5K + Pina Colada Smoothie
I've definitely got a case of the Mondays, friends. I had one of those nights where I woke up around 3:30 and felt wide awake until about 5:00. AM. I was so frustrated because I felt tired all evening! Time to face the day despite my lack of sleep last night!
In better, more accomplished, motivational news, I ran a 5K yesterday! It was fantastic. I love the group support during races and when it's all for a good cause, how can you not feel inspired? Along with some of our friends, I ran the race with Shaun, my sister Kimberly and her boyfriend Nick. It was a cold, but beautiful morning! Here we all are post-race:
Don't you feel so accomplished after finished a race? The last race I ran was the Corporate Challenge through Central Park almost 2 years ago. It felt great to get back in the action!
Meanwhile, this weekend I concocted a new smoothie. You've already heard me proclaim my love for a bright, refreshing, healthy smoothie, which I usually make with a ripe banana and a handful of baby spinach (of which the spinach taste is completely undetected, I promise). On Saturday, I was really craving warmth, sun and sand, so I created a new smoothie of the pina colada persuasion. Intrigued?
Pina Colada Smoothie
1/2 C unsweetened almond milk
1/2 C coconut water (such as Zico)
1/2 C crushed pineapple
1 tbsp honey
2 tbsp shredded coconut (optional, for added coconut flavor)
splash vanilla extract
Blend all ingredients together. I use a giant glass measuring cup for a one stop measure, mixer and pourer. Serve over ice.
This smoothie is a bit thinner than one made with banana. I didn't mind. However, you could also add spinach to it for thickening and added nutrition. I did add some spinach into it, but wanted to photograph it for you au natural since it was so pretty.
I'm guessing you could also add a few scoops of pumpkin for thickening without changing the flavor too drastically. Oh and to pulverize that shredded coconut, you're really going to need to blend the heck out of it! I'm thinking that coconut extract would also do the trick. This smoothie is so summery and refreshing that I'm really dreaming about it on this 27 degree morning. In fact, it reminds me of being here...
which makes me happy.
So there you have it. Yet another way to mix up a fantastically delicious {and healthy} smoothie. So what do you think? Have you ever gone outside the box with smoothies? Do you ever have sleeping issues, as I did last night?
Psst...the Book Club page was updated today!
8 Comments | March 28, 2011 | Share Article | Email Article | tagged races, smoothie | in Recipes Print Article | Permalink
Reader Comments (8)
ugh i didn't sleep well either! it's so annoying and i stress about how tired i'm going to be and then i sleep even less!
Run a 10K next time and you will not have any problems falling asleep.
Congrats again! I usually have the hardest time sleeping on Sunday nights! Maybe I'm just caught up on my sleep or dreading the week starting the next day, but I usually get the least sleep of the whole week on Sundays! Hope you can catch up on it tonight!
mmm I'm loving this smoothie recipe! I definitely have a case of the mondays!
I would love this smoothie - esp after a run! I have trouble staying asleep sometimes. Something about me starts to just wake up around 2-3 a.m. and then I eventually go back to bed.
i've been having the hardest time falling asleep-and then of course getting up! I get stuck on the same ol' smoothies all the time. I find what I like and stick with it.
Great on the race! I love the feeling of finishing---it's so great.
I'm a smoothie nut---I actually do smoothie workshops, so there's some crazy things that go on in my blender when I'm trying to come up with new ideas! It's fun---and sometimes they're gross, but other times they're totally awesome!
::high five:: we both ran 5Ks this weekend! Don't you feel GREAT! Good job lovely!