Another Saguaro training run...

This is getting to be a (good) habit.

I ran the 8 mile course (again!) with Shari today in preparation for the Saguaro National Park race held on Labor Day . The Grinder group was out, and boy are they a speedy group, and a few people from SAR showed up as well. Although I wasn't very well slept, I felt great and ready to tackle some hills (and there are a lot of them out there!)

I am happy to report that I am feeling so much better than I did last week! I started taking my iron supplement again and added some red meat and other iron-rich foods in my diet, such as raisin bran cereal (both bran and raisins are high in iron). More on raisins later....
Yes, spinach is a good iron source, but not as much as some other foods.

Anyway, Shari was pretty tired, so we took it easy, which was fine with me after yesterday's race. She kept telling me to go on if I wanted to, but I don't believe in leaving someone behind (unless it is a race, which is different - everyone runs their own race). So, we walked a little here and there and just had a nice morning. I was just thrilled that I wasn't dragging like I was last week.

By the way, don't try diagnosing an iron deficiency yourself (do as I say, not as I do). A visit to the doctor with some blood work is important to be certain. I just realized I had the same symptoms as last year and I had also quit taking my iron supplement and eating red meat, so I felt pretty certain that is what was going on. Based on my improvement, I think my intuition was right.

Back to raisins (which are high in iron) - I read in this article about the benefits of raisins over sports gels. Read all about it here.

So, I bought a big bag of raisins to try the raisin experiment. I'll report back.

I ran 35 miles for the week, which is pretty good - I'll be upping it this week back to my normal level of 40 now that I'm feeling better. Morning daylight is getting stolen minute by minute every day, so in about a month or so, I'll go back to evening running (which will be hot, but I don't feel safe running in the dark where I live). I'm still doing my two strength training workouts (1 hour each) each week, which include weights and core work. I'd like to lose the 6 pounds I've gained since last summer. No, it's not 'all muscle' - my clothes are tight, and I feel like I'm carrying a rock in my pack while running! Just try it sometime; go running and throw a 6 pound rock in your pack! It's no secret that a leaner physique makes running easier and can speed your times up. I'll try to get more focused and lay off the chocolate (did I say that?) Sure would be good to get rid of it before I start marathon training this fall.
I hope this week brings peace, good news and an opportunity to be helpful to others to everyone.