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Alright… James definitely wins the “most creative” award for the topic of “the next post” (ie this one). Running an Easter race dressed as a chick? Haha… that would be AWESOME! Minneapolis readers – you fill me in on an Easter race in the area, and I’m down!
But no, that was not the plan for today. It wasn’t too much of a stretch to figure out that it was NEW SHOE time! The baby chick… long story short, some customer bought it for me when I was working my very first job at a grocery store when I was 14. Awkward experiences = story of my life. Throw that in the “adversity training” category. 
ANYWAYS. New shoes! Trust me… it was time. It was past time. If you haven’t noticed, I haven’t really mentioned any injury/pain lately. Before you just say “Maybe that’s just because you haven’t been blogging a ton lately…” (my bad hombres), I’d stop you and say that for the most part, it’s true! No real injuries so to speak of. Hip is feeling as solid as it ever will, I’m strength training like it’s my job thanks to my awesome Model Per4mance team, and I’m taking good care of my body! My weekly running mileage is also half of what it used to be, but I’m swimming and cycling and cross training to make sure I’m the best damn triathlete I can be!
But you’re right.. I said for the MOST part. Twice now since the new year, I have been out on a run with my guys team, and been having a great run. Both times in the last mile (coincidental) I have had this sudden feeling in my right foot like it was going to snap in half… an action that is most definitely not Dr. TriRunner approved! Why the last mile? Why so sudden? Who knows.. but the pain would stick around for more time than it was welcome. Both times I took about a week off of running, and eventually the pain went away. I used to have one of these sweet Trigger Point Quadballers that would have felt amazing under my arches, but sadly in my move from Boston to Minneapolis, it was lost in the shuffle. 
Sometimes I feel like I’m “barely running” in comparison to my 65 mile/weeks of the past, so it was easy for me to forget that my shoes are still racking up mileage. I can say with about 97.6% assuredness that my foot pain was due to (cue scary movie music…)
EXPIRED shoes
 solution!! I bet many of you have heard/read at least ONE recommendation telling you a time/mileage frame when it’s time to drop money on a new pair. The Run Happy folks would say that to keep running happy, you wanna change up your shoes every 300-500 miles, and that is very consistent with most recommendations out there. Depending on how far/often your run, that could mean new shoes every two months, or only twice a year.
If you’re on the more frequent end of that spectrum, and also happen to be on the broke-college-student end of the spectrum, you might feel exasperated hearing that “guideline” because hey, running shoes are $$$! So what is a broke college kid (or just a cautious spender) to do?
Here are my best tips to saving money and keep on keepin’ on with a smile on your face:
- Know your running stores: many smaller independent running stores have a customer loyalty program or something along those lines. Get on their mailing list, and a lot of times you can score coupons for up to 25% off!
- Know your running stores.II: in respect to ^ stores, I have found many that offer a discount when you donate an old pair of shoes. My local running store has a shoe recycling program that gives the shoes to those in need locally! You save money. You do a good deed. Everyone wins.
- Be OK with wearing last seasons’ model! I know that the 2150s just came out.. and I know that they have some sick designs and colors… but truthfully (aside from colors) there often isn’t a big change from one model to the next. Do your research to make sure you’re not missing anything thats truly “improved”, and if not, try and score the last seasons model, along with some extra change in that pocket.
 (My “last season” model still has this awesome tat on the tongue!! Haha – you guys are going to start to think I really DO color coordinate all this…)
- This tip comes to you via the mens XC team at the gym. Have a “fall jar” – any time you fall while out running or walking around, or even come close to falling, put $1 in your jar. Although the $$ typically whet to adult beverages items other than shoes, this could definitely be your shoe piggybank. Also, if you have the balance of a tight rope walker, I think it would be good to use this as a “negativity jar” … any time you find yourself whining not looking forward to a workout, or skip a workout, drop in a dollar!
- Run/walk/bike instead of drive when possible. Gas isn’t getting any cheaper, and you can knock out a workout while checking items off your to-do list!
- Make sure you’re wearing the RIGHT shoes. How much would it sting to figure out three weeks in that you don’t like these shoes, or this model doesn’t have enough arch support.. but its too late to return them? Burn.
- Online? If you don’t have a good running store near you, or no customer loyalty programs, nada, online shopping brings those options right to your doorstep. I have had ridiculously AMAZING customer service with Zappos.. and I know they’re not even running or athlete specific, but they have a lot of options AND also typically have the last seasons models left over. Especially if you’re like me and have baby feet and stores don’t stock your size… online is the way to go!
