I began this Friday like last Friday with a pancake breakfast before working through the morning and taking Sadie for a lunchtime run.
I’ve been taking the time to drive about five minutes away from our house and run in a new area and it makes such a difference. When Ryan and I were training for the Savannah Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon, we did all of our long training runs inside of our neighborhood. We meandered in and out of various cul-de-sacs which got to be a little mind-numbing after a while. At least I had Ryan to keep me entertained!
Without a person to talk to on my long runs, driving a short distance to find a new running route gives me new things to look at and invigorates my run. I’ll do whatever it takes!
Today’s run started out on a rather annoying foot. I wore a pair of black spandex capris that I found tucked away in the back of a drawer. (Our washing machine bit the dust a couple of weeks ago and we have yet to purchase a new one, so some throwback clothes are coming out of hibernation this week.) I now know why the capris were relegated to the back of the drawer… They have issues staying up. Yikes.
Less than a mile into my run, I thought about turning around and heading home to change but decided to roll up the legs of the capris and turn them into some funky looking shorts. (Maybe I should call them my shants? <—Modern Family, anyone?)
I hiked them up as high as I could and finished my run feeling a bit like Steve Urkel.
“Did I do thaaat?”
Sadie and I finished 11 miles in 1 hour and 38 minutes (8:57 minute mile pace). I was pretty psyched to have my average pace per mile be less than nine minutes and arrived home feeling rather pumped until Sadie schooled me by running laps around our house and bringing me a ball to try to coerce me into a game of fetch.
Having a vizsla as a running buddy is a very humbling experience! While 11 miles may be no biggie for this little lady, I plan to park my butt on the couch when I’m done working for the day and not move an inch until bedtime.
Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie
Once we were back at home, I made myself a strawberry cheesecake smoothie.
Oh gosh, it was good. The perfect post-run treat!
Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie
Print
Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Category: lunch, recipes
- Cuisine: lunch
Description
A delicious, filling smoothie – perfect for breakfast or a snack.
Ingredients
- 1.5 frozen bananas
- ¾ cup frozen strawberries
- 3 wedges Laughing Cow Light Strawberries & Cream cream cheese
- ¾ cup Silk Pure Almond Unsweetened Vanilla
- 1 6-ounce container vanilla Greek yogurt
Instructions
Combine all ingredients into the blender and blend to desired consistency.
Notes
I added graham cracker crumbs on top, to give it a little crunch!
Gotta love the graham cracker crumbs on top!
I hope you guys are having a great Friday out there and enjoy a fun and relaxing weekend!
Disclosure: This post is part of a sponsored campaign with Silk and Fitfluential, LLC. All opinions expressed are my own. Learn more about Silk Pure Almond Unsweetened on Facebook and Twitter.
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That smoothie looks so good! I haven’t made any smoothies all winter because it just feels wrong, but I’ve been craving them lately. This one would be great to use up the Laughing Cow cream cheese in my fridge!
Oh gosh…I’ve done the same thing with capris that wouldn’t stay up and it was so irritating. I was literally having to hold them on the entire run….:( Looking forward to seeing what books we’ll be voting for, for next month!
once the capris are washed, they will be given away! it was not a fun way to run! and we’ll be voting on the book for january tomorrow!
wait. huh? OMG! ohhh YESSS. Gimme dat smoothie concoction!!
this looks sooo good!! Can I ask what kind of blender you use? I have 2 gifts to return to Bed Bath and Beyond and I’m debating whether to bite the bullet on a vita-mix! Also looking at the ninja and the blendtec…
VitaMix all the way!!! Best investment we’ve made in our kitchen!!! Blends up a smoothie like nobody’s business! (and other things! like soup, grains, grated cheese…)
I cannot believe Sadie has that much energy, it’s crazy! 11 miles is a LOT! And I’m sending a link to your smoothie recipes to my little brother, he asked for some good smoothie recipes since he just got a blender!
I had that problem Monday, except it was with the tights I was wearing underneath my pants while running. It was cold, and I wanted to have an extra layer. But the tights kept slipping which caused under garments to slip. I was a mess, thank heavens for the pants remaining in place or it would have been a really interesting run. =)
I am very impressed with the sub 9-minute pace, especially for an 11 mile run! This smoothie recipe looks SO good, but I need to think of a way to vegan-ize it because my body doesn’t really get along with dairy. I’ll let you know if I come up with something good. Thanks for posting it!
yes, please keep me posted!
I’ll be posting the vegan recipe on my blog tomorrow–I’ll let you know when it’s posted!
Hey Pooja..I avoid dairy also, and I have veganized smoothis similar before. Have you tried So Delicious Greek Style Coconut Milk Yogurt? It would be an awesome replacement for the greek yogurt, and 2 T silken tofu mixed with 1 T Tofutti dairy free cream cheese would be a good creamy sub for the laughing cow!
