Training can be a b*tch.
There are several point in which I personally feel like a superhero when running.
- First thing in the morning while dressing for a run, “I’m Pumped! I’m going to Rock the Sh*t out of this thang!”
- Mile 2. I’m still sweat free. My face is still looks normal, “Gurl, you look good! And your running like really fast!”
- Mile 11. I look tired, beat, wet, thirsty, and am all red-faced, “Holy shit! I’m almost done! I’m Almost DONE!”
- About 6-7 minutes after I finish, “Oh that was no big deal. I could go out right now and run another mile no problem!”
Between Mile 2 & Mile 11 these are just some of the things that appear in my mind:
- “You should just stop. You’ll never make it.”
- “Am I even moving?”
- “I’m only half way? Another 6 miles to go??! Holy Sh*it.”
- “You didn’t have enough water last night. Running this much could be bad for you.”
- “She looks great. I wonder how far she’s been running.”
- “Come on Biker! I’m here too!”
- “Are your feet numb?…No but if they do go numb you should stop and call an ambulance.”
But my personal favorite thoughts…the ones that actually HELP me run. The ones that push and encourage me. The ones that help pass the time.
- “What should I eat when I get home?”
- “I wonder how grandma always make her coconut cake so moist. Mayonnaise probably. I’ve got to try that.”
- “What should I make/bake tonight?”
This final questions always gives me plenty to think through. Suddenly, my imagination takes off in correlation to my stomach and I am running off ideas: vanilla & honey ice-cream, gingerbread & lemon cookie, turkey burgers with a jalapeno & bacon relish, cornbread and chili, rye bread, lemon curd and raspberry fool… and the list goes on landing on something that is a combination of how long it will take, what I have in my house right then, and if I want something sweet or savory.
Today I wanted something sweet….something I wouldn’t have to go to the store to create….something to feed by body after the run…a little protein…a little chocolate….and rye flour! I freaking love rye flour! Today I wanted some form of cookie…..with carbohydrates for energy….protein to sustain…and chocolate for happy taste buds.
Today my cravings landed on…
1/2 Marathon Cookies (gluten, dairy, and refined sugar free)
1 cup oats
1 1/4 cup rye flour
1/4 cup rice flour
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1/2 cup pepitas
3/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup Earth Balance
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 Tablespoon boiling water
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup grain sweetened chocolate chips
Preheat oven to 350°F
In a large bowl mix your oats, rye flour, rice flour, sugar, pepitas, and coconut sugar together. Nothing fancy, just combined.
Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl melt your Earth Balance for about 30-45 seconds. Once the Earth Balance is almost completely melted add your maple syrup; just a good stir to mix the two together.
Add your hot Earth Balance/Maple Syrup goodness to your dry bowl and give it a good mixing; about 30 seconds. During this time, add your baking soda to your boiling water and watch it fizz. Add this fizzy mixture to your main bowl, toss in your chocolate chips and give one final all incorporating mix.
Roll into 2oz balls, about the size of a teaspoon, and flatten. They won’t spread very much but give them about 1/2 inch between their closet cookie friend.
Bake for about 10 minutes. As my mom always said, when you can start smelling them, check on them. The bottoms will be a lite golden color.
Eat hot right then or cold the next morning:) Store in an airtight container for up to a week.
There are so many times in our lives where things don’t work out the way we feel they should. Where we come to a cross roads and have to decide which path to take. Times in our lives where the choice we have to make feels unfair, cruel, or just plain F*ucked: wanting both the flat iron steak salad and the lamb kebabs with lemon aioili during your last night meal in a city you are just visiting; needing some dental work but also needing a set of tires; falling in love but getting a killer job in another city and having to choose. But with running and food….there are no truly brutal choices that make life feel unscrupulous…they work together, they nourish and fuel each other, they are a perfect compliment. Thus, without a doubt run all of it…and Eat That.
Run this. Eat that 