Restaurant: The Liffey Irish Pub, St. Paul, Minnesota
I finished. I ran. I walked. I crossed the finish line of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. And after all the hullabaloo at the finish line…the gathering of essentials like finisher’s medal, finisher’s shirt, banana, water, photos, chocolate milk, salty snacks, and so on…I met up with my adoring public…Heather and Cathy. They were at the designated spot at the runner reunion area. And the night before we had made noises of checking out a pub after my run.
It has sort of become a thing…we either do a pub or Mexican food after I run a marathon.
You don’t mess with a thing.
Bad things happen when you mess with…a thing.
So, it just so happened that a great Irish pub in St. Paul, called The Liffey Irish Pub, wasn’t but a couple of blocks away from the finish area. While I was getting some compressions socks on and a different pair of shoes, Heather called ahead to see what the wait would be like. It turned out we were in between the rushes. So, after I stretched for a moment, we decided to pack up and make the hike to the pub. It was a slow hike…my foot, my ankle, my legs were killing me. I had never felt like this after a marathon…but I’d been injured (still was) and couldn’t train. It sucked, but my friends were more than willing to work with me.
Our good friend, Paul, whom we met through the big U2 summer of concert madness a couple years ago, met us there. He had been one of the group at Mile 17 and had said he could join us for lunch. I stepped inside and immediately was given a hug. We were immediately seated by the hostess, but before hitting up the table, Cathy and I ducked into the bathroom so I could get out of my running clothes and into something more comfortable (yoga pants and a t-shirt!). We found the table where Paul and Heather were seated and I started looking at the menu.
Usually it takes me awhile to be hungry, but at this point, I was hungry. Amazingly enough. And, also a plus, we knew from the Internet search, that The Liffey had a gluten-free menu. And when our drink orders were taken (water for starters and then Heather and Paul got drinks with their food), we were given the opportunity to think about what to eat. Easy here. For the non-vegetarian and gluten-free (my dining compatriots), it seemed that Fish and Chips (Heather & Paul got the North Atlantic Cod – $14.00; Cathy got the Canadian Walleye – $15.00) was the pub grub of choice (naturally!). For me…the Quinoa Salad ($9.75) sounded like the meal of choice. Ideal for recovery too!
Orders in…and we started talking about everything we had been up to…and U2 stuff…and all that jazz. In fact, we were so busy talking that it took us a moment to realize that the tray that came in a little later had our food on it! I think we were all ready to eat. Paul actually got his fish and chips with a Guinness and Heather got hers with a delicious Strongbow cider. Mmmm. I was feeling dehydrated so it was water only for me with my meal…this time.
The Liffey Irish Pub’s Quinoa Salad
The Quinoa Salad was a fantastic bed of spinach that contained quinoa, roasted sweet potatoes, broccoli, bell peppers, capers, basil, and avocado. All these amazing vegetables and grains were tossed with a fantastic, and highly delicious lime vinaigrette. The quinoa and spinach were great protein for after the run. And I loved the flavor. I didn’t actually expect the sweet potatoes to be cold, but didn’t mind it in this salad. While I’m not a huge fan of capers, the salty and vinagery flavor complimented the lime vinaigrette and the earthy vegetables in the salad. I enjoyed this salad down to the last bite. Amazing. And it takes a lot to amaze me when it comes to salad. This one hit all the right notes…and was like no other salad I’ve had before.
I like different.
I also like being able to enjoy a dessert when I go out to eat. And there happened to be a few that I could indulge in here at The Liffey Irish Pub. Oh, St. Paul…you’re winning me over with this gem of an Irish pub. A fruit cup was an option. Or the local Izzy’s Ice Cream (flavors unknown). But the one that interested me was the gluten-free version of their S’more Pot du Crème. We asked for four spoons.
The Gluten Free S’more ($5.50) was a rich chocolate custard with Izzy’s Vanilla Bean ice cream. All of this was topped off with a fantastic marshmallow fluff brûlée. It sounded beyond delicious. And when it came out…all four of us dove in. Seriously. Four spoons dipped into the toasted marshmallow top, through that layer of vanilla ice cream and touching that decadent chocolate custard.
BEST. DESSERT. EVER.
We licked that bowl clean. While I was glad there were four of us going after this dessert, I probably could have eaten the entire thing by myself without feeling any regrets. It was so good. The rich custard with the cold ice cream and the warm, fluffy nature of the fluff was the perfect combination. It felt like I was eating a delicious s’more at a campfire. But better. This was just…the best campground treat elevated to restaurant quality. High class. Amazing. I was wishing for one more bite once we polished it off.
It was unanimous, really.
BEST. DESSERT. EVER.
Should I say it again?
BEST. DESSERT. EVER.
I was way beyond satisfied when I shuffled out of their with my friends. We each said our goodbyes and went our separate ways. Paul one way, Heather to take us to our car and then meet up with us at my grandpa’s house so I could shower and then we could keep me moving by walking the Mall of America.
Where I bought a fantastic dress…
But, that’s of no consequence. What is, however, is the fact that, without hesitation, without any doubt, I would eagerly return to eat at The Liffey, in St. Paul, Minnesota, whenever I happened to be in the area. Forget any other pubs that might be more convenient to where I am in Minneapolis. This one blew me away. And, I of course would have to get another taste of the…BEST. DESSERT. EVER.
Yep…I’ll be back. Count on it!
The Liffey’s Gluten-Free S’more (aka: BEST. DESSERT. EVER.)
This past week I was in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I was there for a few reasons. To visit with family. To see some friends. And to run/walk the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon. Yes. Run/Walk. Am I ashamed of this? Not at all. This race was a warm-up. A warm up to the race I am running in 3 weeks exactly.
New York City Marathon.
And, as my training schedule was completely killed with my foot injury and then…orthodic problems…I went to Minneapolis not quite certain I’d be able to even run/walk the course. I figured, I could at least spend time with family. On Saturday morning, I was pretty certain the race was off. I went to the expo and hobbled through, getting my race number, buying new shoes, shopping, checking out the vendors and other races that were there…and the more time I was there, the more I wanted to do it. It also helped that my friend Heather was telling me I could do it. Walk the hills. Just walk the hills. And to help, she took me on the tour of the entire race course…and…yeah…I figured I could at least give it a go.
While touring the course, my aunt, Jan, and my cousin, Molly, texted me to find out dinner plans. They know that the night before the race is gluten-free pizza night. And to avoid that horrible mistake that was Pizza Ranch last time I raced in Minneapolis, Cathy did some research before we left. I heard only good things about Pizza Lucé, both on Find Me Gluten Free and in regular reviews. In fact, they are touted as “The Best Pizza In Minneapolis.” So…that had to be good right. We hadn’t thought of reservations, but as there was going to be at least 11 of us there…Molly went ahead and got that arranged.
That evening, at 5 p.m., we showed up at Pizza Lucé on West 66th Street in Richfield, Minnesota. My cousins, their significant others, and the children were all there. My aunt was the last to arrive. But there we were…me, my roomie, my bestie, my family…ready to give this place a try. I don’t think the Pizza Ranch experience will ever be forgotten. We joke about it even now. All of us who endured it.
But, as this place had not only gluten-free, but also vegan options…I was already feeling good about it. We were seated and our drink orders were taken while we looked over the menu. Heather was onboard with splittling with Cathy and I up until I said I needed the vegan cheese. Then, Cathy left it to me to choose what pizza to do (or build our own, which is an option). I was actually torn between a seasonal special or one of the signature pizzas on the menu. I was going back and forth and when I mentioned the Curried Coconut Butternut Squash Pizza (roasted butternut squash whipped with curry and coconut milk and finished with fresh red bell pepper, feta cheese, red onion, pineapple and fresh cilantro) to Cathy, she seemed very unenthusiastic about it. So, I decided to go with my other choice…the Wild Mushroom and Arugula Pizza ($18.89).
