The Carbo-Load

It was touch and go with the scheduled long run today.  After the cross training yesterday, my right hamstring kept “pinging” me.  I grabbed the hamstring support and took it with me  just incase I had to put it on during my run.

Pre run fuel at an embarrassingly early hour in the morning, 3 hours before exercise (believe it or not, I naturally wake up to eat this   – no alarm needed:

1/2 of a Sprouted wheat bagel with 1 TBS peanut butter.

Doesn’t taste good when your eyes are closed and you are munching in your sleep.  I went back to bed.  When the alarm went off and it was run time, I took some water, a handful of raisins and down I went.  After 1 hour, I had an energy gel (icky-GU-poooh!) washing it down with lots of water.  Then it was time to finish up 7 miles outside with Shane.  I took an E-Drenaline.

It was a good run.  My hamstring turned out ok.  It was a little painful for the first 2 1/2 miles but I ran through it.  The feet were fine, only getting a little achy at about 15 miles.  Over all body check: Good. Total miles 18 on the nose. My longest run yet.  Average pace 9.27.  I’m making progress

It feels like I’m starting fresh when I get off the treadmill and go outside into the cold morning air. The first 4 miles outside, we went through the parks and over the trails.  The last 3 miles were road miles and those were a bit boring and tiring. I won’t even discuss treadmill miles.  It’s best if you just close your eyes and try to sleep through them.

Post Run Breakfast:

1/4 cup Steel cut oatmeal cooked with 3/4 to 1 cup of water, 1/2 a banana, raisins, cinnamon, and I stirred in 1 TBS almond butter at the end.

Mixed berries turns my everyday oatmeal into a burst of delightful fruity freshness.

Look at the specks of cinnamon…yummmmmm

Lunch time CARBO-LOADING:
The other day we had our family riggie fest.  I saved some of the whole wheat penne, cooked with nothing on it to add to my week day lunch. Then I had a cooking brain fart:  Why not make a carbo-loaded, all natural side? Only 5 ingredients and one of them is the cooking olive oil.  The balance is very heavy carb loaded with a super balance between protein and fat.  Remember the 40-30-30 balance?  This is more like 70-15-15, so you really have to watch what you might pair with it, if anything.  This is a great side dish to have a day or two before a long run.

The Carbo Patty – a runners snack

The recipe will serve 6 and offers 308 calories per patty. 13 g protein. 54 g carbohydrates (with only 2 g of sugar). 6 g fat.  9 g fiber.

• 1 TBS olive oil
• 1 cup Whole wheat penne pasta (or other whole wheat pasta) cooked
• 8.5 oz can creamed style corn
• 15 oz black beans – drain and rinse
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Heat the 1 TBS of oil in a pan on medium heat. 

Chop the pasta into small pieces so you can easily blend it with the other ingredients.

In a food processor add the corn and black beans. 

Stir together the pasta, corn/bean mix, and the cheese. 

Drop by large spoonfuls (making 6 – 8 servings) into the preheated pan with oil.  Cook in the heated oil on medium heat for about 5 to 6 minutes per side. Top with salsa, or mustard or enjoy plain.  

Since this is so high in carbohydrates, I would eat these with my lunchtime salad since I prefer to get the majority of my daily carbohydrates earlier in the day rather than at dinner time.

Don’t forget the GIVEAWAY:  $35.00 towards great stuff.

Whole wheat or plain pasta, what’s your favorite?

Tagged as: breakfast oats, Carbohydrate patty, E-Drenaline, Gluten Free Running Fuel, Gu, oatmeal, Spelt Bagel