The changing of the seasons typically coincide with changes in my workout schedules.
As the temperature dropped over the past few weeks, I started to shift my outdoor runs to the lunch hour. By the time midday strikes, the temperature has usually warmed up by 7-10 degrees Celsius which is substantial when you are running outdoors!
For example, when I got up this morning it was –3C (26F) and by noon it had warmed up to 9C (48F). As much as I love getting my workout done with in the morning, during the Fall season, I prefer to run outside after it warms up. I do not like the cold, despite being a former Winter Endurance Athlete. ;)
My lunchtime workouts have left me with the big ‘before or after’ question regarding the timing of my lunch: Do I eat lunch before my run or do I eat after my run?
I have been experimenting with eating lunch before or after my run and I have found that when I eat my lunch 30-45 minutes before my run, I have much more energy than if I wait to eat until after. Of course, that makes total sense, but I was almost certain I would get running cramps after eating, but that hasn’t been the case. Sometimes I also ‘split up’ my lunch and have half before my workout and half after. This seems to work well too.
After yesterday’s awesome Avocado-Lime Black Bean Salad, I was inspired yet again to mix it up for lunch. I wanted something fairly light, yet still energizing for my run and this Cinnamon Spice Sweet Potato Chickpea Salad was born…
Cinnamon Spice Sweet Potato Chickpea Salad
A hybrid between raking the leaves in the Fall and sipping a margarita on a tropical beach. Somehow, the flavours of cinnamon and Coconut oil just pair together so wonderfully. Don’t forget the sea salt too; it really makes the flavours pop in this recipe.
Ingredients:
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1.5 cups cooked chickpeas
- 1 small onion, peeled and chopped
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 tbsp coconut oil, divided
Directions: Preheat oven to 425F and line a baking sheet with parchment or a non-stick liner. Peel and chop sweet potato. In a large bowl, add the cooked chickpeas, uncooked sweet potato, chopped onion, cinnamon, salt, and 1/2 tbsp coconut oil. Mix well. Spread onto prepared baking sheet and place in the oven at 425F for 36-40 minutes. Remove from oven and place into a large bowl. Add the remaining 1/2 tbsp coconut oil and stir well to coat. Add additional sea salt if preferred. Serves 1-2.
I don’t know about you, but 6 ingredient recipes make me happy. Very, very happy.
[Note the onion is missing and I couldn’t fit all the chickpeas and sweet potato on the board so I just grabbed a handful ‘for show’!]
Mix the above ingredients together in a bowl and spread out onto a baking sheet.
It smells like love, puppies, and rainbows mixed with a tropical beach.
Bake for 36-40 minutes at 425F.
Deeply inhale and fill your lungs with the sweet cinnamon and coconut aroma.
Place salad back into a bowl and mix in more coconut oil as it is a bit dry when it comes out of the oven. Sprinkle with more sea salt and serve immediately!
When I made this, I assumed it was a two-serving recipe, but I loved it so much I ate the whole damn thing!
After all, I needed my pre-run fuel. ;)
And boy did I ever have energy on today’s run. Granted, I had to wear my running jacket + gloves to feel *sorta* warm, but it was refreshing once my body warmed up.
After about 30 minutes of digesting, I hit the road.
Side note: I haven’t been blogging about all of my exercise lately, but I have been running on average 19-25 miles per week, with 1-2 complete rest days per week. Right now, I consider myself to be in ‘maintenance mode’; I am not presently training for any races, but I am still running consistently to keep up my ‘base’.
Side Note #2: Remember when I broke my second iPod Shuffle by putting it in the washing machine? Well, I am proud to say that I have been running for about 4-5 weeks now with absolutely NO music and I don’t even miss it much anymore! I never thought I could get used to running without music, but here I am. I find that I get more thinking done too.
The run:
- Distance: 4.16 miles
- Time: 34:10 mins
A delicious snack followed…Healthy Cookie Bites! Aka: Oatmeal in cookie form. ;)
Now that Fall is here and Winter is quickly approaching, do you change up your workouts with the seasons or the time of day that you workout? Do you move inside, put on workout DVD’s, hit the gym, or just bundle up?
[As I typed this post, a notification popped up on my computer telling me that daylight Saving Time ends this weekend….doh!!]
That salad looks good! But those leprechauns never told me that rainbows smell good….whatever. How do you think this would travel to relative’s for Thanksgiving? We will be in the midst of moving (aaugh!) during Thanksgiving, and I need make-ahead vegan dishes. Thanks for all of your great recipes. Tis the season for sweet potatoes, pumpkin and oatmeal.
