Walk O’Clock

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Coco

Awake before my alarm,
I grab my phone to check the time.
Her tail starts thumping.
How does she know
It’s walk o’clock?

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Protein Primer

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Coco

I was surprised when a friend told me that her new afternoon snack is a rice cake with peanut butter. I am so over my rice cake-eating days.  I put rice cakes in the category of foods that make me feel like I am depriving myself even as I am eating them.  No matter what I topped them with, I could not escape the idea that I was eating styrofoam.

But my surprise wasn’t about the rice cakes. It was about her comment that the peanut butter was “a good source of protein.”  How did this idea become so pervasive? Peanut butter is first and foremost a fat. It is a healthy fat. It is delicious. It provides some protein. But it is not a “good source” of protein, especially on a calorie-for-calorie basis.

Creamy Peanut Butter1 Tablespoon = 95 calories, 8 g fat, 3.5 g protein

On the other hand, I have been surprised by other foods that have more protein than I expected, like my Arnold® 100% Whole Wheat Bread.

1 Slice = 110 calories, 3 g fiber, 5 g protein

So, when I fix myself a pre-run breakfast of peanut butter toast, I am getting more protein from the bread than from the peanut butter!

Of course, none of my snacks provide more protein than my Chobani® yogurt.

1 cup = 100 calories, 18 g protein
(the flavored non-fat varieties have about 140 calories and 15-16 g protein)

What is your favorite snack?

Do you like rice cakes?

Posted in Food | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Eight Is Great

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Coco

With no races on the horizon, my weekend long runs no longer have to fit a specific training plan. I don’t need to focus on steady climbs for the Rock’N’Roll USA Half Marathon, going “fast and flat” for the Cherry Blossom 10 Miler, or rolling hills for the GW Parkway Classic.  I can choose from a variety of routes depending on my mood, my schedule, and the weather. As for distance, I think I will make 8 miles my standard long run distance.

  • Eight miles is long enough to feel like a long run, but not so long as to require a post-run ice bath.
  • I can run eight miles without fussing over my pre-run breakfast and without needing any mid-run fuel.
  • I can complete an eight mile run by 8:00 am, before the sun gets too hot.
  • An eight mile base will keep me in shape for the Army Ten Miler in October and the Richmond Half in November.

If you’re not training for a race, do you have a standard distance for your long runs?

Did you ever have a Magic 8 Ball?

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Mother’s Day Time Warp

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Coco

I know I was warned that “they grow up fast,”

but I swear that my son went from this boy


to this boy


in the blink of an eye.

And while I still remember taking my daughter for walks like this

she now goes hiking in the mountains like this.

“Time flies” is such a cliché, but it’s true.

At least the time warp of motherhood keeps those days close in my heart,

as I watch with pride as their lives start to pull them away.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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My Tried And True Running Shoes

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Coco

It’s been over 6 months since I’ve added to my Mizuno collection.

Tried And True Running Shoes (Mizuno)
It’s high time for a fresh pair.

I thought about trying another brand, but (a) the guy at the running store was more interested in watching the Caps game than explaining comparable options and (b) now that my ITB/piriformis issue is back, I don’t want to risk the new twinges that might come with a new style of shoe.

When you need new running shoes, do you stick with the same brand/style or do you like to mix things up?

Posted in Fitness | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments