Some Running and Some Biking

6.21 miles yesterday morning following a 13 hour shift at the hospital. I came home, took a shower and then passed out for 5 hours. Not working night shifts anymore is not going to suck. On that note...

I got a new job! I applied to the University of Utah Neurosurgery Clinic over a month ago and I was offered the job on Monday of last week. My new work schedule will be 'normal'. I will be working Monday through Friday with weekends and holidays off which means I will get to go back to getting up at 5:00 AM to get my runs/cardio in. Manfriend is very excited for this because he LOVES my alarm in the morning. I don't start until August 25th, though because manfriend and I have had a vacation planned for almost a year now that we leave for on Saturday. We are going to go and see this....Crankworx

I am very excited. Chris won't be racing (I keep getting asked if he is), but here is a picture of how cute he is when he does race in case you wanted to see

Speaking of bikes, we did this on Saturday

 

Sometimes I like to look like I am about to break into a dance in a photo (I don't know what is going on with my leg). I look just as dedicated and badass as manfriend, right? Also, don't let that smile fool you. That trail wasn't easy....at all. In fact, I may never do it again.

Maybe I should just leave the mountain biking for the mountain bikers and the running for the runners. Speaking of which, my friend sent me this...

I Have an Unhealthy Attachment to my Running Shoes

My legs have been feeling quite tired lately. I have been getting more sore despite no change in my exercise habits. Today I had to face a fact that I have been avoiding for about a month. It was time to replace my running shoes.

Yes. The purple shoes are the exact same shoe, just purple. I even had them waiting in a box in my closet for this exact occasion (I buy my saucony rides in bulk), but I am a bit ridiculous and I always have a hard time admitting that my shoes have seen their prime and it is time for the new pair. I like blue....and we have been through so much together.

So, when should one replace their running shoes? The consensus seems to be between 300 and 500 miles. The range really depends on the runner. Despite proper form, everyone's running style is different.

I go by feel. There is a point when the shoes start to feel less cushiony (not a word, but let's go with it). My landings don't seem to have as much support and my leg fatigue increases. Sometimes, my IT band acts up a little.

Here are a few articles, with a few different opinions about running shoe replacement, but the basic idea is the same:

Boston Magazine
Brooks
About.com
Road Runner Sports

I ran 5 miles today and I wasn't tired/sore at all after changing out my shoes. I shall miss my baby blue running shoes.

Push to the Finish and a little Zest and some other stuff

I ran push to the finish yesterday. Can I just say that I want to do this over and over and over again? I don't care much for running at 9:00 AM in 90 degree weather in a t-shirt, but there is something about pushing a 3 year old that is giggling, cheering you on and pointing out everything you pass that sort of makes it....worth it?

She even made us stop at every water station, where I would hand her a cup of water, she would stare at it and then she wanted to throw it into the big bin so she could be like all of the other runners.

Also, let me just take a moment to give some serious credit to the mamas and the papas that push these strollers on a regular basis. Not being able to use my arms is tiring. Y'all have some serious quads.

If you are interested at all in signing up for this amazing program or giving a donation, here is there Facebook Page and their website.

Also, here is a pic of all of the runners yesterday

Pretty neat stuff. Yes, one of those little girls is wearing a mermaid tail. Awesome.

After the race, we went to the Provo Farmer's Market to visit my good friend who sells and makes his own organic teas. He is the bee's knees and is a Clinical Herbalist. He owns Grey Mountain Herbs. His website is Here. 

Manfriend and I had date night on Friday. We went to this awesome restaurant in downtown Salt Lake that I had been dying to try. I had Raw Zucchini Pasta, two adult beverages and chocolate cake made with beets and avocado frosting. Go big or go home, right? Manfriend had BBQ vegan burgers. Everything is made from local ingredients and made from scratch. Can't beat that.

Some of my girlfriends and I signed up for the Rock n' Roll Half Marathom in Vegas. If you like Vegas and own a Vagina, then you should totally come with us. I LOVE me some Vegas! Case in point....