Brooks also say that replacing your running shoes is a lot cheaper than replacing your knees. Or foot. Or HIP. Amen to that! These are Asics 2140s (the 2150s are the current model), and I basically always run in the 21XX series. I’m not saying I would never run in a different brand of shoes, but if you know me, you know I’m an Asics girl at heart. If you think about it, it’s sort of funny how we develop certain brand loyalties. Initially I started running in Asics because when I first became a runner, everything I knew I learned from my mom and that’s what she wore. Thankfully, that was also the shoe that was recommended when I was like 12 and went to be “fitted” at our local running store. I’ve tried two other brands, but Asics are my LOVE.
Because I tend to get a little OC with the photos… I might as well share these with you, right?
 
el pollito was curious -//- i let him break em’ in for me
 
I decided that red on white would bring out my tan. -//- don’t argue. hard core.
 
haha you probably can’t tell the diff. between the dirt and my moles -//- don’t argue. hard core.
READER QUESTION TIME:
- How often do you change your shoes?
- Where do you buy them?
- Are you particular about the brand you wear, or do you try out different companies?
- Do you also have blindingly pale legs but could care less Have you broken out the shorts yet?
OK chiquititos… it’s 5:00, it’s 37°, it’s RAINING, and it’s almost run time. Hmmmmm. If I weren’t meeting the guys, would I be going out in this weather? $1 in the “fall jar”!! Haha, I might be getting new shoes sooner than I think! Peace out.
-E
p.s. psh…. of course I’m running. What kind of a question is that!
This post is solely dedicated to Friday Confessionals of this week, mostly because I am getting ready for date night with el chico guapo, and a little bit because I have a BIG post about one thing, and I don’t want it to have to share. Hinnnnt #1:
Friday Confessional – 03.05.10
The rules: (Wait.. didn’t I used to say.. like just last week.. there are no rules? This has been amended.)
- Fess up. Anything goes.
- You will not judge me nor hold me accountable for any terrible mean embarrassing thing I say…
- On second thought.. you can do what you want. It’s your life! Maybe there really are no rules?!
Ohhhh boy. There is a lot I could confess to this week. Not that I have been particularly naughty or anything, but I have literally been just allll over the place mentally, from feeling super goofy, to super judgemental, it’s all in there. But for the sake of saving face my pressing hot date night awaiting, I will keep it to three:
- On Monday (yes… I really did take note of this on Monday and think, This is going into the Friday Confessionals…) I was busy working hard and doing core. Someone came over to me and we started talking about different core workouts. I’m down on the ground on a Bosu with arms above my head, with this person essentially standing over me. And then I looked to the side and realized I hadn’t shaved under my arms in almost a WEEK. Wowwww wow wow.
- I went through a carton of eggs in one day. Granted I’m just eating the whites for the most part.. but still. Girls’ gotta get her protein I guess!
- There’s a girl I used to run against in HS cross country, and I’ve been seeing her out and about the lakes lately. I don’t remember if we were even in close competition or anything, but I passed her on a run yesterday and definitely was smirkin’ once I sped by.
OK kidds! Date night awaits, and I am going to soak up every last drop of it because tomorrow is PACKED:
8:00 – 10:30 :: Endurance Ride
12:00 – 3:30 :: Errrrands, CostCo, Laundry x2
4:00 – 5:30 :: JOB interview!! Eeep!
6:30 – 11:00 :: Babysitting. (read: lots of homework while lovely children are sleeeep) 
We will meet again my friends. Until that time, I leave you with Hint #2…
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Since I’m packing up my bag and getting ready to go out, I thought of a perfect QUESTION for all of you! Q: What is your favorite from-home movie snacks? If popcorn and a soda didn’t cost me my kidney, I might feel otherwise, but for now I’m all about packing my own snacks!
Enjoy your Friday – I hopefully it is as gorgeous outside as it is here in Minneapolis!
-E
So much to say, but so little time.
School is in full swing (although I don’t think I can recall a time when it was only in half swing, or two thirds…), my role in my research position is picking up, I did a decent job at getting sick on Tuesday, I have a jobjob interview on Saturday (but don’t know enough of the deats. yet to say I’d take it if it were even offered), annnnd life is just pretty full at the moment. But instead of writing about all of that, which none of you would care about (or at least I really don’t…) I thought it was due time for a little gratitude.
1. God has blessed the city of Minneapolis with 40° days, which is more than enough for me to justify shorts. Give me 32° and I’m in. Gotta start on that tan at some point, right?
2. Said events have allowed me to experience once again the phenom of “muddy calfs syndrome” … which makes me feel like a runner, regardless of my actual running frequency and/or status.
3. Truthfully… the frozen yogurt wasn’t like extraordinary or anything. But these ladies are. And that’s what counts!
4. Much needed new shoes, next day delivery, crazy outstanding customer service from Zappos.
 
5. Family. No matter what yours looks like. You only get one.
And with that mis amigos, yo te digo adios. Get your friday confessionals ready, cause I have some stuff to unload and I don’t want to be the only one who has wound up on the naughty list! Wishing you warm weather, happy hearts, and fast feet!
-E
‘Ello Loves! (Said in my very best British accent – I’m watching Harry Potter on TV!)
It’s 7:17pm.. I have had a very full day and I am 100% content right now sitting on the couch, legs propped up and the mcMac on my lap, food roasting in the oven, DRINK on the table – it’s a good life. Since my Reset, and Reset: take two posts, I have been sticking to my new schedule, LOVING waking up early again, and [IMO] my attitude has been 10x better too. Overall, I’ve just been feeling stellar, and that is definitely lovely feeling! And guess what – I woke up eight minutes before my alarm this morning – LOVE THAT! Obviously it’s only been all of like two days, but I’d like to think that my body is adjusting to it’s “old” self again. To put the cherry on top, I have a meet-up tomorrow with two of my most favorite Minneapolis bloggers, Kate & Mellissa! You’ll just have to wait and see what we get ourselves into.
So back to this DRINK I speak of… what is this cup of magic? Well truthfully, it’s not what I’m drinking right now (although this drank is wonderful too ) No, this would be my post-endurance-ride drink this morning. Let me indulge you a bit…
 
I will give you three hints…
- It ’s “wonderful”
- It made me want to shake my pom-poms
- It was energizing, packed with crazy superfood nutrients, and may potentially promote my prostate erectile cardiovascular health (yeah.. the first two benefits are N/A, but I definitely can tell you a thing or two about cardiovascular wellness!)
Guesses? Anyone? Yeah… I’m not that tricky. My sensational shake was spiked with…
POM! The lovely folks over at POM Wonderful sent me a box full of their antioxidant packed powerhouse 100% Pomegranate Juice! It was actually super ironic because just before they they contacted me, I was going through my iPhoto and clearing out old pictures, and came across these which never made it to the blog:
 
 
Photos from my first real pomegranate experience… I was about to delete them because I thought, when will they ever get used? But whattya know… POM contacts me, and now I can say the pictures didn’t go to waste! Best ever way to peal a pomegranate = under water. Otherwise you’ll have the seeds flying straight into your face and poking your eye out all over the kitchen. Plus, the membraney part floats to the top, so its easy to remove! Anyways.. back to the POM…
There are some really cool things about POM that I think deserve to be highlighted:
- It’s 100% authentic, all-natural pomegranate juice, and contains no added sugars, preservatives, colors, or cheap filler juices
- They grow their own fruits in San Joaquin Valley in CA, and follow their pomegranates from tree to bottle (bottles that they manufacture themselves btw) for quality control
- “Wonderful” is actually the variety of pomegranates they use… I thought it was just part of the brand!
- In the last decade, POM Wonderful has provided $32 million to fund scientific research on pomegranates and their health benefits, including effects on heart, prostate, erectile function, and other conditions.
Before POM sent these bottles to me, I had previously tried the 100% Pomegranate Juice, and the Cafe Au Lait and Vanilla POM Coffee drinks. I dug around on their website, and found out that they have iced teas, pills, “shots”, and …. BARS ?!?! Um, why have I not seen these anywhere? Both flavors sound crazy good, and I am determined to get my hands on one of each. They also have a recipe page with their own recipes and community submitted recipes.
 Yeah, chances are you’re trying to wipe the drool off of your keyboard right now before it starts sparking. That. Looks. Amazing. But so does my shake… so I’m going to give you my little concoction I came up with, and you can do with it as you please!
Dr. TriRunner’s POM Nilla Protein Shake
(pictured above. serves 1 thirsty lil redheaded athlete)
- one scoop (28g) of Vanilla protein powder
- 4 oz 100% Pomegranate Juice
- 4 oz vanilla soy milk
- 1/2 tsp guar gum (or your thickener of choice)
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- iceeee to your hearts desire
Place all ingredients in blender – I used my new B3 (click for my review!!) and it worked amazingly, although I suppose a VITAMIX would do the job – and blend away. Pour in fancy glass, or live like a classy college kid and eat out of blender to not dirty another dish. Hey.. at least mine has a handle! Enjoy creamy deliciousness with spoon, straw, or slurped straight from the glass.
POM – thank you so much for sharing the love with me! I gave one to my boyfriend for a post-spin sipper, and he was definitely appreciative – payin’ it forward. Now I need to hunt down these darn bars and my life will be complete. Like always, you can find this and all other reviews by clicking the PRODUCT Reviews tab at the top of the page!
