Nature’s Path Organic Fruit Juice Sweetened Gluten-Free Corn Flakes
Product: Nature’s Path Organic Fruit Juice Sweetened Gluten-Free Corn Flakes – $3.59
Most “normal” cereals are lost to me these days. I can’t really just duck into the cereal section and pick anything off the shelf. Not anymore. And a lot of my favorites have had to be left in my food-tastic past after needing to go gluten-free.
But…every now and again, a company puts out a gluten-free product that is so, so much like what I used to eat that it even sparks a memory of the last time I ate it.
Nature’s Path Organic Fruit Juice Sweetened Gluten-Free Corn Flakes…are that kind of cereal.
I actually didn’t expect much from these. I mean…corn flakes. It’s tough to screw up corn flakes, but they can be so bland if done incorrectly. I was nervous about it being…bland. Or, worse yet, tasting like cardboard.
However, I was proven wrong.
This cereal was a gift from my roommate. I sent her out to the grocery store and she returned with a gluten-free surprise for me. Cereal. Well…I do eat cereal almost every day. And this was a change in pace from my usual gluten-free Chex varieties. I like a little change of pace. When I finally ran out of the boxes I had prior to this one, I cracked it open, dished out a serving size, and poured over a splash of unsweetened almond milk.
Breakfast was served. And I tucked right into this bowl immediately. One bite…and it was like I was eating the good, delicious corn flakes of my past. Nature’s Path does it right with this organic variety. Made simply with corn meal, grape and pear juice, and sea salt, this cereal is really getting back to basics. But there is nothing basic about the flavor. The fruit juices add a nice sweetness to the corn flakes. And the cereal itself has a very light texture. It’s not cardboard like at all. And the flavor is just…amazing.
Now, I look forward to these each morning. And I fear the day I run out. Not really, they’re thankfully available at my local grocery store. And for just about as much as Chex. I’ll indulge myself then…as often as possible. Yum.
Restaurant: Cheeseburger in Paradise, Indianapolis, Indiana
Before you harp on me too much…I know. I know. I vowed not to cover chain restaurants and here I am…yet again…covering one. But, if it helps, this chain isn’t too widely spread. And I feel when a restaurant makes a concerted and fantastic effort to cater to those that are gluten-free they should be rewarded with a blog. Chain or no chain.
If anyone is familiar with Jimmy Buffet, you are probably familiar with Cheeseburger in Paradise. This is his sister-restaurant chain to Margaritaville. And their specialty? Burgers, of course.
I know…I know what you’re thinking.
Cheeseburger in Paradise’s Gluten-Free Menu
“But…you’re vegetarian.”
HAHA! Yes…I am. And on their menu, any burger can be substituted for a gluten-free veggie burger that they make. And the icing on this (gluten-free) cake is that they also offer gluten-free buns. Yes. While I have been to some local eateries that offer a gluten-free veggie burger, none of them have gluten-free buns. Do you realize that ever since I went gluten-free over a year ago, I haven’t had a veggie burger that I could pick up and eat like a burger? Do you realize how stupidly happy the fact that I could eat a veggie burger without a knife and fork made me? Yeah…stupidly, stupidly happy.
It was decided, then, that the perfect time to try out Cheeseburger in Paradise would be after I ran in the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. After all, the closest one to us is in Indianapolis (2 hours away) and that’s where I would be for the race. And after running 13.1 miles, a veggie burger and some celebratory fries (also gluten-free!) would be awesome. So, I came, I ran, I found myself at the threshold of Cheeseburger in Paradise…a little giddy with excitement.
We were seated and handed menus. Our waitress was immediately told that I was medically gluten-free and she said she would grab me a gluten-free menu. As is the case in every other restaurant I go to, I expected to get a little sheet of paper that gave the run-down of the items I could consume.
Cheeseburger in Paradise’s Gluten-Free Menu
Not here. At Cheeseburger in Paradise…you actually get a menu. Like…laminated, folding, looks just like the regular menu…menu! I didn’t look like a weirdo reading off a small sheet of paper, trying to make out faded ink from an inkjet printer. Nope. I was looking at a full-color, pictures included, looks just like any other menu, gluten-free menu. I wasn’t an outsider here. It was an awesome feeling.
I perused…and settled on the Gluten-Free BBQ Cheddar Burger, with a veggie burger, on the gluten-free bun. My side…the french fried potatoes, of course. The BBQ Cheddar Burger was simple. Cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce, lettuce, and caramelized onions. Sounded delicious to me. The waitress took the order, retrieved the menus, and went to put it in.
