Friday, October 24, 2014

"Savior Snacks and Other Sustenance...."

"Mmmm...and they're tasty, too!"

Here are some fun food items to enjoy
on your next long trail run, hike or
mountain bike adventure!
*
Who would've ever imagined a delicious
pasta salad could be enjoyed 20 miles
out in the middle of nowhere (??!!)...no refrigeration
required, and as easy to open as 1-2-3!!
*
 
 
 *
St. Dalfour's, Gourmet On The Go,
Ready To Eat Pasta Salad in a can!!
*
This wonderful little gem will be a true delight
to pull out of your pack when you reach the 20 mile 
turn around point on your next outdoor adventure...
* 
*
...included is a tiny fork and salt packet
for seasoning and bringing those depleted sodium
levels up for the trek back to the car!
*
 
*
...delectably delicious!!
*
...several different flavors are available
and can be found
at "Sprouts" and "Whole Foods".
*
...another wonderful find from the "Sprouts"
cookie/granola bar etc. isle,
that is all natural, loaded with flavor and
completely Gluten Free!!
*
*
"Betty Lous Gluten Free Fruit Bars".
Available in a variety of delicious flavors,
this little tasty treat will not disappoint!
*
*
...with 41 grams of carbohydrates, this
2"x 2" cookie square delivers a nice punch to
the taste buds and to the carb reserves
as well!
*
"Farro and Barley" 
...a nice change to eating pasta...
*
*
 
*
...these instant, ready in 10 minutes, varieties
 are from Trader Joes. Look at the carbohydrate
content for a simple 1/2 cup serving...perfect
for sustaining those crucial glycogen levels!!
*
Happy Running!
 
 
 
 
 

Friday, October 17, 2014

"St. George Marathon 2014"...breaking 4 hours was not in the cards....

"St. George Marathon 2014"

It's hard to believe the marathon is
already run and done again for another year...
was it two weeks ago that we were driving across
the beautiful desert?...eating plain cold pasta
from an ice chest and drinking tumbler after
tumbler of lemon lime Cytomax and water...mmmmmm....yummy!! 
*
Things just felt different this time from the very
beginning...to start, when did reserving a room
for marathon weekend become such a headache?...it's
always a bit difficult but being forced to pay
for 2 nights stay was something I didn't expect
from the usual friendly hotels and motels of
St. George. 
*
In past years, we've stayed the 2 nights...one
other year we were able to reserve one night's
stay and were charged for that one night...
...and it was reasonable pricing, not doubled up
to make up for the loss of one night's booking.
...When did everything get turned upside down?
Maybe it's been this way the whole time and
I didn't notice...maybe I'm the one who is
turned all upside down....
*
I do wish the weekend of the marathon could be a
little more relaxed than it ends up being...
that constant push to arrive
in town on time to pick up the bib and race
packet, check into the hotel, prep the race
*
 
*


*
 
paraphernalia pile, eat dinner and get back to
the hotel in time for a decent 5-6 hours of sleep...
(Me, a lovely 1-2 hours...being we brought
 *
 
  
*
the dog, we were put by the exit/entrance where
the door slammed closed all night long.... 
*
I got to the buses at 5 am, and the line was HUGE...
*

*
I must've walked a 1/4 mile to find the end and then
we just stood there for what seemed like and
eternity...we finally boarded, and were off...I
got to sit and talk to someone this time...
her name was Allyson and she was running it for the
9th time with next to no training under her belt...
(I think she ended up running it in 6:35...good job!)
*
Finally making it to the drop off starting area, we
hopped into the porta potty lines that were again,
ten miles long...when the announcer said it was
15 minutes til the start, I panicked. In past
years I've hung out at the bonfires, wandered aimlessly
and could've visited the porta potty lines 2-3 times
before the race start...how am I arriving with only
15 minutes to spare, and I'm still 10 people away from
a porta potty visit??!!
*
Magically the race started 10 minutes late,
the line dwindled down, and all was good...
*
The race went well with a few bumps in the
road...some stomach issues and unprepared quadriceps,
but nothing that a nice steady pace to the finish

*
 
couldn't cure.
*
To make a long story short, I was nowhere near 
breaking 4 hours like I had so hoped to do.
I ran a 4:21, my second best time,
 and am very happy with that!
*

*
 
Whether it was taking 2 years off from running
and being 2 years older, or that my training didn't
include enough of what I needed for that speed
and strength to break 4 hours, all of that doesn't
matter...it was a wonderful experience and that
is all that matters.