Learning why nutrition is important...the hard way

by - Monday, November 17, 2008

First off, I have to apologize that I haven't read a single blog since last week. I'm so far behind and I'm a little afraid to look at the damage in my Google Reader. I will catch up soon though, just as soon as my life starts to settle down a bit.


To update quick on that. Friday was my last day at the newspaper in PA. I moved everything out and gave a bunch of my stuff to my parents when I saw them Saturday for the Notre Dame vs. Navy game in Baltimore. (ND won! WHOO!)

I basically kept two duffel bags and now I'm crashing at friends' places until I find a place to live. I have tentative plans to see a place tonight and definite plans to see a place tomorrow. Cross your fingers for me.

Marathon training officially started today. I'm following Hal Higdon's intermediate plan, but I shifted some of the days around because I like my long runs on Saturdays and he has them on Sundays. 

Today was supposed to start with an easy three miler, but I felt horrible from the moment I started moving. My legs felt like dead weight. I pushed through a little more than two miles and then took a walk break. Started running a little more and then walked again. I ran the last .2 or .3 miles or so in the 3.5 mile loop I had mapped. 

Because of things being packed in strange places, I think my watch was in a box that my parents took (or else it's lost because I can't find it) so I didn't have a time for this run.

I realized though the reason I sucked so much was because yesterday I ate about no food. Not on purpose. It just happened. I was going down to North Carolina for the day for the ACC Tournament to watch Maryland vs. UVA in the finals. (You may remember from last year that day trips to North Carolina are fairly common during soccer season.)

We left around 7 a.m. and I had a pack of trail mix with me. I wasn't super hungry, so I didn't crack open the trail mix until about 10ish. We stopped for food at a BoJangles (for those not familiar, it's fried chicken and lots of sweet tea). I'm not a big fan of fast food and there was no way I was going to be chowing down on fried chicken so I just got a water. 

One of the other kids in the car wasn't eating it either. He was smart though and packed a sandwich. I hadn't. He had a whole box of granola bars though and offered me one so I took him up on it.

After the game (which we won by the way...whoooo ACC Champs!!!), the coaches gave us two of their pizzas so, I had two slices on the way home. We stopped at Sonic on the way back, but I wasn't super hungry because I had eaten the pizza only about two hours before then and plus it was more fast food.

I ordered a strawberry smoothie with low-fat yogurt because I figured I'd get hungry at some point. I only ended up having half of it.

So that was all I ate, all day: Granola bar, a few handfuls of trail mix, two slices of pizza and half a smoothie. Definitely not enough. No wonder my three-miler sucked so bad this morning.

I'm making pasta for dinner tonight. I've got a five miler tomorrow that I'd really rather not bonk on.

If anyone has a good nutrition plan that they followed during marathon training, let me know!

I promise to catch up on my blog reading ASAP! (Pics from the ACC tourney to come as soon as I find my camera connector cord....but it might also be with everything that my parents took...oh brother...I need to find a place to live soon.)

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19 comments

  1. Girl, the blogs will still be here when you catch up with life, no worries. We know it is busy times when you are in the midst of moving. I hope you find your perfect place soon.

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  2. our blogs aren't going anywhere! hope you find a place SOON!!!

    i try to eat pretty well, but i dont really have an exact plan i follow, i just try to make sure to get enough of everything (vegs, protein, fat, etc). i also eat often... small meals/snacks every couple hours.

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  3. Moving is tough, and time consuming, so don't you fret about missing out on blogs! Get yourself an apartment and get settled!

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  4. ACC Champs!! Woot!! Yes, we know life is very busy sometimes. I've learned to read blogs backwards (in time) rather than forwards when I have been away for a while... Stays current that way :-)

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  5. Yes, proper nutrition definitely helps! Don't worry about us! You are making a huge change in your life! Enjoy it!

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  6. I'm with everyone else - blogging is certainly not a top priority!!! Get yourself a place to live, figure out which end is up . . . and for the love of God - EAT SOMETHING!!!! Things will fall into place for you, it just may take a bit. Be nice to yourself as you work toward being settled. Rome wasn't built in a day!

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  7. OMGosh girl don't even sweat it! You're moving for God's sake! LOL

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  8. Hope you find a place you like. I hear DC is no fun when it comes to apartment hunting.

    Your days food might just hold me through lunch!

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  9. Sounds like a hectic time. Congrats on getting a run in, despite the poor nutrition. My nutrition advice: make sure you eat. That's a tried and true method. Good luck finding new digs.

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  10. yes, you must fuel up better than that. i've done the same thing plenty of times.

    i have to bite my tounge on the maryland/unc game. that was a tough one for this carolina john to watch. and i'm mostly a clemson fan.

    Good luck getting a place to live lined up. moving is really hectic and stressful.

    And i'm also in the middle of a Hal Higdon novice 2 training plan. his stuff is great!

    Fear the turtle?

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  11. Staring down the barrel of a marathon training plan eh? Well, good luck with all that!

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  12. Don't worry about the blogs!!! Good luck figuring out the nutrition!

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  13. I started my Think Spring! Half Marathon Challenge to help me stay on course for my spring half marathon.

    I am going to try to do at least one 10 mile run each month to stay on track with my running.

    If you are still thinking about a spring half marathon, please join me at http://www.runnerslounge.com/groups/ThinkSpringHalfMarathonChallenge.cfm

    Amy

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  14. Congrats to Maryland on the ACC title!! You know how I feel about Notre Dame, so no comment there. ;-)

    Good luck on finding a place.

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  15. Anonymous2:17 PM

    I've had crazy eating days like that, too. Annoying, but not everyone thinks ahead and packs a sandwich! (In fact, I never do!) But, at least you have a reason for a bad run. Now you're off to better ones! Happy Training!

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  16. Yeah! Good luck on the marathon training!!

    We'll actually be doing the same one! I'm restarting my plan next Monday!!

    And no worries - I seem to have extended absenses from reading blogs as well!!

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  17. Anonymous11:08 PM

    good luck with training! I'm planning on running the half marathon for the National Marathon!

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  18. Hope the apartment hunting is going well. Looking forward to welcoming you to FCIC on Monday. Take care.

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  19. I think I'm going to use Hal's Intermediate marathon plan for Cleveland. I used his half marathon plans and I consider them both a success.

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