That blog title today makes a big claim, isn’t it? That title is fit to burst with expectation and promise… So let me just release some air from it:
– It only seems pretentious when I say it out loud.
– In history refers to my own personal history, though I have been having this breakfast for a while.
– Running excellence is reference to my own personal interpretation – I mean, I’m no Paula Radcliffe, Haile Gebrselassie or Killian Jornet.
What did I have for breakfast today then?
Kale, spinach, poached duck eggs, salmon cooked in turmeric and butter.
(I know, hahahahaha!) It fits with my eating plan according to LCHF principles which I wrote more about here just over a year ago.
How did I make it?
You melt a big think knob of butter, chuck in salt flakes, grind some pepper and add a half teaspoon of turmeric. Stir and get it all mixed together. Add the kale, around 150g and put a lid on it. After a minute, stir it, coat it all in the butter, cover again and leave for another 1-2 minutes. Then add chopped sliced, fresh spinach and stir together off the heat. Make 2-3 holes in the greens and crack your eggs into the egg cups, depending on how many you want or are making for. Add a tablespoon of water, cover, return to the heat for 3-4 minutes until the eggs are poached how you like them. Then flake your cooked salmon, scoop your cooked greens and eggs onto a plate and pour over the salmon pieces. Now eat.
Why did I make it?
It is a derivation of a recipe I love in the Real Meal Revolution cookbook, which is a cookbook and informational guide to the banting diet that I have been on for the past 18 months. The greens are good for runners, we all know that, go google it if you want to know more. The salmon and eggs have good fats, oils and protein. However, turmeric is my latest fad for running recovery. It reduces inflammation and does a whole host of other wonderful things and I have absolutely noticed all the things it is supposed to do according to the science, actually happening!!
I bummed it all down following this morning’s 12 mile run, which included some effort in the middle 6 miles. It is the recovery breakfast of champions in my opinion. Though it is also probably not one of those breakfasts that you shout about in the pub with your footy mates over a couple of pints.
So here’s the thing. I take a few supplements to help with my recovery and nutrition (I am in my forties and recovery gets tougher each year), they are as follows:
1. Vitamin D supplement in Winter – to aid immunity and help bones etc.
2. A probiotic (I use optibac brand) to build good gut bacteria, again helps with immunity and numerous other things and does not come in a sugar filled drink.
3. An electrolyte solution which goes into my water straight after my longer runs (I use Elete brand) though I only drink water when actually running.
4. A magnesium spray that I rub into my legs when I get out of the shower.
And now….
5. Ground turmeric added to every and any breakfast I possibly can.
“Hang on Adam, ground turmeric is not a supplement!”
You are quite right, but I am using it as one. That said, you can buy turmeric capsules/tablets!
You see, with enough expectation invested, the turmeric is likely to be having some placebo effect on me. That said, I have read the evidence base for it’s use and applied a serious amount of confirmation bias that also helps with the placebo I suppose. WHat’s more, I know that the placebo effect works effectively even when you know it is placebo. Turmeric has been a wonderful thing for me so far this year and I’m going to persist with it for sure.
Last week this was my schedule:
Monday: 6 miles recovery.
Tuesday: 10 miles, with 5 miles @ HMRP
Wednesday: 14 miles
Thursday: 6 miles recovery.
Friday: 12 miles
Saturday: 6 miles recovery
Sunday: 16 miles.
It’s a 70 mile week and with the exception of a couple of recovery weeks, the mileage gets increased from here.
My forty-something, Spring marathon PB seeking legs need anything and everything they can get to advance recovery. I’ll take turmeric and I’ll take any placebo effect that boosts it.
I’ll be back here very soon.
