It’s October, so naturally, everyone has gone pumpkin-crazy! I’ll try to overlook the fact that it is still 90 degrees in Fort Worth and join in on the fun while I’m over here sweating buckets, praying for cooler temperatures. There’s no denying that Autumn is the most Runderful time of the year for runners, I even wrote a song about it. After a suffocating summer, the brisk mornings of Autumn will bring pep to our paces.

For ‘Flashback Friday,’ I’ll share three posts with healthy pumpkin ideas, because while I won’t dare suggest you forgo your pumpkin spice latte; pumpkin pies and lattes aren’t the best topics for a health and fitness blog. Instead, I’ll share a healthy pumpkin protein shake, a pumpkin workout, and a post-workout pumpkin spice muffin recipe!

I started sharing a weekly ‘Flashback Friday’ to revisit some of the original posts from the early days of this blog. As I grow, I am sure there are many posts new readers missed the first time around, and it allows me to update and add new thoughts to blog posts of the past.

In the spirit of Flashback Friday, I thought I’d share a blast from the past photo so that you can laugh with me about my awkward childhood and the big hair of my youth. I’m not sure what’s cuter, my rendition of Little Bo Peep or my big sister and her best friend as a two-headed monster. What do you think?

HEALTHY PUMPKIN EVERYTHING

PUMPKIN PROTEIN SHAKE RECIPE

In the spirit of pumpkin season, I’ll start with a pumpkin-flavored protein shake. With a delicious combination of carbs from pumpkin and protein, this seasonal protein shake makes a perfect post-workout recovery drink.

Click here to drink up to fuel up.

PUMPKIN WORKOUT: EXERCISES USING A PUMPKIN

I buy a pumpkin every fall for a pumpkin workout because let’s face it, the only difference between a medicine ball and a pumpkin is the taste. Search the pumpkin bin at the grocery store for an eight to ten-pound pumpkin and try this seasonal-inspired workout. The main benefit of working out with pumpkin is that when the exercise is over, you can make a pie (plus it makes for fun pictures for Instagram).

Start your pumpkin workout by clicking here.

PUMPKIN SPICE MUFFINS RECIPE

Finally, one of my favorite recipes from the Run Fast Eat Slow cookbook is the pumpkin spice muffins. These grain-free muffins have all the flavor of pumpkin with whole food ingredients to fuel your fall race training schedule. Click here to get the pumpkin recipe. So easy even I didn’t mess them up.

I hope this gives you enough healthy pumpkin ideas to celebrate the eventual arrival of cool weather in Texas (I’ll let you know if it ever happens).

It’s not too late to sign up for my nine-week healthy habits challenge to finish the last nine weeks of the strong! You can sign up for the free email sequence at the end of this post.

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Questions? I’d love to help.

Coach Lea