My blogger buddy and awesome friend over at NikeMom has asked me to host Foto Friday and how can I turn down a woman who runs/bikes/swims as much as she does. So, comment or whatever and I will link you up here.
I call this Pink Lady – In my juicer: Beets – ginger – pears – apples. Delicious and oh so healthy. Go easy on the ginger if you do not like it really spicy.
Homemade almond milk. Really tasty. Soak almonds overnight. In blender the next day add almonds and 3-4 cups of water. If you prefer a sweeter milk add some dates or vanilla or agave or even honey. Just a bit though. Christie says to add a pinch of salt and I agree. It balances it out. Then blend for about 3 minutes. Here comes the fun part. You need to strain the milk so that all the almond pulp is out and what your left with is a beautiful silky milk. Enjoy it on cereal or in smoothies.
BROOKS ST 4 Need I say more? Well, I am off for my first run in them. Now. Need I say more?
HAPPY JULY 4th TO ALL MY BLOGGY AND REAL LIFE FRIENDS!!!
Actually, Michelle, everyone is reasonable.
They just have their own reasons.
And usually it’s worth trying to learn what they are to maximize chances of a full-blown, 60’s style, psychedelic lovefest. Which is always a good thing.
Groovy you,
The Universe
Tears streamed down my face as I crossed the finish line, I was a new person, a runner!
It’s summertime – that means its fun time. I think its awesome to surround yourself with like minded fun people. People you have a lot in common with so the conversation just flows.
I have been trying to open my social circle so to speak and I have been pretty successful so far. There is a lot to be said for friending the kind of folks that you strive to be.
Wait – What?
So, if you are a NYC running blogger please check this out NEXT NYC AREA RUNNING BLOGGER MEET UP. Let’s get the word out. It should be fun and hopefully I will be able to carry on a conversation with other runners who blog or other bloggers who just happen to run. Either way, I am psyched and thank you TK for the invite/evite!
June 30th 09 5 miles 51.07 Nice way to end the month. Tomorrow I start a 100 mile challenge. OY VEY!
Mile 1 10.47
Mile 2 10.29
Mile 3 10.00
Mile 4 10.02
Mile 5 9.47
I almost stopped at 4 miles but just couldn’t. In my head, before I even started – I was running a 5 miler no matter what.
For laughs:
Super Natural Running!
I don’t wear the Nike Free I just thought this video was funny! Let it all hang out YO!!!
Total for June:
99.55 miles – HUH?
9446 calories burned
It tasted like chocolate pudding going down. All I needed was some cool whip and an ice coffee and I would have breakfast on the run.
This was my very first ever experience with GU! You can say I was a GU virgin. It was good. It was really good for me. Very special first time. Made me feel tingly all over. OK, NOT!!!
But, it was not as bad as I had feared. It gave me the extra oomph to finish up a 7 miler today. I ran with Samantha – a new and different route for us. It is basically a 5 mile stretch of bike and running path with water on one side and the Belt Parkway on the other side. We ran underneath the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge which we all know is the start of the NYC Marathon right? So, that was cool.
It was hot but not humid. At least IMHO. But, the sun was strong upon my face and shoulders. It was out full force and kept reminding me that it is indeed summertime. So, that was cool too. What was not very cool was the fact that there were no water fountains available. I found this a bit surprising and disturbing. This is a heavily populated running/biking area so you would think there WOULD be some water fountains along the way. The one water fountain I did see (at the end of the run) I sprinted over to it all happy only to find out it was not in working condition.
I may have to do something about that. Get some petitions signed or speak to my congressman.
This is an enjoyable route and I did enjoy it. I may consider it for my 10 miler. I will bring my own hydration. I did have a water bottle but it just wasn’t enough at 12oz. That sucker was gone before I knew it.
This is how it went down – 6 miles Shore Parkway and we thought we were done. But, as I was driving home I wanted to check out the 5K race that was happening up on my boardwalk. Yes, remember I love it so that makes it mine. The race was about 20 minutes into it and Samantha looked over at me and said something like &^$%(@*$(?? And I said sure. Translated “Wanna run another mile up on the boardwalk?”. So, we did and ended up with our 7 miler. WOOT!!