Ashlee, thank you so much for the suggestions! I’ve been using almond milk yogurt by Amande for smoothies/overnight oats, which I’ve really liked, but I haven’t tried the one you mentioned. I will have to check that out! Also, have you ever tried the Tofutti cream cheese? I’ve never had it and I’m slightly skeptical as to what it would taste like. Thanks again!
I have had the Tofutti brand before! I’ve never eaten it alone but I’ve made cheesecakes multiple times, cheese with pepper jelly to dip crackers into, cream cheese pureed with sweet jalapenos for a chip dip, and a few other things. Its been quite awhile since I’ve had the real deal, but it tasted just like I remember! Just make sure you buy the non-hydrogenated one 😉
Well great! I feel less apprehensive to try it now! : )
I’m lactose intolerant and Tofutti is great! You can’t tell the difference at all. DEFINITELY TRY IT. Ask my cheese loving boyfriend 😀
Thank you for the help! I purchased my first tub of Tofutti today, thanks to you two!
Your story is SO funny because I’ve been driving about 5 mins from my house and running in our historic district, which makes a HUGE difference. The last time I did it, I wore some old running capris and was annoyed the WHOLE time pulling them up over and over. Ha!
LOVE the smoothie idea. I’m in desperate need of some new smoothie ideas!
That smoothie sounds delicious! Definitely going to be trying this recipe out!
MMM! That smoothie sounds delish! I have yet to find the sweet Laughing Cow wedges any where though! I don’t think swiss would taste quite as good 🙂
That’s cool that you’re venturing out for your runs now. I live in an apartment so all my runs mean I have to venture out unless I want to run along a very busy street in the city. Are you running a park somewhere or just a different neightborhood? It’s weird to run somewhere new but nice at the same time. It can get so boring.
I never would have though of putting cream cheese in a smoothie. That sounds so good. Oh and goodness – congrats on your pace! That’s awesome! I dream of being there someday!
Great job on your 11 miler! Man, nothing can wear out that Sadie of yours, huh? 😉 The smoothie sounds delicious, but I think it’ll keep it in my archives until it warms up a bit. It’s in the negatives today – yuck!
Fantastic job tackling that run!! I know exactly what you mean when your clothes or hair or whatever isn’t right for a run…ugh it can be so annoying! I hate it when my hair elastic isn’t strong enough and my hair keeps falling out.
Urkel!! This post is hysterical! I’ve been there! In the wisdom of urkel…did I dooooo thaaaattt?? Lol! Quick question..do you have any knowledge about the ocala half marathon coming up? I’m thinking of doing it…
11 miles?! I’m sitll at 2! Oh well, workin’ my way up. Couple years ago, I could barely go half a mile without walking. Sadie just seems to be the bees knees, I love reading about her!
Great job on your long run! So nice that your pace was spot on since long runs are a time to slow down, you and Sadie were rolling. So impressed by Sadie’s stamina! Cooper joined me for 4 frigid ones this AM-and he was good & will likely nap the rest of the day. Vizlas > Goldens on long runs!! 🙂
Well done on the run! You’re banging out the miles no bother!!! Smoothie looks and sounds DIVINE!!!
I love the Modern Family refrence!! My boyfriend and I actually dressed up as Claire and Phil for halloween last year. We drew inspiration from the Clive Bixby episode. 🙂 Also, you are so lucky to have Sadie to run with, especially with all of her energy. She must be a major motivator for ya!
Congrats on your run time! That’s great! I just started my half marathon training and I always take my Weimaraner with me. I know he is going to be psyched for the long runs!
OMG I never knew that Laughing cow made strawberry cream cheese!!!! I need to look at my grocery store for that! I’m totally making that shake sometime soon, it looks delicious. I love smoothies for breakfast.
Glad you had a great long run! Getting speedy 🙂 have a great weekend!
Julie, I am loving your blog! I am a personal trainer and health nut, oh and mother of two small girls! You remind me of me–7 years ago!
Anyway, I can’t wait to make the strawberry cheesecake smoothie, almond pancakes and roasted cauliflower!! I have also been enjoying your workouts! As a trainer sometimes it’s nice to get fresh ideas from others!
Too funny…. I had the same problem with my spandex Capri’s today.. I ended up tying my sweater tightly around my waist which helped.. I am new to your blog and just wanted to tell you I love it! Keep up the good work.
Driving somewhere else is such a good idea! I’ve been getting so sick of the same 7-10 mile variations on the same loop every day. Maybe I should try that!! And I hateeee when my spandex fall down. I don’t wear them very often because of that but in the winter I don’t really have much choice given where I live.
