Week 4: Cross Training Fails and High Protein Granola Wins
Every week I'm learning a little more about what I can and cannot do during marathon training, or maybe should and shouldn't. These past couple weeks I've learned two main lessons:
- I can't lift heavy and train for a marathon.
- Eating for training for a marathon is different than eating to train for a bikini competition.
Lifting.
I should've learned this lesson during my half marathon training but apparently I didn't. My typical training program consists primarily of lifting and HIIT training, neither of which are in my marathon training program.
Yes, cross training is so important to keep your body strong during your runs... but I should've skipped leg day.
Wednesday's are my mid-week off day of running and so I decided to lift my traditional leg day and was feeling pretty weak. I went for high reps and low-ish weight. I did a series of squats, squat jumps, Bulgarian squats, dead lifts, shoulder presses and rows. I was feeling good.
Thursday morning I wasn't. My legs were heavy. And by Saturday for my 8 miles, my legs were like lifting led. They weren't sore but they were tired, and it was a terrible feeling slugging through 80 minutes of pulling what felt like dead weight.
Lesson #1 of the week: I can't be a body builder and a marathoner. And that's OK.
I've been a body builder before, I can be a body builder again. Right now I want to be a marathoner.
EATING.
Which also means I need to be eating like a marathoner. So much of how I learned how to eat to train was eating for a bikini competition show, which is 110% different than training for a marathon. Instead of counting calories and breaking down macros I'm eating tons of whole nutritious foods until my body is satisfied. I'm not counting calories because it doesn't matter in the same way it did for the show. My body needs way more carbs and fats to keep me satiated. I just have to focus on those carbs and fats coming from good sources: sweet potatoes (by the dozen), oatmeal, bananas, almond butter, avocados, cashews (and way more).
I'm learning to retrain my brain to stop focusing on those big numbers so much and more on the ingredient list. I'm spending more time at Whole Foods (bummer :) ) and really paying attention to what I'm purchasing, taking the time to cook more and have more meals available to me for those post run RUNGRY feels. Which also means I've been playing with recipes and wanted to share my new obsession, homemade high-protein chocolate almond granola with ya'll!
High Protein Chocolate Almond Granola
Dry Ingredients:
3c oats (I use Bob Mills Thick Cut Oats)
1/2c chopped almonds
1 teas cinnamon
Wet Ingredients:
1/2c unsweetened applesauce
1/3c honey
3 tbsp coconut oil
2 scoops chocolate protein (I use Pescience Select Chocolate)
1. Preheat oven to 300 F, and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil
2. Place all dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside
3. On the stove top over low-med heat combine all wet ingredients and continuously stir as to not burn the bottom. Heat until the mixture thickens up 5-6 minutes and then pour over wet ingredients. Mix well.
4. Spread mixture onto aluminum foil evenly and bake for 30-40 min, stirring every 5-7 minutes as to not burn.
5. Let cool and then enjoy with your favorite yogurt, nut milk (mine is from Jugos), or just on its' own!
This week's training plan: Jan 17th - Jan 23rd
Tuesday: 5 miles intervals --> I did this workout at MyStryde with Owner Becca, my first Endurance class!
Wednesday: Off day --> This was the faulty leg day. I'm going to start sharing some cross training workouts that incorporate strength but are manageable to balance with longer runs too.
Thursday: Off day --> 45min of boxing with George Foreman III at EveryBodyFights
Friday: Off day
Saturday: 8 miles --> I felt really good during this run, it was also the day of the Women's March so seeing so many women walking to Boston Commons in their pink hats, I was fired up! I also was listening to Rich Roll's podcast with Coach about his experience in the Civil Rights Movement and being on stage with MLK during the 'I Have A Dream Speech'. How could you not crush your run during those!?
Sunday: Off day
Monday: 4 miles --> I got 3.5 in at MyStryde during Kelli's Power Stryde class, a series of hills, intervals and kettle bell work.
And as always, I'd love any and all support to help me reach my Boston Marathon fundraising goal of $9,000 for Horizons for Homeless Children. You can donate to the cause here! THANK YOU A MILLION!
Follow me on Instagram for the daily updates and activities! @ebailey_fitness <3 #WithErin
