Will Run 4 Tacos

If you’ve been following my blog for any amount of time, then you know that I have a slight taco obsession.

These ain’t yo mama’s tacos.

I like how they can taste so sinful, but be somewhat healthy* – lots of veggies and lean proteins.

*If you make smart menu choices.

By buddy and I about to fill our pie taco holes.

When I was training for the Dopey Challenge last year, tacos were often my reward for my back to back to back long runs.

On da left – Migas. On da right – Avocado.

A popular place around North Texas to run is called White Rock Lake.  You can get many miles in there.

9 miles around with plenty of connecting trails to add more mileage.

The best part though, is that around the lake are several taco joints!  Perfect for recovery treat right after a long run.

Marathon fuel.

Since I have experience with running on tacos, here’s my tips for the taco ordering.

Hey look, more tacos!

#1 – Avoid flour tortillas.  They ain’t good for you.  The white flour is bad for you.  The trans fats are bad for you.  I always ask for soft corn tortillas – which aren’t necessarily the best thing for you either, but it’s the better option.  Or you could always just eat the innards with a spork…like I’ve been known to do…

Rudy Rudy Rudy…

#2 – I don’t generally eat meaty things.  I pretty much stick to eggs and fish.  Luckily a lot of places offer breakfast tacos (served all day if you’re extra lucky – just ask).  And if you’re super duper lucky, fish tacos!

Mahi Mahi is goody goody.

#3 – And a lot of these tacos have plenty of veggies involved.  But I always drown mine in salsa regardless – more veggies!

I like my tacos like my women – spicy.

#4 – Enjoy.  It’s a special treat.  It’s a reward.  Savor it.

Veggie on the left – Ahi Tuna on the right.

I apologize in advance for making everyone hungry, as I’m sure I’ll hear about in the comments.  But I couldn’t help it.  I was thinking about this post as I was devouring the tacos in the following photo…

These poor guys weren’t long for this world.

Now, I would like to invite anyone reading this to join me for a run followed by tacos.  Just let me know when you’re coming to town!

Who accepts my invitation?  What’s your reward meal?  Who’s hungry now?

-Scott

PS. Looking back on this post, I think Torchy’s and I have a special relationship.  I’m fine with that.

How to Get Free Schtuff

If you follow my blog, or my instagram, or my tweeter, then you know that I’ve been getting some sweet birthday meals this week.

Taco Taco (Bought by a friend)

And here’s the best part – they’ve been FREE!  Here’s how you do it:

1.) Have a friend or family member take you out for your birthday.  Repeat with others (don’t take advantage though – and never ask them to buy you food, duh, rude much)  Easy enough.

2.) Go to your fave places’ websites and register for their e-newsletter or whatever.  Come birthday month, they e-mail you all kinds of coupons and vouchers.  Print them and claim rewards!

Free Free Mahi Mahi (voucher voucher)

You can also tweet the company and see what they say.  I was in the middle of a titter-conversation with Torchy’s Tacos and when it came out that it was my birthday, they sent me this:

I don’t know what they’re sending me, but I know I didn’t buy it.

I can’t wait to see what I get in the mail this week!  (more on that later)

Anyways, so far I’ve gotten some tacos and some wings.  Upcoming is some ‘za and more tacos and BBQ.  It’s on.

This goes for non-food too, but I didn’t write about that because hey, I’m hungry.

Anyone else use this ploy?  Any good free meals lately?  Any other ideas to get some?

-Scott

Run Fuel: Kicked-Up Healthy Lunch

Most of the time, I sacrifice my lunch break to work out instead.  But I still need to eat, so what I do is munch my lunch while I work.  This usually means I get to go to take my “lunch” break later, which is good cause I miss the big crowds of other lunch worker outers at the gym.  Mid afternoon gym time is pretty empty, so I get my pick of equipment.  Noice!

I try to always eat healthy, and packing lunch helps with that.  But a while back I started picking up some dried vegetarian soups that just need some hot water to bring them back to life.  These have been my lunches for quite some time now.  But after a while they got kind of old.  Then I had a revelation – I can kick em up a few notches.  For example, check out the pic below:

Black bean soup – Scotterized!

