Runner Recipes - Oatmeal Apple Banana Muffins

Hello from the start of Month 3 of dealing with the COVID-19 Pandemic… such uncertain times we’re living in. With more time on my hands as I’m staying at home (as I hope you are too!), I decided to do some Quarantine Baking and got creative in the kitchen. These Oatmeal Apple Banana Muffins are quick, easy, healthy, and the star ingredient is from one of my favorite food companies, Picky Bars! I paired two muffins with a yogurt to refuel after my run today; they make a great mid-morning snack to hold you over between meals.

I had to get creative with this recipe based on what I had in my kitchen, since my grocery store trips are few and far between these days. After an omelet brunch this weekend, I didn’t have any eggs on hand, so that’s where the applesauce came in - and it was a great compliment to the apple-heavy Picky Oats. If you don’t have Picky Oats, you can use plain rolled oats, but I would recommend then adding in 1/2 cup of finely chopped almonds, 1/4 cup of chia seeds, and 3/4 cup of dried fruit of choice — because the tasty ingredients in the Picky Oats are what make these muffins shine. Happy baking!

Muffin mix ready for the oven

Ingredients
1 banana, mashed
1 cup of applesauce
1/4 cup of honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
3 cups of Picky Oats How ‘bout Dem Apples (rolled oats, almonds, chia seeds, dates, dried apples, coconut sugar, sea salt, cinnamon, ginger)
1/2 cup light unsweetened coconut milk
1 cup of dried cranberries

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Line a 12-muffin muffin tin with parchment paper or coat with nonstick spray.
3. In a large bowl, mash banana with a fork and then mix in the applesauce, vanilla extract, and honey.
4. In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients (oats, baking powder, cinnamon).
5. Add the dry ingredients to the banana/applesauce mixture; stir well.
6. Add the coconut milk and dried cranberries and mix well; add additional coconut milk for more moist muffins.
7. Divide oat mixture evenly into the muffin tin.
8. Bake for 25 minutes, or until the top of the muffins are golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Enjoy!

Muffins fresh out of the oven and ready to eat!

Olympic Trials Marathon - the final countdown!

Cue the music… it’s the final countdown to the Olympic Trials Marathon! The work is done, the miles run, the workouts complete — the hay is in the barn, as we runners are fond of saying. And on Saturday, February 29, the 500+ women who have qualified for the Trials will have the opportunity to reap the rewards of all this training and chase one of the three coveted Olympic marathon berths. I am thrilled to be toeing the line in my 4th Olympic Trials event! As I run 26.2 miles, I am eager to both compete for a top finish and CELEBRATE the past 12 years+ of training that have led to this weekend! :)

Here’s all the details on the race:

When: Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 12 pm EST

The men’s race, in which my brother Brendan Gregg (bib #13) will be competing, goes off at 12:08; the women’s race (I’m bib #29, in a yellow singlet) goes off at 12:20 pm. You can track us both by signing up for athlete tracking here and you can watch live on TV on NBC.

12 years ago, Brendan and I road-tripped from Davis, CA to Eugene, OR to watch the 2008 Track & Field Olympic Trials. Spectating in the stands at Hayward Field, our own Olympic dreams were born. And here we are today, chasing them!

The hosts, Atlanta Track Club, have put together everything you need to know about the race.

And if you’re not sick of me yet/haven’t had enough of Kaitlin on this blog and social media, here’s some recent press ahead of the marathon ;)

• Women’s Running Magazine, sharing more about my work with Safe on the Road

• For the Long Run Podcast, chatting with host Jonathan Levitt about public health, puppies, and necessary changes in our sport

And with that, it’s time to race! There’s not much more for me to say, other than THANK YOU! For reading, for following along, for supporting, for cheering, for sharing in this journey over the years. On Saturday, whether or not I make the Olympic Team, I know the race will be a success if I’ve laid everything out there, poured every ounce of myself into those 26.2 miles, and if I’ve run my race with gratitude and joy. See you on the other side! :)