I’ve reached over 100,000 page views since I started my blog!! HOORAY! Granted, it’s taken my since January to get there, but who cares!? Plus, 91,000+ of those 101,000 have been as Brit Chick Runs, the name I changed to in March (before, I was Food, Fitness and Freya). One small step for Blog Kind, one big step for Brit Chick Runs….
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I officially had the BEST dinner last night! Remember the mystery meal I’d been prepping? Well, this is what I made:
Butterbean and beet burgers!! The beet was only there to give some colour really, cos I wanted something pink :p
I started by mashing a 1/2can (125g ish) butter beans with some rosemary and garlic seasoning (I added in lots):
Then I mashed in about a 1/4c. grated beetroot:
And mixed it together somethin’ silly:
A scant tbsp of vital wheat gluten and 1/2 a flax egg were added (1/2 tbsp of flaxseed allowed to sit for a while with 1.5tbsp water):
Mash mash mash, add a bit more smoked garlic:
Then leave to chill 
When it came to cooking, I fried them in a pan – technically I could have done it for a lot longer to get a crispier edge, but I was not feeling patient :p
Alongside, I had the BEST durum wheat/lentil mix! 20g durum wheat cooked with 30g lentils, with 1/3 veggie stock cube, water, smoked garlic, thyme and wholegrain mustard (and a few random edamame beans):
For my veg, I AGA(!)-roasted beets, kabocha and parsnip, with garlic, rosemary and agave. All together -
A freaking fabulous and colourful delicious (and very, very large…) meal!!!
Weirdly, it was the burger I was most looking forward too – yet it was the durum wheat/lentil thing which was the tastiest! Definitely something I want to do again 
WIN!
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I had a 7mile run on the cards today..it felt like such a long way this morning! I decided to stoke up on the carbs before I left, eating 4 little rice cakes, some Bear granola nibbles, and my usual 2tsp wheatgerm:
The rice cakes and the granola came in at about 42g carb, which I felt was pretty impressive
Whilst I was eating, I was catching up on blogs – a post on Tina’s caught my eye, which mentioned the walk-run method of running; I pricked my ears right up! See, back in the day (aka when I was still a loony :p), I used to see walking as forbidden territory. If I walked, I felt like a failure. Now however, I allow myself the odd little 30second walk if I need it during a run. I find it helps me mentally and physically. I’ve thought about the walk-run method before, but I always thought it would mean my pace would be really slow and it wouldn’t really work..but after glancing over these three articles:
….I decided to test it out on my 7miler!
You know what? It was brilliant! After reading the articles, I decided to do 5mins running, with 1minute walking. I think my splits speak for themselves:
1 – 8.41
2 – 8.49
3 – 8.35
4 – 8.20
5 – 8.22
6 – 8.31
7 – 9.08 (I think I ran out of fuel at this point. Note to self: Any more than 7miles, and I need more food! I’m learning so much….)
I didn’t lose pace at all! In fact, I was faster than I normally am!!
In the 5mins-running-bits, my pace was about 7.40 or so, and it was easy and fine, cos all I could think was ‘ah it’s only for 5mins’. I loved it!
I was quite dubious at first about the whole walk/run thing…after all, I read blogs like Meghann’s, and she’s a distance demon – she goes so far so easily it seems! And I’ve never read that she walks..but then I thought, so what? That’s Meghann! If that works for her, brill. But maybe this method is for me? I’m going to do the walk/run thing on my Sunday 15miler and see what happens
For breakfast, I had a lovely Epic Green Monster, with a few strawberries thrown in for good measure
Yes, I just wanted a chance to show off my half marathon medal 
Filling and fabulous!
However, my eating schedule is so out at the moment..I get up at 7.30am, but I don’t seem to get round to eating breakfast til about 10.15 or so (even later today!) due to my morning snack/digestion, running, cooling off, and lack of appetite post-exercise. It’s very frustrating! Cos then I end up having a late lunch, I’m not then hungry for a snack, I have later dinners…it’s very weird :s
When I did get round to lunch (at about 2.50pm!), it was delicious!!
