Humpastry Day - Ginger Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ginger Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies:

I know this is a day late...sorry!  But, my oldest started Kindergarten today (I can't believe he's already starting school!) and I wanted to make him a special treat for when he got home.  So, my youngest and I went to work on these after we dropped him off this morning.  I saw the original recipe in an issue of Women's Running magazine and I thought it sounded interesting.  The recipe came from Leah Jurek, an ultramarathoner, and she said she makes these for a healthy post-run reward.  Although it is a pretty healthy recipe already, I tweaked the recipe a little bit and am happy with how they turned out.  The ginger makes for an interesting burst of flavor in the cookie, but if you don't like ginger I would skip this one.  Oh, and I thought about subbing applesauce for the oil, but I wasn't sure how it would be with the coconut and ginger flavors.  I think I might try them next time with 1/4C applesauce and 1/4C oil to cut down on the fat a little bit more.  If any of you decide to try it, please let me know how they turn out!

Ingredients:
Makes about 2 dozen cookies

*  1C whole wheat pastry flour
*  1/2C garbanzo bean flour (you could also replace with whole wheat pastry flour)
*  1/4tsp. salt
*  1/4tsp. baking soda
*  1/2C shredded unsweetened coconut
*  3/4C chocolate chips
*  1/2C crystallized ginger, chopped
*  1/3 C soymilk
*  1/2C canola oil
*  1/2C raw sugar
*  1/4C almond butter
*  2tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Line a cookie sheet with a silpat or parchment paper.
2.  Stir the flours, salt, and baking soda in a mixing bowl.
3.  Stir in the coconut, ginger, and chocolate chips.
4.  In a small bowl, heat the almond butter in the microwave for ~15sec.  Whisk the almond butter with the oil, sugar, milk, and vanilla extract.
5.  Add the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined.
6.  Form the dough into 1/2Tbl. size balls and put on the cookie sheet.
7.  Bake for 15-18minutes or until tops are starting to brown. (*Note: these cookies do not flatten out like other ones)
8.  Transfer cookies to a wire rack to cool.
9.   Enjoy!

One more tri!

Aflac Iron Girl Sprint Tri - August 28th

So, I have been thinking about doing this race since early this spring when I found out about it.  It is an inaugural race in Boulder this year and I thought it would be fun to do.  But, I didn't know how my season would end up after my Half Ironman, so I never registered for it.  Well, I came across the website the other day and started thinking again about how fun it would be to do.  What I like about the race is that it is a pretty small event, it's a sprint distance, and it's an all women tri.  I talked to my husband about possibly doing it and he was all for it, so I registered for it this morning!  Woohoo!

My plan is to drive up early from Denver on the morning of the race by myself.  My husband and boys will meet me a little later once the race starts.  There really is no need for them to get up at 4:30 to drive and sit in the car until the 7am race start!

The distances are a little funky for a sprint (1/4M swim, 17.2M bike, and 3.1M run), but I am actually really excited about doing it!  Plus, I know two other bloggers, Kathleen at Dare to Dream, and Julie at You Just Have to Tri, that I would love to meet up with.   I thought my tri season was over after my Half Ironman, and I am thrilled to be able to do one more race!  Yay!

The Sunday Sampler - Fitness

Welcome to another installment of The Sunday Sampler.  This is the day where I share my insights, thoughts, and opinions with you about different things in three categories: fitness (gear/clothing/accessories/etc.), parenthood, and health, rotating each category each week.  I hope that makes sense! :)  

My hope is that I will be able to help you along your adventure just like so many others have helped me. So, let me know what you think!  I'd love to read about your perspectives on these things as well! 

Fitness:

Nathan Speed 4 Hydration Belt:

I absolutely love my Nathan handheld water bottle, but I realized when I started my marathon training that I would need something to get me through the longer runs.  So, I decided to head to my favorite running store and see what they had.  I tried on a lot of different belts, but the Nathan was by far the most comfortable.  The sales associate let me run with it on a treadmill for awhile and it felt good, but I was still hesitant to buy it because I generally do not like things around my waist.  Race belts even bother me sometimes.  I knew that I needed something though, so I decided to buy it and give it a try.

