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.
Restaurant: Crown Candy Kitchen, St. Louis, Missouri
We are all entitled to our little indulgences in life. No one wants to go through life denying themselves all of life’s little goodies because of the chance they might *gasp* gain a pound. That’s why God invented exercise. If you deny yourself the little sweet things in life…then you might miss one gem of a treat. Thankfully, I never turn down a good treat. And despite being lactose intolerant, I usually treat myself to ice cream. Go figure. As long as it is gluten-free…then we are in business.
Well, it was a little while ago that I was watching Man v. Food (I know…that’s some nutritious dining going on there!) on The Travel Channel. One of the restaurants featured in the St. Louis area was Crown Candy Kitchen, which offers up the Crown Candy Challenge…in 30 minutes, polish off five 24 ounce malts. Even this challenge couldn’t be won by Adam Richman, who managed to down four of the malts.
That being said, this place is located in the older part of the city. And they are known for their homemade ice cream, candy selection, but mostly their malts/milkshakes. I, however, was not there for a milkshake or malt or even candy.
Nope. I was getting ready to head into a concert that night. I was after their Banana Split ($6.00)…to split with my roommate of course. So, after waiting for about 10 minutes (you know a place rocks when 30 minutes before closing time there is a line out the door!), my roommate and I snagged a little booth and waited to place our order. We came prepared, so we were ready when our waitress arrived. Now, with the Banana Split, we got to choose our ice cream flavors. We decided on chocolate and strawberry, with the strawberry and pineapple over it, whipped cream, crushed toasted cashews, and of course…a cherry.
It didn’t take too long for the enormous sundae to be placed between us with two spoons attached. And we dug right in. I started with the strawberry ice cream, and Cathy dug into the chocolate side. Then we switched. Let me tell you…that chocolate ice cream had something amazing in it. It just tasted like no other chocolate ice cream I had before. As for the strawberry…that was my favorite part. Forget the whipped cream (I’ve never been a big fan of that stuff anyway) and the toppings. I’d gladly lap up an entire bowl of that strawberry ice cream. And yes…chunks of strawberry resided in the pink scoop that dominated a split open banana on a dish.
We hoovered that sundae, I think. It was just so good. And our flavors paired brilliantly with the banana. We left there quite full, but quite happy. And now we had our sugar rush for the upcoming show. What more could we want in life?
If you love visiting historical sights around town that also offer up amazing foods and goodies, if you happen to be in St. Louis, take the trip over to Crown Candy Kitchen. Forget whatever diet you’re on for a couple hours and just savor each bite of one of their signature sundaes. You’ll be hooked.
It’s a good thing I don’t live in town or I might be over there more than I’d care to admit.
Few things in this world make me as happy as settling into a booth or table at a pub and just letting my cares and worries go. Of course, this is sometimes easier said than done when plagued with food allergies, especially to gluten. And one of the least likely places to find a menu that is easy to navigate when you are gluten-free (and also a vegetarian, in my case) is a pub.
But, thanks to knowledgeable staff, despite no gluten-free men, special care was certainly taken with me. And for that, this pub won over my heart.
This pub, by the way, is The Dubliner, located in St. Louis, Missouri.
When my roommate and I were seated with menus, our waiter went ahead and took our drink order. But, before he hurried off, we threw a few questions at him. Do the fries share a frier with anything blended. He said that they had only one frier. Fries were now out. I asked what the soup of the day was. He said potato. I asked if it was gluten-free and he vowed to go and check. When he returned, he said it wasn’t safe for me to eat either. So…I was back to a salad. That’s fine…but wow me with a salad!! There is the challenge.
When we were talking to our server while trying to figure out something I could eat, he said he understood how difficult it must be for me to eat out. One of his friends has Celiac disease and she hardly can eat out. Her condition is so bad that if she has anything with even a spec of gluten in it…things get really bad.
So, with an understanding as to my condition and what I needed done with my food…we placed our orders.
Naturally, my roommate went for the fish and chips ($12.00). As for me…I went right to the salads, figuring they would be the safest and only vegetarian option on the menu at this point. My decision was to get the Chopped Salad ($10.00), which consists of lettuce, tomato, red onion, celery, scallions, red peppers, carrots, shredded Kasseri (that’s a cheese, btw!), and kidney beans. Of course I asked that mine not come with the croutons that are listed on the menu. And I ordered that the balsamic vinaigrette.
Food actually came out quite fast, but we weren’t exactly there at a busy time. It was around 2 p.m. So, the lunch crowd had already pushed through on that Sunday morning and we were just simply following it up. My roommate dug into her fish and chips, and absolutely raved about the fries and the taste of the fish.
Now, I was ready to dig into my salad. This was just a normal salad you would probably throw together at home. Nothing too special about it. Basic vegetable ingredients and a light dressing to coat it. But it was very heavy on the celery and definitely not as heavy on the kidney beans as I would have liked. When you order a salad, you want it to be big enough and full of something with some protein that will fill you up. While this salad was initially quite filling, after awhile, my body burned through it and I was ready to eat again. This is usually the story of my life when it comes to eating out at pubs with no gluten-free/vegetarian options.
