Random Thoughts about Races, Pounds and Pounding Down the Pancakes

by // // Comments off

Today is Pancake Day, also known as Shrove Tuesday or Fat Tuesday, and my family celebrates the occasion by eating stacks of pancakes all day long.

 

For years now, I’ve visited the girls’ classes to cook pancakes and afterwards, we read and write pancake stories and partake in other pancake related activities.

 

But this week, I’m eating pancakes twice and I fear I may resemble a round golden brown shape and not the silver dollar kind, either.  After the Pasco Challenge on Saturday, the local IHOP is serving pancakes to all the participants and their families, which makes running 13.1 miles totally worth the effort.

 

On the subject of breakfast foods, I keep forgetting to eat breakfast in the morning, which is such a bad habit.  Don’t you hate it when people say they “forget to eat”?  As much as I love food, it’s hard to believe that I would ever miss a meal, but I get caught up in other things in the morning instead of sitting down to eat something.  I know that’s the worst thing to do when trying to lose weight and yet, for the past week, I keep skipping breakfast.  Then at lunch time, I’m starving and lightheaded from not eating which is the WORST.  But today is a new day and I PROMISE to eat breakfast today.  But then, it will be easy to remember to eat today because after all, it’s PANCAKE DAY!

 

Eating or not eating, I lost 4 pounds last week.  Thanks to the Gasparilla Half Marathon, I’m sure.  I doubt this week’s loss will be as monumental with all the pancakes I’ll be putting away.

 

As for my attempt to complete four half marathons, I’ve decided to stick my tongue at my friend, John with just 3 half marathon which is 39.3 and close enough to 40 miles.  But like my friend, Chrissy, said, I can always add in a couple 5K races which will put me over 40 miles before my 40th birthday.

 

After researching how to train for multiple half marathons, the internet running experts advised against it.  With each half marathon, I need at least a week to recover from the race.  With races back to back, like a half marathon March 12 and another on March 20, I would spend the week between races resting instead of easing back into running and while resting, I would be missing out on good work-outs.  That is EXACTLY what happened last week!  I only ran once and it is only 3 miles and not a very good 3 mile run at that.  Lots of walking.

 

3 Miles

Time 37:55

Ave Pace 12:13

Max Pace 9:30

 

And now, because I have another half marathon this Saturday, I am supposed to rest before the race which means another week of little to no running followed by another rest week post-race.  So the experts seem to be correct.  With races back to back, I am missing out of days of good runs due to resting pre-race and post race.

 

Therefore, I’ve decided to not run in the Florida Beach Halfathon, as much as I really wanted to because the course looks spectacular.  Instead, I’ll be getting back into a regular running routine again to train for the Iron Girl Half and I’ll be saving $70 in the meantime.  And I’m o.k. with that.  After all, I need beer money for St. Patrick’s Day next week.

 

Proudly submitted at The Un Mom’s Random Tuesday Thoughts, because when I blog about my runs, it’s usually pretty random.

 

randomtuesday

 

About the author

Denise
From start to finish, Denise is Run DMT, a Tampa Bay homeschooling mom on the run trying to maintain an easy pace through it all between races and raising three beautiful, brilliant adultish kids (ages 23, 19, 14). In 2007, I discovered a passion for running and in February 2015, I completed my tenth marathon. I continue to train for a variety of races and even host annual 5K. In 2023, I became a certified group fitness instructor and teach P.E. in my homeschool co-op.

11 comments

  4. Kristine says:

    I want to lose weight too but I need a dieting buddy to keep me on the straight and narrow….otherwise I will eat my weight in cookies.

    Happy RTT!

  5. Lori says:

    Good call on the Half schedule. I was just thinking 39.3 is darn close enough. Not worth beating up your body over .7 miles. Hopefully you can do the Florida (Ft DeSoto) Half next year. Great Job on the weight loss. You are definitely an inspiration.

  6. beta dad says:

    All I’m hearing about on the interwebs today is this “pancake day” stuff. Why didn’t anyone tell me about this when I converted to Catholicism? It would have made the whole thing so much more palatable.

  7. Keely says:

    I love that you talk about running and pancakes and beer all in the same post. People who talk about running AND how well they eat, sort of freak me out.

  10. Scott says:

    “…when I blog about my runs..” That’s hilarious, though unintentional, I’m sure (double entendre)!

    I haven’t been to a Mardi Gras parade for over thirteen years–having grown up in Mobile, Alabama (the birthplace of Mardi Gras), it’s simply no big deal anymore!

Comments are closed.