The Celiathlete

March 24, 2014

Publix Georgia Marathon – Atlanta, GA (March 23, 2014)

Me crossing the finish line of the Publix Georgia Marathon - Atlanta, Georgia — Me crossing the finish line of the Publix Georgia Marathon – Atlanta, Georgia

Race: Publix Georgia Marathon

Place: Atlanta, Georgia

Date: March 23, 2014

Time: 3:51:32

I must be out of my mind, right? I was just cleared to run this past Monday and went for a sprint in a 3K race in Frankfort, Kentucky. No pain. No problems. And I did some outside running throughout the week to what my training schedule would have been had I been able to properly train for a marathon distance.

Which…I haven’t. And…I didn’t. In fact, my longest run since the ankle sprain was done in Columbus, Ohio…around my friend’s neighborhood. And that was only 8 miles. Yep…not exactly going into this having logged double digit runs. AT ALL. Not since February…and I think the longest one I managed then was 10 miles.

This…is not the way I wanted to come into this run. But, when you badly sprain your ankle…there are few choices left to you. Unable to run outside…and then limited to a treadmill (NOT a tready girl…I get so bored and long runs are not an option at a gym that limits you to only an hour on the machine). But…with the ankle rehabbed and my running slower…but okay…I packed up my bags, packed up my car, and made the long drive down to Atlanta.

For…a marathon.

A full and hilly 26.2 miles.

Because…I was cleared to do it as long as I don’t blitz it. I had no intentions of blitzing this one in the first place, so I was okay with that. But, that’s not to say the nerves haven’t set in. Because, trust me…they have.

The drive down was pretty uneventful. Listened to some tunes…then a few Doc Savage radio shows…until I got downtown. Pulled into the Omni Hotel and had my car valet parked. The luggage was left with the doorman and I went to check in. I stayed at the Omni when I was in Atlanta for The Police concert so many years ago! So, I knew it was a very nice place to stay. And as I checked in, since I was here for the marathon, the hotel provided me with an awesome bag of goodies: a banana, a bottle of water, and a KIND Bar. This…is my happy face!

Went to the room and waited for the luggage to arrive. When it did, it was time to head to the expo. Now, I had every intention of walking away from this expo with nothing more than maybe a new BondiBand…and my race packet. But then…EXPO AWE OF PURCHASING DOOM hit and my wallet…took the brunt of it. Now…for the most part, nothing was really something I didn’t need. I bought a couple of Wonder Woman tech shirts. YAY! Been looking for those everywhere. I bought a new pair of Newton’s…which was my splurge buy, but my old pair is up in the miles and, damn, I love those shoes. And…I bought the adhesive spray for my KT Taping. Oh…and while I was there, as an extra precaution, I had the people at the KT Tape booth tape up my ankle. Figured it wouldn’t hurt.

After that…I had to get out of there before I talked myself into other items that caught my eye…because the shirts in the Official Merchandise store were tempting. But I really don’t need more shirts, LOL!

So…Cathy and I left the expo and took items back up to the room at the hotel. We had some time to kill, so we decided to take a stroll over to Centennial Park. So…we did that and actually found the finish shoots and the start of the finish line being put up. We wandered over so I could take pictures in front of the finish line. Then, we strolled up to the Hard Rock Cafe so I could pick up a pin and Cathy could get a shot glass. Been ages since we’ve been to the Atlanta Hard Rock. We went to check out where we were dining that night before taking things back to the hotel, relaxing for a moment, and then making the short stroll up the street to dinner.

Dinner was at Max’s Coal Oven Pizzaria. We saw them listed on Find Me Gluten Free with some good reviews…so we figured we’d give it a try. We were seated immediately and we made a decision on a gluten-free pizza to split. We chose the Gluten-Free Fontina & Funghi Pizza…which was a white pizza that had fontina cheese, wild mushrooms, caramelized onions, and fresh oregano. It looked amazing when it was delivered to my table…but it really…was kind of MEH. The mushrooms were awesome. The crust was…uninspired and rather boring. SO not the way I wanted my mandatory pre-race gluten-free pizza to go. So disappointed. After that, we walked over to the CNN Building to take a look around. We got some frozen yogurt for dessert and came back to the room to relax. I had my stretches and foam rolling to do and really just want some time to relax and make sure I was hydrated and ready for the morning.

My first alarm went off at 3:30 a.m. I got up and did a couple of things before climbing back into my comfy bed and getting about 45 more minutes of rest. When my second alarm went off at 4:30 a.m., I checked the weather, then got up and got my clothes I laid out the night before and went to get changed. At first, I was afraid that the t-shirt under my Marathon Maniac’s singlet (OH…forget to mention I totally qualified for Marathon Maniacs back in January with the Disney Marathon) would be too warm. The temperature that morning was 58° F with little breeze. Wearing it turned out to be the best decision I have made. More on that later. I ate my cereal and then did my stretches (my physical therapists would be so proud!) and resistance band work (again…they would be proud). I brushed my teeth…then put on my fuel belt and bib and headed out the door.

Then…I get to the elevators and realized that I left my cellphone in the room. So, I hurried back to the room to get it. Exit…take 2…I get in the elevator and head down to the lobby. I get to the door and realized that I left my pre-race banana in the room. So…now I’m stressing myself out and went back to the room and grabbed the banana…and my hoodie…just in case it was windy and chillier than the Weather Channel app on my phone told me. Exit…take 3.

And this time…we made it out the door and onto the sidewalk. The start of the race was in Centennial Olympic Park right across from my hotel. No stress. So, I was starting to feel a little calmer and better about everything. I was supposed to meet up with the other Marathon Maniacs for a picture near a statue, so that was where we headed first. It was my first official photo as a Maniac…and that was awesome! The photo was a quick thing and then I went to find somewhere to do some more stretching and eat my banana. Cathy gave me a good luck hug and said she was off to find a place past the starting line to see me off. I decided to get into my corral (Corral E). Time was ticking down. Fifteen minutes to go to start time. The nerves were starting to settle in…again.

