Restaurant: Espressolé Caffe, Greenwood Village, Colorado
Nothing makes me happier when I am out and about than a latte, cappuccino, or a mocha from somewhere local. Granted, Caribou Coffee (YUM YUM) and Starbucks will do in a pinch, but there is something so amazing and special about independent, local coffee houses.
So…I tend to seek them out.
(For the record, I sought out Caribou Coffee at the Denver airport upon flying in and before flying out, LOL!)
Just up from the Denver Marriott DTC there is this little shopping center. And in this shopping center is this really amazing cafe called Espressolé Caffe. Attached to this little coffee shop is a cooking school. If I lived in the area, do you realize where I would be, like, all the time??!! Well, I wasn’t there to attend the cooking school that Sunday morning…I was there for some caffeine.
It turns out that Espressolé has been voted the best coffee in Denver. Seriously. And considering how many coffee houses exist, that’s no easy task. That being said, my roommate and I ducked inside that morning to sit in some chairs, relax, and have a morning coffee boost. She ordered a white chocolate mocha with a hit of hazelnut (one of her favorite things to order). I got the Maple Latte with almond milk. (YES!! Almond milk is in every little local cafe in Colorado it seems, making me one happy coffee drinker.)
It took a moment for the drink orders to be made, and I never mind waiting around in coffee shops. We were taking these to drink there, so they would be in mugs and everything. Awesome. Cathy’s White Chocolate Hazelnut Mocha was up first and I went to retrieve it. It smelled awesome and she was quite happy to sip from the foamy top for a moment and savor the taste. She said that it wasn’t bitter at all (perfect espresso pour!) and that it was just rich and creamy and yummy. Yes. Yummy.
My Maple Latte with almond milk was up next. The latte art was very pretty. I love latte art. And the foamy top was done to a frothy perfection. Foam is one of my favorite things on an espresso or cappuccino so I love it when it’s done to perfection. I was hooked on this drink. I wish more places offered a maple latte because this was beyond delicious. It was sweet, without being too sweet, with that little maple flavor that reminds you of fresh syrup on pancakes. The espresso was a perfect pour, very smooth. And it all came together in a caffeinated beverage that I wanted to savor for as long as I possibly could. I did so too, until it started to cool down and I knew that I needed to polish it off before it got cold.
YUMMY!! No…for real. I can see why Espressolé Caffe has been voted the best coffee in Denver. It’s honestly the best coffee I have had…anywhere!! In addition, their pastry case even offered quite a few gluten-free breads/pastries/goodies. WOOHOO! I was gearing up for gluten-free crepes later that day, so no gluten-free goodies this time, but I intend to be back next year and perhaps I’ll indulge then…with another amazing maple latte.
Oh, if I lived in Denver I would be in SO much trouble. Believe me when I say I’m hitting up Espressolé Caffe every morning next time I’m in Denver. It’s just a short walk from my hotel and a whole lot of caffeinated goodness…so close to my home base.
Rocky Mountain Popcorn Company Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn
Product: Rocky Mountain Popcorn Company Cinnamon Sugar Popcorn -$1.50+
Popcorn is awesome.
No, seriously!! It really is. It is a naturally gluten-free food. And…oh yeah…it’s delicious.
While traveling to, ironically, Colorado, I stashed a couple bags of Rocky Mountain Popcorn Company popcorn in my luggage for snack purposes while away from home. Why? Because I eat popcorn every night. Air popped, delicious popcorn rounds out my evening. Healthy and a great snack to help with digestion. Honestly.
But, bringing a popcorn popper was out of the question, so I settled for something I had on hand at my apartment…these bags of popcorn that I picked up on sale at Big Lots. I had two kinds, and the one that I busted into first was the Cinnamon Sugar variety.
I had never had cinnamon sugar popcorn before, so I was a bit excited about tasting this. And I was not let down in the slightest. You know when you used to toast up a piece of bread, spread a bit of butter on it, melt it down and sprinkle it with a cinnamon and sugar topping…that’s what this reminded me of. It was sweet with that little bit of cinnamon heat that made the flavors honestly, and forgive the pun, pop.
I was hooked. The first night my roommate and I had a small cup full and we ended up going back for more. And for only 150 calories per 3/4 cup, that’s not bad at all when it comes to flavored popcorn. Nothing will quite match the healthy factor of air popped, but…you work with what you have when it comes to snacks.
I was blown away by the flavors of this popcorn and now am contemplating making a variety of it with my air popped stuff at home. It was like no popcorn I ever had before…and now I am pleasantly hooked.
So, go grab a bag and see why cinnamon and sugar makes popcorn a sweet treat.
Okay…second to breakfast foods, one of my next favorite things to savor and enjoy in life for a meal is soup. Why? Because soup can be flavored differently, contain different ingredients, be creamy or chunky or even just brothy. It can have noodles, or vegetables, or whatever in it.
