Grokfeast in Tucson, Arizona
On September 8th I asked my readers to host picnics and to send me the results. The following is one of 27 amazing submissions, the best of which will win an entire cow, courtesy of US Wellness. Vote for your favorite on October 8.
We had a “rockin’” good time at our Grokfeast. It was on September 19th. Our menu had a Southwest theme (I figure cavefolks usually had themed parties, didn’t they?) and it was delicious. My husband’s CrossFit gym, Wildcat CrossFit, was in the process of moving to their new location, so our Grokfeast was partly a celebration and a functional part of the move. At 3:30 the runners met at the old location and met “the rocks,” which are some landscaping rocks kept at the gym for the occasional rock run, rock toss, rock clean and jerk, whatever. The rocks range in weight from 30 pounds to 60 pounds. There was a men’s team and a women’s team. The object was for each team to move a rock from the old gym location to the new one, a distance of about 5 kilometers. The rock had to be moved using person-power only, no fossil fuels, no wheels. The men’s rock weighted 50 pounds and the women’s weighed 40 pounds. Did I mention the women also had children they were transporting from point A to point B? And that it was 103 degrees that day?
Women’s Team:
Ashley Nowe (who did the huge majority of the rock carrying)
Theresa Fine (who completed her very first 5K ever in participating in this event)
Jen Wirth (a Wildcat CrossFit trainer and the first carrier of the rock)
Jenny Providence (the hostess and person responsible for the crazy idea)
Grady Nowe (Ashley’s 2 year old son)
Max Providence (Jenny’s 2 year old son)
Men’s Team:
Paxton (rock runner and videographer)
Eric Mackey (one of Wildcat Crossfit’s awesome trainers)
Noah Providence (the host and supporter of his wife’s crazy ideas)
The women wisely employed a backpack to transport their rock. (Grok’s wife surely would have fashioned something out of animal skins and ropes made from desert plants, right?) The men used a towel (aka animal skin) and each in turn hefted the rock on his shoulder. In the end, the men won in a photo finish. After a victory beer, both teams retreated to the cool of the Providences cave.
The feast had begun 2 days before the run with the slaughtering of some chickens. While the runners strategized and checked the weather (it really was 103, did I mention that?) a chicken simmered for 24 hours to produce the chicken broth needed for the enchilada sauce for the meal. Cookies and jerky were made ahead of time in preparation for the event, and were promptly eaten by the Providence children.
With the running and rock hauling done, more friends joined us for the feast.
The run was fun, the food was good, but then, there was dessert. Since the cookies had been devoured, we whipped up some cream to have with fresh strawberries. Lisa Anne brought some incredible primal truffles which turned out to be just the thing to top off the evening.
The Feast
- Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Beef Enchilada Casserole
- Chicken and Bacon Wraps with Guacamole
- Sonoran Hot Dogs
Recipe: Chicken and Bacon Wraps
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 12 oz package of bacon
- 2 peppers
- 1 large onion
- Oil for sautéing
- Romaine lettuce
Cook the bacon until crispy. Remove from heat. When cool, dice into ½ inch pieces.
Cut the chicken breasts into eighths and cook in butter or other oil with salt and pepper. When it is cooked thoroughly, remove from heat and dice into ½ inch pieces.
Dice onion and peppers. Saute in butter or other cooking oil in a large pan for about 10 minutes. Then add the cooked, diced chicken and bacon. Cook together for about 5 minutes.
Serve as wraps in leaves of Romaine lettuce with guacamole, sour cream and fresh salsa.
The Tribe
The Trudinger-Smith Family: Lisa Anne, Ashleigh, Beryl, Mostyn, Rainer
The remaining members of the Providence Family: Hannah, Teddy, Ollie, Monica, Taber and kids
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Posted By: Mark Sisson
I bet my kids would like those chicken/ bacon wraps (I’m trying to ease them out of the neolithic).
“With the running and rock hauling done, more friends joined us for the feast.”
Isn’t that always the way it is? =)
I bet that feast was AWESOME after all that hard work! Great going guys
I don’t think Grok would have made himself a backpack to carry the rock.
I think he would have assumed there were more rocks at his destination.
Good activity.
Man, looking at all these recipes is making me hungry.
Awesome idea for the activity, combining all the primal movements, plus community spirit and competition!
Southwest primal fare? Sounds (and looks) really good!
I actually found this more etnreatinnig than James Joyce.
“The feast had begun 2 days before the run with the slaughtering of some chickens.”
This line had me laughing out loud! How very caveman, I love it! I love the rock carrying contest, all in all, sounds like a great time!
Grok had no car? Great idea next time I need to move something I will do it the paleo way.
looks like a rockin good time
What a great activity!
I love the activity.
I loved the rock-moving contest! Very creative AND funcitonal!
mmm. those wraps sound delicious! Way to go on the activity!
woah, the rock haul sounded like an intense way to start. Great idea, like carrying the kill back to camp!
Amazing! You do truly “suffer” from Grok fever!
I love the picture of the guy eyeing the casserole
Yeah, it was good.
Awesome Job, everyone!
It is great to see the family shots.
awesome!
Looks great!
So who were those wimps that joined just for the food? I hope they were the clean up crew.
Those were wimps with kids to small to run and to big for a stroller, and lots and lots of homework.
And yes, we did help clean!
Nice pre-feast workout! And the chicken bacon wraps look amazing.
Awesome race! You all appear to be in such great shape!
What a *great* game!! I love it!! I hope you do more of those races with the rest of the rocks.
Great activity, well done.
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