We had a respectable wait time for our food, which was always a good thing. I never want food rushed out to me when I eat. But this chain prides itself on making things to order, and that is definitely the case. Our food was brought out, and mine was served to me by the chef himself.
“One delicious gluten-free burger!” he said as he began to put the plate down.
Unfortunately, when the burger on the gluten-free bun was set in front of me, I immediately saw bacon.
“Oh no! There’s bacon!” I said.
The chef blinked. “She doesn’t like bacon!”
“I’m a vegetarian!” I exclaimed. And he snatched the plate away and said he’d be right back with a new one.
I had my roommate go ahead and dive into her plate of Sirloin Sliders, because I didn’t want her food to get cold. She was only halfway through when the chef carried out my plate once more. This time…a veggie burger, no bacon.
He said, “There was nothing vegetarian about that burger. Try this one.”
It looked fantastic and I thanked him immediately.
Now that I glance back over the menu, I think the waitress was so focused on the gluten-free part, she missed the veggie burger request and wrote it down as the Bacon Cheddar Burger, which is cheddar cheese, Applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, and red onion. Because my veggie burger had no BBQ sauce and no caramelized onion. It did have lettuce, tomato and red onion with cheese, however. Mystery solved.
Cheeseburger in Paradise’s Gluten-Free Cheese Veggie Burger w/ Fries
I didn’t care. I was about to pick up a burger at a restaurant for the first time in over a year. It was actually a very emotional moment for me. One bite…and it was hard to stop. Honestly. The veggie burger itself was fantastic. Cooked perfectly. Made with fresh vegetables that you could see throughout it. The bun…flaky goodness. It made my burger actually…feel like a burger. I was so happy. So happy that I pretty much hoovered it and the fries without batting an eyelash. I was one happy gluten-free girl that day. I don’t think a veggie burger ever tasted so good. And the fries…those were so delicious too. Not overly seasoned. Done up to where I didn’t have to quiz the staff on if they have a separate frier. They did. It was on the menu.
I want to also point out a nice little disclaimer on the Cheeseburger in Paradise gluten-free menu. It was in the corner. I thought it would be the usual “we can’t guarantee cross-contamination won’t happen…” disclaimer that restaurants put on their gluten-free menus. But I was wrong. This one clearly read:
We want your experience to be the best one possible. Everything is made fresh to order, so if there is something you crave that is not listed, we would be happy to make it for you. Please speak to a manager when you arrive so we can make sure to meet all of your dietary needs.
It was just a refreshing change from the restaurants I normally go to. I felt like I belonged there. And the fact that the chef himself walked out my food, not once, but twice…was nice. They kept everything separate. They made me feel very confident in eating there. I was quite happy with the care they gave to my dining experience and would totally go back and eat there again in a heartbeat. Maybe even get that BBQ Cheddar Burger this time.
But my story doesn’t end there. We were brought the check for our order, and because of the mix-up with my burger, my dinner was comped. Completely. Nevermind that my gluten-free bun was an extra $1.00. It wasn’t on the check at all. I wasn’t upset about the mix-up. And despite not getting exactly what I ordered either time…I was quite happy with eating there. It was a very kind gesture made by the restaurant itself. And one that I honestly appreciated.
Like I said…when a chain goes out of their way…they do get a blog. I have never been so satisfied with service, food, and an experience at a restaurant chain before. I just want to advise anyone out there who has yet to go to a Cheeseburger in Paradise to go…because they make the journey well worth it. I can’t complain about anything because what they messed up, they made right. And then, unexpectedly, didn’t charge me for my meal after getting it wrong the first time.
Kudos to a well-run chain who not only treats their clients well, but takes care of them too. And they made this gluten-free vegetarian feel like just another customer. And that is how dining out should be.
Beyond impressed. I will be back.
Me being a happy gluten-free vegetarian with my Veggie Cheeseburger on a Gluten-Free Bun w/ Fries at Cheeseburger in Paradise.
NOW (No Opportunity Wasted) Honeycomb with Chia and Raisins Energy Bar
Product: NOW (No Opportunity Wasted) Honeycomb with Chia and Raisins Energy Bar – $2.99+
You know what’s hard about being a gluten-free athlete? Gluten-free protein bars. Especially for long runs and the like. They are good to have around.
