An iron horse is said to be coming across the landscape – tunneling through mountains, spitting and hurling cinders, and blowin’ a cloud of dreary steam with every snort. Whinnying – a neigh the likes a body ain’t ever heard!
Excerpt from ‘Balfour Comes to America,’ by R.L. Peterson
Greetings again, my friends!
I’ve woven my eclectic interest and enjoyment of trains, running, and veganism into this Zero528 blog post featuring the Iron Horse Recovery Drink recipe. I hope you enjoy it!
Iron Horse Athletes
This drink is especially formulated, with “Iron Horse” athletes like Lou Gerhig and Lynn Alice Jennings in mind.
Lou’s endurance and strength earned him the nickname the “Iron Horse,” while Lynn may be alive today due to a toughness she developed in competition and a physiology built by a lifetime of running.
The Iron Horse (locomotives and trains)
I’ve taken an interest in trains since my youth. As kids, our Grandpa Ralph would take my brother Dave and me track-side to watch the trains up close and personal as they “rolled by” near our childhood home in Lamoni, IA.
Prior to the merger which produced the Burlington Northern, the red, gray, and white livery of the Burlington Route locomotives (probably SD40-2’s) pulled the tonnage of their squeaking freight train right by us. I’m certain I must have waved to the freight conductor – what little kid wouldn’t?
I had the privilage of working two years as a certified freight conductor with the Union Pacific Railroad (Cheyenne to Green River, WY). And yes, I waved at many a little kid!
Click here to compare the benefits and environmentally sustainable aspects of rail vs trucking.
Iron Horse Recovery Drink and Veganism
This Iron Horse Recovery drink is a healthy snack when coming home from a long slow distance (LSD) run, evening at the gym, or after a hard and hot day workin’ on the railroad.
The recipe is vegan – as are all the recipes on Zero528. However, some vegans might dispute the use of honey, while others might not. For all the goodness of this yummy drink, one would never imagine it was vegan.
Being vegan is a personal choice, as is not being vegan. If someone isn’t certain what being vegan entails, I simply encourage them to investigate the matter at their convenience.
“Nothing worse than pushy salesmen,” said Burt Miller on The Andy Griffith Show. I couldn’t agree with Burt more, and so I’m not one to attempt to persuade others on the sometimes sensitive topic of veganism.
Pre-race festivities at the 2016 Monster Dash in St. Paul, MN -Frankenstein and me (I’m the one on the far left), and the Wicked Witch and my Mom (far right). LOL! Mom was my good luck charm for my PR- running the 5K at 20:21! New goal…< 19:00.
For me personally, being vegan isn’t about a “diet”– it is about choices. I feel good about the choices I’ve made for me, and I feel better about myself when I consume foods which are healthy and prepared and manufactured in an ethical and sustainable manner.
In addition, I like single ingredient products; e.g., Krema/Crazy Richard’s Crunchy Peanut Butter contains ONLY peanuts.
Iron Horse Recipe
Methinks you’ll enjoy this drink.
It’s cool and refreshing, easy to make, vegan, and best of all it tastes really yummy.
Furthermore, it is a good source of protein, calcium, vitamin E, antioxidants, potassium, and fiber.
Ingredients
• 1 cup Almond Breeze Almond Milk-Original
• 1 Tbsp. cocoa
• 2 Tbsp. honey (not clover)
• 3 Tbsp. Krema/Crazy Richard’s Crunchy Peanut Butter
• 2 ripe bananas, peeled and quartered
• 10-13 ice cubes
Instructions
1. Add all ingredients into blender and mix until creamy
2. Enjoy!
3. Keep a good thought! Bob P.
Makes 2 servings…enough to share with a buddy!
Credit where credit is due:
Recipe inspired by runningveganrecipes
All photos © 2016 R.L. Peterson
Union Pacific Railroad, 2011. Simplifying Logistics: The benefits of rail in a multimodal shipping system.
Zero528 