Mint Julep Smoothie - Inspired by our trip to Disneyland

Week 7 of Boston Marathon training and guess what? Some major set backs. First off, I have had this nagging pain in my left shin which came about after doing some strength work. I’ve never had shin splints, shin pain, or shin anything, so this came as a huge surprise me. Like most runners, I continued to run on it, telling myself it was just muscle soreness until the pain began to radiate up my leg. So now we are on day three of no running. Sigh.

Last Friday I went to the doctor for routine blood work and I found out my thyroid was very low, and I was already taking 100 mg. of Synthroid, so something is way off. When the doctor asked me if I was tired, I said, “I don’t think so….no.” “I’m running 40-50 miles a week, have three small children, three pets, a part time job, getting only 4 hours of sleep a night, and family to take care of, me tired?… not me”

Does anyone else feel this way? Am I tired because my life is a constant rush? I have become so accustom to this pace it feels normal?

As soon as he mentioned my thyroid was low, I felt tired, injured, and went home to take a nap. I wish he’s never said anything, ha! He did, however, prescribe a new thyroid medicine in addition to my Synthroid and I am hoping to feel normal here in a few weeks. A few set backs, but all things I can change, so feeling grateful.

Speaking of grateful, last week we took the kids to Disneyland for the first time. We had saved up for several years to be there, so I wanted them to experience all of the magic. We dined at the Blue Bayou for lunch. Do you know this restaurant? It’s the one located inside the ride at Pirates of the Caribbean. My Step Mother had taken me there as a child and I never forgot how you felt like you were really dining at night on the bayou. I also never forgot the Mint Julep, which is basically lemonade, mint, and Sprite with some garnish- perhaps some green food color. My kids were equally as delighted when they ordered their unusual turquoise green beverages. Disney really is magical, even the Sprite.

When we got home, I was almost as charmed as the kids when I saw that a package from Sun Warrior had arrived. If you are not familiar with their protein, let me tell you a few things. This 100% vegan Protein is made in the USA and is one of the cleanest proteins out there. I dare you to compare it to others. Not only is it full of clean ingredients, it also has a complete Amino Acid Profile, essential for rebuilding muscle after a tough workout. I hadn’t seen that in other proteins and was very impressed because I generally take an Amino Acid supplement– this prevents me having to take that extra step and expense.

So the taste… let’s talk about the flavor. I mixed it straight up with water, just to see. It wasn’t the best or worst I’ve tasted, but the pure ingredients and Amino Acids are what sold me. Plus, I rarely just drink protein and water– I usually mix it into a smoothie, and when you do this it tastes great.

I have also been using the activated Sprouted Barley. Although I am sidelined right now, the few runs I tried using this seemed to give me a long, sustained type of energy. This is essential to me during these 40-50 mile training weeks and even more essential on race day.

The third product I tried was the Raw Organic Ormus Supergreens. I can’t say that these make me feel like superwoman, but I know my body needs greens and it’s very convenient to add a tablespoon or two into my smoothie.

Having the right nutrition is very high on my priorities. There is nothing worse than crashing at the end of a marathon, and part of preventing that is having the right nutrients in your body long before you run your race. I was sent SunWarrior at no cost and asked to write a review, but I assure you I will continue to purchase their products and use them as I prepare for Boston and Mountains 2 Beach.

One thing you need to remember when selecting proteins, is that they are not all created equal. Some are full of ingredients you can’t pronounce and added fillers. I no longer use whey because it upsets my stomach and triggers migraines, so this vegan protein with it’s very complete list of ingredients works for me personally. I know many athletes who would agree that SunWarrior is right up there with the best.

Since we were at Disneyland and enjoyed the Mint Juleps so much, I thought I might give a Mint Julep Smoothie a try. The ingredients are surprisingly refreshing and delicious. This is great pre- or post- workout. The fresh mint and tart pineapple after a long run is the best.. I hope you enjoy!