But, I will hand it to this pub…when the server brought out our meals, he even held his arms apart, not wanting any food to come in contact with anything because of my sensitivity to gluten. I liked that. It really made me feel more secure about our choice to eat there. Considering this wasn’t our first choice of a pub that day (our originally one actually has a gluten-free menu, but it was only serving brunch and I wasn’t feeling another egg that day and my roommate really wanted her fish and chips!), it really made me feel good that, despite not having a dedicated gluten-free menu, they took enough care with my food to keep it uncontaminated. I’ll take that any day.
So, while the salad was nothing to really rave about, the care and consideration I got from the kitchen and staff was leaps and bounds above what I ever expected.
Gluten-free or not, I think should you find yourself in St. Louis, you should venture out to The Dubliner and enjoy some delicious pub fare at a place that really does care.
Yep…you read that right. I am 100 miles away from my goal for the year.
400 miles!
I can’t believe how quickly these miles have just ticked off. There hasn’t been a day where I thought…”I just don’t want to run today.” I’ve been very diligent about following my half marathon training schedule. I’ve lightened up runs when my body has suggested it might be the best option to do so. I’ve run hard on hills, pushed myself in races, and sometimes have just had to stop and catch my breath for a moment.
But this is the life of a road runner.
And 500 miles is creeping up fast. The goal is going to have to be expanded. I don’t know what I’ll strive for in the end. Perhaps I’ll just add another 100 miles…and see what comes from it. Or perhaps I’ll add another 500 to the count. I just don’t know. It’s something to think about. The fact of the matter is, on Monday evening, upon arriving late to my group fun run and having to set out on my own…I hit that 400 mile mark.
I didn’t even realize it at the time, but it happened. Probably somewhere when my paced slowed to a crawl as I hit the hardest hill in Cherokee Park over in Louisville, Kentucky. One day I will conquer that hill without feeling like I’ve just pushed myself up a mountain. With each run, with each session at the gym, I am getting stronger. I can feel it in my running. I can feel it every day.
But this is where it stands today…over 400 miles of road covered and quite a bit more already planned as far as future races go.
I’m not burned out on it at all. I crave more of it. And that, my friends, is only a good thing.
Me crossing the finish line at the Throo The Zoo 5K – Louisville, Kentucky
Race: Throo The Zoo 5K
Place: Louisville Zoo, Louisville, Kentucky
Date: May 12, 2012
Time: 25:10
And so, my friends…I finally managed a new PR for a 5K race. I have yet to achieve my goal of a (real) sub-25 minute 5K…but I’m getting closer. Second-by-second. And, really, it should be taken one second at a time, right?
Apparently, the Throo The Zoo 5K is one of the more popular races in the Louisville area. I was actually surprised by the number of bibs stacked up on the table when I went to Fleet Feet in Louisville on Friday morning to pick up my race packet. For one thing, there was a long line and I was there right when they opened. The volume of t-shirts and bibs was crazy. I’m used to Louisville’s little 5Ks that run through one of the local parks. But Throo The Zoo is a big deal it seems.
With race packet in hand, I returned to work on Friday. But something was different. You see, my office had a nice handful of people who were not only coming out for the race, but some were going to walk it as well. For the first time in…well…ever…I was going to know someone at a local 5K race I was in. This, for some reason, made me incredibly happy. And, my roommate and her aunt, Judi, were coming out to watch, wave signs, scream, shout, and be an awesome cheering section.
Saturday morning came way too soon. I was up at 5:00 a.m. to get ready for the race. This meant packing up my race bag with a change of clothes and everything I might need post-race. Eating some cereal. Meeting up with Judi. Getting us all in the car and over to the Louisville Zoo by 7:00 a.m. They recommended on the Web site that we arrive early because roads coming into the zoo were going to be closed at 7:30 a.m. in preparation for the race. That being said, we barely made it there due to the massive amount of traffic heading into the zoo. Seriously. Then the hunt for a parking spot (that we would remember) was on. My roommate was determined to park near a landmark so she chose one of many similar looking trees in a lot and parked. I was eating a Lärabar in the backseat because I hate at 5:45 a.m. and knew I would be starving by the time the race started at 8:00 a.m. if I didn’t eat something I could easily digest in between. So when 7:00 hit…I was making sure I’d have some energy for the race itself.
Me, Kayla and Will before the Throo The Zoo 5K – Louisville, Kentucky
We grabbed the race stuff from the trunk (bag and signs) and made our way toward where the starting gate was staked. It wasn’t in place yet as traffic was still pouring into the zoo. Too early to stretch, we sort of just hung around and chatted, taking in the sheer volume of people that were arriving for this 5K race. And that’s when my teammate from the office, Kayla, found us. She and her husband, Will, were both participating in the walk. Amazing they even spotted us. So, we conversed and chatted and goofed around. Will inquired as to when I would normally finish one of these races. I said I tend to come in between 25-27 minutes in 5Ks these days, but didn’t know what to expect with it being this big. Oh…and that I always finish fourth in my age division. We all laughed about that…because…I’m usually right on that cusp when it comes to the smaller races. The clock was ticking down toward race time so it was time to do my stretches to get my muscles loose and warm before shucking my hoodie. We took a couple of pictures before we saw a flood of runners and walkers making their way toward the starting gate, which had been moved now across the road. It was 10 minutes before race time. Hugs. Luck. And all that good karma stuff was thrown out among all of us and we took our respective spots.
