Things I’m Doing Differently the Last Month Before the Marathon

I am ‘all in’ this last month leading up to the Twin Cities Marathon. I am doing everything in my power to make sure my body is in tip-top shape because I am not taking any chances–I need to achieve my big, dream goal once and for all!

Nutrition

I’m not making any major changes to my diet since I normally eat pretty healthy, but I am trying to clean it up even a bit more.

Less sugar

One of the biggest changes I made in my diet has been reducing the amount of sugar I eat. Since sugar is an empty calorie, it provides no nutritional value for our bodies, so I’ve reduced the amount of sugar by avoiding cereals, dried fruit, flavored yogurts, “granola”/protein bars with a lot of sugar (Clif bars, for example), etc. I have not cut out all sugar completely, but I have been more conscious about how much I’m eating.

Eating the healthiest options

I have been more conscious about eating the healthiest options and limiting the processed foods like crackers and cereals that turn into quick snacks for me. I’m aiming to eat things with 5 ingredients or less. I, by no means, have been perfect, but this has been my goal.

For lunch or dinner I have been eating the following meal almost every day: about 2 cups of sauteed vegetables (zucchini, broccoli, mushrooms, onion, kale–some combination of those) + quinoa + a meat protein (ground caribou, hamburger, chicken, roast beef, whatever is available).

Here is a breakfast I like to have: toast with avocado + scrambled eggs + a bunch of veggies sauteed (red pepper, broccoli, mushrooms, onion).

I am also avoiding alcohol (not that I drink much to being with), candy, dessert, and other junk foods.

Rest, Rest, Rest

One of the big reasons I flew to Minnesota three weeks prior to the marathon was because I knew I would be able to rest a lot more, which I can always tell makes a difference in my performance during workouts and for a race.

Staying off my feet

This is a big one! I am constantly on my feet at home taking care of Cullen, cleaning up the house, out-and-about running errands, or exploring with Cullen, but now while I’ve been at my parents I can relax a lot more because Grandma and Grandpa want to play with him too, plus he just got a new train set he loves.

Naps

I have yet to actually take a nap, but I did lay down one day last week; I just never fell asleep. Next week (the week before the marathon), I am going to make it more of a priority.

Sleeping more at night

It is nice not having to set an alarm each morning. Even if I get up at about the same time as my alarm would go off, I feel so much more rested if I wake up naturally.

More Water and Electrolytes

My water bottle goes everywhere with me, and it is always full. I have also been drinking tea, kombucha, and carbonated water in addition to plain water to mix things up. I have been using Nuun electrolyte tablets in my water on the humid days to replenish those electrolytes.

Foam Rolling and Stretching

I almost always spend a few minutes foam rolling before I go to bed each night, but I have been much more diligent about doing it a couple times throughout the day. I have been foam rolling and stretching because I think both are important.

Massage

I treated myself to a massage this week, and it was heavenly. I had a 30 minute massage to work out tightness and flush out my muscles. I’m going to do one more next week as well.

Chiropractor and ART work

Before coming to Minnesota, I went and saw Dr. Cain at Active Health Solutions for an adjustment and some ART (active release technique) to get everything loosened up as much as possible. To be honest, I should have been seeing him periodically throughout my training, but sometimes I don’t think of using these professionals when everything is going okay.

Mental Prep

This is a huge! To be honest, I haven’t been as optimistic about this race as I have others in the past. I’ve only had 4 months to build up, which is not very long–especially after taking the prior 10 months off due to my hip injury. In order to be mentally strong, I plan to listen to a podcast that is designed for a long distance runner’s mental prep. I have done this for the last two marathons, and I think it has helped make me more mentally tough for the races.

I’ve definitely had to make some sacrifices this past month, but if I can achieve my goal, it will be all worth it. Only time will tell!