See Jess Run

I am sitting here getting progressively more sore from this morning’s strength workout, watching the stock market fall, and checking out the awesomeness that is the 10-day forecast for Austin (54 degrees tonight, really?). It’s time to be a little more productive, and that means sharing the internet wealth and then answering a reader question.

It’s Joanie! Check out the story about her daughter on the second page. It’s hilarious.

This woman makes something new in her crockpot Every. Single. Day. Perhaps I should buy one.

I actually won something? Net surfing pay-off! Score! Thanks, MizFit!

Are you doing the Amish Workout?

Reader Question

Last week a reader (imissaustin) asked me a question:

My question- what kinds of things do you eat for breakfast after these morning runs? Do you have a snack first, and how quickly after you finish do you eat… and do you think this is important? I’m just curious because I don’t see you post much about your breakfasts, but I assume that’s because you don’t have time.

I answered the question briefly in the comments section, but I think it’s worth some extra discussion. The thing is, I think I could be a better example of fueling and refueling at breakfast time, so please feel free to chime in.

I don’t eat anything before a normal run and this is rarely a problem for me. A lot of people eat a snack before running, so I advise you to do whatever works for you. I do eat something small before my weekly long run and because these have been getting even longer, I take a gel with me. On Saturday I went more than 18 miles and only ate a Kashi Soft Baked snack bar beforehand and a Clif Shot Blok during. I ran out of energy and need to experiment with taking in more fuel.

I rehydrate immediately after all my runs, but I like to enjoy my breakfast, so I wait until after I shower. This usually takes a while because first I stretch and roll out, and immediately after I shower I blow dry my hair (it will be flat if I wait longer).

I’ve heard that you should refuel within 30 minutes of a workout, but I’ve also heard a 1 hour rule. I usually go by the 1 hour rule for normal runs. After long runs, I refuel pretty much immediately, shower or no shower.

Weekday breakfasts are usually scarfed down with black coffee while watching CNN. It’s often cold cereal, which I like to blend by using several kinds in one bowl. I also cut up fruit and mix it with my cereal. I look for cereals that contain a lot of fiber and low amounts of sugar. Here’s what I ate for breakfast this morning, all in one bowl:

• Cheerios
• Kashi Cinnamon Harvest
• Nature’s Path Acai Apple granola*
• A few strawberries
• Sliced banana
• Blueberries
• Plain, light soymilk

I also eat oatmeal a couple times a week. It’s usually 1/2 cup oats cooked with 1/2 cup soymilk, 1/2 cup water and chopped fruit. I just make it in the microwave.

*Nature’s Path granola is the only brand I buy, because all the others I’ve seen have awful nutritional information. Thanks, but if I want to consume that much fat and sugar, I’ll just have a cookie.