Anne the Vegan

Survival Guide for Marathon Training

I’ve written a variety of posts about training for a race of this magnitude, and I figured it was time to put them all in one place so you can easily find the relevant information on my blog! I’ll be updating throughout the season as I add new information.

Find your Why

First, you must find your why. Do you want to challenge yourself? Are you looking for a giant goal to provide some focus in your life? Did your best friend twist your arm? Do you want to ring in your 40’s in a monumental way? Whatever your purpose is, reading The Power of the Marathon might inspire you to tackle this distance.

Stay safe

It’s important to keep some general guidelines in mind when you are running. I wrote the Rules of the Road: Running Edition during the height of the pandemic as more people were taking to the streets for exercise, but the rules still apply! I also offer some gear advice, which leads me to…

Choose and care for your gear

I’ve written articles on how to select the best running shorts and pants, how to get rid of that disgusting slime that builds up in your hydration belt bottles, and the reason why I currently run in Hokas! I also think it’s important to build a relationship with your local running store, since your shoes are the most important part of your gear!

Get Electrolit

If you want to feel better on your long runs, you need to stay properly hydrated, but still replace electrolytes. I share some information about that here.

Avoid rookie mistakes

Your fellow marathoners have made numerous terrible choices in their training. Don’t repeat their mistakes! Take these tips for newbies and run with them! (Pun intended.)

The Long Run is painful

As the miles ramp up, your body adapts, but it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t hurt! Here are some tips on enduring the pain of the long run.

Take care of your feet

They are your most important body part in running! I give you some ways to give your feet some TLC so they will thank you later.

Cross training is important!

Mixing up your workouts is key to helping to prevent injuries. I love adding single leg exercises, squats, and cycling into my routine. I also have some guidance on managing IT band issues.

Don’t forget to stretch!

Part one of my flexibility series talks about the why of stretching and foam rolling, and when it’s best to do which. Part two discusses dynamic stretching to prepare for your run. I will update this topic further as my stretching series continues!

Taper Madness

Yup. This is real. As your miles cycle down so you can build your glycogen stores, you may begin to feel restless with all that extra time on your hands!

After the Race

The phenomenon of post marathon blues is really a thing. I’m comforted by the fact that I’m not the only one who has documented this occurrence. If you are feeling a bit off emotionally after finishing a marathon, you are in good company.

I hope you find this helpful! I will be adding more information on my blog in the coming months about running, so please subscribe to my blog so you don’t miss anything! Happy running!

If you are tackling a marathon, or even half marathon distance this year, I’d love to hear about it! It looks like we will actually get to run some in person fall races in 2021! Crossing my fingers… As always, I hope you are safe and healthy.

*I offer this advice as a courtesy, and bear no responsibility for injuries incurred if you take my advice. Please consult your doctor if injured.*

Quantum Energy Squares Review!

After publishing my recent blog post about vegan protein bars, Quantum Energy Squares reached out to me about their products, asking if I wanted to try them! I’m so grateful that they sent me a sample pack!

Here’s the rundown on the nutrition of these bars:

10g plant based protein from peas and pumpkin seeds
100mg caffeine from green coffee to enhance performance and focus
Simple and complex carbs to fuel your workout
Healthy fats to balance the macros
Gluten-free, soy-free, and vegan
Made with real food
Four chocolatey flavors!

For me, these are really more practical as a pre-workout bar, with the caffeine equivalent to one cup of coffee. Quantum promises that their squares will sustain your workout without making you crash. So, I took one for a test run!

If you read my protein bar review, you may have guessed that I tried the peanut butter dark chocolate flavor first! It reminds me a lot of a regular Larabar texture wise, but I like the flavor better. Comparing ingredients and nutrition to the Larabar protein version, they are similar, with the Quantum bar lower in sugar at 11g vs. 18g for the Larabar, but similar protein content. I’ll have to try the protein Larabar for a true comparison. The biggest difference seems to be the boost of caffeine.

