So, I have no explanation for the fact that, in the six years I have lived in the Louisville area, I have never once set foot in a Heine Brothers Coffee. With locations throughout Louisville, I see them, but often bypass them and then turn up at a Starbucks for my coffee fix.
I should be ashamed.
I am.
Here’s why:
Heine Brothers Coffee began in 1994 by Mike Mays and Gary Heine, who thought of coffee shops as local gathering spots where people could meet friends or family, unwind after work or school, and just relax. The two entrepreneurs then committed themselves and their business to operating as responsibly and sustainably as possible. Reducing the carbon footprint of a coffee shop is no easy task (I mean, how many people want their coffee to go…or even when drinking in, want a paper cup, not a mug?), but these two set out to achieve it and, by providing their shops with locally made food and products, as well as providing only fair-trade, organic coffee, they have succeeded.
Now, I prefer an espresso drink to a coffee drink anytime, but when I stopped in to Heine Brothers Coffee on a cold Saturday afternoon, I decided to be a little different and try something new. What I ordered was a simple Sugar-free Hazelnut Café Au Lait (or coffee with milk), made with soy milk. What they gave me was beyond amazing. First of all, Heine Brothers’ coffee is a different breed from any coffee you will have. Not only is it organic and fair-trade, but according to the Web site, it is roasted in a small-batch Sivetz coffee roaster, which basically floats the coffee beans on a bed of heated air in order to roast it. This method brings out the amazing flavors and aromas of the coffee that they brew in-store (and sell as well), always within weeks of their roasting date, so they remain fresh!
I have to say, this was one of the best flavored coffee drinks I have ever enjoyed. The coffee wasn’t too strong at all. The roasting method, I believe, meant the true flavor of the coffee came through, so that it wasn’t so overpowering in the flavor. I chose a sugar-free hazelnut syrup to pair with it, not wanting to over-sweeten it either. As for the soy milk…they frothed it to a foamy perfection and left it at a perfect temperature to sip and enjoy.
Yeah…I was really, really impressed with the practices and the drinks that come out of Heine Brothers Coffee. I am fortunate to have such a fabulous, conscientious, and well-established local chain in my area. Now that I’ve been there once, I’ll totally be back. I am a huge proponent of fair-trade and I think this coffee shop is doing it right.
Great product. Great causes. Great service. And in the end…great coffee.
If you happen through Louisville, Kentucky, and should the urge for a caffeine hit strike, find one of the Heine Brothers Coffee locations and give them a try. You’ll love what you find inside.
Heine Brothers Sugar-Free Hazelnut Soy Café Au Lait
It’s something not everyone is familiar with. Thankfully, for me, I had the luck of growing up in a neighborhood with a family that hailed from India. Not only did I love being invited over for dinner, I still dream about the curry (a personal favorite) that was often prepared when I was over.
My love of Indian food was given to me properly. And since then, no ordinary Indian restaurant will do. I don’t want Indian food made to satisfy American people. I want the real deal.
So, when it comes to frozen Indian meals, sometimes I’m a bit leery about them. After all, how can something that has been frozen honestly bring the flavor and texture desired from Indian cuisine? I’ve tried various different frozen Indian entrees, and luckily, have not been let down.
The Trader Joe’s brand was a splurge purchase, I admit it. But the price was right and it’s always good to have a frozen meal or two in the freezer for those days or nights when cooking just doesn’t appeal and eating out is not in the budget. The Trader Joe’s in my area only has a couple of flavors when it comes to their frozen Indian entrees, but I chose the one that was, obviously, gluten-free and vegetarian.
Trader Joe's Palak Paneer (microwaved)
The Palak Paneer looks a mess when it first comes out of the box. It’s a frozen tangle of spinach, with the paneer, a soft Indian cheese, was hidden beneath the web of green. When it comes to Palak Paneer, it’s best not to go on looks. After all, it’s spinach and cheese, and not the most appetizing-looking meal.
