Golden Dawn Diner Hamilton NJ guacamole burger
Aug 31 2019
Golden Dawn Diner (Hamilton)

Golden Dawn Diner (Hamilton, NJ)

Recently, someone made me aware of a new diner closeby I hadn’t been too. When chatting with someone, they suggested the Golden Dawn Diner. I thought they meant the Golden Dawn Diner in Burlington, but there is also a Golden Dawn Diner in Hamilton. How many diners have the same name? The answer is: a lot.  Technically, it’s the Golden Dawn Diner III, but on the website, it says: Golden Dawn Diner.

Golden Dawn Diner Hamilton NJ

Anyway, since it is closeby, I made the trek up after work for dinner. When I arrived at the Golden Dawn Diner around 6 pm on a Saturday, it was crowded. By 7 pm, there was a wait. Clearly, the Golden Dawn Diner is a popular spot.

Golden Dawn Diner Atmosphere: A
The Golden Dawn Diner is an old school building. It’s not a big, shiny, metallic diner, but it is older looking. The inside has plenty of booths, a full-length bar, and a dessert case too. I liked the interesting window design that separated many of the booths.

Golden Dawn Diner Hamilton NJ

Golden Dawn Diner Coffee: B
The coffee at the Golden Dawn Diner in Hamilton was good, but nothing to write home about.

Golden Dawn Diner Hamilton NJ

Golden Dawn Diner Food: B
Of the restaurants in Hamilton, NJ, the menu at Golden Dawn Diner has everything you want or need in a diner. There are plenty of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options and a full page of specials.  They brought out a bread basket which came with regular dinner rolls as well as cornbread. The cornbread was delicious.

Golden Dawn Diner Hamilton NJ corn bread

I wasn’t sure what I was in the mood for, so I decided to order the Guacamole Bacon Burger. I haven’t seen that option before at a diner. The Guacamole Bacon Burger came with a lot of Guacamole. While it wasn’t fancy or unique, it was a lot. The burger itself was excellent, and the french fries were usual streak fries at a diner.

Golden Dawn Diner Hamilton NJ guacamole burger

The meal itself was delicious.

Golden Dawn Diner Hamilton NJ guacamole

Golden Dawn Diner Service: A
The waitress was friendly, and my food came out quickly. I couldn’t have asked for a better waitress at the Golden Dawn Diner.

Golden Dawn Diner Cost: $
For my Guacomaole Bacon Burger and coffee, the cost was $12.

Overall Thoughts/Would I Come Back to the Golden Dawn Diner?
I liked the Golden Dawn Diner (Hamilton). If I’m in the area again, which is likely since it’s closeby,  I will be back.

Atmosphere: B

Coffee: B

Food: B

Service: A

Cost: $8-12

Overall: B

You can see all 258 Diner Reviews here.

Questions for you:

Have you ever had a Guacamole Burger?

What is your favorite type of burger? 

 

Hollie 0 Comments
Hoka Clifton 6 Shoe Review
Aug 30 2019
Hoka Clifton 6 Shoe Review

I’ve run through most of the Hoka Clifton versions. In fact, way back when the shoe was first released, I got to try them in NYC. The Hoka Clifton is Hoka’s flagship shoe. It’s incredibly light but also extremely cushioned. It makes it a good shoe if you’ve never tried Hoka before.

I’ve put nearly 200 miles on my Hoka One One Clifton 6. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to write a Hoka Clifton 6 review.

Hoka Clifton 6 Shoe Review

Anyway, on to the review. Hoka streamlined the Clifton 6 to make it lighter and more durable than ever. Hoka’s words not mine, but I agree it’s more durable than previous versions. If you love the Clifton and previous models, you should still appreciate and like the Hoka Clifton 6.

Hoka Clifton 6 Shoe Review

Hoka One One Clifton 6 Quick Stats:

Weight: 7.4 ounces

Heel to Toe Drop: 5 mm

Hoka Clifton 6 Fit:

The updates from the Hoka Clifton 6 came primarily in the upper. It’s a much more simple design. The upper has been stripped of the printed overlays. It still has the engineered mesh upper (which makes it light and breathable). The shoe is lighter, but you still feel secure through the midfoot and heel. It’s become the perfect combination of soft and light material, but still durable.

The brand Hoka has generally run a bit big this year (the only brand that comes to mind doing so), that being said it’s not big enough I would go down a half size. I typically wear anything from a women’s size 10-11 wide. The 10.5 fits well and there is plenty of room in the toe box.

Hoka Clifton 6 Shoe Review

Hoka Clifton 6 Ride:

If you have never used the brand Hoka before, it’s a lot of cushion, but that is why they are popular. You can’t go wrong with “too much cushion,” but it also isn’t for everyone. All models of Hoka use a Metarocker, which makes you feel as though you are rolling forward.

The Hoka Clifton 6 uses “an early stage Meta-Rocker.” Hoka’s Early Stage Meta Roker shoes give the Clifton 6 shoe a quick transition from heel to forefoot.  It allows the shoe to feel smooth but not clunky.

The Hoka Clifton 6 has a large stack height (I talked about that previously in the newsletter). That large stack height is made entirely of foam which compresses under your feet.  This absorbs the shock and impact of running. It’s like a giant marshmallow under your foot.

For me personally, the Hoka Clifton 6 is a good recovery running shoe. I can run easy mileage in it without feeling weighed down. It’s not as bulky as the Hoka Bondi 6 but also not as responsive as the Hoka Rincon, Hoka Cavu 2, Hoka Carbon X, or Hoka Mach 2 (Can you tell I’ve been running in a lot of Hokas lately?).

One last note, that throughout the last few models Hoka has added more durability and traction to the bottom and high abrasion areas. It performs a lot better in bad weather, plus there is not exposed EVA that some other models like the Rincon or CarbonX have.

Hoka Clifton 6 Shoe Review

Hoka Clifton 6 Conclusion:

The Hoka Clifton 6 is a pleasant update and similar the previous version (The Hoka Clifton 5). It’s a great neutral trainer for recovery runs. If you are running in a higher cushioned shoe like the Hoka Bondi 6, it makes for a great lightweight workout or racing shoe.

Current Rotation:

Easy/Daily Runs: Hoka Bondi 6,  Brooks Ghost 12

Speed Work: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Hoka Rincon, Nike Pegasus Turbo 2

Long Runs: New Balance FuelCell Rebel, Mizuno R2, Hoka Cavu 2

Races:  Reebok Run fast Pro

You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.

Finally, have you subscribed to the LOLZletter? It’s a free newsletter that comes out each Monday. In the newsletter, I share running industry trends and things relevant to the sport. 

Hollie 1 Comments
Ridgway State Park
Aug 29 2019
Exploring Ridgway State Park (Colorado)

While in Colorado, my husband and I wanted to check out new parks.

Ridgway State Park Colorado
I got to see my first tumbleweed!

Ridgway State Park in Colorado was the perfect stop on the way to Ouray. There is a beautiful five-mile long reservoir to walk around.

Ridgeway State Park is only 15 miles north of Ouray. The park has plenty to do, including campgrounds, beautiful reservoir, fishing, hiking trails, and wildlife viewings. There is even a Volleyball court.

We stopped at the Pa Co Chu Puk Campground and walked around the area. We could see plenty of people with tent sites and full hookups. The Dakota Terrace and Elk Ridge Campgrounds look to be the most popular campgrounds, and there are accessible recreation areas. There are even a few cabins and yurts to rent.

One thing I found awesome was the Reservoir, and the Uncompahgre River was universally accessible for all. They had plenty of handicap options. There is a swimming beach located in one of the parking areas.

There are over 14 miles of marked trails in Ridgway State Park. Several of the trails are concrete and easy for biking or
rollerblading.  There are also many gravel trails for hikers wanted to be secluded. There are a variety of terrain options from grasslands, forests, and trails along the rivers. Everywhere you turn, there are beautiful views of the San Juan Mountains.

Ridgway State Park Colorado
Walking through Ridgway State Park
Ridgway State Park Colorado
View of the Reservoir
Ridgway State Park Colorado
View of the Reservoir and the San Juan Mountains
Ridgway State Park Colorado
View of the Uncompahgre River

Ridgway State Park was one of our favorite stops in our adventure. It’s accessible for all, and we saw plenty of families camping and relaxing in the Uncompahgre River. If we come back, I would love to check the campgrounds and spent a couple of nights in a cabin or yurt and on the hiking trails.

You Can See More Hikes Here. 

Questions for you:

Have you been to Ridgway State Park?

What is your favorite campground? 

Hollie 0 Comments
Me Running Philly 10k
Aug 28 2019
Philly 10k (42:15)

Last weekend I ran the Philly 10k. I’ve never run the Philly 10k before. I’ve always wanted to but the race sells out quickly and you have to sign up months in advance. The Philadephia running community is great and together with the Broad Street 10 miler, RnR Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia and Full marathon, we have plenty of great races.

This year most of my coworkers decided to run so it made it more exciting.

Coming back after my trip to Colorado has been difficult. I’m struggling with adjusting back to the time zone and I’ve been tired most of the time. The Philly 10k starts at 7:30 am so it’s an early wake up.

When my alarm went off at 5:30, I mumbled ugh what am I doing. I was excited to do the Philly 10k but my body felt stiff and I was tired.

I got to center city around 6:30, warmed up for about a mile and then headed to the start. I chatted with my coworkers and by the time I knew it, we were off.  The Philly 10k is one of the few races that runs in South Philly. If you are looking for a unique and fun course in Philadelphia, the Philly 10k is a good option. Plus it gives a competitive  6.2 mile tour of the South Philly.

Me Running Philly 10k
Thanks November Project Philly…even though I photobombed this shot at the Philly 10k 😉

One of my coworkers and I decided we were going to try and run together. We probably started a little further back and we were boxed in most of the first mile. We ran a 6:37 which I was pleased with.

Around mile 2, the race started to spread out and I found some space. Throughout the entire race, I never had a lot of space but I had more as the Philly 10k progressed.

I knew I would not be able to run 6:30s for the entire race. Around mile 3, my coworker motioned to go with her and I didn’t have the leg speed.

I hit the halfway right at 21 minutes. I hoped I would be able to maintain and run around 42 minutes.

During the second half of the Philly 10k, I just put my head down and went. We went down long straight roads. There were several parts that we were running into the headwind. I tried to tuck in behind people but couldn’t really get my groove. I hit the fourth mile in 6:50 and told myself 15 minutes to go.

The next mile was just a countdown to the finish. I ran a 6:58 fifth mile and there wasn’t much of note. I thought for sure my last mile would be over 7 but I seemed to have motivation knowing the race was almost done.

Me Running Philly 10k

We went through a few more turns and all of a sudden I hit mile 6 in 6:50. I just powered to the finish line and crossed in 42:15 chip time.

I think it’s the most amount of time between chip and gun time (nearly 30 seconds). Next time I’ll start a little further up.

Overall Thoughts:

I’m happy with my efforts at the Philly 10k. I didn’t feel great after taking most of the week off and adjusting back from vacation.

Questions for you: 

What is your favorite race distance? 

Have you been to Philadelphia before? 

Hollie 0 Comments
Snacking with sahale snacks
Aug 27 2019
Snacking with Sahale Snacks

This post is sponsored by Sahale Snacks but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. Recently I was given an opportunity to try Sahale Snacks.

