Taylor Keto

Wednesday Some days your runs are easy. Some days the same runs are hard.  Today was one of those hard days.  It felt like my feet were made of lead and my legs were made of unbendable iron.  It's one of those days you have to battle through every mile. The legs and feet were stiff, the stomach was cramping, the mind was not wanting to continue.   The thing you learn on these days is the power to never quit.  It is all part of training the quit out of you.  You have to remember and embrace the attitude of a champion and victory everyday and not just to aim for victory.  Completing this run was definitely a victory. Today I was planning on fasting the entire day.  But, my wife needed to get out distress a little, so we went out for lunch and I just had a simple grilled chicken salad.  Sometimes you have to remember even during your training you still have to think of your family too. Then after lunch I had a bowl of whipped heavy cream wi...

Tuesday Today's training run was a five mile easy run. No rain, no wind just a nice summer morning.  It was just a day to practice consistency and inner discipline.   For lunch I had a three egg philly  cheese steak omlet and loaded broccoli.  For dinner, just had a simple soft taco, using a low carb tortilla. After dinner went for an easy four mile walk.  When I'm out running early in the mornings I try to take some time to enjoy the world around me.  To that end, I took a few moments to enjoy the crystal clear waning crescent moon.

Monday - Rain Today started week 2 of marathon training.   Today was a speed work day. On the schedule for today, was 3 sets of 1 mile runs at my 5K race pace. I did some stretches this morning before running which seemed to aggravate my ankle just a little.  Just for a little added challenge, it was raining with a blowing wind today.  It was a fairly warm 72F, so at least it wasn't a cold rain. I find that running in the rain helps your mental game by training your mind to deal with adversity.  It also helps you boost confidence. Suddenly when your the only one out running and you don't see any of the normal people you see out running you feel all the more like the toughest runner. For lunch, I had keto nachos made with pork rinds, hamburger, mozzarella cheese, and sour cream.  For dinner, we had pot roast and broccoli.

Just as important as working  hard and training everyday is also taking at least one rest day every week to let your body recuperate. Sundays are my rest day. Also,  I typically use Sunday's and Wednesday's as days where I only eat one meal a day (OMAD).    So, for my one meal today, I had a couple of tacos. One with a lettuce wrap and another with a low carb tortilla.  Used some ground beef, home made guacamole, salsa and some  sour cream.  Also, snacked on a few pork rinds with dip. Still need to get a new pair of running shoes.  The ankle is still a little sore.  But, it's no better and no worse.  Fortunately it doesn't really hurt when I'm running, it is more so sore just when moving/twisting my foot left or right.

Weekends in the runners world are reserved for the long runs. This morning for me was a seven mile run.  There is  section of the road I use for my long runs that has an ominous name of the devils staircase.  You have to run several miles to get to it and once you a there it is nothing but up and down steep ozark mountain hills for miles and miles. Here are some pictures of the devils staircase. Starting point of the devils staircase, just as the sun comes up. The next picture is taken from the middle of the devils staircase.  Behind you is nothing but miles and miles of hills and in front of you is nothing but the same. Eventhough this long run is suppose to be done at an nice easy aerobic pace, be sure your heart rate will spike and you will be gasping for air going up these hills. If you need to find me on an early Saturday morning you can usually find me playing on the staircase. At least it was a cool morning. After I got back home and cooled off for a few minut...

    On my weekly training plan, I try to run Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.  On Tuesday and Thursday I try to do strength training.  So this morning, did some leg and arm work.  This evening I took  5 mile walk. Not only have I been nursing an ankle problem over the last few weeks, I've also been having some problems with one of my shoulders.  So, I'm trying to take it a little easy as I ramp up for the Marathon.  I'm thinking I may need to get a new pair of running shoes.  I have about 500-600 miles on this pair and the heels are getting worn.  I'll let you know when I get the new shoes if that helps the ankle problem.  Hoping the shoulder problem doesn't  turn out to be a rotator cuff problem.  But, in any case I will persevere. Today for lunch, I had chicken salad lettuce wraps, green beans, and coleslaw, and an avocado.  For dinner, I had a taco salad made with spicy pork rinds, ground beef, guac...

Marathon! For those who don't know much about me, I am a fifty year old guy who has tried to avoid doing any running or exercising since I was in high school and we had to run a mile in P.E. class.  Now,  fast forward about 30 years.  I have lost all the weight I accumulated over the last 30 years, to the tune of about 130lbs with the help of Keto.  Now that I am pursing a Ketogenic life style, I feel so much better and have so much more energy that I have picked up fitness as a hobby.  Last year I did a half marathon.  One of my next short range goals is to run a Marathon.   I am planning on running a marathon around the first of Nov.  I've been running for most of the winter, but I have had to take off the last few weeks because of a sore ankle.  I ran three miles this morning at an easy pace and then did 5 miles on the bike. For lunch, I finished up a couple of table spoonfuls of tuna salad in a lettuce wrap. This has become one my s...