I heated the meal up as indicated on the box, stirring it after five minutes and popping it back in for another two. When it came out, it was a steaming tangle of green spinach and cubes of paneer. Like I said, don’t go off of looks. This meal is supposed to look like this. I scooped it out of the plastic tray and into a bowl, discovering that this is actually meant as two servings. Eh…whatever. I ate the entire thing. It was on it’s own…no rice. So it was perfect for a dinner.
The taste was actually better than I anticipated. It had that hint of curry flavor. The spinach wasn’t runny or soupy, and the cubes of paneer tasted amazing. They were a bit firmer than I am used to for paneer, enough that when my roommate sampled a bite, she thought it was tofu, but I set her right on that. What did surprise me was not how big the chunks of paneer were, but how many were in the meal itself. Normally, these frozen entrees skimp on the main part of the meal. I had been expecting more of a bowl of spinach than cheese. But Trader Joe’s was quite liberal in its application of paneer to this meal.
If you are looking for a quick meal for lunch or dinner, I highly recommend Trader Joe’s Palak Paneer meal. Especially if you love Indian food (which, I do!). It is really, really close to the real thing you would find in an Indian restaurant. Honestly, if the thought of cheese and spinach turns you off, trust me, when done right, and seasoned perfectly, this makes a fantastic Indian dish. And this frozen meal doesn’t become laden down with water either. It steamed up to perfection and didn’t run everywhere, as most frozen dinners tend to do. Color me impressed.
Kudos to Trader Joe’s for bringing fast food Indian food to the market…and doing it right.
Trader Joe's Palak Paneer (heated and in bowl...notice presence of lots of paneer!)
Nothing hard. Nothing fast. Nothing long. Just…a simple run. I had one goal in mind…and that was to be back home before the coverage of the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials kicked off in Houston, Texas. I got home just in time after doing an easy 2.25 miles.
NBC’s coverage was going to be delayed, so I turned on the computer as I made breakfast and settled in to watch an episode of The Big Bang Theory while the live feed began of the beginning of the men’s race…and then fifteen minutes later…the women’s race. Before I knew it, my DVD player was shut off and both myself and my roommate (who is so not a runner) were on the edge or our seats watching the Runner’s World live blog feed cover the race. We couldn’t see it as it happened…but it was riveting. We were on the edge of our seats cheering for the men and women runners who were fighting for their spots on Team USA for the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
You would think not being able to see the race would be dull. On the contrary, it was hard to leave the couch for any task. Every update was our link to that race, and I could see it happening in my head. A few guests posted pictures from the race as they watched it happen in Houston. Even without a live image to watch, I couldn’t step away. I didn’t want to.
And at 2:09:08, Meb Keflezighi broke through the tape and finished first in the men’s race. Followed close behind, and earning the other two spots for the 2012 Men’s Olympic Marathon team were Ryan Hall, who was the favorite going into this, and came in just behind Meb at 2:09:30, and Abdi Abdirahman, also finishing sup-2:10:00 with an official time of 2:09:47. Coming in fourth was one runner both my roommate and I were pulling for: Dathan Ritzenhein, who still finished with a respectable 2:09:55, just barely missing the chance to be on the Olympic team. What an amazing race. The men started off fast and maintained that fast pace throughout. There was very little changeover when it came to leaders, although Meb did play it safe in the beginning, starting at the back of the elite pack out front and then working his way forward as the race progressed. Hall was out in front pretty much the entire way, but his fast pace out of the starting gate might have been the precursor to his, still respectable, but second place finish. Abdi was more of a long-shot in the elite runners, but he had such a great day in Houston.
Our 2012 Team USA Marathon Men are:
Ryan Hall, Meb Keflezighi, and Abdi Abdirahman
Now the women were a different story all together.
Where the man set out and breakneck speed from the start, the women were a little more reserved at the start of their race. This didn’t make the competition any less exciting, however. There were some surprises as the updates were being posted. My roommate and I had chosen our favorites to cheer for…and those three would eventually come in and take the three spots on the Olympic team. But they did have to battle it out over the 26.2 course in Houston.
In the end, though, breaking through the tape at the end at 2:25:38 was Shalane Flanagan, who I was amazing in this race. She would take the lead, only to be pushed back, but in the final two miles, she pulled out ahead, got a tremendous lead, and maintained it. Only seventeen seconds behind her, however, was the Little Engine That Could – Desiree Davila, finishing in 2:25:55. For her tiny stature, Davila powers through her marathons. She’s ambitious and a fighter and definitely one to watch. And, quite happily, my roommate and I cheered for the third place contender, Kara Goucher, back from maternity leave. I had just read her book “Running for Women: From First Steps to Marathons,” so I was quite familiar with her as a runner. Her qualifying time was 2:26:06. Finishing fourth was Amy Hastings, who had been in the lead for awhile, and would jackrabbit up to the front and fall behind. But she fell way behind and the three women my roommate and I had chosen to cheer for came in to earn their rightful spots. It was an intense and exciting race.
Our 2012 Team USA Marathon Women are:
Desiree Davila, Shalane Flanagan, and Kara Goucher
I’m so excited about watching these runners take on the world on the Olympic stage in London this summer. I know I’ll be tuning in to watch. Team USA has six very strong, very talented, very determined runners heading to London for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. And I’ve never been more excited to see these men and women run their hearts out for the chance of winning a medal for our country. GO USA!!
And huge congratulations to Meb, Ryan, Abdi, Desi, Shalane, and Kara!
You inspire me with your speed and your talent.
In fact, I’m inspired to go for another run tomorrow. A longer run. I’m no marathoner, but I have the heart of one!
Blue Diamond Almond Nut Thins Pepper Jack Cheese Flavor
Product: Blue Diamond Almond Nut Thins Pepper Jack Cheese Flavor – $3.79+
Blue Diamond is a brand I trust when it comes to my snacks. Their nuts are fantastic. Their almond milk is, by far, the best on the market. And the Nut Thins have been amazing for my gluten-free snack attacks. The flavors that I have tried so far (Hint of Sea Salt, Pecan, BBQ) have been loaded with flavor.
So, I was more than excited when one of my favorite cheese flavors – Pepper Jack Cheese – was introduced in a Nut Thin cracker. Worlds were colliding in a good way. Not only was a spicy cheese featured on one of my favorite gluten-free crackers, but it was by a brand I trust. This treat was totally coming home with me and I couldn’t wait to tear into them. I mean…how could they be bad?
Well…they aren’t…bad. They just weren’t all that good.
I hate to say that because all the other Nut Thins crackers I’ve had have been packed with flavor and amazing. And the one flavor that really got me jumping for joy when it was released…fell flat.
Don’t get me wrong…I don’t dislike them. I just find them…bland. Coming off of having the barbeque flavored, which were perfectly season and packed with flavor, I was expecting the Pepper Jack Cheese Nut Thins to have an amazing, spicy, cheesy kick to them. But, honestly, all I could taste was the rice cracker. Under-seasoned. Way under-flavored. And an honest disappointment.
I won’t count Blue Diamond out. I just think they need to take some time with Pepper Jack Cheese flavor…fine-tune it. Give it that spicy kick that you expect from something that is pepper jack flavored. This is what I expected from these crackers and, sadly, they didn’t deliver. I think Blue Diamond can bounce back though. And I certainly have a variety of flavors to still try. But I do hope they go back and change up the recipe for these because they could be an epic cracker if proper care and flavor is added to them. A little pepper jack TLC is all that is needed by Blue Diamond.
If in the market for a flavorful snack cracker, I totally promote Nut Thins. I just wouldn’t recommend the Pepper Jack Cheese flavor. Blue Diamond is down, but not out. And, while this flavor definitely disappointed, I know that this company can deliver a fantastic product. It is probably a good thing I had sampled other flavors before, because it is those that will have me coming back to try others. Pepper Jack Cheese, however, will not be in my pantry again unless a recipe overhaul happens.
