I buy a lot of snacks when they are on sale…or part of a manager’s special. I rarely ever buy any of my gluten-free goodies at full price. I honestly just can’t afford to.
For awhile, I had been eying the Snikiddy line up of snacks (which include Baked Fries, Cheese Puffs, and the Eat Your Vegetables chips) with big kid eyes…hoping that my store would have a sale on them soon. Well, my prayers were answered one week when I walked into my grocery store and they were, in fact, on sale. I grabbed two of the Baked Fries to try (different flavors) for starters. I still had to remain in my food budget that week…so I started one place and would move to the rest another time.
First…a little bit on the company itself. It was founded in 2006 by a mother and daughter team that wanted to put out products for families that were seeking healthier foods to satisfy their snack cravings. And that’s what they did – creating a line of better for you snacks.
As for the brand name…well, it’s the shortened form of the word persnickety, referring to picky eaters. Who doesn’t know one or perhaps is one? Honestly.
So…good for you snack foods? Well, just glancing at the nutritional information…it does seem possible. A serving (1 ounce) is 130 calories. It will set you back 4.5 grams of fat for the day. These are low in sodium, cholesterol free, vegetarian, gluten-free, all natural, kosher snacks that contain no trans fats or hydrogenated oils. They have 50% less fat than regular potato chips and 35% less fat than Veggie Straws.
Intrigued? Impressed?
I was. But…the big test comes with the taste.
Today was the day that I dished out a serving of these to have at work for my afternoon snack. The first thing I noticed was how light they were. Secondly, even though they are cheddar cheese…they do not leave a residue of cheese dust on your fingers. This means my paperwork remains clean. YAY! So…after careful inspection…it was time for the first bite.
The texture reminds me a lot of Funyuns. And they taste cheesy (as anything that is Cheddar Cheese flavored should) without being overly done. They weren’t greasy like potato chips either. And…for what it was worth, I’d take these over french fries any day. And I love french fries!! But these were just as satisfying, without all the fat. They are light so while they will take away the afternoon hunger pangs, they won’t fill you up before dinner either.
Perfect snack. Perfectly delicious.
I can’t wait to try the other flavor.
When snack foods are done right…they are worth buying again. These will certainly be bought again. I was impressed.
Edward & Sons Let’s Do…Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cones
Product: Edward & Sons Let’s Do…Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cones – $3.99+
I never, ever thought I would miss ice cream cones. I mean…they often get soggy, and sometimes can be a bit messy. So, it’s always a bowl for me. And when I’m out at an ice cream shoppe or a fro yo place, that’s the way it has to be. Gluten-free isn’t offered just anywhere. And around here…it’s practically non-existent. At those kinds of places…it’s all about the bowl, cup, or whatever it is served in.
No cone.
And I never thought anything about it.
But then my local grocery store was running a closeout on their gluten-free aisle. Which, immediately sent me into a panic. What if they were getting rid of all of this? What if I’d have to really just start shopping at the expensive natural food stores (I would do it…but my food budget is already crazy!)? What if all of this was going away never to be seen again? I literally grabbed a cart and my roommate and I began piling things inside. Whatever we felt we would most definitely like to try, already knew we liked, and just were curious about.
One of the boxes that made the gluten-free closeout cut…was Edward & Sons Let’s Do…Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cones.
Now, growing up my mom used to buy ice cream cones and would scoop up some amazing ice cream into it. And we, as a family, would enjoy this for dessert. During the summer months in my small town, a little restored barn up the way sold ice cream (soft serve) and we would always go down there for dessert. They knew our order and had it ready when our car turned in. It was a treat. And we are an ice cream loving family. Despite lactose intolerance…I still am very much this way.
So, yeah…while I never thought I would miss that crunch of an ice cream cone…I discovered…I did.
With some So Delicious Dairy-Free Ice Creams in the freezer, last night I was looking for something easy for dessert. It could have been ice cream…or cookies. But, I have been craving ice cream. And I had a bad day, and my roommate mentioned ice cream. And I knew there was no getting to The Comfy Cow on a weeknight, so…ice cream at home it was. But…then it dawned on me that we had those gluten-free ice cream cones as well. So as I finished up my dishes, I asked her to go grab them. It was going to be an ice cream cone night!
Out of the freezer came So Delicious Dairy Free Chocolate Velvet Soy Milk Ice Cream (OMG YUM!!!). And I carefully opened up the box of Edward & Sons Let’s Do…Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cones.
They looked like every ice cream cone my mom ever bought for us growing up. They looked like the standard kids cones you would get at an ice cream parlor these days. The only thing was…these were gluten-free. So…I could eat them!! I dished up a serving of the rich, decadent chocolate ice cream into each done (one for me; one for my roomie) and we settled in for a true treat indeed.
As with any cone, it takes a moment to get down to it. First you have to devour the ice cream piled on top. I did that, lick-by-lick, savoring, and anticipating that cone. And when I got there…I discovered it was worth the wait. First of all, these cones did not get soggy. At all. They held their shape and their crunch as I worked my way through it. Second of all…the flavor was just as good, if not better, as the ice cream cones I grew up eating, at home or at the ice cream parlors. Honestly. And the best part is…these cones only set you back 12 calories. Yes. 12. Twelve. 1-2. They are fat free, sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan! In other words…my dream ice cream cone.
They taste sweet without being too sweet. In fact, it is more of a compliment to the ice cream that is stuffed inside. The crunch is fantastic…not too soft and not too hard. But it adds that bit of texture to the ice cream experience. Man…I was one happy girl sitting on my couch enjoying a good old-fashioned vegan ice cream cone with vegan ice cream.
