Sober Racing

Let's kick this one off shooting straight out of a canon, fireworks and all. I officially finished the SeaWheeze Virtual Half Marathon this past weekend!

When we left off last, I was post-MRI and had the plan to resume running the following week. That return to running after roughly two weeks off felt great. I felt strong and wanted to just zoom through the town. My knee pain returned later that week and I had to take a few days off. About three days before race day, I had to bail on a run about a 1/2 mile in. To say the least, I threw getting a PR out the window. I trained really hard these past 10-12 weeks. I hit paces I never thought I would. Heck, I PR'd my mile two weeks after running an ultra marathon. The old me would have been super upset. The new me takes it with a grain of salt. I have a very "at least try" attitude nowadays more than I ever have.

I took Friday off of work, which is still weird because I'm working from home, but I treat every race the same. I pretty much spend most of the day doing a whole lot of nothing. I elevate my legs, stretch, do my daily yoga, and take an Epsom bath. I typically watch a movie to pump me up and since it's come out, that movie is The Game Changers. I think most would ask if I get sick of watching a documentary about vegan athletes but I don't. I read Rich Roll's 'Finding Ultra' as well, which was also inspiring, especially since I'm trying to transition to more of a whole-foods, plant based diet. I'm pretty much already there aside from some treats here and there. One of my favorite treats to make comes from The Game Changers website! Appropriately named 'Damn Good Cookies', the best no-bake cookies I've probably had. Take a gander here. My pre-race dinner is always the same: spaghetti. A lot of it. As we sat at the table, my husband asked me how I was feeling since he knew my knee problems were weighing on my mind. "I'm feeling fine. We'll go out and try and see how far we get!". I say we because he bikes along side me, carrying my water, Nuun, and my nutrition. I'm rather lucky to not have to worry about anything except running.

We set out just after 5:00am Saturday morning. The sun doesn't rise nowadays until almost 6:00am. We've been under an excessive heat warning for what feels like forever. This race also has made me realize that I'm never training/running a race in the summer again, ha! 

I threw on my Noxgear vest (code BRITTERS for 35% off), my headlamp, and off we went! My knee felt a little uneasy to begin with but that subsided. I planned on doing four loops, measuring a little over 3 miles each time to equal 13.1. This way, I could avoid stops and pass the house just in case I needed a bathroom. I think this is the first half marathon that I didn't have to stop and pee during. Maybe that was mild dehydration? Who knows. The first two loops went well. The third one was when the heat set in. The humidity level was 50% that morning, which is much higher than we're used to. Typically, it's less than 15%. I took some walking breaks. My legs started to feel heavy and my right glute was really talking to me. I think they were confused because we hadn't run this far in quite some time let alone anything over 3.2 miles since having to take a running break due to my knee issues. My knee started to feel some discomfort around mile 10. I was actually surprised it lasted that long. Once I made my final turn to finish the race out, I did a slow run up to my street. While this was my slowest half marathon, I wasn't even upset. I was happy to finish another race. I was happy to be able to even run when there are so many who can't. Checked it off in my training journal and closed the chapter on distance running, at least for a while. It's funny to think how pumped I was to set my eyes on ultra running and now my patience runs thin on anything that lasts longer than an hour. I have a fire lit in me to conquer shorter distances and see what barriers I can break with anything from the mile to the 10K. I don't completely hate distance running but I've had my handful of marathons and halfs to make me happy for now. 

