Trail Running, I Am!

Yes, I’m channeling my inner Yoda. Little Guy’s been getting into Star Wars lately. Every week we watch a new episode for our Sensational Sunday picnic.

Anyway, I’m writing real quick to share my latest running adventures. Today I ran Kelly’s Dream run, a 3.5 mile trail race, and 2 weeks ago I ran the Patuxent River Trail 10K.

Trail running is new for me. I’v been running for 4 years now, finishing my first ever 5k event in June 2008. I’ve run dozens of 5ks since, a 10 miler, a few halves and even a marathon.

I can’t deny it anymore, I AM a runner.

Although, I’m not the kind of runner who cares much about speed or winning or going insane distances. I’m more into it for the experience. I like the energy at events and being part of a something bigger than me. I like setting a goal and achieving it, the challenge of it. In a weird way, I like knowing I can do it and proud that I am.

I think trail running is even more rewarding than road running. Sure, I’m a little slower and it’s way more challenging but there’s something very exciting about it. I don’t want or need music, I like navigating the terrain, it’s so refreshing and rejuvenating.

Today I ran 5k of VERY hilly trails in 44:09 that’s 12:37 a mile. Some of the hills where so steep in both directions, I couldn’t help but stop and walk.

Two weeks ago I ran the Patuxent River Trail 10K (just over 6 miles) in 1:12:36 which I think is about 12 minutes a mile. It wasn’t as hilly but there were a few inclines that slowed me down. Here are some shots thanks to Quantico Orienteering

It may be 4 years since I started this running journey but I still find it unbelievable. I am doing things I never thought I could do. Especially after what people have told me in the past.

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Clif Mojo All Natural Trail Mix Bars (Mountain Mix) Review

Over the weekend, I bought quite a few nutrition bars to review and to update past reviews. As I browsed the MANY varieties, I decided to pick up a few all natural bars, including Clif Mojo Mountain Mix Bars. It's said to be made up of 70% organic ingredients, low glycemic, and is described as a, "deliciously sweet & salty snack dedicated to getting out there and mixing things up."

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 1 bar (45 grams)
Calories: 190
Total Fat: 9 grams, 14%
Saturated Fat: 1.5 grams, 8%
Sodium: 200 mg, 8%
Carbohydrates: 21 grams
Fiber: 2 grams, 8%
Sugars: 12 grams
Protein: 8 grams

I really don't get the appeal of the "sweet AND savory" taste. This bar is 99% sweet - with an entire top layer of chocolate chips, lots of nuts & raisins all held together in a soy rice crisp matrix held together by brown rice syrup - which is the first ingredients. It lulled me into forgetting about the "salty" aspect of the description, until BAM - it feels like someone threw a random grain of salt in the mix - and I wasn't really thrilled. After that, the salty undertones was a little more noticeable. I do like this bar though - it's crunchy and the nuts that are really the star of the show. Forget about the raisins, because it was like they didn't exist since although I could see them, they didn't show up in the taste (other than contributing to the sweetness) or the texture.

Each 45 gram Clif Mojo Mountain Mix Bars provides 190 calories from 9 grams of total fat (14% of the daily value), 1.5 grams of which is saturated (8% of the DV), 200 mg sodium (8% of the DV) 12 grams of sugars, 2 grams of fiber (8% of the DV) and 8 grams of protein.

I bought this bar for $1.19, but I'm on the fence about whether or not I would buy it again since it's a little too sweet for my tastes, but I do like the fact that it does use all natural ingredients. I much prefer Gnu Foods Espresso Chip Flavor & Fiber Bar (Review), which provides 140 calories, 4 grams of total fat, 4 grams of protein, 12 grams of dietary fiber (48% of the DV) and 8 grams of sugar.

Have you tried Clif Mojo Bars yet - what did you think?

{Website: Clif Bar}

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EatStrong Trail Mix Review

Eat Strong Trail Mix is billed as "Real food in a snack." Each pouch, which I was sent for review, has an "energy-fueled" mix of walnuts, cashews, pistachios, almonds plus sunflower seeds, flax & organic chocolate drops. On the front of the packaging, it also says "All natural ingredients, no additives."

NUTRITION FACTS
Serving Size: 45 grams
Calories: 260
Total Fat: 18 grams, 28%
Saturated Fat: 3 grams, 15%
Sodium: 15 mg, 1%
Carbohydrates: 17 grams
Fiber: 5 grams, 20%
Sugar: 6 grams
Protein: 7 grams

One thing to note is that the entire thing tastes unsalted ... salt of the Earth type deal. It's fresh, and you can clearly see the ingredients. I really enjoyed this, and it's really perfect for going on a long hike because it has a good mixture of sugars, protein & fats - maybe a little too much fat though from the hunka cashews & other nuts.

A 45 gram pouch of EatStrong Trail Mix provides 260 calories, 18 grams of total fat, 3 grams of which is saturated fat (28% and 15% of the daily value), 7 grams of protein, 6 grams of sugars and 5 grams of fiber (20% of the daily value).

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As mentioned before, the ingredients are all natural, but curiously they are absent from the pouch. This led me to believe that the nuts, seeds & chocolate were the only ingredients - but since the chocolate drops look like M&M's with a yellow or red coating, I knew there had to be more to it. After I inquired, I found out the ingredients for the "Sun Drops Original Chocolate Candies" are, Center - dried cane juice and unsulphured molasses, whole milk powder, cocoa butter, unsweetened chocolate, soy lecithin [a non-GMO emulsifier], pure natural vanilla. And the Shell - dried cane juice, whole rice solids, beet juice color, beta carotene color and caramel color, vegetable and beeswax, pure food glaze [without sugar].

EatStrong Trail Mix is available online at $2.50 per pack, but this snack is a little too high in fat for me to consume regularly ... but then again, that's why I don't eat nuts too often, or peanut butter for that matter. And I don't care for unsalted nuts. For many though, this might not be an issue, especially if you take this on the "trail" with you.

How do you like your nuts - salted or unsalted?

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