If the little things in life are what make people happy, then a simple gluten-free ice cream cone brought me one of the happiest moments of my life. And I had another one tonight. I’m not ashamed. In fact, I’m hooked. I don’t think I’ll ever not have ice cream cones in this house.
Thank you, Edward & Sons…for such a simple treat that even the gluten-intolerant can once again enjoy.
Edward & Sons Let’s Do…Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cone topped with So Delicious Dairy Free Chocolate Velvet Soy Milk Ice Cream
There is nothing more satisfying after a bad day then to treat yourself to something that might make it better. Some people turn to drinking. Not me. Nope.
When I have a bad day…I turn to chocolate. More often than not…chocolate ice cream.
But wait…I’m lactose intolerant.
It’s okay…because there is amazing, rich, decadent, smooth non-dairy ice creams out there. Sure, they cost a lot more than regular ice cream, but…they can be just as amazing. And it is really fun to play around with the base and check out the differences. I mean, there is ice cream made from almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk, soy milk, etc.
Well…it had been a bad day. I went for a run to work off some steam, clear my head, and came home for dinner. But I still felt wound up. What I needed was chocolate.
And thanks to a sale at my local grocery store a couple of weeks back, I just happened to have some So Delicious Dairy Free Chocolate Velvet Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert in my fridge. In other words…soy milk ice cream.
Now, I really enjoyed the So Delicious Dairy Free Neapolitan Ice Cream I tried awhile back, so I had an idea that this would live up to the “so delicious” part of the brand. Little did I know how much it would live up to it.
So Delicious Dairy Free Chocolate Velvet Soy Milk Ice Cream
Some women would blame the quickness of which I ate this on stress. Not me. I’ll be honest…while I was still stressed, despite a run and relaxing at dinner, one bite of the Chocolate Velvet and I was unstoppable. That was all it took. Hoovering now in process. My only saving grace was that I put it on a gluten-free ice cream cone (because bad days mean you get ice cream in a cone!), which meant I had to at least eat a little slower and savor it a little.
So, I did manage to do that. Here’s the thing…So Delicious can put that brand on their products because they always live up to it. In fact, I would wager to say that the Chocolate Velvet goes beyond being So Delicious into So Epically Mind Blowing Delicious. It’s rich. It’s smooth. And it has the same texture of ice cream. So, it’s like indulging in the stuff I crave…only better for me. Perhaps not calorie-wise (1/2 cup is 130 calories, and 3.5 grams of fat), but it’s far better than some decadent chocolate ice creams out there, which can top over 200 calories per 1/2 cup serving.
This soy-based non-dairy dessert tastes like a rich, sinful ice cream you would get at a parlor. It’s like frozen fudge…with all it’s creamy, chocolate taste. Yeah…I think I have a new favorite. Now, the difficult part will be not raiding my freezer when a chocolate craving hits. After all…it’s a dessert…a treat. I shall treat it as that.
As with many of So Delicious Dairy Free frozen treats, this non-dairy dessert is gluten-free, vegan and kosher. It is non-GMO certified and completely organic. It doesn’t taste or feel heavy. In fact, for an ice cream…it’s on the light side and after a meal, you want a light dessert just to cleanse the palate. This…is an ideal one.
If you are a chocoholic and want to try a new frozen dessert…try something out of the norm (or, like me, in the norm). Go dairy free and try on So Delicious for size. Honestly…once you taste the Chocolate Velvet…you’ll want to grab the quart and a spoon and go to town.
So Delicious Dairy Free Chocolate Velvet Soy Milk Ice Cream on an Edward & Sons Gluten-Free Ice Cream Cone
This has not been an easy road for me. I started off my year strong with a goal of running 500 miles by December. Well, that happened back in June. With that being said, I decided just to keep going…see what all I could manage beyond that. Tentative goal…perhaps 1000 miles this year.
And then…the great plantar fascia tear happened and I had the three week set-back that included no form of running at all. When I should have been increasing my distance and miles for an upcoming half marathon (at that point…only 4 weeks away), I was sitting on the couch, doing foot exercises given to me by my podiatrist and physician, praying with all my might that the pain would go away and that I would make the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon.
I got fitted for orthodics…which I hate. I hate them like death. I have only run in them once, but I am going to put some more mileage in on them this coming week. Why? Because that is what my podiatrist wants. My feet are adjusting to them when I walk around in them, so it is time to see what I can do in them on my runs. But not the longer ones yet. I’m not prepared for that. I can tell you…my feet aren’t either.
Slowly…I got back out to the roads. Barely at first. A couple miles here. A couple miles there. I was afraid to run. Here I am doing one thing that has always brought me joy…and I have this almost paralyzing fear to do it. And when I would go out, I would run painfully slow…afraid that if I pushed more or harder, I’d hurt myself again.
This went on for weeks…and then, just before the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon…I decided to just face my fear…and go out for a run. Just find a good pace. Stick with it. The problem was…the summer has been brutal so pushing would expend way too much of my energy and by the end of my run, I would be ready to collapse. But, I pressed on, even if it wasn’t the level I had hoped for. And my speed, very slowly, began to return.
And then, with the permission of my podiatrist, an amazing tape job on my feet, and a promise to take it easy…I made it to the start of the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon. The weather was, as it had been, brutal. More so with Hurricane Isaac on the brink of making it to Indianapolis. The humidity was at 90% and the race started out under a red flag. This half marathon almost did me in. It took me days to recover from it. I was dehydrated, despite having water with me and keeping a slower half marathon pace. I wilted more and more as the race went on and just prayed to reach the finish line. Which I did…sooner than I even anticipated. No new PR…but I wasn’t there to set one. I was there to return to running and face my fears.