Here is some general info. about the belt:

• It has 4 -10oz. bottles in molded holsters that allow quick one-handed access
• It has front and rear stash pockets
• It has an air-mesh moisture wicking backing
• It has an adjustable velcro waist belt to insure the best fit
• It comes in small, medium, and large

My thoughts:

The first time I used it on a run it took awhile for me to figure out how I wanted to wear it.  Some people wear it with the bottles in the front and back with the pouches on the side.  But, I preferred to wear it with the bottles on the sides.  I also found that I didn't like it on my actual waist, but on my hips instead.  I found that since it has an adjustable velcro waist I could cinch it tight around my hips so it would not bounce.  So far I have worn it numerous times and absolutely love it! 

Pros:

*  It can hold up to 40oz. of liquid, which is great for my long runs.

*  It really is easy to get the bottles in and out of the holsters, and the bottles stay put.  I have never had a bottle fall out.

*  I love the two pouches.  I use the small pouch to hold my nutrition, which I wear in the front, and I use the bigger pouch to hold my phone, key, ID, cash, etc.  

*  Once I get it adjusted it DOES NOT MOVE or ride up.  I really thought it would ride up my waist, which I hate, but it doesn't.  Like I mentioned above, the adjustable velcro waist ensures that you can cinch it tight enough to keep it in place.

*  It does not bounce.  O-kay, maybe a little bit, but not enough for me to even notice it.  

*  You can switch out the bottles in exchange for smaller 8oz ones or gel flasks.  They all fit in the holsters! (See the picture above-you can see one of the bottles is a gel flask) 

Cons:

*  Seriously, I can only come up with one con.  The bottles sometimes leak (just some drips) when I first fill them up and head out for my run, but they stop leaking within the first 1/2 mile.  Since I usually fill them up with Nuun, I'm thinking it has something to do with the carbonation.  I do let the bottles sit while the fizzing from the Nuun stops, so I'm not sure that's the cause.  But, I don't know why else they would drip at first and then stop.

All in all, I am really happy that I decided to buy the Nathan belt and give it a try.  I usually run on trails where it isn't convenient to stash water bottles along the way and there is no place to stop to get additional water, so this has been a lifesaver.  Plus, I love how I can use it for my hydration, nutrition, and storage for my key/phone.   

  * Please note:  I was not contacted or paid by Nathan to review this product.  This review is my own opinion and is based on my experiences.

A week in review and other things too

Training:
*  What training?  Ha ha.  I've pretty much taken this week off to recover fully before I start back up with my marathon training.  I had the normal soreness that we all get after a big race, but I feel good now. Yay! I went on a hike with my boys earlier this week and it was just what I needed, physically and mentally.

*  Unlike my first Half Ironman last fall when I got a little depressed once it was over and didn't do anything for a couple of weeks, I am actually itching to get back out there!  The problem is that I don't have any more tris on my schedule.  :(  There are some sprints I could do, but I feel like I've already taken up so much time training and racing that I should probably give my family a break.  Plus, I know my marathon training is going to start getting pretty intense.  

* My husband was supposed to have a meeting Thursday morning, but it got canceled.  So, he asked if I wanted to go for a short run outside.  I was more than thrilled, so I got ready and headed out.  I didn't know what to expect from my legs, but they felt great and it was so nice to just be outside running with no agenda or plan in mind.  With all of my training, it's been awhile since I've just been able to "run."  4.25 miles later I was back home as happy as can be. :)

* My marathon training calls for a long 13M run this weekend.  I'm not sure if I'm quite ready to tackle that mileage, but I guess I'll just have to see how it goes.

*  I've decided to take on two new challenges:  Legs Love Lunges from 5 Miles Past Empty and the Hard CORE club.  Bring it on!
We are supposed to post before pics of our legs for the lunges challenge...ugh!  Let me tell you that I have always been very self-conscience about my legs so it took a lot to post these pics.  But, here they are.

Please ignore the fact that I need lotion on my legs big time!

Yikes!  I really didn't want to post this one!








