What This Vegan Ate to Train for a Marathon

It’s getting down to the wire; only four weeks until the marathon, and three until the USTA National Championships! Knock on wood, and any other surface you can find, that my knees hold up and I continue to feel strong. Let’s also hope I survive the twenty miler that I’m running on Sunday.

There, I said it. I’m running TWENTY miles on Sunday!! Nervous? YES! But if I can finish that then I know that I’ll be able to finish the marathon. Breathe in. Breathe out.

When I received my ALZ Stars shirt in the mail a few weeks ago, there was a post card from Nike in the envelope that read, “The Body Will Achieve What the Mind Believes.” Kind of an odd card to put in with an Alzheimer’s shirt, but inspirational nonetheless. I’ve tucked that little nugget of wisdom in the back of my mind, and when I start to feel like I can’t run another step, I repeat the phrase and remind myself that I can.

This week has really felt like fall, the temperature reads like summer but there’s a slight chill in the wind. The leaves are changing color, the air smells different, and running has been a joy, as the humidity has decreased significantly. I’ve also found myself in my kitchen a lot more this week. I made this and this. My husband loved the dinner that I made Wednesday night and that’s why I chose that day to share my day of eating. So let’s get to it so you can get on with your Friday.

What a Healthy Plant-Based Vegan Eats to Train for a Marathon

Breakfast

I started the day (as always) with a glass of lemon water and a coffee with almond milk. I wasn’t particularly hungry, and had a shorter run, so I ate an apple and a handful of almonds before heading out the door. When I got home I had my usual spinach, pineapple, banana, and protein powder smoothie, and I had a peanut butter and jelly on twelve grain bread, and of course, more water.

Lunch

I had a black bean and spinach burrito/quesadilla and a small spinach and tomato salad with balsamic.

Mid-day Snack

I had a bowl of baby pickles, a handful of Enjoy Life chocolate chunks, and about 2 cups of the chili garlic kale chips that I posted on the blog yesterday.

Dinner

I made mashed potatoes, smoky red wine Portobello mushrooms, and peas. Old school and delicious! I also had a glass of white wine and cherry chocolate chip nice cream for dessert. Note: I forgot to take a picture so I used the one I took for the recipe that’s coming next week. My nice cream didn’t have the chocolate on top.

Water, water, water…… I drank a lot. More than eight glasses and less than twelve. I lost count.

How Much Protein Can a Vegan Get From a Plant-Based Diet?

Let me show you.

Breakfast: 

1 cup of coffee = .3 grams  –  1/4 cup of almond milk = .25 grams  –  1 ounce of almonds = 6 grams  –  1 apple = .5 grams  –  2 cups of spinach = 1.8 grams  – 1 cup pineapple = .9 grams  – 1 banana = 1.3 grams  –  1/2 scoop protein powder = 5 grams  –  2 slices of the bread that I eat = 10 grams  –  1 tablespoon of peanut butter = 4 grams  –  1 tablespoon of strawberry preserves = 0 grams

Total grams of protein for breakfast = 30.05 grams

Lunch:

1 8 inch flour tortilla = 5 grams of protein  –  1 and 1/2 cups of black beans = 21 grams  –  2 cups of spinach = 1.8 grams  –  15 cherry tomatoes or 1 cup = 1.3 grams

Total grams of protein for lunch = 29.1 grams

Snacks:

1/2 cup of baby dill pickles = .3 grams  – 2 cups of kale chips = 5.8 grams  –  1/4 cup of Enjoy Life chocolate chunk chips = 4 grams

Total grams of protein for snacks = 10.1 grams

Dinner:

1 and 1/2 cups of mashed potatoes = 6 grams  –  1 and 1/2 cups of peas = 12 grams  –  3.6 grams

Total grams of protein for dinner = 21.6 grams

Dessert: 

1 banana = 1.3 grams  –  1/4 cup cherries = .4 grams  –  2 tablespoons Enjoy Life mini chocolate chips = 2 grams

Total grams for dessert = 3.7 grams

TOTAL GRAMS FOR THE DAY = 94.55 GRAMS!!!

The daily recommended allowance for a sedentary woman is 46 grams, for a man, 54 grams. I didn’t think about or plan out my protein consumption, it just happens. For those who say that you can’t get enough protein from plants…….

Total Activity for the Week:

Friday – 2 hours of doubles tennis and a 2 mile walk with the dogs.

Saturday – 6 mile run and a 2 mile walk, plus upper body strength training.

Sunday – 16 mile run and a 2 mile walk.

Monday – Active rest day. 1 hour and 45 minutes of doubles tennis and a 2 mile walk.

Tuesday – 6  mile run, 2 mile walk, and upper body strength training.

Wednesday – 2 hours of doubles tennis, lower body and core strength training, 2 mile dog walk.

Thursday – 6 mile run, 2 mile walk, and 1 and 1/2 hour singles tennis match. I won 6-1, 6-1 🙂

Friday – 6 mile run, 2 hours doubles tennis match, 2 mile walk.

Total miles run – 40 miles

Total miles walked – 16 miles

Total hours of tennis played – 9 hours and 15 minutes

Wish me luck and keep me in your thoughts while I run the 20 miler on Sunday! I hope that I can keep my hydration and fuel on track so that I don’t throw up like I did after my 18 miler. It’s one thing to lose it on my front lawn, but in public, no thanks.

Have a wonderful, happy, and safe weekend! See you on Monday. xoxo

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