The 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials are being held in Houston, Texas, tomorrow morning. The crème de la crème in the running world are all toeing the line for the chance to win a place on the Olympic team. And there are plenty of favorite elite runners out there hitting the road. For the men – Ryan Hall, Meb Keflezighi, and Dathan Ritzenhein are being pegged as the three to beat. For the women, it’s Shalane Flanagan, Desiree Davila, and Kara Goucher at the head of the pack. But here’s the thing with running – you can be the top of your class, the elitist of the elite, and you can still have a bad day, hit the wall, and fall behind. You just never know.
But with all the talk about these great runners making their play at a spot to compete in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, England (six will advance to run in the marathon…three men and three women), it got me thinking about who my heroes in this sport are. There are so many greats to choose from – past and present.
But when it comes down to it, I owe a lot of my passion and a lot of my love for this sport to one man:
Howard A. Brady - my grandpa & my running inspiration
This…is my grandpa, Howard A. Brady.
From as far back as I can remember, my grandpa was a runner. When we visited him in Minnesota over summer vacations, he would still lace up his running shoes and go for a run. When he came to visit in New York and Alabama, he’d bring his running gear (something I have now taken to doing when I travel) and head out on unfamiliar roads and get his run in.
My Grandpa & my cousin Andy in 1989
The thing is, my grandpa wasn’t always a runner. In fact, he took up the sport quite late in life. He was in his fifties, in fact. And to me, this just proves that it wasn’t just dedication to running, it was a love of it. When I talk to him on the phone (he is still in Minnesota and I am currently in Indiana) after my races or whatnot, we always talk about running. He once told me that he preferred to run on hot days. He loved to sweat it all out. I too share this love of the hot-weather run! Cold weather and I don’t get along. He has a gift for storytelling, and hearing some of his race stories can be downright amusing. One of my favorites came out of a marathon he ran in Berlin, Germany. I can’t even begin to share it here. It’s a story best left told by the man who was there.
My grandpa has done amazing things in his running career. He has regaled me with stories of his races…and he has done every distance from 5Ks to marathons. When I was visiting this past summer, he took time to show me what racing shirts he still has in his possession, his race bibs, his awards, medals, etc. I totally understood his passion for the sport, because the way he talks about it…it shows how much he loved it. And…how much he misses it.
Now 90 years old, he hung up his running shoes a couple years ago. And, though I didn’t come to the sport right away, I have picked up the torch and started on my path in running. But it was my grandpa who truly showed me what it was like to love running. I didn’t realize it as I was growing up, but knowing he was out their pounding the pavement was inspiring. And that inspiration lit a spark in me that has since flared into my own passion for this sport.
Running and I used to have a passing acquaintance. To me, running was more of a punishment than something to do for pleasure. I was a relatively active child growing up, playing softball, basketball, taking karate lessons, and just heading out to the neighborhood streets with all the kids and playing a round of kickball. With the exception of karate, these sports did involve some running. But, for the most part, running was used as a punishment. If we lost a softball game, my coach would make us run laps. We’d have to run sprints in basketball, which was grueling to say the least. In gym class, we’d have to go for runs around the gym or the track, sometimes to warm up, sometimes for the physical fitness test…but it was never something I got excited about. It was more disdain than anything.
My Grandpa at the Twin Cities 10 Mile Run - part of the Twin Cities Marathon
I’m short, so my stride isn’t long. That means when I see all these lean, lanky, running machines at races, I often look at myself and wonder how I came into this. I am not built to be fast. But, I have proven that these short little legs can carry me over the distance. Then again, I didn’t get into running to be the first across that finish line. That will never happen. I got into running because…I just started running. For fun. Not for any other reason.
And I think that’s how it was for my grandpa. He took up running later in life and got in over 30 years of miles on the road. He’s run races in a variety of cities, states, and countries. He still tells me how much he misses running. And I can understand why. Because when I can’t get in a run or have to take time off, I miss it too. When I got injured during the summer and couldn’t run from May until August, there were times I would just sit on my couch and cry because I just wanted to get out and run. Missing the sport is probably an understatement for a man who was so passionate about chasing his own pavements.