Summy's Healthy Vegan Banana Bread

Some might think that Healthy and Vegan are two words that automatically go together, but that simply isn't true. There are just as many junk foods and crap in the vegan world that there are in the meat eating world. There are many vegan recipes that really aren't that good for you.

There are even processed foods that are 'accidentally' vegan. For instance, Oreos are vegan. I also read once that Oreos are as addictive to your brain as cocaine. This is super awesome considering they have all of those 'Oreo-fun-flavors' out now. I'm not gonna lie. It kind of makes me sick. Just because it is labeled as vegan, it does not mean that it is nourishment.

Bottom Line? Vegan doesn't always equate to healthy. Some people are vegan for health reasons and the animal/environmental issues are added perks (although, now these are my main reasons to remain vegan). Some people are vegan because animals are awesome and they have to deal with a lot of real crap from homosapians that have developed some sort of 'King of the Jungle' mentality. We may have had to fight for our food at some point, but most of the people that still think we are at the top of the food chain couldn't catch a hog with a spear to save their life, let alone run for more than a minute. (This is my blog, I say what I want.)

I became vegan for health related reasons (read the 'About Me' section) and I was very health conscious prior to my 'vegan-conversion'....but I digress.

I had some left over bananas that were turning brown. Manfriend is out of town and the dogs aren't any help in getting rid of them, so I decided to 'vegan-up' a classic recipe using healthier, vegan alternatives.

Summy's Banana Bread

2 cups flour (you can use whatever kind you like - EVEN gluten free or oat)
1 tsp baking soda (again, you can use gluten free)
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup pure coconut sugar cane
2 Tbsp Ground Flaxseed
6 Tbsp water
2 1/3 cup mashed overripe bananas (approximately 3 ripe bananas - or maybe that is what I had)
3 pieces of raw chocolate, chopped to small squares (*optional, I used Go Raw Original Chocolates)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Grease a 9x5 inch bread loaf pan and set aside.

In a large bowl mix the flour, salt and baking soda.

In another bowl mix the applesauce and coconut sugar. Stir in the flaxseed, water and mashed bananas.

Mix the two bowls to moisten the dry ingredients. Add the chocolate squares.

Bake in a preheated oven for 50 to 55 min or until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 10 minutes and then remove from pan.

Here is the raw chocolate I used.

There is also a mint one. The link is above in red. These things are to die for. If you can't read the top of the package, these chocolates are vegan, gluten free, dairy free, nut free and soy free. If you were to change the baking soda and flour to gluten free, then this entire recipe would be vegan and gluten free! Tah-dah!

Half Marathon on Dem Dirts

I have had 3 massages in the last 5 days, stretching, icy/hot packs and IBUprofen. I decided to do the half marathon and to not care about my time...this is very difficult for me. I am THAT person. I am in constant competition with myself, but I knew that if I didn't stop and walk when my back told me to that I would be worse for wear in the long run (little pun there).

So here is the Canyon-to-Canyon-Half-Marathon-Summy-Race-Recap...

I have never been to East Canyon. I was up at 3:45 this morning getting my shiznit together and then headed off around 4:15 AM. I packed myself some IBUprofen, proglide (for the chaffing - bleh), a handheld water bottle and my VEGA gel (which worked out awesome).

The race was perfect and I am hoping to do it again next year. There were hardly any racers, plenty of space, no bottlenecking at the beginning and miles of gorgeous mountains and hills...oh yeah, I also didn't do ANY trail runs to prepare for it...so there's that.

I even saw a barn and a deer on the course. The deer was too fast. Here is my sad attempt at running and taking a picture of a barn.

Don't tell me I'm not amazing.

I finished in 2 hours and 15 minutes with an average pace of 10:30. It isn't a bad time, but it is my slowest and I'm ok with it. I ran a way slower pace on purpose and if my back started to even twinge, then I slowed down even more or started walking for 30 seconds. I had a great time and I don't feel any worse than I did before. I should be able to get back to training right away.