While the various orders for each of us (some of us got pizzas, some got pastas)…we all sat around and talked about tons of things. My cousin Molly had a new baby girl that I hadn’t met yet…her two boys were entertaining on the other end of the table. My cousin, Andy, just got married and he and his wife were there…so we talked wedding. We talked running. We talked family. We talked about everything. Literally.
And then…tasty food began arriving.
The Gluten Free Wild Mushroom and Arugula Pizza was set down next to me – a fantastic 10 inch gluten-free crust that was topped off with olive oil, fresh basil, arugula, caramelized onion, garlic, a wild mushroom blend (cirimini, oyster, portabella, and shiitake) and Daiya cheese (vegan!). It looked AMAZING! I mean, my mouth immediately began to water. And it was then that we realized that Heather, Cathy and I totally forgot to grab lunch today. So, yeah…we were ready to dig in.
I served 3 slices, half of the pizza, to Cathy and saved the other half for me.
OH. MY. PIZZA. GOODNESS. This was creamy, crunchy and good! Beyond good. This pizza was so delicious. I love a good white pizza and this went above and beyond what I am used to. It was so creamy because they actually got the Daiya cheese to melt down to a perfect gooey texture. The blend of flavors was classic, with the arugula adding a hit of peppery flavor to the sweetness of the caramelized onion and the earthiness of the mushrooms. I might have devoured every single bit of it. Seriously. Like hoovered it all down. I was so happy with the food here I really considered going back. They, after all, also have a gluten-free stuffed shells on the menu. Pardon me while I drool!
In a heartbeat…I would definitely return to Pizza Lucé in the future. This place beyond impressed me. And I think all of us who survived the disgusting nastiness of Pizza Ranch the year before were grateful to have delicious food and the variety of options that Pizza Lucé offered. If I had been there longer, I would have returned during the rest of my stay in Minneapolis. Seriously…so happy and can’t wait to go back next time I make it to Minneapolis!
Pizza Lucé’s Gluten-Free and Vegan Wild Mushroom and Arugula Pizza
Me heading for the Finish Line of the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Race: Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon
Place: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
Date: October 5, 2014
Time:3:51:52
“One thing about racing is that it hurts. You better accept that from the beginning or you’re not going anywhere.” – Bob Kennedy
Pushing through the pain is not my style. Doing damage to myself is not something I strive to do. I don’t believe in pushing myself to the point of puking when it comes to running. My body is my temple and I am trying, through this blasted foot injury, to keep it moving, going, and getting strong. The last thing on my to-do list is…get hurt…more/again.
So…this was certainly on my mind when I boarded a plane to Minneapolis, Minnesota last Friday. Honestly. My custom orthodics were doing more damage and causing more pain than they should have been. I had been in to see the podiatrist twice since getting them, and had them readjusted. I was still limping throughout the day…something that got worse as I moved about the Louisville airport. I’m sure part of that was the 15 pound backpack I was carrying around, but it seemed the more I stepped, the worse it got. And thanks to that fire at the air traffic control tower in Chicago, the flight leaving Louisville was delayed by 2 hours. And then…once we got to Midway, we had another delay, which wouldn’t put is in Minneapolis until past midnight. I hated to do this to my aunt, Jan, who graciously was coming out to get us…but that’s how air travel through Chicago is currently working. And it sucked.
That being said, the security line in Louisville was non-existent for a Friday. Barely any wait time. And then the delay meant we had plenty of time to kill. So, Cathy and I decided we would find something to eat for dinner. We were originally going to do that at Midway…but…now it made sense to do it here. Cathy ended up getting some soup from Chili’s and I ate an apple and a gluten-free granola bar that I brought with me. I figured it could at least hold me to Midway, right? Right. Then, I got out my Moji 360 Mini Massager and had Cathy help me roll it across the bottom of my foot, which is where most of the pain was happening at that moment. It hurt…like…a lot. It would have to do for the time being. We walked around a bit more (there is only so much to do at the Louisville airport…trust me)…until we finally got to line up to get on the plane. Guess what? I was A1. HAHA! First on the plane after the special boarding for those traveling alone or in need of assistance. Awesome. On Southwest Airlines…the closer to the front of the plane, the better. Even if I knew we were in no hurry to catch a flight at Midway. It was the fact that for the first (and probably only) time…I was A1.
Thumbs down for left foot pain at the airport on the way to Minneapolis. This is one very unhappy runner…
The flight to Midway was dull and uninteresting, which is how I prefer flights. Even the landing was smooth and perfect. We disembarked and went to check the screen. Yes…definitely delayed. So…time to do more hiking around. As we were doing so, I started limping even more. My foot was killing me. Cathy made a suggestion…telling me to take the orthodic out of my left shoe, since it seemed to be doing more harm than good. I had no inserts for my shoe…but, I figured it couldn’t hurt any worse, and if it did, I could put the orthodic back in. It actually offered a small amount of relief. Just a little. But it was definitely more tolerable. I just want to interject that the orthodics were supposed to help me move pain-free. These particular ones fail. On the Wednesday before leaving, I had gone back in for further adjustment on the orthodic for that foot and my podiatrist ended up calling the orthodic place and telling them he had an elite marathoner and they suggested recasting the orthodic, but with some posts that will give more stability and can be adjusted. Problem…they wouldn’t be in before I left for Minneapolis. So, we went over how to tape the shit out of my foot for stability and he wished me luck. He didn’t tell me not to do it…which I appreciated it…but not being able to do it was definitely weighing heavy on my mind as I hobbled through the terminals of Midway in Chicago. To amuse ourselves, Cathy and I did spot a really cute sailor in the navy…and stalked him for a little while. He was gorgeous. But…we lost him after he ducked into a bakery place. Dang. We grabbed a small snack and settled in on the floor of our gate to wait on the plane coming in so we could then board it and fly to Minnesota.
And when it finally happened, I was tired and cranky. I took the front row of the plane, shoving my bag in the overhead compartment for the extra leg room instead. I fell in and out of consciousness…long day…having been up since 3:30 a.m. to finish packing and get to my spin class at the gym by 5:15 a.m. But…as I drifted back into consciousness…the clouds now looked like some crazy test pattern…and Cathy pointed out that it WAS SNOWING! SNOW! I don’t even like the sound of it. You guys all know that me and cold weather are like oil and water. We just don’t work well together. SNOW!! UGH!! Thankfully, it was only snow above the clouds…because as we finally began our descent into Minneapolis, it was rain. Just rain. Thank goodness. But…DAMN…it was cold. When I had packed for the race, my weather channel app still told me race morning would be in the low 40s. But now it was in the 30s. I wasn’t really prepared for weather in the 30s for running, so I said if I had to I would purchase something to wear at the expo on Saturday morning. That was the plan.
Jan found us at the baggage claim, and thankfully the bags didn’t take too long to come through. We were off to the car, then making our way to my grandpa’s house. She had the room set up, and Cathy took the air mattress. I set an alarm for 7:30 a.m. and made plans with my friend, Heather, to get together for the expo. She was going to pick Cathy and I up at my grandpa’s home in the morning and we would go and get my race packet and check out the expo. I figured we’d go from there…probably returning home. But first…sleep.
Saturday morning came and I was up with my alarm. I heard my grandpa moving about and ended up settling in on the couch. He asked if I wanted to go play Bingo with him at the grocery store. I normally would…but I was still in my pajamas and not in any way ready to go out in public. I hadn’t even had breakfast (which Jan was kind enough to hit up the Cub Foods the night before to get me some gluten-free bagels, vegan cream cheese, and some Greek yogurt)…so he went off without me. I ate some yogurt while toasting the bagels in the oven (no cross-contamination!). Cathy and I ate breakfast, got dressed, brushed teeth and made ourselves presentable. I grabbed the race packet that arrived in the mail with my Bib Number and Corral listed. And then we waited for Heather. Heather texted around the time she was going to leave and said she was running late…so we just sort of settled. Grandpa returned from Bingo, having won a $10 gift card to the grocery store. My aunt emerged from her basement living space and she and Grandpa prepared to head out to some Man Cave car show thing. They gave me a house key, in case we made it back before them, and they went off.
Heather arrived soon after and Cathy and I locked up the house and climbed into the car. Heather took us into Saint Paul and we parked in a street lot, which was supposedly $10, but due to it being the weekend, ended up being only $4. WOOHOO! Love it. We made our way from the car to the Saint Paul RiverCentre where the Health and Wellness Expo was being hosted. We ducked inside and made our way toward the back where the race packets were being handed out. I was…actually surprised. The expo was really massive. Much bigger than any of the much smaller expos I have gone through in Minnesota. This wasn’t quite Chicago size…but it was really massive with a lot of vendors. I spotted the Newton booth and knew I needed some new shoes (not to wear on Sunday…but in general)…and made a note to stop by there. The race packet was important and I stepped up near the first line as I was Bib #1306 and in the first corral to be sent off. NICE! Just wish I felt like I belonged there. Damn foot. The volunteer checked my race information packet and my ID before retrieving my bag, which contained a pair of socks…no race shirt. I was…sad. I really was. All of this and no race shirt??!! I handed the bag over to Cathy and pulled out my envelope with the chip I needed to attach to my shoe so I could go and run it over the sensor to make sure it was activated. It worked. Time to shop.
I actually didn’t go too crazy here. The three of us methodically worked our way up and down the aisles, grabbing free samples and playing a few giveaway games. That’s how I won Minute Rice. And a cowbell. LOL! Cathy actually told me to win the cowbell…and when I spun the wheel…I just happened to land on that spot. Go me. The same thing happened at the Minute Rice booth. I guess I was lucky on Saturday. We stocked up on freebies…checked out some races that were represented, and just kept moving. Since I had no race shirt, I had to duck into the merchandise area and purchase one. I wasn’t really happy with the meager selection left in my size…but found a couple that I liked. I bought one…and, being the awesome BFF that she is, Heather got me the other one as a belated birthday gift. We grabbed some free Caribou Coffee and headed out.
Heather taking me on a drive through the race route the afternoon before. SO helpful!
Heather had a really great idea…to drive as much of the course that we possibly could…depending on road closures. With my foot not feeling great, I was still not certain I’d be able to race or run…but thought this was a good way to take a look at what lay ahead of me. We quickly ducked into a record store for Cathy to check out some stuff, and then headed out to get back to Minneapolis and drive from start to finish. This was the first time I had ever done this, but it gave me a chance to get a feel for the areas I would be taking on the following morning. We started off, with the understanding that I would walk the hills and run the rest of it. This was the plan. So…off we went. And, let me tell you, there were plenty of hills that awaited me. But the tour of the course was one of the best things I ever did. And with Heather as a guide, I knew when to just really take in my surroundings, which side I needed to be on, and what points she and Cathy were going to attempt to see me along the way the next morning. This took a bit of time, but we got it done and it was really good to have all of that in mind.
My cousin, Molly, was working with Jan to get a dinner together with some of the family. We were going to check out Pizza Luce, which is one of the area’s highest rated pizza place…and yes…they have a gluten-free pizza. Naturally. After the disaster that was Pizza Ranch the last time I raced in Minneapolis…this was hopefully going to be better. We arrived early, so ducked over to Target because I needed some cheap throwaway gloves for the cold morning on Sunday. After that, we returned to Pizza Luce and joined my cousin Molly, her hubby, her three kids, my cousin Andy and his wife…and my aunt arrived last. We were seated (thanks to Molly making a reservation) very quickly and all just started talking. It had been over a year since I was last up there (I ran the Lake Minnetonka Half Marathon the last time) and we had so much to talk about. Molly had just had a baby a couple months ago and Andy had just gotten married. So…yeah…lots happening. We all ordered some food (Cathy, Heather, and I hadn’t had anything since breakfast so we were hungry and it was after 5 pm now). I ended up getting the Gluten Free Wild Mushroom and Arugula Pizza and split it with Cathy. It was really good. We didn’t linger too long afterwards. It had been a long day, I was tired and sore, Heather needed to get home, and I still had to go see my cousin Natalie, who was coming by my grandpa’s house. So we all went our separate ways, with Molly and Co. heading to grandpa’s as well for a little while…YAY! It was good to get together with my cousins. And Natalie wore her “I Run Marathons” shirt (even though she doesn’t…but said it felt appropriate!). We sat and talked and played with the kids…until it was time to turn in. Cathy remembered to really tape the hell out of my foot, ankle, and calf that night…so I was pretty well set for the early morning that awaited us.
Cathy’s mummification of my foot/ankle/leg for better stability. It worked!
At 4:00 a.m. my first alarm went off. I got up and got some stuff together…did my normal first alarm routine…then went back to sleep for a little longer. In that short span of time, I had a dream about the race and being the last person across the start line. Craziness. At 5:00 a.m…the actual alarm went off. I got up to get the oven preheated and to get changed into my race clothes. As it was really flippin’ cold up outside…after I suited up, I put my yoga pants back on and went ahead and put on my hoodie. I changed that out for my fleece I brought, just in case, before we left. I realized that morning that I didn’t have my cereal with me to eat pre-race, so I decided, if this race happened, I would be run-walking it…then having something different that morning couldn’t hurt too much. So, it was Greek yogurt with a gluten-free bagel and vegan cream cheese. I ate slowly, so as not to upset my tummy and just sort of flexed my foot a little…trying to decide if I was going to do it or not. In the end…I was dressed and fed, so I grabbed a banana, my fuel belt, and we left my grandpa’s house in my aunt’s car and headed into the city.
Finding parking was actually not a problem. I was surprised. Cathy located a great parking garage that was close to the start without being one that would be hell to get out of later. Love that. We parked and headed out into the cold Minnesota air, hearing the announcer talk about the start of the 10 Mile race, or as they like to call it…the “Shortcut to the Capitol” was gearing up to leave. Runners for the 10 Miler were getting in their corrals, so we headed over that way to see them off. Got there just as the National Anthem was finishing up and soon…Corral 1 was off. Just like that. We felt a bit in the way…so after a few clangs of a cowbell and some cheering, we meandered back to where the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon was going to start. There was going to be a Marathon Maniac’s picture at the entrance of Corral 3…but I didn’t make it back that way in time. Instead, I peeled my banana…and began moving up again through the corrals. And, just as we were getting up to where the Start Line was…here comes Heather! YAY! She had texted/called my phone, which I had given to Cathy so I didn’t obsess over it, but somehow Cathy missed it. Regardless…she found us just in time. We moved through the onslaught of runners heading in the opposite direction so that she and Cathy could find a spot to stand to see me off. They found a great spot too, just past the media on the corner. We took a few pictures with the Start Line…and then I finally had to shed my warm jacket and pants…and start getting acclimated. I got hugs from both and got some photos snapped so they could post them on Facebook…and then…I was off to get situated in Corral 1.
