MCM Mama Runs

MCM Mama Runs for Beer and Bling

  • Home
  • About MCM Mama
  • Racing the U.S.A.
  • I Heart Craft Beer
  • Product Reviews
  • Recipes
  • Disclosure
You are here: Home / 5 in 5 / The Joy of running + WIAW

The Joy of running + WIAW

January 30, 2013 by MCM Mama 19 Comments

Lately, all of my running has been done for one reason: to train for this crazy ass goal of five half marathons in five days.  Don’t get me wrong, I’m excited about my goal and a lot of my runs have been enjoyable, but they all have a goal: to build my mileage high enough that I can run 65.5 miles in one week and not get hurt.

Not very exciting, huh?  I’m just plodding along for a really.long.time. every day.  In fact, running has become the thing I schedule everything else around.  When a run is going to take up more than an hour every day (and often more like 2.5-3 if you consider the getting dressed and ready, running, eating, showering time), it plays a major role in the daily planning.  If I’m not running, I fill my day to the brim with trying to catch  up with all the other things in my life, like laundry, grocery shopping, and that little thing I like to call a job.

Yesterday was different.  It was a planned cross training/rest day.  I had a yoga class on the agenda and I hadn’t grocery shopped the day before due to schools being out.  And I won’t even get into my to do list.  Oy. But, when I stepped out the door to take my kids to school, I was surprised by the temperature.  And I thought, “I want to run”.  Not, “I have to run”, but “I want to”.  I made myself go to yoga anyways (I so need the core work!)

Thus began an internal conversation I haven’t had in a while:

Runner Me: I want to run.
Responsible Me: You need to go grocery shopping.
Grocery shopping done.
Runner Me: I want to run.
Responsible Me: You need to eat and you need to do some work.
Eat + deal with the time sensitive work.
Runner Me: I want to run.
Responsible Me: Today’s not a run day.  You need to… Ah, hell, go run.

So off I went, in a running skirt and short sleeves!  And while I’d love to say that it was a glorious run that felt amazing and rainbows and unicorns appeared, well, that would be a lie.  My legs were tired, my stomach rebelled (the last mile was rather uncomfortable), I’m still trying to figure out my shoe issue…

But!  For the first time in a while, I ran for the pure joy of running.  And I loved every single minute because I was doing what I wanted to at the pace I felt like going (fast! for me)  for as long as I felt like running (or until my stomach said STOP!).  So, somehow, it was 6 miles of pure bliss!

It’s always good to be reminded that I *choose* to run because I *love* to run.

Now, WIAW… Huge thanks to Jenn for inspiring me to actually pay attention to what I’m eating.


I’m still following a paleo-ish diet.  I’d guess that most days I’m in the 65 to 70% compliant range and every once in a while venture closer to 95% (I just haven’t found a happy replacement for my milk in my coffee).  And then some days, I don’t even come close (Hello, Beer Walk and pizza!).  But I’m beginning to find a good balance that sustains my running and I’m beginning to find “replacements” for some of my go to meals.

Breakfasts are less frequently this:

oatmeal_maple

And are more frequently something like this (often with the addition of an egg):

sweet_potato

Lunches continue to be basically a hash of whatever I can find in the fridge – lots of veggies with either an egg cooked in or some meat added. (This meal is almost always Paleo compliant.)

hash

Dinners continue to be the hardest part.  I’m already dealing with somewhat picky kids (not to mention Jones’ nut allergy), plus Beer Geek is not interested in joining me in this adventure.

Here’s one of my “successes” this week:

stuffed_pepper

And here’s a “not quite there” + a recipe:

pork_stew

Help me tweak this recipe to make it more “paleo”.  (If you don’t eat paleo, this is a super yummy stew that all of us love.  It’s even better if you add Japonica Rice.  I’ve made it so many times the cookbook opens directly to this page LOL)

Pork Canton Stew

1 lb lean pork shoulder or pork loin roast, cut into 1 in pieces
1 t. ground ginger
1 t. ground cinnamon
1 t. ground red pepper
1 T oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 C chicken broth (I usually use another cup or two)
1/4 C dry sherry*
1 10 oz package frozen baby carrots, thawed (I just cut up regular carrots and cook a bit longer)
1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1 inch pieces (I use whatever color I have on hand)
3 T low-sodium soy sauce*
1.5 T cornstarch*

Sprinkle pork with ginger, cinnamon, and red peper; toss well.
Heat large saucepan or Dutch oven over med-high heat. Add oil; heat until hot.
Add pork and brown on all sides.
Add onion and garlic; cook 2 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add broth and sherry.
Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to med-low. Cover and simmer 40 minutes.

Stir in carrots and green pepper; cover and simmer 10 minutes or until pork and veggies are tender. Blend soy sauce into cornstarch in a cup until smooth. Stir into stew.
Cook and stir 1 minute or until stew boils and thickens.
Serve as is or over rice.

As you might notice, I’m pretty sure sherry, soy sauce and corn starch are not paleo.  Any suggestions on what could replace them?

Follow on Bloglovin follow us in feedly

More from my site

  • DuClaw The PastryArchy Blueberry Maple CrispDuClaw The PastryArchy Blueberry Maple Crisp
  • Gettin’ it where I canGettin’ it where I can
  • Headsweats hat review and giveawayHeadsweats hat review and giveaway
  • Onzie yoga clothing reviewOnzie yoga clothing review
  • Did you #rockyourcore last week?Did you #rockyourcore last week?