But nothing…nothing…ever compares to a good tomato soup.
It is one of the simplest soups out there, but so many times it just falls flat or tastes…like the can it came out of. And sure, I could go ahead and make my own…but I’m trying out some new things I’m finding at the market. And when Amy’s Organic soups went on sale one day…you better believe I stocked up on some.
On an evening where I didn’t have much time, nothing is easier than to make a gluten-free/dairy-free grilled cheese sandwich and pair it up with a soup. And nothing compliments a grilled cheese sandwich better than…tomato soup.
Lucky for me, I happened to have a can of Amy’s Organic Chunky Tomato Bisque in my pantry. Out it came. The can opener did it’s duty and before I knew it, it was simmering in a pot on the stove. What I noticed immediately was the rich, beautiful, vibrant color of it. Deep red. And it had chunks, not bits, not tidbits, but chunks of tomato swimming in it. Even better…it smelled amazing. Like…homemade goodness from the fruit itself amazing.
I love Amy’s products. The company makes great vegetarian products, but a lot of their options are also gluten-free. This soup is one of those. What I love even more, is that this soup contains only half the sodium of what most brands contain. Gotta love that. No high fructose corn syrup is even in this soup, no MSG, nothing unidentifiable or unnatural. Okay…it might be a little more expensive than that store brand, or Progresso, or Campbell’s, but you are getting quality.
And let me tell you, Amy’s Organic Tomato Bisque soup is a true delight for the taste buds. Honestly. I was enamored with the full flavor. You can tell that the tomatoes included in the soup were ripe, fresh, and delicious. The bisque is the perfect consistency. And it honestly was just the perfect thing to dip my sandwich in while watching some Top Chef one evening after a long day at work.
Yeah…this is going to end up in my pantry again soon.
If you love tomato soup, then I highly recommend going to the grocery store and paying that extra dollar for a quality soup, made with the finest ingredients, with lower sodium, and just an overall better flavor. Go find your natural foods section and find the Amy’s Organic soups. Buy them. Enjoy them. Especially the Chunky Tomato Bisque. Now. Do it. Go.
What are you waiting for?
This soup is one classic treat that tastes homemade without all the prep.
Me with my finisher’s medal at the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon – Indianapolis, Indiana
Race: OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon
Place: Downtown Indianapolis, IN
Date: May 5, 2012
Time: 2:04:51
It was going to be hot. That’s all I knew coming into the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. That and this is the largest half marathon in the country. One reason it was on my bucket list of races to run in my lifetime. *places a check mark next to that one* And, I’ll be honest, if it weren’t for a slew of other races that run this same weekend that I’m interested in, I’d be back again next year. It was that amazing of a race.
But let’s get back to the heat.
All week the weather had said rain. Then no rain. Then…possible rain. I’m no stranger to running races in the rain. A majority of my races have been in the rain. I just, really, wasn’t feeling 13.1 miles in the rain. It would mean being wet the entire time…and the need for brand new shoes at the end of it all. Then…the weather changed again. Now…a high of 85 degrees…humidity of 97%. In other words…HOT.
The gross kind of hot. That sticky, humid, you just always feel moist kind of hot. The worst kind of hot.
Time to dig out the race outfit I wore in Chicago (it was hot then too) and give it another spin. And that’s what I did on Friday night when I started packing up my race clothes for this event. I’d go to work that day, leave around 3 p.m. and hit the road to Indianapolis. I’d arrive around rush hour (joy), attempt to find parking downtown that didn’t cost an arm and a leg (I didn’t have any to spare), and get into the Mini Marathon Race Expo to pick up my packet and check out the vendors.
It took a bit of lapping around the convention center, but my roommate and I pulled into a parking garage, parked, and headed into the expo with the hope of it taking less than an hour. That would mean parking would be $5.00, not $10.00. So…one hour. It took us about 10 minutes or so to get from where we parked, inside the convention center, and to where the expo was being held. Honestly, I think we parked as far away as humanly possible without even realizing it. But, we got there…and ducked inside.
Now, my first half marathon was last year’s Chicago Half Marathon (which I ran in 2:20:59, fresh off of two very bad and debilitating injuries and in heat/humidity of orange flag proportions), which had a really, really big expo as well over on Navy Pier. But this one dwarfed that one. Honestly. It was crazy big. Lots of vendors. Lots of races. Lots of races that sounded really awesome to run. This is the place for a runner to get inspired. But first thing was first…packet pick-up.
I went all the way to the back of the expo center where the booths were lined up for racers to pick up their packet. It was done by bib number. I had just a short wait (2 people ahead of me) before handing over my postcard, receiving my swag bag and race number, and stepping away. I was giddy with excitement and did a little happy dance of joy when I walked over to where my roommate was waiting for me. Yeah…I was now getting into the mood.