I am not going to lie…I was freezing. I moved to the back of the corral to start…but then ended up moving up little-by-little until I found an open spot somewhere in the middle near the left side. I promised that I would stretch when I got in my corral, and I kept that promise. If there is one thing I have learned, it is how powerful and important that stretching is. As I was finishing that up, I heard a “Hi Maniac!” coming from behind me. For the record, I was wearing my Marathon Maniac’s singlet. Anyway…it was a very nice guy, also a member of the Marathon Maniacs, and he said that I looked cold. I told him I was cold and he laughed and said I must not be from Minnesota. Very observant. HA! We chatted for a bit, and then he went in search of more Maniacs. I decided I didn’t like being that far back in the corral and moved up some more…and then some more…and a little bit more. I just got settled in a new spot when the announcer came on and welcomed us to the race. The National Anthem was sung, off key, but it was there…and then…we were sent off at exactly 8:00 a.m.
It didn’t take too long for me to cross that start line and I immediately hung at the left so I could see Cathy and Heather. I did…and they were loud and cheered just as loud for me. This was the first time in over a week that I had ventured out for a run. Seriously. And I wasn’t sure what my foot would do. The anti-inflammatory I took that morning seemed to be doing its job. There was a slight bit of pain…but nothing I hadn’t run through before. I was off…and starting the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon – which is known as The Most Beautiful Urban Marathon in America.
My strategy was simple…run when I could…walk when I had to…and if I had to crawl…I’d do that…but I committed to running this by crossing that start line, and I would do my best to see the race to the finish. I told Cathy that morning, I wasn’t sure I could finish…and not to get mad if I dropped out. She said she wouldn’t be mad, but she wanted to be sure I wouldn’t be mad at myself. I was certain I would be…but if I hurt, I wasn’t going to do further damage to myself. The goal was to treat this as training…and that was my entire goal. In fact, I started off at a very easy pace, I thought…but I realized my first mile was sub-8…so I backed off on that second mile and relaxed. I didn’t worry about pace or anything else…I just ran how I felt. That was the only thing I could do.
Prior to this race, I had managed to do one training run of 13.1 miles, on the day after my birthday. That was a good 3 weeks prior to this run. I struggled, having not run any double digit runs since July. I told myself I would go mile-by-mile and just assess how I was feeling. If anything, I could at least get halfway through. I had done it before…albeit on a foot that hurt less…but the more I was out there, the more I loosened up and the better I felt. I hit the 5K mark at 25:23…not great, but not bad for someone who has barely run. The next gauge was the 10K mark and that came just after we ran around the second lake on the course. Let me take a moment here to say that this course is stunning. Gorgeous. The leaves are changing in Minnesota…bright oranges and reds…all canopied overhead as you take to the streets of the city. People were everywhere to cheer. There wasn’t really a lull in the crowds at all throughout the entire thing. And the energy was just what I needed that morning. I hit the 10K mark at 50:02. And kept on going. I was really just loving the run. I was feeling okay…minor pain if any…and taking it all in. I just kept moving…and as I was making the turn at Mile 11…Heather and Cathy were there…and they were just screaming! That was just what I needed then, and I smiled, waved, and on I went. They were heading to Mile 17…as we previously discussed. Mile 11 was a nice surprise.
Mile 17 Cheer Squad: Paul, Heather, Grandpa, Jan (not pictured: Cathy…who took the pic)
Perseverance and sheer stubbornness propelled me through to the halfway point. I hit the 13.1 mile mark at 1:46:10…which is rather good, if you’re asking me. I knew that had been the furthest I had managed to train, so my common sense kicked in, and I chose to run the second half with my head…not my heart. This meant, slow the pace, walk the hills, just keep going forward. And, I immediately did just that. I turned what had started as a beautiful and nearly perfect run into a walk-run. I walked the hills. I walked when my feet hurt. I ran in between. I just started to push myself to play this smart. The last thing I needed to do was get injured again or aggravate something even further. Yes…I am aware that running a marathon was probably not the best way to avoid this…but this one was important. And as I ran…then walked…then ran through the next few miles…the reason I was out there finally made an appearance.
It was Mile 17. I knew Heather and Cathy were going to be there. But what I saw as I headed just past the Clif Shot Energy Zone was more than this little bucket of emotions could handle. There, clapping, making some noise…and just being the epitome of awesome…was my peeps. Cathy, Heather, my friend Paul, my aunt Jan…and yes…grandpa! Finally, my grandpa was well enough to make it out to see me run. I was just thankful that at that point I was running. HAHA! I picked up the pace when I saw them. I picked it up more as I heard them. And I touched my heart and held my arms up to them as I ran past. It wasn’t sunny at that point, but I was thankful to have my sunglasses on, because when I saw my grandpa standing there, I cried. Tears. Just…gone. I took a few deep breaths and regained my composure. I had 9 more miles ahead of me until I saw my peeps again…as I knew that at least Cathy and Heather would be at the finish line. Time to dig deep, dig in, and finish what I started.
The next two miles ran parallel to the Mississippi River. At Mile 19, we crossed over the river via a bridge and started down the other side. I knew that at Mile 20.5, my friend Kristen was stationed, having run the 10 miler that morning. She said she’d watch for me, and knowing that she was waiting was what propelled me onward. I also knew that around Mile 20, the beginning of epic 200 foot climb over the next 3 miles was about to begin. I saw the water station ahead and suddenly, Kristen, clad all in green, shouted. I was thrilled and ran over to her. We hugged…and she told me I looked great and to keep going. I did. How could I not after getting a hug when I was feeling so down? It lifted my spirits and my mood. I really needed that.
But the hugging and love didn’t stop there. Nope. Another friend of mine, Julie, was a course marshal between Miles 22-23. And she somehow managed to spot me in the crowd as well. I heard her shout and looked up…and rushed over to her for more hugs. She again sent me on my way, saying that I looked good and was doing great. I love my friends. Honestly. When I was struggling…when I was beating myself up…someone…a friend or a stranger…was there to encourage me. Even those simply spectating…when I’d start to walk a hill, I would hear, “Good job 1306! One foot in front of the other. Keep going. You’re almost there. Proud of you!” I teared up a few times. This race was an emotional roller coaster for me.
But, I was close now. I was within the last 5K. I kept saying I would just run the entire way, but the run-walk intervals had taken their toll and my legs were really starting to feel it. My feet hurt…and I was just determined at this point to finish. I wasn’t doing this one for time…this one was for me. This one was for my grandpa! This one was training. It had to be! The next few miles ticked by…slow and steady…and as I came into the heart of St. Paul, the crowds lifted me up and carried me that last mile. I was getting closer. I could hear the announcer. Down a hill and straight on to the finish line. I saw Heather and Cathy on my right and they were screaming for me. I held my hands up against my chest in the shape of a heart as I started to cry again. Honestly, friends see you through so much in life. I was hoping to see my grandpa there again, but my aunt took him home. The finish was ahead, so after I passed them I focused on making it to that line. I crossed…in a miraculous 3:51:52.
How I pulled that off is beyond me…but as I walked away from the camera…the tears flowed. Yep…I cried…and hobbled through the finisher’s area. I was handed my medal, which was placed around my neck. I was given a Mylar blanket and some water. A banana. Salty snacks…and urged toward the area for the finisher photographs. From there…I got my Finisher’s t-shirt. Yes…this is brilliant. At the Twin Cities Marathon, you don’t get your finisher’s shirt until you…*gasp*…FINISH! Great incentive, yes? I got through with that and managed to find the Caribou Coffee tent. I got a cup of coffee…because it’s Caribou Coffee and I was still cold. You know I am still cold when I cross a marathon finish line still wearing my makeshift arm warmers and my toss away gloves. HA! And then, I slowly started to make my way to the Family Reunion Area. My feet hurt. My entire body hurt. But I was done. I had done it…despite having my own doubts about my abilities.
