Scaredy Cat

I am easily scared, and I’ve been a scaredy cat on my runs lately!


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Since I run in the pitch dark at 5:30 in the morning, it is easy to get scared!

Most of the time I am not too jumpy, but this week I’ve been easily scared by:

– a car horn beeping and car randomly starting up (A lot of people in Alaska have automatic starts for their cars, so it always throws me off when I don’t see anyone walk out to their car–or sitting in their car–when the engine randomly starts up.)

– a piece of garbage being blown down the street by the wind (I heard something coming up behind me, only to realize it was a piece of garbage!)

– my shadow! (Yes, my shadow scared the begeezes out of me the other day!)

Today’s run:

Distance: 5 miles

Time: 45 minutes

Weather: 30* F

Notes: I did a track workout Wednesday after work (4 x 400 meters, 4 x 200 meters ~ total of 4 miles with warm-up and cool-down) and then spent 30 minutes lifting weights at the gym, so I was a little slow-going this morning. However, it was all about putting my mind over the matter!

My right IT band did hurt a little at first, but once it warmed up I was better. (I’m worried it is going to get worse though. πŸ˜• )

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I have no desire to document everything I eat, but I do enjoy sharing new foods I’ve tried.

I liked this Barbara’s Shredded Oats Cereal, and I appreciate that it didn’t taste like cardboard (which a lot of my cereals have been tasting like lately).

This cereal tasted similar to Quaker Oatmeal Squares—just not as sweet. I think I’d have to pick my beloved Oatmeal Squares over these shredded oats as far as the taste, but then again the Oatmeal Squares include some fake ingredients.


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For breakfast this morning I had my “I-know-I’m-not-going-to-have-time-to-make-breakfast” breakfast: overnight oats.


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These aren’t new, but I added a new protein powder to the mix.

This is Tera’s Whey pomegranate cranberry goat whey protein! I didn’t even know they made something like this!

I love that this company is based out of Wisconsin and supports small family farms in the area with their products.


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I also added the protein powder to a smoothie I made on Tuesday morning.

I liked the idea of the pomegranate cranberry flavoring in the protein powder, but I was not a fan of the overall taste of the powder. I think some of it had to do with the stevia added to it. I can always taste stevia (or other fake sugars) when they are in various products.

Unfortunately I don’t think I would ever purchase this product in the future.


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I never liked dried bananas as a kid, but my aunt introduced me to these banana chips from Trader Joe’s and I was in love!

I don’t know what it is about these (the coconut oil?), but I love snacking on these after school.


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The nutrition stats aren’t the greatest though.

Especially the saturated fat! πŸ™


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I like Luna bars but sometimes all the flavors taste kind of the same to me. I wouldn’t say I love Luna bars, but I really liked this one!

I would definitely buy this flavor again!


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Question

What recent food have you tried that you either really liked or really disliked?

Hi, I'm Michelle

I love running around the lakes of Minnesota, running after my two boys, and racing anything from the 5K to the marathon. I have been blogging here since 2010 when I ran my first marathon. I finally secured my sub-3 hour marathon after trying for 8 years.

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20 Comments

  1. 10.21.11
    mary said:

    Do you own a headlamp to wear when running in the early morning? Might help make you a little less jumpy.

    • 10.21.11
      Michelle said:

      I wore a headlamp a couple times this week, but I thought it would help more than it did. It wasn’t as bright as I thought it would be.

  2. 10.21.11
    mary said:

    Do you own a headlamp to wear when running in the early morning? Might help make you a little less jumpy.

    • 10.21.11
      Michelle said:

      I wore a headlamp a couple times this week, but I thought it would help more than it did. It wasn’t as bright as I thought it would be.

  3. 10.21.11
    Cara said:

    My husband,Peter, and I like Ancient Grains. We get it at Costco. Tasty, crunchy, and versatile; Peter eats it as cereal with milk, I eat it on top of my Fage Greek yogurt.

    • 10.21.11
      Michelle said:

      We actually have that kind of cereal in our cupboard as well!