So what's with the title of 'Sober Racing'? This past weekend (Saturday) was my 100th day sober. From what started as something I wasn't really trying to do has become a rather big accomplishment to me. Most races, I'd pour a beer but this time, I made a cup of coffee. My history with drinking is a whole other story I'll tell one day. Do I think I had a problem? I don't know, honestly. Some days I think I did, some days I think I didn't. Either way, I'm happy to be sober. I still have yet to be around others who are drinking but obviously, we're in a pandemic still, and being at restaurants and bars is something I'm not doing. Makes me think of the days I quit smoking. Yep, I did that too. I had to stop drinking for a week to help because having a beer in one hand and a cigarette in the other was just common sense. Dear lord, I'm so glad I got through that habit a long time ago. I have 30 bottles of wine in my wine fridge still that I could easily open if I wanted to but I have no desire. Now, my obsession with sparkling water is another conversation. I treat this the same as my Veganism. If you drink, that's fine! You do you. I don't think of anyone different if they decide to have some spirits in their life. If you think you need help, don't be afraid to reach out to SAMHSA. There are tons of support groups online as well.

What's on tap next for training? I'll take this week off of running. Coach said if I feel good, I can start doing some mild cycling mid/late week. My next goal is a virtual Turkey Trot in November. Do you have any goals for the remainder of the year? Has it been hard to commit to anything due to the state of the country we're in? I'd love to hear about it.

Always Hungry

How do you know you're following a Hansons plan? Your weekly mileage adds up quick. Last week, I racked up almost 10 more miles than I had in previous weeks. While that's a pretty big jump, my body isn't pissed off at me yet (YET). If you missed last week's entry, we've abandoned ship on Garmin's coaching plans and have retreated back to Hansons. I am following the Advanced Half Marathon plan. I closed the book on Garmin on Monday after completing a two hour long run followed by eating everything in my house. I feel that I've officially hit the "always hungry" stage in training and I'm quite alright with it. Please gander at exhibit A:

Carbs with carbs, because why would there be another option? I mean, when was the last time you cooked tator tots at the age of 31? Hats off to my husband for making them on the grill because Lord knows I am not turning on the oven when it's 100+ degrees out. (Link here for the mushroom pasta because it's super good and easy).

While I am familiar with their plans as I've used them before, I've never really broken down specific paces and what not. I decided to color it up and make a legend based on what pace we should be looking to hit during specific workouts. I track everything in my Believe journal. If you are a runner, I highly suggest purchasing one! I'm sad because this race will take me to the end but that also means a new one will grace me for winter races!

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So what was involved with this week's training? I had opted to take Tuesday off as a rest day to allow myself to readjust my mindset and do some calculations. Wednesday was a tempo run. Here it comes again: I hate speed work. Yep, I know, broken record here. It's true, though. I woke up late that day because apparently my mind didn't connect right to turn my alarm on for the next morning. I took it to the treadmill and it was just a sufferfest. But, I finished. The following day was a much easier 6 miles of recovery. I've decided to take Fridays off as an added rest day. If I feel like I have to add in more mileage, I will do so, but I've been doing good by taking two quality down days. Onto Saturday's long run. Yeah, I did two long runs in one week. What kind of idiot does that? I did. I didn't die! Yay! I feel like I haven't had a quality long run this entire training cycle. I blame not having a flat road to run on. I live in Fountain Hills. Hills is the important word there. My long runs have been a joke. I woke up early and went on the treadmill for 10 long miles.

Almost looks like I peed all over the place but I promise you, it's just sweat. This is the longest run I've ever done on a treadmill and while it has never been my first choice, it was nice to keep a good, easy pace the entire time and not have to deal with my HR shooting up due to climbing a hill every 5 minutes. The finish of that run closed out week 8. Remember, my training weeks are Sunday-Saturday! Shout out to Noxgear for keeping me visible in our International Dark Sky Community, aka no street lights, aka it's seriously super dark here. Again, another piece of running equipment I highly recommend. It's lightweight, runs on 3 AAA batteries, and you're basically a running rave party. You can get 35% off using the code BRITTERS.

Use the code BRITTERS for 35% off!

Well, here comes the sad part where I tell you I don't have any new recipes to share this week. I know, it's tragic. BUT I did make Kodiak waffles.

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The first time I ever used our waffle maker, I was still in the dating stage with my now husband and it ended up with me crying in the kitchen because I ruined breakfast. The waffle maker and I have a much better relationship now. So, Kodiak Cakes. Super hype in the fitness/health community. They market high protein as their mix has whey protein in it. I was excited to try them. Just add milk and an egg (for more protein) and wah-lah, your mix is ready for pouring. I love adding fresh (by fresh, I mean I really defrosted them in the microwave because they were frozen) berries on top with maple syrup. First bite? So underwhelmed. Is there some special ingredient to add to make them taste better? Like I can't even tell you the last time I had such a bland waffle. I finished my plate though, because hunger. I would not buy this one again or probably any of them because they're like $800 a box. Maybe the other flavors are better? Either way, stick to your mother's way and make them homemade. Have you tried them?

I can't believe I just went on a rant about waffles. What is my life. Anywho, that wraps up this week. Thanks for coming by. We'll meet up next week for a recap of the halfway point to Mt. Lemmon!

Inspiration is Everywhere

Sometimes I wonder how people keep up with these things and then I remember that it's their job to. I'm just here for fun. Hello! It's been a few weeks. No content from last week because of a few reasons (excuses): not much to showcase and not much running. If you remember from the last post, May is the month to focus on getting my bro on with lifting big weights and building muscle. I've been running 3x/week, two light, one long, and just slowly building up on those. I know I've mentioned it before but I'm going to say it again: strength training is important, people! I've made it such a priority this year and it's made a big difference in how I feel and how I perform. I'm currently on week 3 of Body Beast and while it's definitely kicking my arse, it's a good burn. Sidenote: it starts getting daylight around 5 am here. Check the metadata on the photo if you don't believe me. If you don't know how to do that, go read a book. Learning new things is fun.

Looks like the headlamp and Noxgear Tracer vest will be getting a break for a bit, at least until we're doing 4 am training runs before it gets to be as hot as the surface of the sun.

This week, I'm switching it up and talking about something we all seek: inspiration. I don't do many treadmill runs because, quite frankly, I hate them, but when I am on them, I need a good podcast or YouTube video to keep me going. The following are my favorite podcasts and YouTube personalities I like to listen to and watch. They aren't ranked in any particular order, by the way.

YouTube

Meg-freakin'-Squats aka Megan Gallagher. She is one of the first people on YouTube that I started watching pretty regularly because powerlifting is badass. She's super genuine and doesn't care about body image or anything related to it. While she will talk about specific diet needs, how to get enough protein, etc, she showcases lifting and technique such as how to do your first pull up. Her sense of humor is also pretty A+ if you ask me.

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Not much to explain here except being inspired from cinematography alone. Billy Yang is a film-making superstar in the running world. From Lake Sonoma to Western States, it's just an eye-catching wonder to watch his work. With many famous runners, especially in the Ultra world, I definitely like watching his films for inspiration, especially before a race.

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I don't even know what I would do without Adriene and her Yoga. I followed many of her practices before setting foot in an actual classroom because I was too scared to do so. She has so many specific moves for people with hip issues, tired legs, runners specifically, chair yoga, and so much more. She is definitely a go-to when I can't make it to class or I need a little extra zen in my life.

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Podcasts

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Marathon Training Academy: I feel like I should start this one with a disclaimer: you do NOT have to be a marathon runner to listen to this podcast! Trevor and Angie are a married couple who are both runners (surprise!) and have episodes from race recaps to how to perform better and even have some awesome interviews with authors and other athletes like Ryan Hall and Meb Keflezighi. Angie is currently on a quest to run in every state which has been really fun to follow along with.

Run Eat Repeat: If I'm being honest, which is going to happen anyway, I clicked on this podcast solely because of the name when I was on a hunt for something good to listen to. It proved to be awesome! Monica started up her RER journey by blogging her way through race training and weight loss. She also has a blog that goes along with her podcast channel so make sure to check that out as well. Some great recipes too! The link only features some of the earlier episodes but you can find her on either iTunes or Google Play.

