Food=Miles

Larabars. 

Under the Larabars, Honey Stingers. 

Under the Honey Stingers, Gu in Vanilla, Triberry, and Jet Blackberry. 

I think I have enough to get through the monster six week stretch of super marathon training in October/November.  

I'm not sure that I am ready for all the mileage that this box suggests.  I'm really quite tired.  I've been training fairly nonstop since Jan. 10.  I think I took only one week off after my marathon in May.  I still have like 9.5 weeks to go.  Typing 9.5 weeks makes it seem surmountable; I know that it is, but I am just so very tired.  I think I need to take an extra rest day soon.  

The fact that I will end up consuming all that disgusts me and impresses me simultaneously. 

In fact, It doesn't feel sane to choose to train for and run a marathon.  People are always impressed by the actual marathon. The marathon is a piece of cake compared with the 18 weeks of training.  

Did I mention I'm tired of training?  

Hunger

It seems that I am hungry all of the time.

That sentence appears to be an example of hyperbole, and I suppose technically it is.  But the exaggeration is ever so slight.

I hit a weekly mileage personal record (Yes.  I count personal records whenever I can.) this week.  I'm going to hit a monthly mileage personal record this month.  And I've already hit the yearly mileage personal record.

I'm trying to count calories, not to lose weight, but rather to prevent weight gain.  So far, I am maintaining my weight, but I attribute this to my desire to think through the food.

I heard someone use the phrase "think through the drink."  I believe this is an AA thing.  I'm not an overeater. I'm not anonymous.  I don't have food issues, but I have an appetite that is totally out of control.    I have to think through the food I eat.  Sometimes it means pausing to make sure that the hunger is still there twenty minutes later when I believe that I want/need more food.

I burned about 1500 calories this morning.

I've consumed 1720 calories so far for breakfast and lunch. That is a ridiculous amount of food, right?  That is more food than I should have for an entire day if I didn't exercise  And I'm still hungry.  Because I'm netting only 220 calories for the day so far.

I wonder what will happen after my marathon in December.  I'm going to gain so much weight.  Holiday food, no marathon training, bad eating habits developed from marathon training.

I'm screwed.

Crash

I had to run 11 miles this morning. It felt a lot harder than it should have.

I have narrowed it down to a few problems:

1. Not drinking enough water during the day.
2. Not eating enough to fuel my runs during the week. And not eating the right stuff.
3. Running my long run too damned fast.

Since I am back at work, I am reluctant to drink water the way that I should because I can't just go to the bathroom any time I want.

I need to eat more calories--running shouldn't feel this labored--especially a mere 11.

I have no idea how to slow down.

Last time I trained for a marathon, I noticed a pattern. I would have a tough long run and then the next week went smoothly. I wonder if I am falling into that pattern again. If so, next weekend should go smoothly.

Four weeks down; fourteen weeks to go!

Misc: Fuel, Women Carrying Hoes, and Surprising and Patriotic Poms Poms

Fuel
My husband enjoys cooking and baking; I enjoy running.

He's lucky I run enough to enjoy his creations.

Case in point: Yesterday's Mother's Day Brunch Item To Die For Eggs Benedict.



I had two. I can't even begin to guesstimate how many miles are in Eggs Benedict. That sentence reveals quite a bit about how I see food. I see miles in the food. I wish that Nutrition Facts featured this information. I know that caloric content is featured, but to most people a calorie is an abstract concept. If people knew that the frosty treat that they are enjoying from Sonic was worth ten miles, I think they might think twice about grabbing that spoon. That's much more concrete.

Women Carrying Hoes
It was one of those days at work; I am tempted to qualify it through metaphor, but I've decided to leave work at work and out of this blog.

I was looking forward to a quick little run tonight. First run of SF half training! I wanted time to process all the absurdities of the day. About two and half miles into my run, I see the absurd. A woman walking down a major thoroughfare carrying a garden hoe and a black garbage bag of who knows what.

I've never seen a woman walking carrying a garden hoe. It just seemed so out of place! It delighted me!

Surprising and Patriotic Pom Poms
This is what greeted me when I arrived home from my run. It was just louder and with more movement!