Raspberry Power Smoothie Recipe

super smoothie pic
As soon as I get home from a tough, early morning workout I walk directly to the kitchen and make two things as quickly as possible – hot coffee and a cold smoothie. This power couple helps get me going after an exhausting class and ensures that by the time I sit down at my desk upstairs, I’m energized for a great day.

There are a few key ingredients in this smoothie and 99% of the smoothies I whip up each morning:

  • Protein powder
  • Chia seeds – These little seeds add Omega-3s, fiber, protein and antioxidants to your smoothie.
  • Ground flax seed – This ground seed is a good source of Omega-3s, fiber and essential fatty acids while adding a rich, nutty flavor.
  • Acai powder – This acai powder captures all the benefits of the super fruit but in the easy to use powder form.
  • Superfruit antioxidant mix – Just a teaspoon provides you with 40% of your Vitamin A for the day!
  • Xanthan Gum  – This powder is a simple way to thicken your smoothie and a 1/2 teaspoon is only 15 calories but 4 grams of fiber!

These ingredients are what I call lean, mean fighting machines. They add flavor, density and nutrients to the smoothie without adding unnecessary sugar and calories. Regardless the flavor smoothie I make, these are part of the recipe 99% of the time. If you haven’t tried Vega’s Sport Performance Protein Powder then you are seriously missing out.  Each scoop is 150 calories but packs in 30 grams of protein and 6 grams of BCAAs, making this the perfect base for your post-workout smoothie.  Even though it is a thick, healthy powder it blends smoother than most protein powders we have used previously and it is completely plant based and soy free!

After enjoying the same smoothie four times in one week, I knew it was too delicious not to share with you guys. This pink power house is filled with protein, fiber, vitamins and nutrients to help keep you satiated all morning long while also helping rebuild those tired muscles. It’s made with simple, healthy ingredients and the refreshing flavor will keep you cool all Summer long.

Raspberry Power Smoothie

Here’s what you’ll need for this bowl or glass of goodness, depending on whether you like to sip or spoon your breakfast.

Raspberry Super Smoothie

  • 1/2 scoop Vanilla Vega Sport Performance Protein Powder
  • 1 frozen banana, cut into chunks
  • 1/2 cup raspberries
  • 1/2 cup of unsweetened almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon ground flax seed
  • 1/2 tablespoon chia seeds
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon Super Fruit Antioxidant Smoothie Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon Xanthan Gum
  • 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon Acai powder

Optional Topping

  • unsweetened coconut flakes
  • goji berries
  • drizzled almond butter  (Trader Joe’s Creamy is my favorite!)
  • sprinkle of your favorite granola (I love Purely Elizabeth and Blissful Eats)

Directions

  1. Combine all ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.
  2. Pour into bowl or cup then top with the optional toppings.

Your turn: What’s your favorite smoothie combination?

This is not a sponsored post but does contain affiliate links to some of my favorite products. 

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Instagram Fashion: April 2016

Insta Fashion April“Where can I buy that shirt? Who makes those shoes? Those tights are awesome, who makes them?” 

It’s time for this month’s edition of Instagram Fashion workout gear round up! This month I mixed things up a bit by sharing items beyond workout gear. April’s weather was far different than I expected – chilly and rainy, which therefore limited the amount of fun, new workout gear I could wear. The forecast for the next few days is warm and sunny so I’m sure that May will bring the beginning of Summer’s heat and humidity.