As I was making my way up the incline toward the Letter X (our standard go-to for meeting), a man handed me a plastic bag to put all the stuff that runners get in the finishing area. I thanked him and was able to make my way up a little easier now. Cathy spotted me, dropped her sign and came running my way to give me a hug. I started crying again. She said she was so proud of me and we walked up to where Heather was holding down the fort. More hugs and high praise! I was on Cloud Nine! We laid out my Mylar blanket and I sat down. Cathy went to work changing my shoes from my Newtons to my Adidas Boosts and getting me straight into compression socks.
Cathy, Me, and Heather after the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota
And, for a moment, my elation…my joy…went away. A quick glance at my cell phone…where I was showered with so many words of encouragement and love and people telling me how proud they were of me…and one person made it all seem so…meaningless. I set my phone down…took a deep breath…and listened to Heather and Cathy about letting it go. I did something remarkable…and to focus only on that. Then they started bragging about me to people. Seriously, these two are awesome! Heather helped stretch me out and get my legs up after she called the restaurant we were looking at for a possible place to eat lunch. My stomach wanted nothing to do with food at the moment, but I knew in about 30 minutes I’d need something. Perfect timing…they said they were in between rushes.
We hung on the lawn for a moment more, then headed down the streets of St. Paul to meet up with…Paul…who was back from his Mile 17 appearance and ready to join us for some celebratory pub grub (which is starting to become a tradition…either that or Mexican). I went into the bathroom and changed and joined my friends for some amazing food. Recovery was happening. After we ate and split THE BEST DESSERT EVER…we went our separate ways. I went back to grandpa’s house to shower and then we headed to the Mall of America…because I needed to keep moving and what better place to get your walk on? I ended up treating myself to a new dress from the former Bettie Page store (now called Tatyana). I rock this dress! Thanks for making me try it on, Heather! After shopping, we went our separate ways. It was, honestly, worth every doubt that ever came into my mind.
My official time for the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon was 3:51:52. I was 2351 out of 8852 finishers overall. I was the 712/3996 female to cross the finish line. And I was 145/703 in my age division to finish. Not too shabby at all. Is it the race I wanted? Certainly not. But it was my favorite marathon to date for so many reasons. Mostly…because despite being unable to perform up to my potential…I never gave up…and there were people who saw me through. Not just those I knew…but strangers too. And there is something so uplifting and so…amazing about that in the end. Most of all, I’m glad that the third time was the charm, and my grandpa finally had a chance to see me run. He has run the Twin Cities Marathon quite a few times, so this one was special in that aspect too!
And now…it’s all about recovery…because NYC awaits…
My grandpa, Howard A. Brady, in his 1993 Twin Cities Marathon Finisher’s shirt and medal and me in my 2014 gear! Running…it’s a generational thing!
Twas the day before I left for vacation and I still had a lot…and I mean a lot of fresh produce left from my bin. Sometimes I think I should cancel it the week I go out of town, but never really want to. After all, I love my local and organic fresh produce being delivered to me and I hate these weeks I get back from a trip and have nothing in my fridge resembling a fresh fruit or vegetable. I had to do something with the plethora of produce that remained…and I wasn’t exactly sure what I could manage.
All hail the Happy Herbivore. In the cookbook, Happy Herbivore Light & Lean, which, for those of you keeping track, is the same book I got the Garden Vegetable Chili recipe from, I found an amazing recipe for Irish Stew. Yes…vegetarian Irish Stew. Her recipe was not gluten-free…but I made a couple of adjustments…and added a more nontraditional ingredient (to use it from my crisper drawer before leaving, naturally) to make the recipe work for me. Honestly…it is delicious. And so easy to prepare. Like any stew, chili, or soup…just let it simmer and let all those flavors soak in. That’s what it’s all about.
2 portobello mushrooms (I used 16 ounces of crimini mushrooms)
2 cups No-Beef Broth (I used 2 cups organic vegetable broth)
1 onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
4 thyme twigs, fresh, de-stemmed, or 1-2 tsp dried thyme
2 large carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalk, sliced
2 medium white potatoes, diced
1 cup Guinness stout (I used Redbridge Gluten Free Bear)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
2-3 bay leaves
1-2 tablespoons Vegan Worcestershire Sauce (I used gluten free low sodium tamari)
**(In addition, I added 2 leeks to this stew…as I had them in my crisper…and why the hell not?)**
Directions:
Remove stems from portobello mushrooms and discard. Cut the mushroom caps into strips and set aside.
Line a large pot with 1 cup of no-beef broth. Saute onion and garlic over high heat until onions are translucent, about a minute or two.
Add thyme, carrots, celery, potatoes, stout, and tomato paste, and stir.
Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat to low, and continue to cook for about 10 minutes.
Add mushrooms on top, along with Dijon, bay leaves, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, and remaining broth. Bring to a boil again, cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring every so often.
Continue to cook until mushrooms and potatoes are very soft – past fork-tender.
Taste, adding more Worcestershire sauce if desired.
Add a generous amount of black pepper and salt if desired.
Remove bay leaves and serve.
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This is definitely a healthy and hearty stew. It has that great ‘stick-to-your-ribs’ feel to it, yet is completely plant based. Gotta love that. And I thought my addition of the leeks actually worked quite well. As I had to use a beer instead of a stout, the flavor is a bit more mild, but this has Ireland written all over it. A little nontraditional…but very good.
I froze a few servings of it and this thaws out and reheats beautifully. Trust me. You’ll love this! Especially as we enter the perfect time for soups!! And with just over 115 calories per 1-3/4 cup serving…you won’t feel guilting indulging in this stew either. I can’t wait to try out more of the Happy Herbivore dishes!
Product: The Pure Pantry Gluten-Free Organic Old Fashioned Pancake and Baking Mix – $7.29+
A couple weeks ago, I was fortunate enough to be sent a free package of The Pure Pantry‘s Gluten-Free Organic Old Fashioned Pancake and Baking Mix. I was ecstatic…for quite a few reasons. For the first thing…most gluten-free baking mixes that I have tried…haven’t lived up to expectations. Secondly, the pancakes on the package looked heavenly…so, I could only imagine the awesomeness that was enclosed inside.
Included with the mix were two recipes. I had this perfect vision in my head the moment I saw one for The Pure Pantry’s Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free Cornbread (or Muffins). You see…I love chili, soup, and stew. I LOVE…LOVE…LOVE these things…and it’s officially autumn. It’s fall. It’s soup season. It’s time to break into my vegetable crisper and my pantry and whip up some warm, comforting goodness on the stovetop.
Tonight…that’s just what I did. And I pulled out my package of The Pure Pantry’s Gluten-Free Organic Old Fashioned Pancake and Baking Mix because the perfect accompaniment to any chili (and I made a fantastic Garden Chili with LOTS of veggies!)…is cornbread, of course!!
This was not my first foray into gluten-free cornbread. I’ve made at least a dozen different versions of it. None of which I have liked. Seriously. None. They just never seemed to hit that perfect cornbread mark! Always a disappointment. If my roommate was game, she’d offer to use the failed versions for some snacks at work…but that was rare. Yeah…my cornbread record since going gluten-free has not been stellar.
So, you can only imagine my anticipation today when, after a long day of fitness, festivals, and…yes…food…I wanted to cook up a light chili and give this cornbread recipe a whirl. What could go wrong? I’d either be amazed…or disappointed once again.
The recipe was very easy and everything needed was in my pantry or fridge already. Don’t you love it when that happens? Combining the mix with corn meal, baking powder, salt, and some liquid ingredients, this epic dough that felt light and airy emerged. I poured it into a greased baking pan and threw it in the oven for about 22 minutes.
