Well hello again from Denver. Yup, I’m still in Denver. My flight was delayed… three times. I’m seriously praying I get back to NYC tonight. Colorado has been cool and all, but this girl has a full time job and a boyfriend she’d like to get back to.
Luckily, there is free wifi in Denver Airport, so I’m already better off than I was at the hotel. I can at least get some work done and get this post scheduled while I’m here. Ok, traveling woes aside. Let’s get on to the Blend Retreat Recap Day 2! (catch up with Day 1 here)
Jayne, Erika and I woke up bright and early to get to a bootcamp workout sponsored by Gnarly Nutrition. Kindal Boyle led us through an awesome partner workout filled with plank jacks, push ups, traveling burpees (yea… traveling…), lunges, single leg races (ouch!), squats, ab work and more. I definitely worked up a sweat and was ready for some breakfast, but not before some post workout pics with the roomies and the amazing Kanoelani.
And a big group shot, of course!
Breakfast was sponsored by Flapjacked, Love Grown Foods, and Justin’s. I was especially excited to try out some cereals and granolas from Love Grown Foods because they have options that are free of everything I’m allergic to! That is SOO hard to find, you guys! Well, they did not disappoint. Yum to everything! Giselle also came around to share some goodies from her personal sponsor, AboutTime. I’d seen this brand floating around the blogosphere and got really excited for some samples because their protein is also free of everything I’m allergic to! What a great morning for food allergies!
And thennnn Justin, the mastermind behind Justin’s nut butters, showed up! You would have though Brad Pitt had just walked in the room the way we all go excited and were snapping pics. I guess healthy living/fitness bloggers just love guys that make nut butter…
After breakfast, it was time for a hike! The Flatirons are SO beautiful! We started out on a paved trail that quickly became a dirt trail. It was a fairly easy (slow and steady incline) but gorgeous hike. We passed a few trail runners (or should I say they passed us), and I have to say – I am very impressed by them. There were moments on that trail where I was going pretty slow to avoid wiping out in the mud and these runners were just plowing through and dodging rocks and sticks, not to mention the elevation! Rock stars. Anyway, we trekked up for about 45 minutes or so and then turned around and made our way back. Thankfully, we didn’t get lost like last year! I really enjoyed being out in nature and chatting with some of my fellow bloggers as well as some of the great sponsors from Quest.
After the hike, we enjoyed a snack break hosted by Earth Balance and checked out all the sponsors in the expo room. Quest made us some delicious smoothies, I tried some more chunky pints from Arctic Zero, sipped on iced chai tea from Bhakti Chai, munched on some paleo goodies from WB Kitchen and got the most amazing coffee of all time from Marley Coffee (for real – best coffee ever).
After that, we had some free time to explore Boulder. The roomies and I decided to head to downtown Boulder to check out a local farmers market. We met up with Mollie and Kait, and had a blast perusing through all the local vendors. A bunch of us bought the most delicious walnut butter in the world from Life of Riley Foods. It’s so light and fluffy. Almost like frosting! I can’t wait to see what I can make with it.
After that, we went back to the cottages, showered up, and headed back to Pearl St for some more exploring and then a big group dinner at a Latin American restaurant called Aji. The Brazilian seafood stew I ordered was super yummy, but it was even more tasty because I enjoyed it over some great conversations with all my blends!
With full bellies and tired feet (we’d walked about 12 miles total that day!), we headed back to our little cottage and drifted off to dream about day 3. Stay tuned!
Let’s Chat:
Have you ever done a traveling burpee?
Ever had walnut butter?
Longest you’ve ever been stuck in an airport – and go!
Bloggers mentioned in this post:
Jayne – The Busy Barista
Erika – For the Love of Peanut Butter
Kindal – Lifting Revolution
Giselle – My Healthy Happy Home
Mollie – Mollie’s Sprinkles of Life
Kait – Chickadee Says
Can’t believe you’re still stuck in Denver! Oh and I probably would have flipped my ish too if I met the man behind Justin’s! Hope you get home safe SOON!
Annmarie recently posted…Six Gluten Free Skoop Recipes + 25% Off Discount!
Justin… le sigh…
This looks super fun- I think I would feel old! Everyone looks so young!
Barrie recently posted…Potato Pancakes Redux: Whole 30 Healthier Version
There’s actually a HUGE range of ages! That’s part of what makes it so great 🙂
Looks like a great time! I live in Denver why didn’t I know about this? Ugh 🙂 So glad you had a good time and got so much great stuff to try. 🙂
Ivanna recently posted…Choosing a Plant Based Diet (Thrive at 35 #1)
oh man! It would have been so great to have you there. If it’s in Boulder again next year, you have to come!
I got stuck in the Denver airport for a whole day once too… but I think you win the cake for overall travel delays. Hope you are home????
