with my change of clothes in it. And then made sure I had the KIND bar that she and I were going to split about an hour before the race. I know from past experience if I don’t eat something about 45 minutes to an hour before the race, I’m usually famished at the start or about halfway through. I’ve started taking steps to avoid having that happen. We hurried down to the car, where I proceeded to scrape frost off all the windows. Then I hopped inside and we began to make the trek over the river to Cherokee Park.

The start of the race was up at Hogan’s Fountain. That’s normally where races at Cherokee Park start, although sometimes they change it up (like for the Frostbite 5K) and start at the rugby field. I prefer the rugby field because we knock out all the hills within the first two miles. But…I hate hills…so that’s my entire reasoning behind that. So, we made it through the winding road that runs the Scenic Loop of Cherokee Park and actually managed to find parking that wasn’t too far away. We were lucky. The area began to fill up fast.

As we got out of the car and tossed a few belongings into the trunk, I opened up the KIND Bar, because it was now time to finish breakfast, and broke it in half and we both devoured it as we made our way to packet pick-up. I was already unhappy and miserable in the cold, but I put on a happy face and greeted the kind volunteers who were helping with packet pick-up. They handed me my number and my backpack and I grabbed some safety pins. I was number 2900 for this race. Awesome.

And instead of standing around under the shelter to pin up and hang out…my roomie and I high-tailed it back to the car to sit in the heat for a little bit. Why? Because, as I said before, I. HATE. THE. COLD.

So, sitting in the car with the heater going at least made it tolerable. We watched as many running groups ran around the Scenic Loop prior to the race. We even saw a few people running some hills with race numbers on. I hear that short runs do a body good before short races in warming up muscles, but I didn’t want to expend energy that I didn’t need to before hitting the hills at Cherokee Park. So, I sat comfortably in my warm car and that was that.

Until about 15 minutes before the start of the race. My roommate said it was time to get my number pinned on and head up to the start line and stretch out. She was right. When the weather is cold, stretching is vital. Muscles that are cold and un-stretched when engaged in running can lead to injury. So, as one of my goals is to be injury free this year…stretching had to happen whether I felt like doing it or not. So, Cathy pinned my number on me and we hiked back toward Hogan’s Fountain, passing by Dawn and Matthew along the way and exchanging brief greetings.

I actually did get some stretching in. Good stretching…not my usual ‘I’m too cold to really stretch so I’ll just half-ass this’ kind of stretching. I really wanted to get my leg muscles warmed up. As well as my core. So, I did some hip circles, knee circles, some high knees, some lunges and the like…until they announced the race would start in about 10 minutes. Cathy took my jacket away from me at this point, so I went ahead and got into the starting area with some other runners who were making their way there.

And so the chilly wait began. I remembered about 4 minutes before the race to let my Garmin find the satellites, which it did. Whew. So glad it wasn’t going to take forever like some mornings. More and more people began to fill in and soon we were all huddled together at the start. I noticed another person who recently found my blog and gave a wave to Kelsie as she lined up on the other side. And then…we were given our final instructions and…with a Take Your Mark…whistle blow…we were off.

I decided the night before that I was just going to go into this run with a very zen attitude. After all, I wasn’t feeling it. I just wasn’t feeling it. No explanation…no reason…just did not want it. I think it was the cold air, but I should be used to that by now, yes? Anyway, with that sort of attitude, despite having my Garmin set and running…I promised myself that I wouldn’t even look at it. I would just…run at whatever I felt comfortable with, push if I felt I needed to, back off if I felt I needed to. Focus on my own run and not the timer or the pace.

And with that in mind, I headed down the first hill and into the first mile of the Snowman Shuffle 4 Miler. As I made it down the hill and around the straightaway, I knew that we were about to hit a side road and run to a turn around point before coming back and getting back onto the usual Scenic Loop part of the run. Being prepared for that, and just as we headed down that way, Mile 1 ticked off. I heard one of the runners behind me say, “That was sub-7.” But…I didn’t pay that much attention to the comment, my brain completely shutting down and just focusing on my own footfalls, my breathing…and nothing more. I chose not to listen to music on this run because I’m finding that at times I’ll slow my pace to the beat of the music. When I run without it…I’m more consistent and…yes…even better.

Hitting the point where we turned around, I headed back the other way and passed by the stream of people heading our direction. I heard some of them say things to their friends who were ahead of me, offering encouragement. I love hearing that. Just goes to prove you don’t have to be fast to be an awesome runner. You just have to be supportive and have a good attitude.

Hitting the Scenic Loop again, Mile 2 ticked off and I was feeling better than I thought I would. But the hills were about to hit. First at Dog Walk Hill, then at the hill leading back up to Hogan’s Fountain. So, I mentally prepared myself for this as I continued to make my way through Cherokee Park. The first hill at Dog Walk hit and this one feels like it just goes on forever. It’s not a steep climb, but it is constant, and does continue around a couple of turns before leveling off at the top. Somewhere in here Mile 3 hit and I knew that the last obstacle would be the steep climb on the hill back up to Hogan’s Fountain.

Down the hill I went, expecting to make a journey out onto Eastern Parkway to round the statue and come back in…but the race signs directed us right to the last climb and the last hill. There is something very sadistic about having a hill there at the end…just before the finish line. But this is where you either find your strong or you step to the side and walk. I do not walk. So…I dug deep and started up the last stretch.

As I was climbing, I saw one of the finisher’s heading the opposite direction. “Just a half a mile left and you’re done!” he said. Half a mile. I could do this. I could.

The climb felt like it went on forever. I could feel that I was slowing down. Legs were getting tired. But…I pressed onward…as I so often make myself do on these hills. And as I made it to the top…there was a photographer right in the sunlight, so I almost didn’t see him. I avoided a collision and hurried now toward the finish line. I could hear my roommate screaming at me to go…just run…and so…I did.

And I crossed the finish line, feeling…amazing. I saw the clock. It had just ticked over to 27 minutes. I was in shock. I was elated.