I’ve had to switch to running capris that have a tie on the waist. I had the pants-falling-down moment during the summer and could barely handle it for 4 miles–kudos for making it through 11!
Sadie thought “Things are looking up with mom. Let the games begin! Come on, come on…. ”
🙂
This sounds amazing!
I’ve been running my half mile neighborhood loop forever. It got old many years ago but I still run it since it takes the least amount of effort–ha! I always joke that the people around the block are wondering who this spaz is who’s been running the neighborhood for two hours. Tomorrow, hubby and I are hitting a nearby paved trail for our last long run (10 miles). I figure the new scenery will help ease the pain.
That Strawberry Cheesecake smoothie looks delicious. I can’t wait to share the recipe with my class.
I’m slightly jealous that Sadie willingly goes on runs with you! Let alone 11 miles! Some days we can’t even get our English bulldog puppy, Tortuga, to go for a walk. Seriously, we don’t even make it out of the driveway! She’s a stubborn little thing.
http://instagram.com/tortugabulldog
(no blog, but here’s her instagram–yes, we have an instagram for our dog.)
I have also grabbed clothes from my dresser and realized too late why they weren’t in my regular rotation. It definitely distracts from a workout!
Does Sadie chew up all her tennis balls or is the one in the photo just well loved? One of my labs, Angel, chews up all the tennis balls I get! She still plays with them afterwards but usually throws them away haha.
Ah to have a dog to run with! I’m jealous!
Great job on the 11 mile run!! I think that is amazing!!! I am SO not a runner & that just “wows” me that you can do that… and that Sadie can too! 🙂
I have a vizsla for a running partner too & she sprints around our backyard when we arrive home from any run, whether it was 3 miles or 10. Haha – I’ve had the flu so we haven’t ran in a week & last night she jumped off the bed & started sprinting around the room like a crazy dog. My boyfriend rolled over & said if I’m not better soon, he’s going to start running her.
I absolutely hate when my running pants do that!! I have had some Urkel moments as well because I never want to turn around and go home to change 😉 That smoothie looks delicious. I love graham cracker crumbs on top of ice cream.
I just found your blog and I have to say… I had a blueberry spinach smoothie today and yours sounds A LOT better than mine!!! LOL 🙂 ..even tough it was good, I don’t think anything could top strawberry cheesecake after a workout! 🙂
I have to say your running capri story reminds of the same experience I had with A pair of long running tights sadly there was no rolling them up I just had to keep yanking them up for the entire run;)
Average pace under 9 minutes? That’s awesome! I’ve been struggling on long runs lately. I wish I could do under 9!
my dog would never last that Long. she has good endurance!!
I love all of the inventive ways that I have seen people use the Laughing Cow cheese wedges. Here is yet another great recipe that utilizes them! 🙂
I’m amazed at how much energy Sadie has!! Its great that you guys are so fit and can get her the exercise that she wants/needs. Hope you can get a new washer soon!!
-AJ
FitTravelerAJ.blogspot.com
Man I could really have a taste for that smoothies right now!
That smoothie looks delicious! I agree that a weird fitting pair of shorts or pants can make a run feel horrible and make you want to quit right then. Good job sticking through it
I’ve tried cottage cheese in a smoothie and loved it…adding cream cheese sounds pretty genius :)!
First things first… That smoothie sounds to die for! 🙂
Secondly, I think I need some advice. When you and Ryan first got Sadie, how did you guys keep up with your workout routines? I know she runs with you now, but did she always? I’m facing some challenges with keeping my routine ever since I got my new pup and would love any advice you might have (or anyone has!) to offer. I wrote a post here- http://kaylyngelhar.blogspot.com/2013/01/selfish.html?m=1 and would love to hear your thoughts.
Thanks Julie!! 🙂 Happy Saturday!!
Awesome job on your run! I’m going to steal your idea and drive a bit for my run today. I have running tights that fall down all the time… I wear shorts over them now and that helps keep them up!
That smoothie sounds out of this world! For sure pinning it for future use. And congrats on your long run! I am so lucky to have had a boyfriend on mine for the past couple of races…but I think I have to go one alone. I’m super intimidated by talking to myself for miles and miles! 😉
Julie,
This Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie is UNREAL!! I just whipped one up in the ninja and filled my to-go cup. I also saved a little for an “ice cream like treat” later in the day. Thanks so much for posting. Sometimes you’re just in the mood for something delicious, and this totally hit the spot! Also, I start my long runs for an upcoming half marathon tomorrow ( it is March 17th in New Bedford , Ma). I follow Higdon’s plan so we start with low mileage, but I am getting amped up! Thanks for posting about your recent 11 miler. It definitely helped build some excitement. Happy weekend!
Jeanie
Dang speedy!!! So awesome!