What I Miss

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Itz Linz

Itz been a long week, friends. And [I think] because of that, I’ve been thinking about what I miss in life right now. For whatever reason, I’ve had some things on my mind lately, and today I’ll share ‘em. Read on if you will.

What I miss… My great-grandparents, Grandma Rose and Grandpa Joe.

I was lucky to have them in my life for so many years growing up and I have a million wonderful memories of them, but sometimes I still can’t help missing them now. I know they’re my angels above and forever in our hearts.

What I miss… Running!

Oh, I miss running so much, and I think part of it is that I feel like I “can’t” run right now. I know itz best for me, but I had to stop after I ran my fastest races and truly felt like a runner. Someday I’ll be back with you, running! And along those lines…

What I miss… Races!

Gosh, I’ve always loved racing! Whether itz a short distance or a half marathon, I love the friendly competition, I love trying to beat my previous time, and I love the atmosphere of races. I also love training for races and following a training schedule.

What I miss… Summer days at the pool.

Oh summer, where are you? I want it to be hot. I want the pool to be ~~cold~~ warm. I want to be swimming with my friends and family at the pool!

What I miss… Ice cream!

Wait, wait, wait. I had that last night. Real, full-fat ice cream in the birthday cake flavor. Oh baby, it was delicious!

What I miss… Bikram yoga!

Itz been far too long. I need to make this happen. Soon.

What I miss… Our wedding!

Our wedding was seriously the best time ever and I’m not just saying that because it was our wedding. Well maybe I am, but I know a lot of people would agree with me! At least we have both my brothers’ weddings to look forward to now!

And let’s end on a really happy note… Itz my nephew Jackson’s 5th birthday today!!!

Totally my nephew… rockin’ handstands when he was just three! Ok, this was really a showing of his “dance moves!” Details, details.

Don’t forget to check and see if you were the Balance Bar giveaway winner!

What do you miss today?

How To Be A Faster Runner

Posted on March 5, 2013 by Itz Linz

Today I’ve got a great guest post lined up for you from an awesome FitFluential Ambassador. Taylor has five simple steps to help improve your running speed. While I’m totally missing running right now, I’ll live vicariously through Taylor, her races, her passion for running, and speed. PS: Don’t forget to enter the Conscious Box giveaway!

Hi! My name is Taylor and I blog over at Lifting Revolution, where I talk all things fitness, nutrition and well, my life. Itz a huge honor to be here with you today!

While lifting weights is my passion, I have recently found a new drive for running. I have always been a competitive person, but in the past when it came to my running, I was only competitive with myself. I didn’t care necessarily where I placed among the other women, as long as I accomplished my personal goals.

Well, that worked for a while. Until I learned that I actually could run, and with the help of my beloved strength training, I could run somewhat fast.

In just 4 months, I was able to knock off 3 minutes from my 5K time. I went from running around a 26 minute 5K (which is where I was for about 5 years) to running a 23.03. And just a month later, though not an official race time, I lowered that down to a sub 22.

How did that happen? Well, that’s what Linz has asked me to share with you!

How To Be A Faster Runner

Train Fast

Itz easy to get wrapped up in miles. Mileage often becomes the standard for how we define a workout… “Oh, I ran 5 miles today,” or “Oh, I just ran an easy 7 miler.” Sound familiar? Well, that’s important for sure, but it’s not going to help you run any faster.

To run fast, you have to train fast. Set 1-2 days aside for speed work. Don’t focus so much on distance as you do intensity. My favorite right now is to run as fast as I can for 3 minutes, then lower the speed (still a run) for 2 minutes and repeat for a half an hour. Sounds crazy? Expect to be a sweaty mess at the end. So far my personal record is 4.3 miles.

Some people also prefer to set distances… Such as a 200 full-out run, followed up with a walk or jog and repeat x amount of times.

Cross Train

You don’t become a strong runner from just running. Don’t be afraid to get off the roads/treadmill and hit the weights, yoga room, or just any other type of fitness that sparks some interest. By doing so, you’ll develop a stronger core and upper body, both of which are important for helping you move faster.

What happens when you pump your arms faster when running? Your legs naturally move faster, too. Have you ever worked out with sprints and then woke up the next day with a sore core? It’s because they are all interdependent on one another. A strong, fast runner is strong all around.

Rest Up

Speed training is intense. Sure, you might only run 3 miles, but those 3 miles are heart pounding and muscle burning. That means they require more of a recovery time than a 5 mile easy run. That’s why I mentioned only doing 1-2 days of full-out sprint work each week. And never back to back days. Talk about burn out.

Food Matters

I can’t talk about performance and fitness without brining up food. Food is the fuel that gets your body moving in the first place, and it directly influences your ability to perform. If you eat crap, then expect to run like crap. Even if you don’t realize it… but I promise, if you clean up your diet, you’ll see results with your times.

Case and point: since becoming a vegan, I have PR’d every race I have run. Now I am not suggesting you become a vegan, but I am suggesting you look at your current diet and see if there is anything that needs to be changed. Your running isn’t the only thing that will see positive results from this.

Sign Up & Race!

Sometimes we need an extra push to really put the effort into our sport. If you want to runner faster than ever, then sign up for a race and train. Having a set date on the calendar gives you a deadline and will remind you to put forth the energy needed to see you hit your goals.

In terms of goals, set one! Set a time that you want to beat and go after it. Every race I ever do, I always have a goal in mind. Whether I say it out loud or not… now that’s a different story.

These tips are what have helped me, and I hope that they can help you, as well. Next on the list is the infamous Cooper River Bridge Run here in Charleston. It happens to be on my birthday this year and I intend to beat my husband’s PR!

What are your training secrets? What motivates you to run faster? Have you set goals for races this year?

Healthy Bananas Foster

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Itz Linz

Heeeey there, folks! Let’s talk healthy foods today. Itz only appropriate as it is What I Ate Wednesday. This week my eats have been super clean as Monday marked the first day of the New Year New Rules program that I’m following.

Breakfast: Pancake fail. Again! Seriously, I don’t know what’s up with my pancakes lately. Well, I do. I try to make up new recipes and they don’t always work out the way I envision them. Yesterday’s fail involved a banana, eggs, and coconut flour. That coconut flour is so tricky, I tell ya! Still tasted good though.

On Sunday I made a HUGE batch of black beans and a HUGE batch of quinoa. I knew I’d be using them as a base for my lunches and dinners this week.

Lunch: black beans, quinoa, broccoli slaw, green peppers, orange peppers, red onion, carrots, celery, and sunflower seeds. I made my own salad dressing by squeezing the juice of half a lemon, half a lime, and some apple cider vinegar.

Colorful foods pack the most nutrition!

Snack: I had a meeting after school, and I know that I’m usually famished around the four o’clock hour. In the morning I made oats and stirred in unsweetened, shredded coconut, blueberries, and pecans. No shame in taking a jar full of oats to a meeting!

In order to make healthy choices, you need to plan ahead. Bottom line. Other snacks throughout the day involved an apple, almonds, and raisins.

Dinner: Similar to lunch with a base of black beans and quinoa. Added tomato, broccoli, avocado, sesame seeds, and cayenne pepper; served on top of a bed of fresh spinach.

Again, the more colors, the better!

One of the foods from my childhood that hold a special place in my heart is bananas foster. It was such a good surprise whenever my dad made it, and my brothers and sister probably agree that itz always a delicious treat! However, with the New Year New Rules program brown sugar and butter don’t really fit the picture. So I made the old recipe waaaay healthier (and even easier!).

Dessert: Healthy Bananas Foster

Literally, two ingredients. Bananas and coconut oil. Heat up a tablespoon over medium heat and throw in the banana slices. Let brown. Enjoy. It seriously tastes like bananas foster even though NO sugar or butter were added. Amazing.

That does it for today’s edition of WIAW. Check out other great recipes and meal plans over at Peas and Crayons. There are literally hundreds of other bloggers who link up!

One last thing for today. You know how much I love mud runs, right? I’ve done the Warrior Dash (four times), and the Ruckus Run. Well, the Pretty Muddy is along the same lines, but itz just for women! I haven’t participated in a Pretty Muddy (yet), but hopefully will soon. Getting a group of girls to do this race together would be so much fun.

I’ve got a discount code just for YOU if you’d like to give it a shot. Use the code GIRLTIME to receive $20 off your registration fee. This is amazing because Pretty Muddy will not be doing any daily deals (Groupon, Living Social, etc.), so now is your chance to save some dough. But sign up now because the code is good only through the end of January.

What do your eats look like today? Bananas foster fan?

Turkey Trot with Pro Compression

Posted on November 27, 2012 by Itz Linz

On Thanksgiving, I ran a Turkey Trot race like so many other active Americans. It wasn’t something I had planned on; afterall, I’m not really running anymore. However, I texted my good friend Jess to see if she was in town for Thanksgiving, and she said she was and was planning on running a race the following day. How lovely, I thought, I’ll join you!

When I found out the course had a 5K and a 10K option, I immediately told Jess we’d be doing the 10K. I mean, go big or go home, right? Especially since I’m not running that much, I wanted to enjoy my miles while I had em! Our goal was to finish the race without any walking… and that’s exactly what we did.

We finished the 10K in 54 minutes and 40 seconds, a 9:07 pace. Not too bad for not really running anymore. I’ll take it! It definitely helped that Jess and I had a lot to catch up on during our run. I love running with friends and this was no different!

As you can see, I wore my sparkly silver Sweaty Band which I didn’t have to fuss with at all, and I received several compliments while I was wearing it! In addition, I tried out my new PRO Compression socks. First of all, I loved how they matched my outfit to a tee!

I was a bit worried how my legs would feel the day after the run. For one thing, itz been a good two weeks since my last jog. And, the day before the race I completed my Basic Leg Workout which left me sore for days last week when I did it. This race would be the perfect time to try out the compression socks as they claim to improve blood flow and speed up recovery time. Directly after the race, my legs felt pretty tight.

I attributed the mild tightness to the chilly temperature of the race. It was about 45 degrees while running, definitely colder than I was used to. After some stretching, my legs began to feel better almost instantly.

They weren’t sore, just tight. And you know they must have been feeling fine since I was still able to do this after running six miles:

No, no, that’s not me stretching. I actually did have a few feet of air, but my sister insisted on staying on her balcony while I went on the lawn to jump. #makesnosense I knew I needed to put the socks through the ultimate test, so… another balcony shot:

PRO Compression socks pass the test! In all honesty, I really do like the socks. I did not experience any soreness post-race, which I’m pretty shocked about. The socks stayed in place while running, and I do believe they aided in recovery. I’m actually really surprised how not sore I was from my leg workout the day before and the addition of running! The socks must’ve done something because the week prior I had trouble walking several days after lifting legs! Maybe I’ll wear the socks after lifting more often. Hmm…

Did you run a Turkey Trot race? Do you wear compression socks?

*Disclaimer: I was provided a pair of PRO Compression socks to review with no monetary compensation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

“I WILL” because Matt Long says so

Posted on October 25, 2012 by Itz Linz

There were countless memorable moments during the Runner’s World weekend, but the most inspirational was, without a doubt, meeting Matt Long. For those of you who aren’t familiar with his story, here is the blurb on the RW website that prefaced his presentation:

“In December 2005, Boston marathoner and NYC Firefighter Matt Long was bicycling to work when he was crushed and nearly killed by a 20-ton bus. Miraculously, three years and 40 operations later he finished both the NYC Marathon and an Ironman triathlon. Matt first recounted his incredible story in Runner’s World, which led to the book The Long Run, written with RW Executive Editor Charlie Butler. In this inspiring keynote address, Matt will detail how he overcame a devastating accident, extraordinary physical pain, and crippling emotional despair to reclaim his life as an elite athlete.” (source)

During our pre-race pasta dinner, Matt Long was dining at the table next to us. Before he began his presentation, some of us FitFluential Ambassadors had the chance to meet and talk with him for a bit. He even offered to take his shirt off, but then was quickly reminded he was due on stage in two minutes. Boo! At least I got a great picture!