Filed Under: 5 in 5, mental, paleo, priorities, Recipes, WIAW

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Comments

  1. Miz says

    January 30, 2013 at 7:14 am

    oooh do you know KERRI OLKJER of FITVEWS?
    she’d know the paleo replacements!

    Reply
  2. Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says

    January 30, 2013 at 7:32 am

    YUM! Stuffed peppers are one of my favorite things! I make mine with lentils because I don’t eat meat, but they’re still so hearty and filling!

    Reply
  3. Running LIbrarian says

    January 30, 2013 at 7:33 am

    it was a beautiful day to run! Got to take those nice January days when we can get them 🙂

    Reply
  4. Fran@ Broken Cookies Don't Count says

    January 30, 2013 at 7:35 am

    Wow…that is quite a goal! Good luck!

    Reply
  5. Johann says

    January 30, 2013 at 7:41 am

    Oh yes, those runs are the best! I think I am truly one of the people that run with my heart and not my body/legs.

    Reply
  6. Eating 4 Balance says

    January 30, 2013 at 7:54 am

    I think you could use something acidic like citrus juice (maybe lime or lemon) in place of the sherry. For the soy sauce, maybe balasmic vinegar and mushrooms? And for the cornstarch, if you cook it longer it will simmer down and be thicker, or you could puree some vegetables to thicken it up.

    Not sure how any of those suggestions will pan out, just some that I’ve found along the way on the internet! 🙂

    As for Paleo recipes, they are a life-saver because I’m following GAPS (a more medical/healing approach to Paleo). Recently I made a shepherd’s pie that was just awesome. I bet your kids would love it because it’s made with squash instead of potatoes and is extra sweet! 🙂

    Reply
    • Eating 4 Balance says

      January 30, 2013 at 8:01 am

      Oh! And I forgot to mention… I bet you could add cauliflower rice to get a similar version with the Japonica.

      Reply
  7. Tiff says

    January 30, 2013 at 8:01 am

    Awww, what a lovely post! Really – I enjoyed reading it because I can relate. Well… I’m not that strong a runner, but I can at least relate to the mental part, oh… and that little thing called a job. 😉

    Reply
  8. Teresa says

    January 30, 2013 at 8:33 am

    I use arrowroot exclusively now instead of cornstarch (a result of my grain-free endeavors) and it’s paleo. Works as well if not better than cornstarch. For the sherry I would say you can sub either citrus if you need acid or homemade chicken stock. Typically the soy is really only lending saltiness when used in such small amount so you could add some sea salt. I like the suggestions of mushrooms, too, which will lend the earthiness that can accompany soy sauce.

    Reply
    • Teresa says

      January 30, 2013 at 8:36 am

      I should mention that not all arrowroot is indeed paleo. Need to check ingredients for added corn/corn starch. I got mine from Amazon in bulk a while ago…while have to check to see the brand. Perhaps Bob’s Red Mill??

      Reply
  9. Sunnie@ModernGirlNutrition says

    January 30, 2013 at 8:36 am

    This was a fun post! Everything look great:)

    Reply
  10. Jess says

    January 30, 2013 at 9:30 am

    Those kind of runs are the best!

    Reply
  11. Kierston says

    January 30, 2013 at 11:10 am

    I like me those runs too…Now I just need to get my sneakers on again!

    Reply
  12. Wendy @ New Moms Talk says

    January 30, 2013 at 1:00 pm

    Love the self conversation! It sparks many ideas within and is totally understood!

    Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Kristabel@RaceReady says

    January 30, 2013 at 8:38 pm

    I am so happy that you got to experience that moment where running is pure passion, it really is special!

    Reply
  14. Jessie says

    January 30, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    Aren’t “joy” runs the best?? 🙂 🙂 I hope you have a fabulous rest of the week.

    Reply
  15. cheap glasses uk online says

    January 30, 2013 at 11:00 pm

    It is really your joy to run . Good luck !

    Reply
  16. Lauren @ Chocolate, Cheese and Wine says

    February 2, 2013 at 10:29 am

    I LOVE the idea of a sweet potato and sausage. Sounds like a great combination to me.

    Reply
  17. Alysia @ Slim Sanity says

    August 29, 2014 at 12:25 am

    Oh pork stew sounds good. I’m craving soups lately! Even though its still in the 100 degrees here 🙂
    Alysia @ Slim Sanity recently posted…10 Must Have Beauty ProductsMy Profile

    Reply
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Who is MCM Mama?
A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath, and has a minor addiction to the Marine Corps Marathon.

Recent Posts

  • Half Marathon #85: Appalachian Series – South Carolina
  • Half Marathon #84: Appalachian Series – Georgia
  • Coffee with a side of rain
  • Half Marathon #83:Appalachian Series – Alabama
  • Hotel Coffee is better than no coffee…
  • Training for Back to Back to Back Half Marathons
  • Runfessions of a Really Cold Runner
  • Kicking off the year with coffee!

Archives

A slightly obnoxious mom and wife who loves good beer and running, who struggles a bit with depression especially in the winter and when running isn’t allowed, who’d rather go on a fun vacation than upgrade the kitchen or add a master bath. Read More…

Half Marathon #85: Appalachian Series – South Carolina

Half Marathon #85: Appalachian Series – South Carolina

Mainly Marathons Appalachian Series – South CarolinaMarch 27, 20222:47:45 What I wore: hat, tank top, long sleeve quarter zip, capris, and Altra Rivera Location: Seneca, SC (State #41!) Let’s just start out with the truth – this race was the hardest of the races and pretty much sucked. I chose to do the early start […]

Copyright © 2023 · MCM Mama Runs on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in