Snacking with sahale snacks

How to Find Snacks for Your Daily Routine

As someone who is on the go and out of my house anywhere from 6-14 hours most days, I am always looking for easy, portable, and healthy snack ideas. Sahale Snacks turns snacking from something that helps you get through the day into a reminder to enjoy and celebrate life. I’ve also found they work for a pre-run snack, if I’m in a pinch.

I remember listening to a pro athlete; I believe Kate Grace, say I will eat anything after a run even it’s unhealthy. I want to eat something before nothing. She meant if she had the choice to eat something unhealthy versus eating nothing, she would choose the unhealthy route every time.
A few years ago, I wasn’t the best at eating anything after a run. I would typically be on the go so that I would run, shower, leave my house, and by the time I knew it, it was 3 hours later, and I was hungry. It’s not a great habit to have.

Snacking with sahale snacks

The 30 Minute Rule:

You don’t have to be “super strict,” but you should have something within 30 minutes of a workout. Even if it’s an easy run, a weight lifting session, or cross-training. You don’t need to have a full meal but a snack important. If you’re on the go, packing something in your gym bag should become standard.

Keep in mind; I’m not a doctor, so what works for me might not work for you. Little known fact, is I do have a public health degree and took hours of nutrition classes in college.

Snacking with sahale snacks

Here is How I choose Snacks:

By now, most people know there are three macronutrients: carbohydrates, protein, and fat. Each are important for your body but in different ways.

Carbohydrates:
Runners need carbohydrates, and somewhere down the line, we forgot that. In fact, carbs should be 60-70% of your total fuel. Refueling with carbohydrates is the most important for those marathon training. If you look at the staple diet of most Olympian marathoners, it’s carbs. For long-distance running carbohydrates are the primary source of fuel.

Snacking with sahale snacks

Protein:
Most athletes are aware that protein is needed for muscle growth and repair.  When you run long distances, you break down muscle. Without protein, your muscle cannot rebuild. That being said, many people runners believe “the more protein, the better,” and that isn’t necessarily the case. Protein only needs to make up about 15% of the calories for the day

Fat:
Every runner needs fat, and it’s gotten a bad rap over the years.For any endurance athlete (runner, swimmer, cyclist), fat should be about 20-30% of your diet. You might be surprised to learn (I was a while back), that adding fat will allow your body to run longer.

Snacking with sahale snacks

A Few Reasons I like Sahale Snacks as a Brand:
•          Products are thoughtfully sourced and sustainable.
•          All Sahale Snacks products are made from high-quality ingredients.
•          Sahale Snacks are Non-GMO, Gluten-Free, No Artificial Preservatives or Artificial Sweeteners
•          For dry roasting, the majority is done by electricity roasting, glazing, and packaging. To minimize

Sahale Snack’s environmental footprint, they’ve partnered with the non-profit Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF). Sahale Snacks uses clean based energy.  The older I get, and the more I get into hiking, the more important that is to me.

Snacking with sahale snacks

Plus, the Sahale Snacks Flavors are Unique and Fun. There isn’t anything boring about them!

Here are the Sahale Snack Flavors:
•          Maple Pecans Glazed Mix
•          Pomegranate Flavored Pistachios Glazed Mix
•          Tangerine Vanilla Cashew-Macadamia Glazed Mix
•          Pomegranate Vanilla Flavored Cashews Glazed Mix
•          Coconut Snack Mixes
•          Cherry Cocoa Almond Coconut Snack Mix (my favorite, between the dried cherries, coconut chips, and crunchy almonds).
•          Pineapple Rum Cashew Coconut Snack Mix

Snacking with sahale snacks

If you are looking to try Sahale Snacks, you can use their product locator. There are several locations in the greater Philadelphia area.  You don’t have to be marathon training, and as my training cycle winds down, I still find myself enjoying Sahale Snacks.

Thank you Sahale Snacks for partnering. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Questions for you:
What are some of your favorite marathon training snacks? Or any snacks?
Have you tried Sahale Snacks before?

Hollie 33 Comments
Copyright © 2020 FueledbyLOLZ
%d bloggers like this: