Mornings are getting a little chilly here in Colorado. It’s not unbearable, but I have had to go from wearing tank tops and short sleeves on my runs to long sleeves and a pair of light mittens. These chilly mornings also have me craving something warm when I return, like this Pear Almond Steel Cut Baked Oatmeal.
Before we dive into this delicious baked oatmeal, let’s talk for a minute about cold weather running. Do you love it or hate it? I’m sort of torn.
My ideal running weather is somewhere in the mid 50’s. During the late summer I’m in heaven with the temperatures while I’m out. I find that when it’s too hot out I dehydrate pretty quickly and lose energy because of it. When it’s really cold out my muscles and body don’t move as fast and everything feels heavy and tight.
To help combat the cold weather while I’m out running I tend to dress in layers. I usually wear capri length running tights, unless it’s in the low 20’s then I wear full length tights. My legs aren’t usually the part of me that gets cold, typically it’s my core and hands.
On top I wear a tight running tank top to hold in my body heat along with a long sleeve running shirt or light jacket on top. To finish off the ensemble I wear mittens and an ear warmer headband. I’m definitely not looking like a runway model when I go out in all my mismatched clothes, but at least for the most part they keep me warm.
As far as the actual running part goes in winter, I’m generally slower with my pace. I try not to let it get to me even though I’m a numbers runner and it does sometimes. The key things I try to remember are that my body is working harder to stay warm therefore it’s harder to maintain the pace that I do in ideal weather conditions.
Also, if there is snow or worse, ice outside it’s best to tread lightly rather than go flying through the air and land on the ground in embarrassingly ungraceful fall! On a final note, it’s always nice to have something warm to come home to after a cold run and in this case it’s Pear Almond Steel Cut Baked Oatmeal.
If you’ve never made baked oatmeal it’s amazingly easy! I love that it can feed a crowd and that the leftovers can be kept in the refrigerator and reheated the next day.
I chose to use quick cooking steel oats because I love the texture of them. They have more of a bite to them than regular oats and don’t seem to get as gummy. To flavor the baked oatmeal I used fresh pears, cinnamon, slivered almonds, almond extract, vanilla, honey, and unsweetened almond milk.
Using the almond milk keeps the breakfast dairy free, but you can use whatever milk you prefer. I love the combination of pears and almonds together. The sweetness of the pears, the nuttiness and crunch of the almonds, and the chewiness of the steel cut oats is divine!
Whether you’re a runner in need of a warm, hearty breakfast to refuel with after a cold run, or you are looking for an easy and delicious breakfast to make for your family this fall, this Pear Almond Steel Cut Baked Oatmeal is sure to please everyone!
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