Choosing the Right Social Media

Date: August 18, 2014

Author: astottler

Let me just preface this post by saying that I’m not going to stop blogging.

That being said, I’ve been feeling a little lacking in motivation lately. And then I started to wonder if it’s holding me back. If constantly focusing on food/fitness is affecting me or making me obsessed.

I also haven’t been as involved in the blogging community lately. I blame this on the fact that I read lots of blog posts during my commute on my phone, and it’s a pain for me to comment on my phone, so I just don’t.

And don’t get me started on the fact that anytime I open Instagram I get hungry.

After some thinking, I’ve decided to step back a little bit in certain ways. For one thing, my phone has zero ability to hold charge, and I can’t make it through a day even without browsing social media. So I’m kind of forced to stop using my phone to browse things during my commute because Googlemaps are important for me to get home within a reasonable amount of time (yayy public transportation), so there’s that.

So here’s what I decided. One of my favorite forms of social media, Instagram, has to go. It’s influencing me too much. When I find myself about to go out and buy a Quest bar, I know I’m in trouble. Not that there is anything wrong with Quest bars-I know a ton of people love them-but they turn my stomach into knots and they have nuts (and I know I’ve reacted to them before). So when an app has me on the verge of going out and consuming an allergen, I know it’s time to step back.

I decided to be more active on Twitter. I like Twitter because it’s a small place to keep track of everything, and it’s easy to keep track of what is going on in the world.

I decided to stop reading so many blogs on my phone (partly not by choice but by necessity), and instead read them on my computer, where I can comment, interact, be more mindful, and not get run over by a bus in the process (#commutingproblems).

I think to reignite the blogging spark I need to be more active and go out there and find and read new blogs, and comment on my favorites.

I also would like to be more representative of what I’m actually doing on my blog. I guess I partly feel less motivated to blog when I’m having ice cream every day and I’m supposed to be promoting health, but ice cream is part of health.

I also worry about posting my exercise schedule. I always worry I’ll be judged for what I do-I’m not obsessed with exercise, I just really like it. I like my Crossfit friends, and love exploring DC by foot on my runs. For me, I can run in the morning and then do Crossfit at night. But that’s just what works for me! (And I definitely don’t do that every day-just to be clear).

But I’ve found that talking about exercise on my blog is a way to express all my thoughts on anything exercise related without annoying the heck out of everyone in real life. I always have to hold myself back when I see my family or all I find myself talking about is my latest run or WOD.

So that’s that. I’m going to be discussing this more later, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on social media. And since this is a food and fitness blog, here’s some food:

Breakfast: Banana custard made in the microwave because I didn’t want to dig and find my pot.

Lunch was the typical green bean salad and milk, plus yogurt, sunflower seed butter, and a twist-nectarine! (Not blueberries like every other day for the past 2 weeks.)

And dinner was at the Whole Foods Salad bar.I normally get soup+bread there for dinner on Mondays, but after trying some of the garlic-y kale the other day, I’ve been wanting more! I need to do a copycat version-it is delicious! I had that topped with Southwest chicken and some other random salad bar items. And then I impulse bought a huge piece of corn bread and ate the whole delicious thing. Cornbread here is so much better. I guess since it’s sort of the South?

And thanks for sticking with this post!

Thoughts on social media?

Sights On a Long Run

Date: August 17, 2014

Author: astottler

Categories: Uncategorized

Happy Sunday! I guess I still have some energy to blog! Today was my longest run of half marathon training, so I’m OFFICIALLY in taper mode! Yay!

Breakfast was plain greek yogurt+sunbutter+banana mashed with cocoa powder.

As for fueling on the run, I spiked my water bottle with coconut water. Worst. Decision. Ever. First worst decision though was buying plain coconut water instead of pineapple. I actually like pineapple-can’t stand plain. I thought plain would blend better with my water (that I wouldn’t taste it as much) but boy was I wrong. I think I gagged every time I took a drink. Blech.

I actually brought my phone (in case I passed out or died midway-never know!) so I got some pictures of today’s scenic route.

I also made myself choke down some water every mile or so. It was hot and humid today so that was a priority.

At the halfway point, I ate my Cliff chocolate goo. I think this is the only brand and flavor I could ever race with. Every other type I’ve tried (even other Cliff flavors) give me coughing fits. Which is fine on a training run (well, fine-ish), attempting to choke it down without losing a lung would be difficult. I think it is because this flavor is a bit thicker and less sickly sweet. I really wanted salted caramel for this run (because electrolytes) but I didn’t make it to the store on time.

I didn’t have any expectations on this run, other than to try and finish. From the very start, my legs fell into a faster pace. My calves felt tighter running slower so that was that.

Even though I got a new audiobook last night, I ran to music because I wanted to start with something to pump me up a bit. I didn’t plan to have music the whole way, but it was working for me. Plus, my route was pretty interesting and varied. From Georgetown to the river, past Jefferson, over the river to the Mt. Vernon trail, past the airport, back, and then from Lincoln through the National Mall.

I hit Lincoln around mile 10, and it was SO awesome because those were the first working drinking fountains on my run. I only had a bit of water left, and it was the nasty coconut mix so having fresh water was heaven.

Also-funny story. At mile 11, I totally wiped out in from of the Washington Monument. Luckily the ground was smooth stone so I kind of just slid, with just a bit of a scrape and bruise on my knee. Another reason to run in pants!

I finished perfectly at my lunch location of choice.

And out of nowhere, I had just completed my best ever 12 mile training run.

I never really felt like death, and my legs just locked into a rhythm. Hopefully this bodes well for PRing my race! I finished feeling good. And hungry. Definitely an improvement from last week when I just felt kind of gross.

I finished at The Protein Bar, and got a chocolate protein shake and a BBQ chicken “bar-rito” with avocado.

It has quinoa, not rice! So delicious. I’m getting hungry again just thinking about it. Or maybe that’s because I ran 12 miles? I honestly think the 11 mile run the week prior in my training plan is one of the worst-or at least it typically has been in my training! I get locked in a bit more by the time I hit the 12 miler. Also-totally random but on the way back I ran into a friend from school on the street who lives in DC!

On my way back, I decided to check one item off my DC dessert bucket list. Chocolate cream cheese muffin from a nearby coffee shop. It was kind of like marble creed/cream cheese. My weakness. So good. I actually had a chocolate muffin the night before the big run, and I think the carb loading helped.

After cleaning myself up a lot, I met up with a friend for frozen yogurt. I wasn’t exactly feeling it after the muffin, so I just got tart with fruit.

We walked around the National Mall and Capital Building a bit, and then found the Supreme Court!

Take note of the compression socks. Those things are seriously magic.

On my way home, I stopped for a salad-the same one as the other day. It was delicious-feta, watermelon, chicken, etc.

Aaand now I know I’m going to sleep well tonight. I felt so much better all day today than after my last long run! But I am certainly going to sleep well tonight…

What is your worst run of training?

Experiencing DC

Date: August 16, 2014

Author: astottler

Categories: Uncategorized

Happy weekend! I’m posting today because there’s a very low probability of me having the energy to do it tomorrow after 12 miles!

Let’s start with fitness updates. The other day, for my 4 mile run, I decided to run uphill for a change, instead of down to the waterfront. So it was 2 miles. Straight. Up. Hill. The run back was great though! I kept thinking to myself “How the heck did I run up this thing?”

So we’ll see if I ever have the motivation to do it again! The best part of the run was FINALLY seeing a cat in DC though. I’ve seen only one other cat during my time here, and it was in the dark, from a distance, as I was passing on a bus. Yes, I do have fantastic cat sensors.

Friday evening I went to Crossfit and did 100 plyo pushups. Which was fun…(hah). From my knees, but still! Ow. We also did bench press. I never did much bench pressing before coming here. I never really did it when I first lifted with my trainer because it wasn’t a good movement for me given I was a softball pitcher. And my school Crossfit doesn’t really do them either. I used to hate and avoid them, but now I look forward to them! I’m terrible at keeping the bar path straight though. It’s by far my worst lift.

As for food, I have a random smattering of things.

One of my new favorite breakfasts-plain yogurt+banana mashed with cocoa powder+sunflower seed butter.

Lots and lots of veggies-cabbage seasoned with Mrs.Dash, salt, nutritional yeast, and what turned out to be a TON of pepper…whoops.

