Breakfast of Champions

What does an injured runner consume in the morning? This delicious smorgasbord of meds, of course. And coffee.

I’m exaggerating, actually. I threw the codeine container into the picture for the effect, even though I only had to take codeine twice before deciding it made me feel even more fuzzy-minded than usual.

Quick update on what condition my condition is in: I’m still in more pain than I’d like, but it diminishes slightly by the day. Tomorrow I go to physical therapy. My attitude is improving a bit, especially because Z is recovering apace from his surgical adventure, albeit in small increments.

One reason I took the above photo was to provide myself with an entry into the subject of food, a topic I promised a few weeks (or months) back to talk about in this blog. When I got hurt, more than two weeks ago, I was worried that because I’ve become used to eating a lot to fuel my running, I would continue on that course and soon balloon to the size of a Chevrolet. What a relief—so far that hasn’t happened. I’ve even lost a couple of pounds.

I realize that I'm eating now just about as I’m accustomed to eating, only in smaller amounts. I believe that my usual runner’s diet is a sound one (and it’s one I like—bonus!), so there’s little reason to change it. I try to let three principles dictate what I eat: diversity, balance, and moderation.

• Diversity means eating across as wide a spectrum of (mostly) healthful foods as I can afford and can prepare without hours of prep work.
• Balance means consciously dividing up what I eat into appropriate amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
• Moderation means not pigging out in any and all of the above three categories.

I am a grazer. I eat three small-to-medium-sized meals a day and try to have a mid-morning snack and a mid-afternoon snack as well. I don’t worry much about the number of calories in the meals, but do try to keep the snacks at a calorie count between 60 and 100. One important rule I keep 99 percent of the time is not to eat for at least two hours before I go to bed.

Stayed tuned for examples of my meals and my snacks, coming your way in a post to be composed later.

Right now I have to get ready to catch the bus that carries me on the first leg of my long journey home. Note to self: When you get able to walk again, never ever take the ability to stride speedily along in the fresh air for granted.