No Meat Athlete: If you're new here, I'm a vegetarian! I discovered No Meat Athlete while searching for more information on how to transition to a more plant-based diet as an athlete. While they mostly follow a vegan diet, they do not discriminate against those of us who still dabble in the world of cheese and eggs. I've learned SO MUCH from these guys about food and fitness alike.

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I could probably share a lot more but those are my core go-to people. Do you have a favorite podcast or youtube channel you go to for inspiration? Let me know in the comments and I'll check it out!

Alright, it's that time again: a new recipe! I'm so excited to announce that we finally got a tofu press! We had been talking about it for a while but holy hades, there are so many to choose from. We ended up going with the Tofuture and it works pretty great! Before, I was just doing the whole towel and cast iron pan method. While there isn't anything necessarily wrong with that, let's be honest, we like easier methods.

I didn't even wear that shirt on purpose for the photo, I swear. Anywho, back to the recipe. So, I've made a peanut sauce tofu before but this is just so totally different and way more yummy. Thanks to Reddit for this one. It was so easy, too. I think it took a total of maybe 30 minutes? Either way, if you like a Thai-flavor to your dish with some crispy added in, this is up your alley. If you've never had tofu because you think it looks disgusting, you should try this to change your mind. Plus, it's loaded with protein and you probably need a little more of that in your life.

Crispy peanut sauce tofu with broccolini and brown rice

Okay, folks, that's all she wrote for this week. Thanks for coming by! Stay tuned for Wednesday as we update the Wine of the Week!

Getting Comfortable

Honestly, is it just me, or has this year already gone by fast? Here we are, accomplishing week 2 of training. My goal this week was to set out earlier for my runs. Back in Michigan, I would be the crazy one running the streets of Clawson at 4:00 AM while the rest of the world was still sleeping. While I won't be doing any runs that early (yet, at least), I do prefer the quietness of the night, less traffic, and well, it's just fun to run in my Tracer 360 vest (use my discount code BRITTERS for 35% off). Who doesn't want to be a running rave party? I do think I need to get a headlamp with more lumens because let me tell you, it is dark as dark can get around here. We live in an "International Dark Sky Community". Yep, it's a thing. Google it! Great for seeing some epic skies filled with stars. Let's take a glance at this week's numbers:

Monday - Easy pace w/Strides

Wednesday - More easy miles w/Strides

Thursday - Straight easy miles

Saturday - Easy miles with a faster finish

Clearly, I didn't feel like getting fancy with graphics this week. Still keeping the pace light and slowly building speed. Speed is a word we'll touch base on next week once I face my first Fartlek run in over 5 months. That 5:07 AM start for Thursday made me so happy. I set out very early that morning because I had planned to make a new breakfast dish for my husband and I that involved quinoa. Quinoa for breakfast? Crazy right? I had the quinoa cereal at Tempe Public Market Cafe and it blew my mind away. Naturally, I hit up my favorite website for a recipe that was similar (click here if you're curious for it). I highly suggest trying it.

Strawberry Quinoa breakfast bowl

One thing I did new this week? I went to a yoga class. The type of class I had to get in my car and drive to instead of pressing play on YouTube in my living room. I was nervous because Lord knows I don't know many yoga moves nor am I comfortable doing something I'm not familiar with in a room full of people who are complete strangers. I consulted with my friend and fellow blogger, Stephiee Cowan, who also happens to have her RYT and teaches at Bliss Yoga back in the Mitten, to see what would be best or if this class was worth trying. While I was probably more than half of anyone's age in that room (snowbird city), it was exhilarating and felt so good. It was a Gentle Yoga class that lasted 45 minutes and included meditation toward the end. Nicole, the instructor, was very easy going and so nice to speak with afterward. I definitely plan on making this a new habit and incorporate it into my weekly training schedule. Namaste, my people!