I stopped my Garmin…and noticed that it was reading 3.7 miles…not the 4 miles the route should have been. Hmm…

I figured it would be sorted out and I went to go get some water and a banana to nibble on while we waited for the awards. It was still very cold, so I got my hoodie and fleece from Cathy and snuggled back into those, zipping up against the frigid air. As I was walking around, Kelsie finished and found me and we stood around talking about running, about being gluten-free, about the treadmill, and other such things. Including blogging.

After a long while and a lot of shivering in the cold, the final person crossed the finish line. This meant that the results could now be tallied and we would be given awards, if we happened to place. There was a chance I had, so I stuck around. And was freezing. But I wasn’t alone. Dawn and Matthew were also hanging out with us, also freezing, and also trying to act as wind breakers for each other. That’s what runner’s do. But with the laptop now in place…River City Races was prepared to give out the awards. This was when the big announcement about the turn around point being in the wrong spot came. So our 4 mile run truly was a 3.7 mile run. All of us who thought we set a new PR…now knew for certain we hadn’t. But…awards were still to be given and that immediately commenced.

This was actually kind of amusing because all of the people who braved the cold air to hang around for awards were all wearing gloves, so when names were called…the clapping sounded so much like a golf clap, it was funny. But we all applauded the efforts of the runners who placed. And it turned out I placed 2nd in my age division…to which Cathy, Dawn and Matthew all cheered.

And Kelsie even placed second in hers…so Cathy and I gave her a big cheer for that as she went to get her medal.

We hung around for the rest of the awards, and finally went to climb into the car. We were on a mission for brunch…at my favorite allergen-free bakery. I was going to change clothes there while Cathy placed the order. And from then on…I was hoping to get warm and stay warm.

So, the official results of the Snowman Shuffle 3.7 Miler are that I finished in 27:00, which, had it been a 4 mile run, would have still been a new PR. So, that’s good to know. I just don’t know what that time would officially be. So, if I ever run another 3.7 mile race…I have a time to beat. I was 71/727 finishers. WOOHOO! In addition, I was the 12/401 women finishers. And, as mentioned before, I was 2/72 in my age division. I couldn’t be happier with these results.

And…even more outstanding was…the runner who mentioned the sub-7 thing at Mile 1…was absolutely correct. My first mile in the Snowman Shuffle was run in 6:49…my first ever sub-7 minute mile. So…I take that away from this race…feeling beyond proud and a bit surprised that I managed that. The rest of my miles were sub-8 minute miles, so that’s pretty awesome too. Yeah…I’m proud of myself.

As for the overall standings for the Polar Bear Grand Prix…nothing is official yet…but as of last night, I was third overall for the women’s open division. That being said, I just looked again, and while still unofficial, I no longer hold that spot. Instead, I am currently at 1st in my age division. So…for a moment…I was on the verge of getting an overall spot…but I fell from glory.

Ah well. You win some, you lose some. I’m okay with this…in the end…I proved a lot about myself as a runner this year. Since I ran this race last year, I improved on my time in each one. And I also discovered that many of my fellow runners are much better sprinters…made for those shorter races. But when the extra miles get added beyond a 5K…I seem to best a lot of them. Distance is my thing. I do not like 5K races. I love the longer ones. So…this just helped proved why.

Despite everything…I truly did enjoy running this series for the second year in a row. We had rain on the first race, beautiful weather for the second one, and face-numbing cold for the third one…but in the end…I saw what my hard work over the year has brought to each and every run. And I hope to see only more forward progression as the year goes on and other races and series are run.

Maybe one day I’ll win some sort of overall placement. Or maybe…I won’t. It doesn’t matter…because even when I don’t feel like running, I find myself and I find my joy in the run. And that’s what happened at this race.

And it was magic.

February 10, 2013

Ian’s bakes up a crispy piece of Allergen-Friendly Cheesy Vegan French Bread Pizza

Product: Ian’s Gluten-Free/Dairy Free Cheesy Vegan French Bread Pizza – $6.99+

So…it’s National Pizza Pie Day.

Yep. I don’t mess around when it comes to holidays…and after a busy day on the go (with an amazing brunch, coffee, shopping, and a stop off for some crazy-good ice cream)…I came home for a bit to relax. And I knew…that despite the brunch and ice cream treat, my roommate and I were going to need something else for dinner.

And with it being National Pizza Pie Day…I had just the thing in mind.

Please note…I realize this is not actually a pizza “pie” per se…but it is…technically…a form of pizza.

Even better…it’s a form of pizza I can eat.

Now, I’ve done my share of sampling of gluten-free frozen pizzas since going gluten-free. Kind of. Normally, despite craving some gluten-free pizza at times, I don’t like paying an arm and a leg for a frozen gluten-free pizza. I’d rather go spend that money and get one done up right at a restaurant (like Mellow Mushroom or Uncle Madio’s where they take extra precautions with gluten-free pizza preparations). It would end up being about the same amount for the same amount of pizza actually. And if not, the quality is far better.

But, last weekend, my roommate told me she would buy me a gluten-free treat of my choice while we were roaming around Earth Fare, my favorite grocery store…ever. It took me a moment to ponder out what exactly I wanted to get with such a tempting offer. And after struggling with choosing between a sweet treat, gluten-free onion rings, gluten-free vegetable pot stickers…I finally decided to go with Ian’s Allergen-Friendly (no wheat, no gluten, no dairy, no casein, no soy, no eggs, no peanuts, no tree nuts) French Bread Pizza.

This is not a new product. Not at all. In fact, I’ve seen this product in the freezer section of my local grocery store since I had to go gluten-free…and always said I was going to try it. Unfortunately…the price just never was right and I couldn’t justify it in the end with my tight food budget. But…as a treat…it might be worth it. Especially if I needed a quick hit of pizza sometime.

Well, what better day to eat it than National Pizza Pie Day?