Other Things Too:
*  We got some exciting news a couple of weeks ago.  Lance Armstrong made a huge announcement with a mayor stating that in August 20011 there will be a Tour de Colorado!  My husband is besides himself with excitement.  My husband and I have already said that when it comes, we are taking time off to go and watch the pros do their thing and tackle some of the huge mountains that we have here!  It's going to be so awesome! 

*  I have a confession to make: I like the show, "So You Think You Can Dance."  I am not a dancer by any stretch of the imagination, but what draws me to the show is the pure talent that these people have.  The way they can move their body and the dance moves they do just amaze me!  My husband hates the show and thinks it's lame, and I have to agree that the judging part is pretty lame.  But, it's still something I like to watch every once in awhile.  

*  Check out the veggies we got from our garden!  The cucumbers are growing like crazy and they are delicious!  My boys love to eat them plain for a snack...I love it!

*  How cool is the spam detector feature in blogger now?  I love it!

I hope you all have a great weekend! :)

Humpastry Day - Cran-Raisin Oatmeal Cookies

Cran-Raisin Oatmeal Cookies:

I feel like it's been awhile since I've posted a Humpastry day treat.  So, I decided to try a new recipe and bake some cookies!  I asked my boys if they wanted raisins or cranberries in them and my oldest said, "Why don't we use both?"  So, that's just what I did and I have to say that they turned out super yummy!  Oh, and the batter is absolutely delicious!  Because the recipe doesn't use eggs, you can eat it raw without worrying about getting sick.  Although, I suppose you could get sick from eating too much batter...ha ha!  Seriously though, the batter is GOOD!
Also, if you're doing the Gluten thing, these would be great treats for you because they use oats and oat flour (just look for the gluten free symbol on the oats if you're worried about cross contamination from the factory) instead of all-purpose or whole wheat! Yay!
The only negative thing about these cookies is that you have to chill the batter for at least 2hours...boo!  I think the cookies are worth it though!  I hope you do too!  :)

Ingredients:
Makes 24 cookies

*  2Tbl. ground flaxseed
*  3Tbl. water
*  1C oat flour   *Note: if you don't have oat flour, just blend up some old-fashioned oats until you have the consistency of flour.  I think I used about 1 1/2C oats to make the 1C oat flour.
*  1tsp. baking powder
*  1/2tsp. baking soda
*  1/2tsp. salt
*  1/2tsp. cinnamon
*  2Tbl. coconut oil   *You could also use vegan margarine or butter
*  1/2C brown sugar
*  1/4C raw sugar
*  1/4C applesauce
*  1tsp. vanilla extract
*  1 1/2C old-fashioned oats
*  1/2C raisins, cranberries, or a mix of the two

Directions:
1.  Mix the flaxseed and water in a small bowl and set aside.
2.  In a small bowl, stir together the oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
3.  Beat the coconut oil, brown sugar, and raw sugar in a mixer for 1-2 min, or until light and fluffy.
4.  Add the applesauce, vanilla, and flax mixture to the bowl and beat until smooth.
5.  Add the oat flour mixture and stir until just combined.
6.  Add the oats and dried fruit and stir to combine.
7.  Cover and put in the refrigerator for 2 hours or longer.
8.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
9.  Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silpat.
10.  Scoop the dough into golf ball size balls (a little bigger than a Tbl. amount) and put them on the prepared cookie sheet.
11.  Flatten each cookie with the bottom of a glass dipped in water.
12.  Bake for 10-12 minutes, or until cookies are just beginning to brown.
13.  Remove from oven, let cool for a minute on the cookie sheet, then transfer to a wire rack to cool.
14.  Enjoy!

Feelin' HOT, HOT, HOT - Boulder 70.3 Race Report

Boulder 70.3 Race Report:
Thank you all for your emails and good luck wishes!  I thought about them all during my race! :)
Now let me warn you, this may be a little long!

Pre-race:
My family and I drove up to Boulder Saturday mid-morning to do the whole packet pick-up and expo thing.  I was actually looking forward to the expo because I thought an Ironman branded 70.3 would have some good vendors.  We got to the expo, I got my packet, and started walking through the vendors.  What a disappointment!  I walked away from the expo with nothing but my race packet. :(  Not that I "needed" anything, but it's always fun to find something you can't live without.