Question for you dears: Do you eat pomegranates / drink the juice… and if so… do you have any good recipes to pass on? I definitely have some thoughts floating around of a POM infused fro-yo sauce, but I’ll take all the ideas I can get!!
I hope you all have had a lovely DAY 1 to your weekend, and have a dynamic DAY 2 in store! I’m so excited for my MiniApple bloggy meet up, and definitely the final Olympic HOCKEY GAME! This girl is out – night!
-E
Based on the comment’s to yesterday’s post, it sounds like I’m not the only one who wishes they had a reset button some days! Then I got to thinking, there’s no reason that I can’t have a reset button… right? If Staples can have an easy button, then I can most def have a reset button.
And RESET I did.
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So I had this big long post all written out yesterday. I wasn’t quite finished with it by the time I had to leave for spin, so I hit save as draft, headed out the door, and planned on finishing up when I got home. After rereading last night and a good conversation with my better half though, I realized I wasn’t really getting across the message I intended. To me it sounded basically like one big vent sesh, instead of just saying what I’m doing to get back on track with my old sound happy heathy habits. Here is my ⌘C and ⌘V (that’s copy/paste for you PC kids) shortened and cut-to-the-chase version.
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Long story short compadres, I got a little fed up on Wednesday. Not just with the day itself, but in some patterns I’ve been falling into that are just not in accordance with the way I want to live my life. I’m an adult, and I know better, so there are no excuses here. For no one else but myself (OK, and maybe my main man up top) , starting yesterday I am drawing the line and reigning myself back in to the old me I know and love.
- sleep: getting myself back on a normal schedule, alarm set for the same time in the a.m. – no excuses
- diet: if I eat crap, I’m going to feel like crap, and my performance will be… crap.
- training: there are good reasons to bail on practice, and there are not good reasons. I know the diff.
- attitude: see quote below.
- faith: sometimes its funny how you can feel so close to God, yet your actions don’t reflect it.
attitude:
Today is only truly responsible for right this very second. It cannot change the past, nor does it need to determine the future. If you are not satisfied with your today, you have the ability right now to pack it up, ship it off to a far away land, and start anew.
-Yours Truly
And I’m pretty sure that covers all of what I want to say. Real quick before someone pulls the hypocrite card on me, let me beat you to it and do it myself. One of my 2010 Goals was to be less “black and white.” Truthfully, that wasn’t really working for me. Yeah, it’s a tough job being Type A, but someone’s gotta do it. Let’s call it “taking one for the team.”
With that team, I’m leaving on a fun (and what seems like flash-back) Friday tradition…
FRIDAY CONFESSIONALS:
You know the rules: there are none! Anything goes, and I promise, I won’t tell a soul Leave em’ in the comments! Here is what I wanna get off my chest for the week:
- Looking back through my lent journal so far… on 2/18 I said I was going to turn the computer OFF at 11:00 so it wouldn’t keep me up later than necessary. And under GU: I have written: “FAIL!!” Haha I got sucked into late night Olympics, and was up wayy late. Sorry Olympics, but starting yesterday, you’re just not that important any more!
- The other day I walked down to the coffee shop, bought an oatmeal raisin (essentially raw dough) cookie bigger than my face, and truthfully it tasted like heaven on a plate, but I wasn’t even hungry. Not sayin’ good food like that isn’t going to happen anymore, but I can promise it will be because I really want it, not just eating to eat.
- I still love Tiger Woods.
Someone asked what this whole “Lent Journal” business was about… and basically it’s just that – a journal I started on day 1 of Lent… I write a goal in it every morning, and every night jot down some things I’m thankful for. Nothin’ fancy… looks a little somethin’ like this:
Hmmm so I’m pretty sure I’ve written and come back to this post in three different installments. Time. To. Go!
-E
Hey kids.
Seeing as how we’re all about honesty and up-frontness here at Dr.TR, I felt like I could post this. It’s my blog, right?
Sometimes, life doesn’t carry out as we’ve “planned.” Somewhere along the lines, we develop this golden standard in our minds of what a “good day” looks like. If we don’t live up to those standards, it can definitely throw us off. Whether it’s school, work, training, home life, kids, or whatever your ailment may be, plainly said, shit happens.
Just yesterday I was talking to someone about how excited I was because I felt like what I decided to do for lent was actually beneficial and, in my mind, went along with what lent was “truly” about. Today I spent the majority of the day on the couch under a blanket, head pounding and feeling like it was about to explode, feeling sorry for myself because I wasn’t getting anything done yet making no effort to get anything done. When I find myself having a day like this, there is only one thing I wish I had…
A reset button.
