Yesterday on my 16 miler in Chicago I wore my Spibelt, like I always do on long runs. But, after a mid-run bathroom break I put it back on a little to quickly and ended up with a huge burn/cut on my side.
I didn’t realize until I got in the shower after the run and it stung like crazy 🙁 Now it looks like a slice in my side and it’s pretty gross. Actually, it doesn’t look that bad in this picture – but I still thought I’d share. Just another service of R.E.R. You’re welcome.
My legs feel tight and sore from yesterday (I really think an ice bath would help this) so I just took a casual walk with my dogs to get loosened up.
For breakfast I made a yogurt bowl with Greek yogurt, apple-banana, watermelon, chia seeds, cereals and almond butter.
Just what the previously out of town blogger ordered.
Remember those Nutella cookies I ate courtesy of my roomie, Kelly? Here’s the recipe from her blog!
2 Month Marathon Count Down!
My upcoming marathon is 2 months from tomorrow! I really want to PR so I need to start taking my training and fueling more seriously. On the flight last night I reassessed my training program and eating plan. I am on the right track, but need to make some tweaks to it in order to lose a few pounds before the race and run a sub-4 hour!
Yesterday Chandra took my body fat percentage and it is 26.8. The healthy range for women is 18-24%. So, another one of my goals is to get this number in the healthy range. The best way to do this is to clean up my eating and strength train.
2 Months to My Marathon Plan:
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Run 4-5 days a week: 1 speed, 1 tempo, 1 long run, 1 fun run
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Strength Train 2 days a week
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Cut back on artificial sweeteners and processed foods. I think all the diet drinks and processed snacks are confusing my cravings and hunger signals (Intuitive Eating).
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Get 8 hours of sleep a night. I eat unnecessarily when I’m tired and I’m more tired lately because I’m running so much
and my life is crazy.
Question: Have you ever had your body fat percentage taken? Would you want to?
Lindsay says
This is slightly off topic, but I’m thinking about getting a tat where yours is at. (hey, that rhymed! :-). What is yours of and did it hurt alot?!
caronae says
I have gotten cuts/scrapes from my running water bottle belt just like that before! Even when it is over my shirt. I have no idea why it happens but it does sometimes, randomly, and it stings! Sorry you had to have it. 🙂
I think your plan for marathon training/eating sounds pretty damn good. I would like to follow those same guidelines, except I need to add “no late night emotional snacking”….
Erika @ Food, Fitness, & Fun says
Ooh! I can’t wait to make those cookies – I love Nutella! I actually went through a jar in 4 days once…oops!
I got my body fat percentage taken once (about 2 years ago) and it was 20.something. Not bad for a 12 year old I guess – maybe it went down since them?
Marissa says
I just recently got my body fat precentage taken by my nutrionist and it was 18%. Im 138 pounds and out of that 138 im 113 pounds of muscle and 70% water. Not to shabby ;D
Beer and Burrito Body says
I’ve taken my body fat % using one of those hand held electronic thingamajigs . . . I really want to do that water displacement thingy (is that what it’s even for, body fat percentage?)
Brianne http://beautythroughbalance.wordpress.com says
I have never thought about it until you just mentioned it about yourself, but I guess I eat unnecessarily when I’m tired too! Maybe I should make sleeping more be a goal of mine for the upcoming week since I’ve been finding myself waking up to half eaten bags of chocolate goldfish/cereal lately…yeeesh.
Becky says
So sorry you got battle wounds from that run! Heal quickly!
I didn’t even get my body fat tested. I’m it’s a helpful number to know though. I love your training approach. It seems very balanced. I would love to follow a similar approach to maintain speed, stamina, and strength.
Maria @ Kale and Cupcakes says
Yes, I have, but now I’m trying to just stay away from scales and any sort of measurement tool and just try to eat healthy and exercise and feel great!
Amber K says
Thanks for clarifying Chandra, that really confused me!
chandra says
Yes, Liz is correct, you aren’t in a high range, you’re in the low end of the average for women! I told you that! 😛 But if you’d like to get down into the “fitness” range (the 18-24%) we can work on that. 🙂
Miss you so much already!!
Tawny says
I have been DEXA scanned before and my body fat % was definately higher than I would like it to be. I need to really get in gear and get my body fat down to where it should be. Strength training it is!
Liz says
Chandra told me that my percentage 25% was on the lower end of average – I think 18%-24% is actually average for athletes so I wouldn’t beat myself up about it if I were you. Here is what I found from ACE:
http://www.acefitness.org/blog/112/what-are-the-guidelines-for-percentage-of-body-fat/
Amanda (Two Boos Who Eat) says
I’ve never had my body fat percentage taken but I have totally had my spibelt cut me like that! It kills! It burns. I’m so sorry!
I think your plan of attack sounds great. I like that you included a fun run in there.
LifeGlutton says
Yeah. Had one of the electronic scans. Not as accurate as a hydrostatic weigh-in, but not bad and probably more accurate than calipers. Went from the 20’s to 11% in about a year and a half.
What made the difference? Strength training. It might not be a whole lot of fun, but it will turbocharge fat loss.
Lisa says
I’ve had my fat percentage test before (about 1.5 years ago). The number wasn’t great and it was kind of discouraging. I haven’t done it since. I’d rather just feel good about myself and focus on being strong and healthy.
Beth @ Will Run for Books says
I actually have body fat calipers of my own…creepy, I know…but I like to use it as a better measure than the scale.
Kelly says
Not to sound gross, but whats your tattoo of?
lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) says
When I heard Chandra mention getting body fat measured, I just about shit myself in fear. All I know is that the number would not be pretty, though it would be a good wake up call. Your plan looks great and so do you by the way. My enormous sports bra always slices up my skin and the sting is out of control. Ouch. Fun to meet you and thanks for being my Attune agent. that was pretty funny.
alison says
I’ve never had my body fat % taken and I’m really not sure that I want to know that number. Ignorance is bliss.
Good luck with the last two months of your marathon training!!