The race swag:  A very cool wicking shirt, an awesome blue/black bag, water bottle, wheaties, eye drops, a not-so-cool poster, and a book full of awesome coupons!







Anyways, we decided to just stay the night in Boulder so we didn't have to make multiple trips to/from Denver.  We went to dinner at Pasta Jay's (yum!), then headed back to our hotel.  Because our hotel was pretty close to the race site, I just decided to ride my bike to the race in the morning.  That way my husband and boys didn't have to wake up super early to drive me there.
I got up at 4:30, ate my bagel with PB and honey, loaded up all of my stuff, and headed to the race.  It actually worked out great!  It only took me about 25 minutes to get to the race and I passed tons and tons of cars that were waiting to get in and park!  Woohoo!
I got to transition, racked my bike according to bib number, and set up all of my stuff.  Then, I proceeded to wait for 15 minutes to use the port-a-potty!  Are you kidding me?  It was so ridiculous!  I finally made it to the front, did my thing, and literally had to run back to my transition spot to get my swim stuff because I only had 5 minutes until transition closed! The sucky thing was that transition closed at 6:20, but my swim wave didn't start until 7:10.  I put my wetsuit on, grabbed a gu and my swim stuff, and headed out to the water.

I felt really good as I was waiting for my wave to start.  I wasn't too nervous, and was just ready to do it!  As you know, I was worried about the heat, but I had come to terms with the fact that it was going to be hot and I was just going to have to do the best I could.  As I was waiting I got to see Andy Potts complete his 1.2M swim in 23 minutes!  He came up the swim shoot and everyone just broke out in cheers and applause.  It was just awesome!  He ended up winning and finished in 3:46:50!  That is just amazing!

Swim:
Those who have been following me for awhile know that my swim is my weakest discipline.  You also know that I tend to get really panicky and freak out in the water.  They called our wave into the water and a sense of calmness came over me.  The water temp. was perfect, the atmosphere was so exciting, and I was just ready to go!  It was a weird sensation because usually I'm a nervous wreck before the swim start!   I really think the Aquaman races helped prepare me for this.  The horn sounded and we were off!  I have to say that this was the best race swim that I have ever done!  I didn't panic once and I never reverted to the breast stroke except to go around the turn buoys.  I felt awesome and smooth in the water and it was such a great feeling!  I had no idea how fast I was going, but I was just happy to be having a panic free swim.  I saw the finish arch and swam as hard as I could.  I got out, ran up the long sandy hill, and headed into transition.


Swim Stats:  1.2M   Time: 42:20 (including running from water to transition)
*  I know that isn't a fast time, but honestly, I am happy with how I did.  Yes, I would have liked to have swam faster, but the fact that I was comfortable in the water and didn't panic is good enough for me!  Now that I feel I have the "panic" issue in control, my next goal will be to work on gaining speed!

T1: 
This was pretty uneventful.  I had a little bit of trouble getting my wetsuit off my right foot so that wasted some time.  Also, my rack was towards the far corner of transition, so I had a ways to run.
Time: 2:48   (I didn't feel this slow, but it is what it is!)

Bike:
I hopped on my bike and headed out.  There were a lot of riders leaving transition at the same time and it was pretty crowded.  The bike consisted of two loops and I had ridden the course last month so I knew what to expect.  I felt great on the bike and got into a nice rhythm pretty quickly.  I got passed by a lot of lean looking guys with aero helmets, tri bikes, and carbon wheels.  The majority of the men started behind me in the swim, so I was expecting that to happen.  But, I'm happy to say that I only got passed by maybe a handful of women!  Woohoo!  The first lap went great.  I felt fast and smooth and passed a lot of people.  At the start of the 2nd loop I was excited because I knew I was half way done.  I started to get a little tense in my neck and shoulders which kind of sucked, but I think it was because I was grabbing my aero bars so tight. I need to learn to have a more relaxed grip when I race.  I switched up my position from time to time to give my neck a break and it seemed to help a little.  Finally, I was ready to head back towards transition. I saw my husband and boys on the sidelines ringing their cowbells and cheering me on!  It was great to see them and was just what I needed!  :)

My husband took this picture while I passed by and headed into transition.  It's a little blurry, but I thought I'd post it anyways!  I was so ready to be done with the bike at this point.







