Lunch

An Early Hump

Don’t you just loove that it’s already humpday?!

I just love short weeks. Last night in school was just dedicated to more practice—we our starting our sugar centerpieces tomorrow for our final practical (my LAST practical of culinary school!) and so last night we just played around and tried different shapes and objects. I didn’t do anything picture worthy but this is what my chef created:

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I guess it’s okay.

This morning I had oh so creamy overnight oats with chobani, almond butter, 1/2 banana, cinnamon and maple syrup:

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It was absolutely deeeeelicious and I had to force myself to eat it slow instead of completely stuffing my face. I’ve also mastered how to make a good cup of coffee at home. I use 3 tbsp dunkin donuts coffee to two cups water for my one (big!) mug of morning coffee. I think it’s the perfect amount, finally!

Thank you all SO MUCH for all your kind and encouraging comments last night in regards to my stupid feet. I read on Runners World that one big difference between a stress fracture and shin splits is that a stress fracture usually feels better in the morning because you have rested it all night….well my ankles/legs feel worse in the morning because they are stiff! So that’s a good sign, right?! I’m not going to run (obviously) until I see the doctor on Friday and he gives me the green light….instead, I’m just going to do some cross-training that will help out with my training anyways. Today I think I’m going to do some spinning! Surprisingly, in my crappy old apartment gym there’s a section with about ten spinning bikes that I have never used. I think today for the first time I’m going to blast my ipod and attempt to spin as long as I can without getting bored.

I’ve also been researching different running forms. I think when all this injury crap is over and I can start to train, I need to unteach myself everything I’ve learned about running and start completely over. Remember when I told you guys about the guy at the running store that got over shin splints and stress fractures and now runs marathons?! Well he said that every time he would start to train he would get stress fractures. It happened for years. Finally, he was told he had to change his form so he started running with the Pose technique. He hasn’t had a stress fracture or shin splint since and now is running marathons and 15Ks. I’m also looking into Chi Running (which I like because it incorporates yoga). Has anyone had any experience with these forms? I “tried” pose running the other day ( I don’t know if I was doing it right?) but I had a difficult time controlling my speed. I found myself sprinting and wearing myself out quickly. He also told me to look up something along the lines of “four-point running” but I tried and nothing came up.

Have a great day everyone—I’ll be back after lunch! 🙂

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  • VeggieGirl
    September 3, 2008 at 12:42 pm

    The week is flying by – whoo hoo!! 🙂

    Stunning sugar centerpiece!! Hope to see photographs of yours as well 🙂

    Have fun at spinning, and enjoy your day!!

  • Melanie
    September 3, 2008 at 12:59 pm

    Hi Jenna – just wanted to share that I had a stress fracture 4 years ago that resulted from the combination of training for a 1/2 marathon and a car accident. I had several X-rays and saw an orthopedist for the diagnosis. A stress fracture is technically a break so be careful and see the doctor if you have any pain – I had to wear a brace and couldn’t run for about 3 months! Each case can be different so hope it’s just shin splints and it gets better quickly!

    I HAVE to try the overnight oats soon!!!!

    Have fun with sugar!

    Melanie

  • Melanie
    September 3, 2008 at 1:00 pm

    Oh just to follow up that after my stress fracture healed I began training for the Cherry Blossom 10-Miler and had an awesome race!! So injuries do pass!!!

    🙂

  • jimmi
    September 3, 2008 at 1:15 pm

    jenna-

    look up CHI RUNNING. http://www.chirunning.com

    i ordered the book and read 1/2 of it- its changed my life. and this is totally coming from a dude with a few stress fractured and ruptured tendon. check it out, i so know what you’re going thru.

  • ms
    September 3, 2008 at 1:21 pm

    I can relate to being frukstrated wanting to add mileage and keep any injuries at bay. I wanted to second Chi Running. I just got the book from amazon last week and have been reading through it. So much of it is common sense, plus the emphasis is really listening to your body rather than just ‘pushing through the pain’. I’m a firm believer that you can’t go wrong when you listen to what your body is telling you…

  • ModelBehavior
    September 3, 2008 at 1:29 pm

    Before I read the post and just skimmed the pictures I totally thought you were going to say that you made that, someday you’ll be putting up pictures of incredible stuff like that you made of sugar right? 🙂

  • arielle
    September 3, 2008 at 1:39 pm

    I had no idea there were so many different kinds of running! Hope you feel better soon.

  • Teddy
    September 3, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    I am so impressing with your sugar work! Someday I will learn to mak a masterpiece like that. 🙂

    great job

    Teddy

  • Anne
    September 3, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    I’m sure you’ve heard it… but typically shin splints/fractures are the product of adding too much distance too quickly. After a doctor-ordered 6-week healing/running hiatus (boo) – I was put on a 2-mile per run at no more than 3x/week, adding no more than 10-20% per week. Frustrating, but effective!