And with all that done, my next half marathon was only a month and a half away. So, I jumped immediately back into training (again). I know that recovery time is important, and due to the strain of that half marathon on my body, I really did listen and slow down until I felt back up to par. In addition, I started doing circuit training workouts to help build up some core strength, and perhaps strengthen some muscles. I’ve almost done it for a full week now and I’m already feeling stronger. My runs…are feeling better.
Or maybe that’s the break in the hot weather.
This morning, I’m heading out for my long run. I don’t know how far I’ll go, but I’m going to run over at Seneca Park in Louisville, Kentucky for the first time. Why? It’s a chilly 57 degrees out this morning…and I just need a change of scenery. I’ve run everywhere in New Albany. I know where the hills are, where the flat areas are, where it’s difficult to run due to traffic lights, etc. I need to just go out there…to run. No worries. Just focus on starting slow, and then building into it. That’s the only way to properly prepare for a half marathon…and I want to work on that.
With the Hershey Half Marathon only weeks away, I’m already looking forward to it. September has arrived and the weather is starting to cool down. Humidity…going down. And I find myself more eager than ever to go out for my runs.
Here’s to staying strong, to staying injury-free, and to the next 100 miles…
A food that I have ended up loving more and more as I’ve gotten older is squash. All squash. As is pretty evident from my blogs. I use it in a lot of things, dress it up different ways, and turn it into casseroles, soups, etc. The possibilities are endless.
Even more so with the advent of Pinterest. For real. I can spend hours on Pinterest. It’s crazy-ridiculous what I find on there and I file away to revisit and even attempt to make. This rarely happens…but I have it saved…just in case.
However, when my CSA bin arrived with a spaghetti squash last week, I knew just the recipe I needed to make. I pinned this one awhile back, compliments of Whole Foods. I had most of the ingredients as it was either in my fridge, on my counter, or in my pantry. All I needed were some Serrano chilies and a red pepper to make it. Epic win. And this…was just as good as I hoped it would be. Not spicy at all…at least not for me.
1 jalapeño chili, seeded, minced (I used 2.5 Serrano chilies instead)
1/2 cup red pepper, chopped
1 cup black beans, rinsed and drained well
1/2 cup sweet corn, frozen or fresh (I used fresh)
1 teaspoon chili powder
All of the reserved cooked squash, about 4 cups
1/3 cup cilantro, minced (optional)
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon sea salt
Directions:
Roast squash in a 375°F oven for 50 minutes until tender or cut squash in half and place in a microwave dish with 1/2 inch of water, lightly covered with plastic wrap for 20 minutes on high until tender. Cool. When cool, scoop flesh from squash halves leaving the shell intact for stuffing.
For the filling, heat oil in a large pan and sauté red onion, chili pepper(s) and red pepper for 2 minutes. Add beans, corn and chili powder; sauté 1 minute longer. Add cooked squash, cilantro, lime juice and salt, cook 1 minute until heated through.
Fill squash halves with filling, mounding mixture in the center.
Serve.
~*~*~
This was really good and really filling. It could easily feed 4 people, although my roommate and I just ended up eating half each. Loaded with protein (13 grams) and low in calories (292 calories for half the recipe), this makes for a delicious, easy meal for any night of the week. Can’t eat both halves? No problem. Wrap up the other half in plastic wrap, place in refrigerator, and simply reheat in the microwave. It’s that easy.
And yes…this was an epic yum. I’ll probably make it a bit spicier next time. My roommate doesn’t like too much spice…so we keep it milder whenever I cook up “spicy” recipes. Play around with it to your liking.
It was a manager’s special at my local grocery store that compelled me to pick up these frozen treats as a dessert option. One thing that caught my attention immediately was the 6 grams of protein boasted about on the box. As a gluten-free vegetarian…protein is important to me. And Greek yogurt is often packed with it. Turn that Greek yogurt into a frozen yogurt bar and…the potential for deliciousness is elevated.
With these yogurt bars, you get one nutrition packed dessert. That’s another great thing about these bars. For one thing, these rather large frozen bars pack only 70 calories and, as mentioned before, 6 grams of protein. They are all gluten-free, fat-free, and all natural. The dairy portion is made with rBST-free milk. This makes these bars an amazing source of calcium. In addition, these are kosher certified and contain no corn syrup. How is that for some accolades?
As for the name? Yasso is derived from the Greek word Yassou, which means “hello.”
Yasso Raspberry Frozen Greek Yogurt Bar (wrapped)
The only flavor available on manager’s special at the grocery store was the Raspberry flavor. While raspberry isn’t my roommate’s favorite, we both decided that these would certainly be worth a try. So…we put them in our cart, checked out, and placed them in our freezer.
After working through some of the desserts ahead of these, we finally cracked these open yesterday to try.
These bars are actually a really good size for an ice cream treat. Honestly. Most of the time a 70 calorie treat is itty-bitty. Not these. These were the size of a regular ice cream bar, but these are enjoyed without any guilt. I mean…did you take in all those nutrition stats I listed above? The flavor is all there. And the thickness of the Greek yogurt is prevalent without. But all this meant to me was that I got to savor the frozen treat a little longer. And that’s what I did.
Nothing wrong with savoring that sweet treat at the end of the meal for a little longer, right? These are available in three flavors: Raspberry, Strawberry, and Blueberry.
I enjoyed the taste of these bars. The thick Greek yogurt makes an amazing frozen treat and the raspberry flavor is the star. It really tastes like raspberry. I was blown away. And no funky Greek yogurt aftertaste either.
If I’m craving something sweet without the guilt…I would totally pick these up again. Highly recommended if you are looking for a nice treat to beat the heat…without losing that bathing suit body!
