Foodie Friday and only 65 days to go!

As my training runs are increasing in length, so too is my appetite! Whilst I’m attempting to keep my diet healthy, I am craving carbs and craving cakes, to be more specific! Fortunately the Burgh House Buttery is in plentiful supply. YUM

 

My longest run to date has been 12.2 miles, which was a hard slog! I split the run into two 6.5 mile loops, stopping for 5 minutes in the middle to eat an energy gel and drink some water. I have only just started using gels, as I haven’t really run long enough distances to warrant taking them before now. Fuelling during runs is completely new to me, and I’m also only just appreciating how much healthy eating impacts the way I feel and how well I run too.

I recently purchased EasyNutrition for Runners, which I’m looking forward to devouring (pun intended hehe). Interestingly, ultra marathoner  Scott Jurek advocates eating ‘real’ food during long runs, and has also adopted a completely plant based diet which he credits for his amazing endurance and running ability. I have just ordered Scott Jurek’s book Eat and Run, so am looking forward to absorbing that for some tips and inspiration.

The marathon is just 65 days away! Eek. To prepare, I will be running the Hampton Court half marathon  on Sunday 23^rd February, which I’m really looking forward to! I’m going to run it as part of my training rather than as a race, so will just aim to get round comfortably and pain free. I’m still having some knee issues but have been seeing a brilliant London based osteopath  who has pinpointed the problem and has been working towards correcting it.

If you’d like to come and cheer me on at the Hampton Court half please do! And please do consider sponsoring me for the Brighton Marathon in April! I’m running to raise money for Burgh House, a brilliant, free to enter historic house and museum in the heart of beautiful Hampstead. To donate click here.  Every pound makes a huge difference!

 

 

Foodie Friday!

I love food. Since being diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome about 8 years ago, I’ve had a tricky relationship with it (involving lots of trial and error, trying diets and giving up diets), but I’ve finally found a solution that seems to work for me. I’ve learned to base my main meals around vegetables and protein, snack on fruit and load up on carbohydrates towards the start of the day rather than at dinner. This gives me energy for running, but doesn’t upset my gut. I do make compromises with myself though, as I have a real sweet tooth so eating super healthily all the time just isn’t possible!

I’ll try to vary these ‘compromises’ and either have a portion of carbs at dinner time, or an after dinner chocolate bar, or a scone for breakfast, or (at the moment) a white chocolate Magnum as an afternoon snack mmmm.... Knowing I’m allowing myself a bit of flexibility keeps me on the right track the rest of the time and gives me something to look forward to!

The Buttery at Burgh House is the best place to get a treat. My personal favourites are the fruit scones, which are delicious, fresh and huge! We recommend the brownies to everyone, as they’re amazing. General Manager Kate says she can’t eat a whole one, but I definitely could! They are really chocolatey and gooey, and also enormous. Cakes may seem like an unhealthy snack, but can definitely be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet, and especially when training. An article in the September Women’s Running magazine about half marathon training nutrition says that treats should be enjoyed on a training day so that you’re burning off some of the excess calories. I went for a run this morning so bring on the scone!

 

Foodie Friday will be a regular monthly post, and I’ll be sampling lots of the Buttery’s delicious fare and working out how I can enjoy it as part of my marathon training nutrition!