Four Years and Ten Marathons and Plant Powered all the way!!

Life got busy and while this blog sat untouched for too long, we continued to live, run and eat with a Plant Based Diet.

This year marks FOUR years as vegan runners (and cyclists) where we continue to find ways to strengthen our bodies through good nutrition, regular exercise, 7-8 hours of sleep each night and a balanced work/life schedule.

I am a different person then I was four years ago, physically and mentally. I look at the world differently, people differently. In a more gentler way, more accepting. Balancing my health and my time has become a vital part of who I am. Modelling this lifestyle to my family, my social networks, my colleagues and my students is important. Health is most important.

 People often ask how we manage to eat plant based with a family. I should clarify. We have two boys. Our 15 year old, Jack, while I wish I could convince him otherwise, eats plenty of meat. He loves to cook and will cook his own chicken, fish or beef recipes. While he loves anything home cooked, he will never pass up a restaurant meal, so long as it isn't anything fast food. We respect his decisions and thankful that he doesn't drink high sugar drinks (pop) or eat fast food. Our younger boy, Nathan is a Pescetarian. This means that he eats fish, but no other meat. He also eats plenty of dairy (especially ice-cream). We eat dinner together, as a family almost every night. This can be a challenge at times, but we've grown accustomed to it. We try to have a dinner "theme" in mind and then make the necessary accommodations to fit everyone's needs. For example, Mexican night would be wraps and everyone can add their own ingredients. Pizza nights work well as well because everyone can build their own pizza.

Zuccini Spiraled Pasta 

Last night we had vegetarian pasta but the kids used enjoyed a little parmesan cheese on the side and tonight was 'burger night' with everyone enjoying their own kind of summer sandwich.

 We continue to run about 50-60 kms per week, but have added in cycling as well over the last year. Brad commutes from Lake Avenue up the Red Hill Valley Trail to Albion Falls and back down the Escarpment Trail to Corktown Park. About 30 kms, each way. Often, we meet up at Albion Falls. I work near Sanitorum Ave and Upper Paradise. I take Stone Church Road almost the entire way and love the bike lane (I'll share the map in another post). Integrating cycling as part of our work/home commute has been ideal. It is less time away from family. As for our health. Do we need to take supplements? The answer is Yes. We both take iron, B12 and Probiotics with everyday


Labour day is tomorrow. As school starts up and life gets busier for all of us, we vow to maintain good health and good life balance. Today, we signed up for the Scotiabank Toronto Marathon which means we have to work harder and train more. This was our first marathon, three years ago! This year, it will mark our TENTH marathon together. Eleventh for Brad, who ran the Boston Marathon last year!

And for this BLOG. We are going to start sharing our routes and perhaps some of the stories along the way. Today was a 30 km loop, almost all trail. That is for another post.

The Road 2 Hope Hamilton Marathon

Road 2 Hope- Hamilton Marathon

A funny thing happened during the race today as I was reunited with a runner I first met at last spring's Around the Bay road race. He kept me going that day at a painful but successful pace. I was hurting and he knew it. His encouragement helped me get to the finish with my best time ever at that race. After the race, I happened to meet him in the stands. I shook his hand and thanked him for his help which he brushed off as no big deal.

It was around km 18-19 of today's race when a figure not unlike most of the others strode up beside me with a big smile on his face. There he was, my compadre from the spring! We finished this race together and chatted quite a bit along the way. I learned that his name is Seybou and our recent running experiences are very similar. He was aiming for 3:15 and convinced me we could make it there together. This was a truly awesome way to share the achievement and give it a much deeper meaning. Cheers to my friend Seybou. You have helped me more than you know!

Two happy runners! Seybou and I after the race

I had some doubts going into the race today with the sudden onset of freezing temperatures, second guessing my training and the usual pre-race nervousness. But the planets aligned for me today.

I ran a personal record AND Boston qualifying time of 3:13:26. 3:15 was my target time, but I realistically thought 3:20 was more likely. I was able to stick with the 3:15 pace bunny (who was awesome!) to the end and give a little kick at the finish (at the pace bunnys' urging). This was a first for me as I usually fall apart in the last 10k.

