Great great run today!!!!!!!!!
Emily and I met at the greenway on this beautiful sunny day. She hasn’t ran since her marathon last weekend and I wasn’t sure what my foot was going to do, but we ended up running about 6.2 in about 54 minutes with lots of chitter chatter and a really easy pace. One of the most pleasant runs I’ve had in a while!
Half Mary
I’m still not sure about this half marathon. I’ve been toying with the idea of trying it out. It’s in mid-April. As many of you probably know, I had foot surgery 4 years ago and my foot has really never been the same. But lately it’s been feeling really good and I can easily knock out 6-7 miles, so I figured 13 wasn’t too much more! I’ve got a whole crew who said they’d run it with me: Emily, Sarah, Michelle, Caitlin, Whit.
I’m going to embark on the training and just see what happens. My sister sent me an IM last week when she found out that I was planning to start training that said something along the lines of "I don’t think someone who had foot surgery should try to run 13 miles. Everyone I know gets injured." She’s right, and I’m only doing it because everyone else is doing it! Larbs is wise. She tells it without bias. Buttttt my foot is healed and has been handling 6-7 miles just fine and 13 isn’t 26.2, so I’m going to follow the training plan that Sarah is going to design for me and just see how it goes. If my foot starts to feel too weak or sore then I’m just going to stop. No questions asked. No regrets. So that’s the update!
***
After our run I came home and cleaned out our cars, which were getting a bit gross, and then inspected the pantry for more Indian moths. I found a bag of rice I got this summer that had holes in it, but everything else looked OK. However, most everything else was pretty old anyway so I tossed a lot of bags of specialty flour and grains that were 75% used up and probably past their prime.
Lunchtime came next!!
I have this HUGE thing of organic spinach from Costco that I have to use up in less than a week!
Soup or Salad?? How about salad soup!! A.K.A. green monster.
I LOVE green monsters. I just don’t like them for breakfast. Lunch is a great time to have one. It’s basically just a spinach salad with a side of dairy and fruit . Something I’d have for lunch anyways.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups spinach (PACKED in!)
- Handful ice
- 1 medium fresh banana
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup kefir
- 1/2 packet Chocolate Amazing Meal [I really love the Chocolate Amazing Meal and when my packets are all gone I do intend to buy a tub of it. It goes so well in a green monster!]
With a little Zoe’s Granola. Gotta have the crunch!
On the side: toast with cinnamon goat cheese from the party
And the last of my roasted squash
This lunch was incredibly delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Writing time!
Kristen says
Glad you had a great run today! Mine wasn’t so good. Just a funky mood I guess. It’s nice to have friends that run with you… None of mine are that motivated 🙁
candice says
No regrets. I like that attitude! I always tend to think too little of myself for not accomplishing what “should” be accomplished… but I guess I should try thinking about just giving it my all and letting life run its course. 😀
That goat cheese looks SO good!!!
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
I think you’re going about the half marathon excellently. You’ll never know if you can if you don’t try, but no need to push yourself if your body decides otherwise.
I loove chocolate amazing grass with kefir in the morning when I’m not feeling like yogurt. It’s healthy chocolate milk! Who would imagine that
sarah (shep) says
I think your plan for the half marathon sounds good… do what’s best for you and no regrets! I’m running my first half marathon ever (actually, i’ve only ever raced in 2 5k’s to this point in my life! nothing longer than that) on May 2nd in Pittsburgh, so I’m starting my training plan sometime in January. I’m so excited for the 13.1!
Tracey says
Glad to hear you had a great run.
Have you always been into running? I’ve wanted to run but I just get so bored and can’t get into it.
Kath says
Yes, I’ve always enjoyed it. I think because I find it challenging both physically and mentally. And I like tallying up miles and enjoying the outdoors. (I would never be a runner if treadmills were the way you had to run). Perhaps you need better scenery!?
Wendy says
Good luck with the half mary training! I really think if you take it nice & slow (pace AND mileage build-up) you should be fine! Considering you are currently running up to 6-7 miles, and you have nearly 4 months to train, you should have more than enough time to accomplish that. Also, keep up the yoga!! I ran two halfs this year, and got injured while training for the second one. The difference? For whatever reason, I quit doing YOGA while training for the second race! Oh, and one more thing: be SURE you have good shoes w/out too many miles on them!
Ok, stopping now with the advice-giving. 🙂 GOOD LUCK!!!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
i love your salad in a soup combo. more places should offer this!
Chloe (Naturally Frugal) says
I had major surgery on my knee when I was 16, but as long as I listen to my body and don’t push myself it doesn’t usually act up. As long as you listen to your body I’m sure you’ll be fine! Plus, training is almost all of the fun – good luck with that!