  4. 10.21.11
    Cara said:

    My husband,Peter, and I like Ancient Grains. We get it at Costco. Tasty, crunchy, and versatile; Peter eats it as cereal with milk, I eat it on top of my Fage Greek yogurt.

    • 10.21.11
      Michelle said:

      We actually have that kind of cereal in our cupboard as well!

  5. 10.21.11
    Kim said:

    So there are some “real foodies” that say both coconut oil and stevia aren’t bad. Personally, I like the coconut oil (although that’s exactly where the crazy %DV of fat comes from!) and can take or leave the stevia (I think aspartame is disgusting, but the stevia is just a little too different from real sugar for my taste).

    I recently made apricot-millet muffins and had never had millet before- it’s awesome! I like the crunch it adds.

    Stevia article: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2011/09/22/a-sweet-sweet-summer-what-are-the-facts-on-stevia/
    Coconut oil and other fat article: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2011/01/24/monday-mission-refocus-on-healthy-fats/

    • 10.21.11
      Michelle said:

      Interesting! Thanks for sharing!

      I do not like aspartame either. Stevia is better, but I can still taste it and don’t think it is as good as regular sugar.

  6. 10.21.11
    Kim said:

    So there are some “real foodies” that say both coconut oil and stevia aren’t bad. Personally, I like the coconut oil (although that’s exactly where the crazy %DV of fat comes from!) and can take or leave the stevia (I think aspartame is disgusting, but the stevia is just a little too different from real sugar for my taste).

    I recently made apricot-millet muffins and had never had millet before- it’s awesome! I like the crunch it adds.

    Stevia article: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2011/09/22/a-sweet-sweet-summer-what-are-the-facts-on-stevia/
    Coconut oil and other fat article: http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2011/01/24/monday-mission-refocus-on-healthy-fats/

    • 10.21.11
      Michelle said:

      Interesting! Thanks for sharing!

      I do not like aspartame either. Stevia is better, but I can still taste it and don’t think it is as good as regular sugar.

  7. 10.21.11

    You are SO not a scaredy cat if you’re running THAT early in the morning. It is DARK. It’s good that you are aware. I find it hard to go at 7pm when it’s fairly dark. It just doesn’t feel safe, and this is NOT the safest country in the world, sadly.

    I recently tried oatmeal with banana slices over the top, along with caramelized apple pieces and, cinnamon, and raisins. Yummm!

    • 10.21.11
      Michelle said:

      The toppings “make” the bowl of oatmeal!

  8. 10.21.11

    You are SO not a scaredy cat if you’re running THAT early in the morning. It is DARK. It’s good that you are aware. I find it hard to go at 7pm when it’s fairly dark. It just doesn’t feel safe, and this is NOT the safest country in the world, sadly.

    I recently tried oatmeal with banana slices over the top, along with caramelized apple pieces and, cinnamon, and raisins. Yummm!

    • 10.21.11
      Michelle said:

      The toppings “make” the bowl of oatmeal!

      • 10.21.11

        Yummy! I will have to make those overnight oats. I still haven’t felt like I’ve had the time to put it together the night before. But I can definitely see how that would be easier in the morning! I will try it soon! I love oatmeal with honey and peanut butter on top. I have been eating that for breakfast every morning during the work week.

        I run in the dark in the a.m. too so I know how that is. I try to run in my complex that is lit up and then when the sun peeks out I run in the neighborhood when the kids are heading to school so it’s lots of folks out around that time. Maybe get some jogger’s mase would help ease your nerves a bit? & wear bright clothing. Or just run around with a bat in your hand…lol

        • 10.23.11
          Michelle said:

          You can also make “15” or “30 minute” oats–just stir everything together in the morning and let it sit for a while, it turns out pretty much the same.

          Most of the neighborhoods that I run through are fairly well lit; there are just some areas that are kind of dark.

  9. 10.21.11
    Krissie J said:

    I only just started eating brussel sprouts about two months ago (I know, lame) and now I am hooked! I crave them on the regular. πŸ™‚

  10. 10.21.11
    Candace said:

    I never liked tomatoes until my dad started growing them, and now I add them to a lot of dishes.