Running on hummus and chocolate

Just as I set out to do, I conquered my first 10 mile run since March this past Sunday! I actually ran 10.25 miles in 1:32:51, making this my longest run in terms of both time and distance. Saturday I ran 7.5 miles, bringing my total mileage this past weekend to more than 17 miles. And it was cold this past weekend (in the 30s). And windy. And I trained with a lot of hills. And there were sometimes snow flurries. But I made it through and I feel even more ready for Dec. 7!

My appetite is SO weird while I'm training. Sometimes after a long run (6+ miles) I'll be really hungry the day after. And I crave the weirdest things. Usually hummus (since I started training) or chocolate. And I know I'm getting enough protein and iron because I eat fish and nuts and I put organic almond butter in my oatmeal every morning. The past few days the only food that's appealed to me is chocolate. Obviously I've been eating other things, but my usual cravings of fruit, and even fresh dates (gasp!) are kind of absent. I'm not really craving carbs, either, but have been kind of forcing myself to eat pasta, especially after yesterday's 10 miler. I wasn't hungry AT ALL (I was nauseous, really), but I had some leftover gnocchi in the fridge so I had that for lunch. Then I went to the winery with my girlfriends and had some pomegranate seeds and almonds and some fruit (and wine, duh), but nothing too heavy. Then for dinner we had some friends and their kids over so we ordered pizza. I need the energy for Adele, so even if I'm not hungry I eat. And this week, especially, with Sean in Texas until Thursday, it's just me and the baby and the dog, so working full time plus taking care of the baby all night and in the mornings I need to have my energy.

So my eating is weird. I am sure it will be back to normal after the race is over, but right now I want very, very specific things. Almond butter, chocolate and hummus are pretty much the only things that appeal to me right now. Usually I crave a lot of fruit (I normally eat 4-6 servings a day), but I feel now like I'm forcing myself to eat fruit. Also forcing salads.

I know my body and I am giving it what it wants. I am giving it almond butter and chocolate and hummus. And that's just how it is. I have to remind myself that while I've been a runner on and off since 2011, this training is all new to me, and the runs I've been doing since October are longer than any runs I used to do. Even when I was training for my 10 miler last March, the longest run I did up to that moment was about 8-9 miles. And prior to that, my "long" runs were 4-5 miles. Now, my "short" runs are 5-6 miles and my long runs are 10+ miles. So I have to remember this is all new to my body and my body has to adjust.

So I feel really good after this past weekend, and am planning hopefully two more 10+ mile runs before race day. I can definitely count on Thanksgiving morning being a good run day. That and 11/30. Everything in between, with football and holiday travel, will have to be shorter, 5-7 mile runs.

I love it. It's addicting. I will, though, WILL be happy when it's over. It's not that I'm nervous, I'm just a little tired so it will be nice to again fill my free time with sleeping instead of running.

A week from tomorrow is a big day for our family! I feel so incredibly blessed that so many friends and family are planning to join us for Adele's adoption. There will SO much to celebrate next week, starting on Tuesday and going into Thanksgiving.

Yesterday's run was a huge accomplishment for me. A huge milestone. There are lots of those coming up, too. Next Tuesday for Adele's adoption ceremony. My first half-marathon Dec. 7. My 30th birthday on Dec. 22. Adele's first Thanksgiving and Hanukkah.

Every day is a milestone, too. Each day is a blessing, a gift. As the days get darker and colder and waking up gets harder and walking outside gets more chilling, I have to remember the winter, too, is a beautiful blessing. I always rush winter and I want it to go away. I hate the dark and the cold. I shrivel in the winter. I blossom in the warmth and the sun. But I guess this year I decided to embrace the winter by running 13.1 miles in the middle of it.

So here's to you, winter. I guess I'm not mad at you this year. I can't make you go away or keep you from arriving. So maybe I'll just run alongside you and show you who's boss.