Last weekend I was out of town and was on the go the entire time (not a bad thing!), so sitting down and sharing some of the high points of my week was not an option. And while I’ve been pressed for time this week…and with the fact that it’s Easter and I spent much of my morning doing meal prep for the week, and the afternoon over at Amanda & Richie’s for dinner with the family…it has left me with little time to really plot out my blog.
This week has been a big hot mess of fatigue. My trip to New York City was amazing, but I was dead on my feet. I got in well after midnight on Tuesday, and still hauled myself out of bed early to get to my 5:30 am spin class on Wednesday morning. I was exhausted, but I was glad I went. Early mornings and late nights followed, trying to make up some time and work from being out of the office for 2 full days…and it all got done in the end, but it was some really busy, long days.
All that being said…there is plenty to be happy and thankful for this week. And being tired due to having the opportunity and ability to go out of town and see places and do things…is more than enough. It makes the overwhelming fatigue that I felt yesterday worth it. In the end.
So, here are a few treats to share this Easter that just made me happy this week.
1. NEW YORK CITY
Me running through the 10K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
Cathy, Me and Marisa after a great evening of celebration at Red Rooster Harlem.
It was my first actual distance race back after returning to running after over a year. A half marathon. It was one that I had to defer last year because of the hip labrum (which we didn’t even know was the issue at that point). The chance to run it this year had me feeling nervous and excited and happy all at the same time. The weather was bitter cold and super windy (what’s new, NYC?!), but every mile was magical for me. I felt good. And definitely surprised myself when I came in to the finish line well ahead of what I thought I was capable of.
But this was more than just the race. I got to meet up with my friend Ellen (who was also running) the day before the race. And…I got to see my friend from high school, Marisa, not once, but twice. I love seeing Marisa when I am in the city. She knows all these great places to check out and has suggestions about things to see when we are in various areas. I drank in every bit of NYC…enjoyed amazing food…great company…and yeah…went on a little run.
Finishing the race was a gift in and of itself…finishing it faster than I thought I was capable of…a surprise…being uninjured at the end and able to wander around NYC for the rest of the day…a blessing…hanging out with good people who make my life better…priceless.
Can I go back now?
2. Gluten Free Easter Treats
My allergen-free bakery is at it again for the Easter holiday. They often do up a good number of Easter treats, and this year they had some new ones to indulge in. You better believe I ordered some of everything. Two egg sugar cookies, 2 chocolate bunnies, and 6 sunbutter chocolate truffles. I’ve already indulged more than a little. As always, Annie May’s Sweet Cafe makes the most delicious treats. They go all-out for these holidays and I’m proud to support them and indulge myself in the amazing goodness they put out on a daily basis. If you are in Louisville, Kentucky…you need to stop in. Their gluten-free pizza, soft pretzels (only on Wednesday) and all their standard goodies…are fantastic. You can even order some of their stuff online. DO IT!!
3. Back On Track With Home Cooked, Fresh, Vegan Meals While I am never one to deny myself good food and treats while I am on vacation…often the week I get back, I’m living off the stuff in my fridge and my pantry. This morning, I enjoyed spending 3 hours of my time prepping healthy, plant-based meals for the rest of the coming week. I have soups, pasta dishes, sandwiches, and some rice dishes planed. All healthy. All vegan. All completely and totally YUMMY! It feels good to get back to cooking my delicious and healthy foods up again to enjoy for (sometimes) breakfast, lunch and dinner each day of the week. Easy to enjoy as I do all the work ahead of the time. Makes those crazy hill repeat days and spin class days and just…hectic days that much easier. Cooking is love. Eating is fun. And this kind of food makes me feel better about myself and how I am fueling and feeding this body.
4. Zootopia Dress and Officer Judy Hopps While in NYC, Cathy wanted to buy me a present for finishing a great NYC Half Marathon race. So…I thought about getting the stuffed animal from the Disney Store in Times Square of Officer Judy Hopps in her uniform. She is apparently very popular…they kept selling out. Judy is apparently very popular. So, we ended up getting her back in our Disney Store in Louisville. Super happy. I love her.
And then, later on that day while making a random stop at Target, I noticed a dress in the girls section of Zootopia. It was totally adorable. It was also an XL. And I held it up and thought…”I wonder if this would fit me.” Well, I took it to the dressing room, so ready to be disappointed…but…IT FIT!! So, I bought it. Yep…I’m 35 years old and shopping in the girls section. Seriously…I wore the dress today with some leggings. TOTALLY adorable. So much love for Zootopia.
5. Glow In The Dark Easter Egg Hunt
I love my downstairs neighbors. They’re the best. They are also moving…(seriously…this bums me out!). Not far…but they won’t just be a staircase away anymore. Anyway, they invited Cathy and I out for a glow in the dark Easter egg hunt on Friday night. I had SUCH a blast. So much fun. I’m so glad they thought to have us out so we could hide and seek eggs with them, and their adorable and awesome son as well. Yep…it’s going to be hard to let them leave. But, we’re already talking about all the get-togethers we’ll still have. And girls nights. Those are important too. It just will involve some drive time. We’re totally making this work. Anyway…glow in the dark anything is awesome. Easter egg hunt…a total blast. Even in the cold night air.
6. A New PR
It was one of those runs that I end up running faster than I feel I am running. The Papa John’s 10 Miler felt so EASY to me. The hills are always hard…but I climbed them. I beat them. And I had so much left in me at the finish line. AND…I had a new 2 minute PR…in a race I was just running as I felt. I wasn’t trying for a PR or trying to run fast. It just happened. Even with the hip protesting for 8 of the 10 miles. I am shocked and surprised. But what a feeling. I hope, one day, to feel comfortable to push like I used to. Right now, running what I feel has shown me that I still have more in me. One day I’ll harness it. I’m just not ready yet. But a new PR is a new PR. And I’m proud of it and happy to have it.
Me at the start of the 2016 Papa John’s 10 Miler – Louisville, Kentucky
Race: Papa John’s 10 Miler
Place: Louisville, Kentucky
Date: March 26, 2016
Time:1:16:41
Three years after I last ran my favorite race held in Louisville…I finally returned. I absolutely LOVE the Papa John’s 10 Miler. Seriously. I don’t call a race my favorite in the area if it really isn’t my favorite. I just love this race, despite the hills of Iroquois Park and all of that.
It has been a crazy couple of weeks for racing (heh…I guess when I get back into something, I totally jump right back into it, eh?). Two 2 mile sprints, a half marathon in NYC, and now a 10 miler. Whew.
Let me tell you, the travel time and early mornings to fit in some makeup time at the office have really caught up to me too. I was TIRED. T-I-R-E-D. In fact, I had logged online after doing my dynamic stretches Saturday morning before leaving for the race, and ended up almost falling asleep. Instead, though, I ate my breakfast (Chocolate Chex…yum!), brushed my teeth, and got my race bib pinned on and put on the clothes I could discard before the start…because the 32 degree air (with it feeling like 29 degrees) meant layers were necessary. And then…the trek over the river to Louisville.
Normally, the parking situation for the Papa John’s 10 Miler is easy. Park at the stadium. Good to go. Not so much this year. They weren’t letting anyone park at the stadium this time around. So…that was unexpected and different. Cathy and I ended up turning around and pulling into the parking lot of some little business and parking there, hoping against all odds that we didn’t get ticketed or towed. Seems a lot of people followed suit with that as well. Because we parked and soon the entire lot was parked up and so was the lawn. Go figure. We then had over a mile to hike from the car to start line due to this…so that was my warm up. Because I wasn’t going to have time to do my stretches prior to the start at this rate. I ate my banana as we walked and made the climb up the stairs to the overpass and crossed, where other runners were also making their way that way. Got there with 10 minutes to spare. Stretches weren’t happening. I shed my outer layer and went to go get into the massive group of people crowding the start gate. The wheelchair and pushers were set to go off first…so that was the beginning of the race. My friend, Daniel, was one of the pushers. These runners are amazing. And the wheelchair racers…inspiring. Especially on those hills in Iroquois.
Soon after the wheelchair and pushers were off…the start of the race was next. And with a “Runners on your mark…GO!” A horn sounded and we were off. It took me less than a minute to get to the start gate, and as I ran through, I saw Cathy waiving the sign and gave her a goofy “raise the roof” move and ran past. I was off.
Just coming off a half marathon in NYC, I had no plans to do anything but comfortably run this race. I had no idea what my previous times (I have run it 2 times before) were for this race. I didn’t look them up. Something I sort of lamented around Mile 2, haha! I think it was better that way. It meant I really would just run this as I felt.
Me making the final turn toward the finish line of the Papa John’s 10 Miler – Louisville, Kentucky
Unfortunately, the cold air plays havoc with my hip these days. I am not saying it’s perfect in warmer temperatures, but it’s 70% harder in cold weather. The hip adductor locks up, gets tight…hurts. So, once again, I had to really make sure I focused on my form, on lifting that right leg up, on not doing any damage to myself. Stress fractures are not welcome here. Ever. Again. Between Mile 1 and 2…I heard someone call my name and turned around, and there was Geri. So that was really great. She was the first person to really take note of how my running form and style has changed since seeing my running specialist. She’s training for Boston…and London…and Grandma’s…and I’m sure another amazing adventure too. Beast mode is always on with Geri.
