How to Eat Enough Plant-Based Protein, Calories, and Nutrients if You’re Training for a Marathon

Well hello there! Did you think that I disappeared? It kind of feels like I did from my end of the internet.

SORRY!

Life. It got crazy, and I had to take a little time for myself this week. Here’s what happened….

Remember last week’s post? If you don’t, or you didn’t read it, click here to catch up.

Okay, so…..WE WON!!!!

My awesome team rocked it at the USTA Midwest Sectionals and we’re moving on to compete in the National Championships!!! Our team is undefeated, and we SHOWED UP in Indianapolis last weekend and beat Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin, and Indiana, over three long and challenging days. We met Indiana’s team on day three and we were both 3 and 0; to say that both teams wanted it would be an understatement. All three doubles courts and both singles courts battled for every point. Our court one doubles team won, as did our court one singles player. Just like last year’s tournament, it came down to whether or not I could pull out a win for us to go to Nationals. No pressure.

My opponent and I were the last players left on court and our teams were right there cheering on every single point. She won the first set 6-4, I won the second set 6-4, and the third set was a ten point tie break, the winner needed to win by two points. This is exactly what happened to me last year, and to say that it didn’t get into my head would be a bold faced lie. I was also a little angry with myself for losing that first set because it was the only one that I had lost all weekend.

I was nervous and it showed. I was down 4-8 and my opponent only had to win two points to guarantee her team a trip to Nationals. It was at that moment that I looked up to the sky and said out loud, “come on Dad, help me out a bit.” It was super blustery and it was hard to serve because the wind kept taking the ball, but I kept my cool and won my serve. Then I won the next one. Then I broke her two serves, and we were tied at 8-8. My nerves subsided, and I finally started hitting the ball hard.

We traded points until the score was 11-11, I won the next point, and then I won the next to win the match.

When your team storms the court to hug you. ♥

Every point was met with cheering from one team or the other, but that last point was crazy. My teammates and coach jumped to their feet and screamed and cheered, then they ran out on the court and we all hugged and jumped up and down. It was incredible and I was beyond the moon happy that I made that comeback and won for my teammates. They are truly the nicest women both on and off the courts, and it was their energy (and a little help from my dad) that kept me going and made me dig in my heels and win that match.

This is what four grueling singles matches look like. Make up free but oh so happy! 

We all got home late on Sunday night and on Monday I had to catch up on laundry, email, and all of the other things that I neglected from Thursday through Sunday. Tuesday I ran 16 miles, and Wednesday and Thursday was all about running, tennis, and booking airfare and my hotel room for Nationals, and more housework. I needed to take a break from creating recipes and writing because my head wasn’t in it. I needed a blog vacay, and now I’m feeling rested and ready to jump back in. I’ll be back on Monday with a brand new recipe for you. I promise.

Murphy’s Law

So of course, as luck would have it, the USTA National Championship is the same weekend as the Chicago Marathon. Really?

Before we won sectionals my intention was (if we won) to join my team and play on Friday, the first day of the tournament, then fly home on Saturday afternoon and run the marathon on Sunday morning. Not a good idea on so many levels.

First, my team needs me. I’m one of three singles players and I’m the only one my coach and captain plays in every match. The other two play singles and doubles, so if someone is injured or sick (God forbid), that leaves two singles players. My husband and I raised our kids to be team players. We believe that if you join a team you stick with it until the end. It would be hypocritical of me to leave my team in the middle of the biggest tournament of our tennis lives. I just won’t do that.

Second, doing both is asking for an injury. My running coach, Suzie, took tennis off of my training schedule the week before the marathon, so why do I think that I can play two to three singles matches within thirty-six hours of running my first marathon? One of my teammates, who has run several marathons and triathlons, voiced her concern to me on our way home on Sunday night and suggested that I look at another marathon to run. The next morning I was online reading about a trail marathon that takes place the weekend after the Chicago Marathon when  Alex called me to tell me about the same race. Well if that wasn’t he universe tapping me on my shoulder….

My next step was to email the organizer of the Chicago Marathon ALZ Stars and get her opinion. As most of you know, I’m running to raise awareness and money for the Alzheimer’s Organization, in memory of my father. If I hadn’t raised money for this run I wouldn’t have thought twice about switching races, but I wanted to do right by the people who have supported me, and I needed know what Sharri, the organizer of our ALZ Stars group thought. She couldn’t have been more supportive.

She thought that my idea was perfect. I keep my end of the bargain and run a marathon, I still get to help the Alzheimer’s Organization, and I can fulfill my duty to my tennis team and play all weekend.

The Next Seven Weeks

They’re going to be CRAZY! My long runs are now in the high teens and my twenty miler is coming up, and I run three medium runs every week. I’ll also be increasing my hours on the court as my team prepares for the National Championship. And, whether I like it or not, fall is nipping at our heels, and that means that the hours that I need to spend on developing recipes and working on the blog will also increase. Where will I find the time? I don’t know, but I’m not complaining. I feel so blessed to have the privilege to participate in all of these things. My body (knock on wood) is holding up and it feels so strong right now, and I get to share all of these events with so many incredible people. My life is full, and it’s busy, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Another great thing is that all of the energy that I’m expending is plant powered.

Vegan Food to Fuel an Athlete

Breakfast

Water, coffee with almond milk, a banana, two pieces of seven grain toast with a little peanut butter.

During My Run

Water, a package of Clif Bloks Energy Chews, 1/2 of a Larabar, more water.

Breakfast Number Two

Water, a spinach, blueberry, pineapple, and coconut protein flavored protein powder smoothie, a bowl of oatmeal with blueberries and hemp seed.

Lunch

A smashed curried chickpea sandwich on whole grain toast with spinach, cucumbers, and tomatoes. Water

Afternoon Snacks

An apple, a bowl of pickles, a half of a cup of Bare coconut chips, and a baked sweet potato with sea salt and pepper.

Dinner

A large bowl of pasta with spinach, mushrooms, red onions, garlic, fresh oregano and basil, and Kite Hill ricotta cheese, water, and two glasses of red wine.

I consumed well over 46 grams of the recommended daily amount of protein required for the average sedentary woman. Because there’s nothing sedentary about me, I needed more. All of it was clean, quality protein from plants and I feel amazing.

My water consumption was also on target. I drank ten large glasses of water throughout the day, plus a little more while I ran.

Total Activity for the Week

Friday: 4 hours of singles tennis

Saturday: 1 1/2 hours of singles tennis

Sunday: 2 1/2 hours of singles tennis

Monday: 2 mile walk

Tuesday: 16 mile run and 2 mile walk

Wednesday: 2 hours of doubles tennis and 2 mile walk

Thursday: 6 1/2 mile run and 2 1/2 mile walk

Friday: 7 mile run, 2 hours of doubles tennis, 2 mile walk

Total Miles Run: 29 1/2 miles

Total Miles Walked: 10 1/2

Total Hours of Tennis Played: 12 hours

I didn’t include my strength training in this list, just know that weights were lifted.

Have a wonderful and safe weekend! See you on Monday with a delicious new recipe! 

Do us a favor, we want to show the world that plant-based foods are delicious and exciting. So let’s connect and share all of this awesomeness with the world. Hop on over to our Facebook page and give it a like, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and follow us and share this and other Veganosity recipes on Pinterest. We’d be so grateful if you did. If you like this recipe and can’t wait to see what we’re going to share next, subscribe to Veganosity. Just fill in the subscription box above our picture in the top right corner of the page. And, Alex and I love hearing from you, please leave a comment and let us know what you think of our recipes.