So, imagine my elation when I attended the big Gluten-Free Expo in Birmingham, Alabama and got a couple samples of some energy bars. Yeah…I was pretty psyched. The product is Phil Koeghan’s NOW (No Opportunity Wasted) Energy Bars. And I was given the Honeycomb with Chia and Raisins variety.
These sat with my other energy/protein bars (Think Thin and Lärabars) for the longest time until this weekend. I was running in the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon (the largest half marathon in the country), so I figured I pack one in case I needed a little boost on the run. This was supplemental to my vegan/gluten-free fruit snacks, which are what I ended up grabbing on the run around Mile 10.
That being said, after hitting the finish line and getting through Runner’s Services, I was in need of refueling. The NOW Bar was tucked away in my running skirt, so I removed it, unwrapped it, and took a bite.
And spit it out. It was way too sweet and just didn’t taste good at all. Not one bit.
I admit, chia doesn’t impress me at all. I love raisins. And honey and I have a love/hate relationship. So, maybe it was just the unlucky draw that I was given a Honeycomb with Chia and Raisins version of these bars. But I was totally unimpressed. I normally don’t spit something out. Especially when I am completely famished after running 13.1 miles. But…this happened. Good thing the race people handed out bananas, one of my favorite fruits, which I devoured in record time.
So, what wasn’t good? Well…the texture was fine. It was the mess of flavors going on. There was nothing really to counterbalance the sweetness of the honey and the raisins. And that, I believe, is where it went wrong for me. I was really hoping I’d like these…but it just tasted foul. Bad enough that I literally couldn’t even swallow it. When I got home, the other sample (same flavor) went into the garbage can. I never waste gluten-free products, but the thought of even taking a bite of another one of these turned my stomach.
These bars were promising because they have the ideal 4:1 carb to protein ration that helps to fuel and maintain energy levels during an endurance activity. Unfortunately, this endurance athlete couldn’t handle it. So, I guess I’ll stick with the ones I’ve come to know and trust, despite not having that carb/protein ratio until I find something else to try.
La Vita Health Foods, LTD Strawberry All Natural Crunchy Cookies
Product: La Vita Health Foods, LTD Strawberry All Natural Crunchy Cookies – $5.00+
I have been delighted to work my way through an array of gluten-free cookies out on the market over the past year since having to go gluten-free. Because, being gluten-free shouldn’t mean no cookies…ever. And as we know…when the cookie monster in me strikes, well, there best be a delicious cookie on the receiving end.
I was out with my roommate one day at a HomeGoods store, shopping for some throw pillows for our new couch. As we meandered through the aisles, however, we spotted some of their food items. Let me tell you, there was no hesitation when we grabbed a basket and started loading up some products into it. It varied from gluten-free sauces to gluten-free snacks to gluten-free mixes…and yes…gluten-free cookies.
The La Vita Health Foods, LTD brand of Strawberry Crunchy Cookies caught our attention immediately. Why? Because it’s strawberry and when strawberry is involved and I am around…it wins. So, into the basket and over to the checkout, spending way more than we intended and never getting throw pillows either. Such is my gluten-free life. Food takes precedence over decorating apparently.
Well, these have just sort of been sitting in the pantry waiting on me to bust them open. But I had made my own gluten-free shortbread cookies which needed to be eaten first, and then some gluten-free ice cream sandwiches beckoned to me. But last night, for dessert, I opened up the box and decided to make it a strawberry cookie night.
First things first…these smell awesome! It reminds me of when I was growing up and I would go to our little town garden market and go pick fresh strawberries. Yeah. They smell amazing. So, I was already feeling confident about my purchase. I handed one to my roommate, then settled in for my first taste.
While these are crunchy cookies, they also have a soft, chewy texture to them. While I much prefer soft cookies to crunchy, if it’s billed as crunchy, I want it to be crunchy. I don’t just want an initial crunch with the first bite and then have it sort of disintegrate the more I chew it. And that’s about what happened with these. But, as I prefer a softer cookie, I was okay with that. These also weren’t overly sweet…which is awesome. In fact, these cookies are sugar free. Yes! Sugar free! In addition, these cookies also gluten-free, lactose free, and dairy free. Woohoo!
And while that strawberry flavor is there, these cookies just didn’t stand up and wow me. I wasn’t smacked with the flavor or just dying to jump up and raid the pantry for another one (serving size is ONE cookie at 90 calories). They were…just okay. Strawberry flavor was bursting from them, but I didn’t like how the cookie would end up sticking to my teeth as I chewed it. Let’s face it…I’m a gluten-free cookie connoisseur. You have to really wow me to impress me with a gluten-free cookie. And this, while I’m more than happy to polish off the expensive box of 10 cookies…I probably won’t get again. I’d be willing to give other flavors a go, but right now, I’ll stick with the delicious gluten-free cookies I know are out there and constantly scarf down.
So…not bad. Just not cookie monster scarfalicious.
Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Apple Pie Flavor Instant Oatmeal
Product: Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Apple Pie Flavor Oatmeal – $5.99+
I know.
I was a little harsh in my review of Bakery on Main’s Maple Multigrain Muffin Flavor Oatmeal. But I have to be honest. It just didn’t win me over like their Strawberry Shortcake Flavor Oatmeal did previously.
But…they definitely did improve (yet still haven’t bested the strawberry) with the Apple Pie Flavor Oatmeal. Honestly.
This oatmeal, while still not the most appealing looking, the flavor actually is reminiscent of apple pie (or what I can remember of apple pie because, since going gluten-free, I haven’t had even a bite).
The actual oatmeal itself consists of a variety of ingredients, of which the most important is certified gluten-free oats. In addition to that, and probably adding to the weird consistency of the oatmeal is chia seeds. And then other things get added to boost some nutritional value, like flax meal and quinoa. So, yes…you are getting a rather protein-rich oatmeal here. And for someone like me…that is a plus. Flavoring it, and giving it that apple pie feel is dried apples and cinnamon.
A packet of Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Apple Pie Flavor Instant Oatmeal
I’ll admit…the first bite was just okay. But the more I ate of it, the more of the flavor I got. It was like a building block for lunch that day. One spoonful wasn’t enough…so I had to continue to take them and that’s when the flavor hit. Is it really like having pie for breakfast? Nope. But, it does have a lot of flavor in each protein-rich bite.
And after being let down by the Maple Multigrain Muffin flavor, I really needed this one to win me over. It did…sort of. It didn’t hit it out of the ballpark for me, but it was good enough that I don’t mind packing up this little baggie for my lunch at the office and scurrying to the kitchen on break to warm it up with some water for 90 seconds.
I’d love to see other flavors come out of Bakery on Main for their gluten-free oatmeal. I do respect a company that listened to its Celiac customers, who developed gluten-free items because of that, and then took them to the mainstream so that everyone could enjoy. That’s Bakery on Main’s story. And they continue to put out gluten-free products that are not only nutritious, but simple…and simply good.
If you are an oatmeal lover, like I am, then find Bakery on Main at your grocery store or natural food store and warm up a bowl for yourself. It’s not exactly pie for breakfast (or lunch), but it’s close. It’s oh…so close.
A bowl of Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Apple Pie Flavor Instant Oatmeal
I have to hand it to Jovial. They create something amazingly simple, yet so delicious with their brown rice pastas. I have always been a Tinkyáda pasta girl, but I find at times the rice pasta, when refrigerated for leftovers, will absorb water and become very, very mushy.
Well, once again I didn’t make something that made leftovers when I made dinner up the other night, but I did crack open another amazing brown rice pasta from Jovial.
The first thing I want to point out, because I can, is that Jovial’s brown rice pastas contain two ingredients. Yes. Two.
Organic Brown Rice Flour. Water.
No chemicals, no unnecessary additions. Just gluten-free (and organic) flour and water. Nothing complicated. Nothing that could potentially harm you years down the road. Nothing unrecognizable or unpronounceable. Just organic, gluten-free, simplicity in a package.
For the organic, natural foodie that I am…this makes me beyond happy.
For the foodie in me…the fact that this pasta cooked up al dente within nine minutes, didn’t require a cold water rinse upon draining, and stood up to the addition of steamed asparagus and a red heirloom tomato sauce, a toss, and a sprinkling of freshly shredded Parmigiano-Reggiano, speaks volumes of the quality.
Nine minutes is all it took to cook in a bath of boiling water. Just like every other pasta out there. I stirred it a couple of times to keep it from sticking together or to the bottom of the pan. But it didn’t need to be fussed with that much. Which was good because I had asparagus to steam, sauce to warm, cheese to shred, and a gluten-free biscuit to reheat. Whew.
Even without having to babysit the pasta, when I drained it, nothing flaked or fell apart. It was at that perfect al dente you need to have pasta at. Still firm, but not hard…and definitely not turning into mush. I tossed the drained, steaming hot pasta into a large bowl, added the asparagus, poured over the sauce and gave it a good toss to incorporate it all together. Then…I served it up in bowls to my roommate and myself with one gluten-free (and homemade) biscuit on the side.