I had time before Crossfit, and instead of munching on a giant muffin (which has happened a bit more often than I’d like to admit lately) I snacked on some veggies-garlic kale (SO good), ginger carrots, and grilled mango.

After Crossfit, I went out for Mexican food at District Taco, a chain around here that is supposed to be good. It seemed pretty similar to Chipotle to me! I got chicken tacos.

Saturday morning I was up early to do something I’ve been wanting to do for weeks now (more in a minute). I got a green smoothie as part of breakfast at Whole Foods-this is one I’ve been wanting to try. It supposedly had greens, coconut water, cocoa powder, banana, dates, and blueberries. I say supposedly because it was kind of watery. The green smoothies I’ve had here so far are way inferior to the ones I get back at home!

For lunch today, I went to Sweetgreen, a salad chain very popular in DC. I’m going to miss this. It’s definitely grown on me. I got the seasonal salad with chicken, which included watermelon, heirloom tomatoes, mint, feta, spicy sunflower seeds, cucumber, and a champagne vinaigrette.

For dinner, I went to a place I’ve been wanting to try (I’m trying to fit everything in!) which was sort of an Asian fusion place. I got a teriyaki chicken wrap on a whole wheat tortilla. Good, but messy!

In terms of today’s activities, I woke up early-too early-I need more sleep!-and headed out for breakfast, and then metro-ed it over to Arlington Cemetery. Every since my first visit, I’ve been wanting to go really early in the morning before the crowds of people come in. You can go up to the Arlington house, which offers a fantastic view of all of the city.

I’m really going to miss this place…

After some time here, I went back to the gym for a spin class, and after showering at the gym, I headed out to the museums. The original plan was the Natural History Museum and the American History Museum, but I quickly realized that was too ambitious given my longest run of the summer is tomorrow. I went to the Natural History Museum, and watched an IMAX movie on adorable lemurs. And then I impulse bought a stuffed giraffe.

My sorority is obsessed with giraffes, so it will decorate my room at school!

And now I’m SO tired…

One thing I want to share about fueling and such for tomorrow-I bought coconut water, and since I really don’t want to have to carry a separate bottle, I’m going to mix it into my regular water. I know, blech. But it’s supposed to be another warm one tomorrow and it beats carrying it! In terms of pre-long run meals, I’ve been eating pretty much anything I have on hand. While it’s great that I’ve become better adapted to being able to eat anything, it means I have zero clue what to eat on race day! Last weekend I had a yogurt bowl (because that was all the food I had in the house), and it was fine. A year ago, I would have never been able to tolerate that pre-run. So there’s that.

Ok, bedtime for me!

What is your go-to race day meal?

The Exorcist Stairs

Date: August 14, 2014

Author: astottler

Categories: Uncategorized

Happy Thursday/Friday depending on when you’re reading this! Now that we’re all caught up, it’s back to your regularly scheduled programming.

This morning I slept in a bit. So…my commute has been weird ever since I moved. It used to take me like an hour. But then one day I was running late-15 min late-I I still got there at the same time. So today I left EVER LATER and got there at the same time. Ok…? How is that possible? So now I get to sleep later and my commute is shorter. A-ok with me!

Workout-wise, one thing I failed to mention yesterday was that I had a weird experience while practicing my handstands against the wall. I was facing the wall, and I’m just starting to learn to get my feet off the wall. I had a spotter, and I actually held it for a few seconds, before falling into my spotters hands…and then I kept going. Not sure what happened with the spotter, but I fell over backwards. It was possible the most graceful fall I’ve ever had-it turned into a nice little somersault. Left me kind of dizzy for a while though!

Moving on.

Here’s a new to me breakfast. Anyone remember my banana/cocoa powder mixtures I used to always make? Well, I decided it is sort of similar to my double chocolate banana bread. So I turned it into a yogurt bowl and topped it with sunflower seed butter. I had this pre-run but it was far too ugly to deserve a picture. This doesn’t look that pretty but it tastes great!

In terms of lunches, here’s a new one. A broccoli/cabbage mix (what I could find at the grocery…) with sunflower seeds, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and coriander (plus salt and pepper).

Plus my new side dish-yogurt+berries+sunbutter.

Tonight, I went to run club again. There was a different person leading it. It was a good one. We ran the Exorcist stairs! I’ve heard people talk about them-apparently they appeared in that movie? I’ve never seen it. But they stink. They are tall. And coincidentally really close to where I live to I should be incorporating them into my runs for these last 2 weeks!