 

The whole race was also very environmentally conscious and the proceeds benefit The Road Home which I was super stoked about because I am a hippie at heart (I'm vegan, what do you expect) and I used to volunteer at The Road Home. They give out these metals.

 

You only receive one metal as opposed to getting one for each event. For every event you complete, they give you a pin to add to your metal. 

I wore my new Zensah Coompression Socks and they worked out beautifully. It's silly, but I BELIEVE!

They were super comfortable and they were tight enough, but not too tight. They also didn't make me overheat which I was a little concerned about since it was going to be around 80 degrees by the time I finished the race. They also fit like knee highs are supposed to, which is super special because I have short leg problems and women's knee highs all go over the top of my knee. I also have a child sized head, so I can never wear headbands either. They all slide down to my neck. ALL OF THEM. If anyone ever comes out with child sized running headbands, hollah atch your girl.

Now for a relaxing Saturday. I am watching the world cup thingy tomorrow with some friends. I know nothing about the fooze-ball. Despite manfriend being from England, he hates soccer. So I will pretend I know what is happening. GO TEAM! SCORE THE POINTS!

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Listen to What Your Body is Telling You

The pain started in my mid back...then on my sides...then it settled on left side of my low back and I couldn't bend over and it felt like a belt covered in nails was giving my back and uterus a hug.

I haven't been on a run since Tuesday and I lifted on Wednesday. I got a massage on Tuesday, but my lower back persisted. Since I couldn't run, I thought I would sit down and read this little piece of magic...

I worked last night and I could barely put my shoes on because it hurt to bend over, so I scheduled a sports massage again this morning at a place that I only go when I am so injured that I am willing to pay some big bucks to get fixed.

It totally helped. I am actually comfortable in a chair now.

I don't know what brought the pain on, but I do know that if it persists I will skip my half marathon this weekend. Something that I have learned over years of injuries is that I HAVE to listen to my body. There are always more races, more competitions but I only have one body to do it with and if I want to continue to compete, I have to listen to what it says.

So, I am taking the next two days off and if things go well, I will race this Saturday but I won't "race". I will just run to finish and take it easy on those 13 miles.

There was once a time that I insisted on pushing through every pain my body had just to reach my goal and, although reaching goals is good, body pains and aches are red flags that we need to take a step back and give our bodies a break. I am so injury prone and I want to lift and run and swim and ski and bike and hike (all of the things) FOREVER. I don't ever want to stop because I was too dumb to listen to what my muscles were trying to tell me. It took a VERY long time for me to get this concept...

Chest Day and some other Stuff

I forgot to post this yummy that I had on Sunday morning at the Farmer's Market....

Vegan Tamale

There is a strong possibility that I will attempt to make vegan tamales myself. I will keep you posted.

For lunch today....

I do not use the soy sauce that comes in the little tray. I use Bragg's Liquid Aminos. This is a much healthier alternative to soy sauce. It is Non-GMO, gluten free and contains vegetable protein. It DOES contain soy. I feel I need to mention this because I know a lot of people are allergic to soy or anti-soy. I am not anti-soy.

Today was chest day. I rode on a stationary bike and then lifted. I love chest day. Tomorrow is shoulder day. Some years ago, my favorite thing to workout was my back and my chest paid for it. It is SO important to remember to lift with the whole body in mind. All of our muscles are connected and we can't build some and ignore others. Focusing on my back caused poor posture and a lot of strain on my body.

I see a lot of 'chest challenges' and 'shoulder challenges' on facebook that people post, and I think that these are great as long as that isn't the only muscle that one is challenging. I think that the other muscles tend to suffer when only one body area is focused on.

Speaking of chests, here is a great article from Bodybuilding.com in regards to bench/chest press workouts. chesty link ;)

I saw this on pinterest the other day. I want to say this to women I see at the gym all of the time (some men too), but I don't.

Last pic...I saw this at Whole Foods. I don't get it. What is happening? It even expires....the water expires. Seems questionable.