Thursday, June 27, 2013

Isn't this a colorful dish? For lunch I cooked up an acorn squash, cut up some heirloom tomatoes and a 1/2 of an avocado. The flavor combo was really good.

I have about 8 weeks until my 100 miler. Crossing my fingers I don't get any injuries prior to that.  Right now my mileage has increased and so has my appetite.

I think everyone goes through phases in their life with diets and trying to figure out what the best way to eat is. I know I am one. I never been on a diet to loose weight since I have never been overweight but my problem is that for about 10 years I have suffered some sort of GI tract discomfort. Since going vegan, but especially dropping dairy and wheat, has helped soooo much. But I have notice the days when I need a lot of calories I tend to be bloated more. ?!?!?! I mean geez, my diet is really clean. What is going on. So this past week I have been grain free. I think the grains have been fermenting and causing a lot of gas. A lot of people probably don't have problems with grains, but I seem to do. And I am talking not just wheat, but oatmeal, rice etc. 
To give you an example. Last week I was planning an all night run with a group of runners. We were starting at  7 pm and running until day break. That day I had to eat and get my calories in. My breakfast was a huge bowl of oatmeal with fruit and maple syrup, second meal same thing and the last meal just a huge bowl of yams. Simple. That night I looked like I was 9 months pregnant. And had uncomfortable gas pains on my run. So that got me thinking to do no grains for 30 days to see. And so far so good.
Now what do I do for fueling? I have a back to back long run this weekend, 20/40 miler. Well I went online to search for recipes, and came across some banana chocolate chip muffins.  The muffins are grain free. For flour I used almond and garbanzo bean four. And added a little bit of coconut flour. They turned out perfect. So I froze them and will carry them with me on my runs. I can also use this recipe, minus the bananas, for pancakes too.

Here is a list of foods I will probably be using for my long training runs and my 100 miler. The key is a lot of calories and a lot of fat.
-Lara bars: only one I like is peanut butter cookie
-trail mix that  I make: dried fruit with some chocolate chips and a few walnuts
-fruit: grapes, strawberries
-potatoes
-Justin candy bars
-kettle chips (these always hit he spot after a long run and I don't eat very much. I am not a big chip person either.)
-fruit leather made by Cliff bar

I will be adding to the list but as of now this is what I have been practicng with.

Today's menu
breakfast 1/2 cantaloupe plus banana muffin
run: quick run up the hill 4 miles 1200'
lunch: pic above
dinner: will be some fruit and veggies with humus.


Sunday, June 9, 2013

I have been so insanely busy. Been trying to write a quick post. Just been running and doing the mom things. Never a dull moment.

My strength has increased tremendously from last year. I was out last weekend with other ultra runners on a training run. We ran a 20 mile 5600 feet vertical run. I pretty much PR'd this out and back we ran. And I was just at cruising pace. Didn't realize my time when  I got done. Definitely a confidence booster.
I have another 50 miler soon, it is tough. Lots of vertical in hot sun. Can't wait.

I have been enjoying summer fruits. We bought a case of donut peaches and nectarines. I was in pure sugar bliss. And the strawberries and been fab too. They go great in oatmeal.

I might pick up a 50k here in two weeks. This is a great run. I know the trail very well. That helps a lot.