Yasso Raspberry Frozen Greek Yogurt Bar (unwrapped)
Restaurant: Patachou On The Park, Indianapolis, Indiana
What’s my favorite meal of the day?
That’s right, friend’s. It’s breakfast! I love, love, love breakfast.
So, on the morning after my half marathon, I woke up in Indianapolis and was ready for a good breakfast. Cathy had done some research on great places to grab either breakfast or brunch that would have some options for me and stumbled across Patachou On The Park via Find Me Gluten Free. It had some really great reviews, so we decided that we would give this place a try before checking out of the hotel and making our way home.
We were there right when they opened on Sunday morning at 8 a.m. We entered and were told to take a seat wherever we liked. We chose a corner table with a long bench on one side that shared with other tables along that line, and a chair on the other. We settled in with the menu and soon or waitress came over to see what we wanted to eat. She said that they had a self-serve coffee bar if that was what we wanted, but both Cathy and I chose to get some caffeine through Diet Coke ($1.95…and served in the can) and water.
While she was there, we mentioned that I was medically gluten-free and she asked about the level of my intolerance just so she could be clear. We went over the restrictions with her and she seemed confident that they could provide a safe meal for me. And mentioned that they did serve Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread. Do you know what this meant? This meant that I didn’t have to just have an omelet. Now, I love a good omelet, but it seems like that’s always my go-to and these brunch places, as most don’t have gluten-free bread, gluten-free pancakes, gluten-free waffles, or gluten-free anything besides eggs. So, this was a nice change of pace.
That being the case, when it came time to order, both Cathy and I opted to go with the Broken Yolk Sandwiches, as they were items we couldn’t just get anywhere else. Omelets we could do anywhere with the fixings that were offered…but these were different. What is a Broken Yolk Sandwich? It’s two fried eggs, served runny unless you request otherwise, topped with whatever option you choose from the menu on the bread of choice. They have quite a list of them.
Cathy chose to get the Broken Yolk Sandwich with Bacon ($10.25), which consisted of two fried eggs, cheddar cheese and Indiana
bacon. For her toast, she chose sourdough…a fantastic choice for a breakfast sandwich.
As for me, I went with the plain Broken Yolk Sandwich ($9.75), which consists of two fried eggs and cheddar cheese. Naturally, I ordered mine on gluten-free bread (+$1.50). It was really the only one that was vegetarian without removing ingredients from the sandwich, which could mess with the integrity of the flavor. I was okay with this though. It sounded delicious.
Both Cathy and I opted for the fruit bowl as our side instead of a small salad. After all…who does salad for breakfast?
Shortly after the orders went in, our waitress was coming to the table with our plates of food. I must admit…the plates look fantastic. The sandwich looked amazing and filling. And it was.
The gluten-free bread that they use at Patachou On The Park is Udi’s Gluten-Free Bread. I hate that they charge more for gluten-free bread. There are so many places that graciously just offer it without the up-charge, but I, as a gluten-free consumer knows that gluten-free bread costs more than regular breads so…that’s why the up-charge is often there. It just…sucks.
Not quite sure how to eat it, I opted for the fork and knife approach. With the runny eggs, I knew it would be messy, and this actually proved to be a good option. Cathy was actually able to pick hers up to eat. Sourdough is a much sturdier bread than gluten-free bread and while mine ended up soggy, hers held together really well.
So, if you eat here…I recommend fork and knife for the gluten-free Broken Yolk Sandwich option. Trust me. It’s the best way to eat it. Each bite was awesome. Egg, bread, cheese…three of my favorite things. And not one bite lacked any of this. I even was able to give mine a little kick with a dash of Sriracha, because I love heat with my eggs regardless of how I am eating them. It was a really great combination.
As for the fruit bowl, there was quite the variety. Very ripe and sweet pineapple, peeled oranges (I appreciated this as most places leave the peel on and it’s just awkward), strawberries, blueberries, grapes. All perfectly sweet and at the right level of ripeness. I liked it. I love it when my fruit is ripe.
Overall…the food was great…it tasted fantastic. It was fresh, made in house with local products, and really delicious. My one problem with Patachou on the Park was the price. The two breakfast sandwiches and the Diet Coke cans set us back nearly $30. For breakfast!!! Now, I’ve spent that kind of money at breakfast/brunch places, but I typically get potatoes with my meal in addition to the fruit and the egg dish. So, do be prepared to pay a lot for your meal here. The food is great, so it is worth the price, but it did give me a bit of sticker shock.
It was definitely worth the visit to give the food a try, but I think next time I’ll seek out somewhere with more affordable prices and equally as good food. They exist all over Indianapolis. I wasn’t at all disappointed with the food…just the cost.
But…you do get what you pay for. And I did get good food. Bottom line…that’s the important thing.
Patachou On The Park’s Broken Yolk Sandwich on Gluten-Free Bread
I almost backed out of going to this amazing Mexican restaurant on account of not feeling well due to dehydration brought on from a red flagged half marathon that morning. I wasn’t feeling good all day and I wasn’t sure how well my stomach would handle Mexican food being fed to it after the abuse I put it through just to get through the race.
In the end, however, I am glad I decided to go. And for the record…I actually was hungry when I stepped into the restaurant with my roomie and actually could smell the authentic Mexican cuisine as other diners enjoyed their meals. Yeah…Cathy made a good choice when she set up reservations for this restaurant prior to the race.
What made her choose this over say…the place up the way with gluten-free pizza? The answer was quite simple. Adobo Grill in Indianapolis had rave reviews on Find Me Gluten Free’s Web site. And with that sort of piece of mind, we both knew that this would at least be a decent dining experience if nothing else. The food, my friends, aside from the safety and the way gluten-free options were handled, was the highlight.
