Week 7 + Fueling

I started off Week 7 on Monday with cross-training on the stationary bike. I also did 2 rounds of an intense circuit training and finished off my workout with free weights. Today, I ran a little over 4 miles and did my fair share of leg work and free weights (again). I want to make sure that I finish my training with some upper-body strength. I'm hoping to get another run in by the end of this week. This weekend will most likely be my last long run! I have 11 miles scheduled and I'm going to start tapering until the race. 

I've been receiving emails from runDisney with race tips and the airline about my upcoming travel plans. I can't believe it is really happening so soon!

Onto my favorite subject... food.

One of the biggest misconceptions I had about training for a half marathon was that I could simply eat whatever I wanted. Boy was I wrong. The first week or two of training I was eating anything and everything. I wasn't used to running for so long and so often and I was ravenous. By week three, I got a little more organized and strategized about what I was going to eat to fuel my workouts.

I write down everything I eat every day. Also, I track my hydration with my FitBit app (I aim for 80+ ounces of water each day but it'll be closer to 100 ounces if I ran that day).

I've definitely increased my protein intake after my long runs to help with recovery. I'm constantly reading up on what to eat and what not to eat before and after workouts.  My goal is to make most meals a healthy combination of protein and carbs.

Breakfast: Coffee (duh) and Kashi Go Lean Toasted Berry Crumble cereal, or whole wheat toast with almond butter

Snack: Almonds and fruit (berries, clementines, or banana and a scoop of almond butter)

Lunch: Whole wheat toast with avocado smash, a scrambled egg, organic spinach blend lettuce, and a drizzle of EVOO

Snack: More fruit and trail mix (the nutty pistachio blend from Wegmans is my favorite)

Dinner: Baked haddock, Brussels sprouts, risotto, and salad

Snack: Dark chocolate square and a bowl of raspberries and strawberries with herbal tea

Now that I give more attention to the things I eat, I have seen a serious improvement in my overall training. I feel leaner and stronger.