If you read my post last summer about caffeine and supplements, you might remember that I’m definitely the kind of person who requires their morning cup of coffee to jump start my day, but I also can’t have any coffee after noon, or else I won’t sleep at night! So I was expecting a significant kick from this bar. I did feel it, but I wasn’t overwhelmed by it. I simply felt nourished and energized for my run. The zip was big enough that I wouldn’t stack this bar with another caffeinated product during a long run, like caffeinated Nuun or gels. But, hey, if you’re a “drink a pot of coffee a day” kind of person, this amount of caffeine probably won’t affect you as much!

Because of the caffeine, I personally would not use this for post-run recovery fuel, even though the type of caffeine used in this product can help speed recovery per the information on the website. But it’s enough of the stimulant that I may not be able to take a well earned nap after a super long run!

How will I use these? I will definitely take one with me on a double digit run once marathon training is in full swing to see how bites of this will help keep me fueled during these efforts, because sometimes I get tired of essentially eating candy on a run. My body starts to ask for real food! It will replace the one caffeinated item I typically take with me on these super long runs. And it will also work as a pre-run snack if I’m running a major race and have a bit of rest time between arriving at the start and beginning the race. I would also pair these with a banana as a general pre-run breakfast, especially if I don’t have access to coffee!

What do I like about this bar? It’s vegan! It tastes good! Like, really good. It has real, clean ingredients. There is a mix of simple and more complex carbs. Low in fiber, so it makes it practical for long run fuel. The company is small and independent. And they are the official energy bar of Ironman in the US as well as the Rock’n’ Roll running series!

These are definitely worth trying, especially if you have allergies to gluten and soy, and if you are the type who really benefits from a caffeine kick! They do offer several buying options directly from their website, including the sample pack like the one I received, and they are offering free shipping right now. Or you can simply pick some up at your nearest Whole Foods or a variety pack on Amazon!

Have you tried Quantum Energy Squares? I’d love to hear about your experience if you have! As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

Marathon Running: A Simulation

Marathon training season for fall races is nearly upon us. The first weekend in June is always met with a mix of excitement and fear. I get to see my team, the Pink Nation! My running will have a definite purpose. I get to usher in a new generation of marathoners as a coach (that’s one of the best parts!) I will settle into a routine that comforts me, despite the fact that each new mileage jump, especially as we transition into double digits, brings a special type of anxiety. Yes, even though I’ve run 8 marathons. And I get another chance to chase a PR. I think that’s the part that is the most intimidating.

As gyms reopen and more people feel better about interacting with the real world armed with an immune system that has been taught to fight Covid, I am gradually getting back into weightlifting. The other day, I chose to do a few back squats. Pre-pandemic, I had reached a meager 140lb 1 rep max, so I felt relatively comfortable trying for 3 sets of 5 reps at 95lbs to work on building my base again. The next day, I headed out for a miserable run on tired, heavy legs, and started laughing, thinking to myself this is how it feels to finish a marathon. And I felt like I needed to share…

If you’ve never run a marathon, and you never thought you could, but you want to know what it might be like, do I have an idea for you.

First of all, just about any reasonably healthy person can run a marathon. Second, you don’t have to be fast, just disciplined and persistent. And third, there’s a unique satisfaction from finishing a race of this magnitude and being able to call yourself a marathoner.

But do you really want to know what it feels like to finish running a marathon? Here’s an experiment for you:

Step 1: Go to the gym. Do a serious weightlifting leg day, whatever this looks like for you. Ideas for this grueling torture include doing Karen (an appropriately named girl WOD in the Crossfit world that is 150 wall balls for time with a weighted ball), a heavy base day of back squats (try 3 to 5 sets of 5 at 70% of your one rep max), or heavy walking lunges (think 50 or so on each leg while holding the heaviest dumbbels you can handle).

Step 2: Wake up the next day and skip breakfast and coffee. Revel in the misery of your sore muscles, your empty belly, your uncaffeinated soul, the stiffness begging you to return to bed. Think about your poor life choices as you wince while navigating the stairs.