I had three parts – a chunk of this sprouted bread:
A roast veggie mix of bbq-salted summer squash, kabocha, gran-grown cherry tomatoes, parsnip and broccoli:
And the rest of those sprouty bean things from yesterday, roasted with bbq-salted kale (so much iron today!! Phew):
It was all really, really yummy! Well, 90% of it was. The bread took some getting used to – at first, it tasted kind of alcoholic (!?), then like something else, then really delicious, and then like something else again. It was quite the taste journey!! I’m still undecided as to how much I like it….I think next time I eat it, I’ll love it
Other activities – walking the dawg, riding (Chika was very good today, though somewhat spooky again! She blates has the wind up her knickers), sorting out clothes and baking my mamma Tina’s oatmeal raisin bars (except I added up pumpkin seeds, dried figs and apricots ):
Sehr gut! I also made myself some energy bars for running:
Dates, oats, carrot, maple syrup, salt, mixed spice.
Fab nutrition stats (minus the carrot and salt)!
About 180cals, with 40g of carb!! YAAAY!!!
And now, as usual, I’m going to go and find something to prep for dinner. Alas!! It’s a tough life at the moment :p though I feel entitled to relax, after my hell-like spring/early summer of crazy revision….plus, I worked out that on Wednesdays, when I start uni again, I’m gonna have to be up at 5am to fit in my marathon-plan run before lectures!! Meep!!! (Ok, if you’re Jess or Kath, that might not be a big deal…but I go to bed at 12am, so it IS a big deal to me!! :p)
NOT looking forward to that….my mum is going to lend me a head torch for the run
Question – do you use a walk/run method of running, or know anyone that does? What are your thoughts about it?
What time do you get up in the mornings? What’s your daily routine like?
PS – I’m going to a wedding tomorrow! Which will be interesting, considering the vegan catering is going to be very, very difficult…I’m stashing my handbag with Clif bars
That’s interesting you ran so much faster when doing the walk/run method!
And congrats on your blog’s milestone!! Yay Brit Chick Runs!
I love what you said about walk/run…I don’t do it regularly, but on my long runs, I now will had in 2-3 stops for water and maybe a tiny bit of walking.
THis is HUGE for me- I used to never walk (I was that person jogging in place when stopped for traffic) and I used to never eat/drink. My first few half marathons, I remember having one sip of water (literally, one small swallow) at mile 11 of WATER. now that I’m marathon training I’m getting used to having more water on longer runs, and for runs over 13 miles I have a little food. Makes a huge difference in my endurance!
Oh without a doubt it does! I did my first two half marathons without any food or anything but water (heaven knows how), but now if I go longer than 8miles, I ALWAYS have food. Even a few dates do the trick. It helps no end
I just recently started allowing myself to walk during runs if I need it, but that’s usually only once or twice if I’m going more than 8 miles. That’s really interesting about the walk/run method, though! Congrats on your splits…they are awesome
Just curious, but does the walk/run method apply during races? Like, if you train that way are you supposed to do it in a race?
Your green monsters are my favorite. So pretty and nutrient packed. I love it!
Yep itdoes
I’ve read about people who have improved their marathon times by up to an hour, using the walk/run method. I think it’s pretty genius!
The pink burgers look so delicious… and quite pretty, too! I have been doing some walk/run for XC conditioning, and it allows me to cover more distance without feeling super tired at the end.
If I wake up to run, it is usually around 7. Naturally I wake up between 6:45 and 8:30, depending on how late I stayed up the night before.
Congrats on the blog milestone.
The burgers look interesting – very pink! Your lunch looks really interesting (yay for parsnips :p).
Love the energy bars, they sound almost like a carrot cake type of thing.
Have a great evening!
They taste like a carrot cake thing too
I have no qualms about walking if I feel I need to but I don’t do it as some sort of running strategy or anything.
I get up at 6 which is ridiculously early in my opinion but it’s not so bad now that I’m not working crazy hours and can get to bed by 10-11 easily. Plus I’m living with my boyfriend and I have his company in the mornings which helps a lot more than I thought it would. Back in the day I would never have gotten up earlier than 8am to go to uni and deliberately picked my lecture/tute times so that I could sleep in. I don’t even think they really did early (8 or 9am) lectures because nobody would take the class if they did.
Haha of course they wouldn’t – students can be so lazy :p
Congrats on the 100 thou!!
I should try the run/walk method… I’ve only heard great, great things about it.
I’m up anywhere from 5 to 6:30, depending on my workout sched. It took some serious getting used to – and getting used to going to BED early enough to not be completely worthless the next day!! – but it works really well for me now.
I think I’m now a convert to the method, so definetly give it a go!
Your oatmeal raisin bars look fabulous! Now that it’s a bit cooler here, I think I’ll have to try them.
