Nuun: Electrolyte Hydration Tablets

Loving Nuun's hydration tablets.... it's cheaper and more environmental friendly then buying bottles of "sports drinks" plus the flavor is more subtle and taste purer.

It's hot in NYC now....and was even hotter this past week in Atlanta. Run safe (click to read NY Road Runner's summer safety tips)

"Nuun’s special formulation of electrolytes helps increase the amount of water that’s absorbed into the blood stream. That means more of the water you drink is actually used to hydrate you instead of being eliminated because the electrolyte balance wasn’t right"

• Tabs quickly dissolve in your own water bottle
• Easy to take with you
• Absorbs quickly
• Zero sugar
• Important electrolytes
• Under 8 calories

Honey Stinger: Natural Engery Chews and others

As I increase my mileage for marathon training it gets harder to just wake up and go running without consuming something. So I've been testing out some energy chews and jelly beans.

In order of best to worst......

1.) Honey Stinger Energy Chews. I've tried the pink lemonade and pomegranate passion fruit flavors and both taste great. More importantly they chew/dissolve well and leave me feeling ready to go. And they use all natural ingredients :)

2.) GU Chomps. Tried the Cranberry Apple flavor which was so-so. However, these chews don't go down so well. They are really sticky and my stomach needs an extra 30 minutes to adjust before I can go running.

3.) Honey Stinger Energy Gels. The flavor of the strawberry honey one was good. However, I am not a big fan of consuming tons of honey. It took me awhile to eat the syrupy mix.

4.) Sport Beans = never again. Maybe I am just not a true fan of jelly beans but it felt and tasted like I was consuming candy right before a run. I threw out the package after eating only 4 beans.

Mango Crumble (vegan)

Randomly wanted something sweet that was fast to cook. Then I realized I had the ingredients for mango crumble. 10 minutes later the dessert is in the oven cooking into delicious goodness.

Mango crumble (vegan)
serves 6

5 cup of peeled and sliced fruit (I used thawed frozen mango)
3/4 cup flour
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons butter (I used Earth Balance buttery sticks)
1/4 cup water (if using fresh fruit)

Pre-heat oven to 400*F. Grease a pot and spread the fruit on the bottom. Sprinkle the water on top (if needed). Combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a bowl. Rub in the butter to the flour mixture with your fingers until it resembles crumbs. Spread the crumbles over the fruit. Bake for 30 minutes or until the top is brown.

NYRR's Mini 10K

My second year running NYRR's women only Mini 10K race and it's quickly becoming my favorite race. Something about running in a sea of 5,000 fellow female runners in Central Park.... I can feel the power of the female spirit.

I did pretty well this year placed 394/4750 with 47:53 minutes (7:43 min/mile). I had set 48 minutes as my goal :)

This year's race was special for 2 reasons....1.) It's the 40th anniversary of the race. It was the first of its kind in America, a race for women. Interesting fact, the "mini" in the title is after the mini skirt.

2.) This year's race was dedicated to Grete Waitz, a five-time Mini 10K winner, who died April 19, 2011 at age 57 after a six-year battle with cancer.

Soul Cycle = overpriced fad that's not for me

After months of hearing my co-workers talk about the wonders of Soul Cycle I decided to try it out on Monday. I coughed up $20 for a 45-minute class doubtful that the cycling class would have the same effect on me since I run 4x a week. I was right, the class was not worth the money or time.

I've taken cycling classes as part of past NYSC or ClubFit gym memberships. I tend to enjoy them if the music is good. The bike provides a good workout and a break from running.

Soul Cycle is different mainly because they incorporate a "full body workout". At times during the class you lift weights, do crunches and modified push-ups all while still riding the bike. A cool idea.

However the whole experience from the minute I walked in the building was way too posh/fad driven. I can see why Soul Cycle has become so popular among celebs and the upper class. The instructor even ended class with some yoga inspired "Namaste" and breathing exercises. After sweating insanely due to the inadequate air conditioning I was greeted with a freezing cold shower and free organic lotions.

As I walked out of their union square location, $20 poorer, the first thought that came to my mind was "I can't wait for my 5-mile run in the morning".

June 1 - National Running Day!

June 1 is national running day. If you're not already a runner use this "holiday" as an excuse to start running now.

Running is awesome. If you need some motivation check out Running Day's website.

I run to .....

• stay in shape
  
• de-stress
• honor the power of my legs
  
• free my spirit
• clear my head
• enjoy the endorphin high afterwards
  

Black love, human love

There's been a lot of media attention this past year about "black beauty".....

--> The movie Good Hair about the obsession and million dollar industry around black women's hair (or more accurately, the dislike of our natural hair hence all the chemicals and Indian hair purchased)
--> Dark Girls: A documentary exploring the deep-seated biases and attitudes about skin color - particularly dark skinned women, outside of and within the Black American culture.
--> Writers crazily saying black women are not attractive re: Kanazawa's article in Psychology Today.

I must say, I felt like someone slapped me in the face when I read Kanazawa's article. Using "science" to explain why beautiful black women like myself, my mother and countless others are less beautiful. I might just use my "surplus" testosterone (the supposed reason black woman are less attractive) to kick his behind.

And I can't tell you the amount of times some guy has said to me "You're the prettiest dark skin woman I've ever met". Or before I put my hair in dreadlocks, how many people warned me I'd look less attractive for embracing my natural hair.

I am fortunate that my parents raised me in a house full of appreciation for black beauty, that my life is full of love, that my husband tells me I'm beautiful daily and whenever I might give pause to whether or not I'm beautiful some random guy on the street screams a reminder at me. I'm worried about people who don't have these things in their lives.....

In the Baha'i faith we view all humans as varying flowers in one garden. The diversity adds to the beauty of the garden:

"If the flowers of a garden were all of one color, the effect would be monotonous to the eye; but if the colors are variegated, it is most pleasing and wonderful. The difference in adornment of color and capacity of reflection among the flowers gives the garden its beauty and charm. Therefore, although we are of different individualities, different in ideas and of various fragrances, let us strive like flowers of the same divine garden to live together in harmony. Even though each soul has its own individual perfume and color, all are reflecting the same light, all contributing fragrance to the same breeze which blows through the garden, all continuing to grow in complete harmony and accord. Become as waves of one sea, trees of one forest, growing in the utmost love, agreement and unity." (‘Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 24)

Please be kind with your words:

"The tongue is a smoldering fire, and excess of speech a deadly poison. Material fire consumeth the body, whereas the fire of the tongue devoureth both heart and soul. The force of the former lasteth but for a time, whilst the effects of the latter endureth a century." Baha'u'llah