The National Anthem was sang beautifully! I was listening to all the chatter in the corral about time expectations. I had none coming into this one. I just had a goal…to finish…and not get re-injured. Having just been cleared to run last week…well…this was a huge risk running this race. I had so many people tell me to defer. But…I figured if I was cleared to run…this was running. I would listen to my body.

I got to chatting with a guy next to me. He noticed me getting my Garmin ready and he said his all-out died on him so he showed me his standard watch (with the actual watch hands and everything) and said he was taking it old school. Awesome! We got a good laugh about it and I mentioned I had to replace my Garmin because mine did the same thing. I love my new Garmin, BTW! Little treat to myself!

The corrals began to get collapsed and the flag barriers removed. We all moved up and then the official countdown in a robotic voice began. And then…we were off. I walked for a moment, then we all started to job. And…we were off. I gave a wave to Cathy as I ran past her. She cheered and then…I was hitting the road.

And this road was H-I-L-L-Y!!!

Seriously…it became immediately apparent that I haven’t been able to train much this winter. First…I was barred from running for over a month. Then I was banned from running hills along with it…for longer than not running. That also meant no incline on the treadmill either. So…I was so not ready for the Hills From Hell™ in Atlanta. But…I signed on for this, right? Right.

Between Mile 1 and 2, I had the chance to run with a really nice guy, also a Marathon Maniac. We discussed our sprained ankles, as he had badly sprained his ankle too and this was his first run back as well. His name was Anthony and he was really nice. I lost him at a water stop though. From there on out…it was all about what my body was telling me. With the number of hills and the various climbs and steepness of each…I said that if my ankle twinged, I would back it off. So…that was the plan. I wasn’t running for time…just the fact that I could run again!

I absolutely took on this challenging marathon with my whole heart. I was having a really good run for the most part. They volunteers at the water/Powerade and food stops were awesome. I actually expected there to be more crowd support through the entire race…but…nope. It was pretty sparse. The Decatur area had some groups out and the police officers helping with traffic control were awesome. I got a lot of shout-outs for being a Maniac…which was awesome. It definitely helped me get through some of the more challenging portions of this race.

Around Mile 16 it began to spit rain. I knew we had a big chance of rain…but it had held off. So…I was sort of expecting it (hence the reason I was wearing a hat). But…it only spit rain for about 30 minutes and then…it just stopped. Sadly though, when the rain came in…so did the wind. And some of these gusts of wind reached 20 mph. And we were running right into it. It kept catching the brim of my hat and trying to pull it off my head. It almost reminded me of the Marshall Marathon where the wind battered runners the entire way. Of course, with the wind…it got cold. Fast. And this is why I mentioned above why I was glad I decided to keep the t-shirt on. The beginning of the race was humid and warm and I sort of was kicking myself for putting the t-shirt on beneath the singlet…but after that wind hit…I was happy to have it.

The end of this race was a gradual uphill, which made it very difficult at times. My calf muscles were screaming and barking and mooing at me all at once. Like I said…you could tell that I hadn’t been running the hills recently. Or…running at all. I felt way under-prepared…and a bit out of shape. But…you know…I walked part of the inclines…I kept my pace easy so as not to do any damage. And I ended up having a better race than I anticipated I would. Finishing a marathon in sub-4 after not being able to run for over a month, and having to tackle some intense hills…yeah…I’m happy with this!

I spotted Cathy at the finish line and she rushed over to congratulate me. Then she said to go get my medal and stuff and to meet her in the reunion area. I walked through to get the beautiful medal from this race. Then…water. Ah, sweet water. And then it was the Mylar blanket followed by chocolate milk. I made my way through the chute until I made the turn to head toward Centennial Park and the Publix Food Tent. Cathy was waiting on a grassy knoll just inside the gate. I walked over the area where the bomb went off during the 1996 Olympic Games and made my way to where she was. She gave me a huge hug and congratulated me once again. We made our way over to the Publix Food Tent and I had my ticket torn off my bib to get my bag of goodies for the finish. They even gave Cathy one. That was very nice of them…as Cathy works just as hard as I do at these races, trust me. I went to a clearing in the grass and put my feet up, attempting to call my parents. They were still in church though, so they didn’t answer their phones. After that, I got myself back on my feet and went to do my calf stretches against what we later realized was the base of the Olympic Torch holder. For real.

The finisher's medal of the Publix Georgia Marathon — The finisher’s medal of the Publix Georgia Marathon – Atlanta, Georgia

It was really cold out with the wind, so we made the short hike back to the hotel room so that I could take my shower, have the fruit cup Cathy picked up for me and then get ready to head out to the CNN Center for the CNN Studio Tour she picked up tickets for while I was on the run. That, by the way, was so much fun. I have a degree in journalism, so I was eating up every moment of the tour. We did a little bit of shopping and TONS of walking around Atlanta. It was a good afternoon. And I never really stopped moving, which is always a good thing.

And now, I’ve retired back to the hotel room where I am about to do my stretches and resistance band work. Law & Order SVU is on…and I’m feeling content. I was so nervous about this race going into it…and I’m content with what happened and how I did. Sure…slightly disappointed…but you know…this one had to be about running smart. It just had to be that way.

So…my official results of the Publix Georgia Marathon are that I finished in a time of 3:51:32 (for 26.47 miles). I wasn’t expecting to go sub-4 on this one, so this was a very nice surprise. I was 296/1628 finishers overall. I was the 64/647 female to cross the finish line. And I was 10/98 in my division. Was this the marathon I wanted? Absolutely not. But…it was the best marathon I could have given the circumstances I was under. I ran smart…I listened to my body…and I crossed that finish line.

March 18, 2014

The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, KY (March 17, 2014)

Me crossing the finish line of The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K - Frankfort, Kentucky (I'm totally smiling because I finished without pain!) — Me crossing the finish line of The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K – Frankfort, Kentucky (I’m totally smiling because I finished without pain!)

Race: The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K

Place: Frankfort, Kentucky

Date: March 17, 2014

Time: 13:09

I’m baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!!

Did you miss me? I missed me. So, I hope you missed me too.