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In My Dreams….
Michelle graciously (or foolishly? You decide) asked me to be a guest blogger here at her blog, Running Down a Dream, and she offered a number of enticements to get me to agree to guest blogging but the truth is she hadme at these three little words: “You can curse.”
I can curse?!1! Fucking-A!! Woo-hoo!
Shit fuck! Ass pussy! Dickwad nutsack!1! Dr. Nic!
Okay, now that that’s outta the way …
When somebody asks you to write for her blog, you do something you (well … I, anyroad) never do, which is actually think about what you’re gonna write. Because, hey, it’s okay if all of you out there think I’m a dick (full disclosure: It’s really not okay. And you’re a bigger dick for thinking it is), but what I write here at Michelle’s blog could also destroy poor, unsuspecting Michelle’s reputation for the rest of her natural life … if I do it right, that is. She could end up being shunned by friends and family – assuming she isn’t already – how the fuck would Iknow? (Man, I’m fucking loving this carte blanche for cursing!)
So as a guest, I gotta be all respectable, is the point, which is something I never have to worry about being when I write for my own blog whose name and url escape me at the moment but if you search Google using the term “n*ts@ck” my blog should be like the first or second hit you get, I would think. (And it can be revealed here – a Running Down a Dream EXCLUSIVE – that “n*ts@ck” = “notsock” – so EAT IT all you people who thought I was referring to my own nutsack in all those posts where I wrote n*ts@ck! You’re soooo vulgar! You really disgust me – to the very depths of my n*ts@ck! (ß That time, I meant “nutsack”.)
I suppose I should mention something about running since this is ostensibly a running blog. Okay.
I started running because I have Fat Eyes which means the eye doctor saw what he called “lipids” in my eyes and he was just being polite because in this instance “lipids” just meant “fat” and he probably said “lipids in my eyes” because he was afraid if he called my eyes “fat”, I’d say like, “Well, I’d rather have Fat Eyes than cellulitein my n*ts@ck, Dr. Pork-Nuts!”
But I knew he meant fat.
And having “lipids” in your eyes means you probably have high cholesterol, which I got checked and turns out I did. Have high cholesterol, that is.
So rather than go on liver-destroying drugs for my cholesterol – I have my own plans on ways to destroy my liver, thank you very much, and those plans are spelled “BE-EE-EE-AR” – I decided to run because in the course of having my cholesterol levels explained to me, my doctor must’ve mentioned about 5 times that runners have high levels of the GOOD cholesterol and love levels of the BAD.
So I started running so that I could continue to drink beer. End of running story.
And I would just like to point out to a certain someone – and no, I don’t mean Teh Marcy, I mean someone totally different, named … uh … Teh Darcy – that Dr. Fuckin NIC was never asked to be a guest blogger here so what the fuck? Why won’t you lurve me the way you lurve him? WHAT’S SO FUCKING GREAT ABOUTHIM?!1?
The weather here in NY has been just horrific the past couple of weeks. Rain – rain and even more rain. Saturday called for – yep you guessed right…more rain. So I ran a nice 6 miler and beat the rain. A LSD run I suppose. I am needing to start upping my mileage as I am training for and running the NYC Half Marathon on August 16th.
I am having a bit of a dilemma in my head about how I want to approach this race. Do I want to fun run it? Shall I set a goal time? Should I try to PR? Yes to all of the above of course. I want every race I run to be fun. I sure want to have a goal in my head and without a doubt I want to PR the thing.
But, I also live in the real world where real life things can occur. So, I don’t put much pressure on these sorts of things. Yeah right.
I do admit, I am falling in love with running all over again. With me its been an on again – off again love affair. I have gotten many great highs from running, but I have also had just as many lows. Injury after injury – mile after mile – I always come back to the place where I just love it. For its simplicity. For its ease.
I am not the runner I once was nor will I ever be. But, that does not mean I am not a better runner now than I once was. Better, in the sense that I appreciate it more and more. I don’t want an injury to take me out again. But, I need to be smarter this time around. We all know there are OK pains to run with and not so OK pain. We know this. I know this.
