Monthly Archives: May 2011

Fueling Failure

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21

Today’s long run was a little painful and has left me wiped tonight!

However, I can’t decide if my 3+ hour run was more painful or the 10 minute ice bath afterward!?!?

What I don’t do for my obsession! ;)

Distance: 21 miles

Time: 3:10

One of my goals today was to not stop at all—not even at a stoplight. I really wanted to be running the entire time, but sadly a couple unexpected things happened:

1. I had to change my shoes.

The shoes I started out in definitely have more than 500 miles on, and my hips and knees started hurting after about an hour and forty-five minutes, so I turned around a headed home to put on a different pair.

I do have a newer pair of running shoes, but they are a little too small in the toe box. The newest pair are Mizuno Inspire 7s, and I’ve found Mizunos tends to run a half size too small. They fit fine in the store, but when my feet start to swell during my run, my toes rub against the end of the toe box, so I have avoided using them on my long runs. I have been using them during the week on shorter runs though.

2. I got dizzy and lightheaded.

After 2 hours and 15 minutes I started to feel light headed and dizzy, so I took a gel shot. However, it usually takes 10-15 minutes to kick in, so I had to stop and walk a little since I did not feel well. I only stopped for a couple of minutes and waited until the calories kicked in. After that I felt better.

I definitely struggled more through this long run than I did two weeks ago when I ran 20 miles. I’m not entirely sure why, but I do think it was due to poor fueling beforehand:

1. I don’t think I ate as much for breakfast as I usually do.

I had half of a bagel with peanut butter, half of a banana, and a muffin. That might seem like a lot for most people, but I think it was only about 400 calories, when I usually have about 500 calories. I also think I waited too long to start running after eating.

2. I didn’t have much to eat for dinner last night.

I had a large snack around 4 p.m. yesterday because I was super hungry, so when dinner time rolled around, I wasn’t hungry (obviously). I also never really got hungry the rest of the night, so I didn’t have much the rest of the night. I did have a Think Thin bar around 8 p.m. because I knew I would need something for the morning, but that probably wasn’t enough.

I tried this Think Thin protein bar based off your recommendations in this post.

While I was optimistic I would like it, I wasn’t all that impressed. It was good (for a protein bar), but I thought it was pretty “chalky.” Maybe it was the $1.70 I had to pay for it that left a bad taste in my mouth. Needless to say, I won’t be picking up any more of these anytime soon.

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Craig biked with me for the second half of my run today. :)

Our route took us to the Lake Hood airport where float planes take-off and land on the water.

We also enjoyed beautiful views of the mountains.

All those cars are from people who have parked their vehicle here for the weekend while they fly their plane to remote parts of Alaska.

Here’s a plane coming in for a landing. . . .

on a gravel run-way!

Even though it looks like it is 7 p.m. outside, it is actually after 10:00 and time for me to go to bed because I am wiped from my run!

Friday Fun

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8

Nothing like starting a Friday morning with some blog reading, a run, and a delicious breakfast. :)

Distance: 5 miles + 6 striders

Time: 45 minutes

I took it easy in preparation for my long run tomorrow. (I’m shooting for 21 miles tomorrow.)

First time wearing shorts in the morning! And somehow my legs still turned a little red.

When I returned home, all I could think about was this:

Michelle’s Traditional Bowl of Oatmeal

Ingredients

1/4 cup old-fashioned oats

1/3 cup milk

1/3 cup water

1/2 teaspoon chia seeds

1 banana, sliced

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

dash of salt

toppings: banana slices, peanut butter, coconut

Directions

1. Combine oats, milk, water, chia seeds, and 1/2 banana in a pot on the stove top.

2. Bring mixture to boil, reduce heat, and cook for 3-5 minutes until mixture is creamy. Stir often.

3. Remove from heat, and stir in vanilla and salt.

4. Add toppings and enjoy!

These are my traditional toppings, but the options are endless: nuts, strawberries, blueberries, crumbled muffin, granola, etc.

This afternoon, I got a much-needed manicure. I’ve been wanting to go for a while but seeing that I am a p.e. teacher and surrounded by sports equipment all day, a pretty manicure didn’t seem too conducive to that.

I’m pretty sure I picked out the exact same color as this time I went.

Yes, I know I have wrinkly grandma hands.

On top of a great day, we are having some fabulous weather!

Low 70s and sunny. Now, my ideal temperature is closer to 80 degrees, but this is Alaska people, and I know I can’t ask for much warmer temps than this. I am soaking up every last ray of sunshine I can!

Can summer please last forever?

Summer Sunshine

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9

I am looooving my summer vacation so far!!

I cannot believe how much teaching stressed me out! I honestly feel like I can live in the moment now instead of dream about the end of the school year all. day. long! :)

I have been having a hard time sleeping though. They daylight is killing me!

Check out our sunrise/sunset times:

Sunrise: 4:49 a.m.

Sunset: 11:07 p.m.

And it isn’t like the rest of the time it is dark outside. When I wake up at 2 or 3 o’clock at night, there is still a hint of light in the sky!

I am going to take a bunch of pictures and post them very soon, so you, too, can see what it is like here! Although, pictures don’t do justice to the real thing, which is why you should come and visit me this summer and see what is like in the land of the Midnight Sun!

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My run this morning was a short one: 5 miles, but slow: 45 minutes.

I had to hurry home for another Thursday morning coffee date! :)

Breakfast

coffee + overnight oats

My overnight oats were not-so-delicious. I added frozen fruit last night and when they melted, it made my oats all watery–bleh!

After our coffee date, I hit up the gym for 45 minutes of weight lifting.

I focused mostly on my upper body muscles and only did a couple lifts for my legs because they are pretty sore from the week.

It hit a whopping 74 degrees today, and if you know anything about Alaska weather (at least for Southcentral Alaska) that’s a heatwave! I was thoroughly enjoying the temps and the sunshine today!

I also enjoyed a little shopping spree this afternoon at the Gap and Banana Republic. Gap was giving 40% off almost all purchases, and I scored 50% off my total purchase at Banana Republic. I love a great deal! :)