Race Recap: The Bolder Boulder
Hi, did you know I have a huge crush on all of you? Your comments always make me smile, but lately they have been making me extra giddy. Guuush 
Thank you for sharing my blogiversary with me yesterday. Here’s to another year together!
Anyyyyways…
Let’s talk Bolder Boulder shall we?
I can’t call it my absolute favorite race because I just loved my half marathon experience, but the BB is definitely one of the most entertaining and fun races I’ve ever done. I can’t believe I only ran it for the first time last year. But let’s not talk about last year – I finished but with the worst blisters I’ve ever had in my entire life. Never again, Asics. You suck.
I know there are “rules” about pre-race eating, like don’t eat anything you don’t usually eat, but the thing about races is that they start way earlier than I would ever run on a normal day so I usually just chug a Green Monster. Although I love GMs, I realized that’s not sufficient fuelage for a race, so I decided to follow the rule and just eat my normal overnight oats.
Pre-Race Too Damn Early Meal:
I need to start running the BB really slow so my starting time will be after the sun has fully risen.
I was nervous driving into Boulder because the sky looked like this…
And the forecast just said “WINDY.” No picture, just “WINDY.” Greeeeat.
Luckily the wind held off till after the race way over. Phew.
When will I remember to give myself lots of extra time to use the bathroom before a race?
I’ll catch up with you later, F Wave.
Finally made it to the start line with the G wave. After a quick pre-race picture of course.
Reasons why the BB is “America’s All Time Best 10K”
Belly Dancers
Mile 2.5 Marshmallows
Why didn’t I get a picture of the people handing out beer?
Or the games of catch going on between the spectators and the participants?
Or the make shift slip and slide?
You’ll have to use your imaginations.
Running through the streets of Boulder
Oops, I’m a heel striker!
Good thing I have Joey to take pictures for me.
Finishing in Folsom Stadium
10:38 happens to be my lucky time. What, you don’t have a lucky time??
Hanging out (and recovering) in the stadium while people in crazy costumes come running through
Sippin’ on some choco soy milk
Hoping a fierce storm is not about the be unleashed on us…
Oh hey, Chick-fil-a cows.
And lego men.
And Where’s Waldos (crossing the finish line in slow motion).
And man playing an accordion?
Told you it was an entertaining race. People once played leap frog for the entire race!!
What’s your favorite race?
Or if you’re not a racer, what is your favorite event in your town?
Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve been go-go-going for the past 4 days and I’m allowing myself to take the weekend off, so go enjoy yours and I’ll see you all next week
This Day Last Year
I wrote my first official blog post! I say official because I may or may not have been writing posts in Word for a few weeks prior while I tried to get up the courage to create my own blog.
In other words…
Happy One Year Blogiversary to me!
I think I’ve come a long way since that first post, which included horrendous pictures like this…
Good god, how embarrassing.
Things are looking much better (and bigger) nowadays.
Overnight oats in a fancy shmancy glass, topped with granola, coconut butter, peanut butter, almond butter sauce and cranberry/blueberry jam. What can I say, I don’t like having to pick and choose.
As painful as reading over my earliest posts are because of how awful some of the pictures are and how often I just stuck to the “post what you ate today” format, I actually really enjoyed browsing through them. I expected to look back and cringe, but instead a saw a girl full of passion for all things healthy and delicious, who wasn’t afraid to try new things in the kitchen or admit when a run went badly or a recipe turned out to be a flop.
I looked and sounded happy.
And although this year has had it’s fair share of rough patches, all in all, I’m still that happy passionate girl today 
Happy, passionate and did I mention goofy embarrassing?
I’ve stepped outside my comfort zone and tried new foods, found new forms of exercise, opened up to new friends and cultivated relationships with those I already had.
I learned to listen to my body.
I grew out of some of the bad habits I had with food and found a much healthier relationship with it.
I stayed true to myself and didn’t let others get in the way of my happiness, even if that meant staying in on a Friday night.
With tea and cookies, obviously.
But I also allowed myself to indulge.
I think finding a balanced life is always a work in progress, but right now I can say I’m truly happy with the lifestyle I found in this past year.
And more importantly, I’m happy with myself.
Thanks for sharing this big blog milestone with me, friends. I honestly don’t know where I’d be without you all.
P.S. The outpouring of love continues and I thank each and every one of you for your wise words 
Recipe and race review are still coming, I promise!
WIAW: Restaurant Edition
I am elated.
Not only because it’s Wednesday and time for another installment of WIAW, but because you all had the best comments on my last post. Seriously, my heart was all warm and fuzzy after reading your advice or just hearing that I’m not alone in feeling a little lost/pressured. I love you all to the moon and back. <—Do you remember saying that when you were younger? I know I do.