Last night I had a family dinner thing and I had a lot of laughs. (sorry for the segue) I sat next to my cousin Mark who in all the years I know him, has been as skinny as can be. He smokes cigars and I assume does not exercise. So, last night I asked him “Hey Mark, do you exercise at all?” Mark said “We have Wii Fit at home”. Yeah but do you exercise? I asked. Again, his answer was Wii Fit but he didn’t say he used it just that he has it. So what, does he exercise by osmosis or something? His daughter Sarah at 10 years old is skinny as skinny can be. She is active.
So, as I was perusing the menu, I realized that there was hardly any really healthy choices. Sure, there was fish on the menu but somehow I felt as though if I did not cook it myself I wasn’t sure what I was getting. In the end, I went with the trout and a sweet potato plus a nice salad and sauteed spinach.
Today, I ran a consistent 5 miler. I also ripped my shirt right off my back. Ok, well after about almost 4 miles I was drenched and felt as though I needed my body free of clothes. NO NO NO I did not run the last 1.2 miles naked. Sports bra – shorts – socks – kicks. I tried picturing myself and how I looked but honestly I didn’t really even care. My chubby tummy was neatly tucked into my Nike running shorts so all was good. Plus, I wasn’t getting any funny looks from anybody so maybe I looked like an elite runner out there. Who knows?
I am awaiting an ipod shuffle. My beloved old ipod nano has decided not to charge anymore. Guess it just got tired and needs a rest. So, the shuffle with its cute clip on will do the trick for me.
Todays Stats:
5 miles 51.40 10.19 min/mile Best pace 7.38 min/mile
Mile 1 10.27
Mile 2 10.45 (no idea what happened here)
Mile 3 10.31
Mile 4 10.02
Mile 5 9.56
Negative splits.
If you can understand, dear Michelle, that the 3 greatest obstacles between you and the life of your wildest dreams are actually imaginary, a product of your mind alone, I do believe we’ll blow the wheels clear off this popsicle stand.
“Push-Ups” for everyone,
The Universe
WORK IT!
Continuing the guest posts on my blog I’d like to introduce you to Samantha. She is a cool running buddy I actually met on facebook. But get this, we live in the same apartment building, Sam on floor 2 and I on floor 4 and we had never met before nor have we ever seen each other before. I still sit here scratching my head. How did I miss Samantha? She is pretty, funny and a RUNNER?? What up with that yo?? But, I am really glad we connected and became friends. She is cool, kinda like me!! So, please check out her very cool guest post right here, right now!!
#10119 Samantha!
What is your motivation to run and do you love it each and every single run even the really hard runs?? I can tell you, I certainly do not love it every run. There were days I was training for the BK Half Marathon that I didn’t even know why I was doing it. I would curse at myself all the way up Zoo Hill!
Why do I run? Sometimes it’s to relieve stress. The euphoria that I feel after a good run is amazing. Running has given me confidence in myself. Sometimes I run just to stay fit and healthy and active. If I’ve had a slow day at work (sitting at a desk job) I literally feel itchy, like I NEED to run to blow off some energy.
The only running shoes for me: My Asics 2130. They are the first/only running sneaker I’ve ever had, and from the moment I put them on I was in love. They are so light, and cushioned just enough.
Favorite post race nosh: Either eggs, toast, turkey bacon and coffee, or a bagel with cream cheese and lox! Or sometimes just some chocolate soymilk.
Favorite pre race meal: Usually something pretty light. I love the Oatmeal Raisin bar LUNA makes. Clif bars are great too. But don’t get me started on GU. NO GU!
Flat course or hills: Downhill!! Or with the wind to my back, please!
Run alone or with a partner: It depends really. On longer runs I love company, but I always need one or two runs a week by myself to listen to my iPod and just clear my head and focus on me/my running. I have met some truly amazing people through running, and I am so grateful to have extended my group of friends.
Favorite songs/artists to run to: A few of my favorites Cake “the Distance”, Britney Spears “Womanizer”, Missy Elliott “Work It”, Kanya West “Golddigger” remix, Beck, Radiohead, NIN
Name of your Garmin: Big Blue! My good old 205, I am so happy with it. I bought it the Thursday before the BK Half and paid $20 extra so I could get it delivered to me Friday afternoon. Sometimes I am impulsive!
I run, therefore I know there nothing out there that I can’t do if I try/practice enough.
I hope this was fun for everyone to read, I enjoyed filling it out! I don’t really have a running blog per say, but I am on dailymile so if you’re interested in reading more of my running chronicles while I train for the NYC Half Marathon this August, feel free to follow me there!
EDIT: To friend Samantha on dailymile find her at her name Samantha G.
Thanks Sam, RUN LIKE HELL sista!
Ordinary people believe only in the possible. Extraordinary people visualize not what is possible or probable, but rather what is impossible. And by visualizing the impossible, they begin to see it as possible. Cherie Carter-Scott
I am by no means, extraordinary. I just believe.
Since January 21st of this year when I broke that dang TOE of mine, most if not all of my running confidence flew out the window! My mojo was gone. All the hard work I put in the year before came crashing down on my TOE. It hurt more than the TOE itself.
No more TOE talk, but I use that as a way of explaining that it took this long – almost 5 months to feel that perhaps I am getting back a bit of my mojo. My be patient grasshopper mentality does not work in my world of running. I am way to impatient and I long to see results immediately. But, I know better and I know that is not the way it happens in running or in anything.
That old saying that “good things come to those that wait” is very apropos yet so very annoying don’t you think? I do think that I think too much and overanalyze everything. Seth is both a blessing and a curse to me. I have a love/hate relationship with him. Would never leave him home yet sometimes I want to rip him off my arm and fling him in the air. But being he is a GPS I think he would always find his way back to me and the safely of my left wrist.
I have been happy with my last few runs. I am running a 5K race in 2 weeks and my goal for that race is to sub 30. I believe I can do it. I know I can. it is 100% possible.
On Sunday I ran my own 5K and here are the stats:
3.1 miles 30.54 9.56 min/mile
| 1 | 00:09:52 | 1.00 | |||||
| 2 | 00:09:55 | 1.00 | |||||
| 3 | 00:10:01 | 1.00 | |||||
| 4 | 00:01:05 | 0.11 |
Then on Monday I did the exact same mileage only running it 1 min slower. I call this my caught in the rain 5K.
3.1 miles 31.53 10.15 min/mile
| 1 | 00:10:24 | 1.00 | |||||
| 2 | 00:10:16 | 1.00 | |||||
| 3 | 00:10:12 | 1.00 | |||||
| 4 | 00:00:59 | 0.11 |
And that brings me to today: My nice 5 miler
5 miles 51.25 10.17 min/mile
Mile 1 10.41
Mile 2 10.51
Mile 3 10.18
Mile 4 9.56
Mile 5 9.35
And so it goes. I am happy with these runs and will feed off of them as I now go into training for the NYC Half Marathon on August 16th. I am feeling more and more confident that I will run a good race. I am surrounding myself with only positive energy. You think you can bring me down? Just try!! :O)
For feel good positivity I will leave you with this video of Roger Bannister breaking the 4 minute mile barrier. May 6th 1954. Its exciting!! Bannister’s time was 3 min 59.4 s.
Wherever you are, be there totally. If you find your here and now intolerable and it makes you unhappy, you have three options: remove yourself from the situation, change it, or accept it totally.
Eckhart Tolle
It was really good for me, was it for you?
In life, you reach many plateaus a comparatively stable level in something that usually varies. I am the type of person that loves to see results in whatever I endeavor to take on. Whether it be losing weight, keeping up with my blogs and friends, or more importantly with my running.
I am beginning to feel as though I am stuck in a constant rut of the same mileage and same frequency per week. I’ve read that over time, your body becomes more efficient at performing the same job (running 4-5 miles a day), and uses up less calories this way. Metabolism also is affected, because its becoming more efficient and doesn’t burn as many calories as well. If your metabolism goes at a standstill and doesn’t get ‘fired up’ any more than it needs to, weight gain can happen. No surprise there.
So, I am really feeling the need to stir the pot a bit. Both Samantha and I are reading the book Born to Run. and I think she is feeling the need to shake it up a bit, so this weekend we are going to run on the beach, barefoot. YEAH! Hey, why not? It is not far to the beach and if we get hot, we can jump in the ocean and frolic a bit.
Plus, this past week has been a challenge for me. The weather has been, hideous to say the least. Rainy and humid makes for hard running for me. I wonder if it’s just me? I’ve been having trouble just completing a 5 miler, which at this point in my running, should become easier, not harder. So, I get very frustrated.
The one good thing I’ve noticed in all my runs this past week is that my pace consistently gets faster towards the end of my run, which is what I have been striving to do.
I’ve made so many amazing friends through my blog and twitter and facebook – running friendships that I feel will last a lifetime! I dig that. It makes me feel hopeful that there are indeed good people out there, willing to take the time to encourage and be supportive. I dig that a lot.
Stats for my last two runs:
Wednesday June 10th 5 miles 52.44 10.32 min/mile Fastest mile 10.11
Thursday June 11th 4 miles 43.14 10.48 min/mile Fastest mile 10.17
I need to break this and maintain closer to a 10 min mile for the entire run. I think that is entirely doable. I need to go back to the start. Back, to why I started running to begin with all those years ago, and why I fell in love with it! So, I shall do it!
A little Nirvana for a Friday morning – Plateau
Many a hand has scaled the grand old face of the plateau
Some belonged to strangers, some to folks you know
Holy ghosts and talk show hosts are planted in the sand
To beautify the foothills, and shake the many hands
nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop
And an illustrated book about birds
See a lot up there but don’t be scared
Who needs action when you get words
finished with the mop then you can stop
And look at what you’ve done
The plateau’s clean, no dirt to be seen
And the work it was fun
nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop
And an illustrated book about birds
See a lot up there but don’t be scared
Who needs action when you get words
Many a hands began to scan around for the next plateau
Some say it was Greenland, and some say Mexico
Others decided it was nowhere except for where they stood
But those were all just guesses, wouldn’t help you if they could
At brunch yesterday I had a very interesting conversation with Chris We were debating the age old question about running vs jogging. Yeah, the oldest debate in the running world right. I maintained that if your out there moving no matter how fast or slow – you are a runner damnit. I think Chris agreed – after a while.
From Wikipedia:
Jogging is a form of trotting or running at a slow or leisurely pace. The main intention is to increase fitness with less stress on the body than from faster running. The definition of jogging as compared with running is not standard. Dr. George Sheehan, a running expert, is quoted to have said “the difference between a jogger and a runner is an entry blank” Others are usually more specific, defining jogging as running slower than 6 mph (10 minute per mile pace, 10 km/h, 6 min/km).
I say bullshit.
Again from Wikipedia:
Running is both a competition and a type of training for sports that have running or endurance components. As a sport, it is split into events divided by distance and sometimes includes permutations such as the obstacles in steeplechase and hurdles. Running races are contests to determine which of the competitors is able to run a certain distance in the shortest time. Today, competitive running events make up the core of the sport of athletics. Events are usually grouped into several classes, each requiring substantially different athletic strengths and involving different tactics, training methods, and types of competitors.
I beg to differ. Sure, of course us “runners” are all somewhat competitive and have that competitive nature and let’s face it, racing is fun and a bit addictive. We can certainly all agree on that right? But, not all runners race. Does that make them less of a a runner? Fuck no! We are all of us runners. We put one foot in front of the other fast and faster still – we are running.
Sure, there are those weekend “joggers” for lack of a better word, who perhaps every so often think to themselves hmmm, instead of sitting on my ass I will go out and do what I do when I want to move around and feel good. But, they then retreat back into their world of TV remote controls and boxes of cookies. Yeah, you know who you are.
I don’t judge. I can’t judge because, who am I to say anything? I just can talk about what I do. How I feel. Only that. Only about me. I judge nobody. I can suggest and perhaps give some advice about the little I know. And I am always happy to do it.
I was thinking a great deal about the race I ran on Sunday. The NYRR New York Mini 10K. Why they call it Mini, I have no idea. It was far from Mini. I have come to the conclusion that I suck at pacing. I really thought I could run the entire race without stopping. I did. Yet, I couldn’t. Go figure.
Miles 1 and 2 were run way to fast in 10.36 and 10.24 respectively. What was I thinking? Well, for one I was thinking that I should be able to maintain that pace. It’s really not fast at all when you think about it. It’s average at best. Again, no complaining. Just facts and my thoughts.
