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?

Great Run Opportunity (and Other Stuff)

OK, so on Saturday June 8, we are leading a social run in Allen, TX at 8am.  We are starting/stopping at Pure Movement Dance and Fitness Studio.  One of my cool friends is the co-owner…I know people.  But that’s not necessarily why we’re running from there.  They are also hosting a big health/fitness event that same day.  See the flier below…or is it flyer?

Click on it to make it bigger. Or not, whatever.

I love hanging out with my like minded health conscience friends.  Especially when we’re encouraging others to get fit.  And so as part of this morning, after our run, they are offering us a yoga session by an amazing instructor for only $5.  Pretty cool deal. And if you follow my blog, then you know how important I think yoga is for athletes – especially runners.  Check out my post on it here: Yoga for Runners

If you’re in the area, join us.  If you’re not in the area, get to the area.  Minimum run will be 2 miles, max run is up to you as we are running laps around Celebration Park…the more laps you do, the more mileage.  It’s 1.5 miles around and exactly 1 mile from Pure Movement.  Here’s the course: Saturday’s route

I hope you can join us.

Other than that, I need to make a correction to my last post.  I said I had done 4 videos with Flula.  But I lied.  I had forgotted the very first video I made with him.  It was on a show we used to do called “The Dilly-O”.

Silly show, yes, but it must’ve been working because the series did win Two Emmys!

Fun night that was.

And one more thing I forgot to write about this week.  My soccer team made it to the championship game of our league.  The semifinal went to double overtime, then a double shootout.  I made my penalty shot to help them win.  But in the final, we also went to double overtime and double shootout, and I also made my penalty, but this time we lost.  Oh well, still had fun.

No smiles for second place.

OK, I think that’s it for now.  Keep it fit people!

Peace!

Running: Back on (the) Track!

So I’m driving home the other day and I pass a middle school track where I sometimes go to do track workouts (coincidentally enough).  But this day, I had already done my workouts, so no need to stop.  But then I noticed a friend of mine flying down the straight-a-way.  His name is Bob Smeby, he’s fast.  Here’s his Athlinks page.  Notice all the first place finishes.  He’s in his mid 50’s but still runs around a 6 minute mile.  Like I said, he’s fast…probably because he practices getting faster by doing track workouts.  Funny how that works – put in the time and effort, get the results.

The next day I messaged him to say I saw him on the track, and he invited me to run with him next time out.  I agreed.  I hadn’t been on the track since the fall, but I do enjoy it.  Training for long races like marathons can involve some loooong slow runs.  That’s why I like doing track workouts – it’s a chance to go a short distance, and go it fastly!  Plus, I was a 4 year letter winner in high school track.  So obviously, it’s something I’ve always enjoyed.

Smokin’ fools in the 400 in high school.

If you’re a runner and  you don’t do track workouts, you’re missing out.  They usually involve going almost all out for a determined distance, then “recovering” with a short jog.  Repeat.  Are they hard?  Yes, yes they are.  But they really can help increase your per mile pace. Not only that, but doing that sort of explosive burst interval work is the number one way to burn fat.  And who doesn’t want to burn fat?  Besides Manny Yarbrough, that is.

Smokin’ fools at a recent track workout. *Thanks Runner Girl Chels for the pic!

But then the day arrived for my first track workout in months.  I realized that I’m going to be running alone with a really fast person.  I didn’t want to be the only one puking on the infield, so I invited some other peeps.  Granted I didn’t give them much notice, but nobody else was able to make it.  My one friend even said, “Are you CRAZY?!?!  You’re doing a track workout with Smeby?!?!”

But it was all good.  We did a mile or so warm up, then Bob changed into his spikes…yes, he brought spikes!  We did 10 x 200 with a 200 jog in between.  If he hadn’t been there, I would’ve quit after 8…or 6.  Another advantage to running with others – accountability!  And our pace was pretty good too!  Bob had me start a little ahead of him and told me not to let him catch me.  He spent the whole workout trying to chase me down and I spent it trying to hold him off.  We both got a great workout.

Next time out, we hope to have some more peeps out there for a mid week fat burn/speed increase.  I don’t know what our workout will be, but it doesn’t matter cause I know it will be hard, but fun!

Holla if you want to come run in circles sometime!