The box comes complete with two slices of gluten-free French bread that is topped off with a tomato sauce and Galaxy’s vegan mozzarella rice cheese. I wasn’t sure what to make of the product upon opening it. The frozen bread looked like any normal frozen pizza would have done. I wasn’t sure how well the “cheese” would do in the oven, but I preheated it to the 400°F the box suggested and placed each slice of bread onto a baking sheet. Into the oven it went for 23 minutes…but since my oven is a bit off…I let it go for 25 minutes before removing it.

Much to my surprise, the “cheese” melted beautifully over the slices of French bread. The tomato sauce was bubbly and the cheese was piping hot and gooey. In fact, some of it had even stuck to the pan. So, that was a nice surprise. Vegan cheese never melts this well lately (and trust me…I eat it all the time). The French bread crisped up to a beautiful golden color. That was a nice surprise!

So, I plated each slice, handed my roommate hers and went to retrieve mine. She was already digging in when I returned so I inquired as to what she thought. I mean, after all, she can eat any pizza whenever she wants. It’s me with the dietary restrictions.

“It’s yummy!” she said. So…I went ahead and took my first bite.

Despite the fact that I burned the roof of my mouth on the molten vegan cheese…I had to agree with her. This was a delicious bite of pizza. And so easy. I mean…for something frozen and out of a package…the flavor was amazing. I loved the crispy crunch the crust of the French bread gave each bite. And the the inner parts were soft and chewy, like a good pizza crust would be…without being doughy or overly chewy. The sauce was a non-entity and the “cheese” just gave it that pizza topping that was necessary for it to be a pizza. But…it was good. It was really good.

Each slice of bread contains 250 calories and 10 grams of fat. The sodium content is quite low, at only 220 mg per serving. And each slice offers up no cholesterol, no trans fat, and 3 grams of protein. Nice!

And despite being rather small in size, these slices of French bread pizza are definitely filling. I didn’t even need a salad or anything to eat with it. Perfect as a meal on its own and rather safe for basically any food allergy. It was only recently that Ian’s moved away from soy cheese, which was a fantastic choice in the end, opening this one up for people who have soy allergies. All the products Ian’s puts out contain no artificial flavors, colors or preservatives…ever!

I would definitely buy these again in a heartbeat. The crust was awesome…loving the crispy outside and soft inside. It wasn’t overwhelming with the amount of bread. The sauce and cheese were a great topping. And these were so easy to prepare and so delicious to devour.

Which is exactly what happened…while watching Moonraker on Blu-Ray.

Don’t judge.

There is no better way to spend Naitonal Pizza Pie Day than enjoying a gluten-free and vegan French Bread Pizza…from Ian’s.

Find it in your grocer’s freezer section…and give it a try yourself.

Ian's Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free Cheesy Vegan French Bread Pizza (baked) — Ian’s Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free Cheesy Vegan French Bread Pizza (baked)

February 10, 2013

Low sugar, a hint of spice, and everything nice in KIND Bar’s Madagascar Vanilla Almond bar

Product: KIND Madagascar Vanilla Almond Nuts & Spices Bar – $1.99+

You know what’s awesome about KIND Bars? How filling they are. And a lot of that stems back to the ingredients that go into each bar. Now, I’ve sampled a few of these, but a Groupon came over not too long ago and my coworker and I decided to split the difference and get it. So, we ended up purchasing the KIND Cube, which included 16 bars…2 of a variety of flavors.

When it arrived, we each took our share and she began to sample a different one each day. As I go to work with my snacks already planned, I decided to hang onto mine for important mornings…such as race mornings.

Today…was a race morning.

The Snowman Shuffle 4 Miler was running in Louisville, Kentucky on Saturday morning, and after downing some cereal and a cup of coffee at home (along with some water for hydration), my roommate and I set out to hit Cherokee Park in time to find parking, get my packet, get stretched out, and get running. But, with most race mornings, I normally find myself starving at the start or during it if I don’t eat something at least an hour beforehand.

As we arrived at the park, I was already tearing into the KIND Bar she chose to split that morning. It was the Madagascar Vanilla Almond bar. Very intriguing. I wasn’t sure what to make of it…but none of the ingredients sounded offensive to my senses…so…I tore off the wrapper and had her take a picture of it (she needs to work on how close she puts the camera, LOL!). And then, I broke it in half, gave her a share of it…and we headed toward packet pickup, happily noshing on the bar.

And we both agreed…YUMMMMMMMMY!

The Madagascar Vanilla Almond bar is actually more than just almonds…so if you are allergic to other nuts, but not almonds, be aware…this one actually has more than the name lets on. In fact, the bar is composed of a blend of almonds, peanuts, cashews, and walnuts, mixed with honey, non-GMO glucose, chicory root fiber, crisp rice, Madagascar vanilla, and soy lecithin. Okay, so some of the ingredients don’t sound as appealing when listed out like that…but trust me…when they are all put together, KIND Bar magic happens.

The Madagascar Vanilla Almond Bar is part of KIND’s Nuts and Spices collection. And here is the best part…it is a perfect balance of sweet and salty. My biggest concern leading up to my first bite was that it was going to be way too sweet. And something sweet is good…but doesn’t always sit right just before a race. Thankfully, the vanilla didn’t overpower the bar itself. It complimented the mix of nuts and crisp rice. The honey helped bind it all together. This bar wasn’t terribly sticky so nothing felt like it was catching in my teeth or getting my fingers too sticky to put my gloves back on. It was really balanced and really, really delicious.

Nutritionally speaking, KIND Bar’s are a perfect way to go…especially for protein and the like. In the Madagascar Vanilla Almond variety, the entire bar contains 210 calories and 16 grams of fat. If that seems high, keep in mind that this fat is brought about by the nuts, so it is actually the healthy sort. The sugar content in this bar is very low, sitting nicely at 4 grams. And the protein is awesome, with this bar offering 7 grams of it. Awesome. With 15 mg of sodium, this makes for a healthy choice for breakfast or a snack. And with 5 grams of fiber, it will keep you feeling full.