My mom often uses the walk/run method with great results. I think she used it most often when she first started running, but she still uses it now (especially during races). She’s regularly commented that taking the time to walk helps her energy level in the long run, and most times helps her splits. To me, the walk/run method is an extension of what you often talk about in regards to eating properly – listening to your body. And since everyone’s body is different, it makes sense that the walk/run method would do wonders for some and wouldn’t do much good for others. Anyway, kudos to you for finding something that works and really giving it a try!
I lke your comment – you talk a lot of sense
Congrats on the page view milestone!!!
Oh my gosh, I LOVE those pink patties!!! So pretty!
I haven’t ever “officially” done the walk/run method, but when I take walking breaks I find my pace isn’t messed up and have always wondered why!
Congrats on the bloggie milestone. You seem to have a lot of followers. The walk/run method is really interesting. I am still at the beginning of my running journey and even though I know people like Caitlin and Tina say walking is fine, I haven’t yet been able to bring myself to walk during a run. I need to stop thinking it would make me a failure because it’s ridiculous.
I used to feel exactly the same, like I was failing to walk – but in the end, if it makes your run on a whole stronger, faster, longer etc then it can’t possibly be?
Ooh, are those rice cakes the Mrs Crimble ones by any chance?! I loove the apple flavour ones : )
My horse had the wind up him today as well; maybe not the best idea to take him out on the road after a week off!
Naah they were Clearspring – but apple flvour ones sound super interesting!
You need to try them! Verrry nice and they do honey flavour ones too, although I don’t like them quite as much… Waitose does them : )
I love the PINK! And I usually wake up around 8am… sometimes earlier if I need to get work done before class! Oh and those energy bars look yumtastic. You could call them energy eggs maybe?! Have so much fun at the wedding
those burgers look SO good!! I love butter beans, and of course they’re awfully purdy
I bet the VWG gave them a great texture, too. And as a side note – I am SO impatient waiting for things to cook, too. It’s left me eating things slightly undercooked (nothing major, obvs – just missing the crunch factor as you mentioned!) many a time.
I bet they’re fab!
That sprouted bread at least looks really good, even if it’s not so hot taste wise! I’ve heard very mixed reviews of sprouted things, I’d be curious to give it a try.
Aaaand, finally – looove the figs in the bars you made your mamma
I’d never be able to wake up at 5 after going to bed at 12!! I try to go to sleep by 10-10:30 – and when I don’t, I feel it the next morning! You’ll fall into a schedule with it though, don’t worry
The VWG was a great addition I think – I’m a fan!!
I think sprouted bread grows on you..at first it’s gross, but then it gets better with each bite
hey girlie!!
I am LOVING your pink burgers!
I have never thought about the run/walk switch off during a run, thanks for sharing it was very cool to learn about a new method!!
I hope youve been having a great week!
xoxo!
You too!Thankyou for the comment
LOVE the pink burgers!! so girly!!
I really like Sunnyvale’s Sprouted Hemp bread and ordinary sprouted wheat bread…yummy with PB!
Once I get better at running I will definitelt try the walk/run method as well! Amazing that it increased your speed..funny these things
I get up at 5:30 and always exercise/run quite early, make sure the dogs get good exercise as well, have breakfast in peace, read some blogs, prep some food…it’s nice to do these things while it’s still peaceful and quiet, before the day starts properly.
Have fun at the wedding!
Uhm…Sunnyvale?? Sunnyvalley?? I think I am having a Buffy moment
Haha!! I have those all the time:P
Ooh you are an early bird!
It didn’t come naturally, but I really like it this way. When I used to get up later I often didn’t manage to fit exercise into the day, and this way, whatever the day brings, I’ve already done something that makes me feel great early in the morning! I do go to bed quite early though, so that I get enough snooze time.
Hehe, glad I am not alone with the Buffy flashbacks
Wow pink burgers so pretty:)
I have read the Jeff Galloway stuff and it makes sense, but I always find if I stop and start I get a weird blood rush in my legs when I start again, so prob not for me. But I run slower anyway
I wonder if you need slower release carbs before your long runs, as you said you run out of fuel near the end- the rice cakes are more quick release (more so than oats/ wholegrain things)- might be worth trying slower releasing carbs too?
Have fun at the wedding- cereal bar stash is a fab idea !
I could well try that
The homemade energy bars I’ve made I think are more slow release – oats for the slowness, dates for the quickness. We shall see!!
The burgers being punk just make the whole meal so much more special! LOVE IT!
[...] 6mile route that took me back home, where I drank a heck of a lot of Lucozade Sport, and one of my date/oat/carrot bars I made the other day. OHEMGEE!!! It was SO good! Not wanting to blow my own trumpet here..but heck, [...]
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