Performance Enhancers

I am currently reading Born to Run by Christopher McDougall...perhaps I should say I'm slowly reading this book, but nonetheless, I'm reading it.  It is about a man who goes on a quest to find a primitive tribe of Native Americans that are super-runners.  He wants to find out what makes them such phenomenal endurance athletes and has discovered an herb they make into a drink (chia, yes, just like Chia Pet) that gives them incredible energy.  While I was reading last night I wondered to myself if I would ever use some sort of performance enhancing drug/herb to make me a better runner.  I have to say that it's enticing, of course I want to be in the 7 minute per mile pack, but the truth of the matter is, I'm not one of those runners.  It definitely takes me longer to finish a race at my 9 to 10 minute per mile pace, but that's still pretty good for me.  I can also argue the other side and say that we all use performance enhancers when we suck down some Gu or drink Gatorade...I always get a short burst of energy after eating my Clif ShotBloks.  So why is the idea of eating a natural herb that comes from the ground any different?  I guess I feel like everyone has electrolyte power at their fingertips, but a lot less people know about this wonder-herb, so I'd feel bad giving myself an unfair edge (but at my pace I don't think it'll really help me win a race).

I think my final point is that running long distance is a challenge, that's why I do it.  If I made it too easy for myself it wouldn't have the appeal that it has now.

Running Thoughts

Today was my first day of double workouts and I felt awesome!  Here are some thoughts that came through my mind while I was doing my second run for the day:

1. Coffee right before my run makes me feel awesome and fast, but gives me side aches.  
2. Waking up and running first thing in the morning gives me tons of energy to get through the rest of my day...who'da thunk it?
3. Hills are my friends...hills are my friends.  Up and down are both hard...hills are my friends :-)
4. I swear my iPod knows when I'm tired and want to quit because every time I feel that way, the theme from Rocky comes on.  I can't walk during the Rocky theme!  If it wouldn't make my ears bleed, I'd play it on repeat for my entire run.

Double workouts are great!  The Odyssey this year is going to ROCK!

Vegan on a Budget

The other day I read an article about how to be a vegan on a budget.  I was hoping to get some great tips like which great vegan staples like Goddess dressing and almond milks that are on sale.  No!  This article gave suggestions on making friends with wealthy vegans that would feed you at least once a week.  It went so far as to suggest dumpster diving outside Whole Foods and TJs...I'm broke, not homeless!

Today I ate whole wheat shreds (like Shredded Wheat) with almond milk for breakfast.  Lunch was a sandwich with Veganaise, spicy mustard and Tofurkey.  Fresh strawberries for a snack :) and brown rice with scrambled tofu, broccoli and Goddess dressing for dinner.  My dinner was mostly made from food purchased at Costco.  I bought 5 lbs of brown rice that is in 1.25 lb pouches.  I bought 4 lbs of organic pre-cooked, frozen broccoli that comes in 10 individual pouches.  Costco also had a box of three 19 oz. packages of tofu, each package has 4 blocks.  I used one block and scrambled it.  I was able to mix everything together and divide it in half.  This "recipe" makes enough for two servings, giving me leftovers for tomorrow :).  The $15 I spent on these items at Costco will last a minimum of 8 days, coming in just under $2 per meal.  That's being vegan on a budget!

Now I need to learn how to be an extreme couponer!

I Am

I saw the documentary by Tom Shadyac today called I Am.  I have never been so inspired in my life.  This film discussed the interconnectedness of all life in the universe and the scientific research they have to back it up.  A huge thing they discussed is how important LOVE is.  Research has been done on other species that shows competition is not a primary part of nature.  It is the same in humanity; indigenous populations revere cooperation over competition.

I am inspired to give more love.  I have felt this way for a long time and my journey in SoCal has amped up my desire to spread the love.  However, my inspiration is paused because I'm timid to give my love to even the people I feel very close to.  I think this is partially due to fear of judgement from the society around me.  Our society has become competitive and un-loving, which I believe has become so rooted in myself as well as others that creates this fear of showing our emotions.  Will these expressions of love that I have for others and the world around me be reciprocated?  What other factors may be playing a role in my timidity?  I hope to find the answers to these questions and overcome my fears so I can always spread love.

"What is wrong with the world?  I am.  What is right with the world?  I am."

http://www.slashfilm.com/tom-shadyacs-trailer/

Veganism

Today was not a vegan day :(  I really struggled today with cutting out animal products.  I knew that this process would leave me with good days and bad days, but WOW!  Today was rough.  I had toast with butter for breakfast...the butter thing I expected to happen because I'm not rich enough at this point in my life to throw away food that I already have.  Then I had an egg salad sandwich at Starbucks.  All this, I think has led to my sudden and intense craving for a soda (Coke in particular).  I have never liked Coke, why on earth would I crave Coke?  A few weeks ago I had a Dr. Pepper and couldn't finish all of it because it was so sweet.  I know that if I give into my craving, not only will I think it tastes bad, but my body will feel crappy too.  I strongly feel that we have addictions to the crap we've put in our bodies our whole lives and clearly I still have some cleansing to do.  Tomorrow will hopefully be a better day :)

Obstacle Courses

I've always wanted to do an obstacle mud run.  Usually people get dressed up in costumes, run through crazy obstacles like hay bail hurdles, cargo climbs or wild water crossings plus the illustrious run/crawl through a pit full of mud.  I find my life following my desire to run through an obstacle course full of mud.

When my life is "safe" and I can keep going down the nice paved road with a 55 MPH sign, I decide to take a dirt path with bumps and "DIP" signs that suggest a speed of 15 MPH.  Sometimes the dirt path looks harmless enough, but when I get on it, boy are the bumps rough.  I could have stayed in Reno with my safe life and my safe job with my safe income.  I decided to take the bumpy road to the LA area and although the bumps are rough, and they come up out of nowhere I will make it to my destination.  It's time to fasten my seat belt and hold on!

Getting in gear

Just over two months to go until I participate in my third Reno-Tahoe Odyssey.  After my run on Monday, it's clear that I need to work hard to get back into peak running form.  April will be for getting back to basics and working on my form, breathing, and my favorite and yours, HILLS!  In May I plan on adding three days a week of two workouts per day.  This will help me get used to running multiple times in less than 36 hours.  I feel like the last two Odysseys I ran in, this was my downfall...being mentally and physically exhausted after two legs with little left for the third and final leg.  I want to feel great and have a great time while contributing to my FABULOUS team.  "Putting the ODD in Odyssey" will rock the Reno-Tahoe Basin in 2011!