Last but not least and slightly not running related, at least this next part anyway: I got a new library card! Honestly, I'm probably more excited than most about this. Do you still know how to search for books using the dewy decimal system? While I love the feeling of holding an actual book in my hand, I do dabble with the feature of digitally checking books out via OneDrive on my iPad. While I'm transitioning into the plant-based life and always wanting to learn more about running and performance, I've started diving into Eat & Run by Scott Jurek, American ultramarathoner. I mean, why wouldn't I read a book that has my two favorite activities in the title? I also hope to gain some inspiration for my future ultra marathon dreams.

That's all I have for this Tuesday's segment. Bring on week 3!

Pressing Start

If I had to describe the first week of training, I would have used the term "exhilarating". I'm sure if I hadn't kept up with my fitness during my post-marathon injury, I would have felt like a big heavy brick with super glue stuck to the bottom of my shoes but man, nothing felt better than pressing start on my first training run Monday morning. This week was all about easy pacing. Building a base is what our main focus was all about. I'm honestly terrible at keeping pace, especially slower paces. I took this time to take advantage of the 'workout' setting on my Garmin Fenix 5X and created workouts specifically tailored to my training calendar Kristen created for me. Yep, who knew you could set paces to stay in? I've had this watch for quite some time now and am still learning new bells and tricks on it. Whenever I would either be going too fast or too slow, it would start beeping at me. It took me probably two-three out of the four runs I did to get comfortable with easing up and keeping a solid cadence. Once you get in the mindset, it just comes naturally. Oh yeah, and trying to find a course without any type of incline or decline around here is damn-near impossible. I better be a pro at running hills if they ever (which they will) come in a race course after living here. I'm talking to you, Brooksie Way. I will have my revenge on you one day even if it means flying back to Michigan for the weekend.

Week 1 at a glance (sorry, hard to read!)

I'm honestly surprised how well my paces lined up for the first three workouts. Saturday we incorporated strides to the end of the run. If you aren't familiar with running terms, strides basically mean you go faster for a designated period of time. My recovery for each stride was a steady walk. It felt so good to get out in the early morning but damn, it is so dark around here. Street lights and whatnot are pretty non-existent as they follow a "no light pollution" rule. Thank the lord for headlamps and my Tracer 360 vest! *SHAMELESS PLUG ALERT: I have the privilege of being a Noxgear Ambassador and right now they are offering 42% off if you use my code BRITTERS at checkout today (2/10)! You can head here to check out their products. If you are reading this at a later date, you can still get 35% off with the same code. You're welcome!

Tracer 360 Noxgear Vest

All-in-all, I am happy with how week one went. I'm also paying close attention to my pre-run warm up and I believe it's helping. I'm sticking with being consistent with my hip exercises I was given in therapy last spring and do them before every run. I traditionally do a dynamic warmup before and then static stretch and foam roll after. These all add up to me keeping my hands off the Aleve bottle more, that's for sure. Another thing I'm trying to change up is my diet. Yes, if you know me, you know I eat pretty clean most days, so you're probably wondering 'well, what's there to change?' if I eat relatively healthy. I've been eating more of a plant-based diet since November. I don't really like to use the label of 'vegetarian' or 'vegan' as I will most certainly not skip out on a burger from In 'n Out but my wheels are following the veggie road route more than ever before. Why did I choose to do this? I honestly don't have a clear explanation. I'm not looking to lose weight or save the animals (I do love them, though). I definitely feel a difference in energy levels and my digestive track is certainly friendlier, for lack of better terms. As promised in my Instagram post from yesterday, I wanted to share a new recipe I'm trying this week for breakfast. Well, in my case, this is second breakfast. I really hope you get that joke from Lord of the Rings.

Mango Smoothie Bowl

There she is, in all of her glory. I'm basically eating ice cream for breakfast. This bowl is packed with nutrients and is seriously more delicious than I thought it was going to be. I hit up Simply Quinoa for a lot of my plant-based recipes. They have a great filter option that I hope you can use to try something new to make! Oh, and you can click here for the recipe for that yumminess up there.

Next week, we focus on more strides and slightly longer easy-paced runs. The forecast is dipping down a little bit into the 50s but that's perfect running weather if you ask me.