Danielle (Coffee Run) says
I think you’re taking a smart approach to the half marathon. Just listen to your body and feel it out! I love soup salads (or SIABs), no matter what the temp. is outside
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
I have two friends who have had foot surgeries and have gone on to run 1/2 marathons. They never have attempted a full marathon.
Best of luck with training!
Paige@ RunningAroundNormal says
Good luck with the marathon training! Sounds like you really thought it over and are going with what feels best for you. I think it’s a great idea to just watch it, and see how your foot feels.
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
That’s the exact way I’m looking at a future half-marathon. No big deal if it doesn’t pan out (the plus side of not going into it competitively I guess! 😀 ) but looking forward to it if it does. You have the right mindset to side step any lingering injuries, and with the right training plan, I think you’ll do great! 😀
Oh, and I agree…Green Monsters make a great lunch, especially when paired with something to “chew on” on the side. Yum! 😀
Kt says
omg, watch out for worms/moths. I found some in a bag of rice in my old apartment… tossed some stuff, but they still managed to proliferate and it was horrid! moths, worms, blarg I actually never got rid of them 100%- I just moved!
But I’m sure you’re fine! I was too cheap and I should have thrown out everything around the rice in retrospect, but sounds like you did just that.
christie @ honoring health says
Good luck with the half mary training, sounds like you have a good plan to honor your body and see what happens. You can’t go wrong there!
caitlin says
i think thats the best way to handle it – wait to sign up until its almost full or right before.
Simply Life says
What a great looking combo! Just be careful with your foot! My husband always tries to get me to look at things years down the road and that’s when I always know whether or not something will be worth it now!
Susan says
I think that’s a good half marathon plan. Just listen to your body more than your training plan! My boyfriend is like Larbs – tells it like it is, and is (admittedly) usually right. It’s good to have people like that around 🙂
Lori (Finding Radiance) says
You know, you can always embark on the training program and if you find that you are not comfortable – stop. You know your body better than anyone else and can tell if continuing on in a training program will be right for you 😀
Kristine @ Purple Pinky Toes says
I think you have a great idea about how to approach the half marathon! I have also been toying the idea but it is such a huge commitment!
rachael says
You’re taking a great approach to the marathon training! Playing with you’re edge and seeing it where it takes you . . . Good luck!
Erin @ Big Girl Eats says
I’m feeling the same way about a half mary – even though I’m signed up for one in May, it’s all about listening to myself and my body and not trying to push it too far. Good luck!
Erin says
I haven’t made a Green Monster since summer — there’s just something about the iciness that turns me off during the winter. Can’t wait to have one again when it warms up, though. 😀
Janna says
I had a Smoothie in a bowl for the first time this morning.
GENIUS!!!
Jessica @ How Sweet It Is says
I need to try a smoothie in a bowl. 🙂
sarah (ghost world) says
WOOHOOOOOO now i need to work on your (our!??) plan! i actually saw another possible plan template to work with found in this month’s women’s running. this will be on my lists of projects for this week!!
skinnyrunner says
good luck with the half training! hopefully you can do it without any injuries!!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Sounds like you have a great plan for the half marathon. There’s no harm in starting the training and taking each step as it comes. Just be careful and listen to your body like you usually do! 🙂
It’s been so long since I’ve had a green smoothie. In the summer I had one almost every day, but since it’s been so cold, I barely make them anymore. I definitely need to get on that!
Lauren says
I think you have a great mindset on this 1/2. I totally understand the peer pressure of marathon running, especially from the blog world. I ran my 1st 1/2 marathon this fall and it was one of the best things I have ever done. I know I want to do it again next year, but now I am contemplating the full marathon, and I know a lot of that desire comes from the “pressures” of other bloggers doing it. I don’t know if that is a good thing or a bad thing, but in the end, I know that my decision has to be for me and me alone. Running is such a personal thing. It’s entirely justified to be selfish in this part of your life.
I know that I, and so many others, are going to support you, no matter what you decide!
Keep inspiring Kath! Because you do it so well! 🙂
K says
I like your mindset when it comes to the half – you’ve got to take it easy! I’m drooling over that cinnamon goat cheese!
jenna says
good luck with the training!
Lunch looks fab:)
Jenna
Meg says
Everything looks amazing – your acorn squash is so pretty 🙂
Sam (Merit to the Carrot) says
Those huge Costco packages of spinach are my FAVORITE! Definitely motivation to get some more greens in everyday!
thepinkpeppercorn says
mmmm goat cheese with acorn squash on the side..or vice versa – YUM!!!!!
Stacey says
Yay! Whit and I are training for that half marathon together! It should be exciting! This will be my first one 😀 As always, I am hungry after reading one of your post! Better get cookin’ in the kitchen!
Kath says
Yay! Glad you’re in too!!!
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
lovely combo!!!
have a great day!
amanda says
Hmmm I dont know about the running thing either. However if your foot has been fine lately, then why not? YOu only live once. Also I get those huge spinach thing from Sam’s club. I always have a huge spinach salad at least 5x a week. With that being said it doesn’t take long to use up, plus it always seems to last past the good to eat by date.
rachel nc says
kath–i think you have the right perspective about the half marathon.
i completed my 1st marathon on november, and i too begin my training (initially just for the asheville half marathon) with caution. i had some health issues that i worried would be exacerbated by the training. so–the goal is to hold onto the training lightly–enjoying the satisfaction the training runs bring, not necessarily holding yourself to completing it or finishing it in a certain time. all in all it was a wonderful, challenging experinece. i highly recommend it! plus, if you can run 7 miles (haven’t you run 10 recently?), you can do 13.
best of luck!!
Christin says
Kath, do you know what the difference is between Amazing Meal and Amazing Grass? I’ve been using amazing grass, but I still have to disguise the taste because to me it tastes like biting into a vitamin. Does the amazing meal taste any better? Just wondering what you think the difference is.
I’m up in Boone – we got about a foot and a half in the last two days!!! 🙂 I’ve never seen this much snow.
Kath says
Christin,
The Meals have hemp + rice protein added so they are a bit more filling and are less grassy. I really like the chocolate one, but the mango-pomegranate is good too.
Christin says
Less grassy is good. 🙂 I’ll try the meal next time.
Thanks Kath.
Angie All The Way says
I am worried about the exact same thing about my first half marathon in May. I consider myself a very beginner runner with only a few 5km races under my belt and some pretty nagging and relevant injuries to deal with and while I am extremely excited about training for a half, I am a bit scared and hesitant. I was in a car accident 3.5 years ago where I fractured my foot in multiple places (nags and nags still and I wear an orthotic), dislocated and fractured my hip (I now have bursitis), torn & repaired ACL (from soccer injury a few years prior) and soft tissue injuries in my neck and shoulder. I’m still dealing with the rehab and I know I “shouldn’t” really do the half, but for me, I feel that I have come so far since then that it’s more something for my soul than anything else. I do fear “what if” I realize I can’t really handle it and I have to bring the whole thing to a stop because there are two great friends who are running the race with me (one of which is flying in to do it).
Thanks for writing about your feelings about your injury and how you are going to approach training. You’ve made me realize that if I do have to stop, I shouldn’t have any regrets, but at least I’m going for it. 😉
Kath says
OUCH! You poor girl. If you have to pull out you could at least cheer on your two friends from the finish line and take lots of photos. You’re awesome you whether you’ve run a race or not!
Anne Marie@New Weigh of Life says
Cinnamon goat cheese looks tasty!!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Sounds like you’re being smart about the half marathon! Only you know what you can do and how hard to push your body.
Whit says
I’m crossing my fingers for your half mary training! I know you will be smart about it, and not push yourself too hard, so I think you shall be fine. The finger crossing is just insurance.
Karla says
I got a huge bag of spinach at costco too! I need to use it up ASAP! My brother in law told me it can be frozen too so it’s perfect for smoothies!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
I LOVE big tubs of fresh, organic spinach. Unfortunately, I end up wasting a lot of it! 🙁 My mom tells me to wilt it down and then freeze it, which is a good idea.
Your SIAB looks so filling! That cheese looks so tasty, too. Yum 😀
Jenn
Chelsea says
Halfs are a good distance. You’re right, it’s not 26.2…to bad for you though right, how perfect would that be?
Jennie says
I didn’t know you had foot surgery. I broke multiple bones in my foot 6 years ago. I had 2 surgeries and didn’t walk on it for 6 months. You’re right. Your foot won’t ever be the same. I worry more about how my foot will feel as I age. My doctor told me I will probably have arthritis in my foot. I have to be picky about what type of shoes I wear. I began running for the first time this summer. Amazingly, my foot hasn’t been bothering me at all. However, once the weather got cold my foot started hurting again. Does your foot hurt more in the winter?
Kath says
Not really cold weather, but HEELS are my enemy.
Jennie says
I don’t wear heels either. I forgot to ask why you had foot surgery. Did you break your foot?
Kath says
I had a fused joint that was supposedly a birth defect un-fused.
Ashley says
Hey Kath! I buy that big thing of spinach too, you can just throw it in the freezer! the leaves stay separated and it’s great for making green monsters because it’s sort of like adding ice! plus then it doesnt go bad, which is always my problem!
Clea says
Hi Kath,
I was just wondering what your warm-up includes…walking? stretching? I’m getting back into running and have found I’m fine to only stretch after my run, and I walk for about 5 minutes. Do you count your mileage and timing after your warm-up, or do you include it?
Kath says
I generally don’t stretch or anything beforehand – just after.