Laundry.

I jinxed the morning thing by writing that post. The roommate got sick and I got sleepy and we haven't gone since.

In other news, sunshine. SUNSHINE is here! I went for an epic 15-mile run on my day off (a few days late per my training schedule, but epic nonetheless). I parked at Huckleberries, a natural food store far enough from my house that I didn't have to retrace the paths I always, always run. I then embarked on the most pleasant 3.5-mile uphill trek you'll find--it follows a bluff overlooking some green stuff and expansive storage units southwest of Spokane.

I followed the suburban maze back down to the shop, then scooted (drove) to the start of the Centennial trail to meet my runner friend. The encouragement was much appreciated at that point; my legs may be unbelievable, but they've been known to start whining around the 10-mile mark.

Soccer practice followed, and we were lucky enough to find a bunch of dudes wanting to play a mini game against us. I'm sure they thought I was supremely wussy when I started doubling over with exhaustion 15 minutes in, but whatcha gonna do?

In summary: I got a sunburn. I met my mileage goal. I played some soccer. I did not get any laundry done.

To sleep or not to sleep...

I've been running at 5am with the roommate. It's miserable to wake up that early, but I'm thinking about making the switch to mornings (maybe more like 6 or 7, unless I'm running with her). Here's why:

1) I eat a LOT after running. This is a much better idea in the morning than at 10pm, when the Big Feast tends to happen for me. It totally doesn't work to try to eat more in the day so I won't pig out after running; I just end up eating even more.
2) I often run late enough that I have adrenaline going well into the night. I do like to wake up at a reasonable time, which is not possible for me when I didn't go to sleep till 1 or 2am. Running in the morning will get me going for the day, when I want to be awake!
3) I'll occasionally have running buddies... roomate & co. are not on the same training schedule I am, as they're training for a marathon on another date, but there's some overlap and, for me, some flexiblity on when which miles happen.
4) As my runs get longer, they become more difficult to fit in between my other evening activities and the time my gym closes/ it's too dark for running alone outside. Not much is going on early morning to conflict with running, and somehow morning darkness is not as scary.

Then came the post about running.

In addition to the injuries to which all runners are prone, I am prone to being kicked in the bones-- mostly because I play soccer twice a week. But last night, it was my ill-intentioned shin bone that picked the fight. It kicked the shit out of some guy's poor kneecap, leaving us both rolling on the ground in agony.

As it was 20 degrees or something outside, I kept playing to stop the muscle from cramping. It did anyway. I managed to convince myself I could still do my scheduled run and perhaps work out the cramping, which it turned out I could. My thigh--which was bothering me before--became very tight as I ran. My guess is that it felt some increased stress while the old bod tried to figure out how to deal with the shin thing. The internets say I've strained it and should massage, ice and go easy on it--but that I shouldn't have to stop running altogether.

My body is sore all over from the whole thing. Poor me.

...Where no noodle has gone before.

Microwaves freak me out. My feelings are backed up by absolutely no scientific research about cancer. Perhaps by extension of my hippie-ass-minimalist-vegan ethos, I just get a bad vibe from them. Also, they make my food soggy.

But I have recently begun to explore the art of microwave cooking, that being my only option at work aside from restaurant takeout. Occasionally I remember to cook extra the night before so I just have leftovers to warm up, but remembering is not my strongest asset.

As I left the house today, I grabbed a packet of organic soba noodles that says "to go where no noodle has gone before" next to a rocket ship graphic, some stir-fry sauce, soy sauce and pumpkin seeds. I first microwaved the noodles in a tiny paper bowl--a terrible idea--then drained them, added the sauces, microwaved the combo, added pumpkin seeds and chowed. Not as good as stir-frying, but tasty nonetheless. The issue with microwaves is, I think, compromised texture (well, that and unadulterated evil). So I guess this dish works microwaved because noodles are soft and squishy anyway. I did miss veggies, which I don't particularly like microwaved.

So, yeah. Viola! Another vegan delicacy. I should say I don't put a ton of work into making sure I get my recommended daily values, I just eat lots of different foods. I'm still learning the basics of what each nutrient does for the body, what my foods contain and how much of each nutrient I need. My current approach is to think about it most while I'm grocery shopping, then eat most of what I bought before going back to restock. So when I run out of peanuts, I'll make sure I also finish my almonds, pumpkin seeds and flax seeds before replacing the peanuts--forcing me to eat a variety of foods.

