In it for the Long Run

It's almost been 2 months since I went vegan. I've discovered new recipes, challenged my own beliefs about nutrition and become an advocate for a plant based lifestyle. Quite the summer.
My husband also joined me on this journey. He likes to say he isn't a real vegan since he does indulge occasionally. While that's true I actually think he just doesn't want to tell his meat and cheese loving family that he's turned vegan, haha. I don't blame him though, they love nothing more than to gossip about each other and I'm sure he doesn't want to be the subject of conversation. Although it should be rather interesting the next time they visit, especially when my MIL decides its time to cook bacon and eggs! hahahaha....how about some tofurkey and lentils?
I was chatting with some coworkers yesterday about being vegan after hearing the appalling things they do in the meat department of our local grocery store just to make the meat look more "red". One guy said he tried it but found he was lacking something. I told him if he and his wife really decide to go vegan they need to shift their mindset around meal time. We, in North America anyhow, have been told our meal time plates need to have a vegetable, a carb and a slice of meat, generally dividing the plate into thirds. With vegan eating, you usually end up cooking one dish, combining multiple foods into one delicious meal, such as rice, with lentils, black beans, avocado, red peppers, topped with some sprouts. Make enough and you won't be "lacking" for anything. That's the one thing my husband said has kept him on the vegan-train, he's never hungry. From the onset I made sure to always make a ton of food so no one is scrounging through the cupboards looking for something else. It's also self-serving since I was concerned initially that as a runner I might just pass out from lack of meat protein on a run. So far that's not happened and my runs have actually felt easier, but that could also be related to the weight loss that comes with a plant based lifestyle. So far my husband is down 15 pounds!
My knee arthritis is now an afterthought as opposed to being something I have to consider every time I take a run or even climb stairs. I still have achy knees occasionally, but I've noticed that only seems to happen when I've eaten something fried, like French fries. I no longer get the sporadic electric-shock pain that so many of us with arthritis know all too well and I don't wake up in the middle of the night to move my knee into a more comfortable position. There's no pill in the world that has fewer side effects and faster results than a plant based diet. I, for one, am a convert!

When life gives you lemons...

You make lemonade right? Right. So after hearing that my brother can't run the 50k with me in October (DAMN IT) I started to look for another race. I found a sweet deal on a Tartan Twosome race for MRW. I'll be running a 5k on Friday night (in September) and then a half marathon the next morning. The best part is that I get 3 medals for the two races! SWEET! And to top it off, its the race that literally goes past my house, so there is zero travelling time to factor in.
Ok, so I'm all set, now to just continue training so I can be ready to run some speedy miles, or at least respectable finishing times. Let's giv'r!

Runner's Woes

Oh my lord. I am a bit surprised that I'm here but, here I am. My brother, and co pilot for the 50k we were supposed to run in October told me (on my birthday, no less) that he's been asked to be in a friend's wedding on the same weekend. :-( Good lord. First my MIL tells me to block off my traditional 50k weekend for a birthday party, then the plans never appear, now my brother is canceling on me for my back up race. Holy hell. And its not like I can ask my husband to drive 2 hours and then sit around for 6+ hours waiting for me to finish running in the Valley, and I don't know anyone else running that distance or that would want to stick around for hours afterwards. 

So. Here I am at square one, with some decent training under my belt and my vegan lifestyle well established. It's one of those "What the heck universe?!" kind of moments. I'm trying to see this as some kind of lesson; to take my 50k build up more slowly and get my half marathon time down to under 2:15. I'll be doing the 50k in 2018 (come hell or high water!!).

To that end I've decided to enter the local half marathon in September. I could run it now but it wouldn't be a fast time. I'll dedicate my next couple of weeks to speed sessions and maintaining my long runs around 15-20ks. 

When life throws curve balls you can stand there, get hit and cry about it or you can take your hit and try to avoid the next one.