The wait for the start wasn’t too bad. There was an electricity with this race. No one was being negative at all about anything. People of all ages were around me, from kids to older adults. I love glancing around me at my starting position just to see what kind of people turned out for the race. And it was a mixed bag of everyone for this one.
No sooner had I turned on my iPod, we started moving. I guess the race started and somehow I missed the whistle. Not that it matters. I usually position myself toward the front of the middle of the pack, so I move when everyone else does. I go where everyone else goes. I’m never the fastest at a race, so I don’t ever concern myself with learning the route pre-race. I just go where everyone else does.
Michael, Harold and Laura, the rest of the team from the office, starting at the Throo The Zoo 5K – Louisville, Kentucky
That being said, this race being so big and running on tight neighborhood streets, were cars were parked on the side, made this a new kind of a challenge. I had been warned that there were too many people at this race, and it was too big, to attempt any personal goal or record. So, I went into it just planning to run a good race and to keep a good pace. My GPS watch was my guide for that. And as we headed through the neighborhoods, I also discovered how hilly this area was.
Initially, the hills were little mounds that were just a little hindrance to the pace. I powered through them as best as I could, not wanting to expend too much energy too soon because I wanted that strong finish. I didn’t want another Frankfort, KY moment where someone outruns me at the very…last…second. That being said, as we crested another rolling hill, one of the runners in a Fleet Feet shirt stood at the top, high-fiving people as they came up and said, “It’s all downhill from here!” We all pretty much knew better and I laughed at that when I heard it. However, I did find myself passing people though as we moved, and being passed in return. We wound our way past the zoo and down through another neighborhood before turning, heading back toward the zoo for the final portion, which actually took us through the Louisville Zoo (hence the name of the race).
This was actually the part I was looking forward to the most. We entered the zoo and were directed down a hill (FINALLY!). The path we were taking was the one that wound through the outer parameter of the zoo itself. And it also brought about our water stop. I found out from one of the walkers later that when they hit that spot, all the water was gone. You’d think a race that is this big of a deal in this area would come better stocked with water.
That being said, I was winding my way through the different areas of the zoo. There wasn’t too much out to be seen at this point. I did see a polar bear as I ran under one of the walkways in a concession area. The polar bear was up in the pass, sort of watching all of us. Probably thinking breakfast was served. But, that was basically it for me as far as the animals went. The path took another twist and at the 2.5 mile mark…Gorilla Hill. Welcome to the cruelest thing to throw at a runner when they are making their way toward the finish line. A massive, massive hill. Gorilla Hill (near the gorilla exhibit) was a climb. And my legs felt every bit as I pushed my way up it. It slowed me down, for sure, but I’ve been making a point to get out and run on hills, so my legs are starting to get used to that kind of a push. Normally I take hills leisurely, but during races I tend to push a bit more. And I was pushing as much as my body would allow.
As it leveled out, I was down to the final portion of the race. We finished up inside the zoo and were brought out. We turned a corner and the finish line was now in sight. I picked it up as much as I could, really working on that strong finish. That is such a vital part of road racing. With me passing people, people passing me, and the usual runners dance toward the finish, I crossed, stopped my GPS watch and was immediately greeted by Cathy and Judi. And for the first time, I checked my GPS watch. If it was correct, then I had a new PR. Only time would tell.
Judi and Cathy…here to cheer me and the rest of the office crew on. Every race needs people like them in the crowd!
I meandered over to the recovery area where runners could pick up some post-race goodies. Clif Bars, bananas, barbeque sandwiches, donuts, etc. I grabbed a banana and thanked the people at the booth for having something gluten-free. I walked around the area to see what all there was, then rejoined Cathy and Judi near the finish line.
We had a lot going on that day…plans to hit up a local farmer’s market (opening weekend!), see The Avengers at the theater, do lunch, and grab some ice cream…so as much as we wanted to stay to cheer on the people from our office, we had to depart. We gave a parting glance to the finish line and made our way through the parking lot, searching for the elusive tree we parked near. With the car found, we piled in and headed out to enjoy our day.
It was while the credits were rolling during the film that I pulled up the race results on my iPhone.
And the results were that I finished the Throo The Zoo 5K in 25:10. A new PR! It beat out my time in the Westerville Bunny Hop 5K (my fastest 5K at the time, not counting the Durbin Classic 5K where they said the course might have been shorter than 3.1 miles) by 14 seconds. I was the 210/2153 finishers overall. And yes…I finished 4/169 in my age division. See…always 4th. It made me laugh when I saw that.
This was a great, packed race that had a great atmosphere to it. I would totally run this one again in a heartbeat. So…if I’m here next year…it’s going on the list.
The Celiathlete 