In Which Jenn Makes A Recovery Smoothie

Yesterday I ran fifteen miles, but they weren’t good miles; they were the hot, sweaty, somewhat uncomfortable but entirely determined miles of a person who doesn’t know when to let Plan A succumb to Plan B, Plan B being to stop at the normal eleven miles and go home. But I had said to myself, today I shall run fifteen miles, so by God I ran fifteen miles. Then I went home, and felt a little sick for the rest of the evening.

Don’t do that, guys. Plan B is still a good one. Know when to cede to Plan B.

But my point here is not that I’m an idiot (although that’s true and something you should know about me if we’re going to be friends) but rather that by the time I had finished those dumb stupid fifteen miles, I was stumbling back to my apartment internally screaming MY KINGDOM FOR A RECOVERY SMOOTHIE, which, incidentally, makes me think first not of rightful Shakespeare but rather that scene toward the beginning of Robin Hood: Men in Tights where Cary Elwes Rents-a-Wreck.

Cary Elwes notwithstanding,* I made my recovery smoothie, and it was awesome, and while it’s not overly complicated I thought I might as well share the recipe with you, y’know? Because I am a giver.

Jenn’s Recovery Smoothie
So says the White Knight: It’s my own invention!

You will need:

• Coconut water (I usually use one single-serving container of Grace brand because it’s cheaper)

• A heaping spoonful, approx. 1/4 cup, of nonfat plain Greek yogurt (I use Chobani because a full serving of that stuff has 22 GRAMS OF PROTEIN YOWZA)

• The largest handful of spinach you can muster, about a medium-sized salad’s worth

• 1/2 cup frozen mangoes (frozen berries also work nicely, but not blueberries because yuck)

Optional additions:

• One packet EmergenC in a complementary flavor; as a general rule anything orange will work

• One serving or dose or whatever of fiber powder

Directions:

Naturally in a smoothie recipe situation it’s tempting to just say “Combine ingredients, blend, drink,” but I have discovered that the order of operations affects how effectively – and messily – your blender does its job. So, in my as-per-usual too-detailed way, here are my instructions.

1. Dump the frozen mangoes in the bottom of the blender.

2. Add your Greek yogurt on top.

3. Now pile your spinach inside.

4. If using, sprinkle on EmergenC and fiber powder.

5. Douse the whole thing in coconut water – electrolytes, baby!

6. Okay, NOW you can blend and enjoy.

I think the plain Greek yogurt, in addition to adding delightful protein, has a pleasant tang, but if you’re into something sweeter you can use a fruit-based version or add some honey or a sugar packet. You can also adjust the amount of yogurt and/or coconut water if you’d like a thinner or thicker smoothie.

How do you recover after a hard run?

* When is Cary Elwes ever notwithstanding? He’s the Dread Pirate Roberts AND Pierre Despereaux!

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