We did a quick stroll around the expo, starting at the very end and wending our way up and down the multiple aisles. As we started up one aisle, we spotted the booth for Tap ‘N Run. And there, on the backdrop of the booth…was a photo of me. So…we asked if I could get a picture of myself with their promotional backdrop as I was the girl in the purple. The guy looked at the backdrop, looked at me, invited me back, high-fived me, and I got the picture. I should be in race modeling, just saying.
After that, we continued on…picking up a couple of race brochures, seeing what races were represented, checking out the BlueMile running store booth, and other booths. And making good time. Until I hit the booth for BondiBand. BondiBand and I have a race history. I bought my first one (it simply says 13.1) when I ran the Chicago Half Marathon. Since then, I have acquired quite a collection of them. They (and colored hair extensions) have become a part of my race uniform on race day. So…most of my one hour was spent pawing through the stacks, piles, and cases of BondiBands, and finally purchasing four new ones. I couldn’t resist. So…look for them in future races.
We walked through the rest of the expo…then figured it was getting really, really close to time on our parking, and exited. A check of the watch did show that our time was almost up on the parking garage, so we hurried as much as we could back, took the stairs down to the level where you paid, searched for the pay booth, found it, and got the ticket marked and paid for…with only two minutes to spare. We were two minutes away from paying $10 for parking. Whew. That was close. From there…we were off for dinner at Don Pablos before picking up a couple of bananas at Kroger and heading to the Fairfield Inn and collapsing for the night. When we got checked into the hotel and up to the room, I set out everything for the race the following day, changed into my pajamas, read the information packet in my swag bag, then turned in. My alarm was set for 4:30 a.m.
It arrived way too soon.
Race morning!!
Race morning is, as usual when on the road, a frantic hustle-bustle to get dressed, get fueled (this morning it was dry gluten-free EnviroKidz Gorilla Munch cereal), drink some water, brush teeth, put hair extensions in, put hair in pigtails, take a couple pictures, pack up water and protein shake from fridge, pack up post-race snacks, pack up luggage, check out of hotel, get to the race. So, it was a bit frantic, but we managed it all in and hour, and hit the road as planned. In the car, I snacked on a banana with peanut butter as we headed into downtown Indianapolis again, parked for only $5.00 (yes…event parking that cheap) at an easy-access garage for post-race, and took a stroll toward the race site.
And it was during that walk that the butterflies finally hit. The magnitude of this race was really starting to hit home. I have a half marathon goal this year. This is the first of four of them that I’m running. That goal…is to hit sub-2 hours. If it wasn’t so freakin’ hot at 6:00 a.m., this might have been the race it happened at. But it was already sticky humid and the sun hadn’t even come up yet. This was not the race to set a new PR at. This was a race to run smart and finish.
We took a couple pictures at the start line then went and sat down at a table to watch the runners, the news crew, the helicopters, and take it all in. At one point, they started the music up and we glanced up to the hotel windows where curtains snapped back, giggling a little at the ones we could recognize as not being in town because they are running. Check the event calendar, folks. This is a BIG deal here.
After a little bit of lingering, we decided it was time to head down the corral line and find Corral O, also known as, my home until the race began. But, as we were walking, I thought to travel down to Corral T, where my friend Julia was to be, as this was her first half marathon and I really wanted to give her a hug and wish her luck. I got down to T and couldn’t find her. So I texted her, but she was over at Military Park, where the post-race party was going to be held. So, I headed back toward Corral O and slipped inside and began to stretch out.
No sooner had I done that, Keith from my Monday night fun run group arrived. So, at least now I knew someone. He introduced me to his running partner, Carrie, and we all stood around and talked while we did some last minute stretching. The 5K race kicked off during all of this, but we were so far away from the start line that all we really heard was the countdown. Most of our talk was about training and the upcoming run. We took some pictures, stretched out some more, and then they removed the dividers for the corrals. The wheelchair race kicked off at 7:30 a.m. sharp. Again, we were too far away to see anything, but heard the countdown. This meant the start of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon was just three minutes away.
I gave my roommate a hug, wished Keith luck, and we heard the official countdown to the start of the Mini. Lots of clapping and cheers. And now the slow shuffle toward the start line began. This part is actually really exciting. Your heart is racing, you’re smiling, and the atmosphere is just electric. No one is hurting or dehydrated at this point. The mood is uplifting. And you can lose yourself in it so easily. The people I was around kept changing. However, my “GO KAREN GO” sign that my roommate had kept appearing at various points of the long shuffle up to the start line. The runners I was around tracked it the entire way. One group I was near said, “There is that Karen sign again!” and laughed because they had seen it a ways back. I turned and replied, “I’m Karen…and that’s my friend!” Cathy was bobbing, weaving, and hurrying on ahead so I’d continue to see the sign as I made my way toward the start. And soon…I had. Twenty minutes after the official start. And as Keith said at the fun run last night…I hit the start and was gone.