What I had did was bring a bunch of optional options that I can add to the soups.  For this simple Chipotle Black Bean Soup, I added Salsa, Jalapenos, and Avocados (obviously).  This not only adds layers of flavor, but more veggies means more nutrients and health benefits!  It has changed my workday lunch world.

Of course, I also keep fruits and nuts and such to snack on through the day too.

I’ve got quite a pear, don’t I?

What do you do for lunch?  Do you eat at your desk too?

Jarrod Shoemaker & Normatec

Last weekend I had a chance to meet Olympian and champion Triathlete Jarrod Shoemaker.  He was making an appearance at a local tri shop which also houses a sports chiro office that my buddy works at.  They were having a sort of open house, so I went into their open house.  I listened to Mr. S’s talk while I tested out some normatec leg sleeves, as the office had a few of them available.  I didn’t take a picture, but my friend Ann took one during her session this week, so I stole it (sorry Ann) – Here’s the view:

Oh great, now I need to find a matching top!

The sleeves inflate like a blood pressure gauge does on your arm.  It inflates at different points and at different intensities.  I don’t know no much about science and stuffs, but they say it helps aid recovery from tough workouts by forcing your blood to move around.  I didn’t ask too many questions, I just jumped in.  Like I said, it felt like a blood pressure thingy, and it kind of felt good.  It’s not painful at all, it just gets tight in different areas at different times.  After they took em off, I didn’t really notice feeling any different, but I bet if I used these things regularly, I would be able to tell a difference.

Apparently TONS of pro athletes have these at home and zip em up while they chill on the couch.  I wish I had one at home…Does anyone have $1700 that I could like…have?

Anyway, while I sat there, Mr. Shoedude did his talk.  I want to share a few of the main points that I took away from him.

I guess he knows what he’s talking about.

-He said he eats several small meals all day long so that he’s not hungry and his body has calories to use as fuel.  This includes eating right before he goes to bed.  I know that goes against everything you’ve ever been told, and I’m paraphrasing here, but he said he wants his body to spend his sleeping hours using energy to digest that food instead of his muscles and stuff.  Now remember, he’s a world class athlete and probably burns a ton butt more calories during his workouts then the average Joey.  His metabolism is probably off the charts.

-He also credits chiropractic care and massages for helping keeping him healthy.  I’m glad to hear this as I visit a chiro regularly and feel it helps me tremendously.  Massage is another story.  I so badly want to go and go regularly (to get a massage that is), but honestly, it’s been about 5 years since I had one, besides the self massages my foam roller and golf ball give me.  I should really change that.

-Finally, he also said that when he got into racing, he started as a runner.  Problem was he kept getting hurt – IT Band, etc.  Then he realized that his whole life he had played multiple sports (soccer, baseball, etc.).  So he gravitated to triathlons.  That way he could still be doing different sports within one sport.  The lesson I take away from this is that everyone should train like a triathlete, even if you aren’t one.  You need to do more than just run, or you risk injury.  That’s why I run, yoga, soccer, lift, bike, etc.  Cross training so that I can stay healthy enough to run injury free!

Anyways, that’s all I got.  Have any of you ever used those sleeves?  What do you think of em?  What else do you do to recover?

-Scott

 

Run Fuel = Veggie Curry

One time in Scotland visiting a friend, we were going to get something for dinner and she said, “Fancy an Indian?”  I thought that was a strange way to ask someone if they want to go to an Indian restaurant.  They may have invented English on that European island known as Great Britain, but that doesn’t mean they don’t screw it up sometimes!  Anyways, we did fancy an Indian, and it was delish.

I love Indian food, and I love how they have so many vegetarian options.  So that’s what I made last night.  I was pretty lazy about this dish, but here it is.  In a pan I threw in a bag of organic mixed veggies and sliced baby bella shrooms.  Then a can of coconut milk.  A little stock.  And a bunch of spices – curry, tumeric, garam masala, etc.  Brought it to a boil and then lowered the temp and simmered until I felt like it was done.  Steamed up some brown rice and spooned the curry over top.  Simple, easy, quick, and lazy.

