No matter how well I recover after a long day of training, I always wake up the next morning slightly off -- usually super thirsty and a little creaky and sore. This happened today, after a five-hour romp through the Hudson Valley with Laurel yesterday. We rode three and a half hours through deceptively hilly roads and then ran up the Shawangunk Ridge in the Mohonk Preserve, at a pace that was fast but felt effortless. Ironman training at it’s best!

But when I woke up at 6:30 this morning, I wasn’t surprised to feel a training hangover. That’s always a daunting feeling when there’s more hard work on the day’s lineup. I’ve found that the best way to keep from getting derailed by dehydration and fatigue is to start the day with replenishing smoothie. With local cantaloupe in season right now, this minty cooler has been my go to. It’s not the protein and calorie laden smoothie that I’ll eat after a workout, but more of a lighter pick me up.

And it’s easy to put together – if you’re like me, the blender is still out on the counter from yesterday’s recovery shake. --Bec

Cantaloupe Mint Smoothie

Combine the following ingredients in a blender until smooth:

½ a medium-sized cantaloupe

1 banana

5-6 ice cubes

10 mint leaves

1 ½ cup coconut water