And…just eating half this bar about an hour before a very chilly run…I can attest that this is true. I wasn’t hungry before or during the run at all. My appetite only began to kick in after I ran, waited in the cold for awards, and finally hopped in the car to get brunch at my favorite allergen-free bakery.

KIND Nuts & Spices bars are part of a line of bars that are crafted from the highest quality of whole nuts and some of the best spices found in nature. These bars are an indulgent treat, providing natural protein, fiber, and only 5 grams of sugar (or less) in each bar. There is nothing artificial in any of these bars. Even better, all of KIND’s products are gluten-free and produced in a certified, dedicated gluten-free facility. Love that!

So…next time you are in need of a delicious, nutritious, filling snack that is portable and just as yummy as ever…reach for a KIND bar. I highly recommend the salty-sweet taste of the Madagascar Vanilla Almond bar. I would purchase this one again in a heartbeat.

KIND Madagascar Vanilla Almond Nuts & Spices Bar (unwrapped)

February 8, 2013

Glutino Multigrain Crackers a gluten-free bite worth taking

Product: Glutino Gluten-Free Multigrain Crackers – $4.99+

Snack crackers are so versatile. But most of the ones on the market are off limits to the gluten-free. But thanks to the abundance of gluten-free products hitting the shelves these days, it seems every gluten-free company out there has at least one variety of snack cracker. Some…have more.

I’ve enjoyed the likes of Crunchmaster, Mary’s Gone Crackers, Blue Diamond, Schär, etc. But most recently, I have been exploring the different flavors of crackers that Glutino has to offer.

Now, Glutino and I have a rather good relationship as far as the taste of their food. So far, I have had nothing to complain about. Texture, taste, density, and flavor have all been right on par. I appreciate that. Given the fact that I haven’t been gluten-free my entire life, I know what the ‘real’ thing tastes like and sometimes have a hard time separating that from what I now have to eat. In other words…I find common gluten-free foods not up to the standard I once knew.

And then…sometimes I find something better.

Glutino has been good to me and for me.

And that trend continues with my tasting of Glutino Multigrain Crackers. These gluten-free crackers actually surprised me with their flavor. I have since looked up a few reviews, most of which bitched about the overpowering fennel flavor (fennel tastes like licorice). I don’t like licorice…but I don’t even get a taste of it in these crackers. In fact, I currently no longer even see fennel listed on the ingredients list. The poppyseeds are still part of it…and you can certainly see them in the surface of the cracker. But fennel…not anymore, I don’t think. Rosemary extract though…that’s there!

The bizarre thing about these crackers is…they taste like Triscuits…just without the graininess and shredded bits. It’s like…if a Ritz and a Triscuit were to get married…this would be the offspring. Honestly. It’s the perfect blend of that butter Ritz texture with the flavor of a Triscuit. It’s…fantastic, honestly. And this would be amazing with a schmear of cream cheese, cheese, salsa, hummus…whatever…on top. But on their own, they too are astounding in their flavor. I loved this cracker…bite-for-bite.

So…how did I end up with these in the first place? Long story short…one of my local grocery stores was running a mega closeout on the gluten-free section. Fearing that it was going to be gone for good, I stockpiled items I wanted to try, but could never quite justify to work into the budget. That’s how these ended up in my pantry…and it just so happened it was their turn to shine during my afternoon snack time this week. And shine they did.

I highly recommend these as a cracker for any get-together where gluten-free options are needed. Or…just in general. My roommate, who tries everything I eat, also enjoyed these. She was the one who made the Triscuit connection (she would know!)…and I couldn’t agree more. Fantastic seasoning, not laden with salt, great flavor, and just amazing from one bite to the next.

Nutritionally speaking, because I do always go there, these aren’t bad for a snack cracker. A serving size is 30 grams (and you know I weigh out my servings!), or about 8 crackers. This serving would set you back only 14o calories and 4.5 grams of fat. That’s not bad at all. These crackers only have 260 mg of sodium in the serving. While fiber and protein are both low, it’s a snack cracker…so use it with something like hummus that has some protein power to it.

Nutritionally sound, and amazing in taste and texture. Glutino…you keep winning me over, heart, body, and gluten-free soul!

February 8, 2013

Fumbling toward the final race in the Polar Bear Grand Prix

Tomorrow, Saturday, February 9, 2013, will mark the end of this year’s Polar Bear Grand Prix. Last year, I was greeted by a very cold morning and pouring rain. This year…I think it’s just the cold that I get to contend with. At least…I hope.

But…in reality, I don’t really want the cold.

Fact: The cold air naturally slows me down. It’s harder to breathe through. I have to layer my clothing. I just feel…awkward in cold weather.

And I have been getting out to run in the cold as often as possible. Last Sunday, I even went for 6 miles in the snow and ice. My roommate called me hardcore. The fact of the matter was…the very thought of going to the gym for the second day in a row to run my miles for training was unbearable. I hate running inside. I hate the treadmill. I hate the tiny indoor track at my gym even more, where 1 mile is 18 laps around it. Told you…it’s tiny. That’s what got me out in the snow and ice that Sunday morning. And I took it slow and easy and really just kept myself close enough to home that should I need to give in to the elements and cut the run short, I wouldn’t have far to go.

And though it was a slower run for me…it was a good run.

But there is that word. That word I hate using…but I feel it so often.

SLOW. S-L-O-W.

I don’t know why I focus so much on my speed, especially on these training runs. I think it just comes natural to a runner to want to improve. Or at least maintain. But lately it’s just felt like I’m moving backwards. Figuratively, of course.

And here’s why I think it’s been bothering me all week…

Despite the cold, hard rain of the Snowman Shuffle last year…it was one of my best races to that day. No joke. I finished the four mile course, complete with those killer hills at Cherokee Park, in 33:17. That was huge for me. That meant I had a lovely pace of 8:19, or about 7.2 miles per hour. Up until that point…that pace had never happened.

