July 16, 2013

Cookie Nookie

I skipped my run today. Not because I wanted to, but because my knee has been nagging me a little. After running through the pain all last year, I'm probably a little hypersensitive about knee tweaks and pains, but I'd rather not take any chances on getting injured. Tomorrow is a scheduled rest day, so I'm hoping two days off in a row will take care of it.

I've been doing a ton of reading about different training methods lately, and I've become really intrigued with the Hansons' Marathon Method. Most training plans have you focus your week on the one long run; but the Hansons' training spreads the miles more throughout the week. It's a high-mileage training plan, but focuses more on running on tired legs, which helps you prepare for the marathon.

The longest run is only 16 miles (could be more or less, depending on pace, but 16 works for the majority of people), rather than the 20 I've done in the past two plans. However, the workouts through the week make your legs tired enough to where the 16 mile long run feels like the last 16 miles of a marathon, rather than the first 16 miles. It's very hard to explain in a nutshell, but the more I read about it, the more interested I am. I'm still 13 weeks out from the race, so I could make the switch if I wanted, and I'm really leaning toward doing that.

My knees don't like runs longer than 14 miles, and I'm really nervous about getting injured once I get into the 16-, 18-, and 20-mile runs. With the Hansons' training, I can't help but wonder if it would be better for my knees. Since I'm going to be running at Andrea's pace during the race, I can afford to try out different plans and see what I like best. I'm really leaning toward making the switch. Mentally, I really think I would like the Hansons' method better, because I get SO nervous for those long runs.


A few days ago, I was at Wal-Mart when I saw the perfect item to try for Taste Test Tuesday!


Does that not sound like it was made for me?!  As soon as we got home, I got out some spoons so Jerry, the kids, and I could all give it a taste. I was immediately disappointed. I didn't like it--at ALL. I adore peanut butter, and I'm not at all picky about any nut butters, but I didn't like the taste or the texture of this one. Here are the ingredients:


The texture was very soft and oily, which wouldn't have bothered me so much if I liked the taste (for reference, my favorite peanut butter for both taste and texture is Smucker's Natural). The taste was nothing like cookie dough, in my opinion. It tasted almost fruity to me. I liked that there were tiny little chocolate chips mixed into it, but I didn't taste any chocolate at all. I just tasted the strange, fruity flavor, which I think was the chocolate liquor. I wasn't even tempted to take another spoonful.

I will say, though, that Jerry loved it. He said he would have a hard time staying away from it. The kids had different opinions, too--Noah didn't like it at all, but Eli really did. On one hand, I'm disappointed that I didn't like it, but other the other hand, it's a relief! ;)  At least I won't be tempted to buy it again.


Tonight for dinner, I was really craving fish--totally strange, because I never crave fish--so I made some mahi-mahi. I tried a new recipe for potatoes to go with the fish, and they turned out SO good. I've always loved salt and vinegar chips, so when I saw this recipe for salt and vinegar potatoes, I had to make them.

Instead of using fingerling potatoes, I just cut up regular old potatoes, then boiled them in vinegar, sprinkled with salt and pepper, and put them under the broiler. Jerry and I loved them!


14 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 16, 2013

    Yum! Those potatoes sound incredible...and easy...easy enough that even I could make them!

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  2. OMG, be glad you don't like it. We LOVE Cookie Nookie but have to buy it online because World Market is the only place we could find it but it's $7 which is RIDICULOUS. I drain the oil off the top before I mix it. There's way too much. I've got a jar downstairs that's calling my name now.

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  3. Hi Katie!
    I am using the Hansens plan to train for the Chicago Marathon too!
    Did you know their team is based in Michigan? They have locations in Utica, Grosse Pointe, and Royal Oak-- I've only been to the Royal Oak store but they are always super helpful and wonderful. They are big proponents of Brooks shoes too! I don't live in Michigan anymore, but I try to go see them if needing new shoes coincides with a trip home. Even if you don't need new shoes, I highly suggest going to go say hello and meet a few members of their team. I really hope you do switch methods, as then I'd be able to follow your training as it mirrors my own (this is my first marathon, but I'm so excited!)
    Best of luck!

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  4. I have run five marathons, but am doing other workouts for the time being -- my toddler doesn't appreciate being kept captivated in the jogging stroller.

    Anyway, I found that lower mileage actually worked much, much better for me. Doing high weekly mileage (with more frequent runs) guaranteed an injury for me. And I found that short-moderate distance runs did not prepare me well for the marathon -- they wore out my legs without getting me ready for the truly long distances. With my last couple of marathons, I followed a lower mileage training program and managed to avoid injury.

    I don't remember which one I followed... Galloway, maybe? (not a fan of the walk/run strategy, btw). Or here's a newer Hal Higdon schedule.

    http://www.halhigdon.com/training/51151/Marathon-Marathon-3-Training-Program

    Of course, I don't know anything about the Hansen methodology. But what I've experienced is that nothing prepares you for really long runs like... really long runs. Doing lots of extra mileage just makes me more prone to injury.

    Good luck, whatever you decide!

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  5. AnonymousJuly 16, 2013

    There will be no hope for me until I try those potatoes!

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  6. AnonymousJuly 16, 2013

    I created my marathon training schedule for the Philly marathon in November loosely based on the Hanson method (long runs on tired legs with the longest run at 16 miles). Last fall I did the same marathon, but I did no marathon-specific training whatsoever besides ONE 20 mile long run 2 weeks before the race (and that was the first time I'd ever run over 16 miles in my life). At the time though in the 3-4 months before the race I'd been running 40-50 miles a week, basically everyday and somedays twice in a day (essentially meaning tired legs). I finished the marathon in 3:49:24 and still felt great at the end, so based on this n=1 experiment I'm willing to bet it's worth a shot :)

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  7. The elite runners of the running club I sometimes run with all swear by the Hanson brothers. It's worth a shot!

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  8. Hopefully the knee pain goes away and you are back to running. I have to keep my weekly mileage down, too or I end up injured!
    Those potatoes sound really good (and simple!).

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  9. Just told my husband to bring home potatoes and vinegar. Thanks for the easy idea! :)

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  10. I really want to try the Hanson's training method. I keep hearing other runners say they feel great at the finish line & also PRs all around. I was looking at the schedule online. Does anyone know details on the "speed/Strength" days? do i have to buy the book in order to know the mileage suggested on the those days?
    Thank you

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  11. Next week you should try Jif Chocolate Silk. It is amazing!

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  12. Oh my word, I'm so glad to finally hear of someone else that didn't like the Cookie Nookie! Everyone I know that has tried it raves about it, so I thought I might be crazy when I tried it and really didn't like it at all. Good to know I'm not the only one. :) The Hansons method you mentioned sounds really interesting...I'll have to check that out! You're always such a great source of interesting stuff! Thanks!

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  13. As a HUGE fan of salt and vinegar chips, those potatoes look AMAZING. I'm going to have to try them now.

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  14. the cookie butter that they sell at trader joe's is freaking amazing. at one point, my husband and i started hiding it from each other. i only bought two jars and then i said no more because it was dangerous keeping that crack in the house.

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