Nutrition Tuesday - Pets need good eats too!

Sometimes we like to spoil our pets, especially our dogs.  We have a 7 month old Schnauzer.  He is a handful.  I had noticed his breath was....less than fresh.  So I bought over the counter dog treats.  Good grief!  They were expensive for small treats that didn't really make his breath as minty fresh as they promised.  Then I did my research to find that Schnauzers are notorious for having tummy troubles and for being overweight. 

The search began.  I researched and trialed.  I found a recipe that he loved!  The ingredients were simple, they were easy to make and he loved them.  Not only that but his breath was fresher, his tummy was happy and they were cheaper!

The base for the treats is the following:

Wheat flour (can use rice flour or oats if your pooch has a wheat allergy, thankfully mine doesn't!)
Honey
Egg
Water
Parsley
Mint

The above is the base for fresh breath treats.  While these are delicious for him, you can add to it.

It was then that I realized that I am sure other people would love to have healthy treats for their fur baby.  This birthed "Sherlock Snacks".  A variety of healthy dog treats that your pet will be sure to love!  Not only that, but proceeds go towards missions.  It is in the birthing stages and will soon be launched on Facebook - so keep an eye out!

Health is not just for people....pets can get overweight which can cause health problems.  Ensuring they get the proper nutrition and serving amounts can create a long life for your pooch.

Enjoy!

Sherlock, looking dapper in his sweater

The basic "fresh breath" treat

Sherlock enjoying his fresh baked treat!

New business endeavor....check us out soon on FB!

Race Review - Halloween 5K Brew HaHa

There are so many Halloween races!  It is hard to pick just one.  We decided to go with this one because of the group we belong to (Cornfed Spartans) were doing it.

It wasn't too far from home - a little over an hour.

It was early....and cold!  This was another race that was fun.  Who doesn't like to dress up?  We arrived and got our packets.  I like the shirts.  I have enough race shirts to choke a horse.  But I like them!  I wear them to the gym and when I run.  Anyway, we hung around for a little bit until the race started.  They had a photo area to get your picture taken - which we did but they didn't post them.  Boo!  They had a costume contest, a free beer after the run as well as a free donut.  They had some free popcorn and free coffee or hot chocolate.  It was a nice area.

The race started and it was a slow start.  There were around 550 attendees and we were at the back of the pack.  So starting out was slowwww.  I finally found an opening and took it.  Matt and I dressed as a TMNT and pizza while our friend dressed as Waldo.  I ran the course which was fairly flat with a few hills but nothing overwhelming.  It went through town a bit then back around. 

At the end of the race, there was a photographer and a medal waiting as well as a yummy donut.  The race was very well done with a few hiccups.

A couple of complaints that I see at a lot of races.....after about the 35 minute mark, the photographer wanders off.  Therefore, not everyone gets a finish photo which I don't think is very fair.  Also, about that time, people trickle off and there is no one at the finish line.  It is exhilarating to cross the line and have people cheer and clap.  However, by about 35 minutes, people cross the line to nothing.  No clapping, no cheering.  They don't deserve it any less that the person that crosses first.  The tortoise and the hare both cross the finish.  I try to stay and clap and cheer as I wait on Matt. 

Also, they ran out of donuts.  They had 700 and there were only 550 runners.  So runners were taking more than one. I feel they should have had someone monitoring that or handing them out.  They did have more delivered, which was cool because most races wouldn't do that.  Once they are gone, they would be gone.  However, it was great to cross the line, have your pic taken, grab your medal and your donut and enjoy your runner's high.........but a lot of people didn't get that.   I don't know....just doesn't seem fair.

Overall though, it was a fun race.

So, the review of the event Halloween Brew HaHa 5K:
Terrain - pretty flat, cement, through town
Organization - Organized fairly well, police were along the course, water station
Cost - $38 per person
Time of Race - 9:30am
Overall - very good....they did their best to get it to run smoothly and efficiently
Award - free beer, coffee or hot choc, free popcorn, teeshirt and a medal
My Time - 31.14
Race # - 17 for the year
 

#BeastModeActivated

Matt and I - TMNT and pizza

Matt, our buddy Missy and I

Almost at the finish line...