  1. An athleisure moto jacket that combines fashion with the technical details you’d expect from an athletic brand sounds too good to be true, right? This New Balance Shadow jacket is a favorite of mine as I dash home after a sweaty workout since it’s breathable and made of sweat-wicking material. Anytime I wear the moto jacket people are in shock when they hear it is New Balance.
  2. Is there a more fun combination than stripes and pom-pom details on a shirt? I love pairing this navy and white striped top with jeans or white shorts for a casual, yet fun weekend look. Since buying it last month I’ve worn it five times AND bought it for two friends. It’s on super sale right now, so snag it before they sell out.
  3. I’ve worn this outfit combination a few times this month as it’s perfect for the transitional weather. The Sweaty Betty Zero Gravity tights are lightweight while still providing compression and fun details, while the Brooks Ghost tank is so light I forget I’m wearing it. While I’ll probably not use the tights for Summer workouts, this tank will be a staple for the next few months as I run through the heat and humidity.
  4. I wore this same outfit on three different flights this month as it is comfortable and keeps me warm during chilly flights. The Patagonia Nano Puff  is compact and lightweight so you can easily stuff it into your suitcase if you don’t need it.  Available in 30 different color combination, the Brooks Chariot Heritage shoe is a great everyday shoe that provides great foot support while still being fun and colorful. Last but not least, the Timex Ironman Sleek 150 is a great update to their classic sports watch, allowing me to keep track of time and my workouts with a pop of neon.
  5. There is no question about it, the Brooks LSD Running Jacket was my single favorite item of clothing in April! It’s available in 7 different colors but I love pairing the neon yellow with solid crops or shorts for wet or windy runs.
  6. I wore this vibrant, flattering Jill Stuart dress to a beach wedding down in Avalon last month and loved it so much that I was tempted to buy it after my great Rent the Runway experience. The fun open back and high neck flattered my shoulders and back, two areas I love to highlight.
  7. As soon as I saw this tank in Target I knew I had to buy it! This fun, flowy and inspirational muscle tank has been the perfect top for barre classes and HIIT classes alike since it has side vents and is lightweight.
  8. I’ve owned this Athleta bikini (top and bottom) for four years and it is constantly my favorite for everything from laying out to riding the waves.  The halter top is adjustable and has removable cups – making it a great option for those of us who want just a little bit of padding.

Your turn: What was your favorite item of clothing last month? 

Disclaimer: This post is not sponsored and instead is a list of the things of my favorite things this week. As normal, it includes lots of beauty and fashion items which means there are a few affiliate links via ShopStyle. It takes time and money to maintain a blog so I thank you for the support and few cents that come from clicking through the links!

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Flying Pig Half Marathon Recap

Yesterday I had the opportunity to my twentieth half marathon with my friend, Amy, who also ran my first half marathon with me nine years ago!

Flying Pig finishers
The Flying Pig Half Marathon has been on my race list for years. Many of my Procter & Gamble co-workers run or even pace this race each year since it takes place in Cincinnati, where our company is based.  This is the cities primary race and therefore locals passionately support the race through volunteering, spectating and running. Now that I’ve finally experienced the Flying Pig Half Marathon, I understand the hype.

Amy and I chose to run this half marathon together with no goals other than enjoying every mile. We each have a lot of pressure and demands going on outside of running these days and therefore have taken a step back from trying to set personal records during half marathons and instead focusing on the fun that can be had when two best friends spend 13.1 miles running together.

We set out our race gear Saturday night, unsure what Sunday morning would bring. The forecasters projected a wet weekend, including temps in the mid 50’s and rain during the race. We made a last minute Brooks purchase on Wednesday to ensure we’d have the necessary gear in case it rained.

Flying Pig race outfit

Race gear included: Lululemon Energy Sports Bra, Brooks Launch 3 shoes, Pro Compression Socks, Nike Tempo Shorts, Brooks Drift Jacket, Brooks Steady Short Sleeve Shirt, Brooks Sherpa hat and lots and lots of Glide

When we woke up bright and early Sunday morning we heard the rain drizzling. While we ate our typical pre-race peanut butter and banana toast we decided on a game plan for our race outfit.  Since it was raining we decided we’d play it safe and wear our rain gear, deciding we could always tie the jacket around our waist if the rain held off or we got too warm.

Flying Pig starting line views

There was no traffic heading from Madeira to downtown Cincinnati so we were able to easily find parking in a deck downtown by 5:45. As P&G employees we were able to quickly go into the downtown offices in order to use the bathroom one more time before heading down to the start. Since more than 40,000 people were signed up to run the half marathon and full marathon we knew that there would most likely be long lines for the bathrooms around the start. The walk to the starting line was about a mile, a perfect way to warm up our legs before the race.

Flying Pig pre race

We found our starting corral “Pig Pen C” and easily slid in just as the national anthem finished. Less than a minute later, at exactly 6:30 the elites crossed the starting line. I couldn’t help laughing as I looked around our corral as there were at least 50 people, men and women alike, dressed up as pigs. Lots of people ran in all pink, similar to us, but added pig tails, pig ears and even pig noses! It was such a sight to see! Due to the multiple “pens” we actually crossed just two minutes later, unheard of for a large race like this. As you can tell from the below picture, we are nerds who like to match when we run together. It makes it far easier to keep track of each other and the people cheering seem to love it too!

