Double Digits

Posted on July 8, 2012 by runningthewindycity

Woohoo! This morning I ran my first double digit run since I was trying to train for the Boston Marathon while injured and pushed my body too hard on a 16 mile run. Let’s just say you should never try to run 16 miles after taking 3 weeks off of running. It will be miserable and you will hurt yourself.

Anyway, I woke up at 5:30 and checked the weather. It was 76 degrees outside which normally for me is on the warm-side. However, after this week I will take anything in the 70′s. I got dressed, drank a protein shake, and headed out the door.

I started running on my 10 mile route with the intention of heading toward the lake. The more I thought about running on Lake Shore, the less I wanted to do it (I think I was a little sick of it from this past week) and I decided to run an out and back route instead. The sky was overcast for the first half of my run and I felt good. When my watch chirped 5 miles, I turned around and headed home.

The sun started to come out on my way home and I became really thirsty. I didn’t pack water because the Lake Shore path has plenty of drinking fountains and I was planning on running along the water for a good stretch of my 10 miles. Whoops. I spent the last 3 miles of my run searching for a water fountain. I tried open buildings, parks, schools, etc and had no luck. Around mile 9, I found a tennis court with a fountain and drank so much water it bounced around in my stomach after I started running again. I felt so much better that I didn’t care.

I’m planning on going to Sports Authority today to pick up a bunch of stuff. I’ll be picking up some new water bottles for my fuel belt as well (I tossed mine last year because they got gross). Lesson learned today, even when it’s not 90 degrees, I need water on my runs.

Splits:

Besides the thirst debacle, I felt really strong on my run. My back and quads were sore from biking but everything else felt good

A long[er] run deserves a big breakfast and oats in a jar was on the menu today.

I cooked 1/2 cup oats and 1 tsp chia seeds in 11/2 cups of water. I stirred in half of a mashed and microwaved banana, about 1 T maple sugar, and 2 sliced raw dates (not dried).

I topped everything with millet granola that I made yesterday and is going fast. I cannot control myself around this stuff!

This breakfast was absolutely delicious. The jar had just the right amount of almond butter (roughly 1 T) but it was distributed evenly around the sides of the jar and not just on the bottom. Yum!

I have a few errands to run today and then I’m just planning on relaxing. I’ll be back tomorrow to recap the rest of the weekend in a Monday Things post!

Do you like oats in a jar? How do you bring water with you on a run?

Anxious

Posted on April 12, 2012 by runningthewindycity

I’m starting to feel really anxious, I just can’t wait to get to Boston! Unfortunately, there’s still like a billion things I need to do before we leave including pack. I hear that’s kind of important right ?

I started my Wednesday morning with a 7 mile run. I kept my pace at about an 8:15 min/mile and took it easy. It’s funny how I now notice all of the tendons and muscles in my legs tightening up when I run. That used to be background noise for me! Hopefully as I keep increasing my mileage the injury worries will go away and I’ll start to relax while running.

Around mile 5 I started implementing the Galloway method. I know that I can run 16+ miles without stopping but I don’t know that I can do it safely. I’ve never really walked during a marathon (besides for Chicago when the heat got to me) so I figured it would be smart to try it out before race day. As per the recommendations, I ran for 4 minutes and walked for 30 seconds. My legs felt fine but I was sick of staring at my watch waiting to slow down or speed up. I just can’t imagine doing that during a marathon. However, I do like the idea and want to have a backup plan in case an injury flares up or my musles start to ache.

Has anyone tried the Galloway method? Thoughts?

Breakfast was oat flour “pancakes” with strawberries, cottage cheese, and sunflower butter. The pancakes didn’t really turn out but everything tasted delicious!

I spent most of my day doing homework so I won’t have too much to do while I’m in Boston. Unfortunately, the marathon falls right before finals and my thesis presentation so doing some work is inevitable but I’ve really been trying to get work done ahead of time.

I naturally started ~~taking a break~~ procrastinating around 12 and I decided to just call it lunchtime.

I had two veggie dogs, roasted cauliflower, and a quesadilla with cheese, English pub mustard, and mushrooms. It was weird and random but pretty tasty .

The afternoon was filled with more homework and then frustration when our school e-mail system went down for 3 hours (really?). I eventually decided to just go for a walk and instantly felt better. Fresh air can do wonders

Dinner was [unpictured] Trader Joe’s lobster ravioli (actually pretty good) and a kombucha.

This morning I woke up nice and early and ellipticalled 6 miles at the gym. I was planning on going again tomorrow before our 9 a.m. flight but my throat is scratchy so I’ll probably sleep instead. I’m also going to down emergenC today, can’t be too careful!

Breakfast was a soupy version of overnight oats because we only had 1/4 cup of yogurt left. I actually preferred it this way!

In the oats: 1/2 cup oats, 1/4 cup vanilla chobani, almost 1 cup unsweetened almond milk, 1/2 banana, 2 strawberries, 1 T flax, and 1 tsp maple syrup. I put some sunflower butter on top, delicious!

And of course I totally didn’t start packing yesterday! I guess I’ll have to do that tonight, at least all of my laundry is done. I also wanted to ask those of you who commented saying that you’ve run Boston before, what should I pack? I know all of the basics but is there something that you forgot that you really wish you hadn’t? I want to be as prepared as possible

Also, Bostonians, do you have some must-see/must-do/must-eat things in the city? I’ve never been to Boston so I don’t really know where to start! The hotel I’m at staying in is in Cambridge but I’m sure we’ll be all over the place throughout the weekend.

I’m off to class have a great day!

Couscous Cottage Cheese Oatmeal & a 3 Miler

Posted on April 10, 2012 by runningthewindycity

Exactly one week ago I was outside ready to start my second week of post-heel injury training when my hamstring started to act up. In fact, it hurt so badly that I couldn’t run a block without thigh locking up. It was painful and terrifying, especially since I hadn’t felt anything prior to trying to run. I decided to give it a week to heal and then attempt running again.

Well this morning was the morning to go back out there and give running a try and I was so nervous! I woke up, lazily put on my warm running clothes (it was 36 degrees!), and headed outside. I walked a few blocks to loosen my legs and did some stretching (thanks Henry!) and then I was off.

I ran a big 3.2 mile loop around my building and held a painfully slow but steady pace. I figured it was more important to see that I could run the distance pain-free than to keep a fast pace. The run was a success (wanted so badly to keep going) and I have no pain or tightness so far!

When I got home I put on my new compression sleeves, I’m planning on being extra cautious until Boston.

And then it was time for breakfast and Couscous Cottage Cheese Oatmeal (adapted from Kath’s Strawberry Cheesecake Oats) was on the menu!

Couscous Cottage Cheese Oatmeal
1/4 cup couscous, cooked
1/4 cup oatmeal
1 cup water
1/3 scoop vanilla protein powder, optional
1/2 banana, smushed
2 large strawberries
1/3 cup cottage cheese
1 tsp maple syrup (optional)

Add couscous, oatmeal, water, and protein powder (if using) to a pot and cook over medium heat. Once the oatmeal started to thicken, whisk in banana until you can no longer see banana pieces. Cook for about 5 more minutes or until oatmeal reaches your desired consistency and then stir in strawberries and cottage cheese. Add maple syrup or other sweetener as necessary and then pull off of stove and serve.

I topped mine with a spoonful of White Chocolate Wonderful but it’s also good with Cookie Butter (what isn’t?) and I’m sure would taste just fine with other nut butters

Also, I completely understand if you’re wary of putting couscous in oatmeal but I encourage you to step outside of your comfort zone and give it a shot. The couscous is chewy and breaks up the texture of the oatmeal in a really good way.

Yesterday I even tried it in overnight oats and the texture was amazing. Just sub in an equal amount of couscous for oats and you’ll be good!

I’m going to leave you with this picture of Sonic sleeping on my biostatistics notes last night (sooo cute). He’s obviously not a statistician.

Have a great Tuesday!

Cold Oatmeal Parfait

Posted on February 28, 2012 by runningthewindycity

I’m happy to say that my butt was in bed last night at 10:59 p.m. which means I beat my goal by 1 minute . I read for a few minutes until my Nook started to feel heavy so I turned off the light, crawled back in bed, and passed out. Sleep never felt so good!

This morning I woke up feeling energized (at least more so than I have been) and headed outside for a 5 mile run. My calves were still tight from Sunday so I didn’t attempt anything fancy and I completed the run in about 38 minutes. Not too shabby for tired legs .

Breakfast this morning was something different, a cold oatmeal parfait.

I used the second half of my batch of steel cut oats from Saturday and layered oatmeal, greek yogurt, and banana slices in a glass. Then I topped the final layer of oatmeal with cashews, Love Crunch Carrot Cake granola, and warm peanut flour sauce.

Wow! I was nervous this would be bland or taste funny but it wasn’t at all. It was really tasty and the texture was great (I’m definitely a texture person). It was also a lot lighter than hot oats. I’m thinking I may have a new alternative to overnight oats .

I’m not looking forward to the full day ahead of me but at least it’s supposed to be in the high 40′s today! Happy Tuesday!

Do you prefer hot or cold breakfasts?

Boston Marathon: 19 miler

Posted on February 26, 2012 by runningthewindycity

Last night I carbo-loaded with 1/2 of a leftover homemade calzone and cauliflower & brussels sprout mac ‘n cheeze.

Baked these for Ian.

Gave myself a stomach ache from edging off way too many pieces of gooey marshmallow pieces.

Watched some episodes of Felicity

(source)

And then went to bed early so I could rest up for today’s 19 miler!!

Unfortunately the sugar-induced stomach ache persisted into this morning and I woke up feeling not so hot. I somehow managed to force down 1/2 a whole wheat pita, peanut butter, and chia seeds as pre-run fuel.

Oh yeah and those banana slices? I would really like to be able to add banana to my pb toast before runs but in the past it hasn’t worked for me. I gave it a shot again this morning and the verdict was the same. Banana burps are really unpleasant.

I also can’t find my Garmin sync stick-thing (and I’m rushing to get out the door) so I can’t post my splits but I will say the first half of my run felt amazing. I was running along at a great clip, feeling strong, and enjoying the weather (we had a perfect morning for winter running). Then when I hit my turn around point I realized that the wind had previously been at my back and now I had 6 miles straight into the wind (miles 13-18), wonderful. I knew it would be hard but I also knew it would make me a better runner so I pushed myself to complete my route as planned, wind or no wind.

And the wind in Chicago, is no joke.

I fueled during the run by eating 1/2 a date every 2 or 2.5 miles (starting at mile 9). This seemed to be the best strategy for me thus far so I’m going to keep using it and plan on it for Boston. The dates sit so much better in my stomach than energy gus or chews.

Overall I averaged a 7:34 min/mile and finished in 2:28 (when I find my Garmin thingy I will update my splits).

Ian and I have plans for an early lunch but I knew I should eat something within 30 minutes of completeing my run so I blended a pre-made protein shake with a banana and topped it with some Love Crunch granola (it sunk ).