Step 3: Go for a 10k run. Pretend that you have already run 20 miles, your energy stores mainly depleted, your lungs burning. Really sense how heavy and painful every step feels from all that weightlifting you did yesterday. Bonus points if you run in the rain or the sweltering heat and humidity of summer. Wish for the completion of your run ASAP.

Step 4: As you climb the stairs back into your house, repeat this mantra: Stairs are stupid.

This little simulation will shed some light on the painful, bad parts of running this race. But it will never prepare you for the good stuff: crossing the finish line with a crowd waiting, the happy tears, the satisfaction, the culmination of hard work. You might even form the ultimate running partner bond in sharing the experience with a friend. Of course, I can’t forget to mention the proof of your accomplishment: the medal and the swag. It’s kind of awesome.

Finishing the 2015 Richmond Marathon with friends. Photo courtesy of Tammy Harrison.

I apologize in advance for the deluge of running topics that are about to start taking over more of my blog posts in the next several months! As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

To Mask or Not to Mask?

The question continues. As the CDC has updated its guidelines, how do you feel about their new recommendations? Essentially, if you are fully vaccinated, your life can return to normal, with exceptions for following rules for businesses and your localities. Our governor in Virginia has lifted the mask mandate except for businesses and healthcare settings that require them. I’m not so confident in these recommendations, especially considering that only 36% of the US is fully vaccinated. I’m still recovering from the days of double masking and wearing N95’s all day to prevent the spread of Covid in healthcare settings, which seems like yesterday.

In the Metro Richmond area, I have already seen people entering stores without masks in higher numbers, even though the stores still require them. For me, I’m not yet ready to ditch them entirely.

First, I’ve already worked with patients in the hospital who were fully vaccinated and got Covid anyway! The conclusion? They picked up a variant that the vaccine wasn’t fully effective against. That’s concerning. But we also aren’t doing a great job of genotyping the variants, either. I feel like this should be a given if someone tests positive who was vaccinated, and especially if they become ill enough to require hospitalization. How else will we know how the virus is evolving otherwise?

From the days of double masking: a fit tested N95 with a level one surgical mask on top, as well as goggles to protect me from contracting Covid-19. This was during the height of the winter wave.

Second, are we really going to rely on the honor system for this? Not a chance this will go well. Part of me feels like the new guidelines were intended create incentive for more people to choose to vaccinate. I’m not sure this will work. And the Biden administration has already stated that it will not require any type of vaccination passport. But this just leaves the opportunity for taking advantage of a lenient system.

In my county, there was a group who protested at last week’s school board meeting. They were mad about a study conducted about equality in our schools, and they were also protesting the continued use of masks in school and getting vaccinated. So, essentially your typical science deniers/all lives matter misinformed. These are the folks who never wore masks at our local Walmart, anyway. I imagine these people will claim they are vaccinated to get by with not wearing masks. Sigh.

I’m very grateful that our school system will continue to require masks and is holding vaccination clinics for kids 12 and older in the next two weeks. My younger daughter will be participating!

Third, vaccination rates are still low in developing and third world countries. As long as this is the case, the virus has the opportunity to rapidly replicate and mutate. That’s just science. And with that fact, the potential to produce a mutation(s) that will render current vaccines ineffective is entirely possible. Consider that the variant wreaking havoc in India right now has not one, but two significant mutations. This article explains very well the phenomenon of mutation and how the US lags behind other nations in performing genome sequencing of Covid samples.

I fear that we are in a honeymoon phase in the US at this point. I sincerely hope I’m wrong. But as long as we have citizens who could safely get the vaccine refuse to do so, and as long as people are able to travel to and from our country, we are not isolated from receiving future variants in the US. Not only that, we don’t even know how long our immunity will last from these current vaccines. I’m approaching the 6 month mark of being fully vaccinated myself, the originally predicted immunity range from the current vaccines.

Playing with my neighbor’s puppies earlier this year.

The pandemic is not over, unfortunately, which means that in many situations, particularly indoors, I will continue to choose to mask for now. I was one of the first in my community to mask, and I may be one of the last to stop! Stay well, friends.

