I have turned into quite the morning running!! I’m enjoying my 4 milers so much.
However I can honestly say it it were winter and dark and/or cold outside, I would NOT be doing them. Morning runs are definitely a summer thing for me! Midway through my music died, so it was just me and my lungs out for a jog. I managed to keep all 4 miles in the 8:30s, so I was breathing hard! I prefer music on my runs, but sometimes silence is golden.
Once home I decided it had been way too long since I’d had oats!
I made a fabbbbbulous bowl of Blackberry Cheesecake oats – complete with cottage cheese + graham cracker crust (actually a Carr’s cracker!)
This was a recipe I featured in O Magazine!
Blackberry Cheesecake Oats
- 1/3 cup oats
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk
- Pinch salt
- 1/2 tbsp chia seeds
- 1 small super ripe banana
- 1/3 cup Organic Valley cottage cheese ( <—my favorite!) stirred in at end
- 10 blackberries, stirred in at end
- 1 Carr’s Whole Wheat Cracker, crumbled
- Smucker’s PB
- Coconut sprinkle
If you really want it to taste like cheesecake, mix some maple syrup or sugar with some whipped cream cheese (which I actually have but didn’t think to do!) and put it on top in place of the peanut butter!
All you NUT BUTTER LOVERS: Justin’s is back with 4 smashing flavors for $26 (<—how appropriate!). There are only about 200 available, and last time they sold out in a few hours, so check your inbox any minute!
Have a fabulous Monday!!
{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice job on the run! 4-milers have become my favorite distance too lately- long enough to feel like I’ve gotten in a good run but short enough so that I can maintain the momentum! I swear by Monday morning runs!
I can get behind any breakfast with cheesecake in the title! And that’s a great deal for the nut butters. I absolutely adore that I can get single packets by them!
I’m gonna have to try the whipped cream cheese topper! Delicious!!
Morning runs (before I got injured) used to be my absolute favorite. There’s nothing better than heading out when the whole day is still in front of you and everything is just still and quiet. It just starts the day off on the best foot (literally!
)!
I agree with khushboo – 4miles is almost the perfect distance
I’m definitely a morning runner too – I just don’t run well with a breakfast and a lunch in my belly! I don’t know how people do it sometimes :/
Now that I’m a big girl (read: not a college student or intern) I have decided to start doing morning runs before work. Today was day one. I love (always have) running when the world is calm and quiet-but with music blasting in my ears.
Yum, love your different version of cheesecake oats:-) Summer morning runs are wonderful, I need to do more running outside while I have the chance!
Nut butter love and a oats: a pretty good start to a Monday!
Yum! That recipe looks delicious, and I love that your oatmeal was featured in O Magazine. So fun.
4 miles sounds like a great way to start the day. I have been meaning to get up and run 3 miles a few mornings a week, but need to force it. It hasn’t happened yet, mostly because I’ve been waking up really hungry.
Anyone have a solution to this?
Eat something!?!? And drink too. Often my morning hunger is thirst. Try dates before your run.
I love starting out with a great run! It is truly my favorite way to get the day going, and your elated good mood continues for the rest of the day.
I remember reading that recipe in O magazine, I will be sure to try this soon
I’m only bummed to see that choc hazelnut butter isn’t included — that is the best!
What a great deal onthose nut butters! I may have to get them!
I lvoe morning runs also – but last week I went out too early. It was scary. I felt like someone could grab me off the street an no one would know because the streets were pretty deserted. No more5am runs. I will haev to wait til 6 at the earliest!!
That looks like way more than 1/3 cup of oats – very voluminous!
I so agree that silence while running is golden! So glad you’re enjoying your morning runs!
Hope you have a great day!
Sometimes the silence is great. Other times it makes me focus on how hard I”m breathing and makes me feel more tired than I think I actually am.
Nice job on the run!! It’s amazing how workouts can be so dependent on music (well, if you’re used to listening, that is). Luckily my ipod has only died on me once mid-run and it was hard to keep my mind occupied with other things for the remainder since I was on the treadmill. Have a great day Kath!
I think I can only run without music for at most three miles. After that, I need some beats to get me moving!!
Check out that coconut dusting…!
oh my o magazine,fabulous!! and where did you get that bowl ??? i love it! i do 2 miles a morning but on the treadmill. it feels so good to exercise:)
diana from oklahoma
It’s called a Buddha bowl – from OpenSky!
I’ve never had cottage cheese in oats before. I’ve recently fell in love with cottage cheese. So I am curious to see what it tastes like in oats! Love the sprinkled coconut on top!
Open Sky doesn’t ship to Canada, right??
Boooo…cause either does Justin’s Nutbutter and I neeeeeed some Maple Almond and I’m almost out of Chocolate Hazelnut…
Mmmmm, cheesecake oats! I think I’ll try it with strawberries. I have trouble running with music because I’m in marching band so I can’t not step with the beat, and I lose my rhythm when the song changes :/
Just double checked…and no shipping to Canada…
Oh, my favorite blue buddha bowl!
Love early summertime workouts too!
Can’t wait to hear re. your bakery shenanigans this week…
Wow awesome deal on the Justin’s. I hope I can get to it before they sell out, but I’m about to leave for yoga. I definitely agree about the morning runs. Whenever I can get in a work out in the morning, the whole day is brighter!
Thanks for the great nut butter deal!
Wow, Carr’s Whole Wheat crackers on oats…I did that very thing this Saturday! As my toppers, I used Peanut Flour to make peanut butter, crumbled up 2 Carr’s and then put a few vegan chocolate chips on top…was amazing. Those crackers are addicting!
4 miles is my favorite distance! Just long enough to feel hard, but short enough to not feel intimidating
Best thing about morning workouts is getting them done before the day has really even started. Loved that!
Yay for the Open Sky promo! I can’t wait to purchase
Blueberry cheesecake oats looks yummy!
Blackberries are so good right now – I got the biggest ones I’ve ever seen at the farmer’s market this weekend! This morning I rolled with zucchini oats. Sounds weird, but you HAVE to try it. It’s like zucchini bread!
Plus, green oats are cool.
Summer runs are THE BEST! While I don’t know how to send the image, I had to let you know that I just saw your ad on Weather Channel.com!
I don’t run often ( more of a biker) but I love the silence while I bike! Maybe it’s different when you run
That oatmeal looks delicious! Must try it. Also wanted to commend you on keeping up with frequent posts despite your busy schedule! Your blog is such a sanity-saver when the bus is late!
those whole wheat crackers are calling my name. i usually only eat them at parties!
yes I love working out outdoors in the summer, especially in the morning … don’t you find that the air smells so good in the morning
Cream cheese in oats?? Oh good heavens…I have that in the fridge right now too! A few people suggested ricotta cheese instead of cottage cheese for the cheesecake oats, which sounds insanely delicious as well! I’ve been craving a run lately, but really need to start working at it slowly with the vibrams again! Have a great week!
I did that whipped cream cheese frosting thing a couple weeks ago on top of some peachy oats. Yumm, peaches ‘n cream!
4 miles is definitely one of my favorite lengths. That, or 6. They’re quick and the perfect amount the get that runner’s high!
This is totally off topic, but I was in Clackamas Oregon this weekend and we visited a Great Harvest for the first time! I have fallen head of heels for the Dakota bread! I was so impressed with everthing that I have started looking into the buisness more. I now see why you guys are so passionate about what you do.
so true, running in the a.m. is for the SUmmer!!
What a yummy breakfast! What you ever changed up the berries?
Congrats on your contributions. Very exciting!
Your nut butters always look so nice on top of the oatmeal creasions. Do you heat the peanut butter or other nut butter before putting on your oatmeal? Sometimes my nut butter just lands like a big lump in the center (but still just as tasty of course)!
Nope! they just kind of melt in!
Being that we have never tried almond butter before in our household, and I read about how good for you and yummy it is, I had to get some. I just bought our first jar of almond butter the other day, and it is so good!
http://faithfulsolutions.blogspot.com/
I ordered 2, I LOVE me some Justin’s Nut Butter!!!
Silence is Golden…my favorite Garbage song!
I’ve only run once without music, but I always bike in silence. It’s pretty nice (and much safer!)
I love your bowl! Do you know where you bought it from? x
It’s a Buddha BOwl and I got it through OpenSky a while back. You can get them from the website too.
Running outdoors is definitely a summer thing for me too. I miss it so much during our super long winters!
LOVE these photos!!
I still sometimes wish you and Matt had opened an oatmeal restaurant instead of a bakery
woo i so pounced on that opensky deal. (i was out from last time’s.) haha so exciting!
I love all your dishes… it’s something I notice in every post! And I’m jealous of your motivation to get running so early. Morning runs are something I gave up on a looong time go
Mmmmm… I love Justin’s nut butters. I had his chocolate hazelnut on an apple yesterday and it’s spread on a slice of multigrain toast in my brown bag for lunch today!