One bite and I could see why Jovial was besting the gluten-free pasta category time after time in gluten-free food awards. (Yes…I do pay attention to those because I am a gluten-free foodie and I like to know what is tops!). The pasta cooked perfectly. It held up to all additions. And it has that perfect pasta texture and taste. No joke. If you just served this to someone who didn’t have to eat gluten-free…they wouldn’t even know the difference. This was something my roommate’s aunt pointed out when I cooked up a pasta dinner for the three of us. She’s absolutely correct.
I recommend Jovial even if you don’t have to eat gluten-free. Cutting out chemicals and preservatives didn’t do any sort of damage to the texture and flavor of this brown rice pasta. It’s delicious organic pasta that has now made my ‘must buy’ list. You could just take my word for it…or you could rush out to your grocery store and try it yourself.
Come on. Make tonight a gluten-free pasta night. You deserve it.
Jovial Gluten-Free Brown Rice Fusilli with an organic red heirloom tomato sauce and steamed asparagus
Me after finishing the Geist 5K – Fishers, Indiana
Race: Geist 5K
Place: Fishers, Indiana
Date: May 19, 2012
Time: 25:47
Tired doesn’t even begin to describe how I felt leading up to this race. I was exhausted. And here’s why…
The night prior I was running in the second race of the Frankfort Trifecta in Frankfort, Kentucky. While I’ve done back-to-back races before, the second race usually suffers in comparison due to tired legs. Races on two mornings leave some time for recovery. A race at night followed by a race in the morning gives me time to sleep.
Usually.
The apartment below mine, however, is the home of a couple of baseball players in college. And Friday night leading into Saturday morning they decided to be loud, obnoxious, shout, carry on, throw things around, bang around on things, and in general…be a complete nuisance. Unfortunately, their loud antics meant very little sleep was had. I finally stopped trying and just got up, got dressed in my race clothes, and came out to the living room to play on my computer until 4:00 a.m. when my roommate had set her alarm to get up. But soon after I settled in on the couch, her door opened. Yep…they woke her up too.
It was 3:30 a.m. I put in a call to the landlord and we both decided we’d just get ready to get out on the road. I got together some cereal to eat and grabbed a Lärabar for an hour before the actual race. For my roommate, we’d grab something on the go, but just to get something in her stomach, we have granola bars on hand. We grabbed the race gear and our stuff we’d need for the day…and headed out for the 2 hour drive from our apartment to Fishers, Indiana.
That, my friends, felt like an eternity. When you are operating on very little sleep, everything seems to take longer. But, we stuck some music on the iPod and made the drive to Hamilton Southeastern High School for race day packet pick-up (which thank God they have!). We made one brief stop to get something for Cathy to eat for breakfast and as we neared the high school, I was tearing into my Lärabar (Peanut Butter Cookie flavor, FYI) so I wouldn’t find myself starving in the middle of the race.
We parked and headed toward the doors we entered through the day before. However, they were locked with a sign on them that said “Go Around.” The bad thing was, they didn’t indicate which way we needed to go. And we chose unwisely. The packet pickup was being held in the auxiliary gymnasium and we ended up taking the longer path around the school in the end. But, we got there and I went up to the booth and claimed my packet and my t-shirt.
This was the first year that the Geist 5K was going to start in waves. So, there was actually a corral system being used for the 5K as well as the half marathon, which was kicking off before the 5K. I opened up my envelope that held my race bib and timing chip and discovered that I was being corralled in Corral A. Now, for those of you unfamiliar with the corral system at races, the faster people are usually put in Corrals A-C. Those at the Geist 5K who were in the first three corrals had a green stripe on their race bibs. Well…I’m not a fast runner, nor do I claim to be. Given my level of exhaustion and the fact that I had tired legs, I was also wearing a Bondiband that said: “What I lack in speed I make up for in cute!” Sort of ironic to be wearing that when you’re being issued one of the more elite spots for the start of the race.
I ducked into the bathroom before I got pinned up and had the timing tag attached to my shoe. From there, we headed outside to catch one of the shuttles (aka: a school bus) to the start point of the race. We got on the first one and took our seats. The drive didn’t even last that long, before we were pulling into a parking lot and being let off. We had just gotten off the bus when some planes flew overhead. I think this was marking the start of the half marathon. As we walked toward the start we could see the last of the bobbing bodies going out of the start gate and up a hill. The half marathon was off and running and now volunteers were readying the start area for the 5K race.
Cathy and I made our way down toward the start gate. When we got close to Corral A, I went ahead and started stretching. Good thing too, because the announcer suddenly said that the corrals were now ready for the 5K racers to begin lining up. I shucked my hoodie, was wished luck by Cathy, and then…I stepped into Corral A.
Despite the fact that the official race site and rules say that headphones are prohibited, almost every runner had them in. I left my iPod at home, because when a race says you can’t use headphones, I believe you should not wear headphones. Rules are rules.
The announcer started calling out all the different teams that were running in the 5K race. And soon, the corrals were moved forward. The race would be started in waves. Corral A would go, then four minutes later, the next wave would be set out. And so on. It made sense. And, in the end, would probably make for a much smoother start to the race.
With all that being said, the announcer prepped us for the start. And as soon as he said, “GO!” we were off…kind of. You see, the ladies in front of me decided that they would rather walk through the start than go. In fact, they might have decided to walk the entire thing. I don’t know. But I was already over the start line, my GPS was going, and I wasn’t running. I literally had to push past them to get out and going, and that’s what I did. I gave a wave to Cathy as I ran by and started up the initial hill that kicks off the Geist 5K.
You wouldn’t think it…but this area of Indianapolis is rather hilly. The race is run through the surrounding neighborhoods, and then the last bit of it is spent running across the Geist Reservoir. It starts and ends in two different spots, which meant Cathy had to dart from the start to a shuttle to get her to the finish line before I made it there. It’s not as easy as it sounds. For the second year in a row, she managed to get to where she needed to be moments before I rounded the corner for the sprint to the finish.
The first file ticked off without much fanfare. As we rounded into the neighborhoods we were being told by a volunteer to watch our step on some pavement. I thanked them as I ran by and headed into the rather hilly neighborhoods around the Geist Reservoir. The people who live out there, however, are awesome. Many of them were out on their driveways and in their yards to cheer on the runners. It was a great atmosphere. I was hoping there would be some music being played along the way, but no such luck. Mile 2 was completed and I was heading into the last one.
I started up a hill and there was a sign indicating that 5K runners should hang left and half marathon runners should go to the right. We were hitting the part where we run across the reservoir. As I was coming up to the split, a volunteer was moving the sign and told me to go right. I shouted, “I’m in the 5K!” He still said I needed to go that way. So…I did as I was told. But I noticed all the other runners were in the other lane, and up ahead was a slow moving bus and some people walking. So, despite what I was told, I hopped the median to join all the other 5K runners and avoided the slow down. The last mile was being ticked off and I could see the bend that would carry me toward the finish line.
So, I decided, despite how tired I was, to go for it. I came around the turn, and Cathy was there just shouting and cheering for me. It was awesome. I heard the finish line announcer say, “The donkey is flying! Go Karen!” It was awesome and funny and…well…awesome! I was nearing the finish line and I heard people yelling, “GO GIRL! RUN!” And then…some walkers were in my way. They were crossing about the time I was…but I just went around them. I bet that makes interesting finish line photos.
Yeah…I was tired. Yeah…my legs were screaming at me. But I was handed one of the finisher medals and made my way through runner services, snagging a banana and some snacks along the way. Then, I got the tag cut off my shoe and waited for a moment before I spotted Cathy heading my way.
We met up and I tucked the snacks away for later, drank down my bottle of water, and went to the results tent to get my official time. It was printed off for me and I was stunned. I walked the ticket over to Cathy and showed her that, currently, I was placed first in my division. I did, however, tell her that was going to change. So, while we waited in the recovery area, I decided to take advantage of the massage booth and got a nice post-race massage. Then, I rejoined Cathy to polish off my bottle of water. I went back over to the results booth, because enough of the 5K runners had come in at this point that the results would be a little more accurate. I was right…my standing changed.
The official results for the Geist 5K have me finishing in 25:47 (not bad for being tired!). I was 245/3063 finishers overall. Sweet! I was 57/1826 women to cross the finish. And I was 2/173 people in my division. Second place for my age division. That’s amazing! I was ecstatic. I was actually quite surprised too. I was running this race on tired legs and was overall just…tired…due to lack of sleep. But I pulled off one hell of a finish. I was very, very pleased with the results. Quite proud of myself too.
I’m contemplating running the Geist Half Marathon next year as one of my half marathon races. It would be a good run to do as I’m working toward my first marathon in 2013. So, we’ll see what happens in the end. But this was yet another race I returned to and bettered myself in. Last year I finished in 28:10. It was nice to see an improvement.
Product: Bakery on Main Gluten-Free Rainforest Granola– $6.49+
Granola is an amazing thing. It’s filling. It’s portable. And it can be delicious if it is made right. I’ve had my share of delicious granola and I’ve had my fair share of disgusting mixes of granola.
It got to the point where I was just writing it off my go-to snack list. I was tired of just getting stuff laden with sugar and fat…capped off with the fact that it just didn’t taste good. I was tired of wasting my money.
And then…Bakery on Main entered into my life.
It all happened at the big Gluten-Free Expo that went on in Birmingham, Alabama. There was a Bakery on Main table represented there and what did they have? Sample packs of their granola varieties. I snapped up one of each, because this was definitely the way to try them instead of shelling out the cash and then not liking it in the end.
Well, with my non-gym days needing some some granola goodness in it…I reached into my cupboard and retrieved the Rainforest Granola.
What is Rainforest Granola? Well, it’s a delightful blend of dried bananas, roasted Brazil nuts, coconut, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and sesame seeds. It’s like a little taste of the tropics with each little bit you pop in your mouth.
The package that I had contained 220 calories for the serving. And while this was still a bit higher on the sugar than I would have liked, the sodium was really low and it did have 4 grams of protein in it. Can’t complain over that. I found myself saving the delicious Brazil nuts for last and seeking out the bits of banana for that sweet and salty combination. It was a fantastic flavor play.
I have to hand it to Bakery on Main. This gluten-free granola was inspired. And I found it rather delightful to much on at my desk at the office. Where your oatmeal has been hit or miss, you certainly hit this granola blend out of the ballpark. Nicely done.
Gluten-free granola that is delicious. Yeah…this one is a keeper.
Me crossing the finish line of the Pro.Active For Life 5K – Frankfort, Kentucky
Race: Pro.Active For Life 5K
Place: Frankfort, Kentucky
Date: May 18, 2012
Time: 26:58
This…was a tough race. Not that I haven’t run this exact route in Frankfort in other 5Ks prior to this one. That wasn’t what made it tough. What made this race a challenge was that I was coming off of only one day off of running (which was Wednesday night). On Thursday morning, I put in a hard run, plus some time on the elliptical and stationary bike at the gym. And prior to that, I had run both Monday and Tuesday…so needless to say, I was operating on very tired legs.
I totally understand now why people take a day off before a race.
That being said, this was a very fun race to participate in. The Pro.Active For Life 5K is the second race of the Frankfort Trifecta, the three-race series that I am entered to run in. The first race ran back in March. And the final one will run a month from now. This is actually quite a popular race as well. It even hands out awards for first timers…you know, those who are taking on their very first 5K. It’s a great motivator and definitely draws a crowd.
Getting to Frankfort was the challenge. My roommate and I put in a full day at the office, sneaking out 30 minutes before we normally leave. We stopped off to grab something to eat on the way and hit the road to Frankfort. The traffic in Louisville was pretty bad, but we got through it and made our way to the state capital.
We parked in our usual parking garage and headed into the historic downtown area. Packet pick-up was currently going on and I slipped inside the building, past the long line of people registering on race day, to get my number, my t-shirt, and a reusable bag to boot. Awesome. I got out of the crowded room and got my number pinned on to the front of my shirt.
It was a hot night and I was already questioning my choice of a t-shirt over a tanktop for the run. But, there wasn’t any time to change out now. I had to get stretching because the race would be starting momentarily. Yes…that is how close we cut it upon arrival. So, I stretched, and moved about, seeing the crowd assembling on the main street where the races usually start in Frankfort. My roommate and I headed that way and we noticed that the starting/finishing gate had been moved across the road. Volunteers were standing around with signs marking pace times. It was already time to start thinking about running.
Talk about being rushed.
So, I took my spot in the 20-30 minute 5K spot, and immediately got overtaken by young children. This often happens in races like this, so I attempted to move aside so I could at least get off to a good start and not worry about trampling a child on accident. This attempt failed, so I just chalked it up to the nature of this sort of race and prepped my Garmin (which I forgot needed some time to find its satellites) and set my iPod.
One of the race officials began making announcements. However, none of the runners could really make them out. They were being done to the side and behind most of us, which meant that it never really reached our ears. Apparently, they were giving instructions about going with the gun. And since none of us could hear it, when a loud gunshot rang out…everyone jumped.
…and we were off…
I zigged and zagged my way through the crowd as we took off down the roads of Frankfort for the first mile. I know exactly how this path winds. I knew that the first mile would be after climbing a steep hill toward the capitol building. About halfway towards it…that’s the mile marker. It’s always marked, but I’ve run Frankfort so many times that I just know where it is. My pace was slower than I normally take it. It wasn’t that I finally learned to pace myself in the first mile. I wish I could say it was. The fact was…it was HOT and I was doing my best just to stay focused on the run and not how much energy the heat was sapping from me.
Up another incline and around the capitol. This is where we finally get a little downhill momentum. But it lasts only for a moment. I was doing my best to keep pace…but it was really, really hard to do that in the heat of the evening. I mean, the race was running at 6:30 p.m. It is still quite hot out at 6:30 p.m. In fact, it was in the mid-80s at this point still. Mile 2 ticked off and I was now in the final mile of the race.
I took the little inclines with stride, and powered with the downhill portions as much as possible. I just felt drained because of the relentless sun and the heat coming up from the pavement. Couple that with the 773 runners sharing the course with you and it’s just a quagmire of heat. I was doing my best to keep to the shadier areas of the streets.
I knew when I rounded that last corner that I was pretty much done. The finish line was in sight, but the thought of even turning on the afterburners and fighting for a fast finish was draining. The heat was just getting me that night. I think I’ve come to realize that races this summer are going to be a shorts and bra-top affair. It might help a little with the heat. I just need to remember to slather on the sunscreen.
The picture from the newspaper of Cathy cheering for me as I finish while holding my sign!
That being said, I did pour some energy into the final sprint to the finish. I could hear some runners sneaking up behind me and I was determined not to let one of them pass me. It worked. And I crossed the finish line…with no new PR…but happy to be done. I snagged a very warm bottle of water and moved to the side where my roommate skipped over to congratulate me on another race. As we were standing around, a reporter from Frankfort’s Capital-Journal newspaper came over and told Cathy she had taken a picture of her and wanted to get her name and some information regarding the sign she was holding. I swear to God that sign gets her in more pictures and publications than I end up in…and I’m the runner. Hehehe.
After we parted ways with the reporter, Cathy ducked into the local coffee shop and snagged two cold bottles of water. We debated sticking around, however, I had another race to run in Indianapolis the following morning, which was already constituting an early wake-up call to make the over 2 hour drive to packet pick-up up there. So, we bid Frankfort adieu.
And until today…I had no idea how the race went. No results were posted until early this afternoon. But as it turns out…despite the hot, hot night, I didn’t do too bad. My official time was 26:58. I was the 85/773 finishers overall. And, it surprised me to find out I finished 2/65 in my age division. ROCK ON!
Time to get tough and get used to running in the heat. I have a feeling the more I do it, the less I’ll wilt.
Product: Blue Diamond’s Hazelnut Nut Thins – $3.49+
With Blue Diamond’s Nut Thins…it’s hit or miss. Some are so amazing and full of flavor. Some…all you taste is the rice cracker. I’ve been wowed and I’ve been let down by different variations of this cracker.
Well, after some searching, I finally ran across the Hazelnut variety that had eluded me for so long. It was actually at Big Lots that I stumbled across them for far less money than I could find them anywhere else. So, yes…I snatched up a box and excitedly took them home to try.
I had heard good things about this variety. Some called it their favorite. And what’s not to love? Hazelnut is one of my favorite flavors and nuts out there. Honestly. And the hazelnuts used in these rice flour crackers are brought in from Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
The good news is that these crackers only contain 130 calories. They have 2g of protein, no saturated fat, and are completely gluten-free. You gotta love that. They make for a nice, light snack in the afternoon that’s easy to grab and fun to bite into. Yes…these definitely have crunch power.
The bad news is, at least the box that I have, taste very bland. You can taste the rice cracker, but if there is supposed to be a hazelnut flavor…it is completely lost to me. Which is too bad because these just screamed awesome from their purple box on the shelf in the store. For real.
I can see how these could be a great cracker to use for dips or spreads, but on their own they are very weak in the flavor department. When I bite into a cracker, I want it to be full of flavor. I want to remember it. These…I’ll forget about once the box is gone.
Maybe I just got a bad batch…because I have heard such amazing things about this flavor of Nut Thins. But…I was a bit let down in the flavor department.
The Celiathlete 