How do you feel about the new guidelines from the CDC for the fully vaccinated? Would you trust that a fellow shopper who is maskless has been vaccinated? Do you fear being judged by others, whether you choose to mask or not? As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

Garden Chronicles 2021: Part 2

So I mentioned in my last gardening post that my daughters really wanted a butterfly garden this year. We did a little research about what plants would welcome pollinators in our area, especially butterflies, and I bought a few plants that fit the bill. (The photo above is of a wild mountain laurel now blooming in my yard.)

What did we buy?

Butterfly bush
Spanish lavender
Milkweed (from our local farmers market)
Chamomile (from our local feed and seed store)
Mixed sunflower seeds

Some of the plants we wanted to buy were not easily available. I am super happy that we lucked into finding some milkweed! I hope we will host some monarchs in the coming years!

As is true to fashion for teenagers, this ended up becoming an all mom effort to install the garden. It took me a while to figure out where to actually put it. I wanted it to be near our vegetable gardens, but in a place easy to plant. I ended up making a bed with an existing peony bush, and I think it turned out well!

To finish off the garden, I harvested some larger rocks from our gravel driveway, making a border with these. I’m still debating about whether to fill in with pea gravel to keep the weeds down. We’ll see how the garden evolves!

Do you have a special area in your yard devoted to pollinators? I’d love to hear about it! As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

Vegan Protein Bars: Are they a necessary evil? I review a few for you.

I recently met with a dietitian to determine if there was some other cause to my pandemic weight gain rather than pure forced laziness on my part. Well, it turns out that I’m mildly insulin resistant thanks to my body shifting toward menopause. Yay.

I was sufficiently underwhelmed by her advice, however, as it was clear she really didn’t know how to deal with anyone who chooses a plant based diet. The summation of her analysis is that I need more protein and less carbs. Sigh.

I hesitate to use an app like MyFitnessPal because when I did this in the past, I got a bit obsessive with it. I would “buy” treats with activity to cancel out the calories. It was a bad pattern to develop. The dietitian understood this, so instead of obsessing over macros, she suggested that I just aim for at least 75g of protein a day to support my running. That seems doable. However, adding up what I actually consumed in protein in a day really opened my eyes to the lack of it in my diet, considering all that I ask of my body in a week with training. This revelation made me ask my fellow vegan runners who are high performers how much protein they consume each day. Most of them are are in the 100g range.

So, what’s a vegan to do? In a pinch, the obvious answer is to use supplements in the form of protein bars and powders, which my RD recommends. I really hate relying on these, but, alas, these are simple ways to consume more protein, especially if you’re busy. The market is saturated with these, so it’s easy to get overwhelmed. You must read labels, too. Just because a bar says it’s plant based doesn’t mean it’s vegan. And some have a TON of added sugar. Still others have lots of fiber, so it’s important to time these properly!

I consider these bars to fall in two categories: snack and recovery, depending on protein levels. Also, the higher the protein, the denser the bar, it seems. Here’s what I’ve tried thus far:

Snack bars, which have under 20g protein:

One Plant

This bar is on the low end of protein with 12g which is derived from peas, rice, and nuts, but with a stunning 1g of sugar! It has the typical dense, chewy texture of a protein bar, but is also on the thin side, which makes the yummy chocolate coating stand out on the chocolate peanut butter flavor bar. So if you are looking for a non-soy based bar in this range of protein level, this is a good choice. I would buy this one again. Be aware that this company also produces products that are not vegan, so read your labels! Available at Kroger, Whole Foods, and Amazon. I would rate this at the top of my list for a snack protein bar, both for taste and low sugar content.

Think Plant-Based Protein Bars

These have a lighter texture than most protein bars. They are almost fluffy, like a dense Milky Way bar as its base, and are covered in chocolate. These are available at Kroger, Whole Foods, and Amazon. They make two vegan flavors: Sea Salt Almond Chocolate and Chocolate Mint. I found both very tasty, but of the two the chocolate mint is my favorite. They are on the lower end of protein levels with 13 grams each. Low in sugar with only 5 grams, they make a good snack when I’m doing my afternoon documentation at work. I will definitely buy these again. Note that this brand also makes non-vegan bars, so check your labels! I’m rating this one second on my list of snack bars for taste and convenience, since they are readily available at Kroger in multipacks, and have a lower sugar content.

