Well, I’m back from a wonderfully long weekend of running and little sleep! I had such a great time running the Epic Relay race! I’ll give you a quick recap of my weekend…
Friday:
- Woke up at 4:30 AM to get ready for the race
- 7:15 AM–Ran my first leg (7.39 miles) and I felt so so so good! I averaged an 8:45/mile pace including a couple quick hydrating and Gu stops.
- Took a short (but very refreshing) 1 1/2 hour nap on a church lawn in a sleeping bag.
- 6:30 PMish–Ran my second leg (4.67 miles). It was my shortest, but ended up being my hardest leg. It was pretty hot outside and was mostly uphill. Blah. Oh, I think I also averaged an 8:45/mile pace.
Saturday:
- 2:00 AMish–slept on a dirt parking lot in a sleeping bag for about 3 or so hours. It was freeeezing (about 38 degrees) and I wasn’t prepared for that! All of our sleeping bags and pillows were wet when we woke up. Needless to say, this was not the highlight of the weekend!
- 5:30 AMish–woke up, quickly got the truck packed and got ready to run our last legs.
- 6:00 AMish–Ran my last leg (5.44 miles) and it was great! I loved running at sunrise…very very rejuvenating! My IT Band was buggin’ and I had a few sore toenails, but other than that I felt great. I was ready to be done though! I think I averaged in the low 9s/mile pace on this one. I held back a little because I wasn’t sure how my body would hold up!
- Our entire 12 person team finished the race around 4:30 PM! It was great!
We had such a fun time! We ran 205+ miles in 33 hours! I got a total of about 9 hours of sleep the whole weekend long! It was awesome!
The team members who rode in the first “van” (which was actually a truck)….we had such a fun team!
Kev and I just before I started my first leg (I was the first runner too!) Our team name was “Stayin’ Alive”….hence the lovely costumes.
Our entire 12 (13 with our alternate) person team at the finish line! Woo Hoo!
I really had such a fun time, but I’ve had a little bit of a hard time recovering and getting back into normal life! I think the sleep deprivation took a greater toll on my body than the running! I am barely sore today, but I am still draggin’ from lack of sleep!!
I must be getting old!
BUT……………I am back on the wagon today with a vengeance! It feels so good to be “in control” again. I can’t say it’s easy, but it’s awesome.
I thought I would share what I ate today….
Breakfast was a typical Veggie Egg Scramble. I love this breakfast because it’s fast, easy, healthy and only ~150 calories!
4 egg whites + bell peppers, onions, green beans, salsa and fresh tomatoes from our garden! Yum!
Lunch was this…
Red grapes, Multigrain Wheat Thins and carrots, cucumbers and cherry tomatoes from the garden
and this…
Cheese Crisps! Looks weird, I know! But, they are awesome!
The cheese crisps are so simple….you just cut up a string cheese (I used 2 string cheeses because I shared with my kids!)
Then you just put them in the microwave for about a minute, or until they get a little brown. Let them cool for a minute and enjoy! Very yummy! Oh, and that entire lunch was only about 280 calories!
My afternoon snack was my Microwavable Chocolate Cake that I love so much!!! I didn’t take a picture, but I made it without chocolate chips and I topped it with a little whipped cream in a can! It was about 145 calories and just what I needed! Yum!
I also had another small snack later on…
I had 1/2 of one of these (100 calories). These are yummy. This kind is my fav (Toasted Coconut). I’ve also tried Peanut Butter, but I don’t like it as well.
Dinner was Grilled Chicken, Salad and fruit. I had a busy night and Grilled Chicken is always my go-to meal when I want something healthy, but I don’t have a lot of time. I also used the easiest marinade on the planet…
Ta Da!! Salad Dressing. I really like to use light Italian dressing, but this is what I had on hand. It was yummy too!
I just threw the chicken in a giant Ziploc, poured some vinaigrette in the bag and let it marinate for a few hours.
Then I put it in a baking dish and put it in the fridge….
When Kev got home from work, he grilled it up and I made a quick salad to go with it (Romaine, Iceberg, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Cheddar and almonds!) We also had some strawberries and watermelon on the side. Light, healthy and yummy!
Well…that is all. I felt really good about my diet today. I did feel a little hungry at times, but never too bad. It actually wasn’t too hard. I may eat a lot of these same things tomorrow! I really don’t think eating healthy is hard if you plan ahead and choose yummy things to eat!
hollyn20 says
Very Nice Mel!! You are awesome.
Melanie says
Thanks Holl!!! You are an inspiration to me!!!
amy says
You have no idea how much you’re motivating me! I’ve lost some of my desire to keep trying, so I appreciate all your posts so much! Now since I don’t have a healthy happy amy blog, I wanted to share what I ate today. I wanted to try those cheese thingy’s. So I cooked the string cheese up. And then I had a brilliant idea! I have these La Tortilla Factory tortillas that are 80 calories, 12 grams of fiber and 8 grams of protein. they’re awesome!! I spread some spinach and artichoke hummus (sabra brand) and then I topped it with the cheese things, lettuce tomatoes and red pepper. And it was soooo good! I had a baked apple with cinnamon and splenda (yes, i still use splenda). The whole meal was 250 calories and full of fiber and protein. You inspired this meal. Thanks so much Mel! You’re awesome!
Melanie says
Amy, you are the bomb!! That meal sounds awesome!!! I never thought to put those cheese things in a wrap…yuuuummmy! I love love La Tortillas and Sabra Hummus is the best (I’ve never tried the spinach and artichoke kind though…sounds awesome!) I will have to try this awesome concoction! The baked apple sounds delish too! I love to hear about all the “healthy, happy” things you eat too! You’re awesome Amy…we’ll both keep pluggin’ away!