it's a date

I found a new favorite breakfast.



Toasted Date bread with banana.


Dates are rich in carbohydrates, packed with Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and Vitamin E, potassium, iron and calcium.

Pairing a toasted slice with a banana is pretty much the grandest slam of potassium I could ask for.

The only drawback is that they are rich in fiber, so if you can't handle it pre-run, this may be a better post-run snack.

Running The Big Sur Marathon for Parkinson's Disease

There are an infinite number of selfish reasons to run, and I certainly have explored most of them. I grew up running around on a soccer field, through the woods, and on a track. Reconnecting with this part of my life since I moved to California has certainly rebuilt a huge part of my identity that sidelined when I started college. And of course, it's also been an excuse to travel, go to the beach, spend time alone (and with ginger), and to stay in shape.

Training for an endurance event is very hard work and extremely time consuming, and with just a month from race day, there are some moments when this process feels less like a fitness hobby and more like a part time job! I am sure that the physical and mental challenge of this race will be a life changing experience...and pushing past a manageable point of exhaustion may reveal a vulnerable, gross and unpleasant Lindsey at around mile 20. The payoff for this kind of work needs to be great, and that's why I chose to make this a fundraising event in addition to it being a test of personal endurance.

Without further ado, I dedicate this race to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease.

Through fundraising I hope to expand the efforts to raise money and awareness regarding a devastating neurological disease that affects someone near and dear to my heart. There are currently 1 million Americans living with Parkinson's disease and an estimated 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Unfortunately, there is still no known cause or cure. With the ban lifted on Parkinson's related research, your fundraising dollars couldn't come at a better time.

If you would like to donate, please visit my (secure) website.

Be sure to spread the word and thank you for your support!

loose training plans...err..what training plan?

I've prepared for this marathon with a really loose training plan.
It feels right to me...but I wonder if it's enough to prepare me for the distance ahead.

Well here it is .

1. Run atleast 40 miles a week. I can't say that I've met this goal consistently with the sprained ankle and the slew of colds that knocked me off my feet...but I'm usually around that number when you average it all out.

2. Eat a Banana everyday, or, most days. If you ask me, bananas are pretty much here for runners. Here are some of the benefits.

3. Eat more greens, for calcium! Sometimes dairy isn't the best idea when you're running everyday, so it's important to look for green sources of calcium. Add kale to your soup, steam it, or saute it with almonds, garbanzo beans, and halved cherry tomatoes (my current favorite).

4. Develop your hill muscles. Running at work leaves me less time to get in a good distance, but that doesn't mean it's not worth heading out. There are some great hills on campus, and the track is perfect for speed workouts.

5. Acquire a taste for fitness food. I can't run with too much food in my stomach, and I don't like things that leave a strong taste in my mouth (like gatorade..). I'm not too satisfied with the GU gels I've tasted, so I need to look for other food options that will satisfy me along the way. Is straight up peanut butter a bad idea?

6. Run a marathon before the marathon. I know that I want to run 26.2 before the big day. I know that there needs to be a hill at around mile 13, and lots of hills before and after. It may also be smart to simulate race day...(I'll be awake at 3:30 to pick up the shuttle to Pfeiffer State Park, and then have plenty of time to hang out until the start). I need to know what's best for dinner the night before...and what I can stomach for a pre run breakfast.

7. Keep it fun. I bring Ginger with me on most all of my runs. She's a great listener, keeps a good pace, and is always down for some playtime at the beach at the end of a long run. She offers a special strength that I wouldn't trade for the world.

keeping your shrimps pretty in pink

In case you were wondering, toes are critical if you're a runner. They're essential for balance, which is important for that perfect stride we all work so hard for. Don't believe me? Try running your next 10k without toes.

Normal socks act like an oven-mit around your feet, causing your toes to rub together and get all hot and sweaty. Subjecting your feet to such a miserable breathing environment could lead to blisters, black toes, and other nightmarish hot spots like this:

(photo from getty images by AFP/getty images)

If we don't wear mittens on our hands all day long then it's only smart to not wear them on our feet when we're running for extremely long distances. San Diego-based Injinji founders Randuz and Joaquin Romay made it their business to redesign the basic structure and shape of the traditional sock in 1999 with the Injinji endurance tetrasok. You can read about their story here.

These socks combine the comfort and dexterity of bare feet with the protection of a seamless sock, allowing your foot to perform freely and naturally inside your shoes. I received a pair of these bad boys for christmas this year.
I'm not the most foot squeamish person on the block.. even so, I never thought I was brave enough for toe socks. I have to admit, they are a little weird at first, but once I was off and running I didn't feel them at all. What's a little cloth between my toes anyway?

My ankle is just about healed enough to get back into a regular training routine.  

On saturday I enjoyed a beachside run with ginger.

(6 miles)

And then felt well enough to try for some more distance in Nisene Marks.  Ginger has taken to my stationary routine and I literally had to drag her out of bed for our run....

(9 miles)

running partners

I don't have many running partners..so the few I've had mean a lot to me. I generally like to run alone, or with my dog. Having a 2 hour stretch of time all to myself is the greatest! I can think about anything I want...or nothing at all. I can run fast when I feel like it, and slow down when I can't keep up.

My first running partner in California lived in an adorable little cabin just down the road from the beach. We would run a mile and a half along the promenade, do some adorable little stretches, and then turn around.
Not only would she meet me 3 days a week (sometimes more) at 7 AM for the same run, but she always offered a hot shower and a cup of coffee before my full day of classes.

here's her adorable little blog

http://boundlessoptimism.blogspot.com/

and here she is feeding cheezy soup to her hot brazillian lover

Springtime in February

Cherry Blossoms en route to the east field.