I'm Still Running!

Yesterday, Sunday April 1st, I finally reached 8.5 miles in my training!  Actually it was 8.52!!!  After my last post about my goals, I got sick - strept throat and a nasty sinus infection that plagued me for over two weeks.  Then my family took a trip to Charleston and I only managed one day on the treadmill while away.  So when I finally got my act together again I felt like I was satrting over from scratch.  I am now running 3 days a week.  Two 4 to 5 mile runs and one long run of at least an hour (6+ miles).  Even so, once I would reach the 6 or 7 mile mark I was toast.  So I incorporated yoga on my off days along with my usual cross training of dog walking, lawn-mowing, yard work, laundry etc!  But that 8.52 milerun was a breakthrough.  I felt good at the end and might even have been able to complete 10 miles.

Now my biggest obsatcle is nutrition.  I needed a TB test for work, so I scheduled my regular annual physical complete with blood work.  Everything checked out fine except my total protein. My MD told me to try and eat more protein.  I know I don't get enough protein.  I love carbs!  Dairy is my enemy and I also have to severely curtail my salt intake due to high blood pressure.  I tend to eat the same things over and over.  Cherry-walnut bran muffin for breakfast.  Greek yogurt with berries and honey or leftovers for lunch.  Pasta, Mexican or chicken for dinner.  Well, it turns out bran muffins are not a good idea on my running days, so now I alternate with cereal or waffles on the days I run.  I am also trying to run later in the morning so that I finish around lunch time.  Post run - its calcium fortified OJ then Greek yogurt and wheat bread with peanut butter.  Oh, and chocolate!  Afternoon snack is usually a handful of nuts or chips and hummus. I have been trying to up the protein at dinner but it is so hard.  Grace and Henry won't eat most meat except turkey meatballs, sausages or hotdogs which are all loaded with salt. Grace hates eggs.  They can all eat cheese, but I really really shouldn't.  We all like seafood but it gets expensive when feeding a family or 5 or 6.  Last night we had veggie chili with soymeat and lots of kidney and black beans.  Tonight I'm breaking the rules on salt - pulled pork sandwiches with spinach salad.  I'll make Henry eggs, while Grace can have soup or a Lean Cuisine. Add cooking to my cross training regimen!