I started RunEatRepeat to document training for my first marathon. But, if I’m being honest this is really a love letter to Running and Watermelon – my two great passions in life.
I love both deeply and probably too much for my own good. But I’m okay with a few unhealthy relationships in my life. I don’t care, I love it.
Sadly, I missed celebrating National Watermelon Day (Aug 3) on RER this year because I was busy running and eating watermelon, hello.
But, I think this post is going to make up for it. Because now I don’t just eat watermelon, I drink it.
Recently I came across a few articles about watermelon and it’s ability to reduce muscle soreness after hard workouts. (The study is actually from Spain and not funded by the watermelon board.) Turns out watermelon is packed with L-citrulline, an essential amino acid that helps prevent soreness.
This is AWESOME news to me and makes complete sense. I actually rarely get sore anymore and I thought it was because I am lazy don’t push myself hard enough. Nope. I’ve decided it’s because ‘a watermelon a day will keep the soreness away’. (I’m not a doctor, but you can quote me on that one.)
(source)
And in another happy turn of events, I finally found a coconut water I like! I sampled TJ’s version this week and it’s good stuff. Coconut water is great because it’s packed with the electrolytes your body needs are a sweat session.
So, I combined the science-y / magical properties in watermelon and coconut water to make a delicious post-run recovery drink.
Watermelon Workout Drink
Ingredients:
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1 cup watermelon, cubed
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1 cup coconut water
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squeeze lime
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Optional: dash salt if you are an extra salty sweater OR if the watermelon isn’t very sweet, this will help bring out the sweetness.
Blend. Drink. Repeat.
The drink will separate if you leave it, so drink immediately or share.
Question: What food would your love letter be to?
Disclaimer: I now have a partnership with the Watermelon Board. I’ve been posting my love for them for years before this though. All opinions are my own.
Hummus and I are in a committed relationship. Our love runs deep.
When I travel to Thailand I drink watermelon juice mixed with coconut milk. Very strange taste is the coconut taste. I think the juice from melon and coconut are the two of my favorite drinks. Thank you!
Watermelon juice and coconut milk are the two drinks my family enjoys the most. But I have never been kind to each other like this ever ..
Have you tried freezing this recipe??!
Can you tell us more about this? I’d want to find out more details.
I read this post fully regarding the resemblance of hottest
and previous technologies, it’s remarkable article.
pizza, and avacados, so yummy
There is a national watermelon board?! I love it! I can take out a watermelon a week by myself!
Dear parfaits or candy (or sweets in general) lol. Man I love so much food I’d have to right a lot of love letters!! I’m a lover not a fighter lol
pizza. so good for any meal of the day!
I’m totally giving this a go!!!
cheese gets my love letter. I wish I had a healthy good that topped my cheese love but even my favorite meals involve cheese.
Watermelon is high on my love letter list… but CHOCOLATE is my # 1. I guess I can call that a food?? yah?? It is basically one of my key food groups 😉
Cherries or mango. Definitely obsessed. This looks amazing and so refreshing!
Molten lava cake, peanut butter cup ice cream, Cocoa Puffs, Diet Coke, Swiss Rolls, Mac and cheese, donuts, and quinoa. Why love one when you can love many (PS not good marriage advice)?
Is it sad that I’ve been thinking about molten lava cake, just randomly?
I’m really pretty sure my love letter would be to avocados and hot tea. MMM. (not necessarily at the same time, of course!)
I like blending watermelon (and any fruit, really) and then freezing it in my ice cream maker for sorbet, yum!
will you be at the watermelon festival at the Rose Bowl this weekend?
Today, while staring at containers of cut up watermelon in the store, i had the thought that watermelon is my favorite food. Not just my favorite fruit, but food period. A big statement (especially if you knew how much i love food) but one i feel comfortable making. Also, my birthday is Aug. 4. Next year, I’m totally having a combined national watermelon day/birthday party
If I wrote a love letter to a food it would be coconuts. I love anything coconut and use it almost everyday. Coconut milk, coconut water, shredded coconut, coconut oil, etc.
Hmm, I think that drink is missing something. Specifically: tequila or vodka.
Ha! I know. You’re totally right, but this is supposed to help with hydration. Then, we can dehydrated ourselves with some of the good stuff 😉
Wait a minute! You’re telling me I’ve been hydrating improperly after my workouts?! I assumed the splitting headaches were from all that sweating and the exhausting effort…
You are all making me hungry!
I’m in a serious relationship with watermelon and running also. We’re going steady since summer!
Pizza, hummus, avocado, cheese…not necessarily in that order. That was easy 🙂
Good list! I agree with all of it.
They’ve been serving pretty much this exact drink at a local coffee shop mits delicious! My love letter would be to bread. Ahh, bread… So simple but so true.
bread yes bread BREAD I LOVE YOU!
My love letter would be to avocados. I love them! I’d eat a whole one each day if I could (and sometimes do). You can add them to almost anything and they’re a perfect condiment. Yum!
And also pizza. It’s nearly perfect. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack. Hot or cold. You can have it as a meal, or make a dessert pizza. It can include all the major food groups. Perfection. And with avocados on top, it’s even better.
Pizza! I love pizza.
Mango.
And chocolate.
Speaking of mangoes, chocolate, TJs, and coconut: I was just there and saw chocolate-covered coconut/mango bites. I almost died right there in the aisle.
P-nut buttah…no doubt about it!
i wasn’t a huge fan of coconut water when i tried it (which is weird because i really love most things coconut), but i think i might like coconut water with the addition of watermelon and lime.
my love letter would be to eggs and avocado. i just ate both for lunch and my tummy is very happy. 🙂
NACHOS!
Love it! I just saw your blog name too – perfect pick.
Peanut butter! I love all kinds and keep my cupboard stocked with at least 3 types. Favorite one right now is White Chocolate Wonderful by Peanut Butter & Co.
I think that’s the one flavor I still haven’t tried!
I would write my love letter to…. granola! sweet, crunchy, always satisfying..seriously I think we’re perfect for each other.
I love watermelon! But my love letter would be to cheese. All sorts of cheese: soft, hard, sharp, mild, cow, sheep. I love me some cheese.
My love letter would be to bananas or red wine. Total opposite sides of the health spectrum, but it’s fine 🙂
I love watermelon too. I love your drink and I have been making it for year but I add two more ingredients Blueberries and Mint Leaves. I love my Vita-Mix too.
I don’t get sore often, but when I do, it is usually after climbing to the top of a mountain and running back down.
My love letter would be to running and frozen yogurt. Pretty much two of my favorite things!
My love letter would be to garlic hummus. And that would probably be really frozen into popsicles….
Rum would probably be excellent in that drink #ijs #notafterarun
watermelon, I would totally write daily love letters to it. I eat a whole watermelon to myself every week.
I would write a love letter to froyo- I can eat it all day, every day!
I make a watermelon/coconut water drink sometimes, too, but minus the lime. I should try that next time, with a dash of salt. I always add salt when I’m eating watermelon.
That drink looks so good I want one now!
Bananas! #nannerobsessed
I love bananers too!
Oh boy — I so much wish I weren’t allergic to watermelon! This looks tasty and very refreshing after a hot run.
If I were to write a love letter to a food, it would have to be to peanut butter. Or dark chocolate. Or… oatmeal!
-Emily K
Ooooo, this looks good. I’m a mega salty sweater so would need a cup full of salt to replace what I lose each run!
My love letter would be to pesto. Or goats cheese. These ingredients tend to play a part in most of my meals!
I’m not fond of coconut water. but the drink combo actually sounds pretty tasty, kind of tropical. If I wrote a love letter it would be to… pretzels and cheese dip. ya, terribly unhealthy. i don’t eat it much now. but when I did, i did it well.
That drink looks delicious! Must try it with coconut water.
I am confused when you write “Coconut water is great because it’s packed with the electrolytes your body needs are a sweat session.” Huh?
I was probably unclear. You lose electrolytes when you sweat. Coconut water is a good post-exercise choice because it naturally contains electrolytes.
Oh my gosh, I need that watermelon mocktail! I have a pretty tasty recipe for watermelon margaritas but that won’t hydrate you nearly as well as this!
I love watermelon! Sometimes I eat it until I feel like I am going to explode .Then I eat one more bite. Your watermelon drink looks great!
Ooooh, great question, that’s tough to answer!
Strawberries. or Corn on the Cob. or Greek Yoghurt. or Eggs.
or food in general!
Food in general 🙂
My love letter would be to apples and bananas. I can’t live without them.:) But don’t worry, I sure do love me some watermelon too! 🙂
I was reading this while eating watermelon. All good things!
Cheers!
Wow that looks like a delicious recovery slushy.
Hummus and I are in a committed relationship. Our love runs deep.
Me too. I put it on eggs this week. I put it on everything actually…
Just to make this about even more things you love, I thought you’d like this because – MANATEES! http://calmingmanatee.com/
Yum… I just read about how watermelon is great for rehydrating, and now this? Awesome!
My love letter would be to guacamole. Or bacon. Or both, because really my life would not be complete without either one of those things.
Bacon tacos with guacamole! This should happen.
I swear I did not go looking for this, but stumbled across it right after I posted! http://paleomg.com/grilled-bacon-guac/
Thanks for the recipe, I love making watermelon popsicles. My love letter would without a doubt be to coffee.
I would write a letter to peanut butter. For sure. In love. Total.
Cool!! I totally didn’t know that about watermelons.
I would write a love letter to chocolate or any slow cooked meat.
My love letter would be to either ice cream (unhealthy) or blueberries (healthy)
Oh, and thanks for the tip on the coconut water…I am planning a big “Stock up” trip to TJ’s (the closest one is an hour away) next week and will try their coconut water…I also have not found a brand I like!
I’ve heard a rumor that you can ask to sample products at TJ’s. Just a thought in case you are iffy about buying a ton.
Avocado- i love you- why you be so expensive? And chocolate… but duh
Probably avocado (still jealous of your abundance)
or apples (pink lady especially)
Pink Lady apples are really good right now! I bought some last week and loved them (I’m usually a Fuji girl).
I would write a love letter to eggs – I eat way too many of them!
Me too! If I don’t have them for breakfast I make ’em for lunch or dinner.