After a 5 hours night of rest, the morning began at 5 am as I headed out to Santa Cruz (at last) to run the half-marathon that has been looming on my mind for months. To my surprise, I was more nervous in anticipation the day before the race than I actually was when I arrived. I will admit, it felt strange at first to be surrounded by so many runners. I mean I had gotten really used to lonesome runs with just myself and nature. But now I was just a fish swimming along-side fellow fish. As the gun went off, I felt a wave of sudden adrenaline swarm over my body, I start my playlist and as many took off or blazed by me, I felt grounded when I overheard someone say "don't worry about anyone else, this is your race". That really resonated with me and gave me confidence that my body could do it. Feeling my legs hit the asphalt, see the fog ahead and hearing my own breathe was so empowering. Strangely, my emotions were so strong, as my excitement and realization that I was actually running a race I had always glorified carried me along. I had been warned not to go out too fast because you want to be able to finish the last few miles. I mean really the whole thing felt like an 80% effort fast jog. It didn't feel hard like I had expected. Many of my training runs were harder. So maybe the fact that I kept waiting for the race the get harder and to feel drained was a testament to how strong and prepared I was. There were points during the race when I almost teared up from the rush of endorphins and bliss I felt. I was contemplating the reality of actually running or whether it was all a dream it felt so surreal. It hit me how far I had come with my fitness when someone on the sidelines said, "way to make it look so easy", I smiled and kept running. I was relaxed, pretty effortless and my breathing was very controlled. As each mile ticked by the exhaustion I feared was no where to be found. I took a shot block every thirty minutes, stopped for water 3 times and felt really strong the whole way through. After crossing the finish line 30 minutes faster than what I anticipated, the best part was, I knew I had found something I loved: long distance running. I am an endurance athlete and it took me 18 years to figure that out. It may have been all the adrenaline but I didn't feel spent as I crossed that finish line, I felt like I could have kept going. Crossing that finish proved to me how much I can accomplish and how gifted the human body is in its functionality. I left that race instantly thinking to what I want to next. My next goal is to do another half over the summer (probably July) and eventually I would like to train for a full marathon.
0 Comments
I thought I had prepared myself for everything. My training was on track, I felt great during my weekly workouts, but what I experienced the night of my scheduled race day was something I couldn't train or prepare myself for: Food Poisoning. To be absolutely frank, it was a 12 hour ordeal of gloom. I mean there I was, in San Diego just to run my half-marathon, but I returned home not having accomplished what I had set out to do. And as much as it was out of my control, I felt that I had failed my body. I guess it goes to show that the day before race day, eat safe and don't be too experimental about trying new vegan restaurants or eating foods you haven't trained with. I think that was my main mistake. But what this weekend taught me is that you can't train for everything because there is always the unexpected hurdles that life throws your way and you have to find a way around them, to pause and then to walk forward again. So with a crazy story, disappointment and going back to the draw board for what was next, I returned home to deliver the news to all my supporters and to find another race.
Recipe of the month: Tempeh Tacos! (tempeh, bell pepper, broccoli, garlic, onion, red pepper flakes, nutritional yeast, coconut aminos, olive oil & corn tortillas) Go to pre-run fuel: banana with almond butter & blueberries
Vegan Superfoods --> prioritizing fiber & breaking the half way mark(By now I have established a comfort in the discomfort of my weekly training schedule. Every Monday, Nike Running Club is the first thing I open to await the direction of the next seven days. Day by day and week by week is my training mentality. If I think too far ahead, it just overwhelms me. Last week it was the thought of a 1000ft+ elevation 6.5 mile run that scared me. And I will admit, the first two miles were a little rough, but by the third mile I found a groove and discomfort became the norm. This week its the 7.5 mile that looms. But, just like last week I just have to get momentum and trust that my body and endure the mental pain of pushing back a phycological barrier that tells me 7.5 is a lot to run. This mental hurdle has been one of the most consuming parts of my training so far. In a way, I think a large part of this process is in training my brain to maximize my running potential, it's like an art. When my mind wanders and the tiny voice of self-doubt fully escapes is when I'll know I am running to my full potential. Thus my training is equal mental as it is physical. Focusing on Micronutrient Rich Whole Foods: research: http://journals.lww.com/acsm-csmr/Fulltext/2010/07000/Fueling_the_Vegetarian__Vegan__Athlete.13.aspx Key Nutrient: omega-3s, iron, zinc, iodine, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 Vegan Superfoods spotlight: Turmeric (curcumin) -benefits: anti-inflammatory, antioxidant dark chocolate - anti-oxidant, artery protection & cardiovascular health chia seeds - omega-3's (immunity) & omega 6 fatty acids, protein, vitamin B complex, potassium, fiber Go-to pre long run breakfast: Saturday morning: Lemon, Ginger, Turmeric Shot 8-grain blueberry pancakes: buckwheat flour, whole wheat flour, oat flour, millet flour, rye flour, barley flour, corn meal, spelt flour, ground flax, rice milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt & blueberries -Reflection:
It has been over a month since I set out to train for my half-marathon. Since then, I have learned a lot along the way. I have begun to establish a pretty consistent plant-based set of recipes that leave my body feeling nourished and my mind content. I have also been reading Scott Jurek's Eat & Run about his journey to rise as a world renowned ultra-runner. His story of finding his success through the pain of running extreme distances and trough the pain finding his talent for endurance. I have also been continuing to play around with my training routine and have integrated track into my after school schedule. I have mapped out my nike running training schedule with a 5-2 training day ratio that is mixed in with an off day. I am still figuring out as I go the best way to document something each week and have been experimenting with using a hero 4 gopro but found that my hand is an inconvenience and am looking to get a headpiece so I can run with it. Where I ran: Arastradero Preserve Valpo Hill (interval hill sprints follow by neighborhood 4 mile run) Stanford Dish (3.2 miles cross terrain plus 2 mile flat run extension) Mapoche, Portola Valley 5 miler Cross training: indoor cycling (2 times per week about 30 miles) yoga Favorite "go to" recipe: garlic lemon tofu earth bowl ingredients - long grain brown rice, liquid aminos, nutritional yeast, chili flakes, sweet onion, broccoli, Romanesque, black beans & firm tofu
|
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |