This morning something amazing happened. After hitting the gym for a 45 minute elliptical + 15 minute bike session, I wasn’t sure what to have for breakfast. I wanted oatmeal but it’s warm outside (and incredibly warm in the apartment) and the ship had sailed on overnight oats. I also didn’t want cereal or a yogurt mess. What was I to do?
Well, after opening up my fridge and cupboards and staring in them aimlessly, I reached for the cookie butter jar and found it was nearly practically almost empty!
I figured it was a sign that I was in fact going to have oatmeal for breakfast, so I whipped up a serving using 1/2 cup oats, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup almond milk, 1/3 scoop protein powder, 1 tsp chia seeds, 1 small banana, 1/2 chopped medjool date, and cinnamon.
Poured gently into the cookie butter jar and served with TJ’s gluten-free granola.
It was amazing. SO amazing that I kind of want to go buy a new jar right now and eat it all just so I can have this breakfast again tomorrow!
Also, here’s an interesting article on pacing from Runner’s World. They suggest that runners ditch their Garmins and learn to pace themselves by effort and feel. Thoughts?
Hmm, running without tracking pace seems like a good thing and a bad thing. I personally run on the treadmill where I can manually adjust my own speed, which I worry might a) limit me but b) push me not to take an easy pace. Then again, I recently realized that running on the treadmill had me running about 1.5 mph slower than my natural pace was, so maybe training ourselves to stay at one specific pace may not be working with our natural running abilities. Maybe I should hit the pavement more often without a pace tracker!
I run slower on the treadmill too! Maybe it has something to do with keeping a consistent pace over x many miles rather than letting our body run faster and slower naturally (but still evening out to a faster pace)? I’m not sure though!
When I get back out there I’m hoping to incorporate some Garmin-less recovery runs into my program where I run at an easy pace and am forced to listen to my body. It’s going to be a hard adjustment!
I agree about the Garmin! I actually tend to run faster when I simply listen to my body. I think sometimes my Garmin holds me back!!!
I could see that, especially if you’re constantly fidgeting with it or stopping to check your pace!
YUM! bring me some tomorrow morning, thanks!
I read that too I thought it was pretty interesting. I however would be all over the place with pacing so it wouldn’t work for me.
i think running Garmin-less has it’s place, like recovery runs. I could never imagine going out for a long training run without one!
This looks amazing!!! I have been trying to find that cookie butter at Trader Joe’s but I think it’s out of stock. I’ve seen a similar tasting biscoff spread at the grocery store though.
I really hope it’s not out of stock at my TJ’s, I was hoping to buy another jar this weekend!
i was at trader joes yesterday and i looked and looked for the cookie butter but could’t find it
I can pace myself with regards to the “don’t push too hard yet” and “time to up the pace”, but sticking to actual numbers would be pretty difficult.
I could never keep exact numbers but I do have a decent idea when I’m running “fast” versus “slow”. I don’t know if I could ever get to the point where I would know I was running an exact 7:45 min/mile.
Also, I keep hearing that about the cookie butter! Noooo… I need another jar
That cookie butter has gotten SO MUCH TALK no just throughout blogland, but all over the internet!! I gotta give this a try…
(And THANK YOU!- You’ll see why!)
P.S. giving you a shout out on my latest blog post, so keep your eyes peeled!
I’m not one to follow blog trends just for the sake of it… but cookie butter is GOOD!!
Ooooh, I’ll definitely watch out and thank you
Love OIAJ! That peanut butter sounds amazing, too.
That’s an interesting article..but how would the runner know whether or not they’re actually pacing themselves if not wearing a Garmin? I understand listening to your body and knowing how hard you’re working because of how it feels..but it feels different every single day. Not to mention the environment, route, time or day, weather…there’s a lot that plays into it. I’ll stick with my Garmin!
Hah you’re right, it does feel different every day, especially when you’re training for a race and changing your distance and speed with every run. There are definitely days when my legs feel heavy and I feel like I’m barely moving but when I look down at my Garmin I’m running a good pace.
I read that article in the recent issue and thought it was really interesting. I ran for years without a Garmin (finally got one for Christmas this year) and I definitely have a pretty good “feel” for what certain paces feel like. I can tap into a 9:15 min pace pretty easily without checking my Garmin every few minutes. But that “feel” definitely changes from time to time (especially if I’m tired, my legs are sore, if there’s wind/hills). Electronics are great, but sometimes it’s nice to just run! Definitely going to try doing that more once I’m finished training for a race.
I was late coming into the Garmin world as well. I actually ran my first marathon without a watch at all and held pretty steady splits! I definitely train differently for races (and run them differently) with my Garmin than I used to but sometimes it can be so nice to go for a run without worrying about my splits!
Ummm, YUM!!!!!!!!!!!! And thanks for sharing the article- I’m going to email it to a few runner friends.
No problem
Every time I go to TJ’s they are out of cookie butter! I love making oats in a pb jar, and can only imagine how great this would be! PS: I’ve never owned a fancy Garmin, and when I lost my digital watch (from Target) about a year ago, I never replaced it. I’ve found that I enjoy running so much more when I’m not focused on hitting splits or running a certain distance.
I keep hearing TJ’s is out of cookie butter, this is not okay!!
And I agree, running without a watch can be a lot more fun than when you’re constantly fidgeting or playing with your watch.
I’ve been trying to pace myself without my Garmin lately. Ironically I read the RW article the night after having a great run without looking at my Garmin once. I still use my Garmin but I’m trying to get more in tune with how my body feels at certain paces. I also ditch my Garmin just to run to have fun and be a kid again!
Cookie Butter? I’ve got to find some of that asap!
I try not to look at my Garmin when I’m out running but it’s SO hard! I need to start adding more Garmin-less runs into my schedule!
MUST.FIND.COOKIE.BUTTER.NOW!
Please do, it’s SOO good!!
Cookie butter? How have I not heard of this??
In terms of pacing…I do think it’s good to be in touch with how your body feels rather than relying on what exact pace you’re going. What I have actually found to be the most helpful (although it is still relying on “technology”) is a heart rate monitor. From wearing it during training runs, I have a sense of what heart rate I can maintain for a long period of time and what heart rate range will leave me out of wind in a few miles. When it’s race day and I have adrenaline pumping, it gives me objective feedback as to how hard I’m pushing myself.
I have a heart rate monitor but I’ve never tried it (it looked like so much work). When I have some time post-Boston and post-graduation, I’ll give it a shot. I often wonder what my heart rate is like during runs and I’ve been wondering it even more now that I’m using ellipticals and stationary bikes that have automatic monitors.
ooo never had cookie butter…sounds dangerous!
It’s so good! It tastes like biscoff cookies with a little gingerbread
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