2 Weeks....Are you hungry to run?

Race day is almost here (15-16 days, but no one is counting...), Mother Nature seems to be cooperating, and I'm excited for many of you to run your first ever 5km!

I'll keep this post short and sweet, but since this week's chapter theory is on nutrition, let's take a look at what are some good pre and post run snacks and drinks!

What we eat plays a big role in our daily performance. Whether that performance is in the classroom, at work, or in our physical education class, food is important. It is the energy that allows us to sustain ourselves over a specific amount of time. It is important before running or exercising that we feel just right: not too full but not on empty! As we are all different, you will have to figure out what works for you.

What to eat/drink before you run:

• Drink water! Better yet, sip on it regularly, but not so much that you will be running to the bathroom.
• Eat low fiber fruits or snacks. No one wants the runs while running.
• Foods that are higher in carbohydrates such as sandwich or 1/2 bagel with peanut butter will keep you energized if you eat it a few hours before running.
• Avoid caffeine as it can cause stomach issues.
• Avoid high fat foods as they do not digest very quickly and your stomach will feel very full.

What to eat/drink after you run:

• Water
• Piece of fruit.
• Chocolate milk (although high in sugar) has a lot of good carbohydrates and protein.
• Muffin
• Yogurt
• Nuts (if you're not allergic)

Todays blog question: What is your favorite healthy snack to have after a run or a workout?

Still chugging away....5 weeks later!

We've reached the halfway point of our program and I'm still in a turkey coma from Thanksgiving, hence the lack of a recent blogpost. This is usually the point in PE class where people start to get the midterm blues- i.e., it gets harder to show up on time (especially if it is at 8am), you feel a bit lazier, and things start to feel like routine.

Most groups are up to 6:1 in the run:walk ratio and looking good! You're going to begin to notice that the distance you run actually gets a bit longer- yes, that's because your run portion now accounts for more of your workout than the walk portion. It's a bit tougher to run the longer distances, but remember you have less intervals AND you can always run at a slower pace.

For this week's blogpost comment, reply with 1-2 obstacles that have prevented/deterred you from running outside of class consistently.