NuGo Dark

Deliciously chocolatey and with a crunchy texture, this bar is a nice change from the dense chewiness of most protein bars. I tried the chocolate chocolate chip flavor. Although it only weighs in at 12g of protein from soy, it’s really tasty! On the sweet side with a whopping 14 grams of sugar, so it’s more like a candy bar than a protein bar as far as taste goes. I will definitely buy this again as a sweet treat. Keep in mind that this company also has a non-vegan line, so read your labels! Available at Whole Foods and Amazon. I’m rating this one third among snack bars because of its high sugar content.

GoMacro

Although the label boasted “protein pleasure,” I thought it was just ok. I was expecting this one to be really sweet since it has 14g of sugar for its 11g of protein, but it was only mildly so. Again, I went for the peanut butter chocolate bar. This one is dense and chewy without a chocolate coating. It does have real chocolate chips in the mix, though, which was good. And although I wasn’t super excited about this bar, I would try another flavor. These bars are sustainably sourced and soy free. I’m awarding this one fourth place. They are available at Kroger and Whole Foods.

Plnt Organic Protein Bar

This bar from the Vitamin Shoppe’s Plnt line surprised me. I’m not really a fan of this line of protein powders, so I was expecting to hate these. And, yes, it’s got that typical chewy texture, but also real chocolate chips and peanuts in their peanut chocolate chip flavor. It really broke up the monotony of the chewy base. They normally have these buy one get one 50% off. This one has a fair amount of protein at 15g and sugar at 8g. I had one of these after a weightlifting day before I went grocery shopping. It definitely kept me from buying all the things I don’t need to eat! Bonus that these are also organic. Ties for fourth place.

BHU Fit Vegan Keto Protein Bar

This one is another on the low end of protein at 10g. It’s one of the only fruit flavored ones I have tried, however. Apple Chunk. Although the texture was dense, the taste was OK. I was not a fan of the oily layer surrounding the bar, though. Like I opened the package and the bar nearly slipped out for all the oil. Maybe I just got a bad batch? I’m hesitant to try the other flavors and will likely not buy again.

Recovery bars with at least 20g of protein:

Vega

I tried the chocolate peanut butter bar (are you picking up on a theme here?) It packs 20g of protein from peas and rice, but is pretty high in sugar at 18g. That being said, this bar is delicious. Two layers, one more dense than the other, surrounded by a dark chocolate coating. Even with the high sugar content, it’s not overly sweet. I will definitely buy this one again and try other flavors as well. I think it will be great after a double digit run. Vega also makes a snack version with lower protein and calories as well as a sport bar with 20g protein and BCAA’s. I would rate this at the top of the 20g protein bar list for taste.

Garden of Life Performance Sport Plant-Based Protein Bar

These definitely have more of the texture of a traditional protein bar. Dense, chewy, almost stale brownie-like texture. However, the taste of the flavor I tried, peanut butter chocolate, was pretty good. At 20g of protein, it’s a great recovery snack after a double digit long run. Lower in sugar at 8g. Bonus that these are organic. I’m awarding this one second place.

No Cow

I tried these a couple of years ago when my husband and I owned a gym. They were nice enough to send a sample pack to see if we wanted to be a retail partner with them. I really wanted to like these bars, but honestly, some flavors I just couldn’t eat. I tried the lemon meringue pie bar this time, which is a variety I never tried before. This one was decent. With a protein content of 22g with only 1g of sugar, this one might be worthwhile if you need to watch your sugar content. It is sweetened with stevia and is gluten and soy free. I’ll rank this one in third place.

Pro Bar

I tried the peanut butter chocolate flavor, once again. This one is average in taste and sweetness, but I do like that there is a bit of crunch with the chewy. It packs 20g of protein and 14g of sugar. I likely won’t buy again just because the Vega bar is so much better with the same sugar/protein content. I give them fourth place. They do have other products I would like to try, like their Bolt energy chews. These sound promising for marathon training!