It was already sticky hot and nearing 8 a.m. at this point. I was glad I carried a water bottle with me. But there were tons of water and Gatorade “Pit Stops” along the way. I started off much slower than I normally do at races, because I had 13.1 miles to cover. So, slow and steady, especially in this heat. The first mile ticked by quickly, but I still noticed the elephants on parade at the zoo. That was cool. As we turned onto Michigan, mile 2 came into sight…then three. When I hit the 5K mark, I checked my GPS watch for the first time. Definitely running slower than I had thought I would, but I wanted to beat the heat and not fall victim to it. I would have other opportunities to break a 2 hour half marathon. Today was not that day. Today was a day to run smart.
The next two miles were a blur of bands, runners, and me focusing on breathing, pace, and what would be next. As we came into the sixth mile of this, we would be running the track of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indy 500 race. Awesome. And when I ran down a ramp and then back up to enter the speedway, I knew I was now entering my favorite part of the race. For the first time, and only for a few moments, the sun was shielded by clouds. And I managed to pick up my pace a little. My roommate told me that at the 10K mark in the Speedway, I was on pace for my 1:59:00 finish. But it was too fast for the heat of the day and I knew it…so I slowed down as the sun crept back out. Two and a half miles were spent running this famous track. It was awesome. Runners were taking video, taking pictures, and just soaking up the occasion. For some reason, this part of the race felt like it went on forever. I felt like the track portion of the race was never going to end, but soon, I was exiting the Speedway and hitting the pavement once again for the last five and a half miles.
I want to say a big thank you to the people who lived on the streets we ran down, because some were out there with their hoses just spraying down the runners. It was awesome and just what we needed. There were rigs set up for misting that the runners could go through as well to cool down. Very smart. But all this time the flag on the mile markers stayed green. I was surprised, because the heat was really intense. I hit Mile 10 and decided to check my watch again. I was about where I was on my training run, and only a few minutes behind where I was on the Papa John’s 10 Miler. Ideally, that was the pace I wanted. Realistically…that wasn’t happening today. I was proud of where I was and told myself I only had a 5K to go. Then…victory.
I didn’t want to hit the wall like I did in Chicago the previous September, so I dug out my package of Annie’s Organic Summer Strawberry Fruit Snacks (vegan & gluten-free), which I brought along for fuel as I didn’t have time to get beans and I don’t do the gels or gu. So…I downed these as I went and then focused on the task at hand. Mile 11 cruised by. Then…VICTORY MILE!
After hitting Mile 12, you enter the home stretch. This happens on New York Street. The Victory Mile is adorned with banners in the infamous black and white checkered flags. The crowd was awesome, just encouraging you onward. “You’re almost there runners!” “Good job, runners!” “You can do this!” Actually when someone shouted that, a runner right behind me replied, “I never doubted myself for a moment.” And yes…I laughed. Loudly. It felt great.
I admit…running that last mile was emotional. The checkered flags, the crowd, the cheering, and that final sprint when you know you are so close to the Finish. You can see the finish line and you know if you just put all your heart into it, you’re going to get there. So, you just give it all you have…and that’s what I did. I pushed. I could feel the finish with each footfall. And as I got close, my roommate was right there with my sign, screaming at me to go, to push, to finish.
And I did. Just five minutes shy of my goal. In the heat and humidity. Yeah…I’ll take that. Any day. I was so damn proud of myself for finishing as well as I did. I was hot, I was ready for some water. I needed my cold vegan chocolate protein shake. But it would be a moment before that happened. I had to get through Runner Services first. No problem. Just go with the crowd. First…the finisher’s medal. YAY! Then…a plastic bag for you to put all your goodies…bananas, fruit cups, fruit strips, dehydrated fruits, cookies (I skipped those because gluten is the enemy)…and of course my bag ripped when the banana (the first thing I got) went in. So I was juggling more than I wanted to. But, that’s what happens with me. I just laugh it off. I made it to where they were taking photos of runners, got mine, then proceeded to Military Park and toward the Family Reunion Area. I had to find the marker labeled B. That was where Cathy was going to meet me.
She was already there. And said, “Come here you sweaty runner person and give me a hug.” I did. I was still smiling. I got my cell phone from her, laid down on the ground, propped my feet up on her and called my mom. We talked for a little bit, then I stretched, stood up, and downed my protein shake and polished off my water. I got my Smart Water from Cathy and downed that too. She handed me the last bottle I had and I nursed that one as we went to the Convention Center to use the bathroom so I could get changed out of my damp running clothes.
