Mixed Berry Sorbet Recipe & Half-Marathon Update

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Mixed Berry Sorbet Recipes & Half-Marathon Update

“Where are they? Where are they? I just need to see them. Please let me see them.” As I ran down the final stretch of the half-marathon course, all I could think of was finding my family in the cheering crowd corralled behind the metal gates. The sound of my pounding feet and labored breathing filled my ears as I scanned the crowd desperately. And then I heard them and saw them simultaneously. “Go Dara! Go Mum! You can do it, you’re almost there!” That was all I needed. I mustered the last ounce of energy and kicked it into gear for the last block, passing the runner in front of me and stumbling over the finish line in 1:51:04, well ahead of my 1:59:59 goal.

Tears filled my eyes as the kindly volunteer put the finsher’s medal over my head. “I did it. I really did it,” I whispered to myself in disbelief.

HalfMarathonCollage1

As I stood at the starting line a couple of hours earlier, the supportive words of Cindy of Once Upon a Loaf, who is also a certified running coach, rang in my ears. “Don’t be afraid of an aggressive pace if you are warmed up and nothing’s snapping, crackling or popping. Chances are your body will adapt to it after just a bit.” And then, “You’d be suprised what you can do that you thought you couldn’t pace-wise. You can always back off if you go through a bad patch. Go for it!” And I did. I really went for it. I ran like I meant it.

I ran hard in the first half of the race, playing around with that aggressive pace, wondering if I could sustain it for the whole race. Halfway through the run, I started scanning the sidewalk for my friend, Kalyn of Kalyn’s Kitchen, who promised to station herself along the route to cheer me on. And then there she was, clapping and cheering. Thank you, Kalyn! I needed that.

All went well until mile 10. My breathing started to labor and I forced myself to slow down slightly. Just three more miles. Just a walk in the park. Yeah, right. I regained my composure and pushed on through the next mile and a half. And then came the hill, the one between miles 11.5 and 12.5. As my friend said, “Who is the dumb ass that thought it was a good idea to put a hill at the end of a half-marathon and marathon course?!” I concur. I hit the proverbial wall and found that my mind was incapable of sending a signal to my legs to go any faster. How badly I wanted to walk, but I knew I would never start running again if I stopped. So I chose a runner in front of me and stayed focused on her, letting her pace carry me up the hill.

HalfMarathonRunning

As we turned the last corner, I spotted the finish line. How could five blocks look so long? How was I ever going to make it? I dug deep, deeper than I’ve ever dug before and willed my legs to carry me down the road. “Come on, Dara. You can do it. Don’t give up,” I said out loud to myself. And there was my family…and then the finish line. It was worth every grueling minute of those last miles. It was worth every mile I trained over the last months, every weight I lifted and every calorie I cut. It was the culmination of my journey and an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction overtook me.

The morning was topped off with my husband and I watching our two boys run the kids’ marathon (1 km run). They took off like a shot at the start and sprinted at full speed towards the finish line several minutes later. The looks of excitement and victory on their faces as they clutched their medals was great to see. Hopefully we’ll be watching many more races in the future.

All I craved right after the race was something cold, wet and sweet. This easy sorbet would fit the bill perfectly after a run or on any hot day.

The recipe:
Adjust the amount of agave nectar/honey/sugar in this recipe according to the sweetness of the berries you are using. If you wish, start with a little less sweetener, then taste the mixture after pureeing. If it needs to be sweetened, you can add more at that time.

In a medium bowl, stir together strawberries and sugar. Let the strawberries rest for 15 minutes to release the juices (macerate).

Place strawberries and the juices, and lemon juice in a blender. Puree until the mixture is smooth.

Set fine mesh sieve over the bowl, pour in the strawberry puree and press the juices through the sieve. Discard the solids left in the sieve. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.

MixedBerrySorbetCollage1

Pour strawberry puree into ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer’s instructions.

Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for at least 3 to 4 hours. Let the sorbet sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes before serving.

MixedBerrySorbetCollage2

Other fruit sorbet recipes:
Cookin’ Canuck’s Easy Strawberry Sorbet
The Cilantropist’s (on Cookin’ Canuck) Orange Cantaloupe Sorbet
Food for My Family’s Watermelon Lime Sorbet Slices
Swapna’s Cuisine’s Lemon Sorbet with Mint Leaves

Mixed Berry Sorbet

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size
Amount Per ServingAs Served
Calories 279kcal Calories from fat 9
% Daily Value
Total Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 0g0%
Sodium 3mg0%
Carbohydrate 72g24%
Dietary Fiber 9g36%
Sugars 56g
Protein 2g

Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:

Calories2000
Total FatLess than65g
Sat FatLess than25g
CholesterolLess than300mg
SodiumLess than2,400mg
Total Carbohydrate300g
Dietary Fiber25g

From the kitchen of Cookin Canuck. www.cookincanuck.com

Serves Makes about 3 cups     adjust servings

Ingredients

  • 6 cups mixed berries (such as blueberries, blackberries & raspberries)
  • 1/3 cup agave nectar, honey or granulated sugar (or more/less depending on sweetness of fruit)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

Instructions

  1. In a medium bowl, stir together berries and agave nectar/honey/sugar. Let the berries rest for 15 minutes to release the juices (macerate).
  2. Place the berries and the juices, and lemon juice in a blender. Puree until the mixture is smooth.
  3. Set fine mesh sieve over the bowl, pour in the berry puree and press the juices through the sieve. Discard the solids left in the sieve. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  4. Pour berry puree into ice cream maker and process according to manufacturer's instructions.
  5. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze for at least 3 to 4 hours. Serve.

