Quality Miles Monday - not so fast?

Plan: 3x 1 mile at goal race pace

Actual Mileage: 5.58 miles

Route: Along the creek and the river, the 'longer' route goes farther north before coming home

Weather: Glorious.  In the 60s with some wind.  I was planning on doing this one on the treadmill.  (Perhaps that would've been the better choice?)  I just couldn't make myself go inside for this one. 

Execution: From "ok" to 'meh' to 'big fat fail'

• Warm up: I warm up over a mile, because I had to make sure I wasn't going to get stopped by a train in the middle of a fast set.
• Round 1: 10:04/mile.  This is basically the right pace, a couple seconds off, but there's a lot of twists and turns under the bridges down there.
• Round 2: 10:46/mile.  This is too slow. Oh good, I'm starting up a hill, my favorite I knew this one might be off.  I tried not to care, but also to make up the speed.
• Round 3: 11:04/mile.  I don't know what my issue was here.  I was soooo stiff, I just could not make my body turn over any faster. I really tried to focus on a strong back kick and 'clawing' the ground to propel myself forward but nothing helped.

From today, I learned: I'm still processing.  I think I could've hit the paces on a treadmill but it would've been hard.  But I need to learn how to hit these paces on the road.  So I'm not sure if I should just never see the treadmill again, or if I should go there sometimes for a morale boost. For today, I think I'm proud of myself for trying the harder thing even though it didn't work out perfectly.

Bonus: Let me tell you about all of the cooking I did today.  It's been wild! I'm sort of doing W30, but obviously not the full on version because the first thing I did was...

• Making yogurt.  This is my first attempt.  I used whole milk and no cream.  It's currently straining in the fridge to turn into 'Greek' yogurt.
• Rosemary Chicken Thighs with fresh rosemary from my garden. I used lemon juice from a whole lemon instead of broth for my marinade.  And there's a lot of garlic in mine.  I think it's the best chicken I've ever made.
• I had the chicken with some potatoes and some Sage Mushrooms (the sage is also from my garden).  Fungus was made yesterday.
• Chile Verde is made but I have not cooked up the meat with it.  My slow cooker was busy making yogurt.
• Lastly, I made Steak Bites for lunch for the week.  I knew my mental health was improving today when I set off the smoke detector and got annoyed rather than having a panic attack.  Life is what it is. 

Whole30 Day 40

Pre workout and post workout meals: Pre-races I had 3/4 of an avocado, salted. Between races I had a banana and water.  Post races I had hard boiled eggs wrapped in prosciutto.  This is not a day to count calories.
Breakfast: Potatoes, scrambled eggs, bacon, coffee with cream.  I cooked for me and Dungeon Master who completed her own race series today.
Lunch: Steak, ranch dressing, carrots.
Snacks: Smoothie of half and half, homemade almond milk, bananas, cocoa powde
Supper: Sauteed apples in butter, pecans, side of cheese.
Exercise: I raced the 10K and 5K of Loony Challenge today.
Shopping: No actually.
Cooking: Yes, breakfast, snack and supper
Dishes?: Yes also.
Thoughts: I did this for race training.  I'd started out strong in June, went totally of the rails in July, and needed something strict to get me back on track for the tail end of training. 
Adding dairy (no sugar added dairy like half and half and cheeses) was a good decision and made things more sustainable in the long run.  It even added the option of a vegetarian meal from time to time. 
No alcohol for an extended period of time is always a good idea.
I liked monitoring the carbs for a while.  It helped me understand what was going on.
This past week, I added carbs back into my life, but I stuck to carbs I'd been eating in smaller amounts the whole time.  So, lots of bananas, apples, potatoes and sweet potatoes. We'll see after tomorrow if that was a wise decision.
Tracking if I did my dishes was also helpful.  I hate dishes and I particularly hate getting the grease off tupperware.
The blog posts were actually really helpful for holding myself accountable.  They were also good reminders of when I needed to go shopping again, and a reminder that I can always stop by the co-op versus stopping by a restaurant.