When I was in the bathroom, I pulled open my bag to change and found a new t-shirt in there for me. Cathy got me a “I Finished” t-shirt. Which I wore proudly that day. After changing, we walked around, then it was off to lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise, where I was able to pick up my veggie burger and eat it like a real human does for the first time in ages, thanks to the gluten-free buns they have there.
And yeah…I was still smiling.
As for the official standings of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon, I finished in 2:04:51. Overall, I was 7271/31,129 finishers. I was437/2737 runners in my age division and 2191/16825 female finishers.
Restaurant: Folsom Street Coffee, Boulder, Colorado
If I were to choose another place in this country to take up residence…it would be Boulder, Colorado. Hands down.
Not only is it a hip, happening place, but it is so healthy and full of energy and life. It’s a little piece of Bohemia up in the mountains. And I love every moment I am there.
This year when I ventured over to Boulder, Colorado, I was meeting up with someone. And as she knows the area, she chose to meet up for coffee at Folsom Street Coffee. Now, we all know that I am a coffee addict. So, a little non-chain, independent coffee place is always high on my map. She chose well.
My roommate and I arrived early and settled in to wait. But, soon we were eagerly contemplating what type of drink to get. And before you knew it, we were placing our order at the counter.
Cathy went with a simple mocha, which, mind you, is prepared with chocolate milk. WHAT a concept. Honestly. And the chocolate…Ghirardelli. YES!
I was feeling a latte that day, and went with a strawberry latte made with almond milk. Oh yeah…almond milk abounds at these little coffee shops in Colorado, and I am so thankful for that. Unfortunately, they were out of strawberry syrup, so I changed my order to a blackberry latte made with almond milk. No harm, no foul. Still berry-licious in a latte type way.
We could see our drinks being prepared as we sat there and just sort of drank in the atmosphere. When our order was up, I went to retrieve it, admiring the beautiful latte art in the process as well.
And at first sip, the mix of the berry flavor with the awesome espresso shot was a perfect combination for me that morning. I loved the way the espresso played with the sweet undertones of the blackberry syrup. And the almond milk frothed up beautifully and gave me the perfect foam that I love on a latte. So delicious.
Interesting to note that Folsom Street Coffee is Boulder’s only zero waste coffeehouse. In addition, it is family owned and operated as well. I love independent shops. And let me tell you, this place was packed. From the moment we arrived to the moment we left, and people were still coming in as the time we spent in there talking ticked away. Yeah…it was a perfect coffee experience in the perfect city in my view. If you find yourself near Boulder, Colorado, I encourage you to stop in at Folsom Street Coffee. Treat yourself to something delicious and caffeinated from this awesome little coffee shop.
Folsom Street Coffee’s Blackberry Latte with Almond Milk
We probably didn’t really need cereal while we were away in Colorado. We were loaded down with some gluten-free breakfast bars, but for some reason…cereal ended up in our shopping basket on our usual grocery trip for the time we were in Colorado. Hey…we buy groceries so we don’t eat out three times a day. It’s smart!
But, I’m so accustomed to eating cereal in the morning that I wasn’t going to fight the urge to purchase it. So, purchase made.
I was shopping at a little natural foods store in Denver, which is the equivalent of Whole Foods…but at great prices. No…really. The produce and food selection (especially gluten-free) was amazing!! I was just awestruck by it all.
When it came to choosing a cereal, my roommate and I went a little off the beaten path. We could have played it safe…but, you see, we had this coupon for products from Erewhon, a brand we don’t see much of in our area. So when we spotted the Strawberry Crisp Cereal, we just put it in the basket. No questions asked. Didn’t need it…but there it was. And here we were…buying it.
Let me tell you…I’m so glad we didn’t talk ourselves into putting it back. Friday morning was an early morning as we had a meeting out in Boulder, Colorado, which meant up and out of the hotel early to get there in time. Knowing that our big meal of the day wouldn’t happen until around noon-ish, the cereal was a welcome site that next morning. Now, Erewhon’s Strawberry Crisp Cereal doesn’t really look like anything special. It’s simple. It’s the combination of certified organic corn flakes that are crispy and crunchy and sweet. And to add to the flavor, some dried strawberries are thrown into the mix. I was skeptical at first. I have an issue with dehydrated fruits thrown into cereals…but these were strawberries…and strawberries always win.
Well, this cereal was definitely a winner! The crispy texture was awesome and held up in the splash (or pool) of almond milk that was poured over it. The corn flakes were lightly sweetened and were definitely bolstered by the inclusion of the strawberries. And those berries were what shocked me the most. I figured they would taste like cardboard, but with the addition of the almond milk, these little dried strawberries were revitalized. Their flavor was all over this cereal. It reminded me a lot of the flavor of Fruit Loops, which I used to eat the hell out of when I was growing up. It was so good. I only wish the strawberry one was easy to find around here.
Even if you aren’t required to eat gluten-free (like my roommate), I highly recommend giving this cereal a try. Especially if you are a strawberry fiend like me. Because, honestly…anything with strawberries wins. And this took the cereal gold.
OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon, Indianapolis, IN
The day has finally arrived. Since February, I’ve put a lot of miles on my feet and a lot of time into training for this. In some areas, I’ve fallen short (hello, strength training!). In other areas, I’ve really seen improvements. I’ve run through injury. I’ve run through rain. I’ve run in the cold. And I’ve slogged it out on the treadmill…all for this.
The nation’s largest half marathon. Yes. As in the biggest one in the country. And the best part is…it’s close to home. Just a short drive north to Indianapolis.
Tomorrow, my dear friends, I’ll be lining up in corral O and anticipating the start of the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. I’ve had my eye on this race for awhile. And, unlike last year when I ran my first half marathon ever (Chicago), this time I have trained properly and even learned a thing or two in the process. Amazing how that happens.
I’m not going to lie…those pre-race butterflies are already kicking in. I’m giddy with excitement. I love running half marathons (despite only doing one and barely surviving). I love a good endurance race. And this one is a BIG deal. I mean…it’s the largest in the United States. Somewhere near 40,000 people run in this race. That’s not an exaggeration. And this year…I am one of them.
The weather on Saturday morning…hot and humid. Yeah. And it will only heat up as the day goes on. I’ve done some running on hot days, and I tend to wilt. So, I plan to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate. Just like I did when I ran the equally as hot Chicago Half Marathon back in September. It worked then…I hope it works now.
I also know, now, that I have to eat more than a serving of cereal before running 13.1 miles. So, last night I went to pick up a packet of peanut butter to throw on a banana pre-race. I’ll also have my cereal and that should see me through. If I need a boost while out running, I have one lonely pack of Annie’s vegan/gluten-free fruit snacks. I’m still not very good at eating while on the run. I have yet to master it without something upsetting my stomach or bringing on cramps. But as I’m aiming for a marathon in the very near future, well, I best learn what works and learn how to do it.
This morning, I was up early to pack up my race clothes, shoes, and my overnight bag. Right after work, I’m heading up to Indianapolis, stopping into the race expo, picking up my packet, walking around, drinking it all in, then grabbing something for dinner that won’t wreak havoc on my stomach, and then turning in for the night. As I’m staying outside of the downtown area, it means rising earlier than I would like to head into the city, get the parking garage I hope to get, and getting to that start line.
I have quite a few friends who are running in this race with me. One is in my corral. The other one hasn’t told me where she is positioned, but I hope to run into her either pre-race or after. This is her first half marathon and I want to wish her luck and congratulate her on finishing. I hope it happens.
I have goals this year when it comes to my distance races. Due to the heat that they are expecting tomorrow, I don’t think I’ll hit it on my first (of four) half marathon this year. But…there is time to improve, time to work through some kinks, and other races that I can aim for those goals during. I’d rather run smart in the heat then push too hard and not make it to the finish because of it.
So…first half marathon of the year and I’m doing it in a big way.
To all those running with me…best of luck!! See you at the finish!
Restaurant: McCabe’s Bistro and Pub, Aurora, Colorado
It was that time of year. Time for the annual trek to Colorado.
Why head out to Colorado? Well, there is this fantastic little convention that I have attended for the past four years. I’ve sort of fallen in love with my journey’s out there. Everything is so beautiful. And, it helps that I know a local out there who can direct me to some fantastic food.
Now, my good friend Sharon knows that my roommate and I are big on pub grub (I know…like you couldn’t tell!). So, she called me up a couple days before we headed out and mentioned grabbing some lunch on our first day out there at this little local pub, that makes some of the best Irish food in the Denver area, before going up into the foothills and mountains and having a fun afternoon. Now…how can we say no to that sort of a lead-in? Besides…it’s a pub we had yet to try…and this had to be remedied.
Upon our arrival in Denver, we got our rental car and headed to Sharon’s home. We got things together and she drove us out to the Southlands Shopping Mall. And there, tucked away in this little outdoor shopping center, was McCabe’s Bistro and Pub. It doesn’t look very Irish upon first glance. After all, it is situated in a shopping center. But all of that changes the moment you walk through the door.
That Irish hospitality is evident from the moment you set foot in the door. We were seated in a rustic little booth near the back and given some time to peruse the menu. Although, coming into this, we pretty much had an idea of what we wanted to dine on. Sharon went for the McCabe’s Sirloin Shepherd’s Pie. Cathy, naturally, went for her usual order of fish and chips. And this left me. Being a vegetarian with a gluten sensitivity doesn’t always make pub grub the easiest to navigate. We told the server of my food allergies and she assisted as much as she could. When asked about the fries, though, she indicated they were fried with the breaded fish…so those were out.
