Summer has been slipping through my fingers once again. Between the varied and busy schedule of my 3 boys (camps and travel), multiple friends and family visiting us on the Cape, and my marathon training ramping up, life is hectic. I know that I am not alone in this experience no matter what time of year it is. Life is busy which can lead to some things falling by the wayside. For me, it has been a slowdown of my blogging, for many others it can mean giving up on their good food intentions.
For those of you who are currently in the throes of training for fall marathons, you know what I mean when I talk about the hunger that can develop amidst high mileage weeks. If you haven’t been carefully fueling your body, some days it will feel like there is nothing that can fill you up! Rather than have this moment surprise you, prevent it from happening in the first place with some carefully placed snacks.
Many people have a hard time increasing the amount of food they consume at regular meals without feeling overfull and uncomfortable. Adding some smart snacks between regular meals can be a very helpful strategy. This will keep you adequately fueled, and prevent the hungry horrors from attacking when you least suspect. Lately, I’ve been enjoying a snack of a whole wheat english muffin topped with cottage cheese and roasted red pepper spread. It is a warm, cool, crunchy, and savory combination that is filling and satisfying. The combination of protein, carbohydrates and fiber will help your body recover from training, rebuild and repair muscle fibers, and keep you full until your next meal. If you prefer a little sweetness, swap out the roasted red pepper spread for your favorite jam; a delicious combination either way!
I am a little more than 6 weeks away from the Clarence DeMar Marathon in Keene, NH, and training is going well. I wrote about the Johnny Kelley Half in May, but since then I’ve run a few more races, happily both were also PR’s! The Wellfleet 5 Mile Road Race was (as always) hot and hilly, and all 3 of my boys took part in the kids fun run. Just last weekend I toed the line at the Triple Threat Half Marathon in Rockport, MA. This race is quite hilly, and could have been hot, but the weather cooperated to remain overcast for most of the day. I was pleasantly shocked to finish with a new PR of 1:53:09, I guess all of my training is really paying off!
