The Long Run

Goal: 5-mile run…the longest I’ve ran all year has been 4.  Last year I was doing 6, but that just seems so long ago!!  I was excited to give this a try though. 😀

Pre-run Fuel:

Thanks so much for sharing your stories about how long you wait between eating and exercising. 😀  A friend of mine has a stomach of steal, and she can literally run with a thanksgiving meal in her stomach.  That’s totally not me!! 😀  I do however like to feel well fueled and full of energy, especially when I’m planning a longer the normal run.  That requires a filling, complete breakfast.

I filled up with this goodness.  Just as a side note, I typically don’t eat greens before running because they can make me cramp up.  But I had a good 2 hrs. to wait before running, which made this a completely doable breakfast. 😀

That Green Monster is the same concoction as yesterday.  I found myself enjoying it even more today.  I think the kale addition is growing on me. 😀  On the side I had a handful of almonds and a whole wheat rosemary scone.  This was a definite savory breakfast. 

Since I had that good 2 hrs. in between breakfast and running, and since my stomach started rumbling, I had this bowl of puffins with soymilk before heading out.  This is one snack that’s been tested and approved by my stomach.  I never have any problems…it just feels so light and gives the right amount of protein and carbs for my run.

Do you ever notice that the first mile into running is the toughest?  I felt pains that don’t normally exist.  My heart beat too fast.  My legs felt clunky.  My arms were swinging too hard.

Then mile 2 came around and I sort of just melted into the groove.  That’s when I knew I wanted to do the 5-mile run and didn’t need to turn around.  I was having too much fun!

On came mile 3, then 4, then finallly 5.  I took a couple of walking breaks in between. By mile 4, I walked down a side hill just to catch my breath before continuing on.  That’s when a car drove by and a guy called out, “Aren’t you supposed to be running this hill?”  Oh great, the running police. haha….

It was just what I needed, actually, and I felt incredibly great for that last hilly mile home.

Post-Run Fuel

For my post-run fuel, I wanted this:

Salad consisting of:

• mesculin greens
• tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions
• 1 tsp olive oil
• 1/2 c. black beans
• 2 T. spicy chipotle hummus (YUM)

And sweet potato fries with some ketchup for dipping.  Everything hit the spot…

…and there was only one casuality in the making of this lunch. 😉

And I’m sure this picture just shocks you all… 😉  Yum, yum, yum…

I felt absolutely great today, but I don’t think I’ll be regularly including the 5-mile run into my regimen.  I still like making the extra time for walks with mom, and the occasional run with dad.  Physically, it would just be too much.  So I’ll happily keep my mileage down for the most part, other then on the days when everyone is gone and a long run just fits the bill.  Because they’re such an enjoyment and I love having that extra “me” time to just think!! 😀

Off to pack for the weekend at my sister’s.  HAPPY FRIDAY!!! 😀

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