Check me out! I’m the chicken. It was raining again this morning. I went to bed thinking I would wake up, go out like a hardcore runner, and power through eight miles. Not so much! Instead, I woke up and ate oatmeal.
The perfect everyday rainy day meal. I could eat oats for breakfast, lunch, and dinner on days like today. There are so many great ways the mix it up! Today’s mix was pretty basic.
- 1/2 c. old fashioned oats
- 1/2 c. almond milk
- 1/2 c. water
- 1 small banana – 1/2 cooked in, 1/2 on top
- 1 T. ground flaxseed
- dried cranberries
- super chunky PB
It figures…just as summer vacation is winding down…I’m gettting slower and slower in the morning. I think I’ll start setting the alarm, so it’s not a shock to my system when I go back to school next week.
After breakfast, I wavered about whether to run indoors or out. Full of excuses!
- It would be uncomfortable to carry a heavy, soggy Camelbak for eight miles.
- I could get blisters or chafing.
- What if it made me sick?
- But I might have to race in the rain….I should prepare.
- I’ve raced in the rain before. Is that something I need to practice?
I couldn’t make up my mind. What’s a girl to do? Phone a friend! I called Lolly and….she was on her way to the gym! I had my answer. Within ten minutes, I was setup on the treadmill right next to her.
I actually had fun on that beast today. For the first three miles, Lolly chatted with me. They were gone before I knew it. When she left, I only have five miles to do. Five miles – no problem! I went with a tempo workout today, keeping it simple.
Total Distance: 8.0 miles
- Mile 1 – 6.4 mph (9:22/mi)
- Mile 2 – 6.5 mph (9:13/mi)
- Mile 3 – 6.6 mph (9:05/mi)
- Mile 4 – 6.7 mph (8:57/mi)
- Mile 5 – 6.8 mph (8:49/mi)
- Mile 6 – 6.9 mph (8:41/mi)
- Mile 7 – 7.0 mph (8:34/mi)
- Mile 8 – 6.7 mph (8:57/mi)
Total Time: 1:11:30
Yay! This was an incredibly satisfying run. It was my longest treadmill run ever. Although it didn’t have killer hills or gusty winds, it required a mental toughness that most runs don’t. I’m not the biggest fan of the treadmill, so it felt great to dominate it! I will dig deep to find that same mental stamina when I reach the final miles of the marathon. Eight miles done – mission accomplished!
I couldn’t wait to down a cold, protein-packed smoothie after my workout.
Like chocolate covered strawberries – so refreshing! My smoothie contained:
- 1 c. almond milk
- 2 T. Choc-A-Lot Vega Shake ‘N Go
- 4 large frozen strawberries
- 1 c. ice
Four simple ingredients, bursting with chocolate-y goodness. I am officially in love with this stuff! I mean, I love all things chocolate, but this is really good for me, too. What a bonus! I am also a fan of the crunchy cereal to top it off. It adds texture and pizazz. Days like today need pizazz!
Have a fabulous day!
Do you run on the treadmill? How long can you manage on that thing?!