Flying Pig ready to run

Throughout the half marathon, there were multiple things that surprised me along the course and helped me understand why people rave about this race. The first mile brought the first delight – no bottlenecking! The entire course is very wideso there was no bottlenecking, a welcome change from many races I run back in New York.

The second mile brought the first of many delights – a water station and bathroom at EVERY single mile. I have never seen so many water and Gatorade stations in a race, even Summer races. Due to the wide course the stations never got in the way and runners could easily run to one side of the road to avoid them. The volunteers at these stations were so friendly, offering support in addition to the water.  While we never stopped to use the bathroom, we both noticed that there were never more than 2-3 people in line for the bathrooms due to their frequency – another nice change from most races.

Flying Pig half marathon elevation

The first few miles of the race were a gradual incline with the only noticeable inclines being the bridge we crossed over the Ohio River, leading us into Kentucky and then the bridge we took back into Ohio a few miles later. At the second mile marker Amy and I realized that we’d made a bad choice in wearing both a hat and waterproof running jacket as we were sweating buckets. The sun was shining and the temperature quickly rose from 55 to 69 by mile 2. We tied the jackets around our waist for the rest of the race – a first for me.  Anytime we walked through a water station I would use the opportunity to tighten the jacket since it was constantly slipping down my hips. Oh well, live and learn.

The third thing that impressed me with this race was the level of crowd support. In many half marathons, there are clumps of crowds but rarely are the crowds throughout the entire race course. Whether it was the outskirts of Cincinnati or through the Kentucky miles, there were people everywhere! My favorite group of supporters were the elderly who cheered outside of their nursing home. Their signs were hilarious!

nursing home cheer squad

After crossing back into Ohio and downtown Cincinnati, mile five was filled with spectators as well as the anticipation leading into the arduous climb that would meet us beginning at mile 5.5.  During the mile 5 water station I took the opportunity to stretch my left hamstring and glute in preparation for the hills.

Flying pig downtown

The next few miles were the prettiest of the course as we climbed through Mt. Adams towards the Cincinnati Art Museum and Eden Park. I knew that we would be rewarded at the top with gorgeous views so instead of focusing on the incline we just chatted our way to the top enjoying the spectators and reminding each other how lucky we are to have each other as running partners who have run multiple races together in different states over the years. up the hill

Flying half marathon views

gorgeous views

The rest of the race is downhill as the course leads you back down towards Cincinnati. There were constant spectators and high school bands including a fun balloon arch across the course with the local football players and cheerleaders cheering. There were also a few groups giving out orange slices and Twizzlers! During the final few miles I definitely started to slow the pace a little bit due to some nagging in my left glute and hamstring. Unfortunately the constant foam rolling, stretching and deep tissue massage didn’t solve the issue so the last thing I wanted to do was injure myself during the race.  We both were also feeling a bit of fatigue in our legs since neither of us logged very many long runs over the past few weeks so miles 10-13 included jamming to our Spotify playlist and high fiving all the kids.

Flying Pig medal

Finally, we turned back to towards the waterfront area for the final dash to the finish line. We crossed the finish line in 2:15:17. While this is 15 minutes off my PR time, it is around what we expected since we ran for fun, conquered some crazy hills, enjoyed the sights, and talked throughout the race. It was a very different experience, and great reminder about the joy of running. Many other races, where I’ve targeted a specific goal, are a blur as I’m so focused on pace and conserving energy.  If you are looking for a new Spring half marathon to add to your schedule next year, the Flying Pig Marathon race weekend includes a race for everyone – 5k, 10k, half marathon, and marathon distances. Even though it is a hilly race, if you can spend the winter months focusing on hill training, this is definitely a race where many of my co-workers have PR’d or even BQ’d during this race!

Your turn: What race is on your wish list for 2016 and beyond? 

Thank you to the Flying Pig Marathon for providing a complimentary bib to this race. While I was provided a complimentary bib, the reviews are entirely my own.

 

 

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