Upon entering the restaurant, we were greeted by a hostess who took us to a nice booth in a dimly lit dining room. The entire restaurant was decorated in warm colors, reds and oranges especially, which are said to stimulate appetite. It was working. I was…for the first time all day…actually a little hungry. We were left menus and our server came to our table to pour us some water and see if we wanted anything else to drink. As I still felt dehydrated, I stuck purely with the water. So did Cathy.
Then, we mentioned that I was medically gluten-free and the waiter said he would take my menu and return with one specifically for me. Yes…their gluten-free menu. I absolutely love when places have menus specifically for those who need to eat gluten-free. It really puts my mind to ease to some extent. What was even better was that this menu had more than just a few selections on them and many of the options were vegetarian.
Happy dance of joy. The waiter gave me another moment to look over the options and I finally made my decision.
Adobo Grill’s Guacamole (prepared table side)
First of all, both Cathy and I decided to split an appetizer of the Guacamole ($7.99). What makes this guacamole a must-have is that it is prepared table side. Yes. It is made right before your very eyes. You see everything that goes into it. No need to question how it is made or anything. And it was so much fun to see the woman roll the cart over with all the makings and a stone bowl. She asked us how hot we wanted our guacamole. Cathy said I like hot and she likes mild, so we’d settle on a medium. The very gracious server nodded and began the art of table side guacamole preparation. The best part was at the end, when she speedily sliced an avocado in half, hit the pit with the knife to remove it, then scooped it into the bowl with the rest of the fixings and…mashed it all together. Then it was set on the table and we were left with our chips and ready to enjoy. I spooned up a helping onto my plate and took a bite.
Rich. Creamy. Packed with flavor. I loved the hit of lime juice which would follow up each bite. It was one of the more delicious guacamoles that I have eaten. I didn’t find it to pack any heat at all, which was good for Cathy…but I do like a bit of heat with mine. But that was not an issue as the flavors were all there and none of them overpowered the rest. I could taste everything. I loved the chunkiness of the texture and how amazing it tasted when it all came together. Love at first bite.
Adobo Grill’s Enchiladas de Calabaza
For my entree, I chose the Enchiladas de Calabaza ($14.99). It’s their vegetarian enchilada option on the menu. Enchiladas just sounded like the perfect meal that night. And now that my stomach wasn’t feeling so…blah…I was ready for something of actual sustenance. The Enchiladas de Calabaza are corn tortillas packed with roasted butternut squash & mushrooms and then coated in creamy tomatillo salsa with cheese & red onion on top. Sour cream usually accompanies this, but I’ve never been a fan so I asked that they not include it. It came with a side of black beans. A large serving of black beans to be exact. But, I figured after the race…the protein was much needed.
Yummy. No. Really, really yummy! What I loved about this enchilada was the various flavors that came out of each bite. The butternut squash was sweet, but paired so well with the umami, earthly flavors of the mushrooms. The sauce, the corn, the onion…the pico de gallo and the cheese all brought it together. And when I would scoop up a bite with some of the seasoned and creamy black beans…it was magic. Honestly. I loved the fantastic, savory flavors that would emerge with each bite. I was in love with this meal and devoured it all. Dehydration and upset stomach be damned…this was fantastic food, bite-for-bite, and I was hungry for more.
For the record, Cathy enjoyed her Enchiladas de Mariscos, which are enchiladas filled with shrimp, tilapia, grilled peppers, corn and cheese and basted in fresh corn-chipotle salsa. She also nixed the sour cream, but it came with the pico de gallo, a side of Mexican rice and a side of black beans ($14.99)
Well…I was actually quite full, but figured I needed something to celebrate with. So when our server returned, Cathy and I inquired as to what would be gluten-free on the dessert menu. The server said the Chocolate Tamal would be without the cookie/cake part. But he would check on the rest. When he returned, he said the Flan was gluten-free and Ice Cream was gluten-free.
Instead of sharing a dessert, Cathy and I decided we’d each order one. I got the Flan ($4.99), which is a traditional vanilla custard with caramel sauce. Cathy got the Chocolate Tamal ($5.99), which we thought would be done gluten-free, but it came out regular for her. So I didn’t get to sample it. But it looked fantastic…sort of a chocolate cake/cookie wrapped like a tamale and served with vanilla bean ice cream, chocolate sauce and dried cranberries.
This was the first time I ever had Flan. And I was really impressed with it. It felt light, despite being a custard. The caramel sauce didn’t take away from the vanilla flavor. It was used as more of a topping and garnish than anything. And…there was a strawberry on top…which, naturally I saved for the very last bite. I was full when I finished eating. Stuffed, really. But I found this meal to be well worth going to that extreme. I don’t eat like that often, but my appetite was back with a vengeance and it was time to really celebrate getting through that difficult race.
Sure…the meal was pricey. But we were eating in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. It’s going to be pricey. The important thing was I was able to eat there without feeling ill afterwards. They took my gluten intolerance very seriously and provided me with a fantastic, safe dinner. And after the rough day I had, it was just what I needed. I felt full, but great as I meandered out the door after dinner and back to the hotel.
Would I return to Adobo Grill next time I’m in Indianapolis? In a heartbeat. Highly recommended for those who can’t have gluten…and for those who can. As both my roomie and I enjoyed our meals and raved about them the entire time we were eating. Authentic Mexican food done authentically right and to perfection. Yeah…I’d eat there again. No problem.
