Refuel with Chocolate Milk and Vote for Me Too!

As runners and athletes, we know that it is important to fuel our bodies to for peak performance. We also know that it is important to refuel our bodies after our energy has been depleted after a long or hard run. In fact, it is important to replenish our muscles stored within 30 minutes of a workout.

After a workout, hydration is the main goal because a significant amount of water is lost through perspiration and not getting enough fluids can lead to fatigue, dizziness and headaches. In addition to hydration with fluids (I prefer water) your body also needs replenished with a carb-rich snack or meal that does demand the high-calorie and high-sugar counts found in many sports drinks. The key is to replace both carbohydrates and electrolytes lost during a workout and while whole grains, fruits and veggies are the best options, sometimes a drink or recovery smoothie is a perfectly good, inexpensive and quick fix.

Due to its carbohydrate to protein ration (about 3:1 or 4:1), Chocolate Milk has been found to be one of the best post-workout options to refuel muscles. It provides an optimal balance of carbs and protein and is recommended to help you refuel both after strength and cardio training. It also provides fluids and electrolytes to rehydrate and help replenish what’s lost in sweat. Choose low-fat Chocolate Milk to avoid excess sugar and fat consumption and drink no less than eight ounces to properly refuel.

Do you refuel with chocolate milk? I love a tall glass of ice-cold chocolate milk after a hard run and it is my go-to staple for recovery and a quick snack when I am pressed for time. I especially enjoy it when Chocolate Milk is available at Finish Lines – it is the first thing I look for and it is not there, I rarely drink anything else besides water until I get home!

The elite athletes, coaches and trainers of Team Refuel at Chocolate Milk know low-fat chocolate milk is nature’s premium recovery drink – a delicious and effective way to refuel your body after a hard workout. And they are looking to expand the Team with not only professional athletes, but everyday athletes like me!
I want to be a part of Team Refuel so I submitted my application and was selected to be in the contest this month! Each month, the five individual athletes who win the most votes will be invited to join the team.
I want to be one of those athletes. Please check out my submission HERE and vote for me! Search for me by name – Sara Wyen – my photo looks like this:

You can vote once a day until September 15, when the winners will be selected, but I would appreciate any vote(s) you are able to cast.

If I am one of the winners, I will be invited to join Team Refuel and each receive a $250 grant. If I won the Refuel Grant, I would use the money to continue to train and run races – including Disney’s Goofy in January 2012. I will need A LOT of Chocolate Milk to take my training to the next level and accomplish my goal of running 39.3 miles in two days! With Chocolate Milk, I know I can take my training to he next level and inspire others to do the same.

These babies will be for you, Mom!

I am planning to run The Goofy in Orlando, Florida in January 2012 with some of my running buddies and if I win, I will be using the grant money to fund my training for the 39.3 mile race over the course of two days in the happiest place on Earth! This race is special to me because, as you may or may not know, my mother loved Disney and she would be ecstatic to know my sister and I are running the Disney races. Some of my happiest memories with her are from our family vacations to Disney World. I want to run the Goofy in her memory. She would be so thrilled.

She made me a scrapbook of the last family trip we took to Disney in 2006 and this note is included on the last page:

We were supposed to go to Disney World the week after the Pittsburgh Marathon, but we did not go due to my mother’s sudden passing. I want to train as a part of Team Refuel to go to Disney World and run The Goofy in her memory. So please vote for me!

And thank you! 🙂

Until the next mile marker,

Comments

Elle @ Eat Run Sail says

August 16, 2011 at 6:01 am

You can bet I will be voting for you!

The Captain and I got married at The Grand Floridian Hotel on a balcony … just him and me and a JP and a photographer… yup, DW is the happiest place on Earth!

I don’t drink chocolae milk – not sure why as I do love chocolate and I do drink milk made into a smoothie usually, after a run… will give it a try.

Beautiful photo of You!

Sara - Words to Run By says

August 16, 2011 at 12:05 pm

WOW! I love the Grand Floridian – the weddings there look beautiful! How exciting to be married there!

Thank you so much for your support and votes, Elle! My friend from afar! 🙂 Enjoy your day!

P Konis says

August 16, 2011 at 12:24 pm

What a beautiful way to honor your mom!

I voted and I’ll keep voting! Good luck!

Julia says

August 16, 2011 at 4:42 pm

I will definitely vote for you! And I hope so much that you win and are invited to train as part of their team. I know the Goofy will be such a special event for you!

penny says

August 16, 2011 at 5:12 pm

You go girl. I voted for you.Good Luck SARA.

Sara - Words to Run By says

August 19, 2011 at 1:51 am

Thank you for your support!

Sara - Words to Run By says

August 19, 2011 at 1:51 am

Julia, thank you! Your support means a lot to me!!

Sara - Words to Run By says

August 19, 2011 at 1:51 am

Thank you so very much!!

Sara - Words to Run By says

August 19, 2011 at 1:52 am

Thank you to everyone who voted and is voting!!

RunningMandy says

September 15, 2011 at 4:07 pm

I hope you win – I voted for you as often as I could!