Every race I run, I run with my grandpa in mind. When I lace up my running shoes to get in a quick run during the day, I do so with my grandpa in mind. He’s the reason I chase my own pavements and strive to be a better runner.
You can throw names of great runners at me, heroes of the sport, Olympians, elites, the fastest-of-the-fast in distance running, but my running hero will always be the man who inspired me to run in the first place – Howard A. Brady – my grandpa.
My grandpa, Howard A. Brady - Chasing Pavements
Me - Chasing Pavements - following in his footsteps
I can’t help myself. See cookie. See that it is gluten-free. See me devour. Cookie…good.
But I’m so particular about my cookies. No, really, I am. You see…in most cases I want my cookies to have that first initial snap to it and then be soft and chewy in the middle. To me, that is the perfect cookie.
So what compelled me to purchase a bag of Trader Joe’s Gluten-Free Crispy Crunchy Chocolate Chip Cookies while on a recent grocery shopping expedition is beyond me. Crunchy cookies…not my thing. The fact that even the bag declares that these are crispy and crunchy should have put me off immediately. But…they didn’t. Which can mean only one thing…I wanted gluten-free cookies, dammit!
Opening up the package, what I find inside is two small sleeves of seven cookies. The serving size is two cookies, so I went ahead and doled that out. These cookies are very thin, and you can definitely tell simply from handling them that they are going to be “crispy crunchy.” I was hoping they wouldn’t be like munching on miniature, wafer-thin hockey pucks. But there was only one way to find out.
What I discovered was Trader Joe’s managed to bake with rice flour and do it right! Yes, these cookies do come with a crunch to them. But, just as the package states, they have an amazing buttery flavor to them and they just sort of melt in your mouth. No bite lacked chocolate chips. In fact, these tasted…wait for it…homemade.
Ingredients couldn’t be simper: semi-sweet chocolate chips, rice flour, butter, brown sugar, sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, baking soda, salt, xanthan gum, water. I have every single one of those ingredients in my own home. No joke. No weirdly named chemicals. No high fructose corn syrup. Nothing that I couldn’t just reach into my pantry and fridge, knock together, and bake up myself. How fantastic is that.
For being anti-crunchy cookie, these won over the cookie monster raging inside of me. Crispy…check. Crunchy…check. Chocolate-chippy (it’s an adjective, people!)…check. Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth flavor…check. Homemade…not this time. And I’m okay with that. Because when it comes to gluten-free cookies, Trader Joe’s did something so very right with these. I need to pick up another pack next time I’m in Louisville and visiting our local Trader Joe’s.
Even if crispy crunchy cookies aren’t your thing…give these a try. They will win you over as they did me.
Against The Grain Gourmet Gluten-Free Three Cheese Pizza
Product: Against The Grain Gourmet Three Cheese Pizza – $10.49+
Pizza.
It’s the go-to dinner of most people everywhere. Need an easy dinner, just bosh one in the oven or, even better, stop by the local pizza place and bring one home, already ready to eat. Simple, right?
Well, yes…if you are most people. I used to be most people…and then gluten-intolerance hit. I thought, for awhile, my pizza days were over. Which, naturally, meant it was all I craved.
Thankfully, I have discovered fantastic gluten-free frozen pizza crusts as well as gluten-free pizza crust mixes in order to make up my own. That also gives me freedom to toss whatever sounds appetizing on the pizza shell, and to let my creative culinary juices flow. Yeah…we all love coming up with flavor combinations for the pizza right?
Sure.
But there are days where you come home from a long, stressful day at the office, and you want pizza, but you don’t want to put a lot of effort into it. Thanks to advances in gluten-free products, there are a myriad of different gluten-free frozen pizzas out there. These are your simple take out of package, put on baking sheet, and bake according to package. Remove before cheese browns. Enjoy. Yes…that kind.
And, I think I hit it out of the park with Against The Gain Gourmet’s Gluten-Free Three Cheese Pizza. This isn’t the first product by Against The Grain that I have consumed. I absolutely was knocked head-over-heels with their gluten-free baguettes. And, truthfully, they hit it out of the park with their pizzas too.