Your sweet potato salad looks wonderful!! I am just started training for a 10k in the summer, so I am very excited. I have been running for almost two years, but now I am taking it to the next level. I was wondering if you also do strength training during the “off” season? I too have started running without an Ipod, on the advice of my trainer, because he wants me to listen to my breathe and if I have a lot of heel slapping which I do do a lot of heel slapping. Also I wanted to ask you if you have ever ran in bare feet? I am going to be getting the 5 finger toed shoes.
Also I run at 5:30am, and I live in the Northeast, and when i ran yesterday morning, my lovely husband woke me up and told me it was 28 degrees out…brrrr! But it was great once I started running!!
I want to start up strength training again…it has been too long!
I don’t remember why I stopped bringing my ipod with me (probably needed to be charged) but I don’t miss it at all and also feel like I get my best thinking done when I’m running. I love your description of the chickpea salad – sounds delicious! I’m all about a short ingredient list too!
Here in SK we had our first snow storm a few weeks ago, so I ordered some icespikes for my shoes.. I’m just not sure I’m brave enough to run in the cold cold ( below -10).
I also never listen to music when I run… I like to know what’s going on around me and it lets me think!
I hit the gym more … AND start downhill skiing! (otherwise known as the Best Thing About Winter)
Usually during the winter I take my workouts indoors (despite living in NC where it only gets as cold as it is by you now!) But I am a wimp. However, this year I am training for a marathon in January and am forcing myself to stay outdoors. It has been difficult! I haven’t ran with music in almost 2 years and it is liberating! Great job!
Wow that is amazing. I live in a rural area where there are lots of trucks on the roads so it really isn’t safe for me to run in the winter. I wished I lived in a more ‘neighbourhood’ type place at times.
Your wooden spoon is to die for! Thanks for always posting creative alternative recipes.
I have been running without my iPod as well lately and I am really loving it! I think I actually run faster without it. I do still have it on me during my longer runs – but rarely turn it on. We’ll see if I end up using it at my marathon in 2 weeks…
Once again, I wish I liked coconut! Any oil substitution suggestions?
And as much as I’d like to say I’m going to move my workouts indoors, I think I’m going to start training for a marathon! So cold, dark, outdoor runs it is!
I’m not a huge carrot fan, but switch the carrots for some butternut squash and I’m on board :)
Its sweet potato, hehe :)
I always have to have a pre-workout snack. Always. Otherwise, I inevitably hit a WALL during my workout and then have to stop for sustenance anyways :)
Mmmmm sweet potatoes and chickpeas are an incredible combination, roasted or in soup.
Yay for running without music! The same thing happened to me – I used to feel like I literally could not go run without my iPod, but then I lost it (temporarily) and had no choice. I ended up really enjoying the silence!
I used to run outside even in the cold, but this year I started going to the gym right when it go cold, and I haven’t minded it too much. It’s been kind of nice to mix things up!
I haven’t run with music for quite some time and I find it really refreshing – it’s almost a meditative experience!
As for this recipe – bookmarked!!! I almost always have all six ingredients on hand and recipes this simple make my day. Thanks as always for what promises to be a delish dinner in the near future!
xo
I am also super impressed that you have been running without music. Once my iPod died in the middle of my run and I immediately turned around. I just can’t do it! But maybe I should give it a shot!
Due to my schedule I don’t have the flexibility to run unless I wait until night so I’ve been maintaining my 6 am runs and just bundling up. I’m really looking forward to daylight savings this weekend so I might have a little light to keep me company.
yummmmm!!
we are food twinsies today.
i make those
101 cookbook cookies all the TIME!
as well as a
chickpea/sweet potato dish!
i use trade joe’s curry
simmer sause and add
(cooked) chopped frozen spinach
and serve over brown rice.
sooo gooooood.
stay warm!
I have just switched running from the am to lunchtime as well! I live in Ontario and had the exact same weather pattern as you today, so when I ran around 2:00 it wasn’t too cold outside. But I still wore a flannel jacket!
I’ve recently taken up running with no music and I LOVE IT! Who knew! I surely didn’t!
Once, I accidently washed my ipod shuffle. I put it in a bag of rice for a week and it worked when I turned it on. Good as new!
I tried the rice trick but it didnt work for me. I think my dealbreaker was trying to turn ON the shuffle after washing it (fried it I think) so the rice trick failed!