I lived through my First 50K Bike Race

I completed my first 50K Bike Race in Davidson, NC. There were 20+ monstrous hills on the route throughout Rowan and Iredell Counties. By far, it was the most challenging thing I've every done in my life. Thankfully, once it was finished, I didn't feel like I had lifted a finger for the day. However, I was sure it would catch up with me on Sunday but I woke up feeling refreshed and without any soreness or fatigue. I did enjoy my free post race stretch by Chiropractor Dr. Zimmerman. It was great to lie still for a few moments. There were pre race snacks and post race free food and live entertainmet. Naturally, nothing was vegan friendly so I give my tokens to my race buddies. I ate plenty of banana and peanut butter along the route so I was okay though disappointed. The vegetarian restaurant present had goat cheese in everything  (interesting indeed). I was energized once back at home but forced a nap and hydrated with electrolytes well into Sunday evening. It’s one for the books alrighty ;)!!!

 Would I do that route next year? @__@!!!

Have you had an ice bath?

So, I've heard about the many benefits of taking an ice bath after a very intense run, workout or sport activity and it finally happened. Last Wednesday, my trainer wore me out during our upper body 5:30 am session and I survived long enough to complete my hill repeats of 4 miles at 7 pm that evening. Well, common sense told me to pull up my granny undies and do the unthinkable in hopes of being "less" sore than the week before. That experience cannot be explained successfully. Lets just say I was sore everywhere so my ice bath was in the nude from head to toe. I did have my portable heater going in the bathroom, music playing, total stillness and plenty of prayers as I waited impatiently for my 15 minute session to be completed. At one point, I asked the Lord to take the wheel and please make my alarm sound off ASAP. Needless to say, it did and I was the happiest sore chick to "stand". LOL

I did it again on Wednesday after my swim session Tuesday evening and another beat down in the gym but of my lower body by my trainer. I first went to the YMCA and got in the sauna, steam room then finally headed home to repeat said torture. I was still terribly sore but it wasn't as bad as the week prior.

Have you tried an ice bath before? If so, how was it? O_o

Grilled pear?? You bet....

 While in South Carolina by my daddy, I not only picked veggies posted in an earlier post, but I also picked pears from his tree. Though they were very hard, I decided to bring many back and share some while brainstorming on ways to enjoy them. While in the field with daddy, we talked a lot about fresh food and I shared my interest in a dehydrator which I later found out he had one; so he dehydrated some pears with cinnamon and they were yummy. With that in mind, I made sure to pick some pear and research various dehydrators for a future purchase. Well, I've looked at a few but haven't decided on any yet so it was only a matter of time before my creative juices kicked in. Shoot, I have to do something with all these pears, lol. After grilling egg plant on Friday and grilling up some homemade veggie burgers last night, I opted to experiment with grilling pears since I had plenty left after sharing with friends. I added some cinnamon like daddy did and it's a keeper. They were enjoyed with vegan "chickenless" salad for breakfast after having a few pieces hot off the grill. Since my first batch, I've made two more batches and will enjoy grilled pear as a snack and a part of my breakfasts this week. I'm enjoying the challenge of finding creative ways of using my grill in a plant based lifestyle.  

~Have you tried something different in the kitchen recently?

How intentional are you about your food & exercise?

Freshly picked & tastefully enjoyed

I had not seen my South Carolina daddy for the year so my visit to see him was overdue. In addition, we were in the middle of July so most of his veggies and fruits grown were gone so it was imperative that visit ASAP. I left work early on July 17th, and headed south to see him, visit the fields and get away for a few days. It was a nice escape as always. He lives a few minutes from Myrtle Beach so I spent time there; the highlight of my beach visit was living vicariously through some toddlers having a blast with the sand and waves as carefree as possible. It’s as though I was frozen in time because I did not move from that spot. At times, I simply laughed out loud with and at them. Prior to hitting the beach, I accompanied daddy to one of his fields and we picked all the veggies seen and unseen behind of me. I immediately washed, sliced and oven roasted egg plant, bell peppers and winter squash. I enjoyed that mixture with food prepared prior to hitting the road. I cooked linguine, vegan Italian sausage, steamed mixed veggies & had it with a slice of avocado. I do not travel without food (that's a no no for a vegan in my book). Having food readily available to eat at any given moment makes my trips more enjoyable. I also took apples, oranges, raw almonds, raisins, kale and avocado salad, green tea, brown sugar, oats and perhaps a few other things. Ironically, it was only a two night trip but I eat every two to three hours; hence having plenty of snacks and meals are crucial. I love going home to my lovely master suite, vegetable fields and fruit trees in the year and to see daddy of course, lol.  

I'll be back down there before the year ends.