The trip looks awesome! I’d love to hike there!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Black Bean Salsa
I am home! Finally! Woo! At least Denver airport had good wifi!
I cannot believe you are still stuck in the airport!! omg… I’d be going nuts. Looks like an amazing second day! all that food looks, oh so good.
Mar @ Mar on the Run recently posted…Weekend Update: Learning the Fundamentals
I’m finally home and couldn’t be happier to be on my couch instead of the floor of an airport terminal haha! But it was a great weekend, travel nightmares aside.
I don’t think I ever want to try a travelling burpee. Ew 🙂
I NEED to try walnut butter. Like, need!
Girl, I hope you get home soon. Sheesh! What. A. Pain.
Ange @ Cowgirl Runs recently posted…I Am Enough
hahahaha. Maybe walnut butter at the end of the traveling burpees will make them worth it? … nah probably not… haha!
Wow that’s lots of eating!! LOL. Looks like a blast I hope I can make it one of these years.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Southwestern Pasta Salad w Cilantro Lime Vinegarette
So much good food! And yes! Next year! You’re coming!
Sorry to hear that you’re having so much trouble getting back to NYC! Air travel is sometimes the worst, especially when its bad weather!
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…What Worked During My Last Half Marathon Training…And What I Hope Will Work Again
It’s the worst, but I suppose it’s better than never being able to travel anywhere, right?!
No traveling burpees or walnut butter here. Clearly I am deprived. I think I blocked out how long I’ve been stuck in an airport.
Marcia recently posted…Eating Smart is Easy with Orange Chef Countertop
I don’t think you’re deprived of the burpees haha – but the walnut butter yes! You must try it.
Oh I’m obsessed with Justin’s nut butter!! This sounds like an amazing retreat. I want to go next time! And those flat irons are amazing! I know I said this last time but I definitely miss Colorado!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…Weekly recap–blogger meetups and a proud mama moment
Come next year! It’s so amazing!
That scenery! I would be having a field day!
I have done traveling burpees (shakes fist).
Never had walnut butter, but I bet it’s delicious!
Jenn recently posted…disney dream: boarding the big boat
haha I’m totally going to shake my first at burpees now. I’m so sorry you’ve had to do traveling burpees but I’m happy I’m not alone in the pain haha
BLEND!!!!!!!!! 😀 😀 😀 I remember I was toying with the idea of going last year. Completely forgot about it this year 🙁
Sorry to hear about you being stuck in Denver — This happens to so manyyyyyyy! I lived in Boulder for 4.5 years and I cannot tell you how much trouble DIA has given people. It never gave me too much crap, but hey, it still could!
GiGi Eats recently posted…This Chick Gets A Makeover: Chick-Fil-A
awe nuts! would have loved to see you there!
Gosh, what a great place to be stuck! I hope you’re home now…
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Appreciation: I am enough
I am. FINALLY! WOo!
You darn right I’m interested. I hear a retreat calling me like VERY SOON so I just need to save my little coins and make it happen. Looks like you guys had a ball!
Diatta @ Femme Fitale Fit Club recently posted…Meal Monday: Blue Apron Review
Yey yey! I hope I get to meet you at one soon 🙂
I had thought about Blend Retreat this year, but couldn’t make it work. Maybe next year. Looks like it was lots of fun. As far as stuck in airport…umm, I was stuck in the Austin airport at the end of one of my SXSW trips for 16 hours. That was seriously painful.
Shalama recently posted…Wear Blue Memorial Day Run
16 hours. YUCK! I hope you can make it to Blend next year – it’s really amazing!
What a fun retreat even though you got stuck in Denver at the end. So many goodies to try. I absolutely love Boulder and the hiking in the Flatirons is fantastic
Sandra Laflamme recently posted…1 Mile Fun Run and a Triathlon Brick Workout
The hiking was amazing! I definitely want to go back and hike different trails and mountains 🙂
I went with the cashew butter. Thanks for being my partner in the boot camp!
Julie recently posted…Treat Yourself Tuesday: Simple Mills
ooo yum!!! And of course! You’re the best partner 🙂
what a great blog conference in a beautiful setting!! 🙂 what a great experience! 🙂
rachel recently posted…Learning About Going Gluten Free with Udi’s Gluten Free
It really was! I want to go back!
Wow, this retreat looks amazing. I’ve never heard of it before but I’d love to check it out for next year.
I totally know what you mean about having a fan girl moment when Justin from Justin’s nut butters walked in the room. He was standing in front of me at a press event for Expo West back in March and I felt the same way!
Lindsay @ Fit & Awesome recently posted…On The Road with thinkThin®
It’s awesome! I’ll keep you posted when the announce next year’s :). And Justin! Ahh so amazing!