Momentum, Enchiladas, and a Chocolate BMX Bike - Chicken Enchiladas Verde with Avocado Topping
Some advice sticks because it is simple enough to remember and strong enough to live by. This is one of those lines.
Coach Joe Vigil, one of the most respected distance running coaches in the world, built his career and his athletes on principles like discipline, integrity, and consistency. His reminder is that greatness starts each morning with the choice to live in alignment with your values.
The Warm Up
Momentum doesn’t just happen. It’s built! Some days you feel it, some days you don’t, but every action stacks. The run you didn’t skip. The early bedtime. The extra rep when no one was watching. These small choices build into something bigger than the moment they’re made.
You don’t always get to see the payoff right away, and that’s fine. Momentum is quiet at first, almost invisible. But if you keep showing up, it compounds. Before long, it carries you through days when willpower feels thin and the finish line feels far away.
Show up! Put in the work! Regroup! Put in the work! Don't quit! Believe in yourself! Develop your skills! Process > outcome! Be okay with uncomfortable! Compete!
The Journey
It’s been a few weeks since I last gave you an update, but things have been busy as we get closer to the AFO 100 ride on October 4. The factory has a big order scheduled to ship just days before the event, fingers crossed everything arrives on time. On the business side, sales have picked up, and we’re already at 86% of last year’s total with about 30% of the year still to go. That has me thinking a big year-end sale might be in order. Meanwhile, it’s been exciting to see R-Factor team gear out in the wild. A special congratulations to team member K. Sharpe (pictured above), who took the win in his age group at the Tugaloo Triathlon this past weekend.
On a different note, I’m gearing up to launch a new Instagram channel. It won’t be under my name or the Real brand, but it will feature a lot of the content I share here, this time in video and reel format. Expect product reviews (everything from gels to running shoes and gps watches), as well as practical coaching and training tips for runners, cyclists, and triathletes. I’ll share more details once it’s live, but I’m excited to create another space for endurance athletes to find inspiration, information, and a little entertainment.
Meal Time
There’s a bit of nostalgia baked into this dish for me. Back when I worked at Blue Competition Cycles, one of the guys’ wives would take weekly orders and cook for the office. Her enchiladas verdes were legendary, the kind of meal that had everyone looking forward to Thursday lunch. To this day, enchiladas verdes are a favorite in our house. In fact, about half the time we head to our Mexican spot, my wife goes straight for them. So figuring out a way to make a simple, authentic version at home became crucial. And let me tell you, this is the way.
I actually came across this recipe from Smithey, the folks who make incredible cast iron. Their skillets are a mainstay in my kitchen, and this dish really shows why, perfectly blistered veggies, bubbling cheese, and that unbeatable oven-to-table presentation.
Chicken Enchiladas Verde with Avocado Topping
There’s a bit of nostalgia baked into this dish for me. Back when I worked at Blue Competition Cycles, one of the guys’ wives would take weekly orders and cook for the office. Her enchiladas verdes were legendary, the kind of meal that had everyone looking forward to Thursday lunch. To this day, enchiladas verdes are a favorite in our house. In fact, about half the time we head to our Mexican spot, my wife goes straight for them. So figuring out a way to make a simple, authentic version at home became crucial. And let me tell you, this is the way.
I actually came across this recipe from Smithey, the folks who make incredible cast iron. Their skillets are a mainstay in my kitchen, and this dish really shows why, perfectly blistered veggies, bubbling cheese, and that unbeatable oven-to-table presentation.
Ingredients
Serves 6
Enchiladas
4 tablespoons canola or avocado oil, divided
6 corn tortillas
1 jalapeño, seeds removed, halved
2 poblano peppers, seeds removed, quartered
1 pound tomatillos, husked, washed, and dried (10–12 tomatillos)
1 white onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus more for garnish
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1 pound shredded cooked chicken (about 1 rotisserie chicken)
8 ounces pepper jack cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
Cotija cheese, for garnish
Avocado Topping
1 avocado, diced
1 tablespoon diced jalapeño
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
Instructions
Preheat oven: Set oven to 400˚F.
Fry tortillas:
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Fry tortillas in batches until lightly browned in spots, ~1 minute per side. Transfer to a paper towel–lined plate.
Cook veggies:
Add 1 tablespoon oil, then jalapeño, poblanos, and tomatillos. Cook over high heat, stirring, until blistered and softened, 8–10 minutes. Add onion; cook 8–10 minutes more. Stir in garlic in the last minute.
Blend salsa verde:
Transfer vegetables to a blender. Add cilantro, lime juice, and salt. Purée until smooth (about 3 cups).
Build enchiladas:
Wipe skillet, add 1 tablespoon oil, and pour in 2 cups salsa verde (it will sizzle). Stir in chicken; heat through. Sprinkle with half the pepper jack. Layer fried tortillas on top, overlapping. Spoon remaining salsa verde over tortillas, then top with remaining cheese.
Bake:
Transfer to oven. Bake until bubbly and golden, ~15 minutes.
Finish & serve:
Top hot enchiladas with the avocado mixture, Cotija cheese, and extra cilantro. Serve immediately.
This is What I Heard
I love to cook, and if you’ve been following along for a while you know I share plenty of recipes, from Snoop Dogg Chicken to Red Velvet cake. But every now and then I stumble across something in the culinary world that’s way, way above my pay grade. Case in point: Chef Amaury Guichon’s chocolate BMX bike. Yes, you read that right, a full-size bicycle, spokes, chain, frame, and all, crafted entirely from chocolate.
It’s equal parts mind-blowing craftsmanship and pure imagination. Watching him work reminds me that food can be more than fuel, more than comfort, it can also be art that pushes the limits of what we think is possible. And if the BMX isn’t enough, take a scroll through the rest of his creations. Dragons, clocks, instruments… all made of chocolate. Trust me, it’s worth the look.
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