This has been one rough year for me thus far when it comes to my running. It just seems like it’s one minor ache then one major sprain. And everything just spirals out of control from there. For real! UGH! I’ve been in tears more than once over the amount (or lack thereof) of running I’ve been able to accomplish thus far this year. Why? Well…weather has been awful and treadmill running is not my favorite thing to do. I will do it, yes…but it takes a lot for me to get on one because…BORING! Secondly…a really bad sprained ankle. Bad enough to require numerous physical therapy sessions. I was on an “absolutely NO running” restriction for awhile…and then it was an “only run on the treadmill…and not too fast…or too far” restriction. Finally, I got the “you can run outside, but only if the terrain is flat.” Have you seen where I live? There is no part of this area that is pancake flat that would allow me to run. SO frustrating.

But yesterday…on a chilly, but sunny St. Patrick’s Day…I went to what would end up being my final PT session. Yep. I’m done. And, my therapist told me…that very day before I got into the car to make the drive to Frankfort…to try running hills. See how the ankle did. Which…worked out because I knew of the one steep-ish hill we have to climb in Frankfort on this little sprint. If it hurt…I was to continue my sessions. If everything seemed okay…no pain or twinges…nothing felt off…I was done. We shook hands, and I headed toward my race.

This is my traditional St. Patrick’s Day race. Yes…it can be a bit of a hassle, especially when St. Patrick’s Day falls on a weekday…like this year. Monday evening. This meant leaving work for PT, then immediately getting in the car and making the journey to Frankfort. It takes just under an hour if the traffic gods are smiling on you. I packed dinner. Gluten-free peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, to eat a little later. My roommate and I made crazy-good time, actually. We were in Frankfort long before we really needed to be. With some time to spare, we stopped by the Kroger, where I went to use a flushing toilet and she went hunting for something to eat with the sammies. She found me a banana…so I was a happy girl.

Anyway…we returned to the car and dined in the parking lot on my homemade sammies. I saved my banana for a little closer to race time. Once we noshed, we returned to the road and ventured toward downtown Frankfort, parking in our usual parking garage and hiking over to where packet pickup was being held.

I was in and out of there in no time. And, since it was really chilly in the shade…we ventured over toward the sunshine across the street from where the race was starting. A lot of runners also had this idea. We stood around and just sort of discussed a few things, mostly my take on this race. I had no great expectations being so fresh off my really bad sprain. So…my goal was to finish it and finish it without doing further damage to myself. While I was standing there, my super-speedy friend, Linda, came over to say hi. We hugged and talked for a moment, before she dashed off to get her packet. I pulled out my iPhone and was updating Facebook with a status about pre-race jitters when I got a tap on my shoulder.

Remember Kendall Hayes, the amazing young woman who won the Frankfort Trifecta last year? It was her dad, her mom, the legend herself, and her brother, Connor (who is also an amazing runner and came in 6th overall this year). Her dad wanted to thank me for saying such nice things about Kendall in my blog last year. I said she definitely earned the praise. Honestly…look for this woman in Bend, Oregon running with the Nike elites. This will happen. Mark my words. In fact, Kendall won the top spot again this year! Like I said, she’s incredible. The two kids went to stretch, which reminded me I needed to do the very same thing. I promised both of my physical therapists to be better about doing that before and after running. Hoping to prevent future injuries. So, I did a few of the usual stretches I normally would half-ass, but this time, really did them. I could tell my hamstrings were tight, so I did the hamstring stretches my physical therapists had shown me. And, I actually did something I never have done before…I did some warm-up strides. Yep. Me! Doing those little dashes up and down the street before the start of the race. It definitely helped loosen up those hammies a little. Not a lot…but some. And that was better than nothing.

The race start was getting close, so Cathy went to find a spot to cheer from. As I was heading to the starting line, I felt a little tap on my shoulder. It was my dearest friend, Debbie Brown, who helps put together the 5K race that is part of this series. She asked how my ankle was doing and asked if I was running. I told her I was going to attempt to run and see how it felt. I was so glad she spotted me, as I had been looking for her while we were standing around. The pace signs were being held aloft so people could line up appropriately. I wasn’t sure what to do about lining up, so I just picked a spot and went with it. A blessing was given for the runners and walkers, tied in with a nice Irish Blessing. It was nice. Then…we were awaiting the pistol.

It fired…and we were off.

It felt so weird to be racing again. Not just racing…attempting a sprint without getting hurt. Cathy had brought some KT Tape to tape me up, but I told her it was a short race…I’d be fine. At this point, remembering this was more of a sprint than a distance race, I was second-guessing this. Call it ‘first official run after the injury’ concerns. Or minor panic. I just found a decent stride and fell into it. I was trying not to focus on my time this year…as I was really just released to run.

Linda blazed by me within the first hundred feet and said, “Don’t you dare hurt yourself. I will beat you if you do!” It made me laugh and it was just what I needed to settle my nerves. And I was proud of Linda. Last year she was the one trailing me. This year, I have a feeling I’ll be the one trailing her (because she kicked my ass in this one!). With that little boost, I was rounding the corner and making my way up toward that incline. My first incline since the injury. I almost held my breath…but then…pushed…up…the…hill.

No pain. Just felt really winded. Man…I must have lost some fitness in that entire month I was off from running. It sure seems like I lost fitness. I just haven’t been able to run like I did last year. And it drives me mad. But…slow, steady steps. Rush it and risk reinjury. So…I just sort of made my way up the street to the turn around point. I made the turn and headed back down toward the bridge. As I was passing some spectators, I heard one of them shout, “First place for pigtails!” at me. I pumped my fist and smiled. Awesome. Down the hill I went and back into the town.

A 3K is a very short distance…around 1.84 miles. Last year, I ran this race in 13:02. I didn’t think I’d come anywhere close to that this year. I was huffing and puffing like a rookie runner at this point and felt myself get so angry at that fact. But…pushed onward. And forward. I came around the final turn and attempted to pick up my pace to dash into that finish line. I saw my numbers tick by as I crossed. Not too far off of last year’s time. No improvement. And…a part of me felt so good about the run. And another part of me felt so disappointed.