And over the year that has now passed, I have only begun to get faster than that. Until, it seems, recently.

I would like to point my finger at the elements and push all the blame off on that, but the fact of the matter is…I can’t. I could sit here until I was blue in the face and rattle off reasons as to why I feel inadequate coming into this race, despite the training and time I’ve put into my runs during the week and over the weekends, but what good would it do? They are just excuses when it comes down to it.

“It’s so cold out! The cold slows me down.”

“It’s hard to breathe in that bitter cold air!”

“I f***ing hate layers!”

“But it’s so dark when I go out to run that early in the morning…”

Hey…it may be the truth…but it is also an excuse. Any way you slice it.

So…why the added pressure? I made a mistake a couple weeks ago and looked at the overall standings for the Polar Bear Grand Prix. Yep. Bad…bad idea. Because currently, I am sitting in third place in the overall women’s category. Not my age division. Women…overall…for all the races. And suddenly…it just feels like I put a crap-ton of pressure on myself to maintain that. I mean, I’ve had killer races leading up to this one. I placed third in my age division in the Reindeer Romp 4K, and second in my age division in the Frostbite 5K…but it was seeing that overall ranking that just…it really took away my zen runner attitude and I’ve been fretting over it since. That…and my finishing time.

This isn’t like me. Not really. But I feel that when I revisit races, I should only better my performance. After all, I have a year of training behind me. The second time around, or third, or whatever, should only show improvement. But…but what if I don’t.

And given my recent morning runs…even on the weekends…I haven’t been feeling good about besting that 33:17 finishing time. In fact, I’ve made a point to check my Garmin at each 4 mile beep on my runs that go that long or longer…and I am usually right at, if not slower than that time.

And it’s a bit disheartening. Especially feeling this added pressure of that overall standing.

Let me clarify…no one is putting this pressure on me. No one but myself. And, I think that is what makes this so hard to get over, to ignore. It’s that little voice in the back of my head that tells me…I’m not getting any better. I’ve plateaued. That I fail if I don’t maintain that spot in the top 3 women’s overall.

It’s all poppycock, of course…but…that’s what thoughts have been permeating my mind. Not just on my downtime…but on my runs. Every 4 mile beep…that’s what I think about.

Why am I even obsessing? I love running…and finding that joy that I associate with each stride, each breath, each footfall…hasn’t felt good enough leading into this race. And it’s been killing my mojo. It’s been really pulling at me. It’s been…bothering me.

Honestly, it shouldn’t. I shouldn’t even be obsessing over it. But I am. And. I. Can’t. Stop.

The past couple of mornings, I’ve turned my mileage for my training schedule…and each time, I’ve been unhappy with the results. Why? I’m right at that 7.2 mile per hour speed. Which, isn’t slow by any means…but I know I can and do run better than that. I know that most of these runs are supposed to be at an “easy” pace…that I shouldn’t be trying to find that magical race pace unless my program specifically calls for it…but…it’s human nature to get competitive…even if it is with yourself.

The fact of the matter is, the one thing in life that brings me the most joy has been bringing me down these days. Actually…it’s not the running that’s bringing me down. The running, while slower than usual, has been brilliant. It’s that little voice inside…that little devil sitting on my shoulder…that doubt that creeps in every now and again…that’s what has been bringing me down. My own lack of confidence. My own sense of what accomplishment is. My own perception of what not meeting certain goals would mean to me…as a runner…in this particular race.

So…what do I do to overcome this?

I don’t know.

But here’s what I am going to do…

I am going to get up tomorrow morning and dress for the expected 29 degree weather. Yep…this means some cold weather gear. Perhaps even a layer or two. We’ll see. A lot of that will depend on the wind factor, which the Weather Channel is currently predicting to be around 6 mph. I’ll eat some cereal before heading out the door to drive to Cherokee Park and, hopefully, find a parking spot that isn’t outside of the park and a long walk uphill to packet pick-up. I’ll get my packet and get my number pinned up. I’ll do my, “I’m too cold to stretch…but here goes nothing” half-ass stretching. I’ll eat half of a Kind Bar. I’ll line-up at the start…somewhere back from the front…but not too far back. And then…I’ll just run. I’ll run what I am comfortable with. I’ll run without looking at my watch for time or pace. I’ll listen for the beeps, but I won’t look. I’ll simply run.

And what happens when I cross the finish line? I’ll find that whatever effort I put into that run…was enough. Do I need to beat last year’s time? Nope. I want to, of course…but I don’t need to. Will I be any less of a runner if I don’t? Not at all. Will I be a failure if I fall out of that third overall spot? I might feel like it for a moment…but it will pass. I don’t run to collect medals and awards. That’s not what fuels me. What fuels me is passion. I don’t get up at 4 a.m. every morning and throw on my running clothes and take a run in 19 degree darkness because I have to. I don’t have to do anything. I do it because, believe it or not, I want to.

I sometimes forget the whole reason I started running. Because somewhere…somehow…one day when I took up a jog at that itty-bitty track at the gym…I found something that made me smile. I’m not super fast. I’m not an elite. But sometimes helps to just take a step back and realize…while I am not these things…I am enough.

And my passion for running should never be overshadowed by doubt, fear, time, or race placement. I am not a failure. Time doesn’t matter. Run for the love of the run…and the run will love you back.

So, we’ll see what happens tomorrow as I tackle four miles through Cherokee Park’s hills. It looks like another chilly morning run awaits…and if it slows me down…it slows me down. All I should focus on is making it from start to finish. My legs, feet, and determination will do the rest.

Snowman Shuffle…I’m coming for you. Even if I don’t feel like it…I am ready.

As ready as I’ll ever be.

February 6, 2013

Recipe: Gluten-Free Hearty Rice and Bean Vegan Nachos

Twas the day of the Super Bowl and I made my roomie one simple promise.

Nachos.

No…really. She had been craving nachos and I decided, despite us not watching the big game (instead we watched cooking shows…for real!), I told her Super Bowl Sunday would be the perfect day to break out some nachos for dinner. Of course, the one catch to me being the chef of the apartment is…I make them my way.