Bike Stats:  56M
Time: 2:42:38    Avg. Pace: 20.66mph 
Woohoo!  I was so happy with this time and pace! :)

T2:
I took a little bit of time in T2 to put on more sunblock (this ended up being futile in the end) and use the bathroom, but it was needed!
Time: 3:12  (Horrible time, but whatever!)

Run:
Oh my god!  Did you notice the title of my post:  "Feelin' hot, hot, hot?"  Well, let's just say that the sun was merciless on that run course.  I headed out of transition and my legs felt like lead.  My hamstrings were so tight and I was a little worried.  But, I know that it usually takes me a mile or so to get my "running legs" so I wasn't panicked.  However, the lovely race people decided to put 3 big hills within the first 3 miles of the run. The first hill was painful, but I ran up it fine.  The second hill was tough and I thought about walking, but didn't.  The third hill just sucked all of the energy out of me.  There was an aid station on that hill, so I decided to walk and get a wet sponge to pour all over me.  It was heaven!  I started up again and my legs still felt really tired and heavy.  I kept looking at my Garmin and I was keeping a good pace, but I just felt off.  It was so hot and I could feel the sun burning my skin.  I decided that I was going to grab a sponge and cup of water to pour on me at every aid station and that is exactly what I did.  I had my Nathan handheld bottle with me full of Nuun, but it only lasted 5 miles before it was completely out.  From then on, I stopped at every aid station for either Gatorade or water.  Normally, I don't have to drink something every mile, but I honestly felt like I needed to during that run.  Oh, and the wet sponge were life savers.  They were awesome!

The run consisted of two loops, so around mile 6.5 we had to run right next to the finish shoot to start our 2nd loop.  This really sucked!  I was running with some racers and while some of them headed to the finish, I knew I still had 6.5 miles to go.  It was really hard mentally to keep going.  My hamstrings were still so tight and my left knee started hurting a little bit and I was really bummed because I knew I wasn't going to have a "great" run.  I did the whole negative self talk thing and had a little pity party for about a mile and then decided to change my mindset.  I decided to forget about my goal, stop looking at my Garmin, and just do my best to make it to the finish.  When I came upon the hills, I walked up them as fast as I could and I didn't even think twice about it.  I hardly ever walk in races, but I knew it was the best thing for me to do and I was o-kay with it.  It actually ended up being a pretty good strategy though because while I got passed by some people running up the hill, I would always pass them back once the course was flat again.  I do have to say though that I have never been in a race where so many people were walking during the run.  It was crazy!  I honestly do not think that anyone was immune to that heat.  It just really sucks the energy out of you.

At mile 8 I decided to try a cup of Coke.  I don't know why I decided to do this, because I do not drink Coke or any soda for that matter.  But, something about it just sounded so good.  I grabbed a cup, drank it down, and it tasted so good!  And, the best part about it was that I think I had the best mile after drinking that.  I got an almost instant energy boost and was able to start picking up the pace a little.  My clif shot bloks were a gooey, melted mess, so I started to grab bananas at the aid stations to eat.  They were awesome and so much better than gu or shot bloks.

Finally, I had 2 miles to go.  I was so happy!  I could see the tents by the finish line in the distance and they looked so far away.  I told myself to just keep running for a little while longer and then I would be done.  I picked up the pace as much as I could.  The last .1 mile was awesome because it was lined with spectators.  It gave me another energy boost to hear everyone cheering, ringing cowbells, and saying my name (our names were on our bib), that I picked it up again, even though it hurt, and sprinted into the finish shoot!  I crossed the finish line, heard my name being announced, said a loud, "Woohoo!" and almost fell over.  The timing chip people steadied me while they took off my chip, handed me a water and medal, and led me to a grassy patch to sit down in.  I was so happy to be done!

