“I loved autumn, the one season of the year that God seemed to have put there just for the beauty of it.” –Lee Maynard
Autumn is my favorite time of year. What runner wouldn’t agree? The exhausting heat and humidity of summer has faded away and the cool, crisp air of autumn has taken its place. The leaves begin to change and the trails are decorated in orange, yellow, red and brown. This is cross-country weather. This is marathon weather.
The ideal running weather in October also calls for the culmination of the year’s hard work. You have trained countless hours through spring and summer, many of these hours done during the day’s dawn. Many runners, from middle to high school to adults, will lace their racing shoes up one more time. Some of you will be competing in a half or full marathon at Twin Cities, Chicago or Des Moines. If not these races, probably one of the many other road races offered each weekend.
So what is your CHALLENGE for October? Your challenge is to get to the starting line of your pinnacle race HEALTHY, injury and illness free.
Sickness is one of the few negative products of the changing season. One of the best ways to stay healthy is through your diet and Mother Nature seems to know just what to provide. It is apple season in Iowa.
According to Mayo Clinic health website:
Apples are a good source of soluble fiber, which can lower blood cholesterol and glucose levels. Fresh apples are also a good source of vitamin C — an antioxidant that protects your body’s cells from damage. Vitamin C also helps form the connective tissue collagen, keeps your capillaries and other blood vessels healthy, and aids in the absorption of iron.
Make it your goal to consume an apple once a day. You don’t have to just eat it raw, unless you like it that way. There are many recipes that are fitting for fall that call for apples. Here is a recipe that Flannery and I recently used.
Lastly, to maximize your body’s ability to absorb all these wonderful, health-boosting properties, consume your fruit with a protein like peanut butter or almond butter when possible.
Happy racing. Coach Adam
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