Apparently it’s September already. Wow. Time for a new challenge!
When we race, a lot of factors affect our performance. Some of these factors are beyond our control:
- Temperature and humidity
- Wind
- Precipitation
- Race course (I guess you could “control” this by choosing which race you do)
- If the fluid and aid stations are well stocked, and located where the race website says they’ll be.
- How we feel, to some extent. Sometimes you just have a bad run or race for no clear reason.
Next month (gulp) I am running a marathon. I want to do well. I want to qualify for Boston.
I know I’ll PR (since I didn’t train for my first marathon), but running a sub 3:40:59 (8:23/ mi pace) marathon is a very lofty goal for me.
I’m trying to concentrate on all of the variables that are in my control come race day. My type A-ish self loves that I can take charge of some things. But I wish Mother Nature would listen to some of my requests, too 😉
Training
Back in April, I ran my fastest half marathon to date. I trained for 12 weeks with a goal of running it at an 8:15 pace. I kicked that goal’s booty. I ran it in 1:43:12 (7:52/ mi pace). I still cannot believe I did that.
I am trying to remember everything I did in preparation for that race (someone should have started blogging earlier 😉 ). I’d love to take my April 3 self and put her at the starting line- but with more long runs under her belt- on October 30. But, alas, I have no magical powers.
I’ve poured over my training plan leading up to that race, and have tried my best to take a similar approach now. I’ve been doing the speedwork, long runs, taking adequate rest days and I hope to start strength training more regularly.
Nutrition
I’ m not going to lie. I thought following the training plan was enough. Then out of no where another modifiable factor popped into my brain: nutrition.
I’ve admitted that I’m not the best when it comes to watching my diet. In fact, I pretty much eat whatever I want.
But, my speedy half marathon was the day before Easter. I’m Catholic. What do we crazy Catholics do for 40 days each year? Give up something for Lent. I gave up chocolate this year.
This means I was consuming significantly less sugar in the 39 days leading up to my half marathon. Hmm…
This concerns me because I’ve been downing a ton of sugar this summer. Between chugging Gatorade on hot runs and enjoying extra sweets while traveling, my sugar intake is a bit out of control.
The day after I realized this, I woke up to an email from Runner’s World titled “Five (Non-Running) Tips to Improve Your Speed”.
Guess what #5 was?
“Limit the Junk Food
Sugar can actually trigger hunger, which can lead to weight gain. Plus, you’ll get more out of your mileage with long-lasting staples like whole-grain rice and pasta than with sugary foods that can cause sluggishness—not what you want if you’re pushing for speed.” (source)
And that, my friends, is what’s called fate.
So begins sugar-less September. By sugar-less I do not mean “without sugar”. Ha, what a ridiculous idea. I simply mean less sugar.
When I gave up chocolate for Lent I still had dessert everyday. Hello reese’s pieces 😉 But I had less dessert than what I was used to.
How will I measure it? I have no clue. I’ll just make an effort to eat less of the sweet stuff. (Here I go being a bad health educator again…)
Now will this sugar-less September help me come marathon day? Who knows. I know better than to think one factor can have such a large effect on my performance. It’s impossible to control every variable in your life and say which behavior caused some result. Hence why the “experts” can’t prove that smoking cigarettes causes long cancer (it does). They can only say smoking cigarettes is linked with or increases your risk of lung cancer.
Let’s hope that less sugar is linked with or increases my risk of a BQ 🙂 And if it doesn’t, at least my dentist will be happy with me.
Anyone else want to participate in sugar-less September?
I am a nut for sugary sweets, too. I’ve been thinking I should clean up my act for the race. I can’t commit to a whole month…just in case a good piece of carrot cake comes my way! You’ve definitely convinced me to make a better effort, though.
I wish I could be there to see you BQ. It is happening in October!
Just have 3/4 of the carrot cake instead of the whole thing. A little less still counts as less in my opinion 😉
I’m in for a less sugar September – this is going to be a huge test to my self control…
You and me both 🙂
This post made me want some Reese’s Pieces.
Mission accomplished 🙂
Count me in! I’m sure my teeth would appreciate it too 🙂
Yay, good luck!
Hi Jen! I’ve been checking in on your blog from time to time and recently started blogging myself. As a runner, I’ve enjoyed reading your thoughts – I don’t photograph my food very well or come up with my own recipes, so reading your tips and experiences is an encouragement to me! I am definitely in for a sugar-less September…and I’m going to write a little post – out in the public (accountability! gulp!) – to commit to it! I have a hilly half marathon coming up towards the end of September and this will be a great addition to the end of my training. Thanks!