What I ended up getting was this fantastic little salad. It is the Pear & Gorgonzola Salad, which is a mix of baby greens with the addition of sliced pears, toasted walnuts, red onion, and a sprinkling of gorgonzola cheese with a balsamic vinaigrette. I was very careful when placing my order, wanting to make sure that I wouldn’t have any problems with what I was eating that might make me ill. I wanted to enjoy this vacation and not worry about getting glutenized, which was what happened at the last pub I ate at in Denver. With the assurance of the server…we talked while we awaited our order.
Soon, it was brought out to the table. While my friends both were served lunch portions, my salad was H-U-G-E. I was okay with that. Because when you are making a meal out of salad, it is best to have it big and filling. And, let me tell you, the combination of flavors really worked on this one. The mild greens paired very well with the sweetness of the pairs, and the bite of the onions gave it a bit of volume. But the star of this salad was the fantastic toasted walnuts. Honestly, when mixed with the drizzle of the balsamic dressing, this was the absolute star of the salad. I found myself saving the walnuts for last because I loved the way they tasted. So delicious.
We all dug in and took our time savoring our food. Perfect size. I was ready now to go out and explore a bit of the mountains and enjoy an afternoon with friends. That’s what this trip was all about. And with McCabe’s so close, I know I’ll be going back and enjoying another meal there next time I’m in town. Just an amazing little pub in an unexpected little place. And when you can enjoy great Irish pub grub with good friends…life is already awesome. The food here…was very good and they made me feel at ease about what I was eating.
I’ve put a lot of time, energy, strength, sweat, tears, and bruises into my half marathon training. I’ve continued to run races around the area and…in Colorado (because I am crazy!)…while maintaining my training program and keeping up with the mileage that is required on certain days. And I have had a blast doing it.
Well, today was my last long run before I kick off my first (of four, so far) half marathon of the year. I’m totally excited to be doing another half marathon. This will only be the second one that I have run, but I have trained smart for it…really listened to my body…and have found my runs improving. It makes me feel really good.
But today, something else happened on my last long run. Well, I discovered my water bottle was leaking…but that’s beside the point. As I rounded up my 10 mile run today, after an easy 5 miles followed by the last 5 miles with hills (I’m apparently a masochist when it comes to my training runs), I hit the 350 mile mark on my journey to run 500 miles this year. I couldn’t be more proud of this achievement either. This hasn’t been an easy road. I’ve even had to run on a sore Achilles tendon (I slowed down and didn’t push it on hills or for speed). I’ve worried about injuries, endured minor ones, one major one, and kept on going despite it. Why? Because I have a half marathon next weekend and I want to be ready for it.
When I ran my first half marathon last year in Chicago, I wasn’t prepared for it. I was straight off of a stress fracture to my foot and horrible runner’s knee in my right knee. Training wasn’t an option…I could barely run a mile on a treadmill at a slow speed. So, it was a miracle I finished. I didn’t eat right for it. I didn’t train. And yet…I got to that finish line in a respectable time.
My goal…to only improve on that.
So, having 350 miles behind me already feels great. I feel great. I couldn’t be more excited about hitting the road in Indianapolis next Saturday for the OneAmerica 500 Festival Mini Marathon. I think it will be a good race. I think I will run a good race. And, I have 350 miles of training to thank for that.
Only 150 more to go. Looks like I might have to increase my goal for the year.
And that, my dearest friends, is how you can tell that I run for the love of it. I don’t make myself go out and run. I willingly go and put in the miles. It makes me feel better about life when I do it because I run because I love to run. And there is no better reason to run than because you love it. If you don’t love doing it…you’ll stop doing it. And I hope to be doing this for a very long time.
Me crossing the finish line at the Step 4 Life 5K - Brighton, Colorado
Race: Step 4 Life 5K/10K Race
Place: Brighton, CO
Date: April 21, 2012
Time: 27:16
To quote U2: “EL-E-VATION!”
So…here it is. I live in a river valley. The Ohio River Valley here in Southern Indiana. I’m so close to Louisville, Kentucky, I can see it from my apartment. Yeah. New Albany, Indiana sits at an elevation of 449 feet.
Now picture for a moment doing your first run ever in Colorado at 5,063 feet. Yeah. Elevation indeed!
Every April, I fly out to Denver, Colorado for a science fiction convention. No, really…I do. I love visiting Colorado. It’s such a beautiful state and every time I go out there, I hate leaving. I long for the next time I’ll be back. That’s how much I love it. This year, since I have taken up running and am pursuing a goal of running a race in all 50 states at some point, I thought why not run a race and cross Colorado off the list. My roommate found one…the Step 4 Life 5K/10K race that benefited lung cancer research. Awesome.