It’s hard to explain when you come back to a race…but you’re not up to where you were the previous year. I was so happy to have finished with no ankle pain, no twinges…nothing. And then, there was that part of my brain that said…if you had pushed that hill harder…if you had maintained that initial speed you took off with…you could have…you should have…you would have…

It wasn't the race I wanted...but it was the race I had...and I finished strong and without pain. That was the important thing! — It wasn’t the race I wanted…but it was the race I had…and I finished strong and without pain. That was the important thing!

And then you just need to tell that voice to shut the hell up! Because, while I am a little disappointed that I didn’t place in my division this year…that those I passed last year were passing me…that I feel like I’ve lost my speed…that I may never find my speed again…I have to remember…I sprained the hell out of my ankle and being able to run that race was a gift in and of itself. That being said, finishing only 7 seconds slower than last year isn’t bad. It’s not great…but that’s really damn impressive for someone who hasn’t been able to do much running on varied terrain…or even outside…or even at all. Yeah, part of me is very sad, upset, and wants to throw a fit…but the bigger part of me is proud of what I accomplished and managed under the circumstances.

Anyway, the official results of The Good Shepherd Run For The Gold 3K are that I finished in 13:09. I was 48/708 finishers overall. I was 4/109 in my division. Once again, the 30-39 women’s division was the largest overall for the race. So…I’ll take this. My brain might not like it…but my heart tells me…I did good just to run it. 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.

Another hell of a sprint this year. Already making plans to come back next year…and maybe best my time from last year. With a little work…anything is possible!

Thank you again, Frankfort, for this very fun race!

March 18, 2014

Recipe: Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel

There is one thing that I love to do over at my friend Jenn’s house…and that’s cook. Especially a breakfast on Sunday. Saturday we sometimes cook in…sometimes we out. But Sunday…we normally always make something. And that was the case this past weekend after we discovered a drool-worthy recipe on Pinterest…hosted on Smitten Kitchen’s blog. What drew my attention to it was the salted caramel portion of the bread pudding recipe. It sounded divine.

So…I planned it out with Jenn. I’d order the gluten-free challah bread if she could get the rest of the necessary ingredients.

The plan to bake this on Sunday morning was totally on. And that morning, with my ginormous gluten-free braided challah loaf from Katz Gluten-Free ready to slice…we set to work. While this recipe does take some time to prep…it’s worth it. I’d make this again in a heartbeat. And I will. I have plenty of extra bread to use up. So…go ahead…try it. Don’t be intimidated. My modifications were made to make it gluten-free. It didn’t take away from any part of this dish. The texture and flavors were to DIE for.

One word of warning…that caramel can get pretty hard…so make sure you don’t do what we did and throw it in the freezer. LOL!! Lesson learned.

Recipe: Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel

Servings: 8
Time: Prep 30 minutes; Bake 45 minutes

Ingredients:

3/4 cup plus (optional) 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 teaspoon flaky sea salt or just 2 or 3 pinches of a coarse one
10 to 12-ounce loaf brioche or challah bread (cut into slices about 1/2-inch thick and about 3 inches square or round, which sounds really persnickety, but they really do fit better in the pan this way) (I used Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf)
6 large eggs
1 cup mascarpone cheese, divided (1/4 cup for custard; 3/4 cup for serving)
1 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Directions:

First, choose your baking dish. We opted to use a 9-inch round cake pan, which was a squeeze, but we made it work. Other options would be 2-quart oval gratin/roasting dish, a 9- to 10-inch cast iron skillet, a 2-quart casserole dish or 1 deep-dish pie pan.

If your dish is safe for the stove top, use this to make the caramel. If not, use a small, heavy saucepan and place 3/4 cup sugar, butter and sea salt and heat over medium heat. The butter will melt and, after 7 to 10 minutes, the sugar will dissolve and begin to brown. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir with a spoon or spatula so that it browns evenly. The butter does separate from the sugar, but that’s okay. Just continue to stir them together. It will all work out in the end even if it splits. I know…because ours did!

If you’re using a saucepan, your caramel is done when it reaches a copper color. Pour it over the base of your baking dish.

If you’re making the caramel in your dish (like a cast iron skillet), your caramel should be taken off the stove a step sooner, a shade more pale than copper, something of a medium brown; this is because it will continue cooking and darkening for a minute off the stove.

Regardless of what you choose to bake it in, place the dish in refrigerator and chill until caramel is cold and solid, about 30 minutes. Once chilled, arrange the bread slices. Place the heel of the bread in the center and do what you can to fan the slices around it, overlapping each slightly and knowing with complete confidence that even if your dish doesn’t resemble a blooming rose, nobody will care at all. Mine looked nothing like a blooming rose…and, honestly, no one cared.

In a large bowl whisk together eggs, remaining 2 tablespoons sugar (if using; I skipped this) and 1/4 mascarpone cheese (save rest for serving), until very smooth. Add milk and almond extract. Pour this over the bread, making sure to saturate all of it. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill for about 30 minutes to an hour. You can let it soak overnight if you have that sort of time or plan that far in advance. If you bread seems too high in the vessel to get a good soak, you can weight it with a plate in the fridge.

After the allotted time (or in the morning), take your dish from the fridge. Heat oven to 375°F. Remove plastic from dish and bake 30 to 35 minutes, until moist but not wet in center. Remove from oven and run a knife around edge of dish, loosening bread from sides. Place a serving plate over top of dish (bottom side up), and, using potholders, hold pudding over sink and flip pudding onto the plate. Lift baking dish off plate; scrape any extra caramel from pie dish over pudding.

Serve, cutting it into wedges at the table and spooning a healthy dollop of mascarpone onto each plate.

A slice of Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel

~*~*~

While the original recipe called for this to soak overnight, we were busy watching Thor 2…so that didn’t happen. The fact that we only let it soak for about 30 minutes in the fridge did not, at all, make the dish any less of a delicious treat. It worked perfectly. So, don’t feel like you have to make it the night before…unless you have that sort of time. Do plan ahead though, because this does take some time. Jenn and I took out 2 of the eggs from the original recipe as we thought 8 eggs was a bit much. I think we made a good call. This cooked up to a beautiful perfect meal. And we all sat and enjoyed it…and kept the leftovers for the next couple of mornings. SO amazing and delicious!!

