I have to admit, one of the most dreaded questions I get these days from my kids is, "what's for dinner?"

As a busy mom and business owner, I wish I had time to plan and cook a perfectly healthy and delicious meal every single day.

But some days, it's the last thing I want to do. Yet we somehow manage to get through each day without starving.

(Can you relate? Reply and let me know!)

Looking back, it's actually pretty amazing that the whole "plant-based thing" even stuck with me.

Because I was pretty terrible at it.

Thirteen years ago when I made the switch, my main motivation was for my health, so I made every meal with the nutrition facts in mind.

I bought a cookbook from one of the most influential plant-based bloggers at the time, who was very straight-forward about the fact that she was not a trained chef. (That should have been a red flag in retrospect.)

She promised recipes that would change your health and your waistline without being super complicated to make.

I proudly prepared dish after dish from this book trying to convince my young family to get on board so we could get healthier together.

But the one ingredient that the influencer forgot to add to her recipes was flavor.

After refusing to eat a second bite of an especially awful bean casserole, my family revolted and went back to mac and cheese and hot dogs. Even I was having second thoughts.

What finally changed everything was letting go of the idea of the "perfect healthy" meal. I found new cookbooks that were all about deliciousness, while still being better for you. (here's one of my favorites)

There's more to food than fuel. There's more to health than being "healthy" all the time. And there's more to being a good parent than perfect meals.

Find what awakens the whole you, don't forget the flavor, and let the kids help, too.

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ask me anything

Q:

I'll be running a lot on the treadmill this winter and I'm worried that it's going to hurt my running. Should I just suck it up and go outside in the cold and dark?

A:

No and not necessarily.

While there are many, many treadmill haters out there, the reality is that you can get just as good a workout on the TM as you can outside.

Yes, there are (mostly very slight) differences, but if you are working just as hard, often, and long as you would outside, you will get just as fit.

It can be argued that if you are training for a cold race and you only run inside in 70F (21C), you are not getting used to dressing for and running in the cold.

Some also argue that since the TM is moving your foot, you are doing less work and you won't be prepared for the "real" thing. While that might be technically (but insignificantly) true, the solution is to make things harder by speeding up a touch if you feel this is you.

And then there's the old wind resistance argument (just face a fan if you're concerned). Here's more on that and other TM tips.​

The reality is that if you have access to a treadmill, that means you have a reliable, safe, warm, dry, brightly lit place to run, with easy access to snacks, hydration, a bathroom, maybe your kids, a shower, and Netflix.

Once you teach your brain that the treadmill isn't torture (great mental strength work for the TM haters!), it can be the very best tool for your training.

If only our watch and the machine's data would line up (they never will)...

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podcast

Want to know the best way to keep running without injury?

It could be all in your head.

On today's episode we are going to talk to Kate Edwards, an Atlanta-based physical therapist and board-certified orthopedic specialist who practices running medicine. She has over 15 years of experience working with high performers, runners and athletes of all levels, from recreational athletes to Olympians.

You'll learn:

• Who is most likely to get an injury and why,
• How the mental side of training can affect injury and recovery, and
• What she’s learned from her work with elite runners that can help you stay strong and healthy.

Don’t forget to stay tuned all the way to the end of the episode for another Mental Strength Minute. Fortify your mind in 60 seconds or less.

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inspo

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

— Colin Powell

Have a great run today, Coach Claire

P.S. You've trained your body. But what about your mind? If you are ready to turn race anxiety into calm confidence, it's time to Find Your Flow State, my brand new 4-part audio series. It's more affordable than you think. Click here before race day!

Thank you for being a part of the Planted Runner community!

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My mission is to help runners just like you reach goals they never dreamed possible through science-backed training and plant-based nutrition.

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Since 2016, I've helped thousands of every day runners become fitter, faster, and stronger with truly customized training and coaching.

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I also love to share what I have learned from my own journey starting as a non-runner to a 2:58 marathoner at age 42, as well what I have learned coaching runners, completely FREE. I do that every week in this newsletter and on the Planted Runner Podcast.

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