Run Wild Adventures~Buck Mountain Mudslinger Trail Run 2016

Jerry and I, getting ready to run!

Saturday February 27th was my 4th time running Buck Mountain Mudslinger.  It's a race I know I can't run very fast, but going up over that mountain in the mud is somehow a great time! This year was more muddy than last year.  We had lots of rainfall in the 24 hours leading up to the race.  








My husband Jerry loves trail races, I love road races, but I am always up for a Run Wild Adventure Event.  They are very challenging and loads of fun.

It was the most beautiful weather I have ever seen at this race. High 40's with a light mist.  I call this perfect race weather!  We started just after 9:00 am at Howard Creek Horse Camp.  Entry fee was $25.00 or $40, day of race.  I always pre-register for the better price.  It often will fill up before race day too.  It would be a shame to miss out! 

Our climb! 

As we ran to the left onto the trail head, I was preparing for mud!  In past years I have seen snow out on this course, but it was too warm for that today! I started closer to the front this year.  I didn't want to get boxed in. It is possible to pass people on this trail, but can be tricky at times.



We started up the mountain and soon the familiar "burn" of trying to run up Buck Mountain hit!  It was extra muddy, so trying to keep from slipping and falling was a challenge.  I had to walk some of it! But as I looked around, everyone around me was taking walk breaks as well!  It was steep!!! 

The course is 6.5 miles long, with lots of up hill.  We where nearly at 4 miles before we got to really start cruising down.  There was a "bonus" sneaker hill just before the end too! Not bad compared to the last hill we had just gone up.  This course was MUDDY, and absolutely beautiful.  It was fun, I did slip several times, but I never fell down!  

I really wanted to win a boot medal

Prize table 

I ended this year with a 3 minute PR. It was unexpected with it being muddier this year. Starting near the front helped.  Also seeing that they were giving out age group winners a cowby boot medal, really kept me moving!  I really wanted to win a boot medal!  

Jerry had already come in when I got to the finish line.  I was feeling really good, but really hungry!  We went to the food table and got some chili and Great Harvest Bread. I didn't care for the chili this year, but the bread was perfect! 

Our friends, Tim, Jerrilynn, and Britt

We found some people we knew and chatted while waiting for awards and prizes to be given out.  They gave away a number of things in the drawing.  Things like new shoes, socks, shirts, beer and coffee.  It gets everyone excited.  I didn't win anything in the drawing but I was so happy to find out I did win 2nd in my age group, a cowboy boot medal winner!!!!

This is a race I'm sure I'll do again next year.  I loved being able to represent My Soxy Feet as an ambassador.  They have fun athletic socks you can check out and purchase here.  You can save 10% off with code "GET SOXY"

Follow me on facebook at ZaoFit here. I would love to hear your story! 

"Protein Brownies"

I am often looking and trying a new recipe.  Sometimes I find one I like so much I decide to share it with the world! So here you have it, "Healthy Brownies" and YES, this is exciting! 

First I will share with you the original recipe, then my morphed recipe, inspired by the original.  By the way, both are excellent!   Both are worth making and trying!

"Chocolate Peanut Butter Swirl Pumpkin Protein Brownies"

2 cups oat flour (I simply put oatmeal in my blender, no need to buy oat flour, it's easy to make)

1/4 cup unsweetened baking cocoa powder

2 scoops chocolate whey protein

3 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp himalayan salt

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup egg whites or two egg whites

1 28 oz can pure pumpkin, raw

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or nuts of choice (I used raw almonds, chopped up)

1/4 cup natural peanut butter (crunchy or smooth)

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 x 13 baking pan with nonstick spray.  (I used two bread pans).

Combine all ingredients except the peanut butter.  Mix well.  Spread the batter in the dish(s).  Drop spoonfuls of peanut butter onto top of the brownie mixture.  Take a knife, and swirl the peanut butter around in the brownie batter.

Place in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, or until done.