Dinner was simple-tomato soup with added spinach and cheese, and a microwave cheddar quesadilla.

There were also some snacks in there that went unpictured.

Have you seen the Exorcist?

Peak Week

Date: August 13, 2014

Author: astottler

Categories: Uncategorized

So…one of the reasons for my absence? It’s peak week! Of my half marathon training! Not sure if anyone else actually calls it that, but this week is my heaviest week of running, with the training plan telling me to do 4,6,4, 12. Last week was pretty heavy as well-4,5,4,11. Sooo it’s sort of been knocking me out! That being said, let’s talk about some of my noteworthy workouts from the past week!

Thursday(last week)-run club workout. There was a sub leading it, and she planned out a route right through downtown. As a result, about halfway through (maybe less) we started getting stuck at every. single. light. Which I personally welcomed because I was casually dying. However, what this meant to my companions was that we should sprint the distances between the lights. Dying.

Friday-rowing workout at the gym+abs in the morning-nothing too crazy, just 4 sets of 5 minutes on the erg plus about 10 minutes of abs. To be honest it was an excuse to use the super fancy showers at my gym…seriously, they are amazing.

That evening was Crossfit-Death by Slamballs. This was a 15 minute AMRAP, with every minute starting with 3 burpees, and then 1 slam ball, then 2 slam balls,3,4,5, etc, increasing by one every minute so that the last minute you do 3 burps plus 15 slam balls. If you fail to complete the slam balls, you “die.” Somehow, I “lived.” But barely. Ugh, in the last round I sort of wished I had died earlier! I used a 30# slam ball.

Later that evening, since it was Friday night, I was asking around Georgetown and stopped by the Reebok store. They had a promotion that if you do 20 burpees, you get 20% off. Uhm, yes! I ALMOST got some beautiful turquoise Nano 4.0s but they didn’t have my size. Probably just as well though, because I think I like my 2.0s more-they just fit my feet better! I did however, get this shirt (putting burpee count for the day at 65 if you’re counting):

Saturday: Crossfit-I haven’t gone on a Saturday in forever, and I wanted to work on handstands since I”m getting close! We also did snatches. The WOD was a fun one-sprints in the form of Cops and Robbers (basically tag). It was only 10 sprints, but I definitely felt it the next day…which was…

Sunday-11 miles! This was a pretty uneventful run. I incorporated lots of hills in the first couple of miles, and the end was awful because I messed up my complicated planned route a bit so I got back to near the start at about a mile short, so I had to run in circles for a mile. Which I hate doing-I like pure out and backs. Plus I was dying at that point and contemplated finishing at 10+ but I did it. The best moment though was finishing at the Georgetown waterfront where there was this fountain/sprinkler thing that kids were playing in in their bathings suits. I stuck my head in and it was the best thing ever.

The issue was that after my run I felt really…uncomfortable. I don’t know, not bad, just weird. I walked to a cafe to get some food (and lots of water) into me. I sat at the cafe briefly contemplating whether I was going to pass out, and then realized I was being ridiculous and paranoid. Does anyone else do that-they feel slightly off and then it freaks them out? Anyways, I think the problem may have been lack of electrolytes. It was pretty warm, and while the heat didn’t really bother me, I sweated quite a bit. Given all my races are in San Francisco and I train by the bay, I’m not used to this kind of thing! I think I’m going to try and get salted goo for this week’s run, or carry coconut water or something.

Monday: Crossfit-Not ideal after a long run, but I felt decent and didn’t want to miss squat day.

Tuesday: Rest/yoga. My legs were kind of beat up, and my hamstrings were tight, so this was perfect. It was power yoga in a warm room (~80?), but it wasn’t too intense and my hamstrings got a great stretch.

Wednesday-legs felt restored for my morning 6 miler! Uneventful-I ran to the Lincoln Memorial which I can only do on longer runs now because I live further, and almost swallowed about 50 gnats at the reflecting pool.

And that’s what you missed! I promise to try and be more consistent-but after my 11 miler I lay on my bed not moving for a solid 3 hours. It knocked me out!

Also-I’ve been making an effort to tweet more, so feel free to follow me there!

How do you handle the heat?