Athletes Rejoice in Lowfat Chocolate Milk!!

Good News for Chocolate Milk Fans: 

Sassy Cow Creamery Introduces Lowfat Chocolate Milk

Sun kissed summer days brings kids and adults outdoors for fun-filled family vacations, sports or simply playing games in the backyard. To keep the family fueled this summer and every day with a natural nutritious choice, Sassy Cow Creamery introduces Lowfat Chocolate Milk.

Starting June 22, Sassy Cow Creamery Lowfat Chocolate Milk will be available in pint, quart and half gallon sizes at select local grocery, natural foods stores and the Farmstead Creamery, located just 7 miles north of Sun Prairie.

Sassy Cow Creamery makes it easy for adults and kids to get essential nutrition with local, flavorful and nutritious lowfat chocolate milk. With fewer calories, less sugar and fat than traditional chocolate milk this local product comes direct to consumers straight from the Baerwolf family farm.

With today's emphasis on healthy lifestyles and wholesome, essential nutrition for kids and adults we are pleased to offer consumers a local choice of lowfat chocolate milk, says James Baerwolf along with his brother Robert Baerwolf. Combining our farm fresh milk with pure cocoa and a dash of cane sugar creates Sassy Cow Creamery Lowfat Chocolate Milk.

A taste kids and grown-ups will crave, Sassy Cow Creamery Lowfat Chocolate Milk starts with a key ingredient high-quality milk from the cows at the Baerwolf family farm and within hours of milking is made into lowfat chocolate milk at the Farmstead Creamery, making truly a fresh, local product. 

Nutrition and public health experts agree that milk is an important part of a healthy diet. In every glass of Sassy Cow Creamery Lowfat Chocolate Milk, there are eight essential nutrients, including protein, calcium and vitamins A and D, fuel your mind and body. Together, these essential nutrients help build strong bones, lean healthy muscle and keep a family full and satisfied.

Athletes too enjoy the nutritional and performance benefits of chocolate milk to rebuild muscle tissue after a strenuous workout. A body needs high-quality proteins to recover.  Chocolate milk provides the ideal ratio of carbohydrates to protein needed to replenish energy.

Sassy Cow Creamery is owned and operated by third-generation dairy producersóbrothers James and Robert Baerwolf and their families. Visitors at the farmstead can follow the milk from cow to creamery as they watch traditional and organic milk bottling and premium ice cream making through a viewing window.

One can sample the all new low-fat chocolate milk at Sassy Cow Creamery summer events hosted on the farm, including: June Dairy Month Celebration on June 23, Summer Farm Celebration on July 21 and Ice Cream Social on August 25 where a new ice cream flavor will be unveiled.    

Who doesn't love Chocolate Milk?

The Mini is proud to partner with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board and Sassy Cow Creamery again this year!  You can look forward to a refreshing chocolate milk as part of your post race recovery!

The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board (WMMB), a nonprofit organization funded by the state’s dairy farmers, promotes the consumption of Wisconsin Cheese and other dairy products nationally as well as locally in Wisconsin. The dairy industry contributes more than $26.5 billion a year to Wisconsin’s economy, helping to support local businesses and communities throughout the state.  Through sponsorships, partnerships and educational programs, WMMB strives to influence consumers, foodservice professionals and retailers in Wisconsin to source dairy products locally.

Slowing down in the heat

Did you know it takes approximately two weeks of consistent running in the heat and humidity to acclimate to warmer conditions?  With the sudden onset of summer like temperatures it’s no wonder this past weekend was a difficult one for runners and race organizers!

Today’s FB quote was selfishly meant for me.  I had a horrible training run on Saturday and was really feeling down about it.  It stuck with me for a couple hours before I realized I should practice what I preach.  It’s true everyone has bad days.  Especially with the change of season, and our first real taste of Summer temperatures.  Slowing down and running smart is not a bad thing.  It’s you as a runner taking responsibility for yourself and listening to your body.  Be kind to yourself!  There will be other races and there will be other days to train.  Don’t beat yourself up!  Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! 

For those of you running the Madison Marathon Memorial weekend prepare mentally and physically this week.  Take in extra fluids, really use your rest days like you should (resting) and enjoy next weekend.  Every race doesn’t have to be a PR.  I know we’re all runners and think like runners pushing with everything we have.  But don’t forget to be kind to the body that works so hard for you when you put your training miles in.  Take care of it now, and it will reward you for many more races to come!

Here are some other tips for running in the heat:

1) Remember that thirst is not an indicator of dehydration. Once you are thirsty, you are already low on fluids.

2) During your run, drink about 4 to 8 ounces of water and/or sports drink every 15 to 20 minutes.

3) Weigh yourself before and after your run. Drink 16 ounces of fluid for every pound of weight lost. *Important note here... do not use this as a method of weight loss!

4) Apply a sunscreen of at least SPF #15. Make sure that it is a non-drip formula that won't drip into your eyes.

5) Wear sunglasses that filter UVA and UVB rays and/or wear a cap with a visor.

6) Wear light-colored micro-fiber clothing.

7) If you run in the morning, you'll avoid the heat, but may encounter a higher humidity. The air quality is also better in the morning, since ozone levels increase soon after dawn, peak at midday, and then again in the early evening. Times to avoid running are noon till 3pm.

8) Eat salty foods and drinks such as pretzels and tomato juice.

9) Check the Heat Index Chart for apparent temperature. This is the number that calculates the air temperature with the relative humidity to determine what the temperature feels like and if there is a risk of a heat-related illness.

So Many Reasons to Run

It’s May, and for most of us that means an official start to race season.  While many of us choose to train and run all year, there’s something about the month of May that fuels the fire within.  You can open up the race calendar and literally find a distance that suits your needs just about any weekend.

It’s the time of year when your non-running friends ask you again how long a marathon is or your family, (god bless them) knows your weekend training runs get longer and your pantry overflows with Gatorade, GU, or whatever new nutrition products you’re trying out.

Running isn’t always awesome.  It’s kind of a love/hate relationship.  There are some days when you just can’t get your butt out the door.  There are some days when that little voice in your head is screaming: “why are you doing this?”  But when you push past that annoying little voice and start remembering all the reasons why you love to run - you grow stronger.  That voice gets silenced and a more driven, focused you emerges.  Running gives us confidence, a sense of accomplishment and a feeling that nothing else can replace.

You don’t have to be fast.  You don’t have to be lean.  You just have to have the desire and determination to put one foot in front of the other.  On race day it doesn’t matter if you cross the finish line first, last or somewhere in between.  What matters is that you set a goal and you don’t give up.  The course is the same for everyone.  Your journey to get there is your own.