It’s less than a month until I meet up with Kim and her friends at the Riverboat Series. I am balanced precariously between excited and exhausted. Excited because I’m really looking forward to seeing my friends: Kim and many who I met at Dust Bowl last year. Exhausted because I’m in my hardest training week for the series.
So far this month, I’ve run almost 109 miles. I have 3 double digit runs and two half marathons left before the series starts. Two of those long runs are today and tomorrow: days 5 and 6 of running with a 34 miles already on my legs (including 13.1 at race pace.) I know the key right now is mental strength. My body can do 20+ miles over the next two days. I know it can. I just can’t let that little voice in my head convince me otherwise.
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I just have to keep moving forward. Soon every run will be 9 miles or shorter. (Since when did 9 become “short”? LOL)
The big question: Can I hit 200 miles in March? I’ll be taking it right up to the last day and it’s going to be close!
So, how am I fueling for all this running? By eating all the things. Seriously. I’m hungry.all.the.time.
At this point, I’m just trying to make sure that what I stick in my mouth is as healthy as possible. I’ve given up any hope of actually controlling how much I eat LOL.
Here are a few of the things that are fueling me:
I had my first green smoothie the other morning. It was an experience I won’t be repeating. I don’t own a blender and my immersion hand blender left way too much “texture”. Also, I like veggies and prefer to eat them, not hide them in a mix of bananas and protein powder. I’m weird like that.
I’ve also developed an addiction to Morningstar veggie burgers. I probably eat one 3 or 4 times a week. I used to only eat the black bean burgers (I don’t like the ones that are trying too hard to taste like a meat burger) but recently I’ve fallen in love with the Mushroom Lover’s, the California turk’y, and the chickpea burger. Wrap it up in a tortilla with as much salad as I can squish in and I’m a happy camper!
And OMG, these Brussels sprouts!
Beer Geek doesn’t like the smell of Brussels sprouts cooking, so I take every opportunity to eat them when we go out. The huge plate of Brussels sprouts was eaten a Rustico, an awesome beer bar. I’m pretty sure I could have happily eaten double that amount and been a happy camper.
What’s your secret to fueling high mileage? Do you find yourself so hungry you could eat non-stop and never be full?
Thanks, Jenn, for another WIAW!
You got this!!! So funny that you called 9 miles short – perspective, huh?!
Normally my appetite is high when I increase my mileage but I’ve done some back to back longish days (12,14) and haven’t been as hungry – weird but I know it will pick back up!
The difference between 3 in 3 and 5 in 5? 9 miles is still long to me, haha.
Be strong this week, my friend, let’s hit that peak, then come back down. Can’t wait to see you!
I’ve never tried a green smoothie, but the thought isn’t terribly appealing. I feel like I would much rather eat everything as a solid.
And those morningstar burgers sound so good! I think I’ll have to add them to my weekly mix.
Eat all the things!
Awww, I’m sorry the green smoothie didn’t work out for you! What did you put in it? And I know an immersion blender isn’t the number one choice for blending, but maybe if you let it blend for several minutes it would reduce the “texture”?
Unfortunately, my appetite actually seems to go down when I hit high mileage, so I have to make sure I’m eating even though I’m not hungry. Lots of nut butter and banana, those are my staples!
Thank you – I have to agree about the green smoothies. I like veggies & fruit… eating them. For some reason, it’s more fulfilling, satisfying to me to chew them than to drink them.
Good luck this week on your heavy miles! 🙂
My secret is lots of anti-inflammatory healthy fat to get enough calories and help fight the inflammation of high mileage! Salmon, tuna, olive oil, olives, nut butters, grass fed butter & ground flax seed!!! All the food is a good thing when you’re running >100 miles a month!!!!!