Against The Grain Gourmet Gluten-Free Three Cheese Pizza (baked)
Nothing could be simpler. An easy bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes and then viola…dinner is served. I don’t have the proper pan (or stone) to get a crispy crust, but I’m okay with that. The pizza cooked up amazing!! You wouldn’t even be able to tell it was frozen. Yes…it’s so good you could pass it off as your own creation, done from scratch. The crust has this amazing flavor to it…a little cheesy…with a bit of a crisp, and then soft. It was amazing. Top it off with three different cheeses, in this case, mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan. Those are deliciously spread out over a tasty layer of tomato sauce. What makes this even more fantastic is the blurb on Against The Grain Gourmet’s Web site, declaring that each of their products are prepared by hand using fresh, all natural ingredients, with no preservatives, artificial flavors, trans fats, or additives. As they say, “We crack each egg, shred our own cheese, and chop fresh spices.” What other company can guarantee that level of freshness to their products? Not many.
This pizza was phenomenal. Beyond any frozen pizza I’ve ever had. Beyond any fresh pizza I’ve ever had. The cheesy flavors melt together and create this powerhouse of pizza flavor. The flavors, the pizza…it speaks for itself. It was really, really hard not to eat the entire thing in one sitting. Yes…it’s that delicious!
I love something about a company that finds no need to fancy up their packaging with pictures of the food inside. Not Against The Grain. Instead, they simply leave a window in the box, so that you can see the food that awaits you. No smoke and mirrors. No image that looks absolutely nothing like what is actually inside the box. What you see is what you get. And what you get is one of the best gluten-free products out there from a company that prides itself on doing gluten-free right!
Whether you need to eat gluten-free or not, I urge you to find Against The Grain’s pizzas (probably at Whole Foods) and try them out. I promise you…you won’t be disappointed. And, now the gluten-free community has a pizza to brag about. Because this…is pizza voodoo, my friends. It’s a wonderful, amazing, orgasmic, gluten-free food that has set the bar high for all the other frozen, gluten-free pizzas out there.
Slice up a piece for yourself. Go ahead. Oh…and would you mind if I came over for a slice?
Two slices (serving size) of Against The Grain Gourmet Gluten-Free Three Cheese Pizza (with a toasted Against The Grain Gourmet Baguette)
Do you know what’s worse than falling in love with a product?
Falling in love with a product that is only around once a year.
That’s what happens every holiday season when the various ‘seasonal’ beverages hit the grocery store. Yes…I’m looking at you mint chocolate milks, nogs, and pumpkin spice.
Of course, out of all the options out there, mint chocolate is the only one I ever indulge in. Why? Because it’s mint. It’s chocolate. It’s epic yum!
Last year was the first time I ever had Silk Mint Chocolate. I bought it to make some vegan mint chocolate truffles. And it was love at first taste. Not just used in the truffles, but all the leftover had to be consumed. Nothing goes to waste in this household. So, it was a nice treat for the couple of days it remained in my fridge. But it was gone too soon.
This delectable seasonal beverage is a fantastic blend of chocolate (right there…it wins) and peppermint. It’s the perfect balance too. Not too rich, and not to overpowering with the mint. It’s ideal to bake with as well as stir into coffee, or warm up and enjoy as a hot chocolate. Oh…it’s good cold too.
I really, really hate seeing the seasonal drinks go away once the holidays are over. Mint chocolate is good any time of year…not just between Thanksgiving and New Year’s. Trust me. It’s one of the best combinations ever invented. I fell in love with this drink a year ago and gave the section a hug when it reappeared this year during the holidays. Yes…I was that excited about it. I guess part of the novelty is it is something you have to look forward to getting every year.
So, I encourage all of you mint chocolate lovers to give Silk Mint Chocolate Soy Milk a taste. You might have to wait until the holidays roll around again…but it is a wait worth enduring. Trust me.
And stock up. It’s good advice. Trust me. I have three more cartons in the fridge.
Awhile back, Runner’s World contributor, Mark Remy, posted a blog called “The Beauty of the ‘Lowercase R’ Run”, where he waxes rhapsodic about the difference between a Run and a run…and how important taking time to go for a run (lowercase ‘r’) is.
I got back to that today, as I opted to go for a run on my lunch break. Normally, even on days where I sporadically decide to go for a run, I log a Run. You know…I run as hard as I can as fast as I can and I don’t stop until I’ve accomplished some goal that I set out to achieve. It had been ages since I just logged a simple, easy run. I get caught up in training for upcoming races that sometimes I forget the glory of the lowercase ‘r’ run.
So, what is the difference?
Let me quote Mark Remy’s fantastic article:
For nearly all of my running life, I’ve been logging Runs — uppercase-R Runs. Uppercase-R Runs are Very Important Runs. They’re things like Long Runs. Or Tempo Runs. Speedwork. Even just a few easy miles can be an uppercase-R Run, because when you’re Training (uppercase “T”), that’s a Recovery Run.
And those lowercase ‘r’ runs? Well, he describes those as the runs that you don’t pay attention to pace, to time, to how long you’re out there. You find yourself simply running (or jogging) and soaking in everything else. You don’t find yourself gasping for breath at the end of it. But you come away with this feeling of refreshment. That you accomplished something. And that it felt good. No pressure. No high standards. Just you…your shoes…the road (or treadmill).
These runs are SO important. And I had forgotten about how important they are.
Did I run fast? Nope. An easy pace of about 6.4 mph on the treadmill over at the gym. I ran for 20 minutes. I logged 2.1 miles. And I didn’t find myself glancing at the clock to see how much longer I had. I just took the run for what it was…a simple, easy run.
I’m coming off a run streak. The days I don’t run I feel weird. These easy, filler runs, might just be what the doctor ordered. From running every day from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Day to dropping back to the normal routine hasn’t been an easy transition for me. I found the running streak has, indeed, helped me with my running. I run faster. I run better. But in order to keep it going, I think these lowercase ‘r’ runs need to find their way back into my dailies. Even if it is just for 20 minutes while on lunch break.
While you should always strive to Run…always find time, during the week, or at least once a month, for a run.
Trust me…it’s a feeling I can’t even put into words…but it reminds me just why I love running and Running so much.
Crossing the finish line of the Frostbite 5K - Cherokee Park - Louisville, Kentucky
Race: Frostbite 5K
Place: Cherokee Park, Louisville, KY
Date: January 7, 2012
Time: 26:12
First race of 2012 and what a way to kick it off. I think the running I did in December has definitely been a big help to me, so I hope to keep up this trend as the year progresses and maybe, just maybe, set a new 5K PR. I came close on this race.
Here’s the deal. Cherokee Park is loaded with steep climbs up hills. This is no exaggeration. While I have run it numerous times before in various other races, nothing ever prepares me for the hills. They are killer.
And this race…we started off with quite a long uphill climb. I was determined to keep my pace as much as possible without wearing out my legs before I even got to the first mile marker. So, while I felt I was moving slowly, I suppose I was doing better than I thought. I would like to thank my incline training on the treadmill in recent weeks for that. Because at Mile 1, I was clocking in at 8:41 seconds.
But there is a bit more to this story…
I had it all planned out in my head. Get up in the morning. Relax online. Perhaps do a pre-race blog. Drink water. Have a light breakfast. Drink more water. Charge iPod Nano. Add to playlist of iPod Nano. Get dressed. Wait for roommate to consume her breakfast. Head out to race. Run.
But the best laid plans never quite work out that way.
Around 2:00 a.m., unknown to me, the batteries in my alarm clock died. So, I just happened to wake up randomly and reach out to check my iPhone time and saw that it was 6:43 a.m. My roommate was set to be awake at 6:45 a.m. so she could eat breakfast and we could head out to Cherokee Park and find decent enough parking since it is always an issue when I run there. Like I said…the best laid plans…
Getting out of bed, immediately I had a sour feeling in my stomach. Great. Just what I needed was an upset tummy on race day. I hurried from my room to preheat the oven and then dashed back into my room, grabbed my running clothes and changed. I laced up my shoes and by the time I came back out, my roommate was on the sofa, wondering what the hell was going on. I poured cereals, did up some scrambled eggs and a slice of Ghost Toast for her to nosh on, and then consumed my cereal and drank one glass of water. My stomach didn’t feel any better.
Dishes were done. She was changed. And we hustled out the door to get to Cherokee Park over the river.
We got there in good time, but the normal start place was not bustling as usual. So, we began following others, who apparently were also looking for the start of the race, and we ended up making some turns as the lead car (bless their hearts) finally asked for directions. We found our way to what looked like the start, parked all the way at the crest of a steep hill and made our way down. I went to get my packet, tech t-shirt, and some pins for my number. I got pinned up (I was number 89, WOOHOO!) and then began to do my stretches and get warmed up.
As I was standing there, I learned a lesson in patience. Not because I was eager to get on with the race (although, I was), but because beside me was a couple who had two children in the race. And the entire time we were standing there, they were barking orders at the kids, about proper pace, technique, who is going to be who into the finish line, etc. And it angered me because that’s the quickest way to make a child hate a sport. You take the fun out of it and they no longer what to do it. I had to move away for fear that I might turn and say something, when it really is none of my business. But I really, really wanted to shake them and tell them just to let their kids enjoy the race. Winning isn’t everything. Needless to say, they encouraged their young children to be at the very front when the race was to start, and those in charge of the race insisted they get moved back for safety reasons. Oy. Stage parents for runners.
The time to line up at the start came and I positioned myself, as I normally do, toward the front center to keep my pace steady. I find this to be a good strategy for me, who isn’t out to win, but just to run. I have my own goals in mind when I line up at that start. Normally, it’s just to do my best and just run the entire thing…no matter how steep the hills may be. And at Cherokee Park…they’re pretty steep.
We were huddled at the start for a few moments and then, the whistle blew and we were off. I was feeling better. My stomach was beginning to settle, and I started off at a decent enough pace, I figured. And then…ahead was a hill. And it just kept going up…up…up…up…(you get the picture). I braced for it, and began the steady climb, feeling my legs fight gravity, slowing down just so I could keep breathing normally. Hills always get me. It never fails. I watch other runners power up them with ease at these races where I fall behind, fight for breath, push myself harder just to make the climb. Some make it look so easy. I envy them. I don’t think hills will ever be easy for me. But I do want to get better at them. There’s a goal there…
At mile 1, my time was called out at 8:41. I was already running faster than normal. I took it for what it was worth, considering hills were involved. I did whisper to myself to ease up…not to get going to fast because tired legs at the end of a race suck. The goal is to finish strong. Before I knew it, mile 2 was creeping up. My time wasn’t called out, but I was feeling a little tired. I pressed on though. Made the turn and headed back. And then I saw people who had already finished. I had runners shouting to finish strong.
FINISH STRONG!
Unaware of any timing (I do not wear a watch when I run), I just pressed on harder, sped up as much as I thought my body could take. And when I crossed the finish line, I saw that I was in 26 minutes with some low seconds. It was an amazing feeling. Second fastest 5K time and the official time wasn’t even known to me yet. I went and got some water to rehydrate, walked around a bit, and then, since I had to get things done and get ready to head out of town for the rest of the day, head home. No award ceremony for me this time. I never win, but I do love cheering for those who do.
It was while I was at lunch that the official time was posted for the Frostbite 5K. I let out a squeal of joy when I saw 26:12. I couldn’t believe it. Only 14 seconds short of beating my fastest 5K yet. And my fastest 5K time came on a really, really flat course back in October during the Louisville Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event. So, coming that close on a hilly course made me feel unstoppable. I have been working intervals and inclines into my running prior to this, and it seems to be paying off.
I texted my mom the news of my time and she came back with words I will treasure always. She said:
The Celiathlete 