I survived.

Nine miles are do-able. Treadmills are also do-able. But a nine-mile run should really only ever be done on God's paved earth.

For that exact reason, I seldom do such a long run on the hamster wheel. Sometimes, though, sub-freezing temperatures and a lack of daylight necessitate indoor running, and sometimes those times are times when your training schedule says you are supposed to run nine miles. Like, for example, this Monday.

So this is what I did to get through it:
1) Listen to Alanis Morissette at unreasonable volumes via my little ear buds that, by mile seven, were not even staying in my ears anymore because, apparently, the insides of my ears were sweating profusely.
2) Set the grade to 1-2%. Running uphill is hard, I know. But just a tiny grade on the treadmill adjusts your stride to more closely resemble how you run outdoors. I have no idea where I learned to do this, but it's brilliant.
3) Take it easy. Taking a challenging pace on a long treadmill run is psychological suicide. The trick to staying on the thing for over an hour is zoning out--escaping into your mind where you compose an ongoing manifesto on the meaning of life, the universe and everything. I picked a pace I don't have to think about and stuck with it through mile 7. Magic, I tell ya.
5) Forget about the mile meter until I was far enough along to get excited about how close I was to finishing. ...or at least tried to. Staring at the thing is categorically un-conducive to zoning out.
4) Work in "aid stations." My goal was 3 miles in the first stretch, but I kept going to 4.5 because I was feeling good. The second half required a break in the middle. The trick to the breaks is to make them as short as possible so you don't have to start from scratch with your heart rate--just get a drink, use the restroom, or stretch out the set of muscles that's bugging you. If you think it's whimpy to take breaks, I challenge you to a run-off. Nine miles on the treadmill. Let's go.

Spectacular Vegan Nacho Recipe

Vegan delicacy of the day: nachos. But not just any nachos. These are organic-red-tortilla-chips-with-homemade-salsa-and-guacamole nachos. I know, you're jealous. My lunch has, like, seven times the nutritional value of yours, is fucking delicious and looks like a technicolor dreamcoat.

Don't get mad at me for my superior diet, get even! You, too, can make Spectacular Vegan Nachos--just follow this top secret recipe, invented in my kitchen last night.

Salsa:
1 tomato about to go moldy
1 shallot clove, already partially moldy
2 green onions
1 radish (currently 49.5 cents per bunch at Rosauers)
fresh cilantro
lime juice
crushed red pepper

Chop up the veggies and cilantro, chuck 'em all together, and add lime juice and crushed red pepper to taste.

Guacamole:
1 avocado
salt
pepper
lime juice

Self-explanatory. If you want it runnier, add a splash of soy milk.

Beans:
1/3 can vegetarian refried beans
soy milk

Mix some soy milk in with the beans for easier glopping.

Nacho instructions: Spread out a single layer of nacho chips on a plate. start with beans, then add guacamole and olives. Stick these in the oven at 350 for a few minutes, just to get them toasty. Throw some salsa on top once they're out of the oven and there you have it.

Love it.

One day of cross-training and two runs in: I remember why I love running. Besides having totally cut thighs, which is awesome.

I love running because there is absolutely no way to not feel like a golden god when you've just met some sort of personal goal--whether it's running a faster mile time, actually completing a workout at any speed on a tough day, or running farther than you ever have before. No high-five needed--other peoples' approval is immaterial.

It's official.

I've solidified a training plan I'm happy with. It's basically the "Intermediate I" training plan from Hal Higdon's website, minus the first five weeks and two of the harder weeks. (The plan includes two 20-milers separated by a shorter "long run." I pared it down to one 20 and remove the shorter run in between as well.) Last week I ran 12 miles and did an equivalent amount of aerobic cross-training. I am scheduled to run 31 miles this week.

I am open to completing some "mileage" on the bike if I feel a potential for injuring myself by more than doubling what I've been running recently. I was averaging 50% more than this weekly mileage three months ago and, although I have not been running as much, I have been staying strong, limber, and fit. Crossin' fingers, I should be able to make the jump.