For my attitude… my body… my mindset… the whole deal. Today I was definitely not acting or thinking in a way that I was proud of, killer migrane or not, and I’m guessing my man up top wouldn’t be to happy with it either. An attitude adjustment was in need. So what did I do?
I called off all of today’s scheduled workouts. If I even went to practice, what would I really be accomplishing? Nothing, because my heart wasn’t in it. NTM out of nowhere my foot felt like it was going to snap in half yesterday, and I doubt whatever I would have done would have made it any better. I skipped class (sorry mom) because going over to campus for one one-hour-lecture was not going to make or break it. (Although in hindsight, it may have helped shake my negativity…) Sometimes that’s just what you gotta do. Eventually I went for a walk and got some fresh air. Truthfully, it was only because I was so frustrated, not because I thought it would do me good. Hey… honesty.
“I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.”
Proverbs 4:11-12
About an hour and 20-some James Morrison (and related) songs later, my head was feeling slightly less explosive, my attitude was of somewhat higher quality, and I randomly wound up in Lunds in front of this mirror. ?? I believe this is the ONLY self-taken-in-mirror photo you will find on Dr. TriRunner, and you can expect it to be the last.
Not so frustrated anymore. Note to NorthFace… you’re warm, but you got nothin’ on Minnesota.
See you tomorrow, with a better attitude, a not so lame post, and hey.. maybe finally that shake recipe. Peace.
-E
Greetings comrades! (In my head, that was said in my best old-Russian-man voice, reminiscing about my favorite Anatomy & Physiology prof back in Boston…)
This is going to be SUPER short and sweet, as it is Sunday night, and tomorrow I have a test in my Measurement & Eval. In Kinesiology class. (How’s that for a mouthful? I like MEinKIN better!) I’m pretty much set to go, but I need to make sure I have all the terms down, and remember how to calculate Phi scores from a double classification tables and whatnot. Fun fun.
Anyways, I’m writing to you today for several reasons. I had my second “long run” today (first was last Sunday), and I am very aware at the moment of the times I’m running – currently and in the past. I’m definitely not the pace I “used to be”, but now it seems like “used to” is such a long time ago! And my “long run” gets quotes because what is considered “long” at the moment used to be my midweek mid-distance run! My girl Karyn asked me a while ago about Boston Marathon, remembering that I’m registered, but wondering if I’m running or not? In short, the answer is nope, and I’m actually OK with that. I have big tri plans this summer, and with racing at Nationals in April, my mind is focused on other things. But it’s been a while since I’ve done checked in medically with all the hip related business, so I just wanted to give a fair warning of what’s to come.
That’s not the only thing coming though… here’s what is on tap:
And the last thing I want to leave you with is a passage from the bible. I’ve said before that I really am not trying to push my faith off on anyone, so hopefully if the Bible or just religion in general isn’t your thing, you can read this next passage as just a tiny part of a story with an awesome meaning. My cousin has 27-29 on the back of his hockey helmet. When I read it, I definitely thought of Erica, because I feel (especially with her upcoming running ventures) that it really fits her and the way she lives her life. Not only because she shares my name, but because she is awesome all around, you should definitely check out her blog if you’ve haven’t yet!
“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore, I run in such a way, not as without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified.”
(I Corinthians 9:24-27).
 Hope you have a lovely night. If you have Caribou Coffee in your neck of the woods, don’t forget about their $1 Coffee Mondays!! I always brew my “first cup” at home, but it is a nice treat to make Monday’s not so rough.
-E
p.s. Jocelyn knows how to spread the cheer, and Megan’s got the goods!!
Wow… talk about “far too long” – it’s been a week since we last chatted about some Winter Running necessities. Well, please believe I haven’t just been dinking around these last seven days – they’ve been jam packed with lots of good things:
- a two-day valentines celebration
- awesome deals @ the Twin Cities Bike Swap
- swimming! (makin the goals!)
- 2.5 hour endurance ride (see above!!)
- my first “long run” since refracturing my femoral neck (to complete the trifecta)
- (I understand that that is a complete misuse of the word trifecta. ¿Me importa? No!)
- meeting new teammates at above bike swap!
- registering for races
- rocking medical terminology tests
- preparing to give speech, only to have class canceled. twice. shoot.
- trying to put together our new UMN Tri Team website. faiiil.
- started a new strength program with my new coaches!
