Thursday, January 27, 2011

Day 1 of 149

That sure seems like a really long time in training/prep for the 1/2 IM.
21 weeks!

I've only been awake for a few hours but day 1 is going great :-)

I did my 25 minute EZ run that was on the schedule. I ran 2.52 miles with an average pace of 9:55m/m.
That darn two minute warm up killed my pace.
I actually ran 23 minutes at 9:40m/m, but that was probably a little too fast for me for my EZ runs right now, but I wanted to finish with better than 10m/m. I'm not sure what I have against 10m/m these days, but I'm determined to break out of my rut of the last couple of years and start running faster again. And by fast...I don't mean really fast, but...oh never mind.


So you guys know I've been running in Nike Frees since ending physical therapy on my ankles/shins. The main reason for choosing the frees is because they are the only shoe I could find that didn't hurt my achilles. Other more supportive running shoes have such a high/stiff achilles support that it just kills me. However, I am worried about wanting more cushion and Coach suggested I try heal supports with the frees to see if it would help with my tight shins. I finally got around to trying them out today...

...and my shins felt great, but now my left achilles is kind of barking at me. They also didn't seem to help my left butt cheek, but maybe with time. I'll see how the next couple of runs go. I've only been running on my very cushiony treadmill (other than the race last week) and I'm just a wee bit worried about how my shins are going to react once I start doing group runs on the road.

In honor of the first day of training, I decided to try to eat a little healthier and being inspired by Racing Dawn and  Miles, Muscles & Mommyhood and their Paleo endeavors, I slurped down a Protein Smoothie for breakfast that included lots of berries and spinach...

I like my smoothies served in a bowl. Then I pour some coconut oil on top and it hardens into a little paleo candy shell.
If I close my eyes and try really really really hard, it's almost like the berries and spinach are ice cream and the coconut is the hard shell of a DQ Dilly bar.
Mmmmmm Good.
Well... kinda.

24 comments:

Rose @ Eat, Drink, and Be Meiri said...

Mmmmmmmm coconut candy shell. Mmmmmmm.

Unknown said...

That actually looks quite good!

Awesome way to get all of your vitamins in. :)

Amanda@runninghood said...

How did I miss that you are training for a 1/2 Ironman? I stink at keeping up...so sorry I'm a bad blog reader...I'm trying. So, how do you like the Nike Frees other than feeling like you need more cushion? Are they light? What are they known for?

Also, what all is in your protein shake besides the berries and spinach? I must make one. Good luck. Here's to a great training! You've inspired me today. xo

A Prelude To... said...

Amanda,
I'm training with TNT for my 4th season! I've done one marathon with them and two 1/2 IMs but with not great success (my problems, not TNTs) so HERE'S to kicking some 1/2 IM Butt this year :-)

I think the Frees are mostly just known as kind of a minimalist shoe. I like them a lot - especially just for walking around in my day to day stuff and at the gym as well as running. They are very light and very flexible!

I put whey protein powder, blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, bananas and spinach in my smoothies. I usually toss in a few icecubes and use OJ for my mixer, but I was out of OJ so I used a little Fresca (that was probably not very paleo) instead.

racing dawn said...

mmmmm...that looks good...i've only been doing my regular protein shakes but i'm definitely ready for some variety! can you taste the spinach? really?

hope the shoes work...i've been running in nikes FOREVER...love em...

and i'm actually hanging in there with the paleo...you'd be proud... :)

and just so you feel better about the fresca...i cheat with peanut butter...only twice though... :)

and i'm going through produce like crazy...seriously at the store everyday to restock!

ok i'll stop typing now...have a good one!

A Prelude To... said...

na...you can't taste the spinach...
UNLESS you put in a lot.

ihaverun said...

You had me at coconut.

Good luck figuring out the shoe thing!

Aimee said...

Nice job with day 1 of training! :)

Haha...I love how you envisioned your smoothie...:) YUM!

KovasP said...

Quite the imagination!

A Prelude To... said...

I just kept chanting "dilly bar, dilly bar, dilly bar. YUM!"

misszippy said...

It's amazing how sensitive our bodies can be to every little thing!

The smoothie looks good...always worth dreaming, right?

Natalia said...

I love spinach! My favourite 'smoothie' is a green monster....I usually put in lots and lots of spinach....that looks yummy too!

Abby @ Have Dental Floss, Will Travel said...

Isn't the beginning of a new training cycle fantastic? So much excitement/anticipation/energy. Good luck - can't wait to follow along!

Raina said...

Your smoothie sounds good!! I am not sure about the cocnut oil....but i'll have to try that :) I was bad (ish) and made oatmeal protein cookies with chocolate chips.

Hope the shoes will work out. Do you pronate at all? What were you in before?

Thanks so much for your comment today. I can't believe it. still.

Dawn said...

:) I pictured you drinking that...and good imagination!
You are inspiring...I need to get my butt in gear!!!!!!
You are off to a great training agenda:)) Special drink and all:))

Pepe Le Pew said...

Keep keeping us updated.

Alicia@ eco friendly homemaking said...

The smoothie looks great! It sounds like you are really doing great with your training!

A Prelude To... said...

ERG ~ I don't really pronate. I've been wearing asics for years. I DID go to a running store 2 years ago and they told me I had a little overpronation and put me in a different asic shoe than I usually wore and by the time I made it to physical therapy and was told I DON'T have pronatation, the damage was done from being in the wrong shoe. There were other problems besides the wrong shoes, too.

You have to be so careful!

Thanks everyone for following along :-)

Diana said...

good luck on returning to running after your injury!!! And about your drink. So how does it taste? Do you have to imagine it's yummy??

A Prelude To... said...

Diana ~ Thanks for your comment!
I was just kidding - it really does taste yummy! Not as yummy as a dilly bar, but...yummy and healthy at the same time :-)

Shellyrm ~ just a country runner said...

As I eat cinnamon cake, I feel very very guilty. Pair that with no a.m. run today and I might think my day isn't going well. Ekk! But it's going great. I chose to get a little extra rest since I was sore from the sledding and Wii playing this week. That's the great thing. I made the choice. Thanks for reminding me to balance my diet out with a healthy lunch and dinner. And of course a calorie burning strength building run/workout tonight.

Your smoothie looks wonderful. You are off to a great start in training. The days are going to fly!

Emz said...

Man. You. Are. Way. Netter. Than. Me.

When I clOse my eyes & pretend that is a dilly bar....I end up picking bits of spinach out of my teeth.

Kera said...

mmmmmmmmm. delicious.

thanks for the follow! xx

Jen said...

I like that you put your shake in a bowl and that coconut oil looks divine! I have to try that! You're such an inspiration to me! It's hard finding just the right shoe, isn't it? Good luck!