Hi Bonnie, thanks for your kind words. I’m doing a hilly half at the end of Sept too! Good luck with the less sugar! You can do it 🙂
I’m SO WITH YOU! I’m going to try to eat things with 5 g of sugar or less in them. Great challenge 🙂
oooh 5 g or less? That would be REALLY hard for me! I’m curious to see how you do. Good luck!
Ok so I know you don’t have a way to measure it, but do you have a way to decide what means less? What you’ll give up and what you’ll eat? Just asking because I’m intrigued by this idea, and am now considering doing it myself. I actually have that email from Runner’s World starred in my inbox and keep meaning to go back to it — now I know I definitely need to go read it!
Anyway, I’ve definitely been eating too much sugar this summer. I’ve sort of just let myself eat whatever I want. And I’ve been traveling a lot, which doesn’t help. I love having dessert and other sweets, but I’ve been thinking lately about trying to clean up my diet a bit and cut back. So….all that to say that I’m tentatively in. I just don’t want to be copping out if I have ice cream or cake now and then. But if I don’t have it EVERY day, that’s a start, right?? 😉
Also…this might be a stupid question, but….don’t Reese’s Pieces have chocolate in them?? I thought it was a “chocolate” candy shell. I guess I’ve been duped all these years!
No chocolate in reese’s pieces- just a candy shell and peanut butter inside. I freaked when I found this out. Made Lent totally bearable 😉
I really don’t know how I’ll measure. I just know what’s “less” for me. I know that’s a bad answer. For example, yesterday I didn’t have any hard candies during the workday (I usually have 3-4) and at TCBY last night, I only had one scoop of cookie dough topping instead of 2.
I should totally do this. My sugar consumption has been off the charts and I honestly could stand to lose some weight.
You can totally do it!
[…] PS – Jen is also planning a sugar strike in September! […]
I’m totally doing the same thing in September. You read my mind!
That’s because we are both geniuses.
oh boy…cutting back on sugar…that’d be such a challenge! I definitely could stand to lose some sugar in my life though so I’m all for it! I guess that candy bowl next to my desk at work is going to need to move haha
Haha, I had to do the exact same thing!
I’m also training for a race coming up soon and I would love to join you! I’m glad its not totally cutting out sugar because I don’t know if I could handle it
Good luck on your race! Join me in the challenge 🙂
I could easily do sugar-less September. I don’t like sweets. Oh, but wait… does beer have sugar?? That could be harder for me… 🙂
So great to meet you last night! Thanks for the confidence boost for running… I’m sticking with it and hopefully I’ll be a runner someday!
Great to meet you, too! You’ll be a runner in no time 😉
I’m always so excited to read someone is trying to qualify for Boston 🙂 I did last year and it was such a great feeling (doesn’t get too much better for a runner!) Which marathon are you running to qualify?
I’m with you on the less-sugar (sugar-less?) September! I’m a believer in dessert but definitely feel better when I have smaller portions of the sweets I really enjoy, and leave sugar out of breakfast/snack foods.
I’m running a small marathon- Spinx Run Fest in Greenville, SC at the end of Oct. So awesome you qualified. Going to stalk your blog now 😉
Completely agree that some sweets are necessary!
Recently I stopped drinking added sugars in soymilk (been getting plain instead of vanilla) and in yogurt (again, plain, not flavored). I’ve also been more cognisant of the added sugar I eat overall.
I have been MIA from running all summer, so I can’t speak for how sugarlessness will effect performance, but I can tell you I feel much better!!
This is so important! I stopped eating flavored yogurt earlier this year and just buy plain now. It tastes so much better when you add your own fruit anyway.
This may be just what I need! Count me in as well! Good luck!
You can do it! 🙂
An excellent idea! I’m running NYC in November so this will be a good plan! I’m in. 🙂
I’m so jealous you’re running NYC! I entered the lottery and didn’t get in.
[…] reading this post on Runner’s Trials, I was inspired to make my own nutrition goals for marathon training! […]
I do think I want to participate. After my vacation and birthday next week. 🙂
Haha, of course. I couldn’t do this on vaca or during my bday!
[…] also thought this was a great idea of Jen‘s. She’s doing sugar-less September! I’m thinking I could stand to have a sweets-less September and join her in her […]
I am doing Sober September. I found that a hectic summer of weddings and get togethers meand a little more alcohol at the weekends than I liked.
I was merely getting through my long runs at the weekends and with a marathon in 8 weeks, I want to be able to hold my head high at the finish line and know that I gave myself every chance to do well by completeing my long runs with a clear head and body.
Good luck with Sweetless September. You will rock it!