In the Woods and Got Some Goodies

Saturday morning. Isn’t that a good morning to sleep in? Catch up on sleep missed from early rising during a busy work week? You’d THINK! Sometimes your body has other plans. Today, the body said “we must arise and CONQUER at 5:30 AM!”, and so we did. Shane and I conquered 9 1/2 glorious, sunny, warm miles through the switch backs, playing with other dogs, chatting with strangers, having so much fun and enjoying a relaxed run.

It was warm for the Shaner so we made several water stops around the golf course drinking and soaking Shane’s thick coat. After I dropped him off, I went out for another 3 1/2 miles. It was one of those days when a runner couldn’t get enough. Don’t you just love those days? 13 miles Saturday and a rest day Sunday as we play spectators for Ted’s first Triathlon Sprint of the year. Cooperstown, here we come!

Goodies in the Mail –

I’m so lucky. I get the best samples in the mail and always, ALWAYS get excited. There is never a product I don’t fall in love with.

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Oat Cereals and “People Before Profit”

Bob’s Red Mill. Those folk have become my very good friends. They send me gluten free products to sample but I have a secret. I BUY Bob’s GF products anyway because the quality and taste is always consistent and never lacking.

Extra Thick Rolled Oats: Pedigreed seed stock used in planting. Sampled 100 PLUS times with an R5 ELISA gluten test to ensure the product is gluten free. These oats are thick, smooth, and have one of the most welcoming textures of cooked, hot oat cereal. I simply use 1/2 cup of oats plus 1 cup of water and a pinch of salt, allowing the mixture to boil, reduce the heat and allow to cook about 20 minutes while I get ready for work. Perfect!

What else did Bob send? Gluten Free Oat Bran

Oat bran is a high fiber cereal and a good source of vegetarian protein. As a hot cereal, it’s a fine texture, like baby food warm cereal. A few less calories than oatmeal, less carbs, more fiber and equal protein (5 grams). As for cooking, use 1/3 cup and add a pinch of salt plus 1 cup of water. Bring to a boil, cook 2 minutes, remove from heat, allow to cool and enjoy.

The book: “People Before Profit” by Ken Koopman. Don’t you wish all companies would embrace such passion regarding the health and satisfaction of the employee? After all, a happy work force makes for good quality and productive effort.

The basis of Ken Koopman’s book, an account of Bob Moore’s (aka Bob’s Red Mill, Bob) philosophy of people before profit. I’m looking forward to reading the book and when I finish, more on this inspiring story of Bob Moore, the founder of Bob’s Red Mill.

What about Electrolytes?

Totally switching the game on you at this point. Away from the “after workout nutrition of a good bowl of oats or oat bran” to fuel on the run with NUUN, electrolytes your body needs for fuel during 1 1/2 hours or more of endurance training and racing. If it’s a hot day, you’ll need electrolytes much more frequently (also, if you perspire more than most).

Nuun tabs are essential electrolytes without the sugars. Use 1 tab for every 16 oz of water.

I received a sample pack of all four flavors: Lemon&Lime, Citrus fruit, Tri-Berry, and Orange Ginger. Can’t wait to use these tabs when I do my carb-depletion long run. That’s when I don’t use any gels or carb fuel except electrolytes for 17 – 20 miles. I’ll do these runs about once per month to get my body used to being carbohydrate depleted.