Yeah…totally making this one again!

March 18, 2014

Product Review: Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf

Product: Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf – $35.00

Let me tell you…I adore products from Katz Gluten Free. I have been pimping the quality, taste, and everything about their variety of products since I have tried so many of them. However…in order to make a gluten-free breakfast bread pudding with a friend of mine…I needed some gluten-free challah. And I knew the only place to get it was from Katz Gluten Free.

I debated for a long moment over whether to go ahead and order the very, very, very pricey Large Braided Challah Loaf…or just skimp on that line of thinking and get either the sliced challah loaf or the rice challah. I debated. Price had a lot to do with it. I mean…holy gluten-free gods…$35 was a lot to spend on a loaf of bread. But…I figured I wanted to go for quality of what we were making and opted to go ahead and place an order for Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf. I just hoped it was worth the $35 I was spending on it. Oy!

A few days later, the loaf arrived via UPS…and I was really excited to take a look at what a $35 loaf of bread looked like.

Little did I know that when the loaf is called a large braided loaf…it really is LARGE!! Seriously…the size of two of my heads put together. That is not an exaggeration!

I only hoped the Large Braided Challah Loaf was worth the investment in the end. I’d find out on Sunday morning…after a short run…when my friend, Jenn, and I raided her kitchen and began working on a recipe for Gluten Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel. We had the recipe picked out prior to the get-together weekend…and I told her if she got the rest of the ingredients, I would get the bread. And with both of us following through on the deal…it was time to open up this monster loaf and see if I made a wise investment.

The bread smelled fantastic the moment I got that plastic wrap off of it. I mean…almost like it was fresh out of the bakery. So amazing. I sniffed the air quite a few times, ignoring the slight hunger rumbles in my belly. There was a lot of time between this moment and breakfast time…so I had to focus on getting it made if I wanted to get myself fed. I sliced off the end piece and, instead of using it as the center of the bread pattern as suggested by the recipe…we cut it up to sample.

Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel made with Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf

OMG…it was good. It was really, really good. I loved the taste of the crust and the actual challah bread itself. The sesame seeds that are scattered on the top of the loaf are a brilliant touch and a very tasty addition. I wouldn’t have though that those little seeds could be so important, but the taste and texture was only elevated with their presence. I was impressed. And, let me tell you…this is one very soft and fluffy loaf of bread. You’d never guess it because it feels so heavy…but you slice into it and it is just super airy and light. It’s so weird, I know…but that’s the truth. It didn’t crumble or fall apart as I sliced into it, as so many loaves of gluten-free bread can do. And the taste was out-of-this-world delicious. It tasted like it had just been made and pulled out of the oven. It didn’t even need a reheat to make it taste edible. It can go straight from the freezer to the counter top with only a quick defrost. Amazing. Totally worth all $35 I paid for it.

I don’t know how this ranks nutrition-wise as no nutrition information is available on the site. Just know this bread loaf is HUGE!! HUGE!! The recipe we were making called for about 12 ounces and I used less than 1/3 of the loaf. Honestly. The rest is sitting in my freezer until my next culinary adventure arises.

I can, however, list off the ingredients that Katz Gluten Free uses to make its legendary Large Braided Challah Loaf. This gigantic loaf is made from a mix of gluten-free flour (white rice, tapioca, arrowroot, corn, soy, and potato), fresh eggs, palm oil, brown sugar, honey, xanthan gum, yeast, salt, flaxseed, and apple cider vinegar. Mine came topped with sesame seeds, however you can choose to purchase the loaf without the seeds on top. However, if you don’t have an allergy…I highly recommend keeping them on there.

This bread was amazing in the bread pudding that we baked up for breakfast. It’s amazing on its own. It’s amazing with a little butter schmeared on it. It’s amazing with pizza toppings cooked on it. It’s awesome as a grilled cheese sandwich. It holds up to anything and everything. It won’t fall apart on you. The flavor is amazing. The texture is more than superb. And the versatility this loaf offers is unmatched. And you’ll want to use it in a variety of ways…since there is so damn much of it. Not a complaint anymore. One of my favorite gluten free breads I have ever eaten. I will definitely spend another $35 in the future without a second thought.

Thanks Katz Gluten Free…for this amazing addition to my gluten-free menu!!

A slice of Gluten-Free Morning Bread Pudding with Salted Caramel made with Katz Gluten Free Large Braided Challah Loaf

March 14, 2014

Recipe: Gluten-Free Pasta with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes

I have a bin problem. I’m going out of town (yes…again!)…and I have fresh CSA bin ingredients to use. I wanted something amazing. Something flavorful. Something that would use more than one item. Because…I don’t want to waste any of my fresh veggies and fruit that I get each week when I’m home.

So…the other night, I modified one of Giada De Laurentiis’ recipes. Her recipe was originally a penne recipe that incorporated asparagus and cherry tomatoes and other vegetables. I had the tomatoes and the asparagus…and I played with the vegetables I had instead of what she recommended…but no gluten-free penne on hand. But…I did have gluten-free pasta on hand, which I picked up on the eve of the Chicago Marathon from Da Luciano Pasta, Pizza & Catering.

This recipe is full of spring flavors, which is just what this winter-hating girl needed. And, yeah…FULL of amazing flavor. Light. Fresh. Delicious. The recipe is below!

Gluten-Free Pasta with Asparagus and Cherry Tomatoes

Servings: 4-6
Time: Prep 5 minutes; Cook 10 minutes

Ingredients:

8 ounces gluten-free pasta
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1-1/2 pounds thin asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups (about 9 ounces) cherry tomatoes
3 cups fresh spinach
1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable stock
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 6 to 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat.Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Add the asparagus, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 3 minutes until slightly soft.

Add the cherry tomatoes and spinach.

Cook for 2 minutes. Pour the vegetable stock into the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Cook until the tomatoes start to burst and the stock is reduced by half, about 3 minutes.