I consider all of these bars “processed foods,” although some are cleaner than others, and macros vary. I would definitely prefer to get my protein from whole food sources. Protein bars that I tried generally fall into a “snack” category with lower protein levels vs. “recovery” category, best for after workouts, with 20g of protein or better. I found some to have higher sugar and fiber contents. I would definitely not eat a high fiber bar as a meal before a run! Although I hate to admit that to support my activity levels that I may have to bump up my protein intake, I’m grateful to have so many choices on the market to fill any gaps I may have in my daily intake in a pinch. I hope you found my reviews helpful!

Do you supplement your protein intake with bars? What’s your favorite, if so? As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

Garden Chronicles: First Edition 2021

Our local meteorologist, Andrew Freiden, has declared May 1st as safe for planting your gardens. I took this to heart, and I worked over the weekend to start my garden. What resumed last year as a cure for pandemic boredom has become a seasonal ritual once more. I’m also lucky that our wild pink lady’s slippers survived the final late frost!

My first step? I had to clear my decaying raised beds of the winter weed cover. I also pulled down the remaining plastic net fencing from last year. That took all of Friday, it felt. I also took a trip to our local lawn and garden store for more soil and compost as well as fertilizer for these beds, and I bought some plants for a butterfly garden.

One set of raised beds. I have tomatoes and annual herbs in the beds, perennial herbs in the ground.

Last year I had also put in deer netting to protect our plants, but don’t plan to do that again this year. I rescued 3 birds and a black snake from the snares of the netting, even after placing ribbons on the nets to make them more visible. I took it down as soon as the growing season was over.

My other pair of beds. One is no longer exactly a raised bed! I’ve got squash, herbs, small tomatoes, and now peppers in these beds, again with some perennial herbs in the ground around these.

We had already planned a trip to our local Ashland Farmers Market and to Lavender Fields Farm for some plants on Saturday. I picked up some tomatoes, herbs, and milkweed (for the butterfly garden, of course!). If you’re looking for something unusual, either of these are great sources for unique plants, but especially Lavender Fields. I planted all the herbs and veggies between Saturday and Sunday. I meant to get some pepper plants too, and I totally forgot! I picked up a few today along with some marigolds. These are already in the ground, as it was in the upper 60’s today and sunny. Perfect planting weather in the RVA!

One view of Lavender Fields Farm. They have built two new greenhouses and have expanded their plant selections. It’s a pretty farm to visit, plus they sell essential oils, lavender sachets, Bev’s ice cream, and lavender lemonade!

Now, I need to figure out some deer defense that won’t cost a million dollars. I still have the fence stakes in the ground, so I could do something different with those. I’m open for suggestions. Rope fencing? Milorganite? Scarecrows? Some other type of fencing? I need help!

Are you putting in a garden this year? I’d love to hear about it! As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

That’s right, fellow runners. We are about to enter fall marathon training season! And if you’re lucky, you are part of a marathon training team like mine. There is absolutely no way I could have run any of them without the help of the Sports Backers Marathon Training Team.

During one of Blair Just’s famous benedictions before a group run in 2019.

Meeting with my team again each year feels as fun as summer camp! This will be my 8th training season with them. To run with a group of like-minded individuals who have the same goals is super motivating. To work with fellow coaches who also strive to improve and help others fuels my inspiration as well. To have the headache of planning routes, hydration, and nutrition during my runs taken out of the equation is such a relief. Speaking of hydration, Sports Backers will provide Nuun Endurance and water on our long runs. As a participant, focusing on the run itself is the only real worry.

Although last year’s experience was a bit different, and this year’s certainly will be too, it may also start to feel a bit more like normal. Like last year, Sports Backers MTT will begin on your own or in small groups on June 6th, and the weekend of June 12th, we will begin meeting at the stadium again. This avoids the large group meetings and allows runners participating in Monument 10k weekend, which coincides with the first week of training team, to do so. Pink Nation plans to meet at Dorey Park to run one of the official courses for this race on June 7th.

