This is super long, just a warning.
#1
Tomorrow night is packet pick up for Baystate and expo! I’m feeling a lot better about it than I was last year. I ran this race in both 2011 and 2012 and I’m really hoping that this is my best one yet.
Reflecting back on my training, I have to say, this was one of the best training schedules I’ve ever finished. I enjoyed my runs, a lot. I added in longer goal pace runs (working my way from 9 miles to 15 miles, increasing by one mile per week) and I ran these runs 10 seconds faster per mile than intended pace.
During this cycle, I even PR’d my half marathon distance, which made me so happy. Of course it’s not official. I finished my 13.1 training run in 1:44, which averaged a 7:58/mile pace. I was as diligent as I could be about my nutrition, I tried to get as much sleep as possible and I worked around our summer plans and travel schedule (this was not easy!).
Whatever race day brings, I am going to run with a smile. I loved every minute of it, and I’m looking forward to Sunday. And I’m looking forward to the races that Allison and I have on our schedule!
Let’s talk about support systems for a minute. Allison ran Hartford marathon last weekend, and so we were pretty much step in step for training. We did our 22 miler together and a bunch of our crazy early treadmill speed sessions together too. When we weren’t running together, we were checking in every single morning, without fail, on our commutes (we are both early bird runners). My day just isn’t the same without our morning chats. I feel so blessed and lucky to have her as my friend. I feel like the whole reason this training season was so great is because we did it together!
One last word on our awesome Allison: she shaved over an HOUR off her marathon time. I was one of her selected 3 people to get text updates on her progress and I cried happy tears when I saw it. I was so excited for her.
We are running a 5K after this and a half marathon (Jingle Bell) in December!! I feel coordinating outfits coming on.
#2
Let’s begin with the disclaimer that I’m not a doctor or medical professional.
In my family, we have what my sister calls “bad bellies”. Call it terrible genes, but each member of our dad’s side has been plagued by stomach issues. If it can happen, we will get it.
When I was 10, I started getting terrible headaches, which turned into migraines. Not long after, stomach issues. When I was in my early 20s, I got an IBS diagnosis, a bunch of pills and told to eat bland foods.
The thing is, nothing really worked for me. A steady diet of basically only Cheerios and bananas when I was 22 still yielded pain. Then, I was diagnosed with lactose intolerance.
After much diet modification and letting many years pass, one day, like a light being switched, it all just stopped. Just like that. The weirdest thing! No more pain, no more issues.
Over the years (it’s been 16 years since the first diagnosis) I’ve noticed that when I get nervous, worried or basically anything outside the norm happens – my stomach is the first to notice. All the bells go off.
But really, the issue lies with the fact that I’m an introverted person who doesn’t like conflict. I’m not going to discuss what I do for work, but there is a fair amount of conflict involved that I resolve (or try to). I try not to take it personally but hey – it’s hard stuff! I’m very happy to edit and write and cook and bake and craft….but yelling makes me jumpy! 
Call me crazy.
So fast forward to recently, when I went to see my Gastro for some issues that are recurring. We talked about gut health, which is something no one had reviewed with me before.
When I went for an endoscopy last year, I learned I have chronic gastritis despite not having any symptoms. But here’s the thing I didn’t know: if you have too much acid in the belly, it throws off your pH balance. And when that happens, everything else goes out of whack. That was the part I didn’t really know about.
And guess what makes it worse? ANXIETY.
Solution? Probiotics, fermented and alkaline foods.
Basically, you have to work on your gut health to get everything in balance. It was like a lightbulb went off. And oddly enough, I’m also reading Michael Pollan’s new book: Cooked. And just as I went to the Gastro, I was reading the chapter on probiotics and the power of fermented foods. (I am gonna have to buy stock in kombucha, I think, because I am drinking lots!)
I have been taking Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra. You take it on an empty stomach (I’ve been taking it post run on an empty stomach with a glass of water). I’m kind of shocked at how much better my stomach is in a short time. In the past I kind of haphazardly took a probiotic (nothing major and never timed on an empty stomach, etc). I also didn’t think too much about ways to specifically improve gut health. I don’t eat gluten or dairy, I keep sugar low and I eat lots of fruits, veggies and whole foods. So I thought that was fine.
Big lesson learned!
Ok #3.
I was really craving rice and beans, so I made this for dinner. I don’t really carb load too much, but I do make sure to tip my macros so my carbs are a bit higher than usual.
First I massaged kale with lime juice, a little olive oil and salt. Just massage for about 5 minutes. You want the kale to be nice and soft.
Then, I chopped up some avocado.
Next, I made black beans. Super easy: red onion, mushrooms and lightly rinsed canned beans (for easy dinner). I sprinkled on some Penzey’s Arizona Dreaming spice and salt. I added sun dried tomatoes.
I made brown rice and the put a little salsa on.
Voila. Lovely gluten and dairy free, vegan dinner.
I have just 30 minutes of running tomorrow morning and that’s all folks! I’ll talk to you after the marathon!