Transfer the asparagus mixture to a large serving bowl. Add the cooked pasta and 1/2 of the Parmesan. Toss well, adding reserved pasta water, if needed, to loosen the pasta. Garnish with the remaining Parmesan and chopped basil.

~*~*~This pasta dish is awesome. You won’t feel filled to the brim and about to burst. In fact, the light flavors and delicious vegetables are a nice way to dress up the pasta noodles. And my gluten-free pasta noodles were amazing. My roomie and I loved this dish so much, we made it again the following night.Great way to use some spring vegetables and get in the mood for that warmer weather. Thanks for the inspiration, Giada!

March 14, 2014

Product Review: Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie

Product: Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie – $1.49+

Yep.

The cookie monster is back with a vengeance. Where there is a new gluten-free cookie…it will find a way into my life. And eventually into my stomach. For real!

As I was walking through Whole Foods last week, my roommate called me over to an endcap she was passing. On the end was a display of cookies. Delicious sounding…healthy sounding cookies. I know…cookies aren’t healthy, but these at least provided protein and stuff. Stuff like…green tea in the cookie. Yes…green tea.

Sounds healthier than the butter-laden versions, right? Right.

But…was it any good?

We were going to find out. Because we did end up buying one. Yes. One. To split. Just in case it was…nasty. You never know with these things. You just have to throw caution to the wind. But my roommate and I do that by halves. We had three varieties to choose from: Peanut Butter, Chocolate Chip, and White Chocolate Macadamia. I, naturally, chose Peanut Butter.

And so, the other night after a delicious dinner, I pulled this out of my drawer of gluten-free treats and cut it down the center to split with my roommate for dessert. I handed her the half that was hers and she immediately took a bite. I told her that if it was nasty…I’d dig up something else. She didn’t seem disgusted. Just disappointed. “It’s okeydokey…kind of bland.”

UGH! I hate bland peanut butter things. But she deemed it edible, so I took my half and settled in to taste for myself. I agree with her…the Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie is…bland. In fact, the peanut butter flavor is very underwhelming. I felt it even might have needed a bit of salt to help it out. That being said, the texture was awesome. If you love a soft, chewy cookie…this is for you. It is both. The peanuts that are scattered throughout are a nice touch. They were definitely edible enough…but I have definitely had far better peanut butter cookies in my life. You can, however, get the flavor of the green tea, which is actually a nice touch. Believe it or not.

So…Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie is made up of hormone-free whey and milk protein concentrates (rBST/rBGH-free), organic brown rice syrup, peanut butter, 0rganic inulin (blue agave), vegetable glycerin, brown sugar, peanut flour, organic coconut oil, sunflower oil, filtered water, natural flavors, non-GMO sunflower lecithin, baking soda, sea salt, antioxidant blend (decaffeinated green tea extract, vitamin C), stevia leaf extract (natural sweetener), and xanthan gum. All ingredients are non-GMO and all natural. These cookies are low in sodium, gluten-free, egg-free, soy-free and wheat-free.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the Boundless Nutrition Perfect Fit Peanut Butter Protein Cookie is one cookie. One soft cookie. This cookie will give you 150 calories and 7 grams of fat. You will be provided with 15 mg cholesterol, 120 mg sodium, and 7 grams of sugar. Not bad for a cookie, right?! The sodium count is really impressive. And only 7 grams of sugar??! In a cookie??!! That’s awesome. Finally, you will be provided with 4 grams of fiber and 10 grams of protein. So, it’s not just sugar…you will be filled up with this dessert and you won’t feel hungry an hour later. Love that.

So, while these are definitely not my favorite cookie out there…these weren’t bad. They weren’t great…but I’m intrigued enough to try out the other two varieties in the near future. Not great…but not disgusting and worth throwing away. I happily ate my cookie for dessert…just wishing I could have had more of that peanut butter flavor. Because I totally love peanut butter. Give me my peanut butter!!

I’ll see what I think of the other varieties…

March 14, 2014

Product Review: Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger

Product: Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger – $3.99+

When you have a product that is actually called the “World’s Best Veggie Burger”…then, by God, you better have the best damn veggie burger in the world.

Prior to having to go gluten-free…I went vegetarian, so I have had pretty much every veggie burger out there. By having to go gluten-free has only helped me to step beyond the very chemical-laden Morningstar veggie burgers and discovered healthier and much tastier options. Made with…REAL ingredients. Loving that.

After reading crazy-good and amazing reviews on the veggie burgers that are done by Hilary’s Eat Well…I knew…absolutely knew I had to try them out. And, on a recent journey over to my local Whole Foods store, my roommate told me to go grab one of the Hillary’s Eat Well veggie burgers from the freezer section. They had quite a few varieties…but I thought it best to start with the original. The burger that started it all.

Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger.

Quite a reputation to live up to, yes? Yeah…

A little history on this burger. Hilary created this recipe back in 2005 for her restaurant, Local Burger, wanting to have it be free of all the common food allergies and artificial ingredients…yet still be packed with great flavor. It was a hit at the restaurant…and now…it’s available to the general public in your natural food stores.

Ready to dive into a delicious new veggie burger and test out my brand new vegetable spiralizer to make sweet potato curly fries…the other night I got down and dirty cooking this frozen patty up. Nothing was easier. I preheated my electric skillet and put a little coconut oil in there. Once it was heated up, I threw both of the patties in, hearing it immediately begin to sizzle. With my spiraled sweet potato going down, I was able to focus on cooking these patties perfectly. These easily took about 3 minutes on each side. Not too long at all. And when I flipped the burgers, they didn’t fall apart at all. Most of the time, my gluten-free veggie burgers crumble. Not these. They held together amazingly well.

Hilary's Eat Well World's Best Veggie Burger (cooked) — Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger (cooked)

I plated the burgers on a gluten-free bun from my local gluten-free bakery, topped it with a bit of red leaf lettuce and some tomatoes. A squirt of Dijon mustard and…there it was. Dinner was served.

