Potpourri.

This past Sunday wrapped up week 12 of training and it is pretty amazing to think how fast the time has gone by. Luckily the weather cooperated and we were able to get our 17 mile long run in this past Saturday.  It was our usual along the marathon route in Wellesley and Newton. This time though we went a bit farther and entered the beautiful city limits of Brighton, MA.  It is nice getting to explore new areas each week when we tack on additional mileage.  Kind of feel like Jacques Cousteau but on land.  I don't have a red knit cap and glasses though.  I digress.  The little red line outlining the path of the training run doesn't look that impressive below does it?  Geez, 17.1 miles and just that short little red line.  Oh well.

Next ingredient in my fragrant potpourri.  No, it is not flower petals or spices.  My last post I talked about change being good.  Well, I did find a time when it isn't good this past week.  Our coaches let us know that they did not want us to use headphones while on the long run because of the unsafe conditions in spots along the route.  Especially in the sections where we have to run in the road.  I have run in the past without music but I have always gone back to it as it helps me get into that happy place when running.  However, safety first so I ran without music.  Did I already mention that change is not good sometimes?  Running 17 miles without music made it very long.  I found myself not focusing as much on my breathing and technique like I do when I am listening to music.  I know, that sounds pretty backwards but what can I say.  I also noticed that I was paying way too much attention to every twitch and ache.  Way too much.  But, in the end, it was worth not having the music so that I could be safe.

Now for an update on my recent post "Get In My Belly".  I really really love the Jelly Belly Sport beans.  I've tried two new varieties since the original post including "Assorted" and "Juicy Pear".  Both are phenomenal.  The "Assorted" is nice because it gives you a sampling of the different flavors that they have.  It comes in the standard version as well as "Extreme" which contains caffeine.  The flavor "Juicy Pear".  What can I say.  I'm not a big pear fan but the flavor of these beans is delicious.  I think that I have finalized my refueling for the marathon.  I'm going to alternate between "Cherry" (Extreme) and "Assorted" (regular).  Yum.  Yum.

 I have been wearing my Boston Children's Hospital Miles for Miracles singlet the past few weeks on our team long runs.  A couple of simple words really made me think during this past Saturday's training run.  "Thank you for running for Children's".  These words were uttered three separate times by three random women along the course.  That really made me stop and reflect on why I am doing this and justified everything that I have put into it.  It made me feel very proud to be part of such a great effort and very thankful to those three women for yelling out those simple but impactful words to me.  It really meant a lot.

The last piece of my fragrant potpourri? Getting outdoors to run again means opportunities to take pictures again and posting to Instragram.  It is almost therapeutic in a way.  It can be a bit of a pain too though.  Run a bit.  Stop and take a picture.  Run a bit.  Stop and take a picture.  Run a bit.  You get the picture.  Oh, that was an unintended pun right there!

Until next time, keep on runnin'!

Get In My Belly.

"I'm bigger than you and higher up the food chain.  Get in my belly. "

Thank you Mr. Bastard (Austin Powers, The Spy Who Shagged Me) for that fantastic line. It is so apropos.  No, not for Mr. Bastard's desire to, let's say, "utilize" Mini-Me in an effort to curb his hunger.  No indeed. Rather, the desire to get more of those Jelly Belly "Sport Beans" in my belly!  

Where is this all going you say?  What does some jelly beans have to do with running?  "Are you going to be talking about the Easter Bunny next Keith?"  Maybe, Jack and the Beanstalk with his magic beans?  Nope, none of that.  It all has to do with my new favorite refueling source.

If you have been following my blog, you may remember that I rated my top three energy gels for refueling last year:

• 1st Place: http://keeponrunning716.blogspot.com/2014/03/refueling-1st-place.html
• 2nd Place: http://keeponrunning716.blogspot.com/2014/03/refueling-2nd-place.html
• 3rd Place: http://keeponrunning716.blogspot.com/2014/02/refueling-3rd-place.html

Well, forget all that!  I have a new top refueling source: Jelly Belly Sport Beans.  You might be saying to yourself that you didn't know such a thing existed.  They do.  I had looked at them in the past but never really gave them that much consideration because they seemed gimmicky.  After looking into them further, boy was I wrong! 

They come 15 to a 1 ounce resealable package and stack up nutrition label to nutrition label of most energy gels.  For example, the Sport Beans have 100 Calories, 80mg of Sodium, 40mg of Potassium, 25g of Carbs, 17g of Sugars, 10% of Vitamin C, 10% of Thiamin, 10% of Riboflavin and 10% of Niacin.  While Clif Shot Energy Gel has 100 Calories, 90mg of Sodium, 55mg of Potassium, 24g of Carbs, 12g of Sugars, not a significant source of Vitamin C, 0% Thiamin, 0% of Riboflavin, 0% of Niacin. 

But how do they work and taste?  Wonderfully and wonderful.  In that order.  Seriously, I used one pack last week during my long run and had great results.  I could feel it when it first kicked in but it wasn't a sudden jolt.  The energy was level and consistent throughout.  The taste?  Fantastic.  I was using the "Berry" flavor (they have other flavors including lemon lime, orange, watermelon, fruit punch and cherry).  It was natural and had no fake chemical after-taste like a lot of the gels.  The beans were hard as a rock because of how cold it was outside but quickly became pliable enough to chew.  These beans are much larger than standard Jelly Belly jelly beans so I took 4 at a time and then 3 at a time for the last set.  I found them to be much easier to chew than energy blocks and much easier to get down than energy gels that tend to be thick and goopy.  Once I got really chewing, the consistency reminded me of very small granulated sugar.  For those who like caffeine, don't worry.  They have "Extreme Sport Beans" which contain 50mg of caffeine.  The only thing that I think could use a bit of improvement with this product offering?  The packaging.  It has a very narrow opening with a resealable closure which is difficult to open while you are on the run.  Otherwise, they are a great alternative to energy gels.  Seriously.  I cannot wait for this week's long run to try out the cherry and assorted packs that I have.  I cannot believe that I didn't try these sooner!

" I want my baby back baby back baby back baby back baby back ribs. I want my baby back baby back baby back baby back baby back ribs.  Chili's baby back ribs."  I mean, "Jelly Belly Sport Beans".

Until next time, keep on runnin'!