Makes 10 bars or servings.  Per Bar 212 Calories, 19 grams Carbs, 10 grams Fat, 14 grams Protein, 3 grams Sugar, 4 grams Fiber

I made these again today, and after I started, I realized I was out of cocoa, so this is what I came up with! 

"Peanut Butter Protein Muffins"

 2 cups oat flour (I simply put oatmeal in my blender, no need to buy oat flour, it's easy to make)

1/4 cup peanut butter powder (can buy at Win-Co or Wal Mart)

2 scoops vanilla whey protein

3 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp himalayan salt

1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

1/4 cup egg whites or two egg whites

1 15 oz can pure pumpkin, raw

1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk

1/4 to 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

1/4 cup natural peanut butter (I used smooth)

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a muffin pan with non stick spray or add muffin liners.

Combine all ingredients except the peanut butter.  Mix well.  Spread the batter in the muffin pan.  Drop spoonfuls of peanut butter onto top of the brownie mixture.  Take a knife, and swirl the peanut butter around in the brownie batter.

Place in the oven and bake for 20 minutes, or until done.

   I like these so much, I will be making them and using them for breakfast, a after workout snack, or a snack on the run! They will freeze easily so I will always make extra so they last longer! ENJOY!

Find me on facebook at ZaoFit HERE!

Follow Ubertons on facebook here!  Home of The Oregon Marathon and the Oregon Half Marathon Series

For 10% off at My Soxy Feet , use coupon code GETSOXY.  You can also find My Soxy Feet on facebook here!

Luckython Preview ~ March 12, 2016

~ Register for Luckython 5k, 10k, 15k, or Kidathon  HERE! ~

Some friends who joined me for Luckython a couple years ago! 

For the last three years, my husband and I have had a special St. Patrick's Day weekend.  We start with the Uberthons Luckython and end it with Shamrock in Portland.  Today I want to tell you about what goes on at Ubertons Luckython! 

Erika and I showing off our Uberthons swag '15

Luckython is held every year at The Reserve Golf Club in Aloha, OR.  The race is ran on the paved path that weaves in and out of the golf course.  The Reserve closes down half of the golf course, just for the runners.  No need to be worried about getting hit with a golf ball or ran over by a golf cart!  It's a very safe, off road course.  This is my favorite 5k every year.  I'm thinking about running the 10k for '16. 

Race day is Saturday March 12th. 

Race time: 8:00 am and 9:00 am

Potato bar opens at 8:30 am

Kidathon and kids mile run is at 10:00 am

Kids Race!  So fun to watch! 

What to expect at the race! 


~All asphalt or concrete off road path
 ~Potato bar for all participants

~Awesome belt-buckle medals
~Music
~Cool flags and banners
~Plenty of water
~Lots of GREEN
~Tons of FUN

Luckython offers a 5k, 10k, 15k, 15k relay, Kids timed mile and Kidathon.

It's the year of the Belt-buckle medal! 

Prices:

5k: $30.00

10k:  $35.00

15k: $40.00

15k Relay (3 people teams): $30.00 per person

Kids timed mile: $10.00

Kidathon 1/4-1/2 non-timed fun race: FREE

All races include a finishers medal with registration expect the Kidathon.  You may purchase your child a medal for $10.00

Hope you can join me for this super fun St. Patrick's event!

~ Register and get more information HERE! ~

Find Uberthons on facebook here!

Find The Oregon Marathon (part of Uberthons) here!

Find Uberthons on Instagram here!

Follow me on facebook at ZaoFit here! 

Don't forget, Uberthons has some really cool running shirts, socks and scarves for sale at every race!