Thankfully…she’s quite okay with that…and words like gluten-free and vegan don’t phase her one bit.

I know…awesome!

So…after a major cleaning spree that day, I started to piece together our not-too-bad for you version of Super Bowl Snack Awesomeness. And we dug in while watching an Emeril Lagasse show on Vegetarian Main Dishes. I can’t make this up, friends!! This is a true story. But the best part of this story is…how awesome and filling these nachos turned out to be!

Recipe: Gluten-Free Hearty Rice and Bean Vegan Nachos

Servings: 2
Time: Prep 60 minutes; Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup brown rice (I used Lundberg Family Farms)
5 ounces (about 6 1/2 cups) Tortilla Chips (I used Garden of Eatin’ Blue Corn Chips)
3/4 cup cooked no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained if canned
4 ounces Teese Nacho Vegan Cheese Sauce
1/4 cup milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)
1 avocado, sliced
1 fresh Serrano pepper, seeded and finely chopped (optional) (I roasted mine with my red pepper)
1 red pepper, roasted and chopped
1/2 sweet onion, chopped
1/2 cup prepared salsa
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 lime

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 450°F.

Cook the brown rice according to package directions. While rice cooks, saute the onion in a small skillet and set aside.

In a small saucepan over medium heat, add Teese Nacho Vegan Cheese Sauce and 1/4 cup milk. Stir together until creamy and sauce thickens. Add half of the roasted peppers.

Spread chips in a 9×13-inch baking dish and spoon rice over top. Sprinkle with black beans beans, onions, and the rest of the roasted peppers (red and Serrano). Bake until the nachos are very hot, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and add the avocado slices. Spoon the vegan nacho cheese over the nachos, add salsa, sprinkle with cilantro. Squeeze lime over the top.

Serve.

~*~*~

These were so amazing and delicious. I was so happy with the way this turned out. It was definitely the perfect food for Super Bowl Sunday. Nothing better than some junk food on a big game night, even if you are not watching the game. And as far as recipes go…this isn’t too bad for you. Packed with protein (thanks to the beans…and quinoa could be substituted for the rice), vegetables, and vegan cheese…it was guilt-free snack food for dinner.

And my roommate has already requested I make them again sometime.

I only take that as a good thing.

February 6, 2013

Gluten-Free brownies that are fudgy and cake-like perfection by Better Better Fudge Brownie Mix

Product: Better Batter Gluten-Free Fudge Brownie Mix – $7.99+

Better Batter.

Why? Why did it take me so long to actually try you out?

You blew me away…like…totally blew me away the first time I used your Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour. I never stopped raving about you. I never bought you…because you are expensive. But, now I understand that you are completely worth the cost. Every. Single. Dollar.

Because not only did you manage to wow me with your Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour (which I received as a complimentary box at a gluten-free expo I attended in Birmingham, Alabama), but you have blown me away with the taste, texture, and all around chocolatey goodness of your both fudgy AND cake-like brownies. And there is something so magical and fantastic about finding that perfect level of balance when it comes to brownie perfection. Even more…the difficulty that comes with having to be gluten-free.

But somehow, my dearest, beloved Better Batter…you did it.

After having amazing results making cookies using your Gluten-Free All-Purpose Flour, the other box that my roommate and I got for free at the expo was…the Gluten-Free Fudge Brownie Mix.

Now, I love brownies. I am not big on cake…but offer me brownies and I am your friend for life. Thus…brownies were the obvious choice for me.

However, I had a lot of gluten-free brownie mixes to go through. And while some have been…good…others…great…yours, Better Batter…yours were AMAZING!! Yours are the ones that I will rave about until the day I go to my gluten-free grave.

And here’s why…

Better Batter Gluten-Free Fudge Brownies (baked)

While I am not a fan of cake, I prefer the cake-like brownies over the heavier fudge versions. So, I did the version with three eggs, not two. I mixed together the water, oil, eggs, and the mix as directed by the box, then poured them into my pan and baked…all the while, that rich chocolate scent was filling my apartment. I couldn’t wait to pull these out of the oven and let them cool. And when they were cooked through, I let them sit while I ran a few errands and returned home…ready to treat myself to them for dessert.

These brownies are packed with chocolate flavor. I mean, packed. So if you are a chocoholic like me…you will love this. Every bite is rich, decadent, moist and…just awesome. Yep…awesome. There is no strange aftertaste from the gluten-free mix. It’s all about flavor. Good, amazing flavor. My roommate doesn’t even have to eat gluten-free…but she devoured these as fast as me. Seriously…these are the top-of-the-line when it comes to brownies. I know I raved about my Bob’s Red Mill…and they are my second place…but these…these are reigning supreme!

If heaven were encapsulated in brownie form…it would look and taste like these. Despite being cake-like brownies, these have that rich fudgy flavor of the fudge brownies…without the heaviness. That’s the best part. They are so light…so it’s always tempting to go back for more. And being a chocoholic…this is not easy to stop myself from doing. So far, however, I have managed.

So far.

Nutrition-wise, these are…brownies. So moderation is key. You get 20 servings out of one box…so make sure you cut it up in the proper portions. The mix itself has 110 calories in it…then add the oil and eggs to it and it bumps it up a little more…but still in the 160 calorie range. Remember…this is a treat and you should always treat it as one. Even if you do want to go and eat the entire pan…as I often do. Restraint and moderation.

Better Batter…I love you. I can’t even put into words how much I love you. You entranced me with your basic All-Purpose Flour…and you won me over with the fantastic taste and texture and flavor of your Gluten-Free Fudge Brownies. I am one happy gluten-free girl.

And now…yes…I will shell out the money for your mixes. I can’t wait to try what other products I can create from your plethora of mixes and tasty treats.

Back to the grocery store I go for more of your gluten-free goodness in a box.

Can’t wait!

