Change in Running: My 1st Half Marathon on Raw Food

Look for me with the headband, green tank, and yellow shorts!

I finished the Dexter-Ann Arbor Half Marathon Run this past Sunday, June 5th, 2011!  And I did quite well for my own expectations.

My breathing and body felt great for the entire 13.1 miles and I did it in 1 hour 42 minutes and 18 seconds with an average 7:49 per mile pace.  I only trained for about 2 weeks too!  I attribute a majority of my performance to the excellent diet of 100% raw living foods I've been eating as an intern at CHI.

My results:

Chip Time = 1:42:18

Clock Time = 1:43:34

Pace = 7:49

Overall Place = 375 out of 3137 finishers (Top 12%)

Sex Place = 319 out of 1679 male finishers (Top 19%)

Division Place = 40 out of 100 male, age 20-24 finishers (Top 40%)

Now, I don't really consider myself a runner.  At least yet.  This was my 1st race and I didn't have much time to train or learn about the sport in general.  This was mainly a quick mile marker for me to achieve my goal of finishing a full marathon.  I'll be running the Detroit Marathon October 16th and I'll definitely be training for it.

The goal of a finishing a marathon is important to me because it represents both physical and mental possibilities and restrictions.  There was a time when I thought the idea of running 26 miles was crazy and something I was incapable of.  I still think it's far... But now, I think it is possible.  As I continue to run, I grow stronger physically and mentally.  Those original ideas of restrictions are now changing to possibilities.  And it feels great!

This was my training schedule and some of my diet and prep for the 1/2 marathon:

5/4: 2.5 mi

5/5: 2.5 mi

5/6-5/15:  10 Day Raw Detox at CHI.  Transitioning to Raw diet.  No running, but some Yoga and Rebounding.

5/16-5/22:  Busy as CHI intern in the kitchen.  No running, little exercise.

5/23:  3.5 mi.  I begin to notice a sharp increase in energy for the first time since coming off the raw detox.

5/24:  5.6 mi

5/25:  6.5 mi

5/26:  Some weight lifting and stretching.

5/27:  9.5 mi

5/28:  Rest

5/29:  11 mi.  (My feet were sore, but breathing and muscles felt good.)

5/30:  Some weight lifting and stretching.

5/31:  5 mi.  I notice my left calve is really tight and bothering me a bit.

6/1:  5 mi.  Epsom salt bath in the evening.

6/2:  2.5 mi.  Epsom salt bath in the evening.

Dinner:  I had like 6 fresh garden burgers in lettuce wraps.  (My appetite has definitely increased with all the running.)

6/3 (2 days before race):  Rest.  I had my first colonic.  It was awesome and I felt great and much lighter afterwards.  Epsom salt bath in the evening.  My left calve is feeling better.

Breakfast:  Extra large bowl muesli (chopped almonds, pecans, walnuts, raisins, coconut...) with almond milk.  Banana, blueberries, strawberries, glass of orange juice.

Lunch:  Green energy soup smoothie.

Dinner:  Green energy soup smoothies and salad with sprouts.

6/4 (Day before Race):  Rest.

Breakfast:  Oatmeal, banana, blueberries.

Lunch: Chocolate banana smoothie with raw cacoa, maca, and hemp seed.

Dinner:  Snacked on apples, bananas, strawberries throughout the evening

Evening enema to clean me out so I won't have to take a crap during the race- and it worked :)

6/5:  HALF MARATHON RACE DAY.

Breakfast:  Smoothie (1 banana, 1 carton blueberries, 2 cups goji berries, 2 cups rejuvelac).

Drank 20 oz of rejuvelac prior to race (a fermented sprouted seed drink, high in probiotics).

Bathroom right before race started.  Didn't have to take a bathroom stop during the entire race- my plan worked out!

A few things I learned during the race as a newbie from either my experience or others:

-I shouldn't have worn a 100% cotton tank during the race.  From sweat and the t-shirt rubbing for 13 miles, my nipples were sore afterwards.
-Trim or shave armpit hair more.  13 miles of sweating and arms moving resulted in a bit of underarm rash burn.

-I didn't wear a watch or have a pace watch.  I did the math at each mile marker clock and realized I was keeping a consistent 8:00 pace.

-I would watch people who looked like pretty good runners and keep pace with them for a while.  Sometimes I would notice my breathing was better, or I felt better, so I'd move up.  Continued this throughout the race.

-I didn't know when to pick up my pace... I started speeding up my pace after mile 11.  The end of the race was uphill so I was worried about when to give my full energy.

-I say or think positive affirmations when I run and I repeat them.  Especially during spells when I may feel fatigue.  My favorite one that I learned at CHI and I continue to use is:  "Everyday in Every Way, I'm getting Better, Better, Better, and Better.  Physically, Mentally, Emotionally, and Spiritually."  For running, I sometimes like to switch "Better" to "Stronger."

-I did this race without headphones because they discourage their use on the race website.  I normally run with headphones as it helps me pass the time...  However, there was a lot of stimulation during the race and lack of headphones was no problem.
-I especially enjoy when neighbors are at the street cheering runners on.  I also got a few free high fives from little kids which helped.

-It was great to here family and friends cheer you on near the finish line!

-It was really gross to see that they were serving greasy pizza at the finish line... and that a lot of the runners were eating it... blah!  I went out to lunch with family and had a fruit salad and veggie salad. 

Thanks to my family and friends who were able to support me at the finish line!  It helped a lot!  Also thanks to my sister and brother-in-law for the photos!

I'll keep ya updated on my training and diet for the Detroit marathon.  Raw living foods baby!