2 in 1.

Beer Part

The Great Divide’s Espresso Oak Aged Yeti.

This beautiful beast poured like black water. Hardly any head whatsoever. But not that it didn’t lack any carbonation. It was beautiful. Smooth. The constant tingle helps to bring forth the bitterness of both the espresso and the hop profile. This was what I was looking for when I tried Mikkeler’s Koppi – supposed coffee IPA—strong coffee and hop notes. The rich roasted, caramel and vanilla notes leave just the slightest sweet after taste that lingers under bold forefront of the espresso and hops. Fantastic. Move over Goose Island’s Nightstalker, you have a competitor at my number one Stout spot. Well...  a three way. You know Surly's Darkness has a claim too.

Also, what I love about this. On the bottle they put food pairing suggestions. Which, I think is brilliant. But more amazing than the idea, most of what they say to pair with, is breakfast food. Now I like where their heads at. Never too early for craft beer.

[Suggested Pairing: breakfast burrito, eggs benedict, hash browns, cheesecake, creme brulee]

Running Part

10 Miles.

First ten mile run of the season.  It was extremely windy out. To get to where I was going, I needed to travel along Calhoun, and of course the part where the wind is the strongest. Winds were reportedly gusting 29 miles an hour. I couldn’t look straight. And if someone looked at my face, it probably looked like I was crying. But once I got on the greenway, it was really sheltered and calm. And because the weather wasn’t perfect, there were hardly any people on the greenway. It was amazing. It was like the morning, the path, and the run where all mine, and mine alone. I love running with friends, but sometimes, when you’re that alone, it’s so incredibly liberating. It’s as if you could run forever, in your own little world. It’s almost hypnotic. And it can also be incredibly restorative.  And that kind of run was just what I needed in my life right now. Nothing hurt, for the most part. And other than the initial struggle with the wind, I was set in my long distance running zone; I could have been reading a book. It was so automatic and it felt so right. I did feel my shin in the last 3 miles, on the return. It was also windy going back. But even the added struggles couldn’t take away from my runners high. I really felt I could’ve run a half marathon that day. Maybe not at a good pace, but I definitely believe I could’ve knocked out the distance.  And not to mention I had a killer playlist. Which, I’ll add to this post at the bottom. But there is this one song, which came on during the last mile. It was perfect.  It’s not exactly a “pump you up” sort of song, but it was still amazing. Cloud Cult’s “There’s so much energy in us”. This song sort of makes me emotional whenever I hear it. It’s so inspiring yet I can’t find the words to convey how I really feel and why. I can try. To me, it just means that when all seems lost, there is always hope. And even when you didn’t believe you had it in you, you did, and you always did. I think back to the really difficult times in my life where I thought I was at rock bottom, or that I couldn't overcome what was in front of me, and yet I perservered and I did. When I had no faith in myself, or really in anything, and then something sort of takes over you, and you achieve what you thought was the unthinkable. So when I heard that, I felt like I was flying. And the COOLEST part was that I looked up, and there was this HUGE hawk, just floating above me, because he was just coasting on the wind. It was all surreal. It made for a truly remarkable run.  

Long Run Playlist:

Note: just part of the list that I got to. And I rarely listen to a whole song. I have song ADD. And not in order. I have an ipod shuffle so I can't really control what's coming.

Thrice – Deadbolt

Nelly – Heart of a Champion

Requiem for a Dream Melody

A run song (some techno song I’ve had on my computer since like, 1998... no clue who it is, sorry, but it’s wicked awesome to run to...so really no need to publish that, whatev)

Lil Wayne – 6 ft 7 (ft Cory Gunz)

Lupe Fiasco – The Show Goes On

The Black Keys – Howlin’ For you

The Postal Service – Brand New Colony

Lykke Li – Until We Bleed

Drake – I want this forever

Atmpshere – Shotgun

Fair to Midland – Dance of the Manatee

Fat Boy Slim – Weapon of Choice

Flogging Molly  - Salty Dog

Jesse James – Wanted (ha sorry!)

Joan Jett – Bad Reputation

Kanye West – Work Out Song

Moby – Go

The White Stripes – Blue Orchid

Jay Z – On To The Next One

Madonna – Die Another Day

Cloud Cult – Exploding People

-          There’s so much energy in us  --- incase you've never heard it: