Prep Work and Doubles

So I had a chance this weekend to really start thinking about what I can do to make this marathon training a little easier.

First, the last few days, when I make myself a breakfast sandwich, I'm making two.  It's not any more difficult or any more time to make two, and then I stick one in the freezer.  Then on my running mornings when I come back starving and have limited time to shower, get dressed, and make a healthy breakfast, I can just grab a breakfast sandwich out of the freezer and throw it in the microwave.

All summer, I have been getting my weekly runs in basically very early in the morning, like 6:00 a.m.  But I know that pretty soon, it's going to still be dark at 6:00 a.m. and I don't run when it's not light out.   That means I'll have to start getting them in midday, right in the middle of my work day or late afternoon before dinner.   What can I do to make that a little easier?  Again, a little prep work.  As I'm in the kitchen these days, if I'm chopping a half an onion or pepper or some celery for dinner, chop up a little extra and throw it in a bag in the freezer.  Then on those busy nights after a run, I've got veggies all ready to throw in a pan.

Making burgers for dinner?  Make a few extra and pop them in the freezer!  Instead of buying two boneless chicken breasts, buy four.  Then throw two in a freezer bag with a little marinade.  On those busy days, pull the marinated chicken out of the freezer and it's ready to go.

I also am going to be changing up my training schedule.  Working on that next, after this blog.  The current schedule has my three weekly runs three days in a row, and that's not for me.  Two days in a row I'm okay with, but not three.  Have to make sure I have a rest day before my long run and a rest day after.

Tomatoes are coming in by the basket from the garden.  So time to starting utilizing them as well in my "prep work".   Making fresh sauce?  Make some extra and throw it in the freezer.  Use them along with some of the other veggies from the garden to throw in a pot of chili.  Freeze some of that for a busy night.

Any other ideas that you do to help you get through those busy weeks?  I don't have kids to send off to school next month, but my month will be busy with work and meetings in the evening and other commitments, along with the training.  Those runs are going to start taking up more of my time than they are right now.  Have to plan.