A serving of Better Batter Gluten-Free Cake-Like Fudge Brownies (I was out of plates...dont judge!) — A serving of Better Batter Gluten-Free Cake-Like Fudge Brownies (I was out of plates…dont judge!)

February 5, 2013

XO Baking Co mixes up perfect Gluten-Free Banana Bread

XO Baking Co. Gluten-Free Banana Bread Mix

XO Baking Company Gluten-Free Banana Bread Mix – $7.99+

It happened once upon a time…back a couple years ago when I was instructed by my doctor to adopt a gluten-free diet. I attempted, from scratch, to make banana bread. And…it failed. Miserably. It was dense, heavy, and…WET! And I disliked it enough to throw it away. And from that moment on…I never attempted it again. Never. I designated any over-ripe bananas to another cause.

And then, while out shopping one afternoon and randomly stopping into a Home Goods store, I stumbled across their gourmet food section. Danger, Gluten-Free Will Robinson, Danger!! They actually had quite a good selection of gluten-free foods and products. And I…just had to try them. The one that seriously caught my eye, however, was the XO Baking Co’s Banana Bread Mix.

I mean…it had been forever since I had had good banana bread. I was craving. For real!

So, it and a few other items made their way into a basket I ran back to the door to get and soon I was checking out with a plethora of new gluten-free goodness. Or…at least I hoped.

And then, because my pantry is overflowing with gluten-free goodies…this had to sit and wait…and wait…and wait…and wait…

…and then I realized that the expiration date was approaching…so I dug it out and intended to make it over the weekend. Without reading the back for ingredients, I went grocery shopping for my regular items…and then came home to get to work on my bread (which would serve as breakfast for the entire week!)

It was only then that I realized that I required three large overly-ripe bananas for the bread mix. DUH! I don’t know why I assumed this would magically taste like banana on its own. So, my roomie and I dashed back out to the grocery store. And NONE of the stores had any overly ripe bananas. In fact…they were all very green. I mean…GREEN!

What to do? We finally discovered a couple at Target…but needed one more. So, we grabbed on that wasn’t quite as green as the rest and decided to just run with it. When you are handed under-ripe bananas…you attempt to do your best to make banana bread.

Back at home, mixing this together was easy. I mashed the bananas then put them into my Kitchenaid mixer. To that, I added eggs, oil, and almond milk. That got beat together until just combined. Then, in went the bread mix straight from the package. A little more mixing and it was done. As I’m working on shrinking the amount of items in my pantry, I added the rest of the chopped pecans (about 1/2 cup) and then put in 1/4 cup of Reeses peanut butter chips and 1/4 cup chocolate chips. I folded these into the batter, poured them into the pan and baked for about an hour.

The entire time it baked, I couldn’t help but return to the kitchen to steal another whiff of the bread. It smelled fantastic as it cooked up. And when it emerged, it was a beautiful golden color on the outside. I allowed it to cool in the pan before turning it out and setting it to cool the rest of the way.

The big test came the following morning when I sliced it up to make some French toast with it. O.M.G. No…for real.

I didn’t do anything fancy to the French toast batter. Just egg, a little light coconut milk, vanilla and cinnamon…dunked the bread and put it on my skillet. Flipped it once it got golden, then served it with a bit of hot maple syrup (homemade and delicious from my friend Erica).

This bread is packed with flavor. Even done up as though it were French toast (which definitely was preferred to the usual gluten-free sandwich bread I use). The nuts, the peanut butter chips, and the chocolate chips really compliment that banana flavor. The texture isn’t too dense or heavy. In fact, it seemed perfect for this kind of loaf of bread. I was enamored with the variety of flavor that hit my palate. BUT…to be fair, I needed to taste it without dressing it up too much. So, the following morning, I just gave the bread a light toasting in the oven to warm it. Then a small schmear of vegan butter and a drizzle of honey…and BAM. Banana bread perfection. The sweet honey worked well with the nuts and different flavor chips that were baked in.

Oh…this is a definite must have for your gluten-free pantry. If you can’t make a good banana bread from scratch, then you should totally give this mix a try. The guess work when it comes to what flour to use and how long to bake is taken out of the equation.

This mix is created using a gluten-free flour blend (which includes cassava flour, unmodified potato starch, organic coconut flour, and xanthan gum). Brown sugar adds a nice hint of sweetness to it. Baking powder gives it that necessary lightness to rise, baking soda, sea salt, and organic vanilla flavor. That’s it.

As for the nutrition standing…the mix contains 110 calories for 1/12 of the loaf. I went ahead and sliced mine into 12 slices so that I was certain of the servings when I began carving into it. That’s not bad. Not bad at all. This mix is also completely all natural, rice-free, trans fat free, gluten-free, wheat-free, and soy-free.

And in the end, you are left with a delicious, moist, banana-flavored bread that you can dress up however you like or just leave with simply bananas. Any way you slice it…it is AMAZING! XO Baking Co. is off to a good start and winning me over already.

February 5, 2013

Not completely sold on Sol Cuisine’s Organic BBQ Tofu Ribs

Product: Sol Cuisine Organic BBQ Tofu Ribs – $5.49+

Being a gluten-free vegetarian isn’t always easy. When I had to go gluten-free…it meant that many of the faux-meat products out there, via Boca, Morningstar, Quorn, and Gardein were off limits to me. So, finding a replacement has been more than a challenge. Sure…there are some that exist…but they are few and far between…and mostly limited to veggie burgers.

Which is fine. Except when you’re tired of veggie burgers.

Imagine my excitement to walk into my favorite grocery store, Earth Fare, and find a product line called Sol Cuisine, which features gluten-free and vegan products. The one that immediately caught my eye, however, was the Organic BBQ Tofu Ribs.

Yes…BBQ Ribs. For gluten-free vegans.

*the gluten-free gods smile upon me*

I did what any clear-thinking gluten-free consumer would do. I grabbed one from the freezer section and tossed it into my cart. I mean…why not? If nothing else…it would be interesting.

Welcome, then, to the weekend…where my usually scheduled meal and snack times goes completely awry. Seriously. It’s not always a good thing…but that’s what happens when you’re constantly on-the-go on the weekend. It happens. After a long day out on Saturday, my roommate and I returned home, hungry and ready for dinner. I had plenty from my CSA bin to work with, but she was in the mood for fries. And I decided that the perfect compliment to homemade, baked “fries” would be…these Organic BBQ Tofu Ribs that were sitting in my freezer.

Why not? What did we have to lose?

The box actually indicates that these should be thawed in the fridge (whoops) or in the microwave…although no actual instructions for that are given. So I threw the package of ribs onto a microwave safe plate, and began to hit the defrost button until I felt I had reached a good level to continue with the cooking process.

Nothing could be simpler. Then…you get your choice of cooking method: Microwave, Stove top, or Oven. Since I had the oven going, I went ahead and opted for that method. So, into a casserole dish they went…and then into a 350° oven to cook for 20 minutes. About halfway through, I was to give them a good stir…so I did that and then let them finish cooking as directed by the box.

Once time was up…I happily pulled the casserole dish from the oven and began to serve up the ribs with the baked fries as well. Now, the box indicates that there are 3.5 servings inside…so my roommate and I decided we would split the difference and just make it into 2 servings. That meant we each got 4 of the tofu ribs. I set them alongside my homemade fries and dinner was served.

So…I dug in…very eager to taste.

And very confused.

Okay..not confused…but let down. Before I had to go gluten-free, I loved eating Morningstar Farms BBQ Ribs. They were amazing. These…these were…not as amazing. In fact, the texture was a bit spongy…but, let’s keep in mind, this is tofu. So…I can deal with that. Sadly, however, the sauce was rather bland. Bland enough that I went and grabbed my bottle of Stubbs Original BBQ Sauce and added to my plate. I think next time I get these, I will try to cook them in a pan, and maybe get a different and better texture on them.

For being made of tofu…these weren’t bad. They just weren’t the epic feast that I was hoping for. So…worth trying again, yes. Scream about them from the rooftop awesome? Not really.

Now…for the nutrition part…

Sol Cuisine Organic BBQ Tofu Ribs pack a caloric punch of only 130 calories per serving and 7 grams of fat. These have a very low sodium count, holding at 160 mg. And, even better, they pack a whopping 9 grams of protein per serving. Awesome! So, quite nutritionally sound…I will definitely give them that.

Despite the texture and lack of flavor, I’d be willing to try other products by Sol Cuisine…and I would happily eat these again…but probably seared off in a pan instead of cooked in the oven. Maybe work some of that spongy texture out.

Overall…not great…but definitely not bad.

Sol Cuisine Organic BBQ Tofu Ribs (cooked in the oven and served w/ a side of homemade oven-baked fries)

February 1, 2013

Glutino Cheddar Crackers are putting on the Ritz

Product: Glutino Cheddar Crackers – $5.49+

There was a time, a couple years ago, when I could still eat just about anything I wanted. One of my favorite crackers for years (up until I started cutting out food with High Fructose Corn Syrup in it) was Ritz Crackers. And, yes, my dear snacking friends…Ritz do, in fact, contain HFCS. BOOO!

But, then the whole needing to go gluten-free thing happened and Ritz Crackers became a distant memory anyway. Oh, sure, I missed that buttery, rich flavor of each bite of those soft crackers…but with gluten ingredients and HFCS…that was a recipe for disaster for me. Completely.

And so, my life continued on…without a snack cracker for a long time.

But then, the market on them sort of exploded. From Mary’s Gone Crackers to Crunchmaster to Schär to Blue Diamond…gluten-free snack crackers have made the ultimate comeback…in a variety of flavors, textures, and tastes. I’m rather particular when it comes to taste and, especially, texture. I like to have light crackers…nothing heavy or dense. I want the first bite to have a soft crunch, not something loud. In other words…I was searching for a gluten-free Ritz cracker.

Well…Glutino nailed it.

Honestly, they did. A while back, they released their line of various snack crackers (which they are currently adding to with two new flavors). Originally, these came in Original, Multigrain, Vegetable, and Cheese. When my local grocery store had their mega closeout on their gluten-free selection, I grabbed what they had. A box of Glutino Cheese Crackers and one box of Glutino Multigrain Crackers.

You guessed it…these found their way into the black hole of my pantry…up until I ran out of my current snack and consulted my pantry list to see what was up next. These crackers were. And I was pretty stoked about trying them.

A serving of Glutino Cheddar Crackers is 30 grams (I weigh mine out), or about 8 crackers. Nutritionally speaking, this sets you back 140 calories and 5 grams of fat. Sodium levels are very low, totally 180 mg per serving. And each serving has 2 grams of protein. Not too shabby for a snack cracker. This is comparable to Ritz…but less fat and more protein. Awesome.

But…the big test is on taste. This can make or break a product.

When it comes to Glutino Cheddar Crackers…I don’t so much as get bombarded by cheese flavor. It’s there…but it’s very light, almost like an accent to the cracker itself. These are not salted, which I prefer, so the taste has to stand up for itself. And yeah…these do make the cut. One bite and it was like I was back in my Ritz Cracker face-stuffing days. Honestly. These crackers are very light with a gentle crunch and buttery texture. And the flavor is so reminiscent of Ritz. I love how the cheddar flavor doesn’t overwhelm the cracker itself. But I also think that these are probably better enjoyed topped off with some sort of spread (be it cream cheese, cheese slices, cheese spread, salsa, etc.) They are good. Oh, yes…they are good.

Glutino has definitely been hitting the mark with their products and I only hope that this trend continues. If you happen to be hosting a party and need a gluten-free snack cracker for any hors d’oeuvres, these are a great choice. If you are looking for a healthier snack option than chips…these are a great choice. And if you just miss having those Ritz crackers…these are a great choice.

Well played, Glutino. Well played!