- prepping for Lent 2010
And clearly, given the title of this post…
Everything above in blue is a post that’s halfway finished and wanting to be posted, but I think first I need to wrap up some unfinished blender business! In my ode/eulogy to my Magic Bullet, I mentioned that CSN Stores was sending me a new Back to Basics Blender (aka the B3… because apparently every D.TR kitchen appliance needs a name) to review! Well you can bet your butt my heart skipped a beat when I walked home to see this sitting atop the stairs:
My heart does a little flutter when I get regular plain ol’ mail, but a package is like a mini Christmas on my doorstep! I promptly brought my box-baby inside and out of the cold. You know I wanted to try it out the second I got the box open, but I realized I better let the motor warm up to at least above freezing before I got to blending.
Given the photo series to come, you will see that I had some slight reservations about the blade size. When I laid him up next to Mr. MB for a size comparison, I wont lie – there were some dubious thoughts that started to set in. But you can’t knock something until you try it, so that night with the help of el chico guapo (that would be the boyfriend btw, not another kitchen appliance) I set to work on a mix I had been excited about for quite some time. The details of the “recipe” still need to be tweaked a bit, but I will tell you that it involves dessert, fruit, and heaven. I promise… I’ll share.
Noting the facial expressions below, you might infer that my first experience with B3 was not exactly smooth (pun fully intended) sailing. My ice cubes and pieces of frozen fruit did not want to break down! Then I stepped back for a little eval, and realized where I went wrong: a) I had put my “solids” in last, and b) there was not nearly enough liquids for my solid:liquid ratio. So I unscrewed the top, added more fluids, gave it a stir, and tried again. WINNER! In traditional Dr.TR fashion, I will let the photos do the talking:
 
(L: that box was tightly packed. Legit took 5 minutes to get out // R: baby blade?)
 
(L: blade skepticism // R: the B3 vs Mr. MB)
 
(L: photo has been edited for recipe protection // R: attempt numero uno)
 
(L: enter uncertainty // R: ice stuck on top)
 
(L: post-additional-hydration-adjustments // R: a delicious success!)
As you can see, I was definitely pleased by the end result. My initial lack of conviction based on simple blade size was erased once I figured out what I was doing. I realized that the order you build your blenderfull-of-goodness is important – ice and other hard solids should be added last, because when you screw the top back on and flip it upside down, they will have first contact with the mini (but might!) blade. I also realized that @#(*&@#!)R%#&Y*> alone is not going to make this shake of dreams delicious. Trust that I’m working on a recipe, and will have it out asap.
Here are the major PROs I am finding with the B3:
- Large cup size (TWSS. Sorry… you knew it was coming)
- Works quickly – shakes are shaken and smoothies are made smooth in less time than with the MB
- Small footprint on my small counter
- Not as loud (IMO) as Mr. MB, though you should note that MB was sick and dying. And that is only according to me. (My roommates might beg to differ )
And of course, there can always be faults found:
- There is no secret skin to peal off that would reveal a VitaMix underneath
- OK… so it still makes noise. Not acceptable to wake up said roomies with blender concoctions
- Although the blending cup is larger than that of Mr. MB, I want more space! I know.. want want want! Jeesh.
And that is what I have to tell you kids! Overall I am very pleased with the B3 (Back to Basics Blender), and for the cost (especially after CSN’s sick discount!), I would say it probably exceeds the expectations of a typical blender in the same price range. Trust me, we’ve gone through a few over the years. I definitely think that this will hold me over until I become a professional athlete marry a professional athlete strike gold decide to bite the VM bullet. (And if you too find yourself in that position where you’re really gonna do it… please note that there are some decent discounts with CSN! Check it out!) (Haha extra *astrisk* for you here – I promise that the entirety of this review is coming from yours truly, Dr. TriRunner, and not in any way influenced by CSN Stores or any other outside source. Gotta put the disclaimers out there these days.)
So to tide you over until all of the blue posts above are actually published… I leave you with two more photos of recent tasty triumphs made in the B3.
 
(L: crazy delicious vanilla spiced protein yum // R: felt like I drank a margarita with breakfast. in the snow.)
Remember that this and all of my previous product reviews can be found on the PRODUCT Reviews tab at the top of the page! If you have any questions or have a product that you would like reviewed, please shoot me an email at drtrirunner@gmail.com
Happy hydrating!
-E
Not because I have abnormally large feet, but because that’s just how I roll. This is my friends, Train On Top:
Winter Running: Part II
This is somewhat an extension of the WINTER RUNNING edition of my Train On Top files. Even if Phil, the groundhog, hadn’t seen his shadow last week, I’m pretty sure all of us up here in Minnesota knew there were six weeks of winter left. My sister and her hubs in D.C., and my dad in Philly, would most likely attest to that. Luckily, I’m prepared for the temps to drop back below zero, or for another foot or two of snow to dump… again. If you’re from the rather arctic regions of the U.S. (or Canada or England ::waves::), chances are you know the drill and your outdoor training didn’t even take a hit. Yeah… I see all you snow pro’s out there smilin’…
But maybe you’re not a “snow pro”… maybe you’re not so keen on the words wind + chill being joined together to form a subzero condition of constant cold… maybe you’d prefer remain vertical during your run, avoiding ice and snow at all costs. The reasons could go on and on, but they don’t have to! In addition to all the layers, lights, and long socks we talked about last time, I want to dive in a little deeper with three items that may make your winter run a little more enjoyable.