Me crossing the finish line of the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon – Indianapolis, Indiana
Race: Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon
Place: Indianapolis, Indiana
Date: September 1, 2012
Time: 2:05:28
Let me start off by saying that this was one of the most difficult half marathons I have ever participated in. It had nothing to do with the course (which was wonderfully flat). Nor the number of people.
What made this race so difficult was the conditions it was run under.
The Good: It didn’t rain on us. In fact, the rain that the remnants of Isaac was supposed to bring pretty much stayed in Illinois until around 6 p.m. that evening. And even then, it was a passing downpour that was gone. So, my shoes live to see another race. YAY.
The Bad: This race began under a RED flag. For those of you who are new to running or are unfamiliar with the flag system on race day…let me sum this up:
Green Flag: Low risk. If the Green Flag is displayed – Go, Go, Go.
Yellow Flag: Moderate risk. If the Yellow Flag is displayed – The heat index is at a point where runners/walkers should slow their pace if they are sensitive to the heat. Participants should be aware of their hydration level.
Red Flag: High risk. If the Red Flag is displayed – Participants should be aware that heat illness is possible and should slow down and increase their hydration. If they are sensitive to heat or humidity, they should not run.
Black Flag: Extreme risk. If the Black Flag is displayed – Runners should slow to a walk and walkers should walk very slowly. Stop, rest, seek shade.
So, while the rain held off, the weather conditions weren’t exactly ideal for a half marathon.
The Ugly: Running on a healing torn plantar fascia. Also, running in 90% humidity. Let me tell you…this sucks!! Imagine running and trying to breathe through a wet towel. Welcome to my Saturday morning race. I promise you…this didn’t feel good and it literally took me out afterwards. I’ll get to that later…
For now…we start at the beginning…which was Friday evening at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis. Getting there wasn’t a problem, despite not being able to leave early from work. As long as I got there before the race expo closed, I was golden. It felt like a very near thing…but there isn’t much that you can do when more than half your office is already off and both myself and my roommate were pretty much the only people on our respective teams there. So…yeah…meh. The important thing is I got there in time for packet pick-up, which was what needed to happen.
Now, this race is only in its second year, so it is really small compared to most other half marathons I run in. I think the original count for pre-registers for the half marathon was 1799 as of Friday afternoon when I left the office to head to Indianapolis. This does make it the smallest half marathon I have run. But, that’s rather respectable for a second year race. However, I was kind of bummed about the race expo. It just…was a whole lot of nothing. Granted, everything that was promised on the Web site was there, I just thought it was going to be bigger. The expo was spread out over the 2nd and 3rd floors of the Hyatt Regency, but what it consisted of were some vendors in with packet pick-up, then a few scattered tables outside of the giant ballroom that was in. Then on the third floor, a couple other races and vendors were promoting their respective races/merchandise. And…that was it. There were manicures being done and some massages, but that had pretty much wrapped up by the time I had gotten there anyway from the Louisville area.
With that said and done…Cathy and I headed over to Noodles & Company for dinner. We got it to go, opting to head back to the room, put our feet up and relax some while we ate. Now…with me being gluten-free, Noodles & Company pretty much has one thing I can eat. The Pad Thai. Fine. Except I couldn’t get a protein on it. The tofu isn’t gluten-free. And I’m a vegetarian, so the chicken, shrimp, steak or meatballs. So…I was protein-less when it came to dinner, which actually bummed me out…but what can you do? At least it had 76 grams of carbohydrates. And to compensate for not getting a protein, I got a small bowl of strawberries to enjoy as well. And that was dinner. So, very light on the protein, but good on the carbs. It was something at least.
Of course, after eating I was restless and kind of wanted a dessert. So, we headed through the skywalk to the Circle Center Mall. We wandered around for a bit and then stumbled into Godiva. I got an Extra Dark Chocolate Truffle and that was my treat pre-race. Cathy got a truffle as well, then found a place that sold Diet Mt. Dew in the bottle so she could have some caffeine in the morning.
We went back to the hotel to unwind, relax, and catch up on the weather. At that time, they were still predicting heavy rains to make it into the Indianapolis area and completely soak the city for much of Saturday. Meh. So, I decided to lay out my race clothes for the following day. I decided on a pair of shorts and a bra top. Less fabric meant less to weigh me down in the rain. With that done, I set out my race number, safety pins, headband, shoes, socks, and ponytail holders nearby…and called it a night.
And it was a restless night. But I never sleep well the night before a race. Especially when I’m away from home. I just get restless and think too much or worry over things (in this case…Hurricane Isaac).
The alarm went off at 5:40 a.m., but I had already gotten up and gotten dressed. This was more of Cathy’s wake-up alarm, because I was already in my race clothes and just curled up in bed…waiting for her to figure out it was time to wake up. She actually got out of bed faster than I anticipated, so I set to getting myself fed to fuel up for the morning. This meant a bowl of Envirokidz Gluten-Free Amazon Frosted Flakes (eaten dry) and a banana with Justin’s Almond Butter for some potassium and protein. This is my typical pre-big-race meal. I now my tummy can handle it as long as I eat it an hour before I run. Which…was definitely manageable. Cathy ate her breakfast as well and downed her Diet. Mt. Dew to help her wake up. Then, I went to brush my teeth, pull my hair up, get my Garmin and my Road ID on, put on my headband, lace up my shoes, and then go and have Cathy pin my number on.
Problem. My race bib was bigger than my bra top. HAHA! Story of my life. I was going to put on my tank, but then figured I’d just wear my skirt and pin it to the front of that. So, I changed from short to skirt…which I was okay with…because there was no rain falling from the sky yet and it looked like it would at least be out of the area for the duration of the race. So, that wardrobe change wouldn’t affect anything at all. Now that I had a place for my race bib, I was pinned up and ready to run. Cathy grabbed my sign, again because there was no rain, and we headed down to the lobby of the Hyatt.
