What Are Your 2012 Resolutions?
Posted Dec 21, 2011
We all make new year’s resolutions. I thought about skipping this year...but then I changed my mind.
Since I decided back in October to run a marathon it only took me another two months to figure why stop there? I’m a little less than seven weeks out from running 26.2 miles so I decided why not add another eight miles to that and try a hilly 50K course through the forest seven weeks after that marathon. If you asked me a year ago if I would do something like this I would have laughed.
So who/what convinced me I could do the 34 miles. Maybe it wasn’t convincing I needed, I don’t really work like that. Now inspiration that is a different story. I’m in the middle of reading a great book that was recommended to me by a friend; even if you think you hate running check out “Born To Run”. It reads like watching an exciting sports event.
One of the interesting and useful nuggets I found in there was the “magic potion” the Tarahumara indians use to rejuvenate their bodies when running long distances of 50 miles or more through the desert canyons of Mexico. Ever heard of “iskiate” or chia fresca? This is one of the secret weapons they use to basically ingest a whole new set of legs mid-race. Does it work? So far, I think it does...I’m still experimenting with it, although I will say it made both my recent 13 mile runs much easier than expected. I didn’t run out of energy at all.
So what is in iskiate? You know that commercial for that silly ceramic pet that grows little plants around the outside...you know the tune. Cha-cha-cha-Chia! Yep, that’s right...you can eat those little black (and white) seeds. They are packed with minerals that help initiate your energy metabolism. The actual drink is made of chia seeds soaked in 12 ounces of warm water for 15 minutes with a teaspoon of sugar and the juice of one fresh lime. You can add ice after the fact if you want...the warm water helps the chia seeds gel more easily.
The tactile texture has the gelatinous consistency of kiwi seeds, but not crunchy like if you were to bite down on them. The lime juice gives it a nice refreshing finish. If you are prone to be freaked out by foods with weird textures, then this drink is probably not for you. However, if you are desperate for a drink that works better than a sports drink ever could, try it just one time and you will become a believer.
Now some people would scoff and say, “Oh that’s just the sugar that is giving you a boost.” Nope, in long distance running you can burn off 95% of your body’s sugar storage in about 20-30 minutes. That’s not going to last you for 2+ hours. Refined sugar in your body is like lighter fluid, it goes up quickly when needed. And the body will always burn sugar (simple carbs) first. Body fat however is like charcoal, it can burn for hours since most people have an infinite supply, but only if your body has the proper nutrients to run the chemical reaction.
I have been trying to alter my diet to provide these extra nutrients in a more balanced form. Looking through the January/February 2012 Men’s Fitness I did find a great list of recipes on pages 56-61 that should get me started with what I need. Now all I need to worry about is staying hydrated!
So there's my story...what are you going to accomplish in 2012?