What emerged was sheer cornbread perfection. It looked like cornbread. It smelled like cornbread. Once the chili was done simmering away on the stove…I would find out if it tasted like cornbread. About 20 minutes later…dinner was served.
The first difference between the cornbread made with The Pure Pantry’s Gluten-Free Organic Old Fashioned Pancake and Baking Mix was that it didn’t feel heavy or dense…even as it came out of the oven. I can tell when I bake whether a recipe is going to be good by how heavy the pan feels as I lift it out of that oven. This didn’t feel heavy at all. It was this gorgeous golden color on top. It cooled briefly before I got out a knife and sliced it into 16 squares. Cutting it was a dream. I could tell that it was going to be a perfect texture due to how easily the knife cut through it. Like butter! It glided right through…no fighting with heavy, gummy insides on this bread. I might have perfection here! Each bowl of chili was served with two squares of the cornbread.
The verdict?!
BEST GLUTEN FREE CORNBREAD EVER!! And, as I stated above, I’ve made so much gluten-free cornbread that I didn’t like or I felt just came out wrong. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this recipe. It was hearty and delicious and so easy to prepare. I loved not just the texture, but how light, but substantial it felt. I loved the flavor…which…for me…was perfect. It wasn’t sweet cornbread…which is just how I like it. Sugar in cornbread is cake. This didn’t taste like cake. This tasted like cornbread. It had that gritty, corn flavor. Honestly…made my night.
I am going to definitely try the sweet recipe that was sent along with this baking mix as well…so stay tuned for that!! But for now, please enjoy this recipe from The Pure Pantry:
Recipe: The Pure Pantry’s Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Cornbread (or Muffins)
The Pure Pantry Gluten-Free Organic Old Fashioned Pancake and Baking Mix (with Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Cornbread)
1 cup The Pure Pantry Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Mix
1 cup organic yellow corn meal
1/4 cup agave nectar
1 teaspoon aluminum free baking powder1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk (almond milk or rice milk may be substituted) (I used unsweetened almond milk)
1/3 cup vegetable shortening, butter, or coconut oil – melted
1 large egg, slightly beaten (or egg replacer)
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Grease or butter an 8-inch square baking pan.
Combine dry ingredients in a medium bowl.
Combine milk, oil, agave, and egg in a small bowl; mix well.
Add the milk mixture to flour mixture; stir until just blended.
Pour into prepared pan and bake for 20-22 minutes. For muffins, spoon batter into greased muffin cups, fill 2/3 full and bake 15-18 minutes.
This recipe may be doubled and baked as above in a 13×9 inch baking pan.
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The Pure Pantry has so many mixes to offer. And they were kind enough to share a coupon code with me to give to all of you, my dear readers. If you are interested in trying their products, skip over to http://www.thepurepantry.com and take a look at their shop. You can get $1.00 off your purchase of any two (2) gluten-free products from The Pure Pantry simply by entering PLU 35147 as you are checking out! Trust me…these products are totally worth it. I have never been so satisfied with a mix than I was with this one. The Pure Pantry might actually be selling gluten-free baking perfection.
But…don’t just take my word for it. Get over to their site…order some of their products and see how life changing your gluten-free foods can be. Simple. Delicious. And…amazing and delicious.
The Pure Pantry is pure gluten-free delicious goodness!
I have a lot of vegetables in my crisper drawer. Like…a lot. A whole lot. Because…I get a CSA bin loaded up each Friday and sometimes I get through them, and other times…I don’t. Well, last week with all the birthday insanity…I barely got through them. It wasn’t without trying. I just…had so much going on and a few dinners had to be really quick and simple and…not cooked from my fresh and delicious vegetables. Hey…I did make an amazing salad though with a whole lot of them.
But, I digress.
With a trip coming up next week, I am determined to use up much of what is now in my crisper drawer. I also had a new gluten-free and dairy-free recipe for cornbread that I really, really, really wanted to get working on…so…I thought…
CHILI!!
Now, I have a TON of recipes for vegetarian chili…but I wanted one that I could use simply what I had in my kitchen. And, it just so happened to exist in my Happy Herbivore Light & Lean cookbook. Only thing I needed was…beans! Simple enough, I was grocery shopping today anyway. So…clocking in at 153 calories and 1 gram of fat, I give you…
Recipe: The Happy Herbivore’s Garden Chili
The Happy Herbivore’s Garden Chili
Servings: 2-3 (but I made 6 servings out of it) Time: Prep 15 minutes; Cook 25 minutes
Ingredients:
2 cups vegetable broth, divided
1 onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes (undrained) (I used fire-roasted low sodium diced tomatoes)
1 cup sliced mushrooms
2 celery stalks, sliced
2 carrots, peeled and diced
1/4 cup tomato paste2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoon Vegan Worcestershire Sauce (I used gluten-free liquid smoke instead!)
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon yellow mustard
1 (15 ounce) can pinto or kidney beans, drained and rinsed (I used organic chili beans)
Directions:
Line a large pot with a thin layer of broth, and sauté onion and garlic over high heat until onion is translucent, about a minute.
Add the bell pepper, tomatoes with juice, mushrooms, celery, carrots, tomato paste, remaining broth, spices, and condiments. Stir, cover, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to low and simmer until the vegetables are fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Add water or tomato sauce to make it more chili-like if necessary. Add beans and serve.
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Okay…confession…I totally missed the part where it said to cover the pot. HAHA! No wonder it took a little bit of time to get those vegetables fork-tender. My total bad! But, it still worked. And what emerged was a fantastic spicy (but not too spicy…because the roomie didn’t even comment that her sinuses were running!) chili that celebrates vegetables. Most vegetarian chilies seem to put so much emphasis on beans that this was, indeed, a nice change. And serving this up with a couple slices of gluten-free and dairy-free cornbread made for one great, perfect fall meal.
It’s not my birthday…but my roommate and I have a tradition to treat each other to a birthday meal someplace new, interesting, or a personal favorite for each others special day. Mine was pushed back to this weekend as my birthday fell on the start of the weekend and I already had Indian food on the mind at my favorite place in Louisville!
So, I had said that what I really wanted was…finally…some Chinese food. We had read a review a couple years ago about a place called the Tea Station in Louisville that had gluten-free options. However, after e-mailing them and not hearing anything back…then the roomie calling and basically being told they can give me rice and vegetables and tofu…and after seeing reviews about how the place has sort of been on a downward spiral…it was time for a second option.
The problem was…I really wanted Chinese food. So, now, nothing sounded like something I wanted.
Perfect.
I tried to get some feedback from Cathy, but she kept saying it was my choice. Which only stressed me out. I narrowed it down to a couple of places…and after scanning the menu pages a few times, I settled…on The Grape Leaf.
Yep. Mediterranean food! I love everything about Mediterranean food…so I figured…why not try out somewhere new and different and interesting? So…after work, we drove out to Frankfort Avenue…and attempted to find parking. We finally managed to find a spot well up the road and made a bit of a hike to the restaurant itself. The Grape Leaf prides itself on being a friendly, locally owned, pan-mediterranean neighborhood restaurant. I loved everything about that statement, so I was pretty excited about it. Not to mention, their chef, Nabil Al-Saba, is the real deal – serving up authentic cuisine since 1992.
Impressive, yes?
We stepped into the restaurant and were greeted by the hostess. We were taken to our table and seated. One of the chairs had a balled up cloth napkin on it, but it was near the window and I was sitting in the seat nearest the aisle. So, I set my purse down in the chair, away from the napkin, and settled in to look at the menu. The hostess/waitress asked if we wanted any appetizers like hummus or grape leaves, but Cathy said this was our first time there so we were going to familiarize ourselves with the menu first. So, she went to retrieve glasses of water while we perused the menu.
