I'm linking with my friend Marcia today from Marcia's Healthy Slice.
Please stop by and join in with your own Runfessions!
Please stop by and join in with your own Runfessions!
I Runfess...
I drank the Kool-Aid...or at least I'm drinking it in smoothie form. My college kid is home off and on for the summer and has brought the smoothie train with him. [That...and a new puppy. Heavy Sigh.] After refusing to buy a ticket for years -- being too lazy to drag out the blender and then having to clean it -- I have hopped on board that speeding train and don't want to disembark. Oh, the things you can hide put in a smoothie!
I Runfess...
I Runfess...
Speaking of hiding things, I'm now trying beet powder for inflammation. Wendy feels she's had success drinking beet shots, so I thought...what the heck. Beets it is. But because I'm so cheap wanting something more economical, I bought beet powder. If you don't mind your food turning bright red, there are a lot of options here. Red Oatmeal. Red Yogurt. Red Smoothies. Red Mashed Potatoes. Kidding. My old lady supplements arsenal is growing! I already take Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM for joint mobility and flexibility, Vitamin D-3 for healthy bones, and of course Whey Protein to give me those enviable muscles. Bahahaha.
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| "Mom, why is the banana smoothie red?" "Just a few raspberries honey..." |
I Runfess...
In my mind (and let me admit what a scary place that can be!) I've been planning to do my first sprint triathlon of this season in June. It was my first and favorite from last summer -- Callaway Gardens. Except, I finally went online to check the date. It is one week after the Utah Valley Half Marathon. Have I swam one stroke? Well OK -- I did just this week in a state of pure panic. But, I haven't been on my bike in weeks. Brick workouts? Ain't nobody got time for that! I still may take the plunge. The swim is so shallow, I could walk it. Seriously. Plus, I completed two long rides inside their hilly gardens (45 and 60 miles) over the winter. Surely I can bike the required 9 miles? I'll pretend the running leg isn't happening.
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| My first sprint triathlon! I placed 5th out of 29 in my age group |
I Runfess...
When I got in the pool in my panic-induced state this week, the water was still nippy. I decided to wear my spring (shorty) wet suit. Yes, the same one I nearly dislocated my shoulder contorting into recently to water ski -- only to ski wearing it fashionably inside out. Let the record show it's much easier squeezing into it right side out. OMG -- Why haven't I done this before? Swimming is so much easier with the buoyancy of a wet suit. I get it now, triathletes! And, I'm a little embarrassed that it took me so long.
I Runfess...
I finally did it! I obtained Gold Status at Starbucks. I slaved diligently for months shoveling up those pretty stars, drinking that coffee flavored Kool-Aid. So naturally I was expecting something truly magnificent for my efforts. Fireworks. A trophy. A free drink! Extra stars! Nope. Nothing. "Congratulations on becoming a Gold Status member..." {...Crickets...} So I haven't been frequenting the joint as often. Oddly enough, I've dropped a couple of pounds. Go figure.
What do you need to Runfess?
I'm also joining on the Friday Five 2.0 linkup
hosted by Running on Happy and Fairytales and Fitness!
Stop by and see what everyone is talking about.
I'm a big fan of smoothies - I think you'll end up loving them very much! When I use beets or beet powder in smoothies is helps me with soreness and inflammation. I think you should sign up for the sprint triathlon!
ReplyDeleteThe achiness in my left hip is improving! Could it be the beet powder? I'll probably to the Tri if I'm not too banged up after my next half.
DeleteI didn't tell you but the last beet shot made me incredibly nauseous. I don't know if I can do them any more! LOL! I will keep doing my beet smoothies tho.
ReplyDeleteI lost my Gold Star status. Oops.
Maybe you should try the powder in your smoothies! You really can't taste it when you've got other fruit in there anyway.
DeleteYou'll be more than fine at that tri. You had me at stand up in the water. I runfess I fought the urge to call and ask how deep the pool I'd be swimming in at my tri. If I'd known I'm pretty sure I'd have bagged it. Thanks for linking!
ReplyDeleteI hate to miss the one with the shallow water swim! I'll have to see how I feel after running that downhill half. LOL.
DeleteOh no! A puppy! But how cute; a puppy. :) Being surrounded by senior/geriatric animals, I miss the cuteness of young'uns (but not the work).
ReplyDeleteKnowing you, you'll crush the half AND the tri.
I have a Vitamix. You clean it just by putting water in it & turning it on. And yet I still struggle with getting more smoothies in. No doubt due to the return of fall.
I've forgotten how energetic a puppy can be! And those sharp little needle teeth. Ouch. My son has a handheld he really likes for making smoothies. I may have to hop on that train too.
DeleteI'm with you...too lazy to get out the blender so I get my Starbucks smoothie - no mess and I get stars!!!
ReplyDeleteMy blender is too tall to fit on my counter underneath my cabinets (a real issue for me!). I hate dragging it in and out. And washing it. I have not tried a Starbucks smoothie! Stars...
DeleteOoh... I had never heard about that thing with the beet powder before. Interesting... I'll have to give that a try!
ReplyDeleteMy cranky hip is definitely better after using the beet powder for a few weeks. Coincidence? It's too early to tell, but I believe I'll continue.
DeleteOh I love a good smoothie - now if I could just find a self-cleaning blender ;)
ReplyDeleteI've never heard of beet powder - I'll give anything a whirl that will help to tame of of body's perpetual crankiness!
My college kid taught me to blend some soapy water for to clean it. Duh... Now why didn't I think of that?
DeleteMy husband is wanting to get on the beet juice train, so maybe I'll check out the beet powder - does it taste less "beety" than the juice, do you know?
ReplyDeleteOMG, a puppy. One year my college kids came home with a cat. Having two cats and a dog already, that made for an interesting visit.
By itself, the powder tastes like beets. In a smoothie, the kids think I've added strawberries or raspberries. They can't taste the beet powder. This is the same kid that brought home baby ducks one night. I'm used to it. LOL.
DeleteGold status. Wohoo! Haha. I'm sure my sister will be there soon. Her and her happy hour drinks. I have never tried beet powder. I actually don't mind beets. Maybe I'd like that.
ReplyDeleteI'm not crazy about beets but I like the powder form. It's not overwhelming when mixed with other foods.
DeleteBeet powder! What a great idea! I need to bust out my blender again - I do love smoothies in the summer!
ReplyDeleteIt will definitely make everything red! I'd leave my blender on the counter if it would only fit under the cabinets! Ugh.
DeleteI had gold status but then haven't used that card in quite a while. I make my own iced tea at home, and I like it better. Starbucks is still a treat, though, so I haven't cut it completely out.
ReplyDeleteI downloaded the Starbucks app a while back and it sucked me in with all the ways to collect extra stars. LOL. But, I can fix a tasty cup of coffee at home too.
DeleteTalk to me! I still have not boarded the smoothie train...for the same reason (#cleanup). (because, as we all know, I would be the one to clean up all the muck inside the blender (it goes along with "chief dishwasher-unloader" status). I might have to sample the Kool-Aid.....
ReplyDeleteMy college kid taught me to clean to blender by blending warm soapy water. Duh. Why haven't I thought of that? Now, if it would fit under the cabinets on the counter, I'd have no complaints.
DeleteNinja blender! The mess is made in the cup you drink from ...then you just put it in the dishwasher!! I'm loving my daily smoothies! I need this beet powder ...does it have a taste to it?
ReplyDeleteI think you need to just go ahead and register for that Tri ...you can do it! No big deal for you.
Enjoy having that college boy home and all the "new wave" trends he brings! See you soon!
I've thought about a Ninja for single serve smoothies. Right now, everybody wants one...so the big blender it is. If I'm not too beat up from the DOWN hills, I'll do the Tri. It will have to be a last minute registration.
DeleteOh... a puppy!! :-) I love my smoothies... although I admit, I tend to forget to make them.
ReplyDeleteThis puppy is so cute! But my last two dogs were 6 months and 1 year when we adopted them. I've forgotten how much work a little puppy takes! And those teeth!
DeleteI think back in the day Starbucks actually sent you a ^gold^ card -- I still have mine! :-)
ReplyDeleteI bet you will do great if you do that tri!
I was so late to the Starbucks membership in the first place. Their app is convenient but I just expected more after working (drinking) so hard.
DeleteI like smoothies!! Hmm, that beet powder looks interesting. I agree that there are so many things to hide/add to a smoothie. :-)
ReplyDeleteMy hip does feel better, but I don't know if it is from using the beet powder or not. I'm sure I've only scratched the surface of smoothie making!
DeleteI did not realize that you were doing a tri again this summer. You totally got this. In my opinion, the run after the bike is the hardest and you are a strong runner. Excited for you! Somehow I missed this post the other day catching up now!
ReplyDeleteI agree! Running after biking is the worst part. No matter how much I worked on that last year, it didn't seem to get any easier. I believe the run is only 2 miles at the Tri, which isn't too bad.
DeleteI'm saying a Cake Pop would have been in order, Starbucks! I haven't been on my bike much lately either as I thought it might aggravate my cranky hip and hammie.
ReplyDeleteI am so happy about your success in the triathlon! Keep up the great work.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that. I fell into the first one accidentally (wanting to do a duathlon which got cancelled -- and the director said "just walk the swim") but ended up liking it and did three more.
Delete