Check out the salt stains on my hat.  Umm..yeah, I was sweating like a pig!  When I finished, I felt my face.  You know what it's like when you stick your hands in a bag of potato chips and they come out all salty?  That is exactly how my face felt.  I had salt all over, it was just crazy!




Run Stats:  13.1M     Time:  2:05:15 (avg. pace: 9:33/M) 
 *  I knew my run time was not going to be great, but considering how I was feeling, I was o-kay with it.  This was actually the slowest I have ever run a half marathon, but it was also the first time running 13.1 miles in hell.  O-kay, so I know I wasn't in hell, but it sure felt like it! :)

Overall Thoughts:

I love the finisher medal with the mountains in the background!  We also got a hat, which I think is cool, but because I have a peanut head, I won't be able to wear it.  It looks like my husband is getting a new hat!


Overall Time:  5:36:13

Although the HIM I did last year was a completely different course, and the weather was in the 50s the entire time, my goal for this race was to beat my first HIM time, which was 5:42.  I honestly did not think I was going to beat that time and had pretty much given up on that goal during the 2nd loop of the run.  But, when I got home and realized I got a PR I was completely surprised!  
I am happy with my time, but I feel like I can't even really call it a PR because it WAS so different from my first half ironman.  Ya know?  


So, what I really took away from this race is not a PR, but:
* A new confidence in the swim.  You can not imagine (or maybe you can) how great it felt not to panic and just be able to swim smoothly in the water.  That is a feeling I will take with me to every race that I do from now on.
*  Knowing what it's like to go fast on the bike.  I was so happy with my bike time and average pace!  
*  Knowing that it's o-kay to walk when I need to in a race and not feel bad about it or think that it makes me less of a runner.  
*  Knowing that I could not have done any of it without the support of my husband.  He is amazing and I am so lucky to have him in my life.  Did I mention that when I finally met up with my husband after I finished he handed me an icy cold bottle of chocolate milk and a bag of ice to put over my shoulders.  It was just what I needed!
*  And, the last thing I will take away from this race is the importance of using sunscreen.  Although I applied and did my best to reapply, the sun won this fight:

I loved my Zoot tri top, but the mesh panel on the back led to some crazy burned spots.

Ouch!








Thank you again for all of your well wishes!  I hope you all had a good weekend!  I'm a little behind on reading your blogs but I'll get to them soon! :)

Enough Already!

I have a love/hate relationship with weather.com.  I love how it gives you up to date weather info., how you can check the 10 day forecast, and how you can even get hour by hour weather info.  But, it is driving me crazy!  I think I have been checking Sunday's forecast for my race literally 10 times a day hoping that a magical temperature will appear on the screen.  But, it has and is still forecasting weather in the 90s on race day.  So, ENOUGH ALREADY!  I have got to stop looking at the forecast.  Because, no matter what it is, it is not in my control and I will just have to deal with whatever temp. Mother Nature brings us.

So, I have come to terms that race day is going to be HOT.  With that being said, I have decided to ditch my black Sugoi tri top and wear a cute pink and purple one instead.  Isn't it cute? :)

With sun rays blaring down on me during the run, the last thing I want is a black piece of clothing calling the sun rays to concentrate on my body.  The thing is, I have yet to wear this tri top in an actual tri.  I bought it months ago thinking I would wear it this season.  But then, Outside PR was gracious enough to send me the Sugoi tri top to try and review and I love it and have worn it in every race since.

Although I'm not going to get a chance to swim or bike in it, I did get a chance to run in it this weekend.  I headed out around 10:45, around the same time I'm hoping to be starting my run on Sunday.  It was sunny and hot out.  I ran for an hour and came back completely sweaty and red faced, but the top performed beautifully.  So, it's definitely a go for the race.  Plus, I think wearing a pink top will be easier for my family to pick me out of a crowd then a black top.  And if they can see me, then they can cheer for me, and I have a feeling that I will need every cheer they can give me to help me through.  

P.S.  Sorry about not having a Humpastry Day post today.  I promise I'll be back with something delicious next week! :)