Even better…dinner was awesome. One bite and I knew exactly why these is called the World’s Best Veggie Burger. This burger is awesome. Packed with flavor. Not flat at all. And, as I mentioned above, they don’t fall apart as you bite into it, or hold it in the bun. It’s sturdy, yet soft and delicious. And I am now hooked, very eager to try out the other offerings from Hilary’s Eat Well.

The Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger is made up from water, organic millet, organic quinoa, expeller-pressed non-GMO coconut oil, organic sweet potato, organic spinach, organic onion, organic psylliam husk powder, organic arrowroot, organic apple cider vinegar, salt, organic garlic. Real ingredients! Real, recognizable ingredients. I LOVE this! It is corn-free, yeast-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, and nut-free. It’s perfection!

As for nutrition, the serving is 1 of the 2 patties that are in the package. This one veggie burger will serve you up 210 calories and 9 grams of fat. It might seem high, but much of that comes from the coconut oil. The Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger also serves up 340 mg sodium. This burger is cholesterol free and sugar free. In addition, you will be getting 4 grams of fiber and 5 grams of protein. Trust me…you will be FULL!

I love polishing off a meal and feeling full for hours afterwards. And that’s what happened here. I didn’t even have popcorn that night for a snack. It’s not every day a meal fills me up. Very impressed.

So far, the two products I have tried from Hilary’s Eat Well have blown me away. I am SO in love with the World’s Best Veggie Burger. And, as of right now, it really does live up to its name. Brilliant. And delicious. I’m hooked!

A gluten-free and vegan burger made with Hilary's Eat Well World's Best Veggie Burger — A gluten-free and vegan burger made with Hilary’s Eat Well World’s Best Veggie Burger

March 11, 2014

Product Review: Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips

Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips – $5.29+

I have a great love for all things Glutino.

Seriously.

ALL THE THINGS!

They haven’t let me down yet, and I’ve been fortunate enough to pick up quite a variety of their product offerings over the past couple of years since I had to go gluten-free.

However, while I have enjoyed everything I have tried thus far…I do have to say…they make the best damn freakin’ gluten-free pretzels on the market.

Ever.

End. Of. Story.

From the first time I tasted one of their gluten-free pretzel twists…what seems like ages ago…I was hooked. Addicted. Ready to enjoy way more. I might have a sweet tooth, but that craving for something salty is also a constant thing in my life. I enjoy both…for different reasons. (And lucky me, Glutino makes amazing chocolate covered pretzels…which brings me the best of both worlds). But recently…it’s been the salty side that has been winning.

Lucky for me, a little while back, my roomie made a dash to the grocery store for me while I was making dinner or something and was lacking an ingredient. While there, she surprised me with a gift. She picked up a bag of Glutino’s Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips.

Mmmmm!!

I had other items in my pantry to work through first, but these got their moment to shine today…at my scheduled snack time. And, boy…was I not the least bit disappointed.

Glutino bills the Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips as something you can pile high with cheese, veggies, spread with paté, load up with savories, or use to scoop up dip. So…a chip but in pretzel form. Hence…pretzel chips. HA! Anyway, I chose to eat mine plain this morning…not having any amazing hummus or dip of some sort to use these with…but…it didn’t matter. Even on their own, the Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips do not disappoint. Not one bit.

Just like the Glutino Pretzel Twists and Sticks that came before…these also carry that unique and so completely drool-worthy buttery flavor in each bite. That is my favorite part of crunching into a Glutino pretzel product. Nothing tastes better than that little hint of buttery flavor. Sort of like eating a crunchy and gluten-free version of an Auntie Anne’s pretzel. They are fantastic. Not too much salt – just enough to give each chip that pretzel seasoning that you desire. You gotta love that rich flavor with each bite. And the crunchiness is so good. No soft bites here. These are fantastic!! I’m addicted. No…seriously…I might need an intervention.

I’d like to see someone try…*wink*

As far as ingredients go, Glutino Pretzel Chips are made up from corn starch, potato starch, rice flour, soluble corn fiber, palm oil, salt, cellulose gum, sugar, cellulose powder, soy lecithin, yeast extract, sodium bicarbonate, citric acid, sodium acid pyrophosphate, onion powder, and garlic powder. They are, as always, completely gluten-free and cholesterol free.

Nutritionally speaking, a serving of the Glutino Gluten-Free Pretzel Chips is 30 grams (or about 11 of the chips). This serving will provide you with 120 calories and 3 grams of fat. In addition, this serving has 400 mg sodium and 3 grams of sugar. These provide 3 grams of fiber, but no protein.

But…they are a snack. And a delicious one at that. So, keep that in mind. Hit the store, seek these out and indulge. Enjoy. And try not to eat the entire bag in one sitting. It will be tough, I know. BELIEVE me, I know. Super good. Super crispy. Super WOW!! Glutino…you win again!

March 7, 2014

Product Review: Gillian’s Foods Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons

Product Review: Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons – $4.49+

Three years.

Three very long years since I last had croutons on my salad. Have I missed them? Eh…sometimes? I mean, there comes a moment when you just want to have that little extra crunch to your salad…not from the lettuce or the carrots or the other fresh veggies that are making up said bowl of raw veggie goodness. Sometimes…that little extra seasoning and crispiness is what you desire. And…when you are a Celiac…well…that doesn’t get to happen.

Sure, I could dry out some gluten-free bread and bake up my own in the oven. Of course. But, do you know how expensive gluten-free bread is??! I’ll use that for my sandwiches and French toast, thank you very much!

Lo and behold, on a recent outing to my mom’s favorite store in the Birmingham, Alabama area – Organic Harvest – I spotted a pouch of gluten-free croutons on the shelf of the very first aisle. Hence a stocking up of various items that I can’t get around here.

That being said…the croutons were from Gillian’s Gluten-Free.

Now, I’ve had one other product from Gillian’s Gluten-Free product line. It was their French Rolls, a gift from my friend Kathy, in Hershey, Pennsylvania. And I loved them. I truly did. I used them numerous ways…even as hamburger buns. So, I figured picking up something else of the Gillian’s line-up would be a great way to see what else they can do.

So, into my arms went the pouch of Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons.

Mmmm…garlic.

Ahem.

