Duct Tape, Cherries and Raw Brownies ??

One week to go.  We started our taper this past week.  The shoulder started acting up on Thursday again, so scampered on into my massage therapist on Friday morning. Thankfully she was able to fit me in.  And it feels perfectly good now, even after swimming yesterday and today.  Hip flexor issue has been popping up now and then over the last week.  Nothing that has lasted, either through the ride or after, and I'm trusting that it will take me through the race as well. I've been stretching it out, using the crazy stretch that Sadri gave me.  A little tricky to get into, but I think it is working.

As I prepare for my race, I am also looking ahead to my post-race plan. I'm getting ready to really change the way I nourish my body, including moving to a gluten-free diet, since I suspect this is an issue for me.  So I bought a breadmaker and a gluten-free bread cookbook.  Yesterday I made my first loaf of bread, a nutmeg bread, and it was absolutely, surprisingly, I-had-no-idea-gluen-free-bread-could-be-this-good delicious.  Yum! I shared it with April, Janet, Ken and Mikey G last night, as the grillmaster, @thekenburkey, dazzled us yet again with some delish burgers and grilled veggies.  It was still warm when I got to the Burks, and we all dug in before it cooled down.  Today I had some with pb and banana (this one's for you Dad), and it was still fantastic.

We (Brett, Janet, me) did the 100 miles to nowhere ride today - 10 loops of 10 miles through Mountain Park.  Of course, since we are tapering, we only did 2 loops :) and a quick run.  Not sure I have any desire to do 10 of those loops.  Phew!  I did make a fabulous post-workout smoothie chock full of cherries - it was scrumptious, and a great post workout option with the anti-inflammatory properties of cherries.  MMM. Much better than ibuprofen, and really ... can you eat too many cherries?  This is my question.  I'm thinking NO.  

Try this after your next workout:  Cherry Bomb courtesy of CJ Hitz (Smoothies for Runners)

1c vanilla rice milk

1/4 c tart cherry juice (unsweetened)

1/2 c frozen cherries

1/2 c vanilla yogurt (use greek, or if you are vegan, use cultured coconut milk yogurt)

1 banana

1tsp vanilla extract

1tbsp flaxseed

And my final culinary masterpiece of the weekend - raw brownies.  OMG.  Change your life stuff, seriously. Brownies that are healthy for you.  Made of walnuts, raw cacao powder, and dates, you'd never guess these weren't actual brownies.  WOW.  http://mynewroots.blogspot.com/2011/04/raw-brownie.html  I love this woman, and I think she is Canadian to boot.  (of course!)  

So now my job is simple:  lots of rest (check, just napped for 3 hrs), hyrdrate (check, drinking water right now), nourish my body with healthy food (check check check) and PMA (the secret ingredient). Yep, bring on the positive mental attitude!  Dr Sadri said back in February that he thought I might need duct tape to get me through this season, I was in such bad shape.  Will I need duct tape to get me through this race?  Not on your life.  (mostly thanks to him and Tiffany!)  I'm excited to get out there again.

Happy Training!!

Kat