Running Fat...Still

My diet has been quite the combination of ultra-healthy and down-right terrible. I will start my day with a Shaklee Energizing Soy Protein drink and a hand full of vitamins which include: Vita-Lea (Shaklee's multi-vitamin), Osteo Matrix (calcium and magnesium supplement), and Joint-Health Compound (glucosomine, and other various substances that are great for your joints). I will then drink a tall glass of water, read my Bible (maybe even grab a cup of coffee), and begin my work day--loading my running clothes in the van and hoping for an opportunity to go for a run.

However, a couple hours later I am hungry, so I come home to eat something (be it left-overs or PB and J). I find a bag of chips and start on them. Oh, Valerie made cookies so I've got to have a few...maybe a few more. I got to have milk with them... Before you know it, I have consumed my entire days worth of calories. Even a 10 mile run only burns about 1,000 calories--I get that with my cookies and milk!

Oh well, at least I am taking my vitamins and drinking my protein. Because of this, my immune system stays strong, my recovery time from workouts is faster, and I just feel better. So, here I am still weighing too much (losing 10lbs here and then gaining 10 there), but right now I don't really care. I'm not necessarily training for anything in particular, so I might as well enjoy. I run as much as I can and eat when I am hungry--maybe even a little when I am not. That is that!

Running Fat!

Okay, enough of Dean and enough of Shaklee. I want to write more about the status of my training for the 100-miler. I am glad to write that I have had NO injuries this training period. Several days ago I ran 14 miles and my hip bothered me a little. I got worried, but it was completely better the next day. That and a little pain in the heel every now and then is about the best I could ask for as far as injuries go.

I am very surprised that running has been so easy lately considering I am training at about 226 lbs right now. I got down to 205 lbs two years ago when I ran the first Mother Road 100. My goal this time was to get down to 190 lbs. Typically it makes since that less weight helps you to run better. But the fact is, I have had very little, if any, restrictions on my diet and have gained weight in the last few months until now when I am seeing a plateau at about 224-226 lbs--and my running seems to be as effortless as ever! I feel like I am ready to start doing a couple 20milers a week now along with my typical 4-8 mile daily runs (5-6 days a week).

Granted, I gained a few pounds of muscle during weight training in the previous couple months, but I have got to admit that junk food, sweets, sodas, etc. has contributed the greatest to the amount of body weight I am presently carrying.

I think I sweat a little more than I use to, but at 90 degrees I am drinking a lot of fluids and need to sweat a lot to stay cool. My heart feels strong, my legs feel strong, I am not crashing much during my long runs, I can still get by on very little sleep, and my body is not getting sick or run down...Man! As much as I want to get down to 190 lbs. I have to ask myself "Why change my diet?"

I think the advantages of not restricting my diet are obvious. I am getting plenty of calories from each food group to sustain my muscles. Besides this, I take my vitamins regularly (at least every other day--Shaklee, of course)and I get plenty of protein (including Shaklee Physique as a supplement after workouts--also great for muscle recovery). But I am not saying that limiting my simple sugars and bad fats wouldn't benefit me, I am just saying that they haven't seemed to hurt much so far--to my surprise.

Dean Karnazes uses Shaklee

THIS IS GREAT!





I just found out that Dean Karnazes, who I have promoted many times and who has had a lot to do with me running ultra marathons uses and endorses Shaklee (the company whose products I also promote and sell). Click here to find out more.

I recently posted on this blog that my next 100 miler was to be ran completely on Shaklee products. Now more people might know what I am talking about.





Some of Dean’s Achievements:

• Winner, Atacama Crossing, 2008

• Winner, Dead President’s Ultra, 2007

• Completed 50 marathons, 50 states, 50 days, then ran 1,300 miles from New
York City to St. Louis (AS A COOL DOWN!), 2006

• Winner, Vermont Trail 100, 2006

• Winner, Badwater Ultramarathon: The World’s Toughest Footrace, 2004

• Winner, Arabian Stallion Award, Angel’s Crest 100-Mile Endurance
Run, 2003

• Winner, Outdoor World Championships, 2000

• Eleven-time Western States 100-Mile Endurance Run Silver Buckle holder

• Ran 350 continuous miles

• Six-time finisher of the Saturn Relay ultradivision (199 miles nonstop solo)

• First and only person to run a marathon to the South Pole in running
shoes

• Competed in over 100 extreme endurance events around the globe

• Member of the American Ultrarunning Team representing the USA at the 2005 World
Championships