Less than 2 weeks to go before race day, so I figured it was time for another training update post! Things have been going incredibly well and truthfully I’m pretty shocked at how well I’ve been able to stick to my plan. Sometimes as the weekly mileage increases I will often start skipping runs, but so far the only reason I’ve missed a few runs is because the kids or I have been sick. By sticking with my plan almost to a T I’ve been able to condition my body to handle the physical demands and I really don’t have any nagging issues or soreness at all. knock on wood.
Today I wanted to talk about a couple things that have affected my running, all in good ways!
Food as Fuel. Fueling your body smartly is incredibly important all the time, but even more so when you’re training for something. I normally eat whole grain bread with peanut butter on it before my early runs but for the past few weeks I’ve been eating Van’s organic whole grain waffles with almond butter and it really does a great job of keeping me going. (We buy them in bulk at Costco and all four of us love them.)
When it comes to fueling on runs I only do it on runs that are longer than 10 miles. On those longer runs I start fueling around mile 4, even though I don’t really feel like I need anything yet. I think it’s important to fuel early before you start getting weak so that you’re proactively replenishing the calories and don’t have to eat a bunch at one time (and thus causing a stomach ache). I’ve been experimenting with different items and so far I love bringing a Honey Stinger wafer, dried dates, Swedish Fish and a mix of Bolt Organic Energy Chews and Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews with me. I used to use gels but have realized chewing food rather than gagging down a gel is more my style. I just place all the food/chews in a plastic baggie and put it in my pocket and pull it out every few miles when I need a pick me up. I also like that I don’t necessarily have to have water when I eat them.
New Workout Clothes.
I recently bought a new pair of pants from Athleta and even though they’re yoga pants I really like them. They’re called the Elation 7/8 Tight and they’re very similar to the Align crop from lululemon but they seem a bit thicker. I wear these sometimes when I run on the treadmill and stick to my lulu speed shorts when I run outside. They’re also great for school drop off and errands and I’d live in them if we didn’t live in Hawaii. They’re true to size and I’m wearing a small. I also got 2 new tanks from Athleta and I love the sheer stripes on them. (Just ordered 2 more on Black Friday, actually.) They’re a tad long since they’re made to cover your bum in yoga pants but they work well for running too and I’m wearing the Small Regular size. Oh and they’re 20% off today for Cyber Monday too! Athleta rarely goes on sale so stock up, y’all. This tank is the best! Oh and if you’re looking for a good bra with pockets in it (the only kid I wear when I run) then get the lululemon Stash n Run Bra. I’ve had 3 for years and just added a pretty gray/white striped one to my collection. They’re comfy and practical and cute too.
Cross Training. Cross training is a game changer when training for a marathon. Your body needs a break from all the pounding and it’s good to switch things up once or twice a week. I swim the day after my long run (typically a mile, mostly freestyle with a little breaststroke thrown in, and only take 1 or 2 15 second breaks). It’s so therapeutic and I’ve come to really enjoy it. It works all my muscles, builds cardiovascular endurance and it’s nice to give my joints a break. I also try to strength training once or twice a week, typically on the day I swim or on one of the mid-week shorter run days. Having a strong core and arms helps you keep from slumping as the miles click by and working muscles other than your quads is really important to keep your legs balanced and prevent injury.
Foam Rolling. I mentioned my foot pain in this previous post and I have completely eliminated it by diligently using a foam roller! I also made an IGTV video all about how I use a foam roller so here is the link to that if you’re interested in learning how to use one.
Have any running/fitness topics you’d like to me discuss next time? Let me know in the comments! Also be sure to check out the Running Q&A I did a week ago and it’s saved here in my Instagram Highlights.
Cross training is absolutely critical! It was such a huge part of my last training cycle.
Yes! I can't wait to see if the extra work will pay off this time!