Love Greek Gods Yogurt!

My favorite foodie find of late has been the Honey flavored Greek Gods yogurt. I can find it at my local HEB or Whole Foods. I buy it by the large container (16 oz). It is great with fresh blueberries, raspberries and cacao nibs or plain. I have to explain that I am not a yogurt lover, but I love this yogurt! I know that I should eat yogurt for health reasons (they say that yogurt helps build stronger bones, enhances immunity, lowers blood pressure, and may even have anticancer and weight-loss effects), but normally couldn't stomach it. Not anymore!!..Greek Gods is thick, creamy and decadent for yogurt!

Just looking at the nutrition side, the sugars are much less in Greek Gods yogurt than traditional yogurt (even light yogurt). I compared it to Yoplait. It looks like the Fig and Honey flavored have the highest of the Greek Gods, but most of their yogurts are lower in sugars.

If you check out their site, they have a lot of recipes, too. Check it out and tell me if you agree or don't. I would love to hear about your favorite yogurt, too!

Sun Harvest Anyone?

We are all looking for ways to save money and eat healthy, right? Well, I feel like I found a secret!

First, I have always loved Whole Foods, Central Market and our local farmers market for fresh, organic produce. However, it is always pricey. The sales are normally okay. But, the sales prices at Whole Foods or Central Market just bring the prices down to level at my local fav-HEB.

The other day, I was leaving a movie with my daughter and saw Sun Harvest...an old grocery that I used to frequent in the mid-90's...Yes, that long the mid-90's. I hadn't stepped foot in one in over 10 years. I stopped going because we moved to the suburbs and just forgot about it because it didn't make much of an impression on me.

Well, it did yesterday!! Wednesday...they have double sale day..meaning they have two overlapping weekly sales going on...just like Whole foods, but better prices. I got blueberries for .99 a carton, red delicious apples for .88, pears for .88, Romaine lettuce .97 and Red leaf lettuce for .77. I am quoting the non-organic fruit and veggie prices, but the organic are good, too. The produce prices are unbelievable. I did check the rest of the store for milk and dry goods. They seem to be in line with most stores. The meat department also has incredible sales, too. But, I didn't try the meat and I don't want to recommend without trying.

I am going to stop in again next week and see how it compares. You also get .05 off if you bring your own bag...just like Whole Foods!

Check it out!!

Summer Mornings at Barton Springs

I have been swimming at Barton Springs in the mornings before 9. It seems that everyone else in the city is doing the same, because it is very busy! There is a whole culture of Barton Springs early morning swimmers. I am amazed at how different it is in the early mornings compared to the afternoons when I take my daughter.

Everyone is so serious and alive with working out in the mornings. Mostly triathletes, runners and older folks swimming with joy. The afternoons are more subdued and relaxed with a little bit of funkiness. In the afternoons, most people are just soaking themselves in the pool trying to cool off.

It is a wonderful jewel that Austin has! no matter what you want to do.

Summer Running

I have not been blogging lately!! I have been injured! and am still recovering! Is it because I turned 40 this year that it takes so long to recover!

I have been injured since the beginning of June! I tripped while running and landed on my knees (but mostly my right knee). I have been running very sporadically and swimming a lot.

I think I am in denial that I am injured! Is this a common thing for runners? Denial of injuries?

Spring running!!

Is it really spring? No, but it sure does feel that way here in Austin!! I am getting the spring bug...that means more training and planning for races. I just ran my favorite annual race- 3M half Marathon in Austin. Normally, (5 years in a row, except this year) I am getting ready to run the Austin Marathon. Not this year! Why...well a few reasons:

1: Ran NY in November
2: Want to do something different, like a 1/2 Iron
3: Just couldn't get motivated!!

So, I am running a few different races this spring and trying to talk myself into training for a 1/2 Iron this summer.

On of the races is the Zooma women's half marathon. I think it looks like a terrific race in Bastrop at the Hyatt Lost Pines. It is beautiful out there! Also, ARC (Austin Runners Club) is doing a sprint running series that starts with the Daisy 5K on February 28th. They are 5K and 10K's that motivate you to keep up your running this spring. One last race to think about, Moe's Better Half this race is getting more popular and has a great reputation. It is by the outlet mall in San Marcos, TX. I have never run it, but have heard good things.