For the last couple of months I altered my training a bit (after running consecutive 3:25 marathons), running LESS mileage with more focus on intense intervals, hills and overall body fitness. I replaced some mid-distance leisurely runs (10-15k), with cycling (3-4 times a week to work), stair workouts (weekly) and swimming (twice a week). It appears that this cross training approach paid dividends with a little more energy in the final stages of the race.


It also provides further proof that plant based nutrition can be utilized to achieve great(er) athletic accomplishment.

Vegan Wild Blueberry and Date Muffin Goodness

VEGAN Blueberry & Date Muffins

These muffins definitely top our favourite snack list. They are so easy to make, contain no eggs, no butter, no refined sugar and no dairy products. We eat them before a workout and sometimes during a workout or even just for a healthy ‘pick-me-up’ sort of snack during the day. Ingredients are all natural, there is no salt and the milled flax seed provides Omega 3 and Omega 6 Essential Fatty Acids and an awesome dose of iron and fibre. 

Dry Ingredients:

2/3 Cup Whole Wheat Flour

1/3 Cup Ground Flax Seed

1 tbsp Baking Power

1 tbsp Baking Soda

Cinnamon

Wet Ingredients:

Chopped dates (natural sugar and potassium is great for recovery!!)

Mashed Banana mixed with Apple Sauce (Potassium)

Cup of Wild Blueberries (super antioxidant)

1 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar

1/3 Cup of Agave Nectar

1 Cup of Almond or Flax Milk

Topping and Filling:

Sliced Almonds

Oats

Touch of Brown Sugar

Chia Seeds and/or Cacao Nibs (complex carbs and very high source of FIBER)

Fresh or Frozen Blueberries (with some juice) - with spoon, place (press) into centre of muffin after filling muffin pan

Directions:

Mix dry and wet ingredients.  Fill Muffin pans ¾ full. Bake at around 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Time ALWAYS varies as it depends on the consistency of mixture which is never perfect. Remember to grease the pan.

The muffin themselves are approximately  150 Calories of PURE PLANT POWER GOODNESS.

FOOD WE EAT - AT HOME AND ABOUT

FOOD WE EAT AT HOME AND ABOUT 

We will be updating this page through a GOOGLE DOC, PINTEREST, SCOOP IT, and other SOCIAL MEDIA.  We hope to get some suggestions and ideas from others as well as offer our support to families or individuals thinking of changing their diet.

Our Favourite Vegan Family MEALS (AT HOME)   (WE WELCOME SUGGESTIONS!)


 Our FAVOURITE Hamilton Restaurants with Vegan Options:

 1) Naroma Pizza  Mario and his gang have catered to our Vegan tastes. In fact, they keep our "Vegan Pizza" order pinned up so we don't have to repeat it each time:
Copia Pizza - Vegetale. No Cheese. Add: Mushrooms, Tomato, Rapini, Garlic and Artichoke. Extra Hot Pepper Oil on the side. Casa Salad (@2) Dressing on the side, Balsamic oil on the side.

Seriously - ask for the "Zoe and Brad" Vegan Pizza and you will be guaranteed to get the best VEGAN pizza that you've ever had.

 2) Sensational Semosa (Hamilton Farmer's Market) There are so so so many VEGAN OPTIONS. Better yet, there are options here for the whole family (Meat and cheese lovers!) Brad and I thoroughly enjoy the JUMBO VEGAN SEMOSA and ALWAYS bring them with us to eat before a race.

3) Mex-I-can on James Street North. This is probably the best mexican restaurant in this area. In fact, we've been hard strapped to find any mexican restaurant that serves as delicious food as this one. They have food for the entire family - Vegan, Vegetarian and Meat eaters! Our favourite is the cactus burritos and of course, the freshly made guacamole. We've grown accustomed to waiting a little longer for our food - but we know it is always worth it.

OTHER RESTAURANTS...and WE ARE STILL LOOKING!!

 http://pinterest.com/zbpipe/hamilton-vegan-restaurants/