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Let’s say NO to C.R.A.P. – Carbonated drinks, overly processed foods, white sugars and flours, and eat only whole plant foods – give yourself this month and see & feel the difference yourself!
You are worth it!!!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/3UTbfeQKFzA?si=atyvaENEx1gngX2v
(Thank you, Hal Elrod)
I have read about many morning hacks for conquering your life, one day, one morning at a time. However, years ago, Hal Elrod’s book came into my life (“Miracle Morning”) and he has always been my go-to for getting back to rising early and tackling my day, my life, in a positive and transformational way. I will not settle for mediocrity!
Hal is a humble and inspiring man whose life demonstrates (over and over again) his refusal to let the trials and tribulations of this world get him down. I highly recommend his book and podcast (https://halelrod.com/).
So, here I am…scribing on my first day of a 30 day challenge! Just two weeks since I ran my second marathon (the first was tortuous last November – Hilton Head, I walked the last 10 miles)—I’m still physically tired but feeling stronger with each passing day. I got out and ran 4 miles with #ChargeRunning app, meditated for 15 minutes, read ACIM, did my affirmations, and visualization! Yay, to day one success!
This past Easter weekend was my birthday weekend. After not eating sugar since June of 2021, I caved. I received a three tiered goody birthday tower from my employer and all bets were off. I crumbled, using my birthday as an excuse. I ate crap all weekend. Now it’s time to detox and get back to whole food plant based eating.
After my run and stretching routine, I ate a piece of Ezekiel bread, lightly toasted with almond butter, a small bowl of blueberries, both topped with a flax, chia, hemp seed mix. It was delicious. The rest of my meals and snacks are as follows:
I have come to the conclusion that knowing what I now know; about food, nutrition, and health…I am only going to teach, promote, & support clients who are willing to move toward eating Whole Food Plant Based in this world. I am passionate about it. I cannot do otherwise with a clear conscious. I have learned too much. I have seen too much evidence. There is no going back. I will remain an encourager and cheerleader for all but will educate. I feel it is a duty.
It’s so challenging living with a wonderful man who prefers to load his body with pharmaceuticals, that have horrid side effects, rather than eat Whole Food Plant Based. I can only continue to be an example and let it go. Keep doing what I am doing. I am not in control.
Though I started this post, on day one, it is now day three…! No Excuses! Showing up and doing this thing!
This is for all runners, whether you are running a marathon, a 5K, or around the block…every fitness level —as all of us, when we are sick we might choose “listen to our body”, or push through because we are pig-headed and stubborn (me) – neither are to be judged, but it’s a good idea to be mindful of other considerations that are important. I believe myself to be an intermediate runner and I did not know any better, so perhaps this will help someone out from experiencing what I had to go through. My heart rate was through the roof for an extended period of time while running my very first marathon. I didn’t “hit a wall”, I didn’t bonk…I was still healing from being sick the month prior. The most ridiculous thing is that I had no idea. I didn’t know until two days later when I finally got on Garmin to review my stats. I knew that my flop of a race was due to being sick but I did not know how bad it truly was.
Educating ourselves on what our target heart rate is, and what our maximum heart rate should be…AND KEEPING AN EYE ON THIS DATA WHILE RUNNING (which I did not do) is probably a wise thing to do, most especially if you have been sick. Coach and I chatted and she was amazed at how low my heart rate had been throughout all of my training…18, 20, 22, 22, 23 miles…and even my speed work. I felt the same and trusted that I was good. Just, “duh”! I am duhing myself, yes. This could have been a very serious mistake. Like my dad always said, “almost” isn’t enough, but a lesson was indeed learned, a lesson I feel impelled to share.
Like my dad always said, “almost” isn’t enough, but a lesson was indeed learned, a lesson I feel impelled to share.
Without even pushing myself and staying within the slower intervals the Coach suggested I use, I hit a PR for my half marathon time and NOT because I ran too fast out of the gate, but because I increased my speed that much over a course of almost a year through my extensive training (of course, I have to celebrate whatever success I can out of this nightmare!). Initially I felt great – ran the first four miles with a friend, I was glowing (little did I know why….), but I started to deteriorate fast… A few more miles down the horrible route (yes, it was bad, believe me–trail here, cone here, out and back here, very few clear markings) I felt like I was going to fall out. I thought I was dying, literally, but still I did not look at my heart rate. At mile 16 I had no choice but to walk, and walk I did, the last grueling ten miles….and slowly, too. Each step was tortuous. I am not one to give up, but I felt that I had no choice. Unfortunately or fortunately, I had no way of giving up so I trudged onward. I still did not look at my heart rate but I am grateful my body had more sense than I did. My heart rate ideally when maxed should be between 160-170 and I was at over 190 for two plus hours, my highest being 208. Not cool.
When we are healing from being sick our heart rate increases to counteract the inflammation in the body from an infection or virus. This is also made worse if dehydrated, when under stress, and with increased adrenalin, all of which occurs in a race.
I was playing with fire and I was absolutely clueless.
Below I have included photos of my different practice runs in comparison with my marathon. You can visibly see the differences. I was sick for over half of the month prior to my race. However, the “hay was in the barn”, meaning that I got in all of my training, and then some, so, other than being ill, I was good to go. Or so I thought.
The above is a long run I did before I became sick.. I ran for five hours at my easy pace, for a total of 23.28 miles. Sometimes I stop to take pictures and then increase my speed in bursts so that is why I was in a higher hear rate zone for some time, I believe. But overall, a great run.
This is another easy run…pace slow, heart rate zones low, it looks great.
The above is a speed workout I did two days after my long run. Even running at my fastest interval my heart rate still did not get above level 4 – “threshold”.
My marathon….there was absolutely no reason for maximum heart rate for 2.5 hours, 38%. I started out in at my normal easy/aerobic level, did not exceed my slower interval to start the race, the temperature was lower, too. This is due to being sick and the inflammation still in my body. At mile 16 I was done with all running and could only manage a slow walk to the finish.
This is my experience. You don’t have to take my word for it, obviously, but please do your own research. It’s out there!
