Week 4 in Review

I can't believe I've already been at it for four weeks now.  My assessment so far is that I'm sticking to my plan, encountering minor hurdles, but adjusting as needed and pushing forward.

This week I got in four total runs.  Due to the weather, two of them were on the treadmill, and two were outside.  Today's long run was 9 miles.  And it went really, really well.  I felt great afterwards and it just goes to show that -- despite the windy conditions, minor snowfall, slick roads, and temperatures in the 'teens, you CAN run outside if properly equipped.

The two pieces of equipment that saved my butt in particular were my balaclava and my winter spikes.  The balaclava is basically a fancy word for "ski mask," and I found myself pulling it up over my nose frequently to block the wind and keep my breath warm.  The winter spikes are a very clever product that a friend told me about.  They were about $10 at Wal-mart and they're basically big rubber bands with spikes on the bottom.  They stretch around the bottom of any shoe (in this case, running sneakers), and provide excellent traction for running on snowy and/or wet roads.  They were awesome today, since the road shoulders were not entirely clear of snow, and even when they were clear, they were wet.  In the spikes, I could run without fear of slipping, and I only was mildly aware of them under my feet when I was running on plain, hard, clear roadways. 

So, all in all, I'd say this was an excellent week.  Four running workouts seem to be appropriate, since I don't feel overtrained but I am still making improvements.  My run times are getting faster, the holiday weight is coming off, and I'm feeling more energetic in general.

As for next week, my goals are to keep up with four runs (my long run will be 10 miles).  In addition, I've decided to progressively alter my diet and try out a vegan lifestyle to see if I feel any differently (vegan means eating no animals or animal products).  I'm currently a vegetarian and have been so happy to make that change -- I do not miss meat at all, but I still eat fish, eggs, and dairy (so technically, I am a pesco-vegetarian).  As a result of becoming a vegetarian about a year and a half ago, I've had more energy and felt better in general.

The more I read about the way our food is processed, and the health risks associated with saturated fats and cholesterol, I'm inclined to attempt an entirely plant-based diet, if even just to try it for a couple weeks and determine it's not for me.  In order to get enough protein, beans and tofu will become my friends.

This week, my goal is to take a baby step towards this and cut out all dairy (milk, cheese, and yogurt).  Then next week, I will cut out eggs.  Then fish the next week.  And before you know it, I'll be vegan.

Anyway, I had a good week and am looking forward to improving even more in the upcoming one.