Oh and about that new job. I’m only one day in but in the words of little orphan Annie, “I think I’m gonna like it here.” <—Please say you know what I’m talking about. The people are super nice and patient and I get unlimited free drinks on the job. Feel free to guess where it is 
And no it’s not a bar.
Anyways, let’s get this party started, shall we?
In lieu of my good mood and as a thank you to my fabulous readers I thought it would be fun to give you a restaurant edition of WIAW, which should really be called “What Didn’t I eat Wednesday,” because I assure you a lot of devouring went down on Sunday.
Root Down is a locally owned and operated restaurant in Denver that strives to serve food in the “field to fork” manner. In other words, the food served there is mostly organic, local and natural. My waiter mentioned that 70% of their menu fits the previous description. They also grow a lot of their own herbs in a close-by garden. Cool huh? The atmosphere is a blend between sophisticated and funky. An old gymnasium floor and bathrooms decorated with old scales on the walls are balanced out by crisp white tablecloths and clean and artistic plates of food.
I was so glad the Colorado weather decided to behave so we could sit on the patio. The actual dining room is rather small but it’s the patio you want anyways. I was comfortable in a skirt and short sleeved shirt. Hallelujah, it’s finally Summer!
On Sundays the restaurant offers a 5280 menu, which just means for the flat rate of $52.80 (or $26.40 per person) you can get 3 courses and can usually have a few choices to pick from in the appetizer, entrée and dessert categories. Denver’s elevation is 5,280 feet above sea level, hence the random price. Half of our party opted to participate in the 5280. The regular menu offers a bunch of small plates (tapa/appetizer size) so you can order a bunch and taste a little of everything. Joey and I decided to order from that menu.
So what’d we get?
“Devils on Horseback” — Date and Goat Cheese Stuffed Peppadews, wrapped in Serrano Ham, Smoked Paprika-Sherry Gastrique
I know you’re wondering what a peppadew is. It’s a cross between a tomato and a pepper. There will be a quiz at the end of this post.
These were great! A little spicy for me, but I’m also a huge spice baby. Flavors were spot on.
Seared Colombian Arepas — Mozzarella, Poblano-Pistachio Pesto, Achiote Crema & Pico de Gallo
Holy cheesy goodness.
Organic Roasted Red Beet Gnocchi — Big B’s Apple Cider Reduction, Marcona Almonds, Iberico Cheese, Spinach, Organic Blueberries & Micro Rainbow Greens
I don’t know who you are, Big B but thank you for this dish. Beet gnocchi is officially on my “to make” list. Although the regular old golden beets may have been even better than the gnocchi.
This plate gets an A+ for visual appeal.
Maple Leaf Farms Hoisin Duck Confit Slider — House Made Lemon Creme Fraiche, Fried Sweet Potato Garnish, Organic Arugula & Udi’s Challah Bun
I like to think of myself as adventurous when it comes to food, but duck is just out of my realm of comfort. Joey ordered this one and didn’t like the sliders at all. In other words, I don’t regret not trying it. His Dad happily traded him a piece of chicken for a slider so all was not lost. I guess you just have to be into duck.
If you’re wondering what a sweet potato garnish looks like, here ya go.
Veggie Burger Sliders — Tomato Jam, Sprout Salad, Organic Sweet Potato Fries,Udi’s Challah Bun & Curry-Lime Sauce
Veggie burgers and sweet potato fries are way more my thang.
I wish I knew exactly what was in these burgers. I could see broccoli and carrot pieces in there and some kind of grain. Joey said “we’ve made better,” and while I agree that the texture of the burger was a little too much like the bun, I thought the tomato jam and sprout salad were both really delicious and unique.
Don’t even get me started on the sweet potato fries. Loved!
Also unique was the curry-lime dipping sauce. It was fluorescent!!
By the time the sliders came I was pretty full so a good bit of it came home with me. I’ll know to order less next time!
However, there’s always room for dessert. Am I the only one with a separate stomach for dessert? I might be part cow.
Nutella Crepes
Pretty self-explanatory. This one must have been special because it’s not on the normal menu. Joey looooved it.
And the dish I came for…
Udi’s Croissant Bread Pudding — Leopold’s Whiskey-Butter Sauce & Sour Cream Ice Cream
Gah, so good. I practically squealed when I saw the words “Udi’s croissant” and “bread pudding” all in the same sentence.
Good, but not this good.
I left one full girl. The happy kind of full, though and it was oh-so-worth it.
I had a few criticisms. The timing was a little weird with the way things came out at different speeds, I’m not sure if that was planned or not, but ultimately I think Root Down has a good thing going and I can’t ignore their food/restaurant philosophy. Good, local, deliciously creative food in a funky, fun and sophisticated atmosphere.
Verdict: I can’t wait to go back! Good thing my birthday is coming up.
What was the best thing you ate today?
Oh and what’s a peppadew? Told you there’d be a quiz
Lauren Loves Good Food 