I really, really wanted to do the 10K, but after much thought and evaluation, decided it would probably be best when going from river valley to mountains to do a test run on the 5K. So, that’s what I signed up for. And, believe me, I had a lot of people concerned about how I would do at it. For me…I was just going to take it easy and do what I felt my body could do.
So, race morning came around. A beautiful 52 degree, sunny morning. I got up, ate a light breakfast of some gluten-free cereal and got dressed for the race. The drive from Denver to Brighton took about 25 minutes overall, and we got there right about the time we hoped to. I went to pick up my packet…and unfortunately…they couldn’t find my name on the list. YIKES!
But, they were very professional about it and simply handed me a number, had me write down my information, and let me enter. I had the receipt showing I paid for it, but they didn’t even ask to see it. Awesome. So, now that I was officially part of the race with my t-shirt and all, I went to pick up my timing chip.
This was apparently the first year that they used chip timing. So, this was going to be a new experience for anyone who had run this before. As I am getting pinned up and put, what I like to call the “house arrest timing chip” around my ankle, I’m noticing the other runners in the race. They are all super fit. No surprise. Colorado is the home of the two healthiest cities in the entire United States (Boulder and Fort Collins). So, there were people who had run the Boston Marathon that year, and people who were just all muscle. Lean, mean running machines. I consider myself to be in decent shape (although I admit that I do love my ice cream and chocolate too much for my own running good, but it never stops me!), but I was really intimidated by these other runners.
First race at elevation...done!
I guess that’s just natural. I usually try not to compare myself to others that are running with me, because no matter how fit someone is (or not fit) you don’t know how well they perform when running. I have been bested by people I thought I would leave behind in the dust, and likewise I have blasted past people I thought I’d never even have a chance of passing. It’s just one of those weird running quirks.
Well, race time was upon us and I was stretched out and as prepared as I was going to be. I booted up my iPod Nano and went to line up. In my head I was just reminding myself to breathe (which is what my headband for this race said, btw!). The announcer said that the 10K people were to line up first as they would kick off the race. Then the 5K people. Most of us didn’t hear him say they would have a separate start, but thankfully he said this before too many of the 5K people set out with the 10K people. After a two minute gap, they turned us loose on the course.
I did start off slower than I usually do. I really just wanted to see how I would do with the change in elevation and the thinner air. But, I felt good as I headed out and found myself running at a decent, though not normal, pace. That was a good thing. If I felt good, that meant I could push it a little more. After my first mile, I decided to do just that. And here is where we hit some minor inclines. No big deal now. I run on hills in my practice runs, easy and hard, so I pushed past them without any problem. And hey…I was passing people. Me! The lowlander from Indiana. The one not used to running at this sort of elevation. Yeah…I was passing and pressing onward.
The race course had a turn around point and as I passed a water station, the first of the 10K racers were heading back in our direction. Except they missed the turn, and when someone shouted after them, the guy in the lead just darted across my path, almost knocking right into me and pushing me over. I don’t think he would have stopped if that had actually occurred. But thankfully I was paying attention, pulled up to a quick stop and then continued onward. The turn-around point was a bit of a choke point. I was catching up to people as we were reaching the cone to run around and there was no room to maneuver past them, so I had to simply run their pace for a moment until the breakaway.
And breakaway I did. Down the hill I had run up, and then toward the water stop. Carefully I crossed against the people still coming the other way and made my way into the final leg of the race. One mile to go. The course was a mix of gravel, concrete, and then…grass. Yes…grass. I love running on grass, but I wasn’t expecting it. By now, I could see the finish line. It still felt miles away and I was starting to feel the effects of the elevation. I was more tired than usual, but I wasn’t about to stop. This race was so much fun and I was having a great time and not really worrying about what time I came in. Just finishing it would be amazing and awesome. And that was my goal.
Over a wooden footbridge and down the straightaway to the finish line. I was heading into the last stretch. Here is where I normally put on the speed and dash all out for the finish, but I didn’t hear. I couldn’t. Not this time. But I did put a little more speed into it…but only a little. I was tired. I admit that I was tired.
And I finished. My GPS watch stated at 27:10, but the official race results says 27:16. So, either way…a respectable time.
Here is where the Step 4 Life 5K stands. I finished, as I said, in 27:16. I was the I was 24/87 5K finishers overall and 6/41 women. And, of course, I finished 3/19 in my division. Being that this was my first race ever at altitude, I think that’s pretty rockstar. Yeah…I’m proud of that. And in the end, I felt great. I had an amazing race. And if it runs again next year, you better believe I’ll be a part of it.
Maybe I’ll even attempt the 10K. Maybe.
(On a side note, the second song to come up on my shuffled running mix on my iPod that day was U2’s “Elevation.” Perfection!)
The Celiathlete 