As I stood at the kitchen sink last night literally inhaling ice cream with Magic Shell on top (mmmmm, Magic Shell), I had to kick myself in the ass once again.  I am doing it.

The pre-race sabotage.

I do this before every, single “big race” that I have.  The Expert says that it’s my “nature” response.

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That in the scenario of “Fight or Flight,” I am always the “hunker down, eat and hibernate type” in preparation for “Fight.”  I never flight–I fight. Which is tough, because triathlon by it’s very nature, is very prone to “flight” – fast and running.

Not me. I bulk up like a bear and growl at my sink, batting away people with my meaty paws, “Get away from my FOOD!” (That was kind of in my Napoleon Dynamite voice…. Meredith, EAT YOUR FOOD!“)

Ah-hem.

…Anyway, as I am literally on my 12th meal last night, the Expert looks at me and says, “Stop it. Just stop. I can’t watch it anymore.”

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To which, I just start laughing.  Because he is SO right.  I am literally eating everything that isn’t eating me… preparing for the “battle” that is Beach 2 Battleship 140.6 in a mere 17 days.

But the issue?

I do NOT need to be bulking up.  I need to be stopping the insanity.  Eating clean (with the exception of my pre-long-workout Munchkins), and getting my act together.

So today.  I am doing that.  Yes, yes I am. Gawd help me.

With a 15-17 mile run on tap for Friday…. a 6 hour race rehearsal brick on Saturday–the sh*t is getting real.

And I need to put my meaty bear paws on some carrots and apples and walk away from the sugar.

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With the exception of this SUGAR^^^^… baby Jax. Sweet Red’s little sweet baby boy.

11 Responses

  1. Um yeah, you’re not alone. I do the same exact thing. It’s mainly from four things for me. First, it’s out of extreme boredom because my workouts are cut down so much going into the taper. Second, I think I can still eat crazy amounts like I’m still doing the crazy workouts. Third, I am “rewarding” myself for all the months of hard training. And fourth, well, I love to eat… :/

  2. Training for 140.6 makes you so so hungry. I don’t think people realize it is almost impossible to lose weight training for that distance because you are constantly fueling and starving.

  3. Thank you for sharing your struggles with food. For those of us who have different struggles, but have dear friends and close relatives that share your struggles, we want to understand. Please continue to write more about this, and often. You are not being judged, just understood with compassion.

  4. I hear you, sister! I wanted to eat everything in sight leading up to IMChoo… But, come taper time, I headed the warnings of all the veterans out there and ate as clean as possible the last 2 weeks before the race. I told myself, it’s only 2 more weeks!!! Then, and only then, you can eat the donuts and the pizza. You can do it!! I am so excited for your 2nd 140.6!!!! You’re going to rock it, Lady!!! And, I loved meeting Brett and Rick on the bike course at Choo. The best wardrobe decision I made that day was wearing my SBM jersey on the bike. You got this!!! Bring it home!!!! And Ansley’s baby boy is simply precious!

  5. I totally understand where you are coming from I gained 10# right before my first 70.3 ( in September) I was freaking starving so I thought but that was totally my fear that was starving. Plus yes the un-godly amounts of training that we do ups the hunger button and lets face it we are tired and beat up and we don’t want carrots. Hang in there sugar plum you are almost there and I can’t wait to read all about it. I will live vicariously 140.6 through you as I am not sure my body will ever let me have it and yes I am ok with that. I will work on becoming a better 70.3 athlete… Eat, Train, Sleep and Keep Moving Forward Cheers to a Fantastic Race!!!

  6. I just finished what my coach calls MONSTER WEEK and am on recovery then taper. I’m starving. I was wondering what was going on- but I think you nailed it. I’m an emotional eater and I’m fear eating.

    My coach recognizes this- she’s the first to point it out. Because I’ll eat an apple, and carrots, instead of a bag of Combos- then eat the whole bag of combos. So she will tell me eat some of what you are craving- a small amount- then move on to the healthy stuff.

    The only thing saving me from not having my head stuck in a tub of Ben and Jerrry’s Cherry Garcia is that ice cream triggers migraines for me.

    Everyone copes with race anxiety differently- you do what you have to do! You’re going to be great and race well and have an awesome day.

  7. Yup, fear eating – I do it. I also fear-drink-too-much-wine-and-act-like-an-ass toward man who supports me in this insane sport. I’m working on it, as are you. I’ve shut down the wine but food… well, we kinda need that for training and racing. Maybe writing mantras on our arms and hands every day leading up to the race, not just during the race???

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