So, after all of that, I ran the rest of Southern Parkway and made the turn onto New Cut Road, running toward the entrance of Iroquois Park. Mile 3 is just before the turn into the park. I hit it and began to make the turn into the park. As I started on the hilly route, I came across Daniel and the athlete he was pushing for the race. I tapped him on the shoulder and told him that he was awesome. He said, “And you’re in neon…as always.” I might have a reputation, LOL! And just around Mile 4, I was running past the amphitheater and I heard Tammy and Dan start shouting at me. I gave them a wave and a smile…and it really just lifted me. The hills started soon after that…the first one is the one the training group does hill repeats on, and I took it easy on that. First hill. Done. The downhill was awesome, but I knew there were more hills to come. I let momentum carry me down, and did that throughout the rest of the park. Just after Mile 6, we come back out onto Southern Parkway for the straightaway back toward Papa John’s Stadium.
With the cold weather, there weren’t as many spectators that were out, but there were some…and I was happy to have them there. I ran comfortably, trading back and forths with a few runners. It amazes me how fast and hard people can push at later miles. Currently, I’m not ready to push…but I love hearing people discuss their paces and goals. My favorite was this mother running with her young son…around Mile 7 she said, “We only have one more hill at the overpass.” And they ran past me. I loved seeing that. They stuck together the entire time.
Miles 7-9 are all down Eastern Parkway, and then, right at the corner with the Starbucks, is Mile 9. Then, yes…the hill up over the overpass. My friend, Melissa, said that I really pushed her those last few miles. What a compliment. She was strong the entire time. Hills didn’t slow her down. Nothing seemed to. I hope to get back to that level some day. After climbing the hill, it was down and around to make the turn to take us into the stadium. Down the ramp, onto the AstroTurf, and I started to book it as much as I could toward that finish line. I could hear Cathy screaming at me from across the stadium, for real. I really pressed on the speed as much as I could (and that’s still not much right now) and ran across that finish line.
I felt great. I was smiling. I had a photographer come over to take my picture and then tell me that “he almost missed me.” Neon and all, yeah…I didn’t stand out much. LOL!! As I just got my medal, I heard someone say, “Karen?” It was Greg from Frankfort. We hugged and stood around talking for awhile about running and racing and things we have coming up, officially and unofficially. He took a picture of Melissa and I, because Greg is awesome like that. It was nice to see him again. He said at one point in Iroquois, we were running side by side, just like the 10K in Frankfort a couple years ago. I didn’t even notice…but he knew it was me. Guess I was in my zone.
I made my way out of the finish area and caught up with Cathy. She said the lines for the massages weren’t long so I went and stood in line. My friend, Renee, who I know from the YMCA and spin class came over and she had a new PR by 6 minutes. That’s huge. Cathy looked up my time on the official tracker…and I PR’d by 2 full minutes. 2 minutes, from the year I was running my best. What. The. Hell. I’m not complaining, but I wasn’t even trying. That’s…amazing. I was a little sore…I still blame most of that on the cold. But I felt good. And that was such a boost. The massage, by the way, felt great.
Finisher of the 3016 Papa John’s 10 Miler – Louisville, Kentucky
So…the official results of the 2016 Papa John’s 10 Miler were that I finished in 1:16:41, shaving about 2 minutes off my time from 2013. I couldn’t believe it. I was just running as I felt, and I felt I was running much easier and slower than I had run this race in the past. Like I said, sometimes I surprise myself. A lot of times that happens when I’m tired or not at my best (like with a tight and sore hip)! I was 361/5188 overall, the 71/2915 female to cross the finish line, and I was 13/466 in my division. I couldn’t be more proud of myself. Or surprised. Again.
I feel a little more confident these days when I hit the roads, but I’m still very careful and tentative. Honestly. But, it feels good to say that this run felt easy…and when I crossed that finish line, I felt that I could have given a bit more. That’s a good feeling. I hope I can continue to make easy and steady progress, and one day feel a little more confident and ready to push. Because I am excited to see what I can make this body do.
Thanks for continuing to be my favorite Louisville race, Papa John’s 10 Miler. This is what keeps me coming back for more.
Product: Luna Burger BBQ Pure Plant Veggie Burger – $6.99+
There is just something so amazing and comforting about a good veggie burger. The problem that I find, thank you Celiac Disease, is that most veggie burgers on the market use some sort of vital wheat gluten or gluten-containing binder to give them their “meaty” texture. It sort of takes all the veggie burger eating fun out of it for the gluten-free.
Now, don’t get me wrong, there are many gluten-free veggie burger options in the freezer sections these days. I’ve pretty much tried them all. And they’re a wide range of amazing perfection to…eh…it’s alright.
And just when I think I have pretty much sampled them all, my roommate finds a new one to try. The Brand…Luna Burger.
Not familiar with Luna Burger? Neither was I at the time. But there it was (only one gluten-free variety among the various Luna Burger line), in the freezer section of Columbus, Ohio’s very own natural food store, Raisin Rack. I. LOVE. RAISIN. RACK. It’s required shopping whenever I go to Columbus. No joke. It really is. Grocery budgets are planned around the Raisin Rack visit.
Anyway, I digress. So, here was this small, unassuming box containing two (2) veggie burger patties…by Luna Burger. Luna Burger is actually based out of Columbus, Ohio. This company makes artisan veggie burgers with Ohio-grown ingredients. How amazing is that? The only gluten-free option they have is the BBQ Burger, but their vegan line-up includes Classic, Garden Thyme, Farmhouse Chili, Peanut-Cilantro, and Kickstart Sausage Patties. I wish I could try all of them, but, alas…the BBQ Luna Burger is it for me. Luna Burgers are available at many of Central Ohio farmers’ markets, as well as stores and restaurants throughout Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. They can also be ordered for delivery through Green B.E.A.N. Delivery (which I have and use) in certain markets. And, yes…these can also be ordered online.
This past week, since returning from New York City, it’s been a live out of the pantry/fridge/freezer week. Use up some things and not spend money on more groceries. HA! I am on a very tight budget these days thanks to a raise in rent..and those constant medical bills. BLARF! So, yesterday, I was digging around for something to have for dinner and I remembered that I had a box of the Luna Burger BBQ Pure Plant Veggie Burgers in my freezer. I had just picked up some Allergen Free Sandwich Buns from my local allergen-free bakery (Annie May’s Sweet Cafe), and had some greens, tomatoes and onions that needed some using up. I also had some Alexia Fries in my freezer too…so it turned into a burger and fries night.
I love burger and fries night. Not going to lie. The problem is finding a decent gluten-free veggie burger that doesn’t squish out of the bun or crumble with the first bite. It is nearly impossible. Not only that, I don’t want something that is flavorless or tastes like cardboard…or worse. Been there, experienced that. I want something that makes me feel like I’m eating a real burger. I was hoping that the Luna Burgers would live up to my own high gluten-free veggie burger expectations!
My amazing veggie burger & fries night made possible by Luna Burger BBQ Pure Plant Veggie Burgers
So, I popped the fries into the oven for the 16 minutes it would take to cook them. Then, I got out my skillet and turned on medium heat. Opening up the box, I found two thick (yes…THICK) four ounce (4 oz) patties ready to hit the heat. I placed each one on the skillet and began to slowly cook it per the instructions on the box. When I flipped the fries and set the sandwich buns on the baking sheet to toast lightly, I flipped the burgers too. A few pieces flaked off, but for the most part, the Luna Burger BBQ Pure Plant Veggie Burgers held their own in the cooking process. I was actually impressed. No trying to piece burgers back together. That was a nice change of pace for sure. When the fries were done, I began to layer up the sandwich buns to build a huge…hefty…but amazing veggie burger. Bun…mustard…greens…Luna Burger patty…tomato, onion, avocado…more mustard…and the other half of the sandwich bun. Oh…I was already trying to figure out how I was going to get my mouth around the entire thing. It was a beautiful thing for sure.
But the big test always comes with that first bite. And this burger delivered. I was really impressed with how the Luna Burger BBQ Pure Plant Veggie Burgers cooked. But I was even more impressed with how they held up when being handled and eaten. Honestly, most gluten-free veggie burgers crumble and fall apart with each bite. They squish out of the bun and lack that “meaty” texture that you want…even with a veggie burger. The opposite was the case with the Luna Burger BBQ Veggie Burger. I loved the texture. It was soft, but got that nice crust on each side, giving it this great burger texture. It didn’t fall out of my bun or crumble when I picked it up and took large bites. I was beyond impressed with the myriad of flavors that came in this burger as well. I don’t know if I got that smokey BBQ flavor that, but I did get a little bit of heat and sweetness. And it definitely made for an amazing and interesting (in a good way) flavor profile. Totally hoping somewhere around here carries these, because I would LOVE to have them in my freezer again. Delicious!!
Let’s discuss the ingredients that go into the Luna Burger BBQ Pure Plant Veggie Burgers. These burgers are made from brown rice, black beans, onion, brown rice flour, carrots, tomatoes, peaches, sunflower seeds, kale, molasses, garlic, jalapeno peppers, apple cider vinegar, salt, ground mustard, and black pepper. This burger is gluten-free, wheat-free, corn-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, and contains no extra oils.
As far as nutrition goes, Luna Burger BBQ Pure Plant Veggie Burgers live up to their healthy packaging. A serving size is 1 burger (114 grams) and there are two (2) burgers per box. A serving will provide you with 170 calories, 2.5 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 310 mg sodium, 31 grams carbohydrates, 5 grams fiber, 3 grams sugars, and 7 grams of protein. This is a filling, healthy, completely vegan product that makes you feel good about eating it. I mean, Luna Burger uses locally sourced fruits, grains, vegetables, and herbs. LOVE it.
The Luna Burger BBQ Pure Plant Veggie Burgers definitely rank up there in gluten-free veggie burger options. Not my #1 choice, but definitely close. Perfect texture, flavor, and so satisfying. You can’t go wrong. Need to treat yourself to some comfort food…turn to Luna Burger for your veggie burger needs.
But remember…only the BBQ variety is gluten-free and vegan!
Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cream Cheeze
Product: Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze – $7.99+
Not surprisingly, one of the things I miss the most is real…actual…cheese. My lactose intolerance has not only gotten worse over the past year, but it makes indulging in things like cheese…virtually impossible anymore. The same goes for ice cream, but, I sometimes try and pray that the lactase enzyme supplements help (sometimes they do…more often than not…they don’t). But cheese and I don’t really get along at all these days.
Which sucks.
Mightily.
But then…by magical happenstance (perhaps rainbow unicorn pixie dust)…one day while “just browsing” at Whole Foods, I stumbled upon Heidi Ho Organics, which was apparently featured on Shark Tank and has really made a name for itself in the vegan cheese market. I figure there must be a vegan cheese markets. Vegans love cheese too…they just don’t eat it. But, obviously, they want to…because vegan cheese is made. And consumed. A lot.
Heidi Ho was created by Heidi K. Lovig, a fanatic about farm-to-table dining, sustainability, seasonal menus, and buying local. This vegan chef honed in on her skills during her time living on the Big Island of Hawaii in a sustainable community where she managed an eco hostel and farm. She trained with vegans and raw foodies from around the world, thus developing a deeper connection to the ingredients she uses in her cooking. Lovig moved to Portland a few years ago and began training at Le Cordon Bleu to obtain her degree in Culinary Arts. With a focus on local, organic, and sustainable practices, she turned her attention to the environmental issues humans have created due to food supply structures and our current system of distribution. At her side is Lyssa M. Story, “the Boss” at Heidi Ho. She runs the show and is the brains behind every facet of its operations. From HR to business plans and projections, to law, licensing, accounting, banking, money, organization, and keeping Chef Heidi on track. Story has an extensive background in the food and beverage industry, and attended the Western Culinary Institute Le Cordon Bleu, where she received an Associates degree in Occupational Studies – Hospitality and Restaurant Management. Story was raised on the standard American diet, which, over time, jeopardized her health. At the age of 22, she began a plant based and whole foods diet.
So, these two ladies set out to create delicious plant-based cheezes using ingredients that are healthier for their consumers…as well as the planet. Hedi Ho is the future of cheese – aiming to be the cheese that creates change. They take great pride in the values they uphold in their company and products. They sell cheeze that is superior in flavor and quality over the rest on the market.
Guess what…they succeed. The introduction of this plant-based comfort food is a game changer for vegans out there. They say on their Web site that their Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze is “a delicious live culture cashew cheeze made from simple plant-based ingredients. It’s like goat cheese without the goat.” In fact, Ne Chevre means “No Goat” in French. So…that’s really straight forward. HAHA!
Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze on a Sweet Note Gluten Free Tomato Basil Bagel
The Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Cultures Cashew Cheese is a fantastic spreadable cheese that would be perfect for crackers, or sprinkled over salads, or even just spread across a savory gluten-free bagel (which is what I did with it! Oh, and then later did it again, topping it with marinara and dried basil for bagel pizzas…oh yeah!). Who needs vegan cream cheese when you can spread a non-goat goat cheese over something packed with tomato and basil flavors, right? A great product to pair with white wines, grapes, walnuts and spicy jams, this is a versatile and crazy-good spread. I loved the texture (creamy, not gritty) and the wow-power of the flavor (not as strong as goat cheese, but bringing this powerful flavor that mimics goat cheese). Seriously, this would be good in just about anything. Maybe even subbing it for ricotta cheese in lasagnas or such. I know, for me, it upped my bagel game to 11. Heidi Ho Organics may have created the Spinal Tap of vegan cheese here. I honestly loved the sharp, tangy and creamy mouthfeel that came with each bite of this cheese. It had a bit of a salty flavor, but it didn’t distract from the flavor of the cheese itself. Beyond impressed!! No surprise though, as I fell in love first with the Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Lava Cheeze (which I thought I reviewed, but didn’t), and the Heidi Ho Organics Creamy Chia Cheeze Sauce and the Spicy Chia Cheeze Sauce (also didn’t review that one…what is wrong with me??!)
So…now that I’ve went on and on and on with how (honestly) fantastic the Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze is…let’s take a look at what makes it that way. I absolutely adore an ingredient list that has ingredients that I, not only recognize, but also can pronounce. The Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze is made from organic cashews, water, sea salt, organic lemon, live cultures, nutritional yeast, and citric acid. All Heidi Ho vegan cheeses are organic, gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, low in sodium, and low in fat (although they taste like they are SO fattening…so you gotta love that little added bonus!).
Speaking of which, how about these nutritional facts?! A serving of the Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze is 1 ounce (28 grams…or about 1 tablespoon). This serving will provide you with 80 calories, 6 grams of fat, 1 gram saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 40 mg sodium, 4 grams carbohydrates, 0 grams fiber, 1 gram sugars, and 3 grams of protein.
I have now tried (but apparently need to blog about two of them) the four (4) versions of Heidi Ho Organics products that my Whole Foods currently carries. And I am absolutely enamored with them. They are a bit pricey, but you do get what you pay for. Heidi Ho Organics definitely delivers a delicious, amazing, and high quality product. I’m beyond impressed.
I just got home from New York City. When you’re in New York, you eat bagels. It’s what you do. Fortunately for me, there are a lot of places that offer gluten-free bagels throughout the city. Most of the bagel shops use a store brand version (like the one I went to…Tompkins Square Bagels), but at least I got to indulge. BTW…if you go to Tompkins Square Bagels, they have a variety of tofu cream cheeses (for people like me who don’t handle dairy well), which makes the bagel experience that much more authentic. For the record, I got a plain gluten free bagel there which I had them load up with the tofu veggie cream cheese. It was mighty good.
But…you can tell when a bagel is a store brand.
Tompkins Square Bagels could really benefit from picking up bagels from a company that does New York-style bagels right!
You want to talk about an appropriate bagel…you look to these ladies (and gentleman).
What’s even more exciting is that Sweet Note has expanded their flavor profile on their bagels. While they are getting rid of the Sesame Bagels (due to allergen concerns with sesame seeds now), they have added 4 new varieties to their already sought-after, highly delicious, amazing bagel lineup.
I think I have stumbled upon my new favorite from their latest creations. Seriously…i should have ordered 10 packs of these…
While I have already reviewed their new Garlic & Herb Bagels a few weeks ago…today I stepped it up, reached into my freezer, and delivered to my oven the epitome of every gluten-free bagel out there. Seriously…no comparison…nothing could live up to the flavors, texture, and sheer awesomeness of every bite of the brand new…
…wait for it…
SWEET NOTE GLUTEN FREE TOMATO BASIL BAGEL!!!!!!
Before I begin to wax rhapsodic about this bagel…let’s start with the basics. Keep these frozen . Do NOT thaw them out to room temperature ahead of time. It’s on the instructions on the packaging and in the box they arrive in. Do not ever think you know best. Simply place in the microwave for a minute to begin to thaw bagel from frozen. I have found that if I start with 30 seconds, then completely flip the bagel over for the remaining 30, they thaw out evenly and perfectly. If you eat a bagel in true New York fashion…stop here. If you, like me (despite being a New Yorker), like to toast up that bagel a wee bit…then stick it in your toaster (or if you, like me, do not own a toaster, get that oven going at 350°F and place on a baking sheet…toasting for about 15-20 minutes or less). My roommate was awake at this point, so I let them toast lightly while I went to shower, since I had just returned from my Friday morning spin class.
Timing is everything…and that just seems to be the perfect toasting time for these bagels for me. I don’t get them to the crispy on the inside point, but do get a nice, light, golden color to them. My apartment smelled frickin’ awesome this morning while these were working.
Since Tomato Basil is a bit more of a savory flavor, I opted for something different than your standard cream cheese. Because…why do anything normally? This was a brand new, exciting, culinary adventure. LIVE IT UP! I had a container of Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Pure Live Culture Cashew Cheeze. I used that! I’ll review Heidi Ho in a little while..but this is some of the best plant-based cheese I have ever had!! Goat cheese without the goat!! OH HELL YES!! On a tomato basil bagel…now I’m just out of control!! Somebody stop me!!
Or don’t…because…
HOLY GARDEN OF EATING!! Let me just say…the Sweet Note Gluten Free Tomato Basil Bagels are like eating a pizza first thing in the morning. It’s a bagel..that tastes like pizza. In fact, if I wanted to make bagel pizzas like I used to…this bagel would be the ideal base. No joke…packed…just loaded…overloaded…full of flavors. It has this rich tomato flavor to it, but the herb-y nature of the basil keeps the flavor profile balanced and just…awesome. Yep. Awesome is now a flavor profile descriptor. There are no other words to describe how life changing just one bite of this bagel was. If you are into savory flavors…THIS bagel will blow your culinary mind! Your taste buds will applaud each and every bite you take…whether you savor it (I tried…I tried…) or mow it down on the go (I might have power ate mine…a little…). If you’re a pizza freak (she’s a pizza freak…pizza freak…so hot and cheesy)…like I am…this bagel is calling your name. Loud and proud, my friends. I am in total and absolute love and now needing to go and buy at least 5 more packs of these. I will not rest until my freezer is properly stocked. Just…WOW!! Wow-factor…off the scale…off the chart…OFF THE CHAIN!!! Pairing it with a more “cheezy” spread was a wise decision I think too. While regular cream cheese would work just fine…this…highly complimented every bite. It was…virtually…pizza for breakfast. Just like when I was in college…ah…those good ol’ days.
Gluten Free and Vegan Pizza Bagels made with Sweet Note Bakery Gluten Free Tomato Herb Bagels
And…if that wasn’t enough, I went back for more. YES…MORE!! I came home from work and toasted up another round of these bagels. This time, along with the Heidi Ho Organics Ne Chevre Cheeze, I topped it with marinara and some dried basil…making bagel pizzas for dinner. And they were BEYOND fantastic. They were superbagelfragalisticexpizzalidocious! Blew me away. Pizza bagels…now that really did bring back some memories, LOL!! You’d think I was carb loading or something. But I’m not. I’m just LOVING these bagels.
If I don’t have your attention yet…then you’re not reading a thing I’ve written. But in case you need a little more…let’s talk about all the good things that go into the Sweet Note Gluten Free Tomato Basil Bagels, shall we? Real ingredients for starters. And it all starts with…LOVE. Yes…that’s an actual listed ingredient. Everything that makes these amazing New York-style, gluten-free bagels is listed here: Love, water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, brown sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, garlic, salt, tomato paste, and basil. Nothing fake or processed…just high quality, real products to make a high-quality real product. Eating a clean breakfast just got so much tastier. Sweet Note Gluten Free Tomato Basil Bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!! Vegan & Gluten Free bagels are now ready to be delivered right to your doorstep!
As far as nutrition goes, I LOVE that these bagels keep calories and fat in check. Honestly! A serving size is one (1) full bagel (not a half a bagel, but a full)…which is about 4.5 ounces (or 128 grams) of bagel-y goodness. Each pack of bagels comes with four (4) bagels inside. The Sweet Note Gluten Free Tomato Basil Bagel will deliver unto you…290 calories, 3.5 grams of fat, 0.5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, 62 grams carbohydrates, 4 grams fiber, 8 grams sugars, and 5 grams of protein. We are talking about the ultimate powerhouse of nutrients in a delicious carby package. Mmmm…carbs. With the high fiber and protein, you’ll feel full and satisfied long after your bagel is gone.
This flavor is not an online exclusive, but in case your local stores don’t carry Sweet Note Bagels or have yet to get their hands on the new flavor…you can order this (and go overboard, for real!) in their ONLINE STORE!
There is nothing better than taking your first bite of breakfast and being blown away by the intense, amazing flavors that touch your palate. This was the ideal way to start my Friday. Definitely sets the standard for the rest of what I consume today…which is in no way as interesting as my breakfast. For real. I mean, a gluten-free peanut butter & jelly sammie just isn’t the same as a gluten-free tomato basil bagel with a schmear of ne chevre cheeze. When you hear the old adage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day…believe it…and make it epic.
Sweet Note Bagels will definitely take you above and beyond that epic level. Don’t wait any longer if you haven’t tried these yet. DO IT!!
Me after finishing the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
Race: United Airlines NYC Half Marathon
Place: New York, New York
Date: March 20, 2016
Time: 1:43:53
When I go into a race without any expectations or goals…I seem to do better than anticipated. While I had a semi-goal of being able to do my first half marathon distance after injury (for a year) in sub-2 hours, I wasn’t going to be too hard on myself if it didn’t happen.
Especially since the weather changed drastically the week of the race.
The weekend before the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon…the weather was gorgeous. Not just in Louisville (where I ran my first official race back…the Rodes City Run 10K), but up in New York too. I was hoping it would hold. I do better in nicer temperatures. But as the week went on…the gorgeous weather started to go away.
NOOOOOO!!
For much of the week, the forecast was calling for rain…cold…wind. Then snow…cold…wind. And then, on Friday night, it changed to just really flippin cold and really flippin’ windy.
UGH!! Now I was in a crisis. I had my outfit planned out for weeks…but the 30 degree temps and the strong winds (and the wind chill it would bring), meant I needed to reevaluate my wardrobe. With much reluctance, the running skirt went back into the closet and a pair of my (albeit bright) compression tights came out. Any of you who regularly read my running blog know…I…HATE…PANTS. So this frustrated me. I also packed a big turtleneck lined top and a windbreaker…and at the last minute, just before walking out the door early Saturday…I tossed in a long sleeve shirt…just in case, because I never ran in a windbreaker and I was nervous it would annoy me or just not work out…in which case, I’d rather brace against the cold in layers than anything.
So, Saturday morning was an early morning for me. I was up at 2 am to do all my physical therapy exercises. The stretches, the dynamic stuff outside, the plyometrics. I knew once I touched down in NYC…I was on the move…and these stretches were more important than anything else.
I admit, a little voice in my head said, “Go on…go do an easy mile or two for a shakeout before getting on the plane.” But, as tempting as it was, I quieted that voice. I knew I’d be on the go both at the airports and once I touched down in the city, the shakeout wasn’t important, and I didn’t need to do it. I’d be doing ample time on my feet just moving about NYC.
See what I have learned??!!
So, we (my roommate and I) walked out the door right at 5 am (giving us time to get a light breakfast in our stomachs and (SO VERY MUCH NEEDED) coffee into our system. We got to the Louisville airport in record time…parked…had to take a roundabout way to the Southwest Airlines counter due to renovations that are going on, and which I hope they finish up before Derby, or that airport is going to be a mess. Security was quick, although I ended up being randomly chosen for the hand swab, and my laptop (as always) had to be examined more closely…but it was quick, painless, and we were off and heading to our gate (which was behind a bunch of renovation boards). Like I said, the airport was sort of a mess.
Deciding that we weren’t ready to settle in yet, we took a little walk, as usual, through the airport crowds, and Cathy and I grabbed a Cool Lime Refresher at Starbucks (and she got a breakfast sammie as well) and we went back to the gate. I downed one of the new LUNA Bars (the Dark Chocolate Mocha Almond, which has only 5 grams of sugar and tasted like an amazing caffe mocha) and then…it was time to board. We were at the end of the A group…so it worked out perfectly.
Our flight had a small layover at Chicago Midway before we went on to NYC. So, we took the time to stretch our legs and walk the terminal. I was really craving something sweet, so we went on the “Great Fruit Cup Hunt of Midway,” finding that everywhere that normally had fruit cups were sold out. With 5 minutes to boarding, we finally found something at one of the food court restaurants. It was a large fruit cup with honeydew melon, pineapple, grapes and strawberries in it. I carried it onto our flight into Laguardia Airport and ate it while still sitting on the runway.
The flight into Laguardia was uneventful, save for the funny flight crew. The lead flight
Me with the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon logo – New York, New York
attendant was in her 50s and just…SO funny. Love that. It also helps calm my nerves when the flight crew is loosey-goosey like that. I was drinking my water to hydrate, hydrate, hydrate and we landed in Laguardia early. Taxied to the jetway…disembarked…and went to baggage claim. My bag was the 2nd one off the belt. Cathy’s wasn’t too far behind. With bags in hand, we called the hired car company and they had a car out to fetch us in about 5 or so minutes. Luggage went into the trunk and we were now on our way into Manhattan…staying at a different hotel this time (which was totally our fault because we originally had the race pegged for the weekend before this one and it wasn’t until about a month before that I realized the date of the race was for the week after…in my defense, it ran a week earlier last year!)…but the traffic situation wasn’t bad and our driver was really aggressive once he got into the city blocks, LOL! We were dropped off at the door of The Distrikt Hotel on W 40th Street and went to check in.
We were much earlier than anticipated, so our room wasn’t ready yet. We did go ahead and leave our bags and went to go buy a Metrocard and take the subway to get to the United Airlines NYC Half Experience (the expo), which was taking place at the Metropolitan Pavilion. We headed into the Expo, which was a madhouse! Seriously…at some points, I felt like salmon swimming upstream. I had the registration sheet with me so I went over to where my numbers were to pick up my bib. From there, it was through the store and over to get my official bag with my t-shirt and stuff in it. I haven’t really looked through what else was in there. I made one circuit of the expo before returning to the official store. There was a great t-shirt in there, pink and purple, that I had my eye on. But, to no surprise, my size was gone. Disappointing for sure. Ah well. Except, Cathy and I realized almost all official merchandise for women had nothing left in small. Now I remember why I order things online ahead of this. She did manage to find me an official finisher’s t-shirt and I grabbed a Sparkly Soul headband that had the event name on it. Purchases made. Back into the expo.
I actually thought there would be more vendors there and more to see and lots more places to shop. But, for the best, there wasn’t. I walked through the line of charities…I got in line to have my picture taken in front of the logo…Cathy made a couple signs (which never got used due to the 21 mph gusts of wind on race morning)…and we settled in for a moment at a table where I could charge my phone and we could catch our breath.
Me and my awesome friend Ellen at the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon Experience
My friend, Ellen, who got in on lottery this year (I deferred last year so had automatic entry…except I had to repay the $127 registration fee), turned up to meet up with me, and brought me a nice salad to boot. YAY for friends. YAY for food! We discussed what we were planning on wearing, food, and…all the crazy shit (hehehe…get it Ellen?) that runners rely on and need to have happen prior to a run. It was fun. I even did a Snapchat video for her giving a running tip. She calls me her inspiration…but I think she’s mine. She needed to get back to the charity event she was attending, and I needed to get back to the hotel to get into the room. The travel capris I was wearing weren’t very warm against the already chilly wind of NYC. So, we returned to the hotel, got our room, gathered our bags, and went upstairs. We flopped for a moment before changing into jeans and heading back out…this time just to explore. We didn’t want to stop in for dinner until at least 5 p.m. So, we had a couple of hours to just explore. That’s what we did, too.
With no plan, we just wandered through some of the area, stopping into shops that drew our attention. We went and got our chocolate from Teuscher (I got a mini champagne, dark mocha, and dark salted caramel…and Cathy got a limoncello, almond, and chocolate orange truffle), which is a requirement, and ducked into the Hard Rock Café for a shotglass and a pin. Back out and seeing the city until we decided to hike over to our pre-race dinner spot of choice, Don Antonio by Starita on W 50th Street. They have a fantastic gluten-free pizza menu, and while they have a couple of GF and Vegan options, I stuck with the one I knew I loved and wouldn’t give me too much. The Marinara Pizza Senza Glutine. OMG…this is my 2nd favorite gluten-free pizza crust in the world (the first being Annie May’s Sweet Café). I love when there is a real and actual crust on a gluten-free pizza, and not just a cracker crust. We devoured dinner and then hiked back to the hotel to cycle through showers, giving me time to foam roll, and to eat some chocolate. HA! It was an early to bed night…and by 9 pm…we were turning out the lights.
I set the alarm on my phone for the first one to wake me up at 4 a.m. It went off and I got up to use the bathroom, take my medicine, and then crawled back into bed for another 50 minutes. The second alarm was the 5 a.m. one, and I got up and started to get changed into my running gear for the race. Cathy was up at 5:15 to get dressed and ready. And while I felt good all day prior to this morning, I felt tired, but in good shape for the actual race. I was not happy that I had to wear pants to run a half marathon, but the windchill was a factor and I under-dressed once before for a full and have been nervous about doing that again ever since (hypothermia is NOT fun, my friends). I decided to wear a long sleeve tech shirt under my warmer top with the big turtleneck top, figuring it would be good against the wind, without me trying to get used to running in a windbreaker on the fly. I got my number pinned on, threw on the hoodie I was going to leave behind, filled up my water bottles and we were off.
We took the subway to Columbus Circle and disembarked, climbing the stairs and being
Me at then entrance of Central Park, Times Square behind me, on the morning of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
greeted with some of the coldest wind. I don’t know how the dude in front of us was handling being in short running shorts, because I would have been dying. I think he was. But…to each their own, right?! We walked over to the checkpoint at Central Park where Cathy had to go her own way and I had to show my bib number and enter. We took a picture of me with Times Square behind me and then I went in. I walked with a bunch of runners who were just talking about some of the most random stuff. One was talking about Scott Jurek on Instagram and it was kind of amusing to me. We went through the medal detectors and then continued on the path to the corrals. There was a line of port-o-potties without lines and many of the people I was walking with went to take advantage of them…and I kept on trekking. I made my way to the line of corrals, working my way up to the one for 10000-10999. I did a few of my dynamic warm-up moves from physical therapy, but the air temperature was enough to make me not want to do it anymore. I did one set of each, then hunkered down and shivered for a good half hour more. It was really, really cold. When the corrals opened for the start of the wheelchair race, I stepped inside and did a few static stretches just to loosen up. From the onslaught of the cold wind, my hip was already not loving me. It began to ache during the easy walk from security to the corals. Seriously, my body and cold weather never got along, but it really doesn’t get along with it these days.
The wheelchair racers, hand crank racers, and elite women were all sent off by 7:15 a.m. It was awesome standing in the corral and being able to see each group take off. When the elite women took up, I cheered loudly for Molly Huddle, who is from Elmira, NY…my hometown area. She’s amazing. She’s fast. She set a new course record that morning and it came down to an eighth of a second…it was THAT close. The elite men went off with Wave 1 at 7:30 a.m.. Then my wave…Wave 2…were shuffled forward for our 7:45 a.m. start. It was really exciting. When the airhorn blew to send us off, I began the walk toward the official start, and started my Garmin as I crossed. The first step already had my hip screaming at me. I struggled through the final mile of a 10K the weekend prior…and I just started a half marathon. I really just made a point go focus on my form and my breathing, and just finding a comfortable pace to run at. As I said, I had no goals or expectations…just to have fun and to finish what I start. Well…I started. I now had to finish.
Me running through the 10K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
The 6 miles through Central Park are beautiful and quiet. There were pockets of spectators out there, but mostly it was runners, our feet, and our breathing. Being the start of the race, I would catch snatches of conversations people were having as they ran the race with friends or running partners. It keeps me amused. Some people were tucked into their earbuds, their music propelling them forward. There was a couple running together, and on the back of his shirt was a sign that said “Baby on Board” and an arrow pointing to his wife who was running right next to him. The people inside the park were loud and awesome and the little loop we do outside the park to turn around and head back in…was packed, crowded and loud. I love a good crowd. The hills of Central Park are respectable, but my hill repeats have been more intense than those, so while they slowed me down slightly, they didn’t have me huffing and puffing. I’m learning to love to hate to love those hill repeat sessions more and more. I didn’t check my pace on my watch at any point, but I hit the 5K mark and felt like I was coming along well for someone who was fighting hip pain twinges since the start. With the hills now behind us, the runners exit Central Park onto 7th Avenue. Cathy said she’d be outside the park to see me there, so I got to the left per her instructions and headed up 7th Avenue. She was tucked into the pocket of the turn, but I heard her shouting and screaming and I gave a wave at her as I ran past. It lifted my spirits, for sure. And it was on to run down 7th Avenue and into Times Square.
I think Times Square was my favorite part of this race. The crowd was intense. There was so much noise. All the screens were lit up. The Kids Mile was running through there. There was so much energy there…that it just pulsed through you. I loved every stretch of this portion of the race. And it is the part I remember the most. I love a good crowd.
And with the extreme winds we were getting, it was a great way to start off the last stretch of the race. This portion is pretty flat, save for just after the 20K mark. So, it was nice to easily pick up the pace a little here. Miles 8-12 really just have you fighting the windtunnels that are 42nd Street. Here you make a U-Turn and head down the West Side Highway. Wind. Lots of wind. Thankfully there was music blasting at various stages throughout this stretch of the run. The crowds were sparse, but there were some spectators out there to cheer. But without the bands, this might have been a tough slog through these 4 miles. However, as the miles tick down, One World Trade Center/Freedom Tower keep getting closer and closer. It’s gorgeous. I can’t tell you how long I just kept my eyes on that building, minding each time I drew up my right leg, making sure I wasn’t overcompensating due to the hip pain. This was…uplifting.
Mile 12 takes runners through the Battery Park Underpass. This…was fun. Seriously. You are underground for a long while. Runners scream and shout and let out whoops as they run through the dark, spooky tunnel. I loved it. I even left my sunglasses on. Just powered on through. Running through tunnels is fun. For some reason, I always smile more in them. The 20K mark was just as we were let out to run up a hill.
Me coming out of the Battery Park Underpass at the 20K mark of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon – New York, New York
This is where Cathy was situated to see me before I hit the finish line. LOVED this little uplift right at the end. I waived and smiled as she shouted, “YOU REALLY ARE ALMOST THERE!” And so, I burst up the hill and got hit by one hell of a headwind. NYC has this way of always being super windy when I run there. So…I battled the headwind and just ran…ran…ran…rounding a corner…passing up a pace group….rounding another turn and seeing that finish line. As I ran this race rather conservatively, I still had some go in the tank and so…I powered up, powered through, and crossed that finish line.
I stopped my Garmin…and the tears just started going. I didn’t know my official time. I didn’t check the Garmin. I competed and finished my first half marathon since my hip labrum tear over a year ago. And I could still move. No limping. Just a small ache. I had done what I thought I wouldn’t be able to do…and it turns out I did it well.
We were filtered through the finisher’s area where we had medals hung around our necks and mylar sheets wrapped around us to keep us warm. We were given these nice bags filled with snacks, Gatorade and water, and then shuttled out toward Battery Park. At the exit, Cathy was waiting. I hurried over and got a hug and she said, “YOU KILLED IT!! Do you want to know your time?” Of course I did. She told me…and I started crying. Not only was it better than I anticipated, it was better than I could have dreamed of doing, given the circumstances.
Our bodies find ways of surprising us. And I think not having a specific goal or pace I wanted to hit helped.
So, the official results of the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon are that I finished in 1:43:53. I was 3318/20,149 finishers overall. I was 786/10,556 female finishers. And I was 132/1706 finishers in my division. I, honestly, couldn’t have run this any better. Since the cold weather made me sore from just shivering at the start, I just took this race one step at a time…one mile at a time. And I LOVED it. I loved this race. It was…probably….one of my favorite half marathons I have ever run. Even in the cold…and the wind…and the suck…it was just…fun. And I had fun running it. It was a struggle at times…but I finished it and I felt good at the end.
Afterwards, we hopped the subway back to the hotel where I showered and changed.
Cathy, Me and Marisa after a great evening of celebration at Red Rooster Harlem.
Cathy and I went to Empire Coffee & Tea House where I got a Pumpkin Spice Latte (dairy free…made with almond milk…and YUMMY!). Then we ended up hiking around NYC the rest of the day with Cathy and my friend Marisa, who I have known since high school. We stopped in at bakeries (I bought 3 cookies from By The Way (BTW) Bakery) and a tea shop (where I had the Energitea…an amazing green blend). We settled in for a bit at the hotel before getting ready to head to dinner at Red Rooster Harlem. You might recall, Red Rooster is where I celebrated my NYC Marathon finish…so I wanted to go back for this. And it was amazing. Once again, the chef created a dish to fit my dietary needs…and I was SO impressed. I even had dessert. And fun. We sat and talked over mint tea and listened to the live jazz music in the bar before calling it a night and making the trek back from Harlem to Midtown. We said goodbye to Marisa and settled in for the night.
Overall…I’m already ready to come back to NYC…even if I don’t have a race. There is always so much to see and do. But…this time…for me…the highlight was getting through the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon…after having to defer it last year. It was just the boost I needed.
Me at the start of The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
Race: The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K
Place: Frankfort, Kentucky
Date: March 17, 2016
Time: 13:09
It took too damn long to get back to Frankfort, Kentucky for an actual race. It took way too long. But…yesterday…despite my own skepticism about being able to do this race and do it well enough to make myself not feel totally out of shape and defeated…I ventured out to Frankfort for what used to be the first race of the Frankfort Trifecta.
The Frankfort Trifecta is no longer a thing. It seems that the Frankfort Striders stepped in and created a HUGE race series that has something like 17 or so races…and I love Frankfort, but there is no way I can do all of that. So, I’m sticking to my Trifecta races (all three are still running…just not as an overall series…which is nice because it takes a lot of pressure off of me…having placed the 2 years I competed in all three races) and just hoping for the best at this point.
All that being said, the madness began last night. I was scheduled for 4 miles that day, so I ran 2.25 of them that morning, saving the remaining 1.8 and change for the race. I kept the miles easy so I would have some gas in the tank at the end of the day. BUT…it was also a gym morning so off I went, keeping my usual routine much lighter and easier. Same reasoning. And then…work. I stood for half of the day at my standing desk because, starting on Wednesday after work, my left hamstring had been sore and tight…and I figured that it had a lot to do with how much and long I sat on Wednesday. Trying to counter that, I did more standing than I normally would have on a sprint effort run day.
Oh…that’s the other thing…I…AM…NOT…A…SPRINTER. I never have been. I never will be. I have short legs that can move, but they need time to warm up and find their strides. 5Ks and shorter races are the bane of my racing existence, and yet, I know the importance of doing them…and so I do.
But, I digress.
Where was I? Oh yes…leg stuff. My hamstring was still a bit unhappy when I ducked into the bathroom at work to get dressed for the race. Cathy and I ducked out early to hit the road. Dinner had to be on-the-go…so it was vegetarian sushi. Figured it wouldn’t be too heavy before a race, but it wouldn’t have me feeling hungry just before doing it either. So…yay for that. We actually hit a few pockets of slow-ass traffic, which hindered our progress to Frankfort, but we got there. I had to make my mandatory stop at Kroger to use the facilities (if I can avoid port-o-potties, I do…because…PRINCESS!), and then continued into Frankfort to get to the race. We parked…noticed that the start line wasn’t set up where it usually was…but it was, instead, on the other side of the square. Interesting. So, I hiked that way…and realized that packet pickup was not in the building it normally was held in. Now…with only 10 minutes to race time…I was starting to stress out. IT WAS ALL DIFFERENT!
And then I found…my dear friend Linda. She just suddenly was there…a sea of people having parted ways…her back to me…standing on the corner. I went up behind her and tapped her on the shoulder. She didn’t know I was coming and gave me the biggest smile and hug. That helped.
A LOT.
I asked where packet pickup was now and she pointed to a table…then just went over there with me and got my race shirt, bag, and bib. I handed everything off to Cathy, who began to pin me up while Linda and I talked for a moment. But, you see, Linda knows EVERYONE!! So, I got introduced to a bunch of people and got the very fair warning to not run over any kids during the race. This is important, because this is THAT race where all the kids want to start up front and…well…some of them actually do belong up there, for sure. Some…maybe not so much, but you gotta love the enthusiasm. I promised her I would be very vigilant of the little humans. I wasn’t familiar with the course being run this way, but Linda quickly gave me an overview before everyone started to line up. There was a prayer and an Irish blessing (it DOES run on St. Patrick’s Day after all) and then we all moved forward and awaited the airhorn that would send us on our way.
It blew.
We took off.
Me after finishing The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
My legs felt tired and heavy from the start. The hamstring, much like in the morning, didn’t bother me while moving though, so that was good. My hip wasn’t aching…but, I raced hard on Tuesday…did 4 miles on Wednesday, and was now racing hard(ish) again on Thursday. Talk about giving these legs a bit of a workout this week. And all of this ahead of another big adventure this weekend. So…while I made a few surge attempts, the legs were sort of reluctant to get moving…even when I willed them to go a bit faster.
We turned a corner…turned again, stepping over a big hole, and took off up a hill…leading to the main drag that would take us up another (steeper) hill and then across a bridge and toward the state Capitol building. Close to the turn around point, we hit Mile 1. I didn’t look at my watch, I just kept going. I rounded the turn to now run on the other side of the road and headed back the way we came…down the long stretch…up to the bridge…then D-O-W-N to the main drag. At this point, you know you’re getting there. You’re almost done. It was basically straight on to the finish line.
I was slowing down, but I wasn’t having it. Linda was just slightly ahead of me…and then another woman…and me. I did all I could, minding my form, my hip, and my leg…to try to catch up, but it wasn’t having it. Once again, I lack that finisher’s kick that other people have. I even had people just up and sprint by me…as always. Frustrating when your mind is willing, but your body just isn’t capable. Between that and the strong wind that was blowing right into our faces…well…yeah. It was one of those finishes.
But…I crossed…and it was awesome. I felt good. I felt…incredible.
Cathy came over, waving the race sign, and said, “Shit, Twin…you placed!”
All that being said…I grabbed some water and ducked into an alley to do my plyometric exercises and stretches that I’m supposed to do after a run. See, I can behave. Well, I did half of them and got bored, to be honest, so I can semi-behave. We ducked back into the melee and I put my Boston Marathon windbreaker back on…because with the sun going down it was getting chilly.
Rebecca, Linda, and Me…all 1st place finishers in our age divisions at The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
Cathy was right…I ended up taking first in my age division…and…get this…TYING MY TIME from 2014, when I ran this race last. I wasn’t expecting that. I was very, very happy with that performance, considering I was really struggling after that first mile. My Garmin said my first mile was in 7:01…so…I haven’t run that fast in…a very long time. VERY long. And when I do, I can’t sustain it. So, YES!! Happy. SO freakin’ happy because this injury has had me struggling to do this running thing for over a year. I’ll take a time of 13:09 and celebrate it!! Embrace it!!
