running on veggies

Sitting here on Sunday morning, drinking some Peets out of the only coffee mug I have ever gotten for running a race; the Woodminster X-Country Race in Oakland Hills back in 2002. Whew! That was a tough 9 mile trail race…but fun! And hell, I got a mug out of it soI am happy! Race organizers ought to think more about other things besides tee shirts, although if i had a mug for every race i’ve done, i would be in a world of hurt for cabinet space!

I did sign up for my first race of 2010. I will be running the Birmingham Half-Marathon on February 14th. Me and my love, together again. Coudn’t be happier.

Since the beginning of the year, I have been having a veggie eating experience. I could say I’m a vegetarian, but i’m not. I’m simply just going without meat for a while. The decision to do so is mostly rooted in the fact that I just don’t eat enough vegetables on a consistent basis and I feel my body really needs them. Morally, ethically, whatever…i’m cool with eating meat, but I feel that unless I go strictly veggie, for at least a while, until I get in some sort of groove, I would falter in providing myself with important nutrients etc…

It’s been interesting thus far. I few things i have noticed; it’s cheaper and i am preparing food and eating at home. If you know me, you know that I usually eat out a lot….at least 5 times a week. Obviously, that gets pricey, especially if you add in an occasional cocktail! I am enjoying my new place much more than my previous home, so it’s been a pleasure to prepare meals. My new place is much more cozy and feels more like a home….which probably aides my wanting to stay in more. One of the things I have noticed to the “downside” is that i might not be taking in enough calories. Hasn’t been too much of an issue yet, but as the training ramps up, it will if i don’t adjust. I can’t eat a veggie quesadilla one night and expect to run a good 10 miles the following morning. Won’t work.

I’ve eaten mostly veggie tacos, quesadillas. I even put KALE into the quesadilla. When was the last time I had KALE??? Last night, I made asparagus soup and pesto pasta. Pretty good.

As opposed to the stints of “no-sugar” or “no-alcohol” that I do from time to time, I don’t necessarily feel healthier with all veggies, i just feel like I am getting more of what I need. I don’t feel a huge difference yet, but I trust what’s happening “behind the scenes” in my body. When I go without sugar and alcohol, I feel the difference and i feel cleaner, healthier. It will be interesting to see if I notice anything differently as time goes on.

Been alternating the runs lately with treadmill & outside. Been brutally cold here in Atlanta. The weekend runs were the toughest, but I have to say, it feels refreshing to be outside….and then my cheeks, lips, and nose go numb…ah….hopefully next weekend it will be a tad warmer.

I hope your year has started off well and you are getting ready to kick some ass in all you do!

Here’s some of my latest runs.

Jan 1 4 miles – outside

Jan 2 4.75 miles – outside – 30 degrees

Jan 3 6 miles – treadmill – easy

Jan 6 3.5 miles – treadmill – fast

Jan 7 4.5 miles – treadmill – w/ intermittent incline

Jan 9 4.1 miles – outside 25 degrees

Jan 10 6 miles – outside 17 degrees