San Antonio Marathon 11.13.11

The Tuesday prior to race day was my last quality workout before the big day...three miles at MGP...with about 1.5 warm up and cool down...a small group of us who were still left (as SA is the last of the fall marathons) gathered at our usual spot outside of Rogue to chat a bit before heading out to run...the talk was all about the weather...apparently it was going to be hot on race day...people we chatting about what they were going to do and what was going to be different...now if you are one who races you know that as soon as there is a weather report that touches on your race day you begin to obsess over it...you check it daily...sometimes multiple times a day...you check several different weather sites just to make sure that your trusty bookmarked site is giving you the best predictions...and then you talk about it with your training mates...

for some odd reason...i'm one of those athletes that only half listens to the talk that is going on...i do not check the weather..okay only once a few days out to make sure i have the right amount of clothing planned...but that is it...why you ask? well...there is nothing that i can do about the weather...i can't will it to be colder or warmer or less windy or less wet....i can only adapt to what it's going to throw my way...i know how to do that...

so it was going to be hot on race day...i trained this season through days that were 104 degrees...i ran long runs for 6 months starting at 5.30 in the morning just to finish before it hit the 100 degree mark...humidity was also high all summer...lots and lots of heat....lots and lots of salt pills...and lots and lots of fluid...i had that under control...

my training had been solid...consistent...strong...injury free...and i successfully ran 7 20+ mile runs 19 without pumping gel in me every five minutes... i ran several weeks at 60 miles...several more at 50...i felt really strong...and like i had achieved a new level of running...i was ready to kick butt in san antonio...

i was nervous leading up to the race...i had goals...time goals and other goals...that i had trained very hard for...and i was keeping my fingers crossed that it would fall together come the morning of the 13th...

j and i had driven down saturday morning after my 20 minute shake out run...had an easy, uneventful ride down went right to the expo...spent about 15 minutes there...got everything i needed...and checked in early to the hotel...after a carb heavy lunch...we walked down to the river walk...found some overly expensive mediocre coffee and settled in to some chairs...me to go over my race plan and maps again...j to write some more of book #4 that he had intently been working on the past few weeks...on the river walk it was warm but felt a bit of a chill in the breeze...i was hoping that a cool breeze would stick around...spent some more time reading and relaxing until dinner of takeout pasta from a spot that had a 2 hour wait for a table...takeout was just fine with me...overheard someone say the night before the marathon was their busiest of the year...i believe it...

in bed before 9 and actually got some sleep...not super great...but good enough to feel well rested...morning breakfast...1/2 cup big bowl cereal 1/2 cup oats, almond milk and strawberries...and coffee of course...checked the weather one last time 55 degrees...yeah! i even put on my sweatpants to walk to the start line...it still might be okay...out the door just before 6.30...we walked out the door and i was hit by a wall of humidity...ugh...i looked up and saw a haze hovering around the second story of all of the buildings...we walked though gear check...found my corral...i stood in line for the bathroom...and sat on a curb...by that point i was sweating...so i took my pants off...but kept my sweatshirt on...

hung out on the curb...hit the bathroom a couple more times....drank my vespa...off with the sweatshirt...one more bathroom break...and it was time to go...it took about 8 minutes to get to the start line...they were stopping groups of people letting the group ahead run for a few minutes...then letting the next ones go....there were supposed to be volunteers leading the corrals...but i never saw any...when it was my turn to go i was in the second row...kind of a cool feeling :) and off we went...

i took the first mile super slow...i knew a lot more people were running the half marathon...and coach and i had discussed that a lot of people would pass me at the beginning...i was okay with this...i was not going to go out too fast...was smiling and feeling good...hit mile 1 just over 9.00...a little slower than i had planned but not a big deal at all...i hadn't gone out too fast and that was one check off the list of goals for this race...good!...next few miles were uneventful...i was hitting my goal times and feeling really good...yeah it was humid...but over cast so that was a plus...the miles were ticking along 8.30s...getting a little under 8.30 it was going well...through the split with the half marathoners...at about 11...i was feeling good....

