Running and Diet Challenges

This week has been a bit challenging in regards to both diet and running. I am working a few more hours than usual plus my daughter moved out of my house in Anchorage that she had been renting (bought a home of her own…congrats to her!) and it needs some upgrades. It’s been a while since anything has been done to the place.

So, I have been getting up and going on my runs early and then heading over to the house to work on those days that I am not working in the NICU.  I am trying to get a lot of stuff done in a short amount of time but most importantly, I want to get my runs in.

Those early morning runs have been quite chilly. I am wearing so many layers to keep warm that I look like the abominable snowman ha ha.  The weather has been crazy and this past week, it has been super cold and icy out. But, as I have mentioned, my goal is to run a BQ so whatever it takes….right?

 

I was so afraid to run in 7 degree weather, but it actually wasn’t that bad after all.  The scenery alone is a nice distraction from the cold. So beautiful.

Even though I did stay fairly warm, my face got a little cold plus my hair frosted over!

So, I am getting my runs in, but then I head into town to work on the house and I’m not taking the time to eat all that well. I have just been grabbing the not so healthy snacks and heading out.  After a few days of that, I realized (remembered really) just how much diet matters! I was so sluggish on my last run that I only went two miles. I mean, I literally could barely move.

 

So, today I took a break from it all. Time to regroup!  I didn’t work on the house or go run. Instead, I felt like I needed to get my training plan in place and figure out a nutrition plan as well.

For the training plan, simple. I am going to use Hal Higdon’s 12 week Spring Training Program. For the next week, I will just continue to run easy miles like I have been doing and the following week, I will start the spring training-intermediate. This program will finish the day before marathon training starts. Yikes, only 12 weeks to get it together! I need to work on strength too….another post.

For diet – that is a little tougher. I eat fairly healthy dinners, but it is the rest of the day that I don’t always do so well with. So, I am looking at ways to eat a healthier breakfast and making my own snacks/lunches to take with me so that I am not so tempted to either eat nothing at all or go for whatever because I am so hangry! For me to just sit down and make out a plan for the whole week is really tough. I like those plans that are already in place so that I don’t have to do all of the work.

Shalane Flanagan has a full week menu all set and ready to go in her book “Run Fast, Eat Slow”. So easy! So that is a little bit of a start for me. I am not going to follow it exactly as she has it laid out, but it is a nice template to follow and incorporate her yummy recipes into my own menu plan.  I have only tried a few of them, but the ones I have tried were really good and I would make again.

Last week I made Recovery Quinoa Salad and I don’t typically like quinoa, but this was amazing.

And today I made her Superhero muffins and I loved them!

These nice little treats are definitely great to have on hand for that quick grab and run breakfast or mid morning snack.  I would have had these this morning, but I didn’t make them until after breakfast. But tomorrow…..

Because I have been feeling so sluggish, I wanted something packed with nutrients and energy this morning. I decided to trade in my breakfast cereal that is packed with who knows what these days for oatmeal. I made Dr. Oz’s Banana Steel Cut Oatmeal with Cinnamon and had his breakfast smoothie from his online 3 day detox plan. I used coconut water instead of water in the smoothie. I also had 1/2  slice of Dave’s bread toasted – a little healthier bread than what I typically eat. And water. I have been drinking water all day. I think part of my problem is dehydration.

It is not the most colorful breakfast but it was really good! So, my plan is to continue to swap out some of my unhealthy choices for foods that provide some benefit aka nutrients.  By swapping out some foods for others and trying new recipes is an easier way for me to build a weekly menu. I can’t just sit down and figure it all out at once….that is way too overwhelming for me, plus who has that kind of time.  Some days I may just use whatever Shalane has decided for the day. Whatever works 🙂 Hopefully, my next post will have some good positive feedback from these changes.

I can’t leave without sharing a fun day with my grandkids. We went sledding last week on a day that had warmed up a little and we had so much fun. Love these guys! And can’t wait for the one on the way. So fun!

I have awesome video coverage of these guys flying down the hill on their sleds but for some reason I can’t get them to post…so next time.

Looking forward to a great week of progress!

Happy Running!