When she returned, she asked if we had any questions or if we were ready to order. We had done a bit of discussion while sitting there…but finally settled on what we were going to eat. Cathy went first, as she had the easier order. She went with the Lamb Schwarma with her two sides being the Lentil Soup with Pita and the Cauliflower Rice ($13.25).
I was going with a couple of items on the Appetizer list. I settled on a cup of the Organic Vegan Red Lentil Soup ($4.00) and the Vegetarian Grape Leaves ($7.50). Order was in.
A cup of The Grape Leaf’s Vegan Red Lentil Soup
And just moments later, our appetizer soups arrived. I had to take a picture for the blog, but Cathy dove in and said…”It tastes citrus-y.” That made me giggle and once my photo was taken, I spooned up a bit myself and tasted it. I didn’t get citrus at all, but I did get this smokey-sweet flavor from the paprika that was sprinkled on top. The menu lists the ingredients of this sup as being organic red lentils, extra virgin olive oil, onion, and spices. What it was was this thick and rich soup that had a gentle, tame flavor that was elevated by the dashes of paprika over the top. It was warm and soothing and smooth. And it was a good way to start the meal, for sure.
In fact, we had just polished off our cups of soup when the entrées arrived at the table. Wow. Fast.
The grape leaves looked like…grape leaves. I mean, you can’t really dress those up, can you? Except with spices…like that same sprinkling of paprika…everywhere. I mean…everywhere. I had six stuffed grape leaves on the plate with a dollop of tzatziki and lettuce in the middle. The grape leaves themselves were wrapped around a blend of tomato, parsley, onion, Egyptian rice, and herbs. I cut into one of them. They looked really great. I dipped my fork in the tzatziki and added it to the bite…and gave it a try.
It was…pretty good. It was okay. The textures were great. The grape leaves were cooked perfectly, kept soft. The stuffing was creamy and had a bit of flavor. Not a lot though. In fact, the star of the entire dish was the tzatziki. So, thank goodness for that. I had Cathy try a bite and she liked the creamy inside…but just didn’t look like she was a fan at all. And, sadly, being a schwarma lover…she was most impressed with her side of Cauliflower Rice. I was also…really…really…concerned with how quickly the food came to the table. I watch Kitchen Nightmares…I know how this works…
The food was just…okay. Not meh. Not gross. But not something I would actively make a point to go back and try again. Which…is so sad. This was my birthday meal and it didn’t live up to expectations. I feel cheated. I feel like my going out on a limb…trying something different…was a letdown. Do I get a do-over? We left after paying the bill and decided we couldn’t end the night with food that we weren’t happy with…so we hiked just up the street to The Comfy Cow for kiddie scoops of their Strawberry Fields Forever ice cream.
So…The Grape Leaf…has an amazing reputation…but it wasn’t busy when we were there…nor was the food anything to scream from the rooftops about. It was just…eh…good.
And I was hoping for great. I was expecting great.
“It’s very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit.” -George Sheehan
I am a beautiful work in progress.
Right?
I try to keep telling myself this, but there are moments of the day, when the doubts about my ability to run…run like the wind…run like I used to…they all just creep into my brain and it’s hard to get past that negativity. I guess I got so used to people telling me as of late that “I can’t” do this and “I shouldn’t” do this…and those little bits of negative talk are really starting to take hold in my brain. The fighter inside me has been struggling. I’m starting to hear those “can’ts and “won’ts” and…you know…I’m starting to really believe that any sort of comeback…isn’t going to happen.
This…is it.
For anyone who has suffered an athletic injury (or an injury of any sort), you may know what I’m talking about. I get discouraged so easily these days. I go out for a run, and at the slightest inkling of pain, I slow…I stop…I don’t push. I don’t want to be where I was 2 months ago. I don’t want to be able to only lift weights and swim. I don’t love weights or swimming. I love to run. But, right now, it’s hard to love something when most everyone tells you that you’re going about it wrong or that you just shouldn’t be doing it. I should be running…because I can run. My podiatrist gave me permission to run. I’m building into it via an altered training plan from the NYRR…with much slower paces and much easier distances/runs. And I thought I was okay with this…until I was told I wasn’t being smart about my comeback.
Lately, every post I have made has been followed by the simple sentiment of “#comebackkid.” Because, honestly, this injury warrants its own hashtag. In a sense, it’s not even an injury. My foot became inflamed. No stress fracture, like originally thought…just pain. Enough that I couldn’t run and sometimes could hardly walk. I’ve never been off running for that long and it was hard. I felt like I was losing fitness, because any cardio save for laps in the swimming pool was not allowed. I was placed on an anti-inflammatory and after a week…I was told I could resume running. It was painful. Every single run for 30 days was still twinging and hurting. I wasn’t running as fast…or as hard…or even really following the altered plan. I was just…doing some miles. And this past Friday, as my prescription was coming up for refill, I called my podiatrist and told him the prescription wasn’t working. I was still hurting. He gave me samples of a different medicine to try. I started it on Saturday morning.
Saturday morning…
I was meeting up with my friends Matthew, Patrick, and Brant for a 13.1 mile run. Birthday half marathon, woohoo! No medal…just a run. A simple…easy…run. I had purchased new shoes…because so many people said that when they had foot pain, this particular brand, Hoka’s, helped. I wore them out…my feet felt unwieldy and…rather clown-like. I tried to ignore the Bozo-factor and just see if these did anything to help my foot. The four of us set out…and I immediately fell behind. Matthew was gracious enough to stick it out at my pace. By Mile 5, I told him I was ready to stop and call my roommate to come and pick me up…but he talked me through it and in the end…with only one walk break around Mile 11, he got me through all of those miles. Honestly, I couldn’t have finished that run without him. Sweaty hugs followed. I was so glad he was there. I would have been left in the dust by Patrick and Bryant. I’m not there yet. I hope to get there soon.
Saturday morning was heart-wrenching. A half marathon used to be nothing for me. And here I was, struggling to make it. Fighting my own thoughts that were telling me to quit and give up. Two months off from running does take a toll on your fitness…it does. Regardless of how active I managed to be and the cross-training I worked in…it wasn’t the same as running, so running has naturally felt harder as I’ve gotten back into it. I don’t know what it was about Saturday…but the level of accomplishment for running 13.1 miles in 1:51:36 was completely shadowed by the fact that I wasn’t running it as I felt I should be. I felt like I was making excuses. I wasn’t. I was stating facts. I have been injured. I haven’t run for 2 months. I can’t immediately hop into a sub-8 minute pace. But, runners are so numbers oriented. We’re perfectionists. We base so much of our training on those numbers…and the numbers I am now assigned are back to the paces I would have run three years ago…back when I started.
It’s like starting over. And that’s what has been nagging at my mind. I have a marathon coming up…and I’m struggling sometimes with 4 miles. Not because I hurt…nope…because in my mind, because so many times I was told I can’t…I am starting to believe…I can’t. And that’s what hurts the most.
For the record, I came out of the run with no foot pain…just a little stiffness in the quads. I figured that was from new shoes. I took all of Sunday off to recover (no gym either!). And this morning, I laced up the Hoka’s again for my three mile easy paced run. By Mile 2, I was done with them. I love the soft landing they provide and the stability…but they feel so heavy and my steps and stride and feet feel so clunky. I paused my run, went up to my apartment and switched into my Newton’s for the final mile. I felt so much better, lighter, and confident in those. So…guess what’s getting sent back for a full refund?
Bye, bye Hoka’s.
