Protein Powder Review...

I was recently selected to review a new protein powder for Manitoba Harvest.

Who doesn't love free stuff? And to be able to talk about it, well even better.

I received a sample of the chocolate and vanilla Hemp Pro 70 protein powder.

Sadly, I was not blown away by the product.

I drink protein shakes after my workouts most days, it's easy to throw it all in the blender and take it along as I commute to work. My first complaint was that each of the sample packets were not a full serving, each one was a half serving with 7g of protein in the sample.

I mixed them up on rest days, and was not impressed with the consistency. The recipe says to mix in a shaker cup, but I blended mine with my hand mixer like I usually do. It didn't seem to dissolve completely and I had a cup full of gritty protein shake to drink for breakfast. I hate that. The chocolate sample was not near as chocolaty as I had wanted it to be, but that might have been the small sample size. Maybe I should have mixed it up with only half the amount of almond milk.

I am a vegetarian, and I was really excited about the prospect of a plant based protein powder. It was quite a bummer (yes, bummer) for me that it wasn't as fabulous as I wanted it to be.

If you'd like to try it out, you can get 20% off the chocolate and vanilla flavors by using discount code sweatpinkpro70.

Another Brookhaven 5K...

I have a love/hate relationship with the Brookhaven 5k. I ran my first race there back in 2009, and somehow have managed to not miss one since then. Even after my bike crash last year, I was back and laced up for a 26:40, and 6th place in my age group.

I picked up Rochelle and we met up with the group at about 7. Even during the warm-up it was hot, but I slogged through two easy miles.

We had one good photo op during the warm-up.

We made it back to the start, got in a few strides, and had time for some pre-race selfies. You should always carry your camera, and time management is important when you want starting line pics.

Kristy, me and Rochelle

Lauren, Kristy, Rochelle, me and Tiffany

It has been a few years since I actually felt ready to run Brookhaven. In years past I always managed to kill myself in the first mile, and I resolved to not to that this time. My plan was to settle into a comfortably hard pace for the first mile, hang on for the second, and hopefully kick it in on the last.

My watch clicked out a 7:47 on mile one, and I kinda felt like I was in trouble. If you unfamiliar with this race, it's sort of a big loop, but after the first mile you make a right hand turn and head straight into the sun before turning right again. Just when you think you are about done, you head back into the neighborhood and wind to the finish line.

My right hand turn into the sun about killed me. It was a perfectly clear day, and it was hot and humid. After all, this is Oklahoma. By the time I turned right again, my stomach started to not feel so well, I think the Advil I took when I got up was not agreeing with me. Mile two clicked off at 8:10, and I was ready to be done.

I had no kick for the last mile, I felt empty. Mile three was 8:15 and I was so glad to be almost done. I finished with at 25:23, and fourth place in my new age group. I was happy with how I did, and even happier to see all my super sweaty friends at the finish.

More pictures!

Rochelle and I.

Me, Kristy, Lauren and Ro

 I do love this race! I always see lots of friends, and it's put on by my favorite running store. I sure wish it was put on in weather that is more agreeable to running. There's always next year.