I hope you check out some of these races!!

Decker Challenge

I ran the Decker Challenge 1/2 Marathon today. I ran this race last year (as I have many years before) and had an awful race last year. The race is brutally hilly, always windy and it is either warm and muggy or freezing cold. The weather forecast for 2008 kept looking good - cool 38 degrees and no wind. It really worked out that way, too. I had an awesome fun race and a good running time.

I carpooled with some of my Gazelle friends, Charlotte, Christy and Paula. We had so much fun meeting at 6:45 am to make our trek across Austin to the Expo Center. We all wondered what we were getting ourselves into, but all had fun anyway.

I started my race easy, about a 7:30 pace. I wanted to start at a manageable pace and keep it. I ran an avg of 7:37. So, I was very happy with my pace. The many uphills slowed me down, but the downhills were good to make time on. My total time was 1:40 and I came in 5th in my age group. I was also happy with my placement. There is a very fast,competitive women runners in my 35-39 age group. I rarely place in the top 10!!! My friend Charlotte, got 3rd place in her age group 45-49 and received a cool running shoe medal with wings. A big CONGRATULATIONS to her!

It was a great race!

New York Marathon

Charlotte and I on the Staten Island Ferry!

Well, after going back and forth trying to decide if I was really doing this marathon I did it!!! AND I am SO glad.

I flew up on Saturday morning at 7am with my friend, Charlotte, and flew back at 8pm on Sunday night! Sounds like such a short time, but we had a Blast!!! We met other Austinites running the marathon on the plane to NY and shared a taxi ride to mid-town where we stayed at the Yale Club. It was even fun riding the taxi...there was such an energy in the air. We saw flower and farmer's markets on the streets, pizza shops, china shops, and tons of yellow cabs. We arrived at our hotel after a very short ship from JFK. We then walked over to a little pizza shop and had a couple slices of pizza. We watched the locals hanging out in the pizza joint and enjoyed real NY pizza. We then walked over to the Hyatt to catch a shuttle to the NY Marathon expo. We picked up our race packets and looked around the expo and then headed back to the hotel. We then walked over to meet our friends from the airplane for dinner at Giovanni Ristorante. The meal was tasty but not my favorite from our trip!

We then headed home early (about 7:30) to get ready for the marathon and get to bed. We also watched Texas Tech beat UT. We were so upset!!!

We slept very good and got up at 6:15 for the marathon. Now for the real fun!! We then headed over to Grand Central Station, grabbed coffees and hopped on the subway to the Staten Island Ferry.

Grand Central Station-I couldn't get a good picture of clock!!!

The weather was crisp (37 degrees) and sunny. The ferry ride was beautiful. Here are a few pictures I snapped...

My friend (and neighbor), Amy, who ran a 3:33!!!

The Statue of Liberty from the Staten Island Ferry!Charlotte and I waiting in the runner's village for the marathon to start...Charlotte and Amy , right after we got off shuttle bus. There were so many port-o-potties!

We finally started the race with a smile on my face. Charlotte and I started out together on the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

This is view from the bridge...I ran over to the edge and snapped this!

This is my attempt to take a picture with my sweaty phone on the course. I was running through Williamsburg.

This is me after the race. I know I look hilarious. I was a little embarassed trying to take a picutre of myself!! AGH!!! But, I had a 3:38 finish time, with no goal in mind. I just ran for fun, so I was so excited!!

After the marathon, Charlotte (who had a great finish of 3:47 with only one long run!!!), Amy and I walked through Central Park in a daze after we finished. We were also freezing. I think the high was about 44 degrees.

Amy went back to her hotel. Charlotte and I tried to get on the subway unsuccessfully along with 30,000 other people!!! Charlotte and I then tried to get a taxi with no luck, so I talked her into riding a rickshaw. I had so much fun on the rickshaw, it was so crazy!!!

This is our view from the rickshaw. Our driver was a college student from Istanbul, Turkey.

This is our view of Times Square from the rickshaw.

We then stopped at Starbucks for a coffee and then went back to the hotel and showered! We then went to a Japanese Restaurant called East and had sushi. It was so cheap!!! and good! This was my favorite dinner and my second was the pizza!

This was my favorite marathon by far and I can see why everyone loves New York City. It was so much fun!!