Race Training and Farmer’s Markets
August 5, 2009Race Training
My second race of the summer is coming up fast- the 9k run is on Saturday August 8th! I’ve had a few questions regarding my training, and here I must confess that I haven’t been following any kind of training program at all. I’ve been running when I feel like it, about two to three times a week. There’s been a few times when I’ve gone running with other people so my pace and the distance that I run have been changing with each running partner. I really like having a few different running partners to choose from- or opting to run by myself- because the different levels of skill that everyone has means that I have to adapt my running style every time. It keeps things fresh and also pushes me to go faster when I’m with someone with a longer stride (um… yeah, that would be just about everyone I know…)
Most of my runs seem to hover at about 35 to 45 minutes. On Monday I ran for 50 minutes, which upon calculation was a distance of 8.83 km! I’m all set and ready for this race.
Although there are a lot of training programs which look as though they would be perfect for preparing for a race, I’m glad that I’ve just been doing it my way of listening to when my body feels like going for a run. Following my own intuition means that I have been able to truly enjoy the running… maybe a program would have been a better help for getting me into shape, but there’s also the possibility that I would have started resenting it. I’ve only just discovered how much I enjoy running so I don’t want to jinx it!
Farmer’s Market
The weather has been terrible for the crops this summer but there have still been some good finds at the famer’s market! So far this year I’ve only been twice, but I’ve bought a beautiful bunch of kale, a dozen bison burgers (for $20!), peas, and buckwheat flour.
I’m not a fan of raw kale. I tried it in a salad and both the texture and the taste were too sharp for my liking. I also tried make the famed kale chips and didn’t like them either, to be honest. Cooked kale, on the other hand, is delicious! I included some in a frittata and also in pasta sauce. It tastes great both ways. I’ll be getting more the next time I’m at the farmer’s market so that I can use it to make a Green Monster smoothie that all you foodie bloggers love and adore!
The bison burgers are fantastic. We cooked them on the barbecue and ate them on whole wheat buns with my homemade ketchup, lettuce and tomatoes. Delicious. The peas are nearly all gone by this point, mostly just from eating them like candy, but some of them have gone in salads. I haven’t used the buckwheat flour at all yet. I’m looking forward to using it. I’m enjoying experimenting with different kinds of flour right now and am amassing a large collection 🙂
Do you have any recipes to share that call for buckwheat flour? When you run, do you prefer to follow a training program or do you do whatever you’re in the mood for?
Living Healthy in the Real World 
Sagan,
Best of luck on Saturday’s race – you’ll do awesome! Rock on!!
I’ve never run in a big race that invovled training, but if I did I would probably follow a training program. I work well with programs, rather than doing it on my own.
As for food talk, I don’t like raw kale either. I would rather it is cooked, or in chip form! Also, I’m not sure of any recipes that ask for buckwheat, other than pancakes!
Great deal on the bison burgers! 🙂 For me, raw kale has to be VERY young to be tender and sweet enough to put in a salad or eat raw. It gets tougher and sharper as it gets older. I’m not a fan of cooked kale (though I keep seeing recipes for kale chips and am intrigued by them), so I typically avoid it. Wish I had some buckwheat flour recipe to pass on. It probably has too much sugar for your sensibilities, but I do have a brownie recipe that works wonderfully with most any flour.
Good luck with your race!
Good luck this Saturday! You’l do great:) We’re big fans of roasted kale chips here as well. I also have a great recipe for kale smoothies if you’re interested (well, I got it off of allrecipes.com) As for buckwheat flour? Makes yummy pancakes!
The first thing that popped into my head was buckwheat pancakes! Yum.
Try googling for recipes – I’m sure there are tons of them out there!
I need to try kale chips! I love kale in my green monsters…I just use a really ripe banana to mask the bitterness. 🙂
I usually use a training program when doing longer races – only because it will hold me to it! But I can definitely see the advantage in not – it probably makes it more “fun,” too.
Lance- thank you!!
Gina & the Bag Lady- ooh I do love pancakes…
Cathy- hm that could be interesting to use it in a brownie recipe.
Charlotte- that sounds tasty! I’d love some smoothie recipes 🙂
Holly- am all about the fun. And love the super browning bananas.
LOVE bison. good luck at the race!
I’m following a programme for the 10m Great South Run – the furthest I’ve run before is 6.25m, and I don’t think I could make the jump without either following a structured programme, or crawling over the finishing line, bloody stumps instead of feet, and lying there for the next month or so. I enjoy tracking my progress through it: for instance, today I hit 10% of the total amount I’m due to run, and that felt good! But I won’t stick to it rigidly while we’re in Spain next month – I’ll just be flexible and make sure I cover the miles one way or another. Best of luck for Saturday – I’m sure you’ll find it a doddle. You are so fast! I am totally impressed. If we did a run together you’d be there and back while I was still warming up
🙂
Whoo! Good luck on Sat. Looking forward to seeing how it goes for ya
What’s with you Canadians? 10K is the standard. What’s this 9K stuff? Must be like us drinking coffee to be different 🙂
Cut the kale in very small pieces for a salad. That makes it easier to have when you want it raw.
