Spring training has begun for many teams and although Spring still feels very far away –  it snowed just about every day in New England this year!  Despite the winter weather, I see dedicated runners out each Saturday training for the Boston Marathon.  We live right around mile 13 and can see the route and runners from our porch.  Having run the marathon, to raise money for cancer research at Dana Farber Cancer Institute where I work, I know firsthand the challenge of training during a harsh winter for such a hard course.  Slushy, slippery streets, freezing bone-chilling winds, reckless Boston drivers, are all part of the training process.

This juice is the perfect way to energize before your long (or even short) run.  Beets are shown to help your body better use oxygen, meaning that it takes less effort to keep the same pace.  Natural compounds in beets like nitrate are also demonstrating they can help lower blood pressure.  Peak levels of beet’s performance boosting nutrients happen around 2-3 hours after drinking.  So, wake up with this refreshing juice then tie your shoes to hit the road and train.

Here’s to all the hard-core runners training in rain, snow, sleet or shine!  Many are running this year to show our strength and honor those tragically affected by last year’s bombings and many run to raise money for important causes like the fight against cancer.  We’ll be out supporting the runners this year with delicious orange slices and juice – look for us in April at mile 13 in Wellesley!!!