The awards ceremony followed…the only hitch being that someone was being shown as winning female overall that wasn’t the actual female overall winner. So, they had to pause for a moment and go get it figured out. I had been chatting with Debbie Brown about my physical therapy and amazing physical therapist when this began and she went to go get it all straightened out. Because she’s Debbie. And she’s awesome.
So, once that was straightened out…the awards commenced. Overall winner was awarded to the correct, and super-fast, Roberta Meyer. For the overall male winner…it was Aaron Schaffner. It usually is. LOL!! He’s STUPID-FAST!! As in…blink and you might miss him. He was also in a Boston Marathon jacket…but I bet he ran his better than I ran mine. HA!
The rest of the awards for female runners was next…and I took first in the 35-39 age division with my time of 13:09. My overall pace was 7:04 for the entire 3K distance…so…that’s sort of impressive…for me…at this point in my running. It was pointed out by the announcer that I was also wearing a Boston Marathon jacket. Then he said, “Or is that New York.” Cathy said, “She has one of those too.” LOL!
True story.
Anyway…I stayed and cheered for the other winners, took a picture with Rebecca Atkins (1st female 40-44) and Linda [Word] (1st female 45-49). And then gave hugs and made my departure. I might have flailed happily as I was walking away, because this was such a huge boost to my confidence…even though my legs and brain aren’t quite working in tandem yet. They’ll get there.
I’ll get there.
Me with my age division award at the The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky
So, the official results of The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K are that I finished in 13:09. I was 35/701 finishers overall. I was 9/466 female finishers. And I was 1/62 finishers in my division. I take nothing for granted anymore. Every run I am able to accomplish without pain or with minimal pain is a blessing. Getting through this week of harder runs, and really pushing and challenging myself has not only terrified me, but empowered me. I said it 2 years ago…and I’m going to say it again…Running is a gift, and I’m thankful I can do it again…even if it means slowing down for a little while to allow myself ample time to heal.
I’m looking forward (or so I am telling myself) to including a bit of speed work in my upcoming training…as well as continuing to focus on my hill repeats (because Frankfort hills are just…relentless!)…and, maybe I can finally figure out how to get that finishing kick. Until then…relentless forward motion…
“Don’t fear moving slowly forward…fear standing still.” ~ Kathleen Harris
Me crossing the finish line of The Leprechaun 2 Mile Run – Jeffersonville, Indiana
Race: The Leprechaun 2 Mile Run
Place: Jeffersonville, Indiana
Date: March 15, 2016
Time:14:36
Well…there it is. Another race this week. A short one. A sprint. But this is the most amazing part of this…
I have a new PR for a 2 mile race.
Granted, I think this is, really, the only 2 mile race I ever do…but still…a new course PR for me. I’m loving it. With this past year dealing with injury after injury and all the pain brought on by the torn hip labrum, I haven’t done a lot of running. I’ve done a lot of sitting. And I’ve done a lot of physical therapy. I’ve attempted to keep my fitness up by swimming (although I have REALLY slacked off doing that because I’m just NOT good at it) and spinning. And, to be honest, I hadn’t actually intended to run this race…but Matthew mentioned that he was running it when we were running hills last week at Iroquois together…and as my hill repeats were only 3 miles total at Cherokee Park this week (4 hills + 1 mile), I figured I could do a fast 2 miles instead. Works out to be the same level of effort, I would think.
So, after work, I went home and ate a quick dinner (avocado toast, because I needed something quick), changed into my running clothes, slathered on some sunscreen…and then headed out. I needed to be there before 6:15 since I wasn’t registered for the race. I had to do race day registration since this was sort of a last moment decision (I really blame Matthew, LOL!!). Getting there took a bit longer. We took a back route because I-65 was NOT happening. But, luckily there are various routes to Jeffersonville. We parked, got out of the car, and headed toward the 300 Spring building. I had to head over to race day registration and fill out the forms and my bib. But, I did…paid my $25 fee (okay…so hill repeats would have been free…)…and had Cathy pin me up for the race. Matthew, Laura, and Michael (from my running group) all found me at the table and we got ourselves pinned up. Michael, Laura and Matthew went out to run a warm up mile prior to the race. I did not. In fact, I stood around and watched people do their stretches and warmups…and eventually did my own…but the struggle is real on race days to get me to do these. I can’t help it.
The start of the race was getting close, and the DJ said that runners and walkers should head the couple of blocks up to the start. I began meandering that way, and had a group of people follow me. So…there was that.
As usual…there were a lot of collegiate athletes, top-of-the-ranks runners (both men and women) and kids who are track and cross-country stars. The people who have run for schools are amazing. I never did. I took up running when I was 30, so seeing these students kick ass is always so inspiring to me. I can never keep up with them, but they inspire! Matthew sneaked in next to me. I totally didn’t seem him arrive. I have to say, one of my biggest joys being back to running is the runs I get to do with my friends, specifically Matthew, since he and I trained through a lot of hot, humid days in 2013 together. He’s a strong and fast runner…and he helps me better myself every time we run together.
People who were running out and back to warm up came in and got in the cluster at the green tape that went across the road to mark the start of the race. The race was to start promptly at 6:30 pm. But they were ready to get started and at 6:27, Fred began making the instructions for the start. It was here that Tim, my friend Amber’s hubby, needed to retie his shoe, and just after he finished and stood back up…the whistle was blown.
And we were off.
And Matthew was gone. I don’t even know where he went. I lost him…but he was somewhere way ahead of me. Despite having done 2 miles earlier that morning and hitting the gym with my roommate, I felt strong from the start.
Short races are not my forte. I am not a sprinter. I am not good at running hard and fast from the start. I’m more of an endurance athlete. I like the build up. Two miles is my warmup…so these shorter races (through a 5K) are always a challenge for me. My muscles just don’t like to fire that fast for that long. But, 2 miles…I could do that.
This is not a difficult race at all. You simply run down the street until you reach this little island of shady trees, run around that and head back. On the circle around the tree, you hit the halfway point. The first mile of this race always seems to fly by. It’s not like there is a crowd out there making it feel easier, but I think the first mile just goes so quickly because I am so zoned in on my running. Especially these days…because I really need to pay attention to my form…and that sometimes means dialing back on the speed. But my hip was behaving, and when I made the turn, I felt good.
Of course, the second half of the race never feels easy. My legs were tired now…and I pressed on, really making sure to lift that right knee up and not rely on just my left side. All that focus takes energy and I felt like I was losing my pace. I reached the half mile remaining mark and pressed on…just hoping to get in before 16 minutes. I could hear the announcements, so I knew I was coming up to the finish chute. Women were to go in on the left side, men on the right.
Post-race with my friends, Matthew, Michael & Laura!
Here is where a couple of women really just kicked it. I don’t have a finishing kick. I never have. By the end of a race that I am truly racing, I just never have any steam left in my legs. It was okay…it didn’t bother me…but people who can just put on those afterburners and pass up people right at the end…that’s a gift. My friend Kelsey does that. ALL. THE. TIME. Once I know I can trust these legs, working on finding a finishing kick will be priority.
All that being said, I crossed the finish line at 14:36…a full 6 seconds faster than my 2013 time (which I ran when I was in the best shape of my life…although we also had 20 mph headwinds that year). But a PR is still a PR, right? Right!
I’ll take it!
So the official results of The Leprechaun 2 Mile Run is that I finished in 14:36. I was the 19th overall woman. And that’s all I got until official results are actually posted. But this was a very fun run. I’m glad I opted to do this rather than hills.
Afterwards, Matthew, Laura, Michael, Cathy and I took a little stroll to cool down and stretch out the legs. A little bit of active recovery. And then we parted ways. It was a good night to race. My confidence is slowly coming back. Every little bit helps. Every little bit.
It’s the small victories that really bring me joy these days.
You know, I’m already one of those “crazy bagelers” that your parents warned you about. I’m a girl who grew up in the capital of bagel country. New York. If you are from New York, you better know how to get your bagel on.
Bagels, while they get a bad rep, are one of my most favorite things in life. Mmmm…carby goodness for sure. They are filling, crunchy, chewy, and slathered with some sort of delicious schmear of goodness…making it both an epic morning breakfast and a treat.
And while the gluten-free market is becoming inundated with gluten free versions of bagels…none have really had that authenticity…that dense, chewy, but crispy on the outside authenticity of a true New York-Style bagel.
Now, Sweet Note and I have a really fun history. It all began with a simple tweet. Yep. The Twitter is what brought them into my life. I had reviewed Canyon Bakehouse’s new bagels and Sweet Note chimed in with how if I liked Canyon Bakehouse…I’d love their stuff. So, I took the bait…went to their Web site…and found a plethora of gluten free and vegan bagel goodness. It took me awhile to talk myself into ordering anything…but when I did…it was the start of something good. Now, my freezer is never without some variety of Sweet Note Bagels.
And, with winter finally leaving and spring warming our hearts and bodies, Sweet Note decided to spread a little spring fever as well…with the introduction of not one (1) but FOUR (4) new bagel flavors.
I must have died and gone to gluten-free bagel heaven. The four flavors are Tomato Basil, Salt, Garlic, and Garlic & Herb. The last three are exclusively available ONLY online in their shop. When the release date for the bagels came…I immediately placed an order and got all four new flavors. When it comes to bagels, I don’t mess around. They arrived on Thursday of last week…so this week…I’m starting to try them out.
I asked my roommate what flavor she wanted to try first, and, without any hesitation, she said, “Garlic & Herb.” I had a feeling that would be the case, though. Anything with garlic makes her happy…throw in some herby goodness…and she’s in food heaven (or coma…depending…).
Yesterday was the big premier. After my 5:30 am spin class, I came home and pulled the Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels out of the freezer and pulled 2 from the packaging. I thawed them for a minute (I have discovered that if you do 30 seconds on one side, then flip it over and do 30 seconds on the other, you get the perfect thaw) in the microwave and sliced each one in half, placing it on a baking sheet and prepping it for some toasting while I took my shower. Into the preheated 350°F oven it went.
I showered, I dressed, I came out of the bathroom and noticed that the aroma in the apartment was crazy goodness. It was like I stepped into an Italian Trattoria or something. Roasted garlic and those powerful herbs (rosemary, thyme, basil, and oregano…plus others) just invaded the apartment…and it was enough to set my mouth to watering. I couldn’t wait to get these out of the oven and tried them. If they tasted as good as they smelled…these could be dangerous indeed. A few more minutes (between 15-20 total) in the oven, and I pulled the bagels out, noting the light toast on the cut side and the golden color of the crust…a perfect bagel toasting if I did say so myself. Each half got a hearty schmear of Daiya Chive & Onion Cream Cheese Style Spread and…breakfast was served.
Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels with a schmear of Daiya Onion & Chive Cream Cheese Style Spread
I didn’t wait to even sit down before taking a bite of mine…
The Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels…are bagels at their finest. Rich with powerful flavors and packed with hearty and healthy herbs (that can come straight from an herb garden!), this bagel was one of the most delicious things I have put into my mouth. And, as a marathon runner, I eat a lot. HAHA! The garlic was a strong flavor, but it was tampered down and kept in balance by the earthy and robust flavors of the herbs that were incorporated into the batter. I loved the intense, but subtle flavors each bite brought. I love how Sweet Note Bakery makes their bagels in the proper New York-style. Not the size of a steering wheel, but smaller…denser…thicker…yummier. Hey…I know a good bagel when I bite into one. These toasted up to perfection. These tasted of perfection. The ladies (and gentleman) of the Sweet Note Bakery team hit this one out of the bagel ball park. MVB (Most Valuable Bagel)…right here. SO GOOD!
So…let’s discuss the ingredients that go into Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels. These bagels are made from LOVE (yep…that’s an ingredient!), water, white rice flour, tapioca flour, sweet white rice flour, sorghum flour, brown sugar, cane syrup, olive oil, molasses, yeast, xanthan gum, psyllium husk, garlic, salt, marjoram, thyme, rosemary, sage, basil and oregano. As always when it comes to Sweet Note’s bagels, these bagels are gluten-free, soy-free, dairy-free, non-GMO, egg-free, peanut & tree nut-free, and cholesterol free. LOVE IT!!
As far as nutrition goes, I love how all four of the new flavors are under 300 calories per bagel. One full bagel (not half a bagel…but a full bagel) with under 300 calories. Yep…speaking my language. The Sweet Note Gluten Free Garlic & Herb Bagels come with four (4) bagels per package. The serving size is one (1) bagel. This one bagel will deliver unto you 280 calories, 3.5 grams fat, .5 grams saturated fat, 0 grams trans fat, 0 mg cholesterol, 320 mg sodium, 60 grams carbohydrates, 3 grams fiber, 7 grams sugars, and 4 grams of protein. POWERHOUSE of nutrition…especially for the endurance athlete. And the higher fiber and protein content will keep you fuller longer!
This flavor is only available in their ONLINE STORE!
I am so thankful for Sweet Note for bringing authentic bagels to the gluten-free world. No fillers…just real ingredients. That’s one reason their bagels are so amazing. Making them in the classic New York-style also helps. So, my dearest friends at Sweet Note…keep making these awesome breakfast goodies…keep exploring new flavors…and keep bringing only the best…because it is companies like you…and products like this…that make the this gluten-free girl rise and shine in the morning. Your Garlic & Herb Bagels are a ray of sunshine…schmeared with a healthy dose of awesomesauce!
I usually post a little list of blessings, interests, loves, and other such nonsense in my blog on Sunday…but my weekend was SWAMPED. Race on Saturday, and then Sunday, I had to make the 23 hours that my roommate (Cathy) got to have to celebrate her birthday the best 23 hours ever. It sucks to lose an hour on your birthday.
It doesn’t suck , however, when you get to wake up and work out, finish up shopping, and then try out a new pub for dinner.
THAT’S how you birthday. I made sure she got nice and drunk and then I went grocery shopping. Because if she’s drunk and I go to the grocery store with her, I can buy ALL THE THINGS I want, but normally can’t justify putting in the budget.
No worries, she is very aware I do this. LOL!
So…this past week’s list includes:
1. The Dresden Files by Jim Butcher Harry Dresden. Are you familiar with Harry Dresden? If not…get familiar. The Dresden Files is a (currently) 16 book series written by Jim Butcher that chronicles the life of lead character, Harry Dresden, a private investigator and wizard as he recounts investigations into supernatural disturbances in…get this…modern-day Chicago. It strikes a bit of a blance between fantasty and detective fiction. And it’s awesome. I listened to the entire series on audiobook (it is read by James Marsters…and HOLY HELL…he does it well) while at work and…each book was amazing. They never really falter. And, you really do just all in love with the characters. And Harry’s dry humor is charming and downright hysterical. I cannot count the number of times I busted out laughing at the office. If you haven’t read these…start now. The first book is Storm Front.
Go.
2. Downton Abbey With great sadness, I sat down last Sunday with a hot cup of tea and watched the very last episode of Downton Abbey. I have been an avid follower and viewer of this show. I’m not exactly sure what to do with myself on Sunday nights now. It feels like I lost a good group of friends. One thing I will say is that I was so happy that everyone got their happy ending. With all the crisis’ and craziness that this show went through in the 6 seasons it was on the air, this was the ending it needed and the one the fans deserved.
3. NUUN Natural Hydration Tangerine Ginger Vitamin & Electrolyte Drink Tabs So, awhile back I was in Whole Foods, and I spotted a tube of a NUUN product I hadn’t seen before. It was up near the registers at the time, and I was intrigued enough to go ahead and just buy a tube. I now wish I had purchased more. The flavor is Tangerine Ginger (with my stomach issues, ginger is always a welcome ingredient)…and it was a part of their Natural Hydration line. This means, the formula of NUUN was created to hydrate the body naturally and “put back a little of what life takes out.” The tabs are light, low in calorie, and DELICIOUS! NUUN calls it “U.” And I have yet to find them on their Web site anymore. But…I can still find them (for now) at Whole Foods. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I poured a glass of water the other night and dropped a tablet in…but I was wowed!! Seriously. Just…a whole lot of healthy yum!! More, please! (I am a NUUN Ambassador as well, so this is a double YAY!) #nuunambassador2016 #nuunambassador #nuun #nuunlove #nuunlife #nuunhydration #makeyourwatercount
4. Birthday Fun As I mentioned above, my roommate rang in another year this past Sunday. With having to turn clocks ahead, Cathy only had 23 hours to make the most out of her day. So, we started it off with a traditional visit to the gym. Hey…we’re a bit odd, LOL! We went
Allergen Free Candy Bar Cupcake from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe
shopping, where she bought Season 1 of The Monkees on DVD at Half Price Books. And then, I took her out to eat for dinner at the latest pub here in New Albany…the Floyd County Brewing Company, where she indulged in fish and chips and I ate a large and amazing salad that had berries and spinach and pecans…all the good things. Cathy even had a beer flight and discovered her favorite of the 4 she sampled was the Bavarian Rapture, which she then got a pint of. She was a little tipsy when we left, but it was a fun time and she got to try out a restaurant she’d been meaning to for awhile now. And we were both impressed. There was a delicious Allergen Free Candy Bar Cupcake from Annie May’s Sweet Cafe afterwards. We had no birthday candles…so I lit up candle Cathy got as a gift and she made a wish on that.
5. Racing… As I mentioned in my previous blog, I ran a 10K race this past weekend. It has been awhile since I pinned a number on and went out to pound the pavement. I was pleasantly surprised with my performance, my speed is inconsistent, but it’s coming back. My hip is still weak so I am continuing to work on that. But it was SO nice to get back out there and race again. I had missed it. Thanks, Rodes City Run 10K, for the amazing morning!
And there it is…hopefully I’ll have some new things to share next week!!
I hope you guys all had a good week and some fun, new adventures!
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