Race Review - Zombie Run

Yes, we drove 10 hours to do a zombie run.  What of it?

We actually decided to make a vacation out of it.  We did a few escape rooms (check them out! so fun!), visited Matt's sister, visited some filming sites of the Walking Dead and then stopped in Tennessee on the way home and walked some trails.

However, the main attraction was the Zombie Run.  We have done this type of run before but we have always been the zombies. 

The premise of the race is the runners get a belt with 3 flags. The runners then go through the course while "zombies" try to take your flags.  Once all your flags are gone, you are "infected".

We arrived and the parking lot was already pretty full.  We parked and took a bus to the location.  The location of the event was an actual training facility.  They use it to train military, emergency rescue, EMTs, ect.  It was pretty cool.  It had buildings on fire, a subway station, crushed cars, helicopters flying and even a flooded neighborhood.  It was intense.

We got our packet and since we instagramed, we got an extra flag - score!  We hung around, checked out the vendors and admired some of the people that had some pretty amazing makeup on.

So they gave us some pointers and off we went.  It was kind of scary at first because you didn't know what to expect.  Right off the get go there were zombies everywhere!  We raced through a building area and escaped the zombie clutches.  Some of them were slow, some were fast, some were funny, and some were downright scary!

We then headed out onto the open highway to get away from the infected.  There were broken down cars and buses all along the course and...you guessed it....more zombies!

I did fairly well until I was face to face with a little girl zombie.  She blocked my way, shoulder checked me and took my danged flag.

So, down to 3.  We then had a stretch that had no zombies or anything.  That part was kind of lame because it was just open road that we walked.  There was some "gun fire" in the distance but other than that pretty uneventful. 

We then headed into the buildings area.  We ran into a facility and Matt ran right into a wall.  I heard him and heard the zombie ask if he was okay (before he snatched his flag -dirty!).  Matt came stumbling out - apparently, in the dark room and with zombies chasing, he didn't see the wall.  I asked him if he was okay.....then asked again...when he didn't answer, I took off.  It is the apocalypse after all!  Every man for himself!  Don't worry, he caught up to me (2 weeks later and he STILL has a large nasty bruise!!!).

We then entered the subway tunnel.  This part was neat but it would have been better if they actually had zombies in this area.  The only thing weird was they had people playing music along the way like violin, banjos, etc.  Ambiance, maybe?  Odd.

Then this kid came from nowhere and we "danced" as he tried to take my flag by I made it unscathed.  We then headed to the flood area.  I decided not to go into the water (it was an option) only because it was muddy and I was afraid of what was in there.  As I came out of the side, a "zombie" told me to be careful because people were slipping on the mud and falling.  I told him thank you and he was like - you are welcome.  He was such a nice zombie!  He then reached out to snatch my flag but I was quicker and snatch my hand over it.  I then proceeded to tell him there was no way he was going to be all nicey to me and take my flag.  We argued back and forth and I said forget it!  And was off.   A few more buildings then at the end was some weird family of zombie Smurfs. I kid you not.

And we got our medal and our shirt.

It was super fun.  We plan to go back next year and run it again and be zombies too.  It was the best zombie course we have seen.  We enjoyed a snow cone and headed back to the bus.

So, the review of the event Zombie Run 5K:
Terrain - buildings, water, gravel, concrete, grass.....all sorts of terrain
Organization - Was well organized.  Everything clearly marked and ran smoothly
Cost - $50 per person
Time of Race - 9:30am
Overall - was so much fun and unique!  Fantastic course and props
Award - medal (infected or survivor) and a teeshirt
My Time - it was timed but we did it for fun, no idea what my time was
Race # - 16 for the year
 

#BeastModeActivated

Our road filled with zombies and cars

Racoon City.....

I am seriously concentrating....

Had a blast!