but then felt the chills...grr...not a good sign for this early in the race...i had taken 2 salt tabs at the start and had 2 an hour for the rest of the race...i was taking two cups at every station alternating water and cytomax...dumping some water on my head to keep the core temp down...by this point i was starting to have to battle the sun...the clouds were dissipating and the sun was coming out in full force...the humidity had dropped (i learned later it was at about 96% at the start of the race!)...by the half i was down by 4 minutes...by 17 i was down by 6...my time goal was out of reach...but there were still other goals to reach for..this was going to be a race of mental toughness

at this point a tightness in my hamstring was pretty persistent...my mantra for the next couple miles was loosen up loosen up...i heard quick-light-feet repeat a few times as well...trying to change up my stride...quicken the pace a bit to give some relief to the tired muscles...my splits were getting slower and slower...and the shade was getting smaller and smaller...and it was really hot...the race course was a mess...there were people walking and wobbling all over the place...volunteers couldn't keep their hands full of water cups...i grabbed some off of tables a few times...city buses were placed all over the course for people to jump in an cool off...it was tempting at a few points...people were spraying hoses at runners to try and cool us off...they were handing out salt...not electrolyte tablets...just plain salt...like those packets you get in your fries...that was weird...

i had never seen so many runners so beaten down...the majority of people were walking...i was "running" it was not pretty but i was running...by now we had gotten back to a segment of the course where it was out and back on the same road...i looked at those going out...and felt some sympathy...they had about an 8 mile loop out that way with no shade...i heard a guys say "we must be getting close to the turn around" oh...he had no idea...i was so surprised by how many runners were still going OUT...i was thankful to be headed back IN...

at some point the half and the full joined back on the same course separated by a fence...i think it was about 3 miles to go...i was suffering...i grunted out loud a few times...just that grrrrr keep running...finish this race kind of frustration...then i saw amy, jess and cheryl...amy jogged up along side of me...and i had to do everything in my power to not cry... "keep it together" ...thanks amy..she always knows what to say...i was just so frustrated...sad and angry...i knew i had let her down...and let myself down...but it was not for lack of trying...that is for sure...

got my head back together...and slogged out the final 2.2 miles...getting more and more excited as i got closer...just because i knew i could stop...and get something cold to drink...someone had ice at the final water stop...i could not have been happier with that...turned the final corner...and went UP what felt like a huge hill saw a few teammates (thanks guys!) cheering....and hit the finish line (arms up!) done...4.07.00

not the 3.40 i was going for...but also not my worst marathon...i don't think i could have finished with that time had a not had a great training season given the conditions....of course i'm pissed that the stars did not align for me last sunday...but here are somethings that i am proud of...
-consistancy in my training
-huge mileage milestones
-that one 24 miler matt and i ran together where we had a HUGE strong finish
-running a 4.07 on a really crappy day
-not going out too fast
-hitting my nutrition spot on

so now what...i have some time before i start training for IMWI 2012...i know i will again run a marathon with the goal of a 3.40...i'm pretty fit...and there is one here in Austin in a few months...hmmm....it's a thought...

Dusting off this blog

I know it's been forever since i've done anything over here...so this post is as good as any...I've signed up for ironman #3...Ironman Wisconsin September 9th 2012....i love that the nickname is IMmoo...and one of my facebook friends just informed me that it's rated the second hardest IM....awesome :) BRING IT!

Reflection on 5 days of Food Stamps

I began this assignment with a plan of how I was going to be able to make it through the week while at my rotation and in my fourth week of marathon training. I knew that I needed to have a plan in order to make everything work together. Typically I write out a week’s worth of dinners and use that as the bases of my grocery list. I estimate possible leftovers then add additional items to the list to fill out both lunch and breakfast. I did the same for my week of food stamp meals however I was much more conscientious of what I was going to add for breakfast and lunch due to the cost associated with my typical choices.

