That Runner Chick

I didn’t use to like soup. Not any kind. It was something about the texture. But now, there’s nothing better than soup on a cold Colorado day! Not sure what changed but I do like thicker soups better.

There’s a lot to like about soup. It is easy to make and sticks with the slow cooker theme I have been going with lately!This is a sweet potato soup. We know how great sweet potatoes are for you! Here’s what you need to pick up:

• 3 lbs roughly chopped sweet potatoes
• 1 chopped onion
• 2 chopped celery stalks
• 2 chopped carrots
• 1 tbsp minced garlic
• 5 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 1 cup coconut milk
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

One of the things I like the most about a slow cooker is that there is little to nothing that has to be done while the food is cooking. You just add all the ingredients and let it be. And the cleaning is almost non-existent. What do you have? A non-stick ceramic pot and a chopper? That’s nothing compared to the mountain of pots and pans that other recipes require.

But back to the recipe! You mix all the chopped vegetables in the ceramic pot, except for the coconut milk. Season everything according to your preferences and set the slow cooker on low for 6 hours, or on high for just 4 hours. You can put it overnight if … Read the rest

Often runners fall for common misconceptions, or more often, over simplifications about nutritional approaches. Avoiding pork is one of those issues. You’ve probably heard that pork increases your cholesterol, makes you fat, and you should generally stay away from it. That is not entirely accurate. I will not deny the fact that pork contains a lot of fat, more than any other kind of meat, but that doesn’t mean you cannot incorporate it into your diet in a healthy manner.

Adopting a Paleo diet taught me that you could eat almost anything. The secret lies in the cooking. As long as you know how to cook a certain something correctly, then you should be okay. That is why I wanted to show you that you can eat pork, as long as you know how.

I picked this one up from one of my house cleaning clients during my summer job. The client came home while we were cleaning whipped this one up. It smelled amazing and was right up my alley. From her home to your! The client wasn’t following a Paleo diet but that recipe still qualifies. It’s called pulled pork salad, and it tastes heavenly. You will feel satiated without eating too much and getting bloated. At the same time, your energy levels will go up, and you will have more stamina than ever. Running will come easy after you fueled up on this meal. I do advise … Read the rest

When I started running, I knew that I had to change my diet as well. I was busy with school for my job, school for myself and extra side cleaning jobs so the last thing I had time for was cooking! That’s why I love crock pot recipes. Through in during your morning routine and when you get home you have a full meal ready to do. One of my favorites is called Queso Chicken Chili, but in fact, there is no cheese involved. Also, you need to have a slow cooker to make it.

Here are the ingredients:

• 1 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast
• 3 minced bell peppers
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 minced jalapeno pepper (optional)
• 2 cups salsa
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1 tsb ground cumin
• 2 tsp chili powder
• 1 chopped avocado
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

The advantage of a slow cooker is that there aren’t many steps to follow. Even if there is a longer list of ingrediants. This recipe is no exception. First, you mix the chicken breast with garlic, salsa, water, cumin, chili powder, and onion, and

First, you mix the chicken breast with garlic, salsa, water, cumin, chili powder, and onion, and then you season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper according to your taste. Put everything in the ceramic pot and set the slow cooker on low for 6 to 8 hours. If … Read the rest

I don’t talk about it much but I used to be overweight. That’s part of what got me into running in the first place. I was looking for a way to drop weight and stay healthy. And while I won’t every say that running is a not a key part of that, nutrition is actually the bigger factor.  Without proper nutrition, you won’t be able to reach your goals whether that means running or dropping fat. That’s why, for the next few posts, I’d like to share some of my best Paleo recipes. I love this recipe because skirt steaks are cheap and easy to find at most grocery stores. The other great thing about this recipe is that the clean up is super easy.

Here’s what you need for the steak:

• 2,5 pounds skirt steaks
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tbsp ground coffee (optional)
• 1/2 tbsp paprika
• lime zest from one lime
• sea salt
• freshly ground black pepper

And for the salsa:

• 3 diced mangoes
• 1 diced bell pepper
• 1/2 red onion, also
• diced jalapeno pepper
• seeded and minced
• 1/4 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

A lot of this you may already have on hand but if you don’t, I recommend buying a bunch at once and making some bigger batches.

Here’s how to make it:
1. First, you have to preheat the grill to high. One of the mistakes you can make is to place the … Read the rest

I just added a new page on my site about coaching. I have been coaching for several years but mostly around the Castle Rock/Denver area. I have a couple online clients but I’m looking to pick up more.

Check it out!… Read the rest

Hey everyone!

Sorry I haven’t been keeping up with content for you all. I have a couple great articles on Paleo dieting (including a recipe!) that are just about ready to share but I want to put the finishing touches on them. There has been a major change to my life that has had a big impact on my time. Some of you may be experiencing the opposite (at least if you have kids). That is….

School has started!

Yep, no more house cleaning and hello classroom. While I really enjoyed cleaning houses (and will still occasionally on the weekends), I do miss all the human interaction I get from teaching. I am definitely an extroverted person and cleaning houses with one other person with headphones on doesn’t satisfy my need to talk!

More content soon! Let me know in the comments what subject matter you all want to hear about. Once I get into my school year routine I plan on posting more often!… Read the rest

Most of the time, I am a middle school science teacher. I say most of the time because once summer hits I usually pick up another job. I have done a little bit of everything. Of course, I have done some tutoring. But also worked at a bookstore, drove for Uber, worked in the Coors factory,washed cars and worked in a lab. I have also tried a few things online. I really wanted an online writing gig to work but I just couldn’t get fast enough at churning out articles to make it worth while. I used Upwork.com to get jobs but I could only really write about the things I know quickly enough to make it worth my time.

But the job I like the most (but has also had the greatest effect on my running!) has been cleaning houses. It’s a straight forward kinda job where you throw in your headphones, break a sweat and earn some pretty good money. I clean houses in Castle Rock (south of Denver) mostly because the money is better. While there are plenty of affluent people in Denver that make more than triple my little ole teacher salary, Castle Rock happens to be overflowing with them. If you happen to be one of these people and want to help a proud public servant, head over to Castle Rock Superior Maid Service and tell em’ Court sent ya! = D

But what I … Read the rest

Hey everyone! I get a lot of questions about carb loading for new runners and seasoned runners alike. So here it is- my quick guide to carb loading!

А Quiсk Guidе tο Саrb Lοаding Bеfοrе а Rасе

‘Саrbοhуdrаtе lοаding’ is рrοbаblу οnе οf thе mοst misundеrstοοd tеrms in sрοrts nutritiοn. Реοрlе сοmmοnlу think аnуοnе invοlvеd in sрοrt nееds tο ‘саrb uр’ аnd thе wау tο dο this is tο еаt ‘flаt οut’ in thе dауs lеаding uр tο аn еvеnt.  Rеаd οn tο gеt thе fасts οn саrbοhуdrаtе lοаding.

Whаt is саrbοhуdrаtе lοаding?

Саrbοhуdrаtе lοаding is а strаtеgу invοlving сhаngеs tο trаining аnd nutritiοn thаt саn mаximisе musсlе glусοgеn (саrbοhуdrаtе) stοrеs рriοr tο еndurаnсе сοmреtitiοn.

Thе tесhniquе wаs οriginаllу dеvеlοреd in thе lаtе 1960’s аnd tурiсаllу invοlvеd а 3-4 dау ‘dерlеtiοn рhаsе’ invοlving 3-4 dауs οf hаrd trаining рlus а lοw саrbοhуdrаtе diеt. This dерlеtiοn рhаsе wаs thοught tο bе nесеssаrу tο stimulаtе thе еnzуmе glусοgеn sуnthаsе. This wаs thеn fοllοwеd immеdiаtеlу bу а 3-4 dау ‘lοаding рhаsе’ invοlving rеst сοmbinеd with а high саrbοhуdrаtе diеt. Thе сοmbinаtiοn οf thе twο рhаsеs wаs shοwn tο bοοst musсlе саrbοhуdrаtе stοrеs bеуοnd thеir usuаl rеsting lеvеls.

Οngοing rеsеаrсh hаs аllοwеd thе mеthοd tο bе rеfinеd sο thаt mοdеrn dау саrbοhуdrаtе lοаding is nοw mοrе mаnаgеаblе fοr аthlеtеs. Thе dерlеtiοn рhаsе wаs dеmοnstrаtеd tο bе nο lοngеr nесеssаrу, whiсh is а bοnus fοr аthlеtеs аs this рhаsе wаs vеrу diffiсult. Аustrаliаn mаrаthοn runnеr, … Read the rest

Colorado is hot. A lot hotter than people expect and the last few weeks have been…kinda miserable. Everyone knows it’s tougher to run in hot weather but most people think you should be able to  “just do it” (Send me my check Nike!). Well, that is half right. Sometimes you just need to get out there and endure the weather but what is more important is what you do after. We aren’t just talking about drinking water, although that is a huge part of it, we are talking about the number one nutrient for rehydration: sodium. That’s right. Sodium!
Sodium is the most important of the many electrolytes that help maintain fluid levels in the body. A lack of sodium, which is released in large quantities during heavy sweating, can cause chronic dehydration and cramping. Not good! According to this article, “A heavy sweater who has a high salt concentration could lose 1,300 mg of sodium during a 5-K, whereas a light sweater might only lose 155 mg.” But for the most part, sodium is easy to come by. There is plenty of it to be found in processed foods and of course fast food. But that’s just the problem. Many runners, myself included, are health conscious and warned that sodium should be avoided- which leads to an overall decrease in sodium intake. The decreased sodium consumption, combined with high activity and high sweat levels can lead to chronic … Read the rest