I am back coaching with the Pink Nation, one of MTT’s subteams. We are a “500” team, meaning novice, but the names of teams were changed to reflect total mileage, not experience level. Another key difference between the 500 and 700 teams is that we only run one 20 miler instead of three. I will forever choose to run a novice schedule for marathon training and incorporate more cross training to reduce my risk for injury. That’s just what works for my body. But if you are a more experienced runner chasing a Boston qualifying goal, or perhaps are running an earlier fall marathon, the 700 schedule may suit your needs better. There’s a subteam for everyone on MTT!

As our world begins to return to a new normal, what better time to chase that marathon dream? I feel optimistic about the likelihood of at least some bigger marathons, including the Richmond Marathon, having a real race on the traditional course this year. Last year’s move to the Virginia Capital Trail was a great adaptation, however!

As I cannot run Richmond since I will be supporting our team race day, I must find another fall marathon. I’m open to suggestions, preferably within driving distance of Richmond! I’m considering Rock ‘n Roll Savannah and the Outer Banks Marathon right now, if they actually happen in person. But then my best friend Patty, the woman who inspired me to run the marathon to begin with, is trying to tempt me with running my first ultra in December. Decisions, decisions…

With my friends at the finish line of the 2015 Richmond Marathon.

Are you considering running a marathon this year? If you’re on the fence, look back at my previous post, The Power of the Marathon for inspiration! If you’re in Richmond, I strongly encourage you to run with the Sports Backers Marathon Training Team! Your race entry is included in your training team fees. But hurry! Prices go up May 18th! Look for my blog to trend toward more running related content as I shift toward educating our team in the next few months. As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

Fall Line Trail Update!

It’s been a while since I’ve updated you on the progress of the Fall Line Trail! I’m happy to report that the first leg beginning in Ashland is complete! Once finished, the proposed trail will connect the town of Ashland to the city of Petersburg for a distance of 43 miles, spanning through multiple counties and the City of Richmond.

The first portion of the trail will follow the former Richmond-Ashland Electric trolley line that existed in the earlier part of the 1900’s that carried passengers from Ashland to and from Richmond. It closed in 1938. My husband’s grandparents remembered riding the trolley!

I’ve been closely watching the development of this first portion of the trail since I run this frequently. It’s been so exciting to see it come to completion! There is a boardwalk along Waldrop Lane that has taken a while to construct. Given that it is several feet over a ravine and with the delays from the pandemic, this is understandable. It officially opened earlier this week.

So today, I took the time to run it! Even though it was 83 degrees, there was intermittent cloud cover and a steady breeze, so conditions weren’t the worst. Sure, it could have been cooler, but the thought of running on the treadmill was even more awful than running in the relative heat.

The Fall Line Trail trailhead is officially Carter Park in Ashland. You follow the multi use path across Ashcake road along Maple Street, continuing along Waldrop Lane onto the boardwalk, and then connecting to the existing Trolley Line Trail.

The new portion, the boardwalk, is absolutely solid. I was expecting a bit of bounce that is common among boardwalk style bridges and walkways, but this was not the case. There is little protection from the sun, but this portion is only maybe three tenths of a mile, so not a big deal.

Once you get to the existing Trolley Line trail, you are on dirt/gravel again. You can see that this actually used to be a rail line of some kind, as it is raised and flat. On breezy days, you get an interesting mix of cool and warm air, as the trail is wooded on one side, but not the other. It’s as if the two air masses on either side are having a conversation, and you get to listen. I also thoroughly enjoy the wildflowers that bloom here. In the spring and summer months, there’s always a new surprise as the seasons evolve. The trail dumps you onto Gwathmey Church Rd, and if you look to the right across the street, you can see where the trolley line continued.

The trail yet to be developed on the other side of Gwathmey Church Road.