One of the major changes to my normal routine was one shopping trip for the week at HEB. I normally shop at Whole Foods and get most staples, fruit and vegetables on one day I typically will go to the store at least one other time to pick up something else like fresh seafood or other item that does not keep well. This past week I only shopped Sunday for the remainder of the week.

Lunches normally consist of leftovers or big fresh salads (mostly bought from the Whole Foods salad bar when I am working at the office). I knew that this was not an option for this week as I would be at Cedar Springs. I decided to make a bulgur based salad with chickpeas and veggies dressed with a red wine dressing for my lunch for the week. I also added a few slices of bakes tofu to the dish to add some more protein. Both recipes I found on the Snap website.  I portioned out the tofu and salad for the week in five to go containers and was all set for lunches.

Breakfast was also changed during this week. I normally have a smoothie with oats and spinach added after I workout and a mid morning snack at about ten. This week I went for something I knew was affordable and hopefully sustain me through to lunch—oatmeal. I added peanut butter and banana to it in order to make the meal more balanced.

I found most of the recipes that I used for dinners this week on the snap website with some slight variations. The arroz con pollo turned out to be a big hit with the addition of some oregano and a jalapeno. Typically I don’t use recipes when cooking dinner. This week I felt that it would be best to follow some from the snap site due to cost savings.

While the plan got me through the menu planning, shopping and some preparation it was defiantly not a fool proof option. Most of the time I am fine having the same things a few times during the week, but not being able to have a choice for my meals this week made me reject both my breakfast and lunch by Wednesday. On my run Wednesday morning all I could think about was how much I didn’t want oatmeal and what did I have that would fit my budget so I could have something different. I ended up with a one egg breakfast taco that made me much happier. Lunch Wednesday turned out to be peanut butter and jelly since I couldn’t do another day of the bulgur salad. It seemed so strange to me that this rejection of my own food occurred. Most days out of the week I have the same smoothie over and over again while I have plenty of options around me. When I was restricted with my choice (ie only oats) I wanted nothing to do with it.

It was interesting to me to be working in an eating disorder facility during this experiment. I felt that I could begin to understand the prison that restriction is. It was also difficult to pass up a cupcake that was offered due to a birthday in the office. When my five days were over I was seriously craving many of the foods that I had to say no to during the week.

It was also rather difficult to maintain proper nutrition for my marathon training. I was not able to have my normal pre run snack, recovery drink, typical amount of food and my electrolyte replacement tablets. I run about six days most weeks and meet with my group one of those days for a quality workout. This Tuesday’s quality workout was really lacking in quality. I came to the run knowing that it was going to be tough. I didn’t have enough time to get in a snack between my lunch and my run. While normally I would have popped a  gel I did not have that option this week. Also, I had been drinking water all day as I do normally however my food stamps meal plan lacked the electrolyte replacement tablets that I put in every other liter of water. I was a little nervous of the consequences of that move. We had a six mile run Tuesday evening and it was the hardest six miles I have run in an extended period of time. By the end of the run I was experiencing symptoms of heat stroke and dehydration. I was glad that I was familiar with the signs and symptoms and knew what to do to get through my workout. I really hope I don’t have to try that again.

I don’t think that the diet that I followed was nutritionally adequate for the week. It was lacking in vitamins and minerals while I even made an effort to add vegetables and fruits where I could. I know that I am not the typical food stamp user and was thankful for my knowledge of cooking during this process. I know that my culinary background was helpful in stretching the budget and using the carbohydrate base of most of the week’s dishes like a blank canvas and squeezing in nutritionally dense foods where I could.

This project was just as difficult as I had imagined and even more difficult than I thought it would be in some respects. I knew that it would be difficult to work on a budget, but I was able to overcome that and get some variety in for the evening meal. Aspects that were more difficult than expected were the repetition of foods and the lack of adequate quality as well as quantity for my training. I am glad to have done the experiment and had fun coming up with creative dishes based on the snap recipes I found. I’m sure that the three others that I ran with on Tuesday are glad that I can get back to being the one who doesn’t mess up her nutrition and has solutions for their nutrition issues. Now I’m headed to Whole Foods to restock the pantry. 

