If I were toast, I would be burnt....what a week!

It's been a SUPER few weeks!  As you can see, it's been SO super, Captain has been running around in a cape.  His #1 fan made it for him (Thanks Jesse).  With his cape, he's been creating even more havoc. Eating Lavash bread off the counter, digging out Honey Stinger Waffles from my training bag and generally ruining all things that are good:)  At the end of the day, he's still a way faster runner than I'll be so....Touche big guy!

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This week has been a mixed bag of emotions, like a trail mix full of salty nuts, delicious dark chocolate covered blueberries and tart dried cherries.  First off, I would like to highlight that I LOVE where I live and totally appreciate the amazing atmosphere I am allowed to train in.  I just returned from a TDY to Holloman AFB in New Mexico.  Needless to say, a total 180 as far as surroundings are concerned.  I'll highlight a few things that were really NOT my cup of tea:
- Zero green trees, plants or ANYTHING remotely resembling a "happy vibe"
- No water access (except a pool, which was closed due a toddlers diaper exploding) 
- Alamangordo, NM is a fast food/processed food MECA....no Bueno
- Very cold with 45+mph wind, mixed with lots of dust=Poop
- Ate at Chilis since ALL mexican food was rated Sub-par...and totally was.

Ok, so let's flip the page and point out some things I enjoyed:
- Mountain range, elevation @10,000
- Hotel was 1 minute walk from the gym w/ indoor pool (Great facility)
- The Base was very well designed and looked brand new 
- Climbed some very tall towers and  enjoyed the view...
- Closest I've ever been to Mexico

I would also like to highlight that my flight was delayed 5 hours, which means we got in at 1am.  My ride home forgot where he parked  in the "long term" lot, which meant walking around aimlessly like an infant sucking his thumb, making subtle disgruntled comments. An hour later I arrived at home and realized my house sitter totally locked me out...so after waiting in the cold for 30 minutes, I finally got into bed .  Totally had to push through the rough spots and YES it could have been wor

Wait...it's time to race? Crap, it's a 70.3!! :)

I feel like I signed up for this race a few days ago...time has literally evaporated.  I really would like to be 100% for this race in Puerto Rico but a Ragnar Relay induced injury has been holding me back.  Luckily, I completed an MRI yesterday....so after a month and a half of light running, I'll finally know if the damage is REALLY bad or just kinda bad.  At the end of the day I'm truly happy to race, especially since I get to represent so many great people, who in turn support me:)  Without the United States Air Force, I wouldn't be able to live this life.  Without a doubt, I'm grateful my leadership and colleagues are cool with me being a "full time" athlete.  Be sure to check out my "sponsors" page, as they make my life so much easier and cut a lot of my training/racing cost.  70.3 San Juan will start my season, which means that if the run is too painful, I'll have to proudly step out in order to not jeopardize my entire season.   Either way, my swim and bike should be solid.  At the end, tequila and good company will make this trip one of the many unforgettable experiences I'm sure to encounter this season. Stay tuned for the report in a week or so!

Delicious, Nutritious, Home Made Stuff

I made some nice little recovery/pre-training treats.  Inspired by so many who have already done so...I thought, OF COURSE I can make a delicious RAW treat too.  
- Almonds/Brazil Nuts
- Coconut oil/Shredded Coconut
- Maca Power/Almond Flour
- Vermont Maple Syrup 
- Ginger/Carob Chips/Cocoa Powder

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As always, a homemade pizza fills the belly and ALWAYS makes life better.  The best part that I would like to highlight is the FRESH made roasted tomato, red pepper, garlic and basil pizza sauce.  Additionally, I went with some home made Gluten Free pizza crust.  At the end of the day, you can't hate on pizza.  Especially one with the best ingredients.  It's pretty cool to make something totally from raw ingredients.  Love the good eats!!

Finally, a nice veggie stir fry with some Bison cube steak and cold Farro.  This is a great meal with a perfect carb/protein ratio.  I'll make it a definite point to have veggies with EVERY meal.  I've found that at least 2 servings of lean protein ( the size of my palm) have been adequate, even during heavy weeks.  Whatever your nutritional needs and preferences are, there are always a few staples to remember.  More colorful veggies and fruit = Good.  Lean meats, grass-fed, zero growth hormones=Awesome.  Earn your carbs! Limiting them to pre/during/post exercise.   Of course you can find that information anywhere and hear it OVER and OVER again...but you MUST follow a plan!  At the end of the day....Fail to prepare? Prepare to fail!!! 

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