Vacation/Training Camp Re-Cap

I don't know that Bush hogging is, but I'm pretty sure we don't have it in Cincy.

Last week was a glorious training week/detox/relax/vacation spent on the beach in beautiful South Carolina with my lovely wife, Susie and another couple that are dear friends, Anastasia and Todd.

Back to the Beach, SC

I was so excited to enjoy some well needed rejuvenation in the form of lots of sleep, lots of succulent fresh food, some PDA with our friends' VitaMix blender, some PDA with my wife, beach bumming time, and some long beach runs.

The 12 hr car ride on the Saturday down there was physically taxing. Food choices along the main highways are slim to none outside of Subway salads. Good thing I packed lots of apples, mixed nuts, bananas, and dates. Still, that's a lot of sugary food for a guy who usually craves salty snacks. I caved in and bought some pretzels that my wife really likes and some salsa I had canned with my bro-in-law. Could it really be true that America craves beef jerkey/fireworks outlet stores more than living delicious food? I certainly see perks to living in an urban center like Cincinnati. We really do have it pretty good when it comes to healthy food options.

By Sunday morning, my body felt uncaged and ready to rock and roll!

Half-naked running means little room for snacks. Phew, I'm tired!

WORKOUTS
Sunday- 14 mile beach run; 80% AVG HR; ~110 minutes
Monday- 6 mile light run (no HR monitor), body surfing and beach bumming all day
Tuesday- 12 mile beach run; 85% AV HR, ~95 minutes
Wednesday- Daytrip to Savannah in thunderstorm
Thursday- 9 mile beach run; easy pace (no HR monitor), mixed with 10 x ~100 yard sprints + ~100 yard walks
Friday- 4 mile easy run+ Pilates led by Susie
Saturday- 12 hr return car ride home-- gross!

The raw diet was about 75% in full effect this week, which was better than I had guessed it could be while living with "others" outside of the familiar kitchen home. It was so easy using the VitaMix for breakfast and second breakfast smoothies. However, it was also easy because our friend Anastasia's health is gravely dependent on eating very clean, very fresh, very vegan, as she recovers from years of Adrenal Fatigue. She believes her condition has been caused by about 15 years of self-induced stress from school/work, Dr. Peppers for breakfast, among other personal reasons. You'd never know it, but less than a year ago, this beautiful 29 year old was being pushed around in a wheel chair! She still has a long way to go, but she's doing amazing! She runs, does Spinning, Pilates, Yoga-- the works!

MEGA BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE
1/2 avacoado
1/2 C raw organic oats
1 apple
1T hemp seeds
1 banana
2 dried/pitted dates
1 small handfull of raw nuts (pecans, almonds, Brazil nuts, and/or walnuts)
~2 C of filtered water

SECOND BREAKFAST SMOOTHIE (post workout)
1 softball size fistful of spinach
1 banana
1T hemp seeds
1T chia seeds
2C almond milk

NON-RAW MEALS
this week were all cooked in our own kitchen and prepared with TLC. They included the following:
1) Blackbeans and veggies with rice
2) Curried veggies with rice noodles
3) Lentils
4) Fall harvest Quinoa-stuffed acorn squash

OTHER RAW MEALS included
1) Cilantro brazilian nut pesto with jicama "rice" and tomatoes
2) Kale, carrot, cabbage, ginger, garlic, apple, nut, salad-palooza-mamma-jamma!

Killer Kale Salad will put hair on your chest and chase vampires away. It's simply amazing!

Todd's Quinoa-stuffed squash will caress the autumn cockels of your heart. In the winter, my feet get very cold and squash makes them feel better.

Curried veggies and potatoes. All ingredients came from my kick-ass produce delivery man at Paradise Found in Cincinnati.

Cilantro-pumkin seed-brazilian nut pesto with tomatoes and jicama "rice"

Goodbye South Carolina!