Whole30 Day 39

Pre workout and post workout meals: Ha ha ha
Breakfast: Eggs, bacon, veggies from last night, chia seed pudding with fruit, coffee with cream
Lunch: Small salad, potato chips, fizzy water
Snacks: 'Shake' with bananas, homemade almond milk, cocoa powder, half and half
Supper: Pork chop with sautteed apples. 
Exercise: Run 1 mile in the morning, try not to do too much walking at the expo
Shopping: Not for food.  But did I mention the expo?
Cooking: Not really.
Dishes?: Yes. I waited to write this until they were down.
Thoughts: I'm realizing it's only one more day (plus Sunday morning) that I need to keep this going.  And then I guess I get to go on a similar but slightly altered path, trying to slim down for a marathon.

Whole30 Day 38

Pre workout and post workout meals: LOL.
Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs wrapped in prosciutto; coffee with cream
Lunch: Steak with ranch dressing, carrots
Snacks: My post dinner 'snack' was a smoothie of homemade almond milk, half and half, banana, and cocoa powder
Supper: Sauteed mushrooms and green beans with pecans and cashews.  A rare vegetarian meal for me.
Exercise: Run 1 mile in the morning.
Shopping: I had to go to the co op for half and half.  I realize now I forgot to get more lime juice.
Cooking: Supper and my post supper snack
Dishes?: Probably not? Done.
Thoughts: I'm starting to 'carb load', a term I use here very loosely, for the races.  I haven't had a ton of carbs in about a month.  I'm adding back in only foods that I've eaten this month, so no rice or bread, but lots of potatoes and bananas and berries and apples.

Whole30 Day 37

Pre workout and post workout meals: LOL.
Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs wrapped in prosciutto; coffee with cream
Lunch: Steak with ranch dressing, carrots
Snacks: Latte in the middle of the afternoon, and my first time using ApplePay on my phone.  That was pretty slick.  Chia seed pudding with berries.
Supper: I'm going to admit that I microwaved a couple pieces of bacon, and then later I made a smoothie of homemade almond milk, bananas, and almond butter.
Exercise: Run 1 mile in the morning.
Shopping: None.
Cooking: None.
Dishes?: Seems unlikely tonight.  I am surprised to report that dishes were done tonight. 
Thoughts: Ugh.

Whole30 Day 36

Pre workout and post workout meals: None.
Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs in prosciutto; coffee with cream
Lunch: Steak, ranch dressing, carrots, bonus jicama becuase I had one container left over from last week and that stuff doesn't stay good forever.
Snacks: None.  I probably would've had a pop after the run except I was freezing and not getting out of my car once I was in it.
Supper: Pork chop, sauteed apples.  Mmmmm.  It was so good.
Exercise: Run 4+ miles in the afternoon.  Because let's be real.  I aint getting up early this week.
Shopping: None.
Cooking: I actually made almond milk in addition to the pork chops.  I have one left over pork chop for another night this week.
Dishes?: Yes.  And after I did call about the dishwasher repair, I never got a call back, so I need to go to plan B.
Thoughts: I'm thinking about what this goal should be for Flying Pig Training. I can't really call it W30 anymore because, though that backbone exists, it's not the real thing.  I also know I can't follow a super strict diet the entire 4 mos of training.  I tried that this summer and it decidedly did not work. Maybe LCHF?  And then have better and better ingredients and fewer 'cheats' as the race approaches?  I do know the keeping the blogs of what I ate, how I planned my meals, etc, has been really helpful in keeping me accountable to myself. (And I try to publish them all at once so you can just skip right over them if it's not your thing.)

Whole30 Day 35

Pre workout and post workout meals: None
Breakfast: Chia seed pudding, coffee with cream
Lunch: Sautteed greens, bacon, 2 eggs.
Snacks: All of the fizzy water.  Watch me hydrate
Supper: Small Punch Salad at Punch Pizza.  I totally had the bread.
Exercise: Run 1 mile in the morning.
Shopping: Yes, I went to Costco and got some meat and other stuff (hello Almonds and two year supply of lotion) and I went to the co-op to get all the ingredients I like but don't get or can't find at Costco.
Cooking: A surprising amount actually.

• Broiled steak for lunches for the week
• Hard boiled eggs for breakfast for the week
• Currently soaking almonds for all the Almond milk smoothies I'm going to make this week
• Ranch dressing for lunches for the week
• Marinade for all the pork chops I got at Costco, and the pork chops are marinading. 

Still to cook: dragon beans and mushrooms I got at the co-op; artichokes will be a 'night of' situation.
Dishes?: Yes, not only are they done, but they are put away.  That's one less thing for the morning.
Thoughts: I told My Pooky Bear and Qat Lady I was re-reading blog posts and came across this one where I had candy right as I was getting my period.  That candy was like manna from heaven.  That's exactly how I felt about a couple small pieces of bread tonight.  I was feeling lousy and now, so much better and so much more full.

Whole30 Day 34

Pre workout and post workout meals: Keto fat bomb before the run, then things kind of went haywire.
Breakfast: First meal was chia seed pudding with raspberries, coffee with cream
Lunch: Eggs, bacon, potatoes
Snacks: Prosciutto roll up with cheese before a walk with Dungeon Master; later Jicama
Supper: Sausage, green beans and mushrooms.  Thus ends leftovers that I'd made earlier in the week.
Exercise: Run 6.65 miles, Sunday weights, Sunday abs.  Later, bonus walk with the Dungeon Master on the track while it rained.
Shopping: Yes, I went to the Farmer Market and bought all of the bacon. 
Cooking: Not really.
Dishes?: Yes, done.
Thoughts: I'm writing this the day after because I was wore out last night. I am legit already planning my post 10-mile meal and celebration options.

Whole30 Day 33

Pre workout and post workout meals: None.
Breakfast: Potatoes, eggs, bacon.  I haven't had many eggs this week. Coffee with cream.
Lunch: Sausage with a sauteed apple.
Snacks: None.
Supper: Pork chop (that I've been meaning to eat like all week) green beans, mushrooms.  Mmmm.
Exercise: Run 3 miles in the morning.  Enjoy the taper!
Shopping: No.  I barely left my house today and it was glorious.
 

Cooking: I made chia seed pudding with the almond milk I'd made earlier in the week, in addition to the coconut milk. So, I had to use cross multiplication to figure out how much chia seeds to use for that amount of liquid.  Thanks Algebra!
Dishes?: Yes.  Let me tell you about ALL of the cleaning I did today.
Bathroom: Completely cleaned including the floor.
Laundry: Done and folded.  Tomorrow may be the winter clothes switch day.  I kind of ran out of steam today.
Refrigerator: Emptied, many things tossed in the compost, shelves wiped down, drawers washed out, food neatly organized and lovely. 
Freezer: Emptied, a couple things tossed in compost, food neatly organized and lovely.
Dishes: Done a couple different times today.
Thoughts: I should go back and tag all of the posts where I call out high school math as something useful as an adult.
I hate washing tupperware.  Have I said that on here before?  It's forever greasy. I'm so over it.

Whole30 Day 32

Pre workout and post workout meals: LOL
Breakfast: Chia seed pudding, coffee with cream
Lunch: Steak, cheese, bell peppers, jicama
Snacks: I had a latte (milk, no sugar) after work and it was the best thing ever
Supper: Soup of the day and fries, kombucha to drink.  I ate at Tiny Diner with Olive.
Exercise: Run 1 mile in the morning.
Shopping: Yes, I was almost out of butter so I went to the co-op for that, SweeTango apples, and my latte.
Cooking: I'd meant to cook dinner, but hanging out with Olive was way better.
Dishes?: No.  I can't get excited about tupperware. Sigh.
Thoughts: I'm at the point in this 'good diet' thing that I just want to be done with everything.  Though, in my brain, I'm going to keep this up without a real break for a while.  I've got another race in mid-October, and I want to be lean and healthy going into marathon training.  We'll see.

