Runners tend to obsess over the weather – wind, hail, pouring rain, sun, hot, humid – there’s always something we’re trying to avoid, yes?
Now that I’m finally running again (ever so slowly), I find myself already getting all hung up over the weather, and when the optimal days to get my runs in will be. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather schedule my runs around blizzards, monsoons and the like.
The only problem is that I’ve put myself on a strict “every other day” running plan for the next couple of weeks to help my Achilles fully recover. I was already trying to talk myself out of said plan on Saturday morning, a planned cross training day. I had run with Megan the day before, but it was lovely outside, and the forecast for Sunday, a running day, called for rain.
“Just this once, two days in a row will be fiiiine,” The stupid voice in my head tried to convince me. I was so close to listening, but then I remembered precisely why I was in this position to begin with – running too many hard days in a row to avoid crappy weather.
So I actually found the smart voice in my head (it exists, I swear!), and stuck with the original plan.
I was rewarded on Sunday morning with a rain-free run (I was up way too early, but that’s besides the point) in 50 degree weather. Dressing for different weather situations can also be tricky, but one rule I have is that 50 degrees = shorts and short sleeves.
‘Twas a great 5.75 miles in Central Park, largely pain-free. The Achilles feels good during my runs, but it still a bit stiff and tender afterwards, so I’m continuing on with pretty low, easy mileage for the time being. While this plan of mine is a bit less flexible in terms weather, I think the Achilles will thank me in the long run. Plus, after not being able to run for a month, homegirl will run in pretty much any conditions and LOVE IT.
I also love the combination of chocolate and peanut butter (and anyone that doesn’t might be a little crazy!). So I decided to make my favorite vegan brownie recipe and added in a key ingredient – peanut butter chips.
The recipe is super easy and only takes a few minutes to mix
I added about half a bag of PB chips
And popped into the oven
Sometimes the brownies can get a bit dry, but the PB chips balanced everything perfectly.
Vegan Chocolate/Peanut Butter Brownies
- 2 cups whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup peanut butter chips
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350°
In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix together almond milk, applesauce and vanilla and pour into dry ingredients; mix until smooth. Add peanut butter chips. Spread evenly in a 8×8 inch baking pan.
Bake for 30-35 minutes (more or less if you use a different size pan) until the top is no longer shiny. Let cool for at least 10 minutes before cutting into squares.
Question: How do you plan your runs around weather?
Edit: Thank you so much for your comments to my last post – I’m wishing Serena Williams the best recovery possible and will continue to spread the word as much as I can. 🙂
Omg those brownies are to drool over!! And I never have to worry about rain since my workouts are inside the gym 🙂
Lately, I don’t plan my runs. I go when I feel like it, but I go when it’s more than 40º outside. Today, I was frustrated, which is the best fuel for long runs regardless of what the weather’s like. I went out for about 10 riverside miles in the rain, and I loved every second of it. 50º weather is the best, so I’m looking forward to my runs over the next couple of months.
Yes! this is the best running weather, hands down!
Those brownies are being bookmarked RIGHT NOW they look AMAZING!! 😀
Your run sounds great!! I treadmill it most of the time, but if I’m running outside I use the Runner’s World ‘What to Wear’ calculator thing, cos I’m so indecisive but this does it for me! 😛 http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/whattowear/0,7152,s6-240-325-330-0-0-0-0-0,00.html
OMGOMGOMG those brownies are so fudgy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
your run sounds AWESOMe!! i LOVE running in the sun, but i love the rain sometimes-!!
Those brownies sound great! So glad you’re running pain-free.
haha! I watch the weather reports on almost every local news program and weather.com! I almost have trouble getting to sleep if I haven’t checked the weather for the next day. (I blame this 70% on running and 30% on growing up with a mother who watched the weather channel like most people watch the news)! So glad you got out this morning before the rain started! You had incredible self restraint yesterday!
Those brownies look delicious!!
Ahh I totally want those brownies right now, with ice cream!! I think you are being so smart about your comeback to running – every other day, as long as you feel good, seems like a great idea to give your body enough rest to recover and bounce back like it needs to. Again, so happy for you that its going so well! It seems like you really learned from what happened after running 2 days in a row – clearly keeping your body healthy and injury-free is your first priority. Awesome future-RD 🙂
thanks, Corey!! 🙂
i sort of plan my runs around the weather. if i can go when the weather is nice then i’ll schedule a run for then if not i just say “character building” 😉
YES to 50* = shorts and short sleeves. totally how my sunday run went too 🙂
Oooh, YUM. Those brownies look fabulous.
Congrats on getting running again and keeping your progress under control!
Those brownies look to-die-for!! I love PB & choc 😉
I definitely plan my runs around the weather because I will do anything to not run inside. I may be inside this week because we got another big snowstorm, but I’m excited for it to finally be warming up this month. I am done running in the snow! Lucky you for getting to run in shorts!
in regards to your last post: so scary that this is happening to so many people, but it is good to get some press like that. so so scary. i’m glad someone like you can at least take advantage of such a terrible experience and warn others about warning signs and spread the word. it’s terrifying 😦
yay for listening to the smart voice!! for real, pat yourself on the back. it ain’t easy.
yum. i’ve always wanted to bake with peanut butter chips. or just buy them and eat them out of the bag 😉
Thanks! And eating them out of the bag is an excellent excuse to bake with them! 🙂
I definitely plan my runs around weather! The only weather I really have to worry about is extreme heat, so my long runs in the summer are done as early as possible to avoid dying from the heat 🙂
I have the desktop weather widget for a reason: I obsess about my workouts and the weather for days in advance! Although oftentimes I’m too lazy to actually do my long runs on the nice days, which means I’ll be running 12 miles in rain/snow/heat/random stupid weather conditions. Good thing you got your run out of the way before the hurricane hit yesterday. It was gnarly.
I LOVE this time of year for running, warm enough to wear shorts, but cool enough to not get overheated. I love it.
I actually prefer the 50 degree/cloudy/rain too. Give me that over 80 and sunny (for a run) any day!
don’t you hate when weather throws you off your schedule? have you ever tried a workout on demand or the Nike Training Club (if you have an iPhone or iPad)? They’re a nice mix-up workout for bad weather! 🙂 check out YouTube, too.
I am constantly looking at the weather! I always get upset when I have a rest day planned and its nice out! There is just never enough time in the day to work, XT and get outside for a nice walk! I can’t wait for spring and no more snow!
Good job being smart with your rest days! Minus the pouring rain on Sunday (eh, I ran in it anyway), the weather this weekend was perfect for running. Hooray spring!
Chocolate + PB = AMAZING! Always! 🙂
So glad you got some fabulous running weather! 🙂
Dear Lord! Can you send those to my house? Thanks in advance…
I suffer the same problem…saying just this once I can run two days in a row, glad you listened to yourself. Those brownies look fun!
I am so bad about obsessing over the weather!! It’s crazy how much I check and re-check it (you know, in case it changed in the last 15 minutes…) and plan my runs around it as much as I can. Like you, I also have a hard time resisting running on days that are really nice out but are supposed to be scheduled rest days. It’s silly, but I have this overwhelming sense that I’m “wasting” the day – especially after this awful winter. Hopefully as spring comes and the weather gets nicer, we won’t have to worry so much about not getting to run on those good weather days!
And those brownies look delicious! Peanut butter and chocolate is a heavenly combination.
I’m glad you were rewarded for waiting with another nice day. It definitely doesn’t work that way for me. DRIVES ME CRAZY!!!