Boat days are good days.
However, After a drink sun-filled day at the lake, I needed a good trail run.
I decided to head to Stone Mountain Park for the morning. Stone Mountain is a gigantic granite dome in Georgia. The granite extends underground 9 miles. Its “claim to fame” isn’t the amount of rock. It has the largest bas-relief in the world. The carving depicts three famed Confederates: Stonewall Jackson, Robert E. Lee, and Jefferson Davis. If you hear banjos, run.
Anyhow… it is also very steep.
With grave markers carved into it.
And lots of sweaty people.
There’s a skyride if you’re a wuss hiking isn’t your thing.
Granite kind of looks like moon rock.
Going down is easier than coming up.
Admittedly, the second time up the mountain, I wasn’t so much running anymore. 5.5 miles in an hour and 10 mins. I’ll take it!
Thank you, QT for the recovery drink.
Followed by an exhausted thumbs up for myself.
Both served to tide me over until lunch while I made my Dekalb Farmer’s Market treat trip. This place is really an amusement park for foodies.
I got all of this loot for $35!!!
Lots of good eats to come this week!
The day was rounded out with a delicious dinner and a #winning night of darts.
Sorry, Casey
We won’t talk about the pool games I lost.
The next day I needed an apple (apples help with beer billiards night recovery). 1/2 for breakfast with a muffin. What about the other half, you ask..?
Today was a back/bicep day. Post-workout I needed my 20g of protein, so I made something that looks questionable, but actually tasted like chocolate-y pudding. The protein powder made it more thick (i.e. pudding-like) than applesauce-like. It’s not much of a recipe, but I’m writing it out here (mostly so I don’t forget… does anyone else do this?!). 🙂
Chocolate Apple Pudding
- 1/2 apple
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
- 1/8 C vanilla unsweetened coconut milk (a la So Delicious)
Put it in a blender, give it a whir, and enjoy!
***
Now I am suffering from the long weekend blues. Not to mention I am SORE. 🙂 Did it have to end!?
What was your favorite part of the long weekend?
Do you get a little sad going back to reality after a long weekend?
Your trail run looks really pretty! I think it is SO much easier to run for a long time when you have awesome things to look at.. including people. People watching is one of my favorite past-times.. hahah!
Even just switching up your running route to a new one.. and seeing different houses will do it for me!
My favorite part of the weekend.. was.. having an extra day and a half. You are SO right.. they are NEVER long enough!!!!!!!
I am the same way about looking at different houses! I’ll even drive to another neighborhood to run if I get desperate. 🙂
I love Stone Mtn Park but have to admit I have never been running there. I’ll have to try it out next time I’m home. 🙂
And yes, I don’t like being back at work after 3 days off…not fun! Have a great day!
Interesting “pudding”! I have been making a vegan banana pudding that consists of tofu and bananas…and it’s amazing. 🙂 Perhaps I should endeavor to create other varieties?
[P.S.- I can’t comment directly on comments on MY blog, but I wanted you to know that from my relatively limited experience with alternative sugars, I don’t really like using Splenda (although the Splenda BROWN sugar in small amounts works fine), but both the Xylitol and Erythritol produced great tasting results. 🙂 I’m hoping to explore this more in the future, though!]
Oh, and if you can find stevia (I had some from Trader Joe’s) that is the consistency of powdered sugar, it dissolves well in the aforementioned ‘puddings’ and whatnot. Other varieties are slightly more difficult to dissolve, but I haven’t had any grainy texture issues. 🙂
That sounds good! I’ve been mashing mine with vanilla protein powder and almond milk – it’s pretty tasty.
Thanks for the info on the sugar – I was definitely worried about the taste. I’ll try the Xylitol or Erythritol out.
What a great hike. I love to hike, It’s such a great way to work out and enjoy the fresh air! AND SO PROUD of the 35 bucks at the farmers market! People think it’s more expensive, but I really believe you can get alot for your money! 🙂
I’ve been wanting to run around Stone Mountain. I don’t think I’m quite ready to run UP it!
You drive a beamer?! AWESOME! Jim used to have a 325i (which he crashed and I broke my face) then he got an M3. BMW’s are so powerful and FAST. Fun stuff 🙂
The hike/run you took looks so cool!!
I do. Cars are my “thing” and I am a BMW-loyal. 🙂 I can’t believe you crash your face in one though. No bueno!
wait you’re in georgia!? ahhhh i was just there!!!!!!
Nooooo! That makes me really, really sad that I missed you.
Holy moly. I guess it’s steep! Going down looks pretty scary, too. Easier, yes, but I think I’d fall on my face if I tried to run down that 😛 Gorgeous views, though.
So jealous of all you got from the farmer’s market. Blogs are making me realize that mine is just really over-priced :[
“if you’re a wuss”…I’m laughing so hard at that!! I’m definitely going to go trail running at Stone Mountain soon. Place looks incredible. Glad to hear you enjoyed your weekend!