Yeah I agree with the others on buckwheat pancakes. We put smoked salmon, baby spinach and a little herbed creme fraiche on top. YUMMY! I think that’s what we’ll have on Saturday for breakfast 🙂 I like running to a programe because it pushes me to keep going. If I listened to myself I may have stopped. But now sans programe I’m also enjoying it, so I gues you gotta do what you gotta do!
A great variation of the buckwheat pancake is to soak the flour in buttermilk, kefir or yoghurt, overnight. If ferments the flour a little and giving you a nice sour taste a bit like sourdough.
Good luck in your race, and have fun!!
Dave & SHE-FIT- thanks so much!
Liz- I’m also running on super flat ground, as my race partner pointed out to me yesterday. The race itself, with it being all hilly trails, could be quite a bit of a challenge! I guess a program is a good idea if you want to keep your feet 😉
Dr. J- I think its just this race. Most of them seem to be a nice round 10k. I’ll stick with my 9k; that’s long enough for me!
Spring Girl- um, can I come over for breakfast?
Berni- okay. I am totally making buckwheat pancakes now.
No recipe, no running advice. So that I’m not totally useless, I’ll offer that I enjoyed reading this post. I’ve never had bison burgers, but will add that to my list of future possibilities.
I agree on the buckwheat pancakes. Yum! I think there is a recipe out there for a buckwheat bread. Maybe Alton Brown did it? That’s what comes to mind.
I follow training programs with leeway for my needs. I like to have some parameters to follow – but then make them my own. We all know our own bodies and what works best.
Sounds like you are more than ready for 9K!
Our farmers market has been loaded with good stuff, sorry to hear yours is lacking. No bison burgers sound scary…but I am a vegetarian. Good luck with your run.
peace
mike
lifelife365
Good luck with the race! 😀 It seems like you just signed up yesterday; time flies.
As you know, I’ve been running for 2 months on my own and having fun with it. With the upcoming half marathon, I’m using Higdon’s plan with a bit of adjustments. I start next week so I have yet to learn if I prefer sticking to a plan or just going at my own pace.
Replacing half portion of the usual flour with buckwheat on your fave banana bread might work? 😀
I hear you. I also don’t like having a program for running…it just makes it more rigid and like a chore or something, and I run for fun and for leisure. having a strict program kinda defeats that purpose!
You can use buckwheat flour to make crepe batters, or pancakes, or pasta dough.
I swear I was going to say something really insightful but I just saw the words “buckwheat pancakes” and totally lost my train of thought. Gosh that sounds good!
oh i dont follow training plans either- ive had way to many injuries/ rehab therapy to stick to a plan for a race on one day that I might not be able to even make!
I do however, feel that you shouldn’t increase your mileage by more than 10% each week to prevent injuries!
hmm bison burger delicious ! I just heard about rubbing kale with lemon juice – maybe you would like it steamed like that with s&p ?
Good luck this weekend! You will do great I’m sure!
I love the idea of intuitive running, Sagan.
and I need to ponder that.
for the weights etc I trust my intuition and ALWAYS go that route yet since Im not a “runner” I tend to think my intuition would be to run back to the couch.
and yea.
I only kid a tiny bit…
Cammy- bison burgers are very tasty.
Lori- ooh buckwheat bread could be excellent!
Mike- thanks!
Mia- adjusting it to your needs is a good idea. And I just might have to try subbing in some buckwheat flour in my banana bread 😀
Burpexcuzme- ooh pasta dough could be fun to make.
Crabby- I think I’m going to be distracted by the idea of buckwheat pancakes for days now…
bhealthier- kale would probably taste great that way! Thanks for the idea.
MizFit- have to learn to trust my intuition more. It’s usually right. And sure you get in your running- you have a toddler to chase around!
Amen on the cooked kale, I love it! I haven’t tried it raw, except in a smoothie (a bad smoothie!); I can’t imagine how tough it must be raw though.
I think it’s great that you can run without a training program and listen to your body. For me, if I didn’t have scheduled workouts, I’d never get myself out the door. I just enjoy the whole training/discipline process so much more than the actual running.
Do you think you’ll do a half or full marathon? 9k is gettin’ pretty close! Congrats and good luck in your race!
Our farmer’s market has been really good this year! Sorry yours has not!
I’m impressed you can run and train on your own. It shows how self disciplined you really are!
Awesome job, and good luck on the race!
First off i love farmers market. However i never go to the ones in my town just ones when I’m out of town, and end up getting home made toffee instead of healthy fresh produce =)
Race away. 9k seriously exciting! With no cartridge or meniscus in the knee i’ve stayed away from running. I’m going to try a few different training methods and see if running will work. If not there are always bike races and that’s always good for the knees =)
I sooooo need to find a good farmer’s market where I live!