Day 4

Breakfast: two egg breakfast taco with spinach= $0.74

Lunch: left overs + apple = $1.53

Dinner: Turkey Burger and baked sweet potato fries= $2.08

Day 5

Breakfast: oatmeal with pb chopped apple and cinnamon= $0.42

Lunch: left overs + apple= $1.82

Dinner: homemade mac-n-cheese (nondairy) with broccoli and not dogs=$2.36

Total for the week= $20.09 

total i had to spend =$21.90 

lets go celebrate with the $1.81 i have left :)

Day 3

on my wednesday morning run...i thought about breakfast...and the thought of the same oatmeal again was not at all appealing...so i decided to switch it up...which is strange because normally i would choose oatmeal but knowing that i kind of "had" to choose it made me not want it at all...so i made an egg/spinach/salsa breakfast taco and crossed my fingers the cost was okay...it was almost $0.40 more than the oats but i was happy for a change...

same thing happened with lunch...so it was pb+j with veggies and an apple...which turned out to be not filling enough...i'm starting to get how it would have to work in order to stay satisfied...it's keeping it carb heavy...as i had been the first two days...

Breakfast: egg, spinach, salsa, tortilla=$0.94
Lunch: pb+j on wheat, 1/2 cucumber, 1 normal carrot, 1 small apple=$0.57
Dinner: arroz con pollo = $2.13
treat: 1 liter sparkling water $0.53
total so far =$10.96

Day 2

I knew now that the hunger level was going to be okay...so i knew that i could get through the next days...but i was a little worried about how my workout was going to feel with no electrylyte supplementation during the day or pre run...i had made sure to save my apple from lunch for an afternoon snack to help the run...but unfortunatly i never got around to eating it...by the time i did i was on my way to run practice so that was not a good choice either...mild dehydration symptoms by the end of the 6 miles....made it through strides and strength...then home for something...and fast...turned out to be left overs from last nights pasta (it was just sauce left) so i made more noodles to go with...and added salt...

Breakfast: oats+PB+almond milk+banana (i ate as a morning snack) $0.59
Lunch: bulgur salad + Tofu - apple (i never got around to eating) $1.03
Dinner: left over sauce (i counted all ingredients in yesterdays total)+noodles+spinach= $1.25
Total = $2.87
running total =$2.87+$3.92=$6.79

The remainder of Day 1

so i was a little surprised that i left some oats in my bowl this morning before heading out the door...i thought about saving them and packing them in my lunch as a snack "just in case"...i've been worried that my meals would not be satisfying...i decided to not and see how things went...

i started a new rotation today at a facility that does partial hospitalization...i was not sure of the particulars...like was it okay to pack my lunch or did i need to model behavior for patients....i packed and decided to go for it...

turns out this was a good option...worked through lunch and was satisfied (i was surprised)...i even saved the apple i packed for a later afternoon snack

Lunch: bulgur salad + 2 slices baked tofu + 1 small apple = $1.53
Dinner: spaghetti w/sauce + salad = $1.80
Total for the day = $3.92
Recipes i am using are below...they are from the snap website....and i have altered some slightly...if anthing significant is done i have factored that in to the cost of the recipe...

Baked Tofu			-i subbed 1/2 tsp sesame oil for the vegetable oil
Ingredients: 2 Tablespoons soy sauce 1 minced clove garlic or 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger (optional) 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 1 package (16 ounce) drained tofu, firm or extra firm, water packed

Italian Broccoli and Pasta
Ingredients: 2 cups fettucini noodles, uncooked 3 Tablespoons chopped green onion (also called scallions) 2 cups broccoli florets 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 1 can (14.5 ounce) stewed tomatoes 2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese--			-I cut out the cheese here

5 A Day Bulgur Wheat

Ingredients: 1 medium chopped onion 1 cup chopped broccoli 1 cup shredded carrots 1 small chopped green pepper - may use red or yellow pepper 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley or 2 Tablespoons dried 1 teaspoon canola oil 1 1/2 cups dry bulgur 2 cups chicken broth, low-sodium 8 ounces canned, drained chickpeas