1. YakTrax Pros
OK, so I did mention these last time, but no picture, no nothin! I wanted to do an official “Product Review”, so here it is:
Yaktrax Pros are definitey my traction device of choice, and I’ve had the chance to sample several other options. I can attest to what they tell you on their website, the Yaktrax Pros provide not only better traction, but confidence and safety on packed snow and ice. If you look at my picture, you can see that are also easy to put on and take off – they just strap around the bottom of your shoe, and are held on with a velcro strap across the top of your foot. I’ve been asked if they’re “uncomfortable” to run in, or if I feel like they change my gait, and the answer is – nope! The only time I notice that they’re on my feet are when I hit a dry patch of pavement and then I can hear the coils hit the ground. The website says “packed snow and ice” and I took a picture once upon a witnery run (aka last weekend) to show you just exactly what the Trax love:
Minimal snow. Minimal feet.
L: no need for the trax. R: love the trax.
Speaking of coils, if you look closely at my photo you’ll see that I’m missing a few. Well, one piece of advice I would give you for the overall health and wellness of your Yaktrax is: don’t leave snow on them, and then close it up in a plastic bag. General chemistry will tell you that the metal will start to erode if kept wet and enclosed.. and I neglected to realize that two years ago. That’s another point to be made – two years ago!! These Yaktrackers have definitely seen their fair share of winter miles, so it’s no wonder that a couple coils have broken down by now. I think that they’ve held up fantastically given how much impact they take!
I am not going to tell you what to do, but I’m going to buy another pair in the next few weeks. Maybe possibly I’ll find a pair on sale since it’s nearing the “end” of the season (mmmm, right). I can’t say that they are 100% necessary, but they will make outdoor running in the winter 10x more enjoyable!
2. PONYTAIL HAT
Going to apologize in advance… I got a little photobooth happy
Unless you’re un hombre with a massive mane, this one’s for the ladies. I LOVE my ponytail hat!! Sadly, I cannot tell you what brand it is, because there is no tag inside, and I got it at a marathon expo! Twin Cities’ expo to be exact. If you happen to be reading this and knows who makes these hats, let me know because I’d love to give full credit!
I don’t need to just push my brand here, but it’s the only one I can give an official review of. Some other companies targeting the ponytail crowd are Nike, TrailHeads, Drylete, Sugoi, and more. There are also ponytail headbands for sale out there, but in my mind, my ponytail can go either above or below a headband.. I’m not so particular that my ponytail absolutely must be situated right where my headband would fall. ANYWAYS, my ponytail hat, whatever brand you may be, is actually quite light weight - almost like swimsuit fabric. Nylon? Mmm, I don’t know my textiles, but I DO know that these hats rock. If I leave my hair down, or even put it in a low ponytail, it’s just a big tangled [sweaty] mess by the time I get home. The ‘mess’ portion of the problem is clearly solved, and for me, so is the ’sweaty’. Because my hat is pretty lightweight, I can rock the headband and keep my ears toasty, but the top of my head doesn’t get too hot. PLUS, this lets me color coordinate my running outfits but still keep a neutral black base layer which is super important for winter running fashion. (KIDDDDING!)
I’ve seen these at many a race expo, and they come in lots of different colors. There were also some with fun sayings or “26.2″ or “13.1″ printed on it. Love. It. Again, I can’t say it’s “essential”, but if you have pony tail length hair, it’s definitely a nice item to have!
3. Balaclava
No, I am not going to rob you, nor am I going to steal this big box of Clif bars. I am going to keep my face warm though!
The balaclava, not to be confused with the sticky sweet baklava, is a hat, gator, and face mask all in one. At the same time, it provides the flexibility to be worn as only one or the other. If you find yourself freezing when you step out the door, but sweating two miles in, you can easily tuck the face portion under your chin, or even pull the entire “hood” down if need be. Truthfully, I have three of these, all in different thicknesses and fabrics. The one pictured above, and the one I would argue is my warmest and most versatile, is the Seirus Ultra Clava.
You can’t tell in my picture, but the nose and mouth portion of the face mask are made of a different fabric, and the nose even has a slit to help with ventilation. My only problem with balaclavas (and this is really a biological malfunction on my end, not the face mask’s problem) is that my nose is legitimately like a faucet in the winter. And that’s probably an understatement. Possibly TMI, but I’ll bet you I have to “blow out” every .3 miles… yes, quite the pro at the snot rocket. This happens whether my nose is covered or not, so I would definitely rather have it covered and warm than frostbitten. Luckily though, it’s not like it’s so much extra effort to tug the face mask down, take care of business, and pull it back up.
I would categorize balaclavas under the “most definitely essential” category.
COMING UP…
Well, now that you have three more items to help you train on top and make it through the winter, what could be coming next? I wish I could could tell you I have a huge ultrasound machine that will melt all the snow, especially given Minneapolis’ new wtf are you thinking?! parking rules. All I can say is it’s a damnwell good thing I have my Yaktrax and Balclava, because with these new rules I’m going to be parking in Wisconsin and running home. Maybe I can do another Live Post and videotape the 35.6 miles I will have to traverse from Hudson to Minneapolis…
Returning to bidness. I arrived home to find a pretty brown box wrapped upon my doorstep. Yes Mr. UPS, I do love you. With this box comes a review and a recipe to take you back to your childhood bakery. This one’s for you Allie! I am also starting work with a new company, Model Per4mance, and want to tell you a little bit about them, but they deserve more recognition than just a shoutout! Until next time mis amigos, I wish you strong legs, warm decent weather, and happy training.
-E
I am just taking a quick break from medical terminology (I just aced the self test though, so if that is representative of how I will do on test one this coming week, I’m set!) and I wanted to get an update in here. And what a better time (or so I thought) than to do a…
2:10GU
(2010 Goal Update for those not up to date with Dr.TR terminology)
It’s been a while since I’ve checked in on the three goals I made for 2010. Here’s a quick rundown on how things have been going:
- SLEEP – Well, I can honestly say I’m most often getting my eight hours. I can also honestly say that I am taking sleeping meds almost every night, and when I don’t take them, I’m not falling asleep until like 2-4 in the morning. It’s not that I’m “not tired”.. I get eyes-closing-on-me-while-sitting-up tired… I just can’t fall asleep. I need to schedule to get in and talk to my doctor about it for sure. Hahah but I will say that with the sleep aids (which I am totally not endorsing) I’m getting a sound solid night and feeling rested in the am. So… yep. Still workin’ on it.
- SWIMMING+CYCLING - Again, I’m still doing better on the cycling than the swimming, but I can say that I’m at least swimming once a week, usually twice. Having the underwater mp3 player is still a huge help, but that doesn’t make the pool not cold. Can I swim in my wetsuit in the University pool? All I gotta say is I better be a better dang cyclist after this winter!
- LESS BLACK-&-WHITE ATTITUDE - Haha, I feel like my opinion on that will be biased, and definitely leaning in my favor, so you’d have to ask someone else. It is a really hard thing to “measure”, but that’s the point right – I’m not supposed to need to have all these objective measures in my life. I’m actively making an effort though, and that’s what counts!
I feel like all I ever say is “I have some fun stuff coming up on the blog. Stay tuned for _____!” but I really mean it! Here are my two lame excuses:
- Some things though have a “missing component” that I’m waiting on…
- School!
I also just took over as the “webmaster” for all our tri team bidness, and the site that our TEAM PAGE is hosted on is definitely not as user friendly as what I currently use for Dr. Tri Runner. Nor is it very compatible with McMac! I am working hard to get it all squared away, but I might be moving our site over to BlueHost, which is what I use here. ANYWAYS, long story short – with Nationals only seventy days away its important that I get on that so everyone has access to the important info going around!
And lastly to wrap up my quick hello, there’s something loooong overdue that I need to take care of. My Progresso contest winner!! Given the overwhelming response to the contest, I must say this winner is quite the lucky duck, because each you only had a 16.7% chance of winning. (No sarcasm allowed here at Dr.TR.) Without further ado, the is…
Melissa @ A Fit & Spicy Life
Not only is this chicky one of my favorite bloggers of all time, she is also a fellow MiniAppleite, and all around awesome! She is my inside source on all the cool restaurants that I’ve never been to in the Twin Cities! Shoot me your contact info to drtrirunner@gmail.com so I can pass it off to the fantastic folks at BlogSpark/Progresso and you can get to slurpin’ and soup’n asap!
Questions: How are your 2010 goals going? Do you have any races/events on the calendar that you’re counting down to?
Time to get back to work! Hope you all have a lovely weekend! Train hard, train smart, and cheer for the Colts in tomorrow’s game!
-E
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(My “last season” model still has this awesome tat on the tongue!! Haha – you guys are going to start to think I really DO color coordinate all this…)
And YOU said…