  • Heather
    September 3, 2008 at 2:10 pm

    I’m cracking up at “I guess it’s okay”… what a gorgeous centerpiece!!!

    That running form info is interesting. I’ve read about chi running before- definitely sound like something worth checking out. Good luck!

  • cb
    September 3, 2008 at 2:13 pm

    Do you eat overnight oats cold?

  • Amy
    September 3, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    I hope your legs feel better soon!

    I saw something on Chi running on the show Get Fresh With Sara Snow. If you want to actually see an example of it, I think this link should show you the segment. Youtube is blocked at work so I can’t check to make sure it’s the right clip. If not, just search for Sara Snow chi running on the youtube site. Good luck! I’ve tried doing it and it does feel better.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdMOrgQgH2A

  • runjess
    September 3, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    Stress fractures usually take a little while to develop. You just started running again, so I doubt that’s the problem. Could be shin splints or you could just be sore. It’s good that you’re going to an orthopaedic. Hopefully the doc will give you some exercises to correct any imbalances in your muscles, which will help fix this problem for good.

  • ryan
    September 3, 2008 at 2:46 pm

    Thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes this past weekend! Jenna made it a wonderful weekend for me as the pictures showed!

  • Christie
    September 3, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    Do you have a favorite milk to go brand? I think i saw that you drank that recently but not sure.. thanks!

  • jenna
    September 3, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    Christie,

    Milk to go? Hmm…I’m not sure what you mean. I don’t really drink milk—only soymilk so I’m not sure….

  • Sarah M
    September 3, 2008 at 3:16 pm

    Hey Jenna,

    That is too bad about the running problems.

    I have been running a 3 mile loop near my house a couple times of week to prep for my own hal marathon training which starts in October. I definitely need to get fitted for proper running shoes but have to wait til a trip “off the island” later this month.

    I am sure you have thought of this but what if you try running on grass, a dirt road or even the beach? Concrete is supposed to be the hardest running surface on your body.

    Question for anyone that uses the Nike + Ipod thing to track your time and distances when running. I did the same route twice last week. One night it said it was 3.1 miles and the other night it said 2.7 miles. I know it’s not a huge discrepancy but I thought it would be more accurate. Anyone else have similar issues?

    Enjoy the rest of humpday!

    Sarah

  • one food guy
    September 3, 2008 at 3:20 pm

    You would totally win the Food Network Challenge with that sugar centerpiece! Great job!

  • Erica
    September 3, 2008 at 3:52 pm

    Beautiful centerpiece!

    I’m a runner and my legs have been hurting lately as well. It is the backs, though…I guess my lower calves. So sore in the morning I can barely walk! As they loosen up it feels ok, but I’m still not sure what it is. I don’t know if it’s an overtraining thing or what, but anyway, I feel your “pain.” Sorta. Anyway, good luck at the Dr. I hope you find out some helpful and minor information!

  • Nicole
    September 3, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Have fun at spinning! That centerpiece is beautiful.

  • Jenny
    September 3, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    Good luck at the doc, hope your aches and pains go away! Definitely try some spinning, it’s my favority exercise, have fun! 🙂

  • tfh
    September 3, 2008 at 5:23 pm

    I think you’re probably correct with your shin splint “diagnosis” if they’re stiff upon waking. I’m also guessing the yoga you’ve been doing/strength training will make you less prone to injuries (let’s hope)! I don’t know about re-learning to run but I highly recommend a book called “Running Injury Free.” The good news for you is according to the podiatrist who wrote it, overpronation is really, really easy to correct with the proper shoes and orthotics– so your running form changes without any effort on your behalf!

    Hehe…I love that there is so much running-related talk on your blog these days, although of course I’ve always loved the food, too!

  • tfh
    September 3, 2008 at 5:25 pm

    P.S. That author (Joe Ellis) also is not a big fan of non-custom-made orthotics…was just thinking about that because I know you bought some from the running store.

  • anonymous
    September 3, 2008 at 5:46 pm

    Hi Jenna or anyone else who might know,

    I was wondering how much 2 oz of dry pasta is. I don’t have a food scale and was curious if it was closer to 1/2 a cup or a cup dry.
    Thanks!

  • Meghan
    September 3, 2008 at 6:23 pm

    Jenna, I think it’s great that your seeing a doctor but I will say that when I started running again after about a two month hiatus, I was experiencing what sounds like the same thing you are right now. I didn’t end up seeing a medical professional and just kept running and now all the pain and hurt has completely subsided! It sounds like you’re taking great precautions so keep up the good work and good luck.

  • Betherann
    September 4, 2008 at 12:38 pm

    A stress fracture? Oh no! I hope it heals fast. Funny enough, I tried going for the first long run I’ve had in a while on Saturday…and came home with a stress fracture. It was a fabulous run, but now I regret it. Argh. I’m seeing the doc on Wednesday. Keep us posted on how you’re feeling!