Plenty of women were milling about, eating, stretching, taking, getting coffee…whatever it was they felt needed to be done. We walked through and found a semi-vacant area where I managed to get some minimal stretching done before Cathy was telling me we should move outside. So…out the doors we went and headed toward where the start line was going to be.
And it was then that the announcement was made that due to the high humidity, the race would begin under a red flag so runners should not aim to set any new PRs or the like on this race. We were told to run smart and to stay safe. And if the flag was changed to black, we were given instructions on what to do and how to proceed. Well, I’ve run races under green and yellow flag conditions. This was my first red flagged one. With the conditions, we were also told that much of the non-essentials had been removed from the course. There were still water stops and volunteers there, but some of the signage and the like had been removed for safety purposes. This also meant the original corralled start by pace wasn’t not happening. Instead, once the road was closed down just before the race, all the women in the half marathon moved up toward the start line (which had a lot of wire strung out over it to register and start bib chip timing), with no sense as to pace. It was just a gaggle of women, of varying speeds, intermingled and strewn out across the road.
Cathy had given me a good luck hug and moved on toward the starting area to prepare for the start. The National Anthem was sung, beautifully, by a group of women (fitting as this is an all-women race). And then…we were all pretty much unprepared but suddenly we were on the run. The blowhorn went off and we all made our dash across the starting line and began our journey through the streets of Indianapolis. Just women…all on a mission.
I was told about 15 minutes after our start the Indianapolis Women’s 5K Race went off without a problem.
But…I was running the half marathon. And due to the fact that I was coming back from a bad, bad injury (a torn plantar fascia in my left foot that literally left me immobile without the aid of crutches for two weeks), I had promised my podiatrist that I wouldn’t break any land speed records. My foot felt great that morning, but I didn’t want to press my luck. I started off at a good pace…probably a little faster than I intended, and that was when the sheer weight of the humidity hit. I wasn’t even a half a mile into the race and I was already drenched. I could tell then this was going to be a difficult one. I just didn’t know how difficult until I got further into it.
The first couple miles I maintained a normal race pace for me, so I had to actually tell myself to slow down. It was early and I still had a lot of race left. I hit the 5K mark at what would be a slow 5K for me, so my reminder did work. I was already starting to really feel what running in high humidity does to the body. I was really feeling tired. It wasn’t fatigue from not sleeping well. I’ve gotten the same or less amount of sleep prior to all my other half marathons. This was the soul-sucking, energy-sapping humidity and it was really giving me a fight. At mile 5, I had to crack open my Sports Beans and take a few with some water (I carry my own water bottle). This helped a little. I felt a little more energized the next few miles. Mind you, I have never had to break into my Sports Beans so early in a race. I normally hit them up around Mile 10. But that wasn’t happening. I needed a boost because I was really feeling like I was losing energy and fast.
It was about at Mile 5 I decided to walk a water stop and take in some cold water the volunteers were handing out. I haven’t walked a water stop since I ran the Chicago Half Marathon a year ago. But given the humid conditions, the fact that I was trying to recover from a bad injury, and that cold water sounded better than the lukewarm stuff now in my bottle, I walked the stop. I drank a little of it, then poured the rest of it over my head. Which was fine, except it loosened one of my ear buds. And then I couldn’t get it back in. So, I just tucked it into my bra strap and carried on with only one ear bud in and my music still going to keep me company on the road. I figured I could attempt to tuck it back into my ear further up the way. Problem was, when I tried…I noticed that the actual cushion on my Yurbuds was now missing, so putting it back in my ear wasn’t happening. GRRR. Oh well…
I noticed a lot of women who were slowing down and walking more than usual at these races. But the humidity was causing a lot of problems with hydration and stomach issues. Many women were getting stomach cramps. Some were not able to keep anything down. Some just needed to use one of the port-a-potties along the course. The gist of this is…we were fighting. All of us doing this race were literally at war with the humidity…and it was starting to win.
At Mile 8, a volunteer on a bike came riding the other way telling all the women running by to make sure they stopped and got water at that water stop. I decided she was right and I should do that. I was already fighting to lift my legs again, so I figured another drink of cold water would refresh me. I poured the rest over my head again and carried on.
Two more miles ticked by…and the race was getting harder and harder. This course was very flat. But the humidity was unrelenting and many women who were being cheered on by their friends/family members along the course were declaring that they didn’t feel to great, despite insistent compliments from their loved ones that they looked great. Around Mile 10, I was heading toward the crest of a very minor incline and on the corner, a man was standing there shouting down the hill at one of the women who had chosen to walk for a moment. In this sort of weather, under a red flag, that is to be expected. He was just harassing her, telling her that she needed to run, that this was a run not a walk, and it was just plain mean. A man walking the other way shouted at him and said, “Hey! Be nice! They’ve come a long way.” The heckler replied, “Fine, I’ll be nice. Run. RUN!” Grrr. I just wanted to smack him upside the head…but I didn’t want to expend any of my energy on him and focused on the last 3.1 miles. That was all that remained. A 5K.
Longest 5K ever. And at some point in the early part of it, my other ear bud refused to remain in my ear, so it was done without music to motivate me through. Let me tell you…it was a struggle. I glanced at my Garmin at one point and saw my pace at 11:54, which I have never run at. That is like…amazingly slow for me. But each step felt like a battle I was losing. I got out my Sports Beans again, though they didn’t even sound appetizing, and downed a few more with some of the water left in my water bottle. By Mile 11, I was doing a little better. Mile 12…I was starting to see more spectators and the extra encouragement always helps on a hard race.
It was also at this point we were rounding a corner to head toward the finish in White River State Park and we were directed around where some Barbeque Festival was going on. Let me tell you…after running in 90% humidity and feeling like (I’m not going to candy-coat this, friends) shit, the last thing I wanted to smell was charring meat. I mean, aside from being a vegetarian, it was pretty much stomach-churning at that point. But, I pressed on and came around a corner, seeing the entrance for White River State Park. I was almost there.
I think it was sheer stubbornness that got me across that finish line in the time I managed. I figured I’d finish more around my first half marathon time (Chicago 2011 – 2:20:51), but with Cathy cheering me on near the finish line, and tons of spectators just making some noise, I pressed on. The announcer said my name as I crossed…and that was that. Race done. I got my race chip deactivated and headed into runner’s services, where I was given my finisher’s medal, a beautiful rose, a bottle of water, and a banana. I waved at Cathy and set my stuff down to get my finisher’s photo taken in front of a backdrop, then continued on to where Cathy was waiting for me. She gave me a hug and we moved away to give other finisher’s and families/friends space to locate each other.
The massage tent was just up the way. So I cracked open my bottle of water, took a few sips, and headed over to get signed in. I was told to head into Line 3, which I did. Cathy dug out my protein shake and then hurried to go check the unofficial finishing times. While she was gone, I was chatting with the woman ahead of me about the race and we both thought the humidity was just enough to do anyone in.
And as Cathy returned…I handed her my protein shake, which I managed a couple of sips from and said it wasn’t sitting well in my stomach. A moment later, I looked over at her and told her I felt really light headed. She told me to lay down and put my feet up in the air. Which I did…and that helped. A lot. After a couple moments, I felt better and got back up. This lasted for a few minutes, and then I was feeling light headed and seeing a lot of black in my vision. So, I laid back down and got my feet elevated again, and remained that way until it was my turn for the massage chair. As my legs were feeling heavy, I asked to have them worked on, which my masseuse did to perfection. She was very nice and kept me talking about running, racing, and other such things. I felt so much better afterwards, drank some water and called my mom and dad as the unofficial results had posted my time.
I meandered back to the hotel with Cathy where I ducked into the bathroom to shower off. Thank God for that hotel stay for another day. I needed a cool shower to really bring me back to life. I took my time…just let the sweat (or liquid awesome) just wash away. I got out of the shower, dried off, and dressed for the rest of the day, which involved sushi for lunch, a visit to the Indiana State Museum, more sushi, rest, and then dinner at The Adobo Grill. For much of the visit to the museum, I felt awful. I managed to get through the three floors of displays and the like and it was only when we were in the gift store that I told Cathy I was ready to leave. I wasn’t feeling good. It was dehydration. Because when I got back up to the room, I got my large bottle of smart water and began drinking that…and I was feeling revived. The second round of vegetarian sushi was an added pick-me-up as well.
So…I managed to make it through to the finish, though the humidity kicked my butt in the process…and honestly almost did me in. But I made it through to the finish and recovered the rest of the weekend.
Official result for the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon are that I finished in 2:05:28. I was 236/1416 finishers overall. And I was 46/254 women in my division. Fighting back from injury, walking water stops, and battling the weather made this a bittersweet finish. It’s my second slowest half marathon time…but I felt like I fought for every second of it. And I couldn’t be happier with these results. Sure, part of me wonders what I might have managed had the humidity been better or even walked the water stops…despite having an injury…I think I could have set a new PR. But this was not the race for that. Not under these conditions. And I’m okay with that. I overcame a lot to get to this race and I overcame more to get through it.
And for that…I feel like a winner.
Me conquering my injury, my doubts, and the humidity at the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon.
Well, I was hoping and praying and dreaming of a nice day for the Indianapolis Women’s Half Marathon on Saturday morning. But it seems Hurricane Isaac has other plans for the race. So, as much as I was hoping to stall any chance of me running a half marathon in the rain…it seems like this will not be the case. It is going to happen…on Saturday.
Am I worried about it? Nah. I mean, yeah running for 13.1 miles in the rain isn’t my idea of a great time…but I do love to run in the rain. Hurricane weather, however, I’m not too sure of.
As it is, they are predicting winds up to 7 mph and about 6 inches of rain in Indianapolis. That’s a whole heap of rain.
So, if I like to run in the rain…why the blog?
Because…I just got new running shoes not too long ago. And, sadly, running in the rain shortens the life of shoes by…a lot. So, the hard-earned money I put into those new kicks…is about to be shot. I will do my best to get them dried out as soon as possible. This means I’ll probably be grabbing a newspaper at the hotel and getting the inserts out of them as soon as possible.
As of now, the race is set to go off as planned. However, if there is lightning…there will be a delay of the start of the race.
I trained so hard to get back to running in time for this race. I’ll run it rain or shine. And I know I’ll have a blast doing it. This race means a lot to me because I had to really fight my way back from injury…taking baby steps…working with the most amazing podiatrist ever…and taking a hit on my training…but it’s been worth it. And I want this race to be good. Even if Hurricane Isaac drenches me from head to foot. Even if it means I have to go buy new shoes when all is said and done. The fact that a month ago I couldn’t walk…but in two days I’ll be heading out for a wild, wet, crazy 13.1 with 1799 other women in the streets of Indianapolis.
Amy I ready for this? Yeah. As ready as I can be and ready to shine as best as I can given the circumstances. No new PR will be set on this race. I have to run this one smart so as not to injure myself again. My podiatrist was kind enough to get me to this race I owe him the respect of following through on my promise to run this one easy.
The Celiathlete 