Bird Food

• On: 07/09/2009 07:22:50

 

I have officially been back on the training wagon since July 1^st.  Um, that is 8 days and today has not even started, really.  I can not believe how tired I am!  It started off innocently…easy bikes, easy runs and some OW swimming.  I felt great.  Then I got sassy.  I decided to go and ride with some of my guy friends – who ride regularly, but I can not join them as often as I would like.  They were doing approximately 3 hours on the 4^th of July.  The day was cold and rainy, but I am a PRO at riding/training in that, so it was just par for the course.  But, I will admit, it was odd to have a cold 4^th of July in Chicago.  Well, I thought I was in pretty good shape – even with the rest – actually, I figured the rest would do me good and I would feel FRESH.  Well, during the first 5 miles I remembered how hard it was to ride with them.  It was not that hard the whole time, but the group broke apart and I was in a small group of 4.  Trying to hold and chat at the same time – um, yeah, that wasn’t working so well.  I rode naked…naked meaning NO odometer or HR monitor or anything.  I just needed to come back to my senses and IF I sign up for a ride like this – what is the odometer going to tell me – WHOA YOU are going too fast, slow down!!!?  HA.  So, we arrived back at the cars at 2.59.  I asked, “How far did we go?”  64 miles.  Oh good. I was hoping you were not going to say 44 miles or else I am really out of shape!  That re-charged my body but it was hard!   So, with that, I started back to my training.

You wouldn’t know it from that ride, but I am supposed to be doing more base stuff.  NO track, yet.  No shorter interval group rides, yet.  NO races, yet.  Ok, ok, I am fine with that.  But, what has changed is I am running a WHOLE lot more.  I need it.  I had not been happy with my running – but I will say this…IT IS HARD TO BALANCE it all isn’t it?   Swim well – bike well – run well.  It always seems like we are never happy and all 3 of them are never AWESOME at the same time.  And, if they are – you hope it is on your “A” race!  Working with uber runner coach Dave has me back to doing drills (good) and doing hip flexor work and pull ups (I hate gym lifting stuff, truth be told)….so I was so sore (I am NEVER SORE) yesterday.  I go to Pilates regularly and am good at stuff like that – but “make” me go to the gym to lift/functional stuff and I will do ANYTHING but that.  Just one of those things for me.  So, anyway, I am being a good girl…(hpmf).

Then, just 7 days into my increased running (oh my gosh!) and making some stupid decisions (more on that later), I felt like crap last night at the weekly 2 mile OW swim race +10k run race.  Last night, while swimming (it was cold and raining, which doesn’t help!), I quit the sport 3x.  Do you ever do that?  Think…OK this is stupid.  HA.  I rarely do it and it is NOT good to do my first week back, but I was SO tired…so tired that during the day I had to lay down and close my eyes?  WTF?  I am NOT a napper…I can not nap with the phone ringing and 5,000 kids in and out of this house all day.  But, I begged the kids to play upstairs (it was raining out) while I shut my eyes for a quick 20 minutes.  I was dragging all day….

Then, I went to the OW swim race – and while I was in the water I was SO tired….my arms would not go…my elbow started to hurt….you name it, I had it.  I saw Jerome, Patrick and Travis swim off easily with out me – which has never happened.  I usually have much more fight in me…but I had nothing.  2miles felt long.  I had a conversation with myself about HOW I needed to get back into the pool and STOP this OW swimming all summer b/c you lose your sharpness out of the pool – but I LOVE OW swimming and we only have it for 3 months!!!   Anyway,  I finally got out and Jerome was waiting for me (what a guy) and I said nothing.  I put my shoes on and headed off with Jerome for the hilly 10k.  I had nothing…not bonking, just FLAT & heavy.  10k later….all I could think about was where we were going to eat (not  that this is different than any other day)….and I just wanted red meat.

DING DING DING!  DOHHHH!  It hit me finally – stupid Jenny!  I have a horrible habit of grazing my food.  I sit at my desk at home (watching the Tour!!! Yay!) and I get up, have a yogurt, then grab some almonds, then I have a PBJ sandwhich, then I had some tomatoe soup with tuna….do you see this pattern?  NOT good.  ALL bird food crap.  NOTHING nutrient dense and NOT nearly enough calories.  Then, I would be starving and make myself a fruit smoothie – no junk in that but ONLY Fruit and yougurt….so, again, NO protein or any lean meat.  Of course, for dinner, we would have chicken or pork or something SMART, but it was too late…..and, while I eat very good food, I had not eaten enough or enough iron or protein (PB is not one of the food groups)…And, I know better…but I was full…you know?  BUT, I have also not had any spinach/lettuce in the house b/c I was getting lazy and needed to go to the grocery store…

And, then BAM….I realized I needed something fast and healthy but RED MEAT.  And, after the swim+run race Jerome and I headed out to dinner and I got pasta, red meat, salad, etc…and I feel much better this AM.  I know what to eat and what to do, but I just forgot.  I was coming off my “break” from training and you can eat PBJ sandwhiches for lunch….you can not do that when you are training at the level most of us train at AND still feel good.  I mean, needing a nap yesterday is a SURE SIGN your caloric needs are way off (I am not a napper normally as I said).

So, this morning, I am feeling much better!  I have an 8 mile run to do here in a bit and then will go to the grocery store and fuel up.  Of course I know better, but to go from “rest” to training hard again (and increased running) and fueling for these variances is critical!  It is so amazing how critical good, solid nutrition is!  I just wish I could hire a chef.