After finishing mile 2 – you can guess what happened. I felt the need to stop and walk. No shame in that. Unless, of course your name is Rose Kosgei of Kenya and you were in the lead. Yeah, then not so much walking.
Mile 3 came and went in 11.57. I think somewhere in there was a water stop. Can’t remember. But, I do remember gulping water and gatorade and spilling the gatorade all over myself. It was very warm. The sun was bright in the sky and quite strong. That affected me too. I don’t think I am quite acclimated to the warm weather yet. YET!
Mile 4 clocked in at 13.07. SUCK! I hate writing that time. Again, there was walking. I know I do not run a 13 min mile. Nope, not happening. No shame in walking. There were many woman walking at this point. Many. I do remember running/walking next to a woman who had the loudest grunt as she was breathing, I have ever heard. It was a bit disorienting for me. I knew where the noise was coming from – yet somehow I couldn’t get away. Odd.
Mile 5 – 11.33. I am guessing there may have been 30 seconds of walking at the water station or not. I am fuzzy about that. I do remember feeling as though I was running under water. Only because of the heat. I know that is an odd metaphor but I guess I felt that something was pushing against me making it difficult to move forward faster like I wanted to.
At this point, I think I saw a sign that read (in big letters) 800 meters to go. WOO! Thats nothing right? Who knew? Not me! 800 meters equals approximately 0.497 miles. Unfortunately, when I run, 100% of my math skills are null and void. I had no idea what 800 meters were equal too.
Then, of course there was the 400 meter sign and finally a 200 meter sign which was equal to 600 feet.
Mile 6 – 11.19. This mile I ran. The entire mile. No way was I walking across the finish line. The heat was intense. The sun strong. The crowds cheering. The park looking so beautiful. Greenery abounds.
WOOHOO! I see the finish line up ahead. It’s there glistening in the sun. I know this part of the course is the end of the NYC marathon so it actually felt pretty fucking cool to be running there. I just gave it all I had. It is a bit of an uphill too. .30 in 3.09.
I stopped Seth at 1.12.08. 11.26 min/mile. 587 calories burned. Seth also read 6.30 miles not 6.2. But, I know it was all the zig zagging I did that perhaps gave me that extra bit of mileage.
I am happy. I finished the race with no added injuries. No intense pains anywhere. I joined my friend Christie and Chris for a lovely brunch at Counter in the East Village, where we then discussed running vs. jogging over some excellent food.
I wonder, what is your take on running vs. jogging? It’s not that I think the word jogging is derogatory in any way. And if any of you consider yourself an avid jogger, COOL!
Here is what I think. It is semantics and a mindset. You can look the part. You can buy expensive running kicks and socks and matching outfits and all of that contributes to your overall feeling of getting out there and running. In my own warped mind, I am a runner. I don’t care if I run slower than most or faster than some. I run. And not ONLY when I am being chased. I love it for how simple it is and how so very complicated it can be. I love how it makes me feel, even though some days I complain and whine and question my sanity and say how much I hate it. Then, I love it even more. I love it for all the great connections I’ve made though out the years. Runner’s are quite literally the best people I’ve ever met. Always supportive, always helpful, always caring. Always.
I will never forget Mr. Fred Lebow. This man ran slow. This man was a runner. I saw this man run his last NYC Marathon way back in 1992. He kissed the ground he ran on. Literally.
Available on Netflix.
As you always have, Michelle, you’re going to find, yet again and forevermore, that the hard and difficult stuff only ever seemed hard and difficult, before you began it.
Bet you feel better now, huh?
Begin it,
The Universe
To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Yes, I love running!!! Or as my running buddy Samantha says “Run Like Hell”
Continuing with my GPoster series, today I want to introduce you to AAM. An Amazing Man. IMHO anyway. But, if you read TED’S BLOG I am certain you will get a glimpse of the Amazing Man. Ted ran a half marathon with me. Ted is a much faster runner than I am. Ted stuck with me even though I know he wanted to run faster and faster. I could not run fast and so Ted stuck with me. Helped me. Encouraged me throughout. I will never forget that. I think if you search the word amazing on google – Ted will appear. So, without further ado, please take the time to read this post. It is informative and interesting and oh so TED. Thanks bro!!
Ted is the taller one!!!
I am speechless. You see, my friend, Michelle have asked me if I want to write up something for her blog. I am flattered. It is such an honor to do this. It is such a privilege for me to write up something for her blog. The real problem is….. What should I write? Should I write a sad one? a funny one? or what? Instead of writing up something. I have decided to do something different. I am questioning about Michelle’s friends who leave the comments on her blog. I am questioning about their intelligence; their IQ level when it comes to running. How much do they know about running? In another word, how much shit do they know about running and their nutritious intakes? Heh heh, a perfect opportunity for me to insult their intelligence. Just kidding!!! It is all in the fun. I have decided to do a fun quiz to see what they know…. Enjoy taking the quiz.
What is the most important pre- and post- race food/drink to have?
- Banana is a perfect pre- and post- race food.
- True – Banana is rich in potassium. It prevent leg cramping especially before the race.
- False – Eating too many bananas will lead to potassium overload in your digestive system and could disturb your electrolytes.
*Keep in mind that Banana are really high in sucrose. Just don’t eat too much bananas or you will go bananas. Simple as that. Eat in moderation. It is possible that getting too much potaassium can throw off the person’s saline (salt) level since the two work together. If the sodium gets too low and the potassium too high, it does throw off the electrolyte level big time.
2. Go Lean Crunch is a terrific pre-race food.
- True – It has 500mg of Omega-3, 9g of Protein and 8g of Fiber. This is an ideal kind of “Breakfast of the Champions” for the runners. It also has honey almond flax in it.
- False – It is like eating Lucky Charm kind of cereal. It has 12g of sugar and 4.5g of total fat.
It is crunchy and I do see this as beneficial. The only negative is having that bulk stuck underneath the roof of my mouth. What not to like it? 9g of protein- essential for muscle development, 8g of fiber; keeps your digestive system running smoothly and helps balance blood sugar. Whole grains are packed with beneficial phytonutrients. Go and figure this out yourself. Simply put: it is the breakfast for the Champions!
- Hard liquors are excellent source for drinking after a hard race.
- True – Yes, indeed. They are a terrific source to drink after a hard race.
- False – There is zero nutritional value in term of drinking. Alcohol is a diuretic and can contribute to dehydration.
Unfortunately, alcohol impairs both glucose and free fatty acid metabolism during and in the post race period. In other words, it will make you run slower and recover slower. It also impairs heart function. In all aspect, drinking liquors is not an excellent source for drinking. Just drink in moderation and enjoy life.
- Popping Fish-Oil softgels on a daily basis is a terrific pre- race and will improve your PR.
- True – You will improve your PR by 50%. A significant improvement when taking 2,000 mg of fish oil.
- False – There is no scientific evidence suggesting that taking fish oil will improve your PR by 50%.
I wish this was a silver bullet pill in term of improving the PR when it comes to taking fish oil. It’s not. Basically, fish oil helps you to acquire fishy breath so that your significant other will repel you. Just kidding. Fish oil contains the omega 3 essential fatty acids to supports heart health, reduces inflammation and improves cellular integrity.
And at last….
- Cheez Whiz is a terrific post race fuel to eat. It is considered as the world’s best health food.
- True – It has high sodium (salt) 541mg, low in sugar, medium in fat and low calories. Good source of calcium and very good source of Phosphorus.
- False – Cheez Whiz is very high in saturated Fat.
Cheez Whiz should actually be called the world’s best health food.
Click on the link and scroll all the way down till you see the article about Cheez Whiz.
Lastly, I wanted to thank Michelle for giving me an opportunity to write up something interesting for her blog. I hope you find this helpful. It all boil down to trial and error. You will find something that will be quite beneficial for your running. If one thing doesn’t help, you can always find another thing that will improve your health and your running.
I would love to leave you with a few quotes:
“I’ll lean on you and you lean on me and we’ll be okay.”
- Dave Matthews Band
“I get by with a little help from my friends.”
- John Lennon
“The only way to have a friend is to be one.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson
Bro, you will always have a friend in me!!
Michelle!