  

Uberthons Winter Half ~ Oregon Half Marathon Series ~ Race Review

~~~ Register for the Series HERE! ~~~

Saturday January 23rd was the first race of the 2016 Oregon Half Marathon Series, the Uberthons Winter Half! 

It's the year of the Belt Buckle!

The Winter Half took place at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club in Aloha, OR.

Registration Prices:

Half Marathon $75 (limited to 350 people)

The awesome Winter Half shirt!

Quarter Marathon $45 (limited to 80 people)
5k $38 (limited to 70 people)

All races were open to runners and walkers (3.5 hour limit)

Register for the Oregon Half Marathon Series and save $50.00. You will also get lots of VIP treatment at all of the races...check that out here!

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Saturday morning was a little chilly, but not bad for "Oregon Winter!"  Low 40's with a light mist.  I call that, perfect running weather!

Our race director Darwin!

 Darwin did a great job starting the race with a staggered start.  I started at the end of the first group.  I was worried about feeling blocked in since we were on a golf course, but I didn't feel blocked in at all. There was plenty of

 room.  We ran the South and North sides of the golf course.  Some small rollers with plenty of flat spots on a nice paved path that twisted through the golf course.  As I ran along I saw a few people I knew and talked to them.  As we got in a few miles you could see other runners all over the golf course because of the twists and turns.  It was a beautiful neon rainbow of runners!

The halfway point and the finish line!

It began to rain pretty hard!  We ran the course two time for the half marathon.  The first time around there were a few large puddles that were pretty easy to avoid.  I ran through the starting line to start my second loop and looked up at my halfway time and was pleasantly surprised. I haven't done any heavy training for several months so I wasn't sure how today would go!

My friend Ruth!

This time around I was expecting it to be pretty boring, but it wasn't.  I found myself just counting down the last six miles and enjoying the group I was running with.  Often for the second half of a half marathon, there are spots of loneliness.  Not today, there was always a runner by me.  It made the time tick away faster!  The puddles had grown, as the rain had picked up a lot!  It got to the point of just stomping through the puddles because it didn't matter anymore.  We were all soaked! At mile 12, there was a huge puddle!  I jumped right in...lol!  It wasn't that bad, but it was a big puddle!  I came around the the finish and was pleased with my time.  I managed 1st in my age group and got to run with some really awesome people!

I changed into some dry clothes and joined my husband and daughter for hot soup and rolls in the finish tent!  Uberthons had a couple nice tall heaters to warm up by and plenty of covered seating.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the Uberthons Half Series! Don't miss out, check them out today! Would love to meet you at the next Uberthons event!

My husband Jerry!  2nd in age group, 2nd masters finisher! 

Check out Uberthons here.
Find Uberthons on facebook here
 and Oregon Half Marathon Series here.
Follow Uberthons on Instagram here.

Follow me at ZaoFit, I would love to hear your running story!

The Roaring Run 5k, 10k and Half Marathon Race Preview 2016

~~~REGISTER HERE!~~~

I am excited to run my 2nd race of 2016 this coming Saturday, February 6th. The Roaring Run Half in Scio, OR. 

This will be my 2nd time running this event!  Last year I ran this race and loved it!  Feel free to read my 2015 race review and recap here!

The course is a large loop out on country roads.  It's about as flat as you can get in Oregon! It's a very affordable race with a great atmosphere afterwards.  A nice warm fire and a hot potato bar!  There will be age group winners and other random prizes (drawings) given out at 11:00 after the race. You don't want to miss out on this one! 

You can register on line though February 4th here.  You can also show up , the morning of the race and register for any race (excluding the early start half) by 8:30 am.

Prices are now as follows:
5k: $40.00
10k: $45.00
Half: $50.00
Ages 7-18 any event: $30.00 


Starting times:
Early start half (must be registered by Feb. 4th) 8:30 am
Regular half: 9:00 am
10k: 9:30 am
5k: 10:00 am
Awards: 11:00 am

Race will start and end at Roaring River County Park in Scio, OR 97355

Any questions can be answered by the race directior, Brad Bauer at info@santiamrunning.com

Use coupon code: GETSOXY over at  My Soxy Feet
for 10% off your next sock purchase! 

Follow me at ZaoFit, I would love to hear your story!!! ~Julie