-i added some red wine vinegar and used veggie broth and subbed olive for canola

Food Stamps Day 1

Today starts five days of living on the amount of money one person gets in food stamps...$4.38 per day $21.90 for the five days. As students of nutrition we are striving to see if nutritional adequacy can be met on this amount of money. I have to say that my grocery cart yesterday (in preparation for the week) contained very few fresh fruits and veggies....we shall see how this goes...

one tibit i wanted to share a 6 pack of ramen is $0.89....6 packs for 89 cents...WTF....don't worry i left them right where they were...you don't even want to know the sodium content...yikes

Breakfast: 3/4 cup oatmeal, 4 oz unsweetened almond milk, 1 Tbs peanut butter, 1 banana = $0.59

over due update

i know that it's been way too long since i have updated this blog...and i feel like it's time...after my first four weeks of clinical nutrition work at the level one trauma hospital i transferred to SMCW 25 miles north....it's a level two trauma facility and i got a lot of experience with critical care nutrition...i was actually surprised at how much i liked that kind of work...though there are aspects of working in a hospital that are very difficult....there are a lot that are very rewarding...i could see myself doing clinical work if the need was there...it's not my first choice but it is an interest of mine...

after the clinical rotation it was on to food service management rotation...i was also placed at the same hospital for this rotation SMCW....however my daily routine would be very much different than it was during clinical...first, i had to be there at 6am...that would change to 5am a few weeks later...it takes about 30 minutes to get there...and takes me about the same amount of time to feel awake enough to drive...so that means waking up REALLY early...i was learning how to manage the patient food service side of the cafeteria...after 5+ years of experience managing busy restaurants this was a really hard rotation for me....i was bored...really bored...it was like managing a really slow cafe with a really limited menu...i did a lot of making up patient trays as their orders came in to keep myself entertained....which was fine..just i didn't feel at all like i needed my brain for this rotation...most of the other girls had been placed in school food service (public schools) and i think that would have been even harder for me...the hospital is contract managed...meaning the cafeteria and the patient food service is run by a food service company...and the management works for that company rather than the hospital...there were 4 managers for ~25 employees (patient, retail, operations and general managers)...i was shadowing the patient manager...so there was not a lot for me to do...

i was the line cook for a week....the production cook for a few days...did a high end catering for 16...handled many mini employee crisis that occurred....became friends with a lot of the employees...smiled and was calm in the face of a corporate employee who couldn't see beyond corporate guidelines...and generally just helped where i could see a need...apparently this was amazing to the hospital...the staff gave me a really nice thank you card, i got a certificate for a free cupcake from an employee and one made me home made Vietnamese egg rolls...yum...it was nice to know that i made an impact :)

that rotation ended yesterday! yeah! finally moving on to things more my speed now...my next rotation will be at the student health services building at UT...i will be working with a dietitian who does health promotion...i don't know yet what that means but we shall see...and it does not involve setting an alarm for 3.45am....or driving 50 miles a day....

also during this last rotation i got a new car :)...which i love....it's a honda CR-Z....a two seater, six speed manual transmission, hybrid....i love it...i had to fill it up with gas for the first time yesterday.. and i was a little disappointed that it had the same number of miles as my civic would have had per tank....however, as i was filling this car up for the first time...i found out that i have a tank that holds 2 fewer gallons than the civic...that made me smile...over 40 miles to the gallon...woot

and last but not least i finished my first history class which was self paced on line through UT...yeah!...the final was three hours of writing....actually writing with a pen in a blue book at a testing center...my hand hurt for like three days after...but i did great and am happy to just have one last history and then i am totally done with all of my course work...and will be graduating this summer after internship is over !!!! 

so that is the long/short update that is overdue...hoping that my schedule eases a bit with the next rotation...and my history class flies by...now on to enjoy the weekend with my in-laws....and a second cup of coffee...