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Recipe Notes

Let the sorbet sit on the counter for 15 to 20 minutes to soften before serving.

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Comments

  1. Congrats on your half-marathon! And what an awesome time. You did so well, even with that ridiculous hill at the near-end. I’ve recently become a runner and I’m running 6 miles right now but hopefully I can get that up a bit higher so I can run a half-marathon soon. Thanks for the inspiration! And great looking sorbet. I really need to get the kitchenaid attachment.

    Reply

  7. Another big congratulations to you! I hope you’re feeling less sore this morning and how great that you got to share the morning with your family! 🙂

    Reply

  8. Girl, you rocked it. That is a fantastic time! I’d love it if you were nearer to me, we could run together because it sounds like we’d pace well together.

    Reply

  9. Congrats!!! What an awesome time you made- so great!! I was just happy to finish 🙂 I love that your boys are into it too… I’ve encouraged my son, and he loves to run 5K’s now. yay for you!!!!!

    Reply

  10. Dara, I’m standing here at my computer crying! What a GREAT race story! Congrats to you on your awesome time, running the whole way, beating that damn hill, and just signing up for the race in general!!! WOOT!!!

    Red-faced runners rule!!!

    Reply

  11. This post brought tears to my eyes. You don’t know me and I don’t know you, but I’m so proud of you! I’ve completed two half marathons and this post brought me back to those miles and the feeling of seeing the finish line. Congratulations 🙂

    Reply

  26. It was so great to see you run by, and how exciting that you beat your goal time by so much! I am thrilled for you.

    Love the sound of the berry sorbet. I seem to be having a renewed interest in fruit lately and I would love this.

    Reply

  27. YOU. Are just a wonder. Congrats on the huge success of trusting your training and pushing yourself to a new level. As I said, you’re a BIG DOG now! 😉 I love that your kids ran, too – best feeling in the world to enjoy the fun and sport of it as a family, and you and your husband are amazing role models.

    And this sorbet looks incredible – I’m thinking next Sunday after the long run! Maybe it will be warm for a change? And Asian quesadillas to go with it. 🙂 Have a great week and recover well!

    Reply

  31. Hi Dara!

    Congratulations!

    How wonderful to come in under your goal! Your family must be so proud of you.
    And what a wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

    I remember when my DH did the Berlin Marathon (back to back with Paris), and qualified for the Boston marathon. (He shaved off 20 minutes from his Paris time.)
    He was on cloud nine forever! And my pride in him for accomplishing it was boundless.

    Have a Joyful Day :~D

    Charlie

    Reply

  32. I love your story; mostly because I’ve lived it a bit albeit many years ago. To combat the stress of a husband who walked out on our family for a young twit I starting walking every morning. Which led to running a little bit and eventually running a neighborhood 5K within a year…and winning it!

    The win was not as big of a deal as the accomplishment of doing something I would never have imagined at one time in my life. Half marathon…never happened! But I enjoy your relating your event and especially how you kept going when you hit that wall…really wish we could have all been there cheering you on (well in some ways we were); what a huge accomplishment.

    Reply

  36. Congratulations – and I am sitting here at my desk trying to psych myself up to try to go 3 miles…getting ready for a 5K I’m NOT ready for in 2 weeks!

    Thanks for the encouragement.

    Reply

  38. Congratulations Dara. Thanks for taking me along on your 1/2 Marathon journey in your writing, today. I could read the determination and emotion in your words. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply

  47. Congrats Dara!! Loved reading all about your 1/2 marathon experience. It is such a huge deal to cross that finish line no matter what length of race. You really have so much to be thankful for. I bet this sorbet was quite the treat to come home too. Congrats to your sweet boys too! xo

    Reply

  49. Congratulations Dara!!! You are amazing! What an accomplishment. I hope to be where you are someday. Right now I’m at the first leg of the race but I’ll get there…I’m determined.
    I’ll have to remember to whip up some of this gorgeous sorbet for a well earned reward.

    Reply

  57. What a wonderful retelling. Biggest congratulations! And this sorbet looks so delicious. I’m glad I finally had a chance to visit. I’ve been just swamped with work and school. But as always, your post brought a smile to my face. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  60. Congratulations! What an awesome accomplishment! I started running last August and have done only 2 5K’s and this weekend I’m doing my first 10K. I’m nervous! Can’t imagine doing more than double that mileage!! GOOD FOR YOU!!!!

    Reply

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