Like I said in the vlog, he’s a hottie, right? I must have a thing for good looking bald guys. Heh heh. Anyway, Matt’s presentation was absolutely phenomenal. It began with a short film describing his life, accident, recovery, and accomplishments. I hung on to every word Matt said as he was filled with so much wisdom. Plus, he was hilarious and had the entire auditorium laughing during the anecdotes he shared.

As Matt was recovering, he explained that he had lost the will to live. It wasn’t until one lunch with his mother that he snapped out of it when she finally said, “Enough is enough!” She then went on to scold him for feeling sorry for himself as his entire family (8 siblings!) had been in the hospital along his side each step of the way. Something in that conversation clicked for Matt, and he vowed to make changes.

The first marathon Matt completed after his accident took him over seven hours. But he did it. He proved that he had the will to overcome his injury and the 26.2 miles. Matt spoke about how when people say, “I can’t,” they’re failing from the beginning. Itz saying, “I will,” and believing in yourself that helps accomplish goals and succeed.

During the half marathon this past weekend, I began repeating a couple mantras in my head when the course got tough. Jonny often tells me, “Do it because you can.” This helps me focus on Jonny, his perseverance in life, and lifts me up to push myself a little bit harder. Now I’ve added, “I will” to my short list of powerful race mantras. When I realized that I might PR (again), I first thought, “I wonder if I can?” Then, Matt Long and his speech popped in my head, and I instantly told myself, “I will.” It must have worked as I not only PR-ed, but took six minutes off my time!

Matt’s book, The Long Run, was available to purchase after the presentation, and I actually snuck out a minute early to buy a book, and get in line to have the book autographed before the rush came. This was genius as I was tenth in line with a mass of people behind me. Since there was such a time crunch, we all had just a few seconds with Matt as he signed the book.

I’m not staring at what he’s writing, I’m just so intent on getting in a million words a minute to let him know how moved I was by his presentation. I think Matt put his hand on mine to try to calm me down, slow me down, or just let me know he was listening. I was fine with it, either way. I’m only a couple of chapters in, but already itz left me wanting to read more.

Matt created the I Will Foundation. The mission: “The I WILL FOUNDATION is a non-profit organization established to help people, with the will to work hard, overcome adversity and challenges caused by life altering illness or traumatic injury. Our primary goal is to provide motivational and inspirational support through hands on training, coaching, and financial support when necessary. We believe the will to survive and accomplish all tasks, great and small, is present in all of us whether we recognize it or not. If you have the desire to live your life to the fullest, we can help you.” (source)

I think itz awesome. I think Matt Long is awesome. I’m inspired and have two new, powerful words to repeat as needed. If he can, I can; I can, and I will.

Fill in the blank: I will __________.

Eating at Runner’s World

Posted on October 24, 2012 by Itz Linz

I’m still riding my runner’s high after PR-ing in the RW Half Marathon. How did I have enough energy to run a 5K and 10K then PR in a half marathon the following day? Part of the reason is merely the sheer adrenaline of being surrounded by elite runners, but another part is the atmosphere of Runner’s World in general. Additionally, I had to fuel myself properly in order to go-go-go.

Runner’s World gave us FitFluential Ambassadors VIP treatment the entire weekend – food included. I’ll share my eats day by day for the WIAW party.

Friday

Breakfast: Friday morning, we went on a 4-mile run with Bart Yasso, then headed back to the expo for breakfast. There was a nice bagel, fruit, and coffee spread.
Lunch: After meeting Shalane Flanagan, we headed back to our hotel and were provided a sandwich, salad, and pasta lunch.
Dinner: The majority of the Ambassadors went to Bethlehem BrewWorks for dinner. I ordered the Mayfair pasta with asparagus, spinach, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, grilled chicken, and a balsamic reduction.

Saturday

Breakfast: Before the 5K and 10K, I made my own breakfast in the hotel. I had brought oats from home, and added banana slices, peanut butter, and honey.
Lunch: A group of us headed to Panera to pick up lunch. I opted for a turkey sandwich on whole grain with lettuce, tomato, and cranberry sauce. Yum!
Dinner: We were treated to the Runner’s World Pre-Race dinner which was salad and pasta. I was hesitant to get the creamy pasta as I didn’t know how it would sit before the big race, but I ended up being just fine. And I’m glad because it was cheesy deliciousness!

Sunday

Breakfast: Same as Saturday – oats from home with peanut butter, banana, and honey.
Post-Race Snack: Crunchy peanut butter Clif Bar that I scored at the finish line.
Lunch: Subway at the airport – grilled chicken sub with a bag of Mediterranean Snacks parmesan garlic baked lentil chips. I picked up the sample at the expo and tried a couple of the other flavors – all very tasty!
Dinner: This happened at the next (Charlotte) airport with Katie. We’d never seen sushi in an airport before, so we gave it a go. I had the spicy tuna roll and I was very impressed with how fresh it was!
Dessert: Pinkberry in an airport? Yes, please! You can tell from the picture how happy it made me. I had half peanut butter and half chocolate hazelnut. Chocolate hazelnut was the star as it tasted like nutella froyo. Amazing!

REBOOT

I made sure to drink a REBOOTizer pouch everyday. It helped with traveling and recovery of racing. I ran a half marathon (and traveled to the other side of the country) the weekend before, and I literally had no soreness or lethargy. After traveling to PA and running three races, I felt just as good. REBOOTizer does wonders! (Read more about it here.)

What are your pre and post race eats? Mine clearly involves PASTA!

Runner’s World Hat Trick – 5K, 10K, & Half Marathon

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Itz Linz

I’ve been dying to tell you about the results from this past weekend, so today’s the day. (Sidenote: If you missed the vlog from yesterday, be sure to check it out here!) This past weekend, I ran a 5K, a 10K, and a half marathon during the Runner’s World Half & Festival. Running all three races is called the “hat trick,” and the hat trick is what I did.

My legs felt fresh and ready before each race despite having run the Nike half marathon in San Francisco the weekend before. I’m pretty sure it was the energy of the weekend and being involved with Runner’s World that gave me a runner’s high before the races even began.

Let’s recap the races one by one, shall we? The 5K started at 8:00 a.m. Saturday morning and Runner’s World describes the course as follows, “The 5K course takes in Bethlehem’s eclectic South Side, packed with cool eateries, coffee shops, and music houses. This race has a fast start, one significant hill, and a dramatic finish under a flaming arch in former Bethlehem Steel complex.” (source)

After the first race, I clearly had to do my trademark pose.

5K Results:

Official Time: 25:26
Total # of Runners: 832
My Place: 453

I had about an hour before the 10K began, so I ate a banana, drank a little water, and hung out with the other FitFluential Ambassadors.

The 10K started at 9:30 a.m. with the description of, “The 10K course shows off much of Bethlehem’s history over its 6.2 miles. The route follows the 5K route past Lehigh University. It then runs across the Fahy Bridge into Bethlehem’s north side, past the town’s original 1741 Moravian settlement, along the Main Street shopping district, and through leafy, historic neighborhoods, before finishing in the former Bethlehem Steel complex.” (source)

Two thumbs up for a strong second race!

10K Results:

Official Time: 52:46
Total # of Runners: 1,705
My Place: 494

After the two races, not only was I rewarded with the satisfaction of knowing I ran well and fast (for me!), I also was rewarded with a hug from Dean Karnazes!

Yeah, that’s right – we’re best buds! Ok maybe not, but it was fun to pretend. For the 5K and 10K, I was outfitted by Oakley thanks to Amanda. The gear was part of their Perform Beautifully Campaign and I sported the moving base layer pants, short sleeve continuity, and long sleeve continuity half zip. I loved it all!

I was a bit apprehensive about wearing new clothes to race, but Amanda assured me she loves all things Oakley and I wouldn’t have a problem. She was right. The temperature was in the 50′s and then warmed up to the 60′s. The gear was light and breezy, but kept me warm in the chilly winds. Plus, itz cute, so I’ll definitely be wearing it again. Thanks, Oakley!

Alright, now let’s get to the half marathon. The half was Sunday morning with a start time of 8:30 a.m. Description: “This challenging 13.1-mile course winds through Bethlehem’s historic neighborhoods (running past some of the town’s original 1741 settlements), two college campuses (Lehigh University and Moravian College), and the former Bethlehem Steel Complex, where the backbone of the nation was literally forged.” (source)

I PR-ed!!!! (Again!!) By about 6 minutes, too!! I still cannot believe it!

Half Marathon Results:

Official Time: 1:50:29 <– Oh yeah!!!
Total # of Runners: 2,966
My Place: 796

I thought my legs would be more tired starting out because of the 5K and 10K from the day before, but they weren’t! I think I was so hyped up about the whole weekend that I was ready to go. The course was challenging and pretty hilly, but it was absolutely beautiful. The weather was ideal and the leaves were every shade of fall.

The first eight miles were the hilliest, and then we were told the rest of the course included no hills. That was almost true. There was a big one near mile ten. I struggled a bit, but then realized I had a chance of PR-ing so I got amped up all over again.

For the half marathon, I wore a newly purchased half zip top from Free Motion. It was comfortable, kept me warm when needed, and cool when I was sweating. And there were thumb holes which I love and a snazzy orange color. I also wore my Yurbuds which stayed put the whole entire race (again), Sweaty Band headband, and my new SwiftWick socks. I’m still loving my Brooks PureFlow shoes and my feet are happy, too.

Hat Trick Results:

Official Score: 3:08:39
Total # of Runners: 623
My Place: 215

Thank you to Runner’s World and FitFluential for bringing me this epic weekend and for helping me achieve goals I never thought possible. I am grateful for all of the people I’ve met and experiences I’ve lived this past weekend.

And a thank you also goes to my loving, supportive husband, Jonny.

Happy anniversary, Jonny. Two years in and a million more ahead. I love you.

Have you ever completed a hat trick?

VLOG – Runner’s World Weekend

Posted on October 22, 2012 by Itz Linz

Oh. My. Gosh. I just returned from one of the best weekends ever with Runner’s World! I have SO MUCH to recap, but I arrived back in town late last night and am working today. I’m leaving you with my first vlog (video blog) that I made with several other FitFluential Ambassadors. Enjoy!

Starring:

Mentions / What We Are Wearing:

Altra Zero Drop Footwear
Free Motion Apparel
SwiftWick Socks
Sweaty Bands
Running Skirts
The Stick
FlexLine Hydration
Meeting Matt Long – author of The Long Run
Meeting Shalane Flanagan
Meeting Dean Karnazes
Running with Bart Yasso

A major THANK YOU goes to Runner’s World and FitFluential who made this opportunity possible. Stay tuned for more in depth information from this weekend. I learned a great deal and can’t wait to share with you!

Who would YOU most want to meet out of Matt, Shalane, Dean, or Bart? Which product would YOU most want to try?

PS: I pr-ed yesterday during the half marathon. Again. More details soon to come…

Trademark Pose

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Itz Linz

I’ve mentioned before that I have a “trademark pose” as I run by photographers during races. Like the Warrior Dash when I threw my hands up coming out of the mud and crossing the finish line. Or pretty much any race that I do. I’m a total cheeseball while I strike a pose on the course, but the pictures are always fun to look back at! The Nike Women’s Half Marathon was no different. There were several photographers along the way, and each time I raised my hands and flashed a giant smile.