Week 2

I can't believe how far i have come in a week working at the hospital...Today I was walking home from the hospital and I was smiling.  I was proud of what I had accomplished today and what I have been able to learn in such a short period of time.  I'm no longer nervous to find a nurse or talk to a doctor. I also seem to no longer hesitate when I walk into a patient room.  yesterday I gave a low fiber diet education to a Spanish only Pt with the help of a translator.  It was totally on the fly and great. I have also been working a lot with enteral nutrition and getting really comfortable with understanding who to put on what formulas and rates and goals. Good stuff.

I get attached to some patients and i really want them to pull through...or i want to see how their issues get resolved and sometimes i just want to know their stories.  I love running across the people who are really wanting to learn more about nutrition or the dr or nurse who is also really interested in how nutrition is going to help a patient get well.

I still feel like i have too much to do in a day/week/month and i am trying to learn how to say i don't have time.  i sometimes envy people i see out for walks or playing football in the street thinking to my self i wish i had time for stuff like that...and i guess i would if i didn't do all the other stuff i do outside of internship like having a job and doing some other nutrition stuff and saying yes to more than i should.

this coming week will be an exercise in doing that...in saying no when i can because honestly i just don't have the time...i like my sleep, and my yoga, and my run/ride/swimming and spending time with j and the catz....all of that is really just as important to me...this will be a process and i am sure i will have some failures along the way (this week counts as one for sure) but i will try...

now off to do some relaxing and shutting off of the brain for a few hours of girl movies, chocolate, ice cream and chit chat with a few of my lady friends...much needed...

Practicum...the Beginning

Today I started my practicum...it is the last step in the process to becoming an RD...well technically the second to last step if you count the RD exam that i will sit for this summer...anyway...it's getting really close to the end of things...and i am really excited about it...at this very moment it's tough as i don't know what my schedule is going to be...and it's hard to plan life and training around a non existent schedule but as my professor said to today " i basically have your a** for the next semester" ah...well fine...i'll get there...

but it was fun to be back in action so to speak today dusting off the cobwebs of enteral nutrition and nutrition assement and lab values and whatnot...at this point it's all new beginnings...and i'm ready..bring it

2010 Exercise Totals

Swim: 91 hours 135 miles
Bike: 150 hours 2400 miles
Run:  195 hours 949 miles

I spent just about 18 days swimming, biking and running in 2010.

yoga, core and other exercise not counted in totals...

decisions

it's been a little while since i have last posted...and that by no means indicates that nothing is going on...since my last post here are some highlights...had a super time in seattle...flew back to austin to attended AC4D final presentations for the quarter...they rocked...was in austin for 36 hours then flew to arizona...hung out with my parents...got a pedicure (my first!)...saw two bob cats two days in a row...had christmas...baked 150 cupcakes for the engagement party of two friends...who surprised all the guests at the party by getting married!...attended the going away party of a good friend...reconnected with other good friends...did Bikram (hot!!) yoga twice...and actually made it past midnight on new years eve...amazing..

while all of this has been going on i had been thinking all along that come jan 3 i'm back on the training wagon gearing up for the 2011 tri season here in austin...as the day got closer...i got a little more apprehensive...and over the weekend i was down right jealous of some other friends who are taking this year to step back from all of the racing and let life fill in the blanks...

this month brings about a lot of changes...it's the end of my classes and the beginning of my internship portion of my program...j started his new job...and everything feels fresh and new...so falling back into the same old workout routine seems off to me...not to make this sound like some light decision...because if you know me...you know that i take my athletic commitments very seriously and to change my mind about a goal i set and the training i was going to do...it's a pretty big deal...and of course full of emotions...sigh...someday i won't cry about _everything_

so tonight i am off to my lil neighborhood yoga studio to get back in there and settle my mind and see where it takes me...i'm going to try and follow the tri training plan for the week and see how i feel about it all to make sure i am not just feeling the apprehension of starting a regular training plan after having 2 months off of rigid scheduling...we shall see...