Anyway…with my CSA bin deliveries back on since I’ve been in town the past couple of weekends, I have a freakin’ heap of lettuce just begging to be used. So, I took the lettuce, grape tomatoes, onion, avocado and cucumber from the bin the other night and made a huge, but epically delicious salad for dinner. And…to add to it…I figured why not give the Gillian’s Foods Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons a go. I got them down from the shelf in the pantry, measured out a serving and…dinner was served.

On their own, the Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons don’t offer much flavor. In fact, they are a little bland. But, no one really eats croutons plain, right? The point is that they compliment the salad and vice-versa. That was totally the case. Once blended on the salad and eaten with the variety of vegetables, these cubes of crunchy garlic-y goodness totally transformed. In fact, I was wishing a serving was bigger than it was, because these were absolutely great mixed in with other ingredients and topped off with a light drizzle of a balsamic dressing.

Both myself and Cathy (the infamous roomie) were impressed. And Cathy loves croutons…so I knew it would be a miracle to impress her. Especially since we were both ‘meh’ on the croutons alone. These little nuggets of goodness add the right amount of crunch and flavor without being too much for the vegetables in the salad. Loving them!

Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons are made from white rice flour, tapioca flour, water, soy flour, guar gum, egg whites, soy oil, yeast, salt, sugar, granulated garlic, oregano and basil. They are shelf-stable and are completely gluten-free, wheat-free and dairy-free.

As far as their nutritional value goes, a serving size of Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons is 7 ounces, or about 4-6 croutons, depending on size. I weighed my serving out. This serving will provide you with only 15 calories and 0.5 grams of fat. Nice!! Not heavy on calories or fat? I love that. You will also be consuming 45 mg sodium. These are sugar-free, trans-fat free, and cholesterol free. Also, you will be provided with 1 gram of fiber, but no additional protein. But if you choose the right veggies for your salad…that’s a non-issue anyway.

Yes…it has been a long, long time since I last enjoyed the crispy, crunchy goodness of croutons on my salad. My hope is that I can find these somewhere around here…or else I’m stocking up when I head to Birmingham next time. Definitely more impressed than I expected. And that…is only a good thing!

Gillian's Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons atop a delicious salad — Gillian’s Gluten-Free Garlic Croutons atop a delicious salad

March 6, 2014

Physical Therapy – 2 Weeks In…

Stepping out with weights... — Stepping out with weights…

Ever since the ankle sprain heard around the world (okay…not really, but…it seems like this just isn’t going away), I have gone to the doctor, been X-rayed, and now am going twice a week to physical therapy, where I am working with two very good therapists, Jill and Shawn.

The good news is…no fractures. No stress fractures. NOTHING…I repeat…NOTHING…is broken.

That’s the good news.

The bad news is…I seriously sprained my ankle. Yep. Seriously. And not the typical inversion ankle sprain either (that would be on the outside of the ankle). Nope. I’m a special case. I do the more uncommon and rather quite rare, rolling the ankle outward and doing the damage to the inside of my ankle. Because, why do things the way 80% of the population does, right? I will not conform. *sigh*

So, last week I went to my first physical therapy session. And was immediately discouraged. There were measurements taken of both my feet an ankles, and I was given a couple of exercises to do, and given some of the bands to really work my ankle some more. I left not really sure how I felt, but had another appointment set up to meet with Shawn, who would go over some other things I could do and work with me a bit further. Needless to say, I had my doubts, but that Friday evening when I went into my session, Shawn really did make me feel better and did move things along.

I have about 30 minutes of stretching that I am doing, twice a day, every day. Then, I am doing 3 sets of 20 reps of each ankle flexing exercise with the various bands (they each provide a different bit of resistance and strength) twice a day. That’s a lot. But…I do it. Despite not always feeling like doing it. I still do it. Why? Because I am seeing improvement.

That being said, today was going to be a very important session. I went into my session and did my warm-up on the bike. Then, Shawn got me strapped into a weight machine and had me do some forward, backwards, and side stepping, while hooked up to some weights. Resistance to make it a little tougher and to test that ankle. Then he had me doing some ankle exercises while hooked up to some weights around each ankle, to work on some balance and strength. I managed these, no problem at all. The hard part was talking and counting my required 20 reps. It’s the little things.

The moment of truth came after that. Shawn took me over to the treadmill, which he told me he was going to do today, to have me walk…then up the pace…then up it to a very light, very easy, very gentle run. He put it on 5.0 mph and I sort of just jogged…for three minutes. And I did okay. The ankle twinged (nothing painful, it just didn’t feel right…) a couple of times, but it was progress. Good progress. I felt good about it. I was hoping…praying…that I’d get the okay to start running again.

And I did.

Kind of.

A deliberate-paced run on the treadmill... — An easy, deliberate-paced run on the treadmill…

I’m still not permitted to run outside. Not yet. Nope. That’s a negative on the one thing I was really, really hoping to get the go-ahead on. Yeah, I was a bit bummed when he delivered that news to me. I know, he wants to make sure I’m ready, and I understand that, but, God, I miss being out there. I really do. However…I am cleared to easily run and do some intervals of run/walk on the treadmill. Completely cleared to do that. And when I go in on Monday, I get to report on how the ankle is feeling after spending a weekend doing that. This is progress. It just wasn’t the progress I was hoping to make. But…baby steps. Rome wasn’t built in a day and this ankle won’t get back up to speed (pardon the pun) overnight. It just doesn’t work like that. At least I’m cleared to do some deliberate running…even if it is at the gym on the treadmill or around the tiniest track in the world (FOR REAL!).

Progress is progress…no matter how small, right? Right.

That’s what I keep reminding myself. I am also learning to get used to a little disappointment (like the news delivered today). But, in the end, it just means I’ll have a lifetime of running…and not do damage to myself that I can’t come back from it. My physical therapy sessions are definitely helping. And I hope…come next week…I’ll see a little more progress as well. Maybe get out in the fresh air. Maybe.

For now…as much as I hate the treadmill…it sure is better than nothing. Now to just train my brain to keep it easy and slow and ease back into it. Running smart means sometimes running with your head and not your heart.