Some probably thought I was just happy to be at the end of the race, or that I knew I’d PR-ed, or maybe just the mere fact that I’d run 13.1 miles. But no, no, no. I assure you, I did this to every.single.photographer on the course.

Even when it was dark and gloomy and raining…

Even when I was passing mile 12…

And even when I was the only who appeared to be happy and excited to be crossing the finish line…

At least you know I was having fun, right? I think these pictures are #PROOF of how much fun I really was having. I love running. I love racing. I love doing what I do.

All pictures were found at Nike Women’s Marathon Photos and are screenshots, not actual photos, which is why the quality is poor and photos are blurry.

This afternoon I’m headed to Pennsylvania to meet many other FitFluential Ambassadors for the first-ever Runner’s World Half Marathon and Running Festival. I’m running another half marathon on Sunday. And you better believe I’ll be striking a pose when I see that camera!

Do you smile at cameras during races? What’s your trademark pose?

Pre & Post Nike Race Eats

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Itz Linz

Now that you know I’ve PR-ed and you know how I PR-ed during the San Francisco Nike Women’s Half Marathon, let’s talk pre and post race eats for today’s party in the blogosphere. We’ll start with the night before the race. I met many other FitFluential Ambassadors at Ristorante Umbria.

Check out the awesomeness – clockwise starting on the left – : Alexandra at Fun and Fit, Tiffany at Running Hutch, Meg at Run. Fit. Kin., me (duh), Gia at Run Gia Run, Kristen at Stuft Mama, Brian at Pavement Runner, Kelly at Cupcake Kelly’s, Melissa at The Melissa Chronicals, Janene at One Run At A Time, and Rachel at Running Rachel.

Along with the other FitFluential Ambassadors, my real date for the evening was Caitlin.

She was a lovely date and host. Since it was the night before the race, I opted for a pasta dish. I went with the Fusilli con Pollo - the pasta was sautéed in extra virgin oil and white wine with diced chicken breast, sun-dried tomato and fresh arugula, topped with fresh parmesan. I had them make the dish with whole wheat penne noodles.

It was a fabulous choice and I ate every last bite. Pre-race breakfast included what it always does before a race: oats with cacao powder, cinnamon, banana slices, and a glob of peanut butter.

Terribly ugly picture and I forgot to add the banana until halfway through the bowl. I guess I had other things on my mind? During the race, I consumed Shot Blocks that they were passing out. I had actually bought a couple packs at the expotique, but didn’t need them since they were being handed out. I’ll save mine for the Runner’s World Half Marathon this weekend. Post-race was a banana, coconut water, and chocolate milk.

Chocolate milk was the only thing I snapped a picture of, and did you know chocolate milk can help you recover faster after exercise? Itz true. I enjoyed the whole bottle and it satiated me until lunch time. Caitlin took me to Crave. By the time I showered and we walked the several blocks to the restaurant, I was ravenous. Like eat my arm off hungry.

Caitlin ordered the Roast Chicken sandwich which included roasted organic chicken breast, sweet baguette, provolone, spinach, red pepper, onion, and tomato. I ordered the Morroco Your World with Crave hummus, wheat pita, fresh spinach, carrot stix, roasted eggplant, sliced cucumber, and green olives.

We decided to go halfsies on our orders, so we could enjoy a little of both. And halfies turned out to mean that I ate half of Caitlin’s sandwich and she had two bites of mine. Told ya I was hungry! Dinner ended up happening on the airplane. I had a flight that stopped in Colorado, but I didn’t change planes so I picked up a sandwich from the SFO airport.

The sandwich was MASSIVE and I felt a bit awkward trying to shove it in my face on the airplane surrounded by strangers. #sorryimnotsorry It was a turkey sandwich on wheat bread with lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, and a delicious cranberry mustard spread.

That pretty much sums up the major meals of the weekend! Oh, and there were many REBOOTizer pouches consumed to help with recovery and travel. Thanks so much to Jenn at Peas & Crayons for hosting What I Ate Wednesday.

What do your pre and post race eats usually include?

Itz Linz

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