From Carter Park, you can easily make just this portion of the Fall Line Trail a 2 mile journey round trip. If you are looking for more trails to enjoy in the area, there is a one that connects Maple Street to Center Street that runs behind the Carter Pool and has a stream adjacent to it. On the other side of the railroad tracks at the intersection of Center Street and Ashcake is the Stoney Run Trail. There is a creek alongside this trail as well, and a beaver has been busy building a dam! Running all of these trails out and back can easily get you to 4 miles. Both of these trails are gravel.

Biking the existing Trolley Line Trail last fall.

If you are looking for biking access on any of these trails, they are all bikeable, but I wouldn’t recommend doing this with a true road bike with skinny tires. My cruiser works just fine, and I’ve ridden all 3 of these with ease, but a mountain bike or hybrid would probably be even better. There is even a bike repair station in Carter Park if you need it!

The bike repair station at Carter Park, made possible by REI.

Another popular place to park to access these trails is the Patrick Henry YMCA. This is a great place to start if you are a member, since you can access bathrooms. Carter Park is right down Ashcake Road from the YMCA, and there is a sidewalk connecting the two.

While you’re in Ashland, check out some of the cute restaurants and shops while you’re there! My favorites are The Caboose, which is a restaurant and wine/cheese shop, Origin Beer Lab, which is a collaboration with COTU Brewery, and Refunkit, an eclectic little gallery that has great art and jewelry for sale. There’s also a new escape room that has opened, Red Vein Escape, and the Town of Ashland has Fourth Friday events going as well. If you venture out on Saturday, the Ashland Farmers Market is in the morning at Henry Clay Elementary School. There’s always something to do in Ashland, even if it’s just train watching!

If you’re in the Metro Richmond area, the trip to Ashland is worth it! Come check out our little trails! As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.

Vegan Restaurant Review: 821 Cafe

Near the bustling campus of VCU on Cary Street in downtown Richmond is 821 Cafe. It’s a small restaurant with an eclectic feel. In other words, just the kind of funky place you’d hope to find near an artsy school like VCU!

I’ve eaten there a few times now, and I’ve always received great service and amazing food! With a variety of choices to make both vegans and omnis happy, it’s a great place to satisfy all diets.

The last time I dined here was with my younger daughter after a trip to the VMFA. We ate inside, and the tables were spread out well to remain compliant with Covid guidelines. I was a bit overwhelmed with all the vegan items on the menu! After our server offered the suggestion and a sample, I ended up getting the vegan curried chicken salad sandwich with fries and a slice of vegan cake for dessert, which my daughter and I shared. My meal was absolutely delicious!

The curried “chicken” salad sandwich and fries. Seriously one of the best sandwiches I’ve ever eaten, and their fries are perfect!

This trip, both my daughters joined me! We decided to eat there to celebrate my older daughter getting her second Covid vaccine, hoping to finish dining before she started feeling the immune response from the second dose. We dined in their outdoor space, which was small, but lovely. It was a bit chilly with so much cloud cover yesterday, and we were regretting out choice to not go back to the car for jackets, but we were warm enough when the sun was out.

Vegan chai French toast, which was not overwhelmingly spicy, and the home fries.

We all ended up ordering from the brunch menu, although we were all torn between sweet and savory. To solve this dilemma, I ordered the vegan chai French toast for the sweet and home fries for the savory. I would have tried their vegan special, which was biscuits and gravy, but they had sold out! My older daughter ordered the lemon curd stuffed French toast, while my younger daughter got the regular brunch special: smoked Gouda grit cakes with eggs. Both vegetarian meals. We were very happy with our choices! We also got a slice of vegan cake to go. All of their vegan cakes are made by Buttermilk Bake Shop in Petersburg. They had sold out of every variety but the cotton candy cake. It was very good, and very sweet, but definitely tasted like cotton candy.

The Cotton Candy cake. Big enough to share!

I highly recommend 821 Cafe, especially if you are going out to dinner with a crowd with mixed diets. It’s often that I sacrifice vegan options to please the rest of my family when we dine out, but that is definitely not an issue here. With plenty of vegan choices on the menu, you can never get bored! We will definitely be back!

Are you in the Richmond area? Have you ever eaten at 821 Cafe? As always, I hope you all are safe and healthy.