My goals have definitely shifted since this injury, but that doesn’t mean that I’m okay with them. I’m disappointed…naturally. And I think it’s only right that I feel this way. I’m upset at my body…for not only not being in marathon shape, but for betraying me like it did. I’m mad at myself…because, despite having done everything right…everything I was supposed to be doing…I, mentally, am a mess. Physically, I’m getting there. Well…some days are better than others. But…it’s a slow process. But those voices…the ones that have told me all this time that I can’t and that I shouldn’t…they’re winning. The proof came in my last two runs. I’ve tried to shake it off, but when I can feel tears in my eyes, not due to pain, but due to that little voice in my head now echoing those can’ts and shouldn’ts…I realize…they’ve won. And all those negative thoughts are now my own. I can ignore the voices of others to a point…but when their words start to become my own…confidence takes a nosedive…and I start questioning my own abilities.
Comebacks are hard…but I’m a fighter. Right now, the important thing is to put one foot in front of the other. The perfectionist in me…that competitive voice…it looks at my numbers and I immediately want to compare them to where I was last year…and I know I can’t. But I do. Like I said…runner’s live their lives off of numbers and statistics. It’s hard to separate myself from the statistics I recorded last year. It’s hard not to compare myself, not just to where I was last year, but to others, who are getting stronger and faster…where as I feel 3 easy miles at a pace that would have been easy a year ago…now feels hard. It messes with the mind…which then messes with the confidence…which then only leads me down this path of depression and low self-esteem. And a definite drop in confidence.
A change in goals doesn’t always make for a happy runner. But it’s necessary. The hard part is wrapping my brain around it…and understanding that it’s time to focus on myself…not on others. It’s time to tune out the negativity…from other people, but mostly from myself. It’s time to take charge…and just focus on building myself back up. The confidence will come back…as will the speed. Patience and positivity is what I need most. Because it will help get me back on track…even if that road is a little rocky along the way.
Product: Freedom Foods Ancient Grain Flakes Cereal – $5.99+
It’s no secret how much I have latched onto and been supportive and vocally outspoken about how the natural and naturally delicious products from Freedom Foods are surprisingly nutritious and packed with nutritious goodness. So many cereals out there are loaded down with sugars and artificial ingredients. But Freedom Foods prides itself on using only natural ingredients…yes…even for those wild colors in my much loved Tropicos. So…yeah. There is a lot of love here.
Last month, I went to the Gluten-Free Food Allergy Fest in Indianapolis, and one of the vendors in attendance was none other than Freedom Foods. After buying them out of Smudge (their nut-free and dairy-free Nutella), I decided I would try one of the cereals in their lineup that I don’t see at any of my stores. Right now, only Kroger carries some of their products, and very few of their cereals. After a little bit of pondering…I finally decided to try the Freedom Foods Ancient Grain Flakes.
This cereal is a blend of sorghum and buckwheat, creating a cereal that is a good source of fiber and also low in salt. What sets this cereal apart from others on the market, Freedom Foods Ancient Grain Flakes are a true super food. Why? Because they grains that they rely on are those that were consumed around the world for thousands of years. The Aztecs relied heavily on these superfoods for both strength and endurance.
Strength…and…endurance.
This runner definitely perks up hearing that! So, I gave it a try. And on the morning before I attempted my first double-digit run since I was injured…I ate a serving and went to meet up with some friends for my run. As I poured my bowl of cereal, the flakes reminded me of those that would be in, say, Raisin Bran. They were that dark flake without a coating of heavy sugar. Very nutritious looking. No raisins in sight. None needed, apparently. Right?
Well…mostly.
I love the nutritious aspects of this cereal. I really do. But…the flavor, on their own…was not good. Really dry and sort of like…cardboard. Not to be deterred though, I went ahead and poured some almond milk over the flakes themselves…and that actually helped. It wasn’t…say…my favorite…but…it wasn’t bad. It wasn’t great…but I didn’t want to just pour it into the sink and start the garbage disposal either. It definitely is my least favorite product I have tried from Freedom Foods to date…I mean…cardboard is not a good taste at all. But…it is packed with a lot of nutrition, which does my body good. And with the almond milk…it was consumable. So, there is that.
This cereal is made from rice flour, yellow corn flour, sorghum flour, buckwheat flour, psylliam husk, cane sugar, apple juice concentrate, and less than 2% salt and sunflower oil. This cereal is preservative free, a great source of fiber, non-GMO certified, low in salt, and also gluten-free, wheat-free, nut-free, dairy-free, soy-free, and egg-free.
Nutritionally speaking, this cereal is definitely higher in calories than I would like…especially since it’s not knock-me-over delicious…but it still has some great things going for it. One serving is a cup of the Freedom Foods Ancient Grains Flakes cereal is 1 cup. In this serving, you are dished up 220 calories and only 1 gram of fat. This serving also provides 60 mg sodium and 5 grams of sugar. You also get 5 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Filling…for sure.
So, while I wouldn’t personally purchase this cereal again, it isn’t so bad. Nutrition wise it is a powerhouse. And if you like bran flakes or something similar, perhaps this is for you. For me, it lacked something…but…it’s edible. I’ll polish off the box. Maybe it will at least bring me some added strength and endurance…
It’s International Talk Like A Pirate Day, mateys!!
But…it also means that it’s my birthday. I didn’t have anything planned for the occasion…except having my friend Jenn come down for the weekend. Which is awesome, because she’s one of my favorite peeps. Travel buddy…race spectator…professional cheer section! WOOT!
And it was a good day. After work, we all went out for Indian food at Shalimar (my favorite!) and then to the mall. Cathy bought me a new wallet and some socks for an upcoming race outfit. The socks…the wallet is for everyday use, obviously.
And then, we came back to the apartment…stuffed ourselves with slices of my gluten-free and vegan birthday cake, made by Annie May’s Sweet Café, in Louisville, Kentucky. And we settled in for a little while to chat, get caught up, watch some crazy stuff on television, and then get some rest. Long day for the traveler and an early morning in the works for the morning.
I couldn’t have asked for a better day. This morning, I was gifted with a gift card to purchase either the Frozen Soundtrack or Sherlock Series 3 on Blu-Ray. I got some great new running gear from Amanda. I went to work with goodies for the office and they were devoured. Cathy’s mom brought me balloons and roses and a watermelon! Then, home for food. The waiter at Shalimar was taking our order, and I got my favorite, the Broccoli Masala. And he said, “It’s your birthday…you should do something different!” But I said it was my favorite…so that is what I wanted. After the meal, they brought out complimentary rice pudding for the three of us. I love that place SO much. As you can tell…I go there often! Then shopping. Then cake. Now relaxing. Oh yeah…good day!!
Speaking of cake…check out what Cathy and Annie May’s Sweet Café worked up for me:
Birthday Cake
Which brings me to the next order of business…
On September 12, 2014, at exactly 10:00 a.m., I was able to register for my chance to run the Boston Marathon. On Sunday night…I was pulling up my e-mail on my phone and…there it was…
Boston Marathon Confirmation of Entry Acceptance
OFFICIAL!!
I am so excited. And with the recent injury, I am really just focusing on recovery, regaining strength, and just getting myself to Boston in perfect marathon shape and form. I know it can happen. I have to break some of the habits I have fallen into since the injury. When this e-mail came over, I would have jumped up and down…if I could. But my foot wouldn’t allow that. So, I did this happy dance thing, and Cathy just ignored me. Law & Order was on. I finally said, “Ask me why I’m dancing…just ask me why I’m dancing.” Much screaming and excitement followed.
I still feel that way. So, for now…my plan for NYC is to take in the experience, but not race it. I just can’t. Not with that amount of time off. Not with my foot still bugging me when I take a step. My podiatrist changed up my prescription today…so hopefully something will get better.
The Celiathlete 