Whole30 Day 31

Pre workout and post workout meals: None.
Breakfast: Chia seed pudding; coffee with cream
Lunch: Steak, swiss cheese, jicama, bell peppers
Snacks: Well, my snacking sort of rolled into supper
Supper: Prosciutto with boursin cheese; artichokes, maybe an extra slide or two of prosciutto
Exercise: Run 4 miles, lift weights in the morning
Shopping: None, and I need butter so that'll have to happen tomorrow
Cooking: Artichokes for supper
Dishes?: Yes.  From yesterday and today.
Thoughts: I burned my hand releasing the steam from my pressure cooker.  I had a hot pad, but it was improperly placed for where the steam actually went.  So that's my second burn of the week.  Cooking is dangerous.

Whole30 Day 30

Pre workout and post workout meals: LOL.  No.
Breakfast: Chia seed pudding with berries; coffee with cream
Lunch: Steak, swiss cheese, bell peppers, jicama
Snacks: I had an after dinner snack of prosciutto and cheese
Supper: Sausage and apples sauteed, it was excellent.
Exercise: Run 1 mile in the afternoon.
Shopping: None.
Cooking: Supper technically.
Dishes?: No.  Sigh.
Thoughts: I am writing this post a day late.  I was sooooo tired yesterday.

Whole30 Day 29

Pre workout and post workout meals: None.
Breakfast: Chia seed pudding, coffee with cream
Lunch: Steak, bell peppers, jicama, swiss cheese.
Snacks: Boursin cheese roll ups (boursin and prosciutto)
Supper: Left over chicken from last night, green beans and mushrooms
Exercise: Run, lift weights in the morning
Shopping: None
Cooking: Not really, even supper was reheated.
Dishes?: Yes
Thoughts: That 'soak your tupperware in vinegar to get ride of the grease' tip is total bullshit. The 'cold water rinses dairy' was a good tip though.

Whole30 Day 28

Pre workout and post workout meals: None.
Breakfast: Coffee with cream.  I had kind of an odd eating day.
Lunch: (Also sort of breakfast) Jicama, sausage, eggs
Snacks: None.
Supper: Green Mill - fried green beans and coconut chicken fingers.  I am so glad this isn't a real W30.
Exercise: Run 5 miles this morning before breakfast.
Shopping: No actually.
Cooking: Yes, made my flank steak for lunches.  I set off the building fire alarm, which is a thing that can happen when I cook steak but I really don't like doing it.
Dishes?: Yes.
Thoughts: I'm doing some research on dishes.  The way I cook, everything is always and forever covered in grease.

• Given my current situation, I read tips for handwashing dishes.  I learned to use cold water to remove dairy.  And they validated my 'baking soda removes all grease' process.  Also, 'don't stack dirty dishes in your sink' is a newer part of the process for me.  I'm stacking them in a washing bin, but then taking the bin out and filling up the sink for washing right now.  I'm not sure if it's better than my old way. 
• I also read how to dissolve oil from dishes and I am interested to try the vinegar soak method. In particular this cutting board, which I love, is hard to get grease off, even with baking soda.  I have an Ikea cutting board that's equally hard to clean.  
• This can be my back up plan for getting oil/grease off plastics and tupperware.

Whole30 Day 27

Pre workout and post workout meals: Keto Fat Bomb before the workout.  Post workout was breakfast.
Breakfast: Coffee with all of the cream, eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes
Lunch: Pork chop (small) with green beans and mushrooms
Snacks: None
Supper: Not really a formal supper.  A friend who moved to Florida was back in town for a visit, so there was a party.  I had a few snacks, but really kept things under control.
Exercise: Long run, weights, abs in the morning.
Shopping: Yes, at the Co op.
Cooking: Yes.  I did all of the cooking.  Now, if only I could get my cabinets in order.  Sigh.
Marinade for flank steak for this week, flank steak for next week (which is now in the freezer), and pork chops.
Cut up veggies and cheese for lunch
Jicama for the week, and as a share dish for the party tonight
Chia seed pudding for the week - I made bigger portions this time (4 servings instead of 6)
Cooked 2 pork chops, tons of green beans and mush rooms, so I have one extra protein serving and 3 extra veggie servings for the week.
Dishes?: I am surprised to say yes to this one.  I'd done a few loads of dishes, but really wasn't sure if the pork chop/green bean/mushroom load was going to get done.
Thoughts: Proud of myself for not going nuts at the party.  But friends brought homemade bread so I had a couple pieces without even feeling bad. I skipped the cake.