I took a picture, but won’t share it here as Indian food doesn’t always look beautiful, but it sure does taste good!  And so healthy – they say it has cancer fighting capabilities.  And the brown rice will give me the carbs needed to get through today’s gym sesh and evening social run.  And I need the help because it’s still 100 degrees outside!

Speaking of hot, no, the curry was not spicy.  People think that all curry is spicy, they ain’t.  I left it mild out of respect for the others in our house that I knew would be eating it.  In my bowl however, I added a good amount of dried spicy spices.  Yup, papa likes it HOT!  Food that is, not running temps.

All for now, buh bye.

This Week’s Run Fuel

Just a quick note here as to what I made to eat to keep me moving.  I’ve got my 12 mile run in the morning and so tonight I’m eating oven roasted sweet potatoes and some cooked up wild Alaskan salmon.  Pretty simple.

The other day tho, here’s what I made to last a few days.  I sauteed some onion and garlic in extra virgin organic coconut oil.  Then threw in some tomato paste.  Then some sun dried tomatoes.  I deglazed with white wine.  Then added some goat cheese.  On the other burner I boiled some gluten free quinoa fusilli pasta.  The little swirls of the pasta help keep in the sauce.  When it was done, I added it to the wine goat cheese tomato sauce, along with some of the water the pasta boiled in.  Boom.  Done.  Healthy.  Everyone enjoyed it.  Looking back though, I wish I had added some sliced mushrooms.  But it’s all good.  Sorry I don’t have measurements, but I don’t measure when I cook.  I just kind of go on feel.  If you really want to know, holla and I’ll figure it out best I can.  Otherwise, if it sounds good to you, just wing it!

It lasted me for several days and I had some really good workouts.  This morning I ran 3.5 with 7:40 something miles.  I wanted to go faster and further, but I’m trying to stick to the Dopey training plan.  It’s a plan for a reason.

Anyhoodle, that’s it.  Ready for the morning run.  Then finally a cheat meal or two!

Happy Labour Day Holiday (I’m pretending I’m British that last sentence.)

Fueling for Workouts

Just like how I Like running, I also like to cook.  Nutrition is KEY for weight management and keeping me on my feet for all those miles!  I’ve never had a class, but I think I’m decent in the kitchen.  In fact, I was once told by a guy who said he could communicate with my “spirit guides” and that one of them is a lady originally from France who helps me cook.  So take from that what you will!  Anyway, when I cook, I like to be healthy.  It’s always a challenge since pretty much everything in the grocery is the devil in disguise.  But here’s what’s been fueling my workouts this week.

I don’t know measurements as I don’t like to measure.  But basically I made one cup (pre-cooked) organic quinoa.  Instead of water, I used low sodium chicken broth.  I also defrosted some frozen organic veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, zucchini) on the stove and threw them in the now cooked quinoa.

The veggie quinoa was supposed to be the side dish to my wild-caught salmon.  I had a pound of the fish.  On each side I put Himalayan sea salt and fresh cracked pepper.  I seared it on the stove in organic virgin Coconut Oil.  Things were going well, until I accidentally flaked the salmon apart.  No worries though – decided to just throw it in with the veggies and quinoa and mix it all up.

Lots of omega-3’s, nutrients, and other health benefits to this meal and it made enough that it provided plenty of meals for me and others.  This was good hot, and cold as leftovers (Personally, I like to add Tabasco sauce to it too!).  It’s been fueling my runs and weight sessions for a few days now.  Today I did a quick three miles on the road and then an hour of weights.  Felt pretty good.

Looking back, I think I should’ve thrown in some pomegranate seeds, that would’ve added another layer to not only the flavor and texture, but also the healthiness!

So there you go, an insight into what’s been keeping me moving this week.  Sounds good or yucky?