In August, we’ve asked our talented team of contributing writers to find three things that are connected to their running, and share them. Enjoy the light, loose theme—and be sure to chime in with your favorites in the comments!
I almost always look forward to my morning run, but sometimes I look forward to my post-run rewards just as much.
Three things in particular that I’m especially anticipating as I log my miles in these hot, humid New England summer months:
1. My post-run breakfast. I could eat breakfast foods at every meal—and truthfully, sometimes do. I go through phases of eating the same exact meal every day for months at a time. My summer breakfast features two slices of toasted Dave’s Killer Bread. One is a sort of deconstructed, peppery deviled egg: it’s topped with avocado, a bit of mayonnaise and Dijon mustard, a sliced hard boiled egg, and chopped arugula. The other slice gets a dollop of raspberry jam, thus serving as my breakfast “dessert.” (Is breakfast dessert a thing? If not, it should be!) I haven’t analyzed the nutritional value, but my savory/sweet meal sure feels like healthy post-run refueling.
2. An outside shower. We built an outdoor shower several years ago, primarily for use after beach outings. But over the past year or two, I’ve begun to use it every day from the time we turn on the outside faucets in April to the time we shut them off so they don’t freeze. (Last year that was mid-November.) There’s nothing like showering with blue sky and clouds overhead, even when it’s so cold that I have to tiptoe through frost-covered grass to get there. Even on the warmest days, it’s still more refreshing than being in a steam-filled bathroom. An unexpected bonus: not using the indoor shower for several months means I don’t have to clean it!
3. Uploading my run to Training Peaks for my coach. Even typing the words “my coach” feels strange to me, because after 15 years of running, I’m being coached for the first time ever. I’m very driven and self-motivated, but when I turned 50 earlier this summer, I was itching for a change and decided to try handing the reins over to someone else for a while. And I can say that I am loving being accountable to someone other than myself. Getting feedback on every run and workout is incredible, and I know that I’m going to learn and grow so much as an athlete as a result. Checking out my numbers after every run was always something I liked, but getting to geek out over those numbers with someone else is even better!
What post-run rewards are on your list?
I use Dave’s Raisin the Roof bread and make a slice of French toast that I top with some formerly frozen berries! Sometimes a side of turkey bacon. 😋
Totally agree with your on the ‘breakfast dessert . I sometimes do something very similar. So yummy and satisfying.