Whole30 Day 26

Pre workout and post workout meals: None really
Breakfast: So, I had this big coffee with lots of cream
Lunch: Potatoes and sweet potatoes from Thursday; eggs, bacon
Snacks: After supper, I had roll ups of prosciutto and boursin cheese
Supper: Sausages, sauteed apples with pecans
Exercise: Run 4 miles in the morning
Shopping: None.  I lay on the couch all day.
Cooking: Lunch and supper
Dishes?: Yes, yesterday's and todays are done.  Though I haven't found a space for everything I bought at Costco.  Maybe that's a project for this week?
Thoughts: Ok; two weeks to go after this. I keep trying to remember that I am NOT going to the Farmer Market tomorrow because Nicollet Open Streets is going to have traffic ten kinds of screwed up and I have enough bacon to make it another week.

Whole30 Day 25

Pre workout and post workout meals: None really.
Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs wrapped in proscuitto
Lunch: Ham, cheese, carrots, jicama
Snacks: Chia seed pudding with berries
Supper: Pork and green beans from last night
Exercise: Run 5 miles in the morning; it was a great run
Shopping: Costco.  I bought a steak, pecans, and winter coat and gloves. I wish I was kidding.
Cooking: Not really.
Dishes?: Also not really.
Thoughts: We're at the point of this program where I like seeing myself in the mirror. I'm so shallow.

Whole30 Day 24

Pre workout and post workout meals: Nothing pre; I had chia seed pudding with a peach after my workout because I knew supper was going to be late.
Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs with prosciutto; coffee with cream
Lunch: Ham, cheese, carrots
Snacks: Just the Chia Seed Pudding
Supper: Pulled pork; sweet potatoes and regular potatoes cubed and baked together; brocolli and dragon green beens steamed and sauteed.  I ate with Captain Smiley and Dungeon Master.
Exercise: Run 1.25 miles on the treadmill; lift weights
Shopping: Yes, in a rain storm, to get the non-meat parts of tonight's supper.
Cooking: Did I tell you about supper?
Dishes?: Yes.  I need to get my dishwasher fixed.  Sigh
Thoughts: I tried to write another post for Day 23. How happy am I we're already at number 24? 

Whole30 Day 23

Pre workout and post workout meals: LOL.  Not really.
Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs wrapped in prosciutto; cream and coffee
Lunch: Ham, cheese, carrots
Snacks: Well, not really, but supper was a multiple course affair
Supper: Chia seed pudding and half a peach; the other half of the peach; the jicama I should've had with my lunch; chicken leg and bacon
Exercise: Run 1.16 miles at the gym and walk a couple laps as well
Shopping: Obviously not.  Did you see my dinner?
Cooking: Supper technically.
Dishes?: Yes.  And there were a lot of them.  I wish tupperware washed itself.
Thoughts: I'm both "how is it Day 23 already?" and "when the f*ck am I going to be done with this?"  Though, when I see myself in the mirror at the gym, I am enjoying the view.

Whole30 Day 22

Pre workout and post workout meals: Pre workout was a Keto Fat Bomb.  It and my stomach finally achieved detente after about an hour of running.  Post workout was breakfast.
Breakfast: Hard boiled eggs wrapped in prosciutto; chia seed pudding with berries; cream in my coffee!
Lunch: Ham, cheese, carrots with ranch dressing
Snacks: None really, unless you count what happened after supper
Supper: Pork chop, green beans, mushrooms.  And then, frozen whip cream with berries on top.  It was legit y'all
Exercise: Morning: Run 10+ miles mostly before the crack of dawn.  Afternoon: Lift weights.
Shopping: None
Cooking: None really, even supper was re-heated
Dishes?: Unlikely
Thoughts: I did not sleep well last night ahead of this long run and I am very much looking forward to going to bed tonight.  I don't have many dishes today so they can wait.