Starting with this and that…
Boston Training Thoughts: When I set out on my long run yesterday, my first 18 miler for this training season, I wondered why I was doing it. My feet were heavy and my run was slow. There was ice all over the road. But I did it to myself since I am an early morning runner. If the patience to wait was in me, I would have gone out 4 hours later and ran in 40 degree weather, no ice on the road. In the end, I ran and was happy to have it under my belt even though it wasn’t the quality run I hoped for. Started with Shane, then Zoey, and finished on the treadmill. I assume running with Zoey and the tread mill must be similar to using an Alter-G since Zoey pulls, decreasing resistance, and I tend to grab the handles on the treadmill, further decreasing resistance. In the end, my legs are turning over for 18 miles, right?
From Tough to Tougher: Next week is the Heart Run. When I sign up for Boston, running the 18 mile Heart Run late February or early March is a must since it’s good training for the marathon with the undulating hills and our very own “Heart Break Hill” at the 16 1/2 mile point. Since I run faster in a group, the challenge will be to focus on keeping my pace between 9:06 and 8:53 which, according to the Hanson Marathon Method, will be my ideal pace to stay above the aerobic threshold but below the anaerobic threshold. This will prepare my legs for the faster marathon miles without the need for excessive recovery while training.
Speaking of the Hanson Plan,
next week starts the Strength Phase of training. What I thought was tough already is only going to get tougher…and hopefully, so will I.
More of This and That…
What I ‘m reading:
Fascinating! Kilian Jornet is a world champion ultrarunner. I love to read the stories of ultra runners. It motivates me to keep going when things get really tough because I know that what I suffer in my 26.2 mile trek, they KEEP suffering over 50, 100, and more miles.
From page viii – ix, The Skyrunner’s Manifesto
“…The strength of mind to say no to hours of partying, ….to the bed sheets against your face. To put your soul into it, going out into the rain until your legs bleed from the cuts when you slip on the mud and fall to the ground, and then get back on your feet and continue uphill until your legs cry out “Enough!” and leave you marooned in a storm on the remotest peaks, until you die. …..Now is the time to suffer, the time to fight, the time to win. Kiss or kill.”
New Ingredients for Baking:
Vanilla Beans. I usually have vanilla beans on hand but rarely scrape the seeds for cookies, cakes, etc. I did use the seeds in my last batch of rice farina cookies. Not sure there was a HUGE flavor difference from the pure vanilla extract I use but I’ll keep trying.
During my grocery store excursion the other day, I came across some new cream cheese.
75% less fat, 2X Protein and laced with honey.
This Philadelphia cream cheese is very good. I love the way it feels like silk on my tongue, coupled with the mild sweet flavor of honey. I might try this in some cream cheese cookies or a cream cheese cake.
Now for the Recipe: Rainbow Salad Slaw with Bosc Pear
Serves 4 – Adapted from a recipe in BonAppetit
Dressing:
- 1/2 cup lite buttermilk
- 1 TBS lite mayonnaise
- 2 TBS Greek Yogurt – plain
- 1 TBS apple cider vinegar
- 1 TBS chopped fresh chives
- salt and pepper
- 1/2 tsp poppy seeds
The Salad
- 1 bag of Rainbow Slaw or use 1/2 a small green cabbage shredded.
- 1 large Bosc Pear – wash and chop 1/2. Julienne the other half.
- 1/2 small red onion, chopped small.
- salt and pepper
Mix all the dressing ingredients together.
Put the salad ingredients in a bowl and mix, leaving a few pieces of the julienned pear to the side so you can finish the salad with those slices.
Pour on the dressing and toss.
Finish with the julienned pear slices and sprinkle with more poppy seeds (optional).
What are you reading?
What motivates you to work harder when the going gets tough?
What’s your favorite way to use pears in cooking/baking?
Looks like some good healthy training food, and easy. I use pears lots of ways: with soy yogurt at breakfast, sliced over a salad, on a homemade dessert pizza with mascarpone cheese and walnuts, or just out of hand. What motivates me to work harder is knowing that I’m going to have to perform that routine! The best way to feel confident about getting out there is to know I’ve put in the practice time. This time, though, I’m walking a fine line between getting my practice time and aggravating my injuries. My tendonitis is much better than it was, though, and my knees are holding out, so I must be doing something right.
Killian Jornet is the most amazing runner I’ve ever watched (unbreakable–get it if you haven’t seen it). His descending skills fascinate me. And my coach was a former Hanson’s runner and trained me that way for my last marathons. It’s tough, but I think really good.
Can we be done with the ice now?
I definitely work harder in a group setting. That’s why I love Crossfit so much – there’s always someone there to push me a little faster, a little harder than if I were by myself!
I’m so over this snow and ice. Hopefully you’ll be running on dry roads soon!
I am amazed that there’s such a science to running, but I’m sure there is. Otherwise I have no idea how people manage to run that far and not drop dead afterwards. The 18miler sounds like perfect timing for your Boston training. I’m excited to say I “know” someone who is running the Boston marathon. 🙂